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  • MIL-OSI Global: Forest fires are shifting north and intensifying – here’s what that means for the planet

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Matthew William Jones, NERC Independent Research Fellow in Climate Science, University of East Anglia

    Fires have long been a natural part of forest ecosystems, but something is changing. Our new study shows that forest fires have become more widespread and severe amid global heating, particularly in the high northern latitudes such as Canada and Siberia where fires are most sensitive to hotter, drier conditions.

    The implications of this are alarming, not just for the ecosystems affected or the cities engulfed by smoke downwind, but for the planet’s ability to store carbon and regulate the climate. The trend we discovered contrasts with declining fire extent in savannah grasslands, which may reflect the expansion of farming and changing rainfall patterns.

    We established the leading causes of forest fires in different parts of the world using an AI algorithm. It grouped forest regions into distinct zones with similar fire patterns and underlying causes, uncovering the worrying extent to which climate change is fuelling the expansion of forest fires in Earth’s high northern latitudes.

    More fires in ‘extratropical’ forests

    Since 2001, emissions from fires in forests outside of the tropics, like parts of the boreal forest in the far north of North America and Eurasia, have nearly tripled. This rise is largely the result of hotter, drier weather occurring more frequently, combined with forests growing more efficiently in places where the cold once stunted their growth.

    Climate change is creating ideal conditions for larger, more intense fires, which accelerate climate change in turn by releasing more carbon to the atmosphere. In fact, we found that global carbon emissions from forest fires have increased by 60% over the past two decades. The largest contributions come from fires in Siberia and western North America.

    A conifer forest in north-western Canada after the 2023 fire season in which more than 6,000 fires burned through 15 million hectares.
    Stefan Doerr

    This trend shifts the focus of forest fire emissions from tropical forests, where fires set to make room for farmland have long contributed carbon to the atmosphere. Conservation policies have reduced deforestation rates since the early 2000s in some regions, particularly Amazonia. By contrast, increasing fires in northern forests, such as the taiga – the forest of the cold sub-arctic region – are driven by changing climate conditions and generally started by lightning, which makes them harder to prevent.

    Not only is the area affected by fires expanding but the fires themselves are growing more severe and releasing more carbon, according to our new findings. This corresponds with an earlier study that found fires are doing more damage to ecosystems globally than in the past. Fires are burning through drier and more flammable vegetation as global temperatures rise and droughts become more frequent.

    In northern forests, more severe fires can burn deep into the soil and release carbon that has accumulated over centuries. Forests can remain net carbon emitters for decades after burning and the more severe fires become, the longer it takes forests to rebound and recapture carbon lost during the fire.

    What does this mean for the planet?

    The steep rise in fire emissions from forests outside the tropics is a clear signal that the capacity of Earth’s forest to store carbon is at increasing risk.

    Forests, particularly in northern regions, absorb and store CO₂ from the atmosphere. But as fires expand and become more severe, these vital carbon sinks are weakened. This undermines the global effort to tackle climate change as forests offset emissions from human activities that burn fossil fuels.

    Forest fires, long considered part of the natural carbon cycle, are increasingly driven by human-caused climate change. Yet, international reporting standards don’t differentiate between “natural” levels of forest fire emissions and the higher emissions we’re seeing due to climate change.

    This allows excess fire emissions caused by humans to fall outside the scope of national carbon budgets tracked by organisations like the United Nations. Gaps emerge between the carbon emissions we think we’re managing and the actual amount that’s passing between the land and the atmosphere.

    What drives fires in different regions varies, so addressing this growing threat requires tailored approaches. Outside of the tropics, proactive forest management is essential. Carefully managed fires and thinning out vegetation can mean fires ultimately cause less damage when they do ignite. Monitoring vegetation growth, alongside fire-favourable weather conditions, can help identify and prioritise areas for intervention.

    In tropical forests, reducing ignitions (especially during droughts) and preventing forest fragmentation is key to protecting these ecosystems and their carbon stocks. This may help prevent the more extreme fires that turn tropical forests from carbon sinks into sources.

    Increasing fires are a symptom of climate change

    Limiting the burning of fossil fuels is central to minimising future fire risk. Without drastic cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, more severe and widespread forest fires are likely, with increasing damage to ecosystems, biodiversity and the climate.

    Our study also highlighted the importance of updating international reporting standards on carbon emissions. As forest fires become more closely linked to human-driven climate change, it’s crucial that fire emissions be included in national carbon budgets to provide a more accurate picture of the planet’s carbon fluxes.

    There is also a risk of overestimating how much carbon is stored by reforesting areas, especially outside the tropics. Many carbon offset schemes rely on planting new trees or delaying the harvest of existing ones to absorb CO₂, but if the growing threat of forest fires isn’t properly accounted for, these projects could fail to deliver the carbon savings they promise.

    Forest fires are no longer just a natural occurrence. As they shift north and intensify, these fires are a clear symptom of human-caused climate change.

    It’s essential to recognise the growing role that fires play in the carbon cycle. By doing so, we can better manage fire risks, safeguard forests and ensure a more resilient future for the planet.


    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get our award-winning weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 35,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Matthew William Jones receives funding from the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).

    Stefan H Doerr receives funding from the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the FirEUrisk project funded via the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme under grant agreement no. 101003890.

    Crystal A. Kolden 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. Forest fires are shifting north and intensifying – here’s what that means for the planet – https://theconversation.com/forest-fires-are-shifting-north-and-intensifying-heres-what-that-means-for-the-planet-241337

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Díaz-Balart and Wasserman Schultz in the Miami Herald: Latino-Jewish Communities Working Toward a Better Future

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

    Miami Herald

    Op-ed: Mario Díaz-Balart, Debbie Wasserman Schultz

    October 17, 2024

    Read the full op-ed here:

    As co-chairs of the Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus, we write to highlight the vital role that the Jewish and Latino communities both play in our nation and South Florida, which we have the honor of representing, but also to the American identity as a whole. Within the framework of Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate the close partnership that exists between both of our communities and urge cooperation to address the common challenges that make this partnership so crucial.

    Immigration has played a pivotal role in America’s social fabric. Our families and many of our constituents escaped repressive regimes, whether in Cuba, Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, or Venezuela, to pursue life in a land with freedom and opportunity. Latinos and Jews have contributed greatly to American business, culture, science, sports, public service enhancing every aspect of our diverse society.

    And while we’re proud of the success we’ve achieved as Americans, we haven’t forgotten our roots, including those still struggling for freedom and opportunity. We are proud diaspora communities with strong ties to our ancestral lands. Shared values of family, faith, and respect for human rights have united our communities and animated Jewish and Latino leadership from the civil rights movement to the fight for a fair and lawful immigration system. These close bonds to our nations of origin position our communities to play a crucial role in driving the United States’ pursuit of justice at home and abroad.

    We still have work to do.

    Here in the U.S., we are committed to working to ensure that our communities are safe from anti-Jewish and anti-Latino hate. As members of Congress, we’ve worked on bipartisan legislation to combat such hate, including the Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer NO HATE Act, which became law in 2021. This important legislation provides grants to state and local governments to enforce hate laws, and to keep more accurate records on hate crimes.

    According to surveys, 87% of American Jews have observed increased antisemitism in the U.S. since the Oct. 7 attacks. Both antisemitic and anti-Latino/Hispanic hate crimes reached record highs in 2023. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) 2023 Hate Crimes Statistics Report found that hate crimes against Jews increased a staggering 63% year over year, while those targeting Latinos surged by 10.7% last year as well. We’ve seen the horrific damage that can be inflicted by individuals radicalized by hateful conspiracy theories, from the murderous rampage that killed eleven Jews at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh to the vicious attack against Latinos at an El Paso Walmart that killed 23 people.

    Additionally, we must work together to bring home the hostages held by the foreign terrorist organization Hamas, a proxy of the terrorist state of Iran. It is unconscionable that a year later, nearly 100 hostages remain in brutal Hamas captivity. Some of these hostages are both Israeli and Latino— holding dual citizenship from countries like Argentina and Colombia. We call on Hamas to release them now.

    In Latin America, the democratic opposition movements in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua continue to be persecuted by brutal, authoritarian regimes.

    In Cuba, courageous activists demand human rights and democratic change, but many of the July 11, 2021 protesters remain imprisoned.

    In Venezuela, despite all available evidence pointing to the election victory by the opposition, Maduro refuses to face the truth. We strongly condemn the Maduro regime’s actions to subvert Venezuela’s once-democratic institutions, which has resulted in nearly eight million Venezuelans being forced into exile—many of whom have resettled in our communities.

    In Nicaragua, religious freedom has been quashed, with clergy forced into exile in unprecedented numbers, including the forced exit of the entirety of Mother Theresa’s order in Nicaragua.

    We also roundly denounce these regimes’ shameful persecution, antisemitism, and delegitimization of their small Jewish communities, sentiments that are unfortunately reflected by other leftist governments in the region like Colombia.

    Additionally, Russia and Iran, which support transnational repression and amplify racist and antisemitic extremism to sew divisions, have made our world a more dangerous place.

    That’s why our communities must continue working in partnership and solidarity to combat hate, promote freedom and oppose dictators and violent organizations that defy our values. We’ll keep building bridges between Jewish and Latino Americans because we believe they can help guide our nation toward a just future.

    Within the framework of Hispanic Heritage Month, let’s celebrate our common bonds while continuing to look out for one another.

    Mario Díaz-Balart is a U.S. representative for Florida’s 26th Congressional District, a senior member of the House Committee on Appropriations and chairman of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee. Debbie Wasserman Schultz represents Florida’s 25th Congressional District and is ranking member on the House Appropriations Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: World Update: how the Middle East conflict could escalate

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jonathan Este, Senior International Affairs Editor, Associate Editor

    Hamara/Shutterstock

    This article was first published in our World Update newsletter. To receive a weekly briefing on global affairs and international relations direct to your inbox, please subscribe to the newsletter.

    Vladimir Putin’s regular threats about his nuclear arsenal have focused minds on the existential threat his nuclear weapons still represent. But it’s the volatility of the situation in the Middle East that has added a worrying degree of uncertainty to the international situation.

    A year after the brutal Hamas attack on Israel – and after months of tit-for-tat missile attacks between Israel and Iran – Israel has commenced a ground invasion of Lebanon which pits the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) directly against Iranian proxy Hezbollah.

    At the same time, the government of Benjamin Netanyahu is pursuing an ever more drastic campaign against Hamas in Gaza. It is now reportedly planning to expel all residents from the north of the enclave in order to establish a military zone there. Meanwhile it has ramped up its attacks on the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen and against Iranian proxies in Syria.

    All-out war between Israel and Iran remains unthinkable, even as questions are raised about Iran’s nuclear ambitions. And yet, as any historian will tell you, the wrong combination of miscalculation, errors of strategic judgement and failures of diplomacy to cause things to escalate with alarming rapidity.

    In 1997, Austrian economist Friedrich Glasl published a model of conflict escalation which is generally accepted as the best study of how disagreements can develop into disastrous warfare. It maps, in nine stages, how a conflict can develop from tension between antagonists to a situation into which the warring parties plunge “together into the abyss”.

    Nine stages of confict escalation.
    Graphic by Swinnall, original from Sampi. Derived from: Konflikteskalation nach Glasl.svg, CC BY-NC-SA

    Matthew Powell, a historian of warfare, compares Glasl’s model to the situation between Israel and Iran. He assesses the two antagonists have have reached stage seven, “where they are launching limited blows against each other while avoiding direct confrontation. Both want to make their adversary consider whether the cost of continuing is worth the potential rewards that can be gained”.

    Powell believes that both sides presently seem keen to remain at arms length for fear that a direct conflict could plunge them – and their allies – into the aforementioned abyss.



    Read more:
    Israel-Iran and the nine stages of how conflicts can escalate and get out of control

    Now, more than ever, it’s vital to be informed about the important issues affecting global stability. Sign up to receive our weekly World Update newsletter. Every Thursday we’ll you expert analysis of the big stories making international headlines.

    For longtime Middle East analyst Paul Rogers, one of the key issues governing the likely future of the conflict is likely to be the domestic politics of Israel. He has watched the country move steadily to the right over more than 50 years, to the extent that the Netanyahu government is now heavily influenced by religious nationalists. Netanyahu has depended for two years on the support of some of the more extreme elements on Israel’s political fringe in order to stay in power.

    These hardliners, Rogers writes, are willing to subvert Israeli democracy itself in order to realise their dream of “Messianic Judaism”. A byproduct of this dream would be to push the Palestinian population out of Gaza, which would be a disaster for regional stability. The irony is that by making war on Lebanon, Netanyahu has managed to improve his standing with the Israeli people and is no longer as dependent on political hawks.



    Read more:
    Israel: what hardliners in Netanyahu’s government want from the war

    Campaign in Lebanon

    Of course, what may be good for Netanyahu is a disaster for Lebanon, where the death toll is rising daily and more than one-quarter of the population has been displaced.

    While Israel’s air force has launched 140 airstrikes across the country, most of the activity has focused on the border areas in the south of the country, where the IDF is reported to be clearing villages, perhaps in anticipation for setting up a buffer zone there.

    Israeli ground operation in southern Lebanon as at October 16 2024.
    Institute for the Study of War

    Over the past fortnight there have been repeated incidents where the IDF have – apparently deliberately – targeted units of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil). This peacekeeping force was set up in 1978 and has the mandate to enforce the UN’s resolution to prevent clashes between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Netanyahu has demanded that Unifil move its peacekeepers out of the conflict zone, but so far the UN troops, led by France and Spain, have refused to leave their posts.

    Vanessa Newby and Chiara Ruffa, with input and advice from former senior Unifil political and civil affairs officer John Molloy, (formerly of the Irish Defence Forces) have been tracking the incidents. Most recently they involved an IDF tank firing on a Unifil watchtower and has resulted in a growing number of casualties among the peacekeepers.

    Newby and Ruffa believe that Israel wants to remove Unifil from southern Lebanon because it wants to carry out its operations without the scrutiny of an international observer. They also speculate that the sheer number of forces being moved by the IDF into south Lebanon indicates that Israel may be planning to occupy a swath of territory beyond what its military has described as a “limited, localised, and targeted” operation.



    Read more:
    IDF actions against UN peacekeepers suggest Israel may be considering occupying part of southern Lebanon

    Meanwhile tensions are rising between Hezbollah and other sections of Lebanese society. We’ve seen this before, and it has never gone well, writes Mohamad El Kari, who has witnessed the challenges to security in Lebanon firsthand as a translator.

    He fears that Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah will kick off a bout of factional infighting that could seriously destabilise a country that is already showing signs of serious social and political instability. In some areas, Kari writes, people were dancing in the streets at the news of Nasrallah’s death. Not a good sign for Lebanon’s fragile stability.



    Read more:
    Lebanon: assassinating sectarian leaders has always led to instability – this time will be no different

    90 seconds to midnight

    All this talk of escalation had me reflecting on history. I grew up during the cold war under the shadow of the nuclear threat. As a schoolboy in the 1970s, I was taken to a nuclear bunker where, in the event of a nuclear attack on the UK, key personnel would have sheltered as they ran secure communications.

    As a student in the 1980s, I shared a house with several women who would spend weekends at Greenham Common airbase where they protested against the presence of nuclear weapons there. I remember the gallows humour with which we greeted the government’s Protect and Survive campaign, which encouraged building makeshift nuclear shelters under the stairs.

    The peace movement of the day adapted the campaign into the slogan “protest and survive” and the Raymond Briggs graphic novel When the Wind Blows darkly lampooned the government’s advice with its portrayal of an elderly couple following the government’s instructions with predictably tragic results.

    In 1984, Britain was horrified by the BBC film, Threads, a docudrama based on the idea of a nuclear attack on Sheffield. The premise called for a confrontation between Nato and the Warsaw Pact after a US-sponsored coup in Iran. It showed how quickly an international crisis could degenerate into global nuclear conflict and, in turn, how quickly societal collapse was likely to follow.

    Then in the 1990s the nuclear threat seemed to diminish. The collapse of the Soviet Union and treaties to limit the spread of nuclear weapons and decommission existing stockpiles meant that, for most of us anyway, the idea of a nuclear holocaust receded to almost nothing.

    The BBC recently screened the film again, to mark its 40th anniversary, and has made it available for streaming on iPlayer. The Independent’s preview of the screening noted that the Doomsday Clock, which atomic scientists use to indicate how close the world is to nuclear disaster, is set at 90 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been. The scientists said that conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, with the prospect the latter might spread across the Middle East had made the world a much more dangerous place in 2024. And so it has come to pass.

    Philosopher Mark Lacy was shown the film as a schoolboy and doesn’t intend to watch it again. But he’s an expert in the changing nature of warfare and he has seen how conflicts can explode out of “accidents, miscalculations and errors of strategic judgement”.

    He is concerned that, unlike in the cold war where events were largely controlled by “rational actors” who were all too aware of the potential for “mutually assured destruction” and made their calculations accordingly, today’s leaders may not act with the same circumspection. And this is what makes the world a much more dangerous place.



    Read more:
    Threads: the harrowing 1984 BBC docudrama is back on our screens – scary but appropriate viewing for our uncertain times

    The latest edition of our podcast, The Conversation Weekly, focuses on the the Middle East question. Podcast host Gemma Ware speaks with two academic experts in Middle East politics, Amnon Aran and Mireille Rebeiz, to get a sense of what’s at stake for the region.



    Read more:
    What Israel and its neighbours want now as all-out war looms in the Middle East – podcast

    World Update is available as a weekly email newsletter. Click here to get our updates directly in your inbox.

    – ref. World Update: how the Middle East conflict could escalate – https://theconversation.com/world-update-how-the-middle-east-conflict-could-escalate-241603

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Trading Standards warning about UK Government Living Allowance scam text

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Highland Council Trading Standards are warning residents to be on their guard following reports of an unsolicited text message claiming to be from the UK Government Living Allowance Office.

    The text reads:

    “UK Government Living Allowance Office Last Time Reminder: Due to the reduction of winter heating subsidy, you can no longer receive it, and the uk government has decided to advance the living subsidy to allow you to survive the winter.

    We will reopen applications. Please apply for your living subsidy in the link as soon as possible after receiving the information. If you do not submit an application before 2024/10/15, we will cancel your qualification and reallocate the funds.”

    Mark McGinty Trading Standards Team Leader states: “Please be careful when you receive a text message from a Government Body, it’s not usually something that Government Bodies do, and if you think the text means something to you please go to your original source and check things out that way”
    He also offered this advice to anyone receiving such a text message:

    • Never click on any links in the text
    • Be suspicious
    • Beware of pressure selling tactics. These can include being told time is of the essence
    • Always check with the Government Body in another way, the .gov website is a good starting point.
    • Do not rely on a number provided in the text
    • Do not provide any personal information
    • Report the text by using 7726

    Mr McGinty adds, “Scam texts are designed to get your interest and mislead you into thinking you are doing the right thing by responding.  Responding will only give the scammers what they need to exploit you, usually financially, by emptying your bank account.  Please take a minute to think and if in doubt do not engage.”

    If you have a complaint or wish to report a scam text you can contact Trading Standards partner agency Advice Direct Scotland on telephone 0808 164 6000 or at http://www.consumeradvice.scot

    The National Cyber Crime Agency provide further information on scam texts and how you can help protect yourself.  This can be found at https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/phishing-scams/report-scam-text-message

    If you are concerned about your safety or wish to report any suspicious behaviour you can contact Police Scotland on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

    17 Oct 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Frankel Announces Medicare Open Enrollment for 2025

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

    Washington, DC – Earlier this week, Representative Lois Frankel (FL-22) announced the start of Medicare Open Enrollment for 2025. There are currently 67.5 million Medicare enrollees nationwide, including over 350,000 in Palm Beach County. Every year, Medicare enrollees have the opportunity to review their coverage and select a plan that best meets their needs. Recent changes to Medicare could save seniors thousands of dollars.

    “This week we marked the start of an important time of year for the over 350,000 Medicare beneficiaries in Palm Beach County,” said Rep. Frankel. “Medicare plans change every year, so seniors should check all coverage options to select the best plan for them. If you are satisfied with your current plan, no action on your part is needed.”

    Under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, as well as Democrats in Congress, we are lowering health care costs. The price of insulin is now capped at $35 per month, recommended vaccines—including the shingles vaccine—are available at no cost, and starting next year, there will be a $2,000 out-of-pocket cap for prescription drugs.

    Open enrollment runs through December 7, 2024, for coverage beginning January 1, 2025. Enrollees can visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE to compare plans.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: New school funding to provide successful career pathways for Piikani Nation youth

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    News release

    October 17, 2024 – Calgary, Treaty 7 Territory, Alberta – Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)

    Schools are often the cornerstone of First Nations communities, providing students with a safe place to learn and grow and acting as a gathering place for community events and cultural activities. Chief Troy Knowlton, Piikani Nation leadership, along with Indigenous Services Canada Minister, the Honourable Patty Hajdu and the Peigan Board of Education Society announced today the new and enhanced education facilities at Piikani Nation so that youth have the tools they need to learn.

    Minister Hajdu and community leaders announced funding today for the new school to be built in the First Nation. This new school will be a place for 600 students from kindergarten to grade 12 to learn, grow and form connections. 

    The existing school was initially constructed over 60 years ago, and parts of the aging facility are no longer suitable for repair. This project reaffirms the ongoing work of the Government of Canada to support essential infrastructure in Indigenous communities and to ensure that all children on reserve have access to high-quality, culturally appropriate education.

    With an investment from Indigenous Services Canada, the new school will allow students who attend school off reserve to access education that is culturally appropriate, with distinctly Blackfoot programs, and provides spaces that better meet the needs of the community and its youth.

    Quotes

    “This project represents the Piikani Nation’s commitment to their youth and future generations. Investing in education is investing in each child’s potential. I look forward to seeing the completion of the school and the student success to follow.”

    The Honourable Patty Hajdu
    Minister of Indigenous Services

    “Today is a monumental day in the history of our Piikani Nation. The announcement of our new school build is a result of the cumulative efforts by dedicated people who had a dream, and determination to make it a reality. I am honoured to have been able to play a part in this process. This project will stimulate the economy of the Peigan Nation, creating jobs and opportunities for all my peoples. This school will also create great learning opportunities for our students in a modern facility with all the amenities for a bright future ahead.”

    Troy Knowlton
    Chief of Piikani Nation

    “We, the Peigan Board of Education Society Board Trustees (PBOES), are elated for the future generations of Piikani Nation children and all students who attend Piikani Nation Schools on campus. Special acknowledgements to the PBOES technical working group for their hard work in making this dream possible. I also wish to extend the utmost gratitude to the community ff supporting this initiative, as well as past and present Peigan Board of Education Society trustees and Piikani Nation Chief and Council.

    Dr. Beatrice Little Mustache
    Chair, Peigan Board of Education Society (PBOES)

    “Education has always been important to the Piikani way of life, in the past and the present, as well as the future. This new school will provide opportunities to educate our children and our community. It will also provide opportunities for the people we serve, with short-term construction jobs and long-term employment positions in the field of education delivery, for those who wish to seek careers as educators and or support staff.

    “We had a vision that started with a feasibility study being carried out many years ago, knowing our community wished for a new modern school. Through hard work, dedication and perseverance in both our educational and political efforts, this is a dream come true. It is an achievement we can celebrate together.

    “The design and concept of the new school will be the focal point for both education and the community for years to come. It will also serve as a significant role in the foundation of the Piikani Nation. This is a win for the Piikani Nation, but most of all, a win for the children and future generations. We always say: Our children are our future.”

    Wesley Crow Shoe
    Piikani Nation councillor and Peigan Board of Education Society trustee

    Quick facts

    • Piikani Nation is located 60 KM west of the City of Lethbridge and a part of Treaty 7.

    • There are approximately 3,800 registered members with about 60% living on reserve.

    • Planning for the new school began in 2017.

    • Since 2016 and as of June 30, 2024, ISC has invested $2.18 billion of targeted funds to support 320 school-related infrastructure projects. These projects will result in the construction or renovation of 232 schools, benefitting approximately 38,000 students, 150 of which are complete.

    Associated links

    Contacts

    For more information, media may contact:

    Jennifer Kozelj
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Honourable Patty Hajdu
    Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor
    Jennifer.Kozelj@sac-isc.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Indigenous Services Canada
    819-953-1160
    media@sac-isc.gc.ca

    Stay connected 

    Join the conversation about Indigenous Peoples in Canada:

    X: @GCIndigenous
    Facebook: @GCIndigenous
    Instagram: @gcindigenous

    Facebook: @GCIndigenousHealth

    You can subscribe to receive our news releases and speeches via RSS feeds. For more information or to subscribe, visit http://www.isc.gc.ca/RSS.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister Boissonnault hosts Twenty first Century Workforce Summit in Montreal

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    This week, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Randy Boissonnault, convened businesses, non-profits, industry, labour and communities organizations from across the country, to build the 21st century Canadian workforce.

    October 17, 2024              Montréal, Quebec              Employment and Social Development Canada

    Canadian workers are talented, driven and among the most highly educated in the world. As Canada’s economy continues to grow and change, the Government of Canada is focused on creating meaningful and rewarding jobs that provide a good quality of life.

    This week, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Randy Boissonnault, convened businesses, non-profits, industry, labour and communities organizations from across the country, to build the 21st century Canadian workforce.

    Nearly 200 leaders from various sectors of the labour market came together to discuss fresh ideas and innovative approaches to tackle pressing labour market issues and put forward a vision to support the needs of a modern Canadian economy and Canadian workers.   

    At the Summit, Minister Boissonnault delivered a keynote address identifying some of the challenges facing the Canadian economy including critical labour shortages in key sectors, an aging population set to retire, and more frequent economic disruptions felt around the world.

    The Minister highlighted the need to offer the right supports to help the untapped pool of Canadians from under-represented groups including Indigenous people, women, and persons with disabilities, find good jobs.  He stressed the importance of attracting more young people to rewarding careers in the skilled trades as well as finding new ways to provide training, retraining and upskilling to meet the needs of workers no matter what point they are at in their working lives.

    The Minister noted the important role that provinces and territories play in education and skills training and was disappointed that they chose not to participate in this year’s Workforce Summit.

    The Minister also announced the launch of a new call for proposals for $30 million over two years for the Canada Retraining and Opportunities Initiative that will fund community-based workforce retraining projects in situations of mass layoffs.

    To support the Summit, an online engagement to collect Canadians’ views on the most pressing issues impacting Canada’s labour market is open until October 31, 2024. An update on findings will be accessible and will inform priorities and future directions for workforce development in Canada and further engagement with employers, unions as well as provinces, territories and Indigenous partners.

    Canada is home to the smartest minds, the most talented workers, and a strong education, training, and employment system. By working together, we can better equip the workforce of today and tomorrow, and build a more innovative, productive, and competitive labour force for generations to come.”

    –Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Randy Boissonnault

    Alice Hansen
    Director of Communications
    Office of the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages
    alice.hansen@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Japan boosts African Development Fund with Japanese yen (JPY) 51.67 billion concessional loan

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

    TOKYO, Japan, October 17, 2024/APO Group/ —

    The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have signed a landmark 51.67 billion Japanese yen (US$421 million) concessional donor loan (CDL) agreement towards the African Development Fund.  

    The loan, pledged by the Japanese government at the 16th general replenishment of the resources of the African Development Fund in December 2022, will support much-needed development in Africa’s least developed and fragile countries. The country is a top donor to the African Development Fund, having contributed the largest loans to the 14th, 15th and 16th replenishments of the Fund.  

    Present at the signing ceremony on Tuesday 15 October, Deputy Vice Minister Daiho Fujii of the Finance Ministry expressed optimism that Japan’s concessional donor loan, together with grant contributions, would support African countries to address various challenges relating to climate change, lack of infrastructure, fragility, regional integration, private sector development, and debt management and transparency. 

    “Through fruitful discussions, we reaffirmed that the African Development Fund has been playing a significant role in supporting low-income countries in Africa through its concessional loans and grants. We commit to working together toward a successful ADF-17 replenishment discussion next year,” Fujii said. 

    Japan and other donor countries met in Cotonou last week to review the progress made against operational priorities and policy commitments at the midpoint of the ADF-16 period that ran from 2023 to 2025. Fujii congratulated the African Development Bank Group on the successful mid-term review of the 16th cycle of ADF. 

    African Development Bank Group President Dr Akinwumi Adesina, who is marking his fifth visit to the Asian nation, commended Japan’s government for its unwavering support.  He expressed the Bank Group’s appreciation for Japan’s broader partnership, particularly through JICA’s Enhanced Private Sector Assistance for Africa initiative – an innovative multi-component framework for resource mobilisation and development. 

    Adesina said:  “We wouldn’t have had a successful ADF-16 replenishment without Japan’s continued support for concessional donor lending.  It is important to sign these agreements, but it is the lives we touch that matter.  We deliver what we promise. We keep our word”. 

    He highlighted the significant impact of projects completed under the African Development Fund. “This year alone, 500,000 people have been connected to electricity, one million provided with water and sanitation, 2.5 million to improved transport, and 2.7 million to health services.” 

    In her speech, JICA Executive Senior Vice President Katsura Miyazaki described the signing ceremony as symbolic. 

    She said: “African countries are facing multiple crises. Rising energy and food prices, supply chain disruptions, and worsening debt sustainability are having a serious impact on African countries. The African Development Fund is critical to addressing these challenges. 

    Japan’s journey with the African Development Fund  

    The African Development Fund (ADF), the concessional lending window of the Bank Group was established in 1972 and became operational in 1974.  

    Japan joined the Fund in June 1973 and has contributed to all its replenishments, significantly increasing its contributions over time.  

    Over the past 50 years, the ADF has played a pivotal role in providing concessional resources and knowledge services to low-income African countries, consistently demonstrating clear value for money. The ADF delivers transformative ideas and catalytic financing to these countries, including those in fragile situations. As a major source of financing, the ADF’s operations are efficient and deliver a strong development impact, cementing its reputation as a trusted and strategic partner for its stakeholders. 

    Japan’s critical role in supporting the ADF was underscored by its extension of the largest concessional donor loan contributions to both ADF-15 and ADF-16, as well as the largest bridge loan provided to ADF-14. The Mid-Term Review (MTR) of ADF-16, successfully concluded in Cotonou in October 2024, highlighted several key achievements. 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Statement from President Joe  Biden on the Death of Yahya  Sinwar

    Source: The White House

    Early this morning, Israeli authorities informed my national security team that a mission they conducted in Gaza likely killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.  DNA tests have now confirmed that Sinwar is dead.  This is a good day for Israel, for the United States, and for the world. 

    As the leader of the terrorist group Hamas, Sinwar was responsible for the deaths of thousands of Israelis, Palestinians, Americans, and citizens from over 30 countries.  He was the mastermind of the October 7th massacres, rapes, and kidnappings.  It was on his orders that Hamas terrorists invaded Israel to intentionally – and with unspeakable savagery – kill and massacre civilians, a Holocaust survivor, children in front of their parents, and parents in front of their children. 

    Over 1,200 people were killed on that day, the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, including 46 Americans.  More than 250 were taken hostage, with 101 still missing. That number includes seven Americans, four of whom are believed to still be alive and held by Hamas terrorists.  Sinwar is the man most responsible for this, and for so much of what followed.  

    Shortly after the October 7 massacres, I directed Special Operations personnel and our intelligence professionals to work side-by-side with their Israeli counterparts to help locate and track Sinwar and other Hamas leaders hiding in Gaza. 

    With our intelligence help, the IDF relentlessly pursued Hamas’s leaders, flushing them out of their hiding places and forcing them onto the run.  There has rarely been a military campaign like this, with Hamas leaders living and moving through hundreds of miles of tunnels, organized in multiple stories underground, determined to protect themselves with no care for the civilians suffering above ground.  Today, however, proves once again that no terrorists anywhere in the world can escape justice, no matter how long it takes.

    To my Israeli friends, this is no doubt a day of relief and reminiscence, similar to the scenes witnessed throughout the United States after President Obama ordered the raid to kill Osama Bin Laden in 2011.

    Israel has had every right to eliminate the leadership and military structure of Hamas. Hamas is no longer capable of carrying out another October 7.

    I will be speaking soon with Prime Minister Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders to congratulate them, to discuss the pathway for bringing the hostages home to their families, and for ending this war once and for all, which has caused so much devastation to innocent people.  

    There is now the opportunity for a “day after” in Gaza without Hamas in power, and for a political settlement that provides a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike.  Yahya Sinwar was an insurmountable obstacle to achieving all of those goals. That obstacle no longer exists. But much work remains before us.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Every announcement and trailer from Xbox partners at Oct. 17 event

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Every announcement and trailer from Xbox partners at Oct. 17 event

    We got our first look at gameplay from The Lake House, the second expansion coming for Alan Wake 2 – and it looks like the Remedy Connected Universe is getting more connected than ever. Putting us in the shoes of an agent from the Federal Bureau of Control, we’ll be exploring an Overlap in the titular Lake House, filled with mysteries, a mysterious living painting, and the horrors it’s birthing. It’ll be fascinating to see how this bridges the gaps between Alan’s story and the events of Control.

    The doors of the Lake House will open on Xbox Series X|S from October 22 – and you can find out more about how this expansion takes us in an even darker direction than the main game on Xbox Wire.

    Animal Well Reveals Its Mysteries on Xbox Today

    Xbox Series X|S

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    This gorgeous mystery-platformer is rightfully seen as one of the biggest surprises of the year, blending pixel-perfect traversal with a gorgeous, inscrutable world packed with secrets. Taking elements from classic Metroidvanias and blowing them out into a world packed with unique puzzles, Animal Well gets deeper the closer you look. We’re delighted to say that it arrives on Xbox today.

    Blindfire Is a First-Person Shooter Set Entirely in the Dark – and It’s Available in Game Preview Today

    Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC (through Xbox Game Preview)

    [embedded content]

    The most important tool in an FPS isn’t your gun – it’s your eyes. So what happens in an FPS set entirely in inky-black arenas? Blindfire is here to answer that question. This fascinating new idea from Double Eleven got a world premiere and shadow drop during Partner Preview, showing off how you’ll need to use tools, traps, and echolocation to seek out your targets in this fast-paced shooter.

    You don’t need to wait to find out how it all works – Blindfire is available today on Xbox Series X|S and PC through the Xbox Game Preview program. Find out how the team came up with such a unique idea, exclusively on Xbox Wire.

    Cronos: The New Dawn Is a Mind-Bending Survival Horror from Bloober Team

    Xbox Series X|S

    [embedded content]

    Bloober Team (The Medium, Blair Witch, Layers of Fear) brought us this world premiere of a fascinating new game that takes us in a new direction for the studio. A third-person survival horror set across two distinct time periods, Cronos: The New Dawn introduced itself with an enticingly strange trailer involving a game of chess, a very big spacesuit, and some horrifying creatures.

    The game itself will place us in both 1980s Communist Poland, and a futuristic wasteland following a pandemic known only as The Change. A glimpse of gameplay showed us quite how spooky this is going to get – we can’t wait to see more before it arrives in 2025.

    Edens Zero Brings Anime Action to Xbox in 2025

    Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC

    [embedded content]

    Based on the Hiro Mashima manga and the anime series of the same name, Edens Zero is a third-person action game that saw its world premiere during the show. Set in the unique sci-fi universe of the manga, you’ll take hero Shiki Granbell across the universe in search of the cosmic entity, Mother – gathering new characters, each with their own abilities, as you go. Edens Zero will be released in 2025.

    Eternal Strands Casts Its Unique Magic on Game Pass

    Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, or play it day one with Game Pass

    [embedded content]

    This systemic action-RPG from a team of developers who’ve worked on Dragon Age, Assassin’s Creed and more already had our attention. With a unique magic system that allows you to combine spells (freezing a flying dragon’s wings so it falls to the ground, anyone?), in-depth crafting systems, and titanic, climbable bosses, it’s a beautiful combination already. But add to that mix that it’s coming to Game Pass on day one? It just makes the wait for its release in early 2025 so much harder.

    FBC: Firebreak – the Co-op Control Spin-off – Gets a Gameplay Reveal

    Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, or play it day one with Game Pass

    [embedded content]

    Remedy is known for its single-player masterpieces, but it’s going in a different direction with FBC: Firebreak. We brought you a world-first look at this spin-off from the beloved Control – a first-person, multiplayer, PvE game, placing you in the ranks of the Federal Bureau of Control’s agents. Take on the horrors of the Oldest House, using a variety of appropriately weird weaponry, in this exciting co-op experience. FBC: Firebreak arrives in 2025, and it’s coming day one to Game Pass. Find out more about how Remedy made its first ever multiplayer game on Xbox Wire.

    The Legend of Baboo Is a Brutal Action-Adventure (With an Adorable Dog)

    Xbox Series X|S

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    In a world premiere, we were introduced to The Legend of Baboo, an action-adventure set across a magical island, sending a child hero,Sepehr into the fray with only their wits, weapons, and an absolutely gorgeous dog called Baboo to protect them. And yes, you did see the dog being used as a mount.

    Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Shows Off Its Naval Battles, and Gets a New Release Date

    Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC

    [embedded content]

    Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii was an unexpected surprise from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio – and we’re delighted to say it’s arriving even earlier than expected, on February 21, 2025. Featuring ex-yakuza Goro Majima getting wrapped up in an adventure on the high seas, it’s a truly over-the-top follow-up to this year’s Infinite Wealth.

    In a new trailer, we got to see the game’s exhilarating naval battles for the first time, with you taking the helm of a ship in pirate-ridden waters, before boarding to take on treasure-seeking rivals in all-out brawls. We even got a glimpse of battles in the Pirate Coliseum of a secret island hideout, Madlantis. Learn more about the naval battles, exclusively on Xbox Wire.

    Mistfall Hunter Mixes Soulslikes and Extraction Games

    Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC

    [embedded content]

    A fascinating mixture of Soulslike combat and extraction-action mechanics, Mistfall Hunter got a world premiere in today’s show. Showing off a wealth of approaches – from beefy warriors to spell-packed mages, this will pit you against monsters and men in a mysterious new fantasy world. Coming to Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC, you can apply for an upcoming closed beta now – and you can find out more about this unique proposition in an exclusive article on Xbox Wire.

    Mouse: P.I. For Hire Brings Cartoon Chaos to Xbox

    Xbox Series X|S

    [embedded content]

    Blending old-school FPS gameplay with even older-school cartoon looks, Mouse: P.I. For Hire is a truly unique proposition. You’ll be investigating crimes in a world of cartoon animals, and taking down criminals with a variety of adorable-but-deadly weaponry, all set amid a noir-inspired, jazz-infused world. We’re delighted to say that Mouse: P.I. For Hire is coming in 2025.

    Phasmophobia Introduces Co-op Terror to Xbox This Month

    Xbox Series X|S

    [embedded content]

    Regarded as one of the scariest games of recent years, we’re excited to announce that Phasmophobia makes its Xbox debut on October 29. Casting you and a group of friends as ghost hunters, you’ll set off on missions to haunted locations to investigate, draw out, and survive ghostly encounters. Use a variety of tools to discover exactly what it is you’re dealing with, then get out alive. But be warned, not only can your team hear you over comms, so can the ghosts…

    Subnautica 2 Enters Early Access in 2025 – Explore the Deep in Optional Co-Op

    Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC (through Xbox Game Preview), or play it day one with Game Pass

    [embedded content]

    The acclaimed underwater survival-crafting game Subnautica taught us to love, fear, and explore the deep oceans of an alien world, and its sequel will get an -Early Access release on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC through the Game Preview program. This world premiere trailer gave us a sense of how beautiful and terrifying this will be – and also confirmed that a much-requested co-op mode is coming in the sequel. Subnautica 2 will launch into Xbox Game Preview on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC in 2025. Find out more, exclusively on Xbox Wire.

    Wheel World Is Pedalling Onto Game Pass

    Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, or play it day one with Game Pass

    [embedded content]

    Previously known as Ghost Bike, we got a new trailer and a new name for this beautiful, relaxing, bike-loving exploration-racing game. Wheel World sees you retrieving and fixing the last of the Ghost Bikes, which can travel between the worlds of the living and the dead. Mixing open world exploration as you repair and upgrade your bike with the treasures you find, and races set across the map, it’s a game designed to be taken at your own pace – all set to an original soundtrack from artists on the Italians Do It Better music label. Wheel World will arrive day one on Game Pass when it launches in early 2025.

    Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Offers a Fresh Look at Its Story and Bosses

    Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, or play it day one with Game Pass

    [embedded content]

    After a reveal at Xbox Games Showcase earlier this year, we got a new look at Wuchang: Fallen Feathers. Offering new hints to its dark fantasy storyline set in the late Ming Dynasty, the new trailer showed us a lot of action, including against multiple bosses – from a horrifying, centipede-like monster, to a woman who can transform into what appears to be a living scarf made from the skin of an arctic fox. It’s shaping up to be quite the journey. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers arrives in 2025.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Study: Microsoft 365 Copilot drove up to 353% ROI for small and medium businesses

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Study: Microsoft 365 Copilot drove up to 353% ROI for small and medium businesses

    As a small or medium-sized business (SMB) leader, you’ve likely heard a lot about generative AI and how it’s transforming businesses of all sizes. To better understand how AI is helping businesses grow and compete, Microsoft commissioned Forrester Consulting to study the potential return on investment (ROI) of Microsoft 365 Copilot for SMBs.

    The results of the study are eye-opening. Forrester’s New Technology: Projected Total Economic Impact Of Microsoft 365 Copilot for SMB1 projects that over a three-year period, businesses can experience a return on investment (ROI) ranging from 132% to 353%.2

    Moreover, the study reports that businesses are already experiencing the transformational impact of AI for their organizations in the following areas:

    • Faster time to market
    • Increased productivity
    • Improved employee satisfaction

    Let’s take a closer look at how early adopters of Copilot have used the power of AI to transform their businesses, while keeping their data secure with enterprise data protection.

    Microsoft 365 Copilot

    Focus on what matters most with Microsoft 365 Copilot and the power of AI.

    Investing in Copilot delivers substantial returns for SMBs

    The Forrester study demonstrates the transformative results that AI can help bring to businesses—making Copilot not just a productivity tool but a strategic investment for long-term growth:

    • 6% increase in net revenue
    • 20% reduction in operating costs
    • 25% acceleration in new-hire onboarding

    “Upskilling on AI now is absolutely critical to being prepared for its capabilities in a few years. In five years, running a business without Copilot would be like trying to run a company today using typewriters instead of computers.”

    —Forrester Study: Head Vice President of Technology Services, IT Services and Business Consulting

    Turning innovation into action with faster time to market

    Bringing new products to market faster and promptly meeting customer demands are critical for business success. Forrester’s study highlights how Copilot can help accelerate revenue growth and open doors to additional business opportunities.

    The study found that 24% of businesses experienced a 16% to 20% reduction in time to market for new products, and 27% of businesses saw improvements in time to market ranging from 11% to 15%. These improvements can help you enhance your agility and increase competitiveness in the market.

    “With Copilot, we have faster turnarounds…with the ability to turn things around more quickly, clients can come to us with more work. It can be 15% more business.”

    —Forrester Study: Head Vice President of Technology Services, Managed Technology Solutions

    You can optimize your business processes by working with Copilot to map out your workflow and ask Copilot for recommendations to eliminate inefficiencies. Then you can share the list of recommendations with your team for feedback before deciding how to move forward. Copilot can help ensure projects move forward without delays—ask Copilot to provide updates on your team’s progress to quickly identify where support is needed.

    Increasing productivity across your business

    Employees at small and medium-sized businesses often wear multiple hats, doing jobs across different departments, and sometimes having less time to spend on their own projects. Copilot can help address this challenge by taking on routine, repetitive tasks, helping teams to focus on more strategic work.

    Forrester’s study shows that 51% of businesses using Copilot reported a 1% to 10% reduction in supply chain costs, while 59% saw operating costs decrease by 1% to 20%. This can help you to shift resources toward growth-focused initiatives without overwhelming your team.

    “In terms of getting the information to the various departments and having my legal assistants then redo it, so they can enter that data and answer questions from other departments more easily. My guess is on contract review we’ll save at least 50% of time in the coming years.” 

    —Forrester study: General Counsel, Chief Diversity Officer at the Staffing, IT, and Business Solutions Firm

    With Copilot, your team can quickly find critical details from client contracts or vendor agreements and have emails from key clients prioritized, helping to ensure that the most urgent emails are addressed first. Copilot can also gather data from spreadsheets and text documents, analyze it, and create easy-to-understand charts and tables for faster decision-making.

    Enhancing employee satisfaction and retention

    The study also highlights Copilot’s impact on employee satisfaction. By freeing up time for employees to collaborate more effectively and take on more fulfilling tasks, SMBs have experienced or anticipated, on average, an 18% increase in employee satisfaction, with a corresponding 11% to 20% reduction in employee churn.

    “People have a lot of anxiety [about going] on vacation because of what they’re going to miss. Well, the ability to ramp up fast with summarization on a lot of those key meetings doesn’t just save the person the time, but it also is going to save the other leaders in the organization the time to have to ramp them up.”
    —Forrester study: President, Staffing, IT, and Business Solutions

    Use Copilot to help pull together training materials and build presentations so you quickly bring new team members up to speed. Copilot’s meeting and email summaries also allow your employees to stay on top of work, even when they miss a meeting. This can help reduce stress and help create smoother transitions between projects, fostering a more inclusive and productive work environment.

    Now is the right time to invest in AI. We are here to help.

    With potential benefits like increased revenue, faster time to market, and significant ROI, Microsoft 365 Copilot can be a valuable investment for SMBs looking to thrive in a competitive market.

    To find out more about the Forrester findings and learn how you can best implement Copilot for your business, please join our webinar on October 31, 2024, 9 AM PST to 10 AM PST.

    To use Copilot across all your Microsoft 365 apps and work data, you can purchase Microsoft 365 Copilot as an add-on to your Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Microsoft 365 Standard, or Microsoft 365 Business Premium subscriptions. If you do not already have these core productivity offerings, you can purchase them now.

    Find out more about Microsoft 365 Copilot or reach out to a Microsoft Cloud Solution Partner to learn more.

    You can also learn how to make Copilot part of your everyday business activities by exploring the new Copilot Success Kit for Small and Medium-Sized Business, which provides resources on licensing, technical requirements, and AI capabilities.

    Sources:

    1. “New Technology: The Projected Total Economic Impact : Of Microsoft 365 Copilot for SMB,” a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Microsoft. Results are based on Microsoft 365 Copilot customer interviews and surveys of over 200 companies with up to 300 employees across various industries, from retail to financial services.
    2. Forrester modeled a range of projected low-, medium-, and high-impact outcomes based on evaluated risk. This financial analysis projects that the composite organization accrues the following three-year net present value (NPV) for each scenario by enabling Microsoft 365 Copilot: 
      • Projected high impact of a $955,000 NPV and projected ROI of 353%. 
      • Projected medium impact of a $658,000 NPV and projected ROI of 243%. 
      • Projected low impact of a $358,000 NPV and projected ROI of 132%.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Duck Creek Technologies Named a Leader in Gartner® 2024 Magic Quadrant™ for SaaS P&C Insurance Core Platforms, North America

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BOSTON, Oct. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Duck Creek Technologies, a leading and innovative provider of solutions in the SaaS P&C insurance core platforms market, today announced Duck Creek Technologies has been positioned by Gartner as a Leader in the 2024 Gartner® “Magic Quadrant™ for SaaS P&C Core Platforms, North America”. The evaluation was based on specific criteria that analyzed the company’s overall Completeness of Vision and Ability to Execute.

    Magic Quadrant reports are a culmination of rigorous, fact-based research in specific markets, providing a wide-angle view of the relative positions of providers in markets where growth is high, and provider differentiation is distinct. Providers are positioned into four quadrants: Leaders, Challengers, Visionaries and Niche Players. The research enables you to get the most from market analysis in alignment with your unique business and technology needs.

    “Our low-code, configurable SaaS platform helps insurance carriers stand out in today’s competitive market. We continue to enhance our platform through AI, machine learning and by bringing new solutions to carriers, including Payments Facilitator, to grow their business with speed, efficiency and an excellent customer experience,” said Michael Jackowski, CEO of Duck Creek Technologies. “We are proud to be recognized again this year by Gartner as a Leader in the P&C insurance technology space. As we look ahead, we will continue to enrich our platform by providing more for carriers to stay ahead of their competition including eliminating upgrades through Active Delivery and increasing efficiency and scalability with multi-tenancy.”

    View a complimentary copy of the Magic Quadrant report to learn more about Duck Creek’s strengths and cautions, among other provider offerings, here

    Source: Gartner Reports: Gartner, Magic Quadrant for SaaS P&C Insurance Core Platforms, North America, Sham Gill, James Ingham October 2024

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

    GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved. 
    Magic Quadrant is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved. 

    About Duck Creek Technologies

    Duck Creek Technologies is the intelligent solutions provider defining the future of the property and casualty (P&C) and general insurance industry. We are the platform upon which modern insurance systems are built, enabling the industry to capitalize on the power of the cloud to run agile, intelligent, and evergreen operations. Authenticity, purpose, and transparency are core to Duck Creek, and we believe insurance should be there for individuals and businesses when, where, and how they need it most. Our market-leading solutions are available on a standalone basis or as a full suite, and all are available via Duck Creek OnDemand. Visit http://www.duckcreek.com to learn more. Follow Duck Creek on our social channels for the latest information – LinkedIn and X.

    Media Contacts:
    Tara Stred/Marianne Dempsey
    Duckcreek@threeringsinc.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Picton Mahoney Asset Management Announces Monthly Distribution for Picton Mahoney Fortified Income Alternative Fund Exchange Traded Fund Units, Picton Mahoney Fortified Special Situations Alternative Fund Exchange Traded Fund Units, Picton Mahoney Fortified Core Bond Fund Exchange Traded Fund Units and Picton Mahoney Fortified Alpha Alternative Fund Exchange Traded Fund Units

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Oct. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — (TSX: PFIA, PFSS, PFCB, PFAA) Picton Mahoney Asset Management announced today that it has declared the October 2024 monthly cash distribution of $0.0367 per unit for the ETF units (“ETF Units”) of the Picton Mahoney Fortified Income Alternative Fund.

    Picton Mahoney Asset Management announced today that it has declared the October 2024 monthly cash distribution of $0.0341 per unit for the ETF Units of the Picton Mahoney Fortified Special Situations Alternative Fund.

    Picton Mahoney Asset Management announced today that it has declared the October 2024 monthly cash distribution of $0.0333 per unit for the ETF Units of the Picton Mahoney Fortified Core Bond Fund.

    Picton Mahoney Asset Management announced today that it has declared the October 2024 monthly cash distribution of $0.0001 per unit for the ETF Units of the Picton Mahoney Fortified Alpha Alternative Fund.

    Unitholders of record of the ETF Units, at the close of business on October 24, 2024, will receive a per-unit cash distribution payable on October 31, 2024.

    About Picton Mahoney Asset Management

    Picton Mahoney Asset Management specializes in differentiated investment solutions and rules-based volatility management. Picton Mahoney helps its clients fortify their portfolios based on experience honed over the years through different market cycles and investing environments.

    Founded in 2004 and 100% employee-owned, Picton Mahoney is a portfolio management boutique entrusted with over $11.3 billion (as at September 30, 2024) in assets under management. Pioneers of Authentic Hedge® investment principles and practices in Canada, the firm offers a full suite of investment solutions, including mutual and alternative funds, to institutional and retail investors across the country.

    Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees, performance fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated. Alternative funds can only be purchased through a registered dealer and are available only in those jurisdictions where they may be lawfully offered for sale.

    For further information please contact:

    Arthur Galloway
    Picton Mahoney Asset Management
    Tel: (416) 955-4108
    Web site: http://www.pictonmahoney.com
    Email: service@pictonmahoney.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: International Conference on Small Modular Reactors Next Week

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    More than 1000 participants from nearly 100 countries are set to attend the first IAEA International Conference on Small Modular Reactors and their Applications, from 21 to 25 October at the Agency’s headquarters in Vienna. The conference comes at a crucial time amid a new global consensus on the need to expand nuclear power to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

    Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are designed to produce typically no more than 300 MW(e), with their size making them a good option for deployment in remote areas and regions with smaller electric grids. The modularity of their design allows for their various components to be assembled in factories before transportation to deployment sites for installation, potentially reducing the time needed for construction. And with a growing number of prospective end users considering nuclear power to meet their needs, such as energy-intensive data centres, as well as the urgency to decarbonize a wide range of non-electric applications, SMRs may be in line to play a major role alongside their larger counterparts. Nuclear power generation is expected to expand significantly by mid-century, with versatile SMRs figuring to comprise a large share of the reactor fleet of the future, according to the IAEA.

    “The high case scenario of the IAEA’s latest projections sees nuclear electrical generating capacity in 2050 being two and a half times bigger than today. A quarter of that new capacity is projected to come from SMRs,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. “To meet the low carbon energy needs of countries and industries, we need to ensure the timely demonstration and deployment of safe and secure SMRs. For that, international cooperation and collaboration are essential.”

    The conference will feature panel discussions and poster sessions covering areas within four primary topics: SMR design, technology and the fuel cycle; legislative and regulatory frameworks; safety, security and safeguards; and considerations to facilitate deployment of SMRs.

    “There are around 70 active SMR designs at various stages of development worldwide, and many newcomer countries and industries are interested in SMRs,” said Aline des Cloizeaux, Director of the IAEA’s Division of Nuclear Power. “This event will bring together key stakeholders to discuss the latest developments in SMRs and ways to advance their deployment.”

    In parallel with the conference, the Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative (NHSI) will hold a plenary meeting prior to the conference opening. NHSI was launched in 2022 to facilitate the deployment of safe and secure SMRs and other advanced reactors by harmonizing regulatory approaches and standardizing industrial approaches. The initiative supports countries on two tracks. Through NHSI’s regulatory track, three technical documents have been drafted, focused on approaches for cooperation on regulatory reviews, including a multinational pre-licensing joint review process. NHSI’s industry track has produced several working papers on topics including how the production of long-lead items, such as pressure vessels, can be streamlined and how serial manufacturing of SMR components could facilitate quicker deployments. NHSI members will review work done and plan activities for the coming year.

    “The broad participation in the conference highlights countries growing interest in SMRs and their applications,” said Anna Bradford, Director of the IAEA’s Division on Nuclear Installation Safety. “The IAEA remains fully committed to enabling the deployment of safe and secure advanced and innovative nuclear reactors, including SMRs.”

    An ‘Industry Night’, co-organized with the World Nuclear Association (WNA), will be held on Tuesday, 22 October, and feature vendors from around the world presenting the latest reactor technology across four panel sessions. On Wednesday, a young generation event co-organized by the International Youth Nuclear Congress (IYNC) and the IAEA will facilitate a discussion on how SMRs and microreactors can contribute to a sustainable and equitable future.

    IAEA assistance through the SMR Platform

    The IAEA supports countries in deploying SMRs through activities including technical assistance, capacity building, information sharing and coordination of research and development efforts. The IAEA Platform on Small Modular Reactors and their Applications serves as the focal point for the IAEA’s work in this area, providing coordinated support and expertise from across the Agency in all aspects relevant to the development, early deployment and oversight of SMRs. The SMR Platform is designed to facilitate cooperation and collaboration among Member States and other stakeholders, supporting the safe and secure deployment of SMRs worldwide.  

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Deluzio Secures $800,000 to Repair Failing Section of Old William Penn Highway in Penn Hills

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17)

    PENN HILLS, PA — Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) announced he secured a $800,000 federal investment to repair a partially collapsed section of Old William Penn Highway in Penn Hills and stave off further collapse and structural failure. The federal funds will support a safer road and easier traffic flow for residents, commuters, and worshippers at the nearby Sri Venkateswara Hindu Temple.   

    “Whether it’s people getting on the Parkway for their work commute, kids taking buses to school, or worshippers heading to the Sri Venkateswara Temple, the good folks in Penn Hills depend on Old William Penn Highway,” said Congressman Deluzio, “I’m proud to announce I secured $800,000 in federal funding to repair Old William Penn Highway, fix up the structural issues caused by the landslide, and make it a safer and better road for all of us.” 

    The section of Old William Penn that is currently failing is due to a landslide that is slowly eroding the roadway. Municipal estimations project one more functional winter before the unsafe conditions would force the road to close. The federal funds Deluzio announced today will keep the road functional while the construction takes place. Work has already begun at the site, with workers this week performing geotechnical services in coordination with PennDOT engineers. Photos of the worksite and today’s event can be found here. Livestreamed video of the event is available here.

    Old William Penn Highway serves as a main artery in the region, connecting Penn Hills to the Parkway East as well as to the Sri Venkateswara Temple, a major Hindu temple in the region with thousands of members. Residents, local businesses, and commuters support this construction.

    This project in Penn Hills is one of fifteen community projects that Congressman Chris Deluzio successfully got funded for Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District through the annual congressional funding bills. His funded projects also included local police departments, fire stations, downtown revitalization, street and water system repairs, and more. 

    State Senator Jay Costa, Penn Hills Mayor Pauline Calabrese, Councilperson Joanne Fascio, and Municipal Manager Scott Andrejchak joined Congressman Deluzio today to highlight these funds, visit the site on Old William Penn Highway, and accept a large check for the project. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Syria/Lebanon, Chad, Women/Peacekeeping & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (17 Oct 2024)

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

    Highlights:
    -Briefings tomorrow
    -IPC report
    -Occupied Palestinian Territory
    -Lebanon
    -Lebanon/Humanitarian
    -Syria/Lebanon
    -Chad
    -Women/Peacekeeping
    -Poverty Index
    -Eradication of poverty

    IPC REPORT
    The Secretary-General said that he is alarmed by today’s IPC report findings that high displacement and restrictions on humanitarian aid flows mean that the people of Gaza are facing catastrophic levels of hunger. One year into the conflict, famine looms. This is intolerable, the Secretary-General said.
    Mr. Guterres said that crossing points must open immediately, bureaucratic impediments must be removed, and law and order must be restored so that UN agencies can deliver lifesaving humanitarian assistance.
    Earlier today, the World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization said that the latest findings of the Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) report, collecting the work of 16 UN agencies and NGOs, make clear that the risk of famine persists across the whole Gaza Strip. Given the recent surge in hostilities, there are growing concerns that this worst-case scenario may materialize.
    Between September and October 2024, the whole territory is classified in IPC Phase 4 – Emergency. About 1.84 million people across the Gaza Strip are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, classified in IPC Phase 3 – Crisis – or above, including nearly 133,000 people facing catastrophic food insecurity, which is IPC Phase 5. Acute Malnutrition is ten times higher than before the escalation of the hostilities.
    The report adds that nearly the entire population has been displaced multiple times, risking injuries or death from shelling and aerial bombardments, while many vulnerable groups are unable to relocate or find safe shelter. The majority are living in temporary makeshift camps with an alarming density of almost 40,000 people per square kilometre.

    OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
    Our colleagues from Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warn that the ongoing Israeli military operations in northern Gaza are putting tens of thousands of civilians in grave danger. OCHA stresses once again that civilians in the north and across Gaza must be protected. Moreover, the military offensive in northern Gaza is also choking off people’s access to the essentials for their survival, including water.
    Intense hostilities, evacuation orders, and loss of access to numerous water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in northern Gaza have rendered a number of systems for water production and wastewater collection inoperable. In Jabalya and Beit Lahya, water production from municipal wells is currently at zero. That’s according to our partners, who are also doing everything possible to provide access to water for people throughout Gaza. As of a week ago, they reported that 638 cubic metres of water were being distributed in northern Gaza on a daily basis through water trucking. For your reference, daily water distribution throughout all of Gaza prior to October 2023 was 380,000 cubic metres.
    Meanwhile, in central Gaza, we and our humanitarian partners working to support water, sanitation and hygiene services there are preparing for winter and taking urgent steps to mitigate the risk of flooding. These include rehabilitating wastewater pumping stations in Deir al Balah and removing solid waste and cleaning stormwater channels in An Nuseirat refugee camp. Partners are also rehabilitating drainage systems and working to procure dewatering pumps.
    Also in central Gaza, the World Health Organization reports that the second round of the polio vaccination campaign there concluded yesterday, with more than 181,000 children receiving the vaccine and over 148,000 children getting vitamin A supplements. Eight health facilities in central Gaza will continue to provide polio vaccines for families who were unable to bring their children to be vaccinated over the past three days.
    The second round of the polio vaccination campaign is expected to start in southern Gaza tomorrow.
    Meanwhile, in the West Bank, OCHA warns that Israeli settler violence in the context of the ongoing olive harvest season is threatening people’s safety and livelihoods. Since the beginning of the month, OCHA has documented 32 attacks by Israeli settlers, during which 39 Palestinians harvesting olives were injured and about 600 trees and saplings were vandalized, sawn off, or stolen.

    Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=17%20October%202024

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LMOp0V0ZLg

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Governor Talks – Pakistan: From Stabilization to Sustainable Growth via Structural Reforms

    Source: International Monetary Fund – IMF (video statements)

    In mid-2023, Pakistan faced significant economic challenges, including due the devastating floods of the previous year. Since then, economic stability has been restored through careful policy-making. However, challenges remain, such as a narrow tax base, elevated spending pressures for social and development needs and building climate resilience, as well as low productivity and weak growth. MCD Director Jihad Azour will be joined by Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb to discuss the government’s ambitious policy and reform agenda and the path to sustainable growth.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Wb8i0FLqEo

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – EP President Metsola to European leaders: on migration the real solution is a European one

    Source: European Parliament

    Speaking to leaders, Parliament President Metsola reiterated Parliament’s unwavering support for Ukraine. She called for a coordinated European approach to ensure the integrity of Schengen.

    On Ukraine

    It has been almost 1,000 days of aggression in Ukraine. We will, and we must, keep standing with Ukraine – and equally we need to reinforce our efforts for peace. A peace that is rooted in freedom; that is anchored in dignity and that is built on justice. A peace that is not a capitulation. A peace that protects our values. Anything less than that is no real peace at all.

    When we talk about Ukraine’s future and putting an end to this terrible war, we need to be clear: only a strong, sovereign Ukraine can achieve that. The European Parliament stands firm in its conviction: nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.

    Next week the European Parliament will take a final vote in plenary to support Ukraine with an exceptional Macro-Financial Assistance loan of up to 35 billion Euros. Politically and technically, we are proud to have done our work.

    On Middle East

    Alongside the recent escalation in Lebanon, including now involving the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon, it is more critical than ever to find a sustainable solution and to do so urgently. Europe has a role to play here and we cannot be found wanting.

    The European Parliament’s position is clear. Our calls for the immediate release of the remaining hostages will remain steadfast. Our calls for a ceasefire will remain resolute. Our efforts towards de-escalation will remain strong. And our work for a real, dignified, sustainable, long-term peace in the region, based on two States that gives real perspective to Palestinians and security to Israel, will remain unwavering.

    We cannot ignore the ripple effects of instability. What happens in Eastern Europe, in the Middle East, in Northern Africa or anywhere else near our borders, does not just stay isolated – it has consequences for Europe. Nowhere is this more visible than in the area of migration.

    On Migration

    The EU Migration and Asylum Pact, which we adopted earlier this year after a decade of political impasse, offers a pathway forward. But it will not work if, in moments of pressure, we undermine what we have built together. That is why it is important that we scale-up efforts to swiftly implement the Pact.

    Our commonly agreed-to framework that protects our borders, but that is also fair with those eligible for protection, that is firm with those not eligible and who must be safely and swiftly returned, and that – critically – is harsh against the trafficking networks, including malign States like Russia and Belarus using hybrid threats, preying on the vulnerable and weaponising migration.

    The nature of these hybrid threats [coming from Russia and Belarus] require us to think outside the box. We must respond to those actors who seek to abuse the systems we built for the betterment of man, against the very humanity they are meant to protect. And we can do so within the parameters of our values and legal frameworks.

    The key here is cooperation. The real solution is a European solution – one that is broad, that is holistic, and that is sustainable. Because only a coordinated European approach can ensure the integrity of our Schengen area.

    President Metsola´s full speech can be found here.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Just Keep Roving

    Source: NASA

    2 min read

    Image from Perseverance’s Right Navigation Camera, looking back towards rover tracks from past drives, into Jezero crater. The camera is located high on the rover mast, and here the rover is looking back in the direction of the Jezero crater floor. This image was acquired on October 4th, 2024 (Sol 1288) at the local mean solar time of 12:51:26.
    NASA/JPL-Caltech

    Throughout the past week, Perseverancehas continued marching up the Jezero crater rim. This steep ascent through the Martian regolith (soil) can prove to be slow driving for the rover, as the wheels can slip on the steepest areas. This is like trying to run up a hill of sand on a beach – with every step forward, you also slip back a little way down the hill! This just means the Science and Engineering teams work together closely to plan slow and steady drives through this tricky terrain.

    Driving through the Mount Ranier quadrangle, the team identified a relatively obstacle-free path to reach the crater rim which they designated Summerland Trail, aptly named from a very popular hiking trail that ascends Mount Ranier. Perseverance is trekking to the next waypoint near an outcrop of rocks called Pico Turquino, where the science team hopes to perform its next proximity science investigations with its instruments PIXL and back-online SHERLOC.

    While roving along Summerland Trail, Perseverance is constantly observing the surrounding terrain. SuperCam and Mastcam-Z have been observing rocks on the ground and on a distant hill, called Crystal Creek. In addition, during this time Perseverance can put its eyes to the sky to make observations of the sun and atmosphere. Last week, the Mastcam-Z camera captured images of Phobos (one of Mars’ two moons) transiting in front of the sun!

    This image, showing Phobos transiting in front of the sun, was acquired using Perseverance’s Left Mastcam-Z camera. Acquired on September 30th, 2024 (Sol 1285) at the local mean solar time of 11:10:04.
    NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU

    While the Mars2020 team is itching to reach the ancient stratigraphy exposed in the crater rim, for now, the focus is on documenting our surroundings while navigating the ascent. 

    Written by Eleanor Moreland, Ph.D. Student Collaborator at Rice University

    Reference Links

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Unacceptable state of urban transport in Attica – E-001459/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission attaches great importance to public transport as it is key to achieving more sustainable mobility and reduce congestion in urban areas.

    It seeks to promote urban transport, which is efficient, safe, sustainable and inclusive, regardless of whether it is provided by public or private operators.

    The procurement of clean road transport vehicles under Directive 2009/33/EC[1] is part of the Commission’s goal to promote sustainable transport solutions and stimulate the market for clean and energy-efficient vehicles, including zero-emission buses.

    European funds support greener public urban transport in Attica and are made available, inter alia, for the purchase of clean public transport buses in Athens, the renew of rail rolling stock on Metro Line 1, construction of new Metro Line 4, and development of the suburban rail, under the Cohesion Fund, the European Regional Development Fund and the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

    National authorities should accelerate the pace of implementation of these projects to ensure the greening of transport, sustainable and improved level of public service for all citizens.

    It is for national authorities to monitor transport operations safety and ensure that operators implement periodic maintenance and also comply with applicable labour law provisions as well as relevant technical/safety requirements including the training of staff.

    The Commission would also note that public authorities may financially support public passenger transport services, in accordance with the conditions set out in Regulation (EC) 1370/2007[2].

    The Commission would like to point out that EU law does not prescribe privatisation in the field of public transport.

    • [1] Directive 2009/33/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the promotion of clean and energy-efficient road transport vehicles OJ L 120, 15.5.2009, p. 5-12.
    • [2] Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 on public passenger transport services by rail and by road and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) Nos 1191/69 and 1107/70, OJ L 315, 3.12.2007, p. 1-13.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Ukraine Mine Action Conference UMAC2024

    Source: Switzerland – Federal Administration in English

    Lausanne, 17.10.2024 – Address by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) – Check against delivery

    Excellencies,
    Ladies and Gentlemen,

    I’d like to begin by saying, at the end of this day, that my thoughts go out to the Ukrainian people suffering in the midst of this war, to those who have lost a parent, a loved one, a child.

    Mine action is not an end in itself. It saves lives and limbs and is a precondition for sustainable development in affected places. In Ukraine, confronted with such a large-scale contamination, it is stage Zero of reconstruction and the recovery process.

    In other words: Mine action is anything but a quiet road. And at the end of this high-level day of the conference, I am proud to report that we have paved the way for continued international cooperation and support in this area.

    Our shared commitment to humanitarian mine action has brought together high-level representatives from governments, international and regional organizations, the private sector and academia.

    Your participation has demonstrated the importance of this collective engagement — not just for Ukraine, but for the global community.

    A lot has already been done, with three Recovery Conferences in Lugano, London and Berlin; last year’s International Conference on Demining in Zagreb; and all technical discussions which have led us to Lausanne today.

    Throughout the day, we’ve explored key issues that have touched us, provided insights and hopefully brought us a step further. With much work ahead and concrete engagement needed.

    Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

    Switzerland is actively financing projects in Ukraine that make a real difference on the ground, saving lives by reducing risks for the civilian population.

    In the vast territories suspected of mine contamination, we are supporting rapid surveys and efforts to return cleared land to productive civilian use.

    Our focus has been particularly strong in the Kharkiv region, which has seen the highest number of mine-related accidents. Here, we partner with the Fondation suisse de déminage FSD, one of the most experienced demining operators in Ukraine.

    We will continue this impactful collaboration: last week, my government has decided to allocate an additional 30 million CHF to the FSD so that it can expand its activities in the Kharkiv and Kherson regions until 2027.

    Starting in 2025, these efforts will be enhanced by innovative technologies, including the use of detection dogs and Swiss-made demining machines.
    Moreover, we place great importance on developing local expertise, with the aim of supporting a Ukrainian humanitarian demining NGO to become fully autonomous by 2027.

    Switzerland also engages in risk education and in victim assistance programs. We are working to prevent new victims and to assist the survivors who have suffered injuries by mines and explosive remnants of war. Supporting their rehabilitation and reintegration remains central to our mission.

    Additionally, Switzerland was one of the first to support the UN initiative to return agricultural land to farmers, an effort that has now received broad international backing. This project is vital to restarting agricultural production in contaminated areas, contributing to both local and global food security.

    At the same time, we should not forget the continuous challenges in affected countries around the world and Switzerland will keep up its assistance. Based on the Swiss Action Plan for 2023-2026, we will continue strengthening the norms against mines, supporting mine action on the ground and promoting innovative solutions.

    Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

    Mine action in Ukraine is done for Ukraine, with Ukraine – and to a large part by Ukraine.
    Mine action programs should be nationally owned and led, supported by international and national partners.

    In Ukraine, the basis for our cooperation and assistance is the recently adopted National Mine Action Strategy and the Operational Plan.

    It is now my honor to present to you the outcome document of this Conference: the Lausanne Call for Action.

    This document reflects our collective will to take concrete steps. We want to support the implementation of the strategy and address mine contamination in Ukraine and around the world.

    The Lausanne Call for Action focuses on the three key pillars: People, Partners, and Progress.

    •    Under the People pillar, we commit to carrying out safe and high-quality mine action activities and to restore contaminated land to safe and productive use.  We will also address the needs of victims and people with disabilities.

    •    Under Partners, we call to continue international cooperation and to promote sustainable national capacities. The goal is to foster long-term and all-encompassing cooperation aligned with national strategic objectives.

    •    The pillar Progress underscores the importance to explore new sources of funding. We emphasize the value of exchanging experiences, best practices and lessons learnt and want to develop and use innovative methods and technologies.

    Ladies and Gentlemen

    This document is not just another declaration; it is a commitment — a call for collective action to restore safety, rebuild lives, and sustain long-term recovery.

    Our efforts will remain on the global agenda, with our eyes set on the next Ukraine Mine Action Conference in 2025, which will be hosted in Japan.

    I sincerely hope that by then, we’ll be able to talk about both demining and peace in Ukraine.

    In closing, I thank you all for your participation, engagement, and dedication. The journey continues tomorrow with technical discussions, and I encourage you all to contribute to those essential conversations.

    Thank you.

    Address for enquiries

    FDFA Communication
    Federal Palace West Wing
    CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland
    Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55
    E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch
    Twitter: @SwissMFA

    Publisher

    Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
    https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Negative impact of the ban on internal combustion engines on employment – E-001811/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001811/2024/rev.1
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Engin Eroglu (Renew), Christine Singer (Renew), Joachim Streit (Renew)

    The de facto ban on new combustion engine cars from 2035 has already led to a shift in the production processes of car manufacturers in the EU.

    It is no secret that the manufacture of electric cars is less labour intensive than that of combustion engine cars – this politically imposed technological change therefore affects the whole value chain. Many automotive suppliers are already dismissing employees.

    The most recent case of Volkswagen cutting jobs and possibly closing plants is yet another example and more will follow.

    • 1.When deciding on the ban on the internal combustion engine, was the Commission aware of its negative impact on employment?
    • 2.What studies on the loss of jobs caused by the ban on combustion engines is the Commission aware of and which of these, in the opinion of the Commission, provides a reasonable basis for calculation?
    • 3.Would a more open and technology-neutral approach to reducing emissions have resulted in fewer job losses?

    Submitted: 25.9.2024

    Last updated: 17 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Draft agenda – Wednesday, 13 November 2024 – Brussels

    Source: European Parliament

    1     Resumption of session and order of business
    13   Conclusions of the European Council meetings of October and November 2024
    European Council and Commission statements
    [2024/2783(RSP)]
    4   UN Climate Change Conference 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan (COP29)
    Oral question – [2024/2718(RSP)]
             
    Antonio Decaro, Lídia Pereira, Javi López, Emma Wiesner, Lena Schilling, Nikolas Farantouris (O-000010/2024)
    Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
    Council
    2024 UN Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan (COP29)
             
    Antonio Decaro, Lídia Pereira, Javi López, Emma Wiesner, Lena Schilling, Nikolas Farantouris (O-000009/2024)
    Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
    Commission
    2024 UN Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan (COP29)
    2     One-minute speeches (Rule 179)

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Activities of the Emergency Response Coordination Centre – P-001773/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    Central and Eastern Europe has been affected by heavy rains and strong winds. As of 13 September 2024, Poland, Germany, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania pro-actively activated the rapid mapping of the Copernicus Emergency Management Service for flood delineation and damage assessment[1].

    The Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC)[2] works on a 24 hours /7 days basis to carry out its mandate that includes, among other tasks, monitoring of unfolding or potential disasters and their impacts.

    In this context, the ERCC daily monitors the forecast estimates for potential flooding across Europe, through the dedicated European Flood Awareness System (EFAS)[3] of the Copernicus Emergency Management Service. EFAS complements the national systems to raise awareness.

    From the onset, the ERCC was in contact with the national civil protection authorities of Austria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia to raise awareness about possible upcoming floods and offered support through the Union Civil Protection Mechanism[4].

    • [1] https://emergency.copernicus.eu/mapping/ems/flood-delineation
    • [2] https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/what/civil-protection/emergency-response-coordination-centre-ercc_en
    • [3] https://european-flood.emergency.copernicus.eu/en
    • [4] https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/what/civil-protection/eu-civil-protection-mechanism_en
    Last updated: 17 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Join Senate Colleagues in Urging Continued Action to Address IV Fluid Shortage Amidst Hurricane Helene Recovery

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) and Bob Casey (D-PA) in sending a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Xavier Becerra urging continued action to address the critical intravenous (IV) fluid shortage affecting hospitals across the nation. This shortage, caused by the temporary closure of Baxter International’s manufacturing plant in North Carolina due to flooding from Hurricane Helene, has created significant challenges for health care providers in Virginia and across the country. 
    The senators’ letter comes in response to the production halt at Baxter International, the largest manufacturer of intravenous (IV) solutions in the United States, which produces nearly two-thirds of the IV fluids used in U.S. hospitals. While federal agencies—including the HHS, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR)—work to increase supply from other manufacturers, allow temporary importation of products manufactured abroad, and provide guidance on compounded alternatives, hospitals across the country, including in Virginia, continue to face shortages and need clear communication to effectively plan for the months ahead. The letter emphasized that the federal response must especially prioritize providers whose patient communities will be most at risk in the face of continued shortages. 
    “The uncertainty created by reduced product deliveries has led to conservation policies in health facilities across our states. After orders were recently cancelled, some providers have reported having only single-digit days’ worth of product on hand, while others are utilizing over the-counter oral hydration solutions like Gatorade—and fear reduced allocations of those alternatives as well. While providers are seeing promising results from HHS’s actions so far, we must ensure this progress continues,” wrote the senators.  
    “As you take the necessary steps to increase production of IV products at alternative domestic sites, facilitate the expedited arrival of additional product from overseas, and review product shelf life to consider extensions, we ask you provide clear and continuous communication to health providers on their options and the path forward as communities recover from this storm and any impact that may stem from Hurricane Milton,” the senators concluded. 
    Read the full letter to Secretary Becerra here and below: 
    Dear Secretary Becerra:
    We appreciate the Biden Administration’s efforts to swiftly respond to the catastrophic damage caused across the southeast by Hurricane Helene. As you continue this recovery work, on behalf of our constituents and the health care providers who serve them, we write to urge you to continue to work with hospital and health system partners to address disruptions in the intravenous (IV) solution supply chain resulting from the hurricane-induced closure of the Baxter International plant in North Cove, North Carolina.
    As you know, Baxter is the largest manufacturer of IV solutions in the United States. Their facility in Western North Carolina produces nearly two-thirds of the IV solution used to provide health care nationwide. As you also know, to protect from stockpiling, Baxter has instituted limits on the amount of saline solution and dextrose product hospitals and health systems are currently able to order. We are encouraged by steps taken by your agency and other federal government agencies to move product more quickly, including rebuilding physical infrastructure, working with manufacturing partners to increase supply from other sites, and providing guidance on appropriate compounding.
    However, the uncertainty created by reduced product deliveries has led to conservation policies in health facilities across our states. After orders were recently canceled, some providers have reported having only single-digit days’ worth of product on hand, while others are utilizing over-the-counter oral hydration solutions like Gatorade—and fear reduced allocations of those alternatives as well. While providers are seeing promising results from HHS’s actions so far, we must ensure this progress continues.
    As you take the necessary steps to increase production of IV products at alternative domestic sites, facilitate the expedited arrival of additional product from overseas, and review product shelf life to consider extensions, we ask you provide clear and continuous communication to health providers on their options and the path forward as communities recover from this storm and any impact that may stem from Hurricane Milton. We also request intentional outreach to safety net, tribal, and rural providers, as well as those caring for vulnerable populations who may lack the resources to sustain prolonged shortages. Hospitals and health systems in our states are eager to work with you to protect patient care and welcome your outreach. 
    We look forward to working with you to ensure timely and robust communication to keep our communities healthy. Thank you for your attention to this matter. 
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Lowell Man Arrested for Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A Lowell man has been arrested for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine.

    Jorge Manuel “Manny” Huertas, 46, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl and more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Huertas will make his initial appearance in federal court in Boston later today.

    According to the charging document, Huertas distributed counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine to a confidential source. Search warrants were conducted this morning at Huertas’s residence and the residences of his associates.

    The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl and more than 50 grams of methamphetamine carries a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of 40 years, at least four years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $5,000,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration; and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lowell Police Department and the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Panich of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

    The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Alford Commends Work of Whiteman Air Force Base and B-2 Stealth Bomber Following U.S. Airstrikes Against Houthi Targets

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mark Alford (Missouri 4th District)

    Alford Commends Work of Whiteman Air Force Base and B-2 Stealth Bomber Following U.S. Airstrikes Against Houthi Targets

    Washington, October 17, 2024

    Raymore, Mo. – Following recent U.S. airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04) emphasized the critical role that the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber and the men and women of Whiteman Air Force Base play in securing America’s national defense and deterring global threats.

    This is the first time that the U.S. has used bombers against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. 

    “Whiteman Air Force Base is home to the B-2 stealth bomber, a cornerstone of America’s ability to deter threats and project power worldwide. We’re grateful for the dedicated service members at Whiteman who were vital in carrying out this key strike against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The reckless attacks by these terrorists in the Red Sea against global trade and military personnel cannot continue to go unanswered. The men and women of Whiteman are always ready to answer the call,” said Congressman Alford.

    On Wednesday, the U.S. announced it hit Houthi targets in Yemen with long-range bombers in an effort to discourage further attacks against commercial and military vessels in the Middle East.  The strike included U.S. Air Force and Navy assets, including B-2 Spirit bombers. 

    In recent military operations, the B-2 has proven its unmatched capability to penetrate fortified targets. This success highlights the critical role that Whiteman Air Force Base plays in defending the United States. 

    Key Facts:

    • Whiteman AFB is home to the B-2 Spirit, a key element in America’s strategic deterrence.
    • The B-21 Raider will soon join Whiteman’s fleet, further bolstering our defense capabilities.
    • Congressman Alford has worked to secure essential resources for Whiteman AFB, including $19,500,000 for flightline fueling facilities.
    • Congressman Alford voted to fully fund the B-2 and B-21 bombers, ensuring their continued strength and readiness for America’s long-range strike capabilities. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: World Network Unveils Major Updates at San Francisco Event

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — World Network, formerly known as Worldcoin, today made a series of groundbreaking announcements during its exclusive global event in San Francisco, hosted by co-founders Sam Altman and Alex Blania. As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to evolve at a rapid pace, World is introducing new infrastructure to empower individuals and create systems that benefit everyone.

    Here are the key updates from the event:

    1. Next-Generation Orb: Expanding the Reach of Proof of Human Verifications

    World unveiled the latest Orb, a revolutionary new device that enhances the efficiency and scalability of World ID verifications. Powered by the latest NVIDIA Jetson chipset, the new Orb offers nearly five times the AI performance compared to its predecessor. Its updated design reduces complexity with 30% fewer parts and includes a removable external SD card for full auditability.

    The new Orb enables the creation of more flexible verification models, including flagship locations, on-demand Orbs, and self-serve kiosks—accelerating the deployment of proof of human verifications across the globe.

    2. World ID 3.0: Credentials and Enhanced Privacy Features

    The launch of World ID 3.0 introduces new features like World ID Credentials, allowing users to store and use information from their NFC-enabled passports on their devices. This enables World ID holders to verify their age, nationality, or passport ownership without revealing their full identity.

    Additionally, World ID 3.0 brings stronger privacy protections with AMPC (Advanced Multiparty Computation) and World ID Deep Face, a new tool designed to combat online fraud and enhance security in digital interactions.

    3. World App 3.0: The Super App for Humans

    World announced the release of World App 3.0, a redesigned platform built to scale with the expanding World Network. It now supports Mini Apps, allowing third-party apps to integrate directly with World ID, Wallet, and Contacts, all while maintaining user anonymity.

    The updated World App also includes enhanced wallet features like Vault and World Pay (where available), and it supports World ID Credentials, offering greater utility and security for users.

    4. World Chain Mainnet Launch

    The highly anticipated World Chain mainnet is officially live. With the migration of over 15 million World ID holders and World App users to the network, World Chain is the first blockchain designed specifically to prioritize human activity and transactions.

    World Chain is supported by leading blockchain services, including Optimism, Alchemy, Uniswap, Safe, Dune, and Etherscan, ensuring a robust and scalable infrastructure for users worldwide.

    5. Worldcoin Becomes World Network

    As the scope and scale of the project continue to expand, Worldcoin has officially rebranded as World Network. The name change reflects the project’s broader mission to accelerate progress for all humanity. World Network now stands on three key pillars: World Chain, World ID, and Worldcoin—a network of verified humans designed to ensure an optimistic future where humans remain at the center of AI development.

    About World Network

    Initially developed by Sam Altman, Alex Blania and Max Novendstern, World Network is intended to be the world’s largest, most inclusive identity and financial public utility accessible by everyone: an open network supported by a global community of developers, individuals, economists, and technologists. Stewarded by the World Foundation, the project aims to expand global economic participation and accessibility.

    About Tools For Humanity

    Tools for Humanity (TFH) is a global technology company established to accelerate the transition towards a more just economic system. It led the initial development of World Network and operates the World App. It is governed entirely independently of the World Foundation. Over time, TFH will continue to develop important tools supporting World Network and beyond. Tools for Humanity Corporation is a Delaware (U.S.) corporation headquartered in San Francisco, California. To learn more, visit: https://www.toolsforhumanity.com/

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/80a18d67-54e6-435d-9234-25420ac00506

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Portland Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing Pandemic Unemployment Benefits

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland man was sentenced to federal prison Wednesday for stealing more than $147,000 in pandemic unemployment benefits from the Oregon Employment Department (OED).

    Matthew Kemp, 41, was sentenced to six months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. Kemp was also ordered to pay $147,294 in restitution to the OED.

    According to court documents, between July 2020 and January 2021, Kemp devised and carried out a scheme whereby he used the personal information of 17 people, including their dates of birth and social security numbers, to fraudulently apply for pandemic unemployment insurance benefits. Some individuals knew Kemp had used their personal information because he had promised to obtain benefits on their behalf while others were unaware.

    To ensure the benefits went to him instead of the named applicants, Kemp requested the benefits be paid out by check or prepaid debit card, and put his own mailing address, email address, and phone number on the claims. If there was a delay or issue in processing his various fraudulent claims, Kemp called the OED and impersonated the named applicant to ensure he got (in his words) “my money.”

    On February 7, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a seven-count indictment charging Kemp with mail fraud, bank fraud, and theft of government funds. On June 14, 2024, Kemp pleaded guilty to theft of government funds.

    This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG). It was prosecuted by Meredith D.M. Bateman, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

    Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Juvenile Justice Employee Sentenced for Violating the Civil Rights of Youth in His Care

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

    ASHLAND, Ky. – A former Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice employee, Nathaniel K. Lumpkins, 33, of Elkfork, Ky., was sentenced to 36 months in prison by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, on Tuesday, for one count of deprivation of rights under color of law.

    Lumpkins was employed at Woodsbend Youth Development Center, a Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice facility located in West Liberty, Ky., and worked as a Youth Worker, responsible for the custody, care, and control of the juveniles housed there.  As he admitted in his plea agreement, on January 23, 2019, Lumpkins violated the civil rights of a fifteen-year-old at Woodsbend, when he used unreasonable force on the victim.  When the victim was already compliant, on the ground, and being held by three other adult Youth Workers, Lumpkins began twisting the victim’s hand back onto his wrist and pushing his body weight repeatedly down onto the youth’s wrist and arm.  While doing this, Lumpkins broke the victim’s arm, and admitted in his plea agreement that he did so out of anger and not for any legitimate purpose.  Lumpkins later slammed the victim’s already-broken arm into a concrete wall, again out of anger with no legitimate purpose.  Then, Lumpkins wrote and signed an incident report that included false information, in an attempt to cover up his unlawful use of force.       

    Under federal law, Lumpkins must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence.  Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.

    Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announce the sentencing.

    The investigation was conducted by the FBI, with assistance from the Internal Investigations Branch of the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Zach Dembo is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. 

    — END — 

    MIL Security OSI –