NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Traffic relief through Sta. Maria: Master Plan adjustments publicly exposed

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Italy –

    Source: Switzerland – Canton Government of Grisons in Italian

    The next procedural phase for the traffic relief through Sta. Maria in Val Monastero has been started. The public participation exhibition for the adaptation of the Master Plan will start on 30 September 2024.

    The historic centre of Sta. Maria has been exposed to a high volume of traffic for years. The increasing transit traffic along the Ofen Pass road and the traffic on the Umbrail Pass regularly cause inconvenience and traffic jams, especially in the summer months. In this context, there has been a desire for decades to relieve the town of traffic in order to improve safety in the village, increase the quality of life of residents and guests, and preserve and enhance the village centre, which is protected at national level. Various approaches to solving this problem have been developed since the end of the 1990s. However, for various reasons, it has not been possible to implement relief measures so far.

    Adaptation of the master plan requiredAccording to the Federal Law on Spatial Planning, major road construction projects such as bypasses are considered projects with a particular impact on the territory and the environment and therefore require a specification in the cantonal master plan. As a basis, with the involvement of experts from various sectors, a comprehensive evaluation of variants for reducing traffic through Sta. Maria has been carried out since 2020. The best variant developed involves the construction of a bypass on the northern edge of the settlement, with a tunnel of around 600 metres in length that passes under the Paclera area and the Muranzina stream. This relief plan forms the basis for the specification in the master plan now planned.

    The master plan guarantees the necessary bypass corridor in a binding manner for the authorities and harmonizes the interests of the Confederation and the Canton. In addition, further measures are established for subsequent planning, which contribute, among other things, to enabling an optimal design and integration of the project into the landscape and to improving the quality of living and staying in the core.

    Public display for 30 daysThe adaptation of the master plan will be displayed for public participation for 30 days, starting from September 30, 2024. During this period, all interested parties have the opportunity to submit objections and proposals in written form.

    The project is already in the preliminary examination phase by the Confederation. The master plan will be further developed on the basis of the results of the public exhibition and the preliminary examination by the Confederation. The cantonal master plan will be decided by the Grisons government and approved by the Federal Council.

    Attached:

    Sta. Maria ring road, «northern ring road» variant (status: February 2023)

    Contact person:

    Richard Atzmüller, Head of the Office for Spatial Development, Tel. 41 81 257 23 21 (reachable between 10:30 and 11:30), e-mailRichard.Atzmueller@are.gr.ch

    Competent body: Office for Territorial Development

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Appeal to trace relatives of the late Joseph Powell

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    Joseph Powell had been a resident in a care home prior to his death.

    Anyone who is related to Mr Powell, or who has any information which may help trace his relatives, is asked to please call Protection and Funerals Officer Diane Doré on 07919 626117 or 01902 550095, or email her via diane.dore@wolverhampton.gov.uk.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Funded childcare for 9 month olds now available

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    Launched at the start of September, it is the latest step in the roll out of Government funded childcare.

    And it means that all eligible parents of children aged from 9 months to 4 years old are now able to claim up at least 15 hours of funded childcare per week, for 1,140 hours or 38 weeks a year, at an approved provider – as eligible parents of children aged 3 and 4 can already claim 30 hours per week.

    To qualify, each parent must earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours per week at national minimum or living wage, and have an income of less than £100,000 per year.

    People in receipt of certain benefits are also eligible for 15 hours of funded childcare for 2 year olds, known as Terrific for Twos in Wolverhampton.

    A further change is due to be rolled out in September 2025, when eligible working parents of all children from the age of 9 months to school age will be able to claim 30 hours of funded childcare per week.

    Meanwhile, eligible working parents and carers with children aged 11 or under can get up to £2,000 per child each year towards their childcare costs, or up to £4,000 for children with a disability aged 16 or under, though the tax free childcare scheme.

    To find out more, including how to apply for support with childcare costs, please visit the Childcare Choices website.

    Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “Every year hundreds of families in Wolverhampton benefit from funded childcare schemes at participating nurseries, schools and childminders around the city.

    “Accessing early education gives your child the chance to learn, play and make new friends and the opportunity to develop and master new skills. It supports them as they prepare for school by helping them to communicate, explore new experiences, be active and healthy – and of course, it also helps working parents juggle careers and childcare.

    “I would encourage working parents to find out more about the expansion of funded childcare and to sign up if they are eligible.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Be ‘cass-o-wary’ on the road this World Cassowary Day

    Source: Government of Queensland

    Issued: 26 Sep 2024

    A recent wildlife vehicle strike has revealed a common reality – one of the world’s most enigmatic and endangered birds, the cassowary, is falling victim to road fatalities at an alarming rate.

    Wildlife officers at the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) received a call from a witness reporting a car striking a cassowary chick. It was severely injured and transported to Tully Tropical Vets for emergency care.

    Following a nine-month rehabilitation period at Garners Beach Cassowary Rehabilitation Facility, the chick was successfully released back into the wild.

    This World Cassowary Day (26 September), DESI implores all road users in Cassowary Country (Wet Tropics and Cape York) to be ‘cass-o-wary’ as this endangered species frequently cross our roadways.

    Over the past 12 months, there have been 21 cassowaries killed in road strikes – making road collisions the leading cause of death of cassowaries reported to DESI.

    In this same timeframe, two cassowaries have been successfully rehabilitated and released back into the wild. This disparity demonstrates that many cassowaries struck by vehicles are sadly not able to be saved.

    Wildlife officer Stephen Clough highlights the severe implications that feeding cassowaries can have.

    “We respond to a variety of cassowary incidents, including vehicle strikes, injured and orphaned birds, aggressive birds, and even birds who find themselves lost in farm paddocks. Many of these issues could be avoided if the birds hadn’t developed an association between humans and food.

    “Feeding cassowaries can draw them out of their rainforest habitats and into residential areas, where they face increased risks of vehicle strikes and dog attacks. They can become more aggressive, posing a serious threat to both people and pets.

    “It is illegal to feed cassowaries and penalties of up to $6,452 can apply.

    “Our Cassowary Rehabilitation Centre in Garners Beach can hold up to 9 birds at a time. We currently have 4 in rehabilitation for release. Unfortunately, many of the birds involved in road strikes are killed in the incident, or sustain such severe injuries that they can’t be saved and need to be humanely euthanised.

    “Cassowaries play a crucial role in distributing seeds from native rainforest trees, and by leaving them to do their job as rainforest gardeners, we are helping not only to protect this iconic Australian bird, but also the rainforest environment they live in.

    “We encourage people to report all injured, sick or orphaned cassowaries by calling 1300 130 372.”

    The southern cassowary is considered endangered, and its population is limited to rainforest areas of the Wet Tropics and Cape York.

    Cassowaries can inflict serious injuries to people and pets by kicking out with their large, clawed feet. People are asked to Be cass-o-wary at all times in the Wet Tropics.

    • Never approach cassowaries.
    • Never approach chicks – male cassowaries will defend them.
    • Never feed cassowaries – it is illegal, dangerous and has caused cassowary deaths.
    • Always discard food scraps in closed bins and ensure compost bins have secure lids.
    • Slow down when driving in cassowary habitat.
    • Never stop your vehicle to look at cassowaries on the road.
    • Keep dogs behind fences or on a leash.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Deceased whale floating off Great Sandy Straits

    Source: Government of Queensland

    Issued: 24 Sep 2024

    Marine Park rangers have secured a deceased adult humpback in a secluded location near Dream Island in the Great Sandy Straits off K’gari (formally Fraser Island).

    A member of the public reported the whale to the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) on 22 September 2024.

    Marine Park rangers conducted a visual inspection of the whale on 23 September 2024 and confirmed it was deceased.

    The adult humpback whale is approximately 10 to 12 metres in length. No necropsy will be performed but samples of the animal have been taken for analysis.

    Marine Park rangers towed the whale approximately one kilometre from where it initially beached itself to secured mangroves in the local area to allow the natural processes of decomposition to continue.

    During the annual migration, whales can strand or die for different reasons including poor health, injury or predation.

    Whenever a whale strands or moves on the tides in open water, people are advised to stay away from the animal. Whales can carry zoonotic diseases, and people are advised never to touch them.

    People must be aware that sharks feed on whale carcasses, which can increase the danger if people approach a stranded or deceased whale.

    Deceased or stranded marine life, including whales, should be reported immediately to DES on 1300 130 372 or to the relevant council.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: AFL : First half-year 2024: Business continued to grow at a sustained pace, delivering positive earnings

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    First half-year 2024:
    Business continued to grow at a sustained pace, delivering positive earnings

    The AFL Group has unveiled its earnings for H1 2024. Highlights include:

    • New memberships expressed as pledged capital are up €21.5 million in H1 2024 – as much as during the full year in 2023.
    • Credit origination hit a new record high after growing 18% in H1 2024 compared to H1 2023.
    • Half-year earnings, excluding non-recurring items, rose 16% between 2023 and 2024.
    • Changes to local authority risk weightings, down from 20% to 0%, allow the debt securities issued by AFL to be classified as HQLA1 (decision by ACPR in June 2024).

    Consolidated earnings – key figures at June 30, 2024:

    Member local authorities: 878 (+102 local authorities vs. 31/12/2023)

    Pledged capital: 315 million euros (+21.5 million vs. 31/12/2023)

    Loan production: 622 billion euros (+18% vs. 30/06/2023)

    Funds raised in the market: 1,400 million euros (part of a 2,500-million-euro programme) with a 39-basis point margin over the OAT yield curve.

    Net interest margin: 11.6 billion euros (-10.5% vs. 30/06/2023)

    Gross operating income: 2.9 billion euros (-25% vs. June 30, 2023)

    Net income after tax: 1.96 billion euros (-31% vs. June 30, 2023)

    Cost/income ratio: 73.1% (vs. 67.4% as of December 31, 2023)

    Solvency ratio: 77.7% (vs. 13.23% as of December 31, 2023)

    Leverage ratio for public development lending institutions: 9.69% (vs. 8.86% as of December 31, 2023)

    Banking leverage ratio1: 2.42% (vs. 2.24% as of December 31, 2023)

    Record increase in lending activity and in the number of new local authority memberships

    Record credit origination

    During H1 2024, AFL granted loans of 622 million euros to its local authority members, 18% more than as of June 2023. This trend is being observed as demand for debt remains high, fuelled by the need to fund mid-term projects and address major challenges posed by the environmental and climate transition.

    Over 100 new local authority members

    Buoyed by this lending momentum and its increasingly strong reputation, AFL registered 102 new local authority memberships, thereby bringing its total members to 878 at 30 June, 2024.

    These new members are: 3 departments, 5 unions, 2 communities of communes, 5 urban communities and 87 municipalities of various sizes. Overall, AFL Group members include a total of 6 regions, 17 French departments, 669 municipalities and 186 EPCIs (groupings of municipalities) including 15 cities and 50 unions.

    This represents an additional capital commitment of 21.5 million euros, voted in H1 2024, bringing the total to 315 million euros.

    Efficient refinancing that stands out for the continued diversification of issuances

    In H1 2024, AFL raised 1.4 billion euros in the bond market with a weighted average maturity of 7.8 years:

    • A syndicated bond issue of 750 million euros with a 10-year maturity;
    • The first syndicated issuance in Swiss francs for a total 110 million, with a 10-year maturity;
    • A new 3-year syndicated bond issuance in sterling for a total 250 million;
    • Several Euro-denominated private placements including six “callable” deals (pre-determined term) for a total 221 million euros.

    The weighted average spread on these issues was 39-basis points over the Obligations Assimilables du Trésor (OAT) curve, a substantial improvement compared to the previous financial year (average of 49 basis points over OAT in 2023).

    Financial results are aligned with the business plan

    Robust earnings (consolidated earnings under IFRS)

    At June 30, 2024, the AFL Group has generated the income needed to pursue its growth:

    • Net banking income (NBI) came in at €10,785 thousand (€12,179 thousand as of 30/06/2023).
    • Net interest margin for the AFL Group stood at €11,586 thousand (€12,940 thousand of 30/06/2024). This decline stems from the exceptional results recorded in the first half of 2023, boosted notably by the substantial drop in cash carrying costs after the ECB raised its deposit rate.
    • The gross operating income stood at €2,901 thousand (€3,868 thousand as of 30/06/2023).
    • Excluding non-recurring items (i.e. excluding income from capital gains on disposals of securities and hedge accounting), gross operating income was €4,015 thousand (€3,452 thousand in H2 2023).
    • Operating costs during the period came to €7,336 thousand as of June 30, 2024 (€7,857 thousand as of 30/06/2023), reflecting AFL’s disciplined management and the end of the contribution to the Single Resolution Fund.  
    • Net income as of June 30, 2024, stood at €1,954 thousand (€2,840 thousand as of June 30, 2024).

    Earnings that meet our expectations and confirm the resilience of AFL’s model

    “The AFL Group’s results at the end of the first half of 2024 are in positive territory for the long term. They are in line with the forecast included in the budget for the year 2024 and the multi-annual business plan. They reflect the sustained growth of the bank’s core business: an accelerating rate of membership and historic credit production. With the 0% risk weighting of local authorities, the quality of the AFL signature in capital markets improves further and will allow it to strengthen its competitiveness in financing local public investment”, states Yves Millardet, Chairman of the Executive Board of AFL.

    The cost of risk is intrinsically low in AFL’s model

    AFL’s cost of risk is intrinsically limited due to its model as a public development credit institution, the company’s prudent management and the excellent solvency of local authorities. As an example, AFL has zero exposure to stage 3 (default status) assets.

    At June 30, 2024, the cost of risk relating to ex-ante impairment for expected losses on financial assets under IFRS 9 was a charge of €255 thousand (compared with a charge of €71 thousand at 30/06/2023).

    This rise in the cost of risk is mainly attributable to higher asset volumes, and to a lesser extent, to revisions made to the assumptions used for determining the economic scenarios by asset class, to account for the deterioration of macroeconomic and geo-strategic risks.

    The operating income stands at €2,645 thousand (€3,797 thousand as of June 30, 2023). This led to a rise in the cost/income ratio to 73.1% (68.2% as of June 30, 2023). Relative to credit volumes, operating expenses account for 19 basis points; this is a 1 basis-point improvement compared to December 31, 2023, confirming the efficiency of our model.

    Financial strength

    The highlight event for AFL during the period was the ACPR (Supervision and Resolution Authority)’s decision on June 21, 2024 (and published on July 3, 2024) to change the credit risk weighting of exposures to French local authorities from 20% to 0%. This decision is applicable to municipalities, departments, regions and EPCI (with specific tax status), and has generated a significant facial increase for the AFL Group’s solvency ratio.

    Furthermore, following its decision on June 21, 2024, the ACPR supervisory college announced that the debt issued by AFL would qualify as HQLA1 if the percentage of the credit granted by AFL to local authorities with 0% weightings is above 90% of its outstanding credit. Exposure to French local authorities with 0% weightings stands at 94.9% as of June 30, 2024 – which is largely above the minimum threshold of 90%.

    • The CET1 solvency ratio (consolidated) stands at 77.7% (13.23% at 31/12/2023);
    • The leverage ratio, calculated using the methodology applicable to public development credit institutions, was 9.69% (compared to 8.86% as of 31/12/2023 and for a regulatory limit of 3%);
    • The banking leverage ratio stands at 2.42% (2.24% as of 31/12/2023);
    • The liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) stands at 622%, above the regulatory limit of 100%;
    • The net stable funding ratio (NSFR) stands at 171%, above the regulatory threshold of 100%;
    • The 12-month internal liquidity ratio (NCRR) came to 98% at 30 June 2024, corresponding to a liquidity reserve of €2.1 billion. This will allow AFL to meet all its needs for almost 12 months without having to turn to the market.  

    Post-closing events

    • Since the end of H1 2024, on July 18, 2024, AFL tapped its bond maturing on March 20, 2034, by €250 million with a narrower margin of 23 basis points over the OAT rate. This narrower margin stems from the HQLA1 classification of the debt issued by AFL (cf. ACPR decision explained above).
    • As of August 31, 2024, AFL’s medium- and long-term loan production was €831 million, confirming its steady and solid growth.
    • A further capital increase was carried out by the Board of Directors of AFL-ST on September 25, 2024, to allow new local authorities to gain membership.
    • On September 4, 2024, AFL published the credit ratings assigned by Fitch Ratings: AA- (stable outlook) for mid-and long-term debt and F1+ (stable outlook) for short-term debt. At the same time, for purposes of methodology, Moody’s was asked to delete all ratings and assessments it had completed on AFL.
    • To continue to support the growth momentum of its loan portfolio and to address demand from its members, while maintaining high levels of equity capital, AFL is looking into the possibility of issuing super subordinated debt in the near future, market conditions permitting.

    AFL credit rating at 25 September, 2024

      Fitch Ratings Standard & Poor’s
    Long-term rating AA- AA-
    Outlook Stable Stable
    Short-term rating F1+ A-1+

    AFL’s Management Board signed off on AFL’s interim financial statements2for the first half of 2024 on September 10, 2024. At its meeting on September 25, 2024, chaired by Sacha Briand, AFL’s Supervisory Board approved AFL’s interim financial statements.
    At its meeting on September 25, 2024, chaired by Marie Ducamin, the Board of Directors of AFL-ST, the Société Territoriale (parent company), approved AFL Group’s consolidated interim financial statements.

    The Statutory Auditors conducted a limited review of the concise interim parent company and consolidated financial statements for the period from January 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024, and their reports are available at:
    http://www.agence-france-locale.fr

    This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Although AFL Group believes that these statements are based on reasonable assumptions as of the date of this press release, they are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, relating in particular to the impacts of the war in Ukraine and the resulting economic crisis, which may cause actual results to differ from those indicated or implied in these statements.

    AFL Group’s financial information for the first half of the year consists of this press release and the report available on the website:

    https://www.agence-france-locale.fr/actualite/first-half-year-2024-results/

    About Agence France Locale

    “Embody responsible finance and empower local authorities to respond to the present and future needs of their inhabitants.”
    “By creating the first bank that we wholly own and manage, we, the French local authorities, have taken a strong political step toward decentralization. Agence France Locale is unlike any other financial institution. Created by and for local authorities, it acts in a local context to strengthen our freedom, our ability to develop projects and our responsibility as public actors. Its culture of prudence safeguards us against the potential dangers posed by the complexity and depth of its governance and conflicts of interest. Its fundamental objective is to offer local authorities access to resources on the best terms and with complete transparency. We are guided by the principles of solidarity and equity. Convinced that we will go further together, we wanted an agile institution that would appeal to all authorities, from the largest regions to the smallest municipalities. We see profit as a way to optimize public spending, not an end in itself. Through AFL, we support a local environment committed to addressing social, economic and environmental challenges. AFL strengthens our power to act, to carry out projects locally, for today and tomorrow, for the good of the people who live there. We are proud to have a bank that expresses growth as we see it, ever more responsible and sustainable. We are Agence France Locale.”

    More information can be found on http://www.afl-banque.fr         

    1The decree of July 15, 2024 amending the Code Général des Collectivités Territoriales (French Law for Regional and Local Authorities) states that local authorities wishing to become members of AFL must ensure that the risk appetite framework set by the banking institution includes a minimum equity capital threshold of at least 1.7 % of total exposure.
    2 During the first half of 2024, AFL purchased office space through its subsidiary Agence France Locale Foncière. This property will house AFL’s headquarters from 2027.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: OCE Profiles – September 2024

    MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –

    Source: Switzerland – Canton Government of Geneva in French

    Are you looking for a tourism specialist? Check out the profiles of these three experienced candidates:
    With nearly 20 years of professional experience in the business travel sector, this expert has proven herself within large groups. Throughout her career, her recognized organizational skills have enabled her to establish lasting and qualitative collaborations with both her clients and her business partners.
    Key skills

    Complete coordination of business travel for over 100 employees (visa applications, transportation tickets, accommodations, transfers, etc.) Negotiation and maintenance of numerous annual contracts with local and international travel partners to improve the quality of services and save on overall travel expenses Management of the review and approval process for all travel expense reimbursement requests Collection and analysis of company travel data for ad hoc, quarterly and annual business travel reports

    Trainings

    December 2023: Certificate in Corporate Travel Execution (CCTE), Online Course, Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) October 2023: Certificate in Advanced Principles of Corporate Travel Management, Online Course, Global Business Travel Association (GBTA)

    LANGUAGES

    Russian: mother tongue English: excellent knowledge French: good knowledge

    Fascinated by travel since childhood, this travel advisor with 25 years of experience in this sector has visited more than 35 countries throughout her career! She wishes to continue to make her solid knowledge and skills available by advising a clientele with a desire for escape and discoveries that are both varied and atypical.
    Key skills

    Informed and tailor-made advice to a diverse and demanding clientele, preparation of quotes and administrative follow-up in its entirety Creation of precise and useful “travel diaries” (electronic and paper) for travelers Effective management of unforeseen events, rapid research and proposals for alternative solutions Achievement of quantified objectives and active participation in the development and visibility of the agency/company during promotional events

    Trainings

    1998: GDS Galileo certificate, IATA, Geneva 1996-1997: IATA travel agent diploma, Geneva

    LANGUAGES

    French: mother tongue English: good knowledge Italian: excellent knowledge

    With 10 years of experience in the travel industry, this professional prioritizes high-quality listening and communication with her clients in order to satisfy them beyond their expectations. Creative and determined, resistant to pressure, she excels at quickly finding realistic and effective solutions.
    Key skills

    Rapid identification of customer needs and delivery of advice or solutions tailored to their desires and budget Complete and personalized operational management for all types of travel (air, rail, car and hotels). Monitoring of travelers throughout their trip Identification and proposal of price optimizations. Interface with suppliers or service providers Handling of disputes and complaints to the satisfaction of all parties

    Trainings

    2017 – various training courses: Baggage Services Training / Branding

    LANGUAGES

    Spanish: mother tongue English: bilingual French: perfect knowledge Are you interested in one of these candidate profiles? Would you like to discover others? Contact the OCE Employers Department:oce.de@etat.ge.ch

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Government announcement of 26 September 2024

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Italy –

    Source: Switzerland – Canton Government of Grisons in Italian

    The government has granted the Chur Unihockey and Piranha Chur associations a cantonal contribution from the special sports funding of up to CHF 135,000 per year for the three-year pilot project for the professionalization of large clubs in Graubünden. The project is based on the desired professionalization of the two National League A floorball associations in the course of the planned merger of the associations. Specifically, this is to be achieved through the appointment of a director or sports manager. The establishment of the new large association is planned for autumn 2024. The decision to contribute to this pilot project is subject to the approval of the merger by both existing associations.

    The management of large sports associations in Graubünden and throughout Switzerland is predominantly undertaken by voluntary board members. They are often supported by a secretariat that performs purely administrative tasks and is managed on a subsidiary basis. However, in addition to professional and family obligations, the large commitment to the associations usually leads to a more or less significant overload of the board members. This does not lead to significant progress in the development of the association. Such inefficient management and the scarcity of resources jeopardize the function of large associations as models, places of social cohesion, training centers and performance centers. However, professional operational management does not compete with volunteering, but rather strengthens it. The pilot project aims to gather valuable experience to test whether investments in a more efficient management can be refinanced through increased revenue and whether improved management of the association pays off from a sporting and organizational point of view for members and employees. The findings should pave the way for optimizing structures within other sports associations, so that volunteer work becomes attractive again in terms of content and feasible in terms of time. According to the submitted project, the total costs for the three-year pilot phase amount to 960,000 francs.

    Chur Unihockey and Piranha Chur on the occasion of the 2023 association day held together / © Chur Unihockey

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI: Rising Star of 2049: WEEX’s Journey from Bear Market Origins to $5 Billion Daily Trades

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TOKEN2049 Singapore kicked off in full swing at the iconic Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Just 3 minutes walk away from the TOKEN 2049 event venue. Attendees relished complimentary beverages and engaged in networking. Among them were influential figures poised to shape the destiny of multibillion-dollar ventures.

    What unfolded was the Crypto Millionaire Gala orchestrated by WEEX, an event where influencers, blockchain entrepreneurs, and crypto enthusiasts like ⓧ Cyphereus Prime, Crypto Banter and Chiitancoin came together to forge connections and network and explore wealth-building opportunities in 2024. WEEX served as a platform linking different resources, showcasing its growing reputation as a rising star in the crypto world.

    Celebrating WEEX’s Impressive Journey

    “At WEEX, the slogan ‘Where new wealth is made’ is not just words – it is exactly what WEEX doing.” said Andrew Weine, WEEX’s VP, during the gala. Since WEEX’s birth in 2018 , which was a significant year of bear market. WEEX has made significant progress.

    By 2022, the daily trading volumes of WEEX reached $5 billion, serving over 500,000 users globally, registering a monthly growth rate of 100%, and securing critical licenses, including U.S. MSB License, SVG FSA License and Canada MSB License.

    Today, WEEX safeguards 5 million portfolios, offers 400+ futures trading pairs, and has grown exponentially during tough market conditions. 88% of the population of the world are now able to use WEEX’s platform to make financial opportunities accessible to all.

    What Strives the Growth of WEEX?

    WEEX’s rise in six years is due to various factors, especially its platform token, WXT, which transforms traditional trading.

    WXT not only reduces trading fees but also includes the Protection Fund, Team Incentives, Brand Promotion, Partner Ecosystem Fund, and User Acquisition Campaign.

    Holders of WXT enjoy perks like free airdrops on WE-Launch with an impressive 88.71% APY. Holding WXT unlocks benefits such as 0% futures trading fees and increased profit sharing. WEEX ensures WXT’s value through regular buybacks and burns, reflecting our commitment to transparency and sustainable growth.

    Fostering Innovation through Partnerships

    At WEEX, it’s more than just an exchange; it’s about fostering innovation and growth for partners. Strategic partnerships are vital in advancing the mission. By providing project listing budgets, fostering a collaborative environment through community, and offering comprehensive promotion strategies, the success and visibility of projects listed on the platform are ensured.

    Embracing a Bright Future Together

    The Crypto Millionaire Gala marks a milestone in the development of the WEEX Exchange Empire. As the journey continues, building partnerships and creating wealth for users, the future of WEEX looks brighter than ever. WEEX is more than a platform; it’s a community of innovators, traders, and visionaries. With a commitment to growth, transparency, and partnership, lives are being changed globally by opening doors to financial opportunities.

    Whether a project owner, a seasoned trader, or someone aspiring to be a crypto success story, WEEX is here to support on this transformative journey. Together, the landscape of wealth creation is being reshaped.

    About WEEX

    Founded in the bustling metropolis of Singapore back in 2018, WEEX Exchange has emerged as a leading global cryptocurrency platform. In just half a dozen years, WEEX has cultivated a thriving user base surpassing 5 million and boasts a daily trading volume exceeding $200 million. Offering over 400 trading pairs and trailblazing zero trading fees for new token launches, WEEX has rightfully earned acclaim across the industry for its innovative approach and unwavering commitment to excellence.

    For more information:
    Website: https://www.weex.com/
    Media Inquiries: market@weexglobal.com
    Customer Support: support@weex.com
    WEEX Exchange WE-Launch: https://www.weex.com/WE-Launch

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

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dc93c429-4e65-4249-9f4c-634c02b9d34d
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/aca6bf0d-4001-4b04-a048-161c99e57dd3
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/37e8b1bf-b084-4067-b5a3-52dfcc044c72

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Council of Academic Public Health Institutions Australasia 2024 Preventing Violence Hackathon

    Source: Australian Ministers for Social Services

    *Check against delivery*

    Good afternoon everyone and thank you for having me here today.

    I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet and acknowledge their custodianship.

    I pay my respects to the Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples here today.

    I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge anyone here who has lived or living experience with family, domestic, and sexual violence.

    The voices of victim-survivors are central to all our efforts, and I offer my deepest thanks to those who share their experiences as a platform for change.

    I would also like to recognise here with us today:

    • Holly Donaldson, CAPHIA Executive Director and the CAPHIA Board of Directors
    • Lisa Hall, Sheelagh Lawler, Rebecca Johnson and the University of Queensland Public Health team
    • Associate Professor Courtney Ryder, Injury Prevention Discipline Lead at Flinders University and CAPHIA Board Member and Director
    • Jack Feng, Chief Student Entrepreneur, University of Queensland, Mindmuse.care Co-Founder, and
    • Damian Topp, Challenge DV Board Member, Chief Executive Officer PA Research Foundation.

    As we all know, family, domestic and sexual violence is an issue that remains pervasive within our society.

    It has long term and far-reaching impacts – affecting children, families, friends, work colleagues, communities and society as a whole.

    Ending violence requires sustained and collective efforts across all parts of society.

    The Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments in Australia have committed to these efforts through the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children.

    This is our national policy framework which seeks to end violence against women and children within a generation.

    Within the National Plan, family, domestic and sexual violence is called out as a health issue.

    Victim-survivors may experience physical injuries including lifelong disability and increased pain, as well as mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, fear.

    These issues will no doubt continue to affect them throughout their lives.

    Viewing family, domestic and sexual violence through a public health lens presents the opportunity to understand its multifaceted nature.

    It also helps us to better understand the significant and often lifelong health and wellbeing impacts for victim-survivors, family members and communities.

    Family, domestic and sexual violence is preventable when addressed within a systemic framework.

    In 2022, the Albanese Labor Government appointed the first federal Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner, Micaela Cronin.

    Commissioner Cronin just last month tabled her first yearly report to Parliament. The report noted that of workforces that respond to domestic, family and sexual violence, 90 per cent are medical professionals and allied health workers.

    Health services which are person-centred, trauma informed and coordinated across public health services with other support services can enable effective support and treatment while ensuring safety is a priority.

    And importantly at this conference, we can consider what can be done to enhance healthcare workers’ knowledge of family, domestic and sexual violence.

    Because we know that primary health care professionals are often a first point of contact, and therefore play a vital role in prevention, early identification and responding to family, domestic and sexual violence.

    It’s vital to look across all service support systems and how they interact to support those that need help.

    As I stand here at a university, it would be remiss of me not to mention the important role universities play when it comes to ending gender-based violence.

    As with all workplaces, universities also have an important role in reducing, preventing and responding appropriately to sexual harassment and violence.

    The Albanese Government recently introduced legislation to establish an independent National Student Ombudsman to investigate student complaints and resolve disputes with universities, including in relation to sexual assault and sexual harassment.

    A National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence will also be established.

    Universities also have a critical part to play in furthering the research and evidence we need.

    Everyone across our community has a part to play and I commend the students and judges participating in these Hackathon pitches, and all of you here today – students, academics and educators – for your work and your interest in this important issue.

    I encourage you all to think broadly about how we can prevent gender-based violence, knowing that where a person interacts with a service – be it a GP, a counsellor, or a police officer – might be one of the only opportunities we have to help them.

    I look forward to getting feedback from these pitches, and hope you enjoy the rest of the forum.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Government boosts access to the contraceptive pill at pharmacies across NSW

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 26 September 2024

    Released by: The Premier, Minister for Health, Minister for Women

    Thousands of women across NSW will have easier, more affordable access to the oral contraceptive pill as a 12-month trial is made permanent by the Minns Labor Government.

    Since the oral contraceptive pill trial began in September 2023, more than 500 pharmacies have delivered over 2,000 consultations to women in NSW.

    From Saturday 28 September 2024, NSW pharmacists who have completed the required training and work in pharmacies with suitable facilities will be able to offer this service as part of their usual business.

    Women who have been using these contraceptive options continuously for the last two years, as prescribed by a doctor (GP) or nurse practitioner, and require a refill of their script, will be able to access extended supply for up to 12 months without having to visit their doctor for a prescription.

    The NSW Government will make the existing service more accessible by expanding patient age eligibility criteria from 18-35 years to 18-49 years. Women aged 40-49 will now be able to access extended supply for up to three months without having to visit their doctor for a prescription, subject to meeting eligibility criteria.

    The announcement follows the successful implementation of the first phase of the NSW Pharmacy Trial in May 2024, which saw more than 3,300 NSW pharmacists provide more than 18,000 consultations to women aged 18 to 65 with symptoms of uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI).  The UTI service transitioned to usual pharmacy care from 1 June 2024.

    The third and final phase of the trial allowing pharmacists to manage common minor skin conditions is underway and will be running until early 2025.

    A detailed evaluation of all three phases of the NSW Pharmacy Trial will be provided to NSW Health in 2025 and will inform future expansion of services.

    The NSW Government is committed to expanding the role of community pharmacists outside the trial framework, and is working with NSW universities to develop formal training courses for pharmacists to manage a range of common conditions where clinically appropriate. 

    Quotes attributable to Premier Chris Minns:

    “We know that people across NSW are doing it tough right now, even cutting back on essential healthcare because of affordability.

    “This trial has been a huge success, and now we’ll make it permanent – women who are eligible will be able to go to their pharmacist to renew an existing script.

    “At a time when seeing a GP can be difficult, we hope that this service will make it a little bit easier for women to access affordable healthcare, where and when they need it.”

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:

    “I am excited to announce that women in NSW will now have easier ongoing access to continue their chosen contraceptive option as a result of the oral contraceptive pill trial service becoming usual business for community pharmacies in NSW.

    “It has been amazing to see over a thousand pharmacists across the state sign up to take part in each of the trial’s three phases so far, and this has prompted us to look at more ways they can help our communities.

    “Earlier this month, the NSW Government announced thousands of people across NSW will in the near future be able to access treatment for ear infections, wound management, gastro, acne, muscle and joint pain at their local pharmacy, boosting access to fast, convenient healthcare across NSW.

    “By empowering pharmacists to undertake consultations for these common conditions and medications, we can help improve access to primary care services which will relieve the pressure on the state’s busy GPs and our hospital system.

    “We are working with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and Pharmaceutical Society of Australia to ensure pharmacists have the support they need to continue delivering best practice and connected primary care.”

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Women Jodie Harrison

    “Women’s timely access to quality health services, their health needs and sexual and reproductive health is a priority for the NSW Government.

    “Making the trial permanent is a real win for women in NSW, who, if eligible, can now access the contraceptive pill at their local pharmacy. It not only increases accessibility, it saves time and GP costs, for busy women in our state.”

    Quotes attributable to Catherine Bronger, Senior Vice of President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, NSW Branch:

    “With our GPs stretched, community pharmacists have provided thousands of women with repeat prescriptions of the oral contraceptive pill under the NSW Government’s trial.

    “Making the availability of the pill at community pharmacies is the right thing for women and our communities.”

    Quotes attributable to Pharmaceutical Society of Australia New South Wales President Luke Kelly:

    “Pharmacists across New South Wales continue to show that we can do more to support our patients. Giving our patients the option to access contraception through skilled community pharmacists is an important step in making reproductive care more accessible to women across the state.

    “I congratulate the Minister on solidifying the role of pharmacists in the continuous supply of oral contraceptives as a permanent part of the New South Wales health care system.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Condobolin upgrades completed through Roads to Home

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 26 September 2024

    Released by: Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, Minister for Lands and Property

    Aboriginal communities in  Condobolin are celebrating completion of $2.8 million in essential infrastructure upgrades funded by the NSW Government to support social, economic and employment benefits for the area.

    The Roads to Home program in the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) has funded Condobolin Local Aboriginal Land Council to upgrade infrastructure at the Willow Bend village in Condobolin.

    Infrastructure improvements have included upgraded roads and guttering, footpaths, an amenities block, stormwater drainage and sewerage infrastructure, new streetlighting, new house fencing, upgrades to the community basketball and tennis courts and public gardens, landscaping, a community yarning circle, and a new village entrance sign.

    Upgrades have also occurred to a levee bank at the village which has been reinforced in sections and new flood gates and drainage flaps installed to help control flooding from the nearby Lachlan River.

    The delivery of infrastructure upgrades to normal standards enhances quality of life for residents and improves access to services, including household waste collection, postal delivery, emergency vehicles and community transport.

    A key feature of Roads to Home projects is ensuring there are employment and training opportunities for local Aboriginal communities. The Condobolin project provided training for 10 residents and work for 8.

    The Minns Labor Government has so far committed a total of $173.8 million through the Roads to Home program to enable upgrades in 34 discrete Aboriginal communities.

    Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

    “It’s fantastic to see these upgrades delivered to bring infrastructure up to acceptable standards to benefit the residents of the Willow Bend village in Condobolin.

    “Infrastructure upgrades such as these are very important for Aboriginal communities as they improve quality of life and empower residents by supporting better health and safety and facilitating improved access to community services.”

    Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said:

    “The Roads to Home program is correcting an historic injustice where Aboriginal communities on former missions and reserves across NSW were left to fend for themselves without the types of infrastructure and services that communities in the rest of the state take for granted.

    “It is a unique program that takes a partnership approach to empower Aboriginal landowners to make decisions about essential infrastructure upgrades in their communities to improve social outcomes while providing training and employment opportunities.

    “We know there are better Closing the Gap outcomes when local Aboriginal communities and people drive shared decision-making and self-determination.”

    Member for Barwon Roy Butler said:

    “Its always great to see investment in Barwon communities.

    “Things like reinforcing the levee to prevent inundation from the Lachlan river, along with upgrading the roads and building an amenities block, are not luxury items but they bring residents some much needed improvements that make Willow Bend a much better place to live.

    “It has a net benefit to peoples wellbeing when they see investment and improvement in their community”

    Condobolin Local Aboriginal Land Council CEO Louise Davis said:

    “The infrastructure upgrades have made a big difference. The village looks a lot better than it did before and the improvements have given residents ownership and pride in the community.

    “As part of the project, local residents got work and training with machinery including excavators and backhoes, and in fencing. and concreting.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Orange community canvassed on potential rail service improvements

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 26 September 2024

    Released by: Minister for Regional Transport and Roads

    The Minns Labor Government has launched engagement to understand community views on future passenger rail services for Orange, with a forum to be held on 31 October 2024.

    The forum, hosted by Transport for NSW, will hear from the Orange and Central West community about transport connections in the region.

    The forum, to be held in the Greenhouse function room at Orange Ex-Services Club, will bring together around 80 key stakeholders including local government, rail groups, Aboriginal bodies and representatives from the education, business and health sectors.

    The forum will be followed by a drop-in session in the afternoon that will be open to members of the community.

    Details will be announced closer to the date.

    Feedback will also be sought from the wider community with around 130 other stakeholders from Orange and the Central West asked to complete a survey about passenger rail services.

    Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

    “We are aware there is broad community support for improved rail services to Orange. The NSW Government has listened and is now responding with the next step.

    “Through this targeted consultation process, including a forum at the end of October, we want to gather specific information on community needs, expectations and potential viability of options, to help inform decision making.

    “We know the existing Bathurst Bullet train service provides an important and popular daily return train connection and we are considering all the possible options for Orange and the wider Central West.

    “We are committed to safe and affordable public transport that allows regional people access work, education, health appointments and connect with other transport modes and networks.”

    Independent Member for Orange Phil Donato said:

    “More than 10,000 people signed Orange Rail Action Group’s petition, seeking to improve passenger rail services between the Central West and Sydney.

    “Minister Aitchison has taken active interest in the proposal to initiate a daily return passenger rail service between Orange and Sydney, to meet transport needs of our growing community.

    “I am pleased to see further consideration of the proposal, including vital community consultation to ensure future transport plans and services meet the needs and expectations of the community.

    “I encourage all stakeholders and interested residents to participate in Transport for New South Wales’ consultation event at Orange Ex-Services Club on October 31.”

    Fast facts:

    • Sydney Trains operates a twice daily Intercity service between Sydney and Bathurst on the Blue Mountains Line, which is commonly referred to as the Bathurst Bullet.
    • Sydney Trains Intercity train services are part of the Opal network, where customers can turn up and go and tap on and off to travel. Since 1 July 2024 the Bathurst Intercity train service has been operated by Sydney Trains.
    • NSW TrainLink operates a daily XPT train service between Sydney and Dubbo via Orange and a weekly Xplorer train service between Sydney and Broken Hill via Orange.
    • There are daily NSW TrainLink coach connections to and from Orange to Bathurst that provide connections with Bathurst Intercity services. There are also several coach connections from Orange to Lithgow daily, where passengers join Intercity train services to Sydney.
    • NSW TrainLink operates all regional train and coach services, including those that serve Orange. Advance booking is required on all NSW TrainLink services, including those that connect with Bathurst Intercity services.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The International Forum “Russian Energy Week” will present the achievements of the capital’s fuel and energy complex

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    From September 26 to 28, the capital will host the International Forum “Russian Energy Week”. For the first time in seven years, the event will be held at two venues at once. The business program can be visited in the Central Exhibition Hall “Manezh”, and the exhibition of equipment and technologies – in Gostiny Dvor.

    Thus, in Manezh the Moscow Government will present a stand with the achievements of the capital’s fuel and energy complex. The interactive platform will be dedicated to the development of the industry and the use of innovative technologies in it.

    One of the main installations will be an interactive exhibition, thanks to which you can see the appearance of Moscow of the future. Guests will be able to take a quiz, based on the results of which artificial intelligence will generate an image of the city in a few years.

    The stand will also feature a model of the capital, each object of which symbolizes a certain branch of energy or resource supply. When touching the structures, visitors will be able to see videos about the work of fuel and energy complex enterprises, their achievements and development plans. In addition, a 3D model of Moscow will be displayed on the screen, hovering above the ground thanks to the flow of energy.

    Another project is “Elevator to Energy”. An installation simulating a ride in an elevator will introduce modernized thermal power plants, as well as modern electrical substations, gas equipment production, treatment facilities, control centers and communication collectors.

    In addition, guests will be told about the operation of life support systems and shown a visualization of how electricity is transmitted, water flows in pipes, and how digital platforms and control systems function.

    In Gostiny Dvor, the achievements of fuel and energy companies will be presented at the stand of the municipal economy complex. The exposition of enterprises will be of interest to those who want to get to know the industry better. For those who want to find work in this area, information about current vacancies will be posted.

    Thus, JSC “OEK” will recreate a miniature street with smart LED lighting, architectural and artistic lighting, festive illumination and electric charging stations for cars. And GUP “Mossvet” has prepared an interactive exhibition with a screen that demonstrates the organization’s achievements.

    The Mosgaz JSC site is dedicated to the production of gas distribution equipment and heat supply sources. Guests will be presented with models of gas control points, boiler houses and a complex for automating gas distribution systems.

    The main element of the PJSC Mosenergo exposition will be a large multimedia screen, which will show videos about the company’s activities, the operating principles of power plants and environmental protection. In addition, at the information stand, you can learn about the history of the enterprise and its current projects.

    PAO Rosseti Moscow Region will introduce modern equipment and software used in the electric grid complex. Among the exhibits are the OZHUR software package, a model of the new Krasnaya substation, the Electra virtual dialogue office, and others.

    JSC Mosvodokanal will present an exhibition that immerses viewers in the operation of water supply and sanitation systems. An interactive model will allow you to see the movement of water from the water intake to the consumer and back to the water source, and a 3D model of urban development with an augmented reality function will introduce the operation of engineering systems.

    The State Budgetary Institution “IMC” will demonstrate a metrological center for conducting inspections, a system designed for monitoring and servicing common house heat and hot water meters, as well as a unified installation module for metering thermal energy of its own production.

    Only registered participants and delegates of the forum can attend the business program in Manezh. Admission to the exhibition in Gostiny Dvor is free, but a registration.

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

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

    http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/144488073/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Running, basketball and fitrock: Muscovites are invited to free cardio workouts

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    On September 28 and 29, within the framework of the projects “My Sports District” and “Sports Weekend”, cardio training sessions in running, basketball, table tennis, fitrock and fitness boxing will be held. Muscovites are invited to celebrate World Heart Day. It is designed to draw public attention to health issues and emphasize the importance of preventing cardiovascular diseases.

    City residents will be able to do fitrock, which combines elements of functional and dance training. The training is based on repeating various dance movements and combinations with drumsticks. Classes within the framework of the Sports Weekend project will be held on Saturday from 17:00 to 18:00 at VDNKh, and from 19:00 to 20:00 at the ZIL Cultural Center. On Sunday, they will be held from 17:00 to 18:00 at VDNKh and from 12:00 to 13:00 at the Yuzhny River Terminal. Registration is required on the website.

    In addition, on September 29 at 10:30, as part of the My Sports District project, the final fitness training sessions will take place on the roofs of the district centers Sofia, Angara, Elbrus, and Rassvet. You can sign up for the class through the Dance Fitness form on the website.

    Muscovites are offered to try such a direction as fitness boxing. The lesson consists of a combination of punches and kicks on a punching bag at a fast pace. This training increases endurance and develops coordination. On September 28 and 29, fitness boxing will be held in the Smstretching studio near the Tulskaya metro station from 11:30 to 12:30. You can see the schedule and sign up for the lesson on this page.

    On September 29 at 10:00 in the Olympic complex “Luzhniki”, parks “Sokolniki”, “Severnoye Tushino” and 850-letiya Moskvy, as well as at the addresses: Shirokaya street, building 30 and Zelenograd, building 904, running training will be held. They help improve heart function and increase lung capacity. You can choose a convenient site and sign up for training on the website.

    On September 28, residents of the capital can play basketball and table tennis under the guidance of professional coaches. Basketball training will take place in Severny Khapilovsky Square and at the following addresses: Festivalnaya Street, Building 4, Building 3 (Friendship Park), Bolshaya Gruzinskaya Street, Building 39, Bolshoy Ovchinnikovsky Lane, Building 11, Domodedovskaya Street, Building 22, Building 3, Marshal Golovanov Street, Building 4, Zarayskaya Street, Building 51, Building 2 (Plyushchevo Square). The training will start at 19:00. Muscovites will practice the correct throwing technique, learn to dribble and pass the ball. Basketball develops tactical thinking, agility and attention.

    Table tennis classes will be held in the parks “Sviblovo”, “Kuzminki-Lyublino”, “Dubovaya Roshcha “Mayak”, as well as at the stadium “Avangard” and at the address: Perekopskaya street, house 34, building 2. This sport develops attentiveness and reaction speed. During the training, they practice moving around the court, the accuracy of strikes and game combinations. You can register for basketball and table tennis classes on the website.

    “My Sports District” — one of the flagship projects Department of Sports of the City of Moscow, within the framework of which residents of the capital train under the guidance of professional trainers in courtyards and parks all year round, and in the summer also on the roofs of district centers. Depending on the season, children and adults have access to different sports – for example, in winter, participants go ice skating and learn cross-country skiing.

    The Sports Weekend project offers free yoga, stretching, barre, Pilates, functional and dance training under the guidance of experienced trainers. Classes are held at 13 indoor venues in the capital. Those who prefer to stay at home are invited to online training. You can find out more about the project and follow the news on the website.

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

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

    http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/144486073/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Artistic, robot class and sports grounds: children’s educational center to be built in Maryina Roshcha

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    A private educational center consisting of a kindergarten for 112 children and a primary school for 257 children is planned to be built in the Maryina Roshcha district. The building will be located at Polkovaya Street, Building 1.

    “The total area of the future building will be almost 8.7 thousand square meters. In plan, it has a Y-shape, includes three above-ground floors. Near the building, playgrounds and a sports ground near the kindergarten, a school sports ground, as well as areas for students to relax and hold mass events will be equipped,” clarified the Minister of the Government of Moscow, head of the Department of Urban Development Policy

    Vladislav Ovchinsky.

    The window openings, varying in proportion, and the corner slopes framing them will highlight the building’s appearance. The second and third floors form a single block hanging over the first, creating the effect of a levitating building.

    The kindergarten block includes group, administrative and auxiliary rooms, a lobby, a stroller room, a music room, a gym, and a room for correctional and developmental classes.

    The elementary school block will be equipped with a robotics classroom and other classrooms, universal educational studios, a laboratory and research complex, a playroom, a cafeteria, a medical block, and an art room.

    Mosgosstroynadzor issued a permit for the construction of the educational center at the end of August of this year.

    “After the developer notifies the Moscow State Construction Supervision Committee about the start of construction and installation work, our inspectors will draw up a schedule of on-site inspections that will be carried out at each stage of the construction of the facility. They will involve specialists from the subordinate Expertise Center to conduct research into the quality of the work being carried out and the materials used,” added the Chairman of Mosgosstroynadzor

    Anton Slobodchikov.

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

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

    http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/144479073/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Appeal following sexual assault and robbery in Finchley

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Detectives are appealing for help to identify a man after a woman was sexually assaulted and had her possessions stolen in north London.

    Police were called at 04:35hrs on Friday, 13 September to reports of a robbery on Regents Park Road in Finchley.

    The victim, aged in her 70s, was getting off a bus when she was followed by an unknown man who pushed her into a doorway and sexually assaulted her. He then ran off having stolen her bank cards and roughly £20,000 worth of jewellery.

    The victim suffered several broken ribs and a broken leg as a result of the incident and remains in hospital.

    PC Harry Morrice, from the North West area’s local investigations team, said: “This was an extremely distressing incident which has left an elderly woman in hospital, having suffered serious injuries.

    “We are committed to finding the perpetrator and continue to carry out a number of enquiries in order to hold those responsible to account.

    “We are now releasing an image of a man we would like to identify and are asking for assistance from the public. We are also keen to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time and may have seen the robbery, or a man running off.

    “Any information you provide will be treated in the strictest confidence. Alternatively you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously.”

    Anyone who knows this man or has information can call police on 101 or message @MetCC on X quoting CAD 838/13Sep.

    Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Call for information – Criminal damage – Yarrawonga

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Northern Territory Police are investigating an attempted ram-raid incident in Yarrawonga this morning.

    Around 4:00am, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received a report of an abandoned Toyota Troop Carrier next to a damaged business on the Stuart Highway, Yarrawonga.

    Investigations confirmed the vehicle was stolen from a business address in Berrimah earlier in the night.

    Forensics has been completed on the vehicle and investigations are continuing.

    Strike Force Trident are investigating and are urging anyone with information on the matter to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference NTP2400096392 .

    You can also report anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or through https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Japan: Acquittal of man who spent 45 years on death row pivotal moment for justice – Amnesty International

    Source: Amnesty International

    Responding to the acquittal of Japanese man Iwao Hakamada, who spent nearly five decades on death row, Amnesty International’s East Asia Researcher Boram Jang said:

    “We are overjoyed by the court’s decision to exonerate Iwao Hakamada. After enduring almost half a century of wrongful imprisonment and a further 10 years waiting for his retrial, this verdict is an important recognition of the profound injustice he endured for most of his life. It ends an inspiring fight to clear his name by his sister Hideko and all those who supported him.

    “As we celebrate this long overdue day of justice for Hakamada, we are reminded of the irreversible harm caused by the death penalty. We strongly urge Japan to abolish the death penalty to prevent this from happening again.

    “Japanese authorities must also review all existing death sentences, particularly when there are concerns of mental and intellectual disabilities. Only complete abolition of capital punishment will ensure that such grave errors are never repeated, and people not irreversibly and arbitrarily deprived of their lives. Amnesty International will continue to push for the abolition of the death penalty and for reforms that ensure fairness and justice for all.”

    Background

    On 26 September 2024, a long-awaited ruling was delivered by Shizuoka District Court to acquit Hakamada Iwao, described as the world’s longest-serving death row prisoner.

    During his first trial, Hakamada was convicted of the murder of his employer and his employer’s family, largely based on a forced “confession”. He “confessed” to the crime after 20 days of interrogation by police. Hakamada proceeded to retract the “confession” during the trial, alleging that police had threatened and beaten him. Hakamada was sentenced to death by Shizuoka District Court in 1968 and spent over 45 years held on death row.

    In March 2014, Hakamada was granted a retrial by Shizuoka District Court and was released from prison after DNA evidence surfaced which questioned the reliability of his conviction.

    The decision to open a retrial was based on more than 600 pieces of evidence disclosed by the prosecutor. This evidence undermined the legitimacy of earlier evidence.

    In June 2018, the Tokyo High Court overturned the decision of the lower court denying Hakamada’s retrial after an appeal from prosecutors. Hakamada’s lawyers appealed this ruling, which led to Japan’s Supreme Court reversing the High Court decision in December 2020 and asking it to re-examine the appeal. Eventually, the Tokyo High Court also ruled in support of the Supreme Court decision for retrial in March 2023.

    Hakamada’s retrial officially commenced in October 2023. The forced “confession” was excluded from the evidence. Prosecutors have since continued to voice their support for upholding the conviction and for Hakamada to be sentenced to death.

    Japan has continued to carry out executions − including of people who had judicial appeals pending, which is in violation of international safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty. The last execution in Japan was carried out on 26 July 2022. As of 31 December 2023, 107 out of the 115 people on death row had their death sentences finalized and were at risk of execution. Those on death row continued to be held in solitary confinement; and in the absence of effective safeguards or transparent regular psychiatric evaluations, persons with mental (psycho-social) and intellectual disabilities continued to be subjected to the death penalty, in violation of international law and standards.

    Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception regardless of the nature or circumstances of the crime; guilt, innocence or other characteristics of the individual; or the method used by the state to carry out the execution.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: In a new manifesto, OpenAI’s Sam Altman envisions an AI utopia – and reveals glaring blind spots

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hallam Stevens, Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies, James Cook University

    Ryan Carter Images / Shutterstock

    By now, many of us are probably familiar with artificial intelligence hype. AI will make artists redundant! AI can do lab experiments! AI will end grief!

    Even by these standards, the latest proclamation from OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman, published on his personal website this week, seems remarkably hyperbolic. We are on the verge of “The Intelligence Age”, he declares, powered by a “superintelligence” that may just be a “few thousand days” away. The new era will bring “astounding triumphs”, including “fixing the climate, establishing a space colony, and the discovery of all of physics”.

    Altman and his company – which is trying to raise billions from investors and pitching unprecedently huge datacentres to the US government, while shedding key staff and ditching its nonprofit roots to give Altman a share of ownership – have much to gain from hype.

    However, even setting aside these motivations, it’s worth taking a look at some of the assumptions behind Altman’s predictions. On closer inspection, they reveal a lot about the worldview of AI’s biggest cheerleaders – and the blind spots in their thinking.

    Steam engines for thought?

    Altman grounds his marvellous predictions in a two-paragraph history of humanity:

    People have become dramatically more capable over time; we can already accomplish things now that our predecessors would have believed impossible.

    This is a story of unmitigated progress heading in a single direction, driven by human intelligence. The cumulative discoveries and inventions of science and technology – Altman reveals – have led us to the computer chip and, inexorably, to artificial intelligence which will take us the rest of the way to the future. This view owes much to the futuristic visions of the singularitarian movement.

    Such a story is seductively simple. If human intelligence has driven us to ever-greater heights, it is hard not to conclude that better, faster, artificial intelligence will drive progress even farther and higher.

    This is an old dream. In the 1820s, when Charles Babbage saw steam engines revolutionising human physical labour in England’s industrial revolution, he began to imagine constructing similar machines for automating mental labour. Babbage’s “analytical engine” was never built, but the notion that humanity’s ultimate achievement would entail mechanising thought itself has persisted.

    According to Altman, we’re now (almost) at that mountaintop.

    Deep learning worked – but for what?

    The reason we are so close to the glorious future is simple, Altman says: “deep learning worked”.

    Deep learning is a particular kind of machine learning that involves artificial neural networks, loosely inspired by biological nervous systems. It has certainly been surprisingly successful in a few domains: deep learning is behind models that have proven adept at stringing words together in more or less coherent ways, at generating pretty pictures and videos, and even contributing to the solutions of some scientific problems.

    So the contributions of deep learning are not trivial. They are likely to have significant social and economic impacts (both positive and negative).

    But deep learning “works” only for a limited set of problems. Altman knows this:

    humanity discovered an algorithm that could really, truly learn any distribution of data (or really the underlying “rules” that produce any distribution of data).

    That’s what deep learning does – that’s how it “works”. That’s important, and it’s a technique that can be applied to various domains, but it’s far from the only problem that exists.

    Not every problem is reducible to pattern matching. Nor do all problems provide the massive amounts of data that deep learning requires to do its work. Nor is this how human intelligence works.

    A big hammer looking for nails

    What is interesting here is the fact that Altman thinks “rules from data” will go so far towards solving all humanity’s problems.

    There is an adage that a person holding a hammer is likely to see everything as a nail. Altman is now holding a big and very expensive hammer.

    Deep learning may be “working” but only because Altman and others are starting to reimagine (and build) a world composed of distributions of data. There’s a danger here that AI is starting to limit, rather than expand, the kinds of problem-solving we are doing.

    What is barely visible in Altman’s celebration of AI are the expanding resources needed also for deep learning to “work”. We can acknowledge the great gains and remarkable achievements of modern medicine, transportation and communication (to name a few) without pretending these have not come at a significant cost.

    They have come at a cost both to some humans – for whom the gains of global north have meant diminishing returns – and to animals, plants and ecosystems, ruthlessly exploited and destroyed by the extractive might of capitalism plus technology.

    Although Altman and his booster friends might dismiss such views as nitpicking, the question of costs goes right to the heart of predictions and concerns about the future of AI.

    Altman is certainly aware that AI is facing limits, noting “there are still a lot of details we have to figure out”. One of these is the rapidly expanding energy costs of training AI models.

    Microsoft recently announced a US$30 billion fund to build AI data centres and generators to power them. The veteran tech giant, which has invested more than US$10 billion in OpenAI, has also signed a deal with owners of the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant (infamous for its 1979 meltdown) to supply power for AI. The frantic spending suggests there may be a hint of desperation in the air.

    Magic or just magical thinking?

    Given the magnitude of such challenges, even if we accept Altman’s rosy view of human progress up to now, we might have to acknowledge that the past may not be a reliable guide to the future. Resources are finite. Limits are reached. Exponential growth can end.

    What’s most revealing about Altman’s post is not his rash predictions. Rather, what emerges is his sense of untrammelled optimism in science and progress.

    This makes it hard to imagine that Altman or OpenAI takes seriously the “downsides” of technology. With so much to gain, why worry about a few niggling problems? When AI seems so close to triumph, why pause to think?

    What is emerging around AI is less an “age of intelligence” and more an “age of inflation” – inflating resource consumption, inflating company valuations and, most of all, inflating the promises of AI.

    It’s certainly true that some of us do things now that would have seemed magic a century and a half ago. That doesn’t mean all the changes between then and now have been for the better.

    AI has remarkable potential in many domains, but imagining it holds the key to solving all of humanity’s problems – that’s magical thinking too.

    Hallam Stevens has previously received funding from the Ministry of Education (Singapore), the National Heritage Board (Singapore), the National Science Foundation (USA) and the Wenner-Gren Foundation.

    – ref. In a new manifesto, OpenAI’s Sam Altman envisions an AI utopia – and reveals glaring blind spots – https://theconversation.com/in-a-new-manifesto-openais-sam-altman-envisions-an-ai-utopia-and-reveals-glaring-blind-spots-239841

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Are private hospitals really in trouble? And is more public funding the answer?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anthony Scott, Professor of Health Economics and Director, Centre for Health Economics, Monash Business School, Monash University

    Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

    A battle between private hospitals and private health insurers is playing out in public.

    At its heart is how much health insurers pay hospitals for their services, and whether that’s enough for private hospitals to remain viable.

    Concerns over the viability of the private health system have caught the attention of the federal government, which has launched a review into private hospitals that has yet to be made public.

    But are private hospitals really in trouble? And if so, is more public funding the answer?

    Private hospitals vs private health insurers

    Many private hospital operators have reported significant pressures since the start of the COVID pandemic, including staff shortages.

    Inflationary pressures have increased the costs of supplies and equipment, pushing up the costs of providing hospital care.

    Now, private hospitals have publicised their difficult contract negotiations with private health insurers in an attempt to gain support and help their case.

    Healthscope, which runs 38 for-profit private hospitals in Australia, has been threatening to end agreements with private health insurers.

    St Vincent’s, which operates ten not-for-profit private hospitals, announced it would end its contract with nib (one of Australia’s largest for-profit health insurers) but then reached an agreement.

    UnitingCare Queensland, which operates four private hospitals, announced it would end its contract with the Australian Health Service Alliance, which represents more than 20 small and medium non-profit private health insurers. Since then, the two parties have also kissed and made up.

    Why should we care?

    There are three reasons why viability of the private health sector affects us all, regardless of whether we have private health insurance or use private hospitals.

    1. Taxpayers subsidise the private health system

    Australian taxpayers subsidised private health insurance premiums by A$6.3 billion
    (in premium rebates) in 2021–22. Much of this makes its way to private hospitals. Medicare also subsidised fees for medical services delivered for private patients in private and public hospitals to the tune of $3.81 billion in 2023–24.

    But when the going gets tough, the private health sector (both hospitals and health insurers) turns to the government for more handouts.

    So we should be concerned about the value we currently get from our public investment into the private health system, and if more public investment is warranted.

    2. Public hospitals may be affected if private hospitals close

    Calls for greater government support for private health have long argued that a larger private hospital sector would help reduce pressures on the public system.

    Indeed, this was the justification for a series of incentives introduced from the late 1990s to support private health insurance in Australia.

    However, the extent of this is hotly debated. Recent evidence shows higher private health insurance coverage leads to only very small falls in waiting times in public hospitals.

    While it is possible the closure of a few private hospitals might lead some patients to seek care in public hospitals, this shift might not be that large and will not increase waiting times too much.

    3. Fewer private beds, but is that a bad thing?

    If unviable private hospitals close or merge, we’d expect to see fewer
    private hospital beds overall.

    Fewer private hospital beds is not necessarily bad news. Mergers of small private day hospitals, in particular, might make them more efficient and lead to lower costs, which in turn lowers health insurance premiums.

    We might also need fewer private beds. This is due to policies that try to shift health care out of hospitals into the community or the use of
    hospital-in-the-home schemes (where patients receive hospital-type care at home with the support of visiting health staff and/or telehealth). The private health insurers are supporting both.

    If a few small private hospitals close, this reflects the market adjusting to less demand for hospital care. Some of the closures have been for maternity wards but with falling birth rates, this also seems like an appropriate market adjustment.

    Falling birth rates mean less demand for maternity wards.
    christinarosepix/Shutterstock

    What do we know?

    Any objective data about what is happening in the private hospital sector is scarce. This is mainly because the Australian Bureau of Statistics has stopped a compulsory survey of all private hospitals. The latest data we have is from 2016–17.

    Health insurers are the largest payer of private hospitals and hence wield a considerable amount of negotiating power. In 2016–17, almost 80% of private hospitals’ income came from private health insurers. Health insurers have also increasingly become “active” purchasers of health care – not just passively paying insurance claims, but wanting to strike a good deal with private hospitals for their members to keep premiums (and costs) down, and profits high.

    Reports of hospitals closing ignore hospitals that are opening at the same time. But since 2016–17 there are no publicly reported data on the total number of private hospitals in Australia or changes over time.

    The latest figures we have show about half of all hospitals in Australia are private, and of these 62% are for-profit with the rest run by not-for-profit organisations (such as St Vincent’s).

    The main for-profit providers are Ramsay Health Care and Healthscope. Both have operations overseas and were in trouble before the COVID pandemic.

    Fast-forward to 2024 and the recent issues with contract negotiations suggests the financial situation of for-profit private hospitals might not have improved. So this could reflect a long-term issue with the sustainability of the private hospital sector.

    What are the options?

    The private health system already receives large public subsidies. So the crux of the current debate is whether the government should intervene again to prop up the private sector. Here are some options:

    • do nothing and let this stoush play out Closure and mergers of private hospitals might be good if smaller hospitals and wards are no longer needed and patients have other alternatives

    • introduce more regulation Negotiations between small groups of private hospitals and very large dominant private health insurers may not be efficient. If the insurers have significant market power they can force small groups of private hospitals into submission. Some private hospital groups may be negotiating with many different health insurers at the same time, which can be costly. Regulation of exactly how these negotiations happen could make the process more efficient and create a more level playing field

    • change how private hospitals are paid Public hospitals are essentially paid the same national price for each procedure they provide. This provides incentives for efficiency as the price is fixed and so if their costs are below the price, they can make a surplus. Private hospitals could also be funded this way, which could remove much of the costs of contract negotiations with private hospitals. Instead, private hospitals would be free to focus on other issues such as the number and quality of procedures, and providing high-value health care.

    How do we help private hospitals become more efficient? Regulating prices and contract negotiations are a start.
    Kitreel/Shutterstock

    What next?

    Revisiting the regulation of prices and contract negotiations between private hospitals and private health insurers could potentially help the private hospital sector to be more efficient.

    Private health insurers are rightly trying to encourage such efficiencies but the tools they have to do this through contract negotiations are quite blunt.

    As we wait for the results of the review into the private hospital sector, value for money for taxpayers is paramount. We are all subsidising the private hospital sector.

    Anthony Scott has previously received funding from the Medibank Better Health Foundation.

    Terence C. Cheng 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. Are private hospitals really in trouble? And is more public funding the answer? – https://theconversation.com/are-private-hospitals-really-in-trouble-and-is-more-public-funding-the-answer-238891

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Export Sector – 2024 ExportNZ DHL Barometer reveals challenges and opportunities in the Business Central region

    Source: Business Central

    2024 ExportNZ DHL Barometer reveals challenges and opportunities in the Business Central region
    The 2024 ExportNZ DHL Barometer, released this week, reveals challenges and opportunities for exporters in the Business Central region, alongside suggestions to boost export growth.
    This year’s survey shows signs of optimism, despite challenging conditions at home and abroad.
    Business Central CEO Simon Arcus says: “These results prove what we know already – exporters in our region are exceptionally resilient, managing to grow export earnings despite the challenges of a sluggish economy and the damage of Cyclone Gabrielle.”
    “I acknowledge the really difficult time that Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne faced in the recent past. It’s a credit to the hard work of businesses in our region that more than half expect their orders to grow,” says Arcus.
    Business Central represents exporters across the lower North Island and Nelson-Tasman through our network partner, ExportNZ. Businesses in the region contribute significantly to New Zealand’s export earnings, primarily through manufacturing and agriculture.
    39% of exporters in the region saw orders increase in the last 12 months. 28% saw a decrease, while 28% saw them stay the same.
    Encouragingly, 54% of businesses expect export orders to increase in the next 12 months.
    But the survey reveals significant cost pressures are restraining export earnings. 78% of respondents saw costs increase in the past 12 months, with the cost of transport and logistics and the price of doing business in New Zealand cited as the biggest barriers to growth.
    There are a number of opportunities to boost exporters through enhanced government support. 43% of respondents in the Business Central region highlighted support for attending trade shows as an opportunity to export more, while 33% cited better access to market research. 29% called for new free trade agreements and better access to R&D.
    Business Central also welcomes the announcement of a new free trade agreement between New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates, which was signed today. 24% of firms in the Business Central region export to the Middle East.
    Joshua Tan, ExportNZ Executive Director, praised the industry’s response to the volatile economic and exporting environment.
    “The current operating environment is difficult to navigate, with persistent challenges connected with the rising cost of doing business. Despite the many challenges, exporters have expressed optimism and confidence in future growth through the survey, which is very encouraging.
    “Given the Government’s goal to double export value within ten years, there are areas where Government support would be valued by exporters – support to help them grow their businesses here in New Zealand and leverage market opportunities overseas,” says Tan.
    Business Central delivers and supports ExportNZ in the Hawke’s Bay and wider Central New Zealand region. It represents 3,500 employers and exporters across the lower North Island, providing advice, training, support, and advocates for policies that reflect the interests of the business community.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU to begin classes as part of a practical course for postgraduate students “Fundamentals of Scientific Research”

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    Classes within the postgraduate course “Fundamentals of Scientific Research” will begin at Novosibirsk State University on September 26. This course is an integral part of the educational component of the new model of postgraduate study at NSU along with another discipline – “Academic English”. They are mandatory for first-year postgraduate students of all faculties of the university.

    The course program was developed by the head of the laboratory of functional diagnostics of low-dimensional structures for nanoelectronics Physics Department of NSU Pavel Geidt in 2022. The course is designed for one semester. Some postgraduate students study it in the first half of the academic year, the rest in the second. Over 360 young scientists have completed it in two years.

    — This course does not involve mastering the deep theoretical aspects of philosophy, entrepreneurship, communication psychology, natural sciences and other classical disciplines. It is rather a synthesis of several sections of these disciplines that have the greatest practical significance for graduate students at this stage. Its goal is to help young scientists from various sciences undergo postgraduate studies and further engage in independent research activities. The idea of ​​the course comes from a common problem: often university teachers do not tell graduate students in a structured way about a lot of practical information related to scientific activity, about its organizational and reporting aspects, about performance in projects, about the features of preparing grant applications, about etiquette in the scientific community and team , about information retrieval tools, about computer tools for working with data arrays and much more. As a result, graduate students face many difficulties: how to formulate a hypothesis for their research, how to prepare a publication for a scientific publication, how to successfully defend their dissertation and other uncertainties. The knowledge that they will receive as part of the course will help young scientists at the very beginning of their scientific career to build relationships with scientific supervisors, heads of departments and faculties, heads of scientific projects, employees of their laboratory, foundations, monitoring agencies and other structures that they will encounter ,” explained Pavel Geidt.

    The course consists of 8 lectures, including “The Main Aspects of Conducting Research”, “The Role of Management in Scientific Research”, “Financing Scientific Activity”, “Writing Scientific Publications”, “Participation in Scientific Events” and “Methods of Defending Dissertations through the Higher Attestation Commission and the NSU Dissertation Council”. These lectures will be given by Pavel Geidt, as well as Ilya Beterov, Associate Professor of the Quantum Electronics Department of the NSU Physics Faculty, Anna Komarova, Associate Professor of the Political Economy Department of the EF, Leading Researcher of the Laboratory of Empirical Analysis of Industry Markets of the EF, and Natalia Aksenova, Head of the Department of Support and Analysis of Scientific Research at NSU.

    The course includes two practical classes. Unlike lectures, which are a summary of existing knowledge and organized information from various sources, practical classes are original authorial material. The first class, “Michael Faraday’s Principle: Work, Finish, Publish,” was developed by Pavel Geidt.

    — Publication of research results in scientific journals is mandatory for every scientist, but for those who are taking their first steps in big science, this causes many difficulties. Which journal should I send my work to? How to write and format a manuscript correctly? How to respond to reviewers’ comments? Who decides whether to publish an article? What should I do if my manuscript is not accepted for publication? How can I make sure that it is published anyway? And these are far from all the questions that young researchers have at the first stage of their independent, thoughtful scientific work. We tried to recreate the process of preparing an article for publication in a classroom setting so that it would be understandable and “transparent.” The students are divided into 4 groups: a group of authors, the university administration, the editorial board of a foreign scientific journal, and the editorial board of a domestic publication. Each participant in the practical lesson receives their own role: scientist, scientific supervisor, editor-in-chief of a scientific journal, reviewer, and others. In this way, all stages of the process of creating and publishing an article are reproduced, and the roles of the participants in this process acquire meaning, as if they come to life, said Pavel Geidt.

    The second practical lesson “Critical Thinking in Science. TRIZ: Relevance for Technical and Humanitarian Sciences and Further Prospects for the Application of TRIZ for Dissertations” was developed and is being conducted by the Director Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization of NSU Alexander Kvashnin. Teamwork is also important here. Mixed groups of young scientists from different faculties and institutes work together to resolve complex contradictions in science and technology that require a creative approach. Here, graduate students are also given homework: find a way to solve a technical problem within the framework of their dissertation research and describe it in 200 words.

    At this stage, it is expected that graduate students will develop the skills to formulate research problems and systematically design ways to solve these problems in the types of activities that interest them, encourage young scientists to methodologically reflect on their research project, instill a desire for clarity, structure and internal coherence of arguments and reasoning in their written works and oral presentations, and maintain interest in further in-depth mastery of disciplines related to the courses within and beyond the framework of their dissertations.

    — A budding scientist must be prepared for practical scientific work in graduate school and be able to conduct independent scientific research. This requires a clear knowledge of current scientific problems, the ability to analyze the state of the topic of interest and the related field of activity. Graduate students need skills in preparing grant applications, planning the execution of work and completing a project on time. Submitting reports with the publication of the results of intellectual activity, speaking at international conferences and, of course, successfully defending a dissertation are also important. We will teach graduate students to do science independently, as well as to speak about it in an understandable language, — Pavel Geidt summarized.

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

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

    http://vvv.nsu.ru/n/media/nevs/science/classes-will-begin-in-the-practical-course-for-graduate-students-fundamentals-of-scientific-research/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Sergei Sobyanin: 262 socially oriented NGOs received city support

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    More than 20 years ago, a grant competition for socially oriented non-profit organizations (NPOs) was established in Moscow. Every year, the best initiatives are selected in the capital and up to five million rubles are allocated for their implementation. Over the entire period, more than 3.4 thousand projects have received city support.

    “In 2024, the competition broke the record for the number of approved applications. This time, proposals were received from about 900 NGOs, 262 of which received support,” Sergei Sobyanin said in

    on your blog.

    The grant amounts range from 500 thousand to five million rubles. They are provided for projects in the following nominations: “Charity”, “Safe Moscow”, “Ecology of the Megapolis”, “Civic Initiatives”, “Creative Moscow”, “Volunteering and Volunteering”, “Media Moscow”, “Family Moscow” and “Urban Innovations”. The most popular nominations in terms of the number of laureate initiatives were “Youth of Moscow” (62 projects), “Our Heritage” (55 projects), “Healthy Lifestyle and Sports” (37 initiatives).

    The full list of award winners has been published on the website.

    An independent assessment was conducted by an expert council. It included representatives of the Moscow Public Chamber, scientific, research and educational communities, and NGOs. Each project was assessed by three experts, and they did not have the opportunity to see the marks of their colleagues.

    The projects were assessed based on their significance for the city and its residents, relevance and feasibility. The experts also took into account the effectiveness of the proposed solution, its efficiency and uniqueness.

    Career guidance for schoolchildren and assistance to SVO participants

    Among the winners is the Artificial Intelligence project of the scientific and educational center of the Moscow State Technical University named after N.E. Bauman. The center itself is engaged in career guidance for schoolchildren: young research staff help students develop engineering thinking and the skills they need when entering technical universities.

    This year, the center’s team intends to develop two additional education programs of 16 academic hours each, which any high school student will be able to study.

    The Association of Veterans of the Special Military Operation (SVO) helps combat veterans adapt to civilian life faster and involves them in educating the younger generation. The grant is intended to launch the project “Museums of the Special Military Operation in Moscow Schools”. Five schools will be involved in it – museum exhibits will open in the institutions, courage lessons will be held, and meetings with SVO heroes will be held. The project will be implemented in 2025.

    Another project in support of the special military operation is the center for legal assistance to SVO participants and their families of the regional public organization “Lotus”. The center’s specialists will deal with various issues – from registration of status, benefits and payments for housing and communal services to entering into inheritance rights.

    The project “Equal to equal. Adaptation club” is implemented by the Foundation for the Promotion of the Russian Language and Education in Russian. Its goal is to help young people with disabilities adapt to universities. In several capital institutions of higher professional education, students will be taught the basics of inclusive volunteering. Specialists will talk about the problems and difficulties of children with disabilities during their studies and ways to help them. A special online portal will post methodological materials, video courses and lectures that will help children with disabilities quickly get used to the new environment and not feel lonely in a group.

    The charitable foundation for helping children born at an early stage, “Give me some sunshine”, will launch a program for the social, physical and creative development of children with disabilities. The participants of the project “We, playing, study, speak and understand” will be children aged six to 12 years. They will work with an adaptive physical education trainer and a speech development specialist. Speech therapy equipment will be purchased for correctional classes. The training will take place in the family center opened by the foundation.

    Winners of last year’s grant competitions

    The international charitable public organization “Fair Aid of Doctor Lisa” helps citizens who find themselves in difficult life situations – lonely pensioners, people left homeless, seriously ill patients. With the funds of the grant of the Mayor of Moscow, the organization launched the project “Let’s Extend a Helping Hand”, within the framework of which medical and social assistance was received by participants of the FAO. They were provided with medicines, hygiene products and medical supplies.

    The Global Impact Alliance, a charitable foundation for scientific research and development, is implementing the project Inclusive Routes: Virtual Reality Solutions for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The scenario of the Public Transport project will soon be available for children with this diagnosis. The team has worked out all the elements of the bus in detail: validators, screens, and light indicators — everything to ensure that children’s adaptation to the virtual space is as close as possible to real conditions. As a result, the skill will be better consolidated, and during a trip on a real bus, the child will quickly get their bearings and remember what to do.

    The autonomous non-profit organization “Dynamic Guys” created a musical performance “You Can’t Fly, You Can’t Stay”. The plot is based on the story of people blocked in the capital’s airport due to weather conditions. The premiere took place at the beginning of the summer at the Moscow State Academic Theater “Russian Song”, more than 750 people saw it. And the video version of the performance has already collected over one million views.

    The Virta Charity Foundation held two exhibitions in support of homeless animals. The events were attended by over three thousand Muscovites. The foundation’s volunteers brought 270 dogs and cats from shelters to the exhibitions, 57 of which found a new home.

    The professional skills competition “Best in the Profession. Nanny of the Year” was held with the help of a grant. Participants were interviewed by psychologists, underwent reliability checks and completed competition tasks, as well as demonstrated medical knowledge and skills necessary for working with children. More than a thousand applications were received from nannies, educators, governesses and governesses of Moscow. Only 20 contenders for the title of the best reached the final. The competition was held by the ANO for assistance in employment and leisure of the adult population “Vozrasu. net” (the “Grandma for an hour” service).

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

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

    https://vvv.mos.ru/major/themes/11823050/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: SEALCOIN AG Announces Final SEALCOIN Timeline, Whitepaper Release, and Tokenomics Details

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SEALCOIN AG Announces Final SEALCOIN Timeline, Whitepaper Release, and Tokenomics Details

    Geneva, Switzerland – September 26, 2024: WISeKey International Holding Ltd. (“WISeKey” or the “Company”) (SIX: WIHN, NASDAQ: WKEY), a leading global cybersecurity and IoT company operating as a holding company, today announced that its subsidiary Sealcoin AG, which focuses on decentralized physical internet with DePIN technology and house the development of the SEALCOIN platform, is announcing the final timeline for the SEALCOIN project, including the highly anticipated release of its whitepaper in October 2024. The whitepaper will unveil the strategic vision, technical roadmap, and comprehensive tokenomics of SEALCOIN, marking a major milestone in the platform’s development.

    Key Milestones and Timeline:

    1. Proof of Concept (PoC): Successfully executed on July 25, 2024, demonstrating the platform’s ability to facilitate secure, autonomous IoT transactions.
    2. Pre-Seed Investment: Raised $2 million in mid-2024, positioning SEALCOIN for accelerated growth and development.
    3. FINMA Application: SEALCOIN AG is about to submit its application to the Swiss financial regulator FINMA, ensuring full regulatory compliance as the project advances.
    4. Platform Development: Officially launched in Q3 2024, the SEALCOIN platform’s development is underway, leveraging Hedera Hashgraph technology for enhanced scalability and security.
    5. Platform Production Release and Token Issuance: The SEALCOIN platform will go live, and the token will be officially issued, expected in mid-2025.
    6. Token Listing: SEALCOIN is targeting a digital exchange listing by Q3 2025, to provide liquidity and accessibility for token holders worldwide.

    Whitepaper Release in October 2024

    The SEALCOIN whitepaper, set to be released in October 2024, will provide an in-depth look at the platform’s technical architecture, governance model, and tokenomics. The document will outline SEALCOIN’s approach to enabling secure, decentralized, and autonomous transactions between IoT devices, powered by Hedera Hashgraph. Detailed tokenomics will include the allocation and distribution structure, vesting schedules, and SEALCOIN’s role as both a utility and payment token within the platform.

    The SEALCOIN Platform and Token Beta Version will be released as an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) on Hedera’s TestNet in Q1 2025. This milestone will allow users and developers to test SEALCOIN’s core functionalities in a controlled environment, showcasing the platform’s decentralized transaction capabilities between IoT devices and ensuring the smooth operation of the SEALCOIN token within the ecosystem before the full production release, set in Summer 2025.

    Carlos Moreira, CEO of SEALCOIN AG, commented, “With our PoC successfully completed and development in full swing, we are excited to share our roadmap and vision for the future of IoT transactions. The upcoming whitepaper will provide the community with full transparency on our tokenomics and the strategic steps we’re taking to achieve full decentralization.”

    About SEALCOIN

    SEALCOIN is a decentralized platform designed to facilitate secure, autonomous transactions between IoT devices. Built on Hedera Hashgraph, SEALCOIN allows devices to engage in seamless service-for-payment exchanges without the need for intermediaries. With a focus on privacy, scalability, and decentralized governance, SEALCOIN is poised to revolutionize the Internet of Things (IoT) landscape. 

    About WISeKey 

    WISeKey International Holding Ltd (“WISeKey”, SIX: WIHN; Nasdaq: WKEY) is a Swiss-based computer infrastructure company specializing in cybersecurity, digital identity, blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, and post-quantum semiconductors. As a computer infrastructure company, WISeKey provides secure platforms for data and device management across industries like finance, healthcare, and government. It leverages its Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) to ensure encrypted communications and authentication, while also focusing on next-generation security through post-quantum cryptography.

    WISeKey’s work with post-quantum semiconductors is aimed at future-proofing its security solutions against the threats posed by quantum computing. These advanced semiconductors support encryption that can withstand the computational power of quantum computers, ensuring the long-term security of connected devices and critical infrastructure. Combined with its expertise in blockchain and IoT, WISeKey’s post-quantum technologies provide a robust foundation for secure digital ecosystems at the hardware, software, and network levels.

    WISeKey operates as a holding company through several operational subsidiaries, each dedicated to specific aspects of its technology portfolio. The subsidiaries include (i) SEALSQ Corp (Nasdaq: LAES), which focuses on semiconductors, PKI, and post-quantum technology products, (ii) WISeKey SA which specializes in RoT and PKI solutions for secure authentication and identification in IoT, Blockchain, and AI, (iii) WISeSat AG which focuses on space technology for secure satellite communication, specifically for IoT applications, (iv) WISe.ART Corp which focuses on trusted blockchain NFTs and operates the WISe.ART marketplace for secure NFT transactions, and (v) SEALCOIN AG which focuses on decentralized physical internet with DePIN technology and house the development of the SEALCOIN platform.

    Disclaimer
    This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning WISeKey International Holding Ltd and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of WISeKey International Holding Ltd to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. WISeKey International Holding Ltd is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, and it does not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”), the FinSa’s predecessor legislation or advertising within the meaning of the FinSA. Investors must rely on their own evaluation of WISeKey and its securities, including the merits and risks involved. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied on as, a promise or representation as to the future performance of WISeKey.

    Press and Investor Contacts

    WISeKey International Holding Ltd 
    Company Contact:  Carlos Moreira
    Chairman & CEO
    Tel: +41 22 594 3000
    info@wisekey.com    		 WISeKey Investor Relations (US) 
    The Equity Group Inc.
    Lena Cati
    Tel: +1 212 836-9611 / lcati@equityny.com
    Katie Murphy
    Tel: +1 212 836-9612 / kmurphy@equityny.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Capital Markets Day – Solutions30 outlines its 2026 roadmap

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    A European leader in rapid-response, multi-technology fields services, positioned on attractive markets where key players are investing several billions per year

    A >€1 bn Group entering a new phase of its development, prioritizing margins and cash generation and applying strict selectivity and discipline to its operations, particularly on its most mature markets

    Germany emerging as Group’s top performer in terms of growth and profitability and future 3rdpillar alongside France and Benelux, with revenue to triple and reach €150m to €200m by 2026 as a first milestone

    Clear action plan to accelerate diversification in energy transition-related services, expected to triple in size in France by 2026 and to rise sharply in other countries

    Strong focus on margin: adjusted EBITDA margin expected above 10% in all three major geographies by 2026

    Disciplined capital allocation: selective and accretive bolt-on M&A while maintaining a conservative financial policy, based on non-dilutive financing

    Solutions30 is holding today a Capital Markets Day in Paris, where it will present its roadmap for 2026. The presentation is available live through a webcast (see connection details at the end of this press release).

    Gianbeppi Fortis, Chief Executive Officer said: “Over the past 20 years, Solutions30 has consistently demonstrated its ability to grow and replicate its unique business model across technologies and sectors where it makes a difference for its customers. Now, having surpassed €1bn in revenue across nine countries, Solutions30 is entering a new phase of development with clear priorities: to establish Germany as the Group’s third pillar and top-performing region, accelerate diversification into the energy transition-related services, prioritize margins over volumes through strict discipline and contract selectivity particularly in its mature markets, and improve cash generation while maintaining a conservative financial policy. Although our ambition extends far beyond, we are setting an initial milestone for 2026, with concrete action plans and realistic targets, tailored to each of our markets. We are confident that our strategy will drive sustainable, long-term profitable growth.”

    A European leader in rapid-response, multi-technology field services positioned on attractive markets driven by the digital transformation and the energy transition

    Since its inception 20 years ago, Solutions30 has demonstrated its agility to deploy its business model wherever it makes a difference. Originated as a technology company, it has followed technological evolution and captured market opportunities from IT support to telecommunications, then energy.

    Today, Solutions30 operates in 9 countries with 16,000 technicians and revenue over €1bn across 3 verticals: Connectivity (76% of Group revenue), Energy (14%) and Technology (10%). Key European customers on these markets, typically large technology and energy B2B and B2C groups, have announced several billion euros of investment budget per year, with a cumulative c.€50 billion p.a. in the coming years, driven by two strong secular trends that are shaping today’s world: the digital transformation and the energy transition.

    Entering a new phase of development with a clear 2026 roadmap

    Having surpassed the €1 billion revenue mark in 2023, and active in a broad range of markets with different stages of maturity, Solutions30 is entering a new phase of its development. Although its ambition extends far beyond, the Group is setting today an initial milestone for 2026, with concrete, bottom-up action plans and targets defined at regional level, and an over-arching priority given to selectivity and profitability.

    In Benelux, Solutions30 is currently navigating a temporary situation where ongoing negotiations between Belgian telecom service providers aimed at streamlining fiber deployments across the country are causing delays in the Group’s activities and therefore impacting its performance in 2024. However, faced with strong opportunities offered by the early stage of fiber roll-out in Belgium, as well as the massive investments in power grid upgrade across the region, the Group is confident it can capitalize on its strong market positioning and resume its profitable growth trajectory as soon as 2025 (regardless of the outcome of the aforementioned negotiations) and expects adjusted EBITDA margin above 10% by 2026.

    In France, vast opportunities lie ahead in the Energy sector, where the Group has successfully replicated his business model and has emerged as a key partner to its customers. Energy revenue is expected to triple compared to 2023 and reach c. €150 million in 2026. In Connectivity, the Group is working towards stabilization, applying strict contract selectivity and prioritizing margins over volumes, while positioning itself to seize future opportunities like copper decommissioning, which could represent a market size of up to €1 billion per year. Adjusted EBITDA margin, benefitting from the comprehensive transformation plan launched in 2022, is expected to be above 10% by 2026.

    Germany is delivering on its promises, establishing itself as the Group’s top performer in terms of revenue growth, margins and cash flow performance. While the region is on a trajectory to become Solutions30’s third pillar alongside France and Benelux, benefitting from unique market dynamics in both Connectivity and Energy, a first milestone is set in 2026, when Germany’s revenue is expected between €150 million and €200 million, with adjusted EBITDA margin well above 10%. The country should then continue to grow faster than the rest of the Group.

    Across the rest of Europe, Solutions30 has adopted a portfolio management approach, aiming at sustaining Poland’s profitable growth, further improving performance in the UK, and either restoring margin in Italy and Spain by 2026 or initiating a strategic review in these two countries.

    Targeted and selective bolt-on acquisitions as a key growth driver. Since 2009, the Group has leveraged this strategy, successfully completing over 30 acquisitions with a combined annual revenue of approximately €350 million, all financed without any capital increase. Bolt-on M&A will continue to be a central pillar of the Group’s growth strategy and a primary focus for capital allocation, as part of a conservative financial policy that has historically resulted in a very limited leverage ratio, consistently below 2x net debt to adjusted EBITDA, and excludes any dilutive financing instruments.

    Lastly, the Group confirms its 2024 full-year outlook, as detailed in its press release dated September 18th, 2024.

    Beyond 2026, longer-term ambitions

    Building on its strong positioning, the attractiveness of its markets, and the fragmented nature of its competition, Solutions30 believes that, in the long term, it can double in size, with a service portfolio increasingly focused on Energy, and achieve a double-digit adjusted EBITDA margin at the Group level. Upon completion of its 2026 roadmap, Solutions30 will host another Capital Markets Day to set objectives for the next milestone.

    Sustainability at the heart of Solutions30’s business

    A significant portion of Solutions30’s activities act as enablers of the energy transition. 8% of the Group’s revenue is aligned with the EU Taxonomy for sustainable activities, including installation and maintenance of Smart meters, photovoltaic panels, EV chargers and grid services, as well as reutilization and refurbishment of IT equipment. Internally, the Group has defined a comprehensive ESG strategy, translated into concrete objectives for 2024, which will be complemented by 2030 carbon emissions reduction targets for Scope 1, 2 & 3 through the SBTi process (validation expected by the end of 2024).

    Webcast for investors and analysts

    Date: Wednesday, September 26, 2024
    8:30 PM (CET) – 7:30 PM (GMT)

    Speakers:
    Thomas Kremer, Member of the Supervisory Board
    Gianbeppi Fortis, Chief Executive Officer
    Amaury Boilot, Group General Secretary
    Luc Brusselaers, Chief Revenue Officer
    Wojcieh Pomykala, Chief Operations Officer
    Katarzyna Kuszewska, Group Head of Legal
    Denis Coleu, Groupe HR Director
    Jonathan Crauwels, Chief Financial Officer
    Nathalie Duchesne, Group Head of ESG, Risk & Compliance

    Connection details:

    Webcast in English: https://solutions30.capital-markets-day.eu/

    Upcoming events

    Q3 2024 Revenue Report November 4, 2024 (after market close)

    About Solutions30 SE

    Solutions30 provides consumers and businesses with access to the key technological advancements that are shaping our everyday lives, especially those driving the digital transformation and energy transition. With its network of more than 16 000 technicians, Solutions30 has completed over 65 million call-outs since its inception and led over 500 renewable energy projects with a combined maximum output surpassing 1600 MWp. Every day, Solutions30 is doing its part to build a more connected and sustainable world. Solutions30 has become an industry leader in Europe with operations in 10 countries: France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and Poland.
    The capital of Solutions30 SE consists of 107,127,984 shares, equal to the number of theoretical votes that can be exercised. Solutions30 SE is listed on the Euronext Paris exchange (ISIN FR0013379484- code S30). Stock indexes: CAC Mid & Small | CAC Small | CAC Technology | Euro Stoxx Total Market Technology | Euronext Tech Croissance.
    Visit our website for more information: http://www.solutions30.com

    Contact

    Individual Shareholders:
    shareholders@solutions30.com – Tel: +33 (0)1 86 86 00 63

    Analysts/investors:
    investor.relations@solutions30.com

    Press – Image 7:
    Charlotte Le Barbier – Tel: +33 6 78 37 27 60 – clebarbier@image7.fr

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Neguse, Lankford, Curtis Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Automatically Waive Fees for Replacing Critical Documents after a Natural Disaster

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado
    Survivors of natural disasters like the Marshall Fire often have to pay thousands of dollars to replace documents necessary for rebuilding their lives
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, James Lankford, along with Representatives Joe Neguse and John Curtis introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Replacing Essential Passports and Licenses After Certain Emergencies (REPLACE) Act, a bill to automatically waive replacement fees when survivors lose critical documents like passports, citizenship documents, and visas in natural disasters.
    “Wildfire and flood survivors have enough to worry about without also spending thousands to replace essential documents,” said Hickenlooper. “Let’s waive replacement fees so Coloradans can focus on recovery.”
    “Natural disasters are nothing new for Oklahomans. While families focus on rebuilding and helping their neighbors recover, they shouldn’t have to worry about extra replacement fees for documents like passports. This bill will automatically waive those charges for families when disaster strikes,” said Lankford.
    “In the aftermath of the Marshall Fire, our office assisted hundreds of Coloradans in recovering critical documents destroyed by the disaster. Whether a passport or a birth certificate, the fees for replacing all that was lost can quickly become overwhelming – which is why I am once again proud to join Senator Hickenlooper in championing the REPLACE Act, a bill to automatically make certain document replacement after disasters free of charge. Step by step, brick by brick, we’ll continue to work together on the road to recovery,” said Neguse.
    “I’m pleased to reintroduce the REPLACE Act and address the urgent needs of disaster-impacted Americans by ensuring fee waivers for essential documents are automatically granted. When a wildfire destroys a home, the last thing that a family should worry about is paying fees to replace their documents like passports and birth certificates,” said Curtis. “This legislation is particularly crucial for rural Utahns, who will benefit from streamlined access to document replacements in times of need.”
    Victims of major disasters can easily spend tens of thousands of dollars to replace critical documents lost during natural disasters including passports, employment authorizations, green cards, and more.
    Under current law, federal agencies may waive the fees for the replacement of passports, visas, proof of citizenship, and other documents. However, the waiver process is not automatic – survivors may not know to wait for a fee waiver, and often need documentation immediately. Additionally, waivers are not guaranteed and are not always issued.
    The REPLACE Act would amend the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 to require certain critical document fees be automatically waived for individuals and households that are affected by major disasters.
    The REPLACE Act would automatically waive the cost of replacing:
    Passports
    Visa Forms
    Permanent Residence Cards
    Declaration of Intent forms
    Naturalization/Citizenship Documents
    Employment Authorizations
    Biometric service fees                                                                    
    Full text of the bill is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Access to a GP can make all the difference in surviving lung cancer – and that is a problem for Māori

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ross Lawrenson, Professor of Population Health, University of Waikato

    Surviving lung cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand could depend on whether you can access a GP – raising questions about equity in the country’s health system.

    Our new research examines the outcomes for patients who are diagnosed with lung cancer through their GP versus those who are diagnosed at the emergency department (ED).

    Examining 2,400 lung cancer diagnoses in Waikato between 2011 and 2021, we found those who are diagnosed with lung cancer after ED visits tended to have later-stage disease and poorer outcomes compared to those diagnosed after a GP referral.

    We also found diagnosis after ED attendance was 27% higher for Māori than non-Māori and 22% higher for men than women.

    These results raise important questions about health inequity in New Zealand and highlight the need to ensure everyone is able to access an early cancer diagnosis.

    Limited access to everyday health care

    Currently half of all general practices have closed their books to new patients, leaving 290,000 patients unenrolled and reliant on emergency departments for their health care.

    Some 80% of practices have closed their books to new patients at some point since 2019.

    For those who are enrolled in a practice, the wait times for appointments are often such that the only option is to go to the ED for help.

    This is especially true in rural areas where the hospital can become the default route to diagnosis.

    Lung cancer is New Zealand’s single biggest cause of cancer deaths, with over 1,800 per year. Some 80% of those who are diagnosed with lung cancer present with advanced disease and very poor prospects of survival.

    It’s also the cancer with the largest equity gap. The mortality rate for Māori with lung cancer is three to four times that of people of European descent.

    While much of this disparity is due to differences in the rates of smoking among ethnic groups, there is also evidence delays in diagnosis and poorer access to surgery are also major influences on survival rates.

    Identifying lung cancer

    Lung cancer usually starts in the tissue lining the airways and symptoms can initially be relatively minor – some shortness of breath during exercise, a niggly cough or sharp pains while breathing.

    Patients with these sorts of symptoms usually go to a GP to check whether this is something that needs further investigation.

    But if someone cannot get an appointment, or does not recognise the symptoms as serious, then they are likely to delay taking action.

    Advanced symptoms of lung cancer include coughing up blood or having lumps in the neck due to lymphatic spread of the cancer. People with these alarming symptoms tend to go to the hospital for treatment.

    Our study confirms earlier findings that those diagnosed through the emergency department are:

    • more likely to have advanced disease
    • more likely to have a more aggressive type of cancer (called small cell cancer), and
    • have substantially poorer likelihoods of survival.

    The median survival for those who never went to the ED was 13.6 months, while the median survival for those with one ED visit was just three months.

    That said, attending an emergency department has some advantages. These include being seen by a doctor within a few hours, immediate access to x-rays and, in our major hospitals, access to the definitive diagnostic tool for a lung cancer – a computed tomography (CT) machine.

    Our study found 25% of cases went to the ED two or more times in the two weeks before their diagnosis. This was especially true for those going to one of the Waikato rural hospitals, where a second or third visit was more likely before being diagnosed.

    Barriers to care

    It is clear New Zealand still has several barriers to primary care. This has lead to an over-reliance on emergency departments for diagnosing cancer, despite the long-running faster cancer treatment targets.

    The situation is unlikely to improve. Access to GPs is getting worse, in part due to increasing fees.

    Māori and Pacific patients with lung cancer were less likely than other ethnic groups to have been enrolled with a primary health organisation when they were diagnosed. They were also less likely to have visited a GP in the three months prior to diagnosis.

    Making it easier to see a GP

    Making general practice care more accessible is the most effective way of addressing the inequities in our lung cancer statistics.

    Currently, New Zealand has only 74 GPs per 100,000 people, compared to 110 in Australia.

    It is clear we need to substantially increase the number of GPs. This is a long-term project but needs to be a strategic goal for the health sector.

    In the meantime, we need to make primary care more accessible by increasing patient subsidies and reducing the direct patient costs to see a doctor. At the same time, we need to better equip GPs with access to diagnostic facilities, including in our rural hospitals.

    Ross Lawrenson receives funding from NZ Health Research Council. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners.

    Chunhuan Lao receives funding from NZ Health Research Council.

    – ref. Access to a GP can make all the difference in surviving lung cancer – and that is a problem for Māori – https://theconversation.com/access-to-a-gp-can-make-all-the-difference-in-surviving-lung-cancer-and-that-is-a-problem-for-maori-239808

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Introduces Protect Your Points Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    09.26.24
    The new bill would amp up consumer protections by requiring greater transparency from airlines’ frequent flyer programs
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the Protect Your Points Act, legislation that would strengthen consumer protections by requiring greater transparency from airlines’ frequent flyer, points, and loyalty programs.  The Protect Your Points Act will give the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) explicit authority to ensure that airlines do not bait and switch consumers by offering them an enticing rewards program, only to downgrade points or miles value without notice.
    As it stands, airlines have little oversight in how they conduct their frequent flyer programs.  Thousands of frustrated consumers have registered complaints about the airlines on the Better Business Bureau’s website, including instances of their points being devalued, being unable to purchase tickets using their earned points because of airline loopholes, or the airlines delaying or flat-out denying their promised rewards.
    “I understand the practicality of airline rewards programs—I’m a participant myself.  But without adequate oversight, airlines are taking advantage of their customers by offering grandiose rewards, only to change the terms and conditions without consumers’ knowledge,” Durbin said.  “My new legislation, the Protect Your Points Act, would require one thing from the airlines – transparency. To be clear, my bill would not eliminate your airline rewards programs or regulate the value of your points or miles.  My bill only requires the airlines to play fair.  If these programs are as valuable to consumers as the airlines claim they are, the airlines should have no trouble taking these simple steps to make them more transparent.”
    Specifically, the Protect Your Points Act would give DOT and CFPB the authority to:
    Prohibit airlines from including provisions within their frequent flyer programs’ and airline co-branded credit cards’ terms of service that reserve their right to make changes at any time without notice to consumers, and instead require them to provide at least one year’s notice to consumers of any changes to these terms of service, or any actions that would devalue or jeopardize accrued points;
    Require airlines, within 90 days of enactment, to prominently display on every page of their website a disclosure of the financial value of one point/mile, updated in real time, so that consumers may more easily compare the value of points across different airlines;
    Require airlines, within one year of enactment, to display airfare and add-on pricing concurrently in dollar value and points/miles value, without consumers needing to alternate between the two, so consumers can easily compare the worth of their points.  Further, it would allow consumers to pay for airfare and add-on services in any combination of points or dollars; 
    Ban junk fees related to points/miles by ensuring that consumers are allowed to transfer points to family members or other participants in the same program, and prohibit airlines from charging fees to do so;
    Prohibit airlines from limiting the number of points/miles that can be transferred to another traveler’s account and ensure that any points/miles remain of equal value once transferred; and
    Prohibit accrued points/miles from expiring.
    Durbin has repeatedly called out the airline industry for its unfair and deceptive practices in their frequent flyer and loyalty programs.  In May, Durbin urged U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to implement oversight on the airlines.  Last October, Durbin wrote to DOT and CFPB, requesting information from the agencies about actions they are taking to protect consumers from airlines’ deceptive and unfair practices. 
    Text of the bill is available here.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –