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Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI: Data Storage Corporation to Present at the MicroCap Rodeo Fall Conference

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MELVILLE, N.Y., Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Data Storage Corporation (Nasdaq: DTST) (“DSC” and the “Company”), a provider of diverse business continuity solutions for disaster-recovery, cloud infrastructure, cyber-security, and IT automation, today announced that it will be participating in the MicroCap Rodeo Fall Conference being held Wednesday, October 16th, 2024, in New York City.

    Chuck Piluso, CEO Data Storage Corporation, and Chris Panagiotakos, CFO of Data Storage Corporation, are scheduled to present at 10:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday, October 16th. The presentation will be webcast live and available for replay at https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/3068/51409 as well as on the Company’s investor relations section of the website at http://www.dtst.com/events.

    Management will also be hosting 1×1 meetings throughout the conference with approved investors.

    Information and registration for the conference can be found here at MicroCap Rodeo.

    About the MicroCap Rodeo Conference:

    The MicroCap Rodeo Conferences stand out as they are organized by money managers and investors, specifically for money managers and investors. This fall, executive management teams from approximately 25 microcap companies across a diverse range of industries will be participating. Investors will have the opportunity to harness top stock ideas for their portfolios through group presentations and 1×1 meetings, offering insights into key value drivers and emerging trends for 2025. Additionally, the event will feature industry guest speakers and ample networking opportunities.

    For more information please contact info@microcaprodeo.com

    About Data Storage Corporation

    Data Storage Corporation (Nasdaq: DTST) is a leading provider of fully managed cloud hosting, disaster recovery, cybersecurity, IT automation, and voice & data solutions. With strategic technical investments in multiple regions, DTST serves a diverse clientele, including Fortune 500 companies, in sectors such as government, education, and healthcare. Focused on the fast-growing, multi-billion-dollar cloud hosting and business continuity market. DTST is recognized as a stable and emerging growth leader in cloud infrastructure, support, and the migration of data to the cloud. Our regional data centers across North America enable us to deliver sustainable services through recurring subscription agreements.

    For more information, please visit www.dtst.com or follow us on Twitter @DataStorageCorp.

    Safe Harbor Provision
    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created thereby. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “projects,” “estimates,” “plans” and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would,” “may” and “could” are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts, although not all forward-looking statements include the foregoing. The forward looking statements in this press release include statements such as continuing to grow revenue and increase profitability as the Company executes on its strategic initiatives, the consolidation of the CloudFirst and Flagship subsidiaries positioning the Company to optimize operations, leverage its technical teams, realize greater efficiencies, and improve internal resource allocation, while capitalizing on extensive cross-selling and upselling opportunities among its customer networks, the two meaningful announced contracts being just the first of many such announcements that will come from the efforts of the combined organizations, having developed a robust business strategy that we will drive growth and secure sustainable profitability while maximizing long term value for shareholders and providing meaningful updates to shareholders as developments unfold. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can provide no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations and assumptions from those set forth or implied by any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include the Company’s ability to execute and advance its growth strategies. These risks should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read together with the other cautionary statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it was initially made. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.

    Contact:
    Crescendo Communications, LLC
    212-671-1020
    DTST@crescendo-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Axyom.Core Announces Industry-First 4G/5G Dual Mode Enterprise Small Cells Improving Signal Strength in Indoor Areas

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ANDOVER, Mass., Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Axyom.Core, a leader in cloud-native wireless core and radio access network (RAN) solutions, today announced the commercial launch of the industry’s first 4G/5G dual-mode enterprise femtocell product. It extends service coverage indoors where access would otherwise be limited or unavailable.

    Service providers can deploy these small cells in their own offices, shops, and other facilities, as well as sell them to enterprise customers, such as hospitals, offices, retail stores, and schools which show a significant rise in demand for small cell solutions, driven by the rapid adoption of 5G technologies and the growing need for indoor wireless coverage.

    Axyom.Core’s new femtocell product—supporting both 5G NSA (Non-Standalone) and SA (Standalone) architectures—is well-positioned to meet this demand, offering high capacity and exceptional throughput for improved quality of service.

    “These small cells for enterprises improve indoor communication by providing stronger, more reliable signal strength and a cost-effective solution,” said Kurt Daniel, CEO, Axyom.Core. “By enhancing the flexibility of indoor coverage, this new offering can benefit organizations of all sizes, addressing the common frustration of poor signal strength indoors and helping them meet their connectivity needs more efficiently and affordably.”

    The launch of this dual-mode small cell product marks a significant milestone for Axyom.Core, which continues to lead the way in advancing cloud-native wireless solutions.

    To learn more, register for the webinar on October 29, Redefining Indoor Coverage and Capacity.

    Trusted by six of the world’s top 10 communications service providers, Axyom.Core’s products include high-performance 4G and 5G converged core solutions, Femto core, security gateways, and enterprise RAN. The Axyom.Core platform offers unparalleled efficiency, scalability, and economics, ensuring that customers remain at the forefront of the rapidly evolving telecommunications landscape.

    Axyom.Core was acquired by Lumine Group on April 30, 2024, marking the group’s 14th corporate carve-out. The acquisition strengthens Lumine Group’s portfolio in the communications and media software sector with Axyom.Core continuing to operate autonomously under its new brand identity.

    About Axyom.Core
    Axyom.Core is a global leader in cloud-native wireless core and radio access network solutions, trusted by major communications service providers worldwide. Our advanced product portfolio includes high-performance 4G and 5G Converged core, Femto core, security gateways, and enterprise RAN units. Axyom.Core is dedicated to delivering innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of the telecommunications industry. For more information, visit http://www.axyomcore.ai.

    About Lumine Group
    Lumine Group acquires, strengthens, and grows vertical market software businesses in the Communications and Media industry. Learn more at http://www.luminegroup.com.

    Media Contact
    Glenn Rossman
    glenn@eckertcomms.com
    914-623-8354

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: ibex Partners with Parloa for Latest GenAI Capabilities

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WASHINGTON and NEW YORK, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ibex (NASDAQ: IBEX), a leading global provider of business process outsourcing (BPO) and AI-powered customer engagement technology solutions, today announced a strategic partnership with Parloa, a leading provider of generative AI automation solutions. Per the agreement, ibex will leverage Parloa’s AI Agent Management Platform (AMP) as part of the ibex Wave iX solutions suite for clients in North America.

    “ibex is excited to partner with Parloa to leverage cutting-edge GenAI to transform the world of customer experience (CX),” said ibex CEO Bob Dechant. “This strategic partnership unites Parloa’s industry-leading genAI automation for CX with ibex’s ground-breaking Wave iX solutions suite, unmatched BPO expertise, and deep customer insights to deliver the most advanced AI and agent-assisted CX solutions, ever.”

    Parloa’s GenAI-powered AMP platform is designed to support fully dynamic and autonomous personal agents that engage in more natural, engaging customer interactions.

    “We are excited to partner with ibex to bring generative AI to customer engagement at scale,” said Malte Kosub, CEO and Co-founder of Parloa. “By combining our GenAI-based technology with ibex’s expertise, we’re enabling brands to deliver more personalized and efficient customer interactions, enhancing both the customer and agent experience.”

    ibex takes a solutions-driven approach to align with specific business needs and deliver real CX solutions for transformative outcomes. ibex Wave iX, which includes three key solution sets—AgentAI, CustomerAI, and InsightsAI—uses the latest GenAI technology to deliver authentic digital transformation and advanced customer-facing self-service options to businesses of all sizes at every stage of their digital journey. Explore the full suite of ibex Wave iX solutions here.

    About Parloa

    Parloa is a leading AI company for the automation of customer service. Parloa’s platform unites humans and AI in one team to take companies’ service quality to a new level through AI-based customer service, natural-sounding conversations, and outstanding service experiences on the phone and all communication channels. The Parloa platform resolves the majority of customer queries quickly and automatically, allowing contact center agents to focus on complex issues. Parloa was founded in 2018 by Malte Kosub and Stefan Ostwald and today employs more than 250 people in Berlin, Munich, and New York. Find out more about Parloa on our website and join us on LinkedIn to stay up to date.

    About ibex

    ibex delivers innovative business process outsourcing (BPO), smart digital marketing, online acquisition technology, and end-to-end customer engagement solutions to help companies acquire, engage and retain valuable customers. Today, ibex operates a global CX delivery center model consisting of approximately 30 operations facilities around the world, while deploying next generation technology to drive superior customer experiences for many of the world’s leading companies across retail, e-commerce, healthcare, fintech, utilities and logistics.

    ibex leverages its diverse global team of over 30,000 employees together with industry-leading technology, including the AI-powered ibex Wave iX solutions suite, to manage nearly 175 million critical customer interactions, adding over $2.2B in lifetime customer revenue each year and driving a truly differentiated customer experience. To learn more, visit our website at ibex.co and connect with us on LinkedIn.

    Media Contacts:

    Dan Burris
    ibex
    Daniel.Burris@ibex.co

    Julia Goelles
    Parloa
    julia.goelles@parloa.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/49202d3d-6561-4cf6-a051-ddf4a636e145

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New funding to support autistic and learning-disabled people in Westminster | Westminster City Council

    Source: City of Westminster

    A charity in London will support the “hidden population” of autistic and learning-disabled people in Westminster, thanks to new funding. 

    Learning Disability Network London (LDN London) currently runs a community centre, the Enablement Hub, on the Harrow Road in Westminster. With support from Westminster Council the charity will expand its current community programme to Victoria, giving advice and running workshops at a second Hub at Victoria Library.

    The charity will grow its team to help more people in the local community.   

    LDN London’s Enablement Hubs support learning disabled and autistic people who get little or no support to manage their lives. They take part in workshops about life skills, including health and relationships, finance, and safety, make friends, and join in activities and events.

    With this funding from Westminster Council’s Fairer Westminster Investment Programme, LDN London will be able to reach more learning disabled and autistic people across Westminster who want help in their daily lives.

    On Friday 13 September, LDN London and Westminster Council officially opened the new Enablement Hub at Victoria Library with a ribbon-cutting and a workshop.  

    Councillor Nafsika Butler-Thalassis, Westminster’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, attended the event. She said:

    “I am so pleased that we are funding LDN London to provide much-needed support, advice, and activities for learning disabled and autistic residents. This is an important step towards ensuring learning disabled and autistic residents are empowered to extend their independence, learn new skills and participate in activities they enjoy.”

     

    Kym, a local resident who regularly goes to the Enablement Hubs, said:

    “I really enjoy coming along to the sessions, especially the sports, dancing and singing sessions. I’ve also enjoyed helping and volunteering. It’s been great socially too and meeting other residents.”

    LDN London will also recruit five new team members as part of this programme, including two autistic or learning disabled apprentices.

    The charity will hire two community outreach workers to give up to 25 hours one-to-one help, supporting people with managing bills, going to health appointments, and completing forms. LDN London will also employ a community engagement worker to lead on initiatives for autistic people.

    Sally, who is one of the interns for LDN London’s Enablement Hub, said:

    “I’ve enjoyed the sessions and as part of it I’ve been given the opportunity to be an intern at LDN London focusing on community engagement. I’ve learnt quite a lot”.

    LDN London has been supporting learning disabled and autistic people in London for over 60 years. The charity was previously named The Westminster Society.

    The Enablement Hubs are tackling inequalities faced by learning disabled and autistic people. Those who don’t qualify for support often must do tasks they find difficult on their own. They also face many challenges in their daily lives because of a lack of the right support and prejudice in society- including poor healthcare, higher rates of mental health problems, loneliness and being victims of crime and hate crimes.

    The charity’s aim for The Enablement Hubs is to support people with learning disabilities to overcome social isolation, be more independent and to be fully included in the community.

    Mandy Crowford, Assistant CEO at LDN London, said: “Too many learning disabled, and autistic people don’t get the support they want and need, and we hope to change that. We want to help this hidden population to live safe, happy and healthy lives.”

    Luana Baptista, head of community engagement at LDN London, said: “We are grateful for this funding, which means we can reach even more learning disabled and autistic people and help them to be fully included in our communities.”

    The workshops at The Enablement Hubs focus on life skills that help people to live independently and have healthy, safe and fulfilling lives. Recent workshops have been on voting, having healthy relationships, inclusive trips to The British Museum, as well as regular men’s and women’s groups.

    If you would like to find out more about The Enablement Hubs, visit Learning Disability Network London’s website:

    LDN Community Hubs

    LDN London’s Hubs are based at 389A Harrow Road and at Victoria Library.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: VanEck Launches $30M Fund to Support Innovation in Fintech, Crypto and AI

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The Fund is available to Qualified Purchasers Only, is subject to significant risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Please carefully read the Private Placement Memorandum before investing.

    NEW YORK, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — VanEck, a leading global investment management firm, announces the launch of VanEck Ventures, a $30 million early-stage fund dedicated to investing in visionary founders operating at the intersection of fintech, digital assets, and artificial intelligence. This launch marks VanEck’s strategic expansion into venture capital, building on its long-established record of identifying and supporting transformative markets.

    “From pioneering an approach to gold investing in 1968 to recognizing the disruptive potential of Bitcoin in 2017, embracing a long-term view on transformative opportunities has always been part of our investment philosophy. This fund extends that vision into the early-stage venture space,” said Jan van Eck, CEO of VanEck. “We look forward to supporting founders of what we believe are some of the most disruptive companies in fintech—those building the future of finance.”

    VanEck Ventures invests in category-defining founders pushing the boundaries of financial applications and markets leveraging emerging technologies like blockchain and large language models. The fund’s investment philosophy focuses on supporting exceptional teams building at the application layer while maintaining an infrastructure-agnostic approach. The fund’s core investment themes include tokenized assets, internet native financial marketplaces, and next-generation payments building on stablecoins and tokenized capital markets.

    The fund is led by Wyatt Lonergan and Juan Lopez, both seasoned investors with experience in fintech and crypto ventures. Previously, Lonergan and Lopez headed Circle Ventures, the venture arm of USDC-issuer Circle, where they successfully invested over $50 million in early-stage companies ranging from infrastructure to consumer applications. Their leadership, combined with VanEck’s strong reputation in asset management, positions VanEck Ventures as a valuable partner for emerging innovative startups. VanEck’s global workforce and senior leadership support the fund from an operational and advisory perspective.

    “Three inflection points core to our investment thesis are starting to reshape the foundation of the internet: stablecoins emerging as an open-source banking layer, the commoditization of blockspace, and AI breakthroughs. The convergence of these is creating unprecedented opportunities for globally connected, user-centric financial experiences, and we are excited to back founders building on these innovations,” said Wyatt Lonergan, General Partner at VanEck Ventures.

    The fund expects to make 25 to 35 investments with check sizes ranging from $500,000 to $1 million, focusing on companies that offer both strategic and financial upside. The fund has already made 4 investments yet to be announced.

    “Over the past few years, we’ve seen stablecoins enable seamless, large-scale value storage and transfer along with Linux-like composability,” said Juan Lopez, General Partner at VanEck Ventures. “As several on-chain utilities, focused on programmability and compliance, come to market with growing regulatory clarity, it’s never been a more exciting time to build. Our goal is to be a long-term partner to bold founders defining the next phase of blockchain utility.”

    About VanEck

    VanEck has a history of looking beyond the financial markets to identify trends that are likely to create impactful investment opportunities. We were one of the first U.S. asset managers to offer investors access to international markets. This set the tone for the firm’s drive to identify asset classes and trends – including gold investing in 1968, emerging markets in 1993, and exchange traded funds in 2006 – that subsequently shaped the investment management industry.

    Today, VanEck offers active and passive strategies with compelling exposures supported by well-designed investment processes. As of August 31, 2024, VanEck managed approximately $113.9 billion in assets, including mutual funds, ETFs and institutional accounts. The firm’s capabilities range from core investment opportunities to more specialized exposures to enhance portfolio diversification. Our actively managed strategies are fueled by in-depth, bottom-up research and security selection from portfolio managers with direct experience in the sectors and regions in which they invest. Investability, liquidity, diversity, and transparency are key to the experienced decision-making around market and index selection underlying VanEck’s passive strategies.

    Since our founding in 1955, putting our clients’ interests first, in all market environments, has been at the heart of the firm’s mission.

    General Disclosures

    This is not an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation to buy or sell any of the securities, financial instruments or digital assets mentioned herein. The information presented does not involve the rendering of personalized investment, financial, legal, tax advice, or any call to action. Certain statements contained herein may constitute projections, forecasts and other forward-looking statements, which do not reflect actual results, are for illustrative purposes only, are valid as of the date of this communication, and are subject to change without notice. Actual future performance of any assets or industries mentioned is unknown. Information provided by third party sources are believed to be reliable and have not been independently verified for accuracy or completeness and cannot be guaranteed. VanEck does not guarantee the accuracy of third party data. The information herein represents the opinion of the author(s), but not necessarily those of VanEck or its other employees.

    The Fund is available to Qualified Purchasers Only. Please carefully read the Private Placement Memorandum before investing. An investor should consider the investment objective, risks, charges and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. There is no guarantee the Fund will achieve its investment objective and investors may lose their entire investment. The Fund is not suitable for all investors. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

    The Partnership’s investment program is speculative and entails substantial risks. There can be no assurance that the Partnership’s investment objective will be achieved.

    An investment in the Fund involves a high degree of risk, including, without limitation, uncertain returns, market risk, risks associated with Limited Partner default, indemnification risks, illiquidity, possible lack of diversification, lack of management control, tax risks and potential conflicts of interest. There is no guarantee that the Funds’ investment objectives will be achieved.

    VANECK ABSOLUTE RETURN ADVISERS CORPORATION (“VEARA”), THE INVESTMENT MANAGER OF THE FUND, IS A MEMBER OF NFA AND IS SUBJECT TO NFA’S REGULATORY OVERSIGHT AND EXAMINATIONS. VEARA HAS ENGAGED OR MAY ENGAGE IN UNDERLYING OR SPOT VIRTUAL CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS IN THE FUND. ALTHOUGH NFA HAS JURISDICTION OVER VEARA, YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT NFA DOES NOT HAVE REGULATORY OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY FOR UNDERLYING OR SPOT MARKET VIRTUAL CURRENCY PRODUCTS OR TRANSACTIONS OR VIRTUAL CURRENCY EXCHANGES, CUSTODIANS OR MARKETS. YOU SHOULD ALSO BE AWARE THAT GIVEN CERTAIN MATERIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THESE PRODUCTS, INCLUDING LACK OF A CENTRALIZED PRICING SOURCE AND THE OPAQUE NATURE OF THE VIRTUAL CURRENCY MARKET, THERE CURRENTLY IS NO SOUND OR ACCEPTABLE PRACTICE FOR NFA TO ADEQUATELY VERIFY THE OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL OF A VIRTUAL CURRENCY OR THE VALUATION ATTRIBUTED TO A VIRTUAL CURRENCY BY VEARA.

    General Digital Asset Risks

    Cryptocurrencies and digital assets are not suitable for all investors. Investments in digital assets and Web3 companies are highly speculative and involve a high degree of risk. These risks include, but are not limited to: the technology is new and many of its uses may be untested; intense competition; slow adoption rates and the potential for product obsolescence; volatility and limited liquidity, including but not limited to, inability to liquidate a position; loss or destruction of key(s) to access accounts or the blockchain; reliance on digital wallets; reliance on unregulated markets and exchanges; reliance on the internet; cybersecurity risks; and the lack of regulation and the potential for new laws and regulation that may be difficult to predict. Moreover, the extent to which Web3 companies or digital assets utilize blockchain technology may vary, and it is possible that even widespread adoption of blockchain technology may not result in a material increase in the value of such companies or digital assets.

    Digital asset prices are highly volatile, and the value of digital assets, and Web3 companies, can rise or fall dramatically and quickly. If their value goes down, there’s no guarantee that it will rise again. As a result, there is a significant risk of loss of your entire principal investment.

    Digital assets are not generally backed or supported by any government or central bank and are not covered by FDIC or SIPC insurance. Accounts at digital asset custodians and exchanges are not protected by SPIC and are not FDIC insured. Furthermore, markets and exchanges for digital assets are not regulated with the same controls or customer protections available in traditional equity, option, futures, or foreign exchange investing.

    Digital assets include, but are not limited to, cryptocurrencies, tokens, NFTs, assets stored or created using blockchain technology, and other Web3 products.

    Web3 Companies include but are not limited to, companies that involve the development, innovation, and/or utilization of blockchain, digital assets, or crypto technologies.

    © Van Eck Associates Corporation

    ©️ Van Eck Securities Corporation, Distributor, a wholly owned subsidiary of Van Eck Associates Corporation
    666 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
    Phone: 800.826.2333
    Email: info@vaneck.com

    Media Contact

    Garret J. Shaw
    +1 517.213.3180
    garret@serotonin.co
     

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at: 
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6c23f9cc-2c26-4460-975f-b5b0c214c2e9

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Air Capital Wealth Management Launches with LPL Financial

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LPL Financial LLC (Nasdaq:LPLA) announced today that financial advisors Michael Caffrey, CRPC®, Derek Keller, CFP®, CPFA®, CRPC®, MBA, and Gabriel Parham have launched a new independent practice, Air Capital Wealth Management, through affiliation with LPL Strategic Wealth Services, a supported independence model. The team reported having served approximately $685 million in advisory, brokerage and retirement plan assets* and joins LPL from Merrill Lynch.

    Based in Wichita, Kan., known as the Air Capital of the World, the advisors are longtime colleagues who each bring diverse experiences and perspectives to the team. Caffrey was mentored by his father, Ron Caffrey, and has earned recognition on several Forbes lists**. Parham also grew up in the business and recalls making 50-cents an hour as a child to help his mother file — a job that sparked his interest in investments early on. Keller has nearly two decades of experience guiding clients’ financial lives. Together, with support from two assistants, the advisors share a commitment to providing comprehensive services and personalized advice to their clients.

    “Our mission is to help each individual client with their financial goals by simplifying the complexities, making it easier for them to understand,” said Parham, who noted their client base spans from doctors, engineers and pilots to farmers, teachers and small business owners. “We are passionate about building deep relationships with clients and providing them with personalized financial strategies.”

    As they continue to honor the legacy of the firm’s early leaders, Ron Caffrey, Janet Johnson and Deborah Rowley, all who have since retired, the Air Capital team decided the independent model would best suit the growing needs of their business.

    “We want to be able to focus on clients, their goals and objectives, not corporate mandates,” Caffrey said. “LPL provides us with the flexibility and resources we need to make our own decisions and build our business how we want. We also have several new options across the board within LPL’s open architecture platform, including more planning software, which allows us to provide even more comprehensive and personalized experiences for our clients.”

    The team was drawn to LPL’s comprehensive supported independence solution, LPL Strategic Wealth Services (SW), which combines the freedom and flexibility of entrepreneurship with hands-on business services and support to help practices thrive, both operationally and strategically. In addition to having access to LPL’s innovative wealth management platform and sophisticated resources, SW advisors benefit from a truly integrated service that includes simplified pricing, technology and dedicated support to launch their practice. Then, after the transition is complete, SW teams receive ongoing operations support managed by their team of experienced professionals including a business strategist, marketing partner, CFO and administrative assistant. Advisors have one point of contact, a dedicated team and priority access to advocacy and project management for complex business issues, ultimately allowing them to stay focused on the enduring needs of their clients and the culture and evolution of their practice.

    “We truly appreciate all of these dedicated resources and sophisticated capabilities behind the scenes to allow us to run the business as we see fit while also ensuring clients are getting the best care,” Keller said. “We look forward to having more time to interface with clients and providing them with differentiated experiences.”

    Outside the office, all three advisors are active in the community. Keller is a Boy Scout leader, member of Shriners International and proud supporter of his alma mater, Wichita State University. Parham is a member of The American Legion and Fuse Foundation. He also supports Kansas Honor Flight and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Caffrey supports several organizations including the Wichita Wagonmasters, East YMCA Men’s Club, Senior Services of Wichita and St. Thomas Catholic Church. As independent advisors, they look forward to expanding their local presence by using Wichita-based vendors and investing more back into the community.

    Scott Posner, LPL Executive Vice President, Business Development, said, “We welcome Mike, Derek and Gabe to LPL and congratulate them on the launch of their new independent business. We are committed to being a long-term partner to the Air Capital team — and all our advisors — by delivering a leading wealth management platform that supports the full lifecycle of their business.”

    Related

    Advisors, learn how LPL Financial can help take your business to the next level.

    About LPL Financial

    LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: LPLA) was founded on the principle that LPL should work for advisors and institutions, and not the other way around. Today, LPL is a leader in the markets we serve, serving more than 23,000 financial advisors, including advisors at approximately 1,000 institutions and at approximately 580 registered investment advisor firms nationwide. We are steadfast in our commitment to the advisor-mediated model and the belief that Americans deserve access to personalized guidance from a financial professional. At LPL, independence means that advisors and institution leaders have the freedom they deserve to choose the business model, services and technology resources that allow them to run a thriving business. They have the flexibility to do business their way. And they have the freedom to manage their client relationships, because they know their clients best. Simply put, we take care of our advisors and institutions, so they can take care of their clients.

    Securities and Advisory services offered through LPL Financial LLC (“LPL Financial”), a registered investment advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC. LPL Financial and its affiliated companies provide financial services only from the United States. Air Capital Wealth Management and LPL Financial are separate entities.

    Throughout this communication, the terms “financial advisors” and “advisors” are used to refer to registered representatives and/or investment advisor representatives affiliated with LPL Financial.

    We routinely disclose information that may be important to shareholders in the “Investor Relations” or “Press Releases” section of our website.

    *Value approximated based on asset and holding details provided to LPL from end of year, 2023.

    ** Forbes “2024 Best-in-State Wealth Advisors,” “2024 Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams,” and “2024 Next-Gen Best-in-State.”

    Media Contact: 
    Media.relations@LPLFinancial.com 
    (704) 996-1840

    Tracking #639367

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to Hurricane Milton

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Scientists comment on Hurricane Milton in the Gulf of Mexico. 

    Prof Ilan Kelman, Professor of Disasters and Health, University College London, said:

    “Florida should have been braced for catastrophic impacts from Hurricane Milton, especially storm surge and rainfall flooding. The possible disaster is sadly unsurprising, since Florida sits in the usual hurricane zone and it is now hurricane season. Yet the state permitted building development in dangerous locations and does not always support people who need help over the long-term to be ready for hazards.

    “Human-caused climate change is strengthening hurricanes while reducing their frequency. Hurricane Milton shows exactly the climate change influence we would expect from higher storm intensity.

    “Given Florida’s hurricane history including previous storms in this area in 1848, 1921, and 1946, they should have been much more prepared over the long-term. Planning decisions creating dangers and long-term lack of services to assist people who cannot help themselves for known hazards are all about choices to make disasters.”

    Prof Liz Stephens, Professor in Climate Risks and Resilience, University of Reading, said:

    “The wide area of intense winds and rainfall from Hurricane Milton will mean that many communities in Florida who are still recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Helene will be affected again by this latest storm, even though Milton is expected to make landfall further south.

    “Hurricane Milton is forecasted to track across Florida and out into the North Atlantic Ocean. This means that we are not expecting to see the same flash flooding and mudslide impacts as Helene in areas such as the Appalachian mountains, caused by Helene decaying over land.

    “Rising sea surface temperatures as a result of climate change are fuelling the intensity of hurricanes, and the warmer atmosphere can carry more water. This means that the storms which do form are becoming more impactful.

    “Further research is needed to understand how the risk of consecutive hurricanes is changing, as these clusters of events can greatly stretch resources for emergency preparedness and response.”

    Prof Hannah Cloke, Professor of Hydrology, University of Reading, said:

    “Hurricane winds grab people’s attention, but flooding is probably the biggest concern with Milton. Winds of 150mph can easily destroy buildings and cause injuries and fatalities if people are caught out in the open by flying debris. 

     “There are three types of floods that cause the biggest damage – storm surge causing coastal flooding, flash floods from the extremely heavy rain, and river floods as all that water rushes down channels and onto floodplains. 

     “People’s attention may be turned to the sky, but emergency planners will be worried about what is coming from below.”

    Prof John Marsham, Professor of Atmospheric Science, University of Leeds, said:

    How does climate change impact extreme weather?

    “Weather extremes increase rapidly for even apparently small increases in global temperature – this is true for heatwaves, floods, droughts and intensity of hurricanes.

    Is climate change making hurricanes more common/worse?

    “Many aspects of Helene and Milton are absolutely what we expect from climate change – hurricanes need warm oceans to form, and record-breaking ocean temperatures are fuelling these devastating storms. Warm air holds more water, giving heavier rain and more flooding. Increased sea-levels from climate change give more coastal flooding when hurricanes create a temporary “storm surge” rise in sea level. Finally, climate change can give shorter gaps between extreme events allowing less time to recover – we’re now seeing people affected by Helene now having to prepare for Milton. If we rapidly phase out fossil fuels, we can stop these extremes getting much worse but will have to continue to cope with the new climate we have created and will likely have to cope with rising sea levels for centuries.

    What is particularly worrying about this hurricane?

    “As a climate scientist, and a parent, every extreme weather event is now a reminder of the catastrophe we will face if we do not rapidly phase out fossil fuels. The tragedy is that climate scientists have been warning of this for decades. Rapid action is critical. Most people in the UK want more action on climate change and underestimate how much other people do. We have solutions and rapid action will save trillions.”

    Declared interests:

    Prof Ilan Kelman: No interests to declare

    Prof Liz Stephens: “I also work for the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre”

    Prof John Marsham: “I receive funding from UKRI, FCDO and the Met Office”

    For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Tobique First Nation — One individual arrested following firearm and drug trafficking investigation

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    A 51-year-old man from Tobique First Nation, has been arrested in connection with a firearm and drug trafficking investigation in Tobique First Nation, N.B.

    On October 3, 2024, the Western Valley Region RCMP executed a search warrant at a residence on New Road, in Tobique First Nation. During the search, police seized firearms, a quantity of suspected cocaine and drug trafficking paraphernalia.

    The 51-year-old man was arrested at the scene and later released. He is scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

    Members of the West District Crime Reduction Unit, Police Dog Services, and Emergency Response Team assisted with the search.

    The public plays an important role in helping to reduce, prevent and solve crime, including the trafficking of illegal drugs. Anyone with information about, or who suspects, illegal drug activity in their neighbourhood is asked to contact their local police. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by downloading the secure P3 Mobile App, or by Secure Web Tips at http://www.crimenb.ca.

    The investigations are ongoing.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: The Future of Navigation is Mini: Advanced Navigation Launches Certus Mini Series with INS and AHRS

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Advanced Navigation, a world leader in navigation and autonomous systems, has announced the expansion of its versatile Certus range, with the new Mini series.

    Available in three variants, the Certus Mini series includes a GNSS-aided Certus Mini D and Certus Mini N inertial navigation system (INS), while Certus Mini A functions as an attitude and heading reference system (AHRS).

    Weighing no more than 55 grams, the series packs an impressive punch in performance and cost-efficiency, defying expectations for its weight and size.

    Advanced Navigation CEO Chris Shaw said, “Manufacturers and system integrators often face trade-offs between performance, size, cost and weight. The Certus Mini series is a testament these attributes do not need to conflict with one another.

    For customers deploying land-based vehicles, this value-driven breakthrough lowers their entry barrier to precise and reliable navigation. It also unlocks new possibilities for those using lightweight airborne platforms, such as drones, where every gram counts towards flight efficiency and power consumption.

    Designed with flexibility in mind, the series is easily integrated into existing and new system builds with simple plug-and-play connectivity, minimizing development time and costs. This adaptability, paired with its performance and size, makes the Mini series a powerful addition to the already versatile Certus range.”

    The Future of Navigation is Mini

    • Dual-antenna INS – Leading the series, the Certus Mini D features dual-antenna GNSS heading. This allows it to deliver superior accuracy in heading, position and velocity. With a maximum weight of 55 grams, it fills a critical gap in the market for a dual-antenna INS in a lightweight and compact size.
    • Multiband GNSS receiver – By operating on the L1/L5 multi-constellation GNSS, the Certus Mini series offers leading capabilities in interference immunity, position accuracy and multipath resistance in urban environments, such as near tall buildings, tree canopies and canyons.
    • Software-enabled hardware – The series houses Advanced Navigation’s breakthrough algorithmic technology. This software-enabled hardware delivers navigation data superior to outputs based on traditional filter methods, offering new levels of performance for miniature INS in GNSS-challenged environments.

    Advanced Navigation Introduces the Certus Mini Series

    Easily Integrated Into New and Existing Platforms

    The Certus Mini series can be easily integrated into legacy systems and new builds, ensuring seamless upgrades, reducing installation time and minimizing costs. This flexibility accelerates deployment across diverse applications including:

    • Geospatial surveying – Certus Mini can augment drone solutions by providing accurate positioning and attitude without weighing the system down. This enables new applications for surveying environments across open-pit mines, construction sites, urban areas and critical infrastructure.
    • Agriculture – In a new era defined by farming-as-a-service (FaaS), Certus Mini can be used in purpose-built agriculture robots and equipment to assist with a diverse range of tasks, including aerial spraying, weed detection and localization, monitoring crop health, inspecting moisture levels, creating field maps, autonomous pruning and grass-cutting, among others.
    • Open-pit mining – Certus Mini is the ideal solution for surface drilling OEMs and integrators seeking precise rig alignment. Best-in-class accuracy provides precise alignment even in deep pits where multipath errors occur, and a ruggedized design delivers durability and reliability in harsh mining conditions.
    • Asset tracking – Certus Mini can be used to track and monitor assets for a range of industries, including mining, facility management, manufacturing, construction, commercial fleets, automotive, oil and gas, among others.

    Rapid Product Delivery with In-House Manufacturing

    By manufacturing all solutions in-house, Advanced Navigation employs a vertical integration framework which streamlines development, enhances quality control, and ensures agility in responding to customer demand. Further, by utilizing machine learning and advanced quality control mechanisms, only components meeting the highest standards are integrated into the navigation system.

    This in-house capability guarantees exceptional product reliability, quality, and longevity, while providing complete control over production timelines, reducing lead times, and ensuring swift, efficient delivery of the entire product series.

    Advanced Navigation ensures rapid product delivery with in-house manufacturing

    General availability
    The Certus Mini series is now available for purchase in OEM and ruggedized form.

    Certus Mini Dual-antenna Navigation

    • 0.1 ° Roll and Pitch
    • 0.1 ° Heading (GNSS)
    • 10 mm RTK Positioning
    • 1000 Hz Update Rate

    Certus Mini Navigation, single antenna

    • 0.1 ° Roll and Pitch
    • 0.2 ° Heading (Velocity)
    • 10 mm RTK Positioning
    • 1000 Hz Update Rate

    Certus Mini Attitude and heading reference system

    • 0.1 ° Roll and Pitch
    • 0.8 ° Heading (Magnetic)
    • 1000 Hz Update Rate

    Note: The Certus Mini series will replace Advanced Navigation’s legacy systems Orientus and Spatial. Customer support will continue for Orientus and Spatial, with the Certus Mini Series recommended for new design and builds.

    About Advanced Navigation
    Advanced Navigation is a global leader in navigation and autonomous systems. By leveraging capabilities in software-enabled hardware, every solution delivers unrivaled capabilities and exceptional performance across land, air, sea and space applications where GPS is unreliable.

    Made possible with extensive research, testing and onshore automated manufacturing, the company has progressed into deep technology fields, including underwater acoustics, GNSS antennas and receivers, radio frequency systems, inertial sensors, photonics, robotics and quantum-enhanced inertial navigation. Customers choose Advanced Navigation for rapid product delivery and unmatched technical field expertise.

    Headquartered in Sydney, Australia with multiple research facilities throughout the country and offices around the world. Advanced Navigation is an Australian manufacturer exporting globally. #JoinTheAutonomyRevolution

    For additional information, visit http://www.advancednavigation.com

    Media Contact
    Stephanie Qiu
    Senior PR & Communications Manager
    stephanie.qiu@advancednavigation.com

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8dcddce0-5100-486b-a2da-e5e42f29dcde

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b0769d46-7105-470c-9e40-7c03da141388

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/115c0419-2618-4756-a41e-c1c2df255e73

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: MELD Launches Crypto Neobank

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MELD, a new Neobank focusing on crypto friendliness launches today with their iOS mobile app. Coming to the market with a new type of banking that merges crypto and fiat services into a single platform. MELD gives you a traditional fiat deposit account and a non-custodial crypto account together in the same wallet. Account holders can exchange between crypto and fiat or between crypto tokens on different blockchains. Bringing the best of both worlds together in one account.

    MELD is approaching banking from a decentralized perspective. Through the MELD blockchain, the network is run by individuals or companies so no one single individual is in control. They currently have 26 of these independent nodes running the blockchain with plans to grow it to over 100. This is a fairly common type of blockchain, called Proof of Stake. Where MELD is innovating is on the banking side of the network.

    MELD has developed a proprietary banking system from scratch that integrated several payment and currency providers, some of which duplicate each other. This way, MELD is creating decentralization on the banking side where it can pick and choose the best provider for the right transactions. This also prevents an outage from one provider to stop the service because MELD can switch to a different provider that has a simpler service, creating redundancy in their system.

    In addition to this, MELD is building connectivity between the banking network and the blockchain with their zkBanking Network. This new technology duplicates all of the traditional banking transactions onto the MELD blockchain in a way that maintains privacy. With their zkBanking, users can send a proof of payment, fund or balance to a counterparty that can verify this on the blockchain.

    Notwithstanding the technical innovation, the new MELD Neobank brings fast, cheap and easy banking services to users in more than 160 countries around the world. Primarily targeting users that hold crypto and need an efficient way to convert crypto into fiat to buy crypto with fiat currency. MELDs goal is to let people use crypto as easily as they can use fiat like Euros.

    The banking services are mobile first, available today on iOS only, but the Android version of the Neobank is under development. You can go to the App Store and download MELDapp for Mobile in more than 160 countries.

    This new Neobank wallet supports Euros with an additional 20+ currencies coming in the next few weeks along with 4 of the major blockchains, Ethereum, MELD, Avalanche and Cardano. MELD has an ambitious plan of products and services coming out in the coming months. As a result they are offering early adopters a 70% discount for 2 months. The Premium service is only €5 per month. With this subscription, you lower your fiat/crypto on and off ramping fee from 1% to an incredibly low 0.01% per exchange.

    About MELD
    MELD is a crypto native global neobank powered by the blockchain. Bringing fiat currencies like (30+ including USD and EUR) and crypto currencies (1000+ BTC and ETH) together in one seamless wallet supporting more than 160 countries. MELD makes it easy to navigate between these two worlds and get the best out of both. From generating a yield on your crypto to debit cards and business accounts, MELD brings fundamental banking services to everyone.

    The MELD blockchain powers more than just the MELD Neobank, with a non-custodial lending and borrowing protocol and more than 30 businesses building on MELD. Users interact with all of this through the MELD web and Mobile apps helping people and businesses take full advantage of both their crypto assets and fiat assets.

    You can follow the project and stay up to date with its development at these links: Website | X (Twitter) | Telegram |

    Contact:
    press@meld.com

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by MELD. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5190354e-313c-44ef-ab60-82088e9d5d6b

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: North Carolina Physician and Medical Practice Agree to Pay $625,000 to Settle Kickback Allegations

    Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

    Dr. Eric Troyer, of Landis, North Carolina, and his medical practice, Troyer Medical Inc. P.C. (TMI), have agreed to pay $429,254 to the United States to resolve alleged False Claims Act violations arising from their involvement in laboratory kickback schemes. Troyer and TMI will pay an additional $195,746 to the State of North Carolina, which jointly funded claims paid by the North Carolina Medicaid program. Troyer and his practice have agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department’s investigations of other participants in the alleged schemes.

    “Kickbacks to healthcare providers can undermine the integrity of taxpayer-funded healthcare programs and medical decision making,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to pursue those who pay or receive illegal financial inducements, including unlawful inducements for laboratory testing.”

    The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering, paying, soliciting or receiving remuneration to induce referrals of items or services covered by Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE and other federally funded healthcare programs. The Anti-Kickback Statute is intended to ensure that medical providers’ judgments are not compromised by improper financial incentives and are instead based on the best interests of their patients.

    The settlement announced today resolves allegations that, from August 2015 to November 2021, Troyer and his medical practice received kickbacks from a laboratory in Anderson, South Carolina, in return for Troyer’s referrals to that laboratory. According to the settlement, the kickbacks to Troyer and his medical practice allegedly were disguised as payments for purported phlebotomy services, rental of office space and the lease of a chemistry analyzer machine and resulted in the submission of false or fraudulent laboratory testing claims to Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE in violation of the False Claims Act.

    “Patients should be able trust that their healthcare provider’s recommendations are for their well-being and not for the provider’s financial gain,” said U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “We will continue to hold accountable those who undermine the integrity of the healthcare system by giving or receiving kickbacks.”

    “This resolution demonstrates the FBI’s dedication to addressing violations that undermine the public’s trust in our healthcare systems,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Jensen of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “The FBI, along with our law enforcement and regulatory partners, remains committed to ensuring healthcare professionals provide transparent and ethical standards of service.”

    “Kickback arrangements aimed at improperly influencing medical decisions will remain a top investigative priority for our agency,” said Special Agent in Charge Tamala E. Miles of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Our ongoing enforcement efforts in this area are focused on protecting the integrity of taxpayer-funded healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid, and preventing schemes that could improperly manipulate the healthcare decisions of patients and their doctors.”

    “Improper financial relationships between physicians and laboratories undermine patient healthcare and trust,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard of Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “Kickbacks should never be a consideration in a medical practice selecting a company for laboratory testing. DCIS will continue to bring to justice medical providers who illegally enrich themselves at the expense of the American taxpayer and wellbeing of our Warfighters.”

    The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, with assistance from HHS-OIG, DCIS, FBI and the Medicaid Investigations Division of the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office.

    Senior Trial Counsel Christopher Terranova of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Beth C. Warren for the District of South Carolina handled the case. The United States previously resolved allegations that other physicians in South Carolina, North Carolina and Texas received kickbacks from the same laboratory.

    The government’s pursuit of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement can be reported to HHS at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

    The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Covehead — Impaired driver blows 3.5 the legal limit.

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    October 9, 2024, Covehead PEI – On October 6, at 18:15 RCMP responded to multiple complaints of an impaired driver in Covehead. A 31year-old- man was arrested and blew 3.5 times the legal limit.

    On October 6, at 18:15 RCMP in Queens District received a report of an erratic driver, and later another report of a crashed vehicle. Police arrested the driver for impaired driving by alcohol, the driver went on to provide breath samples of 280 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood which is 3.5 times the legal limit. The driver will appear in court at a later date.

    “If you see a suspected impaired driver call 911, you can make a difference for the safety of everyone,” Said Cpl Gavin Moore, Media relations officer for the Prince Edward Island RCMP.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Prime Minister announces new Ministerial Lead for Jasper

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    Following last summer’s unprecedented wildfires that devastated the historic town of Jasper, the community is rebuilding. Businesses are getting back on their feet. Visitors are returning. Jasper is resilient.

    Amid the fires, we worked closely with the Municipality of Jasper and the Government of Alberta to provide urgent support to Albertans and impacted Indigenous communities. As we look ahead, we remain committed to ensuring the long-term recovery of Jasper – one of Canada’s national treasures.

    As part of the federal government’s commitment to the people of Jasper, the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, will also serve as Ministerial Lead for Jasper.

    In this role, Minister Boissonnault will lead the federal government’s work to support people and businesses in Jasper and to ensure the community rebuilds stronger than ever. He will co-ordinate federal support with provincial, municipal, and Indigenous partners to accelerate the recovery process, report on its progress, and ensure environmental protection measures remain world class. He will be supported in this role by a working group of Cabinet ministers – each with their own mandate in helping Jasper recover.

    Rebuilding from last summer’s wildfires will require a collective effort. The Government of Canada stands ready to provide financial assistance to the Government of Alberta through the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA), to help with response and recovery costs and build back stronger.

    A home to Indigenous Peoples since time immemorial and a place of natural beauty that has long attracted visitors from all over the world, Jasper is the heart of a vibrant community and national park. Our efforts to restore it are a testament to our commitment to Albertans and to conservation and environmental stewardship for future generations.

    Quotes

    “Our government is here for the people of Jasper. With Minister Boissonnault’s role as Ministerial Lead, we’re undertaking a collective effort – with resources, investments, and partnerships – to help Jasper recover.”

    “As the Alberta Minister in Cabinet and a longtime Jasper visitor, I accept the responsibility that the Prime Minister has given me to lead the rebuild of one of our nation’s most breathtaking communities. Jasper holds a special place in the hearts of millions. My colleagues and I will work hard to give Mayor Ireland, the Town Council, local businesses, and every Jasperite the support they need to build the town back on their terms – and even better than before.”

    Quick Facts

    • Last summer’s wildfires in Jasper National Park were the largest to impact the park in more than a century. Firefighter crews did a heroic job in saving 70 per cent of the infrastructure in the town of Jasper. Recovery and rebuilding efforts are focused on revitalizing both the town and park.
    • Over the course of the incident, over 3,000 personnel from Parks Canada and other agencies across the country worked with the common goals of suppressing the wildfires and helping community members re-enter the town and national park.
    • The working group of Cabinet ministers that will support Minister Boissonnault in his role as Ministerial Lead includes:
      • Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
      • Harjit S. Sajjan, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
      • Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
      • Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
      • Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
      • Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
    • On July 25, 2024, the Government of Canada approved a request for federal assistance from Alberta to provide firefighting resources, strategic airlift capacity, as well as resources and logistics support from the Canadian Armed Forces to help keep people in Jasper and across the province safe from harm and protect their communities from wildfires.
    • On July 28, 2024, the federal government announced a donation-matching program with the Canadian Red Cross to support wildfire disaster relief and recovery efforts in Alberta, including in Jasper.
    • In the immediate aftermath of the fire, the Government of Canada stepped up to ensure all those impacted could receive essential services and benefits. This included:
      • Providing enhanced Service Canada delivery, outreach to evacuees, and deployment of Service Canada employees to evacuation centres to assist clients in submitting applications for benefits, such as Employment Insurance.
      • Replacing citizenship, immigration, or travel documents that were lost, damaged, or destroyed; extending or restoring people’s temporary resident status; transitioning employer-specific work permits to open work permits, as needed.
    • On October 3, 2024, Bill C-76, An Act to amend the Canada National Parks Act, received Royal Assent. The amendments made to the Act aim to enable the transfer of land use planning and development authorities from Parks Canada to the Municipality of Jasper, to support long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts.
    • Through the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA), the federal government covers up to 90 per cent of eligible provincial response and recovery expenses following a disaster, including:
      • Evacuation, transportation, emergency food, shelter, and clothing.
      • Repairs to public buildings and related equipment, roads, and bridges.
      • Restoration or replacement of individuals’ uninsurable dwellings (principal residences only), personal furnishings, appliances, and clothing.
      • Restoration of small businesses and farmsteads, including uninsurable buildings and equipment.

    Associated Links

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Launch of the External Expert Review of the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Statement

    October 9, 2024 | Ottawa, Ontario | Public Health Agency of Canada

    Canada recognizes the importance of staying at the forefront of preventive health care guidance development. To ensure preventive health care guidelines meet the needs of Canada’s health care system and support the overall well-being of people living in Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has established an External Expert Review (EER) Panel to study the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care’s (Task Force) governance, mandate, and scientific review processes.

    The Task Force, originally created in 1976 and re-established in 2009, is an independent, arms-length body of clinicians and methodologists with experience in primary care, public health, preventive medicine and guideline methodology. It has developed numerous national guidelines to support primary care providers, such as family physicians and nurse practitioners, in delivering preventive health care.

    The EER Panel, composed of 13 experts from various fields across the health sector, will review domestic and international approaches and best practices for the development of preventive health care guidelines, and engage domestic and international experts and stakeholders, to inform recommendations related to the Task Force. This external review process builds on the 2022 Evaluation of the Task Force by PHAC. Following the review, a report will be submitted by the Spring of 2025 to PHAC for consideration.

    For more information, please visit the Task Force or EER Panel web page.

    Contact

    Media Relations
    Public Health Agency of Canada
    613-957-2983
    media@hc-sc.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ‘Access to Food is a Human Right’: New Professor Focused on Childhood Food Insecurity

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Alexandria Forté’s professional story starts with her in a kitchen – blending, baking, and browning dishes both savory and sweet for customers to enjoy.

    In a job as a chef after finishing her undergraduate degree, she says she once thought that’s how she could be of service to others – stirring, slicing, sauteing for a community that wanted to be fed.

    “But it’s backbreaking work, very physically demanding, and I started to miss academic work,” she says. “Around this time, I also was doing some volunteer work and when I realized the person running that program had an MSW, I knew that was the direction I wanted to go.”

    Alexandria Forté, assistant professor in the UConn School of Social Work (Contributed photo)

    Fast-forward through time at the University of Denver for her Master of Social Work and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for her Ph.D., Forté is one of the newest faculty members at the UConn School of Social Work.

    And she hasn’t left food behind.

    While getting her MSW, she worked with youth who were living in subsidized housing and developed a curriculum around healthy eating. Then, she pivoted to work in a hospital, where she noted that many of her clients were impacted by food insecurity.

    “That’s when I started to ask why more social workers weren’t talking about this. Why isn’t social work at the table when it comes to food insecurity? Often, public health leads this conversation or other disciplines, but I wanted to be at the table on behalf of social work,” she says.

    Forté, an assistant professor, says she’s always thinking about how she can work food into her classroom discussions.

    “As an example, I’m teaching theory, and this week we’re going to be learning about feminism and queer theory,” she explains. “Food preparation is often seen as women’s work and with feminism, there was a desire for some women to leave the kitchen and pursue work outside of the home. In other sections, we’ve discussed how disparities in access to food can be due to systemic inequities. Using food access and how different identities engage with food makes these heady theories feel more tangible.”

    When it comes to her research, Forté is focused on the impact food insecurity has on one’s mental health, specifically for young people in middle and high school, and how that impact can be measured accurately.

    Children as young as 9 understand what food insecurity is and know whether they’re affected, she says, yet there hasn’t been much research exploring their experience. Most often, the head of the household is the one surveyed, even though teenagers oftentimes bear the burden too.

    “Children experience it differently,” she says. “They’re also trying to figure out how to bring food into the home, but from a different perspective, ‘Can I bring this pizza home from a club meeting, so my family can eat tonight?’ They may not be buying groceries, but they’re trying to get food into the home.”

    Many teenagers are charged with the care of siblings, especially if adults are working multiple jobs, she notes, and even though they’re not recognized as the head of the household, at times they serve in that capacity, having to figure out what to make for dinner, maybe even going hungry themselves when food is scarce.

    “We need to capture what they’re going through because it is different from adults,” Forté says. “Knowing what adults experience is important, but this 9- to about 17-year-old age range, when they’re in school, that’s what I’m interested in. If we can understand their experiences – what does it feel like to know you don’t have food in the home – we can be better at supporting their health and well-being.”

    And that may mean having a discussion about policy, another area in which she’s interested.

    UConn’s Husky Harvest initiative, which established food pantries on all campuses, and its Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health are two reasons Forté says she sought to come to Connecticut for work.

    “Those were a huge draw for me,” she says. “They demonstrate that this university sees how important it is for people to get access to food and, in policy, that’s where we’re going to see a lot of change. I believe that access to food is a human right.”

    Forté says that when she was in practice, she spent a fair amount of time connecting people with resources, sourcing the locations of pantries, food banks, and community refrigerators. Sometimes she’d go along with clients to teach them what they could do with a can of tomatoes, bag of beans, and box of rice.

    She’d teach them to salvage the seasoning packet from a package of ramen noodles to spice up the blandness of another dish.

    “The experience of poverty is not fun, but if you can take even just a moment and create a little bit of joy in cooking, it can become time when you experience a little pleasure in life,” she says.

    Read more about Forté and her research here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Restoration of Gagarin monument on Leninsky Prospekt completed — Moscow Mayor

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The restoration of the monument to Yuri Gagarin on Leninsky Prospekt has been completed in the capital. Sergei Sobyanin reported this in his telegram channel.

    This monument is the world’s first large-scale monument made of titanium. Its height is 42.5 meters.

    “It is located on the square of the same name and is its dominant feature. The installation site was not chosen by chance – it was along Leninsky Prospekt that Yuri Gagarin made his historic flight on April 14, 1961, heading from Vnukovo Airport to the Kremlin,” the Moscow Mayor wrote.

    Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel @mos_sobyanin 

    Over the years, numerous damages appeared on the monument. Specialists put the monument in order. They removed dirt and paint stains from the stylobate, replaced the destroyed facing blocks and slabs, and treated the stones with wax. The monument itself was also cleaned of dirt, corrosion, and all the titanium plates were washed. The work was carried out not only on the outside, but also on the inside – in a space with a diameter of one meter.

    At the final stage, a restored model of the Vostok spacecraft’s descent module was installed on the stylobate.

    “Now the transformed monument to the cosmonaut who opened the way to the stars for humanity will once again delight Muscovites and guests of the city with its beauty and grandeur,” noted Sergei Sobyanin.

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

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

    https://vvv.mos.ru/major/themes/11876050/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scunthorpe angler pays for fishing in close season 

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The Environment Agency has successfully prosecuted an angler from Scunthorpe for fishing during the close season.

    A fisheries enforcement officer on patrol

    • Angler caught breaking close season regulations
    • Case brought by Environment Agency’s fisheries enforcement team
    • Close season in place to help protect fishing stocks

    Lulian Constantinescu, 34, of Mulgrave Street, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, admitted the charge at Humber Magistrates Court in a case heard on 18 September 2024.

    He was ordered to pay a total of £307 after admitting that he fished in the close season at South Soak Drain near Wiseman Bridge, Scunthorpe, on 19 March 2024.

    The court imposed penalties of a £123 fine, £135 costs and a victim’s surcharge of £49.

    Close season

    The annual close season (from 15 March – 15 June) prevents fishing for coarse fish in rivers and streams across England, helping to protect fish when they are spawning and supporting vulnerable stocks. Environment Agency officers conduct patrols to ensure anglers respect this no fishing period.

    A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said:

    “The close season is in place to reduce disturbances to protect vulnerable stocks during their peak spawning period.

    “We urge anglers to respect the close season in order to help reduce pressures on our fisheries, benefitting fish and the wider environment.

    “We hope the penalties will act as a deterrent to any angler who is thinking of fishing during the close season.

    “Our fisheries enforcement team work seven days a week to check that anglers are following fishing regulations.”

    Fisheries enforcement

    The Environment Agency carries out enforcement work all year round and is supported by partners including the police and the Angling Trust.

    Fisheries enforcement work is intelligence-led, targeting known hot-spots and where illegal fishing is reported.  

    Anyone with information about illegal fishing activities can contact the Environment Agency Incident Hotline 24/7 on 0800 80 70 60 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

    Fishing licences

    All income from fishing licence sales is used to fund our work to protect and improve fish stocks, fisheries and the environment.

    This includes improving habitats for fish, reinvesting money back to facilities and clubs for anglers, tackling illegal fishing and working with partners to encourage more people to give fishing a go.

    Any angler aged 13 or over, fishing on a river, canal or still water needs a licence.  

    A 1-day licence costs from just £7.10 and an annual licence costs from just £35.80. Concessions are available. Junior licences are free for 13 to 16-year-olds. 

    Licences are available from http://www.gov.uk/get-a-fishing-licence or by calling the Environment Agency on 0344 800 5386 between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday. 

    The Charge – Lulian Constantinescu

    On 19 March 2024 at South Soak Drain near Wiseman Bridge, Scunthorpe, fished for freshwater fish in the close season.

    This is contrary to National Byelaw 2 of the Environment Agency Byelaws made on 12 July 2010 and contrary to National Byelaw 6 confirmed March 23 2010 made pursuant to sections 210 and 211 Schedule 25 of the Water Resources Act 1991.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Government honours victims on anniversary of attack against Israel

    Source: Government of Sweden

    Government honours victims on anniversary of attack against Israel – Government.se

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    Published

    On 7 October 2023, Hamas committed the worst mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson was joined by other ministers in a ceremony at Stockholm’s Great Synagogue on the evening of 7 October 2024 to honour the memory of the victims of the attack.

    • Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson delivers a speech during the memorial ceremony at Stockholm’s Great Synagogue on 7 October.

      Photo: Ninni Andersson/Government Offices

    • Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in discussion at the memorial ceremony at Stockholm’s Great Synagogue on 7 October, the anniversary of the 2023 terrorist attack against Israel.

      Photo: Tom Samuelsson/Government Offices

    • Minister for Energy, Business and Industry Ebba Busch, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard, Minister for Migration Johan Forssell, Minister for Gender Equality and Working Life Paulina Brandberg and Minister for Civil Defence Carl Oskar Bohlin attended the memorial ceremony.

      Photo: Tom Samuelsson/Government Offices

    Mr Kristersson delivered a speech during the ceremony and spoke about honouring the memory of those murdered on 7 October, the importance of an immediate and unconditional release of the hostages and the need for the whole of Swedish society to continue to fight antisemitism.

    Aron Verständig, Chair of the Official Council of Swedish Jewish Communities, and Ziv Nevo Kulman, Israel’s Ambassador to Sweden also spoke.

    Other Government representatives in attendance were Minister for Energy, Business and Industry Ebba Busch, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard, Minister for Migration Johan Forssell, Minister for Gender Equality and Working Life Paulina Brandberg and Minister for Civil Defence Carl Oskar Bohlin. 

    The ceremony was organised by the Jewish Community in Stockholm and the Embassy of Israel in Stockholm.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Sweden increasing humanitarian support to Lebanon by SEK 83.5 million

    Source: Government of Sweden

    Sweden increasing humanitarian support to Lebanon by SEK 83.5 million – Government.se

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    Press release from Ministry for Foreign Affairs

    Published

    The military escalation in Lebanon has had major humanitarian consequences. Sweden is therefore increasing its humanitarian support to Lebanon by a total of SEK 83.5 million. The support will be divided between the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the Lebanese Red Cross, Save the Children and the UN Lebanon Humanitarian Fund.

    “More than one million people in Lebanon are in need of emergency humanitarian support. Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes. Sweden therefore supports organisations on the ground that provide for people’s basic needs. This involves everything from blankets and mattresses to sleep on, to emergency medical care and ambulances. At the same time, let me emphasise that under international humanitarian law, parties in a conflict are obliged to protect civilians and aid workers,” says Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa. 

    On 1 October, the UN launched its Flash Appeal for the humanitarian response in Lebanon. The appeal underscores that one million people are in need of shelter, food, clean water, medicine and life-saving medical care. The UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) – of which Sweden is one of the largest donors – has already made a payment of USD 10 million. In addition, the European Commission has increased its humanitarian support to Lebanon by EUR 30 million as a result of the crisis. 

    The SEK 83.5 million support package that Sweden is presenting today is a response to the UN Flash Appeal. SEK 60 million is earmarked core support from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and SEK 23.5 million new allocations from Sida. This means that Sweden’s humanitarian support to Lebanon for 2024 has more than doubled as a direct consequence of the critical situation on the ground and now totals SEK 158.3 million. 

    UNHCR is one of Sweden’s largest core support partners and, with the help of Swedish core support, was able to take immediate action when the crisis in Lebanon escalated. SEK 53 million of Sweden’s core support to UNHCR is now being allocated to the organisation’s activities in the region. This means that people fleeing the conflict can receive emergency assistance on both sides of the border between Lebanon and Syria. In addition, SEK 7 million of Sweden’s core support to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) will now be allocated to the Lebanese Red Cross, whose work with emergency medical care, blood banks and ambulance services saves lives every day. 

    The new allocations approved by Sida involve SEK 20 million to the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund, a country-based pooled fund administered by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The fund allocates financial resources to trusted civil society organisations that are well established in Lebanese society and are able to help the people most in need in the most inaccessible parts of the country. Children are often the most affected by conflicts, which is why Sida has also allocated an additional SEK 3.5 million to Save the Children in Lebanon. 

    Press contact

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Taxpayers’ Ombudsperson releases 2023–2024 Annual Report 

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    Canada’s Taxpayers’ Ombudsperson, Mr. François Boileau, released his annual report, Fair Access to Service, which was tabled yesterday in the House of Commons by Ms. Iqra Khalid, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue. The report provides an overview of the activities of the Office of the Taxpayers’ Ombudsperson (OTO) between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024.

    OTTAWA, October 9, 2024 — Canada’s Taxpayers’ Ombudsperson, Mr. François Boileau, released his annual report, Fair Access to Service, which was tabled yesterday in the House of Commons by Ms. Iqra Khalid, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue. The report provides an overview of the activities of the Office of the Taxpayers’ Ombudsperson (OTO) between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024.

    The report details how the OTO influenced service improvements at the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) by reviewing service issues and complaints. It also includes three recommendations to the Minister of National Revenue and the Chair of the Board of Management to improve the CRA’s service to Canadians.

    Through the lens of how the OTO’s work can be a catalyst for change at the CRA, the first section of the report examines complaint trends for the 2023–2024 fiscal year, during which the OTO made a difference by:

    • answering over 4500 enquiries
    • receiving over 2800 complaints
    • referring almost 1400 complaints to CRA Service Feedback
    • prioritizing over 500 complaints and requesting that the CRA review the taxpayer’s issue urgently

    These were the highest number of complaints and enquiries the OTO has ever received outside of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The report also explains how the OTO influenced change at the CRA through requests for service improvement, and it describes the CRA’s actions resulting from these requests. For example, in March 2024, the Ombudsperson requested that the CRA make changes to prevent an issue blocking callers from reaching its contact centres during regular hours of service. As a result, the CRA changed its telephone system to allow callers to access its Individual Tax, Benefits, and Business Enquiries telephone lines during all hours in which the contact centres were open across Canada, regardless of the area code or time zone of the caller.

    Additionally, the report analyzes the CRA’s efforts to make sure vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations get the benefits and credits they are entitled to. It analyzes the CRA’s existing programs, including the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program and SimpleFile by Phone, and discusses how they could be improved to better meet Canadians’ needs.

    2023–2024 report highlights:

    Recommendations

    The Taxpayers’ Ombudsperson recommends:

    1.    (…) that the CRA actively work to harmonize the operating hours of the services it provides so that residents across the country receive equal hours of service during the same operating hours depending on the various time zones in the country, to ensure equal availability of services to residents across the country.

    2.    (…) that the CRA define the eligibility criteria for the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) and the Income Tax Assistance – Volunteer Program (ITAVP) in Quebec, to allow self-employed individuals with a modest income and simple expenses, access to free tax clinics where such a service can be made available.

    3.    (…) that the CRA:

    a)    Provide a permanent grant program for organizations participating in the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) and the Income Tax Assistance – Volunteer Program (ITAVP); and

    b)    Continue to provide supplemental grant amounts to those that serve Indigenous communities and those organizations that operate in northern, rural and remote communities.

    Trends in complaints

    1.    Collection actions: The CRA fully resumed collection activities in February 2023 after they were put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic. When compared with the previous fiscal year (April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023), this fiscal year saw more than double the number of complaints and more than triple the number of enquiries related to a CRA collection issue.

    2.    Quality of service provided by CRA contact centres: CRA contact centres continued to generate complaints. For many years, Canadians have made us aware of their dissatisfaction with this service. Some of the issues raised by Canadians related to excessive wait times, receiving conflicting or inconsistent information, agent behaviour, and calls being dropped prematurely.

    3.    Delays in receiving notices of assessment and refunds: We heard that the CRA was taking too long to process income tax and benefit returns and send the related notices of assessment.

    4.    Delays in obtaining the Canada child benefit (CCB): Canadians told us that they experienced delays in the CRA processing their CCB applications and in verifying their eligibility. We also heard from Canadians that they received benefits late due to delays in the CRA processing their income tax and benefit returns. We noted these issues particularly when it was not clear to the CRA who was primarily responsible for the care of the child.

    5.    Delays in resolving service complaints: The CRA’s service standard to resolve complaints is 30 business days from when they receive it. We heard from taxpayers who said the CRA took much longer and were not satisfied with the length of time the CRA took to respond.

    Background information

    The Office of the Taxpayers’ Ombudsperson works independently from the CRA. Canadians can submit complaints to the Office if they feel they are not receiving the appropriate service from the CRA. Our main objective is to improve the service the CRA provides to taxpayers and benefit recipients by reviewing individual service complaints and service issues that affect more than one person or a segment of the population.

    The Taxpayers’ Ombudsperson assists, advises and informs the Minister of National Revenue about matters relating to services provided by the CRA. The Ombudsperson ensures, in particular, that the CRA respects eight of the service rights outlined in the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Press Release – Alderney Angling Festival – 09.10.24 Wednesday 09 October 2024

    Source: Channel Islands – States of Alderney

    Media Release

    Date: 9th October 2024

    Alderney Angling Festival 26th October – 2nd November 

    With the Alderney Angling Festival fast approaching, the Harbour Authority would like to remind Harbour users of some established processes which ensure that participants can enjoy the event as safely and effectively as possible.   

    Commercial Quay Access

    The commercial quay will be open to anglers outside of standard commercial hours which are:

    Monday – Thursday: 0800-1700

    Friday: 0800-1400

    Wednesday evening – Contact the Harbour Office for details of cargo ship sailings between 1700 – midnight.

    Weekend – Open

    Removal of crab and lobster pots from the breakwater area

    The Admiralty Breakwater is a popular location for shore anglers and therefore it is requested that all pots are removed from the areas surrounding the breakwater to enable sufficient space for participants to fish without the risk of fouling their lines.

    Personal Safety

    In order to maximise safety whilst fishing, participants are advised to:

    ·         Monitor weather forecasts and tidal information.

    ·         Wear a lifejacket or floatation suit.   

    ·         Avoid fishing alone in remote areas.

    ·         Inform a non-participant of your whereabouts.

    ·         Avoid/vacate the Admiralty Breakwater if waves are overtopping.

    Please call Alderney Harbour Authority with any queries on 01481 820070 or in the event of an emergency call999.  

    Ends

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Verizon Business unveils Digital Agent, a new sales model geared to supercharge its Partner Network

    Source: Verizon

    Headline: Verizon Business unveils Digital Agent, a new sales model geared to supercharge its Partner Network

    NEW YORK – Verizon Business announced a new sales model, Digital Agent, created to bolster new business opportunities for existing and new partners in the Verizon Partner Network. Digital Agent enables channel partners to sell Business Internet, connected laptops and tablets with no deal registration, opportunity or lead required. Partners on the platform can sell on behalf of Verizon Business in a new way designed to help facilitate seamless sales with greater benefit to the customer.

    “Digital transformation is at the core of increasing efficiencies and creating simplicity in our business, especially when it comes to enabling our partner ecosystem with new tools and resources. Our partners need to transact quickly from quoting to activation, ultimately seeking seamless API integration with our systems. Our team created Digital Agent as a key enabler on this journey,” said Mark Tina, Channel Chief and Vice President of Indirect Partner Sales for Verizon Business. “When you think about the trends that are taking the workforce by storm, for example the skyrocketing popularity of connected laptops, it is clear that partners and customers need an avenue to obtain these assets quickly and reliably. Digital Agent opens up doors for our partners to cast a wide net and sell more quickly, while the customers we serve can get the tools they need to help their business grow.”

    Partners can access Digital Agent from anywhere in the field via their online portal. In the portal, partners easily view products with prospects, build a shopping cart, and send to the customer for them to place their order in one fell swoop. The user-friendly portal was designed with customers and partners in mind, giving partners the needed flexibility to simply create a quote and sell, all in one spot.

    Verizon Business is continuously sourcing feedback from its channel partners, and the launch of this new model is a direct result of these ongoing conversations. Digital Agent opens up a new way for partners in the Verizon Partner Network to sell key products that will benefit their customers while they’re on the go. Connect with the Verizon Partner Network to find the right indirect agent model for you.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UN Human Rights Council 57: UK Statement on CAR

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Expert on Central African Republic.

    Thank you Madame Vice-President,

    We welcome the Central African Republic’s continued engagement with this Council and the Independent Expert’s scrutiny of the human rights situation. Ongoing implementation of national human rights policies remains vital to translate commitments into results.

    Progress by the Special Criminal Court is crucial to ensuring the perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity can be held to account. We urge states and other stakeholders to assist the Special Criminal Court in carrying out arrest warrants, including for former President Bozizé. The Central African Republic has the full support of the UK to strengthen the justice system. We encourage the authorities to respect judicial process by handing over Mr Hassan Bouba Ali to the Court.

    Madame Vice President, declining violations committed by the army, police and gendarmerie is positive, but we remain deeply concerned by abuses committed by Russian proxies. Russian forces do not improve security, they spread brutality across the country. They intentionally prolong the conflict, committing conflict-related sexual violence, exploiting national resources, and undermining MINUSCA (Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic) as it seeks to fulfil its mandate.

    Mr Agbetse,

    Increasing disinformation and hate speech present unprecedented challenges for long-term stability. What, in cooperation with Central African Republic authorities, can be done to combat this?

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: North Carolina Physician and Medical Practice Agree to Pay $625,000 to Settle Kickback Allegations

    Source: US State of California

    Dr. Eric Troyer, of Landis, North Carolina, and his medical practice, Troyer Medical Inc. P.C. (TMI), have agreed to pay $429,254 to the United States to resolve alleged False Claims Act violations arising from their involvement in laboratory kickback schemes. Troyer and TMI will pay an additional $195,746 to the State of North Carolina, which jointly funded claims paid by the North Carolina Medicaid program. Troyer and his practice have agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department’s investigations of other participants in the alleged schemes.

    “Kickbacks to healthcare providers can undermine the integrity of taxpayer-funded healthcare programs and medical decision making,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to pursue those who pay or receive illegal financial inducements, including unlawful inducements for laboratory testing.”

    The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering, paying, soliciting or receiving remuneration to induce referrals of items or services covered by Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE and other federally funded healthcare programs. The Anti-Kickback Statute is intended to ensure that medical providers’ judgments are not compromised by improper financial incentives and are instead based on the best interests of their patients.

    The settlement announced today resolves allegations that, from August 2015 to November 2021, Troyer and his medical practice received kickbacks from a laboratory in Anderson, South Carolina, in return for Troyer’s referrals to that laboratory. According to the settlement, the kickbacks to Troyer and his medical practice allegedly were disguised as payments for purported phlebotomy services, rental of office space and the lease of a chemistry analyzer machine and resulted in the submission of false or fraudulent laboratory testing claims to Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE in violation of the False Claims Act.

    “Patients should be able trust that their healthcare provider’s recommendations are for their well-being and not for the provider’s financial gain,” said U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “We will continue to hold accountable those who undermine the integrity of the healthcare system by giving or receiving kickbacks.”

    “This resolution demonstrates the FBI’s dedication to addressing violations that undermine the public’s trust in our healthcare systems,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Jensen of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “The FBI, along with our law enforcement and regulatory partners, remains committed to ensuring healthcare professionals provide transparent and ethical standards of service.”

    “Kickback arrangements aimed at improperly influencing medical decisions will remain a top investigative priority for our agency,” said Special Agent in Charge Tamala E. Miles of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Our ongoing enforcement efforts in this area are focused on protecting the integrity of taxpayer-funded healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid, and preventing schemes that could improperly manipulate the healthcare decisions of patients and their doctors.”

    “Improper financial relationships between physicians and laboratories undermine patient healthcare and trust,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard of Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “Kickbacks should never be a consideration in a medical practice selecting a company for laboratory testing. DCIS will continue to bring to justice medical providers who illegally enrich themselves at the expense of the American taxpayer and wellbeing of our Warfighters.”

    The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, with assistance from HHS-OIG, DCIS, FBI and the Medicaid Investigations Division of the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office.

    Senior Trial Counsel Christopher Terranova of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Beth C. Warren for the District of South Carolina handled the case. The United States previously resolved allegations that other physicians in South Carolina, North Carolina and Texas received kickbacks from the same laboratory.

    The government’s pursuit of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement can be reported to HHS at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

    The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: New Jersey Army National Guard Prepares for Hurricane Milton Support to Florida Division of Emergency Management

    Source: US State of New Jersey

    TRENTON – The New Jersey Army National Guard announced the deployment of approximately 80 Soldiers and 30 military vehicles to support Hurricane Milton response operations in Camp Blanding, Florida. A convoy from the 143d Transportation Company and 253d Transportation Company, 42d Regional Support Group anticipates arriving by the end of the week, as Hurricane Milton is forecast to make landfall on the Gulf Coast of Florida on Wednesday, October 9.

    “Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Florida as a second massive storm in as many weeks bears down on our nation’s Gulf Coast,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “New Jersey is committed to doing everything possible to assist Floridians impacted by Hurricane Milton—including sending a convoy to support the Florida Division of Emergency Management.”

    Upon arrival to Camp Blanding, the unit will coordinate with the Florida Division of Emergency Management and the Florida National Guard. Tasks may include transportation of Florida National Guard personnel into weather-impacted areas and delivery of commodities to or from points of distribution.

    “Floridians are family, and we know from personal experience what hurricane recovery means for our communities,” said Colonel Yvonne L. Mays, Acting Adjutant General of New Jersey. “Our Soldiers are trained and ready to support our neighbors in need.”

    New Jersey responded to Florida’s request for support through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), the nation’s state-to-state mutual aid agreement. The Governors of Minnesota and Ohio have also authorized emergency assistance. EMAC matches personnel, equipment, and commodities to assist response and recovery efforts across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four territories.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Second Annual DEIA Workforce Symposium Held

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul today announced New York State’s second annual Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Workforce Symposium. The symposium brought together DEIA practitioners and leadership from across State agencies to strategize about both the current DEIA landscape and emerging trends.

    “Diversity is New York’s greatest strength — it is embodied in our history of social justice and our intrinsic commitment to civil rights,” Governor Hochul said. “As DEIA efforts are attacked across the nation, we have focused on building the most diverse administration in the State’s history, and cementing a more equitable and more inclusive future for New Yorkers.”

    “New Yorkers need to see themselves represented by their government,” Lieutenant Governor Delgado said. “On behalf of all New Yorkers, I am profoundly committed to embracing and emboldening our state’s diversity, and continuing to have the necessary conversations on DEIA so that we can always welcome fresh ideas and new voices — that’s how we cultivate a stronger, more connected New York.”

    Governor’s Chief Diversity Officer Julissa Gutierrez said, “Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York State is not just responding to the challenges of today but setting a bold new standard for inclusive governance. We are dedicated to creating a government that reflects the strength and richness of our diverse communities — where systems are just, opportunities are equitable, and every employee belongs. Today’s second annual New York State DEIA Symposium is a moment for us to energize our efforts, deepen our commitment, and continue building a workforce that is truly reflective of the people we serve.”

    Led by the Governor’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the daylong in-person event consisted of expert speakers, workshops, award presentations, wellness opportunities and strategic relationship building. Building on the success of the inaugural symposium, this year’s symposium featured a plenary on the current legal landscape of DEIA in addition to five workshops related to the current needs and emerging trends in DEIA to ensure that New York State’s DEIA initiatives are both effective and sustainable:

    • Developing Leadership Buy-in for DEIA Efforts
    • Expanding Equity from the Inside Out
    • Integrating Trauma-Informed Approaches with DEIA
    • Strengthening Accountability in DEIA through Self-Care
    • Developing a Community of Practice for DEIA Practitioners: What’s Next for DEIA Practitioners and How is the Work Evolving?

    Additionally, the state recognized the accomplishments of a state agency, an agency head, and a DEIA practitioner who have all made outstanding contributions toward advancing DEIA initiatives for New York State. The awards celebrated those who have demonstrated excellence through their efforts to recruit and retain talent, foster an inclusive and accessible workplace, and promote equity in policies and programming. The three awards were presented to:

    • New York State Department of Labor
    • Dr. Minosca Alcántara, Executive Director, New York State Bridge Authority
    • Talia Santiago-Bonds, Chief Diversity Officer, New York State Office of Mental Health

    Governor’s Chief Disability Officer Kim Hill Ridley said, “I am so proud to be a part of an administration that focuses on creating a more equitable and inclusive world. Governor Hochul recognizes that diversity, equity and inclusion are critical and that it’s essential to remember the importance of adding the ‘A’ to DEIA. Accessibility is a fundamental human right, and by prioritizing it, we can ensure that everyone feels valued and included.”

    Executive Director for the New York State Office of Language Access Margarita Larios said, “Language empowerment is key to truly celebrating diversity and advancing equity, inclusion and accessibility in New York State. The highly intersectional nature of DEIA work requires specialized training but also strong partnerships that often start or are solidified through opportunities like this unique symposium. The NYS Office of Language Access is grateful to Chief Diversity Officer Julissa Gutierrez and her team for their guidance and our continued collaboration all year long, including today’s event where we gain so much in motivation and tools to further our reach and impact together. In tandem with OGS Commissioner Jeannette Moy’s resolute support and Governor Hochul’s deliberate leadership, happenings like today inspire us to continue working hard to serve all New Yorkers.”

    Department of Civil Service Commissioner Timothy Hogues said, “At the New York State Department of Civil Service, we’ve been working hard to bolster the state workforce and encourage a wide range of applicants to better reflect the wonderful mosaic of the Empire State and the many unique faces, voices, backgrounds and ideas of those we serve. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, we’re working to reduce barriers and ease the path to public service for all New Yorkers, particularly those from diverse backgrounds and communities. It’s easier than ever to join public service and begin a rewarding, good-paying, stable career while helping your fellow New Yorkers on a daily basis.”

    As the first female Governor of New York, Governor Hochul has been a champion for DEIA. In her 2024 State of the State address, Governor Hochul directed executive-controlled agencies with more than 300 full-time employees to hire a Chief Diversity Officer or other position dedicated full-time to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Additionally, Governor Hochul directed the Office of Employee Relations, in collaboration with the Governor’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, to develop a DEI training for all State employees as well as the Department of Civil Service — in collaboration with the Governor’s Office — to initiate and provide anti-racism training.

    Governor Hochul has also taken several actions to build a stronger, more diverse workforce. These efforts include: establishing Centers for Careers in government to help New Yorkers find careers in state service, expanding opportunities via the Governor’s Program to Hire Individuals and Veterans with Disabilities (55 b/c), providing funding for new testing centers across the State and expanding the NY HELPS program, which temporarily waives the civil service exam requirements for thousands of vacant state job opportunities accessible to the general public.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: School building funds

    Source: Australian Department of Revenue

    Some school building funds may be eligible to be deductible gift recipients.

    This information will help you to understand the characteristics needed for a school fund to be eligible. If you’re eligible, you can apply for DGR endorsement.

    The word ‘school’ in this section refers to either a school or college.

    Characteristics of a school building fund

    A school building fund has the following characteristics:

    • It is a public fund.
    • It must be operated by or be
    • It meets the key requirements of a school building fund which are

    You can use the checklist to work out if your fund has the characteristics of a school building fund.

    Definition of a school

    A school is a place where people come together to be instructed in an area of knowledge or activity. Schools are not limited to those focused on academic pursuits. They include, but are not limited to, recreational, technical, arts and agricultural schools.

    A school must be an institution and have a real, separate, institutional existence. This may be within or part of another institution.

    Factors that are not required but can help show there is a school, are:

    • a set curriculum
    • instruction or training by suitably qualified persons
    • enrolment of students
    • some form of assessment and correction
    • the creation of a qualification or status that is recognised outside of the organisation.

    Definition of a building

    The term ‘building’ has its ordinary meaning and includes one building, a group of buildings, a part of a building or additions to a building.

    A building should be a permanent structure, roofed and usually with walls and flooring that provides protection from the elements. Therefore, structures such as an outdoor swimming pool, sports oval or a tennis court are not buildings as they are not enclosed and do not provide protection against the elements.

    A permanent structure, such as a covered outdoor learning area that does not have walls is capable of being a building if it is fixed to the ground and has a roof.

    Fixtures are accepted as part of a building. They are affixed to a building and are unable to be detached without substantial damage to the item itself or that to which it is attached. Fixtures include ducted heating systems, fixed air conditioning systems and carpets permanently fixed to the floor.

    Non-fixtures such as computers, furniture, training equipment and laboratory equipment do not form part of the building.

    A building must be used as a school by a qualifying body

    For a building to be characterised as a school building, a qualifying body needs to control the use of the building in its capacity as operator of the school. A qualifying body is a government, a public authority or a non-profit society or association.

    While regard must be given to the actual use of the building, a building may be inferred not to be a school building where the school organisation cannot determine how the building is used.

    The building must be used by a qualifying body for a purpose connected with the instruction provided by the school. A building is ‘used as a school’ as a matter of everyday language where its use for school purposes is substantial. However, a simple mathematical examination of the time the building is ‘used as a school’ is not conclusive.

    The following factors must be considered in determining whether a building is ‘used as a school’:

    • the overall purpose (or purposes) for which the building has been established and maintained
    • the importance of each of the activities carried out to that purpose
    • any connection that the non-school use has towards the school use
    • the extent the school use and non-school use have contributed to that purpose.

    If there is non-school use, whether the building is a school building will depend on how much it limits, detracts from or is incompatible with the instruction provided by the school.

    The following factors are not determinative, but may indicate that a building is ‘used as a school’:

    • amount of time the building is put to school use relative to time put to non-school use
    • number of people involved in the school use relative to number of people involved in its non-school use
    • physical area of the building put to school use relative to physical area put to non-school use
    • extent to which the building has been adapted or modified to accommodate its school or non-school use.

    Where a building’s uses are incidental or ancillary to the provision of instruction in a school building, it may also be considered to be ‘used as a school’.

    Incidental or ancillary buildings include:

    • school tuck-shops
    • toilet blocks
    • school assembly halls
    • school administration office
    • residential accommodation of a boarding school
    • residential accommodation for teachers.

    Any other use of the building must be either integral to its use as a school or be so minor or occasional that it does not interfere with its use as a school.

    A multipurpose building is designed to be put to a variety of different uses. To be a school building, a multipurpose building must satisfy the same requirements to be characterised as a building ‘used as a school’.

    If it’s characterised as a school building, the school building fund can use its funds to contribute towards the cost of any common area. For example, areas put to both school and non-school use such as a hallway or toilet blocks are considered a common area. However, if the common area has been adapted or designed specifically for non-school use, the school building fund cannot provide the money to pay the cost of the adaption or design.

    Use of the school building fund

    A school building fund is solely for providing money to acquire, construct or maintain a building used, or to be used, as a school by a qualifying body. It cannot be used for any other purpose.

    To determine the purpose of the fund, objective circumstances are considered, including the constituent documents of the fund and what the money is provided for. Expenditure on capital improvements and maintenance, as well as installing and maintaining fixtures, are accepted outlays of a school building fund.

    Costs payable from a school building fund include:

    • purchase of land to the extent that it reasonably relates to the area of land occupied by the school building
    • building purchase and construction expenses
    • incidental costs relating to planning, negotiating, financing and obtaining approvals for acquisition or construction
    • fixtures including security related features such as security alarms and lighting and window and door security such as grilles
    • initial repairs
    • additions or extensions to the existing building such as an additional floor, room or permanent structure within the building and the replacement, removal or addition of walls, doors or windows
    • lease payments that relate to the building or land occupied by the building
    • conditions on construction imposed by a local governing body or public authority, to the extent they relate to the ability to construct the school building
    • repairs, painting, plumbing and general maintenance of the school building, including costs of purchasing associated equipment
    • cleaning expenses including cleaning the building’s floor coverings, fixtures and windows
    • building insurance, to the extent it relates to the building
    • security monitoring costs that directly relate to the preservation or protection of a school building
    • administration costs of establishing or promoting the fund, including bank fees, accounting and audit costs, fundraising expenses and reasonable remuneration for the fund’s administrator and staff.

    A school building fund cannot provide funds for:

    • a non-school building
    • the non-school use of a school building
    • other facilities that are not buildings.

    Costs that cannot be paid include:

    • construction of non-school building like a wing of a building designed to be used as a church
    • maintenance costs that relate to the non-school use of a building, like the costs of hiring a cleaner to clean school buildings following weddings unless the fund is fully and promptly reimbursed
    • running expenses of the school that don’t relate to buildings such as water, gas, electricity, sewerage, contents insurance, teaching staff salaries or the general upkeep of furnishings
    • costs of maintaining facilities which are not buildings including sports fields, sports equipment, playgrounds, landscaping and open-air carparks.

    A school building fund may invest or lend its money if this is a bona fide and temporary arrangement and will assist the fund to achieve its objects within a reasonable period. To be a bona fide arrangement, the investment or loan must be designed to make efficient use of the money until such time as it is required for the acquisition, construction or maintenance of the building.

    Taxation Ruling TR 2013/2 Income tax: school or college building funds provides detailed guidance for organisations seeking additional information to determine whether their fund has the characteristics of a school building fund.

    School building fund checklist

    Use our checklist to work out if your fund has the characteristics of a school building fund.

    • Your fund is a public fund.
    • Your fund’s constituent or governing documents clearly show it was established solely to provide money for acquiring, constructing or maintaining a building used, or to be used, as a school.
    • The building is used, or to be used, as a school by a government, public authority or non-profit society or association.
    • Actual payments made by the fund are only for acquiring, constructing or maintaining the building, including acceptable administration costs of the fund.
    • Your fund must be operated by or be an Australian government agency or registered with the ACNCExternal Link.

    If you have worked out that your fund is a school building fund, it also needs to meet other conditions for DGR endorsement.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Beijing plans to expand low-altitude flights for rescue, delivery

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, Oct. 9 — Beijing will expand its low-altitude flight scenarios, including in emergency rescue and express delivery, as the city strives to boost the burgeoning low-altitude industry.

    According to Beijing’s latest action plan on developing low-altitude economy, the city plans to host more than 5,000 enterprises engaged in the sector and increase the value of its low-altitude industry to 100 billion yuan (about 14.2 billion U.S. dollars) by 2027.

    The Chinese capital will focus on expanding the use of low-altitude flights for emergency rescue and express delivery, said the plan. Regular low-altitude delivery services will be promoted in suburban districts including Yanqing, Pinggu, Miyun and Fangshan.

    The city also plans to establish a low-altitude passenger route linking Beijing Daxing International Airport and Xiong’an New Area in north China’s Hebei Province, while exploring intercity air commuting between Beijing and surrounding areas.

    The low-altitude economy includes both conventional general aviation and drone-supported services in low-altitude airspace. Many Chinese cities are moving quickly to establish a foothold in the sector, considering it a new track of industrial development.

    In August, Beijing launched its first unmanned aerial vehicle logistics delivery route in a section of the Great Wall, which enables tourists to receive summer relief items and emergency supplies within minutes.

    The eastern metropolis Shanghai also plans to have largely established a low-altitude communications network with continuous coverage throughout the region by the end of 2026 to facilitate the development of the low-altitude economy.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada recognizes Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes as an event of national historic significance The Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes exemplifies how African Canadian communities in the Maritimes fought for equality in sports and used hockey to advance social change in Canada.

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    The Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes exemplifies how African Canadian communities in the Maritimes fought for equality in sports and used hockey to advance social change in Canada.

    October 9, 2024                         Gatineau, Quebec                                   Parks Canada

    Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, announced the designation of the Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes as an event of national historic significance under Parks Canada’s National Program of Historical Commemoration.

    In 1895, Black Baptist leaders in Halifax created three hockey teams – the Eurekas, the Jubilees, and the Stanleys – in hopes of attracting young men of African descent to Sunday worship and fostering a sense of pride within the community. This small local league would soon grow into the Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes (CHLM), a competitive all-Black league in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, the only all-Black league in Canadian history. During this time, obvious anti-Black racism influenced the few existing hockey leagues to exclude/prevent Black players from joining their teams. At the same time, the league and its players faced many barriers, including limited access to indoor rinks and ice time. This meant that CHLM games were often played in poor conditions.

    However, hundreds of determined men would go on to play in the league throughout its 30-year existence, entertaining large multiracial crowds and impressing mainstream journalists who reported on the fast, physical, and innovative brand of hockey the CHLM would become known for. It was in this league that many fundamental techniques – such as the slapshot and butterfly-style goaltending – were first introduced. The league would serve as a means for effecting social change and promoting equality for Black Nova Scotians throughout its time.

    The CHLM endured through several hurdles, at one point suspending its operations and later having to rebuild as many of its members had served overseas during the First World War. Despite this determination, the continued racism the league and its players faced on and off the ice, coupled with economic and wartime factors, eventually led to the league’s decision to disband in 1925. CHLM players inspired generations of Black youth to perfect/sharpen their athletic skills and, eventually, to compete at the highest levels.

    The Government of Canada, through the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada and Parks Canada, recognizes significant persons, places, and events that have shaped our country as one way of helping Canadians connect with their past. By sharing these stories with Canadians, we hope to foster understanding and reflection on the diverse histories, cultures, legacies, and realities of Canada’s past and present. 

                                                                                                                               -30-

    • Under the management of James A. R. Kinney and James Robinson Johnston, early 20th-century leaders for the advancement and equality of Black Nova Scotians, the league served as a means for effecting social change. 

    • CHLM matches attracted large and multiracial crowds and press coverage. In 1905–1906, however, a major dispute pitted leaders of the African Canadian community against landowners and the Halifax administration when railway companies wanted to run tracks through the seaside community of Africville, resulting in the CHLM losing ice time.

    • The Dartmouth Jubilees’ original goaltender, Henry Franklyn, introduced the butterfly style of goaltending in 1900, and around that time, the Halifax Eurekas’ Eddie Martin began using the slapshot. That was before these techniques seem to have been permitted in other Canadian leagues, and decades before the slapshot was introduced in the National Hockey League (NHL).

    • The designation process under Parks Canada’s National Program of Historical Commemoration is largely driven by public nominations. To date, more than 2,260 designations have been made nationwide. To nominate a person, place or historic event in your community, please visit the Parks Canada website for more information: https://parks.canada.ca/culture/designation/proposer-nominate.

    • Created in 1919, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada advises the Minister of Environment and Climate Change regarding the national significance of persons, places, and events that have marked Canada’s history. Together with Parks Canada, the Board ensures that subjects of national historic significance are recognized under Parks Canada’s National Program of Historical Commemoration and these important stories are shared with Canadians. 

    • Parks Canada is committed to working with Canadians in our efforts to tell broader, more inclusive stories in the places that it manages. In support of this goal, the Framework for History and Commemoration outlines a new, comprehensive, and engaging approach to sharing Canada’s history through diverse perspectives, including shedding light on tragic and difficult periods of Canada’s past.

    Oliver Anderson
    Director of Communications     
    Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
    819-962-0686
    oIiver.anderson@ec.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Proposal for future of city council day centres

    Source: City of Birmingham

    The city council’s Cabinet is being asked to approve the closure of four council-run day centres, with support provided at the remaining five centres within the city.

    The city council’s Cabinet is being asked to approve the closure of four council-run day centres, with support provided at the remaining five centres within the city.

    This follows a consultation on the future of the council-run centres and previous improvement work which came from an independent review of the centres, approved by the council’s Cabinet in April 2023.  

    The council faces a significant financial challenge and in February 2024 Cabinet agreed to a savings proposal of £1.95 million for 2024-2025 and £3.35 million in 2025-2026 against the nine day centres.

    The proposed closure of the four day centres further builds on the initial improvement work and the council’s ambition to consolidate the service and transform the offer for citizens by creating five thriving centres which are fully staffed and with maximum attendance. This will also provide the opportunity to work more closely with partners and local communities.     

    The recommendation is to close Beeches GOLDD, Harborne, Fairway and Heartlands meaning support for citizens will be provided in the five remaining centres. There are also many day opportunities outside the council-run centres which are commissioned by the council, that have capacity and the quality of service to meet the diverse needs of citizens.   

    Attendance at the centres has reduced significantly since 2019, with many people choosing direct payments to access alternative services.

    Cllr Rob Pocock, Acting Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, said:

    “Many councils no longer run in-house day centres, so I’m pleased we have still found the money to keep five going across the city. But we do need to save on costs and the remaining centres do need to be fully utilised.

    “Citizens using our centres have also said they want to have a wider variety of activities outside the day centres and this is what we are also developing, as part of a more modern 21st century service.

    “So the package as a whole means that anyone wanting a council day centre will still be able to receive that. No staff are being made redundant. And there will actually be a wide range of additional options available,

    “I do understand that people will have an attachment to the day centre they usually attend but unfortunately our centres have a low attendance rate, with most only around half full.

    “While no current users will lose their service, and their loved ones will not lose their respite support, we do recognise that attending a different centre could be difficult for some. Citizens would be fully supported to relocate to an alternative service of their choice which would be equipped to meet their physical, behavioural, sensory and emotional needs.

    “There is plenty of capacity in the other centres, meaning more citizens attending, creating a more stimulating environment with more opportunities to socialise. The centres will be fully staffed meaning really focused support for users.

    “Re-location plans for citizens would be person-centred and staff familiar to them would be available to plan their move in a sensitive and respectful way, fully sighted on their specific needs to minimise any distress. They would also be supported to move with their friends if that was their choice. A social worker would support every citizen affected by the proposal.”

    Families of citizens would also be provided with the support they need as a part of the relocation, including assessments for carers, information and advice.  

    Full details can be found in the Cabinet Report including consultation feedback and analysis, information on capacity and resources at all nine-day centres, frequently asked questions and a case study of when Heartlands closed temporarily.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –