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Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI Translation: ASIA/HOLY LAND – Cardinal Pizzaballa: October 7th is a day of prayer and fasting to invoke peace

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Italy –

    Source: The Holy See in Italian

    Thursday, September 26, 2024

    Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem

    Jerusalem (Agenzia Fides) – A day of prayer, penance and fasting to invoke the gift of peace in the Holy Land exactly one year after the rekindling of the conflict between Israel and Palestine. The initiative was launched by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, through a letter addressed to the entire Diocese of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. “The month of October is approaching, and with it the awareness that for a year the Holy Land, and not only, has been plunged into a vortex of violence and hatred never seen and never experienced before. In these twelve months we have witnessed tragedies that, due to their intensity and impact, have deeply torn our conscience and our sense of humanity,” writes the cardinal, calling “once again on governments and those who have the grave responsibility of decisions to a commitment to justice and to respect for the right of each person to freedom, dignity and peace.” “I invite you, therefore, to a day of prayer, fasting and penance, for the next 7th October, a date that has become symbolic of the drama we are experiencing. The month of October is also the Marian month and on 7th October we celebrate the memory of Mary Queen of the Rosary,” the appeal of the Patriarch, who adds: “Each one, with the rosary or in the ways he deems appropriate, personally but even better in community, find a moment to stop and pray, and bring to the ‘merciful Father and God of all consolation’ (2 Cor 1:3), our desire for peace and reconciliation.” At the bottom, the cardinal also attaches a prayer, composed ad hoc, “to be used freely”. Below is the text:Lord our God, Father of the Lord Jesus Christ and Father of all humanity, who in the cross of your Son and through the gift of his own life at great cost wanted to destroy the wall of enmity and hostility that separates peoples and makes us enemies: send into our hearts the gift of the Holy Spirit, so that he may purify us from every feeling of violence, hatred and revenge, enlighten us to understand the irrepressible dignity of every human person, and inflame us to the point of being consumed for a world at peace and reconciled in truth and justice, in love and freedom.Almighty and eternal God, in your hands are the hopes of men and the rights of every people: assist with your wisdom those who govern us, so that, with your help, they may become sensitive to the sufferings of the poor and of those who suffer the consequences of violence and war; make them promote in our region and throughout the earth the common good and a peace lasting.Virgin Mary, Mother of hope, obtain the gift of peacefor the Holy Land that gave birth to youand for the whole world. Amen.(Agenzia Fides 26/9/2024)Share:

    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: The Government of Canada recognizes the national historic significance of the Amos Indian Residential School, commemorated as part of the Indian Residential School System National Historic Event

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    The Government of Canada recognizes the national historic significance of the Amos Indian Residential School, commemorated as part of the Indian Residential School System National Historic Event

    September 26, 2024 Saint-Marc-de-Figuery (Quebec) Parks Canada

    Parks Canada and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada will participate in the unveiling ceremony of two commemorative plaques highlighting the national historic significance of the Amos Indian Residential School, which is commemorated as part of the Indian Residential School System National Historic Event.

    Open from 1955 to 1973, the Amos Indian Residential School was part of the system of residential schools for Aboriginal children officially established by the federal government during the 19th and 20th centuries.

    Please note that this notice is subject to change without notice.

    Here are the details:

    Date: Monday, September 30, 2024

    Time: The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. (EDT) Media are asked to arrive by 9:45 a.m. (EDT)

    Location: Saint-Marc-de-Figuery (Quebec)

    The venue for the press conference will be confirmed only to accredited media representatives. Media representatives wishing to participate in the press briefing must register with pc.media@pc.gc.ca.

    -30-

    Information and RSVP: Media RelationsParks Canada Agency855-862-1812pc.media@pc.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 Russia: Construction of a motorway continues in the Shcherbinka district

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The highway in Shcherbinka from Yuzhnaya Street to Zalineyny Lane is a quarter complete. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.

    “Since joining Moscow, more than 400 kilometers of roads have been built and reconstructed in TiNAO. And we continue to actively develop the transport framework of the new districts. One of the projects that we are implementing today is a four-lane highway from Yuzhnaya Street to Zalineyny Lane in Shcherbinka, near Varshavskoye Shosse with exits to this highway. The length of the facility will be about three kilometers, now it is 25 percent ready. Thus, the embankment has been fully prepared, the road surface is being laid and utility lines are being installed,” said Vladimir Efimov.

    Thanks to the new road, residents will find it convenient to leave Shcherbinka for Varshavskoe Shosse. In addition, it will be easier to get from the eastern part of the city to the Ostafyevo platform of the second Moscow Central Diameter.

    “During the work, Yuzhnaya Street and Zalineyny Lane will be widened to four lanes – two in each direction. A U-turn for public transport will be built near the Ostafyevo railway platform. Also, as part of the project, a pedestrian sidewalk and a bicycle path will be installed, and outdoor lighting will be installed along the highway,” said the head of the Department for the Development of New Territories of the City of Moscow.

    Vladimir Zhidkin.

    The route will be equipped with traffic lights. After the main works are completed, the adjacent territory will be landscaped, including near Yashkin Pond.

    Earlier, Sergei Sobyanin opened new site the main highway of TiNAO Solntsevo – Butovo – Varshavskoe shosse. In 2026, the highway will be connected to the Moscow High-Speed Diameter. As a result, traffic without traffic lights will be organized from New Moscow through the entire city to Leningradskoe shosse and the overpass that leads to St. Petersburg.

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

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

    https://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/144508073/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: New directions, “Longevity exercises” and star guests: how the summer season of the “Moscow Longevity” project went

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Every senior Muscovite can fill their lives with bright events. This summer, participants in the Moscow Longevity project attended training sessions with famous athletes, met with actors and writers, went kayaking and SUP boarding, went Nordic walking, opened an exclusive route along Arbat, and participated in many other events.

    In 2024, the project’s summer season lasted four months, thanks to September being one of the warmest in the history of the capital.

    Training with celebrity guests and outdoor activities

    One of the most striking events of the summer season was the “Longevity Exercises”. For 17 weeks, senior citizens participated in morning warm-ups at sites organized in all districts, including in iconic places of the capital – for example, on Sparrow Hills, near the Bolshoi Theater and at the Northern River Terminal. During this time, 87 training sessions were held, which were attended by more than 14 thousand people.

    Once a week, the “Longevity Exercises” were held by invited guests, including Roman Kostomarov, Evgenia Medvedeva, Tatyana Totmianina, Ilya Averbukh, Alexey Nemov, Alexey Yagudin, Artur Dalaloyan, Irina Slutskaya, Nikita Nagorny, Daria Dontsova, Anna Semenovich, Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, Elena Vorobey, Yulia Mikhalkova.

    Participants of the “Longevity Exercises” mastered qigong, attended dance training, classes with gymnastic ribbons, and even warm-ups with drums.

    Throughout the summer, outdoor activities were held for senior citizens in more than 1,500 groups at 800 outdoor venues throughout the city – at the Moscow Zoo, the equestrian club, parks, the City Farm at VDNKh, and other places.

    New water directions

    In July, the Moscow Longevity project opened classes in SUP surfing and kayaking for the first time. About 1,500 senior Muscovites learned the history of these sports and learned how to operate watercraft.

    The classes took place in the waters of the Moscow River at the Academy Rowing Club under the guidance of experienced coaches. Despite the fact that SUPs and kayaks are considered popular among young people, the groups in these areas already broke the record for the number of older participants in the first days.

    SUP and kayak rowing classes will be held for the first time as part of the Moscow Longevity project

    Unique route

    In August, a new exclusive excursion route, “Not Old Arbat”, was opened for participants of “Moscow Longevity”. It was created especially for the project by writer and Moscow expert Alexander Vaskin and is dedicated to long-livers whose fate was connected with the most famous pedestrian street of the city.

    Philosopher, polar hero and Russian Rodin: what participants of the excursion “Not Old Arbat” can learn

    The walk includes nine thematic points, each of them is connected with the biographies of famous long-livers: writers, actors, sculptors and composers. For example, the excursionists learned about the philosopher Alexey Losev, who continued to pass on knowledge to his students until his last days, and the writer Marietta Shaginyan, who never abandoned her favorite work.

    The guides were the participants of Moscow Longevity themselves, who had completed training at the Silver University in the field of Excursion Guidance. 11 graduates mastered a new profession, were employed in the project and regularly conduct excursions for groups.

    Fashion collections about family, city and future

    This summer, the project held its fourth season of creative laboratories “Designers’ Workshop”, dedicated to the Year of the Family. The final show, held at the forum-festival “Territory of the Future. Moscow 2030” in Gostiny Dvor, was attended by more than 600 people, another 135 thousand watched the live broadcast of the show.

    Participants of “Moscow Longevity” under the mentorship of five famous fashion designers – Leonid Alekseev, Igor Gulyaev, Denis Eremkin, Ksenia Novikova and Vadim Merlis – created five clothing collections. They were demonstrated on the podium by “silver” age models from the beauty and style school “Royal Posture”.

    The Family Albums line is based on the 1970s style, with prints on clothes that bring to life photographs of the designers’ grandparents, fathers and mothers. The creators of the feminine and elegant Mom collection were inspired by touching memories. Each participant imagined her mother, images from her youth. The Bright Age, Urban Romance and We Are 2030 collections are dedicated to the future, the city and longevity. Bright textured fabrics and artificial intelligence capabilities were used in their creation.

    New spaces for healthy living and socializing

    The network of Moscow longevity centers continues to expand: 14 spaces opened this summer, now there are 134. Older city residents can do their favorite things in a circle of like-minded people, communicate and lead a healthy lifestyle. Since September 1, the centers have switched to a new, convenient work schedule.

    Along with the expansion of the network of centers, new services are also appearing in them. Thus, since this summer, they have been providing consultations on obtaining electronic government services. In each center, city residents can find out how to apply for 71 government services, including obtaining a Muscovite social card, a spa voucher, or housing subsidies.

    Bright events of the summer season

    Muscovites of the “silver” age celebrated the middle of summer at the festival “Long-lasting Moscow”, which took place on Vorobyovy Gory and brought together more than three thousand guests.

    The most popular outdoor classes of Moscow Longevity were held on one site – dancing, Nordic walking, drawing, as well as Longevity Exercises, educational lectures and much more.

    One of the central events was a mass gathering of Nordic walking enthusiasts, in which even city residents over 90 years old took part. A choreography master class for guests was conducted by dancer Evgeny Papunaishvili, and in the open air one could compete in drawing caricatures of singer Anna Semenovich and writer Daria Dontsova.

    The combined choir of the Moscow Longevity project performed at the Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival on Red Square. A program of 13 songs was presented by 350 people. The choir was accompanied by the Central Military Orchestra of the Russian Ministry of Defense under the direction of Honored Artist of Russia Colonel Sergei Durygin.

    The combined choir of the Moscow Longevity project performed at the Spasskaya Tower festival

    In addition, this summer the group gave five master classes. Choirmasters held open vocal lessons, where they introduced guests to the techniques and methods of choral singing.

    In July, the Sokolniki Park hosted the “Dance Stories of Moscow Longevity” festival. One of the main events was the “Purple Waltz” flash mob, which brought together 500 senior citizens. On this day, people of different ages took to the dance floor – from 55 to 90 years old, and the oldest was 90-year-old project participant Valentina Semenova. A competition was also held: 18 couples and 10 groups competed for the title of the best dancers of the project.

    “Boulevard of Moscow Longevity”

    One of the most striking expositions of the forum-festival “Territory of the Future. Moscow 2030” in Gostiny Dvor was “Boulevard of Moscow Longevity”. Guests immersed themselves in a multimedia space dedicated to a healthy lifestyle and learned how to maintain activity, stay young and happy for many years. During the days of the forum-festival, over 50 thousand people looked into the future, making a “Portrait of Longevity” with the help of neural networks. Guests also walked about seven thousand virtual kilometers on the excursion “Not Old Arbat”, almost 15 thousand visitors participated in a sociological survey, which helped to find out how different generations of Muscovites relate to longevity.

    Ahead of the city residents there is an equally busy autumn-winter season. All Muscovites of the “silver” age – women from 55 years old and men from 60 years old – can join the “Moscow Longevity” project. You can sign up at any Moscow Longevity Center or the “My Documents” government services center, as well as online on the mos.ru portal.

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

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

    http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/144450073/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: A special issue of the newspaper “For Construction Personnel” was published for the anniversary of the Faculty of Economics and Management

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –

    Download September issue

    A special issue of the newspaper “For Construction Personnel” was published, dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Faculty of Economics and Management of St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering.

    In the latest issue read:

    Selection of profiles – according to the needs of the labor market

    Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Management Galina Tokunova talks about the rich history of training specialists in the field of construction economics at our university and why applicants’ interest in these professions is growing.

    How to become successful in your profession, head a university and build a business

    The pages of the newspaper present two paths to success for specialists from different eras: Yuri Panibratov, a professor-consultant who previously held the position of rector of SPbGASU, and Sergey Veselov, a 2009 graduate, PhD in Economics and founder of the Development Systems group of companies. Their experience shows that the main components of success are relevant at any time.

    Department – industry: six areas of interaction

    Educational process in partnership with the industry. We tell how the cooperation of the construction management department with industry companies helps in updating the curriculum, professional orientation and employment of students.

    Scientific research in a foreign language

    Why are scientific events in a foreign language a step into the future of a specialist? Find out from the head of the Department of Intercultural Communication Elena Selezneva and student Sofia Myagkaya.

    Teaching stimulates self-development

    Get a diploma and stay at the university! Associate Professor of SPbGASU Olga Bochkareva spoke about the advantages of teaching, the key to success in it, and how communication with students helps keep abreast of modern times.

    FEU is a faculty of energetic and creative people

    Students talk about the great opportunities at the faculty and at the university, and first-year students share their emotions about admission and impressions from the first month of study.

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

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

    http://www.spbgasu.ru/nevs-and-events/nevs/special issue-of-the-newspaper-for-construction-personnel-for-the-anniversary-of-the-faculty-of-economics-and-management/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Egypt: Ensure Alaa Abdel Fattah is not detained after completing length of unjust prison term

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Egyptian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Egyptian-British activist Aala Abdel Fattah who will have completed the length of his unjust five-year prison sentence in three days on 29 September, said Amnesty International today.

    In reprisal for his activism, Egyptian authorities last arrested Alaa Abdel Fattah on 29 September 2019, and subsequently, following a grossly unfair trial, sentenced him to five years in prison on charges including “spreading false news.” There is a risk that the authorities will refuse to release the prominent political activist, despite having served the full five years in prison, by refusing to count time spent in pre-trial detention as part of his prison sentence already served.

    “Alaa Abdel Fattah has spent most of the last decade being repeatedly arrested and unjustly imprisoned simply for peacefully exercising his human rights. He is a prisoner of conscience – he should never have been forced to spend a single minute behind bars. The prospect that the authorities could further extend his unlawful imprisonment instead of releasing him is appalling,” said Mahmoud Shalaby, Amnesty International’s Egypt Researcher. 

    “Egyptian authorities have a dreadful track record of indefinitely detaining political dissidents by concocting new reasons to keep them locked up. If the authorities fail to release Alaa Abdel Fattah this would further compound the cruelty and injustice he has already suffered in custody. The Egyptian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release him and allow him to reunite with his loved ones at long last.”

    The authorities may also seek to extend his arbitrary detention by bringing fresh charges against him – Egyptian authorities have a track record of indefinitely detaining individuals imprisoned for political reasons by bringing new bogus identical or similar charges, even after a court has ordered their release or they have completed their sentence; an abusive practice known as “rotation”.

    For years Alaa Abdel Fattah was detained in deplorable conditions and security officials subjected him to torture and other ill-treatment in custody. Following a public outcry, he was transferred to Wadi al-Natroun Prison in May 2022 where his health and detention conditions improved. It was only recently that authorities finally allowed him access to reading material as well as television and written correspondence.

    However, prison authorities have continued to deny him access to fresh air and sunlight for the past five years,  only allowing him to exercise in an indoor hall. Authorities also continue to deny him access to his lawyer as well as to consular visits from the British authorities.

    On 20 December 2021, an Emergency State Security Court (ESSC) convicted Alaa Abdel Fattah on charges including “spreading false news” and sentenced him to five years in prison following a grossly unfair trial in reprisal for his activism. Human rights lawyer Mohamed Baker and blogger Mohamed Radwan “Oxygen” were also convicted on similar charges and sentenced to four years in prison. On 19 July 2023, following sustained campaigning for his release, Mohamed Baker received a presidential pardon after nearly four years of arbitrary detention.

    Background

    Alaa Abdel Fattah is a prominent political activist and government critic who has been targeted for his role in the 2011 uprising. He is among thousands of individuals who continue to be arbitrarily detained without legal basis in Egypt solely for exercising their human rights and/ or following proceedings violating fair trial rights. 

    Since President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s reactivation of the Presidential Pardons Committee (PPC) in April 2022, the Egyptian authorities released hundreds of individuals held for political reasons, including prominent activists, but Alaa Abdel Fattah was excluded from this process. Egyptian authorities continued to carry out arrests of actual or perceived critics amid an unrelenting crackdown on dissent.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: China to Host 10th AIIB Annual Meeting in 2025

    Source: Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank

    The Board of Governors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) announced that the Bank’s 10th Annual Meeting will be held in Beijing in June 2025.

    A ceremony took place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan to mark the end of the 2024 AIIB Annual Meeting and the handover to the host country of the 2025 AIIB Annual Meeting.

    Lan Foan, AIIB Governor for China, Chair of the AIIB Board of Governors for 2025 and host of the 2025 AIIB Annual Meeting, received the gavel in a ceremonial transfer from Laziz Kudratov, AIIB Governor for Uzbekistan and Chair of the AIIB Board of Governors for 2024 and host of the 2024 AIIB Annual Meeting.

    “We are grateful for the continued support from both the Governments of China and Uzbekistan,” said Jin Liqun, AIIB President and Chair of the Board of Directors. “The AIIB Annual Meetings are an important opportunity to seek invaluable insights and guidance from our shareholders on our Bank’s strategic direction and initiatives. Active engagement with our shareholders has been essential for promoting transparency and cooperation, which underpins AIIB’s growth and impact.”

    “Since its establishment, with the joint support of all Members and the joint efforts of the Management and staff led by President Jin Liqun, AIIB has achieved remarkable results in its business operations and has been fully recognized by the international community,” said Minister Lan Foan. “AIIB has become a new and important member of the multilateral development bank family and has made positive contributions to promoting global economic governance reform and achieving common global development. 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of AIIB, and we look forward to reflecting on the Bank’s achievements over the past decade and collaborating to shape the development blueprint of the Bank for the next 10 years.”

    The dignitaries also expressed their appreciation to the people and government of Uzbekistan for hosting the 2024 AIIB Annual Meeting.

    About AIIB

    The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a multilateral development bank whose mission is Financing Infrastructure for Tomorrow in Asia and beyond—infrastructure with sustainability at its core. We began operations in Beijing in 2016 and have since grown to 110 approved Members worldwide. We are capitalized at USD100 billion and AAA-rated by the major international credit rating agencies. Collaborating with partners, AIIB meets clients’ needs by unlocking new capital and investing in infrastructure that is green, technology-enabled and promotes regional connectivity.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: KZN teams on standby ahead of predicted adverse weather

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The KwaZulu-Natal provincial government has announced that highly efficient and dedicated teams are on standby with an expected drop in temperatures later this week, with a possibility of snow.

    While the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has not issued an official weather warning, the weather service predicts the possibility of snow over the high lying areas of the Western Cape from 29 September 2024, which will spread into the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal by 30 September 2024.

    Addressing a media briefing on Thursday, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma said the Road Incident Management Systems (RIMS) led by South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) comprising of all key role players on the national, provincial, and municipal road networks were putting together a consolidated plan.

    “They are identifying areas where joint operations and coordination will be established – covering all notorious roads and areas identified from past experiences. 

    “The department’s Road Traffic Inspectorate is establishing a satellite centre on top of Van Reenen’s Pass to ensure quick action and road closure to mitigate against people getting trapped in the snow,” the MEC said.

    This satellite centre will start operating on Saturday afternoon and operate on a 12-hour shift.

    Traffic law enforcement officials are already involved in the coordination of possible road closures and observation of major routes in consultation with the N3 Toll Concession. 

    “The focus is on the N3 between Harrismith, Tugela Toll, R617 between Kokstad and Underberg, N2 Ingeli and N3 Mooi River, and others. We wish to indicate that the team will also be responsible for escorting trucks and vehicles to ensure that there is no congestion on the road. 

    “However, members of the public and motorists are urged to reschedule or postpone their journeys in anticipation of any eventuality. Prevention is better than cure.

    “Motor graders are currently being sharpened to respond with … urgency to remove any snow before accumulating on the road. More than 10 graders will be stationed in identified routes to ensure that our response is faster,” the MEC said.

    The province has 21 graders which will be on standby as part of strengthening prevention measures.

    “On Wednesday, we interacted with SAWS. They informed us that KwaZulu-Natal will be affected by snowfall from Monday into Tuesday. The areas that are expected to be affected include Ladysmith, Underberg, Drakensberg as well as Giant Castle, and other high-ground area.

    “In addition, they emphasised that, in all likelihood, snowfall will stop on Tuesday but will be followed by rainfall in various parts of the province, including Durban and other coastline areas,” Duma said.

    The MEC said the provincial government has started engaging with key stakeholders to ensure that everyone works together to avoid any crisis and ensure the safety of road users.

    “We have continuous engagements with road freight industry stakeholders such as operators – trucking companies – companies that are managing and supplying drivers.

    “The South African National Taxi Council and bus councils, bus and truck associations are key stakeholders as we strengthen our road safety measures. We do not want to leave out port operators and the entire value chain of fast-moving consumer goods,” Duma said.

    The provincial government has assigned engineers in consultation with SANRAL to look at the impact of the recent heavy snowfall on the road infrastructure.

    “The truck congestion on N3 last weekend compels us to intensify our plans aimed at modernisation and development of rail transport – both freight and passenger.

    “Working with the Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) and other main roleplayers, as KwaZulu-Natal we believe that we must ensure that we deploy wagons to move cargo from road to rail, with a specific focus on certain goods, such as coal.

    “In addition, we want to improve rail services in the province so that it could serve as the backbone of public transport while at the same time recognising the huge challenges currently facing commuter rail services in KwaZulu-Natal and throughout the country,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: The Government of Canada recognizes the national historic significance of the Amos Indian Residential School, commemorated under the Residential School System National Historic Event

    Source: Government of Canada News

    The Government of Canada recognizes the national historic significance of the Amos Indian Residential School, commemorated under the Residential School System National Historic Event

    September 26, 2024          Saint-Marc-de-Figuery, Quebec                   Parks Canada

    Parks Canada and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada will participate in the unveiling ceremony of two commemorative plaques highlighting the national historic significance of the Amos Indian Residential School, which is commemorated under the Residential School System National Historic Event.

    Open from 1955 to 1973, the Amos Indian Residential School was part of the residential school system for Aboriginal children that was formally established by the federal government during the 19th and 20th centuries.

     

    Please note that this advisory is subject to change without notice.

     

    The details are as follows:

     

    Date:                Monday, September 30, 2024

     

    Time:               Ceremony begins at 10 a.m. (EDT)
                             Media are requested to arrive by 9:45 a.m. (EDT)          

    Location:         Saint-Marc-de-Figuery, Quebec

    The exact location of the press conference will be given to accredited media only. Media representatives wishing to participate in the media availability should register with pc.media@pc.gc.ca.

                                                                                                              -30-

    Information and RSVP:
     Media Relations
    Parks Canada Agency
    855-862-1812
    pc.media@pc.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: David Olusoga’s new book joins the struggle to make Black history mainstream

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jenny Woodley, Senior Lecturer in Modern American History, Nottingham Trent University

    For decades, Black history in the UK has been siloed from the mainstream, as if incidental to the nation’s history. Black History Month in October is dedicated to celebrating Black heritage, but the rest of the year, it feels largely neglected and ignored. Public historian and broadcaster David Olusoga, is at the forefront of efforts to integrate Black history into our national story.

    His latest book, Black History for Every Day of the Year, co-created with two of his siblings, Yinka and Kemi, is another contribution to that work. This attractive and substantial book has an entry for each calendar day detailing an event, person, place, or theme associated with black history.

    There are biographies of artists, musicians, activists, politicians, filmmakers, writers, and scientists. We learn about legal cases, such as Brown v Board of Education, when racial segregation in US schools was ruled unconstitutional, and the Mansfield Judgment, a 1772 British ruling which decided the fate of enslaved African James Somerset, and was used by abolitionists in their campaign to end slavery.

    We get to see important objects, like the Benin Bronzes, a collection of sculptures created by skilled artisans in the Kingdom of Benin – now part of Nigeria – which were looted by British forces in 1897. They were then given to institutions like the British Museum, where some are still on display.

    The book narrates histories of violence and injustice, from centuries of enslavement and brutal colonial rule, to South Africa’s Sharpeville massacre when, in March 1960, 69 people protesting apartheid laws were killed by the police.

    The tragedy of the 1981 New Cross fire in south London, where 14 young Black people were killed in a suspected arson attack on a house party, is recounted as is the racist murder of teenager Stephen Lawrence, also in south London in 1993.

    It tells stories of resistance and resilience, such as the uprising of enslaved people in Jamaica in 1760, known as Tacky’s revolt, and the 1961 Freedom Rides, when Black and white students challenged racial segregation on American buses and were met with violence.

    In Britain it examines the Bristol bus boycott of 1963, a four-month-long protest against the bus company’s refusal to hire Black or Asian drivers. Many of the events and names will be familiar to some readers but there is likely to be plenty that is new and novel.

    It is not a book which invites intensive reading, but rather the joy is to dip in and out, finding connections between entries, dates and themes. The popularity of social media “On This Day” posts suggests many readers will enjoy connecting past with present.

    At the end of the volume, as well as a glossary of terms, are 12 timelines which place some of the entries into a more cohesive – though potentially more limiting – narrative.

    For example, they outline Black resistance to slavery, abolitionist movements, and histories of imperialism and colonialism. Both here and throughout the book readers are pointed to connections between the entries. The text is enhanced by beautiful illustrations at the beginning of each month, which explore objects, places and themes associated with the entries, and the timelines are likewise creatively illustrated.

    Black History for Every Day is educational and informative, but it is written with a deft touch and its format, along with the illustrations and inclusion of photographs, mean it is also engaging and accessible.

    The scope of the histories included is global and many are transnational, showing the connections between the struggles and stories of people of African descent across the world. However, the majority of entries are associated with British and US history. This is not surprising given the authors’ research interests and the likely market for the book.

    While it is apparent that an attempt has been made to be geographically and chronologically diverse, around a third of the 366 entries deal with US history, suggesting that our understanding of Black history is still often dominated by its American iterations.

    The book is not attempting to break new ground. The timeline of the US civil rights movement, for example, begins with the Supreme Court ruling to desegregate education in 1954 and includes the acts of nonviolent direct action which have dominated the widely accepted “master narrative” of the era.

    However, the book does at least go slightly beyond the usual cut-off point to include the Black Panther Party’s breakfast program, which addressed poverty and hunger in the Black community between 1969 and 1980, and the murder of Black Panther deputy chairman Fred Hampton, who was killed in 1969 at the age of 21.

    The entry for Martin Luther King Jr. claims he organised the Montgomery bus boycott, ignoring the contributions of black women who were the driving force behind the movement. This is somewhat modified by the entry for activist Rosa Parks, which acknowledges the work of the Women’s Political Council in Montgomery.

    The book’s purpose is not to be comprehensive; it cannot be, given its breadth. Rather, each entry is intended to serve as an introduction. The authors explain they hope people will be inspired to find out more after reading it.

    Taken together, the daily entries narrate centuries of discrimination, violence and injustice against people of African descent. But they also tell stories of Black resilience, innovation, talent and achievement. The Olusogas’ book is published in time for Black History month in the UK, but it makes the case for engaging with black history beyond a single month every year.


    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    Jenny Woodley has received funding from the British Academy and the Leverhulme Trust.

    – ref. David Olusoga’s new book joins the struggle to make Black history mainstream – https://theconversation.com/david-olusogas-new-book-joins-the-struggle-to-make-black-history-mainstream-238825

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Starmer promises ‘homes for heroes’ – here’s what we know about veteran homelessness in England

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Lisa O’Malley, Senior lecturer, social policy, University of York

    Clare Louise Jackson/Shutterstock

    In a surprise announcement, Keir Starmer told Labour party conference that his government would end homelessness for veterans. “Homes will be there for heroes,” the prime minister said.

    Labour has promised to build 1.5 million new homes as part of its manifesto. In his speech, Starmer also said that care leavers and victims of domestic abuse will have a “guaranteed roof over their head”.

    I’ve been involved in research about veteran homelessness for ten years. While Starmer’s promise is welcome, it will be hard to achieve. Government data reported that there were 2,110 homeless families with an armed forces veteran in England in 2022-23, a 14% increase from the previous year.

    But that figure is likely to underestimate overall levels of housing insecurity among veterans. Many people who leave military service could be considered “hidden homeless”, particularly female veterans who are unlikely to engage with formal services and young service leavers who easily slip through the cracks of existing provision.

    Those who have been lucky enough to find the right service at the right time may live in veteran-specific housing, including supported accommodation. Others may have found help through Operation Fortitude. This government-run referral scheme for veterans at risk of homelessness has housed over 400 people since it began in September 2023. But these services aren’t enough to ensure stable and secure housing for all veterans.

    The scale of the housing crisis has widened the gap between military and civilian life. Service leavers now need to save more and for longer than they did in the past to have any hope of closing the gap between their entitlements in military accommodation and the cost and availability of civilian housing.

    While in the military, service members’ accommodation is deeply subsidised. Today, a service family with two children could be entitled to a three-bedroom house, paying around £320 a month. For single personnel, it could be as little as £106 per month. In 2013 (the most recent available data), most personnel paid less than 12% of their salary for accommodation charges. The civilian population at the time paid between 20% and 40% for housing.

    However, many service members do not consider what they might do once that support ends. The people most vulnerable to homelessness after military service are those who are discharged quickly, for example for medical or disciplinary reasons. They might be required to leave military accommodation within weeks (or sometimes hours), and haven’t had chance to plan for life after the military.

    Want more politics coverage from academic experts? Every week, we bring you informed analysis of developments in government and fact check the claims being made.

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    Many of the veterans and service members my colleagues and I interviewed for our research spoke of the lack of planning and ability to save. One told us: “When you join at 18 and get a salary at the same time as all my mates’ student loans, you think you’re a multi-millionaire.”

    Our research suggests that home ownership at the point of discharge is out of reach for many. Social housing is not an option for many veterans, who do not qualify if they are single or have available savings.

    Social housing allocation rules require applicants to have a local connection to qualify. The government said it will bring in changes to fully exempt veterans, care leavers and domestic abuse survivors. Veterans are currently exempt from this for five years. But the exemption is irrelevant if there are no suitable properties available, and veterans are consequently likely to be in temporary accommodation.

    Housing in the private rented sector is expensive to secure and costly to maintain. Many service leavers find themselves returning to the parental home, sometimes after many years of successful service.

    Transitioning to civilian life

    The move from military to civilian life is hard to navigate. While it is certainly true that many service leavers thrive in civilian life, others struggle to find the right support and resources. They may not have the financial literacy and planning to know how to navigate the housing system. One veteran described feelings of “abandonment” after leaving service:

    I joined at 16. I did 15 years. I left at 31. The Royal Navy were my parents. … I didn’t know where to go or what to do.

    Many service leavers are affected by trauma and PTSD, as well as other mental health or substance abuse problems. Like civilians suffering from these conditions, these interconnected issues can exacerbate housing insecurity. And long wait times for mental health services can reduce the chances of finding long-term housing as they struggle to maintain tenancies, pay bills on time and keep stable employment.

    How then, can the government and military best help veterans at risk?

    The first 12 months after leaving service are critical to help the transition to civilian life and ensure service leavers have accommodation. In that time, service leavers should be given an automatic referral to a time-limited housing support scheme if they have nowhere to go.

    They could also be given the option to remain in military accommodation with support to give them time to transition. Another direct solution would be to give service leavers money for private rented sector or mortgage deposits.

    These solutions can’t just start when people leave service. Better mental health support and improving financial literacy while still in service is critical.

    And any solutions can’t be short-term. The homeless veterans I have met over the years were often discharged many years before they experienced homelessness. Evidence suggests that within five years post-discharge is a critical time for rough sleeping to be established. Support for those who left service some years ago also needs to be part of the offer.

    Lisa O’Malley receives funding from Forces in Mind Trust.

    – ref. Starmer promises ‘homes for heroes’ – here’s what we know about veteran homelessness in England – https://theconversation.com/starmer-promises-homes-for-heroes-heres-what-we-know-about-veteran-homelessness-in-england-239782

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Get your haul from the Hall as artisan market returns

    Source: City of Liverpool

    Around 70 of the best independent traders will be heading to St George’s Hall next month to showcase a vast array of stunning and unique products.

    The artisan market, which has FREE entry, returns on Sunday 6 October, after the huge success of the inaugural event back in June. Running from 10am to 4.30pm expect stalls filled with beautiful artwork, jewellery, candles and one-off homeware pieces.

    There will also be a whole host of goodies ranging from chocolates, to cheeses and chutneys, right through to a large selection of crafted pieces.

    Outside the Hall, the food zone will be the perfect place to take a break from browsing, with a variety of hot food vendors offering light bites or more substantial meals. And why not sit back and relax inside with a drink and enjoy the live music performances which will be taking place throughout the day.

    The first market took place on 16 June and attracted more than 3,000 visitors. There are already plans for a winter instalment of the market, which will take place on Sunday 3 November.

    Liverpool is home to a well-established markets offer, from the weekly Great Homer Street Market (Greatie Market) – to a regular programme of farmers’ and craft markets. Please visit the Council’s markets webpages for more information.

    Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Harry Doyle, said: “There is already an autumnal nip in the air and this artisan market is the perfect, family-friendly way to while away an October day.

    “We were delighted with the numbers who came out in June to support local traders, so we knew it couldn’t be just a one-off event. We know that markets, done right, can be hugely popular and we have never been shy about our ambition to grow our markets and make them a key part of our destination offer which will not only appeal to residents, but will also bring in visitors from outside of the city.   

    “I’m sure this next instalment will prove to be popular once again, and that we can make this a permanent, seasonal offer at the Hall.”

    Local trader and textile designer specialising in unique, bespoke city landscapes, Sandra Hepworth, said: “The market was a big hit in June, and I’m so pleased we’re returning to St George’s Hall again. It’s a place where visitors can enjoy a vast array of high-quality products created by local traders, and get that personal, friendly interaction that makes artisan markets like this really stand out from the crowd.

    “And of course being located in such amazing surroundings really gives this venue the edge. I know so many people who are excited to come along in October – not only to check out the unique pieces for sale, but also to enjoy this incredible heritage gem, which many will be visiting for the first time.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Personal AI Brings AI Workforce Platform to Google Cloud Marketplace

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Personal AI, the leading platform for building AI workforces in regulated industries, today announced that its proprietary Small Language Model (SLM) technology and AI Training Platform are now available on Google Cloud Marketplace. This move allows customers to quickly purchase and deploy Personal AI, streamlining the procurement process for enterprises looking to leverage SLMs.

    Personal AI’s platform enables organizations to create networks of AI Personas, each representing key roles and expertise within the company. These AI Personas are exclusively trained on proprietary data, ensuring high accuracy, transparency, and privacy – crucial factors for regulated industries such as legal, financial services, consulting, and government.

    “Our mission at Personal AI is to redefine how the modern workforce creates AI Personas and collaborates with them in professional environments,” said Suman Kanuganti, CEO and Co-founder of Personal AI. “By joining Google Cloud Marketplace, we’re making it easier than ever for organizations to access our cutting-edge AI Training Studio. This collaboration will accelerate the adoption of AI workforces, allowing businesses to scale their expertise, streamline workflows, and make more informed decisions while maintaining the highest standards of data privacy and security.”

    Personal AI’s availability on Google Cloud Marketplace offers several benefits to customers, including simplified billing and reduced procurement cycles. This aligns with Personal AI’s commitment to providing flexible, scalable solutions that cater to businesses of all sizes.

    “Bringing Personal AI to Google Cloud Marketplace will help customers quickly deploy, manage, and grow the AI Training Platform on Google Cloud’s trusted, global infrastructure,” said Dai Vu, Managing Director, Marketplace & ISV GTM Programs at Google Cloud. “Personal AI can now securely scale and support customers on their digital transformation journeys.”

    About Personal AI
    Personal AI develops a horizontal AI training and collaboration platform, focused on private, Small Language Models (SLMs) that multiply the capabilities of enterprise teams. Their technology enables organizations to build networks of AI Personas, each representing key roles within companies. These AI Personas are exclusively trained on proprietary data, ensuring unparalleled accuracy, transparency, and privacy. For more information, please visit https://personal.ai

    Media Contact
    Jonathan Bikoff
    jonathan@personal.ai

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. Executives to Present at the ArcStone – Kingswood Growth Summit 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Senior Company leaders will participate in a panel discussion highlighting the energy transition on September 26th, 2024.

    New York, N.Y., Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) (“NANO Nuclear” of “the Company”), a leading advanced nuclear energy and technology company focused on developing portable, clean energy solutions, today announced that several senior executives will participate in a panel discussion at the ArcStone-Kingswood Growth Summit 2024, taking place in Toronto Canada on September 26, 2024.

    The ArcStone-Kingswood Growth Summit 2024 will offer exclusive access to insightful sessions and expert-led panels on listing and cross-listing companies. Investors will have the opportunity to engage with executive management from both private and public companies across a range of high-growth sectors, including Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Energy, and more.

    NANO Nuclear will take part in a panel discussion titled “Traditional Energy & Energy Transition” on September 26th. This session will be moderated by Jack Bensimon, Managing Partner, ArcStone Securities and Investments Corp.

    “It is a pleasure for us to participate in this cross border growth summit,” said Jay Yu, Founder and Chairman of NANO Nuclear Energy. “We are passionate in our mission to revolutionize the way industries around the world utilize nuclear energy. The Growth Summit in Toronto will continue our international reach, as well as discuss how advanced nuclear solutions can reshape the energy landscape in Canada. I am delighted to attend and look forward to our panel discussion, which will be an informative and exciting feature of the day.”

    Figure 1 – NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. to Participate in an ArcStone-Kingswood Growth Summit 2024 Panel Discussion Titled “Traditional Energy & Energy Transition.”

    The event will showcase over 30 public and private companies from around the world, with more than 400 institutional investors, family offices, retail wealth advisors, high net worth individuals, and industry professionals expected to attend. The conference will include corporate presentations, panel discussions, one-on-one investor meetings, cocktail receptions, and an invitation-only VIP dinner, bridging the gap between Canadian and U.S. capital markets, and offering a platform for companies to highlight their growth potential and connect with key investors.

    “I am delighted to see NANO Nuclear take part in this year’s ArcStone – Kingswood Growth Summit,” said James Walker, Chief Executive Officer and Head of Reactor Development of NANO Nuclear Energy. “NANO Nuclear is dedicated to innovation, like our proprietary microreactors and ancillary business lines, for the wider nuclear energy industry. Events like this are essential, as they provide a platform for business leaders and stakeholders to collaborate on addressing the challenges of today and planning for tomorrow.”

    About NANO Nuclear Energy, Inc.

    NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) is an advanced technology-driven nuclear energy company seeking to become a commercially focused, diversified, and vertically integrated company across four business lines: (i) cutting edge portable microreactor technology, (ii) nuclear fuel fabrication, (iii) nuclear fuel transportation and (iv) nuclear industry consulting services. NANO Nuclear believes it is the first portable nuclear microreactor company to be listed publicly in the U.S.

    Led by a world-class nuclear engineering team, NANO Nuclear’s products in technical development are “ZEUS”, a solid core battery reactor, and “ODIN”, a low-pressure coolant reactor, each representing advanced developments in clean energy solutions that are portable, on-demand capable, advanced nuclear microreactors.

    Advanced Fuel Transportation Inc. (AFT), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is led by former executives from the largest transportation company in the world aiming to build a North American transportation company that will provide commercial quantities of HALEU fuel to small modular reactors, microreactor companies, national laboratories, military, and DOE programs. Through NANO Nuclear, AFT is the exclusive licensee of a patented high-capacity HALEU fuel transportation basket developed by three major U.S. national nuclear laboratories and funded by the Department of Energy. Assuming development and commercialization, AFT is expected to form part of the only vertically integrated nuclear fuel business of its kind in North America.

    HALEU Energy Fuel Inc. (HEF), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is focusing on the future development of a domestic source for a High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) fuel fabrication pipeline for NANO Nuclear’s own microreactors as well as the broader advanced nuclear reactor industry.

    For more corporate information please visit: https://NanoNuclearEnergy.com/

    For further information, please contact:

    Email: IR@NANONuclearEnergy.com
    Business Tel: (212) 634-9206
    PLEASE FOLLOW OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES HERE:
    NANO Nuclear Energy LINKEDIN
    NANO Nuclear Energy YOUTUBE
    NANO Nuclear Energy TWITTER

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

    This news release and statements of NANO Nuclear’s management in connection with this news release or related events contain or may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this context, forward-looking statements mean statements related to future events, which may impact our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “potential”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “would” or “may” and other words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this news release and represent management’s current views and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, events or results and involve significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control. For NANO Nuclear, particular risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the following: (i) risks related to our U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) nuclear fuel manufacturing submission and the development of new or advanced technology, including difficulties with design and testing, cost overruns, development of competitive technology, (ii) our ability to obtain contracts and funding to be able to continue operations, (iii) risks related to uncertainty regarding our ability to technologically develop and commercially deploy a competitive advanced nuclear reactor technology, (iv) risks related to the impact of government regulation and policies including by the DOE and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, including those associated with the recently enacted ADVANCE Act, and (v) similar risks and uncertainties associated with the business of a start-up business operating a highly regulated industry. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release. These factors may not constitute all factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in any forward-looking statement, and the NANO Nuclear therefore encourages investors to review other factors that may affect future results in its filings with the SEC, which are available for review at http://www.sec.gov and at https://ir.nanonuclearenergy.com/financial-information/sec-filings. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a predictor of actual results. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this news release, except as required by law.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Ministerial event Feminist Foreign Policy Plus (FFP+) group Address by Jean-Noël Barrot Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs (25.09.24)

    Source: Republic of France in English
    The Republic of France has issued the following statement:

    Ministers,

    Representatives of the United Nations agencies, international organizations and civil society organizations,

    Executive Director of UN Women,

    Ladies and gentlemen,

    Our countries have chosen to officially adopt feminist foreign policy.

    By doing so, they pledged to make the rights of women and gender equality a priority.

    Because feminist foreign policy is a political commitment: to combat violence against women and girls all over the world; to defend and, as decided in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, make gender equality effective; and to reaffirm and promote the universality of the rights of women and girls everywhere that they are under threat.

    And it is on the basis of these principles that I will have the honour and pleasure of welcoming you to France in 2025 as agreed for the next Feminist Foreign Policy Conference.

    2025 will also mark the 30th anniversary of two key documents in the advancement of the rights of women and girls around the world: the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. We must continue to enforce this reference framework and go even further.

    That is why France enshrined the freedom to choose an abortion in its Constitution on 8 March 2024. Guaranteeing sexual and reproductive health and rights means respecting women’s right to control over their own bodies. We must protect that right from any regression, and it must remain an absolute priority for our group. We invite all States to give the right to abortion the highest level of legal protection.

    Going further also means taking into account the challenges presented by the rapid development of new digital technologies, particularly artificial intelligence.

    In 2023, France launched the Laboratory for Women’s Rights Online, an international platform created to fight online violence against women and girls. By doing so, we are building the first forum of this kind, which will be both a space for dialogue and an incubator for projects.

    The upcoming AI Action Summit, set to take place in Paris in February 2025, will also be an opportunity to address gender bias and barriers to the rights of women and girls online.

    This autumn, France – with the Netherlands – will present a draft resolution to combat online violence against women and girls to the General Assembly. They are the primary victims, and it is time that the international community tackles this issue.

    Ladies and gentlemen,

    Violence is also perpetrated against women and girls in the context of war. We cannot resign ourselves to what is happening in Afghanistan, where the Taliban’s policy of segregation is erasing women from society. We have made respect for the rights of women a clear condition for political dialogue to resume. That condition must be met. We should not, cannot, abandon Afghan women and girls. It would be a moral failure.

    Nor can we omit to condemn in the strongest terms the barbaric sexual violence committed by Hamas and other terrorist groups on 7 October last year.

    And we cannot forget the lives of Yazidi women, shattered by the genocidal terrorism of Daesh.

    Relentlessly fighting sexual and gender-based violence and impunity will remain central to our work. France was the first to support the fund launched by Nadia Murad and Doctor Mukwege, and supported the first International Conference of Prosecutors on Accountability for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence at The Hague in March. We will continue to work to support female victims of sexual violence, as we are doing in Ukraine for the victims of Russian atrocities, and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic.

    Ladies and gentlemen,

    The international community should not limit its understanding of feminism to the protection of victims. I mentioned the upcoming anniversary of the Beijing Declaration next year; I now want to highlight the role of women as drivers of change for peace, sustainable development and prosperity. Involving women and girls in decision-making processes is both a moral imperative and a condition for our prosperity.

    We therefore support the draft general recommendation No. 4 of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) on the equal and inclusive representation of women in decision-making systems. It is a major step forward. I also commend the work of the Committee and thank Minister Nicole Ameline for her enlightening presentation.

    As we know, women play a crucial role in responding to crises and, together, ensuring peace and security. With this in mind, I hope to one day address a female Secretary-General of the United Nations, as well as her envoy for the political participation of women and the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.

    I would like to reiterate that France supports the voices of those who defend these rights, often risking their lives, all over the world. The Support Fund for Feminist Organizations, a French initiative, is the world’s leading fund in terms of financing and geographic scope. I am committed to enshrining it in the long term.

    Ladies and gentlemen,

    In conclusion, I would like to express France’s support for all women and girls whose voices have been stifled and silenced, and whose freedoms and rights have been denied and trampled. France stands with you, and with them.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The UK Government’s Regional Development Director visits Ashgabat

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The UK delegation led by the UK Government’s Regional Development Director visited Ashgabat from 9 to 15 September 2024.

    Sarah Cooper, Regional Development Director FCDO presents at the Forum.

    The UK Government’s Regional Development Director; Regional Climate Adviser; and Regional Private Sector Development Adviser visited Ashgabat from 9to 15 September, 2024.

    The UK Government’s Regional Development Director, Regional Climate Adviser and Regional Private Sector Development Adviser in Ashgabat.

    The objective of the visit was to explore areas of mutual co-operation between the UK and Turkmenistan on areas including climate change, economic, social development, and education partnerships.

    The UK Government’s Regional Private Sector Development Adviser speaks at the Forum

    During the visit, the FCDO team had the opportunity to meet with government representatives covering energy; water; economic development and social protection. The team also met development partners including bilateral partners and UN agencies.

    The visit will pave the way for further UK engagement in Turkmenistan across a number of areas:

    • small and medium enterprise development
    • climate change, for example, through a flexible fund to support climate adaptation for communities
    • building education partnerships with UK universities, including continuing professional development for teachers, especially on English language

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Climate change conferences in Turkmenistan across all velayats

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Climate change conferences in Dashoguz, Balkanabat, Turkmenabat, Buzmeyin and Ashgabat.

    The Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) stands as a unique and significant platform for students.

    With encouragement and support from the President of Turkmenistan (and in the lead up to the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change), a series of youth conferences on climate change were held in Turkmenistan across all ‘velayats’ (regions) including: Dashoguz, Balkanabat, Turkmenabat, Buzmeyin and Ashgabat. These events brought together young people to discuss current environmental issues and looked at finding ways for Turkmenistan’s youth to actively participate in solving problems related to climate change.

    The Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) participants

    The Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) is a unique and significant platform, as the youth-led climate initiative fully supported by the Turkmen government. This initiative was introduced by the British Embassy in Turkmenistan back in 2021, supported by the United Nations Coordinators Office and other UN agencies. Fellow embassies have since lent their support, including the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in 2023 and the Embassy of Azerbaijan in 2024. The biggest leaders of this movement are however the Sustainable Development Goal Ambassadors and climate activists who have campaigned throughout the years.

    The Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) stands as a unique and significant platform

    Hosting the series in different cities has allowed local youth to address climate issues specific to each location. This ensures that local challenges are recognised and tailored solutions are developed to meet needs. Through LCOY, Turkmenistan’s youth are at the forefront of driving change, positioning themselves as critical players in the challenges against climate change.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/SUDAN – El Fasher: humanitarian situation out of control

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Khartoum (Agenzia Fides) – Five months of siege and fighting have worn down the population of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. The city is considered the last remaining stronghold of the Sudanese armed forces in a region (see Fides, 5/5/2024) that is now almost entirely controlled by the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of General Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo.More than 1.5 million people are at risk in the city, which has been under siege since April-May, and in the nearby Zamzam refugee camp, 15 km south of El Fasher, where about 260,000 children live and where the humanitarian situation is increasingly deteriorating.Soldiers from a division of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and militiamen from several local armed groups fighting the RSF have barricaded themselves in the city. A coalition of heterogeneous forces united only by their common opposition to the RSF, which has so far managed to hold out against Dagalo’s forces.Last week, the town was hit by a fierce Rapid Support Forces offensive that was narrowly repelled, with heavy casualties on both sides, as shown by satellite photos showing recently dug mounds of earth likely to indicate the creation of mass graves.Faced with the deteriorating humanitarian situation in El Fasher, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (a body set up in 1987 by the then African Union Organization, now the African Union) has issued a call for a cessation of fighting. “The African Commission condemns in the strongest terms the atrocities being committed against the civilian population in the context of the ongoing fighting in El Fasher, which seriously endanger the hundreds of thousands of refugees who have found refuge in the town,” it said in a statement on September 21. “The African Commission on Human Rights urges the parties to the conflict to cease all acts of violence against civilians and to fully respect the principles of discrimination, necessity and proportionality under international humanitarian law.”The “Forum of International Non-Governmental Organizations in Sudan” (Sudan INGO Forum) has, for its part, appealed to the international community at the UN General Assembly to intervene to end the conflict in Sudan that broke out in April 2023. “Sudan is experiencing a man-made food crisis of historic proportions, largely caused by the actions and decisions of the parties to the conflict in violation of international humanitarian law,” the non-governmental organizations said. “As of August 2024, more than 25 million people in Sudan are at risk of acute food insecurity and at least 755,000 people could die of catastrophic famine in the coming months if the international community does not act urgently and decisively,” it said.More than 10 million people have fled their homes since the conflict began in April 2023, making Sudan the world’s largest internal displacement crisis, affecting more than 5 million children and over 2 million people who have fled across borders to neighboring countries. Some health facilities report five child deaths per day. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 26/9/2024)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: 25/09/2024 Varsovia | Sejm Government information in the Sejm regarding actions taken in connection with the flood

    MIL ASI Translation. Region: Polish/Europe –

    Fuente: Gobierno de Polonia en poleco.

    El primer ministro Donald Tusk presented to the Sejm information on the government’s work so far in connection with the flood that is sweeping through Poland. Ministers involved in aid activities also presented their reports. The last few days have seen numerous crisis teams, meetings with injured residents of flooded areas, and work on solutions that will make it easier to deal with the effects of flooding. One thing is certain – thanks to the actions of the services, residents and volunteers, a larger disaster was avoided. Thanks to the “silent heroes” The head of government began his speech by thanking the inhabitants of the areas affected by the state of natural disaster, the services, and everyone involved in providing help. “Without this, the gigantic effort of tens of thousands of people there and hundreds of thousands of people who in various ways show solidarity and practical help to those fighting the flood, we would not have had it with this greatest downpour in history,” said the Prime Minister from the parliamentary rostrum. Much damage was done during the flood. houses and apartments as well as roads, bridges, schools, clinics, the hospital in Nysa was also flooded. However, thanks to people’s efforts, the damage will be much less than during the flood in 1997. “According to preliminary assessments, the destroyed and flooded residential premises this year, despite this great flood, the largest in history, will probably be 10 times less than in 1997″ – Donald Tusk informed. Thanks to the efforts of residents and state services, many towns were saved. We also protected large cities such as Wrocław and Opole. “When another staff briefing was held in Wrocław this morning, I saw the relief of the Lower Silesian Voivode and the President of Wrocław when they could confirm the forecast from the last hours that the state of alarm on the Oder in Cław was a thing of the past ”- noted the Prime Minister. From the very beginning, the Prime Minister and the Ministers monitored the situation in places that were threatened by high water, including: Kłodzko, Głuchołazy, Nysa, Jelenia Góra, Wrocław, Głogów, Nowa Sól and Szczecin. Pre-emptive actionsThe state acted from the first hours, when alarming forecasts from the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management regarding upcoming heavy rainfall appeared. Local crisis meetings, as well as those with the participation of the Government Center for Security, the Ministry of Interior and Administration and the services, were held from Wednesday, September 11. “On September 11, the RCB sent a message informing about the threat. Immediately after receiving this information, I ordered a briefing to be organized with the services and voivodes of the voivodeships that were at risk, recommending that all actions be taken to prepare for the flood,” emphasized the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration, Tomasz Siemoniak. Another crisis meeting was held on September 12, this time under the leadership of Minister T. Siemoniak. The next one is on Friday, September 13, in Wrocław, with the participation of the head of government. “On Friday 13, the morning forecast was: the rainfall would not be as heavy as we forecast the day before. On Friday evening, the forecasts deteriorated again,” explained Donald Tusk. From the very first moments, the government did not ignore forecasts and warnings and took action to secure endangered places. “From the first day, we called on all residents and repeated it every day, many times: do not ignore the fire brigade’s recommendations. and the police about the need to evacuate. From the first hours, the fire brigade, police and army reached places that were not yet flooded but at risk,” noted the Prime Minister. Soldiers from the Territorial Defense Forces were also involved in the activities from the very beginning. “The Polish Army has been involved in the activities from the very beginning. actions to protect the life and health of the population and in all activities related to the fight against floods,” said the Deputy Prime Minister and head of the Ministry of National Defense, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, in the Sejm. and the police were on standby even before the high waters arrived. The services secured crisis places and ensured the safety of residents. “The first hours were devoted primarily to rescue. […] First of all, it was necessary to save human life, health and property and belongings of these people. This was the first, most difficult phase,” noted Donald Tusk. The second phase of assistance is ad hoc support. The government has secured funds to fight the effects of the flood. Each injured party can receive PLN 10,000 in emergency support. “Currently, over PLN 30,000 of these benefits have been paid within a few days. […] There will certainly be no shortage of funds,” the head of government emphasized. Flood victims can also receive up to PLN 100,000 in non-refundable support for the renovation or reconstruction of farm buildings. In the case of residential buildings, they can apply for up to PLN 200,000 in non-refundable support. “Wherever it is necessary to rebuild from the foundations or relocate residents from clearly flooded areas, or reconstruction will not make sense – the state will take on the organizational and financial effort,” he assured. Primer Ministro. Yesterday, the Council of Ministers adopted a draft bill containing provisions that are intended to facilitate the fight against the effects of the flood and help those affected. We will not leave people alone. The government has secured funds in the state budget to help those affected by the flood. We will also receive financial support of PLN 20 billion from the European Commission. Ministries also organize aid from their own budgets. “On Saturday we will amend the draft budget. Currently, we will have approximately PLN 23 billion at our disposal for eliminating the effects of the flood, emergency and financial assistance, repairs and reconstruction of infrastructure, as well as for Reconstruction Plus,” said the Prime Minister. Every person who has been left without a roof over their head can count on for state aid. No one will be left without a safe shelter. “We need to provide temporary places of residence, it may be a modular house, a container or, in the short term, a hotel for which we will pay,” said Donald Tusk. The Prime Minister assured that the fire brigade and army will continue to help in removing the effects of the flood. “We will have the forces of the army and fire brigade on site until this action of cleaning, drying and adapting these places to life again ends,” the head of government emphasized. The Reconstruction Plus program will lead to new infrastructure will be built in places affected by the flood, which will guarantee greater security in the future. Transparency of state activities. Crisis meetings held in southern and western Poland were broadcast by the media. Thanks to this, everyone could listen to the current report on the activities of the government, local government and services, as well as get acquainted with the current meteorological and hydrological situation. “I have consistently tried to make information on the flood situation available to all interested parties at least twice a day. This was necessary because there was a huge wave of disinformation that could impede the work of the services,” noted the Prime Minister. The Internal Security Agency was also involved in work for information security, which, among others, detained a person spreading false information about blowing up the embankments. Social media accounts were also detected that spread disinformation related to the flood in Poland. Commitment and dedication of the services. The great heroes of recent days are firefighters, soldiers and policemen who ensure the safety of residents in flood areas around the clock. “At the moment, 25 units are still assigned to the operation. thousand soldiers, 20 thousand are involved in direct operations. At the peak, there were over 25,000 soldiers engaged in the fight against the flood and removing its effects,” informed the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense. As part of the activities of the Polish Army, over 1,300 units of military equipment were deployed. Additionally, engineering troops were involved in the activities, clearing 129 km of roads and making 27 reconnaissances of damaged bridges. 125 Patrol and Transport flights were also carried out. 4,539 people were evacuated, including 98 people by helicopter. “The army operates in all domains, it also takes care of serving meals. Since the beginning of the campaign, 18,000 have been spent. meals for civilians and 27,000 meals were distributed. liters of bottled water. So far, 48 military tankers have delivered approximately 1.4 million de litros de madera to various towns affected by the flood,” said Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. All services cooperated together for a very important purpose. The services’ action is still ongoing and will continue as long as necessary. The entire government was involved in anti-flood activities and those related to the effects of the flood. A total of 14 Ministers presented reports on the activities of their ministries to the Sejm.

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  • MIL-OSI Translation: The Government of the Canton of Aargau visits Grisons

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Italy –

    Source: Switzerland – Canton Government of Grisons in Italian

    At the invitation of the Grisons government, the government of the Canton of Aargau visited the Canton of Grisons yesterday and today.

    During its visit to the Canton of Graubünden, the delegation from the Canton of Aargau was led by Landamman Markus Dieth. He was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Dieter Egli, State Councillor Stephan Attiger, State Councillor Alex Hürzeler, State Councillor Jean-Pierre Gallati and Chancellor Joana Filippi as well as Government Spokesman Peter Buri.

    Yesterday, the government received its guests in the Sinergia administrative building in Chur. There, at the beginning of their meeting, the two delegations took part in a joint guided tour of the administrative building. They then travelled to Davos Monstein where they visited BierVision Monstein AG, one of the most beautiful breweries in Europe. They then spent the night on the Schatzalp.

    Today’s program included a visit to the AO Forschungsinstitut, a world leader in preclinical research in traumatology and orthopedics. A presentation by Prof. Dr. Rico Franc Valär on the importance of Romansh and Italian in the Canton of Grisons, followed by lunch, concluded the program.

    The focus of the visit of the Government of the Canton of Aargau was on the maintenance of friendly relations and the exchange of experiences in the cultural, economic and political fields.

    Photograph:

    The Aargau government and the government of the canton of Grisons in front of the Sinergia administrative centre in Chur

    Prime Minister Jon Domenic Parolini with Landamman Markus Dieth

    Contact person:

    Prime Minister Dr. Jon Domenic Parolini, Director of the Department of Education, Culture and Environmental Protection, e-mailJondomenic.Parolini@ekud.gr.ch

    Competent body: Government

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  • MIL-OSI Translation: 26/09/2024 Solutions for entrepreneurs affected by floods

    MIL ASI Translation. Region: Polish/Europe –

    Fuente: Gobierno de Polonia en poleco.

    Each taxpayer affected by the flood may apply in the manner provided for in the Tax Ordinance for the cancellation of tax liabilities. Entrepreneurs affected by the flood may take advantage of extended deadlines for payment of IVA, PIT and CIT taxes. Victims have extended deadlines for submitting JPK_VAT, summary information, the vast majority of VAT returns. A 0% VAT rate applies to donations of goods and services provided in connection with assistance to flood victims, the same rate applies to donations of building materials for the reconstruction or renovation of flood-damaged properties. We enable the use of additional tax reliefs. Injured entrepreneurs will receive a refund of the costs of purchasing cash registers up to PLN 2,000. A special hotline is operating for flood victims. The Ministry of Finance has prepared regulations that contain a number of solutions intended for victims of the September flood. In the scope not covered by the regulation, each taxpayer affected by the flood may apply in the manner provided for in the Tax Ordinance for the cancellation of tax liabilities. We are extending tax payment deadlines Entrepreneurs affected by the flood have extended tax payment deadlines for IVA, PIT and CIT. In the case of VAT, the deferral of tax payment is valid until 25 January 2025. In the scope of PIT and CIT, the deferral applies to tax advances and taxes due for August-December 2024. Entrepreneurs will settle the tax only in their annual tax return. A similar solution will apply to the flat-rate tax on recorded revenues, the so-called minimum tax on buildings and those CIT taxpayers whose tax year is different than the calendar year. The postponement also applies to the tax paid to the tax office for employees of affected companies. The above solutions apply to taxpayers and payers affected by the flood, having a place of residence or registered office or management board, respectively, and conducting business in the areas of municipalities covered by the state of natural disaster. At the same time, we are postponing the deadlines for submitting monthly and quarterly VAT declarations, summary information and JPK-VAT until November 25, 2024 (this applies to those declarations and information whose deadlines for submission fall in the period from September to October 2024). Additional tax reliefs In the event of transferring ownership of fixed assets to affected entrepreneurs free of charge or financing their purchase, entrepreneurs have the option of including depreciation write-offs in the costs of obtaining income until the end of the next calendar year. Entrepreneurs lending fixed assets to affected persons have the option of continuing depreciation write-offs and including them in the costs of obtaining income revenues.These reliefs are valid until the end of the next calendar year, subject to the second (applies throughout the entire depreciation period).In terms of stamp duty, exemption from official acts, issuing certificates or permits, submitting a power of attorney, proxy, its extract, extract, copy in matters related to the removal of the effects of flooding – submitted/issued on July 15, 2025.IVA 0% en donationsThe 0% IVA rate is applied to donations of all kinds of goods, e.g. food, blankets, sleeping bags, clothes, but also free services, such as accommodation or rental of power generators, which may be necessary to mitigate the effects of the disaster.The solution can be used by entrepreneurs making donations for purposes related to helping flood victims. It concerns support implemented through entities, usually public benefit organizations, local government units, medical entities and the Government Agency for Strategic Reserves. The 0% rate may be applied to donations made from September 12 to December 31, 2024. Details in the announcement. IVA 0% for donations of building materials for flood victims From September 24, 2024, a regulation has been in force allowing the application of a 0% VAT rate for donations of building materials transferred to victims whose real estate was destroyed as a result of the September cataclysm. The 0% rate applies to donations of such materials transferred directly to: natural persons, entities conducting activities: education, cultural, in the field of health care, social care, care for children, youth and the elderly, in the field of collective accommodation of pupils and students,

    whose properties are located in the municipalities affected by the disaster and who have the formal right to dispose of these properties. The 0% rate may be applied to donations of building materials made from the date of entry into force of the regulation, i.e. September 24, 2024, March 31, 2025. The aim of the solution is to facilitate the reconstruction or renovation of buildings and structures destroyed by the flood, and thus a faster return to normal life for residents of the area affected by the disaster. Details in the announcement. Reimbursement of the costs of purchasing a cash register In response to the demands of entrepreneurs from areas affected by the flood, the Ministry of Finance is introducing a refund of the costs of purchasing cash registers up to PLN 2,000. This solution applies to entrepreneurs who lost their cash registers as a result of the flood, who have a place of residence or registered office or management board, respectively, and who conduct business in the areas of municipalities affected by the natural disaster. Additionally, producer and importer of cash registers associated with the National Chamber of Commerce for Electronics and Telecommunications (KIGEiT) declared their assistance to entrepreneurs in carrying out tests of cash registers that were damaged in the flood, as well as a special offer for entrepreneurs who lost their cash registers as a result of the flood. Helpline and taxpayer service points There is a special helpline that taxpayers affected by the flood can call. The helpline is open on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. From 8:00 to 18:00, phone number 22 460 59 30. Tax authorities will consider applications from flood victims first, and certificates for affected taxpayers (on income, revenue, no arrears) will be processed “on the spot”, both submitted directly to tax offices or electronically. In tax offices where direct service is not possible, taxpayers are served via remote channels. Affected taxpayers can submit applications at any nearest tax office. To facilitate and speed up assistance to victims, temporary taxpayer service points may be created, depending on the needs.

    MILES AXIS

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  • MIL-OSI Translation: 26/09/2024 Deputy Prime Minister W. Kosiniak-Kamysz in the Sejm: The Polish Army has been involved in all activities related to the fight against the flood from the very first hours

    MIL ASI Translation. Region: Polish/Europe –

    Fuente: Gobierno de Polonia en poleco.

    From the very first hours, the Polish Army has been involved in actions protecting the life and health of the population, helping citizens, and in all state activities related to the fight against flooding. (…) At this moment, over 25,000 are still assigned to the operation. soldiers. 20 tips. soldiers of the Polish Army are taking part in the action directly at this moment. At a key moment, at the peak of involvement, there were over 25,000. soldiers involved in the fight against the flood and removing its effects – said Deputy Prime Minister W. Kosiniak-Kamysz during his speech in the Sejm. On September 25, in the Sejm, the Government presented information on the involvement of the services in the fight against the flood and removing its effects. All types of armed forces were used in fighting the flood. All these actions that we carried out were fully coordinated with the activities of the State Fire Service and Police under the leadership of the crisis staff – noted the head of the Ministry of National Defense at the beginning of his speech. In his speech, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that the military’s actions began immediately after the end of the meeting of the Government Security Center on 11 September. On September 11, the Territorial Defense Forces recognize it. On September 12, the formation of military task groups begins. The command of this action is entrusted to the commander of the Territorial Defense Forces, General Krzysztof Stańczyk, who from that moment on commands the entire operation – not only the territorial defense troops, but also the operational troops assigned to the operation. From that moment, four military task groups are formed: in Lesser Poland, Greater Poland, Silesia and Lower Silesia… (…) From September 12, engineering task groups separated from operational troops are created with eight green helicopters, self-propelled transporters, sailing with sappers’ boats, with troops engineering. On September 12, commanders of WOT brigades establish close cooperation with services and territorial administration bodies. As a result, they direct liaison officers to 6 provincial crisis management centers and 4 district and 11 municipal centers. September 13, when the headquarters is held in Wrocław under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister. Oh dios. 14 at the General Staff in Warsaw, with the participation of the most important commanders, I receive a report from the Chief of the General Staff, the Commander of the Territorial Defense Forces and the General Commander of the Armed Forces about the readiness of 4 task teams, task groups and 5 engineering teams. They are going into action, they are the first to be launched on September 13 in the Opole Voivodeship in Głuchołazy, said the head of the Ministry of National Defense, informing about the army’s activities. The head of the Ministry of National Defense informed that direct actions were directed, among others, to: over 1,300 units of military equipment, including 758 passenger vehicles and trucks, 17 sanitary vehicles, 43 bulldozer-loaders, 59 dump trucks, 19 PTS, 40 sappers’ boats. Further actions that were taken concerned the engineering component. (…) Engineering troops have been present in operations from the very beginning. Now they are carrying out activities analyzing the places where the bridges broke. Special teams have been identified. Engineering troops carried out operations to unblock 129 kilometers of roads. They reconnoitred 27 damaged bridges in four locations: Głuchołazy, Krapkowice, Stronie Śląskie, Lądek, Zdrój. Corrective actions are already underway. The crossing is being carried out. The engineering forces will again build temporary bridges using the DMS-65 structure obtained from the Government Agency of Strategic Reserves. The reconstruction of temporary road infrastructure is being carried out in most towns, said Vice Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz. One of the important tasks carried out by the army was air support. 125 air missions were completed. And there are patrol and transport flights, those that dropped 744 big bags. 4,539 people were evacuated, including 98 people using helicopters. The army also provides water and food to residents of the affected areas. It also supports their Distribution. Since the beginning of the campaign, 18,000 meals have been served to civilians and 27,000 liters of bottled water have been distributed. 48 cisternas have so far delivered 1.4 millones de litros de agua to various towns affected by the flood. The Polish Army also provides medical assistance in post-flood areas. A military hospital was established in Nysa, which has so far admitted about 400 patients. The couple shows how much involvement was needed in this operation as well. Seven mobile clinics have been established, not only outpatient clinics, but also specialized clinics. The military sanitary inspection has been involved, informed the Deputy Prime Minister. The next steps include the operation of the chemical forces component. There are 8 teams working to disinfect rooms. Disinfection is underway in schools, kindergartens, public places, as well as, if necessary, in households and farms where water has reached and a full return to functioning and normality is needed – said the Deputy Prime Minister of the Ministry of National Defense to the Sejm. The Head of the Ministry of National Defense informed about Operation “Feniks”, launched on September 23, aims to support the activities of residents and local governments in cleaning up and rebuilding post-flood areas. We have activated a multi-wave, multi-month Operation Feniks, aimed at rebuilding, tidying up and returning not only to the state before the flooding and damage, but as the Prime Minister indicated the direction at his staff, to raise the quality of these places, the usability of these places to the best possible standard. The bromear couple is very important to us that the quality of life and normality return there as soon as possible – said the head of the Ministry of National Defense. At the end of the speech, the head of the Ministry of National Defense thanked all the soldiers of the Polish Army, commanders, their subordinates, officers, non-commissioned officers, all of them for their boundless dedication. Bromear loves one of you proud. All those who benefit from your help are grateful to you. To Minister Siemoniak, I would like to thank the firefighters of the State Fire Service, the Police, all uniformed services subordinated to the Ministry of Interior and Administration and all the firefighters of the volunteer fire brigades, all those who showed up to fight the flood in extraordinary numbers. Minister Klimczak is responsible for all services related to the unblocking of communication routes – railways, road workers, transport workers. But most of all, on behalf of not only myself, but also all of us, I would like to thank the solidarity and brotherhood of Poles, which always wins, said the head of the Ministry of National Defense.

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  • MIL-OSI Translation: ASIA/BANGLADESH – The trials of Bangladeshi Christians and the support for the Rohingya (with the help of the Pope): interview with the Apostolic Nuncio

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Italy –

    Source: The Holy See in Italian

    Thursday, September 26, 2024

    by Fabio BerettaDacca (Agenzia Fides) – “The situation in Bangladesh”, where Christians represent just 0.30% of the population, “is very delicate. In general, Christians live peacefully, but there have been cases in which they have suffered abuse and bullying from their neighbors.” This was told by Archbishop Kevin Randall, Apostolic Nuncio in Bangladesh since 2023, who, when asked by Fides about the recent meeting he had with the Chief Advisor of the transitional government, outlines a cross-section of society and the commitment and support of the local Church and the Pope Francis in support of the Rohingya. After the protests and social tensions, what is the situation in Bangladesh? The situation in Bangladesh is very delicate. With an interim government some are wondering when there will be elections. Others want to rewrite the Constitution. Others say an interim government has no authority to rewrite the Constitution. In the meantime, mob violence dominates the country and the rule of law is reduced. How are Christian communities experiencing this historical moment? In general, Christians live peacefully, but there have been cases in which they have suffered abuse and bullying by of their neighbors. The police are helpless. After Sheik Hasina left the country, many officers became afraid and went into hiding. They left their uniforms to wear civilian clothes and no longer went to work. Do the Christian communities have specific expectations or feelings compared to the rest of the population? Yes, the Christian community hopes that the provisional government will protect the minorities in this transition period. Christian villages are under threat because there are those who aim to take over their land, even if they come from the same ethnic group as them. Many citizens, whether Christian, Buddhist or Hindu, are treated as unwelcome people, “as if they were foreigners”, when they are not. The Constitution declares that Bangladesh is a secular state with an official religion: Islam. But there are those who confuse the expression “official religion of the State” with the idea that “minorities do not belong to this land” and that this is “an Islamic State”. During the meeting with Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor to leadership of the provisional government, the need to “protect” minorities emerged. Where does this concern come from? According to the 2022 census, Christians in Bangladesh represent 0.30% (about 500,000 believers) of the national population. There have been cases of threats against villages, homes and especially schools. In many Catholic schools there have been intimidations leading to several teachers being fired. Some Muslims told school leaders that their children would dress in a certain way, especially if they were girls. But wearing the burqa is against our uniform regulations. With Dr. Yunus I discussed issues that concern Christians, as well as Buddhists and Hindus. It must be remembered that the Hindu minority is around 8%. They had many temples destroyed, their shops were burned. Dr. Yunus agreed that all minorities need protection and is trying to establish a law that would bring order. Recently, the creation of an interreligious dialogue body between the Holy See and scholars of Islam in Bangladesh has been suggested. How was this idea received? The idea of ​​having an interreligious dialogue is not mine. The Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, through a letter, asked for it but already years ago, when Cardinal Jean Louis Tauran was head of the then Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. Tauran himself, during his trip here to Bangladesh, spoke about it with former prime minister Sheik Hasina. I raised this idea with Sheik Hasina and, more recently, asked Dr. Yunus and his team to think concretely about this possibility. The concept was well received, but I think they have other concerns. With respect to this project, are there already concrete steps for its realization? No, but they can be proposed. We can’t force it. Unlike the United Arab Emirates, where Pope Francis signed the document on fraternity, or Indonesia, where the same Pontiff signed a new document on tolerance praising the “friendship tunnel” that connects the cathedral to the mosque in Jakarta, In Bangladesh, interreligious dialogue does not find much support, even when it is practiced at the level of academic discussions. On humanitarian assistance to Rohingya refugees, the Chief Councilor asked for the support of the Vatican. How can this request be taken into consideration? The Chief Councilor did not ask me for help from the Holy See, as reported by various media. He has asked for the Holy See’s support in the reforms he and his team are carrying out but not in terms of financial help, including with regards to the Rohingya. It was I who asked the Chief Adviser, on behalf of the Pope, to continue to help and protect the Rohingya. I explained that the Catholic Church’s Caritas organization has been helping displaced people continuously since 2017, but that funding is dwindling. Before my departure for Bangladesh, Pope Francis asked me not to forget the Rohingya. These migrants were experiencing violence in their own country and came here for help. But unfortunately, the Rohingya are perceived by the Burmese as an ethnic and religious group that belongs to “this country”, Bangladesh. Cardinal Patrick D’Rozario and I paid an official visit. The living conditions are very difficult. Children and young people are not given any education. Additionally, by law, 25% of our assistance must go back to the local community. I am happy to announce that the Pope is sending further financial aid. This gesture of his will help many. (Agenzia Fides 26/9/2024)Share:

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Celebrating the Launch of Mockingbird in the D2N2 Region

    Source: City of Derby

    Local authorities across the D2N2 region are proud to announce the launch of Mockingbird, a pioneering and award-winning programme led by The Fostering Network, which transforms the delivery of foster care.

    This innovative model has been successfully implemented across fostering services in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby, and Nottingham (D2N2), creating a strong, resilient, and supportive network for children, young people, and foster families.

    Mockingbird constellations have been established in every local authority fostering service across D2N2. Each constellation consists of up to ten satellite families (fostering households) supported by a Hub Home Carer and a liaison worker. The Hub Home Carer plays a key role by offering both planned and unplanned sleepovers, emotional and practical support, and organising monthly social events to strengthen the bond between families. These events will range from movie nights to picnics and BBQs, creating opportunities for carers and young people to form lasting relationships.

    The Mockingbird programme is funded through the Department for Education’s Fostering Recruitment and Retention grant, which also supports the Foster for East Midlands fostering recruitment hub. With continued success and subject to future funding, the goal is to expand the Mockingbird model even further across the D2N2 region, enabling more foster families to benefit from the programme.

    The official launch event was held in August at the Woodland Adventure Zone, Portland College in Mansfield. Attended by fostering families, key stakeholders, and special guests, the event marked an exciting milestone for the fostering community. Heads of service from each local authority, including Andy Smith, – Derby City Council’s Strategic Director of People Services, Rachel Miller, Nottinghamshire County Council’s Service Director for Children’s Commissioning and Resources, and representatives from The Fostering Network, joined local councillors and colleagues from the Department for Education (DfE) to celebrate this achievement. The Cabinet Members for children from Derby City Council and Nottingham City Council were in also in attendance.

    Mockingbird has been running successfully in England since 2015, with constellations established throughout the country. In recognition of its impact, the programme was awarded the Big Impact Award at last year’s Third Sector Awards, with judges praising it as “a fantastic and innovative project, bringing real change and with demonstrable impact”. They described it as “a sea-change in the way foster care is delivered.”

    Andrea Dore, Mockingbird Team Manager said,

    This event marked the coming together of our fostering families across the D2N2 region to celebrate friendships, having fun, making memories, and building a strong sense of community. I am so proud of what we have all collectively achieved in a few short months.

    This community-based model of fostering is working, and we are already seeing really positive outcomes. Our foster carers feel better supported, and our young people are making friends, enjoying sleepovers, and building relationships with safe, trusted adults outside their immediate fostering families.

    What I love most is that everyone in our fostering families is included in the activities and events we offer, and the support provided by our Hub Home Carers is invaluable.

    Sarah Olowo, Mockingbird Coach from the Fostering Network said,

    I am extremely proud to be part of the Mockingbird launch for D2N2, a lot of hard work and effort went into the implementation phase and launching. It was wonderful to see the Mockingbird model come to life; you can see the foster carers and young people forming their micro communities of support with one another supported by their fantastic hub home carers and liaison workers.

    A truly heartwarming experience seeing the young people of all different ages bonding with their hub home carers and building friendships with one another.  Each constellation is unique, but you can see they share many of the Mockingbird core values as that sense of family, having fun and building safe communities shone throughout the day.

    Andy Smith, Derby City Council’s People Service Director said,

    As the Strategic Director for People Services in Derby I was delighted to represent the four Directors of Children’s Services across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire at the official launch of our Mockingbird programme. It was inspiring to speak to carers and hear first hand what a difference being part of a constellation is making to the lives of children and carers, which is even more impressive given that constellations have only been in place for a relatively short space of time. 

    It was clear to see and hear that young people and foster carers are forming friendships and building relationships, with some lovely examples of young people accessing sleepovers for the first time.

    Overall, foster carers told me they are feeling more supported with hubs becoming more self-sufficient. It was a great launch event with a real buzz around the park. Well done and thank you all!

    For information on Mockingbird visit the Fostering Network Mockingbird website or for more information about fostering visit the Foster for East Midlands website or call 03033 132950.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn 4-H’s Teen Council Provides Youth with Statewide Leadership Experience

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    A host of research studies have found that youth with leadership experience have advantages later in life, including cognitive ability, salary, and gender equity. UConn 4-H, which is a program administered by UConn Extension, understands how important leadership experience is, and its programs assist youth in acquiring leadership experience, along with knowledge, and life skills.

    Nationally, 4-H uses the thriving model to help youth with developmental and long-term outcomes. Programming opportunities include community clubs, individual projects, after-school programs, and camps, among others.

    UConn 4-H’s State Teen Council works to educate and enhance 4-H in Connecticut through statewide activities, civic engagement, and facilitating programs that occur at the club, county, and state levels. The Teen Council consists of two youths from each of Connecticut’s eight counties. Council members meet monthly and conduct community service, leadership, and civic engagement activities for UConn 4-H members statewide to build leadership, community, and connection among the county 4-H programs.

    UConn 4-H youth participate in Citizenship Day activities. (Contributed photo)

    Rylee Judson of Tolland joined UConn 4-H at age seven after visiting the 4-H fair. She is currently a member of the UConn 4-H Teen Council, serves on the Tolland County 4-H Fair Board, and is a member of the Paca Pals 4-H Club, a club devoted to alpacas.

    During Judson’s 10 years as a 4-H member, she’s shown alpacas, had a poultry project, and this year she had a small engine project too.

    “Being able to bond with the alpaca and almost train them is rewarding,” Judson says. “They listen to you once you make a bond.”

    The 4-H model helps youth progressively build upon their experiences and offers teens regional and national opportunities. Youth work together at national events on issues affecting their communities, while also gaining valuable leadership and civic engagement experiences.

    Judson represented UConn 4-H at Citizenship Washington Focus and was one of four delegates from Connecticut at the National 4-H Conference in Washington, D.C., this past April. In November, she’s attending the National 4-H Congress in Atlanta.

    “It’s so amazing being able to connect with people from throughout the United States and America Samoa too and seeing their beliefs and what 4-H means to them,” Judson says.

    The Teen Council helps plan state 4-H programs, including Citizenship Day, held each April in Hartford. This year, the Council presented a community-building workshop on civic engagement for attendees and a leadership workshop for UConn 4-H members at the UConn Storrs campus where youth participated in mock meetings.

    “Teen councils are vital for empowering young leaders and enhancing the impact of 4-H in our communities,” says Maryann Fusco-Rollins, an assistant extension educator in 4-H and youth development. “In 2019, I was first approached about starting a UConn 4-H Teen Council by two 4-H members who had recently returned from several national trips. They recognized the potential for a teen council in Connecticut, inspired by what they had seen in other states. Together, we worked with the UConn 4-H team to bring this vision to life.”

    The Teen Council’s initiatives and role help ensure the youth voice is present and drives programming, creating authentic programs that address the needs and current issues youth members are facing.

    “This is my first year in Teen Council; I want to build my leadership and public speaking skills, connect counties, and pass that on to younger 4-Hers so they can get involved,” Judson says.

    The Teen Council is once again offering leadership workshops and community service projects statewide. Past initiatives include trail and county cleanups. Overall, the Teen Council members want more youth seeking offices in their clubs and on the county fair associations. Judson believes that her involvement has helped her with forming connections and relating to others, skills that will also help as she pursues a nursing career.

    “You can make lifelong friends in 4-H and have so many great experiences,” Judson says. “4-H is unique from other youth organizations because it gives youth the opportunity to learn life skills in agriculture, public speaking, and leadership, and have the power and a voice in their club or county.”

    Selection is underway for UConn 4-H’s Teen Council for the 2024-2025 academic year. To become involved as a youth or adult volunteer, visit the UConn 4-H website.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Manchester to host 2025 UK Space Conference

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Space professionals from organisations across the UK will descend on Manchester in July 2025 for the UK Space Conference.

    Sponsored by the UK Space Agency, the biennial event brings together organisations with an interest in space to meet, network, discover business opportunities and help shape the future of the space sector. The event will be held at Manchester Central on 16 to 17 July 2025.

    Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said:

    Following successful conferences in Newport and Belfast, and after opening new satellite offices across the UK this year, we are excited to host the UK Space Conference in Manchester, the world’s first industrial city.

    We look forward to welcoming attendees from across the UK, forging new collaborations and championing the benefits of the space industry as a key provider of jobs, prosperity and innovation.

    The UK space sector generates £18.9 billion and employs 52,000 people – and supports critical national Infrastructure, including energy grids and healthcare services. 

    Colin Baldwin, Executive Director of UKspace, official trade association of the UK space industry, said:

    UKspace is delighted to be supporting the 2025 UK Space Conference. This biennial event, organised by and for the sector through our strong and connected ecosystem, brings us together to discuss key issues and opportunities including addressing skills challenges, supporting fit-for-purpose regulation, spreading sustainability standards and promoting private investment – all of which underpins the long-term health of the sector.

    This first UK Space Conference under the new government will enable the sector to showcase how it plays a significant role in the delivery of the Government’s five missions – high growth, safer streets, clean energy, opportunity for all and a society that is fit for the future.

    In the early 19th century, the rapid growth of Manchester’s cotton industry drove the town’s expansion, putting it at the heart of new, global networks of manufacturing and trade.  The city is now the heart of the wider region’s thriving space sector, which comprises over 180 organisations and over 2,300 space professionals – collectively termed the North West Space Cluster.

    Companies based in Manchester include graphene specialists Smart IR, who are using breakthrough technology to control infrared thermal radiation and Graphene Innovations Manchester, who have ambitions to develop human rated graphene space structures. MDA Space UK is expanding their workforce and operations in all their UK locations, including their site near Manchester Airport, where their growing team designs and delivers digital systems and payloads for telecoms satellites.

    A night time view of Manchester from space. Image: NASA

    The North West sector has been supported by investment from the UK Space Agency’s Local Growth initiative and STFC’s (Science and Technology Facilities Council) industrial cluster development, which is helping to drive its expansion, accelerate innovation and seize commercial opportunities.

    STFC’s Alan Cross, Development Manager, North West Space Cluster, said:  

    From Jodrell Bank’s early breakthroughs to launch vehicle testing at Spadeadam in Cumbria, the North West has a proud legacy of driving space exploration and innovation. Today, as the UK reaches for new frontiers, the North West’s space sector is thriving.  

    Manchester’s satellite manufacturing and the University of Liverpool’s missions to the International Space Station are just two standout examples of this, and the UK Space Conference 2025 in Manchester will showcase this vibrancy and progress.

    Dr Phil Carvil, Head of STFC’s North West Cluster Programmes said: 

    As we leverage space to tackle 21st-century challenges and prepare for humanity’s return to the Moon, the North West Space Cluster is excited to welcome the UK Space Conference 2025 to Manchester.  

    Our businesses and institutions across the region are leading the way in space innovation and collaboration, inspiring our next generations that they too can take part in shaping the future of space and benefiting society as a whole.

    Renowned for being the birthplace of scientists James Joule and John Dalton, and sparking their discoveries in thermodynamics, meteorology and atomic theory, the region now boasts world class expertise in materials science and has unique capabilities in nuclear materials for deep space applications. A University of Manchester lab holds a world-leading range of equipment for simulation of and experimentation into material behaviours in the extreme conditions of space exploration.

    The largest scientific instrument in Human history, the Square Kilometre Array Observatory, is headquartered in Cheshire alongside the University of Manchester’s prestigious Jodrell Bank Observatory. With investment from both the UK and European space agencies, the National Nuclear Laboratory is also developing the next generation of deep space power systems in Cumbria.

    Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS Group said:

    The UK space sector is growing, unlocking significant opportunities for economic growth throughout the UK whilst delivering innovative solutions to domestic and global challenges.

    I’m delighted to see the UK Space Agency take its biannual conference to Manchester and we look forward to the event as an integral part of the space sector calendar.

    In 2023 the UK Space Conference was hosted at the ICC in Belfast and brought over 1,700 leaders together from national and international industry, government and academia to Northern Ireland for three days and generated a direct economic impact of £1.7 million through visitor spend alone. Local stakeholders in Northern Ireland reported that bringing the conference to Belfast provided Northern Ireland with a unique opportunity to promote its capabilities to an influential global space audience as well as to exchange ideas, plans and encourage development and success in the emerging space age.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Homes England visit promotes strength of partnership work in hitting housing targets Sheffield welcomed Homes England to the city so development partners could come together and see progress on the latest projects and discuss future opportunities. 26 September 2024

    Source: City of Sheffield

    Sheffield welcomed Homes England to the city so development partners could come together and see progress on the latest projects and discuss future opportunities.

    Homes England Chief Executive Officer Peter Denton visited five sites across Sheffield alongside senior Sheffield City Council representatives and other development partners. The visit was arranged to see first-hand some of the developments that either have recently been completed or are ongoing and has been achieved by those multiple partners.

    The visit was born from the ongoing work of the Sheffield Together Housing Growth Board, which is chaired by the Chief Executive Officer of Sheffield City Council and includes Homes England, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, the Sheffield Property Association and the South Yorkshire Housing Partnership.

    This partnership is key for the area in bringing housing experts together to find ways of hitting housing targets and making sure the demand for good quality, safe, affordable homes across Sheffield is met.

    The group visited three different housing sites last Monday (16th September) as well as the newly opened largest purpose-built food hall in Europe, Cambridge Street Collective – which has recently been crowned British Food Hall of the Year 2024 at the British Street Food Awards.

    The trip culminated in a stay at Sheffield city centre’s latest hotel development at the Radisson Blu – part of the ongoing Heart of the City II development.

    The first visit of the day was at the Capital & Centric-developed Eye Witness Works, the former cutlery factory in the city centre’s Devonshire Quarter.

    Here, Sheffield City Council Chief Executive Kate Josephs joined Mr Denton and representatives of Homes England and Capital & Centric to tour the development of apartments and town houses and see some of the new properties available to rent for families and professionals in the city centre.

    After a walk across Sheffield city centre which took in the Pound’s Park development, the visit stopped at Cambridge Street Collective to see the thriving food hall up and running that has recently been crowned British Food Hall of the Year 2024 at the British Street Food Awards.

    WATCH: Homes England visit highlights the benefits of partnership working in hitting targets

    From here, the next stop was the Together Housing development on Meadowsweet Close and Sorrel Way, just off Ferrars Road in Tinsley.

    Here, Council leader, Cllr Tom Hunt, ward councillors, local MP Clive Betts and Homes England representatives were shown around the development by Together Housing Chief Executive Kevin Ruth and other members of the housing association to see how partnerships such as this can build affordable housing for those in Sheffield that need it.

    Finally, Cllr Hunt and the Council’s Chair of the Housing Committee, Cllr Douglas Johnson, met the visit at the Citu-built Little Kelham affordable housing site off Alma Street in Kelham Island to see a range of new affordable homes being built in partnership with Great Places for city residents near to the city centre.

    The visit was a chance to show how, together, partnerships can help regeneration and development projects deliver, increase the number of affordable homes and bring housing and economic growth opportunities to Sheffield.

    Cllr Douglas Johnson, Chair of Sheffield City Council’s Housing Committee, said:

    “The range of partners is really important because the truth is that no single body can produce the amount of new housing that we need in this country right now.

    “We need councils, housing associations, Homes England and private developers to all contribute towards this bigger goal of good quality and imaginative housing for the future so that everyone can have a home they can afford.”

    Kate Josephs, Sheffield City Council’s Chief Executive Officer, said:

    “We’re really proud of the partnership work we’ve led through the Council, with Homes England, with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, with housing associations and the Sheffield Property Association.

    “The Sheffield Together Housing Growth Board is all about delivering the homes we need in our city. Together with all our partners, we are pushing ahead to meet our housing targets and provide great new places for people to live in our city.”

    Cllr Tom Hunt, Leader of Sheffield City Council, said:

    “Across the city we are working hard to increase the number of new homes in our city. Everyone should have a safe, secure and affordable place to call home. Good quality homes are fundamental for enabling everyone to live happy, healthy lives.

    “It is great to see new housing developments being completed across our city. I am excited to see more homes being developed in the coming months and years ahead.”

    Kevin Ruth, Chief Executive Officer of Together Housing, said:

    “It was great to be part of Homes England’s tour of Sheffield and to meet so many people who are as passionate about driving support and investment into the city as we are at Together Housing.

    “The growing need for affordable housing is affecting so many in the region, which is why we were thrilled to have Peter Denton and Sheffield City Council members visit our newest housing community in Sheffield to see first-hand the impact of investment. We welcome the prospect of more opportunities for developing communities in the region and hope to see the steps that are being taken to do so, continue.”

    Sheffield City Council is in the midst of agreeing its new Housing Strategy for the next 10 years, which is in its draft stage having gone through two rounds of public consultation this year. The final Strategy is planned to be brought before the Council’s Strategy & Resources committee meeting this autumn for full approval and ratification.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Welfare not warfare: Labour must scrap disgraceful nuclear weapons

    Source: Scottish Greens

    26 Sep 2024 Peace

    Labour claim they can’t afford to give pensioners the winter fuel allowance or scrap the two-child benefit cap, while giving the nuclear weapons programme a bottomless pit of money

    More in Peace

    Speaking on the UN International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie has urged the Labour government to scrap the Trident nuclear weapons system and use its funding to reinstate the winter fuel payment, scrap the two-child benefit cap and build a fairer, greener future.

    Since entering office, the Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves has launched a new wave of austerity, cutting the winter fuel payment for pensioners and upholding the cruel two-child benefit cap and rape clause which were introduced by the Tories. However, the Scottish Greens are calling for the UK government to use the money it is pouring into nuclear weapons to reverse these brutal austerity measures.

    Speaking on International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, Scottish Greens Co-Leader Patrick Harvie said: “Nuclear weapons are an obscene moral evil that should have no place in 21st-century society. Yet, there are still vast numbers of warheads scattered across the planet, and hundreds of them are based here in Scotland on the Clyde.

    “The Labour government claim that they cannot afford to give pensioners the winter fuel allowance or scrap the two-child benefit cap, yet they are yet again marching lockstep with the Tories in committing to giving the nuclear weapons programme a bottomless pit of money.

    “The eye-watering sums that are being poured into nuclear weapons would be far better spent lifting children and families out of poverty and tackling the climate crisis, which is the greatest security threat we face.

    “But even if Trident had no cost implications, keeping it would still be totally immoral. There can never be any justification for weapons which are only capable of indiscriminate mass killing, or the brutal legacy such as those left by the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 80 years ago.

    “If we want to take a stand for global peace, we must lead by example. I look forward to the day when an independent Scotland can rid nuclear weapons from our waters and fully commit to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Moody’s Affirms Africa Finance Corporation’s (AFC) A3 Rating with a Change from Negative to Stable Outlook

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

    LAGOS, Nigeria, September 26, 2024/APO Group/ —

    Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), the continent’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, today announced that it has received an uplift to its credit ratings outlook from Moody’s Investors Service, with the assignment of a “stable” outlook. This decision further solidifies AFC’s position as one of the highest investment-grade African institutions, with Moody’s affirming the Corporation’s long-term issuer and senior unsecured ratings at A3, as well as AFC’s short-term issuer rating at P-2.

    “Notwithstanding increased country risk in several of AFC’s countries of operation over the past year, asset performance has proven resilient amid effective credit protections,” Moody’s analysts stated in its latest report. “The stable outlook also reflects management’s governance track record and early intervention capacity to mitigate materializing risks at an early stage.”

    Moody’s A3 rating affirmation reflects AFC’s adherence to its prudential guidelines to safeguard the Corporation’s intrinsic financial strength based on solid capital adequacy and high-quality liquidity buffers. In FY2023, the Corporation recorded outstanding financial performance with Capital Adequacy Ratio increased to 34.5% from 34.3% in 2022 and Cost-to-Income Ratio improved to 19.6%, from 22.7% in 2022. Additionally, the Corporation recorded Liquidity Coverage Ratios (LCR) of 161% and 143% under normal circumstances and a stress scenario respectively, significantly higher than the Corporation’s LCR requirement of greater than 100% in both scenarios.

    The decision by Moody’s is crucial for AFC to continue leveraging its top-tier credit ratings to achieve among the lowest borrowing costs of any institution in Africa, for transformational infrastructure projects in power, natural resources, transport, and technology that drive rapid industrialisation and job creation on the continent. Landmark initiatives include Djibouti’s first wind farm, with AFC as lead developer advancing plans to become the first African country wholly reliant on renewable sources for energy, and the Lobito Corridor rail project, with AFC again as lead developer working alongside the US, European Union and governments of Angola, DRC and Zambia to mobilise industry and connect the Atlantic and Indian oceans.

    “Amidst the current challenging global macroeconomic and financial conditions, we are pleased to receive such strong endorsement from Moody’s, a key lever in our access to global capital markets,” Samaila Zubairu, President and CEO of AFC, said “It reinforces our position as the resilient and reliable partner for a more prosperous African future and an indispensable ally in mobilising urgently needed capital to build the infrastructure that integrates Africa and enables its industrialisation.”

    “The change in outlook to stable from negative is driven by our expectation that AFC will be able to maintain a stable, if not improving leverage ratio and that the asset performance track record will be preserved.” Moody’s analysts said, commending AFC. “The improved leverage outlook reflects the Corporation’s continued equity raising strategy. The Corporation exceeded its $1 billion target in 2019-23 and aims to raise a similar amount during 2024-28. Moreover, the corporation lowered its dividend payout ratio starting 2023 which will help retain a higher share of earnings and grow the capital base organically in the future,” they reported.

    In the face of uncertainty in the global financial landscape, AFC successfully maintains access to the global capital markets, a testament to the confidence that investors place in the Corporation’s robust credit risk profile and it’s growing global appeal. This year, AFC has completed several pivotal funding transactions including its largest ever debt facility, a US$1.16 billion syndicated loan, attracting new lenders from the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.

    For the full statement from Moody’s, please click here (https://apo-opa.co/3XGd2FV).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: The Council of State presents its ambitious plan for purchasing power and opposes the so-called 12% tax initiative

    MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –

    Source: Swiss Canton of Vaud – news in French

    Press release from the Council of State

    Published on September 24, 2024

    Partners

    Tax strategy for individuals

    The Council of State presented today its tax reform strategy intended to support, along with other measures, the purchasing power of the people of Vaud. This “Purchasing Power Plan” aims to redistribute nearly 270 million francs per year to the population by 2027 and represents nearly one billion francs cumulatively over the entire current legislature. It is part of the major balances constructed in the legislative program and constitutes one of the most ambitious cantonal tax reforms for individuals, comprising progressive and financially absorbable measures. This plan serves as an indirect counter-project to the popular initiative “Tax cuts for all: restoring purchasing power to the middle class” – deemed excessive – and which the Council of State opposes.

    Since the beginning of the legislature, the Council of State has taken several measures to strengthen public benefits to the population that have a direct or indirect impact on purchasing power and improving the quality of life: pricing policy for mobility, professional training in the field of health and social policy. In this last area, family allowances will increase from 2025.

    In a context where the financial outlook has deteriorated (inflation, successive crises, deterioration of federal finances), the Government wishes to maintain the major balances forged in its legislative programme and proposes to the Grand Council to reject the initiative for a 12% tax cut which, with an estimated impact of around half a billion francs per year in tax revenue reduction, would have too significant an effect on cantonal finances and services to the population. The attractiveness of a canton is not only measured by its taxation, but also by the range and quality of services provided to the population by its public services.

    By presenting its Purchasing Power Plan, the Government is today making its fiscal commitments a reality. This plan has three ambitious objectives:

    Firstly, reduce the tax burden on Vaud taxpayers; secondly, improve the tax attractiveness of the Canton of Vaud in order to attract new taxpayers; thirdly, guarantee the financing of public policies and services to the population.

    The Purchasing Power Plan is made up of a series of measures, some of which have already been submitted to the Grand Council and others will be submitted shortly. Thus, nearly 270 million francs will be indirectly redistributed to the people of Vaud by 2027, or nearly one billion francs cumulatively over the entire current legislature. Specifically, the Council of State is proposing to the Grand Council a reform aimed at reducing income tax by a total of 5% and wealth tax by 5% by the end of the legislature. It also proposes raising tax thresholds and improving the framework conditions for inheritances and donations, in order to promote family inheritance and the transfer of businesses to direct descendants. These measures are in addition to the increase in the deduction for health insurance premiums, the deduction for childcare costs, and the reduction in the taxation of movable assets, all of which will come into force in 2023.

    An amendment to the law on the effects of the tax shield is planned, as is, for companies, an amendment to the directive on the estimation of unlisted securities for the purposes of wealth tax (working tool).

    In a long-term vision aimed at promoting purchasing power, the Council of State is also launching work to reform the tax scales on income and wealth, targeting the middle class, subject to the completion of individual taxation at the federal level.

    The Purchasing Power Plan is ambitious and serves as an indirect counter-project to the popular initiative “Tax cuts for all: restoring purchasing power to the middle class” which the Council of State opposes. Indeed, while it shares the will and objective of the initiators to improve the purchasing power of the people of Vaud, the Council of State considers that progressive and financially absorbable measures are preferable. The Government considers that the initiative for a 12% tax cut would harm the balance of public finances if accepted, which is why it invites the Grand Council in its notice to reject it.

    Information and Communication Office of the State of Vaud

    Press information only

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    PDF version of the press release

    Other press releases

    This page allows you to find all the press releases published since 1997 by the Council of State, the departments of the cantonal administration, the Grand Council and the Judicial Order. Its shortcut is http://www.vd.ch/communiques. The press releases distributed by other State institutions are available on the following pages:

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

    MIL Translation OSI