Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Security: Davenport Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Firearms Charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Davenport man was sentenced yesterday to eight years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon and in furtherance of his drug trafficking.

    According to public court documents, in November 2023, Marcell Alexander Kirk, 23, ran from police. During the foot chase, Kirk discarded a loaded handgun. When apprehended, Kirk was found in possession of approximately 140 grams of marijuana.

    As a felon, Kirk is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. In 2020, Kirk was convicted of criminal gang participation, in the Iowa District Court for Scott County.

    After completing his term of imprisonment, Kirk will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

    United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Davenport Police Department.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: STMicroelectronics Announces Status of Common Share Repurchase Program

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    STMicroelectronics Announces Status of
    Common Share Repurchase Program

    Disclosure of Transactions in Own Shares – Period from Oct 21, 2024 to Oct 25, 2024

    AMSTERDAM – October 28, 2024 — STMicroelectronics N.V. (the “Company” or “STMicroelectronics”), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, announces full details of its common share repurchase program (the “Program”) disclosed via a press release dated June 21, 2024. The Program was approved by a shareholder resolution dated May 22, 2024 and by the supervisory board.

    STMicroelectronics N.V. (registered with the trade register under number 33194537) (LEI: 213800Z8NOHIKRI42W10) announces the repurchase (by a broker acting for the Company) on the regulated market of Euronext Paris, in the period between Oct 21, 2024 to Oct 25, 2024 (the “Period”), of 317,000 ordinary shares (equal to 0.03% of its issued share capital) at the weighted average purchase price per share of EUR 25.8060 and for an overall price of EUR 8,180,516.60.

    The purpose of these transactions under article 5(2) of Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (the Market Abuse Regulation) was to meet obligations arising from share option programmes, or other allocations of shares, to employees or to members of the administrative, management or supervisory bodies of the issuer or of an associate company.

    The shares may be held in treasury prior to being used for such purpose and, to the extent that they are not ultimately needed for such purpose, they may be used for any other lawful purpose under article 5(2) of the Market Abuse Regulation.

    Below is a summary of the repurchase transactions made in the course of the Period in relation to the ordinary shares of STMicroelectronics (ISIN: NL0000226223), in detailed form.

    Transactions in Period

    Dates of transaction Number of shares purchased Weighted average purchase price per share (EUR) Total amount paid (EUR) Market on which the shares were bought (MIC code)
    21-Oct-24 82,000 25.4697 2,088,515.40 XPAR
    22-Oct-24 73,000 25.4669 1,859,083.70 XPAR
    23-Oct-24 60,000 26.1471 1,568,826.00 XPAR
    24-Oct-24 45,000 26.1794 1,178,073.00 XPAR
    25-Oct-24 57,000 26.0705 1,486,018.50 XPAR
    Total for Period 317,000 25.8060 8,180,516.60  

    Following the share buybacks detailed above, the Company holds in total 11,153,614 treasury shares, which represents approximately 1.2% of the Company’s issued share capital.

    In accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of the Market Abuse Regulation and Article 2(3) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052, a full breakdown of the individual trades in the Program are disclosed on the ST website (https://investors.st.com/stock-and-bond-information/share-buyback).

    About STMicroelectronics
    At ST, we are over 50,000 creators and makers of semiconductor technologies mastering the semiconductor supply chain with state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. An integrated device manufacturer, we work with more than 200,000 customers and thousands of partners to design and build products, solutions, and ecosystems that address their challenges and opportunities, and the need to support a more sustainable world. Our technologies enable smarter mobility, more efficient power and energy management, and the wide-scale deployment of cloud-connected autonomous things. We are committed to achieving our goal to become carbon neutral on scope 1 and 2 and partially scope 3 by 2027. Further information can be found at www.st.com.

    For further information, please contact:

    INVESTOR RELATIONS:
    Céline Berthier
    Group VP, Investor Relations
    Tel: +41.22.929.58.12
    celine.berthier@st.com

    MEDIA RELATIONS:
    Alexis Breton        
    Corporate External Communications
    Tel: +33.6.59.16.79.08

    alexis.breton@st.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Progress Appoints Amanda Arria to the Role of Chief People Officer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Accomplished industry leader with proven track record in developing people strategies and creating impactful employee experiences for global multi-billion-dollar organizations to enhance award-winning best employer

    BURLINGTON, Mass., Oct. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Progress (Nasdaq: PRGS), the trusted provider of AI-powered infrastructure software, today announced the appointment of Amanda Arria as Chief People Officer (CPO), effective October 28, 2024. In her new role, Arria will be responsible for all aspects of Progress’ global People Team function. She joins the Progress executive team, reporting directly to CEO Yogesh Gupta.

    “Amanda Arria is an exceptional Human Resources professional with a talent for building strong employee-centric cultures and partnering with senior leaders, managers and cross-functional global teams,” said Yogesh Gupta, CEO, Progress. “Her experience at multi-billion-dollar organizations and ability to align business and people priorities will be critical as Progress continues to successfully deliver upon our Total Growth Strategy.”

    The Progress Total Growth Strategy focuses on three key pillars: Invest and Innovate, Acquire and Integrate and Drive Customer Success. In her new role, Arria will lead the ongoing evolution of the company’s organization and culture to drive the successful execution of this strategy. She will align the People Team function to meet business objectives, sustain a committed and engaged workforce across the global organization of more than 2,500 employees and strengthen the company’s overall organizational effectiveness.

    Prior to Progress, Arria was Chief Human Resources Officer at EFI, a leader in digital imaging, where she led all aspects of the Human Resources function across both the EFI and Fiery businesses. Previously, she held global human resources leadership roles at Schneider Electric and EMC (acquired by Dell Technology). She is also well versed in M&A, having led the people and cultural integration efforts for numerous acquisitions throughout her career. Arria also founded Women in Energy, a global group of more than 5,000 women focused on connecting, networking and growing in the technology and energy industries.

    “Progress has a tremendous culture built by people who are collaborative, accountable and innovative,” said Arria. “I want to build on that foundation by leveraging my global business experience to create a world-class people strategy that will empower Progress employees to thrive as the business continues to grow and evolve.”

    Progress has continually been recognized as a Best Employer by Forbes, The Boston Globe, Boston Business Journal and more. Discover more about Progress by exploring its 2023 Corporate Social Responsibility Report or browsing career opportunities at Progress.

    About Progress
    Progress (Nasdaq: PRGS) empowers organizations to achieve transformational success in the face of disruptive change. Our software enables our customers to develop, deploy and manage responsible, AI-powered applications and experiences with agility and ease. Customers get a trusted provider in Progress, with the products, expertise and vision they need to succeed. Over 4 million developers and technologists at hundreds of thousands of enterprises depend on Progress. Learn more at www.progress.com.

    Progress is a trademark or registered trademark of Progress Software Corporation and/or its subsidiaries or affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Any other names contained herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

    Press Contacts:
    Kim Baker
    Progress
    +1-800-477-6473
    pr@progress.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/33a6bbbd-1779-4e3c-a88b-e49988234842

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Ascend Learning Appoints Proven Healthcare Technology Leader Dr. Lissy Hu as Chief Executive Officer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Greg Sebasky to Retire, Transition to Role of Chairman of the Ascend Board of Managers in January 2025

    Positions Company to Execute on Strategic Healthcare Focus to Deliver
    Innovative Learning and Workforce Development Solutions

    BURLINGTON, Mass., Oct. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ascend Learning, LLC (“Ascend” or “the Company”), a leading learning technology company, today announced the appointment of Dr. Lissy Hu as Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Hu succeeds Greg Sebasky, who is retiring after 10 years as CEO and will transition to the role of Chairman of the Ascend Board of Managers in January 2025.

    Dr. Hu has deep experience building and leading transformational healthcare technology companies. She was previously the CEO of CarePort Health, a care coordination technology company she founded in 2012 to improve patient transitions by connecting hospitals and post-acute care providers. In 2020, CarePort Health was acquired by WellSky, where Dr. Hu most recently served as President, Connected Networks, working with providers and payers to optimize post-acute care outcomes across 2,500 hospitals, physician groups, risk-bearing entities and 130,000 post-acute, home and community-based providers.

    Ascend Learning has been delivering critical learning solutions to the healthcare industry since 2008. The Company’s offerings, educational content, software, simulation, and analytics, serve students, healthcare and educational institutions, and employers in all 50 states. Each year, Ascend Learning’s products, from testing to certification, enable more than 60% of U.S. nursing school programs and are used by over 300,000 nursing students, more than 245,000 allied health professionals, 100,000 medical students, 145,000 fitness professionals and over 150,000 first responders.

    “Over the last 10 years, we have grown the Ascend family of brands thoughtfully, building a market-leading provider of data-driven online learning tools,” said Mr. Sebasky. “As we sharpen our focus on developing and delivering tailored solutions across the healthcare ecosystem, Lissy’s wealth of market experience and track record of driving positive outcomes through leading-edge technology makes her the perfect fit to lead Ascend forward. With Lissy at the helm, I am confident that Ascend will continue to grow, innovate and find new and better ways to help make communities across the U.S. healthier. I look forward to working with her and continuing to support the Ascend team and mission in my role as Chairman beginning in January.”

    As communities across the U.S. face shortages of healthcare professionals, aging populations, and rising healthcare costs, Ascend is committed to delivering next-generation technology, content and analytics to train, develop and retain healthcare teams empowered to address these challenges.

    “Fundamental to improving patient care is investing in our healthcare teams, and I am excited to further drive Ascend’s success in enabling clients to achieve elevated learner and educator outcomes and to support workers as they progress through their careers,” said Dr. Hu. “Ascend’s innovative learning solutions are needed now more than ever before, and I am honored to join a best-in-class organization and team that have such a significant, positive impact on the entire lifecycle of learning. I look forward to leading Ascend’s next chapter of scalable growth.

    “Under Greg’s leadership, Ascend has solidified its position as a clear leader in the tech-enabled learning services market. I thank him for his strategic vision and invaluable contributions, and I look forward to working with him, our clients, our leaders, our employees and the Board to continue accelerating learning and professional success across the country,” continued Dr. Hu.

    Dr. Hu earned a Doctor of Medicine from Harvard Medical School, a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in pre-medical studies and sociology from Columbia University.

    About Ascend Learning
    Ascend Learning is a leading provider of educational content and software tools for students, educational institutions, and employers. With products that span the learning continuum, Ascend Learning focuses on high-growth careers in a range of industries, with a special focus on healthcare and other licensure-driven occupations. Ascend Learning products, from testing to certification, are used by physicians, emergency medical professionals, nurses, certified personal trainers, financial advisors, skilled trades professionals and insurance brokers. Learn more at www.ascendlearning.com.

    Media Contact
    V2 Communications for Ascend Learning
    ascend@v2comms.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/61335701-5169-4263-8b05-17ec38fc5749

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: PR – Bitget Reports Strong Q3 2024 Performance, Strengthening Its Position as the 4th Largest Crypto Exchange

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, Oct. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has released its Q3 2024 Transparency Report, showcasing significant advancements in user growth, token offerings, and strategic initiatives. With a strong focus on enhancing financial accessibility and advancing blockchain technology, Bitget has reinforced its position as one of the top global players in the crypto industry.

    Key Q3 2024 Highlights:

    1. Surpassing 45 Million Users and Strengthening Market Position In Q3 2024, Bitget achieved a milestone by surpassing 45 million registered users globally, placing it as the 4th largest crypto exchange by trading volume. The platform’s user base growth, up by 400% since last year, was fueled by innovative product offerings and expansion into new regions, including Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. The company’s focus on accessibility and user-centric design aligns with its mission of enabling financial freedom for all.
    2. Expanding Token Offerings and Staking Opportunities Bitget added 72 new token listings in Q3, bringing its lineup to over 800 tokens and 900+ spot trading pairs. Among the new listings, POL, DRIFT, WUSD, REEF, and MOTHER stood out with the highest Total Value Locked (TVL) growth. Bitget’s Pre-market platform continued to attract early traders, featuring 12 tokens like CATI, MOCA, HMSTR, DOGS, and ZKL in Q3, with 53,800 traders participating and a cumulative transaction volume of $23 million.
    3. Additionally, Bitget’s PoolX staking platform, launched in April, has become a popular choice among users, offering high-yield staking options. In Q3, PoolX recorded over 94,805 participants, with the total staked amount doubling from Q2 to reach $2.3 billion USD. Popular pools include BGB, BTC, ETH, and USDT, providing users with new avenues to earn rewards on the platform.
    4. Commitment to the TON Ecosystem and Strategic Investments As part of its $30 million joint investment with Foresight Ventures into The Open Network (TON) ecosystem, Bitget has supported the rapid expansion of Telegram-based projects, including DOGS, Hamster Kombat, and Notcoin. With nearly 1 billion Telegram users worldwide, TON’s ecosystem has seen exponential growth, making Bitget a vital entry point for users interested in TON-based projects and decentralized applications.
    5. Strategic Partnership with LALIGA to Drive Web3 Adoption Bitget expanded its footprint in sports by forming a multi-million dollar partnership with LALIGA. This collaboration aims to increase crypto awareness and Web3 adoption across Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, and LATAM, leveraging LALIGA’s massive global audience to attract a new wave of crypto enthusiasts. This partnership aligns with Bitget’s mission to bring blockchain technology to mainstream audiences.
    6. Enhanced Token-Discovery Through Nansen Collaboration Bitget collaborated with Nansen to refine its token-discovery strategies. By leveraging on-chain data and community insights, Bitget offers traders an advanced toolkit for identifying promising tokens. The strategic approach, combined with Nansen’s analytical tools, led to 240 new token listings since April, making it one of the most active exchanges in early-stage token offerings.

    Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget, commented on the report: “Our growth in Q3 2024 reflects our commitment to creating an accessible, secure, and innovative trading platform for users worldwide. By continuously expanding our offerings, supporting impactful projects, and forming strategic partnerships, Bitget is helping shape the future of blockchain and finance. We remain focused on our mission to drive financial freedom and to empower the next billion users through accessible and user-friendly digital solutions.”

    Bitget’s success in Q3 2024 shows its growing influence in the crypto industry, marked by strategic initiatives, innovative products, and a commitment to user engagement. Looking ahead, Bitget is bound to continue its mission of bridging the gap between centralized and decentralized finance while expanding its global reach.

    For more information, visit Bitget Blog.

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 45 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, token swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more.

    Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM market, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

    Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/661a75c4-26df-4658-b301-5c44925c9290

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Coastal Financial Corporation Announces Third Quarter 2024 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EVERETT, Wash., Oct. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Coastal Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: CCB) (the “Company”, “Coastal”, “we”, “our”, or “us”), the holding company for Coastal Community Bank (the “Bank”), through which it operates a community-focused bank with an industry leading banking as a service (“BaaS”) segment, today reported unaudited financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, including net income of $13.5 million, or $0.97 per diluted common share, compared to $11.6 million, or $0.84 per diluted common share, for the three months ended June 30, 2024. 

    Management Discussion of the Quarter

    “The third quarter demonstrated strong momentum across both our community bank and CCBX operating segments, despite a still challenging operating environment,” said CEO Eric Sprink. “We saw high quality net loan growth of $92.4 million despite selling $423.7 million in loans. We are implementing strategies to increase fee income and we continue to build out and invest in an infrastructure that is scalable, and that we believe will enable us to be innovative leaders in financial services.”

    Key Points for Third Quarter and Our Go-Forward Strategy

    • Balance Sheet Well Positioned for Lower Rates. Our balance sheet stands in a modestly liability sensitive position as of September 30, 2024, with $1.95 billion of CCBX deposits that contractually reprice lower immediately upon any reduction in the Federal Funds Rate, with $1.09 billion of CCBX loans repricing in 90 days or less following such reduction. The Federal Open Market Committee recently lowered the targeted Federal Funds rate 0.50% on September 19, 2024; a reduction of 0.50% compared to June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023. The rate decrease came late in the quarter, so the full impact of this and any subsequent rate changes will be reflected in future periods.
    • Expanding Relationships with CCBX Partners. We continue to focus on expanding product offerings with existing CCBX partners. We believe that launching new products with existing partners positions us to reach a wide and established customer base with modest increase in enterprise risk. Products launched in 2024 with existing partners have gained traction and are growing the balance sheet and increasing income. The pipeline for CCBX is active, although we expect to remain selective in adding new partners to manage risk and capital.
    • On-going Loan Sales. We sold $423.7 million loans in the quarter ended September 30, 2024 as part of our strategy to balance credit risk, manage partner and lending limits, protect capital levels and move credit card balances to an off balance sheet fee generating model. We are retaining a portion of the fee income for our role in processing transactions on sold credit card balances. This provides an on-going and passive revenue stream with no on balance sheet risk.
    • Continued Regulatory and Compliance Infrastructure Investments Position Us Well for Next Phase of Growth. We continue to utilize co-sourced personnel as a component of our risk and compliance efforts. This flexible co-sourcing approach allows us to manage the growth of our internal team while also ensuring CCBX has the resources it needs. While we remain 100% indemnified against partner fraud losses, we were encouraged to see fraudulent activity amongst our partners remains low during the current quarter, compared to the same period last year, a positive indicator of our continued investments in our risk infrastructure.
    • Reorganization and Strengthening of Talent to Accommodate Growth and Plans for the Future. We recently announced the bifurcation of the President of the Bank into two roles, appointing Brian Hamilton as President of CCBX, the Fintech and BaaS segment of the Bank, with Curt Queyrouze serving as President of the community bank and corporate credit.

    Third Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights

    The tables below outline some of our key operating metrics.

        Three Months Ended
    (Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data; unaudited)   September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      March 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
      September 30,
    2023
    Income Statement Data:                    
    Interest and dividend income   $ 105,079     $ 97,487     $ 90,472     $ 88,243     $ 88,331  
    Interest expense     32,892       31,250       29,536       28,586       26,102  
    Net interest income     72,187       66,237       60,936       59,657       62,229  
    Provision for credit losses     70,257       62,325       83,158       60,789       27,253  
    Net interest (expense)/ income after provision for credit losses     1,930       3,912       (22,222 )     (1,132 )     34,976  
    Noninterest income     80,068       69,918       86,955       64,694       34,579  
    Noninterest expense     65,616       58,809       56,018       51,703       56,501  
    Provision for income tax     2,926       3,425       1,915       2,847       2,784  
    Net income     13,456       11,596       6,800       9,012       10,270  
                         
        As of and for the Three Month Period
        September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      March 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
      September 30,
    2023
    Balance Sheet Data:                    
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 484,026     $ 487,245     $ 515,128     $ 483,128     $ 474,946  
    Investment securities     48,620       49,213       50,090       150,364       141,489  
    Loans held for sale     7,565             797              
    Loans receivable     3,418,832       3,326,460       3,199,554       3,026,092       2,967,035  
    Allowance for credit losses     (170,263 )     (147,914 )     (139,258 )     (116,958 )     (101,085 )
    Total assets     4,065,821       3,961,546       3,865,258       3,753,366       3,678,265  
    Interest bearing deposits     3,047,861       2,949,643       2,888,867       2,735,161       2,637,914  
    Noninterest bearing deposits     579,427       593,789       574,112       625,202       651,786  
    Core deposits (1)     3,190,869       3,528,339       3,447,864       3,342,004       3,269,082  
    Total deposits     3,627,288       3,543,432       3,462,979       3,360,363       3,289,700  
    Total borrowings     47,847       47,810       47,771       47,734       47,695  
    Total shareholders’ equity     331,930       316,693       303,709       294,978       284,450  
                         
    Share and Per Share Data (2):                    
    Earnings per share – basic   $ 1.00     $ 0.86     $ 0.51     $ 0.68     $ 0.77  
    Earnings per share – diluted   $ 0.97     $ 0.84     $ 0.50     $ 0.66     $ 0.75  
    Dividends per share                              
    Book value per share (3)   $ 24.51     $ 23.54     $ 22.65     $ 22.17     $ 21.38  
    Tangible book value per share (4)   $ 24.51     $ 23.54     $ 22.65     $ 22.17     $ 21.38  
    Weighted avg outstanding shares – basic     13,447,066       13,412,667       13,340,997       13,286,828       13,285,974  
    Weighted avg outstanding shares – diluted     13,822,270       13,736,508       13,676,917       13,676,513       13,675,833  
    Shares outstanding at end of period     13,543,282       13,453,805       13,407,320       13,304,339       13,302,449  
    Stock options outstanding at end of period     198,370       286,119       309,069       354,969       356,359  
                                             
    See footnotes that follow the tables below
     
        As of and for the Three Month Period
        September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      March 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
      September 30,
    2023
    Credit Quality Data:                    
    Nonperforming assets (5) to total assets     1.34 %     1.34 %     1.42 %     1.43 %     1.18 %
    Nonperforming assets (5) to loans receivable and OREO     1.60 %     1.60 %     1.71 %     1.78 %     1.47 %
    Nonperforming loans (5) to total loans receivable     1.60 %     1.60 %     1.71 %     1.78 %     1.47 %
    Allowance for credit losses to nonperforming loans     311.5 %     278.1 %     253.8 %     217.2 %     232.2 %
    Allowance for credit losses to total loans receivable     4.98 %     4.45 %     4.35 %     3.86 %     3.41 %
    Gross charge-offs   $ 53,305     $ 55,207     $ 58,994     $ 47,652     $ 37,879  
    Gross recoveries   $ 4,069     $ 1,973     $ 1,776     $ 2,781     $ 1,045  
    Net charge-offs to average loans (6)     5.65 %     6.57 %     7.34 %     5.92 %     4.77 %
                         
    Capital Ratios:                    
    Company                    
    Tier 1 leverage capital     8.40 %     8.31 %     8.24 %     8.10 %     8.03 %
    Common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital     9.26 %     9.03 %     8.98 %     9.10 %     9.00 %
    Tier 1 risk-based capital     9.35 %     9.13 %     9.08 %     9.20 %     9.11 %
    Total risk-based capital     11.90 %     11.70 %     11.70 %     11.87 %     11.80 %
    Bank                    
    Tier 1 leverage capital     9.29 %     9.24 %     9.19 %     9.06 %     8.99 %
    Common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital     10.36 %     10.15 %     10.14 %     10.30 %     10.21 %
    Tier 1 risk-based capital     10.36 %     10.15 %     10.14 %     10.30 %     10.21 %
    Total risk-based capital     11.65 %     11.44 %     11.43 %     11.58 %     11.48 %
                                             

    (1)  Core deposits are defined as all deposits excluding brokered and all time deposits.
    (2)  Share and per share amounts are based on total actual or average common shares outstanding, as applicable.
    (3)  We calculate book value per share as total shareholders’ equity at the end of the relevant period divided by the outstanding number of our common shares at the end of each period.
    (4)  Tangible book value per share is a non-GAAP financial measure. We calculate tangible book value per share as total shareholders’ equity at the end of the relevant period, less goodwill and other intangible assets, divided by the outstanding number of our common shares at the end of each period. The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is book value per share. We had no goodwill or other intangible assets as of any of the dates indicated. As a result, tangible book value per share is the same as book value per share as of each of the dates indicated.
    (5)  Nonperforming assets and nonperforming loans include loans 90+ days past due and accruing interest.
    (6)  Annualized calculations.

    Key Performance Ratios

    Return on average assets (“ROA”) was 1.34% for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 compared to 1.21% and 1.13% for the quarters ended June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively.  ROA for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, increased 0.13% and 0.21% compared to June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively. Noninterest expenses were higher for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 compared to the quarters ended June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023 largely due to an increase in BaaS loan expense, which is directly related to the increase in the amount of interest earned on CCBX loans.

    The following table shows the Company’s key performance ratios for the periods indicated.  

        Three Months Ended
    (unaudited)   September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      March 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
      September 30,
    2023
                         
    Return on average assets (1)   1.34 %   1.21 %   0.73 %   0.97 %   1.13 %
    Return on average equity (1)   16.67 %   15.22 %   9.21 %   12.35 %   14.60 %
    Yield on earnings assets (1)   10.79 %   10.49 %   10.07 %   9.77 %   10.08 %
    Yield on loans receivable (1)   11.43 %   11.23 %   10.85 %   10.71 %   10.84 %
    Cost of funds (1)   3.62 %   3.60 %   3.52 %   3.39 %   3.18 %
    Cost of deposits (1)   3.59 %   3.58 %   3.49 %   3.36 %   3.14 %
    Net interest margin (1)   7.41 %   7.13 %   6.78 %   6.61 %   7.10 %
    Noninterest expense to average assets (1)   6.54 %   6.14 %   6.04 %   5.56 %   6.23 %
    Noninterest income to average assets (1)   7.98 %   7.30 %   9.38 %   6.95 %   3.81 %
    Efficiency ratio   43.10 %   43.19 %   37.88 %   41.58 %   58.36 %
    Loans receivable to deposits (2)   94.46 %   93.88 %   92.42 %   90.05 %   90.19 %
                                   

    (1)  Annualized calculations shown for quarterly periods presented.
    (2)  Includes loans held for sale.

    Management Outlook; CEO Eric Sprink

    “As we look ahead to the fourth quarter and 2025, we remain laser focused on building out our technology and risk management infrastructure to more efficiently support our next phase of growth within CCBX. While the balance sheet re-mix earlier this year resulted in a short-term reduction to income, we continue to make strategic decisions which are enhancing credit quality, generating passive fee income, strengthening our talent and growing relationships with established and prospective CCBX partners all of which are expected to position Coastal to be more profitable in 2025.”

    Coastal Financial Corporation Overview

    The Company has one main subsidiary, the Bank which consists of three segments: CCBX, the community bank and treasury & administration.  The CCBX segment includes all of our BaaS activities, the community bank segment includes all community banking activities, and the treasury & administration segment includes treasury management, overall administration and all other aspects of the Company.  

    CCBX Performance Update

    Our CCBX segment continues to evolve, and we have 22 relationships, at varying stages, as of September 30, 2024.  We continue to refine the criteria for CCBX partnerships, are exiting relationships where it makes sense for us to do so and are focusing on larger more established partners, with experienced management teams, existing customer bases and strong financial positions.

    We are expanding product offerings with our existing CCBX partners. We believe that launching new products with existing partners positions us to reach a wide and established customer base with a modest increase in regulatory risk given we have already vetted these partners and have operational history. Products launched earlier in the year with existing partners have gained traction and are growing the balance sheet and increasing income. We continue to sell loans as part of our strategy to balance partner and lending limits, and manage the loan portfolio and credit quality. We retain a portion of the fee income for our role in processing transactions on sold credit card balances. This is expected to provide an on-going and passive revenue stream with no on balance sheet risk.

    The following table illustrates the activity and evolution in CCBX relationships for the periods presented.

        As of
    (unaudited)   September 30,
    2024
    June 30,
    2024
    September 30,
    2023
    Active   19 19 18
    Friends and family / testing   1 1 1
    Implementation / onboarding   1 1 1
    Signed letters of intent   1 0 1
    Wind down – active but preparing to exit relationship   0 0 1
    Total CCBX relationships   22 21 22
     

    CCBX loans increased $106.9 million, or 7.6%, despite selling $423.7 million loans during the three months ended September 30, 2024 to $1.52 billion, while we continued to enhance credit standards on new CCBX loan originations. In accordance with the program agreement for one partner, effective April 1, 2024, the portion of the CCBX portfolio that we are responsible for losses on decreased from 10% to 5%. At September 30, 2024 the portion of this portfolio for which we are responsible represented $19.8 million in loans.

    The following table details the CCBX loan portfolio:

    CCBX   As of
        September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   September 30, 2023
    (dollars in thousands; unaudited)   Balance   % to Total   Balance   % to Total   Balance   % to Total
    Commercial and industrial loans:                        
    Capital call lines   $ 103,924     6.8 %   $ 109,133     7.7 %   $ 114,174     9.6 %
    All other commercial & industrial loans     36,494     2.4       41,731     3.0       58,869     5.0  
    Real estate loans:                        
    Residential real estate loans     265,402     17.5       287,950     20.4       251,775     21.3  
    Consumer and other loans:                        
    Credit cards     633,691     41.6       549,241     38.7       440,993     37.3  
    Other consumer and other loans     482,228     31.7       426,809     30.2       316,987     26.8  
    Gross CCBX loans receivable     1,521,739     100.0 %     1,414,864     100.0 %     1,182,798     100.0 %
    Net deferred origination (fees) costs     (447 )         (438 )         (424 )    
    Loans receivable   $ 1,521,292         $ 1,414,426         $ 1,182,374      
    Loan Yield – CCBX (1)(2)     17.35 %         17.77 %         17.05 %    
                             

    (1)  CCBX yield does not include the impact of BaaS loan expense.  BaaS loan expense represents the amount paid or payable to partners for credit enhancements and originating & servicing CCBX loans. See reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures at the end of this earnings release for the impact of BaaS loan expense on CCBX loan yield.
    (2)  Loan yield is annualized for the three months ended for each period presented and includes loans held for sale and nonaccrual loans.

    The increase in CCBX loans in the quarter ended September 30, 2024, includes an increase of $139.9 million or 14.3%, in consumer and other loans, partially offset by a $22.5 million, or 7.8%, decrease in residential real estate loans and a decrease of $5.2 million, or 4.8%, in capital call lines as a result of normal balance fluctuations and business activities. We continue to monitor and manage the CCBX loan portfolio, and sold $423.7 million in CCBX loans during the quarter ended September 30, 2024 compared to sales of $155.2 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2024. We continue to reposition ourselves by managing CCBX credit and concentration levels in an effort to optimize our loan portfolio and generate off balance sheet fee income.

    Our credit card program through CCBX continues to grow in dollars and number of active cards as shown in the graph below:

    The following table details the CCBX deposit portfolio:

    CCBX   As of
        September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   September 30, 2023
    (dollars in thousands; unaudited)   Balance   % to Total   Balance   % to Total   Balance   % to Total
    Demand, noninterest bearing   $ 60,655     2.9 %   $ 62,234     3.0 %   $ 67,782     3.9 %
    Interest bearing demand and money market     1,991,858     94.6       1,989,105     96.7       1,679,921     95.9  
    Savings     5,204     0.3       5,150     0.3       4,529     0.2  
    Total core deposits     2,057,717     97.8       2,056,489     100.0       1,752,232     100.0  
    Other deposits     47,046     2.2           0.0            
    Total CCBX deposits   $ 2,104,763     100.0 %   $ 2,056,489     100.0 %   $ 1,752,232     100.0 %
    Cost of deposits (1)     4.82 %         4.92 %         4.80 %    

    (1)  Cost of deposits is annualized for the three months ended for each period presented.

    CCBX deposits increased $48.3 million, or 2.3%, in the three months ended September 30, 2024 to $2.10 billion. This excludes the $214.5 million in CCBX deposits that were transferred off balance sheet for increased Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance coverage purposes, compared to $117.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024. Amounts in excess of FDIC insurance coverage are transferred, using a third party facilitator/vendor sweep product, to participating financial institutions.

    Community Bank Performance Update

    In the quarter ended September 30, 2024, the community bank saw net loans decrease $14.5 million, or 0.8%, to $1.90 billion.

    The following table details the Community Bank loan portfolio:

    Community Bank   As of
        September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   September 30, 2023
    (dollars in thousands; unaudited)   Balance   % to Total   Balance   % to Total   Balance   % to Total
    Commercial and industrial loans   $ 152,161     8.0 %   $ 144,436     7.5 %   $ 158,232     8.8 %
    Real estate loans:                        
    Construction, land and land development loans     163,051     8.6       173,064     9.0       167,686     9.4  
    Residential real estate loans     212,467     11.2       229,639     12.0       225,372     12.6  
    Commercial real estate loans     1,362,452     71.5       1,357,979     70.8       1,237,849     69.1  
    Consumer and other loans:                        
    Other consumer and other loans     14,173     0.7       14,220     0.7       2,483     0.1  
    Gross Community Bank loans receivable     1,904,304     100.0 %     1,919,338     100.0 %     1,791,622     100.0 %
    Net deferred origination fees     (6,764 )         (7,304 )         (6,961 )    
    Loans receivable   $ 1,897,540         $ 1,912,034         $ 1,784,661      
    Loan Yield(1)     6.64 %         6.52 %         6.20 %    

    (1)  Loan yield is annualized for the three months ended for each period presented and includes loans held for sale and nonaccrual loans.

    Community bank loans had a $10.0 million decrease in construction, land and land development loans, partially offset by an increase of $7.7 million in commercial and industrial loans and an increase in commercial real estate loans of $4.5 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2024; consumer and other loans were flat.

    The following table details the community bank deposit portfolio:

    Community Bank   As of
        September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   September 30, 2023
    (dollars in thousands; unaudited)   Balance   % to Total   Balance   % to Total   Balance   % to Total
    Demand, noninterest bearing   $ 518,772     34.1 %   $ 531,555     35.6 %   $ 584,004     37.9 %
    Interest bearing demand and money market     552,108     36.3       876,668     59.0       852,747     55.5  
    Savings     62,272     4.1       63,627     4.3       80,099     5.2  
    Total core deposits     1,133,152     74.5       1,471,850     98.9       1,516,850     98.6  
    Other deposits     373,681     24.5       1     0.0       1     0.0  
    Time deposits less than $100,000     6,305     0.4       6,741     0.5       8,635     0.6  
    Time deposits $100,000 and over     9,387     0.6       8,351     0.6       11,982     0.8  
    Total Community Bank deposits   $ 1,522,525     100.0 %   $ 1,486,943     100.0 %   $ 1,537,468     100.0 %
    Cost of deposits(1)     1.92 %         1.77 %         1.31 %    

    (1)  Cost of deposits is annualized for the three months ended for each period presented.

    Community bank deposits increased $35.6 million, or 2.4%, during the three months ended September 30, 2024 to $1.52 billion. This is the second consecutive quarter of growth after allowing higher rate balances to run-off earlier in the year. The community bank segment includes noninterest bearing deposits of $518.8 million, or 34.1%, of total community bank deposits, resulting in a cost of deposits of 1.92%, which compared to 1.77% for the quarter ended June 30, 2024.

    Net Interest Income and Margin Discussion

    Net interest income was $72.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, an increase of $5.9 million, or 9.0%, from $66.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, and an increase of $10.0 million, or 16.0%, from $62.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2023. The increase in net interest income compared to June 30, 2024, was a result of increased interest income due to an increase in average loans receivable partially offset by an increase in cost of funds. The increase in net interest income compared to September 30, 2023 was largely related to increased yield on loans resulting from higher interest rates and growth in higher yielding loans partially offset by an increase in cost of funds relating to higher interest rates and growth in interest bearing deposits.  

    Net interest margin was 7.41% for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to 7.13% for the three months ended June 30, 2024, with the increase primarily due to higher loan yields. Net interest margin was 7.10% for the three months ended September 30, 2023. The increase in net interest margin for the three months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023 was largely due to an increase in loan yield partially offset by higher interest rates on interest bearing deposits. Interest and fees on loans receivable increased $8.6 million, or 9.5%, to $99.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $90.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, and increased $15.9 million, or 19.1%, compared to $83.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023, due to an increase in outstanding balances and higher interest rates. 

    Average investment securities decreased $795,000 to $49.0 million compared to the three months ended June 30, 2024 and decreased $69.0 million compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023 as a result of maturing securities.

    Cost of funds was 3.62% for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, an increase of 2 basis points from the quarter ended June 30, 2024 and an increase of 44 basis points from the quarter ended September 30, 2023. Cost of deposits for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 was 3.59%, compared to 3.58% for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, and 3.14% for the quarter ended September 30, 2023. The increased cost of funds and deposits compared to June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023 was due to the continued high interest rate environment. The late September reduction in the Fed funds rate is expected to help to lower our cost of deposits in future periods.

    The following table summarizes the average yield on loans receivable and cost of deposits:

        For the Three Months Ended
        September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   September 30, 2023
        Yield on
    Loans (2)
      Cost of
    Deposits (2)
      Yield on
    Loans (2)
      Cost of
    Deposits (2)
      Yield on
    Loans (2)
      Cost of
    Deposits (2)
    Community Bank   6.64 %   1.92 %   6.52 %   1.77 %   6.20 %   1.31 %
    CCBX (1)   17.35 %   4.82 %   17.77 %   4.92 %   17.05 %   4.80 %
    Consolidated   11.43 %   3.59 %   11.23 %   3.58 %   10.84 %   3.14 %

    (1)  CCBX yield on loans does not include the impact of BaaS loan expense.  BaaS loan expense represents the amount paid or payable to partners for credit and fraud enhancements and originating & servicing CCBX loans.  To determine Net BaaS loan income earned from CCBX loan relationships, the Company takes BaaS loan interest income and deducts BaaS loan expense to arrive at Net BaaS loan income which can be compared to interest income on the Company’s community bank loans. See reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures at the end of this earnings release for the impact of BaaS loan expense on CCBX loan yield.
    (2)  Annualized calculations for periods shown.

    The following tables illustrates how BaaS loan interest income is affected by BaaS loan expense resulting in net BaaS loan income and the associated yield:

        For the Three Months Ended
        September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   September 30, 2023
    (dollars in thousands, unaudited)   Income /
    Expense
      Income /
    expense divided
    by average
    CCBX loans
    (2)
      Income /
    Expense
      Income /
    expense divided
    by

    average CCBX
    loans
    (2)
      Income /
    Expense
      Income /
    expense divided
    by average
    CCBX loans
    (2)
    BaaS loan interest income   $ 67,692   17.35 %   $ 60,203   17.77 %   $ 56,279   17.05 %
    Less: BaaS loan expense     32,612   8.36 %     29,076   8.58 %     23,003   6.97 %
    Net BaaS loan income (1)   $ 35,080   8.99 %   $ 31,127   9.19 %   $ 33,276   10.08 %
    Average BaaS Loans(3)   $ 1,552,443       $ 1,362,343       $ 1,309,380    

    (1) A reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures are set forth at the end of this earnings release.
    (2) Annualized calculations shown for quarterly periods presented.
    (3) Includes loans held for sale.

    Noninterest Income Discussion

    Noninterest income was $80.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, an increase of $10.2 million from $69.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, and an increase of $45.5 million from $34.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023.  The increase in noninterest income over the quarter ended June 30, 2024 was primarily due to an increase of $9.9 million in total BaaS income.  The $9.9 million increase in total BaaS income included a $9.3 million increase in BaaS credit enhancements related to the provision for credit losses, a $300,000 increase in BaaS fraud enhancements, and an increase of $340,000 in BaaS program income. The increase in BaaS program income is largely due to higher servicing and other BaaS fees, transaction fees and interchange fees and our primary BaaS source for recurring fee income (see “Appendix B” for more information on the accounting for BaaS allowance for credit losses and credit and fraud enhancements). Additionally, other income increased $229,000 largely due to increased incoming ACH activity.

    The $45.5 million increase in noninterest income over the quarter ended September 30, 2023 was primarily due to a $43.4 million increase in BaaS credit and fraud enhancements, and an increase of $2.0 million in BaaS program income.

    Noninterest Expense Discussion
    Total noninterest expense increased $6.8 million to $65.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $58.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, and increased $9.1 million from $56.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023. The increase in noninterest expense for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, as compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2024, was primarily due to a $3.8 million increase in BaaS expense (including a $300,000 increase in BaaS fraud expense and a $3.5 million increase in BaaS loan expense). BaaS loan expense represents the amount paid or payable to partners for credit enhancements, fraud enhancements, and originating & servicing CCBX loans. BaaS fraud expense represents non-credit fraud losses on partner’s customer loan and deposit accounts. A portion of this expense is realized during the quarter in which the loss occurs, and a portion is estimated based on historical or other information from our partners, partially offset by a $1.5 million increase in excise taxes (due to the recording of $1.2 million business and occupation tax credit from the State of Washington which resulted in the recognition of a net credit of $706,000 for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, compared to expense of $762,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2024). We also recorded an increase of $587,000 in data processing and software licenses as a result of our continued investment in our infrastructure and the automation of our processes so that they are scalable and an increase of $499,000 in point of sale expenses as a result of increased partner transaction activity.

    The increase in noninterest expenses for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2023 was largely due to an increase of $8.8 million in BaaS partner expense (including a $9.6 million increase in BaaS loan expense partially offset by a decrease of $766,000 in BaaS fraud expense), a $1.1 million increase in data processing and software licenses due to enhancements in technology, and a $526,000 increase in occupancy expense, largely due to higher software depreciation/amortization expense, partially offset by a $986,000 decrease in salary and employee benefits largely as a result of some one-time costs that were expensed in the quarter ended September 30, 2023 for which there was no similar expense in the current quarter, and an $850,000 decrease in legal and professional expenses as a result of risk management and projects being completed.

    Provision for Income Taxes

    The provision for income taxes was $2.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, $3.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and $2.8 million for the third quarter of 2023.  The income tax provision was lower for the three months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2024 as a result of the deductibility of certain equity awards which reduced tax expense despite net income being higher and higher than the quarter ended September 30, 2023, primarily due to higher net income compared to that quarter.

    The Company is subject to various state taxes that are assessed as CCBX activities and employees expand into other states, which has increased the overall tax rate used in calculating the provision for income taxes in the current and future periods. The Company uses a federal statutory tax rate of 21.0% as a basis for calculating provision for federal income taxes and 2.62% for calculating the provision for state income taxes.

    Financial Condition Overview

    Total assets increased $104.3 million, or 2.6%, to $4.07 billion at September 30, 2024 compared to $3.96 billion at June 30, 2024.  The increase is primarily due to stronger loan growth partially offset by lower cash balances. Total loans receivable increased $92.4 million to $3.42 billion at September 30, 2024, from $3.33 billion at June 30, 2024.

    As of September 30, 2024, the Company had the capacity to borrow up to a total of $656.3 million from the Federal Reserve Bank discount window and Federal Home Loan Bank, and an additional $50.0 million from a correspondent bank no borrowings outstanding on these lines as of September 30, 2024.

    The Company had a cash balance of $5.9 million as of September 30, 2024, which is retained for general operating purposes, including debt repayment, and for funding $530,000 in commitments to bank technology funds.  

    Uninsured deposits were $542.2 million as of September 30, 2024, compared to $532.9 million as of June 30, 2024.

    Total shareholders’ equity increased $15.2 million since June 30, 2024.  The increase in shareholders’ equity was primarily due to $13.5 million in net earnings, combined with an increase of $1.8 million in common stock outstanding as a result of equity awards exercised during the three months ended September 30, 2024.

    The Company and the Bank remained well capitalized at September 30, 2024, as summarized in the following table.

    (unaudited)   Coastal
    Community
    Bank
      Coastal
    Financial
    Corporation
      Minimum Well
    Capitalized
    Ratios under
    Prompt
    Corrective
    Action
    (1)
    Tier 1 Leverage Capital (to average assets)   9.29 %   8.40 %   5.00 %
    Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to risk-weighted assets)   10.36 %   9.26 %   6.50 %
    Tier 1 Capital (to risk-weighted assets)   10.36 %   9.35 %   8.00 %
    Total Capital (to risk-weighted assets)   11.65 %   11.90 %   10.00 %

    (1) Presents the minimum capital ratios for an insured depository institution, such as the Bank, to be considered well capitalized under the Prompt Corrective Action framework. The minimum requirements for the Company to be considered well capitalized under Regulation Y include to maintain, on a consolidated basis, a total risk-based capital ratio of 10.0 percent or greater and a tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.0 percent or greater.

    Asset Quality

    The total allowance for credit losses was $170.3 million and 4.98% of loans receivable at September 30, 2024 compared to $147.9 million and 4.45% at June 30, 2024 and $101.1 million and 3.41% at September 30, 2023. The allowance for credit loss allocated to the CCBX portfolio was $150.1 million and 9.87% of CCBX loans receivable at September 30, 2024, with $20.1 million of allowance for credit loss allocated to the community bank or 1.06% of total community bank loans receivable.

    The following table details the allocation of the allowance for credit loss as of the period indicated:

        As of September 30, 2024   As of June 30, 2024   As of September 30, 2023
    (dollars in thousands; unaudited)   Community
    Bank
      CCBX   Total   Community
    Bank
      CCBX   Total   Community
    Bank
      CCBX   Total
    Loans receivable   $ 1,897,540     $ 1,521,292     $ 3,418,832     $ 1,912,034     $ 1,414,426     $ 3,326,460     $ 1,784,661     $ 1,182,374     $ 2,967,035  
    Allowance for credit losses     (20,132 )     (150,131 )     (170,263 )     (21,045 )     (126,869 )     (147,914 )     (21,316 )     (79,769 )     (101,085 )
    Allowance for credit losses to total loans receivable     1.06 %     9.87 %     4.98 %     1.10 %     8.97 %     4.45 %     1.19 %     6.75 %     3.41 %
                                                                             

    Net charge-offs totaled $49.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, compared to $53.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 and $36.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2023. Net charge-offs as a percent of average loans decreased to 5.65% for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 compared to 6.57% for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, which we believe is a result of the steps we took manage our credit quality.   CCBX partner agreements provide for a credit enhancement that covers the net-charge-offs on CCBX loans and negative deposit accounts by indemnifying or reimbursing incurred losses, except in accordance with the program agreement for one partner where the Company was responsible for credit losses on approximately 5% of a $400.8 million loan portfolio. At September 30, 2024, our portion of this portfolio represented $19.8 million in loans. Net charge-offs for this $19.8 million in loans were $1.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $1.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and $579,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2023.

    The following table details net charge-offs for the community bank and CCBX for the period indicated:

        Three Months Ended
        September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   September 30, 2023
    (dollars in thousands; unaudited)   Community
    Bank
      CCBX   Total   Community
    Bank
      CCBX   Total   Community
    Bank
      CCBX   Total
    Gross charge-offs   $ 398     $ 52,907     $ 53,305     $ 2     $ 55,205     $ 55,207     $ 3     $ 37,876     $ 37,879  
    Gross recoveries     (3 )     (4,066 )     (4,069 )     (4 )     (1,969 )     (1,973 )     (3 )     (1,042 )     (1,045 )
    Net charge-offs   $ 395     $ 48,841     $ 49,236     $ (2 )   $ 53,236     $ 53,234     $     $ 36,834     $ 36,834  
    Net charge-offs to average loans (1)     0.08 %     12.52 %     5.65 %     0.00 %     15.72 %     6.57 %     0.00 %     11.16 %     4.77 %

    (1) Annualized calculations shown for periods presented.

    During the quarter ended September 30, 2024, a $72.1 million provision for credit losses – loans was recorded for CCBX partner loans based on management’s analysis, compared to the $62.2 million provision for credit losses – loans that was recorded for CCBX for the quarter ended June 30, 2024. CCBX loans have a higher level of expected losses than our community bank loans, which is reflected in the factors for the allowance for credit losses. Agreements with our CCBX partners provide for a credit enhancement which protects the Bank by indemnifying or reimbursing incurred losses.

    In accordance with accounting guidance, we estimate and record a provision for expected losses for these CCBX loans and reclassified negative deposit accounts. When the provision for CCBX credit losses and provision for unfunded commitments is recorded, a credit enhancement asset is also recorded on the balance sheet through noninterest income (BaaS credit enhancements). Expected losses are recorded in the allowance for credit losses. The credit enhancement asset is relieved when credit enhancement recoveries are received from the CCBX partner. If our partner is unable to fulfill their contracted obligations then the Bank could be exposed to additional credit losses. Management regularly evaluates and manages this counterparty risk.

    The factors used in management’s analysis for community bank credit losses indicated that a provision recapture of $519,000 and was needed for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 compared to a provision recapture of $341,000 and provision of $664,000 for the quarters ended June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively. The recapture in the current period was largely due to a change in remaining average lives of community bank loans.

    The following table details the provision expense/(recapture) for the community bank and CCBX for the period indicated:

        Three Months Ended
    (dollars in thousands; unaudited)   September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      September 30,
    2023
    Community bank   $ (519 )   $ (341 )   $ 664
    CCBX     72,104       62,231       26,493
    Total provision expense   $ 71,585     $ 61,890     $ 27,157

    At September 30, 2024, our nonperforming assets were $54.7 million, or 1.34%, of total assets, compared to $53.2 million, or 1.34%, of total assets, at June 30, 2024, and $43.5 million, or 1.18%, of total assets, at September 30, 2023. These ratios are impacted by nonperforming CCBX loans that are covered by CCBX partner credit enhancements. As of September 30, 2024, $52.0 million of the $53.6 million in nonperforming CCBX loans were covered by CCBX partner credit enhancements described above.

    Nonperforming assets increased $1.5 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2024, compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2024. This change is largely due to an increase in CCBX nonaccrual loans partially offset by a decrease in community bank nonaccrual loans. CCBX nonaccrual loans increased $8.0 million as a result of a new collection practice that places certain loans on nonaccrual status to improve collectability, $5.3 million of these loans are less than 90 days past due as of September 30, 2024. CCBX loans that are past due 90 days or more and still accruing was $45.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 compared to $45.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024. As a result of the type of loans (primarily consumer loans) originated through our CCBX partners we anticipate that balances 90 days past due or more and still accruing will generally increase as those loan portfolios grow. Installment/closed-end and revolving/open-end consumer loans originated through CCBX lending partners will continue to accrue interest until 120 and 180 days past due, respectively and are reported as substandard, 90 days or more days past due and still accruing. There were no repossessed assets or other real estate owned at September 30, 2024. Our nonperforming loans to loans receivable ratio was 1.60% at September 30, 2024, compared to 1.60% at June 30, 2024, and 1.47% at September 30, 2023.

    For the quarter ended September 30, 2024, there were $395,000 community bank net charge-offs and $1.1 million nonperforming community bank loans. For the quarter ended September 30, 2024 $48.8 million in net charge-offs were recorded on CCBX loans. These CCBX loans have a higher level of expected losses than our community bank loans, which is reflected in the factors for the allowance for credit losses.

    The following table details the Company’s nonperforming assets for the periods indicated.

    Consolidated   As of
    (dollars in thousands; unaudited)   September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      September 30,
    2023
    Nonaccrual loans:            
    Commercial and industrial loans   $ 198     $     $ 2  
    Real estate loans:            
    Construction, land and land development                  
    Residential real estate     44       213       176  
    Commercial real estate     831       7,731       7,145  
    Consumer and other loans:            
    Credit cards     7,987              
    Total nonaccrual loans     9,060       7,944       7,323  
    Accruing loans past due 90 days or more:            
    Commercial & industrial loans     1,593       1,278       1,387  
    Real estate loans:            
    Residential real estate loans     3,025       2,722       1,462  
    Consumer and other loans:            
    Credit cards     34,562       36,465       24,807  
    Other consumer and other loans     6,412       4,779       8,561  
         Total accruing loans past due 90 days or more     45,592       45,244       36,217  
    Total nonperforming loans     54,652       53,188       43,540  
    Real estate owned                  
    Repossessed assets                  
    Total nonperforming assets   $ 54,652     $ 53,188     $ 43,540  
    Total nonaccrual loans to loans receivable     0.27 %     0.24 %     0.25 %
    Total nonperforming loans to loans receivable     1.60 %     1.60 %     1.47 %
    Total nonperforming assets to total assets     1.34 %     1.34 %     1.18 %
                             

    The following tables detail the CCBX and community bank nonperforming assets which are included in the total nonperforming assets table above.

    CCBX   As of
    (dollars in thousands; unaudited)   September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      September 30,
    2023
    Nonaccrual loans:            
    Consumer and other loans:            
    Credit cards   $ 7,987     $     $  
    Total nonaccrual loans     7,987              
    Accruing loans past due 90 days or more:            
    Commercial & industrial loans     1,593       1,278       1,387  
    Real estate loans:            
    Residential real estate loans     3,025       2,722       1,462  
    Consumer and other loans:            
    Credit cards     34,562       36,465       24,807  
    Other consumer and other loans     6,412       4,779       8,561  
    Total accruing loans past due 90 days or more     45,592       45,244       36,217  
    Total nonperforming loans     53,579       45,244       36,217  
    Other real estate owned                  
    Repossessed assets                  
    Total nonperforming assets   $ 53,579     $ 45,244     $ 36,217  
    Total CCBX nonperforming assets to total consolidated assets     1.32 %     1.14 %     0.98 %
    Community Bank   As of
    (dollars in thousands; unaudited)   September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      September 30,
    2023
    Nonaccrual loans:            
    Commercial and industrial loans   $ 198     $     $ 2  
    Real estate:            
    Construction, land and land development                  
    Residential real estate     44       213       176  
    Commercial real estate     831       7,731       7,145  
    Total nonaccrual loans     1,073       7,944       7,323  
    Accruing loans past due 90 days or more:            
    Total accruing loans past due 90 days or more                  
    Total nonperforming loans     1,073       7,944       7,323  
    Other real estate owned                  
    Repossessed assets                  
    Total nonperforming assets   $ 1,073     $ 7,944     $ 7,323  
    Total community bank nonperforming assets to total consolidated assets     0.03 %     0.20 %     0.20 %
                             

    About Coastal Financial

    Coastal Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: CCB) (the “Company”), is an Everett, Washington based bank holding company whose wholly owned subsidiaries are Coastal Community Bank (“Bank”) and Arlington Olympic LLC.  The $4.07 billion Bank provides service through 14 branches in Snohomish, Island, and King Counties, the Internet and its mobile banking application.  The Bank provides banking as a service to broker-dealers, digital financial service providers, companies and brands that want to provide financial services to their customers through the Bank’s CCBX segment.  To learn more about the Company visit www.coastalbank.com

    CCB-ER

    Contact

    Eric Sprink, Chief Executive Officer, (425) 357-3659
    Joel Edwards, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, (425) 357-3687

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This earnings release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, future events and our financial performance. Any statements about our management’s expectations, beliefs, plans, predictions, forecasts, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not historical facts and may be forward-looking. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “anticipate,” “believes,” “can,” “could,” “may,” “predicts,” “potential,” “should,” “will,” “estimate,” “plans,” “projects,” “continuing,” “ongoing,” “expects,” “intends” and similar words or phrases. Any or all of the forward-looking statements in this earnings release may turn out to be inaccurate. The inclusion of or reference to forward-looking information in this earnings release should not be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that the future plans, estimates or expectations contemplated by us will be achieved. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties discussed under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recent period filed and in any of our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    If one or more events related to these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may differ materially from what we anticipate. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.

     
    COASTAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
    (Dollars in thousands; unaudited)
     
    ASSETS
        September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      March 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
      September 30,
    2023
    Cash and due from banks   $ 45,327     $ 59,995     $ 32,790     $ 31,345     $ 29,984  
    Interest earning deposits with other banks     438,699       427,250       482,338       451,783       444,962  
    Investment securities, available for sale, at fair value     38       39       41       99,504       98,939  
    Investment securities, held to maturity, at amortized cost     48,582       49,174       50,049       50,860       42,550  
    Other investments     10,757       10,664       10,583       10,227       11,898  
    Loans held for sale     7,565             797              
    Loans receivable     3,418,832       3,326,460       3,199,554       3,026,092       2,967,035  
    Allowance for credit losses     (170,263 )     (147,914 )     (139,258 )     (116,958 )     (101,085 )
    Total loans receivable, net     3,248,569       3,178,546       3,060,296       2,909,134       2,865,950  
    CCBX credit enhancement asset     167,251       143,485       137,276       107,921       91,867  
    CCBX receivable     16,060       11,520       10,369       9,088       10,623  
    Premises and equipment, net     25,833       24,526       22,995       22,090       20,543  
    Lease right-of-use assets     5,427       5,635       5,756       5,932       6,126  
    Accrued interest receivable     23,664       23,617       24,681       26,819       23,428  
    Bank-owned life insurance, net     13,255       13,132       12,991       12,870       12,970  
    Deferred tax asset, net     3,083       2,221       2,221       3,806       4,404  
    Other assets     11,711       11,742       12,075       11,987       14,021  
    Total assets   $ 4,065,821     $ 3,961,546     $ 3,865,258     $ 3,753,366     $ 3,678,265  
                         
    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
    LIABILITIES                    
    Deposits   $ 3,627,288     $ 3,543,432     $ 3,462,979     $ 3,360,363     $ 3,289,700  
    Subordinated debt, net     44,256       44,219       44,181       44,144       44,106  
    Junior subordinated debentures, net     3,591       3,591       3,590       3,590       3,589  
    Deferred compensation     369       405       442       479       513  
    Accrued interest payable     1,070       999       1,061       892       1,056  
    Lease liabilities     5,609       5,821       5,946       6,124       6,321  
    CCBX payable     39,188       34,536       33,095       33,651       38,229  
    Other liabilities     12,520       11,850       10,255       9,145       10,301  
    Total liabilities     3,733,891       3,644,853       3,561,549       3,458,388       3,393,815  
    SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY                    
    Common Stock     134,769       132,989       131,601       130,136       129,244  
    Retained earnings     197,162       183,706       172,110       165,311       156,299  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax     (1 )     (2 )     (2 )     (469 )     (1,093 )
    Total shareholders’ equity     331,930       316,693       303,709       294,978       284,450  
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity   $ 4,065,821     $ 3,961,546     $ 3,865,258     $ 3,753,366     $ 3,678,265  
     
    COASTAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
    (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts; unaudited)
     
        Three Months Ended
        September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      March 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
      September 30,
    2023
    INTEREST AND DIVIDEND INCOME                    
    Interest and fees on loans   $ 99,590   $ 90,944     $ 84,621     $ 81,159     $ 83,652
    Interest on interest earning deposits with other banks     4,781     5,683       4,780       5,687       3,884
    Interest on investment securities     675     686       1,034       1,225       766
    Dividends on other investments     33     174       37       172       29
    Total interest income     105,079     97,487       90,472       88,243       88,331
    INTEREST EXPENSE                    
    Interest on deposits     32,083     30,578       28,867       27,916       25,451
    Interest on borrowed funds     809     672       669       670       651
    Total interest expense     32,892     31,250       29,536       28,586       26,102
    Net interest income     72,187     66,237       60,936       59,657       62,229
    PROVISION FOR CREDIT LOSSES     70,257     62,325       83,158       60,789       27,253
    Net interest income/(expense) after provision for credit losses     1,930     3,912       (22,222 )     (1,132 )     34,976
    NONINTEREST INCOME                    
    Deposit service charges and fees     952     946       908       957       998
    Loan referral fees               168             1
    Gain on sales of loans, net                           107
    Unrealized gain (loss) on equity securities, net     2     9       15       80       5
    Other income     486     257       308       60       291
    Noninterest income, excluding BaaS program income and BaaS indemnification income     1,440     1,212       1,399       1,097       1,402
    Servicing and other BaaS fees     1,044     1,525       1,131       1,015       997
    Transaction fees     1,696     1,309       1,122       1,006       1,036
    Interchange fees     1,853     1,625       1,539       1,272       1,216
    Reimbursement of expenses     1,843     1,637       1,033       1,076       1,152
    BaaS program income     6,436     6,096       4,825       4,369       4,401
    BaaS credit enhancements     70,108     60,826       79,808       58,449       25,926
    BaaS fraud enhancements     2,084     1,784       923       779       2,850
    BaaS indemnification income     72,192     62,610       80,731       59,228       28,776
    Total noninterest income     80,068     69,918       86,955       64,694       34,579
    NONINTEREST EXPENSE                    
    Salaries and employee benefits     17,101     17,005       17,984       16,490       18,087
    Occupancy     1,750     1,686       1,518       1,340       1,224
    Data processing and software licenses     3,511     2,924       2,892       2,417       2,366
    Legal and professional expenses     3,597     3,631       3,672       2,649       4,447
    Point of sale expense     1,351     852       869       899       1,068
    Excise taxes     762     (706 )     320       449       541
    Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) assessments     740     690       683       665       694
    Director and staff expenses     559     470       400       478       529
    Marketing     67     14       53       138       169
    Other expense     1,482     1,383       1,867       1,089       1,523
    Noninterest expense, excluding BaaS loan and BaaS fraud expense     30,920     27,949       30,258       26,614       30,648
    BaaS loan expense     32,612     29,076       24,837       24,310       23,003
    BaaS fraud expense     2,084     1,784       923       779       2,850
    BaaS loan and fraud expense     34,696     30,860       25,760       25,089       25,853
    Total noninterest expense     65,616     58,809       56,018       51,703       56,501
    Income before provision for income taxes     16,382     15,021       8,715       11,859       13,054
    PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES     2,926     3,425       1,915       2,847       2,784
    NET INCOME   $ 13,456   $ 11,596     $ 6,800     $ 9,012     $ 10,270
    Basic earnings per common share   $ 1.00   $ 0.86     $ 0.51     $ 0.68     $ 0.77
    Diluted earnings per common share   $ 0.97   $ 0.84     $ 0.50     $ 0.66     $ 0.75
    Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:                    
    Basic     13,447,066     13,412,667       13,340,997       13,286,828       13,285,974
    Diluted     13,822,270     13,736,508       13,676,917       13,676,513       13,675,833
     
    COASTAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION
    AVERAGE BALANCES, YIELDS, AND RATES – QUARTERLY
    (Dollars in thousands; unaudited)
     
        For the Three Months Ended
        September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   September 30, 2023
        Average
    Balance
      Interest &
    Dividends
      Yield /
    Cost (1)
      Average
    Balance
      Interest &
    Dividends
      Yield /
    Cost (1)
      Average
    Balance
      Interest &
    Dividends
      Yield /
    Cost (1)
    Assets                                    
    Interest earning assets:                                    
    Interest earning deposits with other banks   $ 350,915     $ 4,781   5.42 %   $ 418,165     $ 5,683   5.47 %   $ 285,596     $ 3,884   5.40 %
    Investment securities, available for sale (2)     40               43         3.13       100,283       543   2.15  
    Investment securities, held to maturity (2)     48,945       675   5.49       49,737       686   5.55       17,703       223   5.00  
    Other investments     11,140       33   1.18       10,592       174   6.61       11,943       29   0.96  
    Loans receivable (3)     3,464,871       99,590   11.43       3,258,042       90,944   11.23       3,062,214       83,652   10.84  
    Total interest earning assets     3,875,911       105,079   10.79       3,736,579       97,487   10.49       3,477,739       88,331   10.08  
    Noninterest earning assets:                                    
    Allowance for credit losses     (151,292 )             (138,472 )             (100,329 )        
    Other noninterest earning assets     268,903               255,205               220,750          
    Total assets   $ 3,993,522             $ 3,853,312             $ 3,598,160          
                                         
    Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity                                    
    Interest bearing liabilities:                                    
    Interest bearing deposits   $ 2,966,527     $ 32,083   4.30 %   $ 2,854,575     $ 30,578   4.31 %   $ 2,515,093     $ 25,451   4.01 %
    FHLB advances and other borrowings     9,717       140   5.73       1,648       3   0.73                
    Subordinated debt     44,234       598   5.38       44,197       598   5.44       44,084       580   5.22  
    Junior subordinated debentures     3,591       71   7.87       3,590       71   7.95       3,589       71   7.85  
    Total interest bearing liabilities     3,024,069       32,892   4.33       2,904,010       31,250   4.33       2,562,766       26,102   4.04  
    Noninterest bearing deposits     588,178               584,661               698,532          
    Other liabilities     60,101               58,267               57,865          
    Total shareholders’ equity     321,174               306,374               278,997          
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity   $ 3,993,522             $ 3,853,312             $ 3,598,160          
    Net interest income       $ 72,187           $ 66,237           $ 62,229    
    Interest rate spread           6.46 %           6.17 %           6.04 %
    Net interest margin (4)           7.41 %           7.13 %           7.10 %

    (1)  Yields and costs are annualized.
    (2) For presentation in this table, average balances and the corresponding average rates for investment securities are based upon historical cost, adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts.
    (3)  Includes loans held for sale and nonaccrual loans.
    (4)  Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by the average total interest earning assets.

     
    COASTAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION
    SELECTED AVERAGE BALANCES, YIELDS, AND RATES – BY SEGMENT – QUARTERLY
    (Dollars in thousands; unaudited)
     
        For the Three Months Ended
        September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   September 30, 2023
    (dollars in thousands, unaudited)   Average
    Balance
      Interest &
    Dividends
      Yield /
    Cost (1)
      Average
    Balance
      Interest &
    Dividends
      Yield /
    Cost (1)
      Average
    Balance
      Interest &
    Dividends
      Yield /
    Cost (1)
    Community Bank                                    
    Assets                                    
    Interest earning assets:                                    
    Loans receivable (2)   $ 1,912,428   $ 31,898   6.64 %   $ 1,895,699   $ 30,741   6.52 %   $ 1,752,834   $ 27,373   6.20 %
    Total interest earning assets     1,912,428     31,898   6.64       1,895,699     30,741   6.52       1,752,834     27,373   6.20  
    Liabilities                                    
    Interest bearing liabilities:                                      
    Interest bearing deposits     982,280     7,264   2.94 %     938,033     6,459   2.77 %     920,707     5,067   2.18 %
    Intrabank liability     406,641     5,540   5.42       429,452     5,836   5.47       223,221     3,036   5.40  
    Total interest bearing liabilities     1,388,921     12,804   3.67       1,367,485     12,295   3.62       1,143,928     8,103   2.81  
    Noninterest bearing deposits     523,507             528,214             608,906        
    Net interest income       $ 19,094           $ 18,446           $ 19,270    
    Net interest margin(3)           3.97 %           3.91 %           4.36 %
                                         
    CCBX                                    
    Assets                                    
    Interest earning assets:                                    
    Loans receivable (2)(4)   $ 1,552,443   $ 67,692   17.35 %   $ 1,362,343   $ 60,203   17.77 %   $ 1,309,380   $ 56,279   17.05 %
    Intrabank asset     496,475     6,764   5.42       610,646     8,299   5.47       374,632     5,095   5.40  
    Total interest earning assets     2,048,918     74,456   14.46       1,972,989     68,502   13.96       1,684,012     61,374   14.46  
    Liabilities                                    
    Interest bearing liabilities:                                        
    Interest bearing deposits     1,984,247     24,819   4.98 %     1,916,542     24,119   5.06 %     1,594,386     20,384   5.07 %
    Total interest bearing liabilities     1,984,247     24,819   4.98       1,916,542     24,119   5.06       1,594,386     20,384   5.07  
    Noninterest bearing deposits     64,671             56,447             89,626        
    Net interest income       $ 49,637           $ 44,383           $ 40,990    
    Net interest margin(3)           9.64 %           9.05 %           9.66 %
    Net interest margin, net of Baas loan expense (5)           3.31 %           3.12 %           4.24 %
                                               
        For the Three Months Ended
        September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   September 30, 2023
    (dollars in thousands, unaudited)   Average
    Balance
      Interest &
    Dividends
      Yield /
    Cost (1)
      Average
    Balance
      Interest &
    Dividends
      Yield /
    Cost (1)
      Average
    Balance
      Interest &
    Dividends
      Yield /
    Cost (1)
    Treasury & Administration                            
    Assets                                    
    Interest earning assets:                                    
    Interest earning deposits with other banks   $ 350,915   $ 4,781   5.42 %   $ 418,165   $ 5,683   5.47 %   $ 285,596   $ 3,884   5.40 %
    Investment securities, available for sale (6)     40             43       3.13       100,283     543   2.15  
    Investment securities, held to maturity (6)     48,945     675   5.49       49,737     686   5.55       17,703     223   5.00  
    Other investments     11,140     33   1.18       10,592     174   6.61       11,943     29   0.96  
    Total interest earning assets     411,040     5,489   5.31 %     478,537     6,543   5.50 %     415,525     4,679   4.47 %
    Liabilities                                    
    Interest bearing liabilities:                                    
    FHLB advances and borrowings   $ 9,717   $ 140   5.73 %     1,648     3   0.73 %           %
    Subordinated debt     44,234     598   5.38 %     44,197     598   5.44 %     44,084     580   5.22 %
    Junior subordinated debentures     3,591     71   7.87       3,590     71   7.95       3,589     71   7.85  
    Intrabank liability, net (7)     89,834     1,224   5.42       181,194     2,463   5.47       151,411     2,059   5.40  
    Total interest bearing liabilities     147,376     2,033   5.49       230,629     3,135   5.47       199,084     2,710   5.40  
    Net interest income       $ 3,456           $ 3,408           $ 1,969    
    Net interest margin(3)           3.34 %           2.86 %           1.88 %

    (1)  Yields and costs are annualized. 
    (2)  Includes loans held for sale and nonaccrual loans. 
    (3)  Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by the average total interest earning assets. 
    (4)  CCBX yield does not include the impact of BaaS loan expense. BaaS loan expense represents the amount paid or payable to partners for credit enhancements, fraud enhancements and originating & servicing CCBX loans. See reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures at the end of this earnings release for the impact of BaaS loan expense on CCBX loan yield. 
    (5)  Net interest margin, net of BaaS loan expense includes the impact of BaaS loan expense. BaaS loan expense represents the amount paid or payable to partners for credit enhancements, fraud enhancements, originating & servicing CCBX loans. See reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures at the end of this earnings release. 
    (6) For presentation in this table, average balances and the corresponding average rates for investment securities are based upon historical cost, adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts. 
    (7)  Intrabank assets and liabilities are consolidated for period calculations and presented as intrabank asset, net or intrabank liability, net in the table above.

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    The Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures to provide meaningful supplemental information regarding the Company’s operational performance and to enhance investors’ overall understanding of such financial performance.

    However, these non-GAAP financial measures are supplemental and are not a substitute for an analysis based on GAAP measures. As other companies may use different calculations for these adjusted measures, this presentation may not be comparable to other similarly titled adjusted measures reported by other companies.

    The following non-GAAP measures are presented to illustrate the impact of BaaS loan expense on net loan income and yield on CCBX loans and the impact of BaaS loan expense on net interest income and net interest margin.

    Net BaaS loan income divided by average CCBX loans is a non-GAAP measure that includes the impact BaaS loan expense on net BaaS loan income and the yield on CCBX loans. The most directly comparable GAAP measure is yield on CCBX loans.

    Net interest income net of BaaS loan expense is a non-GAAP measure that includes the impact BaaS loan expense on net interest income. The most directly comparable GAAP measure is net interest income.

    Net interest margin, net of BaaS loan expense is a non-GAAP measure that includes the impact of BaaS loan expense on net interest rate margin. The most directly comparable GAAP measure is net interest margin.

    Reconciliations of the GAAP and non-GAAP measures are presented below.

        As of and for the Three Months Ended
    (dollars in thousands; unaudited)   September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      September 30,
    2023
    Net BaaS loan income divided by average CCBX loans:
    CCBX loan yield (GAAP)(1)     17.35 %     17.77 %     17.05 %
    Total average CCBX loans receivable   $ 1,552,443     $ 1,362,343     $ 1,309,380  
    Interest and earned fee income on CCBX loans (GAAP)     67,692       60,203       56,279  
    BaaS loan expense     (32,612 )     (29,076 )     (23,003 )
    Net BaaS loan income   $ 35,080     $ 31,127     $ 33,276  
    Net BaaS loan income divided by average CCBX loans (1)     8.99 %     9.19 %     10.08 %
    Net interest margin, net of BaaS loan expense:                
    CCBX interest margin (1)     9.64 %     9.05 %     9.66 %
    CCBX earning assets     2,048,918       1,972,989       1,684,012  
    Net interest income     49,637       44,383       40,990  
    Less: BaaS loan expense     (32,612 )     (29,076 )     (23,003 )
    Net interest income, net of BaaS loan expense   $ 17,025     $ 15,307     $ 17,987  
    CCBX net interest margin, net of BaaS loan expense (1)     3.31 %     3.12 %     4.24 %

    (1) Annualized calculations for periods presented.

    APPENDIX A –
    As of September 30, 2024

    Industry Concentration

    We have a diversified loan portfolio, representing a wide variety of industries. Our major categories of loans are commercial real estate, consumer and other loans, residential real estate, commercial and industrial, and construction, land and land development loans. Together they represent $3.43 billion in outstanding loan balances. When combined with $2.29 billion in unused commitments the total of these categories is $5.72 billion.

    Commercial real estate loans represent the largest segment of our loans, comprising 39.8% of our total balance of outstanding loans as of September 30, 2024. Unused commitments to extend credit represents an additional $41.5 million, and the combined total in commercial real estate loans represents $1.40 billion, or 24.6% of our total outstanding loans and loan commitments.

    The following table summarizes our loan commitment by industry for our commercial real estate portfolio as of September 30, 2024:

    (dollars in thousands; unaudited)   Outstanding
    Balance
      Available
    Loan
    Commitments
      Total
    Outstanding
    Balance &
    Available
    Commitment
      %
    of Total
    Loans

    (Outstanding
    Balance &

    Available
    Commitment)
      Average
    Loan
    Balance
      Number
    of
    Loans
    Apartments   $ 382,498   $ 5,685   $ 388,183   6.8 %   $ 3,714   103
    Hotel/Motel     155,441     189     155,630   2.7       6,758   23
    Convenience Store     142,366     614     142,980   2.5       2,296   62
    Office     123,423     8,204     131,627   2.3       1,371   90
    Warehouse     102,818     2,000     104,818   1.8       1,743   59
    Retail     107,934     620     108,554   1.9       1,018   106
    Mixed use     93,490     5,273     98,763   1.7       1,154   81
    Mini Storage     79,395     14,330     93,725   1.7       3,452   23
    Strip Mall     44,089         44,089   0.8       6,298   7
    Manufacturing     34,599     1,200     35,799   0.6       1,193   29
    Groups < 0.70% of total     96,393     3,392     99,785   1.8       1,205   80
    Total   $ 1,362,446   $ 41,507   $ 1,403,953   24.6 %   $ 2,055   663
     

    Consumer loans comprise 33.0% of our total balance of outstanding loans as of September 30, 2024. Unused commitments to extend credit represents an additional $1.07 billion, and the combined total in consumer and other loans represents $2.20 billion, or 38.4% of our total outstanding loans and loan commitments. As illustrated in the table below, our CCBX partners bring in a large number of mostly smaller dollar loans, resulting in an average consumer loan balance of just $900. CCBX consumer loans are underwritten to CCBX credit standards and underwriting of these loans is regularly tested, including quarterly testing for partners with portfolio balances greater than $10.0 million.

    The following table summarizes our loan commitment by industry for our consumer and other loan portfolio as of September 30, 2024:

    (dollars in thousands; unaudited)   Outstanding
    Balance
      Available
    Loan
    Commitments
      Total
    Outstanding
    Balance &
    Available
    Commitment
    (1)
      %
    of Total
    Loans

    (Outstanding
    Balance &

    Available
    Commitment)
      Average
    Loan
    Balance
      Number
    of
    Loans
    CCBX consumer loans
    Credit cards   $ 633,691   $ 1,055,684   $ 1,689,375   29.5 %   $ 1.7   369,404
    Installment loans     471,813     7,112     478,925   8.4       0.9   513,897
    Lines of credit     1,362         1,362   0.0       2.4   558
    Other loans     9,053         9,053   0.2         365,834
    Community bank consumer loans
                               
    Installment loans     1,291     1     1,292   0.0       51.6   25
    Lines of credit     194     365     559   0.0       6.1   32
    Other loans     12,688     3,000     15,688   0.3       32.5   390
    Total   $ 1,130,092   $ 1,066,162   $ 2,196,254   38.4 %   $ 0.9   1,250,140

    (1)  Total exposure on CCBX loans is subject to CCBX partner/portfolio maximum limits.

    Residential real estate loans comprise 13.9% of our total balance of outstanding loans as of September 30, 2024. Unused commitments to extend credit represents an additional $522.8 million, and the combined total in residential real estate loans represents $1.00 billion, or 17.5% of our total outstanding loans and loan commitments.

    The following table summarizes our loan commitment by industry for our residential real estate loan portfolio as of September 30, 2024:

    (dollars in thousands; unaudited)   Outstanding
    Balance
      Available
    Loan
    Commitments
      Total
    Outstanding
    Balance &
    Available
    Commitment
    (1)
      %
    of Total
    Loans

    (Outstanding
    Balance &

    Available
    Commitment)
      Average
    Loan
    Balance
      Number
    of
    Loans
    CCBX residential real estate loans                                  
    Home equity line of credit   $ 265,402   $ 472,385   $ 737,787   12.9 %   $ 25   10,742
    Community bank residential real estate loans                                  
    Closed end, secured by first liens     176,066     2,961     179,027   3.1       555   317
    Home equity line of credit     25,427     46,515     71,942   1.3       106   239
    Closed end, second liens     10,974     925     11,899   0.2       366   30
    Total   $ 477,869   $ 522,786   $ 1,000,655   17.5 %   $ 42   11,328

    (1)  Total exposure on CCBX loans is subject to CCBX partner/portfolio maximum limits.

    Commercial and industrial loans comprise 8.5% of our total balance of outstanding loans as of September 30, 2024. Unused commitments to extend credit represents an additional $598.4 million, and the combined total in commercial and industrial loans represents $891.0 million, or 15.6% of our total outstanding loans and loan commitments. Included in commercial and industrial loans is $103.9 million in outstanding capital call lines, with an additional $504.6 million in available loan commitments which is limited to a $350.0 million portfolio maximum. Capital call lines are provided to venture capital firms through one of our CCBX BaaS clients. These loans are secured by the capital call rights and are individually underwritten to the Bank’s credit standards and the underwriting is reviewed by the Bank on every capital call line.

    The following table summarizes our loan commitment by industry for our commercial and industrial loan portfolio as of September 30, 2024:

    (dollars in thousands; unaudited)   Outstanding
    Balance
      Available
    Loan
    Commitments
      Total
    Outstanding
    Balance &
    Available
    Commitment
    (1)
      %
    of Total
    Loans

    (Outstanding
    Balance &

    Available
    Commitment)
      Average
    Loan
    Balance
      Number
    of
    Loans
    Consolidated C&I loans
    Capital Call Lines   $ 103,924   $ 504,561   $ 608,485   10.6 %   $ 764   136
    Construction/Contractor Services     27,463     34,658     62,121   1.1       136   202
    Financial Institutions     48,648         48,648   0.9       4,054   12
    Retail     33,003     5,725     38,728   0.7       15   2,247
    Manufacturing     6,124     5,460     11,584   0.2       149   41
    Medical / Dental / Other Care     6,864     2,731     9,595   0.2       528   13
    Groups < 0.20% of total     66,553     45,299     111,852   2.0       58   1,143
    Total   $ 292,579   $ 598,434   $ 891,013   15.6 %   $ 77   3,794

    (1)  Total exposure on CCBX loans is subject to CCBX partner/portfolio maximum limits.

    Construction, land and land development loans comprise 4.8% of our total balance of outstanding loans as of September 30, 2024. Unused commitments to extend credit represents an additional $63.5 million, and the combined total in construction, land and land development loans represents $226.6 million, or 4.0% of our total outstanding loans and loan commitments.

    The following table details our loan commitment for our construction, land and land development portfolio as of September 30, 2024:

    (dollars in thousands; unaudited)   Outstanding
    Balance
      Available
    Loan
    Commitments
      Total
    Outstanding
    Balance &
    Available
    Commitment
      %
    of Total
    Loans

    (Outstanding
    Balance &

    Available
    Commitment)
      Average
    Loan
    Balance
      Number
    of
    Loans
    Commercial construction   $ 97,798   $ 41,521   $ 139,319   2.5 %   $ 7,523   13
    Residential construction     35,822     16,846     52,668   0.9       1,990   18
    Developed land loans     14,863     723     15,586   0.3       743   20
    Undeveloped land loans     8,606     4,086     12,692   0.2       574   15
    Land development     5,968     345     6,313   0.1       597   10
    Total   $ 163,057   $ 63,521   $ 226,578   4.0 %   $ 2,145   76
     

    Exposure and risk in our construction, land and land development portfolio is in line with our average historically, compared to June 30, 2024 when the balance was elevated as indicated in the following table:

        Outstanding Balance as of
    (dollars in thousands; unaudited)   September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      March 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
      September 30,
    2023
    Commercial construction   $ 97,798   $ 110,372   $ 102,099   $ 81,489   $ 91,396
    Residential construction     35,822     34,652     28,751     34,213     33,971
    Undeveloped land loans     8,606     8,372     8,190     7,890     8,310
    Developed land loans     14,863     13,954     14,307     20,515     21,369
    Land development     5,968     5,714     7,515     12,993     12,640
    Total   $ 163,057   $ 173,064   $ 160,862   $ 157,100   $ 167,686
     

    Commitments to extend credit total $2.29 billion at September 30, 2024,   however we do not anticipate our customers using the $2.29 billion that is showing as available.

    The following table presents outstanding commitments to extend credit as of September 30, 2024:

    Consolidated    
    (dollars in thousands; unaudited)   As of September
    30, 2024
    Commitments to extend credit:    
    Commercial and industrial loans   $ 93,873
    Commercial and industrial loans – capital call lines     504,561
    Construction – commercial real estate loans     46,007
    Construction – residential real estate loans     17,514
    Residential real estate loans     522,786
    Commercial real estate loans     41,507
    Credit cards     1,055,684
    Consumer and other loans     10,478
    Total commitments to extend credit   $ 2,292,410
     

    We have individual CCBX partner portfolio limits with our each of our partners to manage loan concentration risk, liquidity risk, and counter-party partner risk. For example, as of September 30, 2024, capital call lines outstanding balance totaled $103.9 million, and while commitments totaled $504.6 million, the commitments are limited to a maximum of $350.0 million by agreement with the partner. If a CCBX partner goes over their individual limit, it would be a breach of their contract and the Bank may impose penalties and would not be required to fund the loan.

    See the table below for CCBX portfolio maximums and related available commitments:

    CCBX                
    (dollars in thousands; unaudited)   Balance   Percent
    of CCBX
    loans
    receivable
    Available
    Commitments
    (1)
      Maximum
    Portfolio
    Size
    Cash
    Reserve/
    Pledge
    Account
    Amount
    (2)
    Commercial and industrial loans:            
    Capital call lines   $ 103,924     6.8 % $ 504,561   $ 350,000 $
    All other commercial & industrial loans     36,494     2.4     16,922     285,153   675
    Real estate loans:                
    Home equity lines of credit (3)     265,402     17.5     472,385     375,000   35,597
    Consumer and other loans:            
    Credit cards – cash secured     180              
    Credit cards – unsecured     633,511         1,055,684       37,065
    Credit cards – total     633,691     41.6     1,055,684     807,263   37,065
    Installment loans – cash secured     129,138         7,112      
    Installment loans – unsecured     342,675               2,222
    Installment loans – total     471,813     31.0     7,112     1,630,027   2,222
    Other consumer and other loans     10,415     0.7         7,557   383
    Gross CCBX loans receivable     1,521,739     100.0 %   2,056,664     3,455,000 $ 75,942
    Net deferred origination fees     (447 )            
    Loans receivable   $ 1,521,292              

    (1) Remaining commitment available, net of outstanding balance.
    (2) Balances are as of October 4, 2024.
    (3) These home equity lines of credit are secured by residential real estate and are accessed by using a credit card, but are classified as 1-4 family residential properties per regulatory guidelines.

    APPENDIX B –
    As of September 30, 2024

    CCBX – BaaS Reporting Information

    During the quarter ended September 30, 2024, $70.1 million was recorded in BaaS credit enhancements related to the provision for credit losses – loans and reserve for unfunded commitments for CCBX partner loans and negative deposit accounts. Agreements with our CCBX partners provide for a credit enhancement provided by the partner which protects the Bank by indemnifying or reimbursing incurred losses. In accordance with accounting guidance, we estimate and record a provision for expected losses for these CCBX loans, unfunded commitments and negative deposit accounts. When the provision for credit losses – loans and provision for unfunded commitments is recorded, a credit enhancement asset is also recorded on the balance sheet through noninterest income (BaaS credit enhancements) in recognition of the CCBX partner legal commitment to indemnify or reimburse losses. The credit enhancement asset is relieved as credit enhancement payments and recoveries are received from the CCBX partner or taken from the partner’s cash reserve account. Agreements with our CCBX partners also provide protection to the Bank from fraud by indemnifying or reimbursing incurred fraud losses. BaaS fraud includes noncredit fraud losses on loans and deposits originated through partners. Fraud losses are recorded when incurred as losses in noninterest expense, and the enhancement received from the CCBX partner is recorded in noninterest income, resulting in a net impact of zero to the income statement. Many CCBX partners also pledge a cash reserve account at the Bank which the Bank can collect from when losses occur that is then replenished by the partner on a regular interval. Although agreements with our CCBX partners provide for credit enhancements that provide protection to the Bank from credit and fraud losses by indemnifying or reimbursing incurred credit and fraud losses, if our partner is unable to fulfill their contracted obligation then the bank would be exposed to additional loan and deposit losses if the cash flows on the loans were not sufficient to fund the reimbursement of loan losses, as a result of this counterparty risk. If a CCBX partner does not replenish their cash reserve account the Bank may consider an alternative plan for funding the cash reserve. This may involve the possibility of adjusting the funding amounts or timelines to better align with the partner’s specific situation. If a mutually agreeable funding plan is not agreed to, the Bank could declare the agreement in default, take over servicing and cease paying the partner for servicing the loan and providing credit enhancements. The Bank would evaluate any remaining credit enhancement asset from the CCBX partner in the event the partner failed to determine if a write-off is appropriate. If a write-off occurs, the Bank would retain the full yield and any fee income on the loan portfolio going forward, and our BaaS loan expense would decrease once default occurred and payments to the CCBX partner were stopped.

    The Bank records contractual interest earned from the borrower on CCBX partner loans in interest income, adjusted for origination costs which are paid or payable to the CCBX partner. BaaS loan expense represents the amount paid or payable to partners for credit and fraud enhancements and originating & servicing CCBX loans. To determine net revenue (Net BaaS loan income) earned from CCBX loan relationships, the Bank takes BaaS loan interest income and deducts BaaS loan expense to arrive at Net BaaS loan income (A reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures are set forth in the preceding section of this earnings release.) which can be compared to interest income on the Company’s community bank loans.

    The following table illustrates how CCBX partner loan income and expenses are recorded in the financial statements:

    Loan income and related loan expense   Three Months Ended
    (dollars in thousands; unaudited)   September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      September 30,
    2023
    Yield on loans (1)     17.35 %     17.77 %     17.05 %
    BaaS loan interest income   $ 67,692     $ 60,203     $ 56,279  
    Less: BaaS loan expense     32,612       29,076       23,003  
    Net BaaS loan income (2)   $ 35,080     $ 31,127     $ 33,276  
    Net BaaS loan income divided by average BaaS loans (1)(2)     8.99 %     9.19 %     10.08 %

    (1) Annualized calculation for quarterly periods shown.
    (2) A reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures are set forth in the preceding section of this earnings release.

    An increase in average CCBX loans receivable resulted in increased interest income on CCBX loans during the quarter ended September 30, 2024 compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2024. The increase in average CCBX loans receivable was primarily due to growth in the CCBX loan portfolio as part of our strategy to optimize the CCBX loan portfolio and strengthen our balance sheet through originating higher quality new loans and enhanced credit standards. Increased interest rates and growth in CCBX loans and deposits has resulted in increases in interest income and expense for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2023.

    The following tables are a summary of the interest components, direct fees, and expenses of BaaS for the periods indicated and are not inclusive of all income and expense related to BaaS.

    Interest income   Three Months Ended
    (dollars in thousands; unaudited)   September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      September 30,
    2023
    Loan interest income   $ 67,692   $ 60,203   $ 56,279
    Total BaaS interest income   $ 67,692   $ 60,203   $ 56,279
    Interest expense   Three Months Ended
    (dollars in thousands; unaudited)   September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      September 30,
    2023
    BaaS interest expense   $ 24,819   $ 24,119   $ 20,384
    Total BaaS interest expense   $ 24,819   $ 24,119   $ 20,384
    BaaS income   Three Months Ended
    (dollars in thousands; unaudited)   September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      September 30,
    2023
    BaaS program income:            
    Servicing and other BaaS fees   $ 1,044   $ 1,525   $ 997
    Transaction fees     1,696     1,309     1,036
    Interchange fees     1,853     1,625     1,216
    Reimbursement of expenses     1,843     1,637     1,152
    BaaS program income     6,436     6,096     4,401
    BaaS indemnification income:            
    BaaS credit enhancements     70,108     60,826     25,926
    BaaS fraud enhancements     2,084     1,784     2,850
    BaaS indemnification income     72,192     62,610     28,776
    Total noninterest BaaS income   $ 78,628   $ 68,706   $ 33,177
     

    Servicing and other BaaS fees decreased $481,000 in the quarter ended September 30, 2024 compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2024 while transaction fees and interchange fees increased $387,000 and $228,000, respectively. We expect servicing and other BaaS fees to decrease and transaction and interchange fees to increase as partner activity grows and contracted minimum fees are replaced with recurring fees and then exceed those minimum fees.

    BaaS loan and fraud expense:   Three Months Ended
    (dollars in thousands; unaudited)   September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      September 30,
    2023
    BaaS loan expense   $ 32,612   $ 29,076   $ 23,003
    BaaS fraud expense     2,084     1,784     2,850
    Total BaaS loan and fraud expense   $ 34,696   $ 30,860   $ 25,853
     

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2d50cba0-18d9-4c78-8e96-0418250a8658

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Music Frame WICKED Edition is Now Available

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung today announced availability for Music Frame WICKED Edition, a customizable wireless speaker designed to seamlessly blend into any environment and enhance the home entertainment experience. This new edition, created in partnership with Universal Pictures’ spectacular film adaptation of the iconic stage musical (in cinemas November 22), brings a unique combination of art and technology to offer consumers a personalized and immersive audio experience. It’s available for purchase starting today on Samsung.com and at the Samsung 837 retail experience store in New York City.
    “Music Frame represents an entirely new category of audio – a customizable speaker that doubles as a picture frame. Not only can you display your favorite print photos – you can also create an orchestra of sound with your favorite playlist,” said James Fishler, Senior Vice President, Home Entertainment & Display Division at Samsung Electronics America. “Music and art evoke such strong memories, and Music Frame offers a seamless way to capture both in one innovative device. This limited-time Music Frame WICKED Edition beautifully brings this concept to life, helping you unlock the music within.”

    Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jon M. Chu (“Crazy Rich Asians,” “In the Heights”), Wicked is the untold story of the witches of Oz, starring Emmy-, Grammy- and Tony-winning powerhouse Cynthia Erivo (“Harriet,” Broadway’s “The Color Purple”) as Elphaba, a young woman misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power, and Grammy-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and global superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart.
    Unlocking the Music Within Homes With “Wicked”
    In collaboration with Wicked, Music Frame WICKED Edition offers a unique combination of functionality and aesthetic appeal. It includes a Wicked edition Photo Frame with three photo cards featuring autographs and images of the film’s beloved characters, including one exclusive picture only available with Music Frame WICKED Edition.
    Further enhancing the experience, Music Frame WICKED Edition comes with a specially designed limited edition Wicked-themed bezel and customized Wicked-themed packaging, adding an extra touch of excitement and making the unboxing experience truly enchanting.

    Music Frame is also fully customizable, allowing users to effortlessly match their home decor with photo frames and optional art panels. The sleek and slim design, combined with a discreet wall-mount bracket and slim power cable, ensures the Music Frame blends seamlessly into any environment.
    Elevating Homes With Immersive Sound and Smart Features
    With its rich, immersive sound, Music Frame WICKED Edition enables users to transform their living space into a surround sound haven. Equipped with Dolby Atmos1 technology, it creates a multidimensional audio experience that brings every note and sound to life. Music Frame can also work closely with other compatible Samsung screens and soundbars using Q-Symphony2, which offers a more immersive, three-dimensional sound experience.
    Boasting two-channel 120W sound quality, Music Frame WICKED Edition incorporates clear and powerful sound via SpaceFit Sound Pro for optimized audio based on the acoustics of a given room, as well as Adaptive Sound that adjusts audio settings based on content to deliver premium audio performance. These features ensure that Music Frame WICKED Edition offers exceptional sound quality and versatility, making it a perfect addition to any home.
    The built-in Alexa3 and Chromecast offer easy smart home integration with supported devices, while Airplay and Tap Sound4 provide seamless connectivity with Android and iOS devices. Versatile connectivity options — including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Optical — ensure the device meets all audio needs.
    Music Frame WICKED Edition is available now on Samsung.com, as well as at the Samsung 837 retail experience store in New York City. For more information, please visit Samsung.com.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/PHILIPPINES – Special fundraising campaign for the victims of Typhoon ‘Kristine’

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Caritas Manila

    Manila (Agenzia Fides) – The Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan collected donations for those affected by Typhoon Kristine (international name: Trami) during Sunday Mass, to express its concrete closeness to the people, families and communities seriously affected by the tropical storm that hit the eastern Philippines.Parishes and religious communities joined the fundraising campaign yesterday, October 27, and called on the faithful to participate. “In the spirit of fraternal solidarity and ecclesial synodality, special collections will also be carried out in Catholic schools and institutions in the coming days,” announced the Apostolic Vicar, Bishop Moises M. Cuevas. “We ask parishes to extend their generosity by allocating a certain amount from the general parish fund. In addition, we ask that a personal appeal be made to wealthy families, organizations, associations, movements and possible donors within the jurisdiction of each parish, directly requesting financial support from them,” said Bishop Cuevas, referring to the situation of families who have lost everything. In view of the devastating situation on the ground, the Philippine Bishops’ Conference, through its national Caritas, has launched a fundraising appeal to help affected families and communities in the ecclesiastical districts that encompass the area of the Bicol Region, including the Vicariate of Calapan, the Dioceses of Caceres and Camarines Sur. As reported, the donations will help provide much-needed assistance to those affected by the typhoon. Father Marc Real, Executive Director of Caritas Caceres, reported that the main roads leading to the city of Naga remain flooded, hampering the mobility of residents and the delivery of humanitarian aid. The violent tropical storm “Kristine” had hit the country in recent days, devastating most of the provinces in the Bicol region, causing thousands of deaths and damaging their livelihoods. According to the National Disaster Risk Management (NDRRMC), in addition to 136 who have lost their lives (and the number is rising), about 190,000 families, totaling more than 970,000 people, including the elderly, women and children, were displaced by the floods and inundations caused by the cyclone. Pope Francis yesterday, October 27, during the Angelus prayer with the pilgrims and faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square said: “I am close to the population of the Philippines, struck by a powerful cyclone. May the Lord support that people, so full of faith.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 28/10/2024)
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: AMERICA/HAITI – Celebration in Pourcine for access to drinking water and the launch of the Scout movement of the Catholic Church

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Monday, 28 October 2024

    Pourcine (Agenzia Fides) – While Haiti remains immersed in a deep crisis, the small mountain town of Pourcine has found reasons to celebrate: the arrival of drinking water and the launch of its first group of Scouts of the Catholic Church.“In the parish of Our Lady of Help, 70 children, young people and adults have participated in the inauguration of the KIRO movement, a Catholic branch of Scouts. It was a weekend of training, games and songs,” said Father Massimo Miraglio, Camillian missionary and parish priest of this community in the mountainous hinterland of Jérémie, to Fides.Meanwhile, the construction of the aqueduct continues with the help of the local population, who transport materials, often on foot and barefoot, despite the climatic difficulties. “Although the bad weather has slowed down the work, we have reached the water tanks,” reports Father Miraglio. “While the connection of the reservoirs and the main pipeline to the springs of Pourcine is being completed, residents have begun to drink water from a temporary pipeline, a moment of celebration for the community that can now access clean water close to their homes.”“All this always with hope and with the aim of building an increasingly united, supportive and willing to work together Christian community,” concludes the Camillian.Returning to the social context of the entire Caribbean country, local agencies report that after a period of relative calm, the “Viv Ansanm” gang coalition has intensified its attacks in the suburbs of the capital in recent days, where they now control up to 80% of the capital. This violence has aggravated food insecurity, with transport routes blocked and the countryside taken over by gangs. Despite the approval of the UN Security Council to deploy a multinational force to support the Haitian police, the operation lacks the resources and personnel necessary to deal with the crisis. The Haitian transitional government has asked that this force be transformed into a UN Blue Helmets peacekeeping mission, but this initiative has not gone ahead. In addition, gangs that previously mainly attacked Haitian police, militias and government infrastructure now appear to be targeting foreign mission vehicles.Amid this chaos, forced displacement has also increased. More than 10,000 Haitians left their homes in the last week alone, and last September the number of displaced is estimated to have exceeded 700,000, almost doubling in just six months. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 28/10/2024)
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/IRAN – Archbishop of Tehran: Putting aside the designs of supremacy is key to restoring peace

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    OFMConv

    Tehran (Agenzia Fides) – “We must abandon the aspiration to assert our supremacy and stop investing time, energy and resources in techniques and strategies that distance us from the light,” says Conventual Franciscan Dominique Joseph Mathieu, Archbishop of Tehran-Ispahan of the Latins and future Cardinal and stresses that this is the key to restoring peace in the Middle East and in the world.The Iranian capital, where Archbishop Mathieu exercises his ministry, was hit on the night between Friday and Saturday by an air strike by the Israeli armed forces, along with other areas of the country. The Israeli attack on Iran, coordinated with the United States, hit military targets. According to the Anbamed website, the assessment of the attack has divided opinions in Israel and Tehran: “Netanyahu claims to have given Iran a lesson it will not forget, while the opposition says it was a theatrical action to show firmness, but that in reality it was ‘a caress’, as the minister himself, Ben Gvir, described it. The same type of debate continues in Tehran. But the spiritual leader Khamenei has warned against maximalist and minimalist exaggerations.” “Pope Francis – affirms Archbishop Mathieu in a conversation with Fides Agency – constantly reminds us of the urgency of putting an end to wars, which only bring death and darkness. It is time to face conflicts with courage and transparency. Only through authentic encounter with the other can the spark of fraternity emerge in our common home, which God, made love, has entrusted to us.” Tehran’s politicians and military maintain their position that there will be a reaction, according to the Anbamed website: “Israeli intelligence services say that Tehran could launch up to 100 ballistic missiles in retaliation.” Today, a meeting of the Security Council is also being held in New York, convened by Iran and supported by Russia, China and Algeria. It seems that the possibility of not being absorbed by the vortex of violence is suspended in the prevalence of political options that recognize the prospect of a truce and the end of reprisals as the only realistic way out of the chaos and end the pain of entire peoples. Archbishop Mathieu, who will be created a cardinal by Pope Francis on December 7, concludes: “by walking together, despite our differences, we can be true witnesses of peace. Let us not limit ourselves to dreaming about it: let us build it with concrete actions of reconciliation and unity.” The Archdiocese of Tehran-Ispahan of the Latins is responsible for the pastoral care of all Catholics (approximately 2,000 faithful) of the Latin rite in Iran, divided into 4 parishes. (GV) (Agenzia Fides, 28/10/2024)
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  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: NAVFAC MIDLANT Environmental, Chesapeake Bay Program volunteers support 2024 NAS Oceana STEM Lab for nearly 8,000 Students

    Source: United States Navy

    The free event, which has been held nearly every year since 2016, allows 5th graders from Virginia Beach City and Chesapeake Public Schools to receive an exclusive sneak peek of the Air Show performances, including the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels and the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team; vendor booths and activities; and numerous STEM Laboratory exhibits. It’s estimated nearly 8,000 students and more than 1,500 teachers/chaperones were in attendance this year.

    Students were able to engage in a multitude of environment-based activities to learn how to become better stewards of the environment, such as play a Jeopardy-style trivia game to test their knowledge of the Chesapeake Bay, recycling, and watersheds; and compete in a head-to-head recycling relay to determine if discarded items were recyclable or trash. Additionally, many of the questions asked were derived from the Virginia Standards of Learning curriculum to help reinforce state education, and meet stewardship and literacy goals embodied in the EPA Executive Order 13508 for Chesapeake Bay Protection and Restoration outreach commitments.

    “It was fun to engage with students on topics so close to where we all live – seeing what they know, and share information to help protect the Chesapeake Bay,” said Vincent Orazi, Natural Resource Management Specialist. “It was good experience.”

    An interactive watershed model further showed students how pollutants, such as pet waste, oil, fertilizer, and detergents can adversely impact water quality by entering our waterways, pollute stormwater, and impact outside activities like swimming and fishing.

    “It’s great to see the students captivated by our hands-on demonstration,” said Dawn Friedrichs, PWD Oceana EV Drinking Water and Environmental Management System Program Manager, noting students used oil absorbent fabric to cleanup oil spills in aquatic and marine environments in the display. “Interaction and visualization go a long way in helping them retain what they’ve learned.”

    Students also learned the importance of recycling, proper waste disposal, natural resource conservation, and how to prevent household and industrial pollutants, trash, and yard debris from entering our waterways.

    “I’ve been participating in the NAS Oceana Air Show STEM Lab since 2017, and I’m amazed every year by the great questions asked by these students,” said Tara Fisher, PWD Oceana EV Water, Tanks, and Petroleum, Oil, and Lubricants (POL) Program Manager. “We really enjoy interacting with them, and we hope our message of stormwater pollution prevention sticks with them throughout their lives.”

    NAVFAC MIDLANT provides facilities engineering, public works and environmental products and services across an area of responsibility that spans from South Carolina to Maine, as far west as Illinois, and down to Indiana. As an integral member of the Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic team, NAVFAC MIDLANT provides leadership through the Regional Engineer organization to ensure the region’s facilities and infrastructure are managed efficiently and effectively.

    For additional information about NAVFAC MIDLANT on social media, follow our activities on Facebook at www.facebook.com/navfacmidatlantic and on Instagram @navfacmidatlantic.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Europe: NRRP: European Commission visit successfully concluded

    Source: Government of Italy (English)

    The European Commission’s sixth visit to discuss in detail implementation of Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan, focusing on the strategic measures linked to the last four instalments, came to a successful conclusion today. 

    More than forty working groups were held as part of the visit, including both high-level institutional meetings and technical briefing sessions on specific topics, coordinated by the NRRP task force at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and with the active participation of all ministries and institutions involved. These meetings allowed the delegation from the European Commission to confirm the Italian Government’s ongoing commitment to implementing the Plan’s numerous measures.

    During the meetings, maximum attention was paid to the milestones and targets linked to the seventh instalment of the NRRP, also ahead of Italy submitting the respective payment request, while the final checks are being carried out regarding the milestones and targets for the sixth instalment in order to allow its disbursement.

    As on previous occasions, the European Commission’s visit was held in a climate of constructive collaboration, with the active participation of all the administrations involved in the Plan’s implementation, making it possible to accurately determine the progress of reforms and investments, with all requests for clarification from the European Commission services being answered.

    Over the course of the week, objectives were outlined regarding the progress of competition, justice, public procurement code and public administration reforms. With regard to public administration reform, ‘horizontal’ measures applicable to the Plan’s different missions are provided for, to digitalise administrative procedures and boost the efficiency and competitiveness of Italy’s economic system.

    There was a particular focus on checking the progress of numerous investments in the areas of transport, infrastructure, school buildings, sustainable mobility, ecological transition and healthcare, including the plan to modernise healthcare services and hospital infrastructure. Special attention was also paid to the measures included in the new REPowerEU mission, aimed at strengthening the nation’s energy independence and ecological transition. Objectives linked to energy security, strengthening energy networks, increasing renewable energy production, and decarbonisation incentives for companies were also discussed, together with support for energy-related production chains, in line with the Commission’s guidelines. 

    The European Commission’s visit was brought to a close with a meeting at the National Cybersecurity Agency this afternoon, to discuss both the measure regarding activation of an integrated network of cyber risk management and mitigation services to support the public administration and Italian industry, and the one linked to an operational plan for monitoring activities for the adoption of security measures in accordance with applicable legislation.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Smithfield Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Sex Trafficking a Minor

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Smithfield man was sentenced to 300 months in prison, followed by 25 years of supervised release, for sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion. On July 23, 2024, Jarel Antonio Rayford, age 29, pled guilty to the charge.

    According to court documents and other information presented in court, Rayford prostituted a 17-year-old minor over the course of several months in 2021. He also took multiple sexually explicit images of her and posted them in online advertisements to sell her in prostitution. Rayford knew the victim was just seventeen and was also in a very vulnerable position, which he took advantage of to continue trafficking her. Additionally, Rayford used physical and emotional abuse to control the minor victim.

    “We have launched two Human Trafficking Task Forces to expose and prosecute anyone who exploits North Carolina’s kids for sex or forced labor,” said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr.  “Our victim-centric approach focuses on stabilizing victims, getting them resources, and helping them through the court process. If you have a tip about trafficking, text 233733 today.”

    Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Raleigh Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations investigated the cases, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Blondel and Casey L. Peaden prosecuted the case.

    Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-CR-00021-M.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM speech in Birmingham: 28 October 2024

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer makes a speech in Birmingham.

    It’s always great to be here in Birmingham. A city that is at the heart, not just of our country but also – our plans for growth – as we announced two weeks ago £500m worth of new investment in battery storage will create the jobs of the future right here. And that’s a snapshot of the Britain we are building this week and beyond. 

    Our economy – stabilised. 

    The foundations – fixed. 

    Hope in the future – restored.  

    Another step taken on the long, difficult, but resolute path that we will walk.

    Towards a Britain returned to the service of working people.

    I said on the steps of Downing Street – the day after the election that this would be a government for the working people of this country. 

    That, when the cameras stopped rolling. When that black door closed. We would carry their hopes and aspirations with us. 

    That the basic, completely reasonable desire to want a better future for your family. That would become the driving purpose of this Government. 

    Now, I will never stand here and tell you to feel better, if you don’t. And I will never ask you to feel grateful for what you should expect as a given.  

    Trust in my project to return Britain to the service of working people can only be earned through actions not words: Change must be felt. 

    But every decision we have made. Every decision that we will make in the future will be made with working people in our minds’ eye. People who have been working harder and harder for years, just to stand still. 

    People doing the right thing maybe still finding a little bit of money to put away. Paying their way – even in the cost-of-living crisis but who feel this country no longer gives them or their children a fair chance. 

    People stuck on an NHS waiting list whose town centre is blighted by anti-social behaviour who can’t afford to buy a place they call home or can’t afford the home they have, because of the mortgage bombshell. 

    And people who feel ignored as their lives, no matter how hard they work slide into greater insecurity. Scared of the postman coming down the path – will it be another bill I can’t afford?

    People like that video, we just watched. [Political content removed]

    I know some people want to have a debate about this and I know there will always be the exception that proves the rule. Welcome to the wonders of a diverse country!  

    But I also know that the working people of this country know exactly who they are and that – they are the golden thread that runs through our agenda. Every single one of our national missions is about delivering for them. 

    And we are getting on with the job. That’s why we reformed planning rules to get Britain building again – restore the dream of home ownership.  

    It’s why we ended junior doctor strikes to lift the pressure on our NHS. Start cutting waiting lists. 

    It’s why we stopped the riots with tough sentences for violent thugs. 

    Launched a Border Security Command to smash the people-smugglers. 

    Switched on Great British Energy to get Putin’s boot off our throat. Make our country more secure. Create good jobs – right across the country. 

    And it’s also why we’ve started the work of changing our economy. Stabilising it. Fixing its foundations. 

    But also – changing how it works for them. An employment bill that will finally make work pay.  That will contribute to growth and raise living standards for working people. A direct response to the cost-of-living crisis, we were elected to tackle for them. Because let me tell you, it is working people who pay the price when their Government fails to deliver economic stability. They’ve had enough of slow growth, stagnant living standards and crumbling public services.

    They know that austerity is no solution. And they’ve seen the chaos when politicians let borrowing get out of control.

    We choose a different path. Honest, responsible, long-term decisions in the interests of working people.

    Because it’s stability that means we can invest. And reform that will maximise that investment. £63 billion worth of investment secured from business two weeks ago – a record-breaking show of confidence in our plan for growth.  

    That’s investment that will create tens of thousands of jobs. Good jobs – in every corner of the country. 

    I know some people will recoil when we say we have to take the tough decisions needed to fix the foundations. 

    This doesn’t happen by accident it’s because business can see we are fixing the foundations. Everyone who finds damp in their house – know they have a decision. Paint over it or strip it out, pull off the plaster, deal with it once and for all. 

    So, I will defend our tough decisions all day long.

    It’s the right thing for our country. The only way you get the investment we need. Stability. Investment. Reform.

    That is how we fix the NHS, rebuild Britain, and protect the payslips of working people, delivering on our mandate of change.  

    That’s what the Budget this week will be about.  It’s what every week of this Government will be about. 

    A Budget for working people, from a government for working people. Because returning Britain to their service, that’s our fundamental cause – and it never changes. 

    It will also be the first budget delivered by a woman – ever. That is a moment of pride. That is a moment of pride. When Rachel Reeves stands up – she will be making history – young women and girls will watching across the country. They will look up – and they will notice.   

    It will also be a Budget which will show to the British people that we won’t be distracted from our task.  

    We will stick to our long-term plan.  Run towards the tough decisions, rip-off the short-term sticking plasters, so we can lead our country finally but decisively out of this ‘pay-more, get less’ doom-loop [political content removed].

    Of course there will still be tough decisions. Rebuilding Britain and delivering growth, that will take the skills and effort of all of us. 

    That is why this Budget will also Get Britain Working. It will pave the way for reforms that tackle the root causes of economic inactivity, make sure – that those who can work, do work. 

    [Political content removed] we will always help those who cannot support themselves, but the UK is the only G7 country where economic inactivity is still higher than it was before Covid.

    That is not just bad for our economy, it’s also bad for all those who are locked out of opportunity. So the Chancellor will announce £240 million in funding to provide local services that can help people back into work, and the dignity it brings.

    A Britain that works for working people. With all those who can, playing their part.

    We will also be ruthless in clamping down on government waste, just as we will be ruthless on clamping down on tax avoidance, so the British people that every penny counts.

    Every single person in this country had to do that during the cost-of-living crisis and government must be no different. 

    And frankly, when we’re asking broader shoulders to carry a higher burden on tax, that determination to be more productive and efficient in government, that’s the very least their contribution deserves.  

    Look – nobody wants higher taxes, just like nobody wants public spending cuts. But we have to be realistic about where we are as a country. This is not 1997, when the economy was decent but public services were on their knees.  And it’s not 2010, where public services were strong, but the public finances were weak. We have to deal with both sides of that coin.

    These are unprecedented circumstances, but the budget the Chancellor will deliver on Wednesday, will prevent devastating austerity in our public services and prevent a disastrous path for our public finances.

    [Political content removed]  

    And yes – things are worse than we could possibly have expected during the election – the Budget will set that out very clearly. 

    I mean – just look at the state of our prisons last week.

    [Political content removed]

    On Rwanda, asylum hotels, propping up failing train companies [Political content removed] .  An economy riddled with weakness on productivity and investment. A state that needs urgent modernisation to face down the challenge of a volatile world.  

    A country where people don’t just lack faith in politicians to fix any of this but also wonder – whether Britain can. Whether we still have the resources to move forward or whether decline is now an incurable disease.

    [Political content removed]

    I expect to be judged on my ability to deal with this. I expect to be judged on my ability to deal with it. Politics is always a choice. So we won’t hide from our decisions on Wednesday or for that matter, any day. 

    Besides, as I said two weeks ago at our International Investment Summit we have huge assets in this country. Leading positions in the industries of the future:

    Clean energy, artificial intelligence, life sciences, the creative industries, a technology sector that is the envy of Europe. A heritage steeped in science, trade and innovation. And values. Values deep in the bones of this nation and which say, to the world – this country is open for business. This country respects diversity and difference under the same flag. 

    We are still the country, known all around the world for our pragmatism and our creativity, the ingenuity and industry of our people and so if we do grasp the nettle on our economy, if we do fix those foundations, stick to those values and deliver the change working people need we won’t just get through this – better days are ahead. 

    Seriously – this is an economic plan that will change long-term British growth for the better. We are tackling the biggest challenges in our economy.  

    Higher investment – we’re dealing with it.

    Planning – we’re reforming it.

    The labour market – we’re getting people back to work, but also making sure work pays. 

    On competition – we’re stripping out the needless regulation that holds back private investment and all of this built on that foundation of economic stability. This is what fixing the foundations means.  

    What delivering change means. Everyone in this country will benefit from this. Everyone can wake up on Thursday and see that a new future is being built. A better future. But I tell you now – what we can’t do. Is waste any more time. 

    Politics is a choice and it’s time to choose a clear path.  

    It’s time to embrace the harsh light of fiscal reality. So we can come together behind a credible, long-term plan.  

    It’s time we ran towards the tough decisions because ignoring them set us on the path of decline. 

    It’s time we ignored the populist chorus of easy answers because we saw what happens if you reject the constraints of economic stability and we’re never going back to that. 

    That is our choice. Stability – to prevent chaos.

    Borrowing that will drive long-term growth.

    Tax rises – to prevent austerity and rebuild public services.

    We choose – to protect working people.

    We choose – to get the NHS back on its feet.

    We choose – to fix the foundations reject decline and rebuild our country with investment. 

    And while I’m sure you understand I can’t get into individual measures before Wednesday. I will say this. 

    If people want to criticise the path we choose – that’s their prerogative. But let them then spell out a different direction. 

    If they think the state has grown too big let them tell working people which public services they would cut. 

    If they think tax rises are unfair let them tell working people which taxes they’d raise instead. 

    If they don’t see our long-term investment in infrastructure as necessary let them explain to working people how they would grow the economy for them. 

    [Political content removed]

    Because I have said it before and I will say it again the time is long overdue for politicians in this country, to level with you, honestly about the trade-offs this country faces. 

    To stop insulting your intelligence with the chicanery of easy answers. Working people know that hard choices are necessary. 

    [Political content removed]

    They lived through the cost-of-living crisis so they know that the things they want from us:

    Protecting their living standards. 

    Rebuilding our nation.

    Fixing our public services.

    They know – that this can only be achieved alongside economic stability. There are no short-cuts. 

    No, what they want to see on Wednesday is a country on a different path. Making different choices. They don’t want to pay the price anymore, in times of crisis because our economic foundations are weak and they don’t want to see the proceeds of growth which could serve their family, their community, their public services – instead – always serving those at the top. 

    They want change and that is what they will get. 

    Because that is the mandate we were elected to deliver and the only path consistent with our driving purpose to return Britain to the service of working people.

    That purpose also runs through the priorities we set out in our manifesto. 

    The national missions which capture the hope working people have for the future of our country. Look – there is a paradox in politics at the moment.  

    All around the world, traditional values. Democratic values. Values that have underpinned the way countries like ours have operated for years. The pragmatism that is part of our identity, it’s under attack. 

    Why? 

    Because people – working people most of all have lost faith it can still deliver for their family. And yet, at the same time, what people want from politics that hasn’t changed. 

    People want a stable economy, they want their country to be safe, their borders secure. Economic security, national security, border security. Those are still the foundations everything rests upon. 

    And then beyond that they want exactly what those national missions promise. 

    A growing economy.

    Safer streets.

    Clean British energy in their home. 

    Opportunities for their children.

    And an NHS that is there when they need it. 

    I know populism preys on the fears people have that these things no longer belong to them.  But I have never felt the right response is to ignore those concerns rather than showing that they can still be delivered. 

    So I am never going to pick just one of these missions – and say that’s everything because every single one of them matters to working people. And for the same reason – I will never turn away from them either. 

    In fact, because I know actions speak louder than words because I expect to be judged by the British people.  

    In the coming weeks, on every mission, we will publish clear ambitions for this Parliament and we will also track our progress against them, so that every single person in this country can see exactly how we measure up to things that matter to them. 

    [Political content removed]

    They want to see us build 1.5m homes, make sure a record number of children start school ready to learn, raise living standards so that there is more cash in their pocket, restore confidence crime will be punished. Guaranteed neighbourhood policing in every community. 

    Make our energy system more secure by harnessing clean British energy, accelerating towards net-zero. 

    And on our NHS, they want us to cut waiting times dramatically and meet the 18-week target – that is still the best benchmark for an NHS that is back on its feet facing the future, once more – a beacon of pride to the world.

    These are my priorities for change and I won’t change course.  

    The budget will light the way and we will use the power of government.

    Stability, investment and reform, partnership across the whole of society, galvanised by clear objectives.

    To deliver on the priorities of the British people.  

    The foundations – fixed.  

    Public services – renewed. 

    A country rebuilt by investment.

    Released from decline.

    Returned once more.

    To the service of working people. 

    Now that is the course we set this week.

    That is the driving purpose of this government.

    That is the change we will deliver.

    Thank you very much.

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Speech: PM speech in Birmingham: 28 October 2024

    Source: United Kingdom – Prime Minister’s Office 10 Downing Street

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer makes a speech in Birmingham.

    It’s always great to be here in Birmingham. A city that is at the heart, not just of our country but also – our plans for growth – as we announced two weeks ago £500m worth of new investment in battery storage will create the jobs of the future right here. And that’s a snapshot of the Britain we are building this week and beyond. 

    Our economy – stabilised. 

    The foundations – fixed. 

    Hope in the future – restored.  

    Another step taken on the long, difficult, but resolute path that we will walk.

    Towards a Britain returned to the service of working people.

    I said on the steps of Downing Street – the day after the election that this would be a government for the working people of this country. 

    That, when the cameras stopped rolling. When that black door closed. We would carry their hopes and aspirations with us. 

    That the basic, completely reasonable desire to want a better future for your family. That would become the driving purpose of this Government. 

    Now, I will never stand here and tell you to feel better, if you don’t. And I will never ask you to feel grateful for what you should expect as a given.  

    Trust in my project to return Britain to the service of working people can only be earned through actions not words: Change must be felt. 

    But every decision we have made. Every decision that we will make in the future will be made with working people in our minds’ eye. People who have been working harder and harder for years, just to stand still. 

    People doing the right thing maybe still finding a little bit of money to put away. Paying their way – even in the cost-of-living crisis but who feel this country no longer gives them or their children a fair chance. 

    People stuck on an NHS waiting list whose town centre is blighted by anti-social behaviour who can’t afford to buy a place they call home or can’t afford the home they have, because of the mortgage bombshell. 

    And people who feel ignored as their lives, no matter how hard they work slide into greater insecurity. Scared of the postman coming down the path – will it be another bill I can’t afford?

    People like that video, we just watched. [Political content removed]

    I know some people want to have a debate about this and I know there will always be the exception that proves the rule. Welcome to the wonders of a diverse country!  

    But I also know that the working people of this country know exactly who they are and that – they are the golden thread that runs through our agenda. Every single one of our national missions is about delivering for them. 

    And we are getting on with the job. That’s why we reformed planning rules to get Britain building again – restore the dream of home ownership.  

    It’s why we ended junior doctor strikes to lift the pressure on our NHS. Start cutting waiting lists. 

    It’s why we stopped the riots with tough sentences for violent thugs. 

    Launched a Border Security Command to smash the people-smugglers. 

    Switched on Great British Energy to get Putin’s boot off our throat. Make our country more secure. Create good jobs – right across the country. 

    And it’s also why we’ve started the work of changing our economy. Stabilising it. Fixing its foundations. 

    But also – changing how it works for them. An employment bill that will finally make work pay.  That will contribute to growth and raise living standards for working people. A direct response to the cost-of-living crisis, we were elected to tackle for them. Because let me tell you, it is working people who pay the price when their Government fails to deliver economic stability. They’ve had enough of slow growth, stagnant living standards and crumbling public services.

    They know that austerity is no solution. And they’ve seen the chaos when politicians let borrowing get out of control.

    We choose a different path. Honest, responsible, long-term decisions in the interests of working people.

    Because it’s stability that means we can invest. And reform that will maximise that investment. £63 billion worth of investment secured from business two weeks ago – a record-breaking show of confidence in our plan for growth.  

    That’s investment that will create tens of thousands of jobs. Good jobs – in every corner of the country. 

    I know some people will recoil when we say we have to take the tough decisions needed to fix the foundations. 

    This doesn’t happen by accident it’s because business can see we are fixing the foundations. Everyone who finds damp in their house – know they have a decision. Paint over it or strip it out, pull off the plaster, deal with it once and for all. 

    So, I will defend our tough decisions all day long.

    It’s the right thing for our country. The only way you get the investment we need. Stability. Investment. Reform.

    That is how we fix the NHS, rebuild Britain, and protect the payslips of working people, delivering on our mandate of change.  

    That’s what the Budget this week will be about.  It’s what every week of this Government will be about. 

    A Budget for working people, from a government for working people. Because returning Britain to their service, that’s our fundamental cause – and it never changes. 

    It will also be the first budget delivered by a woman – ever. That is a moment of pride. That is a moment of pride. When Rachel Reeves stands up – she will be making history – young women and girls will watching across the country. They will look up – and they will notice.   

    It will also be a Budget which will show to the British people that we won’t be distracted from our task.  

    We will stick to our long-term plan.  Run towards the tough decisions, rip-off the short-term sticking plasters, so we can lead our country finally but decisively out of this ‘pay-more, get less’ doom-loop [political content removed].

    Of course there will still be tough decisions. Rebuilding Britain and delivering growth, that will take the skills and effort of all of us. 

    That is why this Budget will also Get Britain Working. It will pave the way for reforms that tackle the root causes of economic inactivity, make sure – that those who can work, do work. 

    [Political content removed] we will always help those who cannot support themselves, but the UK is the only G7 country where economic inactivity is still higher than it was before Covid.

    That is not just bad for our economy, it’s also bad for all those who are locked out of opportunity. So the Chancellor will announce £240 million in funding to provide local services that can help people back into work, and the dignity it brings.

    A Britain that works for working people. With all those who can, playing their part.

    We will also be ruthless in clamping down on government waste, just as we will be ruthless on clamping down on tax avoidance, so the British people that every penny counts.

    Every single person in this country had to do that during the cost-of-living crisis and government must be no different. 

    And frankly, when we’re asking broader shoulders to carry a higher burden on tax, that determination to be more productive and efficient in government, that’s the very least their contribution deserves.  

    Look – nobody wants higher taxes, just like nobody wants public spending cuts. But we have to be realistic about where we are as a country. This is not 1997, when the economy was decent but public services were on their knees.  And it’s not 2010, where public services were strong, but the public finances were weak. We have to deal with both sides of that coin.

    These are unprecedented circumstances, but the budget the Chancellor will deliver on Wednesday, will prevent devastating austerity in our public services and prevent a disastrous path for our public finances.

    [Political content removed]  

    And yes – things are worse than we could possibly have expected during the election – the Budget will set that out very clearly. 

    I mean – just look at the state of our prisons last week.

    [Political content removed]

    On Rwanda, asylum hotels, propping up failing train companies [Political content removed] .  An economy riddled with weakness on productivity and investment. A state that needs urgent modernisation to face down the challenge of a volatile world.  

    A country where people don’t just lack faith in politicians to fix any of this but also wonder – whether Britain can. Whether we still have the resources to move forward or whether decline is now an incurable disease.

    [Political content removed]

    I expect to be judged on my ability to deal with this. I expect to be judged on my ability to deal with it. Politics is always a choice. So we won’t hide from our decisions on Wednesday or for that matter, any day. 

    Besides, as I said two weeks ago at our International Investment Summit we have huge assets in this country. Leading positions in the industries of the future:

    Clean energy, artificial intelligence, life sciences, the creative industries, a technology sector that is the envy of Europe. A heritage steeped in science, trade and innovation. And values. Values deep in the bones of this nation and which say, to the world – this country is open for business. This country respects diversity and difference under the same flag. 

    We are still the country, known all around the world for our pragmatism and our creativity, the ingenuity and industry of our people and so if we do grasp the nettle on our economy, if we do fix those foundations, stick to those values and deliver the change working people need we won’t just get through this – better days are ahead. 

    Seriously – this is an economic plan that will change long-term British growth for the better. We are tackling the biggest challenges in our economy.  

    Higher investment – we’re dealing with it.

    Planning – we’re reforming it.

    The labour market – we’re getting people back to work, but also making sure work pays. 

    On competition – we’re stripping out the needless regulation that holds back private investment and all of this built on that foundation of economic stability. This is what fixing the foundations means.  

    What delivering change means. Everyone in this country will benefit from this. Everyone can wake up on Thursday and see that a new future is being built. A better future. But I tell you now – what we can’t do. Is waste any more time. 

    Politics is a choice and it’s time to choose a clear path.  

    It’s time to embrace the harsh light of fiscal reality. So we can come together behind a credible, long-term plan.  

    It’s time we ran towards the tough decisions because ignoring them set us on the path of decline. 

    It’s time we ignored the populist chorus of easy answers because we saw what happens if you reject the constraints of economic stability and we’re never going back to that. 

    That is our choice. Stability – to prevent chaos.

    Borrowing that will drive long-term growth.

    Tax rises – to prevent austerity and rebuild public services.

    We choose – to protect working people.

    We choose – to get the NHS back on its feet.

    We choose – to fix the foundations reject decline and rebuild our country with investment. 

    And while I’m sure you understand I can’t get into individual measures before Wednesday. I will say this. 

    If people want to criticise the path we choose – that’s their prerogative. But let them then spell out a different direction. 

    If they think the state has grown too big let them tell working people which public services they would cut. 

    If they think tax rises are unfair let them tell working people which taxes they’d raise instead. 

    If they don’t see our long-term investment in infrastructure as necessary let them explain to working people how they would grow the economy for them. 

    [Political content removed]

    Because I have said it before and I will say it again the time is long overdue for politicians in this country, to level with you, honestly about the trade-offs this country faces. 

    To stop insulting your intelligence with the chicanery of easy answers. Working people know that hard choices are necessary. 

    [Political content removed]

    They lived through the cost-of-living crisis so they know that the things they want from us:

    Protecting their living standards. 

    Rebuilding our nation.

    Fixing our public services.

    They know – that this can only be achieved alongside economic stability. There are no short-cuts. 

    No, what they want to see on Wednesday is a country on a different path. Making different choices. They don’t want to pay the price anymore, in times of crisis because our economic foundations are weak and they don’t want to see the proceeds of growth which could serve their family, their community, their public services – instead – always serving those at the top. 

    They want change and that is what they will get. 

    Because that is the mandate we were elected to deliver and the only path consistent with our driving purpose to return Britain to the service of working people.

    That purpose also runs through the priorities we set out in our manifesto. 

    The national missions which capture the hope working people have for the future of our country. Look – there is a paradox in politics at the moment.  

    All around the world, traditional values. Democratic values. Values that have underpinned the way countries like ours have operated for years. The pragmatism that is part of our identity, it’s under attack. 

    Why? 

    Because people – working people most of all have lost faith it can still deliver for their family. And yet, at the same time, what people want from politics that hasn’t changed. 

    People want a stable economy, they want their country to be safe, their borders secure. Economic security, national security, border security. Those are still the foundations everything rests upon. 

    And then beyond that they want exactly what those national missions promise. 

    A growing economy.

    Safer streets.

    Clean British energy in their home. 

    Opportunities for their children.

    And an NHS that is there when they need it. 

    I know populism preys on the fears people have that these things no longer belong to them.  But I have never felt the right response is to ignore those concerns rather than showing that they can still be delivered. 

    So I am never going to pick just one of these missions – and say that’s everything because every single one of them matters to working people. And for the same reason – I will never turn away from them either. 

    In fact, because I know actions speak louder than words because I expect to be judged by the British people.  

    In the coming weeks, on every mission, we will publish clear ambitions for this Parliament and we will also track our progress against them, so that every single person in this country can see exactly how we measure up to things that matter to them. 

    [Political content removed]

    They want to see us build 1.5m homes, make sure a record number of children start school ready to learn, raise living standards so that there is more cash in their pocket, restore confidence crime will be punished. Guaranteed neighbourhood policing in every community. 

    Make our energy system more secure by harnessing clean British energy, accelerating towards net-zero. 

    And on our NHS, they want us to cut waiting times dramatically and meet the 18-week target – that is still the best benchmark for an NHS that is back on its feet facing the future, once more – a beacon of pride to the world.

    These are my priorities for change and I won’t change course.  

    The budget will light the way and we will use the power of government.

    Stability, investment and reform, partnership across the whole of society, galvanised by clear objectives.

    To deliver on the priorities of the British people.  

    The foundations – fixed.  

    Public services – renewed. 

    A country rebuilt by investment.

    Released from decline.

    Returned once more.

    To the service of working people. 

    Now that is the course we set this week.

    That is the driving purpose of this government.

    That is the change we will deliver.

    Thank you very much.

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Become a school crossing patrol hero

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    City of Wolverhampton Council is seeking dedicated and responsible individuals to join its team of school crossing patrol wardens.

    Better known as a lollipop man or lady, wardens can stop traffic to help children and other people cross the road. The council provides these patrols as part of its efforts to improve road safety.

    The current vacancies are for static school crossing patrol wardens at various sites around the city listed on WM Jobs

    Applications can be made via WM Jobs.  The deadline for applications is 5 November, 2024.

    Wardens are on duty twice each day, this is usually for 30 to 40 minutes before the start of the school day and after the end of the school day.

    Training is provided to a high standard and wardens receive regular visits from their supervisors.

    By becoming a school crossing patrol warden, you will be working between 6 and 8 hours a week for a static position, earning a good hourly rate plus holiday pay.

    More information about becoming a warden can be found by visiting Crossing Patrol Wardens. 

    Alternatively contact the school crossing patrol team on 01902 555726 or email schoolcrossingpatrol@wolverhampton.gov.uk

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Cancer care in Africa: translations of key words convey fear and need to change

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Hannah Simba, Associate Research Scientist, African Population and Health Research Center

    Language can give people the power to take an active part in their own healthcare, or it can create barriers.

    Effective communication raises awareness about diseases and is key to delivering good care to patients.

    Yet in many African settings, this aspect of care is often overlooked.

    Take cancer, for example. Understanding how cancer is discussed in various languages and cultural contexts is crucial. Better communication about the disease can reduce fear and stigma, improve patient outcomes and promote more informed decision-making.


    Read more: Demon disease, worse than HIV: Soweto women’s views on breast cancer


    The cancer burden in Africa is rising at a faster rate than anywhere else in the world. In a region where around 2,000 languages are spoken, the way cancer is communicated is important.

    I am an epidemiologist and global health researcher who recently coauthored a paper about the way cancer terminology is expressed in African languages.

    The findings suggest that translations of key terms, including “cancer”, “malignant”, “chronic” and “radiotherapy”, commonly conveyed elements of fear and tragedy. And that the words used may contribute to fear, health disparities and barriers to care, and pose communication difficulties for health professionals.

    The results reinforce the need for culturally sensitive cancer terminology. This would improve cancer awareness and communication.

    For cancer patients, the words used to describe their diagnosis and treatment can affect how they perceive their condition, their willingness to seek treatment, and their interaction with healthcare providers.

    A study on cancer terminology

    Our study investigated translations of cancer-related terms from various African languages and explored their cultural significance. We surveyed 107 healthcare professionals, community health workers and researchers from 32 African countries, representing 44 languages.

    Participants were asked to provide translations of 16 common medical terms in their local languages and explain what those terms meant. These were terms like “cancer”, “radiotherapy”, “metastasis” and “survival”.

    Results revealed a diversity of terminology and translations. Many local terms contained linguistic references that reflected cultural and social contexts.

    Fear and stigma

    The findings uncovered a striking pattern: many cancer-related terms carried deeply negative connotations. Often they were associated with fear, tragedy and incurability. Some translations even had malevolent spiritual meanings.

    The term “cancer” is often associated with weightiness. It creates a feeling of being overwhelming, unbeatable and frequently final.

    Terms like “malignant” and “chronic” carry similar weight, frequently coming with ideas of hopelessness and fatality.

    Cancer in different African languages.

    What if the treatment meant to save your life sounded as terrifying as the disease itself?

    One example in our study was the translation of “radiotherapy”. In several languages, the term was associated with burning – being scorched by fire, heat or electricity.

    Such associations can make treatments seem more frightening than they are. They might deter patients from seeking the care they need.

    Rich expressions to draw from

    One fascinating example of how language shapes the understanding of cancer comes from a Ugandan participant. Their translation of “metastasis” (meaning “spread”) in Luganda was ekiziba kyasindika obwana bwayo ahare. This means “the mother mass has sent seedlings into another site”.

    This vivid metaphor, deeply rooted in the local idioms and proverbs, likens the spread of cancer to the dispersal of seedlings from a central plant.

    It shows how African languages can convey complex medical concepts through culturally resonant expressions.

    In other instances cancer was referred to as the “wound with which we will be buried” (translated from Wolof), “forest disease” (translated from Djerma) and “parasitic plant” (translated from Shona).

    These expressions extend beyond literal translation, providing valuable insights into how cultures think of cancer as a powerful and pervasive force in the natural world.

    What next?

    The study highlights the importance of cultural sensitivity in cancer communication.

    When the language used to describe cancer and its treatments instils fear or perpetuates stigma, it becomes harder for healthcare workers to provide effective care.

    Patients may delay seeking treatment, struggle to understand their condition, or feel hopeless about their prognosis.


    Read more: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the world. 5 reads that could save lives


    Efforts to overcome stigmatising language during the early years of the HIV epidemic in Africa can serve as a blueprint for improving cancer communication.

    Initiatives like the Stop TB Partnership’s Tuberculosis Language Guide offer lessons on using non-stigmatising terminology, which could be adapted to oncology.

    Programmes such as the American Cancer Society’s patient education initiatives and the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Rays of Hope radiotherapy programme highlight the potential for positive language alternatives and effective translations in African cancer care.

    The language used to communicate about cancer also matters because it can make a difference to health disparities.


    Read more: Breast cancer: why it’s difficult to treat and what new approaches are on the horizon


    Linguists, healthcare professionals and cultural leaders should work together to create new terminologies or adapt existing ones to be more neutral or positive.

    Such efforts could pave the way for more compassionate, effective and culturally aligned healthcare communication across the continent.

    – Cancer care in Africa: translations of key words convey fear and need to change
    – https://theconversation.com/cancer-care-in-africa-translations-of-key-words-convey-fear-and-need-to-change-241928

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI: STMicroelectronics’ innovative biosensing technology enables next-generation wearables for individual healthcare and fitness

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    STMicroelectronics’ innovative biosensing technology
    enables next-generation wearables for individual healthcare and fitness

    Highly integrated biosensor device combines input channel for cardio and neurological sensing with motion tracking and embedded AI core

    Demonstration to take place at Electronica 2024, Munich, November 12-15

    Geneva, Switzerland, October 28, 2024 – STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, has introduced a new bio-sensing chip for the next generations of healthcare wearables like smart watches, sports bands, connected rings, or smart glasses. The ST1VAFE3BX chip combines a high-accuracy biopotential input with ST’s proven inertial sensing and AI core, which performs activity detection in the chip to ensure faster performance with lower power consumption.

    Wearable electronics is the critical enabling technology for the upsurge in individual health awareness and fitness. Today, everyone can have heart-rate monitoring, activity tracking, and geographical location on their wrist,” said Simone Ferri, APMS Group VP, MEMS Sub-Group General Manager at STMicroelectronics. “Our latest biosensor chip now raises the game in wearables, delivering motion and body-signal sensing in an ultra-compact form-factor with frugal power budget.”

    Analysts at Yole Development see opportunities for wearable monitors transcending the general wellness market, including consumer healthcare devices that are approved by health organizations and available over the counter1. By creating a complete precision sensor input in silicon, ST’s chip-design experts are facilitating innovation in all segments, with advanced capabilities such as heart-rate variability, cognitive function, and mental state.

    The ST1VAFE3BX provides opportunities to extend wearable applications beyond the wrist to other locations on the body, such as intelligent patches for lifestyle or medical monitoring purposes. ST customers BM Innovations GmbH (BMI) and Pison are working at the frontiers in this sector and have quickly adopted the new sensor to drive new-product development.

    BMI is an electronic design contracting company experienced in wireless sensing and with an extensive portfolio of projects including several leading-edge heart rate and performance monitoring systems. “ST’s new biosensor has enabled us to develop the next generation of precise athlete performance monitoring systems including ECG analysis in a chest band or a small patch,” said Richard Mayerhofer, Managing Director BM innovations GmbH. “Combining the analog signal from the vAFE with motion data from the acceleration sensor within a compact single package facilitates precise and context-aware data analysis. And with additional support for our AI algorithms directly on the sensor, this is exactly what we have been looking for.”

    David Cipoletta, CTO of Pison, a developer focusing on advanced technologies to enhance health and human potential, added, “ST’s new biosensor stands out as a great solution for smartwatch gesture recognition, cognitive performance, and neurological health. Leveraging this advancement, we have significantly enhanced the functionality and user experience of our wearable devices.”

    The ST1VAFE3BX is in production now in a 2mm x 2mm 12-lead LGA package and available from the eSTore (free samples available) and distributors from $1.50 for orders of 1000 units.

    Visitors to Electronica 2024, the major industry trade event happening in Munich November 12-15, can see the ST1VAFE3BX in a sensing technologies demonstration at the ST booth, Hall C3 101. More information is available online at www.st.com/biosensors

    Further technical information

    The analog front-end circuits for biopotential sensors are difficult to design and subject to unpredictable effects such as skin preparation and the position of electrodes attached to the body. The ST1VAFE3BX provides a complete vertical analog front end (vAFE) that simplifies the detection of different types of vital signs that can indicate physical or emotional state.

    Manufacturers of wellness and healthcare devices can thus extend their product ranges to include functionality such as electrocardiography (ECG), electroencephalography (EEG), seismocardiography (SCG), and electroneurography (ENG). This can drive the emergence of new devices that are affordable, easy to use, and reliably indicate health status or physiological responses to events such as stress or excitement. The future could contain a greater diversity of wearable devices that can contribute towards enhanced healthcare, fitness, and self-awareness.

    Bringing this precision front end on-chip, the ST1VAFE3BX is building on ST’s established competencies in MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) devices by integrating an accelerometer for inertial sensing. The accelerometer provides information about the wearer’s movement, which is synchronized with the biopotential sensing to help the application infer any link between measured signals and physical activity.

    The ST1VAFE3BX also integrates ST’s machine-learning core (MLC) and finite state machine (FSM) that enable product designers to implement simple decision trees for neural processing on the chip. These AI skills let the sensor handle functions such as activity detection autonomously, offloading the main host CPU to accelerate system responses and minimize power consumption. In this way, ST’s sensors let smart devices provide more sophisticated functions and operate for longer between battery charging, enhancing usability. ST also provides software tools like MEMS Studio in the ST Edge AI Suite dedicated to helping designers unleash the maximum performance from the ST1VAFE3BX, including tools for configuring decision trees in the MLC.

    The ST1VAFE3BX’s bio-detection signal channel comprises the vAFE with programmable gain and 12-bit ADC resolution. The maximum output data rate of 3200Hz is suitable for a wide variety of biopotential measurements to quantify heart, brain, and muscular activity.
    The device is powered from a supply voltage in the range 1.62V to 3.6V and has typical operating current of just 50µA, which can be cut to just 2.2µA in power-saving mode.

    The integrated low-noise accelerometer has programmable full-scale range from ±2g to ±16g.
    In addition to the machine-learning core and programmable finite state machine, which can provide functionality such as activity detection, the ST1VAFE3BX implements advanced pedometer, step detector, and step counting functions.

    About STMicroelectronics
    At ST, we are over 50,000 creators and makers of semiconductor technologies mastering the semiconductor supply chain with state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. An integrated device manufacturer, we work with more than 200,000 customers and thousands of partners to design and build products, solutions, and ecosystems that address their challenges and opportunities, and the need to support a more sustainable world. Our technologies enable smarter mobility, more efficient power and energy management, and the wide-scale deployment of cloud-connected autonomous things. We are committed to achieving our goal to become carbon neutral on scope 1 and 2 and partially scope 3 by 2027. Further information can be found at www.st.com.

    For Press Information Contact:

    Alexis Breton        
    Corporate External Communications
    Tel: +33.6.59.16.79.08
    alexis.breton@st.com


    1 Report “Sensors and Actuators for Wearables 2023” (www.yolegroup.com)

    Attachments

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Healing hands: A Sudanese doctor’s account story Oct 23, 2024

    Source: Doctors Without Borders –

    Dr. Mohamed Bashir has worked in several Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) projects in Sudan, including supervising medical activities at the MSF-supported Umdawanban and Alban Aljadeed hospitals in Khartoum state. He is currently working with MSF in South Sudan, where more than 800,000 Sudanese refugees and returnees have fled over the course of the war. Our teams are providing comprehensive care at several facilities and camps in Twic county and Abyei administrative area. Below, he shares his reflections on the impact of the war in Sudan, and calls for continued attention on the conflict. 

    By Dr. Mohamed Bashir, Sudanese medical staff member with MSF in Warrap state, South Sudan

    Do you remember me? I am Dr. Mohamed Bashir, MSF’s former deputy medical coordinator in Sudan. I once wrote a reflection“  in which I shared my firsthand experience of the civil war—not only as a medical humanitarian but as a Sudanese person.

    I’m still with MSF, but now on an assignment in South Sudan, across the border from home. Although I’m physically far away, the effects of the war are ever-present, pulling me back with every news update as I compare the devastation that I hear of with the global news headlines that seem to barely notice

    A family sits at the Abyei transit center, which currently hosts around 200 Sudanese refugees. Due to flooding, the center no longer has access to drinking water, latrines, or showers, as water and sanitation trucks are unable to reach the area.
    South Sudan 2024 © Aurélie Lécrivain/MSF

    Sudan and its suffering people have slipped down the world’s list of priorities—forgotten by the media, neglected by political will, and overlooked by the humanitarian donor institutions that should be putting this catastrophe front and center. I ask myself: What can I do as an individual? My resolve is clear—I will continue to support those crushed by this brutal war. 

    Here in Twic County in South Sudan, many of our patients are South Sudanese returnees who have been displaced twice in about a decade. Thousands of Sudanese refugees have also crossed into different parts of South Sudan, scattered in host communities or crowded into refugee camps.

    “I was in Darfur and had to flee in 2003. My journey took me to Nyala, and now, escaping from there, I’ve arrived here,” said Ahmed, who lives at a UNHCR transit center for Sudanese refugees.
    South Sudan 2023 © Sean Sutton/Panos pictures

    I know this pain

    This war continues to torment us, tearing families apart. Those fleeing Sudan share the same stories of loss, uncertainty, and fading hope for peace. I know this pain too well.

    Internal borders and front lines controlled by warring parties have sliced through a nation where lives are being lost, homes destroyed, and livelihoods wiped out. 

    As for the people—us—we are left alone.

    Sudan and its suffering people have slipped down the world’s list of priorities—forgotten by the media, neglected by political will, and overlooked by the humanitarian donor institutions that should be putting this catastrophe front and center.

    My family escaped Khartoum, among the millions displaced, not once but several times in just 18 months. They left everything behind, with no clear path to survival and little attention from the world. We are still suffering from the disappearance of a relative of mine, a civilian taken from his home by a warring party over 10 months ago. We have no news—no information about his health or whether he will ever be released.

    Even for those who escape the violence or reunite after separation, new challenges arise—floods, disease outbreaks—under a collapsed health care system. Most hospitals lie destroyed. Those that remain functional are marooned without medicine, staff, or resources. This is deliberate deprivation; a cruel tactic of war

    Surviving on the bare minimum, people have been left waiting for a miracle, yet more displacement, or even worse: death.

    The MSF-supported Bashair hospital in south Khartoum received over 60 wounded patients and 43 deaths after an explosion in a market on September 10, 2023.

    Do not turn away

    Despite all this, I’m here to share our resilience. As humanitarians—medics, logisticians, and nurses—we do everything we can to support those in need. Every small act matters, and every effort counts.

    This is exactly what I’ve been doing for the past months in Twic as the MSF project medical referent at Mayen Abun County Hospital. The area was already overwhelmed by humanitarian needs, having witnessed previous internal displacement of thousands of South Sudanese uprooted due to inter-communal violence in Agok in 2022. It’s a place where the health system has collapsed, burdened by malaria, hepatitis E, and malnutrition.

    MSF’s work in South Sudan

    MSF continues to collaborate with the South Sudanese Ministry of Health to run surgical and emergency medical activities in the only secondary health care facility in the Abyei Special Administrative Area.

    Due to ongoing inter-communal violence in South Sudan and the toll of the war in Sudan, MSF teams in Abyei and Twic are handling a continuous influx of violence-related surgeries. From January to June 2024, MSF conducted 16,885 emergency consultations and performed 1,914 surgical operations. Of these, 815 patients required care for violent trauma, including gunshot wounds, blast injuries, and stabbings. Despite these efforts, there remains a significant shortage of hospital care in this region, along with limited surgical capacity and operating theater availability.

    The work here provides a window into another dimension of my country’s war. I see firsthand the dire conditions faced by those who forced to flee Sudan. What astonishes me even more is how overlooked this crisis remains—there is so little mainstream knowledge about the displacement of Sudanese people to South Sudan, Chad, and other countries, despite the overwhelming needs of families seeking refuge.

    We live in a time of escalating crises—both manmade and natural. The casualties of today’s wars, in different places and contexts, are almost too tragic to comprehend. 

    Amid all this, I plead with the world: Do not let Sudan slip from your attention. At times, it feels as though no one cares, as if Sudan has been deliberately deprioritized by the global decision makers, pushed aside for other crises. How much longer can we tolerate this inaction?

    MIL OSI NGO

  • MIL-OSI Global: Cancer care in Africa: translations of key words convey fear and need to change

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Hannah Simba, Associate Research Scientist, African Population and Health Research Center

    Language can give people the power to take an active part in their own healthcare, or it can create barriers.

    Effective communication raises awareness about diseases and is key to delivering good care to patients.

    Yet in many African settings, this aspect of care is often overlooked.

    Take cancer, for example. Understanding how cancer is discussed in various languages and cultural contexts is crucial. Better communication about the disease can reduce fear and stigma, improve patient outcomes and promote more informed decision-making.




    Read more:
    Demon disease, worse than HIV: Soweto women’s views on breast cancer


    The cancer burden in Africa is rising at a faster rate than anywhere else in the world. In a region where around 2,000 languages are spoken, the way cancer is communicated is important.

    I am an epidemiologist and global health researcher who recently coauthored a paper about the way cancer terminology is expressed in African languages.

    The findings suggest that translations of key terms, including “cancer”, “malignant”, “chronic” and “radiotherapy”, commonly conveyed elements of fear and tragedy. And that the words used may contribute to fear, health disparities and barriers to care, and pose communication difficulties for health professionals.

    The results reinforce the need for culturally sensitive cancer terminology. This would improve cancer awareness and communication.

    For cancer patients, the words used to describe their diagnosis and treatment can affect how they perceive their condition, their willingness to seek treatment, and their interaction with healthcare providers.

    A study on cancer terminology

    Our study investigated translations of cancer-related terms from various African languages and explored their cultural significance. We surveyed 107 healthcare professionals, community health workers and researchers from 32 African countries, representing 44 languages.

    Participants were asked to provide translations of 16 common medical terms in their local languages and explain what those terms meant. These were terms like “cancer”, “radiotherapy”, “metastasis” and “survival”.

    Results revealed a diversity of terminology and translations. Many local terms contained linguistic references that reflected cultural and social contexts.

    Fear and stigma

    The findings uncovered a striking pattern: many cancer-related terms carried deeply negative connotations. Often they were associated with fear, tragedy and incurability. Some translations even had malevolent spiritual meanings.

    The term “cancer” is often associated with weightiness. It creates a feeling of being overwhelming, unbeatable and frequently final.

    Terms like “malignant” and “chronic” carry similar weight, frequently coming with ideas of hopelessness and fatality.

    What if the treatment meant to save your life sounded as terrifying as the disease itself?

    One example in our study was the translation of “radiotherapy”. In several languages, the term was associated with burning – being scorched by fire, heat or electricity.

    Such associations can make treatments seem more frightening than they are. They might deter patients from seeking the care they need.

    Rich expressions to draw from

    One fascinating example of how language shapes the understanding of cancer comes from a Ugandan participant. Their translation of “metastasis” (meaning “spread”) in Luganda was ekiziba kyasindika obwana bwayo ahare. This means “the mother mass has sent seedlings into another site”.

    This vivid metaphor, deeply rooted in the local idioms and proverbs, likens the spread of cancer to the dispersal of seedlings from a central plant.

    It shows how African languages can convey complex medical concepts through culturally resonant expressions.

    In other instances cancer was referred to as the “wound with which we will be buried” (translated from Wolof), “forest disease” (translated from Djerma) and “parasitic plant” (translated from Shona).

    These expressions extend beyond literal translation, providing valuable insights into how cultures think of cancer as a powerful and pervasive force in the natural world.

    What next?

    The study highlights the importance of cultural sensitivity in cancer communication.

    When the language used to describe cancer and its treatments instils fear or perpetuates stigma, it becomes harder for healthcare workers to provide effective care.

    Patients may delay seeking treatment, struggle to understand their condition, or feel hopeless about their prognosis.




    Read more:
    Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the world. 5 reads that could save lives


    Efforts to overcome stigmatising language during the early years of the HIV epidemic in Africa can serve as a blueprint for improving cancer communication.

    Initiatives like the Stop TB Partnership’s Tuberculosis Language Guide offer lessons on using non-stigmatising terminology, which could be adapted to oncology.

    Programmes such as the American Cancer Society’s patient education initiatives and the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Rays of Hope radiotherapy programme highlight the potential for positive language alternatives and effective translations in African cancer care.

    The language used to communicate about cancer also matters because it can make a difference to health disparities.




    Read more:
    Breast cancer: why it’s difficult to treat and what new approaches are on the horizon


    Linguists, healthcare professionals and cultural leaders should work together to create new terminologies or adapt existing ones to be more neutral or positive.

    Such efforts could pave the way for more compassionate, effective and culturally aligned healthcare communication across the continent.

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

    ref. Cancer care in Africa: translations of key words convey fear and need to change – https://theconversation.com/cancer-care-in-africa-translations-of-key-words-convey-fear-and-need-to-change-241928

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to ONS data on fertility and live birth rates in England and Wales in 2023

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Scientists comment on data released by the ONS which suggests birth rates are at a record low. 

    Prof Bassel H.Al Wattar, Associate Professor of Reproductive Medicine and Medical Director of the Clinical Trials Unit, Anglia Ruskin University.

    “The new data from the ONS reflect a worrying yet persistent downward trend of fertility and birth rates in England and Wales. This may be explained by the recent cost of living crisis and financial strain that could be dissuading couples from having more than two children per household. This is also compounded by the progressive reduction in available NHS funding for fertility treatments like IVF which is further contributing to the low fertility and birth rates in the UK as a whole. Many high income countries are seeing a similar worrying trend like Japan and South Korea which has a direct negative impact on the country’s GPD and productivity. The fertility replacement rate should stay close to 2.1 children per woman and the government could implement immediate interventions to help reverse trends such as offering longer paid parental leave, more funding for childcare for working parents, and more funding for fertility treatments in the NHS”

    Prof Melinda Mills, Professor of Demography and Population Health and Director of the Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science, University of Oxford, said:

    “England and Wales continues the trend of a drop in the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) and postponing children until after age 30. Countries such as Italy and Spain reached even lower levels (around 1.24-1.29) previously and South Korea currently has the lowest TRF in the world of 0.72 in 2022.

    “Falling TFRs and postponement in having children to later ages is not surprising given recent trends. People are actively postponing or forgoing children due to issues related to difficulties in finding a partner, housing, economic uncertainty, remaining longer in education and particularly women entering and staying in the labour force. Some individuals also actively make the choice to remain childfree. However, there is evidence that postponing having children to later ages when the partners are less able to conceive results in increases in involuntarily childlessness as well. Linking the medical records from birth of those who were childless in millions of people in Finland and Sweden1, we found that the large increase in those countries was related to mental health and substance use for men and metabolic disorders linked to obesity for women.

    “The structures such as economic security, housing and affordable childcare are essential for allowing people to have the number of children they would like, when they like. Pronatalist policies such as those recently enacted in Hungary with loans or tax incentives are not only expensive but have limited evidence that they will raise the overall fertility rate.”

    Prof Brienna Perelli-Harris, Professor of Demography, The University of Southampton said:

    “The recent decline in fertility in England and Wales is quite surprising, but it is also in line with fertility declines in other countries which until recently had relatively high fertility. The Nordic countries and the United States have also experienced record-breaking lows in the past few years.

    “We are unsure whether the recent declines are due to postponement of childbearing, which can distort the total fertility rate, or an increase in childlessness.

    “Our recent analysis of the Generation and Gender Survey2 suggests that young people are less likely to intend to have a child in the future. The proportion of 18-to 25-year-olds in the GSS who said they definitely do not intend to have a child approximately doubled compared to the same age group back in 2005-2007 (around 7% then compared to 15% today).

    “The low fertility rates observed by the ONS may continue for some time into the future.”

    https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/bulletins/birthsummarytablesenglandandwales/2023

    1. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-023-01763-x
    2. https://www.cpc.ac.uk/docs/PB72_Intending_to__remain_childless_are_concerns_about_climate_change_and_overpopulation_the_cause.pdf

     

    Declared interests

    Prof Bassel H.Al Wattar “No conflicts of interests to declare”

    Prof Melinda Mills “I am a Trustee of the UK Biobank, on the Scientific Advisory Board of Our Future Health and Health and Retirement Survey US and Lifelines Biobank Netherlands. I do not see a conflict of this with this subject matter but provide it just in case.”

    Prof Brienna Perelli-Harris “Funding for the GGS came from the ESRC (UKRI), so no industry links.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Murphy Announces Departure of Chief Counsel Parimal Garg

    Source: US State of New Jersey

    TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy today announced that his longtime Chief Counsel Parimal Garg will depart the administration next month to work in private practice.

    “Parimal Garg has been by my side for the last eight years, from the early days of my first campaign through nearly seven years in the Governor’s Office,” said Governor Murphy. “I relied heavily on Parimal’s advice and counsel on issues from managing a once-in-a-century pandemic to selecting four Supreme Court Justices, and everything in between. No matter the complexity of the challenge, Parimal always thought through every angle of the issue, identified goals, and formulated strategies for achieving them. I am grateful for Parimal’s many years of service and his unwavering friendship, and I know he will excel in this next chapter of his legal career.”

    “When I decided to work for Phil Murphy in 2016, I did it with a belief that regardless of his political odds, he was the right person to put New Jersey back on track,” said outgoing Chief Counsel Parimal Garg. “Over the last eight years, he rose to every challenge, whether that meant repairing New Jersey’s finances, taking decisive action to protect public health, or skillfully navigating different federal administrations to advance New Jersey’s interests. I am forever grateful to Governor Murphy for the opportunity to help lead his team, and for his trust and confidence during my four years as Chief Counsel. I know that the Governor, the First Lady, and the entire Murphy administration will spend the next year cementing a record of achievement that is unparalleled in our state’s history.”

    Having served as Chief Counsel since October 2020, Garg is the longest serving Chief Counsel to the Governor in New Jersey history. From January 2018 to October 2020, Garg served as Deputy Chief Counsel to the Governor, after having worked as a senior policy advisor on Murphy’s gubernatorial campaign beginning in the summer of 2016.

    Previously, Garg served as a litigation associate at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP in Washington, D.C., and as a law clerk to New Jersey Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner. He received his B.A. from Georgetown University, magna cum laude, and his J.D. from Harvard Law School, cum laude.

    Originally from Lawrenceville, Garg now resides in Montclair.

    Garg will depart the Governor’s Office in mid-November. An announcement on his successor will be made prior to his departure.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sully Creek State Park Renamed Rough Rider State Park with Major Campground Expansion

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    The North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department is thrilled to announce a bold transformation for Sully Creek State Park. In a proud tribute to the indomitable spirit of Theodore Roosevelt and the legendary Rough Riders, the park will officially become Rough Rider State Park. This renaming celebrates Roosevelt and his Rough Riders’ enduring legacy and our dedication to honoring the rugged beauty and cultural heritage of the West.

    This announcement is especially meaningful as it coincides with the 166th birthday of President Theodore Roosevelt, a towering figure in American history who inspired generations to embrace the wild, conserve our landscapes, and embody the pioneering spirit. Roosevelt’s commitment to the land and the Rough Riders’ legacy inspires us to embrace this proud heritage in a park that invites everyone to explore, connect, and create their own outdoor stories.

    Among the First U.S. Volunteer Cavalry “Rough Riders” organized by Roosevelt and Leonard Wood to fight in the Spanish-American War were several North Dakotans, including Jesse Langdon, who was the oldest surviving Rough Rider when he died at age 94 in 1975. “The Rough Rider State” also has been one of North Dakota’s unofficial nicknames for more than 50 years.

    Nestled along the scenic banks of the Little Missouri River, just two miles south of Medora, Rough Rider State Park is a premier destination for horse enthusiasts, offering a unique and immersive experience that highlights North Dakota’s stunning vistas. With a trailhead connection to the Maah Daah Hey Trail and facilities designed for horseback riding, it’s the perfect spot to connect with nature in true Western style.

    With an ambitious $4 million investment, Rough Rider State Park is set to nearly double its camping capacity, bringing the total to 70 campsites, along with additional amenities. Visitors can look forward to more modern facilities that will enhance the experience of camping under the wide-open North Dakota skies, with improved access to the park’s beautiful surroundings. The investment is part of a larger funding package for statewide park improvements proposed by Governor Doug Burgum and approved by the legislature.

    “This transformation is a tribute to Theodore Roosevelt’s spirit of adventure and love for the American wilderness. We’re beyond excited to bring these changes to life as part of our commitment to enriching recreational opportunities for everyone,” said Cody Schulz, Director of the North Dakota Parks & Recreation Department. “We are so incredibly grateful to the legislature for making this investment possible, as it will be the most significant infrastructure upgrade in the over 50-year history of the park. And we are proud to work with great partners like the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation, Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Billings County, Medora, and many others – who all embody a great love of the outdoors and western culture.”

    Rough Rider State Park will continue to be a cherished destination for families, outdoor adventurers, history enthusiasts, and horse lovers from across the world. Physical, printed, and electronic signage updates will be completed throughout the winter and spring and the campground expansion is slated to begin in the late summer of 2025. We can’t wait to welcome you to Rough Rider State Park, where adventure, history, and nature await.

    The mission of the North Dakota Parks & Recreation Department is to enrich generations through experiences that connect people and places.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Exploring the Future of Cash in Germany — A Foresight Study | Guest contribution in Central Bank Payments News

    Source: Deutsche Bundesbank in English

    Safeguarding the role of cash …
    Many continue to experience the payment landscape in Germany as being shaped by cash. But in Germany, too, the use of cash has been declining for some years now. The coronavirus pandemic has significantly accelerated change processes in payment behaviour. While cash payments accounted for 82.5% of total transactions in 2008, their share fell to 51% in 2023. At the same time, we see an increase in the use of debit cards (27% in 2023) and mobile payments (6% in 2023).
    Nevertheless, cash remains an important part of economic life in Germany. Consumers expect to be able to pay with cash and want to maintain the freedom of choice between cash and cashless means of payment. On top of consumers’ preferences in favour of cash, the Bundesbank considers resilience, crisis preparedness, and inclusivity for all groups in society as further reasons why cash should be firmly anchored in the payment landscape. A functioning cash infrastructure with good access to cash and high acceptance rates of cash is crucial for this.
    The Bundesbank has a statutory mandate to facilitate the smooth functioning of cash and cashless payments. Together with the other Eurosystem central banks, the Bundesbank works to ensure that euro cash remains generally available and accepted as a means of payment and store of value. That said, some developments such as the declining use of cash for payments and the thinning out of ATM networks suggest that a future with cash cannot be taken for granted.
    … calls for future-oriented research
    With this in mind, the Bundesbank has turned its attention to exploring what sort of long-term future cash might have in Germany. In order to be able to proactively shape the evolution of cash in light of the trends we are currently seeing, we need an idea of the environment in which cash will be embedded in future. What developments and trends will influence the payment landscape and the cash cycle over the next 15 to 20 years?
    To take due account of the intricacies of the way in which cash is embedded in social and economic structures, a future-oriented study design is called for. One option is to take the strategic foresight route. The Bundesbank has therefore commissioned a study looking at the cash of the future, which uses this kind of method.
    Future scenarios for Germany’s payment landscape
    A commonly used approach in strategic foresight involves the development of future scenarios. These scenarios are hypothetical visions of the future on a set topic. The scenarios presented in the study describe potential futures for cash and the cash cycle in Germany from the perspective of the year 2037. They show alternative development paths and the influencing factors behind them.
    The scenarios are based on empirical evidence and were developed by strategic foresight experts working with established academic methods. It is important to appreciate that scenarios are not forecasts and, as such, do not represent precise predictions of a future that will definitely come to pass. What scenarios actually provide us with is a way to orient ourselves. What developments are possible, what are the dependencies between different developments and what are the consequences? The scenarios can thus play a role in decision-making and strategy-building and aid communication with stakeholders and the general public.
    A total of three scenarios were developed. In all three scenarios, cash use continues, albeit to different degrees. In all scenarios, cash is the only means of payment available as a fallback option in the event of technical outages.
    The hyperdigital payment world — artificially intelligent, convenient, and vulnerable
    This scenario is characterised by economic and social transformation aimed at safeguarding peace and prosperity. Geopolitical shifts and far-reaching digitalisation are the driving forces of this transformation. All areas of life are highly digitalised, and that includes making payments. The digital euro has already been introduced as legal tender. The majority of the public has a high degree of confidence in digital solutions, in the government, and in the providers of cashless means of payment. In this scenario, cash serves, at most, as a store of value.
    Cash has all but disappeared from everyday payment situations. Only 15% of all transactions are settled using cash in 2037. Payments between individuals are almost exclusively made via payment apps.
    Conventional online commerce, in which cash plays virtually no role, continues to grow strongly. When it comes to bricks-and mortar retail, hardly any checkouts are staffed anymore. Only a scarce few self-checkouts still accept cash payments. With a small number of exceptions, local governments, authorities, and public enterprises do not provide facilities for paying in cash either.
    Banks have massively thinned out their ATM network. With the disappearance of staffed checkouts in the retail sector and the cutback in cash payment options for customers, in-store cash withdrawal services — which are currently still commonplace — vanish as well. Cost pressures on the cash cycle increase considerably up to the end of the decade. Only a small number of effective measures to cut costs in the cash cycle are implemented.
    In accordance with an EU regulation, the Federal Government responds to the massive decline in the use of cash, adopting statutory standards to secure a basic level of cash provision for retailers and the general public. The aim of this move is to maintain the cash infrastructure in case there is a crisis.
    In summary, this scenario shows us a highly digitalised world in which cash plays only a minor role. It is barely able to perform its function as a crisis preparedness measure.
    The cash renaissance payment world — smart, self-determined, and resilient
    The world of this scenario has been shaped by the coronavirus pandemic, climate change, advances in general-purpose artificial intelligence (AI) and the war in Ukraine. On the back of recent experiences, the public has become more aware of the need to prepare for disasters and crises.
    Moreover, many people fear heteronomy and the notion of being controlled by self-learning AI systems trained on mass data. Ambitious individuals tending towards alternative lifestyles are advocating for the right to an analogue life, drawing attention to the dangers of AI and calling for data minimisation and digital sovereignty.
    The benefits of cash are being rediscovered. Cash is associated with values such as sovereignty, independence, and constructive rebellion. This heightened awareness of the benefits of cash gradually spreads into society’s centre ground. Despite the stabilising effects on cash use, cash made up less than 50% of transactions at the end of the 2020s.
    Policymakers were aware of the public’s desire for freedom of choice, as well as of the significance of cash for certain groups in society. Considerations around resilience and autonomy in payments prompted the Federal Government to take regulatory steps to strengthen cash as a means of payment. At the beginning of the 2030s, the Federal Government recommended that retailers should, as a basic principle, accept cash. All of the major supermarket chains offer both staffed checkouts and self-checkouts with cash payment modules.
    Due to an EU regulation on access to cash, the trend towards branch closures and the thinning out of the ATM network started to slow again from the mid-2020s. Clear regulation for maintaining cash infrastructures gives cash cycle stakeholders greater certainty for investing in innovation and cost-saving measures.
    All in all, in this scenario, we see parts of society circling back to cash and its benefits, meaning that cash use is declining only slowly and stabilises in the 2030s.
    The vanishing hybrid payment world — pluralistic, segregated, and indifferent
    In the 2020s, there was significantly greater individualisation and pluralisation in people’s living standards, lifestyles, and personal environments compared with the 2010s. Members of more progressive milieus, in particular, are regarded as early adopters when it comes to innovations in cashless payment instruments. But still, even those who mainly opt for cashless payments often carry an “emergency stash” of a few notes in their smartphone case or in their bag or pocket.
    At the end of the 2030s, cash is still being used by a large part of the population to pay street vendors, when tipping, as a gift to friends or family and when paying smaller amounts. The decline in cash use is gradual (31% of all transactions in 2037).
    The remaining bricks-and-mortar retailers are aware of the diverse preferences of their customer base. This means there is huge variation in terms of cashier system facilities and cash acceptance. However, bricks-and-mortar retailers encourage customers to use cashless payment methods. Public authorities are also coming to favour cashless means of payment.
    Banks continued to significantly reduce the number of their branches and ATMs throughout the country up to the end of the 2020s. As the share of cash is shrinking, less and less cash is coming into shop tills, meaning that in-store cash withdrawal services
    deteriorate. Overall, it becomes harder to access cash.
    A major crisis or disaster that could draw society’s attention to cash as a resilient means of payment fails to materialise. A pro-cash movement among the general public cannot be orchestrated in an increasingly segregated society. This means there is no political pressure to act and no resistance against the gradual decline of cash.
    A downward spiral is created: the use of cash continues to decline as access to and acceptance of cash become restricted. The fixed costs for the supply and removal of cash appear disproportionately high as cash volumes fall. Options for accessing cash and situations where it is accepted are therefore limited further. A hybrid payment landscape — something desired by large parts of society — slowly but surely disappears as it becomes more and more difficult to actually use cash.
    Current developments
    Once scenarios have been developed, they should be checked against current developments from time to time. It is important to bear in mind that certain trends already visible today might appear in one scenario or another but this does not necessarily mean that a particular scenario will occur. Nor do these trends make it more likely that one of the scenarios will prevail. This is because the developments described in the scenarios should not be looked at in isolation; it is only through their interplay that they mesh to form a holistic projection of the payment landscape in 2037.
    Cashless payments more convenient
    Recently published research by the Bundesbank shows that cash currently accounts for 51% of all transactions in Germany. Contactless cards and mobile payment methods are being used more and more frequently. Cashless means of payment are increasingly perceived as more convenient, faster, and easier than cash. These are characteristics regarded as key reasons in deciding for or against a means of payment in the “hyperdigital payment world” and “hybrid payment world” scenarios. On top of this, acceptance of cashless means of payment has risen sharply, including in former cash strongholds such as restaurants and cafés and the services industry. Against this background, the general trend of declining cash usage in the scenarios appears highly plausible.
    Cash availability and acceptance declining
    Acceptance of cash in Germany remains high, although it is slightly declining. Cash payments are almost universally accepted at retail outlets for day-to-day purchases. At retail outlets for durable goods and in the food services sector, acceptance has somewhat deteriorated. In public administration, meanwhile, cash acceptance is low and falling.
    As anticipated in all three scenarios, the number of ATMs and bank offices is declining sharply. The number of ATMs fell by 12% between 2019 and 2023. A weakening of this decline in the mid-2020s does not seem to be on the cards so far. As things currently stand, legal framework conditions creating guaranteed access to cash are lacking. Although more and more people are making use of the option to withdraw cash in shops, Germany’s Retail Federation (Handelsverband) is warning of service constraints if the declining propensity to pay in cash results in there not being enough cash in registers. These developments make a downward spiral of declining cash usage, acceptance of cash, and cash availability highly likely.
    Cash should not be taken for granted
    Cash use does not increase again in any of the scenarios. While the share of cash payments does slowly stabilise in the “cash renaissance” scenario, it steadily contracts in the other two. That said, neither of those two scenarios anticipate a complete disappearance of cash. But two of three scenarios — as well as the developments that we are currently seeing — suggest that its stabilising function and freedom of choice between cash and digital payments are not fully given anymore.
    The Bundesbank considers cash to be its core physical product and takes active measures to safeguard its continued existence and future use alongside its complement, the digital euro. However, the Bundesbank, too, has to adapt to the changing payment landscape. Under its new branch strategy the Bundesbank is aiming to create a more efficient branch network. Branch closures will go hand in hand with extensive investment into new and modern branches. Increased automation and simpler access routes for CIT companies will ensure a secure and efficient supply of cash in the long term.
    Society and policymakers called to action
    The scenarios also show that the responsibility does not lie solely with the Bundesbank. The Bundesbank’s measures will not be adequate unless they are accompanied by action from policymakers and society. That is why it is initiating further collaborative activities. The National Cash Forum brings the relevant stakeholders to the table to lay the groundwork for enhancing and stabilising the cash cycle. A joint dialogue with various interest groups from society culminated in position papers expressing a clear commitment to cash. We at the Bundesbank are committed to contributing to a future with cash.

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI USA: FACT SHEET: One Month Following Hurricane Helene, Biden-⁠ Harris Administration Spearheads Ongoing Recovery Efforts and Support for  Survivors

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Since Hurricane Helene’s destructive landfall one month ago, the Biden-Harris Administration has mobilized a Federal response that has provided hundreds of millions of dollars in financial assistance to survivors, substantial debris removal and power restoration, and a sustained commitment to long-term recovery efforts. As President Biden and Vice President Harris have said, their Administration will be with the people across the Southeast and Appalachia no matter how long it takes.
    Thus far, the Administration has approved over $2.1 billion in Federal assistance for those affected by Hurricane Helene, as well as Hurricane Milton, which made landfall in Florida shortly after Helene.
    This includes over $1 billion in assistance for individuals and families to help pay for housing repairs, personal property replacement, and other recovery efforts. To date, the Administration has also approved over $1.1 billion in Public Assistance funding to support local and state governments. This funding is primarily being used to support debris removal, as well to pay for emergency protective measures like surging first responders and providing shelter, food, and water during and after the storms.
    President Biden, Vice President Harris, and senior leaders across the Administration have spoken with and coordinated closely with Governors, Senators, Representatives, Mayors, and other state and local elected officials in impacted states before, during, and after the storms. The President, Vice President, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, and multiple cabinet members and other Administration leaders have been in impacted states to meet with state and local counterparts, survey damage, assess what additional Federal support should be prioritized, and meet with first responders and survivors. 
    On October 26, White House Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall traveled to North Carolina to coordinate recovery efforts with Governor Roy Cooper, FEMA, and philanthropic partners on the ground. She underscored the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to innovative partnerships that can speed recovery and rebuilding — through collaboration with state and local officials, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and philanthropic donors—for as long as it takes.
    Nearly 5,000 Federal personnel remain deployed to North Carolina and Florida, working side-by-side with state and local officials, to help survivors get what they need to accelerate their recovery.
    For communities affected by Helene, FEMA has delivered over 11 million meals and 9.6 million liters of water. FEMA now has 65 Disaster Recovery Centers open throughout all of the affected communities to provide survivors with in-person assistance with more opening each day. As of October 27, there will be 21 Disaster Recovery Centers open in North Carolina. Power and cellular service are restored for 99 percent of customers in impacted areas.
    As communities begin their road to rebuilding, the Administration continues to provide support and resources, including:
    Defense Personnel Supporting On-The-Ground Recovery
    Throughout Hurricane Helene response operations, the National Guard and Department of Defense have been engaged in the whole-of-government response efforts across the impacted areas. Members of the North Carolina National Guard, together with active duty servicemembers and guardsmen from 15 other states, have conducted more than 1,200 ground missions and more than 400 air missions in coordination with the state of North Carolina, and under the direction of the Dual Status Commander. 
    These efforts delivered more than 13,500 tons of humanitarian aid overland, and nearly another 2,000 tons through the air. This includes 614,881 gallons of bulk water, 4,331 pallets of bottles of water, and 3,108 pallets of food. Service members were active in route clearance – clearing hundreds of miles of roads, which enabled increased access to some of the hardest hit areas of the state.
    From the onset of this mission, the primary goal of active-duty Department of Defense Title 10 personnel and equipment was to provide immediate, short-term assistance to aid the most urgent response efforts. As of last week, Governor Cooper determined that the active-duty troops were no longer needed for this phase, and active-duty service members transitioned their mission to the National Guard and returned to their home bases. The National Guard, working with FEMA, and other Federal, state, and local partners, will remain actively engaged to address ongoing needs, rebuild infrastructure, and aid communities in long term recovery.
    The National Guard has roughly 2,000 Guardsmen, 65 high-water vehicles, and 7 helicopters still mobilized across seven states for the response to Hurricane Helene.
    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has more than 450 personnel engaged in missions across six states – supporting debris removal, temporary power, infrastructure assessments, , and safe waterways assessments. 
    Supporting and Protecting Public Health
    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is taking action to support providers and suppliers impacted by Hurricane Helene. These providers and suppliers may face significant cash flow issues from the unusual circumstances impacting facilities’ operations, preventing facilities from submitting claims and receiving Medicare claims payments. As a result of the presidential disaster declaration, and HHS public health emergencies declared in the wake of Hurricane Helene, CMS made available accelerated payments to Medicare Part A providers and advance payments to Medicare Part B suppliers affected by Hurricane Helene beginning October 2, 2024. CMS has also made available certain flexibilities related to provider and supplier fee-for-service Medicare debt.
    Following storm damage from Hurricane Helene at Baxter International Inc.’s North Cove facility in North Carolina, the Biden-Harris Administration continues taking action to support access to IV fluids, including ensuring restoration of key production sites, protecting products, and opening imports, in partnership with manufacturers, distributors, hospitals, and other stakeholders. As a result of these steps, Baxter anticipates restarting the highest-throughput IV solutions manufacturing line within the next week. The Biden-Harris Administration also moved quickly to open up imports from six facilities around the world and made it easier for hospitals to produce their own IV fluid during the shortage.
    Supporting Students and Student Loan Borrowers
    The U.S. Department of Education (ED) is partnering with disaster-declared states to determine the extent of impacts to educational communities; identify gaps in resources for response and recovery; and share critical resources to help restore learning conditions. These resources include Project SERV, which provides funding for local educational agencies and institutions of higher education that have experienced a traumatic crisis, including weather-related natural disasters, to assist in restoring a safe learning environment. 
    ED is ensuring affected borrowers in areas impacted by the hurricanes can focus on their critical needs without having to worry about missing their student loan payments. Direct Loan borrowers and federally-serviced Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) borrowers in the affected area who miss their payments will be automatically placed into a natural disaster forbearance. During forbearance, payments are temporarily postponed or reduced, and interest is still charged. Thanks to regulations issued by the Biden-Harris Administration, months in this forbearance will count toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Income Driven Repayment forgiveness. Direct Loan and federally serviced FFEL borrowers are not required to take an action, but have the option to call their servicer if they wish to enroll in the forbearance proactively. Perkins loan borrowers should contact their loan holder to request natural disaster forbearance. 
    ED continues to monitor impacts to schools in the affected states, including school closures, damage to school buildings including ongoing utility outages, schools being used as shelters, and the number of displaced students and staff. ED is sending an assessment team to North Carolina this coming week to evaluate damages and work with the state to develop a plan to get students back into classrooms as quickly as possible. In parallel, ED is closely communicating with the leadership of 531 Title IV-participating institutions, across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia due to impacts associated with Hurricane Helene. ED has also posted electronic announcements, reminding impacted institutions of available regulatory flexibilities, and providing guidance on managing Title IV student aid during disaster situations. 
    Supporting Farmers, Agriculture, and Consumers
    The Department of Agriculture (USDA), in coordination with approved insurance providers, announced more than $233 million to help farmers recover from hurricane damage during the fall harvest season. Currently, Hurricane Helene indemnities are estimated to be nearly $208 million for Georgia, nearly $13 million for Florida, $5 million for Alabama, and more than $4 million each for North and South Carolina.  
    To date, USDA has approved Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) benefits to help eligible residents cover the cost of groceries in 112 counties in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee. D-SNAP is a program focused on getting food assistance to those in need for people in communities affected by disasters, who may not otherwise be eligible.
    Supporting Infrastructure and Transportation Recovery
    Since Hurricane Helene made landfall, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been committed to helping water utilities and health departments in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and North Carolina as they work around the clock to bring clean, safe drinking water back to communities impacted by the storm. EPA and its state and local partners have made significant progress restoring drinking water and wastewater services in a vast majority of communities. In Western North Carolina, EPA has deployed two mobile water testing labs. EPA has received and analyzed approximately 700 samples, giving residents clear data about the safety of their drinking water. In addition to water testing, EPA has collected approximately 1,000 containers with oil, hazardous materials, or propane since clean-up efforts began in North Carolina.  
    The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) continues to support response and recovery efforts in impacted communities in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) worked with partners in affected areas to ensure the national airspace quickly returned to normal operations. The FAA deployed personnel to conduct vital infrastructure assessments and restore communications to impacted towers and airports, including Asheville Regional Airport in North Carolina and ongoing work at Valdosta Regional Airport in Georgia, among others. Approximately 133 personnel from Technical Operations and the communications support team remain on the ground supporting a range of response and restoration activities.
    The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) sent $144 million in “Quick Release” Emergency Relief funding to North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. These funds represent a ‘down payment’ to help with the immediate aftermath of the hurricane. Additional funding will be flowing to affected communities from the Emergency Relief program pending availability of funds. FHWA also worked closely with all impacted states and other federal agencies to help support their assessments of infrastructure damage.
    Providing Financial Flexibilities to Homeowners, Renters and Taxpayers
    The Department of Housing and Urban Development is providing a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures of mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) as well as foreclosures of mortgages to Native American borrowers guaranteed under the Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee program. The moratorium and extension are effective as of the President’s disaster declaration date in each state. When homes are destroyed or damaged to an extent that reconstruction or complete replacement is necessary, HUD’s Section 203(h) program provides FHA insurance to disaster victims, including renters. Borrowers from participating FHA approved lenders are eligible for 100 percent financing including closing costs. HUD’s Section 203(k) loan program enables individuals to finance the purchase or refinance of a house, along with its repair, through a single mortgage. Homeowners can also finance the rehabilitation of their existing homes if damaged. FHA is coordinating and collaborating with the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Agriculture to ensure consistent messaging and policies for single family loans regarding foreclosure moratoriums and repayment/arrearage agreements. Additionally, affected homeowners that have mortgages through Government-Sponsored Enterprises – including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – and the FHA are eligible to suspend their mortgage payments through a forbearance plan for up to 12 months.
    The Internal Revenue Service announced disaster tax relief for all individuals and businesses affected by Hurricane Helene, including the entire states of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina and parts of Florida, Tennessee and Virginia. Taxpayers in these areas now have until May 1, 2025, to file various federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments. In addition, the Internal Revenue Service provided more than 1,000 employees to help with FEMA disaster relief call lines and intake initial information to help disaster victims get federal relief. IRS Criminal Investigation agents were also on the ground in devastated areas to help with search and rescue efforts and other relief work – including assisting with door-to-door search efforts.
    Supporting Workers and Worker Safety
    Working alongside the Department of Labor, the States of Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee have all announced that eligible workers can receive federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance to compensate for income lost directly resulting from Hurricane Helene. And, through the Department of Labor’s innovative partnership with the U.S. Postal Service, displaced workers from North Carolina and South Carolina can now go to the post office in any other state and verify their ID for purposes of getting their benefits quickly.
    Additional Response and Recovery Efforts
    The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has offered over $51 million in tentatively approved disaster loan funding to survivors of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The SBA also has hundreds of staff working on the ground supporting communities in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia in disaster recovery centers, as well as in loan processing and customer service centers that are fielding around 15,000 calls a day with an average wait time of 15 seconds. The SBA is continuing to process disaster loan applications while it awaits Congressional action to replenish their disaster loan funds.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lankford’s Legislation to Save Taxpayer Dollars by Reusing Excess Federal Property Signed into Law

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Oklahoma James Lankford

    OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – The Reuse Excess Property Act introduced by Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Gary Peters (D-MI) has been signed into law. The bill will hold agencies more accountable to the public on how they reuse excess personal property.

    “This is not that hard. Use the stuff you already have before you buy more stuff. When federal agencies just buy more, before they use what we already have, it shows a lack of commitment to saving taxpayer dollars. The federal government is already the largest single buyer of goods and services in the world, so we need to prioritize good stewardship and effective use of property the government has already purchased,” said Lankford. “From paper clips to automobiles, Oklahoma families and businesses make decisions every day about how to use what they have before spending more money. We should always look for ways for the federal government to save more money and waste less time.”   

    “Agencies should always consider reusing excess goods like office supplies, equipment, and vehicles rather than buying them new, and this law will ensure they do just that,” said Peters. “This law will hold the federal government more accountable by ensuring they only spend taxpayer dollars on essential items. The American people know what it means to be frugal and reuse what they own: it’s time federal agencies do the same.”  

    Federally-owned personal property includes physical items such as office supplies, furniture, automobiles, and heavy machinery. The federal government is the largest purchaser of goods and services in the world, and this law will ensure agencies are looking to excess property—available at no cost apart from any necessary transportation—before buying new products in order to save taxpayer dollars.   

    The Reuse Excess Property Act will update existing requirements for agencies to report their excess personal property to the General Services Administration (GSA) by making those reports available to the public as well. This would help agency officials and taxpayers better understand the extent to which agencies are working to cut wasteful spending through the use of excess property. The bill also requires agencies publicly report on their guidance on the use of excess personal property and designate an employee to be responsible for searching through available excess personal property for items that meet agency needs. 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s remarks to the Security Council – on Sudan [bilingual, as delivered; scroll down for all-English and all-French]

    Source: United Nations – English

    adam President, Excellencies,

    I thank the Council for the opportunity to discuss the utter humanitarian catastrophe engulfing Sudan.

    Eighteen months have passed since brutal fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.

    The suffering is growing by the day, with almost 25 million people now requiring assistance.

    The people of Sudan are living through a nightmare of violence — with thousands of civilians killed, and countless others facing unspeakable atrocities, including widespread rape and sexual assaults.

    In recent days, we have heard shocking reports of mass killings and sexual violence in villages in Aj Jazirah State in the east of the country. 

    They are also enduring a nightmare of hunger — as more than 750,000 people face catastrophic food insecurity and famine conditions take hold in displacement sites in North Darfur, while millions struggle to feed themselves every day.

    They are confronting a nightmare of disease — with cholera, malaria, dengue fever, measles and rubella spreading fast.

    A nightmare of collapsed infrastructure — with vital health systems, transportation networks, water and sanitation systems, supply routes and agricultural production grinding to a halt.

    A nightmare of displacement — the largest displacement crisis in the world, with more than 11 million people fleeing since April last year, including nearly 3 million who have crossed into neighbouring countries.

    A nightmare of extreme weather — with nearly 600,000 people affected by heavy rains and floods this summer.

    And Sudan is, once again, rapidly becoming a nightmare of mass ethnic violence, in particular with the dramatic escalation of fighting in El Fasher.  

    Madam President,

    We have consistently appealed to both sides to end the fighting and come to the negotiating table.

    But instead of lowering tensions, they are escalating military action.

    Meanwhile, outside powers are fuelling the fire.

    We face the serious possibility of the conflict igniting regional instability from the Sahel to the Horn of Africa to the Red Sea.  

    Resolution 2736 adopted earlier this year sent a strong signal.

    But we need action on the ground.

    The resolution requested me to make recommendations to protect civilians in Sudan, which I submitted to this Council last week.

    Allow me to outline three key priorities. 

    First — both sides must immediately agree to a cessation of hostilities.

    Such an agreement should be translated into local ceasefires and humanitarian pauses — creating new avenues of dialogue, and laying the ground for a comprehensive ceasefire.

    At the same time, diplomatic efforts must be intensified to finally bring an end to the conflict — including support to implement the commitments in the Jeddah Declaration.

    My Personal Envoy, Ramtane Lamamra, is working around the clock with that objective.

    He convened the parties in Geneva to enhance humanitarian access and strengthen the protection of civilians in Sudan.

    And he supported the coordination of mediation initiatives, in collaboration with regional partners — in particular, the African Union’s High-Level Panel.  

    I urge this Council to continue supporting his efforts, and encourage effective engagement with regional partners like the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the League of Arab States, and other key ones. 

    And I salute the efforts of the African Union and IGAD towards an inclusive Sudanese political dialogue, which would provide an important platform for civilians — including women — to speak out about the importance of ending the war and lend their voices towards a peaceful and democratic future.

    Which brings me to my second point — civilians must be protected.

    We need this Council’s support to help protect civilians in line with human rights and international humanitarian law — including the parties’ own commitments in the Jeddah Declaration.

    The parties to the conflict bear the primary responsibility to ensure the protection of civilians and come to the negotiation table.

    I am horrified by the Rapid Support Forces’ continued attacks against civilians in El Fasher and surrounding areas, which include displacement sites where famine conditions have been confirmed.

    And I am also horrified by reports of attacks against civilians perpetrated by forces affiliated with the Sudanese Armed Forces in Khartoum, and by continuing mass civilian casualties due to apparently indiscriminate airstrikes in populated areas.

    The perpetrators of serious violations of international humanitarian law must be held accountable.

    And domestic and international human rights monitoring and investigation mechanisms must have space for documenting what is happening on the ground.

    Civil society and journalists must be able to do their jobs safely, without fear of persecution and attacks.

    The direct or indirect flow of weapons and ammunitions into Sudan, which continue to fuel this conflict, must cease immediately.

    Diverse Sudanese voices, human rights organizations and others have called for stepped up measures — including some form of impartial force — to protect civilians.

    These calls are a reflection of the gravity and urgency of the situation facing civilians in the country.

    At present, the conditions do not exist for the successful deployment of a United Nations force to protect civilians in Sudan.

    The Secretariat stands ready to engage with the Council and others on the range of operational modalities that can meaningfully contribute to the reduction in violence and the protection of civilians.

    This may require new approaches that are adapted to the challenging circumstances of the conflict.

    Troisièmement, l’aide humanitaire doit pouvoir être acheminée.

    Malgré les difficultés persistantes en matière d’accès et de financement, l’ONU et ses partenaires ont apporté une aide humanitaire à près de 12 millions de personnes entre janvier et septembre de cette année.

    Cela va de l’eau potable, des systèmes d’assainissement et des abris, aux soins de santé et à l’éducation, en passant par la nutrition d’urgence. 

    Mais c’est loin d’être suffisant.

    Une grande partie des personnes assistées n’ont pu recevoir de l’aide qu’une seule fois.

    Plusieurs régions où les besoins sont les plus urgents restent totalement inaccessibles.
    Il est impératif de garantir un accès humanitaire rapide, sûr et sans entrave par toutes les voies nécessaires – au-delà des frontières et à travers les lignes de conflit.

    La réouverture du poste frontière d’Adré représente une étape importante – et ce poste doit rester ouvert.

    J’exhorte les parties à faire en sorte que davantage d’aide vitale puisse être acheminée vers les zones les plus démunies et par les voies les plus efficaces.

    Nous avons besoin que le personnel humanitaire puisse se déplacer dans tout le pays rapidement et en toute sécurité.

    Et nous avons besoin de fonds.

    Notre appel de fonds pour l’aide humanitaire — à hauteur de 2,7 milliards de dollars — n’est financé qu’à 56 pour cent, et le niveau de financement du Plan régional d’intervention en faveur des réfugiés est encore plus insuffisant.

    J’exhorte les donateurs à accroître leurs contributions et assurer un financement souple.

    Dans le même temps, je rends hommage à l’héroïsme des nombreuses initiatives soudanaises visant à fournir une aide vitale et salvatrice sur le terrain.

    Les plus de 700 salles d’intervention d’urgence au Soudan sont un exemple admirable d’action humanitaire de proximité.

    Par leur engagement, ces femmes et ces hommes nous montrent une autre facette du Soudan – le meilleur de l’humanité, dans un pays qui endure aujourd’hui le pire.

    Leur mobilisation devrait être une source d’inspiration pour nous tous.

    Madame la Présidente,

    Comme je l’ai souligné dans le rapport présenté à ce Conseil, il est temps d’agir  d’agir avec détermination en faveur de la paix pour le peuple soudanais.

    Je vous remercie.

    ****
    [all-English]

    Madam President, Excellencies,

    I thank the Council for the opportunity to discuss the utter humanitarian catastrophe engulfing Sudan.

    Eighteen months have passed since brutal fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.

    The suffering is growing by the day, with almost 25 million people now requiring assistance.

    The people of Sudan are living through a nightmare of violence — with thousands of civilians killed, and countless others facing unspeakable atrocities, including widespread rape and sexual assaults.

    In recent days, we have heard shocking reports of mass killings and sexual violence in villages in Aj Jazirah State in the east of the country. 

    They are also enduring a nightmare of hunger — as more than 750,000 people face catastrophic food insecurity and famine conditions take hold in displacement sites in North Darfur, while millions struggle to feed themselves every day.

    They are confronting a nightmare of disease — with cholera, malaria, dengue fever, measles and rubella spreading fast.

    A nightmare of collapsed infrastructure — with vital health systems, transportation networks, water and sanitation systems, supply routes and agricultural production grinding to a halt.

    A nightmare of displacement — the largest displacement crisis in the world, with more than 11 million people fleeing since April last year, including nearly 3 million who have crossed into neighbouring countries.
    A nightmare of extreme weather — with nearly 600,000 people affected by heavy rains and floods this summer.

    And Sudan is, once again, rapidly becoming a nightmare of mass ethnic violence, in particular with the dramatic escalation of fighting in El Fasher.  

    Madam President,

    We have consistently appealed to both sides to end the fighting and come to the negotiating table.

    But instead of lowering tensions, they are escalating military action.

    Meanwhile, outside powers are fuelling the fire.

    We face the serious possibility of the conflict igniting regional instability from the Sahel to the Horn of Africa to the Red Sea.  

    Resolution 2736 adopted earlier this year sent a strong signal.

    But we need action on the ground.

    The resolution requested me to make recommendations to protect civilians in Sudan, which I submitted to this Council last week.

    Allow me to outline three key priorities. 

    First — both sides must immediately agree to a cessation of hostilities.

    Such an agreement should be translated into local ceasefires and humanitarian pauses — creating new avenues of dialogue, and laying the ground for a comprehensive ceasefire.

    At the same time, diplomatic efforts must be intensified to finally bring an end to the conflict — including support to implement the commitments in the Jeddah Declaration.

    My Personal Envoy, Ramtane Lamamra, is working around the clock with that objective.

    He convened the parties in Geneva to enhance humanitarian access and strengthen the protection of civilians in Sudan.

    And he supported the coordination of mediation initiatives, in collaboration with regional partners — in particular, the African Union’s High-Level Panel.  

    I urge this Council to continue supporting his efforts, and encourage effective engagement with regional partners like the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the League of Arab States, and other key ones. 

    And I salute the efforts of the African Union and IGAD towards an inclusive Sudanese political dialogue, which would provide an important platform for civilians — including women — to speak out about the importance of ending the war and lend their voices towards a peaceful and democratic future.

    Which brings me to my second point — civilians must be protected.

    We need this Council’s support to help protect civilians in line with human rights and international humanitarian law — including the parties’ own commitments in the Jeddah Declaration.

    The parties to the conflict bear the primary responsibility to ensure the protection of civilians and come to the negotiation table.

    I am horrified by the Rapid Support Forces’ continued attacks against civilians in El Fasher and surrounding areas, which include displacement sites where famine conditions have been confirmed.

    And I am also horrified by reports of attacks against civilians perpetrated by forces affiliated with the Sudanese Armed Forces in Khartoum, and by continuing mass civilian casualties due to apparently indiscriminate airstrikes in populated areas.

    The perpetrators of serious violations of international humanitarian law must be held accountable.

    And domestic and international human rights monitoring and investigation mechanisms must have space for documenting what is happening on the ground.

    Civil society and journalists must be able to do their jobs safely, without fear of persecution and attacks.

    The direct or indirect flow of weapons and ammunitions into Sudan, which continue to fuel this conflict, must cease immediately.

    Diverse Sudanese voices, human rights organizations and others have called for stepped up measures — including some form of impartial force — to protect civilians.

    These calls are a reflection of the gravity and urgency of the situation facing civilians in the country.

    At present, the conditions do not exist for the successful deployment of a United Nations force to protect civilians in Sudan.

    The Secretariat stands ready to engage with the Council and others on the range of operational modalities that can meaningfully contribute to the reduction in violence and the protection of civilians.

    This may require new approaches that are adapted to the challenging circumstances of the conflict.

    Third — humanitarian aid must flow.

    Despite continued access and funding challenges, the United Nations and our partners reached about 12 million people with humanitarian assistance between January and September of this year.

    From water, sanitation and shelter — to health care, education and emergency nutrition.

    But huge gaps remain.

    Many of those reached have been assisted just once.

    Some of the areas of most severe needs remain cut off entirely.

    Rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access must be ensured through all necessary cross-border and cross line routes.

    The re-opening of the border crossing at Adre was an important step — and it must remain open.

    I urge the parties to allow more life-saving aid to flow into areas of greatest need through the most efficient routes. 

    We need humanitarian workers moving around the country rapidly and safely.

    And we need funding.

    Our humanitarian funding appeal of $2.7 billion is only about 56 per cent funded, and coverage of the Regional Refugee Response Plan is even lower.

    I urge donors to step up with additional flexible funding.

    At the same time, I pay tribute to the heroism of the leaders of the many Sudanese-led initiatives providing vital and lifesaving assistance on the ground.

    Sudan’s over 700 Emergency Response Rooms are an inspiring example of grassroots humanitarian action.

    Through their work, they are showing us another side of Sudan — the best of humanity in a country enduring the worst of it.

    We can all draw inspiration from their example.

    Madam President,

    As outlined in my report to this Council, it is time for action — decisive action — for peace for the people of Sudan.

    Thank you.

    *****
    [all-French]

    Madame la Présidente, Excellences,

    Je remercie le Conseil de me donner l’occasion d’évoquer ici la catastrophe humanitaire majeure qui frappe le Soudan.

    Dix-huit mois se sont écoulés depuis que de violents affrontements ont éclaté entre les Forces armées soudanaises et les Forces d’appui rapide.

    Les souffrances s’aggravent de jour en jour, et près de 25 millions de personnes ont aujourd’hui besoin d’aide.

    La population du Soudan est plongée dans le cauchemar de la violence : des milliers de civils ont été tués, et un nombre incalculable d’autres personnes sont victimes d’atrocités sans nom, notamment de viols et d’agressions sexuelles à grande échelle.

    Ces derniers jours, nous avons entendu des informations choquantes faisant état de massacres et de violences sexuelles dans des villages de l’État d’Aj Jazirah, dans l’est du pays. 

    Elle est aussi plongée dans le cauchemar de la faim : plus de 750 000 personnes sont en proie à une insécurité alimentaire catastrophique, et la famine s’installe dans les sites de déplacés du Darfour septentrional, tandis que des millions de personnes luttent chaque jour pour trouver de quoi s’alimenter.

    Elle est plongée dans le cauchemar de la maladie : choléra, paludisme, dengue, rougeole et rubéole se propagent rapidement.

    Elle est plongée dans le cauchemar de l’effondrement des infrastructures : les systèmes de santé essentiels, les réseaux de transport, les systèmes d’assainissement et d’approvisionnement en eau, les filières de ravitaillement et la production agricole sont à l’arrêt.

    Elle est plongée dans le cauchemar des déplacements : nous assistons aujourd’hui à la plus grande crise de déplacement de population au monde, puisque plus de 11 millions de personnes ont fui depuis avril de l’année dernière, dont près de 3 millions ont gagné les pays voisins.

    Elle est plongée dans le cauchemar des conditions météorologiques extrêmes : cet été, près de 600 000 personnes ont été touchées par des pluies torrentielles et des inondations.
    Et une fois encore, le Soudan est en passe de sombrer dans le cauchemar des violences ethniques de masse, notamment dans le contexte de l’escalade tragique des combats à El-Fasher. 

    Madame la Présidente,

    Nous avons appelé maintes fois les deux parties à mettre fin aux hostilités et à s’asseoir à la table des négociations en vue d’apaiser les tensions.

    À l’heure où nous parlons, nous assistons au contraire à une escalade de l’action militaire.

    Dans le même temps, des puissances extérieures jettent de l’huile sur le feu.

    Ce conflit risque fortement de déstabiliser l’ensemble de la région, du Sahel à la mer Rouge en passant par la Corne de l’Afrique. 

    La résolution 2736, adoptée en début d’année, a envoyé un signal fort.

    Il est toutefois nécessaire d’agir sur le terrain.

    Dans cette résolution, le Conseil m’a demandé de formuler des recommandations en faveur de la protection des civils au Soudan, recommandations que je lui ai présentées la semaine dernière.

    Permettez-moi de souligner trois priorités essentielles. 

    Premièrement, les deux parties doivent immédiatement s’entendre sur une cessation des hostilités.

    L’accord qui en résulterait devrait se traduire par des cessez-le-feu locaux et des pauses humanitaires, qui permettraient d’ouvrir de nouvelles pistes de dialogue et de jeter les bases d’un cessez-le-feu global.

    Dans le même temps, les efforts diplomatiques doivent être intensifiés pour, enfin, mettre un terme au conflit – notamment en soutenant la mise en œuvre des engagements pris dans la déclaration de Djeddah.

    Mon Envoyé personnel, Ramtane Lamamra, travaille sans relâche à cette fin.

    Il a réuni les parties à Genève en vue de trouver des moyens d’améliorer l’accès humanitaire et de renforcer la protection des civils au Soudan.

    Il a également participé à la coordination des initiatives de médiation, en collaboration avec les partenaires régionaux, en particulier le Groupe de haut niveau de l’Union africaine. 

    Je demande instamment au Conseil de continuer d’appuyer les travaux de mon Envoyé spécial et d’encourager l’établissement d’un dialogue efficace avec des partenaires régionaux tels que l’Union africaine, l’Autorité intergouvernementale pour le développement, la Ligue des États arabes et d’autres acteurs clés. 

    Je salue l’action menée par l’Union africaine et l’IGAD en vue d’instaurer un dialogue politique ouvert à toutes les parties au Soudan, qui offrirait aux populations civiles – y compris aux femmes – une tribune importante pour plaider en faveur de la fin de la guerre et faire entendre leur voix pour un avenir pacifique et démocratique.

    Ce qui m’amène à mon deuxième point : les civils doivent être protégés.

    Nous avons besoin du soutien de ce Conseil pour protéger les civils, dans le respect des droits humains et du droit international humanitaire et conformément aux engagements que les parties elles-mêmes ont pris dans la Déclaration de Djedda.

    Il incombe au premier chef aux parties au conflit de garantir la protection des civils et de s’asseoir à la table des négociations.

    Je suis horrifié par la poursuite des attaques perpétrées par les Forces d’appui rapide contre des civils à El-Fasher et dans les zones environnantes, où se trouvent des sites de déplacés qui connaissent aujourd’hui une situation de famine.

    Je suis également horrifié par les informations faisant état d’attaques contre les populations civiles commises par des forces affiliées aux Forces armées soudanaises à Khartoum et par les pertes civiles considérables que des frappes aériennes menées semble-t-il sans discrimination continuent de provoquer dans des zones peuplées.

    Les auteurs de violations graves du droit international humanitaire doivent être amenés à répondre de leurs actes.

    Les mécanismes nationaux et internationaux de surveillance et d’enquête en matière de droits humains doivent disposer de l’espace nécessaire pour documenter ce qui se passe sur le terrain.

    La société civile et les journalistes doivent pouvoir faire leur travail en toute sécurité, sans craindre de subir des persécutions ou d’être la cible d’attaques.

    Le flux direct ou indirect d’armes et de munitions vers le Soudan, qui continue d’alimenter ce conflit, doit cesser immédiatement.

    Diverses voix soudanaises, des organisations de défense des droits humains et d’autres acteurs ont appelé à un renforcement des mesures — y compris sous une certaine forme de force impartiale — pour protéger les civils.

    Ces appels reflètent la gravité et l’urgence de la situation à laquelle sont confrontés les civils dans le pays.

    À l’heure actuelle, les conditions ne sont pas réunies pour permettre le déploiement d’une force des Nations unies chargée de protéger les civils au Soudan.

    Le Secrétariat est prêt à engager le dialogue avec le Conseil et d’autres parties sur l’ensemble des modalités opérationnelles qui peuvent contribuer de manière significative à la réduction de la violence et à la protection des civils.

    Cela pourrait nécessiter de nouvelles approches adaptées aux circonstances difficiles du conflit.

    Troisièmement, l’aide humanitaire doit pouvoir être acheminée.

    Malgré les difficultés persistantes en matière d’accès et de financement, l’ONU et ses partenaires ont apporté une aide humanitaire à près de 12 millions de personnes entre janvier et septembre de cette année.

    Cela va de l’eau potable, des systèmes d’assainissement et des abris, aux soins de santé et à l’éducation, en passant par la nutrition d’urgence. 

    Mais c’est loin d’être suffisant.

    Une grande partie des personnes assistées n’ont pu recevoir de l’aide qu’une seule fois.

    Plusieurs régions où les besoins sont les plus urgents restent totalement inaccessibles.

    Il est impératif de garantir un accès humanitaire rapide, sûr et sans entrave par toutes les voies nécessaires – au-delà des frontières et à travers les lignes de conflit.

    La réouverture du poste frontière d’Adré représente une étape importante – et ce poste doit rester ouvert.

    J’exhorte les parties à faire en sorte que davantage d’aide vitale puisse être acheminée vers les zones les plus démunies et par les voies les plus efficaces.

    Nous avons besoin que le personnel humanitaire puisse se déplacer dans tout le pays rapidement et en toute sécurité.

    Et nous avons besoin de fonds.

    Notre appel de fonds pour l’aide humanitaire — à hauteur de 2,7 milliards de dollars — n’est financé qu’à 56 pour cent, et le niveau de financement du Plan régional d’intervention en faveur des réfugiés est encore plus insuffisant.

    J’exhorte les donateurs à accroître leurs contributions et assurer un financement souple.

    Dans le même temps, je rends hommage à l’héroïsme des nombreuses initiatives soudanaises visant à fournir une aide vitale et salvatrice sur le terrain.
    Les plus de 700 salles d’intervention d’urgence au Soudan sont un exemple admirable d’action humanitaire de proximité.

    Par leur engagement, ces femmes et ces hommes nous montrent une autre facette du Soudan – le meilleur de l’humanité, dans un pays qui endure aujourd’hui le pire.

    Leur mobilisation devrait être une source d’inspiration pour nous tous.

    Madame la Présidente,

    Comme je l’ai souligné dans le rapport présenté à ce Conseil, il est temps d’agir – d’agir avec détermination – en faveur de la paix pour le peuple soudanais.

    Je vous remercie.

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI Security: Stratford — PEI RCMP charge Vernon Bridge man with attempted murder of seniors, assault and uttering threats

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    October 28, 2024, Stratford, PE – PEI RCMP have charged a 60-year-old Vernon Bridge man in connection with four separate incidents including two serious assaults on seniors.

    RCMP began their investigation on Thursday, October 24, 2024, when they responded to a serious assault of a senior man at his residence in Stratford. On Friday, October 25, 2024 PEI RCMP responded to another serious assault and robbery with a weapon on a Stratford senior woman at her home. Island EMS attended in both cases and transported the victims to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

    On October 24, 2024 RCMP also responded to an incident at a business in Mount Albion where an unprovoked man attempted to engage in a fist fight with an employee who was unknown to him. Police attended but the man was gone on arrival.

    RCMP identified a suspect and on October 26, 2024 RCMP made an arrest of 60-year-old Alan Wood. Wood was held at a provincial correctional center over the weekend and while in custody Wood uttered threats to a corrections officer. Wood remains in custody and will appear in court today at 3:00 p.m. in Charlottetown Provincial Court to answer to charges of:

    1. Attempted murder in connection with the Stratford man
    2. Attempted murder in connection with the Stratford woman.
    3. Robbery with a weapon on the Stratford woman
    4. Assault on the employee of the Mount Albion business
    5. Uttering threats on a correction officer.

    Both seniors in this case were known to the accused.

    This investigation is being led by the RCMP Major Crime Unit with the assistance of:

    • RCMP Forensic Identification Services
    • RCMP Digital Forensic Services
    • RCMP Police Dog Services
    • RCMP Provincial General Investigations Section

    “PEI RCMP recognize that events like this can be disturbing to us all. In this case, a suspect was identified quickly preventing further risk to the public,” said Cpl Gavin Moore, Media Relations Officer for the Prince Edward Island RCMP.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Becca Balint and Rep. Mark Pocan Introduce Intersex Awareness Day Resolution

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Becca Balint (VT-AL)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Equality Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL)  and Equality Caucus Chair Mark Pocan (WI-02) introduced the Intersex Awareness Day Resolution. The resolution recognizes October 26 as Intersex Awareness Day and affirms the dignity, and the universal human right to bodily autonomy of intersex people. Intersex Awareness Day is recognized on October 26 and marks the first public demonstration by intersex people in the United States at the annual conference of the American Academy of Pediatrics in 1996. 

    “This is about basic human dignity. There are 5.6 million intersex Americans who are no less worthy of respect and dignity than anyone else,” said Rep. Balint (VT-AL). “Every kid born with intersex traits deserves to live free of discrimination and exclusion. And it’s critical the LGBTQI+ community work to raise awareness of the stories and needs of intersex people. I’m proud to introduce this resolution with Chair Pocan to stand up for intersex Americans and affirm the universal right to bodily autonomy.”

    “As we celebrate Intersex Awareness Week, the full force of the Equality Caucus stands with the intersex community, not just today, but every day,” said Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02), Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus. “Intersex people are valid and valued members of the LGBTQI+ community, and it is on all of us to ensure the government is addressing the needs of intersex people. I’m honored to be leading the charge to protect intersex peoples’ rights in Congress and to join Co-Chair Becca Balint in introducing a resolution recognizing Intersex Awareness Day.”

    “Intersex people have been fighting for the fundamental human right to bodily integrity for decades. Today’s resolution honors that history, and it stands as a powerful call for a future in which children with intersex traits can grow up free from unnecessary and unwanted medical interventions,” said Erika Lorshbough, Executive Director of interACT. “We are grateful to the sponsors for taking action to raise awareness and help make that future a reality.”

    The Intersex Awareness Day Resolution: 

    • Supports the goals and ideals of Intersex Awareness Day;
    • Encourages the Federal Government, States, localities, nonprofit organizations, schools, and community organizations to observe the day with appropriate programs and activities, with the goal of increasing public knowledge of the intersex community and empowering individuals to celebrate and respect their diversity;
    • Encourages health care providers to offer culturally and clinically competent care to the intersex community, and schools to support education regarding the intersex community, and connect individuals to resources for young people with intersex variations and their families; and
    • Encourages the Federal Government, States, international funding organizations, and United States bilateral and multilateral aid efforts to prioritize the health and human rights of intersex people.            

    Intersex refers to having innate variations in physical traits that differ from typical expectations for male or female bodies regarding the development, appearance, or function of sex-related characteristics. This includes variations in one or more traits such as genitals, gonads and other reproductive organs, hormone production or response, or chromosome patterns, which may present at birth or may occur naturally at a later time.

    The resolution is endorsed by InterACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth and the Congressional Equality Caucus. The resolution is cosponsored by Pocan, Bonamici, Crockett, Davids, Evans, Foushee, Frost, Sylvia Garcia, Grijalva, Jacobs, Barbara Lee, Mullin, Norton, Peters, Ramirez, Sánchez, Ritchie Torres, Takano, Tlaib, and Watson Coleman. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Lord Banner KC review proposes roadmap to speed up delivery of national infrastructure

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    New roads, railway lines and offshore windfarms could be delivered more quickly and easily, powering economic growth, according to a new independent report.

    New roads, railway lines and offshore windfarms could be delivered more quickly and easily, powering economic growth, according to a new independent report published today (Monday, 28 October).  

    The Review of Legal Challenges to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, by leading planning barrister Lord Charles Banner KC, aims to reduce delays to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects and get Britain building, with ten recommendations set out for government on how to reduce barriers to development and resolve challenges more effectively.

    These include options to streamline the judicial review process, reduce the amount of time it takes for legal challenges against these projects to move through the courts, and improve the way data on case progress is published.

    These major projects, which can include harbours, power stations and waste water management facilities, are often held up by judicial review challenges, sometimes setting them back years in delays, increasing the costs significantly.

    The Government will carefully review recommendations and the responses received in the call for evidence before publishing a response with a focus on ensuring there is a balance between the critical need for projects and maintaining the public’s right to challenge government decisions. 

    Alongside the publication of the review, the Ministry of Justice, has published a call for evidence seeking views on Lord Banner’s recommendations.

    Housing and Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook said:    

    Building new and improved national infrastructure is essential to delivering the government’s economic growth and clean power missions and we must have planning system fit to deliver it.

    With demands on the consenting process having changed considerably over recent years, I’m grateful to Lord Banner for reviewing how we might speed up the delivery of major infrastructure projects.

    The government will carefully review his recommendations and consider further proposals before determining how we will further improve the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime.

    Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects are major infrastructure projects within the categories of energy, transport, water, wastewater, and waste.  

    The publication of this review comes as the government continues to focus on its commitment to break down barriers to building and deliver the investment, growth and 1.5 million homes that the country needs. This includes a consultation on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework to fix the foundations of the housing and planning system, new mandatory housing targets for councils to ensure homes are built where they are most needed and the forthcoming Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which will turbocharge housebuilding and accelerate the delivery of major infrastructure projects.

    ENDS 

    Notes to editors:

    A summary of the ten recommendations in the report include:

    • The cost caps, which limit the legal costs the losing party must pay the winning party in certain judicial review claims, should not be amended.
    • The current rules on ‘standing’ – i.e. who may bring a judicial review – should not be amended. 
    • There should be fewer ‘bites of the cherry’ for claimants seeking permission to bring a judicial review.  
    • The option of raising the permission threshold for a judicial review of a Development Consent Order (DCO) decision requires further consideration. 
    • The option of introducing an NSIP ticket, authorising a small pool of judges to hear DCO judicial reviews, requires further consideration. 
    • DCO Judicial Reviews should be designated as significant planning court claims, which would ensure these cases are dealt with promptly by the Planning Court, in line with target timescales set out in Civil Procedure Rules
    • Case management conferences should be introduced for DCO judicial reviews, requiring parties to come together at an early stage to consider how best to approach these claims.  
    • Target timescales should be introduced for DCO judicial reviews in the Court of Appeal.  
    • Target timescales should be introduced for DCO judicial reviews in the Supreme Court. 
    • The Planning Court and the Court of Appeal should regularly publish data on key performance indicators such as the average length of time taken for DCO judicial reviews to progress through the courts. 

    • The call for evidence will run for nine weeks and can be accessed here.
    • Lord Banner is a leading expert in planning and environmental regulation and was appointed by the previous government to conduct an independent review into the legal challenges causing delays to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom