NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Legislative amendments enabling submission and processing of applications for Hong Kong identity cards by automated means gazetted

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The subsidiary legislation under the Registration of Persons Ordinance (ROP Ordinance) (Cap. 177), namely the Registration of Persons (Amendment) Regulation 2024, was gazetted today (October 18).

         Corresponding to the above amendments, amendments to the Electronic Transactions (Exclusion) Order (Cap. 553B), viz. the Electronic Transactions (Exclusion) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2024, was also gazetted today.

         The above legislative proposals aim to enable the submission and processing of applications for Hong Kong identity cards (HKICs) by automated means via the Personal Documentation Submission Kiosks (PDSKs) of the Immigration Department (ImmD). Eligible applicants can complete the streamlined application procedures at the PDSKs in a self-service manner without the need to meet a Registration Officer in person. The proposed amendment regulation and order will be tabled at the Legislative Council on October 23 for negative vetting.

         A spokesman for the ImmD said, “The first batch of PDSKs is now set up at the Immigration Headquarters in Tseung Kwan O. It is anticipated that the PDSKs’ function in handling HKICs applications will be introduced by the end of this year, once the amendments to the related subsidiary legislations have passed through the scrutiny period. Eligible applicants will be able to submit HKICs applications in a self-service manner, which will be more convenient and time-efficient. Regardless of the means used to submit applications, the eligibility criteria for HKICs applications remain unchanged.”

         The service arrangements and details regarding HKICs applications via PDSKs will be announced in due course prior to its introduction at the end of this year.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Results of the ECB Survey of Professional Forecasters for the fourth quarter of 2024

    Source: European Central Bank

    18 October 2024

    • Inflation expectations at 2.4% for 2024 and 1.9% for 2025 and 2026; unchanged except for 0.1 percentage point downward revision for 2025; longer-term inflation expectations (for 2029) remain at 2.0%
    • Real GDP growth expectations broadly unchanged; small downward revision for 2025 largely reflects a carry-over from weaker than previously expected growth in the second half of 2024
    • Unemployment rate expectations unchanged; expected to average 6.5% in 2024 and 2025 but to decline to 6.4% in 2026 and in the longer term

    Respondents’ expectations for headline inflation, as measured in terms of the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), were 2.4% for 2024 and 1.9% for both 2025 and 2026. These were unchanged except for a 0.1 percentage point downward revision for 2025, mainly reflecting expectations for lower oil prices. Expectations for core HICP inflation, which excludes energy and food, were revised upwards slightly for 2024, reflecting data outturns and more persistent than expected services inflation, but were unchanged thereafter. Longer-term expectations for both headline and core HICP inflation were unchanged at 2.0%.

    Respondents expected real GDP growth of 0.7% in 2024, 1.2% in 2025 and 1.4% in 2026. Compared with the previous survey, the expectations for 2025 were revised down by 0.1 percentage points. The downward revision for 2025 largely reflects a carry-over from weaker than previously expected growth in the second half of 2024, with the expected quarterly growth profile thereafter largely unchanged. Longer-term growth expectations remained unchanged at 1.3%.

    The expected profile of the unemployment rate was unchanged. Respondents continued to expect the unemployment rate to average 6.5% in 2024 and 2025, but to decline to 6.4% in 2026, and then to remain at 6.4% in the longer term.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Future managers of the State University of Management visited the Public Chamber

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    On October 15, 2024, a career-oriented event was held in the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation for 30 students of the State University of Management with the participation of Associate Professor of the Department of Public and Municipal Administration Mikhail Polyakov and Assistant Professor of the Department Anna Khaustova.

    An educational tour of the Chamber building was organized for young managers, during which the youth learned about the history of the organization and the events currently taking place on its premises. Students had the opportunity to take part in a round table discussion of issues of interest to them.

    The following spoke at the meeting: Chairman of the Commission on Security and Interaction with the Public Monitoring Commission Mikhail Anichkin, Secretary of the Commission on Public Control and Work with Citizens’ Appeals Fyodor Nikitochkin, Deputy Chairman of the Corps “For Clean Elections” Alexey Peskov.

    Representatives of the Public Chamber spoke about the principles and features of the organization’s work, as well as about the history, internal structure and mechanisms of interaction with government agencies. Fyodor Nitochkin focused on the issues of forming the membership corps of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation and the features of the organization’s structure. Alexey Peskov told students about the organization of the election process and monitoring of their conduct, about electoral practice.

    “You live in an academic atmosphere where everyone is equal. Everything depends on you from now on. I wish you stable knowledge, a strong character and clarity of goals!”, Mikhail Anichkin wished in conclusion.

    A quiz was organized for the guests, after which the students were presented with unique samples of the Russian Constitution.

    In the near future, the State University of Management and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation are planning to conclude an agreement that will allow university students to undergo practical training at the main institute of civil society in our country.

    An internship at the Public Chamber will allow you to become familiar with work in your specialty, acquire professional knowledge, including experience in preparing public events, working with documents, and experience in search and research work for the high-quality preparation of your thesis.

    At the end of the meeting, students from the State University of Management were invited to join the Chamber’s volunteer corps to help do good deeds together and promote the development of civil society in our country.

    The event was held within the framework of the work plan of the project initiative support club “School of the Young Manager” of the Department of State and Municipal Equation of the State University of Management.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 10/18/2024

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

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

    Future managers of the State University of Management visited the Public Chamber

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Kenya’s presidents have a long history of falling out with their deputies – Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment is no surprise

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Gabrielle Lynch, Professor of Comparative Politics, University of Warwick

    The removal of Kenya’s deputy president Rigathi Gachagua is part of a long history, dating back to independence, of fallouts between the president and his deputy. The difference this time around is the process.

    Historically, presidents have fired their deputies. But the adoption of a new constitution in 2010, saw the introduction of a process for impeachment – for both the president and the deputy – that’s run by the legislature. This is the first time it’s been used.

    On 8 October 2024, members of Kenya’s national assembly voted to impeach Gachagua on grounds that included corruption, insubordination and ethnically divisive politics. The case moved to the senate, which also voted to impeach Gachagua on 17 October.

    Gachagua has made history as Kenya’s first deputy leader to be impeached. While President William Ruto stayed silent on the matter, the process would not have proceeded without his blessing.

    Amid the novelty of the impeachment process, it’s easy to forget that it is the norm for Kenyan presidents to fall out with their deputies. As a political scientist interested in Kenya’s ethnic politics and democratisation, I argue that this is because of how deputies are selected in the first place.

    Deputies are initially selected largely on pragmatic grounds as people who bring something useful to a political alliance. This could be resources, a support base or a reputation for being a good technocrat or administrator.

    They’re not usually people with whom the president has a strong and continuous personal relationship or someone with whom they share a clear political ideology. Neither are they usually someone who has made their way up through a political party.

    This has brought about a long history of tensions and fallout between Kenya’s presidents and their deputies.

    History of fallouts

    Independent Kenya’s first vice president, Oginga Odinga, saw his ministerial portfolio gradually reduced by President Jomo Kenyatta. Kenyatta then replaced Odinga as vice president of the ruling Kenya African National Union (Kanu) in 1966 further undermining his powers. Soon after, Odinga joined the opposition Kenya’s People’s Union.

    His successor, Joseph Murumbi, resigned within months. The official reason given was ill health, but it is widely believed that Murumbi was troubled by corruption and authoritarianism within the Kenyatta regime.

    Kenya’s second president, Daniel arap Moi, elected Mwai Kibaki as his first deputy. Kibaki was dropped after a decade. He went on to form an opposition party as soon as Kenya shifted to multi-party politics in 1992.

    Moi’s second vice president, Josephat Karanja, resigned after a year to avoid a vote of no confidence for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government.

    Moi’s third deputy, George Saitoti was sidelined to pave way for Uhuru Kenyatta’s nomination as the party flagbearer in 2002. Moi’s final deputy, Musalia Mudavadi, fell with the rest of the Kanu government in the 2002 elections.

    As Kenya’s third president, Kibaki similarly oversaw a regular change of guard. His first deputy, Michael Wamalwa, died after a few months in office. His second, Moody Awori, lost his seat in the 2007 election.

    Kibaki’s third deputy, Kalonzo Musyoka, joined the president during Kenya’s post-election violence of 2007-08. He left at the end of his term in 2013 to run with Raila Odinga in the 2013, 2017 and 2022 presidential elections.

    Kenya’s fourth president, Uhuru Kenyatta, was the only leader to have the same deputy, William Ruto, for his full term as president – from 2013 to 2022. However, relations between Kenyatta and Ruto were hardly rosy. The two fell out after the 2017 elections as Kenyatta teamed up with long-standing opposition leader, Raila Odinga. Ruto beat Odinga, Kenyatta’s favoured candidate in the 2022 elections.

    Lessons to learn

    Because deputies are selected for their practical value, the person who made a good deputy at one point in time can come to be seen as a liability or threat as the political context changes.

    For example, at independence, Oginga Odinga made an excellent ally for Jomo Kenyatta. He had some resources and was a proven mobiliser. He brought a support base. However, within a few years, Odinga became a problem for the president as a more radical faction within the ruling party coalesced around him.

    Similarly, Ruto made an excellent ally for Uhuru Kenyatta when they both faced charges for crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court. The two fell out once Kenyatta had won his second and final term, and Kenyatta turned to his succession.

    Gachagua was useful to Ruto in 2022. He had personal wealth, was an effective mobiliser and hailed from central Kenya where the election looked to be won or lost. However, once elected, Gachagua’s populist statements and reputation for ethnic bias became more of a liability.

    Second, as contexts change, someone else can soon come to be seen as more useful as second in command.

    For Jomo Kenyatta, Moi had shown his utility and loyalty during the “little general elections” of 1966, which effectively sidelined the Kenya People’s Union and Oginga Odinga.

    Ruto nominated Kithure Kindiki, Kenya’s interior cabinet secretary, to replace Gachagua. He is seen as better able to negotiate with the international community, especially during a critical economic period for Kenya as it seeks new International Monetary Fund loans.

    Third, being the country’s vice or deputy president comes with a lot of opportunities to network. These interactions have often led individuals to be seen as a growing threat, or as actively plotting against the president. They may also be seen as a future challenger.

    History has shown that there is no ideal way of dealing with such a potential challenger, leading subsequent presidents to try different approaches.

    Current context

    Ruto and Gachagua have clearly fallen out. Their differences became apparent soon after the 2022 elections. However, they came into sharp relief in the face of anti-tax protests in June 2024. There were subsequent allegations that Gachagua and some of his allies had helped to finance the protests.

    The question, therefore, isn’t why they have fallen out but why Gachagua is being impeached now.

    Ultimately the answer to this can only be known by a few individuals. But perhaps an indication of the answer lies in the emotions the fallout has stirred: a desire to distract the public and show that the government is taking action to deal with Kenya’s ongoing economic crisis. There may also be a desire to undercut Gachagua before he can build national networks.

    Ruto had the numbers in the senate to see the impeachment process through. But this is a dangerous game. Those sidelined have a habit of coming back to haunt their former allies.

    At the moment, most Kenyans are supportive of the impeachment process, but many also feel that Gachagua is being unfairly targeted especially in central Kenya, where a majority oppose the process.

    While a successful impeachment might see Gachagua barred from holding public office, this wouldn’t necessarily mean an end to his career as an effective political mobiliser.

    The next few months – and the narratives that emerge about why Ruto and Gachagua fell out – will be critical in determining both their futures.

    This article has been updated to reflect the 17 October 2024 senate decision to impeach Rigathi Gachagua.*

    Gabrielle Lynch 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. Kenya’s presidents have a long history of falling out with their deputies – Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment is no surprise – https://theconversation.com/kenyas-presidents-have-a-long-history-of-falling-out-with-their-deputies-rigathi-gachaguas-impeachment-is-no-surprise-241139

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: HSE Student Wins Youth World Combat Sambo Championship

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    A first-year student of the ICEF International Bachelor’s Program in Economics and Finance, Georgy Khvatkin, won gold at the World Youth Championship in Combat Sambo. The competition was held in Larnaca, Republic of Cyprus, and was attended by 575 athletes from 33 countries. Georgy won in the 98 kg weight category. In an express interview with the champion, Master of Sports Georgy Khvatkin, we talk about how the important decision to enter ICEF was made, how long and how many days a week Georgy has been training, what Jackie Chan has to do with it, and how great it is to have a beloved twin sister.

    From the personal archive of Georgy Khvatkin

    – Georgy, congratulations on your gold, we are proud of such a student! How and why did you decide to enter ICEF? What were your guidelines?

    – Entering ICEF was a conscious decision. My parents found out about ICEF first. They both graduated from the Philology Department of Moscow State University, and then my dad got a law degree, and my mom got an economics degree. My mom is very knowledgeable about economics and helped us choose a profession. We studied the information together and considered all the possibilities. An important factor was studying in English and getting a second diploma. We decided that this opened up great prospects. We did not consider other universities. My sister Katya and I (we are twins) prepared for the Unified State Exam and admission over the course of four school years.

    My sister and I graduated from the Moscow Russian-British school “Algorithm”, where we transferred in the seventh grade, with gold medals. And now we both study in the same bachelor’s degree group at the International Institute of Economics and Finance. Katya is my best friend. By the way, she is also successful in sports, she is a candidate for master of sports in synchronized swimming.

    – The school year has started intensively. Which subjects are coming to the forefront in terms of interest?

    – All subjects are interesting to me, all of them “caught” my attention. Largely thanks to the teaching staff. It feels like the teachers are professionals in their field, I value them all very much. I would like to separately mention Yaroslav Aleksandrovich Lyulko, who teaches “Probability Theory and Statistics”. It seems to me that this subject opens up the greatest opportunities for me as a student.

    The first few days were, of course, a bit difficult, considering how much sport there is in my life. It was also difficult because I was faced with topics that were completely new to me, but with the help of teachers and friends I figured it out and found solutions.

    I have the best group (I guess everyone says so?!): cool guys with whom I have many common interests. I already felt that ICEF is one big family, where teachers, classmates, senior students help each other.

    Studying in English turned out to be easier than I thought. I have been studying the language intensively since early childhood, and the introductory intensive course in English at the beginning of September also helped me a lot.

    – Now about your sports career. Why did you start doing sambo and how do your trainings go?

    Initially, I was involved in swimming. My dad played water polo all his life, my sister did synchronized swimming, a pool was always present in our life. And when I got interested in action movies with Jackie Chan at the age of 6-7, I became interested in martial arts. But for some reason I formulated that I wanted to do wrestling, and my dad sent me to the sambo section.

    In everyday life, when there are no competitions, I train 4-5 times a week on weekdays. During the preparation period for competitions, I start to increase the pace two months in advance. Specifically, before the Youth World Combat Sambo Championship in Larnaca, I trained two to three times a day for a month, including independent training in the form of jogging.

    – You train at the famous Sambo-70 club, and where else?

    I train in different clubs. This allows me to quickly acquire different techniques, improve in different directions. My main coach is Honored Coach of Russia Nikolay Anatolyevich Elesin, an absolute authority in the world of MMA and combat sambo. I also train at the “Boxing Progress Center” with Ali Piduriyev, and sometimes I go to wrestling days at the “Club of Professor E.L. Gloriozov”, where I work with coach Denis Igorevich Davydov.

    – Were there moments when you wanted to quit sambo?

    Yes, it happened several times. At some point, a lot of studying piled up, and in sports there were offensive and annoying defeats. I want to note the enormous support of the whole family, which did not let me do this, for which I am incredibly grateful to them all.

    – Do you have any idols in sports?

    I don’t really like the word “idol”. As I understand it, this word means to elevate someone to the level of a deity. There are people I look up to and who I like in sports. First of all, this is the legend of Russian sports Fedor Emelianenko, a four-time world champion in combat sambo. I really like the style of work on the mat of the famous sambo wrestler Denis Goltsov. I follow all his performances, try to adopt some of his techniques.

    – Out of the one and a half months of your student life, you trained two or three times a day, five days a week. How much time was left for studying? How do you manage to combine such different intensive loads?

    Of course, it is very difficult to combine sports and studies. I have to integrate training into my study schedule, so my schedule is always flexible – sometimes I will work out in the morning, sometimes more in the evening. Before tests and quizzes I reduce the number of trainings, and when it comes to studying I sometimes resort to the help of my parents, sister and friends.

    The life of a student and an athlete are similar in many ways, because it is a huge amount of independent work that you have to do. To do this, you simply need to master time management: you need to distribute your time literally by the hour in advance, so that you can do everything, and save energy somewhere, and have time to recover.

    Every week I create a schedule for the entire week to help me productively combine both studying and training.

    Now the loads in sports will decrease. But periods of high intensive load in my life are inevitable. I have to sacrifice my personal life – I manage to meet with friends once a month. This year, due to preparation for the World Championship, I unfortunately missed all the selections for student organizations that I would like to join. I hope I will have time next year.

    And for the sake of sporting honor, the IIEF is always ready to participate in competitions.

    – Have you ever found yourself in situations where circumstances pushed you to use your athletic skills in life?

    There are situations in life when you are provoked or you see that other people are provoked. I am sure that a truly strong person is not the one who knows how to fight and use physical force, but the one who knows how to resolve any issue in a conversation, in a dialogue. I believe that an athlete at such a level has no right to use his professional skills in life.

    – The student champion will hardly be able to rest on his laurels. What are your immediate plans?

    In sports, it is the Moscow Championship, selection for the Russian Championship, if we manage to win, we will go to the World Championship again. I still have 2 years to compete in juniors. It is very serious preparation before competitions in the senior age group, where I will have to compete with seasoned athletes. In terms of studies, it is midterms, exams. I would like to pass everything well and continue studying.

    – Georgy, thank you and further victories in everything!

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

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

    http://isef.hse.ru/nevs/975622782.html

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Innovative approach of Polytechnic scientists to increase the efficiency of thermal power plants

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    A new approach to increasing the economic and energy efficiency of combined-cycle power units of Russian thermal power plants is being developed by a research group from the Institute of Power Engineering of SPbPU with the support of the strategic academic leadership program “Priority-2030”. Scientists have proven that changing the operating mode of combined-cycle units will increase the marginal income of thermal power plants without significantly changing the heating scheme. According to experts’ calculations, the approach will save several million cubic meters of natural gas per heating period.

    Scientists from the Institute of Power Engineering of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University are developing new tools to improve economic and energy efficiency when converting combined-cycle power units to parameters traditional for the Russian energy sector using domestic gas turbine units. According to scientists, all combined-cycle units at Russian thermal power plants currently use low steam parameters in the utilization circuit. This is largely due to the imposed traditions of Western manufacturers of such devices. Analysis and revision of existing equipment operating parameters is the most important stage of systematic work to ensure import independence of the domestic energy sector.

    With the support of the Priority-2030 strategic academic leadership program, a research group from SPbPU is working on optimization tools for the transition to domestic combined-cycle technologies. At the first stage of the work, scientists created digital models of units with combined-cycle plants for a comprehensive analysis of all factors affecting the operation of the CHPP. Then, specialists conducted a study of the influence of various parameters, including the pressure of steam generated in the waste heat boiler, on the economic efficiency of the CHPP.

    Most Western power units operate in condensation mode, i.e. they produce only electrical energy. For Russia, it is typical to use power units with combined production of both heat and electrical energy. Combined-cycle power units with imported gas turbine units operated in our country have a fairly low pressure of 7.4 MPa at the input. But the strong point of the Russian energy industry is a wide range of steam turbines with initial pressures of 12.74 MPa, which are used in classic steam turbine power units, – noted Irina Anikina, Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Higher School of Nuclear and Thermal Energy of SPbPU.

    Scientists have carried out complex calculations and proposed to increase the initial steam pressure in the utilization circuit of the combined-cycle power plant. Instead of using turbines with reduced operating parameters, scientists proposed to use existing Russian serial-produced steam turbines with minimal modernization, designed for a pressure of 12.74 MPa, during the planned modernization or construction of new combined-cycle power plants. This will significantly increase the availability of combined-cycle power units for the domestic energy sector, as well as the efficiency of the plant. According to scientists’ calculations, this approach will save 2-3 million cubic meters of natural gas in just one heating period.

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

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

    https://www.spbstu.ru/media/nevs/science_and_innovations/innovative-approach-of-Polytechnic-scientists-to-increasing-efficiency-of-CHP/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Agillic patents large-scale personalised communication solution

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press release, Copenhagen, 18 October 2024

    Agillic has achieved a Danish patent for its unique method for processing large-scale, real-time data processing. 

    The method reduces the complexity and efforts required to carry out such processing compared to other solutions leading to lower power consumption and lower financial operating costs.

    The Agillic platform has long been a leap forward in marketing technology, empowering brands to deliver personalised, real-time, and scalable customer experiences across channels, positioning them – and Agillic – at the forefront of omnichannel marketing.

    Says Martin Lindboe, Chief Technology Officer:
    “We are thrilled to achieve the patent, acknowledging the efforts behind our unique and highly effective solution for large-scale data communication. With this patent, we are reinforcing our commitment to innovation and supporting brands in creating seamless, data-driven customer engagement that drive results in the most efficient way possible.”

    For further information, please contact
    Emre Gürsoy, CEO, Agillic A/S
    +45 3078 4200
    emre.gursoy@agillic.com

    About Agillic A/S
    Agillic (Nasdaq First North Growth Market Copenhagen: AGILC) is a Danish software company offering brands a platform through which they can work with data-driven insights and content to create, automate and send personalised communication to millions. Agillic is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, with teams in Germany, Norway, and Romania.
    Agillic A/S – Masnedøgade 22 – 2100 Copenhagen – Denmark – www.agillic.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Correctional officers stop fight between persons in custody

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Correctional officers stop fight between persons in custody
    Correctional officers stop fight between persons in custody
    ***********************************************************

         ​Correctional officers at Stanley Prison stopped a fight between two persons in custody today (October 18).           At 10.44am today, two male persons in custody aged 29 and 33 engaged in a fight inside a workshop. Officers immediately stopped the fight and called for reinforcement.           During the incident, one of the persons in custody sustained injuries to his ear, neck, shoulder and arms. He was referred to a public hospital for further treatment after being examined and treated by the institution Medical Officer. The other person in custody sustained an injury to his arm. He did not need to be sent to a public hospital after receiving medical examination and treatment from the institution Medical Officer.           The case has been reported to the Police for investigation.           The two persons in custody were sentenced to imprisonment for the offences of trafficking in a dangerous drug and theft in May 2021 and September 2023, respectively.

     
    Ends/Friday, October 18, 2024Issued at HKT 16:45

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Simpsonhaugh Architects Embraces Digital Transformation with VDI And AI, Leveraging ControlUp’s DEX Platform for Real-Time Performance Analytics and Remediation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, Oct. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ControlUp, at the forefront of Digital Employee Experience (DEX) management, today announced that SimpsonHaugh Architects, a UK-based, award-winning and respected practice, is utilising the ControlUp DEX platform to monitor and optimise its new VDI environment in real-time.

    SimpsonHaugh is making a £1.21 million investment over several years to digitally transform by introducing VDI and AI technology to underpin the future development and operations of the business. Industry leading solutions have been installed including Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktop, Citrix NetScaler, VMware vSphere Hypervisor, Dell Servers with vSAN storage, NVIDIA vGPU and ControlUp’s DEX platform which is providing VDI performance analytics and remediation.

    Adopting VDI was driven by a strategic decision to centralise IT on-premise at SimpsonHaugh’s headquarters in Manchester, improve remote-working, support a work-life balance for staff and boost project collaboration by not being constrained by physical workstations.

    The IT team also wanted to avoid the complexity, time and expense of managing systems over three locations given the practice also has offices in London and Birmingham. Furthermore, many workstations – high end PCs each costing up to £6,500 – were becoming end of life, unreliable, consuming a lot of power and needed to be upgraded.

    The new VDI platform supports agile working yet is optimised to run GPU-intensive architectural applications like Revit, Rhino, Enscape and SketchUp – crucial to delivering customer projects on time, in what is an ever-demanding industry.

    “Architecture is a heavy user of graphics-based IT. Building Information Modelling is now adopted pervasively, producing large volumes of data and consuming substantial compute. Clients recognise the technology improvements so the expectations about the visuals and data provided are growing,” says Dave Moyes, partner, information and digital systems, SimpsonHaugh. “Ten years ago, we might have created 500 drawings for a project. Today, it’s at least double. Projects are increasingly complex and time scales are tight. The pressure to be quick and agile while creating quality design proposals which optimise a client’s brief is therefore considerable. It is no exaggeration to say that ICT to support this is indispensable.”

    SimpsonHaugh’s ICT strategy involves keeping technology simple for staff to use. The business is project delivery and ‘time charge’ based. ICT system availability is paramount given downtime has material impact on this.

    UK managed service provider and digital workspace consultancy, ebb3, was selected to support with the roll out and have been instrumental in the design, implementation and management of the VDI environment. ebb3 also provides SimpsonHaugh technical 2nd and 3rd line support.

    “The transition to VDI is being phased. SimpsonHaugh is running a hybrid environment – both virtual desktops and physical desktops – so as to capitalise on its existing investment in expensive workstations,” explains Jav Fiaz, ebb3’s Technical Architect & Senior Platform Engineer. “A key project goal was to keep the compute and data as close as possible to minimise latency which we’ve delivered.”

    Moyes adds, “If virtual desktops aren’t resourced properly – and applications freeze or suffer from latency – staff will blame the “new system”. Guaranteeing the end-user experience is vital. Monitoring in real-time using ControlUp’s DEX platform identifies which applications are hogging resources so that remedies can be considered like adding RAM, GPU or ‘throttling down’ software which is compute intensive.”

    SimpsonHaugh is experiencing significant benefits through the combination of VDI and ControlUp’s DEX platform:

    1. Potentially £1.79 million lost earnings saved. VDI has resulted in a huge reduction in IT downtime equating to approximately 17% of SimpsonHaugh’s 2023 turnover. This is based on 15% gain in hours per week multiplied by 80 architectural staff over the course of a 38-week year using an average hourly rate of £105. Time savings result from less break-fix, fewer hardware and software issues with files and applications opening faster.
    2. Annual overall ICT investment maintained through the VDI implementation – no significant spikes in hardware cost, with VDI giving certainty that systems are guaranteed to work.
    3. Huge productivity gains for staff, with superior work-life balance realised. Architecture is a vocation. SimpsonHaugh’s employees are passionate about what they do. Citrix enables people to work easily from home – just as if they were in the office – while juggling their personal lives more advantageously.
    4. Staff cannot tell if they are working on a physical machine or via VDI – a testament to the quality and ease of use of Citrix and careful management by ebb3.
    5. VDI has improved collaboration with trusted third parties such as specialist consultants by opening up part of the environment when required.
    6. Potentially £35,000 saved not hiring an additional employee to support VDI by leveraging the ControlUp DEX platform.
    7. Problem solving time has drastically reduced using ControlUp information as real-time data about what is happening within the IT environment is provided, thereby pinpointing issues faster. VDI can now be fully optimised to cater for the peaks and troughs of project workflow, without the ‘over spec’ing‘ of IT hardware required which reduces ICT costs.

    Project next steps

    SimpsonHaugh is currently working to expand its VDI environment to cover the whole business. This will take 3-5 years to complete. The strategy is to replace workstations as they approach end of life rather than waste perfectly good IT equipment.

    In addition, SimpsonHaugh is upgrading its corporate network to a 25 Gigabit Ethernet backbone to further support the end-user experience. The practice is also purchasing higher resolution 2k and 4k screens for staff and introducing Nutanix data storage to manage the virtual server environment.

    SimpsonHaugh is also working on other ICT innovation projects such as introducing privately hosted AI using private data across the practice (where powerful networking and compute is paramount) – a key priority given the impact AI is making on the architecture profession.

    Private AI is the only option because of client project confidentiality issues – where strict NDAs are signed – with SimpsonHaugh using three types of AI engine:

    • Word AI. This is an expanding area and involves the automation of tasks such as minutes of meetings, site reports and schedules.
    • Image AI. This is a new area and will involve using AI to create detailed images of early-stage design proposals based on sketches and LLM text inputted into an AI system. This will take into account a range of parameters like site orientation, type of cladding material (brick, render, glass etc), with the AI tools generating options in a SimpsonHaugh ‘style’ to facilitate communication of ideas. The practice is reviewing using ComfyUI and Microsoft Copilot as possible solutions.
    • Generative AI. This branch of AI is well established and used to support work such as the production of parametric designs. The planning of space layouts in a building is an excellent example. Using generative AI, you can stretch a grid in any given direction to change the number and types of spaces within a given architectural form.

    “The project to introduce VDI and our DEX platform has boosted operational performance at SimpsonHaugh and put in place infrastructure to support the practice’s needs in the future,” says Robert Ellis, UK Sales Director at ControlUp. “End-users cannot tell whether they are using a physical workstation or desktop served by VDI – the implementation has been that well managed – and the speed of roll out was fast and disruption minimal because of extensive pre-implementation design and planning work carried out by ebb3.”

    About SimpsonHaugh

    SimpsonHaugh Architects is well known for projects which elegantly shape and revitalise urban areas. The practice has a diverse portfolio including commercial offices, hotels, cultural, education, purpose-built student accommodation, residential and mixed-use neighbourhood developments.

    Key award-winning schemes include: Deansgate Square, One Blackfriars, The Engineering Innovation Centre (University of Central Lancashire), Circus West Village (Battersea Power Station Phase 1) and 4 Angel Square, part of the 20-acre NOMA area in Manchester.

    Founded in 1987, the practice employs 100 staff across studios in Manchester, London and Birmingham – a new office which opened in 2023 demonstrating the ongoing success of the business. For further information, visit https://www.simpsonhaugh.com

    About ebb3

    ebb3 accelerates business transformation through its expertise in enterprise AI and VDI digital workspaces. Offering award-winning end-to-end services for private AI and VDI platforms, ebb3 delivers secure, high-performance infrastructure tailored to the unique needs of enterprise clients. ebb3 is NVIDIA Preferred Partner certified and has VMware’s Master Services Competency. For more information, visit https://www.ebb3.com

    About ControlUp

    ControlUp reimagines Digital Employee Experience (DEX) management with true real-time visibility, enabling 20X faster issue resolution on any desktop, any application, anywhere. ControlUp empowers IT to focus on elevation, not escalation, by equipping them with actionable, true AI-driven insights and proactive remediation tools to drive unbounded productivity for IT teams and employees. Nearly 2,000 customers across the globe trust ControlUp, including more than one-third of the Fortune 100. Learn more at https://www.controlup.com

    For media inquiries:
    ControlUp PR
    media@controlup.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Indian National Is Sentenced To Prison For $20 Million Dollar Fraud Scheme Involving Fake Cryptocurrency Exchange Websites

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A citizen of the Republic of India was sentenced to prison today for stealing more than $20 million from hundreds of victims through the use of fake or “spoofed” websites mimicking the cryptocurrency exchange website Coinbase, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell ordered Chirag Tomar, 31, to serve 60 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release.

    Jason Byrnes, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Charlotte Field Office, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.

    According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, from as early as June 2021, Tomar and his co-conspirators engaged in a spoofing scheme to steal millions in cryptocurrency from hundreds of victims located worldwide and in the United States, including in the Western District of North Carolina. Spoofing, as it pertains to cybercrime, is when a malicious cyber actor disguises an email address, sender name, or website URL to convince victims they are interacting with a trusted source. Court documents show that Tomar and his co-conspirators executed the fraud by spoofing Coinbase, one of the largest virtual currency exchanges in the world, that allows customers to buy, sell or trade cryptocurrencies.

    Coinbase operated a “Pro” version of its exchange, which was found at the URL “Pro.Coinbase.Com.” According to court documents, Tomar and his co-conspirators spoofed the Coinbase Pro website by using a similar fake URL, CoinbasePro.Com, and created a fraudulent website to mimic the authentic website. Once victims entered their login credentials into the fake website, an authentication process was triggered. In some instances, victims were tricked into providing their login and authentication information of the real Coinbase website to fraudsters. Other times, victims were tricked into allowing fake Coinbase representatives to execute remote desktop software, which enabled fraudsters to gain control of victims’ computers and access their legitimate Coinbase accounts. The fraudsters also impersonated Coinbase customer service representatives and tricked the users into providing their two-factor authentication codes to the fraudsters over the phone. Once the fraudsters gained access to the victims’ Coinbase accounts, the fraudsters quickly transferred the victims’ Coinbase cryptocurrency holdings to cryptocurrency wallets under the fraudsters’ control.

    Court documents show that, in February 2022, a victim located in the Western District of North Carolina attempted to log into his Coinbase account through the fraudulent website. The spoof website immediately notified the victim that his account was locked and prompted the victim to use a number provided to call a fake Coinbase representative. The fake representative tricked the victim into providing his two-factor authentication information, ultimately gaining access into the victim’s real Coinbase account. Using the information, fraudsters stole cryptocurrency from the victim’s Coinbase wallet worth over $240,000.

    According to court records, Tomar used the victims’ stolen log-in credentials to access the victim accounts and transfer the victims’ cryptocurrency holdings to wallets controlled by Tomar. After Tomar received the stolen cryptocurrency, he would convert it to other forms of cryptocurrency and move the funds amongst many wallets controlled by Tomar. Ultimately, the cryptocurrency was converted into cash which was then distributed to Tomar and his co-conspirators.

    Tomar used the victims’ funds to pay for his lavish lifestyle, including to purchase Audemars Piguet and other expensive watches, to buy luxury vehicles like Lamborghinis and Porsches, and to make trips to Dubai, Thailand and elsewhere.

    On December 20, 2023, Tomar was arrested at the Atlanta airport upon entering the United States. On May 20, 2024, Tomar pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy. Tomar remains in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. 

    U.S. Attorney King commended the U.S. Secret Service for their investigation of the case and thanked the FBI in Nashville for their invaluable assistance.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Warren of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Leader of Sacramento Cocaine Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Maurice Bryant, 54, of Sacramento, was sentenced today to 168 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 5,000 grams of cocaine and 280 grams of cocaine base and for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, both in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1), U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

    According to court documents, Bryant is among the 15 federal defendants arrested in 2021 and charged in a 45-count indictment for trafficking narcotics as part of a DEA-led multi-agency operation targeting cocaine and heroin traffickers in North Sacramento. The Court found Bryant to be an organizer or leader of the vast cocaine distribution network. During just 60 days of wiretaps in 2018 and 2019, he was intercepted strategizing the movement of cocaine over the Mexican border, distributing over five kilograms of powder cocaine and a kilogram of cocaine base to his co-conspirators, and converting large quantities of powder cocaine into cocaine base (crack cocaine) in his residence. At the time of his arrest, agents seized drug trafficking paraphernalia, two loaded firearms, and a military-grade bullet proof vest from his residence.

    This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the California Department of Justice, the California Highway Patrol, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sacramento Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron L. Desmond is prosecuting the case.

    Below is the status of Bryant’s co-defendants:

    On September 29, 2022, Jason Tolbert, 45, of Sacramento, was sentenced to 57 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

    On November 17, 2022, Charles Carter, 36, of Sacramento, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of cocaine.

    On November 17, 2022, Andre Hellams, 40, of North Highlands, pleaded guilty to two counts of using a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense.  Hellams is scheduled to be sentenced on February 17, 2025. 

    On December 8, 2022, Michael Hampton, 57, of Vallejo, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of cocaine.

    On March 16, 2023, Arlington Caine, 48, of Rio Linda, was sentenced to 22 months in prison for two counts of using a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense.

    On March 14, 2024, Bobby Conner, 51, of Sacramento, was sentenced to six months in prison for two counts of using a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense.

    On April 25, 2024, 2023, Dwight Haney, 52, of Sacramento was sentenced to time served for two counts of using a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense.

    On May 30, 2024, Jerome Adams, 56, of North Highlands, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for two counts of using a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense.

    On August 8, 2024, Steven Hampton, 64, of Sacramento, was sentenced to 84 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of cocaine.

    On September 26, 2024, Mark Martin, 63, of Sacramento was sentenced to time served for using a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense.

    On August 1, 2024, Alex White, 61, of North Highlands, was sentenced to a term of 38 months (time served) for distribution of cocaine base.

    On September 3, 2024, Tyrone Anderson, 44, of Sacramento, was sentenced to 135 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute at least 5,000 grams of cocaine and 280 grams of cocaine base and for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin.

    Charges are pending against Yovanny Ontiveros, 41, of Sacramento, and Wilmer Harden, 52, of Elk Grove. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

    This prosecution is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. The Sacramento Strike Force is a co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The specific mission of the Sacramento Strike Force is to identify, investigate, disrupt, and dismantle the most significant drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) shipping narcotics, firearms, and money through the Eastern District of California, thereby reducing the flow of these criminal resources in California and the rest of the United States. The Sacramento Strike Force leads intelligence-driven investigations targeting the leadership and support elements of these DTOs and TCOs operating within the Eastern District of California, regardless of their geographic base of operations.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Charlotte Man Is Sentenced To Prison For $700,000 Investment Fraud Scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell sentenced Frank Lynold Mercado, 27, of Charlotte, to 41 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for defrauding over 100 victims of more than $700,000 through a fraudulent investment scheme, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Mercado was also ordered to pay $709,690 in restitution.

    Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.

    According to court documents and court proceedings, from July 2019 to December 2022, Mercado executed an investment fraud scheme in which he caused more than 100 investors to sustain nearly $700,000 in losses. Mercado induced the victims – many of whom were his friends, former co-workers, and other social acquaintances – to invest their money by holding himself out to be an expert in options trading with years of experience and a successful track record. As part of the scheme, Mercado falsely represented to victim investors that he would use their money for options trading and similar investments through his hedge fund, Tiger-Wolf Capital, LLC (Tiger-Wolf Capital). Instead of investing the funds as promised, Mercado used a portion of the money to make Ponzi-style payments to investors, and to fund his personal lifestyle, including to make large credit card payments and pay for personal expenditures such as Airbnb rentals, restaurants, and bars.

    Court documents show that with the money that he did invest, Mercado suffered trading losses and then lied to investors about the performance of their investments. For example, Mercado periodically sent updates to victim investors through emails, text messages, or screenshots of purported account portals that reflected fictitious trading gains. He also made false and fraudulent statements to investors about substantial returns on their investments in order to induce his victims to invest additional money with him and/or to leave their current investments with him. According to court documents, as a result of the scheme, Mercado caused victims to suffer losses, with some victims experiencing significant financial hardship.

    On June 12, 2022, Mercado pleaded guilty to wire fraud. He will be ordered to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

    On May 30, 2024, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced the filing of a complaint against Mercado in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, charging Mercado and Tiger-Wolf Capital with securities violations.  On July 2, 2024, the court, pursuant to consents signed by Mercado and Tiger-Wolf, enjoined them from violating the charged provisions and ordered them to pay disgorgement, prejudgment interest, and civil money penalties in amounts to be determined at a later date.  The court also barred Mercado from serving as officer or director of a public company and enjoined him from participating in the issuance, purchase, offer, or sale of securities, except in his personal account.

    U.S. Attorney King commended the FBI for their investigation of the case and thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for their coordination and assistance.

    Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Frick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Charlotte Man Is Sentenced To Prison For Armed Robberies Of Two Convenience Stores

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Thomas Lagene Franklin, 56, of Charlotte, was sentenced today to 15 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for the armed robbery of two local convenience stores, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

    Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.

    According to court documents and court proceedings, on August 7, 2022, at approximately 3:30 a.m., a black vehicle pulled up alongside a male victim who was walking toward his hotel room in Charlotte. The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Franklin, demanded money from the victim. When the victim replied that he did not have any money, Franklin fired multiple shots at the victim striking him in the leg before driving away.

    According to filed court documents, on August 9, 2022, Franklin robbed at gunpoint the Circle K convenience store located at 2833 Freedom Drive, in Charlotte. Court records show that, at approximately 1:45 a.m., Franklin entered the store wearing a bucket-style fishing hat with clear safety glasses and a black surgical mask. Upon entering the store, Franklin posed as a customer, brought items to the counter, and gave the clerk money to pay for those items. When the clerk opened the register, Franklin pulled a small silver semiautomatic handgun from his pocket, pointed it at the clerk, and demanded money in the register. The clerk complied and Franklin fled the scene.

    According to court records, later the same day, the 7-Eleven convenience store located at 8315 Steele Creek Road, in Charlotte, was robbed at gunpoint in a similar fashion as the Circle K

    robbery. At approximately 6:50 a.m., Franklin entered the store dressed identical to the robber from the Circle K robbery. Once again, Franklin acted as a customer and pretended to buy and pay for his items. When the store clerk opened the register, Franklin pulled out a small silver semi-automatic handgun and demanded money. The store clerk gave Franklin money and Franklin fled the scene. CMPD officers arrested Franklin the following day. A firearm recovered over the course of the arrest was identified as the gun used in the shooting and the two robberies.

    On February 7, 2024, Franklin pleaded guilty to two counts of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

    U.S. Attorney King commended the FBI and CMPD for their investigation of the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Dana Washington of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Employee Who Stole More than $430,000 from San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation Sentenced

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN DIEGO – Escondido resident Katherine Lu Acquista, the former director of operations and accounting for the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, was sentenced in federal court today to 12 months and 1 day in custody for stealing approximately $433,275.89 from her then-employer.  She was also ordered to pay a fine of $50,000.

    According to court documents, while employed at the non-profit organization known as EDC, Acquista used her access and authority to put personal expenses on EDC credit cards and pay those expenses using EDC funds. She also directed other employees to issue checks to her from the EDC company bank account. She then caused false entries about these transactions to be made in the EDC’s accounting system to disguise her ongoing theft. In addition, she stole from EDC’s flexible spending and payroll system. All told, she exploited her position of trust to steal more than $430,000 over at least a five-year period, between August 2017 and August 2022.

    The EDC is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization that works to grow San Diego’s economy and regional prosperity. The EDC’s mission is to maximize the region’s economic competitiveness and global competitiveness.  It is funded by individual and corporate donations, grants and investments from nearly 200 companies, public agencies, and private organizations.

    Explaining the impact of her crimes, the Chief Operating Officer of EDC stated, “[San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation] is a nonprofit organization with a mission to maximize the region’s economic prosperity and raise our global competitiveness. Acquista’sactions defied two of our closely held values – accountability and integrity.”

    “Members of our community who donate to local non-profits depend on the integrity and stewardship of those entrusted with such funds,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “This sentence serves to remind those engaged in crime for profit that whether your victim is the taxpayer, government, or a local non-profit, you will be held accountable.”

    “Those who seek to misappropriate non-profit donations are acting contrary to the interest of the public good. The FBI stands ready to investigate those who violate the trust of the donors and diminish the efforts of non-profit organizations such as the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation,” said San Diego FBI Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Valerie H. Chu. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Wasserman assisted in the case.

    DEFENDANT                                               Case Number 24CR0765-AJB

    Katherine Lu Acquista                                    Age: 47                                   Escondido, CA

    SUMMARY OF CHARGES

    Wire Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1343

    Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $250,000 fine

    INVESTIGATING AGENCY

    Federal Bureau of Investigation 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Video: 5th Joint BoC – ECB – NY Fed Conference – Session 5

    Source: European Central Bank (video statements)

    Session 5 – Geopolitical shocks, uncertainty and expectations

    Session chair: Oscar Arce, European Central Bank

    Do Election Shocks Affect Economic Expectations?
    Olivier Armantier, Gizem Kosar, Giorgio Topa* and Wilbert van der Klaauw, all Federal Reserve Bank of New York

    The Causal Effects of Inflation Uncertainty on Households’ Beliefs and Actions
    Olivier Coibion, University of Texas at Austin
    Dimitris Georgarakos*, European Central Bank
    Yuriy Gorodnichenko, University of California, Berkeley
    Geoff Kenny, European Central Bank

    Households’ Subjective Expectations: Disagreement, Common Drivers and Reaction to Monetary Policy
    Stefano Pica, Banca d’Italia
    Clodomiro Ferreira*, Banco de España

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tej_bceaiwY

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Life-long love of nature leads EIT student to important local environmental research | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

    Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

    16 mins ago

    Ryan Bauckham is in his final year of the Bachelor of Applied Science (Biodiversity Management), which EIT offers in partnership with Unitec.

    A life-long love of exploring the outdoors has been the incentive for an EIT student to pursue a career in environmental research in Hawke’s Bay.

    Ryan Bauckham, 35, is in his final year of the Bachelor of Applied Science (Biodiversity Management), which EIT offers in partnership with Unitec.

    He has currently been  researching Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies)  in a significant forest stand called Puahanui found near Gwavas , Tikokino.

    “It’s actually the largest stand of remnant podocarp forest in Hawke’s Bay and I’ve recorded just over 200 species of Lepidoptera there.”

    “ Most people aren’t aware there are so many moths. They are generally thought of  as nondescript brown insects, that you don’t really pay that much attention to, unless they are coming to the outdoor lights at night. But when you look at moths closer, there’s a stunning diversity, all sorts of shapes, colours and sizes.  I just find them really quite endearing and beautiful.”

    Ryan’s study means he spends a lot of time out in nature and for him it is more than just a job, but a passion.

    After leaving Karamu High School , Ryan became a postie with New Zealand Post, which he did for ten years. However, he always felt he wanted more.

    “It’s been a lifelong interest of mine, and I’ve been heading out regularly to the mountains since I was a teenager. And birds have been my main interest in life for as long as I can remember.”

    After leaving NZ Post, Ryan ended up living for five years in a camper van.

    “While I was at NZ Post, I was able to travel around the country thanks to the flexibility of work. And after that, I was able to travel more. I spent the winters overseas, mostly in Southeast Asia, as well as the Pacific Islands.”

    The turning point for Ryan was on the Kinabatangan River in Borneo in 2019 when he realised that he wanted more than “groundhog day”.

    He returned to New Zealand, but life changed even more with COVID-19 and his young son Yahya coming into his fulltime care in 2021.

    It was an advertisement for the Diploma in Environment Management (Level 5) that attracted Ryan’s attention and he decided to go for it.

    “It was really scary, actually, to give up work. But I thought that I’m not getting any younger, so I decided to make a change.”

    He says that he found going back to studying fulfilling, but soon found his interest moving from birds to insects.

    “I spent a lot of time that summer recording moths and learning their taxonomy. I was already reading a lot of research papers, but then going back to study and having to do that as a task, it felt really fulfilling.”

    Ryan faced a few challenges in his studies, the first being learning to use computers as he had not grown up with one, as well as dealing with COVID-19 lockdowns and Cyclone Gabrielle.

    However, that is all in the past and Ryan is focused on his research, which recently received a funding boost from Biodiversity Hawke’s Bay. Ryan and his supervisor, Dr Amelia McQueen, were one of thirteen groups that received support from the Environmental Enhancement Contestable Fund, which is funded by the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council.

    It will play a role in enabling Ryan to continue his research.

    “Lepidoptera also play real crucial roles in the ecosystem. They’re pollinators, decomposers and they are prey for larger organisms.”

    Ryan says that even though there are about 2,000 species in New Zealand, the life histories of many of them are “poorly understood”.

    “We don’t know their host plants or even what the larvae look like. They’re often just being described from the adult specimens. What I’m trying to do is make a comprehensive species list for the region, just simply because historically moths  have been understudied.”

    The site on private land drew Ryan because it had been deer-fenced in 2020 which allowed the understorey of the forest to regenerate.

    “When I visited there, it just felt the right place, simply because it is the largest forest remnant in Hawke’s Bay. And at one time, the whole region would have been covered in forests like that.”

    “And there’s a lot of species there that are relics, really, really relics of another age, and you wouldn’t find them outside of that environment, in the pastoral land or like an exotic forest or a newly planted one. Fortunately the landowners are really conservation focused people.”

    EIT Environmental Management Lecturer Dr Amelia McQueen agrees: “Puahanui bush is a really special place to study flora and fauna and we are lucky there are places like this still around in Hawke’s Bay.”

    “ Ryan’s study is amazing, over 200 moths and some of the observations are new for the North Island or one of a very few observations of these moths actually recorded for New Zealand. Ryan’s Lepidoptera identification skills and determination, especially doing observations on very cold nights in winter, has made his work particularly important. . . and there is more to come!”

    As for the future, Ryan does not discount continuing his studies, but there is no doubt that he has found his calling.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Holy See Press Office Communiqué: Audience with the President of the Republic of Liberia

    Source: The Holy See

    Holy See Press Office Communiqué: Audience with the President of the Republic of Liberia, 18.10.2024

    Today, 18 October 2024, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Francis received in audience the President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Mr. Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr., who subsequently met with His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of His Holiness, accompanied by His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations.
    During the cordial talks at the Secretariat of State, the good relations between the Holy See and Liberia were evoked, as well as the collaboration with the Catholic Church in the fields of education and healthcare, and some aspects of the social and economic situation of the country were discussed.
    The conversation continued with an exchange of opinions on current international affairs, with particular reference to the regional situation and migratory phenomena.
    From the Vatican, 18 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: InvestHK and media partner South China Morning Post take deep dive into Hong Kong’s innovation ecosystem at InnoTech Forum 2024 (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Organised by Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) along with media partner South China Morning Post, the InnoTech Forum 2024 took place today (October 18) at the Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel and was attended by over 200 guests. Through keynote addresses, in-depth panel discussions and presentations, the full-day forum provided audience members with an engaging discussion on the development of Hong Kong’s innovation ecosystem, long-term strategic plans and the practical applications of artificial intelligence (AI) and new energy technologies in reshaping the city and the economy. 

         During his keynote address at the forum, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, said, “AI remains a key driver of I&T and business development. The Government has invested billions of dollars in cultivating an all-round AI ecosystem here in Hong Kong. Cyberport will soon put into operation its AI Supercomputing Centre (AISC) to support the strong computing demand from universities, research institutes and the industry. To support the commissioning of the AISC, the Government has allocated $3 billion to launch a three-year AI Subsidy Scheme. The Policy Address announced that the Government will pilot the use of a generative AI document processing copilot application, developed on the basis of a locally trained large language model, within the Government. In fact, a number of the hundred digital government and smart city initiatives that the Government presses ahead for rollout this year and next will make use of AI technology. Hong Kong stands on the cusp of making ground-breaking strides by capitalising on the vast potential of AI and other cutting-edge technologies. We are partners in this journey to seize the opportunities that lie ahead.”

         The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, said, “In pursuit of carbon neutrality, green transformation is becoming a global trend and this will continue in the coming decades, triggering tremendous demands for green energy and various low-carbon technologies. Hydrogen is a secondary carrier of energy and is highly energy-efficient with less polluting potential. The Government published the Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong in June this year. The Strategy puts forward four major strategies, namely improving legislations, establishing standards, aligning with the market, and advancing with prudence, with a view to getting the laws, standards and the basic infrastructure ready so as to create an environment conducive to the development of hydrogen energy in a prudent and orderly manner. By leveraging our advantage as an international hub, backed by our motherland and with innovation and devotion of the city, we can position Hong Kong as a key driver of hydrogen economy, towards carbon neutrality as well as a sustainable and prosperous future.”

         The discussion at the forum explored the importance of AI and new energy in integrating sustainability and resilience into modern cities, with panel discussions on the following topics:
     

    developing the AI ecosystem for long-term success with a focus on recent advancements in Hong Kong, including the development of cutting-edge infrastructure, talent cultivation, commercialisation of research, and financial incentives, and how a robust and sustainable AI ecosystem can benefit Hong Kong;
    real-life applications of AI in Hong Kong and beyond highlighting the latest trends and developments of AI innovations and how the city’s connected innovation system supports their growth on a global scale;
    How hydrogen is emerging as a core new energy priority, in line with the Hong Kong Government’s recently published hydrogen development strategy; and
    imagining Hong Kong’s future with innovative energy projects and how the city will evolve as these technologies mature and scale.

         The Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK, Ms Alpha Lau, said, “This Forum has fostered meaningful dialogue, inspired new ideas and catalysed further collaboration between the Government, industry, academia and relevant stakeholders. As indicated in “The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address” a couple of days ago, the Government has always spearheaded and enhanced the development of Hong Kong’s I&T industries and will continue to do so. Working together, we believe Hong Kong can remain at the forefront of innovation, harnessing the power of both AI and energy technologies to build a prosperous and sustainable future.”

         The Head of Innovation and Technology at InvestHK, Mr Andy Wong, said, “AI is one of the strategic pillars in our Government’s agenda to drive digital economy. To accelerate its development, the Government is establishing the AI Supercomputing Centre (AISC) and has set aside $3 billion to support the use of AISC financially. On the hydrogen front, legislation and standards shall be optimised to align with technology and market development, as well as enabling the trial of different hydrogen-related projects. All these will further propel Hong Kong to be a top-notch international innovation and technology hub, as well as a ‘living lab’ for technology to be adopted in other markets.”      

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: College of Surgeons announces historic governance overhaul to strengthen future leadership

    Source: Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)

    The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) is set to implement one of the most significant governance overhauls in its near 100-year history.

    After receiving overwhelming support from its membership, with 82.6 per cent of votes in favour, the College has an updated Constitution to strengthen financial and risk management as it navigates the complexities of the modern governance environment.

    Since its founding in 1927, the College has played a pivotal role in shaping surgical standards, education, and professionalism in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. While it continues to be at the forefront of surgical leadership, it became increasingly clear in recent years that the structure of the College was no longer fit-for-purpose.

    The constitutional update, which was the result of an extensive period of consultation with RACS Fellows, surgical specialty societies and other interested parties, provides for the establishment of a skills-based, professional-led governance Board. The Board will take on fiduciary responsibilities such as finance, audit, and risk management, leaving the RACS Council to carry out the core College business.  

    The new governance model represents a unified vision for a stronger, more resilient College—one that is well-positioned to lead the way in surgical care and education for years to come.

    “The passing of these constitutional updates is a testament to the power of collaboration and what can be achieved when stakeholders from across our network come together for a common purpose,” said Professor Owen Ung, RACS vice president and chair of the College’s Governance Committee.  

    “It is heartening to see the unity of feeling that a strong College benefits everyone involved—our members, our patients, and the wider healthcare community.”

    As the College prepares to implement these changes, RACS president Associate Professor Kerin Fielding said there is a renewed sense of optimism and momentum.  

    “We are entering a new era for our College. With these updates, we are well-positioned to embrace future challenges and opportunities, ensuring that we continue to lead with excellence in surgical care, education, and advocacy.”

    About the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)

    RACS is the leading advocate for surgical standards, professionalism and surgical education in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. The College is a not-for-profit organisation that represents more than 8000 surgeons and 1300 surgical trainees and Specialist International Medical Graduates. RACS also supports healthcare and surgical education in the Asia-Pacific region and is a substantial funder of surgical research. There are nine surgical specialties in Australasia being: Cardiothoracic Surgery, General Surgery, Neurosurgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Paediatric Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Urology and Vascular Surgery. http://www.surgeons.org

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Media registration now open for 2nd China International Supply Chain Expo

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    The registration platform for media representatives of the 2nd China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE, hereinafter referred to as “Supply Chain Expo”) will be open to both domestic and international media from October 18th to November 10th, 2024.

    Journalists can register through official platforms, such as the Media Registration Section of the Online Media Center on official website of the Supply Chain Expo (https://media.cisce.org.cn/register) and the WeChat mini program named “Supply Chain Media Home”.

    For domestic media, it is necessary to submit their valid press cards issued by the General Administration of Press and Publication of China, screenshots of articles published within the last six months, or a certificate of employment issued by their media organizations. Foreign media are required to register using their permanent journalist permits or proof of their media organizations. Notifications will be dispatched via phone, SMS, or email. The details will be announced on official platforms of the Supply Chain Expo in a timely manner.

    The 2nd CISCE is scheduled on November 26th-30th, 2024, at the China International Exhibition Center in Beijing. With the theme of “Connecting the World for a Shared Future”, this year’s exhibition covers more than 100,000 square meters with 6 key industrial chains and 1 exhibition area: Advanced Manufacturing Chain, Clean Energy Chain, Smart Vehicle Chain, Digital Technology Chain, Healthy Life Chain, Green Agriculture Chain, and Supply Chain Service Area. It vertically showcases advanced concepts, products, and technologies of relevant industrial chains, and horizontally showcases supporting services such as finance and insurance, logistics and distribution, business consulting, legal services, etc.

    Media Registration Entry for Supply Chain Expo

    Access the Media Registration Area of the Online Media Center on the official website of the Supply Chain Expo (https://media.cisce.org.cn/register) or scan the QR of the “Supply Chain Media Home” WeChat mini-app to register.

    Contact: FU Zhichen; HE Ming

    Tel: 15589090767; 15601376301

    Email: guoyan@ccpit.org

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What does China want from the next US president?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Chee Meng Tan, Assistant Professor of Business Economics, University of Nottingham

    During a Taiwan National Day speech on October 10, Taiwanese president Lai Ching-te said that Taipei was determined to defend Taiwan’s sovereignty against “annexation and encroachment”, and emphasised that “China has no right to represent Taiwan”.

    China’s response was swift. Less than a week after Lai’s provocative speech, a record 153 Chinese war planes swarmed and surrounded Taiwan during a Chinese military exercise over 24 hours. Beijing’s intention was simple: issue Taipei a “stern warning” for what China considers a “separatist act”.

    Beijing sees the island as a “sacred and inseparable part of China’s territory” that must return to the fold. The Taiwanese president sees things differently. Currently, the self-governing island has a different political system, and few Taiwanese are in favour of reunification with China.

    Though Washington doesn’t have diplomatic relations with Taipei officially, it does have regular communication through back channels and a strong economic relationship. The island is a key US trading partner and is a major supplier of semiconductors which are critical to the production of computers and other technologies. It also sells arms to Taiwan, although this has reduced significantly under Joe Biden.

    China has not ruled out taking Taiwan by force, and if it does, the US might come to the self-ruling island’s defence as indicated by Washington in the past.

    China holds extensive military exercises around the island of Taiwan in October 2024.

    But Xi will be hoping the outcome of the 2024 US presidential election might bring a leader that would have a different attitude to Taiwan as well as helping China resolve its economic storm, which has resulted in a rising number of protests. So, between an outspoken Donald Trump and a seemingly even-tempered Kamala Harris, does Beijing have a favourite? And do either of them offer Xi anything new?

    Taiwan and Xi’s legitimacy

    Aside from Mao Zedong, the founder of the People’s Republic of China, Xi is the only sitting Chinese head of state without term limits and whose political ideology is enshrined in the Chinese constitution.

    Xi could potentially prove his place in history by resolving China’s economic crisis. However, Beijing’s increasing isolation from the west due to its support of Russia’s Ukraine conquest makes this doubly hard.



    Read more:
    Biden on Taiwan: Did he really commit US forces to stopping any invasion by China? An expert explains why, on balance, probably not

    Like it or not, Xi might have to ramp up whatever agenda Beijing has for Taiwan. If he could make sufficient progress towards unification, he may be hailed as one of the greats of the Chinese Communist Party, which would consolidate his status within the party, and distract from the nation’s economic woes.

    Unlike Harris, who appears to take take alliances and partnerships seriously, Trump questions the benefits of many alliances forged by the US. In fact, the few times that he spoke about Taiwan centres on how the island state has taken America’s semiconductor business, and should pay more to the US for its defence.

    So, would Trump come to Taiwan’s aid if China does invade Taiwan? Given the importance of semiconductors to electronics and AI, he just might. But Trump also has a reputation as a “dealmaker-in-chief”, so he might just cut a deal with Beijing, which erodes Taiwan’s independence. And that is likely to worry Taipei.

    The Russia dilemma

    As Russia’s “partner of no limits”, China has been supplying Russia with technology that fuels Russia’s war machinery against Ukraine. But this has strained Sino-western relations and earned Beijing trade and import restrictions, which hampers China’s economic recovery.

    China could halt its aid to Russia to avoid western scrutiny, but that is not likely. Beijing needs a strong Russia to be a viable ally in its battle against a US-led world order, and to avoid being the focus of the west if Russia falters amid its conquest in Ukraine.

    While Harris backs Kyiv and sees the war as a strategic and moral issue, Trump has criticised US aid to Ukraine. He also believes that Kyiv should provide concessions to Russia to end the war that Putin started in February 2022.

    A future Trump administration might strengthen Russia by withdrawing support for Ukraine and lifting sanctions against Russia. And a more robust Russia is good news for Beijing.

    US economic hostility

    So, at first glance, Trump and Harris’s approaches towards China are different. Trump’s return to the White House could also intensify the trade war that he started in 2018, as tariffs on Chinese goods could go to as high as 60%. This might hasten the economic decoupling between the US and China.

    Harris, on the other hand, wishes to “de-risk” China. This approach seeks to maintain US global interest while engaging with the east Asian economic behemoth. In such a scenario, Beijing might prefer a Harris presidency as it leaves room for negotiation.

    However, Harris has relatively little foreign policy experience, and is expected to pick up where Joe Biden left off. This means the tariffs and technological restrictions that China faced under a Biden administration could stay under her presidency.

    Another factor is Tesla founder Elon Musk, who is an ardent supporter of Trump, and may take a top job within a Trump administration.

    How much influence the tech multi-billionaire actually has over Trump is uncertain. However, it’s worth noting that Musk has substantial business dealings in China, and might seek to lean on Trump if the former president’s policies harms Tesla’s interests.

    With many of these factors unclear at the moment, Beijing will be hoping for a US leader who is more interested in economic wins than protecting Taiwan, and one that Xi can negotiate with to warm up relations between the two countries.

    Chee Meng Tan 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. What does China want from the next US president? – https://theconversation.com/what-does-china-want-from-the-next-us-president-240516

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How farmers can use solar power without damaging the rest of their operation

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Austin Kay, Researcher in Sustainable Advanced Materials, Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials, Swansea University

    Snapshot freddy/Shutterstock

    As the world races to meet net-zero targets, emissions from all industrial sectors must be reduced more urgently than ever. Agriculture is an important area of focus as it contributes up to 22% of global greenhouse gas emissions – almost as much as the energy sector.

    One approach to decarbonising the agricultural sector is agrivoltaics. It involves integrating solar panels – or photovoltaics (PVs) – into fields of crops, greenhouses and livestock areas, which can help farmers reduce their carbon footprint while continuing to produce food.

    Agrivoltaics can also mitigate one of the main criticisms often made of solar power – that solar farms “waste” vast tracts of agricultural land that could otherwise be used for food production. In reality, solar farms currently occupy only 0.15% of the UK’s total land – not much compared to its 70% agricultural land.

    The simplest example of an agrivoltaic system would be conventional, crystalline silicon PVs (the market-leading type of solar panels), installed in fields alongside livestock. This method of farm diversification has become increasingly popular in recent years for three main reasons.

    First, it enhances biodiversity as the fields are not seeing a regular crop rotation, being monocultured, or being harvested for silage. Second, it increases production as livestock benefit from the shade and the healthier pasture growth.

    Finally, the solar farm has reduced maintenance costs because livestock can keep the grass short. All this is achieved while the solar panels provide locally-generated, clean energy.

    But if they’re not set up properly, agrivoltaics may cause problems. One of the most important challenges is balancing the need for sunlight between crops and solar panels. Crops need light to grow, and if solar panels block too much sunlight, they can negatively impact crop yields.

    This issue varies from place to place. In countries with fewer sunny days like the UK, the panels need to let more sunlight through. But in places like Spain or Italy, some shade can actually help crops by reducing the stress of intense heat during summer months. Finding the right balance is tricky, as it depends on local conditions, the type of crop, and even the needs of pollinators like bees.

    An agrivoltaic canopy installed in France.
    Jacopo Landi/Shutterstock

    The complexity deepens when we consider the type of PV material used. Traditional solar panels aren’t always suitable because they often block the wavelengths (colours) of light needed by plants.

    This is where newer materials, like organic semiconductors and perovskites, are ideal as they can be customised to let crops get the light they need while still generating energy. Unlike traditional inorganic semiconductors, which are essentially crystals of metal and metalloid atoms, organic semiconductors are molecules mainly made of carbon and hydrogen. Perovskites, meanwhile, are like a hybrid of the two.

    But there are thousands of combinations of these materials to choose from, with scientific literature containing a plethora of options. Figuring out which one works best can be a daunting task.

    This is where computational tools can make a big difference. Instead of testing each material in real-world conditions – which would take years and be incredibly expensive – researchers can use simulations to predict their performance. These models can help identify the best materials for specific crops and climates, saving both time and resources.

    The tool

    We have developed an open-source tool that helps compare various PV materials, making it easier to identify the best options for agrivoltaics. Our tool uses geographical data and realistic simulations of how different PV materials perform.

    It considers how light travels through these materials and reflects off them, as well as other important performance measures like voltage and power output. The tool can also take lab-based measurements of PV materials and apply them to real-world scenarios.

    Using this tool, we simulated how much power different PV materials could generate per square metre over the course of a year, across various regions. And we calculated how much light passed through these materials to ensure it was enough for crops to thrive.

    An agrivoltaic installation over raspberry crops in the Netherlands.
    Jacopo Landi/Shutterstock

    By running these simulations for multiple materials, we could identify the most suitable options for specific crops and climates.

    Tools like ours could play a critical role in decarbonising the agricultural sector by guiding the design of agrivoltaic systems. Future research could combine these simulations with economic and environmental impact analyses. This would help us understand how much energy we can expect from a solar panel over its lifetime compared to the resources and costs involved in producing it.

    Ultimately, our tool could help researchers and policymakers in selecting the most efficient, cost-effective and eco-friendly ways to decarbonise agriculture and move us closer to achieving global net-zero emissions.


    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.

    Austin Kay is a Postgraduate Student at Swansea University and receives funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) through program grant EP/T028513/1 Application Targeted and Integrated Photovoltaics.

    – ref. How farmers can use solar power without damaging the rest of their operation – https://theconversation.com/how-farmers-can-use-solar-power-without-damaging-the-rest-of-their-operation-239625

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: With the support of Rosneft, scientists studied the musk ox population in Taimyr

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Scientists from the Siberian Federal University, with the support of RN-Vankor (the operator of Rosneft’s flagship project Vostok Oil), conducted a comprehensive census of musk oxen in the western part of Taimyr. The research is being conducted within the framework of the enterprise’s grant program.

    Preservation of the environment for future generations is an integral part of the corporate culture of Rosneft Oil Company. The Company’s subsidiaries implement comprehensive programs for the conservation and restoration of biological resources, including the use of advanced technological solutions.

    For the survey work, the researchers used air and water transport. The total length of all routes exceeded 12 thousand km, of which more than 2.8 thousand km were water expeditions along the Pyasina River and its tributaries, Lake Pyasino.

    Scientists have obtained up-to-date data on the number, age and sex structure, and distribution of the musk ox population in Western Taimyr. All encounters and tracks of animals were documented using photo and video equipment, GPS recorders, and coordinates were recorded on a cartographic basis. In addition, scientists conducted a survey of the indigenous population, including fishermen and hunters, about the places of encounters with musk oxen.

    On the right bank of the Pyasina River, near the mouth of the Khanchecha River, scientists have noted for the first time a group of musk oxen: an adult male and female, a yearling bull and two yearlings (calves born this year). The data obtained indicate successful reproduction of mammals in the territory of Western Taimyr. In addition, according to scientists, it is possible to speak with a high degree of probability about the gradual dispersal of musk oxen in Western Taimyr.

    In order to resettle the species in this territory, scientists from the Siberian Federal University will develop recommendations and measures for the conservation and further rational use of this biological resource in Taimyr as a whole. Let us recall that the musk ox population in Taimyr was revived by Soviet scientists during a unique project in 1974. By the mid-1990s, the number of musk oxen on the peninsula was about 1 thousand individuals, and in the early 2000s, more than 4 thousand.

    Reference:

    The implementation of environmental and social projects of practical importance for Taimyr and its population is carried out within the framework of the grant program “RN-Vankor”. This year, with the support of oil workers, projects are being implemented to assess the state of the populations of the main commercial fish of the reservoirs of Taimyr using express analysis technologies, and to create a textbook “Reindeer of Taimyr”.

    In 2023, the winners of the grant competition were projects to assess the state of aquatic biological resources of the Yenisei Gulf of the Kara Sea, analyze the number and distribution of anseriformes in Western Taimyr, and assess the state and dynamics of vegetation in the western part of Taimyr based on remote sensing data.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft October 18, 2024

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

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

    http://vvv.rosneft.ru/press/nevs/item/220927/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Facade works have begun on the second stage of the modern NSU campus

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    At the second stage of the modern NSU campus — in the buildings of the educational and scientific center of the Institute of Medicine and Medical Technologies (UNC IMMT) and the scientific research center (SRC) — work has begun on installing ventilated facades. Work is also underway to install translucent enclosing structures (stained glass). The construction readiness of the facilities is 18.2% and 15.4%, respectively. The construction of the facilities is carried out within the framework of national project “Science and Universities”.

    According to the adopted architectural solution, in the buildings of the UNC and NIC, not standard windows are installed, but stained glass ones, which assume a larger glazing area. Their size is 3-4 times larger than a regular window.

    The buildings of the UNC and NIC, as well as the building of the flow auditoriums, have an atrium, but only of a smaller size. This is a central distribution space, illuminated through a zenith skylight located in the ceiling, the installation of which began this week in both buildings. Work is also continuing on the installation of an external storm and domestic sewage system, and work on laying the external block of “Sibit”. Work on installing temporary heat supply to the UNC has been completed.

    — The construction of the second stage of the NSU campus will create the latest infrastructure for educational and research activities in the region. A pilot pharmaceutical production facility will be created on the site of a modern research center, and laboratories for training students in a wide range of areas will be located in the equipped premises of the educational and scientific center of the NSU Institute of Medicine. This will bring the educational process to a new level and implement the goals and objectives that will be laid down in the new national project “Youth and Children”, created on behalf of President Vladimir Putin, — commented Deputy Governor of the Novosibirsk Region Irina Manuilova.

    — We are planning to launch new network educational programs — Medical Cybernetics and Pharmacy, an agreement on the implementation of this project was signed with the Moscow State University Engineering School within the framework of the Technoprom forum. The research center will be used to develop advanced areas in which NSU occupies a leading position — space instrumentation, synchrotron-neutron research, artificial intelligence and others, — noted NSU Rector, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Mikhail Fedoruk.

    In the building of continuous auditoriums, which also belongs to the second stage facilities, finishing works are being completed, commissioning works of engineering systems are underway. The construction readiness of the facility is 86%. In parallel, documents are being prepared for obtaining acts of admission in Rostekhnadzor and permission for commissioning. The construction of the building of continuous auditoriums is planned to be completed by the end of 2024.

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

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

    http://vvv.nsu.ru/n/media/nevs/campus-construction/façade-work has begun on the second-stage-facilities of the modern-nsu-campus/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New Chief Executive at Together for Children and Children’s Services director.

    Source: City of Sunderland

    A new Chief Executive at Together for Children (TfC) and director of Children’s Services has been appointed.

    Simon Marshall (56) is a former headteacher and has been Sunderland’s Director of Education since 2017. He succeeds TfC’s Chief Executive Jill Colbert OBE who has joined Nottingham City Council.

    As TfC lead and children’s services director, Mr Marshall said he will continue delivering the highest quality children’s social care, education and early help services, all the necessary infrastructure, and leading 1,100 members of staff.

    In its most recent full Ofsted inspection in 2021, TfC and Sunderland Children’s Services were rated as ‘outstanding’. In the last 18 months, Ofsted inspections of children’s homes and child protection plans have also been rated ‘outstanding’ and ‘timely and effective’, respectively.

    Mr Marshall was a headteacher for 12 years before being appointed as the city’s Director of Education. This included being head at Sunderland’s Highfield Primary School where he was recognised nationally for developing innovative school-based mental health services to support children and families. In 2014 he was named School Leader of the year in the National Wellbeing School Awards. 

    The City Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Child Poverty and Skills, Councillor Michael Butler said: “We are delighted to confirm Simon’s appointment as Chief Executive and children’s services director. We all look forward to more work with him and continuing to ensure that we offer and provide the very best for children, young people and families across the city.”

    As education director, Mr Marshall has in the last five years overseen more than £24m of extra investment in Special Educational Needs (SEND) provision, including extra places for more than 250 children and expanded facilities. He has also developed a highly successful school improvements service that delivers training to schools across the city and the North East region.

    Commenting on his new appointment as TfC Chief Executive and children’s services lead, Mr Marshall said: “I want to put on the record a thanks to my predecessor Jill Colbert OBE for the exemplary leadership, team and partnership work that she helped inspire at Together for Children.

    “We will continue to deliver services for all our children and young people so they lead safe, happy, healthy and successful lives, and in a city where they can fulfil and realise their full potential.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City of York Council named most productive council in country

    Source: City of York

    Published Friday, 18 October 2024

    City of York Council has topped a new list of the most productive English councils, meaning that we achieve the highest value for residents per pound of council spending.

    Independent consultancy, IMPOWER, analysed 149 councils across eight core areas using their index. 

    These are the areas where councils spend the most money and include:

    • housing 
    • homelessness 
    • waste and recycling 
    • high needs 
    • children’s social care 
    • working age adults 
    • older adults 
    • health 

    They used nationally available metrics to determine the top 10 and found York is achieving the best outcomes for people, for a relatively low spend.
     
    Leader of City of York Council, Cllr Claire Douglas said:

    “This is fantastic news and testament to the hard work of staff right across the council.

    “York is amongst the lowest funded councils in the country and we’ve long been committed to making the best of what we have in delivering good quality services and value for money for the citizens of York. 

    “Despite a very challenging situation, we pull together and strive for excellence in all we do. We thank our fantastic workforce that continues to make this possible”.
     
    Ian Floyd, Chief Operating Officer of City of York Council, welcomed the news, saying: 

    “I’m extremely proud that, despite the financial challenges, we, and councils across the country are facing, York’s commitment to delivering value for money for our residents has been recognised.

    “Our staff work tirelessly each and every day and the news that we have been named England’s most productive council is testament to their dedication and diligence – I’d like to take this opportunity to thank them for everything that they do.

    “While this achievement is a welcome endorsement of our work, we cannot afford to be complacent and we will continue to work together as one council, delivering for the people of York.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cost of living advice available at North West Information and Support Event

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Cost of living advice available at North West Information and Support Event

    18 October 2024

    Foyle and Lisnagelvin Jobs and Benefits Offices, in partnership with Derry and Strabane Labour Market Partnership, are hosting a special information event in the Guildhall next week to allow people to avail of advice and guidance from local organisations and community support services.

    The free event in the Guildhall will take place on Thursday October 24th from 11am to 2pm and no prebooking is required.

    A range of community and voluntary organisations and partners will be in attendance to give information on the help and support available.

    Attendees will be able to access free advice on a range of cost-of-living issues surrounding housing, mortgages and benefits as well as general tips and advice.

    Department for Communities’ Make the Call and Finance Support staff will also be on hand to advise people on any additional supports they may be entitled to regarding pension credits, working tax credits, tax-free childcare or benefit entitlements and financial support.

    Representatives from Council will be in attendance to give advice on some of the services available.

    A spokesperson for Derry City and Strabane District Council encouraged people to take advantage of the chance to learn more about the range of support available in the Council area.

    “This event is open to everyone and is an ideal way to find out important information on a range of topics including cost of living support, wellbeing, benefits and employability.

    “Whether it’s advice support from the local Jobs and Benefits Offices or from Make the Call to ensure you’re getting the benefits, services and supports you’re entitled to, the correct entitlements or pension credits you need, or you’re just looking to find out what independent and community support is available, there is something for everyone.”

    Contact Foyle or Lisnagelvin Jobs and Benefits Office for further information and contact details can be found at https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/articles/job-fairs-and-events-calendar

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Fostering team celebrates Kinship Care Week with tea party

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    Kinship carers – family members or close friends who step in to provide love, stability, and a nurturing home to children within their own network – are the backbone of many families, offering unwavering support and guidance.

    The event, last week, was filled with heartwarming moments as families shared stories of resilience, love, and the unique bonds they share with the children in their care. Guests took part in a creative scrapbook making activity, where both adults and children had the opportunity to reflect on and capture their most cherished family memories.

    Alison Hinds, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Director of Children’s Services, said: “Kinship carers are the heart of our community. Their selflessness and commitment to providing a safe and loving environment for children is truly inspiring. We are incredibly thankful for all they do.”

    The tea party served as both a celebration and a reminder of the essential role kinship carers play in shaping the future of young people in Wolverhampton. Events like this aim to recognise and support these incredible families, ensuring they feel appreciated and valued for their contributions.

    For more information about kinship care and how to support local families, please contact the Fostering for Wolverhampton Team via fostering@wolverhampton.gov.uk or visit Fostering for Wolverhampton.  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Sweden and Hungary sign Letter of Intent

    Source: Government of Sweden

    Sweden and Hungary sign Letter of Intent – Government.se

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    Article from Ministry of Defence

    Published

    Minister for Defence Pål Jonson and Hungarian Minister of Defence Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky sign Letter of Intent.

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    Hungarian Minister of Defence Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky and Minister for Defence Pål Jonson. Photo: Niklas Forsström/Government Offices

    On 16 October, Mr Jonson and Mr Szalay-Bobrovniczky signed a Letter of Intent (LOI). This LOI is a bilateral declaration on expanded defence cooperation between Sweden and Hungary.

    This follows from the agreement concluded between Sweden and Hungary on 23 February 2024 in Budapest to sign an LOI on expanded cooperation on defence and JAS Gripen fighter aircraft.

    The LOI specifies that a working group will be appointed with the aim of discussing and identifying opportunities to cooperate on defence materiel. The working group will consist of representatives from the Defence Materiel Administration, Saab AB and the Hungarian Ministry of Defence.

    “I look forward to seeing the working group’s concrete results in the future,” says Mr Jonson. 

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Who is Tundu Lissu? Tanzania’s opposition leader is fighting for change in the face of fresh attacks on political freedoms

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Nicodemus Minde, Researcher, United States International University

    Tundu Lissu has become the face of opposition in Tanzania following his defiant and unrelenting criticism of the government. Since he came into the national limelight in 1995 when running for a parliamentary seat, Lissu has been a champion of democracy and human rights. He has taken on the ruling elite, exposing corruption and demanding accountability. This almost cost him his life in 2017.

    In September 2024, new evidence presented at a London tribunal revealed that the telecommunications company Tigo had shared Lissu’s mobile phone data – including his location – with the Tanzanian government. The implication was that the company was assisting the government in its harassment of the politician. Tigo’s owners have distanced themselves from these reports.

    The revelations coincided with a resurgence in government crackdowns on opposition figures.

    In the most recent developments, leaders of the country’s main opposition party Chadema (Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo) – including Lissu, who is the party’s vice-chairperson, and chairman Freeman Mbowe – were arrested in September 2024. This followed their attempt to organise mass protests, which were foiled by the police. The protests had been organised to demand government accountability after the killing of a senior Chadema official and the disappearance of other party members believed to have been abducted by state operatives.

    I have studied Tanzania’s political party dynamics for a decade and interviewed Lissu as part of my PhD research on the country’s democracy. Lissu’s persistence in tackling democratic backsliding in Tanzania has made him a formidable force, challenging the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party.

    Lissu spent about three years in exile in Belgium after the 2017 shooting. He staged a comeback as a presidential candidate in the 2020 elections. He lost to John Magufuli in a poll marred by violence and allegations of rigging.

    There have been changes in the country since Magufuli’s death in March 2021 and a string of political reforms under President Samia Suluhu. This has created the space for Lissu and his party Chadema to establish an opposition that now threatens the ruling party’s six-decade hold on power. Presidential elections are due to be held in 2025.

    So who is Lissu? What’s his history and how did he became involved in politics?

    Early years

    Lissu’s political activism began during his university years in the early 1990s. This marked the start of a career that would later shape Tanzania’s political landscape. Lissu studied law at the University of Dar es Salaam before going to the UK for a master’s degree in law.

    His first foray into national politics came in 1995, when he vied for a parliamentary seat. He was 27. The election was Tanzania’s first under a multiparty system. It introduced Lissu to the arena of opposition politics following his defeat.

    A year later, Lissu was one of the lead investigative lawyers for a public interest environmental law organisation investigating abuses and irregularities at a World Bank-backed gold mine in northern Tanzania. His early work focused on environmental and human rights.

    Lissu and his colleague Rugemeleza Nshala were investigating the killing of 62 small-scale miners and the evictions of thousands at the mine in 1996. They were charged with sedition over these investigations. The government eventually stopped following up on the case.

    Lissu thereafter worked on community land rights at the World Resources Institute, a global organisation focusing on policy research.

    Parliamentary years

    In 2010, Lissu won the parliamentary seat for Singida East under the opposition party Chadema. As a first-term member of parliament, he gained prominence by exposing significant state corruption scandals, particularly in the energy sector.

    Lissu and other Chadema opposition figures became a formidable force, openly naming corrupt government officials and exposing grand theft.

    They also began making calls for constitutional reform. These were aimed at addressing excessive presidential powers and the power imbalances of the union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar. This push culminated in then president Jakaya Kikwete initiating a constitutional review process in 2010.

    Lissu’s legal acumen played out in the constituent assembly, the body convened to deliberate on constitutional reforms. However, the assembly, dominated by members of the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi, rejected many of the key provisions of the draft constitution. It had been widely regarded as the “people’s draft” because it included citizen participation. Its key provisions included reduced presidential powers and the establishment of independent state institutions.

    The process was to culminate in a referendum in 2014. This prematurely aborted and Tanzania went into the 2015 election without a new constitution.

    In these elections, Lissu successfully defended his parliamentary seat. As a second-term legislator, he focused on strengthening Chadema’s presence. This included door-to-door conversations with the public and grassroots mobilisation to build the party.

    The party’s momentum, however, was halted by a repressive regime under Magufuli, who became president in 2015. He cracked down on critics and instituted a partial ban on political rallies.

    Lissu became very critical of Magufuli’s economic policies. In a public address in 2017, Magufuli admitted to the government’s tapping of Lissu’s phone and described those who opposed his own economic reforms as traitors. Soon after this, Lissu was shot 16 times after leaving parliament buildings in the capital, Dodoma.

    Exile

    Lissu officially went into exile in Belgium after the shooting. In 2020, he published Remaining in the Shadows: Parliament and Accountability in East Africa, a critical examination of the presidentialist systems in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, which he argued had undermined democratic consolidation in the region.

    Through this publication, Lissu continued his activism, challenging political structures.

    His brief return to Tanzania to contest the presidency in 2020 was marked by repeated arrests and intimidation during the electoral campaign. After his loss to Magufuli, Lissu went back to Belgium.

    He announced his return home in 2023.

    Tanzania today

    It’s important to understand why Lissu and Chadema are viewed as a current threat in Tanzania.

    The country is entering an election period. Local government elections are scheduled for November 2024 ahead of general elections in 2025.

    The ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi, has in the recent past relied on state violence to secure electoral victories. The last general election in 2020 was marred by violence, as well as intimidation of the opposition and censorship.

    It looks likely that Chadema will once again nominate Lissu to contest the presidency in the 2025 general election against president Samia. Lissu’s fearlessness and defiance make him the best candidate to take on the ruling party. Samia has already described Lissu as a troublesome character.

    With the ongoing opposition clampdown, it looks clear that the ruling party is once again willing to do whatever it will take to hold on to power. Even if Tanzania’s democracy suffers.

    Nicodemus Minde is affiliated with the Institute for Security Studies.

    – ref. Who is Tundu Lissu? Tanzania’s opposition leader is fighting for change in the face of fresh attacks on political freedoms – https://theconversation.com/who-is-tundu-lissu-tanzanias-opposition-leader-is-fighting-for-change-in-the-face-of-fresh-attacks-on-political-freedoms-240821

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –