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  • MIL-OSI Russia: The forum “Advanced digital and production technologies” has started at the Polytechnic University

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    On October 15, SPbPU opened the VI International Forum “Advanced Digital and Manufacturing Technologies”. The key topic of the forum is the development and application of advanced digital and manufacturing technologies as the basis for Russia’s technological leadership. The business program includes events dedicated to the most pressing topics of the national technological agenda.

    Over the course of two days, leading experts will discuss the specifics of the development of the unmanned aircraft systems industry in Russia, trends and potential of domestic engineering software, the use of digital twin technology and new materials in industry, the advantages of seamless engineering education: “school — college — university — industry”, the possibilities of university technological entrepreneurship, as well as the specifics of ensuring legal protection and use of intellectual property and many other issues.

    The organizers of the annual expert event are the structural divisions of the country’s leading technical university, which are the basis of the university’s technological development ecosystem. The forum is held with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation within the framework of the national project “Science and Universities”, the federal project “Advanced Engineering Schools”.

    The central event of the first day was the plenary session. It was attended by representatives of government agencies, development institutes, universities and leading enterprises in the high-tech industry.

    First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Economic Policy Denis Kravchenko, Rector of the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI Vladimir Shevchenko, Deputy Chairman of the Council for the Development of the Digital Economy under the Federation Council of the Russian Federation Artem Sheikin, Director for Innovative Development of PJSC UEC-Saturn Dmitry Ivanov, Director of Science of PJSC Gazprom Neft Mars Khasanov became speakers of the session. The moderator of the event was Vice-Governor of St. Petersburg Vladimir Knyaginin.

    A video address by the Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov opened the welcoming part. Valery Nikolaevich emphasized the importance of the forum as a platform for discussing the current agenda for the development of advanced digital and production technologies: The forum has acquired special significance in the context of solving the problems of achieving technological leadership in Russia. In order for these problems to be solved as quickly and efficiently as possible, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education is launching new projects for more effective interaction between universities and businesses. One of these projects is the Advanced Engineering School. It has proven its effectiveness precisely due to the close interaction of universities with companies. We are pleased to inform you that you will be presented with the positive experience and developments of one of the best advanced engineering schools – the school of the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University “Digital Engineering”. Specialists will tell you about new effective solutions and experience in the development and implementation of breakthrough technologies, as well as how to prepare a new generation of engineers.

    On behalf of the Polytechnic University, the Rector of SPbPU, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Rudskoy welcomed the forum participants: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University has always implemented a practice-oriented educational model aimed at fast and effective results for industry. We interact very closely with the industry. St. Petersburg Polytechnic University is a flagship university of PJSC Gazprom Neft, and among the university’s strategic partners are the state corporations Rosatom and Rostec, PJSC Severstal and other major enterprises that are systemically important for their industries. Representatives of many of them will participate in our forum as experts and speakers. The forum “Advanced Digital and Manufacturing Technologies” is a unique opportunity for direct communication, discussion of the most pressing issues on the educational, industrial, and technological agenda.

    After this, the Vice-Governor of St. Petersburg Vladimir Knyaginin moved on to the main issues on the agenda of the plenary session.

    Over the five years of its existence, the International Forum “Advanced Digital and Manufacturing Technologies” has become an authoritative platform for discussing current challenges and tasks. It is important that the organizer of this large-scale event is the Polytechnic University, which is one of the leaders in technical education and engineering sciences, not only in Russia, but also in the world. On the basis of the university, with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia and the Government of St. Petersburg, significant initiatives are being implemented aimed at the innovative development of our state and achieving its technological leadership, – Vladimir Nikolaevich emphasized.

    Elena Druzhinina, Managing Director for Science and Business Cooperation at the Rostec State Corporation, presented the view of a participant in the real sector of the economy on the scientific, technological and educational agenda of the forum.

    The St. Petersburg Polytechnic University and Rostec enterprises have been building various forms of interaction for a long time. We are ready to go further and create new forms of cooperation between science and business with the university. For example, the creation of a research and production association is a topic that is currently being actively discussed in this context. Also, the head of the Rostec State Corporation Sergey Chemezov supported the idea of creating an industrial postgraduate program, – concluded Elena Druzhinina.

    First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy Denis Kravchenko supported the thesis on the need to expand cooperation between educational institutions and high-tech enterprises: I would like to emphasize the importance of close work on the part of the management of educational institutions and future employers in terms of equipping educational institutions and training students in working with domestic application software on real production equipment.

    Vice-Rector for Digital Transformation of SPbPU Alexey Borovkov highlighted the approaches applied to the transformation of engineering education in his report and noted the dynamic growth of interest in advanced digital and production technologies, in particular, in the technology of digital twins. As well as in modern cross-industry platform solutions from industrial enterprises and government agencies: Digital twin technology is at the forefront, meeting the goal of achieving technological leadership, which consists in the superiority of technologies and products in key parameters over foreign analogues. The focus on technological leadership has pushed industries and the state to standardize and regulate those areas that were previously very cautiously discussed by the expert community. In recent years, we have seen how almost the same notes of our lectures with the terminology of advanced digital and production technologies are approved in regulatory documents, consolidating the scientific and technological groundwork formed by the ecosystem of technological development of SPbPU over many years.

    Thus, the speaker noted the adoption of the national standard GOST R 57700.37-2021 “Computer models and modeling. DIGITAL DOUBLES OF PRODUCTS. General provisions” in Russia and in the international arena.

    In 2023, the global digital twin market was valued at $10 billion, and by 2028, experts estimate it will reach $110 billion with an unprecedented annual CAGR growth of 61%. World leaders recognize digital twins as one of the technologies of the future, the speaker explained.

    Alexey Ivanovich presented the ecosystem of technological development of SPbPU, which forms the “gold standard” of interaction between various federal structures, organized based on the results of victories in prestigious competitions of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia with the aim of developing, replicating and expanding the scope of application of advanced digital and production technologies in industry and education.

    Alexey Borovkov spoke about the key results of R&D of the SPbPU technological development ecosystem, carried out on the Digital Platform for the Development and Application of Digital Twins CML-Bench® in 2024.

    In conclusion, Aleksey Borovkov noted the flagship role of the SPbPU Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” in the ecosystem of technological development of the Polytechnic University and emphasized the growing interest in it from applicants and partner companies: Following the results of the admissions campaign in 2023, students were recruited to the SPbPU Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” for 72 budget places. This year, the number of budget places and open educational programs has almost doubled, but we managed to maintain a high competition for admission, which is 4 people per place. The geography of admission covers almost all regions of our country, – Aleksey Ivanovich summed up.

    Based on the methodology of the federal project “Advanced Engineering Schools”, the rector of the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI Vladimir Shevchenko identified common patterns in organizing cooperation between partner companies and advanced engineering schools in the context of transforming approaches to engineering education and developing a system for training highly qualified personnel.

    The education of a modern engineer should, from the very beginning, assume an understanding that modern engineering and production activities occur in parallel in two worlds: physical and digital. I would like to emphasize the benefits of conducting early career guidance activities with applicants, which over the past year has made it possible to equalize the number of graduates taking the Unified State Exam in physics and computer science. For a modern engineer, these two disciplines should be in tandem, concluded Vladimir Igorevich.

    Deputy Chairman of the Council for the Development of the Digital Economy under the Federation Council of the Russian Federation Artem Sheikin spoke in detail about the main barriers to the introduction of artificial intelligence in real sectors of the economy in order to automate business processes, reduce costs and increase the efficiency of enterprises, and also spoke about the cybersecurity of processes for handling large volumes of industrial data.

    Director of Innovative Development of PJSC UEC-Saturn, Honorary Doctor of SPbPU Dmitry Ivanov shared his practical experience in developing digital twin of marine gas turbine engine gearbox as part of the unit within the framework of research work of national importance, carried out jointly with SPbPU, and highlighted a number of aspects.

    Everyone perceives digital twin technology differently. Very often, the technology is presented to enterprises as another calculation tool, work with which should be transferred down the hierarchy of engineering teams. This is a mistake. The digital twin changes the ideology of product design and production, including changes in the system of division of labor, business processes at the enterprise level, – Dmitry Stanislavovich emphasized to the audience.

    Director of Science at Gazprom Neft PJSC, Honorary Doctor of SPbPU Mars Khasanov presented an expert opinion on the implementation of system digital engineering technology, including digital twin technology, and considered the possibilities of combining it with neurosymbolic artificial intelligence to solve the company’s problems. Mars Magnavievich emphasized the need for practice-oriented training of personnel and highlighted various formats of project interaction at Gazprom Neft PJSC to form the required set of competencies of a future specialist.

    At the plenary session, representatives of research centers, leading universities and industrial enterprises exchanged experience in the application of new technologies, assessed the dynamics of their development and the speed of implementation in real production practice, held a discussion on the main trends in the development of domestic engineering software and discussed current issues in engineering education. More details about the plenary session read here.

    The business forum program traditionally consists of discussions, scientific and educational debates, pitch sessions, presentations. The full program of the forum can be found atevent website.

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

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

    https://vvv.spbstu.ru/media/nevs/science_and_innovations/forum-advanced-digital-and-production-technologies has started at the Polytechnic University/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA to Embrace Commercial Sector, Fly Out Legacy Relay Fleet 

    Source: NASA

    NASA is one step closer on its transition to using commercially owned and operated satellite communications services to provide future near-Earth space missions with increased service coverage, availability, and accelerated science and data delivery.     
    As of Friday, Nov. 8, the agency’s legacy TDRS (Tracking and Data Relay Satellite) system, as part of the Near Space Network, will support only existing missions while new missions will be supported by future commercial services.    
    “There have been tremendous advancements in commercial innovation since NASA launched its first TDRS satellite more than 40 years ago,” said Kevin Coggins, deputy associate administrator of NASA’s SCaN (Space Communications and Navigation) program. “TDRS will continue to provide critical support for at least the next decade, but now is the time to embrace commercial services that could enhance science objectives, expand experimentation, and ultimately provide greater opportunities for discovery.”    

    Kevin Coggins
    Deputy Associate Administrator for NASA’s SCaN

    Just as NASA has adopted commercial crew, commercial landers, and commercial transport services, the Near Space Network, managed by NASA’s SCaN, will leverage private industry’s vast investment in the Earth-based satellite communications market, which includes communications on airplanes, ships, satellite dish television, and more. Now, industry is developing a new space-based market for these services, where NASA plans to become one of many customers, bolstering the domestic space industry.    
    NASA’s Communications Services Project is working with industry through funded Space Act Agreements to develop and demonstrate commercial satellite communications services that meet the agency’s mission needs, and the needs of other potential users.   
    In 2022, NASA provided $278.5 million in funding to six domestic partners so they could develop and demonstrate space relay communication capabilities.  

    A successful space-based commercial service demonstration would encompass end-to-end testing with a user spacecraft for one or more of the following use cases: launch support, launch and early operations phase, low and high data rate routine missions, terrestrial support, and contingency services. Once a demonstration has been completed, it is expected that the commercial company would be able to offer their services to government and commercial users.    
    NASA also is formulating non-reimbursable Space Act Agreements with members of industry to exchange capability information as a means of growing the domestic satellite communications market. The Communications Services Project currently is partnered with Kepler Communications US Inc. through a non-reimbursable Space Act Agreement.    
    As the agency and the aerospace community expand their exploration efforts and increase mission complexity, the ability to communicate science, tracking, and telemetry data to and from space quickly and securely will become more critical than ever before. The goal is to validate and deliver space-based commercial communications services to the Near Space Network by 2031, to support future NASA missions.   

    While TDRS will not be accepting new missions, it won’t be retiring immediately. Current TDRS users, like the International Space Station, Hubble Space Telescope, and many other Earth- and universe-observing missions, will still rely on TDRS until the mid-2030s. Each TDRS spacecraft’s retirement will be driven by individual health factors, as the seven active TDRS satellites are expected to decline at variable rates.     

    The TDRS fleet began in 1983 and consists of three generations of satellites, launching over the course of 40 years. Each successive generation of TDRS improved upon the previous model, with additional radio frequency band support and increased automation.    
    The first TDRS was designed for a mission life of 10 years, but lasted 26 years before it was decommissioned in 2009. The last in the third generation – TDRS-13 –was launched Aug. 18, 2017.   

    DAve Israel
    Near Space Network Chief Architect

    “Each astronaut conversation from the International Space Station, every picture you’ve seen from Hubble Space Telescope, Nobel Prize-winning science data from the COBE satellite, and much more has flowed through TDRS,” said Dave Israel, Near Space Network chief architect. “The TDRS constellation has been a workhorse for the agency, enabling significant data transfer and discoveries.”   

    The Near Space Network and the Communications Services Project are funded by NASA’s SCaN (Space Communications and Navigation) program office at NASA Headquarters in Washington. The network is operated out of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and the Communications Services Project is managed out of NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sols 4334-4335: Planning with Popsicles — A Clipper Celebration!

    Source: NASA

    3 min read

    Earth planning date: Monday, Oct. 14, 2024

    Today was an unusually exciting day during tactical planning on the Curiosity mission because it intersected with a momentous event in space exploration: the launch of Europa Clipper from Kennedy Space Center. Even though the launch window occurred right in the middle of our morning planning meetings, at 9:06 a.m. PDT to be specific, today’s Tactical Uplink Lead and Science Operations Working Group Chair agreed it would be OK for the entire tactical team to take a 15-minute pause to turn on NASA TV and watch the launch together. Down the hall the Perseverance rover tactical team had decided the same, and for a few moments, the two teams paused their planning and watched together in anticipation as the countdown ticked down to T-0. Many of my close friends and co-workers had worked for years — some for decades — to make this mission a reality, and it was amazing to watch the enormous rocket carrying the Clipper spacecraft leap off the pad knowing how hard it was to get to this point. I cannot wait for the mission’s discoveries once it reaches Jupiter’s watery moon Europa!

    In true JPL tradition, we of course had to commemorate the event with some sweet frozen treats on-lab. Back when Curiosity landed, we had a full fridge of ice cream that was kept stocked for the first 90 sols of the mission. (Eating ice cream cones at 2 in the morning is a core memory of mine from those early days in our mission.) Today, in a clever nod to Europa’s icy surface, we celebrated with some even icier sweets: fruit and coffee popsicles to anyone on-lab. I chose coffee of course; the caffeine was great to help me get through a busy day of planning for Curiosity!

    On Mars, things with our rover are going well. We completed our mega ~50-meter drive (about 164 feet) over the weekend, which took Curiosity further north along the western side of Gediz Vallis channel. Our plan today is a “touch and go,” which means we’ll do contact science with APXS and MAHLI on a block in front of us named “Dollar Lake,” some remote sensing, including ChemCam LIBS of a target named “Cape Horn” and a couple Mastcam mosaics, followed by a drive to the north. We’ll continue to follow the western side of Gediz Vallis channel as we descend slightly down Mount Sharp, until we reach a location where we are able to head west towards a more easily traversable valley, and then restart our ascent.

    What a fun day of planning today. Congratulations to everyone involved helping Europa Clipper reach this incredible milestone, and go Clipper go!

    Written by Abigail Fraeman, Planetary Geologist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Northern Gaza must not be cut off from the south: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN at the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question.

    Location:
    United Nations, New York
    Delivered on:
    (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

    President, the UK supported the call for this meeting today, to discuss the urgent steps needed to address an ever-growing humanitarian tragedy in Gaza.

    The situation in northern Gaza is harrowing. Approximately 400,000 Gazans have been ordered to evacuate the north and move southwards to the IDF designated humanitarian zone. Many of these people will already have been displaced, some many times over, and are desperately searching for refuge.

    But there are no safe places in Gaza. Just this week we saw horrifying images following the Israeli strike on Al-Aqsa hospital, inside the IDF designated humanitarian zone.

    Those who decide to move face intimidation, active fighting zones and the threat of continued airstrikes. Those who stay face extreme hunger and appalling conditions, without access to basic services or healthcare.

    In the first half of October, no food aid was delivered to northern Gaza, with Israeli authorities denying or impeding the vast majority of humanitarian movements between north and south. We expect October to see the least aid enter Gaza since the beginning of the conflict, lower even more than September.

    Families in Gaza are facing a second winter with even less resilience and fewer resources. This is unconscionable.

    Israel must comply fully with international humanitarian law and ensure sufficient aid reaches all parts of Gaza. We also reiterate our concern at legislative proposals seeking to undermine UNRWA, which is vital to the humanitarian response in Gaza.

    Let me be clear. Northern Gaza must not be cut off from the south. Palestinian civilians, including those evacuated from northern Gaza, must be permitted to return to their communities and rebuild. There must be no forcible transfer of Gazans from or within Gaza, nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza Strip.

    We need to see an immediate ceasefire, to bring this devastating conflict to an end.

    President, we must also hold in the front of our minds, the unthinkable suffering of the 101 hostages who remain in captivity in Gaza. Their ordeal has gone on for far too long. Once again, we call on Hamas to release the hostages immediately and unconditionally.

    And as we know, the suffering in the region goes beyond Gaza. We reiterate our call for an immediate ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel. All parties must take measures to avoid civilian casualties, and ensure the safety and security of UNIFIL personnel.

    And in the West Bank, as my Foreign Secretary has said, we urge the Israeli Government to take action to crack down on settler violence and to stop settler expansion on Palestinian land. 

    That is why yesterday, my Government announced further sanctions against three illegal settler outposts and four organisations in order to bring accountability to those who perpetrate such heinous human rights abuses against Palestinians.

    President, the Palestinian people, the Israeli people, and the region as a whole, deserve a better reality than the daily cycle of violence and fear to which they have become accustomed. But there is a path to peace. One which would see a safe and secure Palestinian state, beside a safe and secure Israel.

    We urge the parties to be courageous and to take the path towards peace and a better future for their people.

    Updates to this page

    Published 16 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Explore what’s new for Copilot and Dynamics 365 at Oct. 29 virtual launch event

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Explore what’s new for Copilot and Dynamics 365 at Oct. 29 virtual launch event

    As Microsoft Copilot features continue to roll out across Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power Platform, it can be easy to get overwhelmed and lose track of critical new capabilities. Thankfully, the Microsoft Business Applications Launch Event is just around the corner.  

    Register today for the virtual launch event on Tuesday, October 29, 2024—a showcase of new and enhanced capabilities releasing between October 2024 and March 2025. Packed with demos and a live Q&A chat with Microsoft experts, you’ll get a sneak peek at innovation that can empower your workforce, optimize business processes, and enhance customer engagement.   

    Microsoft Business Applications Launch Event

    Explore the future of your business.

    Explore the future of business with Copilot

    Microsoft product leaders and engineers will be live at the event to give you an in-depth look at the latest Copilot capabilities for Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power Platform, including new ways to automate business process across your organization and scale your team. Our team will also showcase organizations across industries using new Copilot and Dynamics 365 features to drive transformation.

    Top 4 reasons to attend the launch event

    Twice a year, the Business Applications Launch Event gives you a sneak peek at product news, demos and insights into upcoming features and capabilities across Dynamics 365, Microsoft Power Platform, and Copilot. Here are four top reasons to attend the October 2024 event:  

    1. Get a sneak peek at highlights from the 2024 release wave 2. Discover what’s new and improved in Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power Platform. Hear from Charles Lamanna, Microsoft Corporate Vice President Business and Industry Copilot, and other leaders as they guide you through dozens of new Copilot and core platform capabilities releasing over the next six months.  
    2. Personalize sales and service experiences. Learn how to elevate customer experiences with demonstrations of new capabilities across Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Service, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Contact Center, and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales. You’ll also discover how Sweden-based automotive company, Lynk & Co, is using Dynamics 365 to drive highly personalized experiences.
    3. Transform business operations with AI-enabled enterprise resource planning (ERP) processes. Get a sneak peek at the enhancements that improve both core functionality and autonomous capabilities across ERP applications like Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central through the lens of our customer Lifetime Products, as well as the latest features for Business Central.  
    4. Exploring the future of Microsoft Power Platform. Learn how Copilot is transforming how you build, what you build, how you automate, and get a first-hand look at how Applied Information Sciences is innovating business solutions using the newest capabilities for Microsoft Power Apps, Microsoft Power Automate, and Microsoft Copilot Studio.

    That’s not all. You’ll also hear from other Microsoft leaders about their roadmap for the future of AI, customer service, and operations and how to use these new technologies to take on your organization’s most time-consuming tasks.  

    The Business Applications Launch Event streams live on Tuesday, October 29, 2024 starting at 9:00 AM Pacific Time and then available on-demand. Be sure to register for updates and reminders as the event day approaches. We’ll see you there!    

    Microsoft Business Applications Launch Event 

    Tuesday, October 29, 2024 
    9:00 AM-10:00 AM Pacific Time (UTC-7)  

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Holidays start with Microsoft Store

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Holidays start with Microsoft Store

    With the holidays just around the corner, it’s time to enjoy seasonal treats, hang up festive decorations and relive childhood classics. Yet, alongside the joy, there’s the ever-growing to-do list: finding recipes for meals, managing budgets, planning holiday gatherings and so much more. The season is about togetherness and connection, and whether it’s helping to bring traditions to life or tackling tasks, so you have time to enjoy festivities, Microsoft Store is here to support you. From Surface laptops and Xbox consoles and accessories to movies, TV shows and gift cards – we make shopping simple and stress-free. For early savings on the season’s hottest tech, shop today and check out the latest deals on Microsoft Store.

    Check off your to-do list with Microsoft Copilot, your AI-powered assistant this holiday season

    Designed to help you get more done with ease, Microsoft Copilot can support holiday tasks like creating a budget, editing holiday photos, or even organizing and planning travel.

    • Celebrate the season: Not sure what events are happening in your area? Use Copilot to discover local holiday events, like light festivals and pop-ups. Simply ask Copilot to find events nearby, and you’ll get an up-to-date list of activities perfect for enjoying with your family and friends.
    • Get an assist with planning: Simplify planning and spend more time enjoying the festivities with Copilot. Leverage AI to help write invites, design place settings, search for food and drink recipes, and even assist with outfit inspiration, so you can spend as much time as possible with those that make the holidays special.

    Celebrate the season with AI-powered experiences, available on the all-new Copilot+ PCs from Microsoft Surface

    Copilot+ PCs are the fastest, most intelligent Windows PCs on the market equipped with unique AI experiences, like Cocreator in Paint and Windows Studio Effects, to help you do more of what you love this holiday season.

    • Create with confidence: Make your holiday invitations pop or even design your own wrapping paper with Cocreator in Paint. The new-and-improved Microsoft Paint app allows anyone to create unique artwork with the help of AI. Simply enter a text prompt and start drawing on the Paint canvas, and Cocreator will generate artwork based on what’s drawn. Turn a stick figure into a snowman or first draft snowflakes into intricate designs, choosing how polished the final artwork will be.
    • Upgrade to picture perfect images: Have a photo that would be perfect for the holiday card but there’s too much background clutter? Use AI-powered features in the Photos app on Copilot+ PCs to effortlessly enhance the images. Remove unwanted objects, like photobombers or clutter, to keep the focus on your loved ones or add festive filters to infuse your photos with holiday cheer with Restyle Image.
    • Stay connected for those important moments: Whether it’s across town or on the other side of the globe, the all-new Surface Pro is the perfect device to stay connected with family and friends. With a 120-degree, ultra-wide camera and full-HD front-facing camera, the Surface Pro is great for video calls allowing for more space to move around. And with the addition of OLED, the display delivers brighter brights and darker darks for better daytime and night-time viewing. With AI-powered features in Windows Studio Effects, available on Copilot+ PCs, you can look and sound your best with features like portrait light, creative filters, voice focus and more.

    With incredible performance and all-day battery life, Surface Laptop and Surface Pro  are available in four stunning colors: Sapphire, Dune, Platinum and Black. Designed with productivity and creativity in mind, learn more about Copilot+ PCs from Microsoft Surface and AI-powered experiences by visiting Microsoft.com.

    Level up your holidays with Xbox: Gaming for all, anytime and anywhere

    Whether you’re cozying up by the fire with your favorite game or sparking some friendly competition during your holiday vacation, Xbox is making it easier than ever for everyone to play anywhere this season.

     Shopping made simple with Microsoft Store

    Microsoft Store makes it easy to find and purchase the perfect gift with 24/7 online support, free shipping and extended return windows, flexible payment options that start at 0% APR, and cash back for eligible used devices.

    When shopping at Microsoft.com, customers can take advantage of fast, free 2-3-day shipping, and extended free returns and price protection through Jan. 31, 2025, for extra peace of mind. If we drop the price of a physical product or you find it lower at an eligible retailer, we’ll honor a one-time price adjustment. Exclusions apply*.

    Microsoft Store and partners offer you simple, safe ways to pay at checkout with flexible payment options, including PayPal Pay Later, which allows you to buy now and pay later, and Citizens Pay®, which offers financing, a traditional line of credit. Microsoft Store also has an online trade-in program to make your dollars go further this holiday season.

    Not sure what to gift? To help find the best laptop, this short quiz will determine which Surface device is right for your loved one.

    Looking for more holiday magic? Stay tuned for savings on the season’s hottest tech with Microsoft Store’s upcoming Black Friday sale, beginning Nov. 15 on microsoft.com.

    *Holiday extended return policy available with eligible physical products purchased between Oct. 15, 2024 – Dec. 2, 2024 from Microsoft Store online and Microsoft Experience Centers in select markets. Purchases can be returned through Jan. 31, 2025. Limit five product returns per eligible customer purchase. Excludes Surface Hub, HoloLens and Windows DevKit. Applicable return policy applies. For purchases made at Microsoft Store, see applicable Microsoft Terms of Sale for more information. For purchases made at Microsoft Experience Center, see receipt for more information. Microsoft reserves the right to modify or discontinue offers at any time.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Poland: Plans to suspend the right to seek asylum ‘flagrantly unlawful’

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Reacting to the Polish government’s new migration strategy which cites the threat of Russia and Belarus using migration to ‘destabilize the country’ and proposes temporary suspension of the right to seek asylum, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for Europe, Dinushika Dissanayake said:

    “Suspending the right to seek asylum is flagrantly unlawful and Prime Minister Tusk knows this. EU member states like Poland are playing politics with the rights of refugees and migrants. From Poland to Finland, Greece and Germany, so-called emergencies are being weaponized to enact laws that gravely undermine access to asylum and the protection from refoulement.

    “These proposals endanger the rights of people seeking safety. They penalize people who may have been subject to violence and trafficking, or lured to EU borders under false pretenses. They provide for a temporary and territorial suspension of ‘the right to submit asylum applications’, affecting both people crossing ‘irregularly’ along the land border and to those at official border crossing points, referring to Finland’s recently passed law on this issue.

    “These proposals are also blatantly inconsistent with the newly approved EU crisis and force majeure regulation as part of the Pact on Migration and Asylum. States have a range of tools available to respond to security concerns, which must in all cases uphold human rights, including the right to asylum, as protected by the EU Charter on Fundamental Rights.

    “Since 2021, the EU has been tolerating practices enacted by Poland, Latvia and Lithuania at their borders with Belarus that go beyond all powers granted to them under EU law, and more recently at Finland’s border with Russia. It is high time for the European Commission to take its role as guardian of the treaties seriously and send a clear message that fundamental rights cannot be bent to political interests.”

    Background

    States refer to “instrumentalization” of migration to designate actions by third states or other actors that facilitate irregular migration movements into another country in an attempt to destabilize it.

    The plans for the suspension of asylum applications form part of Poland’s strategy on migration for 2025-2030, approved by the Government on 15 October 2024.

    These plans are the latest in the Polish government’s efforts to undermine the human rights of refugees and migrants arriving at the Polish-Belarussian border. The proposal also comes as Poland, together with Lithuania and Latvia (in separate but similar cases), faces imminent scrutiny at the European Court of Human Rights for the situation of a group of Afghan people seeking asylum who were stranded at the border with Belarus in 2021, as the Polish authorities allegedly prevented from accessing asylum and summarily returned them.

    For more information, please contact [email protected]

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: National consultations show widespread, systemic racism damaging lives

    Source: Australian Human Rights Commission

    Racism is commonplace and normalised in Australia and can affect almost every part of a person’s daily life, according to a new report for the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC). National consultations with diverse and marginalised communities revealed first-hand accounts from hundreds of people who have experienced racism. 

    The report, An Anti-Racism Framework: Experiences and perspectives of multicultural Australia, was commissioned by the AHRC and conducted by the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA). Among the key findings was that, despite the diversity of people’s backgrounds – including location, age, disability, sexuality, faith and cultural background – racism was prevalent throughout the country and entrenched in society. 

    Racism, the report found, is often being experienced at the same time as another form of discrimination such as disability or sex discrimination, and is taking place in people’s schools, workplaces, public spaces, and during interactions with health services or law enforcement.  

    The report also found governments and the media are culpable in further marginalising people through a culture of silence, which either ignores or minimises incidents of racism or stokes divisions through sensationalist rhetoric. 

    Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman: “These powerful and at times heartbreaking first-hand accounts from diverse and marginalised communities reaffirm the fact that racism in Australia is ubiquitous, insidious and profoundly damaging. 

    “The racism described is more than hurtful words being said to someone. It is systemic, often involving dealings with some level of authority, whose power determines access to opportunities, basic needs, services, or justice.  

    “Racism seeps into almost every aspect of people’s lives, and in ways that have become so normalised that victims don’t feel they can talk about it and decide to ‘learn to live with it’. Everyday racism is hidden in plain sight.  

    “People spoke of how they felt they had to lose their identity to fit in, their experience of subtle acts of discrimination or alienation at school, work or their communities, and biases they felt in dealing with those in power. Sadly, people not feeling safe because of their race is widespread.”  

    The report made 11 recommendations, including:  

    • The Australian Government must lead the way to change and commit to a whole-of-society, anti-racism agenda, such as through a national anti-racism framework.  

    • Combating First Nations racism must be at the forefront of reform.  

    • Public and private institutions, including in education, employment, healthcare, and justice, must have policies in place to address racism in all its forms. This includes incorporating preventative and redress mechanisms, reviewing all current policies and procedures for accessing opportunities and services, and introducing mandatory anti-racism training.  

    • Introducing a national Human Rights Act, also in line with the key finding of the Commission’s landmark Free + Equal Project.  

    “The first step to systemic change is to break the silence around racism. No longer should victims just ‘get on with it’,” Commissioner Sivaraman said.  

    “Racism is a barrier to ensuring all Australians are afforded the same opportunity, dignity, respect and access as others. We must urgently have a sound human rights protection system that establishes a safe and inclusive environment for all.”  

    FECCA conducted more than 40 consultations with 860 participants across all states and territories, and an online survey with more than 400 responses. They each captured people’s personal experiences of racism and their ideas about solutions. The report is part of a suite of work helping inform the National Anti-Racism Framework, which the Commission will deliver to the Federal Government on 26 November.  

    FECCA Chairperson Carlo Carli: “This report shows the need for a comprehensive anti-racism strategy in this country has never been stronger. 

    “We are delighted that the voices of people with lived experience of racism will help shape the National Anti-Racism Framework, driving meaningful change and accountability across all sectors. The courage of those who shared their stories should compel all of us to confront and address the systemic nature of racism in Australia. 

    “By incorporating the insights of those who endure this daily, the National Anti-Racism Framework has the potential to dismantle discriminatory structures and build a fairer society for all.” 

    Read the report: An Anti-Racism Framework: Experiences and perspectives of multicultural Australia 

    Commissioner Sivaraman will release the report today (17 October 2024) at the FECCA Conference in Brisbane.

    A separate report outlining insights from consultations with First Nations communities will be released later this month. It is part of a suite of work that includes this consultations report that will feed into the development of the National Anti-Racism Framework. 

    ENDS | Media contact: media@humanrights.gov.au or 0457 281 897 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠ Harris Administration Approves Nearly $2 Billion for Hurricane Response and Recovery  Efforts

    Source: The White House

    The Biden-Harris Administration continues its response and recovery efforts across the Southeast and Appalachia following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Nearly 8,000 Federal personnel remain on the ground working side-by-side with State and local officials to help survivors with recovery and rebuilding.

    As part of our commitment to remaining with impacted communities as long as it takes, under President Biden’s direction, the Administration has already approved more than $1.8 billion in assistance for hurricane recovery efforts.

    This includes assistance for individuals – including funding for temporary housing, essential needs like food, water, baby formula, and other emergency supplies – as well as public assistance to states for costs related to debris removal, life-saving emergency protective measures, and restoring public infrastructure, including roads, bridges, schools, and courthouses.

    In North Carolina, where the Administration continues to surge resources, more than $100 million in assistance has been approved for more than 77,000 survivors.

    This funding supplements additional investments announced by President Biden during his visit to Florida this weekend, where he awarded more than $600 million from the Department of Energy to six projects across the Southeast to enhance the reliability and resilience of the electric grid in the face of more extreme weather events.

    Specific funding for impacted communities includes:

    For those affected by Hurricane Helene, FEMA has approved over $911 million, which includes $581 million in assistance for individuals and affected communities and over $330 million for public assistance costs like debris removal and other activities to save lives, protect public health and safety, prevent damage to public and private property, and restore public infrastructure.

    For individual assistance related to Hurricane Helene, specific funding approved includes:

    • Florida: More than $213 million for 71,000 survivors
    • South Carolina: More than $132 million for 146,000 survivors
    • Georgia: More than $119 million for 118,000 survivors
    • North Carolina: More than $100 million for 77,000 survivors
    • Tennessee: More than $11.8 million for 2,400 survivors
    • Virginia: More than $4.7 million for 1,500 survivors

    For those affected by Hurricane Milton, FEMA has already approved over $620 million, which thus far includes $16 million in assistance for individuals and affected communities and over $604 million in public assistance.  

    The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has offered over $48 million in tentatively approved disaster loan funding to survivors of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The SBA also has hundreds of staff working on the ground supporting communities in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia in 48 disaster recovery centers, as well as in loan processing and customer service centers. 

    Disaster Recovery Centers open throughout impacted states:

    Additional Disaster Recovery Centers are opening throughout the affected communities to provide survivors with in-person assistance. These centers serve as “one stop shops,” offering help with applications for FEMA assistance, information on available resources from other Federal agencies, and guidance on navigating the recovery process. Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams remain on the ground in neighborhoods in all affected states helping survivors apply for assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary resources.

    Survivors can visit Disaster Recovery Centers in the following cities/towns:

    Florida:

    • Twelve Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Bradenton, Branford, Glen Saint Mary, Homosassa, Lake City, Largo, Live Oak, Madison, Perry, Sarasota, and Tampa, and more will open in the coming days and weeks. DRCs will support survivors impacted by both Helene and Milton. In addition, 120 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members are going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors.

    North Carolina:

    • Six Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Asheville, Bakersville, Boone, Lenoir, Marion and Sylva. FEMA expects to open up to ten more Disaster Recovery Centers in impacted communities in the coming days. More than 1,200 FEMA staff are on the ground, and 379 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members are going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors.

    Georgia:

    • Four Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Valdosta, Douglas, Sandersville and Augusta. 152 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members are going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors.

    South Carolina:

    • Six Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Anderson, Greenville, Barnwell, Batesburg, Easley, and North Augusta. 92 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members are going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors.

    Tennessee:

    • One Disaster Recovery Center is open in Erwin. 48 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members are going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors.

    Virginia:

    • Four Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Damascus, Dublin, Independence, and Tazewell. 57 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members are going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors.

    Additional assistance to agriculture producers includes:

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that people in parts of Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee recovering from Tropical Storm Helene may be eligible for food assistance through the USDA’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). Approximately 982,930 households in Georgia, 152,572 households in North Carolina and 54,692 households in Tennessee are estimated to be eligible for this relief to help with grocery expenses. Through this program, which USDA makes available through states in the aftermath of disasters, people who may not be eligible for SNAP in normal circumstances can participate if they meet specific criteria, including disaster income limits and qualifying disaster-related expenses.

    USDA also announced additional assistance to help agriculture producers impacted by Hurricane Helene in the recovery process. Producers will receive over $233 million in indemnities for losses from Hurricane Helene. These payments will directly help farmers and rural communities recover.

    Currently, Hurricane Helene estimated indemnities by state include:

    • Georgia: $207.7 million 
    • Florida: $12.8 million
    • Alabama: $5.0 million 
    • North Carolina: $4.1 million 
    • South Carolina: $4.1 million
    • Virginia: $61,000

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Lawler Announces Over $32 Million in Federal Funding in FY25, Set to Deliver More Than $70 Million For District in First Term

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Lawler (R, NY-17)

    Yesterday, Congressman Mike Lawler was joined by Rockland County Sheriff Lou Falco and other local elected officials outside the Rockland County Sheriff’s office to highlight major infrastructure and public safety investments for the Hudson Valley secured in federal community project funding for Fiscal Year 2025. Although the appropriations work for Fiscal Year 2025 is still ongoing, Congressman Lawler has already secured more than $32.9 million for fifteen different projects across New York’s 17th Congressional District. This is in addition to $38 million in federal funding for 17 projects in Fiscal Year 2024. With the latest numbers, Congressman Lawler is set to deliver more than $70 million for New York’s 17th Congressional District in his first term in office.

    “When I was elected to represent this district, I promised I would work with my partners at every level of government and in both parties to prioritize the needs of our residents,” said Congressman Lawler. “That’s exactly what I’ve done in working with each of the officials with me here today to ensure funding for each of these important projects.”

    “Projects like these are great examples of what we can accomplish when we put aside politics and focus on meeting the needs of our communities and constituents,” Congressman Lawler concluded. “That’s been my focus as a Congressman, it’s been my focus throughout the appropriations process for both Fiscal Year 2024 and 2025, and it will always be my focus.”

    Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of the 118th Congress and represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties.

    Complete footage of yesterday’s press conference can be viewed here.

    Below is a list and description of each project announced by Congressman Lawler:

    Rockland County Public Safety and Crime Prevention Initiative

    Recipient: Rockland County Sheriff’s Office

    Amount: $4,500,000

    Summary: The funding will be used for necessary law enforcement priorities such as police vehicles, equipment to be utilized at a new reality-based public safety training facility, and the structural analysis and design of the facility. This project will provide necessary support to the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office to ensure effective enforcement of laws, address crimes, and improve the criminal justice system across the County. These priorities closely align with the purposes of the Byrne Justice Grants program.

    Law Enforcement Reality-Based Training Facility

    Recipient: Rockland County Sheriff’s Office

    Amount: $2,600,000

    Summary: The funding will be used to construct a new reality-based training facility for the Rockland County Sheriff Department to grow law enforcement capacity, ensure effective law enforcement operations, and overall enhance public safety throughout the county. This project will increase law enforcement capacity and enhance development of public safety in Rockland County, NY. This new facility will allow the Sheriff’s office to better combat crime, improve community safety, and foster an environment more conducive to economic development.

    Westchester Pleasantville Water District Storage Tank Replacement/Rehabilitation

    Amount: $2,250,000

    Summary: The funding will be used to mitigate risks attached to their leaking North and South Water Storage Tanks. Both 1-million-gallon water storage tanks are housed within the Millwood Water Treatment Plant approximately 3 miles north of the Village and services the entire Pleasantville Water District and approximately 2,000 residents in the Town of Mount Pleasant. Over the course of their 90-year history, both storage tanks have been exposed to natural deterioration, which has led to their useful life cycles coming to an end. Funding for the proposed Water Tank Improvement project will replace both of the Village’s North and South water tanks, which will significantly reduce the tax burden placed on residents. The completion of this project will positively impact the Pleasantville water distribution system, which services all 7,513 residents (U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 Decennial Census) and an additional 2,000+ residents living in the Town of Mount Pleasant. Without funding, Pleasantville’s North and South Water Tanks would continue to suffer from leakage which will compromise the Village’s water supply, further increasing distribution risks that will negatively affect residential quality of life.

    Nanuet TOD Project

    Recipient: Town of Clarkstown

    Amount: $5,000,000

    Summary: The funding will be used for construction of the first phase of its transformative vision for the Nanuet Transit Oriented Development Plan (TOD), including water and sewer infrastructure improvements, road, sidewalk, and pedestrian safety and streetscape enhancements. Bringing this extensive new infrastructure will spark the redevelopment of the area by mitigating the drainage issues plaguing development in the area, enhancing the appeal of the area, and creating the necessary connectivity for a walkable and easily accessible TOD neighborhood. This transformational project will lead to an expansion of workforce housing, parking, and economic opportunity for the community.

    Safer Ramapo Project

    Recipient: Town of Ramapo

    Amount: $5,000,000

    Summary: The funding will be used for installation of pedestrian safety measures, including traffic signals, turning lanes, walking paths, and sidewalks in the Town of Ramapo. Directing funding towards pedestrian safety measures will not only mitigate the risk of accidents but also cultivate a more pedestrian-friendly environment. This will improve accessibility and safety, improve connectedness, and improve ADA compliance. The Town of Ramapo is also home to one of the largest Orthodox and Hasidic Jewish populations in the country, with many of these individuals walking to shul on Saturdays. To ensure the safety of these individuals, the Town of Ramapo requires additional funding for the construction of sidewalks. From 2011-2022, there have been 983 pedestrian injuries, and twenty-seven (27) deaths in the Town of Ramapo. Safer walking conditions continue to be an urgent need for Ramapo residents. 

    Carmel Water District II Water Plant Upgrade and Rehabilitation Project

    Recipient: Town of Carmel

    Amount: $1,250,000

    Summary: The funding will be used to repair/replace a 60-year-old facility and associated equipment to meet federal and state requirements of PFOAs. This project will directly benefit approximately 10,000 individuals on a daily basis. Beyond safeguarding public health, it will also have far reaching positive effects on various institutions and businesses in downtown Carmel, including the Putnam Hospital, and Carmel High School.

    Hallocks Mill Sewer District Extension Project

    Recipient: Town of Yorktown

    Amount: $1,250,000

    Summary: The funding will provide public sewer service to neighborhoods presently serviced by residential septic systems. The properties served by septic systems have generally been installed on small lots with steep slopes and environmental constraints, which are not ideal for septic system performance. The extended district will dramatically improve and enhance the water quality of Sparkle Lake, a major recreational resource for town residents, as well as the Croton Reservoir, which provides drinking water for millions of residents in the metropolitan area. The proposed wastewater infrastructure project, however, protects one of the largest public water systems in the United States. 

    Croton Falls Sewer Project

    Recipient: Town of North Salem

    Amount: $1,250,000

    Summary:  The project will install sewers in the Village of Croton Falls’ General Business district to replace existing septic and cesspools. The Village is struggling because some of its businesses, especially all of the restaurants which have mixed use with residential apartments over them, are on older septic tanks that cannot be upgraded due to a lack of space. Due to its proximity to the Muscoot Reservoir, many of the existing tanks and fields are on New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) property and under roads, some are not fixable if they were to fail. To allow the Village to take advantage of its assets and begin to realize the potential of the community, Croton Falls needs sewers, which this funding will provide.

    Town of Orangetown Sidewalk Improvement Project

    Recipient: Town of Orangetown

    Amount: $1,500,000

    Summary: The funding would be used for streetscaping improvements in the Hamlet of Pearl River in the Town of Orangetown specifically to install sidewalks, curbs, and drainage improvements. This project provides streetscape improvements that meet a compelling local need consistent with the statutory purposes of the Economic Development Initiative. The corridor receiving these improvements has seen three fatalities in the last 15 years and is part of Orangetown’s continued efforts to improve pedestrian safety on Middletown Road. Sidewalks are a critical element of community well-being and serve as a connector between residents, neighborhoods, local economies, and more. Walkable sidewalks will ensure Orangetown is a place that attracts both businesses and new residents, which will surely promote economic development in the community.

    Village of New Square Road Infrastructure Improvements Project

    Recipient: Village of New Square

    Requested Amount: $4,000,000

    Summary: The funding will complete much needed improvements for NYS Route 45, widen Village roads, and complete paving improvements. The project will enhance traffic flow and increase the safety of motorists and pedestrians by addressing long-standing concerns about road conditions and motorist/pedestrian safety in the Village of New Square. Portions of the project area lack adequate sidewalks as a buffer from narrow, congested roads and are inherently dangerous in a fast-growing Village where many pedestrians utilize Village streets to travel to school, shopping, and visits to friends and family. By rectifying roadway deficiencies, the Village will relieve congestion, reduce travel time, and increase vehicle operating benefits.

    Memorial Drive Reconstruction Project

    Recipient: Village of Suffern

    Amount: $1,000,000

    Summary: The funding will be used for the reconstruction of Memorial Drive. The project will reopen a critical thoroughfare for emergency vehicles and for their timely response which can save lives, prevent injuries and protect property. Memorial Drive, which is currently closed due to the continual road deterioration and for the safety of residents, is also a major connection between the local community and US Route 202. Its reconstruction will stabilize the road for the safe use by all traffic including emergency vehicles.

    Downtown Water Main Lining Project

    Recipient: Village of Sleepy Hollow

    Amount: $983,200

    Summary: The funding will support a multi-phase project to address hydraulic inefficiencies in the downtown area, the Village of Sleepy Hollow will reline and replace approximately 1,980 linear feet of existing 8” water main line along a portion of Cortlandt Street and College Avenue. The current downtown water system is over 100 years old. The inner village neighborhoods bordering the downtown area represent the Village’s largest number of public housing units, low-income housing, low-income senior housing, and middle-income housing. This corridor is a critical aspect of public health and safety, connectivity and multi-modal transportation, affordable housing, resilient infrastructure, and overall economic investment. As a result, this project will provide immediate remediation and resiliency to infrastructure that otherwise poses a water quality and economic risk to the community, particularly its most vulnerable residents. 

    Samsondale Avenue Curbs & Sidewalk Replacement Project

    Recipient: Village of West Haverstraw

    Amount: $800,000

    Summary: The funding will be used to construct necessary upgrades of sidewalks and curbing along Samsondale Avenue, which have rapidly deteriorated and become a hazard. The project will unlock critical improvements to a main thoroughfare for a Village operating on a limited budget. Many pedestrians utilize Samsondale Avenue to get to the business district along Railroad Avenue and Route 9W as well as access to and from the Village of Haverstraw. The lack of sidewalks is potentially hazardous to people walking on them. This project will improve accessibility and safety, improve connectedness, and improve ADA compliance.

    Westchester County Public Safety Enhancements

    Recipient: City of Peekskill

    Amount: $520,000

    Summary: The funding will be used for expanding and modernizing the Peekskill police station, which is currently at capacity. The City of Peekskill’s police station is currently at capacity and urgently requires more space. With this necessary facility expansion and modernization, the City will be able to hire 10 more law enforcement officers, which will significantly improve operations.

    North State Road Water Main Replacement Initiative

    Recipient: Town of Ossining

    Amount: $1,000,000

    Summary: The funding will upgrade the community’s water distribution system on North State Road, an area that has a history of water main breaks, including 14 incidents over the last 5 years, that has exposed the general public to health risks and requires expensive repairs. It will improve the Town’s water distribution system as a part of a larger initiative to replace all aged cast iron water mains, significantly reducing the likelihood of water main breaks in a historically problematic area and positively impacting all 37,764 users in the service area.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Nuer people have a sacred connection to birds – it can guide conservation in Ethiopia and South Sudan

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Abebayehu Aticho, PhD student, researcher and conservationist, Jimma University

    The pied kingfisher helps the Nuer to find parts of the river where there’s an abundance of fish. Henrik Karlsson/Getty Images

    The Nuer are a large pastoralist community living in western Ethiopia and South Sudan in east Africa. They rely on livestock keeping and have special beliefs and customs about how to live with nature. These are passed down from parents to children through the telling of stories.

    Uncommonly for east African pastoralists, the Nuer live in an expansive, low-lying floodplain. This Gambella region is shaped by the convergence of several rivers originating in the Ethiopian highlands. Its wetlands and lush greenery offer a unique habitat that supports both the Nuer and a wide variety of birds and other wildlife. The people have a centuries-old cultural connection with the local biodiversity.

    Our collaborative study involved Ethiopian and European scientists from diverse fields (such as ornithology, ethno-ornithology, biodiversity and nature conservation). We conducted interviews and 15 group discussions with Nuer people to understand their interaction with and knowledge of birds. The study included two districts and 400 households. We found a significant and seldom studied relationship with birds, which serve a range of purposes in Nuer life.

    Our study not only highlights the deep spiritual and cultural ties between the Nuer people and the avian world. It also underscores the importance of incorporating traditional ecological knowledge into contemporary conservation efforts.

    The Nuer’s relationship to birds can be a valuable model for sustainable human-wildlife interactions. It can contribute to the conservation of bird diversity and promote a more harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.

    The role of birds in Nuer life

    Ethiopia, known for its rich biodiversity, is home to 821 bird species and over 80 indigenous ethnic groups. Among these, the Nuer community stands out for its unique admiration of birds, viewing them as sacred beings.

    The Nuer use three interchangeable names for birds: gaatkuoth (sacred children of God), kuoth (bearers of spirit), and diit (symbols of human twins). These terms reflect spiritual beliefs and also influence cultural practices, such as naming twins after birds. This Nuer tradition connects the prolific nature of birds to human fertility.

    In our study, participants recognised 71 bird species as having unique cultural roles. The birds that live near Nuer villages have seven distinct uses. Ten species are used as bushmeat. Five are for traditional medicine. Eight are fish indicators – by meticulously observing species like the African fish eagle, African pygmy kingfisher, pied kingfisher or malachite kingfisher, people can identify areas with high fish populations.

    Seven birds serve as omens – they signal potential dangers like the presence of wild animals. Three are used to create protective amulets. Three are used to indicate the change of seasons – for instance the return of migratory western yellow wagtails is a reliable sign that the sunny, dry season will be replacing the rainy, wet season. And 45 are hailed for their aesthetic beauty, often linked with a sense of place. The vibrant plumage, melodious songs and elegant flight patterns of birds like the black-crowned crane, blue-naped mousebird and purple heron create a spectacle that significantly enhances Nuer life.

    This intricate knowledge of birds is communal: over 90% of participants agreed on the uses of these bird species.

    Indigenous knowledge and sustainability

    One of the most striking things about the Nuer community is the sustainable practice embedded within their traditional systems. When birds are used as amulets, for example, only small, non-invasive parts of the bird, like feathers, are utilised. These are fashioned into necklaces or bracelets believed to offer protection from dangers like diseases. The birds are not killed or significantly harmed, which preserves their populations.

    A Nuer village.
    fabio lamanna/Getty

    There are strict limits on when and how birds can be used in Nuer society. The use of birds as bushmeat or for making traditional medicine is carefully controlled by elders and within family structures. Hunting is typically allowed only during severe food shortages. It’s often restricted to those in dire need, such as impoverished households. Families with a history of twins, who hold birds in special reverence, are not allowed to hunt them.

    These cultural practices help prevent overexploitation of bird species, conserving them for future generations. They ensure that the use of natural resources remains sustainable.

    It’s important to raise awareness about the conservation of birds, which are used for various purposes across Africa. Traditional medicine, bushmeat and the making of amulets has a direct impact on bird populations.

    Nuer traditions balance human needs with the preservation of bird life. Our study therefore offers a compelling case and model for the conservation of avian and indigenous cultural diversity in Africa.

    Why this matters

    It is, however, essential to acknowledge that the Nuer’s cultural practices are not immune to the pressures of modern society. As globalisation and development continue to encroach on traditional lands, the Nuer people will face increasing challenges in maintaining their sustainable practices.

    Threats such as habitat loss, climate change and illegal wildlife trading could jeopardise bird populations. In recent decades, the expansion of large-scale agriculture in the Gambella region has emerged as a driver of habitat loss and wildlife decline.

    This makes the Nuer people’s traditional conservation practices even more relevant to future generations. By recognising and valuing their knowledge and practices, we can learn valuable lessons for broader conservation efforts.

    Indigenous territories, despite their relatively small size, often harbour extraordinary biodiversity. Recognising this, the United Nations’ Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework places indigenous-occupied areas among conservation priority areas at the forefront of biodiversity preservation strategies.

    It is crucial to help the Nuer community adapt to changing circumstances while preserving their cultural heritage and ensuring the sustainability of bird biodiversity.

    Changkuoth Puok Diet, a lecturer at Gambella University in Ethiopia, contributed to this article.

    Abebayehu Aticho works for both Jimma University and the Threatened Species Conservation Organisation (a small local NGO). He got funding for this study from the International Crane Foundation and Jimma University.

    Andrew Gosler has received grant funding in the past from the Arts and Humanities Research Council for the Ethno-ornithology World Atlas.

    Abebe Beyene, Desalegn Chala, Nils Christian Stenseth, and Shimelis Aynalem Zelelew do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Nuer people have a sacred connection to birds – it can guide conservation in Ethiopia and South Sudan – https://theconversation.com/nuer-people-have-a-sacred-connection-to-birds-it-can-guide-conservation-in-ethiopia-and-south-sudan-239420

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Less Than Five Days Remain to Apply for FEMA Assistance

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Less Than Five Days Remain to Apply for FEMA Assistance

    Less Than Five Days Remain to Apply for FEMA Assistance

    Attention, New Mexicans affected by the South Fork and Salt Fires and/or flooding. Do not wait any longer to apply for FEMA federal disaster assistance. The deadline to apply for assistance is less than five days away. 

    Homeowners and renters impacted by the fires and flooding, from June 17 to Aug. 20, 2024, who live in Lincoln, Otero, Rio Arriba, San Juan Counties, or on the Mescalero Apache Reservation have only until Saturday, Oct. 19 to apply. The deadline to apply for a long-term, low-interest disaster loan for physical damage from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is also Oct. 19.

    FEMA grants do not have to be repaid. FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP or other federal and state benefits.  

    How to Apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance 

    The first step for individuals and households to receive assistance is to apply to FEMA for federal assistance. There are no costs involved to apply for, or receive, FEMA assistance. There are four ways to apply:

    1. Go online to disasterassistance.gov/
    2. Download the FEMA App for mobile devices at fema.gov/about/news-multimedia/mobile-products
    3. Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. Help is available in most languages.
    4. Visit the state of New Mexico/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center at the Horton Complex, 237 Service Road in Ruidoso. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

    For an American Sign Language (ASL) video on how to apply for assistance, visit youtube.com/watch= WZGpWI2RCNw.

    For more information about FEMA’s Individual Assistance program, visit  www.fema.gov/assistance/individual. 

    angela.ambroise

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Anniversary Statement: Socata TB-20 Tobago, (N33NW), 10 October 2023

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Collision with trees during takeoff, Langham Airfield, Norfolk, 10 October 2023

    This statement provides an update on the ongoing AAIB investigation into an accident involving a Socata TB-20 which struck trees during takeoff at Langham Airfield, Norfolk.

    The investigation into this accident has been completed and the investigation report will be published in the near future.

    Updates to this page

    Published 16 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Old National Bank Recognized as 2024 Leading Disability Employer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EVANSVILLE, Ind., Oct. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Honoring National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October, the National Organization on Disability (NOD) named Old National Bank as one of only 59 Leading Disability Employers for 2024. This recognition formally acknowledges companies with the highest performance in disability inclusion practices and policies, benchmarked against more than 200 participating organizations.

    In its 10th year, the NOD Leading Disability Employer Seal spotlights the transformative contributions made by business leaders in promoting employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. It also honors those organizations that prioritize diversity, equity and importantly, accessibility — setting a high standard for others to follow.

    “We’re incredibly grateful to this group of exceptional companies for their unwavering commitment to disability inclusion,” said Beth Sirull, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Organization on Disability. “We believe that diversity fuels innovation and growth, and inclusive workplaces reduce costly employee turnover. These employers embody that vision in action. We applaud their efforts and investments to provide pathways to fulfilling careers for Americans with disabilities.”

    Leading Disability Employer Seal recipients are determined based on data provided by companies on the NOD Employment Tracker™. The Tracker is the only free assessment tool that helps companies understand which employment practices correlate to improved talent outcomes related to hiring, retention and advancement of people with disabilities.

    “Inviting diversity and activating our core value of inclusion are critical to our success. We are thrilled to be recognized for what we believe is a differentiator for our team members, clients and the communities we serve,” says Corliss Garner, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Old National Bank. “Our commitment to uplifting people with apparent and non-apparent disabilities promote an inclusive work environment that attracts talent and makes us stronger as an organization.”

    ABOUT THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION ON DISABILITY (NOD)
    The National Organization on Disability (NOD) is a private, non-profit organization that seeks to increase employment opportunities for the 60% of working-age Americans with disabilities who are not employed. To achieve this goal, NOD offers a suite of employment solutions, tailored to anticipate and meet leading companies’ workforce needs. NOD has helped some of the world’s most recognized brands be more competitive in today’s global economy by building or enriching their disability inclusion programs. For more information about NOD and how its portfolio of professional services, Leadership Council and Employment Tracker™ can help your business, visit http://www.NOD.org.

    ABOUT OLD NATIONAL
    Old National Bancorp (NASDAQ: ONB) is the holding company of Old National Bank. As the sixth largest commercial bank headquartered in the Midwest, Old National proudly serves clients primarily in the Midwest and Southeast. With approximately $53 billion of assets and $30 billion of assets under management, Old National ranks among the top 30 banking companies headquartered in the United States. Tracing our roots to 1834, Old National focuses on building long-term, highly valued partnerships with clients while also strengthening and supporting the communities we serve. In addition to providing extensive services in consumer and commercial banking, Old National offers comprehensive wealth management and capital markets services. For more information and financial data, please visit Investor Relations at oldnational.com. In 2024, Points of Light named Old National one of “The Civic 50” — an honor reserved for the 50 most community-minded companies in the United States.

    Investor Relations:
    Lynell Durchholz
    (812) 464-1366
    lynell.durchholz@oldnational.com

    Media Relations:
    Rick Vach
    (904) 535-9489
    rick.vach@oldnational.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: As the CFPB tightens restrictions on medical debt collections, Navicore Solutions provides invaluable resources to consumers affected by medical debt

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MANALAPAN, N.J., Oct. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Approximately 14 million people (6% of adults) in the U.S. owe over $1,000 in medical debt according to health policy research group KFF. The CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) stated that about 100 million Americans owe over $220 billion in medical debt, a problem that’s compounded by medical billing complexity and the third-party vendors many healthcare organizations employ to complete that billing.

    Medical debt can be overwhelming, especially when compounded with other debt loads such as credit card debt. Navicore Solutions provides a vital resource for households, providing guidance and solutions to alleviate the stress of a spiraling financial situation.

    “Medical billing is often riddled with errors, including inflated or duplicative charges, fees for services the patient never received, or charges already paid,” CFPB Director Rohit Chopra said in a statement earlier this month. “The CFPB is taking action to ensure that Americans are not unfairly chased by debt collectors over unsubstantiated or invalid medical bills.”

    The CFPB is focusing on the regulation of third-party medical debt collection companies, the enforcement of the ‘No Surprises Act’ which ensures that healthcare consumers do not face unjustifiably high medical debts, and that consumers are not pursued for falsified or ‘up-coded’ medical procedures.

    Across the United States, 14.3% of households are carrying medical debt with the aging Boomer generation holding the most medical debt with an average of $22,000 owed. The problem of medical debt is exacerbated across all generations when there is low or no medical insurance coverage, or a household includes an individual with a disability.

    “Medical debt can strike anyone at any time, throwing a household into financial uncertainty,” said Diane Gray, Navicore’s Chief Operating Officer. “Navicore offers a lifeline to those seeking actionable steps to overcome growing medical debt.”

    As the medical debt issue in America mounts, CFPB asserted that all entities involved in patient collections, including debt collectors and patients themselves, must be aware of the federal laws protecting consumers. Navicore Solutions provides a help to consumers in search of a path forward.

    About Navicore Solutions

    Founded in 1991, Navicore Solutions is a national leader in the field of nonprofit financial counseling with a mission to strengthen the well-being of individuals and families through education, guidance, advocacy, and support.

    Navicore counselors provide a wide range of services including credit counseling to consumers in need; education programs through workshops, courses and written material; debt management plan to provide relief for applicable consumers; student loan counseling for those struggling with student loan debt; and housing counseling services in the areas of rental, pre-purchase, default and reverse mortgage. The agency is an advocate of financial education helping communities achieve and maintain financial stability.

    Contact:
    Lori Stratford
    Digital Marketing Manager
    Navicore Solutions
    lstratford@navicoresolutions.org
    navicoresolutions.org

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: MSF urges Polish authorities to retract announced suspension of right to seek asylum

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    • We are deeply concerned by the Polish government’s plan to suspend the right for people to seek asylum in Poland.
    • This is a major escalation in a series of actions to dehumanise migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
    • MSF urges the Polish government to change their course of action and ensure migrants and refugees are protected in the country.

    Warsaw- Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is deeply concerned by the Polish government’s plan to suspend the right for people to seek asylum in Poland. Such a suspension will have predictable dramatic consequences for people seeking safety in Europe. MSF calls on the Polish authorities to drastically change course of action and take all necessary measures to ensure the protection and rights of refugees and migrants.

    Over the last days, the Polish government announced a strategy to reform the country’s migration policy, including the possibility of a temporary suspension of the right to seek asylum in Poland in order to “regain control” of borders and “ensure security”.https://notesfrompoland.com/2024/10/15/polish-government-approves-tough-new-migration-strategy-including-possibility-to-suspend-asylum/

    While the full details of the government’s plan are yet to be disclosed, MSF warns that such restrictive and punitive measures against people seeking safety, denying them legal pathways to protection, would only lead to more harmful border practices at the Poland-Belarus border and further expose already vulnerable people to life-threatening conditions.

    “The Polish government’s willingness to further restrict and suspend the right to seek asylum is extremely concerning and risks leading to more unchecked pushbacks and violence against people crossing the border,” says Uriel Mazzoli, MSF Head of Mission in Poland.

    “The new Polish government had an opportunity to reform the country’s asylum and reception system but has instead only deepened existing and dangerous political rhetoric, rooted in a ‘crisis’ narrative, further normalizing a militarized response, violent practices and denial of humanity to people seeking safety in the European Union,” says Mazzoli.

    Since November 2022, MSF teams have treated over 400 people, many of them stranded for weeks in uninhabitable forests and exposed to violent practices at the border. Given the extreme conditions of deprivation people experience in the border area, MSF patients suffer from a wide range of severe medical conditions ranging from exhaustion, hypothermia, dehydration, trench foot to mental health issues.

    In 2024, our teams have also witnessed a sharp increase in people carrying the scars of physical assaults, including bruises and dog bites. In July 2024, MSF teams treated for the first time injuries related to the use of rubber bullets being fired. Additionally, half of people MSF has seen in 2024 have reported having been pushed back, some of them several times.

    This latest announcement represents a further escalation of an already extremely hostile environment for people on the move and those providing humanitarian assistance to them. In June 2024, the Polish authorities imposed a ban on access to the border zone, which has prevented civil society and humanitarian organizations from accessing people in need in these areas. 

    Layers of barbed wire on the Poland-Belarus border at the river in Kozłowe Borki. Poland, January 2024.
    Jakub Jasiukiewicz/MSF

    Despite official requests for unrestricted and independent access to the entire border region, MSF has been granted access to only a limited part of the buffer zone. This buffer is an exclusion zone along 60 kilometers of the country’s border with Belarus and includes key locations where most people on the move have been crossing the border since 2021.

    Not only does this ban prevent the delivery of essential assistance, but it also enables much of the violence reported by people we treat to take place out of sight.

    “The restrictions on humanitarian and medical aid at the Poland-Belarus border are already alarming, with entire zones where humanitarian workers are prevented access and a legislation that could favor the use of violence by state authorities,” says Mazzoli. “Delaying assistance and medical care to people at the border can have life-threatening consequences as many of the patients we see experience health issues that can rapidly deteriorate.”

    The suspension of territorial asylum will have far-reaching consequences on the capacity of people seeking safety in Poland to access medical care and protection. Worryingly so, such extraordinary measures are becoming the despicable new normal in the European Union (EU), where governments and institutions have increasingly seized upon the notion of ‘crisis’ as a reason to derogate from minimum standards and people’s rights.

    Over recent years, MSF teams have witnessed many examples of the detrimental consequences of policies that put border controls above human life across our projects in Greece, Libya, the Central Mediterranean Sea and Belgium. For too long now, EU member states have been waging a war on some of the world’s most vulnerable people under the guise of ‘instrumentalisation’ by third countries.
     
    MSF calls on the Polish authorities to retract the announced suspension of the right to seek asylum and to end this gross dehumanisation of refugees and migrants and the increasing militarisation of responses towards them.

    MSF activities in Poland:
    After a short intervention along the Poland–Belarus border region in 2021, MSF teams returned in the Podlasie region, near the border with Belarus, in November 2022. Since then, our medical team provides basic medical care through mobile teams in remote locations and organise emergency referrals and follow-up, in close cooperation with other organisations and civil society groups. Furthermore, since 2022, MSF supports the Polish Ministry of Health to offer medical and psychosocial care to patients with tuberculosis.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI: Decisions of the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders of EfTEN Real Estate Fund AS 16.10.2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The extraordinary general meeting of shareholders of EfTEN Real Estate Fund AS was held on 16 October 2024 in in the Radisson Collection Hotel Conference Center (2nd floor, Tallinn, Rävala 3).                       

    A total of 133 shareholders attended the meeting representing 8 332 014 votes. This means 77,01% of the total votes were represented. Of the participants, 17 shareholders representing 1 394 885 votes, i.e., 12,89% of all votes attached to the shares, cast their votes electronically before the meeting in accordance with the electronic voting procedure announced in the invitation to the meeting. The meeting therefore had a quorum.

    The decisions of the extraordinary general meeting were as follows:

    Increase of share capital and listing of new shares on the Main List of Nasdaq Tallinn Stock Exchange
    With 8 323 537, i.e. 99,9% votes in favour, the shareholders decided in accordance with the law and the fund’s articles of association, to give the mandate on a decision to  increase of the share capital of the fund within the following 6-month period in the competence of the superviosry board of the fund, considering that the total volume of the additional capital to be raised will not exceed 30,000,000 euros and the existing shareholders shall retain the pre-emptive right to subscribe for the new shares, and submit application for listing and admission to trading of all newly issued shares of the fund in the main list of the Nasdaq Tallinn Stock Exchange. To authorise the supervisory board and the management board of the fund to carry out all activities and conclude all agreements necessary for this purpose.                                                                                                                  

    The minutes of the general meeting shall be made available on the fund’s website (https://eref.ee/investorile/uldkoosolekud/) not later than 7 days after the meeting.

    Viljar Arakas
    Member of the Management Board
    Phone 655 9515
    E-mail: viljar.arakas@eften.ee

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Surgent Knowledge Summit Offers Premium CPE Courses for Accounting and Tax Professionals

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RADNOR, Pa., Oct. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Surgent Accounting & Financial Education, a division of KnowFully Learning Group, is excited to announce the inaugural Surgent Knowledge Summit, a series of exclusive, live events celebrating International Accounting Week. The Knowledge Summit will provide accounting and tax professionals with valuable, premium content designed to enhance their expertise and support their ongoing professional development.

    This event will feature a variety of insightful sessions aimed at helping attendees earn essential continuing professional education (CPE) credits while staying up to date with the latest industry trends and practices. 

    “At Surgent, we believe that continuous learning is the key to staying competitive in today’s fast-paced accounting and tax landscape,” said Liz Kolar, executive vice president of Surgent. “The Surgent Knowledge Summit is our commitment to helping professionals not only meet their CPE requirements but also stay informed on the latest industry trends and technologies.” 

    The Surgent Knowledge Summit features sessions led by industry experts and covers critical topics like the future of financial reporting, the impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) on accounting, post-election tax policy changes and much more. Below is the calendar of events, showcasing the diverse range of sessions that will be held during the summit. 

    “The Surgent Knowledge Summit offers unparalleled access to exclusive content delivered by top industry experts,” Kolar said. “From the latest AI developments to crucial tax updates following the 2024 elections, our courses are designed to equip professionals with the knowledge and tools they need to thrive in this dynamic industry.”

    Surgent Knowledge Summit Events

    Thursday, Nov. 7

    AICPA and Surgent Panel on the CPA Exam and State of the Industry
    We kick off the summit with a free webinar at noon ET featuring a panel discussion on the CPA exam and the state of the accounting industry. Liz Kolar will join Mike Decker and Joe Maslott from the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA) to discuss the recent CPA exam overhaul, industry trends and what lies ahead for 2025 and beyond.

    Free Premium CPE: Weekly Expert Hour Webinar
    Later that afternoon, join Washington insider Ken Kies and Surgent instructor Mike Tucker for Surgent CPE’s exclusive free Weekly Expert Hour on how the 2024 election results may shape tax policies. They will explore potential changes to tax legislation and expiring provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This premium CPE course will be held 2-3 p.m. ET and attendees will earn one CPE credit.

    Tuesday, Nov. 12

    Mark Your Calendars: Surgent’s Most Exciting Annual Event Is Coming! 
    In celebration of International Accounting Day Surgent will be offering its biggest sale of the year.

    Tax Preparation for Accountants
    Join Surgent Income Tax School at 3 p.m. ET for a free webinar: How Accounting Firms Can Increase Revenue with Tax Prep. Surgent’s team of industry experts will share strategies on using tax preparation services to boost revenue and client retention.

    Wednesday, Nov. 13 

    The Surgent Knowledge Summit will kick into high gear with a day dedicated to the future of accounting and auditing with cutting-edge webinars, including:

    • What A&A Pros Need to Know About Blockchain, Bitcoin, and Digital Assets (BBD2) with Jack Castonguay will explore the impact of blockchain, Bitcoin and digital assets on accounting practices. Attendees will learn about the regulatory challenges, reporting standards and key accounting complexities related to these emerging technologies. This course will be held 9-11 a.m. ET and attendees will earn two CPE credits.  
    • Innovating Accounting: The Impact of AI, Automation and Blockchain on Financial Reporting and Auditing (AAB1) with Eric Cohen, owner of Cohen Computer Consulting and co-founder of XBRL. This webinar will cover how AI, automation and blockchain are transforming financial reporting and audit. This course will be 11 a.m.-noon ET and attendees will earn one CPE credit. 
    • CFOs as Leaders of Organizational Change (CFO1) will feature a panel facilitated by Cory Ng, Surgent’s accounting and auditing content developer, and will include Avia Yudalevich and Landon Cortenbach, two leading CFOs from diverse industries. This program will discuss how CFOs are driving innovation and navigating economic challenges. This course will be held 1-2 p.m. ET and attendees will earn one CPE credit. 
    • The Threat and Opportunity to Accounting Posed by Generative AI and Other Emerging Technologies (GEN1) with Dr. Sean Stein Smith, associate professor at Lehman College; Jack Castonguay, Surgent vice president of learning and development; and James Madison University associate professor, Dr. Nicole Wright, will explore how AI and emerging technologies are reshaping audit functions by automating tasks like data analysis and fraud detection. It will also address challenges related to ethics, data security and the evolving role of auditors in the AI-driven landscape. This course will be held 2-3 p.m. ET and attendees will earn one CPE credit. 
    • Quarterly Update: The FASB, AICPA, SEC, and PCAOB (QFA2) with Jack Castonguay and Cory Ng will cover new FASB, SEC, and PCAOB standards. This session provides an overview of key updates from the FASB, SEC and PCAOB. Attendees will learn about recent changes to accounting standards and auditing regulations, including new standards and guidance, and their impact on financial reporting. This course will be held 3-5 p.m. ET and attendees will earn two CPE credits. 

    Thursday, Nov. 14

    The Knowledge Summit continues with a day dedicated to the tax industry and how the 2024 presidential and congressional elections will impact the profession. Here is a rundown of the CPE webinars that Surgent has planned for the day:

    • 2024 Tax Changes and Year-end Planning Opportunities (YT24) featuring Surgent instructor Mike Tucker; Shannon Retzke Smith, a partner in the international law firm Withers Bergman; and Lance Weiss, a CPA and member of SFW Partners, LLC in St. Louis; will cover the key 2024 tax law changes and their implications for year-end planning. Attendees will gain valuable insights into new tax strategies and opportunities to optimize their tax positions before the end of the year. This course will be held 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET and attendees will earn four CPE credits.
    • How Our Economy and Markets Perform in Election Years (ELY2) will feature David Peters, founder and owner of Peters Tax Preparation & Consulting in Richmond, Va., and financial advisor for Peters Financial, LLC. This course will look at the economic cycle and the effect of election years. It will examine how certain key investments have performed, examine why this year is unique and look at how major tax policy changes affect our economy. This course will be held 1-3 p.m. ET and attendees will earn two CPE credits. 
    • Post-election Coverage of Potential Tax Changes and Planning Strategies (PEL2) with Mike Tucker, Ken Kies, Lance Weiss and Ed Renn, of counsel at the international tax law firm Withers Bergman, will examine potential tax law changes following the recent election. This course will explore how shifts in tax policy may impact individuals and businesses, offering strategies to adapt and plan for potential legislative changes. Participants will learn to navigate the evolving tax landscape. This course will be held 3-5 p.m. ET and attendees will earn two CPE credits.

    Friday, Nov. 15

    Mock CPA Exam
    The Surgent Knowledge Summit concludes with a free virtual mock CPA exam facilitated by Michael Matthews, director of state society partnerships at Surgent. This online event will allow CPA candidates to practice CPA exam questions, pinpoint their strengths and identify areas that need extra attention before their exam day. By simulating the actual exam, candidates will gain the confidence and insights needed to improve their performance. Plus, they will receive detailed feedback to guide them through their final stages of preparation. The mock exam will be at 3 p.m. ET and is open to the public.

    About Surgent
    Surgent Accounting & Financial Education, a division of KnowFully Learning Group, is a provider of the high-impact education experiences that accounting, tax and financial professionals need throughout their careers. For most of the company’s 35-year history, Surgent has been a trusted provider of the continuing professional education (CPE), continuing education (CE) and skill-based training that professionals need to maintain their credentials and stay current on industry changes. More recently, Surgent became one of the fastest-growing certification exam review providers, offering adaptive learning-based courses that help learners pass accounting and finance credentialing exams faster. Learn more at Surgent.com. 

    About KnowFully  
    KnowFully Learning Group provides continuing professional education, exam preparation courses and education resources to the accounting, finance and healthcare sectors. KnowFully’s suite of learning solutions helps learners become credentialed, satisfy required credit hours to maintain credentials, and stay informed on the latest trends and critical changes in their industries over the course of their careers. The company provides exam preparation and continuing education for accounting, finance and tax professionals under the Surgent Accounting & Financial Education brand. KnowFully’s healthcare education brands include CME Outfitters, CE Concepts, PharmCon, The Rx Consultant, ChiroCredit, IA Med, EMT & Fire Training Inc., Psychotherapy.net and American Fitness Professionals & Associates. For more information, please visit KnowFully.com.

    SOURCE: Surgent Accounting & Financial Education

    Contact:
    marketing@surgent.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/697a0e4f-d78c-414e-8545-08e12377070c

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Brown Secures Major Investment for The North Coast Connector

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Ohio Sherrod Brown
    CLEVELAND, OH – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced a new infrastructure investment for the City of Cleveland to connect downtown Cleveland with Lake Erie and improve the downtown transportation network.
    The North Coast Connector project will help transform downtown Cleveland by creating a 120-foot-wide land bridge for pedestrians and reconfigure a two-mile freeway segment that separates Cleveland from its lakefront into a modern and safe boulevard. The City’s project will also construct a new consolidated terminal serving Amtrak, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) and intercity bus service. The project’s expanded connections between downtown Cleveland and Cleveland’s lakefront will provide greater mobility and accelerate plans to build new public green space and redevelop underutilized lakefront property. Brown advocated for the U.S. Department of Transportation to support this project.
    “This investment unlocks an exciting new future for Cleveland’s lakefront and downtown. The Cleveland community and our visitors will have new access to Lake Erie, our greatest natural resource, and a better transportation network that will drive growth,” said Brown. “I want to thank Mayor Bibb, County Executive Ronayne, and Cleveland’s business community who all worked with us to support this project that will be transformational for all of us who call Cleveland home.”
    The City’s North Coast Connector project will redesign a two-mile segment of the Memorial Shoreway (State Route 2) to establish new connections between downtown and improve pedestrian safety. The project’s pedestrian bridge will create a wide, park-like land bridge to allow walkers and bikers to safely travel from the core of downtown at the Cleveland Mall to the lakefront amenities. The City’s plans also include a new multimodal station to serve Amtrak and RTA rail services, and a dedicated, grade-separated truck route that will serve the Port of Cleveland to reduce truck queuing and eliminate pedestrian conflicts, ensuring greater safety and reliability for trucks enter and existing the Port.   
    The Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded the nearly $60 million investment through the Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects program (known as the INFRA program) and the funding is being distributed under the Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant Program competition. The investment was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Brown helped write and pass. This funding award will support the design, engineering, and construction of road elements, including the port access road, and Brown is supporting additional federal funding requests to accelerate construction of the overall project. 
    The project’s construction of a new multimodal Amtrak station will also help prepare Cleveland for the expansion of Amtrak service under development. Last December, Brown announced that two routes serving Cleveland were selected as priorities for Amtrak expansion: Cleveland-Columbus-Dayton-Cincinnati, the 3C+D corridor, and the Cleveland-Toledo-Detroit corridor. In addition, in May of 2023 Brown announced that the Cleveland RTA received funding for new rail cars, and the new rail cars will give the RTA the ability to provide direct service from across the agency’s network to the new lakefront station.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Transit investments in Cape Breton Regional Municipality

    Source: Government of Canada News

    News release

    Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, October 16, 2024 — Transit Cape Breton will have new buses on the road after an investment of more than $2.3 million from the federal government.

    This project was announced today by Parliamentary Secretary Jaime Battiste, MP for Sydney-Victoria, Parliamentary Secretary Mike Kelloway, MP for Cape Breton-Canso, and Mayor Amanda McDougall-Merrill.

    Transit Cape Breton will buy two new traditional buses, two new hybrid accessible mini buses, and build five new bus shelters. This project will include the implementation of a new on-demand software that will make paratransit service more efficient by improving ride booking, cutting down route travel time, and increasing the capacity of the service. The project will also support the introduction of a new smart card fare payment system, a contactless payment service that will make paying transit fares faster and easier. 

    Quotes

    “Public transit in CBRM is vital to our community, helping residents get to school and work on time, providing an accessible way to get to meetings and appointments, and offering an affordable alternative to driving. Our government is proud to support these equipment and service upgrades to Transit Cape Breton, building a public transit system that Cape Bretoners can rely on.”

    Jaime Battiste, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Member of Parliament for Sydney–Victoria on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

    “Investments in Cape Breton Transit ensure that residents across CBRM from Howie Centre to Glace Bay can get to where they need to go with confidence. This project is going to make scheduling easier and day-to-day commutes better for residents of CBRM.”

    Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for Cape Breton–Canso

    “Today marks a significant step forward for our community as we announce vital funding for rural transit in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. This investment through the Rural Transit Solutions Fund will enhance rural accessibility, connect communities, and support our growing population. Access to transportation is essential in building an inclusive and thriving community – this fund will open up opportunities for employment, education and social events to residents across the CBRM.” 

    Amanda McDougall-Merrill, Mayor of Cape Breton Regional Municipality

    Quick facts

    • The federal government is investing $2,380,000 in this project through the Rural Transit Solutions Fund (RTSF), and Cape Breton Regional Municipality is contributing $595,000.

    • The RTSF helps Canadians living in rural and remote areas get around their communities more easily. It supports the development of rural transit solutions, including new transit service models that could be replicated or scaled up.

    • The RTSF’s Capital Projects stream helps cover capital costs like the purchase of vehicles or digital platforms, as well as support for the purchase of zero-emission vehicles. This stream closed on February 28, 2024.

    • A minimum of 10% of RTSF’s funding is allocated to projects that benefit Indigenous populations and communities.

    • One in five Canadians live in rural communities. Rural communities in Canada account for nearly 30% of the nation’s gross domestic product.

    • The RTSF complements Canada’s strengthened climate plan: A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy. Through the plan the federal government has committed to providing federal funding for public transit in support of making clean and affordable transportation available in every community. 

    • The new Canada Public Transit Fund (CPTF) will provide an average of $3 billion a year of permanent funding to respond to local transit needs by enhancing integrated planning, improving access to public transit and active transportation, and supporting the development of more affordable, sustainable, and inclusive communities. 

    • Since 2015, the federal government has committed over $30 billion for public transit and active transportation projects. These historic investments have resulted in close to 2000 projects across the country.

    • The funding announced today builds on the federal government’s work through the Atlantic Growth Strategy to create well-paying jobs and strengthen local economies.

    • Federal funding is conditional on the signing of a contribution agreement.

    Associated links

    Contacts

    For more information (media only), please contact:

    Sofia Ouslis
    Communications Advisor
    Office of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
    Sofia.ouslis@infc.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
    613-960-9251
    Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
    Email: media-medias@infc.gc.ca
    Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn
    Web: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada

    Rob MacNamara 
    Communications Advisor – Mayor’s Office
    Cape Breton Regional Municipality
    902-563-5297   
    rjmacnamara@cbrm.ns.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: National Drought Group discusses preparations for extreme weather

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Water resources are healthy following the wettest 12 months in England since 1836

    The changing climate means we will see more extreme weather in the coming years, the National Drought Group heard at its latest meeting today (16 October 2024), which was attended by Water Minister Emma Hardy.

    The Environment Agency chaired a routine meeting of the expert group today in which it was confirmed that water resources are currently healthy following the wettest 12 months (October 2023 to September 2024) on record in England. However, the Group discussed that flood and drought should be viewed as different sides of the same coin and England needs to be prepared for an increase of both in the coming years.

    Despite recent warnings about flood preparedness, the Environment Agency reiterated that droughts are likely to become more frequent and more severe in future, and we need to be ready for all rainfall scenarios. Extreme dry weather can come unexpectedly, as happened in the summer of 2022, and can impact our lives in various ways, including on agriculture. At the meeting, attendees heard about the challenges farmers and growers have experienced this year in managing the variable weather conditions. The importance of making the environment more resilient to the impacts of all weather extremes was also discussed.  

    It comes a week after the Environment Agency warned there were significant areas of under-delivery against water resource management plans, meaning improvements are needed in order to manage water supplies efficiently and sustainably.

    Chairing the meeting, Environment Agency Director of Water, Helen Wakeham said:

    Heavier rainfall and drier summers are the shape of things to come, and this will be an enormous challenge over the next few decades.  

    As well as preparing for floods, we must ensure we are resilient to drought, and we cannot be complacent even when water resources are healthy. 

    Water companies must deliver on their commitments to improve infrastructure and rollout smart water meters, but we can all take small steps to reduce demand such as installing a water butt to capture rain to water the garden.

    Water and Floods Minister Emma Hardy said:

    Population growth and climate change is putting tremendous pressure on our water system, and we all saw in 2022 how quickly drought can take hold.  

    We need to be prepared for all eventualities and the government is taking decisive action to improve the resilience of our precious water supplies.  

    This Government will secure investment to upgrade our crumbling water infrastructure, which in turn will help fix leaks and ensure water is used more efficiently.

    The National Drought Group – which includes the government, regulators, water companies, farmers, conservation experts and the Met Office   – heard about the current water resources situation:

    • The last 12 months has been the wettest October to September on record since 1836 for England. Some parts of the country received more than three times the average rainfall in September.

    • Reservoir storage across England was at 76% of total capacity at the end of September.

    • River flows in September were normal or higher at three-quarters of sites, with a third ‘exceptionally high’ for the time of year.

    • Groundwater levels usually continue to decline in September and, despite the wet weather, this is the case for the majority of sites. However, we are now seeing groundwater levels in early October rising in many aquifers in response to the exceptionally wet September. 

    Water resources

    By 2050, England will need to find an additional 5 billion litres of water a day to meet demand for public water supply. This is more than a third of the 14 billion litres of water currently put into the public water supply. To bridge the gap between supply and demand, proposed developments over the next three decades include nine new reservoirs. However, earlier this month the EA warned of under-delivery against these plans, noting that some water companies wouldn’t have had sufficient water supply to meet planned levels of resilience in the event of a drought last year.

    In the last six months, regulators – including the EA, Ofwat and Natural England – have been working with all water companies on their final 2025-2030 Water Resource Management Plans. National Drought Group members also heard that the EA will launch an eight-week public consultation in the coming weeks on how drought is managed in England, calling for public views on the document and input into its operational area drought plans.

    Further information

    The meeting follows recent measures announced by the government and the Environment Agency to drive improvements across the water sector.  

    • 100% of storm overflows are monitored which helps the Environment Agency to inspect water companies and ensure they are operating within their permits. 

    • The EA is implementing a fourfold increase in water company inspections to hold companies to account – 4000 will be carried out by the end of March 2025, and 10,000 in 2025/26. 

    • The EA is recruiting up to 500 additional staff and using more data-driven analytics to identify any non-compliance and take action.  

    • The EA is conducting its largest ever criminal investigation into potential widespread non-compliance by water and sewerage companies at thousands of sewage treatment works. Tough enforcement action has already led to over £151m in fines since 2015.   

    • In his first week, the Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed announced a series of initial steps towards ending the crisis in the water sector.

    • After writing to Ofwat, the Secretary of State has secured agreement that funding for vital infrastructure investment is ringfenced and can only be spent on upgrades benefiting customers and the environment. Ofwat will also ensure that when money for investment is not spent, companies refund customers, with money never allowed to be diverted for bonuses, dividends or salary increases.

    • Water companies will place customers and the environment at the heart of their objectives. Companies have agreed to change their ‘Articles of Association’ – the rules governing each company – to make the interests of customers and the environment a primary objective.

    • There will be strengthened protection and compensation for households and businesses when their basic water services are affected. Subject to consultation, the amount of compensation customers are legally entitled to when key standards are not met will more than double. The payments will also be triggered by a wider set of circumstances including Boil Water Notices.

    • The Secretary of State has announced that the Government will be carrying out a review to fundamentally transform how our water system works and clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.

    • The Water (Special Measures) Bill has been introduced to Parliament. It will:

      • Strengthen regulation to ensure water bosses face personal criminal liability for lawbreaking.
      • Give the water regulator new powers to ban the payment of bonuses if environmental standards are not met.
      • Boost accountability for water executives through fitness and proprietary tests.
      • Introduce new powers to bring automatic and severe fines.
      • Require water companies to install real-time monitors at every sewage outlet with data independently scrutinised by the water regulators.

    Updates to this page

    Published 16 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: AG Platkin, Division of Consumer Affairs Announce New Rules Aimed at Promoting Greater Transparency in Prescription Drug Pricing, Including How and Why Prices Are Increased

    Source: US State of New Jersey

    TRENTON –  Advancing the Murphy Administration’s efforts to rein in the high cost of prescription drugs in New Jersey, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Consumer Affairs (“Division”) today announced specially adopted new rules promoting greater transparency in prescription drug pricing.

    The new rules, which became effective upon acceptance for filing by the Office of Administrative Law yesterday, implement P.L. 2023, c. 106, signed into law by Governor Murphy in July 2023 as part of a legislative package to combat the rising costs of prescription drugs in the state.

    “The high cost of prescription drugs is a financial burden that disproportionately impacts the health and well-being of the most vulnerable among us: low-income families, the elderly, the uninsured, and people with disabilities,” said Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. “Until now, we’ve been kept in the dark about the main drivers of high prescription drug costs. The new rules allow us to gain greater insight into prescription drug pricing and a better understanding of how we can help advance the goal of prescription drug affordability and accessibility.”

    The new rules establish registration, reporting, and compliance requirements for five entities across the prescription drug supply chain—manufacturers, insurance carriers, pharmacy benefits managers, wholesalers and pharmacy services administrative organizations. The entities will be required to provide the Division with information and data pertaining to drugs with significant price increases or high launch prices and other drugs of interest. The Division will then use this information to produce an annual report on emerging trends in prescription drug prices.  The report, which will be posted on the Division’s newly created prescription drug pricing webpage, will also be used to help the newly created Drug Affordability Council formulate legislative and regulatory policy recommendations focused on prescription drug affordability.

    “Establishing rules for the collection, analysis, and reporting of information that sheds light on drug pricing is integral to the Division’s core mission of ensuring fairness and transparency in the market for goods and services,” said Cari Fais, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. “The information we collect will help us identify factors that contribute to the high cost of prescription drugs and improve oversight of the drug industry to the benefit of New Jersey consumers.”

    Under the new rules:

    • Manufacturers must notify the Division of price increases and new drugs that meet statutory price thresholds, and then report more detailed information on those drugs to the Division;
    • Carriers must report to the Division information on spending for the top 25 prescription drugs and drug groups in certain categories;
    • Pharmacy Services Administrative Organizations (PSAOs) must report negotiated reimbursement rates to the Division; and
    • Wholesalers and Pharmacy Benefits Managers must provide pricing, volume, and discount information for drugs and drug groups identified by the Division as a result of the information provided by the manufacturers, carriers, and PSAOs.

    The specially adopted new rules shall be effective for a period not to exceed 545 days from the date of filing. Concurrently, the provisions of the new rules will be proposed for readoption and published in the NJ Register on November 18, 2024, in accordance with the normal rulemaking requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act, N.J.S.A. 52:14B-1 et seq.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Find cheaper airfare with this new Google Flights feature

    Source: Google

    Google Flights adds new “Cheapest” tab for budget flights<meta name="optimize_experiments" content="[]"><meta name="description" content="We’re adding a new “Cheapest” tab on Google Flights that shows more options with lower prices."><meta name="keywords" content="None"><meta name="article-author" content="Wishy Arora"><meta name="robots" content="max-image-preview:large"><meta property="og:type" content="article"><meta property="og:title" content="Find cheaper airfare with this new Google Flights feature"><meta property="og:description" content="We’re adding a new “Cheapest” tab on Google Flights that shows more options with lower prices."><meta property="og:image" content="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/Ink_GoogleFlightFeatureCheapestAirfare.width-1300.png"><meta property="og:site_name" content="Google"><meta property="og:url" content="https://blog.google/products/search/google-flights-cheapest-tab/"><meta property="article:publisher" content="https://www.facebook.com/Google/"><meta property="article:published_time" content="2024-10-16"><meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"><meta name="twitter:url" content="https://blog.google/products/search/google-flights-cheapest-tab/"><meta name="twitter:title" content="Find cheaper airfare with this new Google Flights feature"><meta name="twitter:description" content="We’re adding a new “Cheapest” tab on Google Flights that shows more options with lower prices."><meta name="twitter:image:src" content="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/Ink_GoogleFlightFeatureCheapestAirfare.width-1300.png"><meta name="twitter:site" content="@google"><link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com"><link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com" crossorigin=""><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/static/keyword/css/blog/index.min.css?version=pr20241003-1647"><link rel="stylesheet" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Google+Sans:400,500,600,700%7CProduct+Sans:400&display=swap&lang=en"><link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Noto+Color+Emoji&display=swap" rel="stylesheet"><link href="https://www.gstatic.com/glue/cookienotificationbar/cookienotificationbar.min.css" rel="stylesheet"><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/static/keyword/css/print/index.min.css?version=pr20241003-1647" media="print"><link rel="canonical" href="https://blog.google/products/search/google-flights-cheapest-tab/"><link href="/favicon.ico" rel="icon"><link href="/static/blogv2/images/apple-touch-icon.png" rel="apple-touch-icon"><meta property="gtm-tag" content="GTM-TRV24V"></p> <article class="uni-article-wrapper"> <section class="article-hero"> It shows you the lowest airfare options, even if they’re not the most convenient.<br />You might have to make some trade-offs, like longer layovers or flying to a different airport.<br />Book your holiday flights in October to get the best deals.Cheapest fares revealed<br />For those who dare to saveCreative itineraries<br />Lowest prices await</p> </section> </article> <p>

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Houston Man Guilty in $160 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)

    HOUSTON – A 59-year-old Houston man has been convicted of all 15 counts as charged for heading a massive Medicare fraud scheme involving the fraudulent billing of expensive topical creams, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.  

    The jury deliberated for less than five hours before convicting Mohamad Mokbel following a 10-day trial. 

    From 2014 through 2021, Mohamad Mokbel led a company called 4M Pharmaceuticals which operated 14 pharmacies with straw owners. The jury heard evidence that Mokbel illegally purchased thousands of Medicare beneficiaries, including their identification number, personal health and physician information. Mokbel targeted elderly diabetic patients who are dependent on diabetic testing supplies to manage their blood sugar levels. Mokbel paid $16 to $40 per Medicare beneficiary.  

    To maximize reimbursements and without regard for medical necessity, Mokbel then directed 4M employees to use the Medicare beneficiaries’ patient data to run insurance claims to determine if Medicare or other insurance plans would cover and reimburse at a high rate for the topical creams, Omega-3 pills and other medications that Mokbel intended to sell through 4M pharmacies.

    At Mokbel’s direction, 4M employees would then fax pre-filled prescription requests to the patients’ doctors appearing to be for diabetic testing supplies with topical creams added at the bottom. They also included false representations that the patient was requesting a 4M Pharmacy fill their medications. In reality, Mokbel had previously purchased the patient’s personal information, the patient had not selected a 4M Pharmacy and the patient was often unaware the request was being made on their behalf. 

    Many doctors apparently took the representations in the fax at face value and did sign and send back the prefilled prescription requests to 4M. Mokbel’s call center in Houston and later in Egypt then contacted the patients and made false and misleading statements about the topical cream and their doctor’s order. Mokbel’s pharmacies then shipped out numerous topical creams, often on auto-refill, and excessively billed Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance plans. 

    Mokbel made over $200 million as a result of the scheme. 

    From 2015 through 2020, Mokbel also corruptly gave a series of bribe payments, ranging from $2,000 to $5,000 and totaling over $188,000 an employee of a pharmacy benefits manager – OptumRx – in exchange for favorable treatment for 4M pharmacies. They were credentialed and recredentialed with OptumRx which allowed them to enter into retail network agreements with OptumRx, participate in the Medicare Part D program and submit claims for prescriptions for Medicare beneficiaries. Mokbel also received information and advice about responding to audits and preventing and/or delaying OptumRX termination of many 4M pharmacies.

    U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal accepted the verdict and set sentencing for Jan. 7, 2025. At that time, Mokbel faces up to 20 years for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and health care fraud, 10 years for each of five counts of health care fraud, each of six counts of money laundering and one count of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds as well as five years for

    conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute and conspiracy to commit bribery. He could also be ordered to pay up to a total of $4 million in fines and possible restitution in excess of $160 million.      

    Previously released on bond, Mokbel was taken into custody pending sentencing.

    The FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration and the Texas Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn Leigh Olson and Adam Laurence Goldman are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: WENDEL: Wendel completes the acquisition of c.50% of Globeducate, a leading international K-12 education group

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PRESS RELEASE – OCTOBER 16, 2024

    Wendel completes the acquisition of c.50% of Globeducate, a leading international K-12 education group

    Wendel (Euronext: MF.FP) has completed the acquisition of c.50% of Globeducate, one of the world’s leading international K-12 education groups, from Providence Equity Partners, (“Providence”), a premier private equity firm specializing in growth-oriented investments in media, communications, education and technology.

    Wendel invested €625 million of equity, at an Enterprise Value of c.€2 billion1, to join Providence, which has been the Globeducate reference shareholder since 2017, and both firms will now own c.50% of the group.

    Founded in 1972 in Spain, Globeducate provides K-12 (primary and secondary) education through a network of 67 premium bilingual and international schools, as well as online programs, across 11 countries mostly in Europe. The Group employs more than 6,000 people, including 4,000 highly qualified teachers.

    Globeducate schools provide more than 40,000 students with a world-class education adhering to high academic standards. Globeducate students representing a wide range of backgrounds, benefit from a comprehensive and innovative educational experience – as well as first-class pastoral care – to prepare them to become ‘global citizens who can shape the world’. Many students achieve top grades and are typically accepted into higher education programmes at 50 of the world’s top 100 universities. School facilities are modern and well-appointed, having benefited from significant investment in recent years. Importantly, Globeducate aligns closely with Wendel’s strategy and values.

    Providence has been the majority shareholder of Globeducate since 2017. Under Providence’s ownership, Globeducate has delivered double-digit average annual revenue growth through a combination of organic growth new developments, and accretive external growth, with 23 international accretive acquisitions completed over the period and opportunities in the pipeline.

    Globeducate is expected to achieve revenue2 of c.€440 million, c.80% of which would be generated in Europe, and EBITDA3 of c.€120 million in its financial year ending August 2025.

    Agenda

    Thursday, October 24, 2024

    Q3 2024 Trading update – Publication of NAV as of September 30, 2024 (post-market release)

    Thursday, December 6, 2024,

    2024 Investor Day.

    Wednesday, February 26, 2025

    Full-Year 2024 Results – Publication of NAV as of December 31, 2024, and Full-Year consolidated financial statements (post-market release)

    Thursday, April 24, 2025

    Q1 2025 Trading update – Publication of NAV as of March 31, 2025 (post-market release)

    Thursday, May 15, 2025

    Annual General Meeting

    Wednesday, July 30, 2025

    H1 2025 results – Publication of NAV as of June 30, 2025, and condensed Half-Year consolidated financial statements (post-market release)

    1 EV including IFRS 16 impacts. Excluding IFRS 16, EV stands at c.€1.86 billion.

    2 Including ongoing acquisitions under exclusivity (c.€25 million).

    3 Including ongoing acquisitions under exclusivity (c.€9 million). Including IFRS 16 impacts. EBITDA excluding IFRS 16 impacts stands at c.€96m.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Wallet Becomes The Second Most Downloaded App Closing in on Binance

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, Oct. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget Wallet, the leading Web3 non-custodial wallet, has seen nearly 6 million app downloads in September, becoming the second most downloaded crypto app worldwide trailing Binance and surpassing the majority of Web3 wallets and crypto exchanges in new user adoption. Bitget Wallet has also announced the milestone of surpassing 40 million users globally, increasing over 100% since March 2024. This significant growth positions Bitget Wallet as the fastest-growing decentralized wallet this year, and shows the growing demand for decentralized solutions, positioning them as primary entry points into Web3.

    Key Drivers Behind Explosive Growth

    Several key factors have fueled Bitget Wallet’s impressive growth. Its intuitive user interface and robust product features make decentralized finance accessible, particularly for first-time crypto users. The wallet seamlessly integrates all of Web3 in one app—including asset management, swaps, launchpads, crypto trading, staking, and a DApp explorer—into a single platform. A pivotal aspect of its growth this year has been the integration with TON ecosystem and Telegram, which has facilitated user access to wallet services directly within the popular messaging platform, bridging Web2 users into Web3. In Q3 alone, the wallet saw an incredible 4886% growth in TON onchain addresses. Additionally, Bitget Wallet has gained significant traction in emerging markets, allowing for a smooth onboarding experience for new users entering crypto space. Notably, Bitget Wallet saw the strongest user growth in Q3 recorded in regions like Africa with a staggering 413% increase, followed by South Asia at 126% and the Middle-East at 105%.

    Decentralized Wallets: The Future Gateway to Web3

    Bitget Wallet’s rapid expansion signifies a broader trend in the industry: decentralized wallets are emerging as essential gateways to Web3, increasingly competing with centralized exchanges in terms of user base and functionality. More wallets are now working directly with Web2 platforms, such as payment solutions and social messaging apps, to increase the usability of tokens directly from self-custodial wallets. However, the Web3 landscape still faces challenges, particularly in terms of user retention. While onboarding has become easier, retaining users within decentralized ecosystems can be difficult due to limited real-world use cases and complex user interfaces. Therefore, it is critical to develop user-friendly applications and facilitate seamless interactions to ensure long-term engagement in this evolving digital landscape.

    Seamless Integration of All Web3 Services in One App

    Since its founding in 2018, Bitget Wallet has established itself as a comprehensive Web3 hub. It supports 100+ blockchains, 20,000+ DApps and millions of tokens onchain, positioning it among the largest decentralized marketplaces. The wallet’s seamless swap feature allows for fast and cost-effective token exchanges, sourcing the best prices by aggregating liquidity from 100+ DEXes. In Q3, swap activity on Bitget Wallet grew 125%, while DApp activities increased 128%, and token transfers jumped by 175%, reflecting the rising adoption of decentralized financial services. Furthermore, its advanced tools—including full candlestick charts, Smart Money Alerts and hot token discovery—provide users with real-time, in-depth market insights to make informed trading decisions. With a focus on security, Bitget Wallet includes features such as keyless MPC wallet, on-chain fund tracking, and a $300 million user protection fund, ensuring a safe and user-friendly experience.

    A Vision for the Future of Web3

    Alvin Kan, COO of Bitget Wallet, remarked, “Surpassing 40 million users is a testament to our vision of making crypto accessible to everyone, everywhere. Bitget Wallet registered nearly 6 million downloads in a month, closing in on top exchanges signaling that decentralized wallets are catching up with centralized platforms, and we’re excited to be leading this shift. Our mission is clear: to provide a secure and user-friendly gateway to Web3 for the next billion users.” He added, “The future of Web3 depends on how effectively we bridge the gap between Web2 and Web3. By integrating with platforms like Telegram, we’re simplifying crypto adoption for mainstream users and creating tools that enable seamless interaction with decentralized platforms. Decentralized wallets will evolve to serve as one of the primary entry points for billions of new users exploring Web3 for the first time.”

    About Bitget Wallet

    Bitget Wallet stands as one of the world’s leading non-custodial Web3 wallets and decentralized ecosystem platform. With the Bitget Onchain Layer, the wallet is well-poised to develop a burgeoning DeFi ecosystem through co-creation and strategic incubation. Aside from a powerful Swap function, Bitget Wallet also offers multi-chain asset management, smart money insights, a native Launchpad, Inscriptions Center, and an Earning Center. Supporting over 100 major blockchains, 500,000+ tokens, and a wide array of DApps, Bitget Wallet is your top wallet for asset discovery and Web3 exploration.

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | Discord

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6a37bd8e-f170-43d7-8fa3-eb6f0cbf64da

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3f73fa7d-5f9f-4607-9f22-0dae149abbb4

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Engaging men to support gender equality in focus at Warsaw Human Dimension Conference

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: Engaging men to support gender equality in focus at Warsaw Human Dimension Conference

    Katri Viinikka, Ambassador for Gender Equality at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, speaking at event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) CHANGE project and OSCE Gender Issues Programme’s WIN project during this year’s Warsaw Human Dimension Conference. (OSCE/Piotr Dziubak) Photo details

    The critical role of men in supporting gender equality was discussed at an event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) CHANGE project and OSCE Gender Issues Programme’s WIN project during this year’s Warsaw Human Dimension Conference.
    “Advancing gender equality has been a key area of ODIHR’s work since its foundation more than 30 years ago,” said Tea Jaliashvili, ODIHR Director’s Alternate/First Deputy Director. “The vital role that men and boys play in achieving this objective has not always been taken into account in the past, making our discussions even more important.”
    “Men have a pivotal role to play in challenging the attitudes, behaviours and social norms that perpetuate gender inequality and allow violence against women to persist. After all, how can we expect to succeed if 50 per cent of the population do not stand in solidarity with women in the pursuit of equality?” emphasized Lara Scarpitta, OSCE Senior Adviser on Gender Issues and Head of the Gender Issues Programme.
    During the event, which was also supported by the Delegations of Ireland and Norway to the OSCE, international experts discussed the need to balance men’s engagement with continued support for traditional advocates for gender equality. They shared experiences and insights and identified opportunities to increase men’s engagement and strengthen support for gender equality initiatives across the OSCE region.
    “Men must be active allies in this fight, working alongside women to challenge toxic behaviours and standing against all forms of violence. We must engage men and boys in education, prevention, and in promoting respect and equality,” said Liliana Palihovici, OSCE Special Representative on Gender.
    “Unconscious bias of decision-makers and employees in public administration, that is not addressed sufficiently through education and in society, much more often than ill intent, affects people’s individual experiences. If mistrust and lack of understanding of the different perspectives is at least part of the problem, then surely dialogue is a key part of the solution,” said Wojciech Brzozowski, Poland’s Deputy Ombudsman and Professor at Warsaw University.
    The event was also an opportunity to present the forthcoming OSCE policy and practice recommendations for engaging men in gender equality and ODIHR Sarajevo Recommendations on Engaging Male Politicians as Critical Actors for Gender Equality in Politics.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two men arrested as victim named following a fatal shooting in Barking

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Two men have been arrested by detectives investigating a fatal shooting in Barking.

    Police were called at approximately 04:35hrs on Sunday, 13 October to reports of a man injured in Linton Road, Barking.

    Officers and London Ambulance Service attended and found a man suffering a gunshot injury. Despite the best efforts of the emergency services he was pronounced dead on scene.

    He has today been named as Hanif Redwood, who was aged 32. His family continue to be supported by specialist officers.

    A special post mortem revealed that he died of a single gunshot wound to the head.

    Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder, they remain in custody in an East London police station.

    Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rodgers, who is leading the investigation, said: “We continue to work at a fast pace to progress this investigation. We have made two arrests which is a positive step forward into building a picture of what happened on Sunday night.

    “Hanif was an innocent member of the public whose life was tragically taken far too soon. Hanif was a father of two, this painful loss will forever effect his family.

    “We will continue to support Hanif’s family and will update them at every point possible. We ask for you to respect their privacy during this unimaginably difficult time.

    “Despite the two arrests, we are appealing for anyone who was present in the area who may have seen or heard anything relating to this incident to please get in touch. I want to stress to you that Hanif was a hardworking, innocent man – we need to understand why this attack was carried out.

    “You can submit any footage or information via this link.

    “I want to thank the community for their patience as we carried out all our relevant enquiries. Your support does not go unnoticed. We will have extra patrols in the area – please do voice any of your concerns to officers.”

    Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or ‘X’ @MetCC and quote CAD1295/13OCT. You can upload information and material online.

    You can also provide information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz Introduces the Water Delivery Transparency Act to Ensure South Texas Stakeholders Are Heard

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Monica De La Cruz (TX-15)

    Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) recently introduced the Water Delivery Transparency Act to address South Texas’ water challenges by ensuring agricultural producers and local stakeholders have a voice in negotiations under the 1944 Water Treaty with Mexico. As Mexico continues to fall short on water deliveries, the bill mandates the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) to host public forums, create an online portal for stakeholder input, and issue public reports detailing how this input will influence future treaty updates.

    “South Texas’s farmers and communities have been carrying the weight of these water shortages for too long,” said De La Cruz. “It’s time for a new approach that prioritizes transparency, stakeholder engagement, and accountability from our neighbors to the south. The Water Delivery Transparency Act will give our agricultural community and local leaders a real voice in the process, ensuring that their concerns are heard and that the IBWC is held accountable to the needs of our region.”

    The bill is co-sponsored by House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) and Congresswoman Kay Granger (TX-12).

    Support from the Agriculture Community

    The Water Delivery Transparency Act has garnered strong support from key agricultural groups in Texas, including the Texas Farm Bureau, the Texas International Produce Association, the Texas Vegetable Association, and Texas Citrus Mutual.

    “Having a process to record stakeholder comments and suggestions has become necessary as the Rio Grande Valley approaches a critical state in this water shortage. Many farmers feel they’re living a nightmarish déjà vu from 20 and 30 years ago when they shared concerns about the 1944 Treaty and Mexico’s lack of compliance,” said Dante Galeazzi, President and CEO of the Texas International Produce Association. “We thank Congresswoman De La Cruz for her steadfast commitment to supporting the South Texas agriculture community and introducing sensible legislation such as this.”

    “Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) thanks Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz for introducing commonsense legislation to provide farmers more input and more transparency during the minute drafting process related to the 1944 Water Treaty,” said TFB President Russell Boening. “The current lack of communication and opportunity for stakeholder input in the minute process is concerning. We look forward to our continued work to ensure Mexico starts upholding the obligations set forth in the treaty. It is critical to achieve this goal to secure the future of agriculture in the Rio Grande Valley.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Assisted dying bill enters parliament – how likely is it to become law?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Daniel Gover, Senior Lecturer in British Politics, Queen Mary University of London

    Labour backbench MP Kim Leadbeater has introduced a bill in the House of Commons that aims to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales.

    Leadbeater is not a member of the government, but has been able to introduce the terminally ill adults (end of life) bill after topping this session’s private members’ bill ballot in September.

    It’s almost a decade since MPs last voted on assisted dying. Back then, the Conservatives had a majority. Now, the tables have turned and Labour has a large majority. However, it’s not yet clear whether the current cohort of MPs would back this momentous change.

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

    Sign up for our weekly politics newsletter, delivered every Friday.

    Leadbeater’s bill faces additional procedural challenges. Private members’ bills – legislation sponsored by individual MPs rather than the government – face a precarious route onto the statute book. They are highly vulnerable to objections, even if only from a small number of MPs.

    While private members’ bills go through the same basic process to become law as government-sponsored legislation, they are awarded only limited parliamentary time. There are only 13 Fridays per session (typically a year) when these bills are discussed in the House of Commons.

    A House of Commons staffer draws lots in the private members’ bill ballot in September.
    UK Parliament/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND

    Challenge 1: second reading

    The first major test for this bill will be its second reading stage, due on November 29. For backbench bills, and especially those that are contentious, this stage can be tricky.

    Private members’ bills aren’t “programmed” like government bills, which means there is no mechanism for allocating more time to their discussion if needed. So, it only takes a small numbers of MPs to frustrate a bill’s progress by talking at length to run down the clock.

    To prevent this, supporters can attempt to move the “closure” – a motion to end the debate and make a decision. This, however, requires at least 100 MPs to vote in support – a difficult feat on Fridays, when most MPs are in their constituencies. This problem was illustrated earlier this year on a bill to outlaw conversion therapy. However, on a bill of this profile, there is a good chance of passing the closure.

    For Leadbeater’s bill, simply getting a vote at this stage would be an important accomplishment. It would mean that for the first time since 2015 – also on a backbench bill – the opinion of the Commons could be tested on assisted dying.

    Challenge 2: public evidence?

    Assuming the assisted dying bill passes the second reading stage, it would then be sent to a public bill committee for detailed consideration.

    Some major social changes have come about over the years because of backbench bills.
    Flickr/UK Parliament, CC BY-NC-ND

    Unlike for government bills, this committee cannot, by default, hold public evidence sessions on backbench bills. For a reform of this significance, though, we should expect pressure from some MPs for an exception to be made to allow outside bodies – such as campaign groups, religious organisations and medical professionals – to submit evidence. This would delay the bill’s passage a little, though this need not be lengthy.

    Challenge 3: report stage

    The bill’s biggest test is likely to be at report stage – most likely on April 25 next year. This is when the bill returns to the House of Commons chamber.

    Conventional wisdom is that this stage is often fatal for contentious backbench bills, since opponents can propose large numbers of amendments to the legislation, requiring many separate decisions to be made and time to be drained. Even if supporters attempt to move the closure, with enough amendments they may still run out of time. Something like this nearly happened on an EU referendum bill in 2013.

    Yet, this conventional wisdom may be outdated. The speaker of the house routinely groups report-stage amendments together, reducing the number of separate decisions – and in recent years the norm has been a single group. Since 2019, there has never been more than one group of amendments up for consideration on any private member’s bill. If the speaker follows this recent practice, it may be easier to get the bill through report stage.

    Challenge 4: out of time?

    It is quite possible the assisted dying bill could overcome all these procedural hurdles. But if not, ministers may need to step in to set aside some of the government’s own parliamentary time to discuss the bill further.

    Government time for backbench bills has been rare in recent years, although it did occur in 2019 during the passage of a bill to strengthen the laws around female genital mutilation. But there are some striking historical precedents.

    In the 1960s, private members’ bills were used to pass major social reforms on the laws around homosexuality and abortion, and to abolish the death penalty. In all three cases, the government stepped in to dedicate extra time in the face of attempts to slow these bills’ progress.

    Challenge 5: up to the Lords

    If the bill makes it past these stages, then it also has a good chance of completing its final House of Commons (third reading) stage. But it would then need to complete a similar process in the House of Lords. While there are not quite the same time pressures in this chamber – notably, it does not have the same system of 13 Fridays – there is also no programming for any bills.

    It is hard to predict exactly how the Lords would respond to an assisted dying bill. There have been multiple previous attempts to legislate on this matter over the years. The last time one reached committee stage, in 2015, it got bogged down with amendments and made it no further.

    Leadbeater’s bill will be helped by another bill on assisted dying, started in the House of Lords by Labour peer Charlie Falconer. This is scheduled for debate in the coming months and may help identify and resolve some of the detailed points of contention – though this is not guaranteed.

    It would be unusual, though not impossible, for the Lords to fail to pass a private member’s bill agreed by the House of Commons. Since 2010, there appear to have been only two that were actively held up in the Lords – as opposed to just running out of time. Even so, a small number of determined opponents to assisted dying could make life difficult.

    Were this to happen – at this point an extreme hypothetical – one option available to MPs would be to re-introduce the bill in the subsequent session, perhaps from the new crop of ballot bills. Under the provisions of the Parliament Act(s), this bill might then be eligible to become law without the assent of the Lords. Such a situation very nearly occurred this year on another backbench bill, on hunting trophies, though the timing of the general election intervened.

    Despite these procedural hurdles, the assisted dying bill has a reasonably good chance of passing into law. In the end, much will depend on whether MPs are willing to back this change, and how determined they are to do so.

    Daniel Gover 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. Assisted dying bill enters parliament – how likely is it to become law? – https://theconversation.com/assisted-dying-bill-enters-parliament-how-likely-is-it-to-become-law-241498

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