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Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why a pilot scheme removing peak rail fares should have been allowed to go the distance

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Rachel Scarfe, Lecturer in Economics, University of Stirling

    A pilot removing peak fares on ScotRail trains has ended. Loch Earn/Shutterstock

    Commuters in Scotland faced a shock at ticket machines as the Scottish government abandoned a pilot scheme that removed peak rail fares. During the pilot, tickets were the same price all day. But now that it has ended, the increase in fares is significant. The cost of commuting at peak time from Glasgow to Edinburgh, for example, has gone from £16.20 to £31.40.

    The aim of the pilot, introduced in October 2023, was to encourage what’s known as a “modal shift” from cars to more sustainable transport.

    Defending its decision, the Scottish government made two claims: that the pilot increased passenger numbers by only 6.8% (when an increase of 10% was required for it to be self-financing) and that it mostly benefited wealthier passengers.

    These claims were widely reported, but are they correct? And what does this mean for similar schemes in other countries?

    Passengers using the train to get to and from work benefited most from the pilot, which made travel cheaper at peak times (early morning until around 9am and evenings until around 7pm). It is true that wealthier people in the UK tend to use trains and cars more, while poorer people are more likely to travel by bus.

    The graph below shows how much £100 of train and bus tickets, and £100 of petrol ten years ago would cost today.

    Cost of transport in the UK (2014-2024)

    The increase in train fares has been smoother, but mostly faster, than the increase in petrol prices. However, bus fares have increased faster than both. Scotland has not followed England in capping bus fares, a policy that might have benefited lower-income passengers more.

    In theory, a decrease in price for a product will result in an increase in demand. But it is impossible to calculate exactly how much passenger numbers increased due to the pilot, because we cannot know for sure how many passengers would have travelled anyway (the “counterfactual”).

    To estimate the rise in demand brought about by cheaper fares, we must make assumptions about the counterfactual, where peak fares remained in place. This is especially difficult for two reasons. First, the pilot began as passenger numbers were rising again after the COVID lockdowns.



    Read more:
    Catching public transport in Queensland will soon cost just 50 cents. Are cheap fares good policy?

    Statisticians must make assumptions about how much demand would have continued to rise in this case. Depending on these assumptions, the estimated effect of the pilot on demand for rail travel ranges from an increase of 16% to a fall of 5%, compared with the final figure of 6.8%. A change in assumptions can change the estimated rise in demand substantially.

    Second, the pilot spanned a period of disruption on the railways. Strikes in Scotland in 2022 may have put people off train travel, and again, we cannot know whether they would have returned in the counterfactual scenario.

    And bad weather in Scotland in early 2024 and disruption caused by strikes in England and Wales make it difficult to use the rest of Great Britain as a control group to compare against Scotland.

    To estimate the effects of a policy like the pilot, statisticians must make many other assumptions. For example, in April 2024 there was a big increase in fares across Scotland. The analysis underlying the report assumes that this would have happened even without the pilot.

    All these assumptions (and more) lie beneath the reported 6.8% increase in demand and make it impossible to be confident that this was the true number of passengers who shifted to rail travel because peak fares were axed.

    What’s happening elsewhere?

    Similar schemes have been piloted in other countries, including a flat rate €49 (£40) per month (increased from €9) rail pass in Germany, a 50 cent (30 pence) flat fare across all public transport in Queensland, Australia, and a £2 flat bus fare in England.

    As with the pilot in Scotland, it is difficult to determine whether these schemes have caused a modal shift. Some new evidence from Germany suggests that cheaper fares encouraged people to make more journeys overall, but that the shift from cars to trains was limited.

    However, we know that the elasticity (how much demand changes as prices change) of public transport fares is greater in the long term than in the short term. There is a danger that, as in Scotland, governments will cancel them before the long-term effects are clear.

    The SNP government in Scotland is facing difficulties balancing its budget. In these circumstances, any further subsidy to public transport seems unlikely. Instead, the government will have to find other ways to reach its net zero commitments.

    There is evidence that people respond more strongly to an increase in price than to a decrease. If this is the case, the pilot itself could even cause a long-term decrease in passenger numbers in Scotland, because the fall in people using the trains due to the reintroduction of peak fares might be greater than the increase during the pilot.

    It is impossible to tell yet, but in the long term this could make travelling on the railways more expensive for both passengers and for the government subsidising them.

    Rachel Scarfe is a member of the Labour Party.

    – ref. Why a pilot scheme removing peak rail fares should have been allowed to go the distance – https://theconversation.com/why-a-pilot-scheme-removing-peak-rail-fares-should-have-been-allowed-to-go-the-distance-240224

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Devolving justice and policing to Wales would put it on par with Scotland and Northern Ireland – so what’s holding it back?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stephen Clear, Lecturer in Constitutional and Administrative Law, and Public Procurement, Bangor University

    Ceri Breeze/Shutterstock

    Devolution is “a process, not an event”, according to the then-secretary of state for Wales, Ron Davies, in 1997. But it is unclear what may come next for Wales in that process under the new UK Labour government, despite the same party now being in charge in both London and Cardiff.

    One ongoing debate among politicians and experts for several years has been whether Westminster should and will devolve more powers to Wales, including justice and policing.

    It wasn’t until the passing of the Government of Wales Act 1998 that the then National Assembly was established. It allowed Wales to make decisions over issues such as education, housing and agriculture. Further primary law-making powers were subsequently granted to the now Senedd (Welsh parliament).

    But Wales doesn’t have control over all matters and some are reserved for the UK parliament. A number of these are consistent across all UK nations, including fiscal policy, foreign affairs, nuclear policy and national security. But others are different for Wales when compared to Scotland and Northern Ireland.

    One of the most obvious examples is in the area of justice and policing. Unlike Scotland and Northern Ireland, Wales is not a separate legal jurisdiction with its own system of law, policing and courts. While there are increasing areas of divergence between England and Wales, technically speaking, Wales is part of a single jurisdiction with England due to decisions made during Henry VIII’s reign in the 16th century.

    The issue of devolving justice and policing has cropped up consistently over the past 25 years. It has been the subject of a variety of debates in the Senedd, Westminster and in the media. It has also been analysed by a number of official reports and independent or cross-party commissions.

    In 2011, the Silk commission was established by the UK government to explore the issue. In its 2014 report, it recommended devolving policing and youth justice to Wales by 2017. That never happened.

    The Thomas commission, set up by the Welsh government in 2019, also recommended devolving justice to Wales, including youth justice and policing. Earlier this year, the independent commission on the constitutional future of Wales called on the UK government to agree to the devolution of responsibility for justice and policing to the Senedd and Welsh government.

    In 2023, Keir Starmer said that a Labour government would introduce a “take back control bill”, to devolve new powers to communities from Westminster. Those intentions were echoed in Labour’s election manifesto ahead of July’s general election.

    But the issue of devolving justice to Wales was absent from Labour’s manifesto. And in an interview in June, the now-secretary of state for Wales Jo Stevens described such a move as “fiddling around with structures and systems”. It is therefore unclear whether devolution to regions of England will take place in parallel to further devolution to Wales and the other nations.

    And while this issue may not be at the forefront of UK Labour policy, it is an ongoing commitment of Welsh Labour. The latter commissioned even further research in August into the devolution of justice.

    What are some of the potential challenges?

    One significant issue is the age of criminal responsibility, currently set at ten in England and Wales. The Thomas commission recommended raising this to 12, aligning Wales with Scotland and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

    But this raises logistical questions. For example, what would happen when a case crosses borders or involves children just above or below the age threshold? These practical challenges need to be addressed if justice is to be devolved smoothly.

    The Thomas Commission also laid out detailed proposals for reforms to youth justice, prisons and probation services. The Welsh youth courts have already started implementing a more preventive and restorative approach, but a jurisdictional overlap with England has slowed progress. While children’s services are devolved, youth justice remains under UK government control.



    Read more:
    Crown estate: why it’s time to devolve it and put Wales on par with Scotland

    Issues like transport to courts, funding and jurisdictional boundaries need careful consideration too. For example, how would authorities determine whether a crime committed near the Wales-England border falls under Welsh or English law?

    Of course, this is an issue which already exists between England and Scotland, and there are complex rules in place. Dependent upon the nature and circumstances of the crime, “jurisdiction” is typically dependent on where it was first initiated. In turn, further challenges arise surrounding police force cooperation, as well as mechanisms for sharing different types of evidence. There are also legally-protected agreements regarding powers to arrest people in each other’s territories.

    Ironing out these types of issues is particularly important in respect of female offenders, as Wales has made progress in providing better support for them.

    Disparities in legal expertise may also become more of a challenge. Legal experts have noted that as Welsh laws become more distinct, judges in England may lack the relevant expertise to handle Welsh cases. This concern has already arisen in Welsh tribunals, where appeals are sometimes directed to England’s Upper Tribunal, raising doubts about how well English judges can handle increasingly Wales-specific laws.

    Cooperation

    While these issues are very real, they shouldn’t block progress. With cooperation between Cardiff and Westminster, the devolution of justice could happen without major disruption. Instead of having endless debates and reviews, time and resources could be better spent acting on existing expert recommendations.

    For instance, both governments could agree on a ten-year timeline – as recommended by the independent commission – to devolve justice, starting with policing. It’s an area which already has strong ties to devolved services at the local level. Youth justice and probation could then follow.

    Despite the potential challenges, the new Labour UK government has a chance to bring about meaningful change. Devolving justice may take time, but it could bring Wales closer to achieving the legal autonomy many believe it deserves.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Devolving justice and policing to Wales would put it on par with Scotland and Northern Ireland – so what’s holding it back? – https://theconversation.com/devolving-justice-and-policing-to-wales-would-put-it-on-par-with-scotland-and-northern-ireland-so-whats-holding-it-back-238634

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why it’s so hard to kick fossil fuels out of sport

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Theo Lorenzo Frixou, PhD Candidate, Social Sciences, Loughborough University

    A 52 Super Series sailing race off Palma de Mallorca. Villegas Photo/Shutterstock

    Governments and public relations firms are under pressure to, in UN secretary-general António Guterres’s words, stop “fuelling the madness” and ban fossil fuel advertising or cut ties with the industry.

    France, Amsterdam, Sheffield and Edinburgh have all restricted fossil fuel advertising to differing degrees in recognition of the industry’s responsibility for climate breakdown.

    People working in the advertising industry are among those calling for an end to working with fossil fuel companies. There is a reputational risk with continuing to represent these businesses. Four advertising agencies recently lost a sustainability certification for taking an oil company as a client.

    Oil and gas advertising is perhaps most prolific in sport. A recent report estimated that fossil fuel companies have invested more than £4 billion across 200 sponsorship deals.

    Fellow researchers have appealed for sport to be included in any further advertising bans. There is a precedent: a tobacco advertising ban came into force in the UK in 2002. Bear in mind, that ban took nearly 40 years of campaigning and tobacco executives have shown they’re capable of navigating its loopholes.

    Even so, the fossil fuel industry will prove significantly harder to purge than tobacco. Here’s why.

    ‘No fossil fuels, no sport’

    Human development is largely a story of increasing energy use. Oil in particular has transformed everyday life beyond comprehension.

    Whether it be in the form of high-profile sponsorship deals, sporting equipment made from petrol-based products like carbon fibre or flying to meet the demand for ever more fixtures, modern sport reflects society’s oil dependency.

    Sport is entwined with high-carbon industries.
    Parkdolly/Shutterstock

    The fossil fuel industry knows this. Despite the longstanding scientific consensus that fossil fuels must be phased out, the industry seeks to convince the public that oil and gas will still be needed for a very long time.

    Analysis of one oil company’s sustainability reports identified how its communications strategy shifted from denying the results of climate science to more subtle efforts to delay an energy transition. These included the argument that fossil fuels are an irreplaceable precondition for “the good life”.

    Sport is a vehicle for perpetuating this argument. In 2021, an oil and gas trade association in the US launched a campaign showcasing sports products made from petroleum, the implication being that people cannot enjoy sport without fossil fuels.

    Sport is poised for corporate piggybacking because it evokes connection, pride and security in fans and spectators – feelings the fossil fuel industry is keen to capitalise on. An analysis of the Canadian oil industry’s advertising between 2006 and 2015 documented a shift from images of the natural environment to those depicting family life and domesticity.

    This kind of pernicious messaging, which entrenches fossil fuels within the things people hold dear, will be hard for legislators to reverse.

    Oil change

    Imre Szeman, a professor of human geography who specialises in the energy transition, urges us to comprehend just how deep our relationship with oil runs.

    Addressing climate change is not simply a technical matter, but a cultural one as well. An issue of how we grasp what is so often taken for granted in everyday life.

    Change will not only require acknowledging the severity of the environmental crisis, but to recognise how its primary causes have shaped society, including in elite sport. It’s crucial to understand modern societies as oil societies if we are ever to envisage one no longer dependent on it.

    Sport sponsorships reflect the infiltration of fossil fuels in modern society.
    Trong Nguyen/Shutterstock

    So, considering sport, the first step is to remove the cognitive dissonance that surrounds modern elite sporting culture, the nature of its oil dependency and the consequences of climate change.

    Sporting organisations can start by saying no to fossil fuel sponsorship. There are examples of this happening already in tennis, rugby and the Olympics, with Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo indicating an oil company was not welcome as a sponsor of the 2024 Games.

    Change happens by disaster or by design. It’s time to recognise the decades long influence wielded by the fossil fuel industry.


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

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

    Theo Lorenzo Frixou does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Why it’s so hard to kick fossil fuels out of sport – https://theconversation.com/why-its-so-hard-to-kick-fossil-fuels-out-of-sport-239620

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Africa’s Great Green Wall will only combat desertification and poverty by harnessing local solutions

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jeremy Allouche, Professor in Development Studies, Institute of Development Studies

    Flags indicate how many trees each donor country has planted. Jeremy Allouche, CC BY-ND

    In the rural village of Téssékéré, the increasing number and intensity of droughts linked to climate change is making the lives and livelihoods of the local Fulani communities increasingly vulnerable. Here, in the northern Sahel desert region of Senegal (known as the Ferlo), the pastoral population walks over dry, dusty ground with their livestock in search of grazing areas and working borehole water pumps. In favourable years, these farmers can stay in the fields around their local borehole, but climate change is forcing them to move further afield to find pasture to feed their cattle.

    In the small Ivory Coast town of Kani, a farmer is concerned about the increase in plantation areas to the detriment of forests, which no longer provide shade. The scarcity and fluctuation of rainfall is altering the sowing periods for rice, maize and yams, and the intermittent nature of the rains is leading to a drop in production quality.

    These issues of gradual desertification – where more of the land slowly becomes desert – affects both nature and people. As soil degrades, people migrate to different areas and it can be harder for them to access health services and education while undermining subsistence and production economies, therefore increasing poverty.

    As a response, the African Union set up an ambitious continent-wide megaproject in 2007 to address these social-ecological issues and combat poverty. The Great Green Wall initiative is a tree planting restoration project that stretches from Senegal to Djibouti, 5,000 miles (8,000km) across Africa’s Sahel region.

    In Téssékéré, bare, scattered plots of fenced-off land covered in cracked soil is now being used to test out techniques for growing seedlings and protect it from further damage by grazing cattle. Winter crops such as peanuts or black-eyed peas are being grown based on an agroecological model, a sustainable farming strategy considering ecological processes.

    But large-scale projects like this often don’t consider the needs of local people or places. Our new research shows that the Great Green Wall won’t work effectively unless it considers more localised contexts.

    At the other end of the continent, the Green Legacy Initiative, a project launched by the Ethiopian government, claims to have planted 566 million trees in one day. In Ivory Coast, which lies outside the original route, local and state authorities see the project as a means of stabilising the ecosystem. However, local populations are concerned that it will be implemented in an ad hoc, unstable and unsustainable manner. In short, the project gives rise to a diversity of opinions and, above all, a multitude of implementation strategies.

    Two decades after its launch, the Great Green Wall project is not meeting the expectations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and other independent experts, especially regarding forest cover increase in the area and global implementation of the project.

    In 2021, the French president Emmanuel Macron launched the Great Green Wall accelerator to bring the project into line with a new political timeframe to speed it up.

    With investment of US$19 billion (£14.82 billion), more action, such as land restoration and investment in farming, can be rolled out across Africa, so the focus is now on large-scale change rather than localised projects. The Great Green Wall has become an umbrella term, a brand encompassing many development projects managed by different international and intergovernmental organisations. This is at odds with our research findings confirming that the ambitious aims of the project aren’t being implemented locally in an effective manner.

    This “takeover” of the project by developed countries prompts us to question what the project has now become and its ability to meet its original purpose.

    Set to fail?

    The Great Green Wall will fail unless it returns to its original aim of being a pan-African project made up of a multitude of aspirations, imaginations and local social-ecological contexts. Project funding alone is not enough to ensure the success of the project – it needs local appropriation. Success should not be measured solely in terms of how many trees are being planted, but on whether local people see a positive difference from the project in their areas and on their lives.

    From Senegal to Ethiopia, our research shows that the Great Green Wall implies a diversity of world views. The project is therefore implemented specifically in each region, in each country, to form a project mosaic. The initiative loses its substance and its capacity for local appropriation when homogenised and globalised to fit into external political agendas.

    An agroecological initiative like this one only works when it involves the people living on the ground. More than simply an eco-project, it is a diverse, pan-African and locally embedded social-ecological initiative with scope to make substantial change at scale if executed well.


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

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

    Jeremy Allouche receives funding from the Economic and Social Research Council.

    Elie Pedarros works for Newcastle University

    – ref. Africa’s Great Green Wall will only combat desertification and poverty by harnessing local solutions – https://theconversation.com/africas-great-green-wall-will-only-combat-desertification-and-poverty-by-harnessing-local-solutions-235240

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Transport assistance for post-16 learners with SEND: Senior councillors asked to approve proposed changes

    Source: City of Leeds

    Senior councillors are being asked to approve proposed changes to the way Leeds City Council provides transport assistance for post-16 learners with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), as the level of discretionary support currently provided is not sustainable.

    The proposed changes would still offer a level of discretionary transport assistance for Post-16 learners with SEND and help support independence through travel training, whilst addressing the significant financial challenge.

    The council is statutorily obliged to make free-of-charge home to school travel arrangements for school-age children with SEND. There is no such requirement to provide this for post-16 learners, however the council has been doing so on a discretionary basis at a cost of around £4m-£4.5million each year.

    Following a consultation earlier this year, a report to the council’s Executive Board will propose the following changes:

    • Limiting post-16 transport assistance to learners with SEND, living three or more miles from their education setting.                                                                                                                                                                                                               
    • Independent Travel Training and a free bus pass (or equivalent cost) for a young person who is able to travel independently or could make the journey to their learning setting on public transport accompanied by an adult as necessary.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
    • A yearly flat-rate Personal Transport Allowance for post-16 learners with SEND, allowing learners and their families to make their own travel arrangements, and based on distance between their home and learning setting:

    –          Between 3 and 10 miles – £1,000 per year.

    –          Between 10.01 and 20 miles – £2,000 per year.

    –          Over 20.01 miles – £3,000 per year.                                                                                                                                 

    • Providing council-organised transport for those meeting the exceptional circumstances criteria.

    Introducing these proposals would achieve an estimated financial saving to the council of more than £800,000 during the financial year 2025/26.

    Should the proposals be approved by the council’s Executive Board next Wednesday (16th October), the changes would be introduced for young people starting post-16 education in September 2025 and onwards. All young people already in post-16 education receiving transport assistance would continue on the current policy unless there is a change in their circumstances such as moving house or a different education setting.

    Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for children and families, said:

    “We absolutely recognise and understand the concerns of young people, their families and carers, in how these changes may affect them, and we have fully considered their feedback from the consultation when finalising these proposals.

    “Given the significant financial challenges the council faces and the increasing level of demand, the level of discretionary transport support we currently provide is not sustainable.

    “However, we remain committed to providing support for young people and their families through a personal transport allowance, through provision of our award winning independent travel training, and by ensuring that those with exceptional circumstances requiring council organised transport, continue to receive it.”

    Public consultation on the proposals was held between 24 June and 23 July 2024, with just over 300 responses received and views sought from children and young people, parents and carers, staff and governors of Special Inclusion Learning Centres (SILCs), primary and secondary schools, and post-16 providers, and wider stakeholders.

    Should the proposals be approved at Executive Board, the council will begin contacting families and key services to ensure they are aware of the changes well in advance of their introduction from September 2025. Officers intend to work with parent forums, young people and families to continue to inform their understanding of how the proposals impact those affected before and during the proposals’ implementation, and will also liaise with key partners such as public transport providers to continually increase their awareness of accessibility needs of young people with SEND.

    Proposals to remove transport assistance eligibility for post-19 learners, and to introduce a contributory charge for post-16 learners towards their transport, have not been recommended to Executive Board for implementation following feedback from the consultation.

    The full report can be read here. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Thousands expected as Run Leicester half marathon and 10k return

    Source: City of Leicester

    THOUSANDS of runners will be taking to the city’s streets this weekend for the annual Run Leicester half marathon and 10k race.

    The events will take place on Sunday 13 October, starting and finishing at Leicester’s Victoria Park.

    Runners will set out from the park from 9.15am, on a route through the city centre onto Melton Road, and into Thurmaston and Birstall, before returning to the starting point.

    A series of rolling road closures and parking restrictions will be in place along the route to enable the runners to pass safely.

    The route heads across the city including London Road, St George’s Way, Charles Street, Belgrave Gate and Melton Road, and then out towards Thurmaston, Watermead Country Park and Birstall, before the race returns via Red Hill Circle, Loughborough Road and then the canal side path.

    From there the route will heads through Abbey Park and the city centre, before continuing up New Walk via De Montfort Street and University Road on its way to the finish at Victoria Park.

    The 10k race will follow the same route as far as Melton Road, before travelling along Loughborough Road, Holden Street and Ross Walk to re-join the riverside path, past the Space Centre and Abbey Park on its way back to the city.

    Parking and loading restrictions will be in place to keep the route free of traffic, and temporary road closures will be in place while the race passes through. The measures have been clearly signposted along the route in advance.

    Roads are expected to have reopened fully by 1pm.

    The race is a hugely popular event, attracting runners ranging from enthusiastic amateurs to club athletes, all raising money for a range of charities including official charity partner, LOROS Hospice.

    The events are organised by Run Leicester and full details of the route and road closures are available at http://www.runleicester.co.uk

    Race director, Andrew Ward, said: “This year’s Run Leicester half marathon and 10k is set to be our best event ever, with over 4,000 runners expected to take to the streets on Sunday. It’s by far the biggest running event in the county and serves as inspiration to everyone watching as they cheer the runners on towards the finish line.

    “We would encourage everyone to come out and support what is such a fantastic event for the whole city. It’s a real festival atmosphere with singers and drummers all around the route for both runners and spectators to enjoy.

    “We can’t wait to see everyone on race day; the atmosphere will be incredible and the event will ultimately raise thousands of pounds for LOROS Hospice and other local charities.”

    Bus services from the city centre will be running as normal but some will be diverted to alternative bus stops nearby while the race is in progress, with any changes clearly signposted.

    Traffic and travel updates are also available from Leicester Area Traffic Control on X at @ATCLeicester

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Manchester Carbon Literate City: Climate change training goal unveiled

    Source: City of Manchester

    Manchester has launched an initiative to become the UK’s first Carbon Literate City as part of the drive to become zero carbon by 2038.

    The effort, co-ordinated by Manchester City Council working with The Carbon Literacy Project, aims to achieve the status by getting the equivalent of 15% of the city’s population – 85,349 people – trained and certified as Carbon Literate.

    Carbon Literacy® is defined as “an awareness of the carbon costs and impacts of everyday activities, and the ability and motivation to reduce emissions, on an individual, community and organisational basis.” It describes an awareness of climate change and the impacts which our everyday actions, whether as individuals or organisations, have. Being Carbon Literate enables people to take informed decisions, whether in their personal or work lives. Becoming a Carbon Literate City will help in the collective effort to dramatically cut harmful carbon emissions across Manchester.

    Manchester City Council is already committed to Carbon Literacy and is the first local authority to achieve The Carbon Literacy Project’s Silver organisational designation and is working towards Gold status. By December this year the Council aims to have 50% of its staff, around 3,500 people, trained and certified in Carbon Literacy. Other founding partners of the Manchester initiative include Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester Museum, Auto Trader, Manchester Digital and GMAST (a network of arts and cultural organisations working to contribute to the city’s climate ambitions.)

    Councillor Tracey Rawlins, Executive Member for Environment, said: “Earning recognition as the country’s first Carbon Literate City is going to require a step change in the number of organisations getting on board and spreading the word in their own sectors.“This has never been a city to shy away from challenges and we hope that this title will become the latest in a long line of Manchester firsts.

    “What really matters here is not the title itself but what it will mean in terms of the number of individuals and organisations who are aware of the issues and the positive actions they can take to help address them.

    “The city can only reach its zero carbon goals through collective local, regional and national effort. Having a more informed and engaged population is an important step.”

    Dave Coleman, Co-founder and Managing Director of The Carbon Literacy Project, said: “Given our origins and our deep roots in the city, it comes as no surprise that it is Manchester that has stepped up, built on all its existing hard work, and publicly declared it’s ambition to be the very first certified Carbon Literate Locality.
    “Globally more than 100,000 citizens are already certified as being Carbon Literate, but of these, more than 10,000 live, work and study in Manchester.

    “The Manchester Carbon Literate City initiative brings together people and organisations already acting on climate in the city, to further help and support each  other, and bring others along with them. Working together in this way makes our collective action on climate easier, faster and cheaper, and in Manchester at least, demonstrates that truly “the whole is far greater than the sum of its parts”. 

    More information about the Manchester Carbon Literate City initiative is available at carbonliteracy.com/mclc and about Carbon Literacy itself at carbonliteracy.com. The latest public Carbon Literacy courses are available at the Project’s events page.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Man ordered to clear illegal waste site

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A man has been ordered to clear illegally dumped waste from a site near Saltburn in a prosecution brought by the Environment Agency. 

    Images shows dumped waste on the site.

    Martin Booker, 60, of Woodside in Brotton, operated an illegal waste site on unregistered land, burnt it and ignored warnings from the Environment Agency to stop.

    He appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court last month for sentencing and having previously denied the allegations, changed his plea to guilty to three offences of operating a waste site without an environmental permit.

    The court heard the land, which is at the end of Gladstone Street in Brotton, is next to council-owned allotments and does not have an environmental permit or a registered exemption, which are required by law to manage waste operations.

    Booker was fined £648 and will pay a victim surcharge of £259. A remediation order was made against Brooker for him to clear the site of all waste. If he fails to comply he could be subject to further action.

    Booker ‘largely ignored’ warnings

    Gary Wallace, Area Environment Manager for the Environment Agency, said:

    Environmental permits are in place to protect the public and environment and we told Booker a number of times that he must stop his activities and clear the waste from the site.

    He largely ignored these warnings, showing a disregard for law.

    Illegal activity such as this undermines legitimate businesses that work hard to operate within the regulations, as well as putting the environment at risk and impacting on the local community.

    In February 2022 an Environment Agency officer visited the land and saw waste including scrap electricals such as fridges and washing machines, as well as shopping trollies and scrap vehicle parts. There were clear signs of burning.

    Enquiries led the officers to Booker, and a letter was sent instructing him to cease all activity and clear the site.

    By May 2022 most of the waste had been cleared, but Boooker resumed waste activity on the land. By October the same year waste was again strewn across the site and the pathway access to the allotments – including a pram, a three piece suite and a TV.

    In January 2023 the Environment Agency gave Booker one month to clear the site, but a month later it was still full of waste – again with evidence of burning.

    When he was interviewed in May 2023 Booker said he’d owned two garages on the land that he knocked down.

    He said he’d brought rubble to the land to develop it, but that people fly tipped the plot and he cleared it by putting it into residents’ bins or throwing it in the allotments.

    He denied being responsible for disposing and burning waste. He also claimed not to have a vehicle but evidence from the council confirmed he was seen in a scrap van in Saltburn in October 2023.

    A final visit on 19 March 2024 saw the site still had waste present, with evidence of burning.

    Law is there to protect communities

    Cllr Adam Brook, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, said:

    Our officers work closely with colleagues in the Environment Agency and other partner agencies every day to protect the public.

    The decision to go to court is never taken lightly. However, if the law which is clearly there to protect our residents, visitors, businesses and the environment we all share is disregarded in this way this action must be taken and I fully support the EA.

    I would like to thank the Environment Agency and everyone else involved for their hard work on this case.

    Illegal waste activity can be reported to the Environment Agency on 0800 807060.

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    Updates to this page

    Published 8 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Topline Financial Credit Union Recognized for Prestigious Marketing Efforts

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MAPLE GROVE, Minn., Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  TopLine Financial Credit Union, a Twin Cities-based member-owned financial services cooperative, was honored with three marketing awards from the Marketing Association of Credit Unions. The Marketing Association of Credit Unions (MAC) Awards honored TopLine in three categories: Community Engagement, Financial Education and Brand/Rebrand Evolution.

    In the Community Engagement category, TopLine won bronze for their Winter Spirit Week Penny Wars competition. The goal of Penny Wars was to introduce a fun new competition for employees that included a charitable component to benefit one of TopLine’s selected non-profit partners. Teams tried to earn as many points as possible with pennies worth one point, $1 bill worth 100 points, $5 bill worth 500 points, etc. Teams could sabotage other teams by dropping silver coins in opponents’ jars to deduct points. TopLine raised a total of $1,940 in just one week. The winning team got to select their TopLine non-profit charity of choice, and all donations were given to Avenues of Youth, who provides emergency shelter, short-term housing and supportive services for homeless youth in a safe and nurturing environment.

    TopLine took home silver in the Financial Education category for their financial education session with the Energy Careers Academy – the first ever graduating class of the program. The goal of the session was to equip adults with a better understanding of personal finance basics and develop healthy financial habits, such as establishing a financial services relationship, developing a budget, establish routine savings for emergencies and for retirement, using credit wisely, paying down debt, achieving other goals such as buying their first car, their first home, and the importance of planning for their future.

    In the Rebrand/Brand Evolution category, TopLine took home the bronze award for their new Bloomington Branch. The new branch was designed as a flagship branch, to pay tribute to TopLine’s heritage of telephone workers who founded the credit union in 1935 when seven employees of the Bell System pooled $35 to create Minneapolis Telco Credit Union. The roof line and drive up replicates the “T”, depicting a telephone pole and line. With the opening of the new branch, TopLine also developed a new tagline for their next era, “Connected, We All Do Better,” that pays homage to the credit union’s legacy, and supports the credit union mission of connecting with members, employees and communities to build life-long relationships.

    “We are incredibly honored and humbled to be recognized with three prestigious marketing awards by the Marketing Association of Credit Unions for our community engagement, financial education and branding efforts,” said Vicki Roscoe Erickson, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, TopLine Financial Credit Union. “This achievement reflects the hard work, creativity, and dedication of our entire team and inspires us to continue pushing boundaries that make a meaningful impact in members’ lives. We remain committed to assist our members and communities with free financial education sessions and resources, and to educate consumers about the many benefits of using credit unions for their financial needs.”

    The Marketing Association of Credit Unions (MAC) was founded over 30 years ago, created for marketers by marketers as a fun way to share ideas, network, and help others be their professional best. For more information, visit http://www.macnetwork.org.

    TopLine Financial Credit Union, a Twin Cities-based credit union, is Minnesota’s 9th largest credit union, with assets of over $1.1 billion and serves over 70,000 members. Established in 1935, the not-for-profit financial cooperative offers a complete line of financial services from its ten branch locations — in Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Champlin, Circle Pines, Coon Rapids, Forest Lake, Maple Grove, Plymouth, St. Francis and in St. Paul’s Como Park — as well as by phone and online at http://www.TopLinecu.com or http://www.ahcu.coop. Membership is available to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or volunteers in Anoka, Benton, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Pine, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington and Wright counties in Minnesota and their immediate family members, as well as employees and retirees of Anoka Hennepin School District #11, Anoka Technical College, Federal Premium Ammunition, Hoffman Enclosures, Inc., GRACO, Inc., and their subsidiaries. Visit us on our Facebook or Instagram. To learn more about the credit union’s foundation, visit http://www.TopLinecu.com/Foundation.

    CONTACT:

    Vicki Roscoe Erickson
    Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer
    TopLine Financial Credit Union
    verickson@toplinecu.com | 763.391.0872

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d229f9e0-78f3-48ff-aad8-3f241ccffc89

    The MIL Network –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Carbajal, Lawler Introduce Bill to Strengthen Protections for Rail Workers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Salud Carbajal (CA-24)

    Today, Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) introduced legislation to strengthen protections for rail yardmasters by giving them the same protections as other rail yard workers. 

    “Yardmasters serve a critical role in our nation’s railroad network. They oversee the operations of a rail yard and manage the duties of various rail workers” said Congressman Carbajal. “They not only direct the activities of their fellow workers but also passenger and freight trains when they arrive and depart. But currently, there are no limitations to the number of hours a yardmaster can work in a day, week, or month. This is not only dangerous for the well-being of the yardmasters but the safety of workers on the yard and train passengers.” 

    “Railroad incidents have sparked major concerns here in my district and across America,” said Congressman Lawler. “Ensuring safe conditions for those who operate our railways is essential to ensuring the safety not only of these workers but also of the communities in which these railways operate. Unfortunately, yardmasters are exempt from existing hours of service laws despite the integral rial they play. The Railroad Yardmaster Protection Act will ensure safe conditions for these essential workers and I’m proud to join Congressman Carbajal in introducing this critical common sense legislation.”

    The bipartisan Railroad Yardmaster Protection Act would include railroad yardmasters under federal hours of service requirements which currently cover safety-sensitive rail workers such as locomotive engineers, conductors, switchmen, dispatchers, and signal employees.

    The bill ensures that a yardmaster may not be required or allowed to remain on duty for more than a total of 12 hours, and then must receive a minimum of 10 hours off duty.

    First introduced in 2019, the Railroad Yardmaster Protection Act passed the House in 2020 as part of the INVEST in America Act. 

    The bill has also been endorsed by SMART, the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers.

    The full text of the legislation can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “Moscow Model” is seven years old: what the pavilion’s guests were able to see

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The Moscow Model Pavilion at VDNKh celebrated its seventh anniversary on the first weekend of October. More than 5.2 thousand people attended the festive events in honor of this event. This was reported by the Minister of the Moscow Government, the head of the capital’s Department of Urban Development Policy Vladislav Ovchinsky.

    “On the weekend of October 5 and 6, the Moscow Model pavilion was visited not only by residents of Moscow, St. Petersburg and various Russian cities, but also by tourists from Belarus, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan and other countries. The exhibition guests were able to look at a 400-fold reduced exact copy of the capital’s center and see 36 lighting shows dedicated to various topics: the history of Moscow, the development of the capital’s architecture, the change of seasons,” said Vladislav Ovchinsky.

    The karaoke show “Songs about Moscow” was of particular interest to visitors to the exhibition. The pavilion guests also took part in a special excursion program. There they learned how the model was created, how many years it took, how many people worked on the implementation of the idea, and how the “Moscow Model” differs from other similar projects in the Russian Federation.

    Over the two days of celebration, six interactive quizzes were held for all comers. 316 people took part in them, almost 60 of whom received memorable prizes for winning.

    An electronic guest book was installed at the exit of the pavilion. Guests shared their impressions using text, images or emoji. Over 100 people took advantage of this opportunity during the holiday weekend.

    The Moscow Model Pavilion is located on Sirenevaya Alley at VDNKh. It can be visited free of charge every day from 10:00 to 20:00, except Monday.

    “Based on the results of the summer season, the pavilion entered the top 3 most visited sites of the VDNKh Museum City,” noted VDNKh General Director Sergei Shogurov.

    The scale of the city model is one to 400, the area is 429 square meters. The idea of creating a copy of the capital arose in 2011. Work began a year later, and on October 3, 2017, the pavilion was opened to visitors. During this time, the model was changed and updated approximately every two to three years. The craftsmen added houses built under the renovation program, landscaped parks, new institutions, and business centers.

    The pavilion continues to host a free exhibition of tactile models of six iconic city landmarks: the Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin, the Bolshoi Theatre, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Triumphal Arch, one of Stalin’s seven skyscrapers and the State Historical Museum. For those with limited vision, all models have been supplemented with a description in Braille.

    You can find detailed information, view the schedule of light shows and VR attractions, and sign up for excursions on the website and through the mobile application “Moscow Model”.

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

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

    http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/144985073/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The city allocated eight land plots for the implementation of large-scale investment projects in ZAO

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    As part of the implementation of large-scale investment projects (MaIP), the city has leased land plots with a total area of almost 17 hectares in the Western Administrative District of Moscow to investors and developers. This was reported by Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.

    “The implementation of large-scale investment projects allows us to develop urban infrastructure and create jobs. Since the beginning of 2024, investors have been provided with almost 17 hectares of land in the west of the capital for the construction of industrial, commercial, social and transport facilities within the framework of the MAIP. Thanks to this, new jobs will appear for city residents. The total area of real estate under construction will exceed 245 thousand square meters,” said Vladimir Efimov.

    Two plots of land with a total area of over 11 hectares were allocated for the creation of manufacturing enterprises.

    “The provision of land plots without tenders and at a preferential rate of one ruble per year is one of the key measures to support industrial construction, which we are implementing in accordance with the order of Sergei Sobyanin. As part of the MAIP, a food industry production and logistics complex and an enterprise for the production of components for cleaning equipment, small architectural forms and joinery will be built in the west of the capital. It will supply the city with products under an offset contract,” said the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport and Industry

    Maxim Liksutov.

    Land lease agreements were concluded with investors for five years. During this time, entrepreneurs must build and commission the facilities.

    Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of City Property Maxim Gaman noted that investors were provided with two plots in Solntsevo with an area of over 0.7 hectares and 1.2 hectares for the construction of educational facilities. Thus, a kindergarten for 350 children will be built on Matrosov Street, and a preschool institution for 200 children will be built on Rodnikovaya Street. The total area of the buildings will exceed 13 thousand square meters.

    In Ramenki, the city allocated 0.46 hectares of land for the construction of a supplementary education center. Here, students from family education assistance centers and special schools will receive help with their education and adaptation.

    In Novo-Peredelkino, 0.63 hectares were provided for the expansion of the Arctic sports cluster, on the territory of which there are ice arenas, football fields, gyms, a swimming pool, running tracks, a basketball court and other facilities.

    MAIP is a special status that investors can obtain for the construction of facilities necessary for the development of urban infrastructure and the creation of jobs. These can be production complexes, innovation centers, social institutions, transport, commercial and other enterprises. For their construction, the city provides land plots for lease for a period of five years.

    Earlier Sergei Sobyanin told, that since the beginning of the year, investors have been provided with about 220 hectares of land for the implementation of the MAIP. This is almost twice as much as for the same period in 2023.

    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/nevs/item/144952073/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Springdale — Impaired driver arrested by Springdale RCMP

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    A 23-year-old man was arrested by Springdale RCMP for impaired driving on October 5th, 2024.

    At approximately 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, police observed a vehicle on Little Bay Road with a burnt-out headlight and conducted a traffic stop. The driver showed signs of alcohol impairment, failed a roadside breath test, and was arrested. Back at the detachment, the man provided breath samples that were above the legal limit.

    He was released from custody and is set to appear in court at a later date to answer to charges of impaired operation of a motor vehicle.

    The vehicle was seized and impounded and the man’s driver’s licence was suspended.

    RCMP NL continues to fulfill its mandate to protect public safety, enforce the law, and ensure the delivery of priority policing services in Newfoundland and Labrador.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Verizon anuncia nueva ronda de apoyos para pequeñas empresas

    Source: Verizon

    Headline: Verizon anuncia nueva ronda de apoyos para pequeñas empresas

    • A través de Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, las pequeñas empresas pueden acceder a cursos gratuitos en inglés y español, capacitación con expertos en pequeñas empresas y la oportunidad de solicitar un apoyo de $10,000.
    • La plataforma también se ha asociado con Next Street para compartir un “Mercado de financiación para pequeñas empresas”, donde los propietarios de empresas pueden buscar oportunidades de préstamos y subvenciones según sus necesidades comerciales.
    • El programa ha llegado a más de 350,000 empresas en todo el país, de las cuales el 51% son propiedad de mujeres y el 62% son propiedad de personas de color o hispanas.

    BASKING RIDGE, NJ – Como el acceso a capital es un desafío común para los emprendedores, Verizon anuncia nuevas oportunidades de financiamiento de subvenciones de $10,000 disponibles para pequeñas empresas a través de la plataforma Verizon Small Business Digital Ready. Los propietarios de pequeñas empresas que se registren en la plataforma pueden recibir acceso gratuito y personalizado a más de 50 cursos en línea en inglés y español, oportunidades de tutoría con expertos de la industria, entrenamiento de expertos personalizados y en grupo, eventos comunitarios virtuales y en persona y la oportunidad de postularse para obtener financiamiento mediante subvenciones.

    El programa es operado en asociación con Next Street y Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). Hasta la fecha, Small Business Digital Ready ha apoyado a más de 350,000 pequeñas empresas en todo el país, de las cuales el 51% son propiedad de mujeres y el 62% son propiedad de personas de color o hispanas.

    Hasta el 13 de diciembre de 2024 a las 11:59 p.m. (hora del Pacífico), las pequeñas empresas pueden acceder a la solicitud para esta ronda de financiamiento de subvenciones registrándose primero en el portal Verizon Small Business Digital Ready y completando al menos dos cursos, capacitación o eventos comunitarios, en cualquier combinación entre 1 de julio de 2024 y 13 de diciembre de 2024 a las 11:59 p.m. PT. Las pequeñas empresas que completen la solicitud serán elegibles para recibir una subvención de $10,000.

    “Las pequeñas empresas son el pilar de las comunidades y tenemos la responsabilidad de ayudarles a prosperar”, dijo Donna Epps, Chief Responsible Business Officer de Verizon. “Verizon Small Business Digital Ready se creó para impulsar a los propietarios de pequeñas empresas a través de capacitación en habilidades digitales, y estamos orgullosos de ofrecer otra oportunidad de apoyo a esta comunidad diversa y en crecimiento de propietarios de pequeñas empresas en todo el país”.

    La plataforma también está lanzando el “Mercado de financiación para pequeñas empresas”, un repositorio de oportunidades de financiación y préstamos disponibles para pequeñas empresas, y ha lanzado “Learning Paths”. Rutas de aprendizaje como “Mejora tu acceso al capital” y “Construye tu marca única” invitan a los usuarios a completar una serie de recursos para ayudarlos a acercarse a lograr un objetivo comercial. 

    Verizon no es un prestamista ni un corredor. El mercado de financiación para pequeñas empresas es proporcionado por Next Street Financial LLC. No todas las solicitudes son aprobadas. Todas las decisiones de financiación las toman terceros proveedores de capital. Las calificaciones, los requisitos, la aprobación y los términos del préstamo varían según el tipo de préstamo, las calificaciones del solicitante y el estado.

    MIL OSI Economics –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Konsolidator to issue new shares in private placement – Inside information

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Company announcement no 15-2024

    Søborg, October 8, 2024

    Konsolidator to issue new shares in private placement

    The Board of Directors of Konsolidator A/S (“Konsolidator”) has today exercised its authorization to issue new shares in a private placement of new shares with expected gross proceeds of up to DKK 2.2m. As announced in the H2 2024 report, the equity on June 30, 2024, was negative and management would take the necessary steps to reestablish it.

    The Board of Directors of Konsolidator has today exercised its authorization to resolve on an increase of the share capital in a directed issue without pre-emption rights for Konsolidator’s existing shareholders according to 3.1.8 of the articles of association.

    Consequently, the board of directors has resolved to issue up to a total of 573,979 new shares at a subscription price of DKK 3,92 per share corresponding to the volume weighted average of Konsolidator’s share price over the 5 trading days preceding the decision of the Board of Directors. Gross proceeds from the private placement corresponds to approximately DKK 2.2m.

    Use of net proceeds

    In the H1 2024 report published on August 22, 2024, Konsolidator continues to focus on the new growth initiatives including developing the new banking segment. Further, Konsolidator focuses on supporting Konsolidator Iberia in Spain and Portugal as well as developing Konsolidator into being a partner-sales driven company within the Microsoft D365 partner channel.

    In company announcement no 14-2024 on August 22, 2024, Konsolidator announced that the focus for Q3 2024 would be to strengthen the capital structure and improve operations as well as securing funding of the operations.

    CEO Claus Finderup Grove says: “We have asked a lot from our shareholders in 2024, and we are very appreciative for their patience. We have restructured our cost base in August and maintain our focus on becoming cash flow positive.”

    The resolution on the private placement of new shares

    The new shares issued as a result of the private placement will be registered at the Danish Business Authority upon receipt of final subscriptions and cash payments for the new shares. Following registration, the share capital will increase by the number of new shares subscribed, where each share will have a nominal value of DKK 0.04. Today, the company has a registered share capital of nominal DKK 886,428.84 and with full subscription the share capital will increase to nominal DKK 909,388.00.

    The new shares represent approximately 2.6% of Konsolidator’s share capital before the capital increase and 2.5% of Konsolidator’s share capital after the capital increase.

    The new shares will be negotiable instruments, and no restrictions will apply to their transferability. The new shares will not carry any special rights. The rights conferred by the new shares, including voting and dividend rights, will apply from the date when the capital increase is registered with the Danish Business Authority. The new shares are to be registered in the name of the holder in Konsolidator’s register of shareholders.

    Admission to trading and expected timetable

    Konsolidator expects to have received final subscriptions and subscription amounts no later than on October 14, 2024, following which the capital increase will be registered with the Danish Business Authority. The new shares will be issued under the ISIN code of Konsolidator’s existing shares (DK0061113511), and are expected to be admitted to trading on Nasdaq First North Growth Market Denmark no later than on 17 October, 2024.

    The offering of new shares and the admission to trading is exempt from the obligation to publish a prospectus.

    Contacts

    Certified Adviser

    About Konsolidator
    Konsolidator A/S is a financial consolidation software company whose primary objective is to make Group CFOs around the world better through automated financial consolidation and reporting in the cloud. Created by CFOs and auditors and powered by innovative technology, Konsolidator removes the complexity of financial consolidation and enables the CFO to save time and gain actionable insights based on key performance data to become a vital part of strategic decision-making. Konsolidator was listed at Nasdaq First North Growth Market Denmark in 2019. Ticker Code: KONSOL

    Attachment

    • Company announcement no 15-2024 – Board resolution on private placement

    The MIL Network –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Fleet Readiness Center Southeast engineer earns NAWCAD Fellow distinction

    Source: United States Navy

    Ian Hawkins, a Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) materials engineering supervisor, was recently accepted into the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Fellow Program coordinated by Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division’s (NAWCAD) during an award ceremony held at NAVAIR headquarters in Pawtuxet River, Md.

    “This award recognizes the technical accomplishments over my career to improve capability and readiness,” said Hawkins. “The results of my efforts are due to the teams and great teammates I’ve been lucky to work with. I was fortunate to be in positions where I could guide teams on engineering projects and programs to achieve safety and readiness goals for the Navy. Additionally, I’ve been fortunate to work on national efforts with my NAWCAD and FRC counterparts and on international efforts with our ally partners.”

    Introduced in the 1980s, the Fellows Program became a NAVAIR program in the 2000s, and NAWCAD re-established it in 2021 after a three-year pause in inductions. Inductees into the Fellow Program are nominated and selected by a team of peers based on their tenure and technical accomplishments in safety and readiness. The program is unique in that it does not have senior leadership.

    The Fellow Program has three levels of prestige: Associate Fellows, or the first tier, make up the top three percent of scientists and engineers at NAVAIR. Fellows, the second tier, represents the top three-quarters of a percent and is the level Hawkins has achieved. Finally, Esteemed Fellows make up the top one-quarter of a percent. Each level pulls new members from the tier below, and members are inducted by majority vote.

    Hawkins’ primary discipline is nondestructive inspection, or the examination of aircraft and components that does not require taking them apart.

    “It’s a privilege to work for the Navy, and I feel like I need to do more and more every day, and that’s the main reason I’m here,” said Hawkins.

    About Fleet Readiness Center Southeast 

    Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) is Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia’s largest maintenance, repair, overhaul and technical services provider, employing approximately 5,000 civilian, military and contract workers. With annual revenue exceeding $1 billion, the organization serves as an integral part of the greater US Navy, Naval Air Systems Command, and Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers by maintaining the combat airpower for America’s military forces.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA’s Roman Space Telescope’s ‘Exoskeleton’ Whirls Through Major Test

    Source: NASA

    A major component of NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope just took a spin on the centrifuge at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Called the Outer Barrel Assembly, this piece of the observatory is designed to keep the telescope at a stable temperature and shield it from stray light.

    The two-part spin test took place in a large, round test chamber. Stretching across the room, a 600,000-pound (272,000-kilogram) steel arm extends from a giant rotating bearing in the center of the floor.
    The test itself is like a sophisticated version of a popular carnival attraction, designed to apply centrifugal force to the rider — in this case, the outer covering for Roman’s telescope. It spun up to 18.4 rotations per minute. That may not sound like much, but it generated force equivalent to just over seven times Earth’s gravity, or 7 g, and sent the assembly whipping around at 80 miles per hour.
    “We couldn’t test the entire Outer Barrel Assembly in the centrifuge in one piece because it’s too large to fit in the room,” said Jay Parker, product design lead for the assembly at Goddard. The structure stands about 17 feet (5 meters) tall and is about 13.5 feet (4 meters) wide. “It’s designed a bit like a house on stilts, so we tested the ‘house’ and ‘stilts’ separately.”
    The “stilts” went first. Technically referred to as the elephant stand because of its similarity to structures used in circuses, this part of the assembly is designed to surround Roman’s Wide Field Instrument and Coronagraph Instrument like scaffolding. It connects the upper portion of the Outer Barrel Assembly to the spacecraft bus, which will maneuver the observatory to its place in space and support it while there. The elephant stand was tested with weights attached to it to simulate the rest of the assembly’s mass.

    Next, the team tested the “house” — the shell and a connecting ring that surround the telescope. These parts of the assembly will ultimately be fitted with heaters to help ensure the telescope’s mirrors won’t experience wide temperature swings, which make materials expand and contract.
    To further protect against temperature fluctuations, the Outer Barrel Assembly is mainly made of two types of carbon fibers mixed with reinforced plastic and connected with titanium end fittings. These materials are both stiff (so they won’t warp or flex during temperature swings) and lightweight (reducing launch demands).
    If you could peel back the side of the upper portion –– the house’s “siding” –– you’d see another weight-reducing measure. Between inner and outer panels, the material is structured like honeycomb. This pattern is very strong and lowers weight by hollowing out portions of the interior.
    Designed at Goddard and built by Applied Composites in Los Alamitos, California, Roman’s Outer Barrel Assembly was delivered in pieces and then put together in a series of crane lifts in Goddard’s largest clean room. It was partially disassembled for centrifuge testing, but will now be put back together and integrated with Roman’s solar panels and Deployable Aperture Cover at the end of the year.
    In 2025, these freshly integrated components will go through thermal vacuum testing together to ensure they will withstand the temperature and pressure environment of space. Then they’ll move to a shake test to make sure they will hold up against the vibrations they’ll experience during launch. Toward the end of next year, they will be integrated with rest of the observatory.
    To virtually tour an interactive version of the telescope, visit:
    https://roman.gsfc.nasa.gov/interactive
    The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is managed at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, with participation by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Caltech/IPAC in Southern California, the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, and a science team comprising scientists from various research institutions. The primary industrial partners are BAE Systems, Inc in Boulder, Colorado; L3Harris Technologies in Rochester, New York; and Teledyne Scientific & Imaging in Thousand Oaks, California.
    By Ashley BalzerNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
    ​​Media Contact:Claire AndreoliNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center301-286-1940

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese high-speed trains roll with innovation progress

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

    BEIJING, Oct. 8 — During the week-long National Day holiday ending on Monday, China’s high-speed railway stations were often bustling with crowds. Some passengers could be seen lined up in an orderly fashion as they prepared to board, while others could be spotted browsing their smartphones or using laptops when waiting for their boarding calls.

    The country’s railway sector experienced a surge in passenger traffic on Monday as travelers returned home from their holiday destinations.

    A total of 13,103 trains were in operation on Monday, including 1,705 additional trains scheduled to meet the significant demand. This marked a historic high for a single day’s operational capacity, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.

    China has built the world’s largest high-speed railway network to address the people’s growing demand for convenient and comfortable travel.

    The total operational length of China’s high-speed railway network has exceeded 45,000 kilometers, with Fuxing high-speed trains operating across 31 provincial-level regions nationwide.

    This growing volume of railway transportation is supported by innovations and high-quality development concerning China’s rail transit equipment. Notably, the Fuxing high-speed train project received the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award in June 2024.

    CHINESE RAILWAY INNOVATION

    Once upon a time, the slow train with its signature green color dominated the travel memories of many Chinese people.

    Since the Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Railway, with a design speed of 350 km per hour, entered operation in 2008, a fast-expanding modern high-speed railway network has been operating efficiently in the world’s second-largest economy.

    Now it takes just over eight hours to travel from Hong Kong in south China to Beijing in the north by high-speed rail, a Canadian passenger with the Xiaohongshu username Lao Han, shared on his social media platform this April, while adding that he enjoyed the different views from south to north during the journey.

    Previously, a train connecting the two cities took more than 24 hours to complete a one-way trip.

    Such a rail experience is not confined to the Hong Kong-Beijing trip, with many bullet trains running across the country, reaching a maximum speed of 350 kilometers per hour. CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd in Changchun, northeast China’s Jilin Province, one of China’s major rail transit equipment enterprises, has long been contributing to the speeding up of the country’s railway travel options.

    Since the 1990s, China’s railway running speed has been repeatedly and significantly increased, with CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles introducing a number of upgraded and innovative products to provide equipment support for these accelerations.

    Notably, this company produced China’s first subway train and first group of high-speed trains. The country’s first aluminum alloy subway train, stainless steel subway train, monorail train, low-floor light rail vehicle, linear electric locomotive and automatic subway train were also manufactured in the factories of CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles.

    In July 2024, the company introduced a high-speed built-in bogie that can meet the needs of Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) trains at a speed of 400 km per hour.

    The high-speed built-in bogie serves as the running system and one of the core components of rail vehicles. “It acts as the legs of an EMU train,” explained Zhou Dianmai, a senior engineer of CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles. Equipped with such a bogie, a train can run faster and more steadily, while also generating less noise.

    Compared with traditional external bogies, the built-in bogie reduces the weight of the train by 20 percent — which can cut energy consumption by 15 percent during the vehicle’s operation, lower wheel-rail wear by about 30 percent, and reduce wheel-rail noise by around two decibels. In addition, maintenance cost during the whole life cycle is slashed by approximately 15 percent. This product is expected to facilitate the green and energy-saving transformation of EMU trains.

    At the EMU bogie production line of CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles, a big data analysis platform features key information, such as management costs and resource consumption. Through the processing of real-time data, this platform can generate product design and management suggestions.

    “The big data analysis platform improved the equipment utilization rate by 10 percent and decreased operation and management costs by 10 percent,” said Zhu Yan, deputy chief designer of the Fuxing bullet train at CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles. Total average annual costs were reduced by more than 5 million yuan (about 700,830 U.S. dollars).

    Through learning from overseas advanced experience and customizing according to China’s unique conditions, the company has achieved both key technologies concerning rail transit equipment and capability in terms of R&D and manufacturing of full-range EMU trains.

    On March 21, 2024, the world’s first city train powered by hydrogen, independently developed by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles, conducted its maiden speed test run. Previously, such a combination of hydrogen energy and rail transit equipment had not been achieved.

    Running at a speed of 160 kilometers per hour at full load, the train consumed only five KWh energy per kilometer, while the data measuring each system confirmed stability during the test.

    So far, CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles has managed to build nine product platforms with advanced EMU, subway trains and maglev trains, covering R&D capabilities in terms of full-type and full-variety rail transit products.

    WELCOME ABOARD CHINESE TRAINS

    China’s high-speed trains, a successful example of independent innovation, are now regarded as a Chinese “calling card” and are welcomed globally.

    Indonesia’s Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway (HSR) noted in July 2024 that it had carried 4 million passengers since it began commercial operations on Oct. 17, 2023. Indonesian drivers have successfully operated the trains serving the HSR at a speed of 350 kilometers per hour.

    This is the first overseas high-speed railway project fully utilizing Chinese railway systems, technology and industrial components.

    The China Academy of Railway Sciences (CARS) has undertaken supervision and consultation concerning this high-speed railway, and has provided support in fields such as on-site quality control, drawing reviews and technical research.

    The 142.3-km high-speed railway has shortened the journey between Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, and Bandung, a famous tourist city, to only 40 minutes.

    Meanwhile, a landmark project of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, namely the China-Laos Railway, began operations in December 2021.

    “Before the China-Laos Railway opened, it took me two days to travel from Vientiane to Mongla by car,” said a Lao passenger. “Now, it takes me about five hours by train, which is very fast and convenient.”

    Another Chinese-built project, the Belgrade-Novi Sad high-speed railway, has transported nearly 8.8 million people between Serbia’s two largest cities since starting operation in 2022.

    At the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in October 2023, CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles signed a purchase contract with Serbia to introduce China’s bullet trains to this country in Eastern Europe.

    Based on a mature and reliable technical platform, both design and production of trains are tailored according to local railway conditions and technical specifications.

    In recent years, the products of CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles have been exported to 23 countries and regions. The company’s export business model currently covers the full life cycle service of vehicles, and it has set up 11 branches and subsidiaries worldwide.

    “China’s high-speed trains feature high levels of science and technology, strong brand influence and thriving innovation,” said Tao Guidong, a scientist of CRRC.

    MIL OSI China News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Britain has neglected Africa and the Commonwealth for over a decade: 4 ways it can reset relations

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Nicholas Westcott, Professor of Practice in Diplomacy, Dept of Politics and International Studies, SOAS, University of London

    The United Kingdom is resetting its relations with Africa and other countries in the global south after more than a decade of neglect. At the United Nations in September, British prime minister Keir Starmer promised his government was

    returning the UK to responsible global leadership.

    This should include reconnecting with the countries of the global south which feel they have been neglected and among whom Britain’s voice is now at a discount.

    The new Labour government’s recently launched reviews of Britain’s global impact and its international economic and development policies provide an opportunity to reevaluate and relaunch these relations. The opportunity must be seized for the sake of global stability.

    The post-cold war order is fraying. America is increasingly reluctant to act as a global guarantor for a multilateral system governed by international rules and respecting human rights and freedoms. China, Russia and emerging middle powers such as Iran, Turkey and the Gulf States seem happier with a multipolar system based on the exercise of military and economic power. Meanwhile, the accelerating impact of climate change adds to the challenges to regional stability in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

    I have followed these questions for nearly 50 years, as an academic and diplomat. Much has changed in those years, but recent British governments have been slow to adapt to these changes. To reconnect with countries in Africa and the global south, Britain needs a new attitude as well as new policies; and, paradoxically perhaps, the Commonwealth can play a constructive role in achieving this.

    Britain’s problem

    Distracted by its domestic political and economic difficulties since Brexit, recent British governments have neglected both Africa and the Commonwealth.

    • Aid has been cut, and policy incoherence exacerbated by the merger between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development.

    • An investment conference with Africa due earlier in 2024 was scrapped at short notice.

    • Successive prime ministers gave little time to meeting African and other leaders from the global south. They had no answer to the questions being asked about Britain’s relationship with the south.

    Yet Britain’s links to these countries remain strong. Not least through the growing diaspora communities in the UK that are now an integral part of Britain’s social and political fabric. With 5.5 million people of Asian heritage and 2.5 million of African or mixed heritage in the UK in 2021, these bonds need to be politically recognised.

    Read more: How Commonwealth countries have forged a new way to appoint judges

    Most of those Britons come from Commonwealth countries. The Commonwealth as an organisation is no substitute for closer engagement with individual countries. But it provides a forum where connections can be made and a new, more equal relationship built.

    Though British governments have neglected it, King Charles, the ceremonial head of the Commonwealth, has not, as his visit to Kenya in 2023 showed. And other countries are still seeking to join, as Gabon and Togo did last year.

    Commonwealth heads of government meeting

    From 21-26 October Samoa will host the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (Chogm), which will choose a new secretary-general – this time from Africa. The summit brings together representatives from every continent: from G7 members to least developed countries, from the most populous country (India at 1.45 billion people) to the smallest (Tuvalu with under 10,000), from major greenhouse gas emitters to small islands at risk of disappearing beneath the sea.

    Despite its imperial origins, the Commonwealth is an international network that cuts across the multi-polarity that risks dividing the world. It includes countries from the global south, the global north and the global east. The diversity makes it an ideal forum for honest conversations on difficult issues like climate change and multilateral institutional reform.

    Unlike the recent Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (Focac) in Beijing, the Commonwealth is an organisation run by its members. They share common values and interests as well as a common language. They come together to exchange ideas, not pledges of investment or aid. Its traditions of democracy and equality between members make it unique and valuable. It provides, for example, a ready-made network of global influence for any member state. For small island states, particularly in the Caribbean and Pacific, it is one forum where their voices can be amplified.

    This is important. With the community of nations struggling to address global challenges of the scale of climate change and pandemics, or to resolve regional conflicts, opportunities to build consensus are needed more than ever. The wars in Ukraine, the Middle East, the Sahel and the Horn of Africa are a portent of things to come if we fail to sustain a global structure that can resolve rather than exacerbate such conflicts. UN peacemaking efforts might then be crowned with success rather than with futility and frustration.

    What Britain needs to do

    Britain is only one among many voices, so it needs a persuasive narrative that will help preserve a world order that can tackle humanity’s challenges, rather than one that simply fights over what is left. The Commonwealth, like the UN, is a place where the UK can start building support for a more equal and more effective global system.

    A new narrative, and a new relationship with Africa and the global south, should be based on four elements.

    Firstly, repentance for sins past. Britain’s empire played a central role in making the modern world, for better and worse. While the better is often taken for granted, the sins of empire still rankle, and – like a stone in the shoe – will distract relations. Best therefore to acknowledge them, and move forward.

    Secondly, the new relationship must be based on mutual respect and partnership. In particular, the age of traditional development programmes with their paternalistic tendencies is past. What countries in the global south are seeking, as many feel they do get from China, is a genuine partnership of equals that recognises the relationship as a whole and focuses on the political as well as economic sources of growth.

    Thirdly, Britain needs to work with African and other southern governments to amplify their voice in multilateral institutions such as the UN and international financial institutions, so that those institutions genuinely protect their interests and those countries defend the institutions.

    Finally, Britain needs to engage with the public as much as with governments in these countries. The BBC World Service, the British Council and Britain’s education sector are becoming more important in challenging disinformation as the battle of narratives hots up. Now is the time to reinforce them, not let them fade away.

    A new narrative along these lines at Chogm, and incorporated into the government’s reviews, could be the start of a genuine reset in Britain’s relationship with the global south, to the benefit of all.

    – Britain has neglected Africa and the Commonwealth for over a decade: 4 ways it can reset relations
    – https://theconversation.com/britain-has-neglected-africa-and-the-commonwealth-for-over-a-decade-4-ways-it-can-reset-relations-239852

    MIL OSI Africa –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Eshoo and Supervisor Mueller Applaud California Attorney General for Holding Seton Coastside Owner Accountable

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA)

    Palo Alto, CA – Representative Anna G. Eshoo (CA-16) and San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller applauded the California Attorney General’s decision to file a lawsuit against Seton Coastside owner AHMC Healthcare, Inc. The enforcement action filed in San Mateo County court compels AHMC Healthcare, Inc., to reopen Seton Coastside with all the services it agreed to provide as part oftheJuly 27, 2020 contract of sale outlining conditions of Seton Coastside’s sale to AHMC Healthcare, Inc. This includes the provision of emergency services.

    “I am highly pleased that the Attorney General of California has responded forcefully to my call to hold AHMC accountable for its flagrant violations of the law and their Contract of Sale violations. The action today reinforces an important message: irresponsible actors will not be allowed to gamble with the wellbeing of patients,” Rep. Eshoo said.

    “The closure of Seton Coastside by AHMC was more than a breach of contract—it was a violation of the trust our community placed in them. I want to thank California Attorney General Bonta for responding to the calls for justice from Congresswoman Eshoo and my office. Together we are making it clear that such actions will have consequences. AHMC will face accountability for their failure to uphold legally binding agreements meant to protect healthcare access on the Coastside. Separately, the action by the Attorney’s General lays a foundation for a claim by the County that AHMC has violated the terms of a multi-million dollar loan the County of San Mateo provided them. This is not just about righting a wrong—it’s about sending a message. No corporation can put profits over people without facing the full weight of the law. We are committed to restoring healthcare access and safeguarding our community’s future. Above all our community deserves the heathcare they were promised,” Supervisor Mueller said.

    Rep. Eshoo has pressed for action to hold AHMC Healthcare, Inc., accountable since it closed the Seton Coastside facility in April 2024. She sent a letter to the Attorney General in July specifically listing AHMC’s violations in their contract of sale. Before that, she sent two letters to the California Department of Public Health.

    You can read the full letter to the Attorney General here.

    You can read the second letter to CDPH here.

    You can read the first letter to CDPH here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Message from the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health – Mental Illness Awareness Week

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Statement

    This week is Mental Illness Awareness Week, an annual campaign designed to highlight that everyone’s experience with mental illness is unique and to encourage empathy towards those affected.

    October 8, 2024 | Ottawa, ON | Health Canada

    This week is Mental Illness Awareness Week, an opportunity to highlight that everyone’s experience with mental illness is unique. Almost all of us have been affected by mental illness, either directly or through the experiences of our family, friends or colleagues. This year’s theme, “Access For All: Time for Action, Time for Change,” is a reminder that we must all work together to promote access to mental health care for everyone.

    Mental illness, including mood disorders, can affect how someone thinks, feels, and behaves, and can significantly impact a person’s day to day. Improving our knowledge and understanding of mental illness helps reduce barriers to care, like stigma. The Government of Canada is working to improve access to mental healthcare by challenging stigma, improving mental health literacy, funding culturally relevant and tailored resources and normalizing conversations to increase awareness and understanding of mental illness.

    Getting help for a mental illness can significantly improve your quality of life. Learning about mental illness and knowing when to reach out for help is an important part of self-care. Through the recently announced Youth Mental Health Fund, the government of Canada has committed to helping young Canadians access the mental health care they need by reducing wait times and providing more care options.

    If you or a loved one are struggling with lasting negative emotions or have concerns about mental health, visit Canada.ca/mental-health for free mental health resources.

    For those living with mental illness, support is available. Speak to a health care professional or someone you trust. You can also connect with Kids Help Phone which provides confidential mental health resources 24/7 for kids, teens and young adults, or the Hope for Wellness Helpline which provides Indigenous Peoples with immediate emotional support and crisis intervention with experienced and culturally sensitive helpline counsellors.

    If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline at any time, from anywhere in Canada to access bilingual, trauma-informed, and culturally appropriate suicide prevention support.

    Mental Illness is as real as any physical illness, and no one should have to face it alone. We are working with all levels of government so that everyone in Canada has the mental health care support they need, when or where they need it.

    The Honourable Ya’ara Saks, P.C., M.P.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Release of The State of Canada’s Birds 2024 report

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Backgrounder

    Developed by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Birds Canada, The State of Canada’s Birds 2024 report provides accessible, scientific insight into the population status of 463 bird species that occur regularly in Canada.

    Developed by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Birds Canada, The State of Canada’s Birds 2024 report provides accessible, scientific insight into the population status of 463 bird species that occur regularly in Canada.

    Population changes in Canada’s bird species since 1970

    • 168 species (36 percent) have decreased in population
    • 143 species (31 percent) have increased in population
    • 98 species (21 percent) have experienced little change in population
    • 54 species (12 percent) are data deficient (not enough information to determine a trend)
    Long Description

    A spaghetti chart showing the population change in Canada’s birds from 1970 to 2020. The graph shows Waterfowl increase by 46%, Birds of Prey increase by 35%, Wetland Birds increase by 21%, Marine Birds increase by 0%, Forest Birds decrease by 1%, Arctic Birds decrease by 28%, Long-Distance Migrants decrease by 29%, Shorebirds decrease by 42%, Aerial Insectivores decrease by 43%, and Grassland Birds decrease by 67%.

    Key findings from the report

    • Three bird groups have increased in population since 1970: waterfowl (46 percent), birds of prey (35 percent), and wetland birds (21 percent). From banning DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) to save the Peregrine Falcon campaign to conserving wetlands for birds like the Least Bittern, conservation action is having positive impacts on bird populations.
    • A crisis is unfolding in the Prairies. Grassland birds have declined by 67 percent since 1970, with no sign of levelling off. The destruction and degradation of native grasslands is the single greatest threat to this group of birds and biodiversity in general. Without urgent action to conserve their habitat, species like the Chestnut-collared Longspur and the Burrowing Owl may be lost from Canada, along with the ecosystem services that healthy habitats provide.
    • Shorebirds are continuing to decline, with a drop of 42 percent since 1970. The populations of some species, like the Hudsonian Godwit, have fallen by over 90 percent. Shorebirds face many threats, as many make perilous, long-distance migrations and breed in vulnerable habitats, like the Arctic and the Prairies.
    • Aerial insectivores—birds that hunt for insects in flight—have declined by 43 percent since 1970. Although the decline has subsided recently, populations are far lower than they were in the 1970s. Declines in insect populations have likely been one of the major causes, and reversing these declines could help save threatened birds like the Bank Swallow and the Chimney Swift.

    The threats birds face in Canada

    • Habitat loss threatens birds across Canada and affects migratory birds throughout their annual journeys. The destruction and degradation of habitats is driven by agricultural practices, urban development, natural resource extraction, and infrastructure.
    • Climate change is a significant and growing threat to birds in Canada. Northern birds are likely to be most affected, as the changing climate alters the timing of events like insect and plant emergence. An increase in extreme weather events like storms, floods, droughts, and wildfires also puts birds at risk.
    • Outdoor and feral cats kill more than 100 million birds in Canada annually.
    • Collisions with windows are estimated to kill more than 25 million birds in Canada every year, especially when migration brings many species into urban and suburban areas. Millions of birds are also killed annually through collisions with vehicles and power lines.
    • Contaminants and waste affect birds in all environments. Pesticides and other contaminants from agriculture and industry threaten both birds and their habitats. Ingestion of plastics also causes mortality, especially in marine birds.

    How Canadians can help protect birds

    • Create and protect habitats for birds. Plant native plants, reduce pesticide use, and make windows safer for birds.
    • Keep cats indoors or provide outside time with a leash or catio. Leash dogs in sensitive natural areas.
    • Help fight climate change. Use less fossil fuel, waste less food, use less energy at home, and eat less meat.
    • Volunteer for conservation. Take part in citizen science and support local, regional, and national organizations that work to conserve birds and their habitats. Participate in tree plantings, invasive species control, habitat creation, and restoration projects.
    • Choose bird-friendly products. If you are able, choose organic produce, bird-friendly coffee, certified paper products, sustainable seafood, and grass-fed beef.
    • Buy less and produce less waste. Use fewer single-use plastics, dispose of garbage and recycling properly, and help with clean-ups.
    • Learn more about birds, contribute to an inclusive and accessible birding community, and advocate for bird-friendly initiatives, policies, and conservation action.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: First-ever Women in Bus and Coach plaque unveiled in Winchester

    Source: City of Winchester

    A plaque honouring Mary Curry, one of the first two women to qualify as a professional bus driver for Hants & Dorset in 1973, has been unveiled at Winchester Bus Station by Mary herself, joined by the Mayor of Winchester Cllr Russell Gordon-Smith.

    This is the very first Women in Bus and Coach plaque in the country. Its unveiling took place at Winchester Bus Station in partnership with Stagecoach and the event paid tribute to Mary’s remarkable contribution to breaking gender barriers in the industry and her lasting impact on generations of women drivers.

    Mary with the Mayor 

    The Mayor said: “I am very proud to unveil this plaque honouring Mary – who lives in Meonstoke – and her wonderful achievements over her long career; she has so many wonderful stories to tell about her time on the buses including the day that a squealing baby was left at the Broadway!

    “We are deeply honoured that our district is the first place to have a Women in Bus and Coach plaque; it’s a wonderful ‘first’ for Winchester and it’s really excellent that the scheme will then roll out all over the country.”

    This national initiative by Women in Bus and Coach recognises trailblazing women across all roles in the bus, coach and community transport industry.

    Louise Cheeseman, Women in Bus and Coach chair, said: “Mary Curry is a true pioneer, and we are honoured to have celebrated her achievement at Winchester Bus Station where she started her journey. This plaque is a testament to her trailblazing spirit and the progress we continue to make in promoting equality and inclusion in the workplace and we look forward to unveiling many more across the country in the months to come.”

    Marc Reddy, Managing Director for Stagecoach South, said: “Mary Curry’s story is one of perseverance, courage, and breaking boundaries. By recognising her, we hope to continue inspiring more women to consider careers in bus and coach driving. Her legacy lives on in every woman who has taken the driver’s seat and continues to challenge outdated norms in the industry.”

    https://womeninbusandcoach.org.uk/

    Last Updated: Tuesday 8 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: #FreeTheFive Blog: Pensador

    Source: Amnesty International –

    16 September marked  one year since Pensador has been arbitrarily detained. We met with his fiancé, Lemba Cahungo, who describes what an entire year, without her partner has been like.

    Activist Abraão Pedro Santos, AKA Pensador (37) had everything ready and organized for his wedding ceremony in October 2023. Still, he ended up being arrested, tried and sentenced to two years and five months in prison before he could fulfill his dream, simply for joining a planned protest on 16 September 2023, in Luanda, the capital of Angola.

    Pensador was not the only one to be sentenced for participating in the planned demonstration, he is part of the AGPT, the group of four activists sentenced on 19 September 2023.

    Pensador’s fiancée, Lemba, received us with a smile on her face, opened the door of her home and her heart to talk about her fiancé’s arrest and the impact it had on her life. She shared what it means to dream of building a family and suddenly see everything falling apart for no reason.

    Lemba begins by describing how she met Pensador in 2017, at church, but it wasn’t until three years ago that they formalized their relationship and had already set a wedding date. “My fiancé’s dream is to get married and to start a family. He always said he couldn’t wait to get home and be welcomed by his children.”

    “Abraão(as she calls him) had started a law degree but was unable to continue his studies. He is very intelligent. Likes reading books and loves Pepetela (an Angolan writer). He grew up inspired by his father, who also has several books. He loves watching entertainment programs and eating, usually pasta with fish. He’s also a big fan of Azagaia (a Mozambican artist)… This is what I knew about Abraão. He never revealed to me he was an activist”.

    “At the beginning of our relationship, I thought it was strange the way he dressed. He had long hair, wore military-type clothes, grew beards and wore boots. I could tell he was someone with his own ideas, but I didn’t think he was an activist. Eventually I found out a few years ago and told him that if he wanted to pursue activism, he should forget about me. He pretended to listen and even walked away from activism for a while, at least that’s what I thought”.

    Pensador has been an activist since 2011, when several young people took to the streets to demand an end to the rule of former president Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who at the time had been in power for 32 years.

    “Those who get involved in activism in Angola risk their lives. This fear hangs over us. There was a time when the authorities were looking for activist Gangasta, it became terror. I wouldn’t want something similar to happen to someone close to me. I think activism is essential. I can’t keep quiet in situations of injustice, even in my job I often demand better working conditions. I know it’s necessary. Activists want the best for the country, but unfortunately the police always act in bad faith and the consequence is that activists are often beaten, arrested or shot”.

    If Pensador was hiding about his activism, what did he say before he left the house on the morning of 16 September ? We asked.

    “Abraaosaid he was going to the church to fix some speakers. Of course, he couldn’t tell the truth because I wouldn’t agree. Around 4pm, one of his friends called me to ask about Pensador(Abraao), and I said he was at the church. The friend then revealed that Pensador  was arrested, and that the information was already circulating on Facebook. When I saw the news, I started shaking from head to toe. I cried bitterly, but I thought it was just a few hours’ detention and that maybe he would be released the same day, but he wasn’t.”

    A group of activists had called for a demonstration on 16 September 2023, in solidarity with motorcycle taxi drivers who were being restricted from carrying out their activities on some areas of the city. For the organizers, the restrictions were unfair, and several young people could be at risk of becoming unemployed and that would contribute to the already high levels of poverty in Angola.

    The demonstration had been duly communicated, but as usual, the police arrived moments before the demonstration began, and without any warrant, arrested the activists.

    On 19 September 2023, Pensador  and other three other activists were summarily tried,  convicted and sentenced. The public prosecutor initially accused them of “outrage and injury to the President of the Republic” because  one of them was holding a placard with words saying “President Joao Lourenço is incompetent”. Amid various inconsistencies and lack of evidence, the charge was changed to ‘disobedience and resisting orders.’ Witness reports and videos circulated showed that at the time of their arrest, the activists were lying on the ground, not resisting.

    Without any evidence, the court sentenced AGPT to two years and fivemonths in prison and fined them 80,000.00 Kwanzas (approximately USD100 ) each. Their lawyers submitted both an appeal and complaint against the decision, but both were rejected by the court.

    A curious fact, as described by the lawyer in the case, Dr. Zola Bambi, was that while still in the courtroom when the judge read out the sentence, there were only three names (Adolfo Campos, Tanaice Neutro and Gildo). Moments later, when the clerk returned to the courtroom to read the minutes of the trial, Pensador’s (Abraao Pedro dos Santos)’ name was now on the list of those convicted, and it was at that moment that Pensador discovered that he had also been convicted.

     How was it like to visit Abraão for the first time in prison and how he’s doing?

    “When I saw him for the first time in the prison, I started crying and he cried too as we hugged. That was the last time I touched Abraão. When I go to visit him, there’s a barrier that separates us, we stand in different places. I can’t even see his full body. The bars are so thin that your fingers can’t get through”.“We spend hours talking while standing until we run out of things to talk about. When I go to see him, I always try to bring him positive things. I tell him about the nieces he likes and that

    calms him down”.

    “I miss Abraão so much. He’s very intelligent, a little special box of surprises. He always has good ideas to offer, and sometimes I get lost on my own. I need him. I need to talk to him. He loves going after his dreams. All I want is for my fiancé to be released. He didn’t commit any crime. The criminals are the ones who should be locked up.”

    The rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly  are constantly being violated in Angola. Like Pensador every year there are several documented cases of injustice committed against people who decide to take to the streets and protest for their rights or those of their communities. Stand up for Pensador  and three other activists who are arbitrarily detained simply for the peaceful exercise of their human rights.  Sign this petition and share it on your networks using the hashtag #Freethefive #FreeAGPT.

    MIL OSI NGO –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Salford gains £2.7 million to support residents this winter

    Source: City of Salford

    Salford City Council have today (8 October) announced plans for the allocation of the Government’s extension of the Household Support Fund (HSF).

    Since HSF’s introduction in October 2021, Salford City Council has received over 50,000 applications for support, and in the last round of funding alone, covering the period April 2024 to September 2024, Salford received 5,500 applications for help with energy, food and other essential items and supported the families of over 15,000 children with holiday food vouchers during the school holidays.

    Round six of HSF will cover the period of Tuesday 1 October 2024 to Monday 31 March 2025.

    The latest round will support households struggling with the cost-of-living to cover food, energy and fuel costs. Residents who need support can apply directly for funding online or call Salford’s HSF helpline.

    The money will be distributed by Salford City Council’s Salford Assist team. The funding will be awarded by a grant payment to those who meet the eligibility criteria. Salford residents do not need to be in receipt of benefits to apply for the Household Support Fund and can apply for the scheme if they are also in receipt of other benefits and pension credits, all applications will be considered. 

    The funding will also be used to fund holiday food vouchers for children eligible for Free School Meals; Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) partners to deliver food banks, food clubs and food schemes; and other areas of the council such as housing, adult social care, and welfare rights and debt advice.

    Councillor Tracy Kelly, Lead Member for Housing and Anti-Poverty at Salford City Council said: “The Household Support Fund has provided vital support to our most vulnerable residents across the city. As the winter period approaches, this much-needed support to heat homes and put food on the table will be crucial for many families across our city.

    “In Salford, we work hard to make sure vulnerable residents are supported in the best way possible. This funding will enable us to continue providing that assistance and our commitment to building a fairer, more equal society for everyone.”

    Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “The Household Support Fund has been an essential support system, offering our residents much-needed help with food and heating, and ensuring that children on free school meals do not go hungry during school holidays.

    “This funding will help the most vulnerable in our communities and I’d urge anyone who is struggling financially to get in touch and see if you can benefit. The Household Support Fund is in place to support you.”

    This support forms part of Salford’s wider Tackling Poverty strategy which aims to make Salford a fairer and more inclusive place where everyone can live prosperous and fulfilling lives free from poverty and inequality. The funding has come from the Department for Work and Pensions.

    Learn more about the Household Support Fund and how to apply.

    Share this

    Date published
    Tuesday 8 October 2024

    Press and media enquiries

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: 2024 State of Women’s Small Business Report by Block Advisors Reveals Resilience Despite Persistent Support Barriers

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Over 6,000 applicants of the Fund Her Future small business grant program show high confidence yet cite major barriers for women looking to start a business

    KANSAS CITY, Mo., Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, Block Advisors by H&R Block unveiled its 2024 State of Women’s Small Business Report, which reveals that women entrepreneurs continue to face significant funding and support gaps, with these challenges being even more severe for BIPOC women. These systemic obstacles contribute to a personal confidence gap among owners themselves. Despite these barriers, many current business owners feel the outlook for their businesses’ future is positive.

    While nearly all applicants (94%) express feeling ‘somewhat’ to ‘very’ positive about 2025, respondents also express being cautious with finances given the state of today’s economy. Over half of respondents (56%) claim inflation has affected their prices this year; and over the next six months to a year, some respondents believe they may be forced to cut expenses (44%) and raise prices again due to inflation (39%). Despite cautious optimism, the report highlights significant challenges in women’s entrepreneurial journeys. The challenges experienced are even more pronounced for respondents who are racially diverse.

    “Starting a business has its fair share of struggles – sustaining it brings additional challenges,” said Jamil Khan, Chief Small Business Officer at H&R Block. “This report sheds light on the ongoing obstacles, helping us better understand the resources, guidance, and tools to which women entrepreneurs of all backgrounds need access. It’s commonly known that 50% of businesses close within five years of opening – this report helps us understand how we can work with women founders to beat those odds.”

    The 2024 State of Women’s Small Business Report by Block Advisors offers insights from 6,333 Fund Her Future grant applicants. The analysis underscores the profile, attitudes, and behaviors of these applicants, specifically in terms of the motivations, challenges, and needs of today’s women entrepreneurs. Block Advisors’ review of survey responses shows women founders’ future confidence is fueled by a spirit of perseverance. The majority of respondents cited facing substantial funding and support gaps when starting their business. These barriers may play into the confidence gap that was noted in over half of respondents.

    Block Advisors believes these findings reinforce the need for programs like the Fund Her Future grant. “It is clear that women entrepreneurs are determined to find success on their business journey. For these underserved business owners, the right support and guidance in those critical early years can make all the difference in navigating the challenging road ahead,” said Khan.

    Women Applicants Skew Younger, Diverse, and Seek Autonomy

    The grant applicant pool reveals that today’s woman entrepreneur in search of funding is a younger, educated, and racially diverse owner just starting their small business journey. Specifically, approximately half of respondents to the Fund Her Future grant survey were women who were Black (50%), college-educated or higher (63%), millennial (53%), and with two years or less of owning a business (49%).

    Responses indicated that these female founders deeply value being engaged leaders. Improving communities and the overall need for autonomy were among the top motivators for starting their businesses. Almost all (98%) of respondents mentioned improving a community as a motivator. This is supported by the industries represented by applicants: nearly one in four (23%) women own a business in counseling, education, tutoring, or business consulting.

    A preference for business autonomy and work flexibility were also leading catalysts toward business formation: 92% of those surveyed cited wanting to be their own boss and 89% cited wanting to set their own schedule. One in five (21%) women shared that they were starting a business to escape the traditional 9-to-5 work environment so that they could tap into the childcare flexibility of staying home with their kids. Not all aspiring entrepreneurs leave traditional workplaces right away, however. Exactly half of all respondents started their business as a side gig. A slower transition may allow for greater stability during the often-tenuous early years of a business startup, while still lending the founder more feelings of autonomy and self-directed purpose.

    Funding & Support Gaps Remain Big Barriers to Business Formation

    The report found four of the top five barriers to starting a business all dealt with funding and support gaps, further confirming the need to close these gaps through programs like Block Advisors by H&R Block’s Fund Her Future grant. In fact, a ‘lack of start-up capital’ (80%), ‘needing steady, reliable income’ (76%), and ‘needing a solid business plan’ (56%) round out the top three barriers, with ‘needing help getting started’ (50%) placing fifth. 

    Interestingly, 54% of respondents cited ‘fear of failure,’ making it the fourth most common barrier. This spotlights a little-talked-about confidence gap for over half of women entrepreneurs. One respondent stated, “Starting a new business can be daunting, especially as a first-time entrepreneur. The fear of failure, coupled with the challenges of securing funding, can be overwhelming.”​

    Digging deeper into the support gap, a lack of overall mentorship was a common theme. This points to a major barrier that keeps women from taking the leap to start their business. Additionally, one in four (27%) women business owners said they hesitated to start a business due to the lack of mentorship during the process.

    Funding gaps and struggles sourcing capital continue to be prevalent: one in three respondents applied for a bank loan, but 42% of those who applied were never approved. When looked at through an ethnicity lens, the picture becomes more concerning for BIPOC and Black women. Among those who applied for a bank loan, 45% of BIPOC applicants were never approved, compared to 36% of their white peers. Black women applicants seeking a bank loan reported being denied bank loans most frequently. 47% of Black women founders who applied for loans were ultimately denied and unable to access this type of funding.  

    What Women Entrepreneurs Need: Money, Marketing Support, and More Help with Tax Prep

    When asked what tops their wish list for achieving business success, women entrepreneurs confirmed their business would thrive if they had start-up capital (66%) and marketing and advertising support (45%).

    Furthermore, while starting a business can seem exciting and glamorous, respondents express owning a business comes with unexpected responsibilities. While they may have started their business to follow their passion, there are many administrative aspects that comprise the less appealing side of their business to-do lists. Overall, tax preparation (53%) and bookkeeping (40%) rank as the least favorite tasks for applicants, followed by website development and social media management (25%), and marketing & advertising (22%).

    On a similar note, amongst a list of eight business tasks, applicants are least confident in their ability to find all available tax credits and deductions: more than two-thirds of women claim they are only ‘somewhat confident’ to ‘very unconfident.’ Because of this – and coupled with the fact that tax preparation and bookkeeping rank as the two least favorite tasks – today’s woman small business owner may be at risk of leaving tax deductions on the table.

    “For the upcoming generation of women entrepreneurs, building a supportive network of trusted experts and advisors will be crucial in overcoming these challenges and achieving long-term success. Block Advisors takes pride in helping its small business customers offload the business tasks—such as tax preparation, bookkeeping, payroll, business formation, and beneficial owner reporting—to pursue their passions,” said Khan.

    Download the 2024 State of Women’s Small Business Report by Block Advisors.

    To learn more about Block Advisors and the Fund Her Future grant, visit http://www.BlockAdvisors.com and http://www.BlockAdvisors.com/FundHerFutureGrant.

    About H&R Block 
    H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB) provides help and inspires confidence in its clients and communities everywhere through global tax preparation services, financial products, and small-business solutions. The company blends digital innovation with human expertise and care as it helps people get the best outcome at tax time and also be better with money using its mobile banking app, Spruce. Through Block Advisors and Wave, the company helps small-business owners thrive with year-round bookkeeping, payroll, advisory, and payment processing solutions. For more information, visit H&R Block News.

    The MIL Network –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: ibex Expands Call Center Operations in Honduras, Creating 250 New Jobs in the Region

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ibex (NASDAQ: IBEX), a leading global provider of business process outsourcing (BPO) and customer engagement technology solutions, today announced a significant expansion of its operations in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras. This expansion underscores ibex’s commitment to growth in the region and strengthens its nearshore strategy.

    ibex has officially added almost 10,000 square feet of space to its real estate footprint in Honduras. The expanded facility now includes more than 180 additional production seats, representing a 35% increase in operational capacity. The space also features additional recreational areas, offices and training spaces, demonstrating ibex’s dedication to creating a supportive and productive work environment for its employees.

    ibex’s expanded operations in Honduras are expected to create approximately 250 new job opportunities, further contributing to the local economy. The new space became operational in mid-September, with the frontline team successfully handling its first calls. ibex anticipates full utilization of the upgraded space in the coming month.

    “Our continued investment in Honduras reflects ibex’s unwavering commitment to the country and reinforces our successful nearshore strategy. I want to extend my gratitude to all team members who contributed their time and effort in bringing this project to fruition,” said Bob Dechant, CEO of ibex. “Our increased presence in Honduras is not only creating valuable employment opportunities, but also strengthening our ability to deliver high-quality services to our global clients. This expansion is also a testament to the skilled workforce in Honduras and our confidence in the country as a key hub for our operations.”

    The expansion comes on the heels of an impressive year of growth for ibex Honduras. In fiscal year 2024, the office saw a remarkable 249% increase in headcount, reflecting the rapid scaling of operations in the country. This growth has been driven by the introduction of new lines of business and clients within the Fintech vertical, as well as an expansion into HR support services.

    Employee development and internal advancement in Honduras are key to ibex’s success, as evidenced by the promotion of 156 team members during fiscal year 2024. With the current expansion, ibex anticipates even more promotional opportunities in Honduras, further strengthening the company’s position as an employer of choice in the region.

    ibex has been recognized for its outstanding culture, employee experience, development opportunities, and service, including Best Place to Work for Women in Central America and the Caribbean by Great Place to Work, Nearshore Company of the Year by Nearshore Americas, and Central America and Caribbean Company of the Year by Frost & Sullivan.

    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 Contact:
    Dan Burris
    ibex
    Daniel.Burris@ibex.co

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/877c79ca-4329-4c48-b613-1c7f982f52c9

    The MIL Network –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Celona and HCLTech Announce Strategic Global Partnership to Deliver Advanced Private 5G Solutions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CUPERTNO, Calif., Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Celona, a pioneer in private 5G networks, and HCLTech, a leading global technology company, announced a strategic partnership to jointly deliver advanced private 5G network solutions to enterprises worldwide. This collaboration leverages Celona’s innovative private 5G LAN offering and HCLTech’s extensive experience in digital transformation to accelerate Industry 4.0 initiatives across industries. The joint offering is designed to drive digital innovation and operational efficiencies across multiple sectors.

    This partnership will focus on providing a comprehensive private network solution that combines Celona’s cutting-edge private 5G technology with HCLTech’s extensive digital portfolio which helps enterprises unlock the power of data and AI to build a digital culture and modernize all aspects of the business. HCLTech was among the first global system integrators to recognize that successful digital transformation programs need to be built on a foundation of robust and secure wireless connectivity, and have partnered with Celona to provide turnkey private 5G solutions.

    “We are thrilled to partner with HCLTech to accelerate the deployment of private 5G networks across the industries that need it most,” said Sanjeet Pandit, Vice President of Global Sales, Celona. “This collaboration will enable us to offer tailored solutions that meet the unique connectivity needs for each target industry, driving innovation through automation and enhancing productivity on a global scale.”

    “We look forward to offering best-in-class private network solutions together with Celona,” said Gurpreet Singh Kohli, Senior Vice President, HCLTech. “This partnership aligns with our commitment to delivering next-generation digital transformation solutions to our clients. By combining our expertise with Celona’s advanced private 5G technology, we are poised to redefine connectivity and drive significant value for businesses worldwide.”

    The partnership between HCLTech and Celona marks a significant milestone in the advancement of private 5G, promising to revolutionize how industries leverage the latest in wireless connectivity to achieve their Industry 4.0 goals.

    About HCLTech 
    HCLTech is a global technology company, home to more than 219,000 people across 60 countries, delivering industry-leading capabilities centered around digital, engineering, cloud and AI, powered by a broad portfolio of technology services and products. We work with clients across all major verticals, providing industry solutions for Financial Services, Manufacturing, Life Sciences and Healthcare, Technology and Services, Telecom and Media, Retail and CPG and Public Services. Consolidated revenues as of 12 months ending June 2024 totaled $13.4 billion. To learn how we can supercharge progress for you, visit hcltech.com.

    About Celona
    Based in Silicon Valley, Celona is a pioneer and leading innovator of enterprise private wireless solutions. The company developed the industry’s first 5G LAN system, a turnkey private 5G solution that enables enterprises to address their growing needs for secure and reliable wireless connectivity for critical business applications. Celona 5G LAN has been deployed by a wide range of global customers across industries. To date, the company has raised over $135 million in venture funding from Lightspeed Venture Partners, Norwest Venture Partners, NTT Ventures, Cervin Ventures, DigitalBridge and Qualcomm Ventures. For more information, please visit celona.io.

    Media contact:
    Janet Brumfield
    Mindshare PR for Celona
    janet@mindsharepr.com
    614-582-9636

    The MIL Network –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Indiana Police Lieutenant Convicted of Federal Civil Rights Violation and Obstruction of Justice

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    A federal jury convicted a former New Castle, Indiana, police lieutenant last Friday on multiple counts of using excessive force against people in custody and one count of obstruction of justice by witness tampering.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Aaron Jason Strong, 47, while a lieutenant at the New Castle Police Department, physically abused a suspect and two pretrial detainees and made false statements to an Indiana State Police detective who had been assigned to investigate an allegation against him.

    “Aaron Strong is a repeat offender who defied his oath and abused his law enforcement authority to violently and unlawfully assault multiple individuals,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This defendant put his fellow officers in danger and grievously injured people in his custody, whose wellbeing and rights he had a legal and moral duty to protect. Strong betrayed the law enforcement profession when he told lie after lie in an effort to cover up his crimes and derail an independent investigation. This unanimous jury verdict makes clear a core principle in our country – law enforcement officers are not above the law and will be held accountable for their crimes.”

    “Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to serve our communities. Their jobs are difficult, dangerous and noble,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers for the Southern District of Indiana. “Aaron Strong is not noble. He repeatedly and unlawfully abused his position of authority to inflict violence, injury and pain — with no lawful justification. He then lied to cover it up. Our community deserves better. Together with our partners at the Justice Department, the FBI and Indiana State Police, our federal prosecutors will continue to seek accountability for police who illegally assault those they are sworn to protect.”

    Evidence showed that, in August 2019, then-Lieutenant Strong responded to another officer’s report of a foot chase. As Strong arrived, the suspect stopped running, put his hands up, said “I’m done” and lowered himself to the ground. As another officer approached to take the suspect into custody, Strong ran up and struck the suspect at least 12 times with a metal police baton, nearly striking a fellow officer. The incident was promptly reported by other involved officers, and the Indiana State Police were called in to conduct an independent criminal investigation. During a meeting with the State Police investigator, Strong gave a false account of the incident in which he minimized his own use of force and exaggerated the danger posed by the suspect.

    Evidence also showed that, in July 2017, Strong, while acting in his capacity as the commanding officer of the Henry County, Indiana, SWAT Team, had abused two men being held in pretrial detention at the Henry County Transition Center, a low-security annex of the Henry County Jail. The SWAT Team had been requested to assist jail officers with moving a small number of inmates who had become intoxicated on contraband alcohol from the Transition Center to the main jail. While inside the Transition Center, Strong stomped on the head of a detainee who was complying with commands to lie on the ground. A few moments later, Strong approached a second inmate, who was kneeling, not moving, with his back to Strong, and shot him point-blank in the back with a less-lethal “beanbag” round, which Strong knew could cause death or serious bodily injury when used at short ranges. The impact from the round fractured the detainee’s spine.

    Numerous current and former New Castle and Henry County law enforcement officers testified for the prosecution.

    Strong was convicted of three counts of deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of witness tampering. A co-defendant, Strong’s nephew, was found not guilty of one count of witness tampering.

    Strong is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 7, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The FBI Indianapolis Field Office and Indiana State Police investigated the case, with assistance from the New Castle Police Department.

    Trial Attorney Alec Ward of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Blackett for the Southern District of Indiana are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: New Navy Medicine command to enhance expeditionary medical training, readiness

    Source: United States Navy

    CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Navy Medicine celebrated a pivotal moment in its expeditionary mission with the official establishment of a new command and renamed Naval Expeditionary Medical Training Institute (NEMTI) to the Naval Expeditionary Medicine Warfighter Development Center (NEMWDC) during a ceremony at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Oct. 4.

    The command establishment signified a strategic shift in Navy Medicine’s approach to combat trauma readiness and operational medical support.

    “This transformation represents more than a change in name; it marks the continued evolution of Navy Medicine’s mission to support the warfighter, strengthen our operational capabilities, and provide unmatched medical expertise both in garrison and in forward-deployed locations,” said Rear Adm. Guido Valdes, Naval Medical Forces Pacific (NMFP) commander.

    The ceremony also marked NEMWDC’s organizational realignment from Navy Medicine Operational Training Command (NMOTC) to NMFP as an echelon 4 command, gaining more resources, capacity, and a broader and more dynamic role in bolstering Navy Medicine’s ability to support the warfighters.

    NEMWDC will serve as a center of excellence for unit level training for medical capabilities, enhancing combat trauma skills and certifying expeditionary medical platforms for future operations. This new command aligns with Navy Medicine’s “North Star,” ensuring that by 2027, the force will deliver trained and certified medical units capable of supporting the Fleet, Fleet Marine Force, and Joint Forces in any environment.

    “The impact of this change will resonate across Navy Medicine and serve to amplify our role in ensuring that medical forces are ready and fully equipped to support any mission, anytime, anywhere,” Valdes said.

    Capt. Kevin Bailey, the first commanding officer of NEMWDC, reflected on the journey that led to the establishment of the new command, noting that the foundation laid by NEMTI will guide NEMWDC’s efforts as it prepares expeditionary medical teams for future fight.

    “NEMWDC is truly a unique gem in Navy Medicine,” Bailey said. “This command is at the focal point for unit-level training leading to basic phase certification of Expeditionary Medicine (EXMED).”

    Capt. Bailey also shared his vision for integrating innovative technologies like health informatics and virtual reality into the training pipeline, ensuring that NEMWDC remains at the forefront of medical readiness.

    As NEMWDC evolves, it will focus on training medical personnel to deliver seamless care from Role 1 to Role 3 medical units, ensuring lifesaving support from the frontlines to more advanced medical facilities. This strategic realignment is expected to amplify Navy Medicine’s role in supporting warfighters in the most challenging environments.

    For Cmdr. Damian Storz, who transitioned from officer in charge of NEMTI to NEMWDC’s executive officer, the day marked the culmination of years of hard work and collaboration.

    “Our team’s dedication and our collaboration with leadership were key to overcoming challenges and setting the stage for this transition,” Storz said, noting that NEMWDC is well positioned to ensure medical units are ready for deployment.

    The ceremony also honored the long history of NEMTI, which has been at the forefront of expeditionary medical training since its establishment.

    “NEMTI’s impact has reached far and wide, ensuring operational success, whether it’s preparing medical teams for the frontlines or equipping them with the skills to operate in humanitarian or disaster scenarios,” Valdes said.

    The event concluded with a message of gratitude to the NEMWDC staff for their tireless dedication.

    “To the Sailors of the newly designated Naval Expeditionary Medicine Warfighter Development Center, I look forward to serving you as your commanding officer,” Bailey said.

    Naval Medical Forces Pacific (NMFP) provides oversight for 11 Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Commands (NMRTC), on the West Coast and Pacific Rim that train, man, and equip medical forces, primarily in military treatment facilities. Globally, NMFP oversees eight research laboratories that deliver research expertise in support of warfighter health and readiness. Additionally, NMFP manages the Naval Expeditionary Medicine Warfighter Development Center (NEMWDC), which plays a critical role in preparing medical teams for expeditionary and operational environments.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 23, 2025
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