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  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Malnutrition in women and girls costs $1.6 trillion annually: World Vision urges action for World Food Day

    Source: World Vision

    • Two thirds of children under five are living in food poverty in low and middle-income countries, with one in three living in severe poverty only consuming milk and grain every day
    • Girls are 40-50% more likely to die in infancy and childhood than boys because parents prioritise nutrition and medical care for sons over daughters 
    • Anaemia in low-and middle-income countries is costing women and girls $110 billion2 in lost productivity. Without the effects of stunting and anaemia, 15.8 million more girls would complete secondary school every year 
    • In NZ, there is an estimated loss of $897m in income from malnutrition
    • Ultra-processed foods now make up 80% of diets in high-income countries and 30% in middle income countries, adding additional complexity to a global nutrition crisis 
    • Without change more than three million girls will die in the next four years due to low birthweight and Vitamin A deficiencies.

    Malnutrition in women and girls costs the global economy more than $1.6 trillion annually in lost productivity, according to a disturbing new report from aid agency, World Vision.

    The report, Breaking the Cycle: Malnutrition’s Toll on Women and Girls, is launched ahead of World Food Day (October 16th) and underscores the urgent need for action to address a global nutrition crisis.  

    The research reveals that women and adolescent girls comprise nearly two-thirds of the world’s chronically malnourished, with more than one billion suffering from various forms of malnutrition.  

    World Vision New Zealand’s Head of Fragile and Developing Countries, Belinda Robb, says girls’ malnutrition weakens their immune system, heightens disease, and leads to higher mortality rates.

    She says it is a pervasive global crisis with far-reaching implications, affecting their education, future earnings, and increasing their likelihood to experience violence and stress.  

    “This report highlights the enormous costs of malnutrition to girls and women worldwide, and the urgency needed to address it. We need to invest in essential nutrition and address systemic issues in food production so we can enhance health, expand educational opportunities, and improve economic outcomes for millions of women and girls to ensure a healthier, more equitable future for future generations.”

    Currently, two thirds of children under five in low- and middle-income countries live in food poverty, with a third of these subsisting on a diet limited to milk and grain each day.  

    Robb says without significant intervention, hundreds of thousands of infants are expected to die from low birth weight, and 2.5 million girls could die due to Vitamin A deficiencies.  

    Globally, women face a higher risk of food insecurity than men, with a widening gender gap evident in Asia, North America, Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean.  

    Undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and anaemia predominantly affect women and girls in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. In some countries, the prioritization of nutrition and medical care for boys over girls reveals a tragic truth: girls are 40-50% more likely to die in infancy and childhood than boys.

    Globally, 30% of girls and women globally are suffering from anaemia, which has a wealth of negative health implications for women and girls. Maternal iron deficiency and anaemia can increase the risk of maternal death from haemorrhage, causes low birth weight in infants, and impairs child development. Anaemia also harms women’s productivity and their ability to generate income, reducing the health and quality of life for millions of women and future generations.

    Malnutrition, particularly anaemia, costs children and women $110 billion in lost productivity in low- and middle-income countries. Without the impacts of stunting and anaemia, an additional 15.8 million girls could complete secondary school each year.  

    World Vision’s Advocacy lead, Dana Buzducea, says many families turn to child labour to provide short-term economic relief, but this traps girls in a cycle of low-incomes and chronic food insecurity.

    “The number of people going to bed hungry and living with the long-term effects of malnutrition shot-up during the pandemic and have not dropped. This is after years of success in reducing hunger.  People who cannot feed their children are left with little choice but to leave their countries and seek survival elsewhere,” she says.  

    Buzducea says the nutrition crisis is not just an issue in low-income countries either.  Since the 1990s, poverty among girls has risen in more than half of OECD countries, trapping many in a cycle of poverty and malnutrition that threatens the next generation.  

    She says ultra-processed foods now make up 80% of diets in high-income countries and 30 per cent in middle income countries, causing a plethora of health issues.  

    World Vision is calling on governments, organisations, and individuals to unite in combating malnutrition and advocating for the rights and health of women and girls globally.  

    To help ensure a girl has the nutrition she needs to survive and thrive, visit: https://www.worldvision.org.nz/give-now/sponsor-a-child/#choose  

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Southland Police acknowledge sentencing in intimate visual recordings case

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Southland Police acknowledge the recent guilty plea and sentencing of a 54-year-old man, who was charged with making numerous intimate visual recordings of several victims over a five-year period.

    The man was sentenced on 9 October to 10.5 months home detention and ordered to pay $3000 emotional harm payment to each of the victims.

    Detective Senior Sergeant Nicholas Leigh says Police were able to hold this serious offending to account largely thanks to the help of the victims.

    “The bravery of the women who came forward to assist in the prosecution of this offender cannot be overstated.

    “While we are pleased with the guilty plea and sentencing in this instance, we are also mindful that offending around intimate visual recordings, blackmail and sextortion continues to be rife around the country.

    “We often see younger victims being coerced into sharing photos or videos of themselves, their school friends or their family. In time, these images can be used by offenders as blackmail with threats to post online, or share them with people close to the victim.”

    Detective Senior Sergeant Leigh urges parents and caregivers to discuss online safety with young people, and the importance of reporting any online offending. 

    “It pays to be vigilant with people you don’t know – whether that’s meeting online or in person.

    “Save any online chat, and immediately take screenshots. This is important for making a report to the Police, we need all the evidence that you can gather.”

    To report this type of offending, please contact Police on 105, or an online report through Netsafe at netsafe.org.nz/report.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre. 
     

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Roy fights against radical progressive Democrats’ judicial power grab

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Chip Roy (R-TX)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, Representative Chip Roy (TX-21) sent a letter to House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (OH-4) thanking Chairman Jordan for working with him to stand against radical progressive Democrats’ efforts to hijack the federal court system, usurp Congress’ constitutional powers, and disenfranchise countless American citizens.

    The Judicial Conference, the supervisory body of the federal court system, is attempting to engage in a thinly veiled, ideological power grab intended to hamstring states’ ability to fight back against the federal government in court by prohibiting single-judge divisions from hearing certain cases. Representative Roy is encouraging the House Judiciary Committee to continue to block any legislation supported by the Judicial Conference until it reverses course.

    In a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, Representative Roy wrote, “it is critical for the House Judiciary Committee to protect against unlawful left-wing activism – whether it is packing the courts or a backdoor judicial rule-making exercise designed to stop judges from carrying out their duty according to current congressional enacted law.”


    “I have greatly appreciated working with you and Judiciary Committee staff this summer to ensure that the Committee refuses to move legislation supported by the Judicial Conference until it abandons this dangerous proposal to disenfranchise Texans and other Americans,” Roy added. “This clearly is rooted in the desire of a few progressive democrats to limit states like Texas’ ability to halt federal actions that adversely impact Texans, including the work of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.”

    More background (via The Federalist):

    • “Earlier this year, the Judicial Conference issued ‘advisory guidelines’ to all the nation’s district courts, recommending that all cases be randomly assigned throughout the district in which they are filed — regardless of the division that actually receives the filing.”

    • “Now, just weeks before a monumental election, leftists have once again ramped up their efforts to ram through a rule in the Rules Committee of the Judicial Conference that would make the previously ‘advisory’ guidance outright mandatory, thus caving to the demands of, among others, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and the Biden Justice Department.”

    Read the full letter here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Repeat Offender Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing Ammunition

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    FRESNO, Calif. — Jamar Johnson, 30, of Fresno, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to 10 years in prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

    According to court documents, on Dec. 8, 2019, a shooting occurred at the ARCO station at Fresno and C Streets in Fresno. During the incident, Johnson drove his silver Mercedes in the ARCO lot and fired a handgun at another vehicle. After the Johnson left the area, a cellphone belonging to Johnson was found in the parking lot where the Mercedes had been parked along with .45 caliber shell casings.

    The judge noted a number of factors supporting the sentence, including this being Johnson’s third firearms-related conviction, each of the firearms-related convictions involving Johnson discharging a firearm, Johnson’s history of violating the terms of his supervision, and continued risky behavior that put the community in danger. At the time of this offense, Johnson was on federal supervised release for a federal conviction for conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing firearms without a license and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He violated the terms of his supervised release on that conviction within 71 days of commencing supervision.

    This case was the product of an investigation by the Fresno Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Sanchez prosecuted the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Privacy and employee snooping: The greatest threat in the workplace could be sitting next to you

    Source: New Zealand Privacy Commissioner – Blog

    Originally published on the New Zealand Herald 3 October 2024.

    Beware the risk within

    By Michael Webster, Privacy Commissioner

    One of the greatest risks to privacy in the workplace could be sitting next to you – or it could even be you.

    Employee browsing or the unauthorised access and misuse of personal information is one of the most common privacy breaches. I also believe it’s one of the least understood or reported on, as required by the Privacy Act.

    New Zealand is a small place and there’s a good chance a familiar name will crop up in a database or on a file at work and it can prove very tempting to have a look.

    However, a sneaky peek isn’t a harmless case of nosiness; it’s inappropriate and can be a breach of the principles underpinning the Privacy Act. In the cases I see it can have potentially serious consequences such as harassment and blackmail.

    In one example, a person in a position of power looked up the details of a colleague’s partner then used their position to repeatedly sexually harass them via text message. The victim felt intimidated, scared, and fearful in their own home so contacted our Office.

    In some circumstances employees look up information and then pass it on for the explicit purpose of causing harm – for example, finding the address of someone who owns expensive assets to be targeted for a burglary.

    In other examples they do it because they think they’re helping a friend when they’re acting illegally. Like the employee working for a counsellor who had a friend in a custody dispute with their ex-partner. The employee looked up information about the wellbeing of their friend’s ex-partner and shared it with their friend who then used it in their custody dispute hearing.

    Sometimes the temptation to ‘just have a quick look’ is a powerful force but employees need to be stronger. One story I’ve see was from a clinic doing STI and HIV testing. A new employee was being trained and decided to look up their own records while their trainer was in the room with them. That’s fine, it’s their information. However, when the trainer left the room, the new employee took the opportunity to look up the names of their ex-partner, current partner, and best friend – all in breach of the Privacy Act.

    The Privacy Act protects the personal information of all New Zealanders, which means that as well as employees not snooping, we need managers and owners to be informing their staff that it’s wrong to snoop, and to act when it’s found out.

    There’s a lot of information about us held in various databases, including contact details, bank accounts and financial records, and copies of identity documents. This material needs to be protected from internal threats from staff as well as external threats from third parties.

    Employers have a responsibility to secure databases and to limit access only to the staff that need that information to do their job. Employers also have a responsibility to recognise the potential for serious harm if staff are misusing their access privileges.

    The bottom line is organisations have an obligation to prevent their employees from inappropriately accessing and/or disclosing customer information. 

    Building privacy safeguards into your databases enables you to have access controls in place to protect personal information, ideally supported by audit logs so you can monitor who’s doing what and follow up on any unusual activity.

    Significant personal information is held in various databases across New Zealand. A good example is around driver licences and car registration details. Businesses and organisations like insurance providers, vehicle importers, or sellers can be granted access to the motor vehicle register for lawful purposes. However, when staff at those types of agencies access the database for their own reasons or interests then it’s a problem, which often leads to employee dismissal as well as the agency needing to report a privacy breach.

    Businesses have an obligation to ensure their staff have privacy training and a general awareness about the risks of employee browsing. They also need to take steps to make sure staff know they can only access information for work purposes.

    This can be reinforced by having clear policies about employee browsing in your agency’s code of conduct, including consequences for being caught inappropriately accessing personal information about customers and clients.

    Staff access to personal information comes with serious accountabilities about appropriate and lawful behaviour. We all need to treat it with respect. Organisations need to ensure there are consequences for employee browsing and treat any breaches of trust as serious compliance incidents.

    Back

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell Celebrates Grand Opening of 52-Unit Edmonds Affordable

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

    10.15.24

    Cantwell Celebrates Grand Opening of 52-Unit Edmonds Affordable

    Half of the new units at Madrona Highlands are designated specifically for previously homeless families

    EDMONDS, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined the Housing Hope organization and other community leaders in celebrating the grand opening of Madrona Highlands, a 52-unit affordable apartment complex in Edmonds focused on providing housing for families with children.

    Madrona Highlands was paid for in part by the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), a federal housing program championed by Sen. Cantwell. LIHTC funds covered $13.1 million of the total project.

    “This project is more than just a place to live. Moving into Madrona Highlands is about also having access to education, job training, […] and childcare development programs. Also, for the first time, Housing Hope is going to integrate healthcare services into this project,” Sen. Cantwell said. “So put simply, this is bringing hope into this community and bringing families together.”

    “We just need to build more supply in the United States of America,” Sen. Cantwell continued. “This affects everyone. So building more supply helps us drive down costs, and that’s why we are here today — because housing costs are a significant part of inflation. Over the last 10 years, our state has continued to grow, and that has continued to [unlock] new economic opportunities in Snohomish County. We’ve seen some of that growth, and we’ve seen the average cost of rent go up. So what we’re doing here today is helping these families, but [also] helping the whole community in providing more supply.”

    More information about the affordable housing crisis and Sen. Cantwell’s work to support and expand the LIHTC program is HERE.

    The new housing complex is Housing Hope’s first community in south Snohomish County and includes six one-bedroom, 34 two-bedroom, and 12 three-bedroom apartments. Half of the apartments in Madrona Highlands are designated specifically for families coming directly from homelessness; residents will have access to all Housing Hope’s wraparound supportive services, including family support coaches, education and employment specialists, substance use disorder professionals, and mental health therapists. Housing Hope partnered with Snohomish County Human Services to fill the units designated for families currently without permanent housing through the County’s Coordinated Entry process, which families can begin by calling 211.

    Video of Sen. Cantwell’s speech and b-roll of her touring the new units is HERE; photos of the event are HERE; and a transcript of Sen. Cantwell’s remarks is HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Overnight southbound closures of SH1 Western Hills Drive from Thursday

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) advises the southbound lane of State Highway 1 Western Hills Drive will be closed overnight between Kensington Ave and Central Ave for road resurfacing from this Thursday (17 October).

    Due to the narrow width of the road, we need to close the southbound lanes to ensure there is enough room for construction vehicles and large machinery.

    Works will take place overnight between 9pm and 5am on Thursday 17 October, Sunday 20 October and Monday 21 October. Outside work hours the road will be fully open with a 30km/h temporary speed limit in place. No works will take place on Friday (18 October) and Saturday (19 October) nights.

    There will be a signposted detour in place for southbound traffic via Kensington Ave, Kamo Road, Bank St, Water St and Central Ave. The detour is expected to add approximately five minutes to southbound journeys.

    Important note for Heavy Vehicles (HPMV)

    The detour route is not approved for HPMV. HPMV will be parked and grouped together, and escorted through the closure approximately every 20 minutes, as required.

    Emergency services and residents will be accommodated at all times. 

    Please take care when travelling through our work sites and watch out for our crews as they undertake important work to improve our roads. Reduce your speed, adhere to the temporary speed limits and follow the directions of traffic management staff and signs.

    NZTA thanks everyone for their patience while we complete these important works.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: NSW first in the world to identify number of people living with metastatic breast cancer

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 16 October 2024

    Released by: Minister for Health, Minister for Women

    In a world first, Cancer Institute NSW has identified that around 7,900 people in NSW are living with metastatic breast cancer. A discovery which will help improve cancer outcomes not just in NSW, but across the entire country.

    Using the Cancer Institute NSW’s unique linked data sets, a methodology which will soon be shared nationally and internationally, it has been determined that 7,850 women and 50 men in NSW are living with metastatic breast cancer.

    Understanding the number of people living with this disease will help overcome the feeling of invisibility described by so many and ensure that NSW is prepared to support the growing number of people living with and surviving cancer, thanks to medical advancements in treatment and care.

    It will also ensure health professionals and researchers better understand the impact of diagnostics and treatment on breast cancer recurrence and survival, and work to make life-changing improvements in cancer research, care and policy reform.

    Metastatic breast cancer is an invasive form of breast cancer which has spread from the breast to other parts of the body. While the number of people initially diagnosed with breast cancer is available through each state and territories cancer registries, the exact number of people who go on to develop metastatic breast cancer, following an initial breast cancer diagnosis, is unknown in Australia and around the world.

    Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) has led Australian advocacy efforts to develop a clearer picture of the number of people living with metastatic breast cancer, holding a roundtable last year with key government, non-government and community agencies.

    Following the roundtable, the Cancer Institute NSW set to work to identify the number of people living with metastatic breast cancer, using well established and robust data assets.

    By linking cancer incidence and mortality data with NSW clinical datasets, Commonwealth Medicare Benefits Schedule, Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule and National Death Index data, the Institute was able to determine the number of people living with metastatic breast cancer in NSW.

    The Cancer Institute NSW will soon share its robust data methodology to help support national and international efforts in understanding and treating metastatic breast cancer

    Today, Minister for Health Ryan Park also opened a new BreastScreen NSW clinic at the Royal Hospital for Women in Randwick. For eligible women, a breast screen every two years can help detect breast cancer in its earliest stages when it is easier to treat. For more information on breast cancer and breast cancer screening visit http://www.breastscreen.nsw.gov.au.

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:

    “As NSW Health Minister, I am incredibly proud NSW clinicians and researchers have made this remarkable discovery.

    “NSW is proud to lead global efforts to understand how many people are living with metastatic breast cancer and lift the veil of uncertainty and invisibility experienced by thousands of people in our community.

    “Australia is now one step closer to understanding just how many people are impacted by this aggressive form of breast cancer, and in an important next step, understanding how many other people in our community are living with other forms of metastatic cancer.”

    Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler:

    “This is an important step forward for people with metastatic breast cancer in New South Wales and I applaud the world-leading efforts of Cancer Institute NSW.

    “Knowledge is power and this information will help drive a new era of research to improve the lives of thousands of people, not just in NSW but across the country.”

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Women Jodie Harrison:

    “I congratulate the Cancer Institute NSW on this incredible research.

    “With breast cancer being the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, discoveries like this helps us get ahead and ensure that NSW is prepared to support the growing number of people living with and surviving cancer.”

    Quotes attributable to Member for Coogee Marjorie O’Neill:

    “Breast Cancer Awareness Month is the perfect time for women to make an appointment for your next mammogram. It’s quick, it’s easy and it’s free.

    “The refurbished and expanded BreastScreen NSW clinic here at The Royal Hospital for Women will make such a difference for local women, and as a result between 3 – 5 thousand additional women will be able to get a potentially life-saving mammogram each year.”

    Quotes attributable to NSW Chief Cancer Officer and CEO Cancer Institute NSW Professor Tracey O’Brien AM:

    “While our global understanding of cancer has improved significantly, cancer rates are projected to triple in the coming decades with more people currently living with cancer than are being newly diagnosed.

    “Pinpointing how many people have metastatic breast cancer is more than just knowing a number. It’s about giving a voice, options and hope to people living with and beyond cancer and letting them know we see them and are here for them.

    “Although a cure for metastatic breast cancer remains the ultimate goal, our immediate focus must be on helping those living longer with the disease to live well. It’s not just about treating the cancer – it’s about treating the whole person, improving their quality of life and addressing their physical, emotional, financial and practical needs.”

    Quotes attributable to Director Policy, Advocacy & Support Services Breast Cancer Network Australia Vicki Durston:

    “NSW is setting a benchmark as the first state to establish a method for reporting on the number of people living with metastatic breast cancer.

    “The data we now have reveals a reality far greater than we ever anticipated. BCNA stands for every individual whose life remains invisible in cancer data registries—not just here in Australia, but globally.”

    Quotes attributable to Breast Cancer Network Australia Consumer Representative Lisa Rankin:

    “As someone living with metastatic breast cancer, I am incredibly excited that it is now possible to recognise those living with the disease. Until now we have been hidden in plain sight and vastly underestimated in numbers.

    “I want to thank the NSW Government and BCNA’s advocacy for their achievement. I look forward to the positive change which will result from being recognised, improving the lives of those living with the disease, their families and others important to them.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Africa – ATIDI and MIGA Partner to Streamline Investments in Africa

    Source: MediaFast

    ·       Organizations sign second three-year agreement to scale and replicate successful partnership models

    ·       Agreement will set up mechanism to measure progress and results as well as joint marketing initiatives to strengthen cooperation and explore new investment opportunities

    Washington, DC, USA – 15 October, 2024 – The African Trade & Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI), and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), part of World Bank Group Guarantees, have signed a three-year partnership to accelerate foreign direct investment across Africa. This is the second agreement between the two organizations aimed at maximising development impact.

    The organizations will collaborate by leveraging ATIDI’s expertise in insurance and guarantee products across the African continent and MIGA’s range of guarantee solutions and guarantee expertise through the World Bank Group guarantee platform. The partnership will also seek to improve efficiency in joint project due diligence, maximising cost savings and eliminating duplication.

     Quote from Manuel Moses, CEO, ATIDI

    “Enabling more investment to finance transformational projects is vital to Africa’s sustained development. MIGA and ATIDI’s de-risking solutions are essential to achieve this crucial agenda. Beyond signing of this agreement, we look forward to a dynamic collaboration with MIGA, to leverage our institutions’ respective assets for the benefit of our continent.”

    The agreement framework emphasizes mutual reliance, accountability, and comparability. Each party will regularly share operating standards and procedures to help identify comparable outcomes to further both organizations’ development mandates.

    Quote from Hiroshi Matano, MIGA Executive Vice President

    “Our partnership with ATIDI will enable us to support countries in Africa in scaling and replicating development projects, thereby accelerating prosperity. This agreement will play a significant role in helping the continent attract foreign investment for key development projects.”  

    Both organizations have agreed to set up mechanisms to measure progress and results, including reports on joint projects, new products, capital mobilized, and reduced project processing times. Moreover, both parties will carry out joint marketing efforts, training, and seminars to strengthen cooperation and explore new investment opportunities in Africa.

    The strategic agreement framework underscores the commitment of MIGA and ATIDI to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. The two organizations aim to mitigate investment risks by pooling resources, thereby accelerating sustainable economic growth in Africa.

    About ATIDI

    ATIDI was founded in 2001 by African States to cover trade and investment risks of companies doing business in Africa. ATIDI predominantly provides Political Risk, Credit Insurance and Surety Insurance. Since inception, ATIDI has supported USD85 billion worth of investments and cross border trade into Africa. For over a decade, ATIDI has maintained an ‘A/Stable’ rating for Financial Strength and Counterparty Credit by Standard & Poor’s, and in 2019, ATIDI obtained an A3/Stable rating from Moody’s, which has now been upgraded to A2/Positive.

    For more on ATIDI, visit: http://www.atidi.africa

    Media registration link: https://www.atidi.africa/media-kit/

     About World Bank Group Guarantees  

    Initiated in 2024, World Bank Group Guarantees consolidates all guarantee products and experts from across the World Bank Group institutions at MIGA. It provides a simplified and comprehensive menu of guarantee solutions, enabling clients to select the instrument that best suits their needs. The platform streamlines processes, removes redundancies, and provides greater accessibility by de-risking investments in developing countries. Its goal is to boost the WBG’s annual guarantee issuance to USD20 billion by 2030.    

    For more information about the guarantee platform, visit: https://www.worldbank.org/wbgguarantees

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Cooper Surveys Storm Damage in Buncombe County as Resources Continue to Surge into Western North Carolina During Unprecedented Response to Hurricane Helene

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Cooper Surveys Storm Damage in Buncombe County as Resources Continue to Surge into Western North Carolina During Unprecedented Response to Hurricane Helene

    Governor Cooper Surveys Storm Damage in Buncombe County as Resources Continue to Surge into Western North Carolina During Unprecedented Response to Hurricane Helene
    mseets

    North Carolina’s unprecedented response to the impacts of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina remains in full force as responders at the state, federal and local levels continue efforts to surge resources and bring assistance into affected areas. This morning, Governor Cooper was joined by FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and other state officials for a press briefing regarding storm recovery efforts. This afternoon, Governor Cooper traveled to Buncombe County to survey storm damage, see relief efforts, thank volunteers and speak with people impacted by the storm.

    Law enforcement is working to ensure the safety of responders amid reports of threats and misinformation. FEMA officials remain in communities and have resumed door-to-door operations to help people impacted by these storms recover as quickly as possible following reports of threats on the ground. Governor Roy Cooper has directed the Department of Public Safety to work with local law enforcement to identify specific threats and rumors and coordinate with FEMA and other partners to ensure the safety and security of all involved as this recovery effort continues.

    “Today I traveled to Asheville, Fairview and Swannanoa to see the critical work being done to get people federal assistance, hot meals and other resources they need as they deal with the impacts of Hurricane Helene,” said Governor Cooper. “I’m thankful for our law enforcement officers, first responders, volunteers and many others who are helping people in need.”

    The Governor visited a Disaster Recovery Center operating at A.C. Reynolds High School in Asheville where those affected by the storm can get assistance from FEMA and the Small Business Administration. The Governor also visited the Fairview Fire Department, which sustained major flooding and damage from the storm. Lastly, the Governor visited a Community Care Station in Swannanoa providing resources and hot meals to community members and emergency responders.

    Governor Cooper also issued an executive order today focused on addressing urgent needs related to drinking water and wastewater treatment in those counties impacted by Hurricane Helene. The Council of State concurred in a provision of the Order which allows the North Carolina Division of Water Resources to accelerate the timelines for repair to numerous facilities and other infrastructure damaged by Helene to ensure that impacted North Carolinians are able to obtain access to safe drinking water and wastewater treatment as soon as possible.

    The Order also directs NCDEQ to address the impacts of Helene on utility systems in the impacted areas. Specifically, the Order directs NCDEQ to assess the impacts of Helene across the impacted region, provide technical and financial support for drinking water systems, wastewater treatment facilities, and other infrastructure sites, and also to help expedite clean-up processes.

    In the immediate aftermath of this storm, because of massive communication outages in Western North Carolina, many people called 2-1-1 to report friends or family they couldn’t get in touch with. When phone service began to return, many people located their loved ones but that information doesn’t usually make it back to 2-1-1.

    The Department of Public Safety formed a task force to find who is still unaccounted for and focus efforts where needed. This is not a definitive count because the task force is continuing its work. This number will continue to fluctuate as more reports come in and others are resolved. As of today, the task force number of unaccounted for people is 92.

    North Carolina National Guard and Military Response

    Approximately 3,400 Soldiers and Airmen are working in Western North Carolina. Joint Task Force- North Carolina, the task force led by the North Carolina National Guard is made up of Soldiers and Airmen from 12 different states, two different XVIII Airborne Corps units from Ft. Liberty, a unit from Ft. Campbell’s 101st Airborne Division, and numerous civilian entities are working side-by-side to get the much-needed help to people in Western North Carolina.

    National Guard and military personnel are operating 11 aviation assets and approximately 1,200 specialized vehicles in Western North Carolina to facilitate these missions. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is helping to assess water and wastewater plants and dams. Residents can track the status of the public water supply in their area through this website.

    FEMA Assistance

    More than $99 million in FEMA Individual Assistance funds have been paid so far to Western North Carolina disaster survivors and more than 174,000 people have registered for Individual Assistance. More than 1,900 households are now housed in hotels through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance.

    1,200+ FEMA staff are in the state to help with the Western North Carolina relief effort. In addition to search and rescue and providing commodities, they are meeting with disaster survivors in shelters and neighborhoods to provide rapid access to relief resources. They can be identified by their FEMA logo apparel and federal government identification.

    The Major Disaster Declaration requested by Governor Cooper and granted by President Biden now includes 27 North Carolina counties (Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey) and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

    North Carolinians can apply for Individual Assistance by calling 1-800-621-3362 from 7am to 11pm daily or by visiting www.disasterassistance.gov, or by downloading the FEMA app. FEMA may be able to help with serious needs, displacement, temporary lodging, basic home repair costs, personal property loss or other disaster-caused needs.

    Help from Other States

    More than 1,500 responders from 38 state and local agencies have performed 140 missions supporting the response and recovery efforts through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). This includes public health nurses, emergency management teams supporting local governments, veterinarians, teams with search dogs and more.

    Beware of Misinformation

    North Carolina Emergency Management and local officials are cautioning the public about false Helene reports and misinformation being shared on social media. NCEM has launched a fact versus rumor response webpage to provide factual information in the wake of this storm. FEMA also has a rumor response webpage.

    Efforts continue to provide food, water and basic necessities to residents in affected communities, using both ground resources and air drops from the NC National Guard. Food, water and commodity points of distribution are open throughout Western North Carolina. For information on these sites in your community, visit your local emergency management and local government social media and websites or visit ncdps.gov/Helene.

    Storm Damage Cleanup

    If your home has damages and you need assistance with clean up, please call Crisis Cleanup for access to volunteer organizations that can assist you at 844-965-1386.

    Power Outages

    Across Western North Carolina, approximately 12,500 customers remain without power, down from a peak of more than 1 million. Overall power outage numbers will fluctuate up and down as power crews temporarily take circuits or substations offline to make repairs and restore additional customers.

    Road Closures

    Some roads are closed because they are too damaged and dangerous to travel. Other roads still need to be reserved for essential traffic like utility vehicles, construction equipment and supply trucks. However, some parts of the area are open and ready to welcome visitors which is critical for the revival of Western North Carolina’s economy. If you are considering a visit to the area, consult DriveNC.gov for open roads and reach out to the community and businesses you want to visit to see if they are welcoming visitors back yet.

    NCDOT currently has approximately 2,100 employees and 1,100 pieces of equipment working on approximately 6,700 damaged road sites.

    Fatalities

    Ninety-five storm-related deaths have been confirmed in North Carolina by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner. This number is expected to rise over the coming days. The North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will continue to confirm numbers twice daily. If you have an emergency or believe that someone is in danger, please call 911.

    Volunteers and Donations

    If you would like to donate to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund, visit nc.gov/donate. Donations will help to support local nonprofits working on the ground.

    For information on volunteer opportunities, please visit nc.gov/volunteernc

    Additional Assistance

    There is no right or wrong way to feel in response to the trauma of a hurricane. If you have been impacted by the storm and need someone to talk to, call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990. Help is also available to anyone, anytime in English or Spanish through a call, text or chat to 988. Learn more at 988Lifeline.org.

    If you are seeking a representative from the North Carolina Joint Information Center, please email ncempio@ncdps.gov or call 919-825-2599.

    For general information, access to resources, or answers to frequently asked questions, please visit ncdps.gov/helene.

    If you are seeking information on resources for recovery help for a resident impacted from the storm, please email IArecovery@ncdps.gov.

    ###

    Oct 15, 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Liqueous LP Finalizes $100 Million Equity Line of Credit With Crown Electrokinetics Corp, Building on Strategic Recapitalization Efforts and separately provides NUBURU Financing Update

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DOVER, Del., Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Liqueous LP, a premier multi-strategy fund specializing in liquidity solutions, is pleased to announce the finalization of a $100 million Equity Line of Credit (ELOC) with Crown Electrokinetics Corp (NASDAQ: CRKN) (the “Company”). This significant financing arrangement is part of Liqueous’s strategic expansion, focused on delivering tech-driven financial structures to micro, small, and mid-market issuers, aimed at enhancing shareholder value.

    In May 2024, Liqueous played a key role in helping CRKN fully pay off and retire all outstanding classes of convertible preferred stock, totaling over $11 million, as part of its comprehensive recapitalization strategy. The Company successfully settled its obligations with preferred stockholders, marking the completion of its restructuring efforts. This new ELOC represents the next phase of CRKN’s financing structure, with a strengthened balance sheet and capital foundation designed to support growth.

    “Retiring all of the Company’s preferred stock in May was a pivotal moment for us, allowing us to streamline our capital structure with no remaining convertible debt or preferred stock. This has set the stage for us to focus on developing our business segments and pursuing acquisitions on more favorable terms for the Company and its shareholders,” said Doug Croxall, CEO of Crown Electrokinetics. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with Liqueous as our finance partner.”

    This $100 million ELOC will allow Liqueous to further expand its portfolio of liquidity solutions while providing much-needed capital for micro, small, and mid-market issuers. The ELOC will also help support other strategic partnerships and investments in innovative financial technologies and emerging markets.

    “This new ELOC provides Liqueous with the tools needed to continue their mission of providing strategic capital solutions to CRKN,” said Jacob Fernane, Managing Partner of Liqueous LP. “The flexibility and scale of this financing are precisely what emerging companies need to thrive. Our recent financial programs with Nuburu and CRKN underscores our commitment to providing flexible, strategic capital with minimal dilution, enabling companies to achieve their growth goals.”

    Liqueous Nuburu Update
    Additionally, Liqueous recently announced a $65 million financing program for Nuburu Inc. (NYSE American: BURU), a leading provider of high-power industrial blue laser technology. This program included a $15 million direct capital injection and a $50 million equity line of credit, highlighting Liqueous’s ability to offer comprehensive, financing solutions. Similarly, Liqueous assisted BURU in retiring nearly $6 million in junior and senior debt during the second and third quarters of 2024.

    Liqueous was pleased that BURU canceled its special shareholder meeting scheduled for October 15, 2024. This move was part of a strategic decision to pursue a cash repayment and retire a convertible note, which would have required shareholder approval for a stock issuance that could have exceeded 19.99% of BURU’s outstanding shares and involved a potential conversion discount of more than 20% to the market price. Unlike this structure, most of Liqueous’ financing terms are priced at current market values without any discount.

    This strategic shift follows the recent cancellation of Lincoln Park’s equity line of credit and represents a major evolution in BURU’s capital strategy. The new financing terms with Liqueous LP more accurately reflect the value of BURU’s technology, positioning the Company to achieve its commercialization goals while helping to protect shareholder interests.

    About Liqueous LP
    Liqueous LP is an innovative multi-strategy fund that delivers bespoke liquidity solutions to micro, small, and mid-market issuers. By leveraging emerging technologies and proprietary financial structures, Liqueous provides long-term, low-cost capital to optimize value for its portfolio companies. The firm specializes in strategic financing, shareholder liquidity solutions, and asset-backed instruments. To learn more, visit http://www.liqueous.com

    About Crown Electrokinetics
    Crown Electrokinetics Corp. (NASDAQ: CRKN) is a smart glass technology company and the creator of DynamicTint™—a technology originally invented by Hewlett-Packard (HP, Inc.) that allows any glass surface to transition between clear and dark in seconds. This technology can be applied to a variety of windows, including those in commercial buildings, automotive sunroofs, and residential skylights. DynamicTint™ is a more sustainable alternative to traditional window treatments and offers benefits such as reducing carbon emissions. The company’s product is designed to be retrofitted to existing glass, making it an eco-friendly and cost-efficient solution. Crown is also supported by a robust patent portfolio and collaborates with leading manufacturers for mass production and distribution. To learn more, visit http://www.crownek.com

    Safe Harbor Statement
    This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect Liqueous LP’s and Crown Electrokinetics’ current expectations regarding future events. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ due to various factors. Neither company undertakes any obligation to update these forward-looking statements except as required by law.

    Contact:
    info@liqueous.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: NHC vice-minister meets with president of Swedish Karolinska Institutet

    Source: People’s Republic of China Ministry of Health

    Cao Xuetao, vice-minister of China’s National Health Commission (NHC), met with Annika Östman Wernerson, president of the Karolinska Institutet of Sweden, in Beijing on Oct 11. The two sides exchanged views on promoting China-Sweden cooperation in healthcare.

    Cao said he appreciated the exchanges and cooperation between Karolinska Institutet and Chinese universities, research institutes and hospitals. He added that China encourages medical schools and health institutions from both countries to deepen cooperation in medical research and clinical practice, and supports Chinese institutions including the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences to continue practical cooperation with Karolinska Institutet in prevention and treatment of chronic diseases such as cancer, medical personnel training and academic exchanges.

    He also briefed the Swedish guests about the goals and measures of health reform highlighted at the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

    Wernerson presented the progress made in collaboration between Karolinska Institutet and relevant Chinese institutions. She said her institute attaches great importance to cooperation with the related Chinese institutions, and is ready to further strengthen exchanges with the Chinese side to jointly contribute to global health development.

    Officials from relevant NHC departments and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College attended the meeting.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government backs veterans by approving Veteran Card as voter ID for first time  

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The government has backed the armed forces community by allowing HM Armed Forces Veteran Cards to be used as Voter ID in forthcoming elections, while a wider review of the Voter ID policy takes place to understand its impact on citizens.

    The government has backed the armed forces community by allowing HM Armed Forces Veteran Cards to be used as Voter ID in forthcoming elections, while a wider review of the Voter ID policy takes place to understand its impact on citizens.

    The government has laid a statutory instrument in Parliament to put the HM Armed Forces Veteran Card on the list of photographic identifications accepted in polling stations as voter ID, in addition to the already accepted MOD 90 ID card.

    A thorough review of the Voter ID rules is currently underway with firm proposals on the policy set to be brought forward in due course. However, while this takes place the government has taken immediate steps to address gaps in the current provision by including the Veteran Card on the list of acceptable IDs.

    The Veteran Card is a tangible symbol of veterans’ service and its addition to the list will help around two million veterans to engage in the elections process and exercise their democratic rights, with these changes set to be made in time for the 2025 local elections in May.

    Alex Norris, minister for elections, said: 

    No veteran should be turned away from the polling station while trying to use their Veteran Card as voter ID.  They are an incredible community who have dedicated their lives to this country, and it is wrong that the exclusion of this Card has been a barrier to their ability to vote.

    That’s why we’re supporting our incredible veterans by expanding the list of voter identifications to include it so they can participate in democracy without the fear of being turned away on election day.

    We stand behind our veterans and today’s announcement demonstrates that we will meet our manifesto commitment to strengthen support for our armed forces communities. 

    This government is committed to helping veterans to thrive in civilian society, and we are continuing to support our armed forces:

    • Within the last month, the government announced that all UK Armed Forces veterans will be exempt from rules which require a connection to a local area before accessing social housing in England.
    • In 2021, NHS England launched Op COURAGE – a dedicated mental health service for veterans, and over 35,000 veterans have used this service to date.
    • Op FORTITUDE, a housing hotline for veterans, has supported hundreds of veterans into supported housing with wraparound care.

    Veterans are represented by the Secretary of State for Defence in Cabinet, and cross-government support is coordinated by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs in the MOD.

    Minister for People and Veterans, Alistair Carns, OBE MC MP said:

    Veterans Cards are a tangible symbol of the extraordinary sacrifices our veterans have made to defend our nation and it is only right that the Government gives these cards the recognition they deserve. 

    We are committed to renewing the nation’s contract with all those who serve and have served, and this is an important step to making this important community feel supported when voting.

    Mark Atkinson, Director General of the Royal British Legion, said:

    This is good news. Veterans have found it frustrating that they were unable to use their Armed Forces Veteran Card as voter identification.

    It is vital that the voice of the Armed Forces community is heard at every election, now that voter ID is required to vote in elections in the UK, this change will make it easier for those who have served to cast their vote.

    This change follows a veteran of the armed forces being turned away from the local elections earlier this year because they attempted to use this card at their polling station and were turned away.  This government committed to making sure that this important community is better supported to participate in our vibrant democracy.

    This government is also making our democracy stronger than it has ever been and the addition of the Veteran Card is only the first step in delivering on our commitments to encourage participation in our elections, and we are taking further action:

    • Work has begun to extend the franchise for all UK elections to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote so that we can empower young people to take part in our democracy. 
    • We know there remains a significant number of people missing from our registers, so we will tackle this unacceptable participation gap by taking action to improve rates of electoral registration.    
    • We will act to protect our democracy from malign actors by strengthening the rules around donations to political parties.

    Today marks a significant step forward on our progress towards reforming our elections, and we will set out details on these further measures to widen participation in due course. 

    Notes to editors:

    • The Veteran Card provides recognition of service and ensures that when needed, public and charitable sector services and support can be provided to veterans as efficiently as possible.
    • The government has also published ‘Using a veteran card as a service leaver’ guidance page on GOV.UK, detailing how veterans can use the card to access specialist support and services: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-a-veteran-card-as-a-service-leaver 
    • We will continue to explore additional uses and benefits of the card.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: New total defence resolution for a stronger Sweden

    Source: Government of Sweden

    The Government has now presented a Total Defence Bill for the period 2025–2030. It includes substantial reinforcements of the total defence. Additional funding totalling SEK 170 billion will be allocated to the military defence and SEK 35.7 to the civil defence through 2030. These are historically large investments. Defence expenditures will therefore already reach 2.6 per cent of GDP in 2028.

    Substantial reinforcement of capabilities within the total defence 

    Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine illustrates the destruction and strains that Sweden and its Allies could face. Russia is levelling cities, attacking civilian infrastructure and treating the civilian population like  legitimate targets. The Swedish Government is now building up total defence capabilities to meet these threats. 

    The Government also intends to increase funding to the military defence and the civil defence to increase total defence capabilities so that Sweden can meet various threats such as cyberattacks and hybrid attacks. This involves working systematically to break down barriers to growth within the total defence. The Government’s aim and approach is to accelerate the pace of rearmament. Where the defence resolutions of 2015 and 2020 provided a skeletal framework, the Government’s aim with the 2024 Defence Resolution is to lend the total defence some muscles. 

    Military defence

    “This is a powerful Defence Resolution that will give the total defence more strength and better balance. Now the efforts to step up the pace of the defence’s growth continue,” says Minister for Defence Pål Jonson. 

    The Government’s strategic approach for the military defence is to rapidly build up military capability and establish military units with the necessary materiel, personnel and coordinated training to meet the demands of the current geopolitical situation. This is in line with Sweden’s ambition of being a credible, reliable and loyal Ally. Four new brigades will be in place by 2030. The number of conscripts will increase to 10 000 by 2030, and then reach approximately 12 000 between 2032 and 2035. The number of refresher training sessions will be increased to maintain skills.  

    The war organisation’s capability will be enhanced during this defence resolution period. Greater resources will be invested in renovating, modifying and extending the service life of existing materiel and filling stockpiles of ammunition, anti-aircraft munitions and supplies. New capabilities are also being introduced, including long-range capability in the form of cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles and rocket artillery.

    NATO Capability Targets

    Fighting units are the basis of Sweden’s contribution to NATO deterrence and collective defence. The NATO Capability Targets already apportioned and those expected in 2025 serve as an important starting point for shaping the Swedish war organisation. The war organisation under this Defence Resolution is line with the requirements that we are expected to meet. 

    Reinforcements for the Army

    • Supplementary purchases (updates) of combat vehicles and tanks are being made.
    • An increase of anti-aircraft capability is in progress.
    • Development of rocket artillery capability will begin. 
    • More drones are being procured.
    • Continued additions of the previously ordered 72 Archer artillery systems.

    Reinforcements for the Navy

    • An investment in the Navy is taking place in the form of increased funding to increase personnel volume. Visby-class corvettes are undergoing a mid-term modification during this defence resolution period and, in conjunction with this modification, the five surface combat vessels will be armed with anti-aircraft missile systems. 
    • In addition, the coastal missile capability will be expanded and organised into two units to increase both availability and durability. The units armed with anti-ship missiles are an important complement for protection of the Baltic Sea.
    • Procurement of new Luleå-class surface combat vessels will begin in the period 2025–2030. Once delivered, those vessels will give the Navy increased capability and capacity, and make a significant contribution to anti-aircraft capabilities.

    Reinforcements for the Air Force

    • Three qualified S106 Globaleye reconnaissance planes will be procured for the Air Force during this defence resolution period.
    • Introduction of JAS Gripen 39E fighter aircraft begins in late 2024 and continues to be introduced in the armed forces during the period 2025-2030. 
    • Additional Black Hawk HK16 utility helicopters will be procured.
    • Additional SK 50 (Grob) basic trainer aircraft will be procured.
    • The Defence Resolution accelerates Sweden’s incorporation into NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD), which consists of necessary measures for deterrence or to nullify or reduce threats from the air domain. This will be achieved in part by incorporating Sweden into a system of integrated NATO and national sensor, command and control assets.

    Reinforcement of digitalisation, innovation and research

    The Government’s proposals also include a specific focus on materiel, defence innovation and research and development aimed at producing new capabilities and ensuring self-supply. 

    • By 2027, the appropriation for technological development, research innovation and defence research (appropriation 1:4) will increase by more than 50 per cent to just over SEK 1.6 billion.
    • NATO membership also entails requirements of greater interoperability with Allies within NATO. The Government therefore proposes that the war organisation be expanded in certain parts of command and logistics and that a new category of units designated for territorial duties be introduced.
    • The Government is also enhancing Sweden’s role as a credible space actor. This will be made possible through participation in various initiatives such as space-based reconnaissance and surveillance, responsive launching and satellite communications in the Arctic region.
    • Digitalisation will be carried out within command and intelligence functions and a reinforcement of defensive and offensive cyberoperations capabilities. 

    Civil defence

    Enhanced capabilities and an accelerated pace are priorities for developing the civil defence. The Total Defence Bill outlines a historically large investment in the civil defence through an allocation of SEK 37.5 billion through 2030. 

    “With the Defence Resolution in place, the course has now been set for a to build a powerful total defence. The civil defence will be built up based on the demands of war, and we aim to swiftly build up capabilities that strengthen Sweden and make our country more secure,” says Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin. 

    The introduction of the economic planning framework will serve as an important foundation for funding of the civil defence. The aim is to bring predictability, endurance and transparency to the strategic approach of the civil defence, and an ability to better prioritise and follow up results of the measures taken.

    Priority preparedness sectors

    All preparedness sectors in the civil defence will receive additional funding during the period 2025–2030. Society’s functionality is vital for the Swedish Armed Forces to be able to carry out its duties. Some preparedness sectors have therefore been given special priority. These include electronic communications and postal services, food supply and drinking water, health and social care, transport, energy supply, rescue services and protection of the civilian population. 

    Coordination and command of the civil defence  

    The Total Defence Bill highlights the need to strengthen command and coordination of the civil defence.

    The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency currently has far-ranging tasks and responsibilities, which is why the Government sees a need to enable it to better provide support for the coordination of the civil defence at national level. The Government therefore intends to review responsibilities for rescue services and protection of the civilian population. The name of the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency will also be reviewed.

    Command of the civil defence during heightened alert and ultimately war should be exercised by actors with geographical areas of responsibility. This requires a clear allocation of responsibilities and mandates at the relevant levels. The Bill stresses that the county administrative boards with responsibility for civil areas and government agencies with responsibility for sectors need clearer roles and stronger mandates. 

    Economic defence and cooperation with the business sector

    Sweden’s economic defence needs to be strengthened and central government needs to be clear about what requirements will be placed on the business sector and what its role is in the total defence. In war or under threat of war, it is critical that production and supply chains are durable, the business sector has the capacity to adapt its production, and stockpiles of essential goods – including input goods – are available. The Government intends to clarify government agencies’ responsibilities concerning the supply of critical goods and services for the needs of the total defence and for foreign trade.

    Psychological defence and will to defend

    Psychological defence is an important component of a strong total defence. Strengthening and maintaining the population’s will to defend itself is a core task of the psychological defence. Proactive and continuous work is needed throughout the defence resolution period to preserve and reinforce the population’s will to defend itself, resilience and personal preparedness. As an Ally, Sweden will also contribute to NATO’s capability to defend against cognitive warfare. 

    Cybersecurity 

    Cybersecurity is another important pillar of the modern civil defence. Essential public services need to have the capacity to withstand cyberattacks, and information security and cybersecurity must therefore be prioritised. With a new national cybersecurity centre and extensive investments, the Government is enhancing protection against increasingly pervasive cyberthreats.

    Sweden’s resilience as part of NATO deterrence 

    The resilience being built up by reinforcing the civil defence is vital not only to Sweden’s security, but also to that of our Allies in NATO. Society’s resilience thus becomes part of NATO’s collective deterrence and defence.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: TACTiC: Test avoid cure TB in children

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    This new report details how children with tuberculosis continue to be left behind in the global effort to end the disease. The report, TACTIC: Test, Avoid, Cure Tuberculosis in Children, surveyed tuberculosis policy guidelines in 14 countries* with a high burden of tuberculosis, revealing that many countries lag behind in aligning their national tuberculosis policies with the latest guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO). 

    We urge all countries to update their national guidelines to be in line with the WHO recommendations for the care of children with tuberculosis, and to allocate the needed resources—along with developing clear plans with timelines to implement the policies and increase access to tuberculosis prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the children with tuberculosis in the country. International donors and technical support agencies must provide sufficient funding to countries to support paediatric tuberculosis policy reforms and implementation.

    TACTiC: Test, avoid, cure TB in children pdf — 4.65 MB Download

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI: CECO Environmental to Release Third Quarter Earnings and Host Conference Call on October 29

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DALLAS, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CECO Environmental Corp. (Nasdaq: CECO), a leading environmentally focused, diversified industrial company whose solutions protect people, the environment and industrial equipment, today announced that it will report its third quarter 2024 financial results on October 29, 2024, premarket. The Company will also host its earnings call starting at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (7:30 a.m. CT). The Company’s financial results and presentation will be posted on its website at http://www.cecoenviro.com.

    The details for the webcast are:

    When: Tuesday, October 29 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time

    Where: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/4ui844vi

    How: Live over the internet – Simply log on to the web at the address above

    Register to receive the dial-in info and a unique pin:
    https://register.vevent.com/register/BI76b0c5bac3f448b6b1a734e15bff87ec

    A replay of the conference call will be available on the Company’s website shortly after the live webcast has concluded.

    ABOUT CECO ENVIRONMENTAL
    CECO Environmental is a leading environmentally focused, diversified industrial company, serving a broad landscape of industrial air, industrial water, and energy transition markets across the globe through its key business segments: Engineered Systems and Industrial Process Solutions. Providing innovative technology and application expertise, CECO helps companies grow their business with safe, clean, and more efficient solutions that help protect people, the environment and industrial equipment. In regions around the world, CECO works to improve air quality, optimize the energy value chain, and provide custom solutions for applications including power generation, petrochemical processing, general industrial, refining, midstream oil and gas, electric vehicle production, poly silicon fabrication, battery recycling, beverage can, and water/wastewater treatment along with a wide range of other applications. CECO is listed on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “CECO.” Incorporated in 1966, CECO’s global headquarters is in Dallas, Texas. For more information, please visit http://www.cecoenviro.com.

    Company Contact:
    Peter Johansson
    Chief Financial and Strategy Officer
    888-990-6670

    Investor Relations Contact:
    Steven Hooser and Jean Marie Young
    Three Part Advisors
    214-872-2710
    Investor.Relations@OneCECO.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Xtract One Announces Fiscal 2024 Fourth Quarter Conference Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Xtract One Technologies Inc. (TSX: XTRA) (OTCQX: XTRAF) (FRA: 0PL) (“Xtract One” or the “Company”), a leading technology-driven threat detection and security solution that prioritizes the patron access experience by leveraging AI, today announced that it will release fiscal 2024 fourth quarter results after the close of trading on October 24, 2024. Peter Evans, Xtract One CEO and Director, and Karen Hersh, CFO and Corporate Secretary, will host a webcast and conference call at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time the following day, October 25, 2024, to review the three months and twelve months ended July 31, 2024.

    The webcast and presentation will be accessible on the company’s website, and the telephone number for the conference call is 844-481-3016 (412-317-1881 for international callers). Management will provide an overview of the interim financial results along with management’s outlook for the business, followed by a question-and-answer period.

    About Xtract One Technologies
    Xtract One Technologies is a leading technology-driven threat detection and security solution leveraging AI to provide seamless and secure patron access control experiences. The Company makes unobtrusive threat detection systems that enable venue building operators to prioritize and deliver improved patron experiences while providing unprecedented safety. Xtract One’s innovative AI-powered Gateway product enables companies to covertly screen for weapons at points of entry without disrupting the flow of traffic. Its AI-based Xtract One Vision allows venue and building operators to identify weapons and other threats inside and outside of facilities, and Xtract One Insights provides valuable intelligence for optimizing operations. For more information, visit http://www.xtractone.com or connect on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. 

    For further information, please contact:
    Xtract One Inquiries: info@xtractone.com, http://www.xtractone.com
    Media Contact: Kristen Aikey, JMG Public Relations, 212-206-1645, kristen@jmgpr.com
    Investor Relations: Chris Witty, Darrow Associates, 646-438-9385, cwitty@darrowir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: High Efficiency Electrolyser Cells Complete Key Durability Test

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Next Hydrogen Solutions Inc. (the “Company” or “Next Hydrogen“) (TSXV:NXH, OTC:NXHSF), a designer and manufacturer of electrolyzers, is pleased to announce that it has successfully completed an extended durability test of its GEN2 electrolysis cells used in the efficient production of green hydrogen. The GEN2 cells will now be deployed in Next Hydrogen electrolysers at customer sites for commercial operation.

    Next Hydrogen previously reported that it has achieved leading efficiency of its GEN2 cells in October of 2023(1). The GEN2 cell performance of lower than 1.9 V per cell at 1 amp/cm2 and at 70oC exceeds reported US Department of Energy (DOE) technical targets status for energy efficiency, while maintaining a 2 times higher peak operating point(2). Further, a turn-down of 10% demonstrated best-in-class performance and an optimal solution for direct connection to renewables to produce green hydrogen.

    Equally important is the cell performance durability, and widely accepted testing protocols have been applied to confirm minimal degradation under intermittent operation as required for renewable energy supplied systems. Furthermore, 3,000 hours of cyclic testing have recently been successfully surpassed, providing the confidence to commercially deploy.

    The GEN2 cells will be applied to Next Hydrogen’s modular product line in sizes of 0.75MW, 1.5MW and 2.25MW and offer the best commercially available performance features.

    Raveel Afzaal, President and CEO of Next Hydrogen, stated, “This represents a significant milestone for us as we move into product commercialization. We are also upsizing our products and plan to demonstrate an even larger and more efficient GEN3 product version in 2025 based on leveraging our GEN2 success.”

    About Next Hydrogen
    Founded in 2007, Next Hydrogen is a designer and manufacturer of electrolyzers that use water and electricity as inputs to generate clean hydrogen for use as an energy source. Next Hydrogen’s unique cell design architecture supported by 40 patents enables high current density operations and superior dynamic response to efficiently convert intermittent renewable electricity into green hydrogen on an infrastructure scale. Following successful pilots, Next Hydrogen is scaling up its technology to deliver commercial solutions to decarbonize transportation and industrial sectors.

    Contact Information

    Cautionary Statements
    This news release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements”. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as “expects”, or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “forecasts”, “estimates”, “believes” or “intends” or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results “may” or “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the risks associated with the hydrogen industry in general; delays or changes in plans with respect to infrastructure development or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to costs and expenses; failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals; health, safety and environmental risks; uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans with respect to infrastructure developments or capital expenditures; currency exchange rate fluctuations; as well as general economic conditions, stock market volatility; and the ability to access sufficient capital. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Except as required by law, there will be no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: 14/10/2024 The government adopted a draft act amending the Act on Agricultural Tax, the Act on Local Taxes and Fees and the Act on Stamp Duty

    MIL ASI Translation. Region: Polish/Europe –

    Fuente: Gobierno de Polonia en poleco.

    The government has adopted a draft act amending the Act on Agricultural Tax, the Act on Local Taxes and Fees and the Act on Stamp Duty14/10/2024

    The Council of Ministers has adopted the draft act submitted by the Minister of Finance amending the Act on Agricultural Tax, the Act on Local Taxes and Fees and the Act on Stamp Duty. The aim of the draft is primarily to ensure uniform principles for taxing garages in residential buildings and to introduce a comprehensive definition of a building and structure into the Act on Local Taxes and Fees. Key solutions Unification of the principles for taxing garages in residential buildings with property tax. All rooms intended for storing vehicles in residential buildings (not occupied for business activities) will be taxed as apartments. Clarified definitions of “building” and “structure” for the purposes of property tax. The lack of reference in the definitions of “building” and “structure” to construction law will ensure increased certainty of tax law, which will no longer be directly affected by changes in construction law. The draft contains a closed list of structures subject to taxation. At the same time, the catalogue of construction equipment subject to taxation has been narrowed down to only those that are directly related to a building or structure and necessary for their use in accordance with the e-designation. So-called small architectural objects will remain outside taxation. Extension until 31 March 2025 of the possibility of submitting a property tax return by entrepreneurs, to give them time to adapt to the proposed changes. Abolition of the application procedure for granting subject exemptions in the agricultural tax (e.g. for research institutes), which will be applied by operation of law – in order to eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy. Tightening the collection of the spa fee. Municipal councils have been granted the right to impose on collectors of the spa fee the obligation to keep records of persons who will be required to pay this fee, which will enable control over the reliable fulfillment of the obligation to collect this fee. Determination of the jurisdiction of the tax authority in the matter of the stamp duty on a power of attorney submitted in electronic form (for example in the e-Tax Office). The proposed regulations are to enter into force on 1 January 2025.

    MILES AXIS

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: British Minister for the Caribbean underlines UK support for violence prevention and climate resilience on first visit to Jamaica

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Minister set to formally launch a joint programme for violence prevention, and visit UK-supported health centre that withstood Hurricane Beryl

    The UK Minister for Latin America and the Caribbean, Baroness Chapman, arrives in Jamaica today for a visit focused on violence prevention and climate resilience – her first trip to the Western Caribbean since being appointed.  

    During her two-day trip, Baroness Chapman will visit Edward Seaga Primary School, an early beneficiary of the UK-Jamaica Violence Prevention Programme (VPP) – one of the UK’s largest aid projects in the region. Her visit marks the start of the programme’s implementation, with plans for interventions across further Jamaican schools. 

    The VPP, which will provide £15m over six years, will support the Government of Jamaica to develop more effective responses to the underlying causes of violent crime, with the aim of eradicating violence through grassroots community activities and engagement with educational institutions. 

    UK Caribbean Minister, Baroness Chapman said: 

    Jamaica is a highly valued Commonwealth partner. My visit is an important opportunity to build on our two countries close collaboration.

    I am excited to see first-hand how our joint work on key challenges – from violent crime to climate resilience – is making a difference to Jamaicans.

    The Minister will also visit an upgraded healthcare centre in Mandeville, funded by the UK through the ‘SMART’ Hospital Programme and implemented by the Pan American Health Organisation. She will tour the facility, which was able to largely withstand the impacts of Hurricane Beryl, remaining in operation to provide critical care to residents.  

    The UK continues to invest in building climate resilient infrastructure, having provided £8m towards the ‘SMART’ hospital initiative in Jamaica, which has helped provide improvement to the facilities and a dedicated toolkit to staff. In July 2024, the UK also provided up to £500,000 to support Caribbean nations severely affected by Hurricane Beryl.  

    While in Jamaica, the Minister will meet Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica, Kamina Johnson Smith, where they will discuss the importance of the UK-Jamaica bilateral relationship and areas of cooperation. She will also meet with influential business figures and Chevening scholars.

    To conclude her visit, the Minister will unveil a UK-Jamaica mural in downtown Kingston, painted by local artist Michael Elliot. The mural reflects  the significant contribution of the Windrush Generation.

    Media enquiries

    Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7008 3100

    Contact the FCDO Communication Team via email (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Stay safe this fireworks season

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Follow OPSS guidance to purchase, use and dispose of fireworks safely and responsibly.

    The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has produced safety tips for this fireworks season on how to use fireworks responsibly and considerately to help protect both people and animals.

    You must only buy from licensed sellers

    Make sure you buy fireworks from licensed or registered in-store and online retailers. Do not buy fireworks from unknown retailers on social media sites. Remember it is illegal for under 18s to buy fireworks.

    Choose traditional dates and keep to the curfew

    People are more likely to plan to protect pets and other animals if fireworks are let off on traditional dates. The firework curfew is midnight on Fireworks Night, 1am on Diwali, New Year’s Eve and Chinese New Year, and 11pm the rest of the year. Firework timings may differ in Scotland. Search ‘fireworks’ on gov.scot for more advice.

    Follow the instructions carefully

    Before letting off fireworks, read all the safety instructions on the box, so you know important things like how far away people need to stand. If you do not understand the instructions and warnings, do not use the firework. Once any debris has cooled down, tidy it up and soak it in water overnight. Then put it in a rubbish bag and in the bin.

    Check what fireworks you can use at home

    Category F1, F2 and F3 fireworks are on sale to the public depending on the safety distance required. Check the labelling to ensure you have enough space to safely use a firework before you buy it.

    Always follow the Firework Code. Search ‘fireworks’ on GOV.UK for more advice.

    Think of local animals before setting off fireworks

    If you plan to let off any fireworks, let your neighbours know in advance so they can plan for pets that might be affected.

    If you live close to horses, let their owners know well in advance that you are letting fireworks off. Site your fireworks well away from them and aim them in the opposite direction. It is important to be considerate to horse owners as they cannot easily move horses away from fireworks.

    Notify nearby farms and stables if you are planning to use fireworks. Do not let off fireworks if they will disturb wildlife habitats, or roosting bats and birds.

    Keep your pet safe

    On nights where fireworks are being let off, keep dogs and cats inside with somewhere to hide and give small outdoor pets extra bedding and nesting material to burrow in.

    Download content from our fireworks campaign page, including a video, poster, leaflet and social media materials.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: IAEA Initiates First Practical Steps of Additional Measures at Sea Near Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    International experts participated in the marine sampling, which included hands-on activities to take samples for subsequent analysis in their own laboratories. (Photo: IAEA)

    The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) initiated today the first practical steps of additional measures at sea near the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS). The IAEA carried out marine sampling as an initial step, leveraging the presence of experts from various countries who were in Japan for a mission to collect samples for the latest IAEA interlaboratory comparison (ILC) related to the ALPS treated water discharge.

    This follows last month’s announcements by China and Japan that indicated their mutual agreement to implement additional measures, which will facilitate wider participation of other stakeholders under the framework of the IAEA. The Agency confirms that this agreement is built on its existing sampling and monitoring activities in compliance with the IAEA statutory functions.

    International experts from China’s Third Institute of Oceanography, the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety and Switzerland’s Spiez Laboratory — members of the IAEA’s Analytical Laboratories for the Measurement of Environmental Radioactivity (ALMERA) network — participated in the marine sampling near FDNPS, which included hands-on activities to take samples for subsequent analysis in their own laboratories.

    Experts from China, the Republic of Korea and Switzerland participated in the marine sampling near Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. (Photo: IAEA)

    “The Agency will continue to coordinate with Japan and other stakeholders, including China, to ensure that the additional measures are implemented appropriately under the framework of the IAEA, maintaining the integrity of the process with full transparency to ensure that water discharge levels are, and will continue to be, in strict compliance and consistent with international safety standards,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. 

    The IAEA views this mission as a timely opportunity to initiate the first practical steps towards full implementation of the additional measures. The Agency will continue its impartial, independent and objective safety review during the discharge phase, by having a continuous onsite presence, corroborating monitoring data through ILCs and providing live online monitoring. The IAEA will continue liaising at the technical level to ensure smooth implementation of the additional measures.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Study Surveys CT’s Forest Owners Ahead of Funding for Sustainable Initiatives

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    A new study updates a gap in data about Connecticut’s private forest owners.

    A vast majority, 71%, of Connecticut’s 1.75 million acres of forest are owned by private individuals.

    This means understanding private woodland owners’ priorities and interests is critical for state and federal outreach and funding programs.

    Ava Smith ’22 (CAHNR), now a social science research specialist at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, realized there were limited efforts in the last decade to update information about forest owners in Connecticut.

    “It’s important to continuously update our understanding and knowledge of private forest owners so that we can keep up and inform conservation targets,” Smith says.

    This survey sought to assess woodland owners’ interest in participating in forest management plans. These are individualized plans that help the owners engage in management practices to support whatever their intentions for their lands are.

    “It’s an effort on the part of the woodland owner to give some thought to the future,” says Thomas Worthley, associate extension professor of forest stewardship. “We know what the land is like now and we know how people use it now, but what is their intent five, ten, fifteen years from now with respect for their land? And the plan is a document that spells out how to accomplish whatever that vision is.”

    While they were not able to reach all forest owners, the researchers found some important differences within the group.

    This research, by Smith, Worthley, and Chadwick Rittenhouse, associate professor in residence in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, was published in Trees, Forests and People.

    For example, they found male landowners were more likely to have a management plan in place than female landowners.

    Smith says this may be because women have not historically been private landowners, or, it may just be a matter of women having different priorities for their lands as those interested in timber production or hunting.

    “Historically private landowners have been predominantly male,” Smith says. “It has been changing though. It could be that female landowners don’t know what avenues to pursue. They don’t necessarily have the same knowledge base or networks that landowners who have had the land for generations and generations do.”

    Ava Smith (Contributed photo)

    Woodland owners in Connecticut are generally more likely to be interested in the non-commercial benefits that forests provide such as privacy, connecting with nature, protecting wildlife habitat, or preserving a family legacy.

    “While the value of wood products is not to be ignored, that’s generally not their highest priority,” Worthley says.

    Those with plans were also more likely to be aware of resources available to them and be enrolled in a state program that incentivizes people to keep their land as woodlands, agricultural land, or open space.

    The survey showed that those who did not have a plan were generally neutral about developing one, rather than actively against them.

    The researchers also found that landowners had priorities beyond what they originally included as options such as pollinator protection.

    “To us, it means that there needs to be a level of effort or thought put into future educational programming and represent those varied interests,” Smith says. “If programs are not tailoring to the interests of the landowners, that’s potentially why participating in certain programming is low or landowners are not reaching out to their local service forester to learn more about what they can do to better their lands.”

    One of the biggest motivators for conducting this survey now is that within the next decade, the federal and state governments are going to provide funding to private woodland owners to enact climate sustainable practices, but only if they have a management plan in place.

    These practices will aim to improve forest resiliency to changes in temperatures and severe weather events or increase carbon sequestration.

    “As the public, we are depending on the forest to sequester carbon from the atmosphere,” Worthley says. “The only practical way we have of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is to grow green things as fast as we can.”

    This means forest owners can concentrate on which kinds of trees can grow fastest and sequester the most carbon, as one example of a sustainable management practice.

    As an extension forester, Worthley will be working diligently over the next few years to connect woodland owners with resources at UConn and beyond to help them get these plans in place.

    Private woodland owners can contact UConn Extension, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Forestry Division, or the National Resources Conservation Service to begin the process of creating a management plan.

    This work relates to CAHNR’s Strategic Vision area focused on Advancing Adaptation and Resilience in a Changing Climate.

    Follow UConn CAHNR on social media.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Month of Discovery: Nadine Noaman ‘26, Uncovering UConn Muslim History

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    The contributions of the Muslim community at UConn — from the Arabic language program, to partnerships with international universities, to the Muslim Student Association and the Islamic Center at UConn (ICUC) — are now so integral to the University that a newly arrived first-year student might not think twice about how they all came to be, says Nadine Noaman ’26 (CLAS).

    But Noaman knows exactly how much work went into creating today’s community.

    “The impact of these generations should not go unnoticed. We are part of UConn history,” she says.

    Noaman is currently producing a docuseries entitled “Tracing the Trailblazers: UConn’s Muslim Community, Accommodations, and Activism Journey,” funded by the UConn IDEA grant and UConn BOLD Women’s Leadership Network.

    The impact of these generations should not go unnoticed. We are part of UConn history.

    For the project, Noaman is collecting oral histories from alumni and students who span the last half-century of Muslim life at UConn. The earliest interviewees were doctoral students at UConn in the 1970s; the most recent are current undergraduates, Noaman’s peers.

    The series has three major aims, says Noaman: to preserve this rich community history, to highlight strides made by Muslims at UConn, and to track the impact of Muslim student activism on the university.

    For Noaman, this history is personal. She herself is a third-generation leader in UConn’s Muslim community: both her maternal grandparents received their PhDs from UConn in the 1980s, and her mother received a Pharm.D. from the school. (Her aunt and uncle are also alumni.)

    The UConn International House in the 1950s. (Jerauld A. Manter/Department of Archives & Special Collections/UConn Library)

    From the Ashes

    In late 2023, a fire destroyed the Whitney House on the edge of the UConn Storrs campus – an iconic white building near Mirror Lake that had variously served as UConn’s International House and the home of the Rainbow Center over the past 50 years. The house was dismantled after the University deemed it beyond repair.

    “One of the earliest memories that I have that sparked the idea [for ‘Tracing the Trailblazers’] was when my mom and I were passing by the International House when they were about to take it down,” Noaman remembers. “And she started to recall how impactful that building was on campus. She shared how there were communal prayers and Eid celebrations – so many initiatives and events took place there that brought communities together.”

    “It’s unfortunate that the building is no longer physically there,” she continues. “In that moment, I realized I want to honor and preserve the legacy and experiences of these past generations at UConn.”

    UConn’s Muslim students tabling at the International Fair in the 1980s. (Courtesy of Nadine Noaman)

    Though the International House is no longer standing, UConn’s Muslim community has found other venues for sharing space and strengthening community ties. The Islamic Center at UConn (ICUC) hosts daily prayers, holiday festivities, and weekly halaqas, or lecture circles, to discuss Islam-related topics. It also accommodates the Muslim Student Association (MSA), of which Noaman is the Islamic Education Chair.

    “I love when I have the opportunity to do tabling; I get to talk to other amazing Huskies on campus and clear up misconceptions about Islam or provide accurate knowledge,” she says.

    In addition, Noaman also currently works as a coordinator for UConn Salaam, a program within the Asian American Cultural Center. Salaam develops programming that increases accurate knowledge of Islam, strives to dismantle Islamophobia, and builds coalitions amongst various student organizations.

    Muslim community members participate in a weekly halaqa, 2024. (Photo by Nadine Noaman)

    What Changes, What Stays the Same

    MSA table set up for an event informing the student community about Muslim life (Photo by Nadine Noaman)

    As a prominent player in these spaces, Noaman was curious about how Muslim life at UConn had evolved from the experiences of her grandparents to her own. While working on “Tracing the Trailblazers,” she learned that the reasons for this evolution were twofold.

    There were societal issues: the early interviewees recalled hostile jokes about Muslims all living in the desert, while current students report having to counter misconceptions that Islam promotes violence. Though the trends changed over time, they all fall “under the same iceberg: lack of knowledge,” notes Noaman.

    Second, there was the dynamic way the UConn Muslim community advocated for their needs, encouraging the University to be a more positive and inclusive place. Community organizing and solidarity established more accommodations for Islamic worship and holidays for generations to come.

    Celebrating the Diversity of Islam

    By engaging with the stories in “Tracing the Trailblazers,” Noaman says, viewers will be able to appreciate a rich array of perspectives and backgrounds.

    “There is such diversity in our Muslim community – in one Friday prayer, we realized that we had over 40 different nationalities represented,” she says.

    Muslim Huskies go on to make a difference for the University and the world, contributing in diverse ways, too.

    “We are a religion of peace,” says Noaman. “There’s a strong emphasis on being active in our community and helping others. So, many of my friends are in fields like healthcare and engineering because they want to embody those specific Islamic values.”

    Editing “Tracing the Trailblazers.” (Courtesy of Nadine Noaman)

    Noaman herself (who is double-majoring in Psychological Sciences and Spanish) wants to go into education – a field for which her coursework, student leadership, and independent research have well prepared her.

    Once complete, “Tracing the Trailblazers” will be available to stream online, and Noaman hopes to be able to host an on-campus premiere as well. She extends her gratitude to God, as well as her family, peers, and the BOLD network and IDEA grant team who supported this independent project.

    Having the funding was “affirming and motivating, and it gave me the resources to be detailed in the research aspect,” Noaman says. “I’ve done traditional research before, but embarking on this project has expanded my understanding of what I see as research, and so I’m grateful for this experience – times a gazillion-fold.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Global refinery margins fall to multiyear seasonal lows in September

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    In-brief analysis

    October 15, 2024

    Data source: Bloomberg L.P.
    Note: The 3:2:1 crack spread is an indicator of refining margins, the short-term profit margin for oil refineries, which generally produce about 2 barrels of gasoline for every 1 barrel of distillate fuel oil. To estimate the refinery crack spreads, regional crude oil benchmarks were used (Brent for New York, Los Angeles, and ARA; Light Louisiana Sweet for the U.S. Gulf Coast; West Texas Intermediate for Chicago; and Dubai for Singapore). ARA=Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp

    Refinery margins for petroleum refiners across the world are shrinking, indicating reduced profitability from refining crude oil and selling petroleum products. Declining margins are the result of relatively weak demand for petroleum products even as global refining capacity increases.

    Global refinery margins, measured by the 3:2:1 crack spread, have been less than their five-year (2019–23) averages since the spring and dropped even more in the late summer and early fall. The 3:2:1 crack spread is calculated by subtracting the price of 3 barrels of crude oil from the price of 2 barrels of gasoline and 1 barrel of distillate. This year, the September monthly average refinery margin fell to its lowest for the month since 2020, when there was significantly less transportation fuel demand because of pandemic-related reductions in travel.

    The recent drop in refinery margins is a departure from the past two years. Following the lows in 2020, decreases in U.S. refinery capacity and recovering petroleum product demand supported stronger U.S. refinery margins. This trend was particularly true on the West Coast, where several refineries closed or converted operations to renewable diesel in response to its increasing use in the region.

    Refinery margins have fallen in part because of relatively weak demand for petroleum products, particularly distillate fuel oil. In 2024, U.S. product supplied of distillate fuel oil (the proxy we use for consumption) averaged 6% less than in 2023 and 8% than in 2019 from June through September, mostly due to declining manufacturing activity and the increasing use of biofuels in place of conventional, petroleum-based diesel fuels on the West Coast. Gasoline and jet fuel consumption were slightly below 2023 levels for the same months, and they both remain 6% below 2019 levels.

    Outside of the United States, petroleum product demand has been weak due to slowing economic activity in China and Europe. In addition, increasing adoption of electric vehicles, biofuels, and liquefied natural gas use in trucking is steadily reducing petroleum fuel consumption across much of Asia and Europe. Refinery margins have also been under pressure due to new refining capacity abroad. Kuwait’s 615,000-barrel-per-day (b/d) Al-Zour refinery reached full refining capacity early in 2024, Oman’s 230,000-b/d Duqm refinery has begun operations, and Nigeria’s 650,000-b/d Dangote refinery has been ramping up refining activity. In response to low refinery margins, some global refiners have reduced refinery runs, and some in Europe have announced plans to close or reduce capacity. Although planned before the recent decline in refinery margins, LyondellBasell plans to close its 264,000-b/d refinery in Houston, Texas, by the first quarter of 2025.

    Principal contributor: Jimmy Troderman

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New guide lets you plan your Walled City Trail experience at Derry Halloween

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    New guide lets you plan your Walled City Trail experience at Derry Halloween

    15 October 2024

    The ultimate guide to all the ghoulish goings on in Derry this Halloween launched today, helping visitors plan ahead for the biggest Halloween celebration in Europe, now just weeks away.

    The Derry Halloween Awakening the Walled City Trail details all the best activities and highlights of the trail which runs this year from Monday October 28th – Thursday October 30th from 6pm – 9pm.

    It is available on the DerryHalloween.com website and printed copies will be available to pick up from Council buildings, Visit Derry and other venues in the week before Halloween.

    This year the trail is packed full of all sorts of spooky spectacles, weaving its magic throughout the city centre at haunted hotspots including the Upper City Walls, the Diamond, Cathedral Quarter, Guildhall Square, Waterloo Place and Ebrington Square.

    Visit the Witchy Wonderland where In Your Space Circus will create an eerie walk-through experience full of mischief and mayhem on Derry’s historic Walls.

    The ramparts will provide the perfect atmospheric backdrop for some dazzling fire performance and ghostly goings on. 

    This year the Guildhall Production Studio will bring the worlds of old and new together with the latest technology to animate the iconic Austins building and Bishop Street Court House, bringing some local ghost stories to life.

    Enter the ethereal Elemental Garden set to take over Ebrington Square, an ambient and mesmerising celebration of darkness and light, as visualised by landscape spectacle specialists LUXE, in a piece supported by The Executive Office.

    A number of exciting new highlights feature in the trail this year, including the debut appearance of the weird and wonderful Rodafonio, created by renowned designer and musician Cesar Alvarez and brought all the way from Barcelona.

    Also adding an international flavour to the festivities are the Stelzen-Art Time Travellers, bringing their enchanting illuminations all the way from Germany to the city’s Cathedral Quarter.

    Take care not to fall under a spell as the bewitching Hocus Pocus bring their spellbinding show to the City of Bones at Waterloo Place, 28th – 30th October, with an interactive, child friendly performance by the Studio 2 Sanderson Sisters, back after 300 years.

    Then step back in time to the 1980s as the New Gate Arts Group take you Back to the Future with a special street performance featuring a DeLorean Car and the renowned Sollus Highland Dancers.

    Add to this the Monster Fun Fair at Ebrington, the sensational Spark Drummers, Uncle Doom and his Organ of Doom, Street Walkabouts, Haunted Houses, Live Music, creepy Arts & Crafts, Kids Halloween Disco, Wailing Nuns, Wicked Windows, City Dance’s Walter on the Dance Floor, Interactive Kids Shows in the Guildhall and a city centre Trick or Treat Trail – and you will find plenty to keep you busy in the home of Halloween.

    Head of Culture with Council, Aeidin McCarter, said now was the time to plan your visit.

    “There is so much going on this year, we would really encourage people to plan ahead and familiarise themselves with the event map and programme information to ensure they get to see everything that’s happening,” she stressed.

    “The great thing is that from Monday – Wednesday we have a full programme of entertainment and activities in the build up to Halloween, so any night is a good time to visit!

    “The Awakening the Walled City Trail offers the chance to explore the city centre by night and experience some of the myth and magic that makes this place so special at this time of year.
    “I am thrilled that we are back on the City Walls this year for part of the trail – it’s the perfect place to capture the real essence and atmosphere of Halloween through the centuries.

    “There will be lots of activities for younger children throughout the day as well, so please check out the programme online or download our app for the latest updates.”

    The Derry Halloween festival is led by Derry City and Strabane District Council, supported by Tourism Northern Ireland and The Executive Office, with additional support from Ulster University and Air Coach.

    Download the Awakening the Walled City Trail at DerryHalloween.com and don’t forget that Derry Halloween is also on WhatsApp.
    Get the latest updates, exclusive sneak peeks, and instant info right on your phone.
    Don’t miss any of the spooky surprises in store at https://bit.ly/halloweenwhatsapp

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man in custody for carrying 18 knives

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A man is in custody this morning after being found carrying 18 knives, likely destined for south London gangs.

    The man, aged 23, was arrested by Specialist Crime officers carrying out a proactive operation to crack down on gang-related violence.

    Intelligence gathered led officers to conduct a stop and search on the man on Monday, 14 October at around 14.00hrs outside Edmonton Green train station. After resisting the stop and search, officers discovered 18 knives as well as a quantity of class A and B drugs in a drawstring bag.

    The man was arrested on suspicion of possession of offensive weapons, and with intent to supply class A and B drugs.

    The man remains in custody at a north London police station.

    Detective Inspector Lewis Sanderson, who led the operation, said: 

    “Time and again, knife crime and gang violence have terrible far-reaching consequences that affect both the victims and the communities around them.

    “That is why the Met’s operation to crack down on gangs and knife crime is so important, and it is why communities stand firm with us in this determination. This arrest is a welcome step towards removing weapons off our streets and tackling gang violence.

    “We are committed to making the capital a safer place, by reducing crime that impacts individuals, our communities and businesses.”

    Under A New Met for London officers are intensifying efforts to reduce knife crime and crackdown on violent gangs, while actively engaging with the local communities to foster collaboration and trust.

    Officers and staff continue encourage residents to voice any concerns and help us create safer neighbourhoods for everybody. If anyone has information or wishes to report a crime, they can call 101 for non-emergencies, or dial 999 in an emergency. Alternatively, you can report a crime through our website.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: CECO Environmental Upsizes Credit Facility to $400 Million

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DALLAS, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CECO Environmental Corp. (Nasdaq: CECO), a leading environmentally focused, diversified industrial company whose solutions protect people, the environment, and industrial equipment, has announced a significant upsize in the form of an amendment and restatement of its credit facility, increasing it to a $400 million senior secured revolving credit facility. This expansion from the existing $246 million aggregate capacity underscores CECO’s strategic commitment to strengthening its financial resources in pursuit of both organic and inorganic growth.

    The expanded credit facility comes with a five-year term and an option to increase the facility by $125 million. This move enables CECO with additional resources to efficiently fund potential opportunities and expand its footprint in global markets.

    Peter Johansson, CECO’s Chief Financial and Strategy Officer, emphasized the strategic importance of this expanded credit facility, noting, “This move not only provides us with greater financial agility but also reinforces our commitment to executing our growth plans effectively. With the backing of our committed financial partners, we are well-equipped to adapt to the evolving industry landscape and seize emerging opportunities.”

    Bank of America, N.A. is the Administrative Agent; BofA Securities, Inc. and TD Securities are the Joint Lead Arrangers, and The Toronto-Dominion Bank, New York Branch, Citibank, N.A., Fifth Third Bank, N.A. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. are Co-Syndication Agents. 

    ABOUT CECO ENVIRONMENTAL
    CECO Environmental is a leading environmentally focused, diversified industrial company, serving the broad landscape of industrial air, industrial water and energy transition markets across the global through its key business segments: Engineered Systems and Industrial Process Solutions. Providing innovative technology and application expertise, CECO helps companies grow their business with safe, clean, and more efficient solutions that help protect people, the environment and industrial equipment. In regions around the world, CECO works to improve air quality, optimize the energy value chain, and provide customer solutions for applications including power generation, petrochemical processing, general industrial, refining, midstream oil and gas, electric vehicle production, poly silicon fabrication, battery recycling, beverage can, and water/wastewater treatment along with a wide range of other applications. CECO is listed on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “CECO.” Incorporated in 1966, CECO’s global headquarters is in Dallas, Texas. For more information, please visit http://www.cecoenviro.com.

    Company Contact:
    Peter Johansson
    Chief Financial and Strategy Officer
    888-990-6670
    investor.relations@onececo.com

    Investor Relations Contact:
    Steven Hooser and Jean Marie Young
    Three Part Advisors, LLC
    214-872-2710
    investor.relations@onececo.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government pledges further action to strengthen patient safety

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Patient safety at heart of government’s plans for healthcare reform as Health and Social Care Secretary orders action to improve regulator performance.

    Patient safety across health and social care is set to be bolstered as the government takes action to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of key patient safety organisations.  

    The move – aimed at ensuring the country has the best system in place to keep patients safe – comes as a major review of the CQC’s operational effectiveness is published in full.

    The report, led by Dr Penny Dash, Chair of the North West London Integrated Care Board, identifies significant internal failings at the regulator which are hampering its ability to identify poor performance at hospitals, care homes and GP practices.   
      
    Its interim conclusions, published in July, prompted the Health and Social Care Secretary to order immediate action to restore public confidence in the effectiveness of health and social care regulation.  

    The full report confirms significant failings at the CQC in regard to its operational effectiveness – including poor performance in relation to inspections and a lack of capacity and capability to deliver improvements.     

    The report provides seven specific recommendations for improvement, which the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care fully supports. This includes recommending that the CQC formally pauses the implementation of its assessments of Integrated Care Systems as it works to restore public confidence in health and care regulation. This will allow the CQC to focus on getting the basics right when assessing the organisations it regulates. 

    The Health and Social Care Secretary has now asked Dr Dash to conduct two further reviews moving her focus from operational effectiveness to patient safety and quality. The first review will examine the roles and remits of six key organisations and make recommendations on whether patient safety could be bolstered through a different approach. These are:    

    • Care Quality Commission (CQC) including the maternity programme (MNSI)    

    • National Guardian’s Office (NGO)       

    • Healthwatch England (HWE) and the Local Healthwatch (LHW) network.    

    • Health Services Safety Investigation Body       

    • Patient Safety Commissioner        

    • NHS Resolution (quality and safety functions only) 

    A further review will focus on quality and its governance. This will guide the government’s next steps as it continues its drive for positive cultural change across health and social care.   
      
    All findings will also inform the government’s 10-Year Health Plan to transform the NHS and social care and make them fit for the future.   

    Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said:    

    Patient safety is the bedrock of a healthy NHS and social care system. That’s why we are taking steps to reform the CQC, to root out poor performance and ensure patients can have confidence in its ratings once again.  

    This government will never turn a blind eye to failure. An overly complex system of healthcare regulation and oversight is no good for patients or providers. We will overhaul the system to make it effective and efficient, to protect patient safety.

    The CQC has already taken its crucial first steps to rebuild its approach to regulation, including announcing Sir Julian Hartley, former Chief Executive of NHS Providers, will be appointed as its new chief executive.   

    Following the publication of Dr Dash’s interim report in July, the CQC Board also asked Professor Sir Mike Richards to conduct an internal review of the single assessment framework and its implementation. Sir Mike was Chief Inspector of Hospitals at CQC from 2013 to 2017. That review has also been published today (15 October) by the CQC.     

    However, Dr Dash’s full review makes clear that there is still much work to be done in the CQC and beyond to ensure that that the public can be confident in the quality and safety of the care they are receiving.   

    Commenting on her findings, Dr Penny Dash said: 

    This report reiterates the findings of my interim report while providing further detail and analysis of the CQC’s performance. It builds on insights and perspectives from patients and users, and a wide range of health and social care providers as well as senior leaders from the NHS and local authorities. 

    I am very grateful to the large number of staff within the CQC who have come forward to share their experiences of the last few years and to make recommendations for the future. They have shown exceptional patience and professionalism throughout this difficult period. 

    I am delighted that Sir Julian Hartley will be appointed as the CQC’s new Chief Executive – he is an outstanding leader, and I am confident he will restore the regulator’s ability to inspect and rate the safety and wider quality of health and social care services across England.

    Recent inquiries and reports, including the Infected Blood Inquiry, have highlighted how the patient safety space has developed in a way which means that multiple organisations are involved in related activities, leading to a complicated system without clear leadership.   

    Vic Rayner OBE, Chair of the Care Provider Alliance, said: 

    As both the Penny Dash Report and the review by Sir Mike Richards show, it is clear that urgent action is needed by the CQC to take on board the reality of how assessment and inspection is currently experienced by the tens of thousands of registered adult social care services across England.  

    What is also evident is that a step change is required in regulation going forwards, and care providers’ voices need to be heard in the coproduction of a regulatory framework that is fit for the future.

    Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation said:  

    Our members recognise the importance of regulation in supporting patient safety and care improvement but for far too long CQC’s operating model has not been fit for purpose. Many of our members contributed to the review, and we welcome Dr Penny Dash’s findings, which aim to improve the regulatory model for health and care professionals.  

    Given the stark findings, we believe the decision to pause ICS inspections is the right one and we will continue to work with CQC colleagues to ensure the approach adds value for systems and the public.  

    We will review both Dr Dash’s and Professor Sir Mike Richards’ findings in detail. These, alongside the government’s response, will strengthen patient safety and drive necessary improvements. We also look forward to contributing to the two new reviews announced today.

    Findings of the Safety Landscape Review can be expected in the new year. Meanwhile, the Health and Social Care Secretary will continue to monitor the CQC’s progress and support Sir Julian Hartley on its road to reform.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK-Italy Young Leaders Programme: call for applications

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    This UK-Italy programme brings together a group of professionals whose common link is their leadership and passion for forging closer UK and Italy ties.

    Young Leaders Programme

    Every year, the UK and Italian Government will hold an open competition to invite applications from young Italian and British professionals onto the programme. Young Leaders can come from all sectors, including positions in the civil service, the military, leading companies, politics, charitable organisations, start-ups or the arts. They are dedicated to encouraging closer relations between the UK and Italy by promoting an innovative vision of the future bilateral relationship.

    Successful applicants are asked to sign the Young Leaders Charter (see attachment) and invited to undertake a visit to both the UK and Italy, to encourage closer relations through understanding culture and values, promoting constructive dialogue, exchanging thoughts and ideas and promoting the bilateral relationship.

    Once the Young Leaders have completed their visits, they will be invited to join the “Young Leaders Alumni” network, which includes personalities from distinguished careers ranging from journalists, scientists, the military and academics to business entrepreneurs, writers, art directors and composers.

    The UK-Italy Young Leaders Programme is an initiative supported by both governments, and is delivered by the British Embassy in Rome and the Italian Embassy in London.

    Read the Young Leaders Charter

    Young Leaders Charter

    PDF, 448 KB, 3 pages

    Download the YLP pamphlet with more information on the programme

    UK-ITALY young leaders programme pamphlet

    PDF, 342 KB, 14 pages

    This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

    Request an accessible format.
    If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email fcdo.correspondence@fcdo.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

    Discover more about the 2024 young leaders (bios)

    Young Leaders 2024 – bios

    PDF, 889 KB, 6 pages

    Application process

    How can I apply for the Young Leaders Programme?

    To apply for the Programme, you must be a young professional under 40 years old (on the closing date for applications) who is a UK and/or Italian citizen. You must speak fluent English and demonstrate a commitment to build and shape UK-Italy bilateral relations.

    To apply, please download and complete the application form and email it with a copy of your CV (doc or pdf format) and a head and shoulders photo taken within the last year to: youngleadersprogramme@fcdo.gov.uk

    Young Leader Programme – Application form

    PDF, 161 KB, 3 pages

    Applications for the Young Leaders Programme 2025 will open from 13 September 2024 until 27 October 2024 at 23.59 GMT. Applications will not be processed after the closing date. Successful applicants will be contacted directly.

    Updates to this page

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –