Category: Transport

MIL-OSI Banking: A year of DAX Copilot: Healthcare innovation that refocuses on the clinician-patient connection

Source: Microsoft

Headline: A year of DAX Copilot: Healthcare innovation that refocuses on the clinician-patient connection

In 2012, a child’s drawing of her appointment with a physician was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). In the brightly colored sketch, the girl is sitting on the exam table accompanied by her mother and siblings. To those of us working in healthcare, her doctor is the most notable part of the image. He is sitting at his desk, typing on the computer — with his back to the patient.

This drawing, published alongside an article titled “The Cost of Technology,” is emblematic of the unintended consequences of healthcare innovation. With more tools for physicians to use and greater demands on their time, technology can easily become a barrier between the clinician and the patient. For example, in 2023 approximately 53% of physicians surveyed by Medscape reported feeling burned out, and 23% reported feeling depressed. Long working hours, bureaucratic demands and loss of work-life balance due to administrative requirements are leading causes. Our mission has always been to help clinicians turn their chairs around by providing the support they need to fully focus their attention on delivering care.

Fast-forward to today, and we’ve translated that goal into reality. After establishing the ambient technology category, we introduced DAX Copilot, the first generative AI voice-enabled solution, which has been generally available for one year, and we’re seeing remarkable momentum. Part of a proven and extensible platform, DAX Copilot leverages health systems’ existing investments in the trusted family of Dragon Medical solutions, which is used by more than 600,000 clinicians worldwide.

DAX Copilot combines proven conversational and ambient AI with generative AI to automatically convert multiparty conversations into specialty-specific standardized draft clinical summaries that integrate with existing workflows. DAX Copilot was the first ambient solution to be integrated into the Epic electronic health record (EHR) workflow and allows clinicians to seamlessly document patient visits directly within the EHR. Across the country, more than 400 organizations have already embraced its revolutionary capabilities, streamlining administrative tasks and lightening clinicians’ documentation workloads.

This transformative year has highlighted many of the ways we’re helping empower healthcare teams today and bringing joy back to practicing medicine for thousands of clinicians.

Improving Access to Care — and Enhancing Documentation Quality

DAX Copilot is helping Northwestern Medicine in Chicago improve patient access to care, with physicians using the solution in at least 50% of patient encounters and able to see an average of 11.3 additional patients per month. DAX Copilot users at Northwestern Medicine also report spending an average of 24% less time on notes and a 17% decrease in ‘pajama time,’ working on administrative tasks late into the night.

“Northwestern Medicine is committed to providing a superior work environment that promotes well-being, and implementing DAX Copilot will allow our physicians to spend more quality time with our patients, focusing on their needs rather than on paperwork and data entry,” says Dr. Gaurava Agarwal, chief wellness executive, Northwestern Medicine.

Overlake Medical Center & Clinics in Bellevue, Washington, deployed DAX Copilot to help reduce after-hours documentation time and equip its clinicians with tools to manage escalating demands. A pilot with 30 Overlake clinicians saw a significant reduction in time spent on notes outside of scheduled hours. Users also reported other important benefits: 81% said DAX Copilot had reduced their cognitive burden and 77% said the solution had improved the quality of their documentation.

At Atrium Health, “DAX Copilot is enabling a better clinician experience,” says Dr. Matthew Anderson, senior medical director of primary care at Atrium Health. “Most of our surveyed users are reporting a positive impact on their day-to-day schedule, being able to increase the number of patients they are able to see and even spending more time with them.”

Enhancing Clinician Well-being

Atrium Health isn’t alone in finding that the time saved on documentation with DAX Copilot is having a positive impact on clinicians’ quality of life. “I finally have weekends back,” says Dr. Christy Chan, a family medicine physician at Overlake. “I used to always have to worry that there was something I had to do — get back onto the EMR, log back in — but I actually have some weekends back.”

Clinicians at Novant Health are experiencing similar benefits. “DAX Copilot has done an amazing thing for the physicians and clinicians who are currently using it,” says Dr. Aram Alexanian, a family physician at Novant Health. “When you hear a comment like ‘I am now able to do things with my daughter in the evenings and weekends that I couldn’t do before,’ nothing satisfies us more than knowing the impact DAX is having on our clinicians.”

DAX Copilot can accurately identify different voices in the room during pediatric visits, differentiating between parents and children to accurately capture the patient exam note for the physician to review and approve.

Community Health Network places a major focus on clinician well-being and implementing DAX Copilot has had a major impact on its clinicians’ ability to close notes before they leave for the day. “Since we have implemented DAX Copilot, I have not left clinic with an open note,” says Dr. Patrick McGill, chief transformation officer for Community Health Network. “We have seen improved access, improved numbers of patients, but overall, it’s really the clinician satisfaction that we’ve seen. In one word, DAX Copilot is transformative. It transforms how we’re able to deliver care and how we’re able to document it. It also transforms the patient experience.”

“DAX Copilot has made my professional life easier. My patients have also benefited from my using Nuance DAX during our appointments. I can be right there with the patient and not furiously writing notes. I cannot thank you enough,” said Anita M. Kelsey, M.D., Duke Health.

Transforming the Patient Experience

Dr. Dominick Lanzo, an orthopedic surgeon at Greater Baltimore Medical Center, agrees. “Once I introduced the DAX Copilot program, it completely transformed the patient experience, and it’s turned out to be incredibly accurate with regards to the history of present illness and the physical exam,” he says. “It’s made my practice much more efficient. I can see more patients, my notes are more accurate, and they’re done in a timely fashion by the end of the afternoon.”

For Dr. Alison Pomykala, an internal medicine specialist at Baptist Medical Group, the integration of DAX Copilot with the Epic EHR is particularly valuable. “The thing I like most about DAX Copilot embedded in the Epic workflow is I’m able to focus more on the patient and I’m spending less time in the exam room typing on the computer,” she says.

“I think the interface is wonderful with Epic. It has been great to see the notes coming up basically in real time on the Epic system. That’s also helped with other things: where we needed to generate a note quickly for referrals, for insurance pre-certifications, for imaging studies, or to have a complete note ready for a patient that we’re sending to the hospital.”

“At our academic health system, integrating DAX Copilot has revolutionized patient care,” says Dr. Anthony Mazzarelli, co-president and CEO at Cooper University Health Care. “By automating clinical documentation through ambient voice technology, it has significantly reduced administrative workloads. This allows our physicians to focus on real-time patient interactions, leading to better care outcomes and increased job satisfaction. DAX Copilot has not only improved efficiency but has also empowered our team to spend more time where it matters most — caring for patients.”

It’s a privilege to see this industry-leading solution make a meaningful difference for the clinicians who are already on board — but the work never stops. The Microsoft healthcare team is determined to continue solving some of the industry’s most complex challenges, and harnessing the power and potential of AI is how we’ll achieve that. We will continue to be leaders in innovation, collaborating across our ecosystem of incredible customers, partners and Microsoft researchers to bring real impact to clinical settings.

DAX Copilot is an innovative solution that goes beyond documentation, offering unique features such as orders, problem-based charting and pre-charting capabilities. For example, recent updates to DAX Copilot include a robust set of features, such as the ability to customize documentation style and formatting, as well as automatically create referral letters, diagnostic evidence, after-visit summaries and encounter summaries. The solution also now offers AI coaching to help users improve the quality and completeness of their notes. Also, the new Summarized Evidence capability offers a comprehensive and sophisticated approach that helps clinicians validate and trust the note output by combining insights that go beyond evidence linking, helping clinicians validate the note.

Importantly, when creating technologies that can change the world, Microsoft believes organizations need to ensure that the technology is used responsibly. Microsoft is committed to creating responsible AI by design that is guided by a core set of principles: fairness, reliability and safety, privacy and security, inclusiveness, transparency and accountability.

DAX Copilot is helping restore the human connection at the heart of medicine. We’re excited to drive this solution forward and expand its reach to more clinicians over the coming year and beyond.

Today, the solution can be used across ambulatory specialties, in-office primary care and urgent care, telehealth and emergency medicine. And we are scaling the solution’s availability and capabilities to even more care settings, such as nursing and geographies.

If you’d like to learn how DAX Copilot can help transform healthcare at your organization, please visit: the DAX Copilot website.

Tags: AI, Copilot, Dax Copilot, Dragon Medical solutions, Generative AI, Microsoft Partners, Responsible AI

MIL OSI Global Banks –

January 23, 2025

MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – AXA INVESTMENT MANAGERS: Segro plc Amend

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

FORM 8.3 – Amendment to 2. (a) (1)

PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY
A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE
Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

1. KEY INFORMATION

(a) Full name of discloser:	AXA Investment Managers S.A.
(b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.
(c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree	SEGRO plc
(d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:
(e) Date position held/dealing undertaken: For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure	13 September 2024
(f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”	YES Tritax EuroBox plc

2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.

(a) Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)

Class of relevant security:	10p ordinary
	Interests		Short positions
	Number	%	Number	%
(1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled:	13,576,703	1.00
(2) Cash-settled derivatives:
(3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:
TOTAL: AXA Investment Managers does not have discretion regarding voting decisions in respect of 5,859,925 shares that are included in this total.	13,576,703	1.00

All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

(b) Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)

Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:
Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:

3. DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

(a) Purchases and sales

Class of relevant security	Purchase/sale	Number of securities	Price per unit
10p ordinary	Purchase	4,000	GBP 9.09

(b) Cash-settled derivative transactions

Class of relevant security	Product description e.g. CFD	Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position	Number of reference securities	Price per unit

(c) Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

(i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

Class of relevant security	Product description e.g. call option	Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc.	Number of securities to which option relates	Exercise price per unit	Type e.g. American, European etc.	Expiry date	Option money paid/ received per unit

(ii) Exercise

Class of relevant security	Product description e.g. call option	Exercising/ exercised against	Number of securities	Exercise price per unit

(d) Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

Class of relevant security	Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion	Details	Price per unit (if applicable)

4. OTHER INFORMATION

(a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:
Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

None

(b) Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:
(i) the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or
(ii) the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:
If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

None

(c) Attachments

Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached?

Date of disclosure:	26 September 2024
Contact name:	Sabrina AID
*Telephone number:**	+33 1 44 45 58 79

Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

*If the discloser is a natural person, a telephone number does not need to be included, provided contact information has been provided to the Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit.

The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at http://www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

The MIL Network –

January 23, 2025

MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – AXA INVESTMENT MANAGERS: Segro plc Amend

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

FORM 8.3 – Amendment to 2. (a) (1)

PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY
A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE
Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

1. KEY INFORMATION

(a) Full name of discloser:	AXA Investment Managers S.A.
(b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.
(c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree	SEGRO plc
(d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:
(e) Date position held/dealing undertaken: For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure	04 September 2024
(f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”	YES Tritax EuroBox plc

2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

(a) Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)

Class of relevant security:	10p ordinary
	Interests		Short positions
	Number	%	Number	%
(1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled:	13,572,703	1.00
(2) Cash-settled derivatives:
(3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:
TOTAL: AXA Investment Managers does not have discretion regarding voting decisions in respect of 5,855,925 that are included in this total.	13,572,703	1.00

All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

(b) Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)

Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:
Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:

3. DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

(a) Purchases and sales

Class of relevant security	Purchase/sale	Number of securities	Price per unit

(b) Cash-settled derivative transactions

Class of relevant security	Product description e.g. CFD	Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position	Number of reference securities	Price per unit

(c) Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

(i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

Class of relevant security	Product description e.g. call option	Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc.	Number of securities to which option relates	Exercise price per unit	Type e.g. American, European etc.	Expiry date	Option money paid/ received per unit

(ii) Exercise

Class of relevant security	Product description e.g. call option	Exercising/ exercised against	Number of securities	Exercise price per unit

(d) Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

Class of relevant security	Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion	Details	Price per unit (if applicable)

4. OTHER INFORMATION

(a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

None

(b) Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

None

(c) Attachments

Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached?

Date of disclosure:	26 September 2024
Contact name:	Sabrina AID
*Telephone number:**	+33 1 44 45 58 79

Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

*If the discloser is a natural person, a telephone number does not need to be included, provided contact information has been provided to the Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit.

The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at http://www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

The MIL Network –

January 23, 2025

MIL-OSI Security: Two Convicted Gang Members Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for RICO, Hobbs Act Violations

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

WACO, Texas – Two Temple men were sentenced today to life in federal prison for crimes committed in violation of the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) Act and the Hobbs Act. In February, a federal jury found the men guilty of all charges.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Atorius Marquis Williams aka Lil Man, 27, and Trashawn Lamar Alexander aka Mad Max, 30, were members and associates of a criminal organization referred to as Killas With Aggression (KWA), an organization engaged in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce by, among other things, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to rob persons engaged in the distribution of controlled substances.

Williams and Alexander, along with codefendant Demonta Daniels aka Tado aka Tato, conspired to commit four murders, multiple violent assaults, extortion, drug trafficking and armed robberies in furtherance of the criminal enterprise. Specifically, the indictment alleges four overt acts to include murder—one committed by Williams on Sept. 30, 2017, in Belton; the second, committed by Williams and Alexander on Dec. 10, 2017, in Temple; the third, committed by Williams and Daniels on Jan. 16, 2018, in Temple; and the fourth, committed by Williams, Daniels and Alexander on Jan. 31, 2018, in Temple.

Additionally, the defendants conspired to affect commerce by robbery, committing acts of physical violence and threatening to commit acts of physical violence to steal controlled substances and proceeds from persons engaged in illegal drug distribution. Williams, Daniels and Alexander were also convicted of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, namely robbery. Alexander was convicted of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.

On Monday, Alexander and Williams were each sentenced to life in prison for three counts and a concurrent 20 years in prison for three additional counts.

“The result in this case is a testament to this office’s commitment to seek justice for our community members,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “It reflects the hard work and interagency cooperation of our federal and state law enforcement partners, whose efforts brought this case to a successful conclusion. Violence in our communities will not be tolerated and justice will be served.”

“Texas citizens have the right to feel safe from violent crime. The drug and gang activity that fuels these acts in our communities is unacceptable,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp of the FBI’s San Antonio field office. “Our agents have put in years of hard work to bring these defendants – Atorius Williams and Trashawn Alexander – to justice, and today’s sentence is evidence of their dedication. We want to thank our partners for their continued dedication to keeping our communities safe from violent crime.”

Daniels will be sentenced at a later date. Seven other codefendants in the case had been sentenced prior to todays. Dominic Johnson was sentenced in January 2023 to 70 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine; Desmond Wilkerson was sentenced in September 2023 to 71 months in prison for racketeering conspiracy; James Roy Whitfield Jr was sentenced on Feb. 13 to 102 months in prison for one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of aiding and abetting; Jason Mayse was sentenced on Feb. 13 to 40 months for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana; Jyaraciel Whitfield was sentenced in September 2023 to 144 months in prison for one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of aiding and abetting; Christopher Meyers was sentenced in August 2022 to 144 months in prison for racketeering conspiracy; and Reginald Williams was sentenced in September 2023 to 96 months in prison for one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of aiding and abetting.

The FBI, Temple Police Department, Belton Police Department, Bell County Organized Crime Unit, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Cameron Police Department, and Hearne Police Department investigated the case with valuable assistance from the Killeen Police Department and Bell County Sheriff’s Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Blanton prosecuted the case.

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

###

MIL Security OSI –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Translation: Government of Canada launches Autism Canada Framework, Autism Canada Strategy, and call for applications for National Autism Network

MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

The Government of Canada is committed to meeting the needs of all persons with disabilities in Canada, including people with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, and those who care for them.

September 26, 2024 | Ottawa, Ontario | Public Health Agency of Canada

The Government of Canada is committed to meeting the needs of all persons with disabilities in Canada, including people with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, and those who care for them.

The Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, tabled in Parliament today: Autism Framework in Canada (Framework). The Framework describes the principles and benchmark practices that will guide autism policy, programs and activities in Canada. It leverages the Government of Canada’s leadership role in advancing best practices to support autistic people of all ages, their families and caregivers.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has also launched the Autism Strategy in Canada(Strategy). The Strategy is a multi-year action plan that supports the federal government’s implementation of the Framework. It outlines short- and medium-term initiatives specific to the federal government and builds on existing programs and measures to address key priority areas. The Strategy will be updated regularly, based on the evolving needs and priorities of autistic people of all ages living in Canada.

The Framework and Strategy were developed by the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Working Group in collaboration with autistic people, their families, caregivers, provinces, territories, Indigenous organizations and other stakeholders. Implementation will require coordinated efforts from governments across Canada, as well as many partners, organizations and individuals whose work touches on autism initiatives. The Government of Canada will continue to work with provinces and territories to address the needs of autistic people in Canada.

Finally, today we officially launched the process of creating a National Autism Network. This Network is intended to bring together the skills and resources of organizations and stakeholders in the field of autism, including people with lived experience, in order to support the implementation of activities guided by the Framework and the Strategy. We invite eligible organizations to respond to the call for applications linked to the Network by November 25, 2024.

This sets out a vision to improve screening, diagnosis and services across Canada; strengthen economic inclusion; improve data collection, public health surveillance and research; increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance; and facilitate access to evidence-based autism resources and tools.

“Through this Framework and Strategy, our government is taking concrete steps to break down the barriers faced by persons with disabilities in Canada. In the spirit of ‘Nothing Without Us,’ we are working with the autism community to create a strategy that meets the diverse needs of the community, which will better support and equip autistic persons, their families and caregivers.”

The Honourable Kamal KheraMinister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities

Autism (also known as autism spectrum disorder or ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that lasts throughout life. People with autism may communicate and connect with others differently, have differences in sensory processing, or focus intensely on certain interests or activities. People with autism may also have other physical, intellectual, learning, or mental health conditions that can create additional complexities and challenges.

It is estimated that 1 in 50 children and youth aged 1 to 17 years have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in Canada. The Government of Canada is exploring options to measure and report on autism in adults living in Canada. This information will help build the evidence base needed to inform public health actions to improve the health and well-being of people with autism across the lifespan.

Since 2018, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research has invested approximately $88 million in autism research. This research increases our understanding of autism and guides the development of innovative tools and more effective ways to support people on the autism spectrum and their families.

Budget 2021 provided an investment of $15.4 million over two years for PHAC to work collaboratively with provinces, territories, families and stakeholders to create an autism strategy.

In 2022, the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences published aevaluation reporton autism in which she highlights gaps in knowledge about the needs and situation of autistic adults, particularly with regard to quality of life, daily activities, loneliness and mental health.

The Framework is aligned with other disability-related activities, such as the Action Plan for the Inclusion of People with Disabilities (DIAP), which was presented on October 7, 2022. The DIAP is a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach to disability inclusion that integrates disability considerations into government programs while identifying targeted investments in important areas to drive change.

The National Autism Network will be a not-for-profit organization, working independently from the Government of Canada to share expertise, knowledge and resources, supporting key autism priorities and providing a forum for ongoing engagement on federal policies and programs. The Network will work directly with provinces and territories on specific provincial/territorial initiatives and will coordinate and integrate autism investments, while bringing together the knowledge and experience of local autism organizations and partners, as well as the perspectives of people with lived experience of autism. It will also lead targeted national public awareness campaigns and provide sustainable, accessible and culturally relevant resources (available online and elsewhere) to support autistic people in Canada, their families and caregivers.

PHAC hosted two national autism conferences in November 2022 and August 2024. The first to bring together people from across Canada to identify potential short-, medium- and long-term priority actions for an autism strategy and the second to discuss the five priority areas of the Framework and the actions needed to advance them.

There Act respecting a federal framework relating to autism spectrum disorder received Royal Assent on March 30, 2023. This Act sets out a commitment to the development of a federal framework to support autistic people in Canada, as well as their families and caregivers.

Matthew KronbergPress SecretaryOffice of the Honourable Mark HollandMinister of Health343-552-5654

Media RelationsHealth Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada613-957-2983media@hc-sc.gc.ca

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

MIL Translation OSI

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New council-run children’s home prepares to open its doors

Source: City of Leicester

A new children’s home in Leicester is preparing to open its doors.

Holly House, in Aylestone, has been converted from two former council houses to create a new home with places for up to five young people, between the ages of eight and 17.

It is the first brand new children’s home to be built in the city in 40 years.

The new home includes four bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms and a semi-independent flat for young people leaving care. The building also has communal recreational spaces, a dining room for everyone to eat together, a modern kitchen, lounge, offices and staff sleeping areas. The building is heated with air source heat pumps and has 30 photovoltaic solar panels on the roof.

Along with a home that will open next year in the west of the city, Holly House will help to increase the city council’s in-house capacity from six children’s homes, caring for up to 36 children and young people, to eight homes caring for up to 47.

The estimated cost for creating the new home is around £1,100,000, of which £500,000 has come from the Department for Education’s children’s homes capital funding programme.

There are currently more than 50 children and young people from Leicester living in residential children’s homes run by other organisations, with an average cost of £5,800 per week. Many of these are not located in the city.

The average direct cost at a council-run home in Leicester is around £5000 a week.

Cllr Sarah Russell, deputy city mayor for social care, health, and community safety, said: “It has been great to see Holly House taking shape and it’s wonderful to see that it is now almost complete.

“We consider investing in new children’s homes to be an important use of our resources, so that we can help to support and protect those who need it most.

“Children’s homes should feel like they are just that – a home – and I’m pleased to say that Holly House has been designed and finished with that in mind. We look forward to it opening its doors and becoming a welcoming home for some of Leicester’s most vulnerable children and young people.”

The vast majority of children who can’t live with their birth families live with foster carers but increasing demand for children’s social care services in recent years – a trend across the country – means there has been a significant rise in demand for residential children’s homes.

This has led to an increase in the use of external providers, but by building homes itself, the council can help children to maintain local connections and relationships, and tailor support to their individual needs.

Find out more about health and social care provision in Leicester at https://www.leicester.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/

ENDS

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Plans approved for UK’s ‘first of a kind’ majority LGBTQ+ Extra Care scheme

Source: City of Manchester

Plans have been approved for the UK’s ‘first of a kind’ purpose-built majority LGBTQ+ Extra Care social rent housing scheme in Whalley Range, south Manchester.

Great Places Housing Group’s proposals for the site of the former Spire Hospital on Russell Road, Whalley Range were approved at Manchester City Council’s planning meeting today (26 September). The brownfield site has remained vacant since the hospital was demolished in September 2019.

Commenting on the planning approval actor Ian McKellen, LGBT Foundation patron and committed supporter of the Pride in Ageing Programme, who visited the Russell Road site earlier this year, said:

“It’s wonderful to see Manchester leading the way yet again. Our community deserves to be able to age in a safe and welcoming environment where we are accepted for who we are, and Russell Road will do just that. Congratulations to everyone involved in the project and I look forward to following its progress and seeing the scheme open!”

The plans for the majority LGBTQ+ Extra Care housing scheme have been co-produced in partnership with the Russell Road Community Steering Group, Manchester City Council, and LGBT Foundation.

The development will deliver 80 one- and two-bedroom apartments for older people within a high-quality sustainable building offering a safe and welcoming feel and inviting presence whilst designed to respect the surrounding conservation area. The low-carbon scheme will include shared communal facilities including lounges, treatment rooms and landscaped gardens and will deliver an overall net gain of trees on the site.

Extra Care housing schemes look to increase the housing opportunities for older people to move into high-quality accommodation, with flexible care and support services available to meet changing needs and encourage independent living.

The residents at Russell Road will be aged 55 years or over, with the majority of residents being members of the LGBTQ+ community from Manchester. Living alongside allies, the aim is to provide an open and inclusive place of psychological safety for the older LGBTQ+ community.

The site will also include a neighbouring development of shared ownership homes; with 40 homes in a mix of one- and two-bed apartments. The shared ownership product will deliver an alternative option to access the housing ladder, helping to address affordability issues in the area. The shared ownership apartment block has private amenity space and adds to the sense of place this development offers the existing community.

The development will be funded by Great Places, complimented by grant funding from Homes England and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) Brownfield Housing Fund. The scheme is intended to be constructed by Rowlinson Constructions Limited and the wider design team includes Triangle Architects and Mosaic Town Planning.

Work on the new site will start later this year.

Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development, said:

“This is a real celebratory moment for this development, which has been in the works for some years and is designed to meet a clear need for quality, social rent housing for LGBTQ+ older people to live in safety, dignity and as part of a welcoming and supportive community.

“We have helped build hundreds of Extra Care homes across Manchester in recent years to meet demand for older people to live in their later lives, many with care needs provided on site, but this is the first purpose-built LGBTQ+ majority Extra Care community in the UK. It’s a landmark development in every sense and we look forward to getting on site later this year.”

Paul Martin, CEO at LGBT Foundation, added:

“Today’s announcement marks a significant and welcome milestone and LGBT Foundation are delighted by the news that plans for Russell Road have been approved.

Older LGBTQ+ people are currently at greater risk of discrimination, poor health outcomes and social isolation, and many do not have the support networks of family and friends. This scheme aims to address these challenges and create a safe and affirming environment where our community can age with pride.

We’re looking forward to transforming our vision into a reality and continuing to work alongside partners and the Community Steering Group to improve the lives of older LGBTQ+ Mancunians and ensure Manchester continues to be a place where LGBTQ+ people are free to be themselves.”

Helen Spencer, Executive Director of Growth at Great Places, said:

“We’re delighted to receive planning approval for this groundbreaking project. Our Russell Road development is a significant step forward in providing high-quality, inclusive housing for members of Manchester’s LGBTQ+ community.

“This low-carbon development of 80 one- and two-bedroom apartments aims to offer flexible care and support services for residents aged 55 and over. Our collaboration with the Russell Road Community Steering Group, Manchester City Council, and LGBT Foundation has been crucial in shaping a scheme that meets residents’ needs and enhances the local area.

“Additionally, the adjacent shared ownership block will help address affordability challenges in Whalley Range.

“We look forward to starting work on site and continuing our work with all partners to make this vision a reality.”

Martin York and Susan Duncan-Wood, Joint Co-chairs of the Russell Road Community Steering Group (CSG), said:

“The Community Steering Group is proud to be involved in this pioneering development which has received planning approval.

“As representatives of the LGBTQIA+ community, future residents and the locality in which the scheme is based, we aim to ensure all voices are heard and perspectives considered to create an environment where older people can live their lives authentically and with dignity.”

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Deadline approaching for Oxford residents to apply for the Home Upgrade Grant
Source: City of Oxford

Published: Thursday, 26 September 2024

Oxford residents are being encouraged to apply for the Home Upgrade Grant before the deadline on 31 October 2024.
Residents are being encouraged to apply for free energy efficiency upgrades by applying for the Home Upgrade Grant.  The grant offers free energy efficiency measures including:

Cavity wall insulation

External wall insulation

Loft insulation (including top-ups)

Underfloor Insulation

Solar panels

Solar hot water system

Air source heat pump

Eligibility

Oxford residents are eligible for the Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) if they:

are living in a home not heated by mains gas (including homes that are heated oil by coal, LPG, or electric heating), or if your home is connected to the grid for cooking, but use off-gas grid heating, it is also eligible

and have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) between D and G

and have a household income of no more than £36,000, or £20,000 after mortgage/rent

or if they live in the most economically deprived areas (IMD 1-3)

The funding is open for residents who own their home, rent, or are a private landlord with tenants.

Residents can apply online or calling 0800 107 8883.

The Home Upgrade Grant is being delivered by Agility Eco, on behalf of the Council.

Reducing Oxford’s carbon emissions

Houses are the largest contributor to carbon emissions in Oxford, making up 29% of total emissions. Privately rented and owned homes account for 79% of residential housing emissions.

In Oxford, it is estimated that most homes that are not heated by gas use electric heating as their main source of heat.

Other grant funding options

Other grant funding options are available for residents to make improvements to their home for energy efficiency, also known as retrofitting.

Last year, the Council launched a web guide for residents to find out more about the process and funding options that are available to get started on their retrofit journey.

Residents can find out more about the Home Upgrade Grant, Boiler Upgrade Scheme, Energy Company Obligation fund, which range from funding for people on low incomes and living in hard to heat homes, as well as general grants for homeowners.

“With the arrival of the autumnal weather, more people will be starting to think about how they can heat their homes this winter. If your home is not heated by gas, then you can benefit from a more energy efficient home thanks to the Home Upgrade Grant. Apply as soon as possible to feel the benefit this winter.”
Councillor Anna Railton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: High-level Open Debate: “Leadership for peace: United in respect of the UN Charter in search of a secure future” Address by Jean-Noël Barrot Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs at the Security Council (25.09.24

Source: Republic of France in English
The Republic of France has issued the following statement:

President,

I would like to thank Slovenia for organizing this open debate, and the UN Secretary-General, ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, and President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for their remarks.

Our Council had to meet at a time when the world was being struck and divided by major conflicts of an exceptional gravity. And unfortunately, these conflicts are growing in number. It is the responsibility of our Council to resolve them and it needs to do more.

Our first responsibility is to enforce the rules that govern the international order and to enforce the Charter of the United Nations.

This means condemning without hesitation Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine, its neighbour. As I said yesterday: the Ukrainian people have been subjected to atrocities, war crimes, and indiscriminate bombardments on civilian targets on a daily basis for over 900 days. They are unjustly living in fear and suffering.

This means condemning all violations committed by Russia. This means demanding that Russia end its war of aggression on Ukraine immediately and withdraw its troops from Ukrainian territory. The General Assembly made this demand seven times in no uncertain terms.

We have a responsibility to support Ukraine in its right to self-defence. France and its partners will continue to support Ukrainians as long as it takes in its efforts to stop Russia’s aggression and to find a just peace. And a just peace can only be based on compliance with our common Charter. It is at the core of President Zelenskyy’s peace plan that we support.

We have a responsibility to uphold the fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations in the face of an unequivocally illegal and unjustifiable war of aggression. Of this I am certain: these principles are dear to all of us, particularly the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States. Without these principles, it is the strong who make the law and not the law that governs the strong. Without these principles, borders would no longer be intangible. Without these principles, States would no longer have security and everyone would fear an invasion by their neighbour. We must uphold these principles and enforce them. You all understand that compliance with international law is our compass everywhere.

We have clearly said since the barbaric terrorist attacks committed by Hamas and other terrorist groups on 7 October, which we condemn in the strongest terms, that Israel has the right to defend itself against aggression and the duty to do so in compliance with international law, particularly international humanitarian law. Everyone must respect this law, including Israel.

The war in Gaza must stop now. For civilians, for the men and women of Gaza whose suffering must end; for the hostages who must finally be released, and for stability in the region, which is currently deeply shaken.

The situation is untenable. The number of civilian victims is intolerable. In the face of this humanitarian disaster, it is vital to establish an immediate and permanent ceasefire and to enable the massive unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid as a matter of urgency. The civilian population’s needs are huge.

To ensure a lasting end to the crisis in the Middle East, it is vital to reach a political settlement of the conflict between Israel and Palestine as a matter of urgency. This settlement is a two-state solution. You can count on France to continue to take the helm, with its partners, in promoting a critical and irreversible revitalization of peace efforts.

It is also vital to now begin building the future of Gaza, the “day after”. It is up to the Palestinian Authority, which we support, to exercise its full authority over Gaza. For this to become a reality, the United Nations has and will have a central role to play.

President,

These vital demands must not be paid lip service but met with action. And I will say it again: our collective responsibility is to ensure this happens. That is why France will continue to work within this Council to sketch out this path.

I asked that a meeting be held this evening on Lebanon, as hundreds of Lebanese people, including children, have lost their lives in Israel’s strikes. At a time when this Council must call for de-escalation to avoid regional conflagration with devasting outcomes. Our Council must call for reason, which requires restraint and a ceasefire, something that it has been doing for a long time.

President,

No war, no humanitarian tragedy should be forgotten.

In Sudan, more than half the population is suffering from acute food insecurity. Famine has taken hold in the Zamzun camp in North Darfur. The situation is tragic. And we must remain mobilized. To raise awareness of the international community and to work together to address this tragic situation in Sudan, we held a conference in Paris where we raised more than €2 billion, €900 million of which from the European Union and its Member States, to support civilian populations in Sudan and its neighbouring countries. Many of our States signed a declaration of principles calling for Parties in the conflict to cease their hostilities, abide by their commitments and deliver on their obligations with respect to international humanitarian law and human rights. We have called on all States to refrain from any committing any acts that would fuel the conflict. I reiterate this appeal here today.

Many diplomatic efforts have been made in recent months to end the crisis. These initiatives have produced humanitarian advances, such as the issuance of visas for humanitarian workers and the re-opening of the Adre border post. These advances are encouraging but are still not enough given the urgency of the situation. Together, we must do more.

President,

As members of this Council, and more broadly as members of the United Nations, we must work to ensure the Security Council is capable of fully exercising its prime responsibility in upholding international peace and security.

That is the reason for France’s clear, long-standing and constant support for a comprehensive reform of the Security Council, based on the belief that expansion of both membership categories is required.

We have been tirelessly advocating greater representation of Africa on the Security Council for 20 years, including among the permanent members. That is a key aspect of the G4 model, which we support, just as we support the aspirations of Brazil, Germany, India and Japan to gain permanent membership.

In this same spirit of responsibility, France and Mexico promote an initiative that requires no amendment of the Charter. It is a commitment, an essential one, not to use a veto in the event of mass atrocities. That is a major expectation of the UN’s Member States. We owe it to them to progress on this matter.

President,

The principle of humanity must prevail. This year, we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, and I would like to recall that they are universal and apply in all circumstances in the event of armed conflict.

We need to ensure they are enforced. We will reiterate this at high level, with the ICRC which is their guarantor. We need to enforce international humanitarian law. Because respect for these rules saves lives: the lives of women, children and men who suffer in war; the lives of the humanitarian personnel who try to save them, and whose immense courage I salute; and the lives of those, too, who will otherwise live with a terrible injury in their memory.

There is only one standard: the law, made up of our Charter and our Conventions, which put humanity first.

You can count on France to enforce this standard.

Our Council, too, must enforce it in all circumstances.

Thank you.

MIL OSI Europe News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Horsford Introduces Bill to Make Healthcare More Affordable for Families

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressmen Steven Horsford (NV-04)

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) introduced the Dependent Income Exclusion Act of 2024 to make health insurance more affordable and accessible for families with dependents who are working part-time, attending school, or enrolled in job training programs. The bill would adjust the household income calculation used to determine eligibility for Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies, which would ease financial burdens and expand health coverage.

“While I’ve worked to lower prescription drug costs and expand healthcare tax credits through the Inflation Reduction Act, families in Nevada and across the country continue to face unacceptably high health insurance costs,” said Congressman Horsford. “This bill will help parents and guardians and make healthcare more affordable and attainable by easing the unintended costs on families with working children. As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and its Subcommittee on Health, I will continue to push for policies that expand access to affordable, quality healthcare to all families.”

“Congressman Horsford is a champion of hardworking families and making health care affordable,” said Brad Woodhouse, Executive Director of Protect Our Care. “The Dependent Income Exclusion Act will ensure that families with children who pick up a part-time job or enroll in a job training program aren’t penalized by having to pay more for their health care. This bill demonstrates how Democrats are working tirelessly to give families more room to breathe and to ensure that people can afford the health care they need to thrive.”

The Dependent Income Exclusion Act would address the healthcare affordability gap by allowing families to exclude a portion of their dependents’ income from the modified adjusted gross income used to determine eligibility for premium tax credits. Specifically, this exclusion applies to dependents under the age of 18 or those under 24 who are part-time students, apprentices, or participants in job training programs. The excludable income is capped at 15 percent of the filer’s income.

By expanding the availability of premium tax credits, this legislation will allow previously ineligible families to access ACA subsidies and increase the credit for those who already qualify. The bill aims to ensure that families with young adults working toward a brighter future—whether through education, apprenticeship, or job training—aren’t penalized when it comes to affordable healthcare access.

The bill is supported by Protect Our Care.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: House Democrats Hold Hearing Highlighting Underwood Resolution Condemning Project 2025
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14)

WASHINGTON — Yesterday, House Democrats held a hearing on Project 2025’s impacts on American families, highlighting House Resolution 1386, Rep. Lauren Underwood’s (IL-14) resolution to officially condemn Project 2025 and the sweeping harm that it would do to our democracy.

Project 2025, otherwise known as the Presidential Transition Project, is a 900+ page “playbook” for the first 180 days of an incoming Trump administration. It is a step-by-step guide for dismantling critical agencies that serve Americans, restructuring the executive branch, and installing Trump loyalists and operatives at nearly every level of government.

If enacted, Project 2025 will radically alter the lives of every American.

The blueprint would strip away fundamental freedoms, destroy checks and balances on presidential powers, and lead to rising costs on health care, child care, housing, groceries, and gas.

Project 2025 would:
- End Social Security and Medicare as we know it, forcing hardworking Americans to work longer for less.
- Devastate working families across America, raising costs, lowering wages, destroying our environment, and dismantling access to health care.
- Remove protections for people with pre-existing health conditions, raise prescription drug prices, ban Medicare from negotiating lower drug costs, and put a new tax on health insurance for people who get coverage at work.
- Criminalize abortion nationwide, restrict access to birth control, and even ban fertility services like IVF.
- Allow government agents to monitor pregnancies to potentially prosecute parents if they miscarry.
- Cut school meals for kids, end Head Start for preschoolers, slash public school funding, and fire teachers across the country.
- Raise costs and slash investments for working families to give huge new tax breaks to billionaires, CEOs, and the biggest corporations.
- Threaten America’s national security and our ability to compete across the globe.
- Destroy fundamental checks and balances on Presidential powers.
At the hearing, Underwood said, “As one of the only nurses in Congress, to me, Project 2025’s direct attacks on our health care are some of the most alarming parts of this 920+ page document.

This plan is extreme in the truest sense of the word. It calls to eliminate protections for people with preexisting conditions like myself, proposes new taxes on people who get their health coverage from work, and would cause the cost of prescription drugs to skyrocket.

To put it simply: Donald Trump’s Project 2025 will make more Americans sick and leave them without the coverage they need to take care of themselves and their families.

Few people understand these threats better than our providers, and I am so pleased to be joined today by a fellow Registered Nurse, Vicki Gonzalez. Vicki has been an RN since 1986. For the past 20 years, she has worked as a wound and ostomy nurse at one of our nation’s largest hospitals, Jackson Memorial in Miami. Vicki has seen firsthand how the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid have brought high quality, affordable care to so many people who previously couldn’t afford to go to the doctor, and instead ended up deathly sick in the emergency room. And Vicki knows how dire it would be for these people to once again have to choose between putting food on the table and getting the care they need.”

To view Underwood’s full remarks visit this link. Full text of House Resolution 1386 can be found here.

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MIL OSI USA News –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Wasserman Schultz, Owens Introduce Bill to Protect Rights of Crime Victims, Prevent Repeat of Epstein Impunity

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23)

“Courtney Wild and other victims of Jeffrey Epstein have been wrongly denied standing to invoke their rights. This legislation would fulfill the original intent of the CVRA and prevent such gross miscarriages of injustice from being repeated,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. “Crime victims deserve dignity and adequate support rather than further victimization at the discretion of federal prosecutors. Based on cases like Courtney’s, this bill is necessary to ensure there is no ambiguity in the law and all crime victims are afforded the rights they have always deserved.”

Washington DC – Yesterday, U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) and Burgess Owens (UT-4) introduced the bipartisan Courtney Wild Reinforcing Crime Victims’ Rights Act to ensure victims of crime are treated with dignity, have the support they need while navigating criminal proceedings, and avoid further victimization.

The Courtney Wild Reinforcing Crime Victims’ Rights Act was spurred by Wild’s lawsuit that asserted the rights of victims who fell prey to Jeffrey Epstein and were kept in the dark as federal prosecutors hashed out a secret and shockingly lenient plea deal. Wild fought in court for over 10 years before a Federal District Court finally declared that her rights, and the rights of other victims were violated under the Crime Victims’ Rights Act (CVRA). However, in April 2020, the Eleventh Circuit of Appeals rejected her lawsuit, in part because the federal government never filed charges against Epstein, so due to ambiguities in the law, the CVRA was never triggered.

This legislation would empower the Attorney General to implement the necessary reforms to ensure that all crime victims are afforded their rights under the CRVA. These reforms include the clarification that victims have the right to be informed by federal prosecutors of any plea or pretrial agreement that could impact their ability to secure justice and requiring the court to order a remedy if a victim’s rights have been violated, among other reforms.

U.S. Reps. Jim Costa (CA-21) and Lois Frankel (FL-22) joined as original cosponsors.

The following organizations have endorsed this legislation: Courtney Wild (survivor-advocate), Brad Edwards, and Paul Cassell (Wild’s Lawyers); Network for Victim Recovery of DC (NVRDC), National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC), National Organization for Victim Advocacy (NOVA), Victims’ Rights Law Center (VRLC), National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV), and the National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI).

“Courtney Wild and other victims of Jeffrey Epstein have been wrongly denied standing to invoke their rights. This legislation would fulfill the original intent of the CVRA and prevent such gross miscarriages of injustice from being repeated,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. “Crime victims deserve dignity and adequate support rather than further victimization at the discretion of federal prosecutors. Based on cases like Courtney’s, this bill is necessary to ensure there is no ambiguity in the law and all crime victims are afforded the rights they have always deserved.”

“The Courtney Wild case exposed glaring gaps in our justice system—a web of legal loopholes and procedural barriers that prevent victims from sharing their voices and downplays the horrors they’ve faced, particularly when powerful people are involved. Thanks to Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz’s tireless advocacy for this bipartisan effort, we can ensure that no victim is forced to navigate the justice system in silence again,” said Rep. Owens

“Jeffrey Epstein’s victims were kept in the dark as a sweetheart deal was hashed out, allowing a prolific sexual predator to go free with just a slap on the wrist. This bill ensures a more victim-centered process so that such a miscarriage of justice never happens again,” said Rep. Frankel.

“As the co-founder of the Crime Survivors and Justice Caucus, I am proud to support this legislation. It is imperative that we make necessary reforms to the Crime Victims Rights Act to ensure that victims receive the support they deserve and have their voices heard in the justice system,” said Rep. Costa.

“The current CVRA leaves most victims without legal representation and without any real recourse or remedy for injustice. This amendment is crucial for the advancement of victim’s rights in the United States,” said Courtney Wild, survivor-advocate.

“We are extremely grateful for Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Congressman Burgess Owens’s (R-UT) leadership on the Courtney Wild Reinforcing Crime Victims’ Rights Act. This bill would ensure the Crime Victims’ Rights Act (CVRA) provides equitable and meaningful rights to survivors of crime,” said Bridgette Stumpf, co-founder and executive director of Network for Victim Recovery of DC (NVRDC). “Additionally, this bill would ensure consistency in how victims experience the criminal legal system and strengthen access to independent crime victims’ counsel–creating an environment of accountability within the criminal process.”

“The National Center for Victims of Crime proudly fought side by side with then-Senator Biden to pass the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) 30 years ago. It is now our privilege and honor to stand with two incredible Representatives, Rep. Schultz and Rep. Owens, as they take up the battle for victims through the Courtney Wild Reinforcing Crime Victims’ Rights Act. This crucial act expands VAWA and VOCA in protecting victims’ dignity, not only by ensuring that crime victims’ rights are enforced, but also by providing accountability and remedies when those rights are violated. We thank Rep. Schulz and Rep. Owens for their work on this crucial bill, and we commit to advocating for and serving victims across the nation. Only when victims’ rights are automatic and unquestioned will our victory be achieved,” said Renee Williams, Esq., executive director of the National Center for the Victims of Crime (NCVC).

“The Courtney Wild Reinforcing Crime Victims’ Rights Act is an incredible step forward in protecting the rights of federal victims of crime. NOVA commends Ms. Wild for courageously advocating for federal victims of crime to be treated fairly, respectfully and with dignity throughout the criminal justice process. We thank Ms. Wild and U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Burgess Owens (R-UT) for championing this landmark bill,” said Claire Ponder Selib, Executive Director, National Organization for Victim Advocacy (NOVA).

“Twenty years ago the CVRA was passed with the intention of making crime victims meaningful participants in criminal justice by ensuring that they have rights from the time of their victimization and that they have access to attorneys at no cost to help protect those rights. We are so grateful to Representative Wasserman Schultz for continuing to push to make these promises a reality,” said Meg Garvin, Executive Director of the National Crime Victim Law Institute.

Read the entire bill here. A one-pager on the bill is available here.

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MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: LaLota Keeps Gov’t Open, Touts Bipartisan Wins
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nick LaLota (NY-01)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Suffolk County) released the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 9747 to keep the federal government open and working for the American people.

“Despite partisan fear-mongering, House Republicans have kept the government funded, open, and working for the American people. While others bicker and play politics, I stay focused on delivering real results for Suffolk County, including securing over $150 million in federal funding for our communities,” said LaLota. “Since taking office, I’ve been proud to rank among the most productive freshman members, passing more bills than 97% of my peers—eight bipartisan bills and 20 amendments through the House. These efforts include protecting the Long Island Sound, addressing the fentanyl and sanctuary city crises, and supporting our small businesses and veterans. My commitment is to put the American people first and improve the quality of life for everyone in Suffolk County.”

To read the full text of the legislation, click HERE.

Background:

LaLota has consistently and successfully voted to keep the government open, funded, and working for the American people.

Since being sworn into office, LaLota has passed eight of his bills through the House, each of which has earned bipartisan support:
- H.R. 3511 – Service Disabled Veteran Opportunities in Small Business Act
- H.R. 4424 – Vietnam Veterans Liver Fluke Cancer Study Act
- H.R. 4669 – DOE & SBA Research Act
- H.R. 5441 – Long Island Sound Restoration & Stewardship Reauthorization Act
- H.R. 5717 – No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act
- H.R. 7105 – Women-Owned Small Business Certification & Opportunity Expansion Act
- H.R. 7987 – Plain Language in Contracting Act
- H.R. 8663 – DETECT Fentanyl & Xylazine Act
Through the Fiscal Year 2024 government funding bills, LaLota secured over $150 million in federal funding that will directly benefit Suffolk County, including millions in Community Project Funding for infrastructure projects, water quality improvements, and wastewater treatment in each of the First Congressional District’s Towns.

H.R. 9747 would extend current government funding through December 20th, 2024, extend the authorization of the National Flood Insurance Program, ensure working families have access to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits, guarantee Veteran, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security benefits continue, provide an additional $231 million for the Secret Service for protective operations for Presidential and Vice-Presidential nominees in the 2024 Campaign and activities related to National Special Security Events and provide the agency with flexibility to quickly obligate funds for protective operations, and allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flexibility to quickly obligate funds provided by the CR for the Disaster Relief Fund to respond to disasters.

###

MIL OSI USA News –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Team Maryland Looks to the Future of the Chesapeake Bay After Current Multi-State Agreements Expire in 2025

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Glenn Ivey – Maryland (4th District)

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, and Congressmen Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, and Glenn Ivey met Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol with senior representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of the Interior and Maryland Department of Natural Resources to discuss planning for the next stage of the Chesapeake Bay program and restoration efforts. This is a critical time for the Bay and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, which was signed in 2014. Many of the goals and outcomes for the Bay had a target of 2025. As this date approaches, the Chesapeake Bay Program is determining how best to meet these goals and outcomes, incorporate new science and strategies, and strengthen the multi-state partnership.

At the meeting, members of the Maryland delegation heard from key federal agency and state leaders working towards the next stage of the agreement. Leading the discussion was Adam Ortiz, who serves as the Administrator for EPA Region 3, which governs the Mid-Atlantic Region. In this role Administrator Ortiz is deeply involved in EPA’s role in the Chesapeake Bay Program. The delegation also heard from Department of Interior Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, Matt Strickler, who serves at the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Principal’s Staff Committee Chair. In 2022, the Chesapeake Executive Council tasked its Principal’s Staff Committee with making recommendations for the future of the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program’s work. Representing senior state leadership was Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz, who directs Maryland’s role in the multi-state partnership and has deep expertise in the stakeholder community.

The planning effort marked a milestone this summer when the Chesapeake Bay Program Beyond 2025 Steering Committee released its Beyond 2025 Draft Report and invited public feedback.

“Team Maryland will always fight for the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure, and its restoration is a model for regional, multi-jurisdictional landscape stewardship. It is a model for other regions and other environmental protection efforts at many scales – and it is not simple,” said Senator Cardin. “As the Chesapeake Bay program is recalibrated for the next phase of action, we are committed to securing additional federal resources. We have high expectations for future results.”

“We have a responsibility to protect the Chesapeake Bay – our people, our economy, and our environment depend on it. That’s why we’ve fought to deliver major federal investments to improve the Bay’s health – and while we know they’re making a real difference, the watershed states have more work to do to reach our restoration goals. As we near the Bay Agreement’s 2025 benchmark, we must take stock of the challenges faced in meeting its goals and work together to drive further progress toward a healthier Chesapeake Bay,” said Senator Van Hollen.

“I’ve been proud to work with our delegation to support the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries throughout my career – especially in the past decade since we secured the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement,” Congressman Hoyer said. “I was pleased our delegation could meet with our partners in federal and state government to discuss the progress we’ve made toward fulfilling the various goals we laid out in that agreement and to assess the important work that remains. The Chesapeake Bay is the beating heart of Maryland and a true national treasure, and we will continue working to preserve it for generations to come.”

“Ten years ago, we set aggressive but necessary goals to restore and protect our treasured Chesapeake Bay, which has taken an all-hands-on-deck approach from every level of government,” Congressman Ruppersberger said. “As we approach our deadline, we must ensure we are leveraging new technologies and sciences and collaborating with our other watershed states as effectively as possible. I appreciated this opportunity to come together and discuss our long and short-term strategies, especially as my own time in office draws to a close.”

“Today’s discussions provided an opportunity to reaffirm our collective vision for the future of the Chesapeake Bay. It is imperative that the next phase of watershed restoration is centered around achieving goals and outcomes that reflect the current, best available science to ensure the health of our communities, the vitality of our region and a sustainable future for Bay ecosystems and natural resources. We look forward to sustained collaboration with federal, state and local government partners as we continue to support Beyond 2025 planning,” said Congressman Sarbanes.

“Marylanders across our state depend on a healthy Chesapeake Bay — the largest estuary in the United States — for food, recreation, and to make a living,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. “Continued collaboration at the federal, state, and local levels is vital to ensure this national treasure flourishes and effective restoration and conservation projects are enacted throughout the Bay and its ecosystem,” he concluded.

“Team Maryland is united in our efforts to restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay, a treasured natural resource and cornerstone of our local ecosystem,” said Congressman Raskin. “I’m grateful to our EPA and Maryland state government partners for their continued collaboration with the Maryland Congressional delegation to preserve the Bay for generations to come.”

“Protecting the Chesapeake Bay is everyone’s responsibility. We are grateful for our longtime Maryland advocates now on the federal and state level, Adam Ortiz, and Josh Kurtz, respectively. Local, state, and federal partnerships can help keep our national treasure, the Chesapeake Bay, available for all to appreciate and partake in. Crabbing, fishing, sailing and otherwise being active in and around its shores are activities we want to cherish well into the future and our actions today will make sure that our kids and grandkids can benefit from the Bay in their tomorrow’s,” said Congressman Ivey.

EPA Region 3 Administrator, Adam Ortiz

“The Moore-Miller administration thanks the Maryland congressional delegation for their continued strong leadership on the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. Their efforts have resulted in improvements in water quality and the health of the ecosystem,” said Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz. “It was an honor today to discuss our plans to focus our work post-2025 on rebuilding habitat, creating resiliency in the face of climate change, and charting a new future for the Chesapeake Bay.”

The Chesapeake Executive Council consists of the governors of the six watershed states, the mayor of the District of Columbia, the chair of the Chesapeake Bay Commission and the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It establishes the policy direction for the restoration and protection of the Chesapeake Bay.

The Principals Staff Committee (PSC) acts as the policy advisors to the Executive Council, accepting items for Council consideration and approval, and setting agendas for Council meetings. Individual members of the PSC arrange and provide briefings to their principals, the Agreement signatories. The PSC also provides policy and program direction to the Management Board.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Saskatchewan Firearms Office Encourages Firearms Safety This Hunting Season

Source: Government of Canada regional news

Released on September 26, 2024

The Saskatchewan Firearms Office (SFO) wishes everyone a safe and enjoyable hunting season and reminds everyone that a secure firearm is a safe firearm.

“A successful hunt starts with safety,” SFO Deputy Commissioner and Chief Firearms Officer Murray Cowan said. “Respect your firearm, respect wildlife, and respect the environment. Hunting is not just about the harvest; it is about preserving the balance of nature and returning home safely.”

When transporting your firearms, ensure they are not loaded, are kept out of sight, locked securely in a case, or otherwise rendered inoperable (using a trigger lock or cable, or the bolt is removed), and that they are stored separately from live ammunition. Do not leave firearms unattended in your vehicle, and if you must, conceal them and do so briefly while the vehicle is kept within eyesight.

When hunting, ensure you have a valid Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) and Hunting and Fishing Licence (HAL) and be mindful of the training that came with those licences. Treat every firearm as if it is loaded, always control its muzzle, know your target and what’s beyond it, be aware of your surroundings, and always get permission to access private land.

The SFO is proud of its ongoing relationship with Métis Nation Saskatchewan (MN-S) to advance firearms safety and training for Métis citizens in the province.

“Our partnership with Métis Nation Saskatchewan is being built on trust, respect and a shared vision for the heritage of Saskatchewan,” SFO Commissioner Robert Freberg said. “Together, we are honouring traditional knowledge, while empowering meaningful, long-lasting collaboration, standing as a testament to the power of unity and mutual respect in shaping a brighter future for the province.”

The agreement signed last year outlines specific areas they will collaborate on and ensures funding for a community educator position within MN-S, who will work to educate their community members about firearms safety and storage, licensing and hunting. Thanks to this partnership, the SFO was invited to attend Back to Batoche this summer, where staff had the opportunity to provide firearms knowledge to festival attendees.

The SFO is also pleased to report that the new Saskatchewan Ballistics Laboratory is yielding positive results.

Since becoming operational, the lab has completed over 100 firearms examinations for police agencies in Saskatchewan, and it has been able to create linkages from crime scenes in Saskatchewan to others in Canada and the United States. The reduced wait times for forensic testing has also positively impacted prosecutions and court timelines, as tests that would have taken months to complete are now being completed before first court appearances occur.

The SFO is committed to its role in enhancing public safety through community outreach and education, promoting safe firearms use and ownership, and advocating for the proud and longstanding heritage of responsible firearms stewardship in Saskatchewan.

-30-

For more information, contact:

MIL OSI Canada News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada launches Framework for Autism in Canada, Canada’s Autism Strategy, and National Autism Network call for applications
Source: Government of Canada News

The Government of Canada is committed to supporting the needs of all persons with disabilities in Canada, including people with neurodevelopmental conditions like autism, and those who care for them.

September 26, 2024 | Ottawa, Ontario | Public Health Agency of Canada

The Government of Canada is committed to supporting the needs of all persons with disabilities in Canada, including people with neurodevelopmental conditions like autism and those who care for them.

The Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, tabled the Framework for Autism in Canada (Framework) in Parliament today. The Framework outlines principles and best practices to guide national autism policy, programs and activities in Canada. It leverages the Government of Canada’s leadership role to advance best practices that support Autistic people of all ages, their families and caregivers.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) also launched Canada’s Autism Strategy (Strategy). The Strategy is a multi-year action plan that supports federal implementation of the Framework. It outlines federal-specific short- and medium-term initiatives and builds on existing programs and measures to address key priority areas. The Strategy is intended to be updated on a regular basis, as the needs and priorities of Autistic people of all ages living in Canada evolve over time.

Through the Federal-Provincial-Territorial working group, these were developed collaboratively with Autistic people, their families, caregivers, provinces, territories, Indigenous organizations and other stakeholders. Implementation will require coordinated efforts across governments in Canada, as well as many partners, organizations, and individuals whose work touches on autism-related initiatives. The Government of Canada will continue to work with provinces and territories to advance the needs of Autistic people in Canada.

Lastly, we officially launched the process for the creation of a National Autism Network today. The Network is intended to bring together the skills and resources of autism organizations and stakeholders, including people with living experience, to support the implementation of activities guided by the Framework and Strategy. We invite eligible organizations to respond to the call for applications for the Network by November 25, 2024.

This sets out a vision to improve screening, diagnosis and services across Canada; strengthen economic inclusion; enhance data collection, public health surveillance and research; increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance; and facilitate access to evidence-informed autism resources and tools.
- Autism (also known as autism spectrum disorder or ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition. Autistic people may communicate and connect with other people differently, have sensory processing differences, or focus intensely on certain interests or activities. Autistic people may also have other physical, intellectual, learning, or mental health conditions which can introduce further complexities and challenges.
- It is estimated that 1 in 50 children and youth aged 1 to 17 years have been diagnosed with autism in Canada. The Government of Canada is exploring options to measure and report on autism in adults living in Canada. This information will build the evidence base required to inform public health actions aimed at improving the health and well-being of Autistic people across the life course.
- Since 2018, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research have invested approximately $88 million in research on autism. This research is increasing our understanding of autism and guiding the development of innovative tools and more effective ways to support people on the autism spectrum and their families.
- Budget 2021 provided PHAC with $15.4 million over two years to work collaboratively with provinces, territories, families and stakeholders toward the creation of an autism strategy.
- In 2022, the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) published an assessment report on autism highlighting gaps in knowledge regarding the needs and outcomes of Autistic adults, including quality of life, activities of daily living, loneliness, and mental health.
- The Framework is aligned with other disability related activities, such as the Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP), which was released on October 7, 2022. The DIAP is a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach to disability inclusion, which embeds disability considerations across Government programs while identifying targeted investments in key areas to drive change.
- The National Autism Network will be a non-profit organization, working independently from the Government of Canada to share their skills, knowledge and resources, supporting key autism priorities and providing a forum for ongoing engagement on federal policies and programs. The Network will work directly with provinces and territories on specific initiatives at the provincial/territorial level and coordinate and integrate autism investments, while bringing together the knowledge and experience of local autism organizations, partners and the perspectives of those with living experience. It will also lead targeted national public awareness campaigns and provide sustained, accessible and culturally relevant resources (available online and elsewhere) to support Autistic people in Canada, their families and caregivers.
- PHAC hosted two national conferences on autism in November 2022 and August 2024. The first, to bring together people from across Canada to identify potential short-, medium- and long-term priorities for action under an autism strategy and the second, to discuss the Framework’s five priority areas and the actions needed to advance them.
- The Federal Framework on Autism Spectrum Disorder Act received Royal Assent on March 30, 2023. This legislation outlines a commitment for the development of a framework designed to support Autistic people in Canada, their families, and caregivers.
Matthew Kronberg
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Mark Holland
Minister of Health
343-552-5654

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

MIL OSI Canada News –
January 23, 2025

MIL-OSI: Groupama Group 2024 half-year results

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Premium income (insurance premiums and other income) of €12.0 billion, up +8.7%

Growth in property and casualty insurance (+5.0%)
Increase in premium income in health and protection insurance (+10.0%)
Strong growth in the savings and pensions business (+20.7%)
Insurance revenue (IFRS 17) of €7.9 billion

Net income of €398 million

Economic operating income of €409 million, impacted by events in New Caledonia and by a better understanding of the seasonality effect
Fairly moderate weather loss experience
Combined non-life ratio of 95.9%

Strong solvency ratio of 190% without transitional measure

Solvency ratio of 249% with transitional measure on underwriting reserves
Group’s IFRS equity of €9.3 billion
Contractual services margin of €3.6 billion

The Board of Directors of Groupama Assurances Mutuelles met on 26 September 2024, under the chairmanship of Laurent Poupart, and approved the Group’s combined financial statements for the first half of 2024. The half-year financial statements underwent a limited review by the statutory auditors.

Activity (insurance premiums and other income)

As at 30 June 2024, Groupama’s combined premium income stood at €12.0 billion, a +8.7% increase from 30 June 2023. The increase came from property and casualty insurance (+5.0%), health and personal protection insurance (+10%), and savings and pensions (+20.7%).

Groupama premium income as at 30 June 2024

in millions of euros	30/06/2024	Like-for-like change (%)
Property & casualty insurance	6,470	+5.0%
Health & personal protection	3,690%	+10.0%
Savings & pensions	1,734	+20.7%
Financial businesses	120	+16.3%
GROUP TOTAL	12,014	+8.7%

In France

Insurance premium income in France as at 30 June 2024 amounted to €10.3 billion, up +8.8% compared with 30 June 2023.

In property and casualty insurance, premium income totalled €5.3 billion as at 30 June 2024, up +4.6% compared with 30 June 2023. All segments were up, including agricultural (+5.0%), home insurance (+3.9%) and motor insurance (+1.7%).

The health and personal protection business continued to grow (+9.4%) to €3.5 billion as at 30 June 2024, driven by individual health insurance (+5.5%) and growth in group insurance (+15.9%).

In savings and pensions, premium income increased significantly (+24.7%) to €1.5 billion as at 30 June 2024 thanks to strong inflows from unit-linked products. Unit-linked products accounted for more than 60% of premium income in individual savings and pensions.

Abroad

Over the first half of 2024, business reached €1.6 billion, up +7.6% at constant scope and exchange rates compared with 30 June 2023, mainly from the sustained business growth in Hungary (+14.2%) and Italy (+6.1%).

In property and casualty insurance, premium income totalled €1.1 billion as at 30 June 2024, up +7.2% compared with the previous period. This increase was due to the growth in home insurance in particular (+15.1%), mainly in Hungary and Greece, motor insurance (+5.5%) in Hungary and Italy, and good performance in business and local authorities casualty insurance (+13.5%).

Health and protection businesses grew significantly (+22.0%) to €195 million, benefiting from the growth of the group health and personal protection segments (+42.3%), particularly in Romania and Bulgaria.

Premium income in savings and pensions was stable (-0.3%), with strong growth in unit-linked products (+24.8%) mitigating the decline in euro funds (-33.8%).

Financial businesses

The Group’s premium income was €120 million, including €116 million from Groupama Asset Management and €4 million from Groupama Epargne Salariale.

Results

The Group’s economic operating income amounted to €409 million as at 30 June 2024 compared with €612 million as at 30 June 2023.

It came from property and casualty insurance for €181 million (€378 million as at June 30, 2023) and health and protection insurance for €68 million (€182 million as at June 30, 2023). The non-life combined ratio stood at 95.9% as at 30 June 2024, up +4.2 points compared with 30 June 2023. This increase was largely due to the cost of the events in New Caledonia in May and June 2024 as well as the recognition of a seasonality reserve, making it possible to better capture the effects of seasonal fluctuations. Weather claims remained at a fairly moderate level, comparable with the level at the end of June 2023. The operating costs ratio was virtually stable at 28.7% as at 30 June 2024.

Economic operating income in savings and pensions was €208 million as at 30 June 2024 compared with €57 million as at 30 June 2023. It benefited from the result of the switch of the share reinsured by Groupama Gan Vie to CNP Retraite in the PREFON Retraite reinsurance treaty, effective 1 January 2024.

Economic operating income amounted to +€20 million from financial businesses and -€68 million from the Group’s holding company business as at 30 December 2024.

The transition from economic operating income to net income includes non-recurring items, in particular the realisation of capital gains or losses, the change in the fair value of financial assets, and financing expenses. Overall, the Group’s net income amounted to €398 million as at 30 June 2024 compared with €447 million as at 30 June 2023.

Balance sheet

Group’s equity totalled €9.3 billion as at 30 June 2024 compared with €9.9 billion as at 31 December 2023. This change was mainly due to the redemption in May 2024 of perpetual subordinated bonds issued in 2014 for €871 million, partially offset by the positive contribution of the result. Note that the perpetual subordinated debt issued in early July 2024 for €600 million is not included in the 2024 half-year financial statements.

The Group’s contractual service margin, which represents the deferred future profits of outstanding contracts in savings and pensions and long-term protection, calculated discounted, was stable at €3.6 billion as at 30 June 2024.

As at 30 June 2024, the Solvency 2 ratio, without transitional measure on underwriting reserves, was 190%. The 7-point decrease in this ratio compared with end-2023 was mainly due to the redemption of subordinated bonds issued in 2014, mitigated by the result over the period. The perpetual subordinated debt issued at the beginning of July 2024 is not included in the ratio as at 30 June 2024. Including the transitional measure on underwriting reserves, authorised by the ACPR, the ratio was 249%.

The Group’s financial strength is highlighted by Fitch Ratings, which confirmed in March 2024 the IFS Groupama’s rating of ‘A+’ with a ‘Stable’ outlook.

Group Communications Department

For the financial statements as at 30/06/2024, the Group’s financial information consists of:

this press release, which is available on the website groupama.com,
Groupama Group’s half-year financial report, which will be filed with the AMF on 30 September 2024 and posted on the groupama.com website on the same day. The English version will be available on 22 October 2024.

About Groupama Group

For more than 100 years, Groupama Group has based its actions on timeless, humanist values to enable as many people as possible to build their lives in confidence. It relies on humane, caring, optimistic and responsible communities. The Groupama Group, one of the leading mutual insurers in France, carries out its insurance and service business activities in ten countries. The Group has 12 million members and customers and 31,000 employees throughout the world, with premium income of €17.0 billion.

Appendix: Groupama key figures

Premium income (insurance premiums and other income)

€ million	30/06/2023 pro forma*	30/06/2024	Change ** as %
> France	9,507	10,339	+8.8%
Property & casualty insurance	5,102	5,335	+4.6%
Health & personal protection	3,195	3,495	+9.4%
Savings & pensions	1,210	1,508	+24.7%
> International & Overseas	1,445	1,555	+7.6%
Property & casualty insurance	1,059	1,135	+7.2%
Health & personal protection	160	195	+22.0%
Savings & pensions	227	226	-0.3%
Total Insurance	10,952	11,894	+8.6%
Financial businesses	103	120	+16.3%
Groupama premium income	11,055	12,014	+8.7%

* Based on comparable data
** Change on a like-for-like exchange rate and consolidation basis

Net income

€ million	30/06/2023	30/06/2024
Insurance – France Insurance – International	545 71	396 62
Financial businesses	15	20
Holding companies	-19	-68
Economic operating income	612	409
Recurring financial margin	-69	31
Others	-96	-43
Net income	447	398

Balance sheet

€ million	31/12/2023	30/06/2024
Group’s IFRS quity	9,862	9,280
Subordinated debts	3,009	2,140
– equity instrument	871	–
– financing debts	2,138	2,140
Contractual services margin	3,649	3,638
Total balance sheet	91,949	88,587

Main ratios

	30/06/2023	30/06/2024
PAA combined ratio	91.6%	95.9%

	31/12/2023	30/06/2024
Solvency 2 ratio (with transitional measure)*	267%	249%
Solvency 2 ratio (without transitional measure)*	197%	190%

* transitional measure on underwriting reserves

Insurer Financial Strength rating – Fitch Ratings

	Rating	Outlook
Groupama Assurances Mutuelles and its subsidiaries	A+	Stable

Attachment

Groupama_HY 2024 results_press release

The MIL Network –

January 23, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Works to Secure Support for Renewable Fuel Infrastructure, Expand Access to Biofuels

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
WASHINGTON – As the deadline to extend the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) rapidly approaches, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is demanding certainty for consumers, biofuel producers, and retail store owners by requesting the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) keep the program operational.
She partnered with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and led three of their colleagues in urging the USDA to extend the HBIIP with Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds. The senators emphasized the program has been an essential tool for helping retail store owners purchase the infrastructure necessary to provide higher blends of biofuels at the pump, which will only become more critical as year-round, permanent sales of E15 are expanded across the nation.
“Since its inception in 2020, HBIIP has been vital in expanding access to higher blends of biofuels like E15, E85, and B20 for customers. Through a cost-share approach, HBIIP has helped fuel retailers invest over $77.8 million in biofuel-related infrastructure projects, leading to an estimated 1.2 billion-gallon increase in annual biofuel sales,” wrote the senators. “However, access to these higher blends of renewable fuel can only occur if the proper infrastructure is in place at our gas stations, truck stops, and heating fuel facilities, a gap HBIIP has and will continue to help bridge. As the final quarter ends on September 30, 2024, we strongly encourage the USDA to allocate CCC funds to sustain this essential program.”
“By continuing to invest in renewable fuel infrastructure, we can drive further adoption of higher blends of biofuels, which boosts skilled job opportunities in rural communities, protects the environment by reducing emissions, and adds value to the crops grown by producers across the country,” concluded the senators.
Read the full letter here.
Background:
Ernst was instrumental in creating and maintaining HBIIP as part of her commitment to invest in renewable fuel infrastructure, rural job opportunities, and hardworking farmers. She introduced the Biofuel Infrastructure and Agricultural Production Market Expansion Act, which would provide resources to retailers for purchasing more compatible biofuel infrastructure.
More broadly, Ernst has also been a strong advocate for homegrown, Iowa biofuels, including by calling on the White House to make E15 available year-round and country-wide, adhere to the GREET model to provide domestic producers with a seat at the table, amend its harmful decision to set the Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) levels well below industry production capacity, raise Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volumes for biomass-based diesel and advanced biofuels, and issue timely guidance on the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Translation: Canadian Armed Forces establishes new Cyber Command

MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

Source: Government of Canada – in French

Press release

Today, Minister of National Defence Bill Blair and Chief of the Defence Staff General Jennie Carignan officially announced the creation of Canadian Armed Forces Command (CAFCYCOM).

September 26, 2024 – Ottawa – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Today, Minister of National Defence Bill Blair and Chief of the Defence Staff General Jennie Carignan officially announced the creation of Canadian Armed Forces Command (CAFCYCOM).

The creation of CAFCYCOM represents a significant milestone for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). A dedicated and unified cyber command reflects the critical role of cyber in modern operations and demonstrates Canada’s commitment to operating in the cyber domain.

This new command will be led by Major General Dave Yarker, who will be responsible for cyber operations and sustainment, management and development of the cyber force. Since 2010, Major General Yarker has held key staff and liaison positions with allies and partner agencies, as well as unit and formation level command positions. Major General Yarker was appointed Commander, Joint Force Cyber Component in 2022.

The CAF, through CAF Cyber Command, continues to develop and enhance its capabilities in offensive and defensive cyber operations in close collaboration with the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSE). The CAF and CSE have a long-standing partnership in the development of advanced technical and specialized capabilities to provide intelligence in support of military operations. Over the past decade, this partnership has evolved to include collaboration in the areas of cyber security and defensive and offensive cyber operations.

The creation of the CAF Command is also part of similar investments made by Canada’s key partners and allies in NORAD, the GP5 alliance, and NATO. By strengthening its cyber capabilities, Canada is ensuring greater interoperability with its allies, is better equipped to counter the full range of cyber threats, and advances NATO mission goals and objectives.

Quotes

“The new Canadian Armed Forces Cyber Command demonstrates to our allies, partners and adversaries Canada’s continued commitment to operating in a challenging cyber domain. By strengthening our resilience, defence and response capabilities in the cyber domain, and working closely with our partners and allies, we can detect, denounce and defend against cyber threats and cyber actors targeting Canada and our interests.”

The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence

“Through CAF Command, the Department of Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces will continue to develop and scale offensive and defensive cyber operations capabilities in close collaboration with the Communications Security Establishment. This initiative supports cyber operations at the tactical and strategic levels. The new organization will focus resources to advance existing cyber activities in terms of operations, personnel, policy and capabilities.”

General Jennie Carignan, Chief of the Defence Staff

“I would like to congratulate MGen Yarker on assuming his role as Commander of the newly established Canadian Armed Forces Cyber Command. He brings considerable knowledge, experience and leadership demonstrated throughout his military career to the benefit of CAFCYCOM, the Defence Team and all Canadians.”

Stephanie Beck, Deputy Minister of National Defence.

“Creating a decisive advantage in the cyber domain requires speed, trust, agility and unity of action, and I am proud to have been appointed to lead the organization that will strive to deliver these decisive advantages.”

Major-General Dave Yarker, CAF Cyber Commander

“CSE has been a vital partner of the CAF since its inception. Working together is a natural for us, and it will be no different for CAF Cyber Command. That is why we are combining our already world-class foreign cyber operations capabilities to protect Canada in a complex world. At a time when we face cyber warfare even in peacetime, this partnership will benefit Canadians and Canada’s allies, and give us all greater visibility into the evolving threats we navigate every day.”

Caroline Xavier, Chief of the Communications Security Establishment Canada

Quick Facts

COMCYBERFAC will be the single authority of the DND/CAF for cyber operations, responsible for the maintenance, management and development of the cyber force.

COMCYBERFAC consists of cyber forces, including signals intelligence and joint electronic warfare, and will be capable of conducting and supporting a range of cyber tasks.

In addition to being an integral part of Canada’s defence and serving our interests, the creation of CYBERCOMFAC will help the CAF achieve the previous commitments to NATO and the cyber and defence components of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy.

CYBERCOMFAC will support the CAF’s transition to a pan-domain battlespace for greater agility and responsiveness to malicious cyber activities.

Since 2010, Major General Yarker has held a variety of key staff and liaison positions with partner and allied agencies, as well as unit and formation level command positions. He was appointed Commander, Joint Force Cyber Component in 2022.

Related links

Contact persons

Simon Lafortune Press Attaché and Communications Advisor Office of the Minister of National Defence Email: Simon.Lafortune2@forces.gc.ca

Media Relations Department of National Defence Telephone: 613-904-3333 Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca

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

MIL Translation OSI

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: NASA Stennis Completes Key Test Complex Water System Upgrade

Source: NASA

For almost 60 years, NASA’s Stennis Space Center has tested rocket systems and engines to help power the nation’s human space exploration dreams. Completion of a critical water system infrastructure project helps ensure the site can continue that frontline work moving forward.
“The infrastructure at NASA Stennis is absolutely critical for rocket engine testing for the agency and commercial companies,” said NASA project manager Casey Wheeler. “Without our high pressure industrial water system, testing does not happen. Installing new underground piping renews the lifespan and gives the center a system that can be operated for the foreseeable future, so NASA Stennis can add to its nearly six decades of contributions to space exploration efforts.”
The high pressure industrial water system delivers hundreds of thousands of gallons of water per minute through underground pipes to cool rocket engine exhaust and provide fire suppression capabilities during testing. Without the water flow, the engine exhaust, reaching as hot as 6,000 degrees Fahrenheit, could melt the test stand’s steel flame deflector.
Each test stand also features a FIREX system that holds water in reserve for use in the event of a mishap or fire. During SLS (Space Launch System) core stage testing, water also was used to create a “curtain” around the test hardware, dampening the high levels of noise generated during hot fire and lessening the video-acoustic impact that can cause damage to infrastructure and the test hardware.
Prior to the system upgrade, the water flow was delivered by the site’s original piping infrastructure built in the 1960s. However, that infrastructure had well exceeded its expected 30-year lifespan.
Scope of the Project
The subsequent water system upgrade was planned across multiple phases over a 10-year span. Crews worked around ever-changing test schedules to complete three major projects representing more than $50 million in infrastructure investment.
“Many people working the construction jobs for these projects are from the Gulf Coast area, so it has created jobs and work for the people doing the construction,” Wheeler said. “Some of the specialty work has had people coming in from all over the country, as well as vendors and suppliers that are supplying the materials, so that has an economic impact here too.”
Crews started by replacing large sections of piping, including a 96-inch line, from the 66-million-gallon onsite reservoir to the Thad Cochran (B-1/B-2) Test Stand. This phase also included the installation of a new 25,000-gallon electric pump at the High Pressure Industrial Water Facility to increase water flow capacity. The upgrades were critical for NASA Stennis to conduct Green Run testing of the SLS core stage in 2020-21 ahead of the successful Artemis I launch.
Work in the A Test Complex followed with crews replacing sections of 75-inch piping from the water plant and installing several new 66-inch gate valves.
In the final phase, crews used an innovative approach to install new steel liners within existing pipes leading to the Fred Haise Test Stand (formerly A-1 Test Stand). The work followed NASA’s completion of a successful RS-25 engine test campaign last April for future Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. The stand now is being prepared to begin testing of new RS-25 flight engines.
Overall, the piping project represents a significant upgrade in design and materials. The new piping is made from carbon steel, with protective linings to prevent corrosion and gate valves designed to be more durable.
Importance of WaterIt is hard to overstate the importance of the work to ensure ongoing water flow. For a typical 500-second RS-25 engine test on the Fred Haise Test Stand, around 5 million gallons of water is delivered from the NASA Stennis reservoir through a quarter-of-a-mile of pipe before entering the stand to supply the deflector and cool engine exhaust.
“Without water to cool the deflector and the critical parts of the test stand that will get hot from the hot fire itself, the test stand would need frequent corrective maintenance,” Wheeler said. “This system ensures the test stands remain in a condition where continuous testing can happen.”

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CS co-ordinates Golden Week plans

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki today chaired an inter-departmental working group meeting to instruct various departments to better prepare for receiving visitors during the Mainland’s National Day Golden Week from October 1 to 7.

According to the Immigration Department’s (ImmD) estimate, around 7.01 million passengers will pass through Hong Kong’s sea, land and air control points during Golden Week this year, among which 5.98 million are expected to pass through land control points.

In terms of Mainland inbound visitors, it is estimated that about 1.23 million passengers will visit Hong Kong during Golden Week.

The number of outbound and inbound passengers using land boundary control points will peak on October 1.

The Chief Secretary urged various departments to actively co-ordinate and consolidate supporting services of boundary control points (BCPs), traffic and public transport, promptly respond to various emergency situations and strengthen information dissemination.

The Inter-departmental Joint Command Centre set up by Customs, Police, the ImmD and other departments will be activated from September 28 to October 7 to monitor the real-time situation at various control points.

The command centre will maintain close liaison with the Mainland port authorities and take timely contingency actions to flexibly deploy manpower at the BCPs to ensure the smooth operation of the land control points.

The Security Bureau will also activate the Emergency Monitoring & Support Centre in a timely manner to closely monitor and co-ordinate the public order situation at various BCPs and facilitate inter-departmental follow-up action where necessary to respond promptly to various kinds of emergencies.

Police will arrange sufficient manpower to implement corresponding crowd management measures and special traffic arrangements to ensure that all celebrations will be conducted in a safe and orderly manner.

The Transport Department’s Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre will operate 24 hours to closely monitor the traffic condition and public transport services of different districts, including various BCPs and major stations.

Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing, Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Kevin Yeung, Under Secretary for Security Michael Cheuk and representatives of relevant bureaus attended the meeting.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Applauds Biden-Harris Administration’s Expansion of IVF Coverage for Federal Employees

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

September 25, 2024

For years, the Senator has led the charge to ensure IVF treatment is covered for more Americans Duckworth’s Right to IVF Act, which Republicans blocked just last week, would enshrine this expansion in law

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—author of the Right to IVF Act and the bipartisan Family Building FEHB Fairness Act—applauded the Biden-Harris Administration’s announcement that the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) Program will, for the first time ever, offer multiple plans with comprehensive IVF coverage to the entire federal workforce and their families, no matter their zip code. The FEHB is the largest employer-sponsored group health insurance program in the world, covering more than 8 million employees, retirees, family members and others.

“I applaud the Biden-Harris Administration for taking this decisive action that I’ve called for to ensure all federal employees have access to IVF coverage—because everyone deserves the ability to access the fertility treatment they need to build their families, no matter where they live.

“While this is welcome news, any future President could reverse this decision—so it’s critical we permanently protect and expand access to IVF nationwide and ensure no patient or doctor is criminalized simply for trying to start or grow their family. Last week, the Senate had the opportunity to do just that. But when it came time for Senate Republicans to put their votes where their mouths are and help pass my Right to IVF Act, the same Republicans claiming to ‘support IVF’ blocked it and made sure this expansion—and the other common sense IVF protections in the bill—would not be enshrined in federal law.

“Struggling with infertility is painful enough without the GOP’s hypocrisy, and I won’t stop working until every American in every state can access IVF and experience the joys of parenthood if, when and how they want to.”

In April, Senator Duckworth—along with U.S. Representative Gerry Connolly (D-VA-11)—led 176 of their colleagues in urging OPM to help ensure all insurance carriers in FEHB program to cover IVF medical treatments and medications in plan year 2025.

Last week, Senator Duckworth—along with U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ)—led Senate Democrats in trying to pass the Right to IVF Act for the second time, comprehensive legislation led by Duckworth that would require all health insurers to cover IVF. This renewed effort by Senate Democrats came after Donald Trump claimed he wanted IVF to be covered and represented a second chance for Senate Republicans to actually do something that would make it easier for Americans struggling with infertility to access IVF. Despite claiming to support IVF, Senate Republicans blocked the legislation for the second time in just a few months.

Senator Duckworth’s Right to IVF Act also includes the bipartisan Family Building FEHB Fairness Act, legislation the Senator has led for years that would require carriers to cover IVF and ART and would give the OPM one year to implement its requirements from the date of enactment.

-30-

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Moran, Boozman, Klobuchar Launch Senate Sustainable Aviation Caucus

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

September 25, 2024

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Chair of the U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—U.S. Senator and Subcommittee Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-KS), John Boozman (R-AR) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) recently launched the Senate Sustainable Aviation Caucus to promote the longevity of the aviation industry and renewable fuels.

“As we continue our work to reduce emissions and foster energy independence, one of the most important things we can do is make aviation more sustainable by increasing the use and supply of American-grown, American-made sustainable aviation fuel,” said Senator Duckworth. “To help us do just that, I’m proud to join Senators Moran, Klobuchar and Boozman in launching the Senate’s first-ever Sustainable Aviation Caucus. With this new caucus, I look forward to continuing our work to protect and grow American SAF production for use around the world, while also reducing our carbon footprint and supporting our domestic farmers and economy.”

“As the aviation industry strives for lower emissions and cleaner energy sources, the development and utilization of sustainable aviation fuel will be a critical element,” said Senator Moran. “To help spur development, I am launching the Senate Sustainable Aviation Caucus. The caucus will work together to find ways to promote technologically innovative solutions to create a sustainable aviation industry and increase our nation’s competitiveness in the domestic production of sustainable aviation fuel.”

“I’m pleased to join this initiative to promote education and policies that support sustainable industry practices,” said Senator Boozman. “I look forward to working with leaders of the caucus and stakeholders to advance measures that continue to advance aviation in an environmentally sound manner.”

“Airlines across the country are committed to developing technologies to reduce carbon emissions from air travel,” said Senator Klobuchar. “The expanded use of sustainable aviation fuel will create jobs in rural areas, bolster our national security, and slash carbon emissions. This caucus aims to promote data, research, and innovation in sustainable aviation to ensure that the U.S. maintains its leadership in this field.”

Duckworth has been a leader in supporting biofuels, including expansion of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Earlier this year, she helped introduce the Farm to Fly Act which would help accelerate the production and development of SAF through existing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs to allow further growth for alternative fuels to be used in the aviation sector and create new markets for American farmers.

Last year, Duckworth introduced the bipartisan Sustainable Aviation Fuels Accuracy Act of 2023 which would identify the standards required to meet the definition of SAF at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Additionally, the Senator created a pilot project in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to promote the use of SAF at military installations and will continue to increase these efforts to expand the use on biofuels whenever possible.

Congresswoman Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) and Congressman Dusty Johnson (R-SD-AL) also created the Congressional Sustainable Aviation Caucus for members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

-30-

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Ukraine war: Vladimir Putin ups the ante on his nuclear blackmail – the big question is how the west will respond

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Christoph Bluth, Professor of International Relations and Security, University of Bradford

Vladimir Putin has announced what appears to be a dramatic strengthening of Russia’s nuclear doctrine. The Russian president was responding to speculation that the west may relax its restrictions on Ukraine’s use of its weapons to attack targets inside Russia.

He told his security council that Russia would consider using nuclear weapons if it was attacked by any state with conventional weapons. The trigger for the launch of nuclear missiles against Ukraine or any of its allies, he said, would be “reliable information about a massive launch of aerospace attack means and their crossing of our state border”.

Whether this will affect the thinking of Ukraine’s western allies about the use of its long-range missiles has yet to be seen. But one of the major features of the public discourse about the Ukraine war has been the risk of the use of nuclear weapons.

Nuclear threats have been a standard tactic for the Russian leadership. Whenever Ukraine receives new weapons from the west or is allowed to use western arms to target Russian territory Moscow has responded by either referring to the devastation it could wreak with its nuclear arsenal or by holding a drill to remind the west of its existence.

But there have recently been reports of a growing realisation among Putin’s close advisers that these threats are beginning to wear thin, as one after another of Moscow’s “red lines” are ignored.

Nevertheless, despite providing Ukraine with the most advanced air defence systems and offensive missiles that could strike targets deep within Russia – and perhaps even influence the course of the war – Nato countries are maintaining a strict limit on their use. It’s an indication that despite scepticism about Putin’s willingness to use nuclear weapons, deterrence remains robust – in western minds anyway.

Nuclear deterrence is based on the threat to inflict “unacceptable damage” on an enemy. It is credible only if the adversary believes that the threat is accompanied by the capability and will to follow through.

Nuclear powers have generally conducted nuclear messaging by publicising guidelines for the use of their arsenals. Nato’s current strategic concept was adopted by heads of state and government at the alliance’s summit in Madrid in June 2022. It states: “The circumstances in which Nato might have to use nuclear weapons are extremely remote.”

But the document stresses that if nuclear weapons were used against any Nato member state it would “fundamentally alter” any conflict in which Nato was engaged. It goes on to warn that: “The Alliance has the capabilities and resolve to impose costs on an adversary that would be unacceptable and far outweigh the benefits that any adversary could hope to achieve.”

Russia, meanwhile, is reportedly updating its nuclear doctrine in response to what it says is “western escalation” in the war in Ukraine. The current doctrine, established by a decree in 2020, says Russia can use nuclear weapons to respond to a nuclear attack by an enemy, or to a conventional attack that “threatens the existence of the state”.

The latest statement by Putin is apparently the “draft” of a reworked nuclear doctrine. It certainly appears to lower the bar on resorting to the use of nuclear weapons.

Sabre rattling

The Russian leader made his first overt threat to use nuclear weapons in the conflict in Ukraine in September 2022. He was overseeing the annexation of four occupied Ukrainian provinces after hastily arranged plebiscites, which were generally regarded in the west as being rigged.

He stated that “the US is the only country in the world that twice used nuclear weapons, destroying the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Incidentally, they created a precedent.”

He went on to assert that during the second world war the US and Britain had deliberately bombed several German cities to rubble. This, he insisted, had the “sole goal, just like in the case of nuclear bombardments in Japan, to scare our country and the entire world”.

But CIA director William Burns recently said the west should not take Putin’s threats seriously: “Putin’s a bully. He’s going to continue to sabre rattle from time to time.”

CIA director Wiliam Burns and MI6 chief Richatrd Moore in conversation at an FT conference, September 2024.

Burns told a festival organised by the Financial Times on September 7 that: “There was a moment in the fall of 2022 when I think there was a genuine risk of potential use of tactical nuclear weapons … I never thought … we should be unnecessarily intimidated by that.”

He said he had subsequently passed on a message from US president Joe Biden to Sergey Naryshkin, the head of the Russian foreign intelligence service at a meeting in Turkey in November 2022 “to make very clear what the consequences of that kind of escalation would be”.

US satellite networks and other intelligence sources have shown no evidence of any preparations for the employment of nuclear weapons. This is despite Russian claims that the alert status of Russian forces has been raised.

But Putin’s proxies have been busily putting out propaganda messages to reinforce their leader’s threats. According to the Washington Post, Alexander Mikhailov, the director of the Bureau of Military Political Analysis, recently called for Russia to bomb plywood mock-ups of London and Washington to simulate a nuclear attack, so that that would “burn so beautifully that it will horrify the world”.

The speaker of the lower house, Vyacheslav Volodin, warned that strikes on Russia would lead to war with nuclear weapons and warned that the European parliament in Strasbourg was only a three-minute flight for a Russian nuclear missile.

So far Putin’s threats have been sufficient to limit the scope of western involvement. Whether the Russian president’s latest threat will be effective is now the question.

Christoph Bluth received funding from the Volkswagen Stiftung and the AHRC

– ref. Ukraine war: Vladimir Putin ups the ante on his nuclear blackmail – the big question is how the west will respond – https://theconversation.com/ukraine-war-vladimir-putin-ups-the-ante-on-his-nuclear-blackmail-the-big-question-is-how-the-west-will-respond-239660

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: How history can teach us to prevent deaths at sea

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Guy Collender, Post Doctoral Senior Research Associate, Centre for Port Cities and Maritime Cultures, University of Portsmouth

AndriiKoval/Shutterstock

The rapid sinking of the Bayesian superyacht and the loss of seven lives, including tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, in August 2024 cruelly emphasised the potentially lethal perils of the sea. This tragedy, although much publicised, is far from unusual. Globally, accidents at sea lead to thousands of deaths every year – but the true scale of the problem is unknown.

Undoubtedly, life at sea remains hard and dangerous in the 21st century, but this is difficult to quantify. There were 215 shipping industry related deaths at sea recorded in 2022. However, due to a lack of standardised data and under-reporting this figure is likely to be an underestimate.

Efforts to raise awareness and improve safety at sea today have much to learn from historic and successful safety initiatives in the UK’s docks. My research on early 20th century docks shows that proper data is a prerequisite to understanding a problem and identifying trends. Such an assessment can then lead to the allocation of resources, targeted safety measures – and life-saving change.

These steps all apply to improving safety at sea, but the lack of accurate data is a real stumbling block.

Life and death at sea

Fishing is widely recognised as the “most dangerous occupation globally”, but estimates of deaths among the fishing community vary enormously from 32,000 to more than 100,000 deaths per year. Of course, such deaths also occur inland in lakes and rivers, as well as at sea.

Twenty-six vessels of over 100 gross tonnes were recorded lost in 2023, with 13 sinking beneath the waves. This is low when compared with the loss of more than 200 vessels a year in the 1990s, but there have also been recent worrying trends such as attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. So far in 2024, four Red Sea seafarers have been killed by Houthi rebels from Yemem, with others injured and held hostage.

Desperation and war are also leading to deaths and risks elsewhere. A total of 3,155 migrants crossing the Mediterranean were recorded as missing or dead in 2023.

Nevertheless, such challenges and risks to life are increasingly being recognised and efforts are underway to address them. Importantly, better data collection and monitoring is in the pipeline.

An amendment to the 2006 international maritime labour convention is expected to come into force in December 2024. It will require countries that have agreed to the convention to report deaths of seafarers on an annual basis to the UN’s International Labour Office.

These will be published in a global register, and they will be investigated. It remains to be seen how such reporting will operate in practice and how deaths will be categorised – but it will be a good start.

History lessons

This is where it is helpful to learn from the past. I have researched the historic reduction of the dangers of dock work in the UK for Hindsight Perspectives for a Safer World – a collaboration between History and Policy and Lloyd’s Register Foundation.

My study shows how progress was linked to gathering better data, and recognising the risks of loading and unloading cargo. The counting and scrupulous categorisation of accidents helped identify the problems and appropriate safety measures.

In 1900, factory inspectors identified five causes of dock accidents, including falls (into the ship’s hold, or into the water), and shunting accidents involving trains. The docks were classified as one of the “dangerous trades” in the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901.

Under the dock regulations of 1904, “life-saving appliances” – chains or floats – were introduced to prevent drownings. Lifting machinery was also subject to stringent checks to prevent deaths from falling loads.

And more and more proactive inspections took place as the number of inspectors rose from 137 in 1900 to 320 by 1939. All these safety measures and others contributed to dock deaths falling from 115 a year in 1899 to 69 a year in 1939.

Today’s safety initiatives at sea often echo the work of those safety pioneers in the early 20th century. Together in Safety, a consortium of companies dedicated to improving safety in the maritime sector, suggests a three-step safety process – assess the situation, act to improve, appraise the progress – which replicates the work of those early legislators and inspectors.

Together in Safety’s clear and succinct golden safety rules show how to mitigate the risks of maritime work, including working over water and entering enclosed spaces.

What’s more, Lloyd’s Register Foundation – a charity that helps to protect life and property at sea, on land, and in the air – is undertaking work to “assure the safety of people as the ocean economy grows” as part of its Global Maritime Trends 2050 Research Programme.

Two million seafarers face daily dangers to keep the global supply chain operating smoothly. Doing more to highlight their safety will hopefully lead to a better understanding of the challenges they face. This, in turn, should lead to better safety procedures and practices to save lives at sea.

Guy Collender was commissioned and paid to research the history of dock safety in the UK for Hindsight Perspectives for a Safer World – a collaboration between History and Policy and Lloyd’s Register Foundation. He is currently employed by the University of Portsmouth on the ‘Sail to Steam, Carbon to Green’ research project, which is funded by Lloyd’s Register Foundation.

– ref. How history can teach us to prevent deaths at sea – https://theconversation.com/how-history-can-teach-us-to-prevent-deaths-at-sea-237432

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: The world isn’t taking Putin’s nuclear threats seriously – the history of propaganda suggests it should

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Colin Alexander, Senior Lecturer in Political Communications, Nottingham Trent University

Vladimir Putin has spoken several times about using nuclear weapons since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. However, the initial attention and concern that global news media gave to Putin when he first spoke on the issue in September 2022 seemed to have largely dissipated over the past two years of conflict, perhaps because of the frequency with which he has threatened to resort to use of Russia’s nuclear arsenal.

Now Putin has issued his strongest threat yet, saying that Russia would use nuclear weapons against any country attacking it, even with conventional weapons. This statement appears to be intended to influence the debate happening at the United Nations, where Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is trying to persuade his country’s western allies to allow Ukraine to use the weapons they have provided against targets deep within Russia itself.

This has been a “red line” hitherto that Ukraine’s allies have been unwilling to cross. That may be about to change though and Russia’s reaction has been to reiterate a nuclear response.

For those interested in the study of propaganda, Putin’s threats appear to have moved from what American media scholar Dan Hallin called the “sphere of legitimate controversy”, where the validity of an utterance is urgently debated by journalists, politicians and academics, into the “sphere of consensus”, where there is broad agreement about the meaning of the message. This generally results in it receiving less attention.

To believe that Putin is not serious about using nuclear weapons is a dangerous assumption to make. But it provides a good opportunity to examine the political and public relationship with nuclear weapons in more detail.

The psychology of nuclear threat

Most adults know of the existence of nuclear weapons and understand the consequences of their use. Very few are simply ignorant of them or their immense power. But global annihilation is too overwhelming to think about other than fleetingly. As a result we tend to focus on less drastic futures.

These regular denials and self-deceptions affect political outlooks though. Every so often the leader of a nuclear-armed country is asked by a journalist or another politician about their readiness to press the nuclear button. They always say “yes”. When this question is asked in front of an audience there is usually enthusiastic applause.

This response – applauding an individual politician’s willingness to bring about the end of the world – is perhaps the most compelling evidence of the duality that the threat of nuclear war exists within. Rather than perceiving such a response as the worrying sign that a maniac has somehow manoeuvred their way into high office and should be immediately removed, the voter perceives the utterance as a signifier of leadership strength.

Psychologically, it can be argued that the applause actually represents an outpouring of relief that this mass self-deception can continue.

‘Fear propaganda’ and confirmation bias

During the cold war, official propaganda placed great emphasis upon threat and preparedness for nuclear attack. The BBC film Threads first aired 40 years ago in September 1984 and depicted the aftermath of a nuclear strike. It was responsible for great alarm among the British public at a time when news media, movies and even official literature were also focused upon the threat of nuclear war.

Between 1974 and 1980, the UK government issued a booklet entitled Protect and Survive, accompanied by short films. The BBC, in its public service role, also ran documentary programming including a 1980 edition of Panorama called If The Bomb Drops. While US secretary of state Henry Kissinger’s 1957 study Nuclear War and Foreign Policy caused alarm for arguing that small-scale nuclear war using “battlefield” weapons might be possible.

Cold war communications like these served to focus the public mind towards the threat of nuclear attack above all other fears. And perhaps, at that time, they were right to do so. But more than 30 years have now passed since the end of the cold war and the emphasis within what is known as “fear propaganda” now focuses on other threats, such as extremism, pandemics and migration.

As such, Putin’s nuclear threats provide propaganda analysts like myself with a case study about the important role played by fear propaganda in determining what people are scared of. If taken within the wider history of the fear of nuclear holocaust, it is clear that political leaders cannot rely on their words alone to be taken seriously. They require a wider supportive propaganda environment – like the atmosphere created at the height of the cold war.

Putin the ‘madman’

Questions around how to understand Putin’s nuclear attack threats ought to be positioned as the latest in a long(ish) line of world leaders who have tried to convince global publics of their readiness to commit nuclear genocide.

Richard Nixon, for example, used what was referred to as “madman” tactics when trying to convince people of his readiness to push the button. Interestingly, the more recent depictions of Putin, Kim Jong-un and other authoritarian leaders as madmen by western tabloids can actually helps them by playing down the fact of their inferior military capabilities when compared to those of the Nato allies.

Don’t think for a moment though that any of this discussion of propaganda increases or decreases the actual threat posed by nuclear weapons. Indeed, there exists a degree of confirmation bias among politicians, journalists and other public commentators that because nuclear war did not happen during the cold war, it is unlikely to happen now. But this can’t be guaranteed. It may be that these conclusions are mistakenly based upon the intensity of the propaganda environment – not the actuality of the threat posed.

To this end, it ought to be remembered that the ability to press the button sits well within the capacity of the sane human mind. US president Harry S. Truman pushed the button in 1945. He was then given detailed reports of the death and destruction that his decision caused to Hiroshima. Then he pushed the button again to annihilate Nagasaki.

Colin Alexander 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. The world isn’t taking Putin’s nuclear threats seriously – the history of propaganda suggests it should – https://theconversation.com/the-world-isnt-taking-putins-nuclear-threats-seriously-the-history-of-propaganda-suggests-it-should-239942

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Galaxy S24 Series Expands With S24 FE: A Premium Experience That Makes Full Galaxy AI Capabilities Attainable for More Users

Source: Samsung

Samsung Electronics today unveiled the Galaxy S24 FE, the latest addition to the Galaxy AI ecosystem, delivering premium mobile experiences to more users.
Powered by the AI-based ProVisual Engine and Galaxy AI’s Photo Assist features, Galaxy S24 FE showcases an enhanced camera setup that empowers users to be more creative. It’s the perfect device for gaming on the go with a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, a long-lasting 4,700mAh battery,1 and a powerful Exynos 2400 series chipset. The Galaxy S24 FE offers premium Galaxy AI2 tools and ecosystem connectivity to enhance communication, productivity, and creativity — all housed in an iconic design and protected by robust Samsung Knox security.

“We want everyone to enjoy all the benefits of our latest mobile innovations,” said SeaYoung Lee, Corporate EVP and Head of the Smartphone Research and Development team at Samsung Electronics. “Galaxy AI opens so many new experiences for users, helping them communicate, and be more creative and productive. Galaxy S24 FE makes the powerful performance and premium Galaxy AI capabilities of the S24 series available to even more people.”
Unlock Creativity With AI-enhanced Camera and Editing
Galaxy S24 FE makes it easy for anyone to shoot stunning photos and videos. Its premium camera setup features a 50MP wide lens and 8MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom — both supported by optical image stabilization (OIS) — plus a 12MP ultra-wide lens and a 10MP selfie camera.

The camera system’s capabilities are further elevated by Samsung’s dynamic ProVisual Engine, an AI-driven camera engine that takes photo quality to incredible heights. Making its debut in the FE series, the ProVisual Engine features innovative technology that leverages advanced AI algorithms to deliver breathtaking detail and remarkably subtle textures:
Nightography with AI image signal processing (ISP) to improve low light performance, enabling beautiful night portraits
The wide camera’s 50MP Adaptive Pixel Sensor helps enable optical-quality performance at 2x and 3x zoom. AI zoom also provides enhanced image quality for distances between digital zoom lengths
Object-Aware Engine to recognize scenes and optimize colors in Super High Dynamic Range (HDR), ensuring vibrant and lifelike photos and videos

When it is time to edit, Photo Assist features help users turn their ideas into reality. Since its introduction on Galaxy S24 series devices, Galaxy AI has become invaluable for editing images and expressing creativity:
Generative Edit3 reassembles the world through object moving and removal capabilities, allowing more creative freedom
Portrait Studio4 reimagines selfies as cartoons, comics, watercolor paintings, or sketches to add flair to online profiles
Edit Suggestions quickly remove pesky flaws, such as reflections, with the press of a button
Instant Slow-mo5 immortalizes every second of life’s important moments in a snap
Game On With Powerful Performance

The powerful Exynos 2400 series chipset enables an uncompromised gaming experience compatible with cutting-edge features such as Ray Tracing. When every bit of speed and efficiency counts, the Galaxy S24 FE utilizes several key features to stay ahead of the competition:
A 1x larger vapor chamber6 improves cooling to maintain peak performance for longer durations.
A higher-capacity 4,700mAh battery7 allows for long, worry-free gaming sessions.
A 7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display — the largest display ever used in the FE series — with a up to 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, provides a smooth and stunning viewing experience.
Vision Booster optimizes color and contrast for clear and comfortable gaming even in sunlight.
Seamless Galaxy AI Experiences
The Galaxy S24 FE incorporates the same advanced AI experience as the Galaxy S24 series. Designed to enhance work, simplify communication, and increase connectivity, Galaxy AI on the S24 FE offers tools that unlock new possibilities.

Circle to Search with Google8 satisfies curiosity with unprecedented ease by offering instant search results with just a long press of the home button and circle
Interpreter9 instantly translates in-person conversations, lectures, or any other type of presentation, even when offline
Live Translate10 breaks down communication barriers on phone calls, and is now being extended to a selection of popular third-party apps
Composer from Samsung keyboard generates suggested text based on simple keywords for email and supported social media apps
Note Assist11 streamlines the note-taking process and automates formatting and translation. In Samsung Notes you can directly get transcription, translation, and summarization of voice recordings. Text in PDF files can also be translated and overlaid through PDF overlay translation

Connecting and Securing the Samsung Galaxy Ecosystem
Every Galaxy AI-enhanced experience becomes even more useful when the Galaxy S24 FE is connected to Samsung’s expansive mobile ecosystem. It seamlessly transfers files, quickly sets up extended displays, and effortlessly executes complex creative ideas through intuitive inputs. In this hyper-connected Samsung Galaxy ecosystem, Galaxy S24 FE enables experiences that increase productivity, creativity, and efficiency.
Building on the innovative legacy of the S series, the Galaxy S24 FE is fortified with strong security. Samsung Knox, Galaxy’s multi-layer security platform that safeguards critical information and protects against vulnerabilities with end-to-end secure hardware, real-time threat detection, and collaborative protection.
As a continuation of the S24 series tradition of sustainable design, the Galaxy S24 FE has been made to do more with less when it comes to the planet’s resources . It features a wide variety of recycled materials, including recycled plastics, aluminum, glass, and rare earth elements in both internal and external components.12 It also features seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates,13 and comes in a packaging box made from 100% recycled paper material.14
Enhanced Experiences With Watch FE LTE
In June, Samsung advanced the legacy of FE devices by offering key health and wellness tools to even more users with Galaxy Watch FE. That continues with the upcoming release of Galaxy Watch FE LTE, which allows users to take advantage of their Galaxy Watch from anywhere, by taking calls, tracking their wellness progress, and so much more — all without needing a connection to a phone.

Availability & Offers
The Galaxy S24 FE and Galaxy Watch FE LTE are both available for pre-order on Samsung.com beginning today.
Pricing for Galaxy S24 FE starts at $649.99 and comes in four colors: Blue, Graphite, Gray, and Mint,15 available on Samsung.com and major carriers and retailers nationwide beginning October 3.
Pricing for Galaxy Watch FE LTE starts at $249.99, with availability at Samsung.com and major carriers and retailers beginning October 3.
Those who pre-order Galaxy Watch FE LTE will receive a free light-weight fabric watch band.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE Specifications

Display  6.7-inch FHD+
Dynamic AMOLED 2X
120Hz Adaptive refresh rate (60/120Hz)
Vision Booster
*Measured diagonally, Galaxy S24 FE’s screen is 6.7-inch in the full rectangle and 6.5-inch accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and camera hole.
Dimensions & Weight77.3 X 162.0 X 8.0mm, 213g
*Device weight may vary by market.
Camera12MP Ultra-Wide Camera
• F2.2, FOV 123˚ 
50MP Wide Camera
• OIS F1.8, FOV 84˚ 
8MP Telephoto Camera
• 3x Optical Zoom, OIS F2.4, FOV 32˚ 
10MP Front Camera 
• F2.4, FOV 80˚ 
ProcessorExynos 2400e (4nm)
Memory + Storage8 + 128 GB
8 + 256 GB
8 + 512 GB
*Storage options and availability may vary by carrier, country or region. Actual storage availability may vary depending on pre-installed software.
Battery4,700 mAh
* Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 4,565mAh. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors.
Charging*Wired charging*: Up to 50% charge in around 30 mins with 25W Adapter** and 3A USB-C cable***
Fast Wireless Charging****
Wireless PowerShare*****
*Wired charging compatible with QC2.0 and PD.
**25W Power Adapter sold separately. Use only Samsung-approved chargers and cables.
*** Results from internal Samsung lab tests, conducted with 25W Travel Adapter connected to newly pre-released version of Galaxy S23 Ultra while device had 0% of power remaining, with all services, features and screen turned off. Actual charging speed may vary depending on the actual usage, charging conditions and other factors.
****Wireless charging compatible with WPC.
*****Limited to Samsung or other brand smartphones with Qi wireless charging, such as Galaxy Z Fold 6, Z Flip6, S24 Ultra, S24+, S24, Z Fold5, Z Flip5, S23 Ultra, S23+, S23, S23 FE, Z Fold4, Z Flip4,, S22 Ultra, S22+, S22, Z Fold3, Z Flip3, S21 Ultra, S21+, S21, S21 FE, Z Fold2, Note20 Ultra, Note20, S20+, S20, S20 FE, Z Flip 5G, Z Flip, Note10+, Note10, S10 5G, S10+, S10, S10e, S10 Lite, Fold, S9, S9+, S8, S8+, S8 Active, S7, S7 edge, S7 Active, S6, S6 edge, S6 Active, S6 edge+, Note9, Note8, Note FE and Note5. Only available with certain Samsung Galaxy wearables such as Galaxy Buds3, Buds3 Pro, Buds FE, Buds2 Pro, Buds2, Buds Pro, Buds Live, Galaxy Watch Ultra, Watch6, Watch5, Watch 5 Pro, Watch4, Watch4 Classic, Watch3, Watch Active2, Watch Active, Gear Sport, Gear S3, Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds. If battery power is lower than 30% Wireless PowerShare may not function. May not work with certain accessories, covers, other brand devices or some Samsung wearables. During PowerShare, it may affect call reception or data services, depending on your network environment.
OSAndroid 14
One UI 6.1
Network and Connectivity 5G*, LTE**, Wi-Fi 6E,*** Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth® v 5.3
*Requires optimal 5G network connection, available in select markets. Check with carrier for availability and details. Download and streaming speeds may vary based on content provider, server connection and other factors.
**Availability of LTE model varies by market and carrier. Actual speed may vary depending on market, carrier, and user environment.
***Wi-Fi 6E network availability may vary by market, network provider and user environment. Requires optimal connection.Will require a Wi-Fi 6E router.
SecurityAuto Blocker, Samsung Knox, Samsung Knox Vault, Samsung Knox Matrix, Passkey
Water ResistanceIP68
* IP68 Rating: Conducted under lab test conditions. Water resistant in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for up to 30 minutes and protected from dust, dirt, and sand. Rinse residue/dry after wet. Not advised for beach or pool use. Water and dust resistance of device is not permanent and may diminish over time.
1 Charger not included. Use only Samsung-approved chargers and cables. Do not use worn or damaged chargers or cables. An incompatible charger or cable can cause damage to your device and/or serious injuries.
2 Galaxy AI features by Samsung will be provided for free until the end of 2025 on supported Samsung Galaxy devices.
3 Generative Edit requires a network connection and Samsung Account login. Editing with Generative Edit results in a resized photo up to 12MP. A visible watermark is overlaid on the image output upon saving in order to indicate that the image is generated by AI. The accuracy and reliability of the generated output is not guaranteed.
4 Portrait Studio requires a network connection and Samsung Account login. Supports JPG, HEIC (HEIF), BMP and PNG files. The background must not be transparent. Editing with Generative Portrait results in a resized photo up to 12MP. A visible watermark is overlaid on the image output upon saving in order to indicate that the image is generated by AI. The accuracy and reliability of the generated output is not guaranteed.
5 Instant Slow-Mo available only with videos saved in the Samsung Gallery app, recorded at up to 4K@60fps (not available with HDR10+ videos)
6 Compared Galaxy S24 FE to Galaxy S23 FE.
7 Compared Galaxy S24 FE to Galaxy S23 FE (4,500mAh).
8 Requires internet connection; results may vary by uniqueness, clarity and framing of circled image and related factors.
9 Requires Samsung account login and language preset (English and Spanish pre-installed; other languages require free download) Results may vary.
10 Requires compatible Galaxy device. Samsung account login and language preset (English and Spanish pre-installed; other languages require free download). Results may vary.
11 For text in Samsung Notes only (200 – 4,000 characters); requires Samsung account login and internet connection.
12 It features a wide variety of recycled materials, including recycled plastics, aluminum, glass, and rare earth elements in both internal and external components.
13 Availability and timing of Android OS upgrades and security updates may vary by device model and market.
14 100% recycled paper is used in the following packaging components: the Product Packaging Unit Box, Cover Protector, Manual Box, Manual Pad, and DLC Band.
15 Availability of colors may vary by market and carriers.

MIL OSI Economics –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Galaxy Tab S10 Series is Samsung’s AI-Ready Tablet

Source: Samsung

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today unveiled the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S10+, Samsung’s first tablets purpose-built for AI. Premium hardware includes 14.6-inch1 and 12.4-inch2 Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays — the ideal canvas for the intuitive S Pen bundled with both models. Performance upgrades for the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra3 include an 18% increase in CPU, 28% increase in GPU, and 14% increase in NPU compared to the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra.
This improved processing power enables faster and more responsive AI features, which are now easily accessible with written prompts using the new Galaxy AI Key on the compatible Book Cover Keyboards, helping users customize their AI assistant.4 Cutting-edge software includes features such as Note Assist5 and Drawing Assist6 optimized for the tablet form factor. The Galaxy Tab S10 series also acts as a home AI device, with a 3D Map View that provides a visual overview of the home and connected devices to streamline device management across the SmartThings ecosystem.7 Robust Samsung Knox security provides data privacy and control, keeping users’ information safe.
“The Galaxy Tab S10 series is packed with AI enhancements right out of the box, joining our portfolio of innovative Galaxy AI enabled devices,”8 said MC Lee, VP, Head of Galaxy Ecosystems Business Team, Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “We’re proud to add to our seamless ecosystem of connected devices, bringing versatile experiences that only an AI tablet can offer through the Galaxy Tab S10 series’ blend of power and portability.”

Peak Performance on the Go
Built on Samsung’s legacy of providing powerful experiences, Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S10+ harness significant leaps in AI processing power to deliver a supercharged, lag-free experience. Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra includes a more than 18% increase in CPU, 28% increase in GPU, and 14% increase in NPU compared to Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. Coupled with long-lasting battery life and Super-Fast Charging,9 the Galaxy Tab S10 series allows the device to be used for long periods of time without needing a charge.
Elegant Build Quality, Mesmerizing Display

Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra’s 14.6-inch display and Galaxy Tab S10+’s 12.4-inch display both feature cutting-edge Dynamic AMOLED 2X technology and offer a vibrant yet natural viewing experience, even outdoors. Every detail remains clear from any angle and in any environment with advanced anti-reflective technology, minimizing distracting glare and reducing reflection rate. The series’ quad speaker setup is further enhanced with AI-powered Dialogue Boost, which amplifies voices over unwanted noise to create ultra-clear audio. And for use on the go, the Galaxy Tab S10 series offers uncompromised durability with an IP68 rating10 further protected by enhanced Armor Aluminium — built to use anytime, anywhere.
Work Smarter, Achieve True Creativity
The Galaxy Tab S10 series offers an efficient experience — enhancing productivity — and serves as the ideal canvas to let out your creative side.

With Note Assist and the intuitive S Pen, notetaking is a breeze on the tablet’s large display. Schoolwork, note-taking, and personal journaling become more efficient with automated transcriptions and summaries provided by AI. With PDF Overlay Translation, the Galaxy Tab S10 series can also seamlessly translate PDFs via an on-screen overlay. Handwriting Help cleans up untidy handwritten notes, too.
Galaxy AI’s Sketch to Image11 makes the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra perfect for turning imagination into reality, acting as the ideal creative assistant for overcoming mental roadblocks.
With Circle to Search12 with Google on the Galaxy Tab S10 series you can learn about almost anything without switching apps. Instantly translate anything you see on your tablet with Google, including any image, video, or text in two taps — allowing you to quickly get the info you need, then get right back to what you were doing. Circle to Search can even recognize and outline steps for solving physics and math problems.
The Galaxy S Pen’s Air Command with AI provides instant access to Galaxy AI Assistant features without toggling between menus. AI Assistant apps can also be easily launched by the Galaxy AI Key on the Book Cover Keyboards with written prompts, making it easier for users to access Galaxy AI. Users can even choose between Samsung’s Bixby and Google’s Gemini for a customized AI experience.13
Intelligent Home Device

The Galaxy Tab S10 series doubles as a Galaxy home AI device, simplifying device management. With large screen optimized features such as 3D Map View, it’s easy to see and take control of SmartThings enabled devices via the SmartThings widget. That means switching off the TV and lowering the lights from the table when it’s dinner time, turning up the air conditioning without getting off the couch, or getting notified when someone leaves the refrigerator door open — all on one powerful device. Users can also enable SmartThings Energy and AI Energy Mode to easily monitor their devices’ energy consumption. Galaxy AI doesn’t just enhance life on the go, it also takes the stress out of home life.
Expanded Third-Party App Ecosystem

The Galaxy Tab S10 series expands Galaxy’s unique connected experience and third-party app ecosystem, offering new and enhanced apps. The Tab S10 series provides access to leading third-party apps including Goodnotes,14 LumaFusion,15 Noteshelf3,16 Clip Studio Paint,17 PicsArt, and Sketchbook. Users can easily control speeds and add dramatic visual effects when editing videos on LumaFusion, or share their creative edits and re-created content with friends via PicsArt. With the Galaxy Tab S10 series’ extensive third-party app ecosystem, there’s something for everyone.
Secure Experiences, Powered by Samsung Knox
Samsung is committed to providing users with choice and control over their devices and their data. With Advanced Intelligence settings, users can choose to disable online data processing to ensure their data remains on-device. Samsung Knox’s real-time threat detection and collaborative protection keeps users safe, so they can live life to the fullest.
Availability & Offers
The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S10+ are available for preorder starting today, with general availability beginning October 3 at Samsung.com and national retailers.
Galaxy Tab S10+ will also be available in a 5G model at major carriers such as AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
For those who pre-order Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra or Galaxy Tab S10+ at Samsung.com or Best Buy, Samsung is offering enhanced trade-in value up to $800 off either device.
Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra starts at $1,199.99, with 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage options.
Galaxy Tab S10+ starts at $999.99, with 256GB and 512GB storage options.
Both devices are available in Moonstone Gray and Platinum Silver.
For more information about the Galaxy Tab S10 series, please visit: https://www.samsung.com/us/tablets/galaxy-tab-s10/

MIL OSI Economics –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Flooding impacts across the country
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Heavy rainfall forecast over the next 24 hours across the country means significant river and surface water flooding is possible across central England.
Heavy rainfall forecast over the next 24 hours across the country means significant river and surface water flooding is possible across central England

Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Worcestershire, Bedfordshire and Gloucestershire, amongst others, are likely to be affected with minor impacts expected in other parts of Southern England and the North with river flooding is also possible on Friday in the north-east of England.

At 1pm on Thursday there were 27 flood warnings, showing flooding is expected, and 73 flood alerts, showing flooding is possible.

Heavy rain and thunderstorms earlier in the week has led to around 385 properties flooded Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Kent and the Home Counties.

With further rain coming, Environment Agency teams are out on the ground putting up flood defences, clearing blockages and supporting local authorities in their response work.

We continue to urge people to keep an eye on the weather, check their flood risk, and take care planning their journeys.

Kate Marks, Flood Duty Manager at the Environment Agency, said:

Heavy rainfall across the country means that significant river and surface water flooding impacts are possible in parts of central England today and into Friday. Minor river flooding impacts are also possible in parts of north-east England today and Friday.

Environment Agency teams continue to be out on the ground, supporting local authorities in responding to surface water flooding. We urge people to plan their journeys carefully, follow the advice of local emergency services on the roads and not to drive through flood water – it is often deeper than it looks and just 30cm of flowing water is enough to float your car.

People should check their flood risk, sign up for free flood warnings and keep up to date with the latest situation as well as following @EnvAgency on X for the latest flood updates.

The Flooding Minister has today visited communities in Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard to hear more about the impacts earlier this week. On Wednesday, Environment Secretary visited Northamptonshire on Wednesday to receive a briefing on their response and the actions taken to protect communities locally.

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MIL OSI United Kingdom –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: DHS Statement on Safety and Enforcement During Hurricane Helene

Source: US Department of Homeland Security

During emergency events, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) works with its federal, state, local, and non-governmental partners to support the needs of the people in the areas that may be impacted.

In such circumstances, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) remind the public that sites that provide emergency response and relief are considered protected areas. To the fullest extent possible, ICE and CBP do not conduct immigration enforcement activities at protected areas such as along evacuation routes, sites used for sheltering or the distribution of emergency supplies, food or water, or registration sites for disaster-related assistance or the reunification of families and loved ones.

At the request of FEMA or local and state authorities, ICE and CBP may help conduct search and rescue, air traffic de-confliction and public safety missions. ICE and CBP provide emergency assistance to individuals regardless of their immigration status. DHS officials do not and will not pose as individuals providing emergency-related information as part of any enforcement activities.

DHS is committed to ensuring that every individual who seeks shelter, aid, or other assistance as a result of a natural disaster or emergency event is able to do so regardless of their immigration status.

DHS carries out its mission without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity, ethnicity, disability or political associations, and in compliance with law and policy.

For information about filing a complaint with the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties about these matters, please visit our Make a Civil Rights Complaint page.

MIL Security OSI –

January 23, 2025

Category: Transport

Improving Access to Care — and Enhancing Documentation Quality

Enhancing Clinician Well-being

Transforming the Patient Experience

Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development, said:

Paul Martin, CEO at LGBT Foundation, added:

Helen Spencer, Executive Director of Growth at Great Places, said:

Martin York and Susan Duncan-Wood, Joint Co-chairs of the Russell Road Community Steering Group (CSG), said:

Eligibility

Reducing Oxford’s carbon emissions

Other grant funding options

Press release

Quotes

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For years, the Senator has led the charge to ensure IVF treatment is covered for more Americans Duckworth’s Right to IVF Act, which Republicans blocked just last week, would enshrine this expansion in law

Sabre rattling

Life and death at sea

History lessons

The psychology of nuclear threat

‘Fear propaganda’ and confirmation bias

Putin the ‘madman’

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