Category: Transport

MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – Balanced Commercial Property Trust Limited

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

8.3

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

1. KEY INFORMATION

(a) Full name of discloser:	Rathbones Group Plc
(b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.
(c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree	Balanced Commercial Property Trust Limited
(d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:
(e) Date position held/dealing undertaken: For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure	23/09/2024
(f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”	No

2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

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

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

Class of relevant security:	1p Ord
	Interests		Short positions
	Number	%	Number	%
(1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled:	20,555,371	2.93%
(2) Cash-settled derivatives:
(3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:
TOTAL:	20,555,371	2.93%

All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

(a) Purchases and sales

Class of relevant security	Purchase/sale	Number of securities	Price per unit
1p Ordinary shares	Sale	10,600	95.029p
1p Ordinary shares	Sale	4,000	95.0499p

(b) Cash-settled derivative transactions

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

I Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

(e) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

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

(ii) Exercise

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

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

Class of relevant security	Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion	Details	Price per unit (if applicable)
1p Ordinary shares	Transfer in	6,057

4. OTHER INFORMATION

(a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

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

None

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

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

None

(c) Attachments

Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached?

Date of disclosure:	24/09/2024
Contact name:	Chinwe Enyi – Compliance Department
Telephone number:	0151 243 7053

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

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

The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at.

The MIL Network –

September 29, 2024

MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – Rightmove Plc

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

8.3

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

1. KEY INFORMATION

(a) Full name of discloser:	Rathbones Group Plc
(b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.
(c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree	Rightmove plc
(d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:
(e) Date position held/dealing undertaken: For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure	23/09/2024
(f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”	No

2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

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

Class of relevant security:	0.1p Ord
	Interests		Short positions
	Number	%	Number	%
(1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled:	13,123,371	1.66%
(2) Cash-settled derivatives:
(3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:
TOTAL:	13,123,371	1.66%

All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

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

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

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

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

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

(a) Purchases and sales

Class of relevant security	Purchase/sale	Number of securities	Price per unit
0.1p Ordinary Shares	Sale	240	685.1204p

(b) Cash-settled derivative transactions

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

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

(i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

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

(ii) Exercise

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

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

Class of relevant security	Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion	Details	Price per unit (if applicable)
0.1p Ordinary Shares	Transfer out	2,400
0.1p Ordinary Shares	Internal transfer from Execution-Only to Discretionary account	6,500

4. OTHER INFORMATION

(a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

None

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

None

(c) Attachments

Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached?

Date of disclosure:	24/09/2024
Contact name:	Chinwe Enyi – Compliance Department
Telephone number:	0151 243 7053

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

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

The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at.

The MIL Network –

September 29, 2024

MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – Keywords Studios Plc

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

8.3

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

1. KEY INFORMATION

(a) Full name of discloser:	Rathbones Group Plc
(b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.
(c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree	Keywords Studios PLC
(d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:
(e) Date position held/dealing undertaken: For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure	23/09/2024
(f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”	No

2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

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

Class of relevant security:	1p Ordinary Shares
	Interests		Short positions
	Number	%	Number	%
(1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled:	1,426,222	1.77%
(2) Cash-settled derivatives:
(3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:
TOTAL:	1,426,222	1.77%

All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

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

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

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

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

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

(a) Purchases and sales

Class of relevant security	Purchase/sale	Number of securities	Price per unit
1p Ordinary Shares	Sale	1,469	2428.0002p
1p Ordinary Shares	Sale	127	2428.72p

(b) Cash-settled derivative transactions

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

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

(i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

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

(ii) Exercise

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

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

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

4. OTHER INFORMATION

(a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

None

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

None

(c) Attachments

Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached?

Date of disclosure:	24/09/2024
Contact name:	Chinwe Enyi – Compliance department
Telephone number:	0151 243 7053

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

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

The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at.

The MIL Network –

September 29, 2024

MIL-OSI: Davidson Kempner Capital Management LP : Form 8.3 – International Paper Company

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

FORM 8.3

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

1. KEY INFORMATION

(a) Full name of discloser:	Davidson Kempner Capital Management LP
(b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.
(c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree	International Paper Company
(d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:
(e) Date position held/dealing undertaken: For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure	23/09/2024
(f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”	Yes, Smith (DS) plc

2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

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

Class of relevant security:
	Interests		Short positions
	Number	%	Number	%
(1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled:	310,000	0.09	2,361,199	0.68
(2) Cash-settled derivatives:
(3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:
TOTAL:	310,000	0.09	2,361,199	0.68

All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

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

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

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

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

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

(a) Purchases and sales

Class of relevant security	Purchase/sale	Number of securities	Price per unit
Common Stock	Purchase	3,646	USD 48.4018
Common Stock	Purchase	3,114	USD 48.4156
Common Stock	Purchase	100	USD 48.4400
Common Stock	Purchase	501	USD 48.5096
Common Stock	Purchase	53	USD 48.3150
Common Stock	Purchase	2,586	USD 48.3939

(b) Cash-settled derivative transactions

Class of relevant security

Product description
e.g. CFD

Nature of dealing
e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position

Number of reference securities

Price per unit

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

(i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

Class of relevant security

Product description e.g. call option

Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc.

Number of securities to which option relates

Exercise price per unit

Type
e.g. American, European etc.

Expiry date

Option money paid/ received per unit

(ii) Exercise

Class of relevant security

Product description
e.g. call option

Exercising/ exercised against

Number of securities

Exercise price per unit

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

Class of relevant security

Nature of dealing
e.g. subscription, conversion

Details

Price per unit (if applicable)

4. OTHER INFORMATION

(a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

None

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

None

(c) Attachments

Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached?

Date of disclosure:	24/09/2024
Contact name:	Alex McMillan
Telephone number:	646 282 5805

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

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

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

The MIL Network –

September 29, 2024

MIL-OSI Africa: War affects girls and boys differently: what we found in our study of children in the DRC

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Roos van der Haer, Assistant professor of International Relations at the Institute of Political Science, Leiden University

War has become a regular part of life for many children. Millions are victims and witnesses to the horrors of war. Recent estimates by researchers at the Peace Research Institute Oslo show that one in six children globally lives in a conflict zone, and Africa has the highest number of conflict-affected children.

Many children are forced to become child soldiers. In other cases, such as during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, violence is aimed at children.

In recent years, researchers from various fields have been studying the impact on children of growing up in war zones. Psychologists, for example, have been researching how conflict affects children’s mental health and behaviour. Economists have examined, among other issues, how growing up in these environments can limit future earning capabilitites. Other scholars have investigated how war shapes the long-term (political) attitudes of these children.

Despite this growing body of research, we – a group of researchers who look into the causes and consequences of armed conflict for children – spotted two key gaps.

Read more: Why some rebel groups force kids to fight: it depends on how they are funded

First, much of the literature treats children’s experiences as if they were the same across different contexts. Few studies have considered the distinct experiences of girls as soldiers or how these differ from boys’ experiences.

Second, while some research does explore these gender differences, it often focuses only on what happens during the conflict. It doesn’t consider how these experiences affect social relationships when the conflict ends. This is despite scholars and policymakers highlighting that girls’ experiences in war are fundamentally different from those of boys due to their different status and role in society.

To address these gaps, we conducted an exploratory study from 2018 to 2019 on the experiences of boys and girls during conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We studied how these gendered experiences might have affected their social relationships after the war. We interviewed 315 children aged between 12 and 18, with different levels of exposure to conflict. This included 186 respondents who had been involved in armed groups.

Our recently published analysis revealed, as expected, that many children had witnessed or experienced various conflict-related events during their life-time. Most children reported seeing homes and property destroyed, and many had witnessed people being beaten or tortured by armed forces. Fewer children reported being sexually assaulted or raped or injured by weapons such as gunshots or stabbings, though sadly these were not rare occurrences either.

We found that boys were generally more exposed to conflict than girls. This difference is largely due to boys being more involved with armed groups and more likely to perpetrate violence.

These experiences of conflict can have lasting effects on children’s relationships with their families, friends, teachers and other important social groups. These connections are crucial for a child’s development and wellbeing.

The differences between how boys and girls are affected are important considerations in building appropriate and effective psychosocial support programmes, with tools that address gender-specific needs in conflict or post-conflict situations.

The study

We gathered information from 315 structured interviews with Congolese children. Some of these boys and girls had been actively involved with armed groups in the eastern provinces of the DRC, while others had less direct exposure to the conflict.

Conflict and human rights violations are widespread in the DRC. World Vision has called the decades-long conflict in the country “one of the worst child protection crises in the world”. Further, in a recent UN report on children and armed conflict, 3,377 verified grave violations against children in the DRC were identified. Of these, 46% involved the recruitment of children – some as young as five – by armed forces or groups.

To examine how the armed conflict has affected Congolese boys and girls, we collected data between 2018 and 2019 in the South Kivu province of eastern DRC. We selected our participants with the help and consent of five local child protective organisations.

Our analysis first explored what the boys and girls had experienced during conflict. Then we associated these gendered experiences with differences in social behaviour. We looked at whether there were gender differences in the children’s key relationships with family, friends (and other social groups) and their teachers.

Read more: War devastates the lives of children: what the research tells us, and what can be done

First, we found that war disrupted the family’s ability to provide safety and security, and both children and their caregivers might suffer from the emotional and psychological toll of the conflict. Our study found that girls tended to have a stronger relationship with their family and caretakers compared to boys after conflict. This aligns with previous research suggesting boys may face more challenges in maintaining family relationships. This is particularly the case for those that were active as child soldiers.

Second, our analysis found that boys tended to have more diverse friendship networks than girls, even when comparing former boy soldiers to girl soldiers. Friendships are vital for a child’s wellbeing. Strong and diverse friendships are linked to better mental health, tolerance and understanding.

Lastly, we looked at how gender and war experiences might affect relationships between students and teachers. Armed conflict can have devastating effects on the educational attainment of children. Education, however, supports war-affected children and adolescents in several important ways. Structured school rules, regulations and activities establish a sense of normality, which is crucial to the healing process and wellbeing of children. Overall, the children interviewed had a very positive view of their schools or training programmes. They felt safe, enjoyed spending time with their classmates and viewed their teachers as helpful and caring. However, girls – especially former girl soldiers – were significantly more likely than boys to report that their teachers were sympathetic and supportive.

Why the findings matter

Our research is one of the first to highlight significant differences in how boys and girls experience war, and how these experiences shape their social relationships.

Addressing the differences in the needs of boys and girls after conflict not only improves their wellbeing, but is also likely to positively affect entire households, post-conflict regions and post-conflict countries. While our study sheds light on these differences, more research is needed to understand them in greater depth and, most importantly, to explain why they occur.

Are these differences the result of psychological trauma, behavioural changes, or specific events that happened before or during the conflict? Moreover, we know very little about the long-term effects of war exposure – do these differences fade over time, or do they persist? And how can communities play a role in helping children to overcome these challenges? Do we also observe these differences in other conflicts at other periods?

Understanding these differences is key for policymakers working to develop effective support programmes. Developing and increasing the availability of gender-responsive approaches can help strengthen the resilience of children after conflict. It may also work to strengthen their agency and resilience before conflict.

– War affects girls and boys differently: what we found in our study of children in the DRC
– https://theconversation.com/war-affects-girls-and-boys-differently-what-we-found-in-our-study-of-children-in-the-drc-238789

MIL OSI Africa –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Sanders Releases New Report, PBMs Welcome Lower List Prices for Ozempic and Wegovy

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders
WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today released a new report uncovering how Novo Nordisk, as one health insurance plan described it, is using its “position of power” to “squeeze” plans, and “boost its corporate profits.”
“Today, Novo Nordisk charges Americans with Type 2 diabetes $969 a month for Ozempic, while this same exact drug can be purchased for just $59 in Germany, $71 in France, $122 in Denmark, and $155 in Canada,” said Sanders. “There is only one reason they can justify charging Americans such outrageous prices for the drugs they need: Excessive corporate greed.”
Novo Nordisk claims that PBMs and health insurance plans are the reason for high prices for Ozempic and Wegovy, and previously stated that PBMs failed to assure the company that its products would maintain formulary access if it lowered its list prices.
Today, three major PBMs that help determine drug coverage for most of the nation – Cigna Group/Express Scripts, CVS Health/Caremark, UnitedHealth Group/Optum Rx – confirmed to Chair Sanders that a list price reduction would not negatively impact formulary placement for Ozempic and Wegovy, and affirmed that lower list prices would, in fact, make the drugs more widely available to patients in need.
Cigna/Express Scripts said: “No, if Novo Nordisk lowered their list price for Ozempic and Wegovy tomorrow to a price that was the same or lower than current net cost, that change by itself would not result in less favorable formulary placement.” To support this claim, the company provided an example: It did not disfavor a competing weight-loss product, Eli Lilly’s Zepbound, even as it launched at a list price 20% lower than Wegovy.
UnitedHealthGroup/Optum Rx said: “No. Assuming the net price remains the same or lower, lowering a medicine’s list price would not lead to less favorable formulary placement by Optum Rx – particularly for high-demand drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.
CVS Health/Caremark said: “The simple answer is no. In fact, we can point to recent history as a proof point. When Novo-Nordisk drastically reduced the price of their insulin, Novolog, in 2023, it did not result in a less favorable formulary placement with Caremark.”
Novo Nordisk has also justified its astronomical prices by arguing a need to fund future research and development.
However, since launching Ozempic in 2018, Novo Nordisk has spent twice as much on stock buybacks and dividends ($44 billion) as it has on research and development ($21 billion), according to financial filings.
Novo Nordisk has also lavished cash and perks on health care providers, sending doctors on trips to Alaska, Hawaii, and Florida and paying for nearly 1.7 million meals and snacks to doctors to promote Ozempic and Wegovy, federal records show.
The report can be read here.

MIL OSI USA News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI USA: Welch Introduces LOCAL Foods Act to Better Support Rural Producers and Communities

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) led Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) in introducing the Livestock Owned by Communities to Advance Local (LOCAL) Foods Act, legislation to update the Federal Meat Inspection Act of 1906’s (FMIA) ‘Personal-Use Exemption’to better support small-scale meat producers in rural communities. The LOCAL Foods Act would codify current USDA guidance on Personal-Use and Custom Exemptions, allowing consumers to buy live animals from producers and designate agents to handle the slaughter and processing of their meat.
The Federal Meat Inspection Act requires all meat in the United States to be inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). However, the small number of USDA-inspected slaughterhouses creates bottlenecks for producers, especially small-scale producers that have to compete for slaughterhouse time with much larger operations. To address this, the LOCAL Foods Act will amend Personal-Use and Custom Exemptions to allow producers to sell a live animal to a consumer. The consumer will then have the freedom to either hire someone or slaughter and process the meat themselves, helping farmers to avoid bottlenecks to continue providing their communities with locally sourced food.
“For generations, Vermonters have depended on their neighbors for locally-grown produce and farm-fresh meat. However, regulations tailored toward large-scale farms have made it harder for smaller farms to sell in their own communities. Keeping our small-scale producers competitive means cutting through red tape to help them compete with companies that have massive operations,” said Senator Welch. “This bill will update federal guidelines to better support Vermont-sized producers, keep our food local, and strengthen our food systems.”
In 2013, Vermont adopted an on-farm slaughter law similar to the Food Safety and Inspection Service’s guidelines to allow owners to slaughter their livestock on the farm where it was raised while upholding food safety standards. This law helps reduce costs and emissions from animal transport, alleviate pressure on backlogged slaughterhouses, increase farm viability, and improve animal welfare and food security. However, USDA retains the authority to eliminate Vermont’s on-farm slaughter inspection program if the state fails to meet federal standards.
In 2018, the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service issued updated guidelines to create an avenue for producers to sell their produce locally and without an inspection. This guidance gives livestock owners the option to slaughter livestock themselves, or have an agent slaughter their livestock on the farm where it was raised. This change also allows producers to sell a live animal to a consumer, have it slaughtered on the farm, and then processed at a custom processing facility. Custom processing facilities are inspected periodically, in contrast to round-the-clock inspectors that are present at USDA-certified facilities.
The LOCAL Foods Act is endorsed by the Farm Action Fund, Farmers and Ranchers Freedom Alliance, Farm-to-Consumer Defense Fund, Kentucky Black Farmers Association, National Family Farm Coalition, and Rural Vermont.
“Updating the personal-use exemption to be based on ownership aligns with current USDA standards and is needed to protect the rights of livestock owners, producers, and itinerant slaughterers to practice on-farm slaughter in accordance with their state regulations,” said Caroline Sherman-Gordon, small farmer and Rural Vermont’s Legislative Director. “Protecting farmers from subjective interpretations of the personal-use exception will protect farmers from unfair sanctions and give the security they need to grow their business.”
“The LOCAL Foods Act will reduce both financial and regulatory burdens on small farmers and thereby improve consumers’ access to local foods,” said Judith McGeary, regenerative farmer, lawyer, and Executive Director of the Farmers and Ranchers Freedom Alliance. “So many consumers want to buy from local farmers instead of massive corporations, but the farmers are blocked by regulations written by and for Agribusiness.”
“Modernizing the personal-use exception reflects the realities of diverse communities demanding access to local food that honor their traditions,” said Kenya Abraham, member of the Kentucky Black Farmers Association. “We are observing a growing demand to access local producers like me, but we need legislation that gives us an incentive to continue our operations.”
“The LOCAL Foods Act protects the rights of farmers and consumers to engage in direct commerce by increasing small livestock farmers’ ability to expand their business, and by allowing consumers to buy meat from local farms instead of industrial meat providers, should they so choose. Essentially, it protects the rights of farmers to sell the products of the farm and the rights of consumers to access the foods of their choice from the source of their choice, achieving the kind of food freedom so many demand for themselves, their families, and their communities,” said Christine Dzujna, Farm-to-Consumer Defense Fund’s Policy Manager.
“Securing the independence of farmers and consumers is key to building a healthy food system in the Country,” said Antonio Tovar, Senior Policy Associate at the National Family Farm Coalition. “The fact that consumers are effectively forced to access their food from corporations has made us vulnerable to a weak and unreliable market. The LOCAL Foods Act offers a real opportunity to start building food sovereignty.”
Learn more about the LOCAL Foods Act.
Read the full text of the bill.

MIL OSI USA News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Global: War affects girls and boys differently: what we found in our study of children in the DRC

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Roos van der Haer, Assistant professor of International Relations at the Institute of Political Science, Leiden University

War has become a regular part of life for many children. Millions are victims and witnesses to the horrors of war. Recent estimates by researchers at the Peace Research Institute Oslo show that one in six children globally lives in a conflict zone, and Africa has the highest number of conflict-affected children.

Many children are forced to become child soldiers. In other cases, such as during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, violence is aimed at children.

In recent years, researchers from various fields have been studying the impact on children of growing up in war zones. Psychologists, for example, have been researching how conflict affects children’s mental health and behaviour. Economists have examined, among other issues, how growing up in these environments can limit future earning capabilitites. Other scholars have investigated how war shapes the long-term (political) attitudes of these children.

Despite this growing body of research, we – a group of researchers who look into the causes and consequences of armed conflict for children – spotted two key gaps.

Read more:
Why some rebel groups force kids to fight: it depends on how they are funded

First, much of the literature treats children’s experiences as if they were the same across different contexts. Few studies have considered the distinct experiences of girls as soldiers or how these differ from boys’ experiences.

Second, while some research does explore these gender differences, it often focuses only on what happens during the conflict. It doesn’t consider how these experiences affect social relationships when the conflict ends. This is despite scholars and policymakers highlighting that girls’ experiences in war are fundamentally different from those of boys due to their different status and role in society.

To address these gaps, we conducted an exploratory study from 2018 to 2019 on the experiences of boys and girls during conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We studied how these gendered experiences might have affected their social relationships after the war. We interviewed 315 children aged between 12 and 18, with different levels of exposure to conflict. This included 186 respondents who had been involved in armed groups.

Our recently published analysis revealed, as expected, that many children had witnessed or experienced various conflict-related events during their life-time. Most children reported seeing homes and property destroyed, and many had witnessed people being beaten or tortured by armed forces. Fewer children reported being sexually assaulted or raped or injured by weapons such as gunshots or stabbings, though sadly these were not rare occurrences either.

We found that boys were generally more exposed to conflict than girls. This difference is largely due to boys being more involved with armed groups and more likely to perpetrate violence.

These experiences of conflict can have lasting effects on children’s relationships with their families, friends, teachers and other important social groups. These connections are crucial for a child’s development and wellbeing.

The differences between how boys and girls are affected are important considerations in building appropriate and effective psychosocial support programmes, with tools that address gender-specific needs in conflict or post-conflict situations.

The study

We gathered information from 315 structured interviews with Congolese children. Some of these boys and girls had been actively involved with armed groups in the eastern provinces of the DRC, while others had less direct exposure to the conflict.

Conflict and human rights violations are widespread in the DRC. World Vision has called the decades-long conflict in the country “one of the worst child protection crises in the world”. Further, in a recent UN report on children and armed conflict, 3,377 verified grave violations against children in the DRC were identified. Of these, 46% involved the recruitment of children – some as young as five – by armed forces or groups.

To examine how the armed conflict has affected Congolese boys and girls, we collected data between 2018 and 2019 in the South Kivu province of eastern DRC. We selected our participants with the help and consent of five local child protective organisations.

Our analysis first explored what the boys and girls had experienced during conflict. Then we associated these gendered experiences with differences in social behaviour. We looked at whether there were gender differences in the children’s key relationships with family, friends (and other social groups) and their teachers.

Read more:
War devastates the lives of children: what the research tells us, and what can be done

First, we found that war disrupted the family’s ability to provide safety and security, and both children and their caregivers might suffer from the emotional and psychological toll of the conflict. Our study found that girls tended to have a stronger relationship with their family and caretakers compared to boys after conflict. This aligns with previous research suggesting boys may face more challenges in maintaining family relationships. This is particularly the case for those that were active as child soldiers.

Second, our analysis found that boys tended to have more diverse friendship networks than girls, even when comparing former boy soldiers to girl soldiers. Friendships are vital for a child’s wellbeing. Strong and diverse friendships are linked to better mental health, tolerance and understanding.

Lastly, we looked at how gender and war experiences might affect relationships between students and teachers. Armed conflict can have devastating effects on the educational attainment of children. Education, however, supports war-affected children and adolescents in several important ways. Structured school rules, regulations and activities establish a sense of normality, which is crucial to the healing process and wellbeing of children. Overall, the children interviewed had a very positive view of their schools or training programmes. They felt safe, enjoyed spending time with their classmates and viewed their teachers as helpful and caring. However, girls – especially former girl soldiers – were significantly more likely than boys to report that their teachers were sympathetic and supportive.

Why the findings matter

Our research is one of the first to highlight significant differences in how boys and girls experience war, and how these experiences shape their social relationships.

Addressing the differences in the needs of boys and girls after conflict not only improves their wellbeing, but is also likely to positively affect entire households, post-conflict regions and post-conflict countries. While our study sheds light on these differences, more research is needed to understand them in greater depth and, most importantly, to explain why they occur.

Are these differences the result of psychological trauma, behavioural changes, or specific events that happened before or during the conflict? Moreover, we know very little about the long-term effects of war exposure – do these differences fade over time, or do they persist? And how can communities play a role in helping children to overcome these challenges? Do we also observe these differences in other conflicts at other periods?

Understanding these differences is key for policymakers working to develop effective support programmes. Developing and increasing the availability of gender-responsive approaches can help strengthen the resilience of children after conflict. It may also work to strengthen their agency and resilience before conflict.

We would like to thank the Gerda Henkel Stiftung for their extensive support of this research.

Kathleen J. Brown 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. War affects girls and boys differently: what we found in our study of children in the DRC – https://theconversation.com/war-affects-girls-and-boys-differently-what-we-found-in-our-study-of-children-in-the-drc-238789

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Aberdeen to host Great British Energy HQ in UK-wide clean energy drive
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Great British Energy will be headquartered in Aberdeen, with 2 smaller sites in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Prime Minister confirms Great British Energy will be headquartered in Aberdeen, a world-leader in engineering and infrastructure

Edinburgh and Glasgow will host 2 smaller sites, maximising skills and expertise across Scotland

the move will kickstart plans for the new publicly-owned company to drive investment in clean home-grown energy, creating jobs and supporting growth across the UK

Aberdeen has today (24 September) been named the new home of Great British Energy, drawing on the city’s world-leading engineering expertise to kickstart a UK-wide clean energy revolution.

As the location of the new headquarters, Aberdeen will be at the heart of the company’s plans to scale up clean homegrown power to boost energy independence, create skilled jobs across the UK and to support economic growth.

Two additional sites will open in Edinburgh and Glasgow, once Great British Energy is up and running, to benefit from local skills and expertise. The company will be initially located in government buildings across the cities, while permanent bases are established.

This marks the next step to kickstart Great British Energy, as part of its mission to become a clean energy superpower. An interim Chief Executive will soon to be appointed to take the lead on launching the new company and building its Aberdeen base – along with the start-up Chair Juergen Maier, former CEO of Siemens UK.

Within the first weeks of the new government, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband took immediate action to introduce the Great British Energy Bill to Parliament and – along with the Prime Minister – confirm a new partnership with The Crown Estate, to help accelerate new offshore wind farms. The company – owned by the British people, for the British people – will attract private investment in the UK’s clean homegrown power, backed by £8.3 billion in government funding over this Parliament.

The move forms part of the government’s plans to support clean energy in the North Sea, ensuring Aberdeen continues to thrive as Scotland’s clean energy capital. The government recently announced the biggest ever investment in offshore wind and continues to progress technologies like carbon capture and storage and hydrogen – as well as ensuring that oil and gas is used for decades to come as part of a fair and balanced transition away from fossil fuels.

Notes to editors

On 25 July, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero published the founding statement for Great British Energy.

Share this page

The following links open in a new tab

Share on Facebook (opens in new tab)

Share on Twitter (opens in new tab)

Updates to this page

Published 24 September 2024
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI USA: Biden-Harris Administration Announces First CHIPS Commercial Fabrication Facilities Award with Polar Semiconductor, Establishing Independent American Foundry

Source: US Government research organizations

Media Contact: Madeline Broas, madeline.broas [at] chips.gov (madeline[dot]broas[at]chips[dot]gov).

Today, as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced its first award under the CHIPS Incentives Program’s Funding Opportunity for Commercial Fabrication Facilities of up to $123 million in direct funding to Polar Semiconductor (Polar). The award follows the previously signed preliminary memorandum of terms and the completion of the Department’s due diligence. The award will expand and modernize the company’s manufacturing facility in Bloomington, Minnesota. The Department will distribute the funds based on Polar’s completion of project milestones.

“Semiconductors – those tiny chips smaller than the tip of your finger – power everything from smartphones to cars to satellites and weapons systems. I signed the CHIPS and Science Act to revitalize American leadership in semiconductors, strengthen our supply chains, protect our national security, and advance American competitiveness. And over the last three and a half years, we have done just that, catalyzing over $400 billion in private sector investments in semiconductors and electronics that are creating over 115,000 construction and manufacturing jobs. This year alone, the United States is on pace to see more investment in electronics manufacturing construction than it did over the last 24 years combined,” said President Joe Biden. “Today’s announcement that the Department of Commerce has finalized the first commercial CHIPS Incentives award with Polar Semiconductor marks the next phase of the implementation of the CHIPS and Science Act, and demonstrates how we continue to deliver on the Investing in America agenda. Polar’s new facility will also be completed under a Project Labor Agreement to support its construction workforce, creating good-quality union jobs in Bloomington, Minnesota. Today’s announcement is just one of the many ways our Investing in America agenda is reshoring U.S. manufacturing, investing in workers and communities across the country, and advancing America’s leadership in the technologies of tomorrow.”

“Today represents an important milestone in the implementation of the historic CHIPS and Science Act as we announce the first award agreement with Polar,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “The Biden-Harris Administration’s investment in Polar will create a new U.S.-owned foundry for sensor and power semiconductors and modernize and expand Polar’s facilities in Minnesota, strengthening our national and economic security, bolstering our supply chains, and creating quality jobs.”

The Biden-Harris Administration’s investment will support Polar’s efforts to almost double its U.S. production capacity of sensor and power chips within two years. This award catalyzes a total investment of more than $525 million from private, state, and federal sources to transform Polar from a majority foreign-owned in-house manufacturer to a majority U.S.-owned commercial foundry. Through Polar’s semiconductor manufacturing operations, the Administration’s investment is expected to create over 160 manufacturing and construction jobs in Minnesota.

For more information about Polar’s award, please visit the CHIPS for America website.

“The Biden-Harris Administration’s investment into Polar marks the first award, of many to come, into communities across our nation to regain our lead in semiconductor manufacturing,” said Lael Brainard, National Economic Advisor.

“Polar and its employees are excited to embark on our transformative project. We welcome new customers and partnerships, and as a domestic U.S.-owned sensor and advanced power semiconductor merchant foundry, we will support technology and design innovation, protect intellectual property, facilitate onshoring and technology transfers, and provide efficient low- to high-volume manufacturing with world-class quality,” said Surya Iyer, President and Chief Operating Officer of Polar Semiconductor. “Through our collaborative and sustained workforce development efforts, we expect to support customers with highly skilled employees today and into the future. We are pleased to close on the significant equity investment from Niobrara Capital and Prysm Capital, and we extend our sincere thanks to our partners at the U.S. Department of Commerce, the State of Minnesota, and the City of Bloomington for their support of the future of American semiconductor manufacturing.”

The purpose of the Award Phase is to finalize comprehensive due diligence and negotiate the final award documents. As stated in the CHIPS Notice of Funding Opportunity for Commercial Fabrication Facilities, the Department will distribute direct funding based on the completion of project components in connection with both the capital expenditures for the project and production and commercial milestones. The program will track the performance of each CHIPS Incentives Award through financial and programmatic reports, in accordance with the award terms and conditions, to establish a compliance program to monitor that commitments are being upheld.

About CHIPS for America
CHIPS for America has allocated more than $35 billion in proposed funding across 16 states and proposed to invest billions more in research and innovation, which is expected to create over 115,000 jobs. Since the beginning of the Biden-Harris Administration, semiconductor and electronics companies have announced over $400 billion in private investments, catalyzed in large part by public investment. CHIPS for America is part of President Biden and Vice President Harris’s economic plan to invest in America, stimulate private sector investment, create good-paying jobs, make more in the United States, and revitalize communities left behind. CHIPS for America includes the CHIPS Program Office, responsible for manufacturing incentives, and the CHIPS Research and Development Office, responsible for R&D programs, that both sit within the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) at the Department of Commerce. Visit https://www.chips.gov to learn more.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

September 29, 2024

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

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

FORM 8.3

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

1. KEY INFORMATION

(a) Full name of discloser:	AXA Investment Managers S.A.
(b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.
(c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree	SEGRO plc
(d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:
(e) Date position held/dealing undertaken: For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure	23 September 2024
(f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”	YES Tritax EuroBox plc

2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

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

Class of relevant security:	10p ordinary
	Interests		Short positions
	Number	%	Number	%
(1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled:	13,625,655	1.01
(2) Cash-settled derivatives:
(3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:
TOTAL: AXA Investment Managers does not have discretion regarding voting decisions in respect of 5,859,925 shares that are included in this total.	13,625,655	1.01

All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

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

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

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

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

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

(a) Purchases and sales

Class of relevant security	Purchase/sale	Number of securities	Price per unit
10p ordinary	Purchase	240	GBP 8.83

(b) Cash-settled derivative transactions

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

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

(i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

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

(ii) Exercise

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

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

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

4. OTHER INFORMATION

(a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

None

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

None

(c) Attachments

Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached?

Date of disclosure:	24 September 2024
Contact name:	Sabrina AID
*Telephone number:**	+33 1 44 45 58 79

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

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

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

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

The MIL Network –

September 29, 2024

MIL-OSI Security: Hollidaysburg Couple Sentenced for Conspiracy to Defraud the United States and Health Care Fraud Conspiracy

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

HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that John H. Johnson and his wife, Paula Z. Johnson, both age 62, of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, were sentenced on September 17, 2024, by U.S. District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner, for committing fraud. John Johnson received a sentence of 97 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Paula Johnson received a sentence of three years of probation, including six months of home detention with location monitoring, and was ordered to immediately pay $249,301.36 in restitution, fines, and assessments.

According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, in 2016, John H. Johnson, a physician with specialized training in anesthesiology, entered into an agreement with other individuals to defraud health insurance programs by billing them illegally for expensive tests known as “urine drug tests.” One of the individuals that Johnson conspired with was Rodney L. Yentzer, who pleaded guilty for his role in related offenses in March 2022 and is awaiting sentencing. Johnson and Yentzer carried out this agreement through a couple different groups of pain management practices located throughout central Pennsylvania, known as Lighthouse Medical and Pain Medicine of York (“PMY”). Yentzer, who had no medical training, acquired PMY in 2014 at the suggestion of John H. Johnson, with whom Yentzer was business partners. PMY absorbed Lighthouse Medical in 2017, and PMY closed permanently in November 2019 after law enforcement agents executed search warrants at its various locations.

“Ensuring the integrity of health care programs in this age of rising costs is paramount to our mission,” said Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General. “We will continue to work with federal, state, and local partners to hold providers accountable for misconduct that exploits the programs.”

“Healthcare fraud is not a victimless crime. In this case, the defendants caused taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars to be diverted from patients who needed care, and instead served their own interests,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special in Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “Today’s sentencing demonstrates the FBI and our partners’ commitment to rooting out fraud and pursuing those who conspire to exploit our healthcare systems for financial gain.”

In 2016, Lighthouse Medical, under the direction of John H. Johnson, operated a drug testing laboratory on its own premises. This laboratory had the equipment and capabilities to perform urine drug testing (“UDT”) on site. UDT, when used legitimately, is a method for physicians to test their patients for the presence and specific amounts of various substances. A very high percentage of the patients of Lighthouse Medical (and, subsequently, PMY) were prescribed with opioid medications at each monthly visit. UDT could be used, for instance, to test whether such patients were taking their medications as prescribed or taking illegal recreational drugs in addition to their prescribed medications. Urine drug tests were typically reimbursed at a high rate by Medicare and private insurance programs.

In March 2016, Johnson and Yentzer agreed with the new owners of a rural, 25-bed “Critical Access Hospital” located near the border of Florida and Alabama to “sell” Lighthouse Medical’s UDT laboratory services to the hospital; in exchange, the hospital purchased the exclusive right to bill for payment and collect payment from patients and insurance programs. The hospital agreed to pay Lighthouse Medical a kickback of $900 per test.

As a Critical Access Hospital under federal law, the hospital received very favorable payment from Medicare and private insurance programs, including, for example, for UDT. Thus, even while paying a $900 kickback per test to Lighthouse Medical, the hospital was still able to collect and keep a significant amount of money over and above that amount. The owners of the hospital also used other laboratories like Lighthouse Medical in a similar pass-through manner. As a result, the hospital was able to bill for a number of laboratory tests that far exceeded what would normally be associated with a small facility of its kind, and Lighthouse Medical was paid far more than what it would have typically received for UDT from Medicare and other insurers. For instance, on July 12, 2016, the hospital paid Lighthouse Medical $816,300 for 907 urine drug tests. Approximately one week later, the hospital paid Lighthouse Medical $628,200 for nearly 700 tests.

In total, the owners of the hospital billed others, including private insurers, approximately $1.4 billion for various laboratory testing services that were not medically necessary. The majority of this amount was due to UDT. Lighthouse Medical received $2,341,775 in kickback payments over a four-month time period, with 85% of this amount going to John H. Johnson and the remaining amount going to Rodney L. Yentzer.

Under the terms of his plea agreement, John H. Johnson will also be required to pay over $2.3 million in restitution to defrauded health insurance companies. The restitution order against John H. Johnson is expected to be finalized within the next sixty days.

In addition to pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud, John H. Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. His wife, Paula Z. Johnson, who is also a physician from Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to the same offense. Together, John H. Johnson and Paula Z. Johnson conspired to evade payments to the U.S. Government that John H. Johnson was required to make for a prior criminal conviction.

In July 2015, John H. Johnson was indicted for various tax offenses in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. In September 2016, John H. Johnson was charged in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud in connection with a separate health care fraud scheme. In early 2017, John H. Johnson knew that he was likely going to prison for these offenses, so he approached Rodney L. Yentzer and got Yentzer to agree to place Paula Z. Johnson, who had not practiced medicine in years, on the PMY payroll.

In June 2017, John H. Johnson was sentenced to an 84-month term of imprisonment for the various offenses with which he had been charged. He was also ordered to repay to the U.S. Government over $3 million restitution payments for fraudulent health care billing and unpaid taxes.

Even following his imprisonment, Johnson and Yentzer remained in close contact through phone and in-person visits, with Johnson providing direction to Yentzer. During conversations, Johnson and Yentzer sometimes used coded language to describe sensitive subjects, including the term “toy” to refer to money and the term “toy box” to refer to bank accounts.

John H. Johnson knew that PMY continued to be highly profitable, in large part owing to its UDT billing. Specifically, PMY billed every patient for two urine drug tests at each visit: one test a presumptive “screen” for the presence of certain substances and the second a definitive test for specific levels of 22 different substances. This testing protocol had been put in place by John H. Johnson when he ran Lighthouse Medical, and he instructed Yentzer to do the same at PMY. Yentzer followed this direction.

From mid-2017 until late 2019, PMY submitted bills just to Medicare for around $10 million in UDT, with well over $4 million being paid out. John H. Johnson, Paula Z. Johnson, and Rodney L. Yentzer devised various other ways to funnel money to the Johnsons so that they could benefit from this wealth without the money being captured for John H. Johnson’s restitution payments. Among other things, Yentzer purchased a car for the Johnsons’ son and leased an Audi Q5 for Paula Z. Johnson, at her request. Yentzer also made $28,000 in contributions to their children’s 529 college savings accounts, paid over $40,000 in legal bills for “asset and estate planning,” made over $40,000 in payments toward personal loans, and covered other large bills, all with the knowledge of both John H. Johnson and Paula Z. Johnson. On a number of occasions, Paula Z. Johnson requested these payments directly from Yentzer or his assistant.

PMY shut down abruptly in November 2019 after search warrants were executed because it was no longer able to retain medical providers to see patients. In January 2020, in a recorded prison call, Yentzer stated to John H. Johnson, that “if there’s anything left, I will make sure Paula gets, uh, a piece.” He added that “whatever’s left” after satisfying certain creditors he would “divvy up.” Yentzer made this statement despite the fact that Paula Z. Johnson had been formally terminated by PMY in November 2019.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration Diversion Control Division, and Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ravi Romel Sharma prosecuted the case.

# # #

MIL Security OSI –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s remarks at the Opening of the General Debate of the Seventy-ninth Session of the General Assembly [as delivered]

Source: United Nations – English

r. President of the General Assembly,

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Our world is in a whirlwind.

We are in an era of epic transformation – facing challenges unlike any we have ever seen – challenges that demand global solutions.

Yet geo-political divisions keep deepening. The planet keeps heating.

Wars rage with no clue how they will end.

And nuclear posturing and new weapons cast a dark shadow.

We are edging towards the unimaginable – a powder keg that risks engulfing the world.

Meanwhile, 2024 is the year that half of humanity goes to the polls – and all of humanity will be affected.

I stand before you in this whirlwind convinced of two overriding truths.

First, the state of our world is unsustainable.

We can’t go on like this.

And second, the challenges we face are solvable.

But that requires us to make sure the mechanisms of international problem-solving actually solve problems.

The Summit of the Future was a first step, but we have a long way to go.

Getting there requires confronting three major drivers of unsustainability.

A world of impunity – where violations and abuses threaten the very foundation of international law and the UN Charter.

A world of inequality – where injustices and grievances threaten to undermine countries or even push them over the edge.

And a world of uncertainty – where unmanaged global risks threaten our future in unknowable ways.

These worlds of impunity, inequality and uncertainty are connected and colliding.

Excellencies,

The level of impunity in the world is politically indefensible and morally intolerable.

Today, a growing number of governments and others feel entitled to a “get out of jail free” card.

They can trample international law.

They can violate the United Nations Charter.

They can turn a blind eye to international human rights conventions or the decisions of international courts.

They can thumb their nose at international humanitarian law.

They can invade another country, lay waste to whole societies, or utterly disregard the welfare of their own people.

And nothing will happen.

We see this age of impunity everywhere — in the Middle East, in the heart of Europe, in the Horn of Africa, and beyond.

The war in Ukraine is spreading with no signs of letting up.

Civilians are paying the price – in rising death tolls and shattered lives and communities.

It is time for a just peace based on the UN Charter, on international law and on UN resolutions.

Meanwhile, Gaza is a non-stop nightmare that threatens to take the entire region with it.

Look no further than Lebanon.

We should all be alarmed by the escalation.

Lebanon is at the brink.

The people of Lebanon – the people of Israel – and the people of the world — cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza.

Let’s be clear.

Nothing can justify the abhorrent acts of terror committed by Hamas on October 7th, or the taking of hostages – both of which I have repeatedly condemned.

And nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.

The speed and scale of the killing and destruction in Gaza are unlike anything in my years as Secretary-General.

More than 200 of our own staff have been killed, many with their families.

And yet the women and men of the United Nations continue to deliver humanitarian aid.

I know you join me in paying a special tribute to UNRWA and to all humanitarians in Gaza.

The international community must mobilize for an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and the beginning of an irreversible process towards a two-State solution.

For those who go on undermining that goal with more settlements, more landgrabs, more incitement — I ask:

What is the alternative?

How could the world accept a one-state future in which a large a large number of Palestinians would be included without any freedom, rights or dignity?

In Sudan, a brutal power struggle has unleashed horrific violence — including widespread rape and sexual assaults.

A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding as famine spreads. Yet outside powers continue to interfere with no unified approach to finding peace.

In the Sahel, the dramatic and rapid expansion of the terrorist threat requires a joint approach rooted in solidarity – but regional and international cooperation have broken down.

From Myanmar to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Haiti to Yemen and beyond – we continue to see appalling levels of violence and human suffering in the face of a chronic failure to find solutions.

Meanwhile our peacekeeping missions are too often operating in areas where simply there is no peace to keep.

Instability in many places around the world is a by-product of instability in power relations and geo-political divides.

For all its perils, the Cold War had rules.

There were hot lines, red lines and guard rails.

It can feel as though we don’t have that today.

Nor do we have a unipolar world.

We are moving to a multipolar world, but we are not there yet.

We are in a purgatory of polarity.

And in this purgatory, more and more countries are filling the spaces of geopolitical divides, doing whatever they want with no accountability.

That is why it is more important than ever to reaffirm the Charter, to respect international law, to support and implement decisions of international courts, and to reinforce human rights in the world.

Anywhere and everywhere.

Excellences, Mesdames et Messieurs,

L’augmentation des inégalités est un deuxième facteur de l’insoutenabilité et une tache sur notre conscience collective.

L’inégalité n’est pas une question technique ou bureaucratique.

Au fond, l’inégalité est une question de pouvoir, aux racines historiques.

Les conflits, les bouleversements climatiques et la crise du coût de la vie étendent ces racines historiques plus profondément encore.

Dans le même temps, le monde peine encore à se relever de la flambée des inégalités engendrée par la pandémie.

Si l’on regarde les 75 pays les plus pauvres du monde, un tiers d’entre eux se trouve aujourd’hui dans une situation pire qu’il y a cinq ans.

Au cours de la même période, les cinq hommes les plus riches de la planète ont plus que doublé leurs fortunes.

Et un pour cent des habitants de la planète détient 43 % de l’ensemble des avoirs financiers mondiaux.

Au niveau national, certains gouvernements décuplent les inégalités en accordant des cadeaux fiscaux massifs aux entreprises et aux ultra-riches — au détriment des investissements dans la santé, l’éducation et la protection sociale.

Et personne n’est plus lésé que les femmes et les filles du monde entier.

Excellences,

La discrimination et les abus généralisés fondés sur le genre constituent l’inégalité la plus répandue dans toutes les sociétés.

Chaque jour, il semble que nous soyons confrontés à de nouveaux cas révoltants de féminicides, de violences fondées sur le genre et de viols collectifs – en temps de paix comme en tant qu’arme de guerre.

Dans certains pays, les lois sont utilisées pour menacer la santé et les droits reproductifs.

Et en Afghanistan, les lois sont utilisées pour entériner l’oppression systématique des femmes et des filles.

Et je suis désolé de constater que, malgré des années de beaux discours, l’inégalité de genre se manifesteet je vous demande pardon de le dire, elle se manifeste aujourd’hui encore, pleinement dans cette enceinte.

Moins de 10 pour cent des intervenants au Débat général de cette semaine sont des femmes.

C’est inacceptable, surtout quand on sait que l’égalité entre les femmes et les hommes contribue à la paix, au développement durable, à l’action climatique et bien plus encore.

C’est précisément pour cela nous avons pris des mesures spécifiques pour atteindre la parité hommes-femmes parmi les hauts responsables de l’Organisation des Nations Unies,objectif qui est déjà complété.

C’est faisable.

J’exhorte les institutions politiques et économiques du monde dominées par les hommes à le faire aussi.

Excellences,

Les inégalités mondiales se reflètent et se renforcent jusque dans nos propres organisations internationales.

Le Conseil de sécurité des Nations Unies a été conçu par les vainqueurs de la Seconde Guerre mondiale.

À l’époque, la majeure partie du continent africain était encore sous domination coloniale.

À ce jour, l’Afrique n’a toujours aucun siège permanent au sein de la principale instance de paix du monde.

Un changement s’impose.

Il en va de même pour l’architecture financière mondiale, mise en place il y a 80 ans.

Je félicite les dirigeants de la Banque mondiale et du Fonds monétaire international pour les mesures importantes qu’ils ont entreprises.

Mais comme le souligne le Pacte pour l’avenir, la lutte contre les inégalités exige une accélération de la réforme de l’architecture financière internationale.

Au cours des huit dernières décennies, l’économie mondiale s’est développée et transformée.

Les institutions de Bretton Woods n’ont pas suivi le rythme.

Elles ne sont plus en mesure de fournir un filet de sécurité mondial, ni d’offrir aux pays en développement le niveau de soutien dont ils ont tant besoin.

Dans les pays les plus pauvres du monde, le coût des intérêts de la dette dépasse, en moyenne, le coût des investissements dans l’éducation, la santé et les infrastructures publiques réunis.

Et à l’échelle du monde, plus de 80 % des cibles des Objectifs de développement durable ne sont pas en bonne voie.
Excelencias,

Volver al camino correcto requiere un aumento de financiamiento para la Agenda 2030 y el Acuerdo de París.

Esto implica que los países del G20 lideren un Estímulo para los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible de 500.000 millones de dólares al año.

Implica reformas para aumentar sustancialmente la capacidad de préstamo de los Bancos Multilaterales de Desarrollo – y permitirles ampliar masivamente la financiación asequible a largo plazo para el clima y el desarrollo.

Implica ampliar la financiación de contingencia mediante el reciclaje de los Derechos Especiales de Giro.

E implica promover una reestructuración de la deuda a largo plazo.

Excelencias,

No me hago ilusiones sobre las barreras a la reforma del sistema multilateral.

Los que tienen poder político y económico, o y los que creen tenerlo, son siempre reacios al cambio.

Pero el status quo ya está agotando su poder.

Sin reformas, la fragmentación es inevitable, y las instituciones globales perderán legitimidad, credibilidad y eficacia.

Excellencies,

The third driver of our unsustainable world is uncertainty.

The ground is shifting under our feet.

Anxiety levels are off the charts.

And young people, in particular, are counting on us and seeking solutions.

Uncertainty is compounded by two existential threats – the climate crisis and the rapid advance of technology — in particular, Artificial Intelligence.

Excellencies,

We are in a climate meltdown.

Extreme temperatures, raging fires, droughts, and epic floods are not natural disasters.

They are human disasters — increasingly fueled by fossil fuels.

No country is spared. But the poorest and most vulnerable are hardest hit.

Climate hazards are blowing a hole through the budgets of many African countries, costing up to five per cent of GDP – every year.

And this is just the start.

We are on course to careen past the global limit of a 1.5 degree temperature rise.

But as the problem gets worse, solutions are getting better.

Renewable prices are plummeting, roll-out is accelerating, and lives are being transformed by affordable, accessible clean energy.

Renewables don’t just generate power. They generate jobs, wealth, energy security and a path out of poverty for millions.

But developing countries cannot be plundered in that journey.

Our Panel on Critical Minerals has recommended fair and sustainable ways to meet global demand for these resources, which are essential to the renewables revolution.

Excellencies,

A future without fossil fuels is certain. A fair and fast transition is not.

That is in your hands.

By next year, every country must produce an ambitious new national climate action plan – or Nationally Determined Contributions.

These must bring national energy strategies, sustainable development priorities, and climate ambitions together.

They must align with the 1.5 degree limit, cover the whole economy, and contribute to every one of the COP28 energy transition targets.

An International Energy Agency report released today breaks this down.

By 2035, on average, advanced economies must slash energy emissions 80 per cent, and emerging markets 65 per cent.

The G20 is responsible for 80 per cent of total emissions.

They must lead the charge – keeping with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities in the light of different national circumstances.

But this must be a joint effort — pooling resources, scientific capacities and proven and affordable technologies for all to be able to reach those targets.

I’m honoured to be working closely with President Lula of Brazil – who is both G20 Chair and COP30 host – to secure maximum ambition, acceleration and cooperation. We just met for that purpose.

Finance is essential.

COP29 is around the corner.

It must deliver a significant new finance goal.

We also need a Loss and Damage Fund that meets the scale of the challenge – and developed countries meeting their adaptation finance promises.

And we must finally flip the script on a crazy situation:

We continue to reward polluters to wreck our planet.

The fossil fuel industry continues to pocket massive profits and subsidies, while everyday people bear the costs of climate catastrophe – from rising insurance premiums to lost livelihoods.

I call on G20 countries to shift money from fossil fuel subsidies and investments to a just energy transition;

To put an effective price on carbon;

And to implement new and innovative sources of financing – including solidarity levies on fossil fuel extraction – through legally-binding, transparent mechanisms.

All by next year and this taking into account that those who shoulder the blame must foot the bill.

Polluters must pay.

Excellencies,

The rapid rise of new technologies poses another unpredictable existential risk.

Artificial Intelligence will change virtually everything we know — from work, education and communication, to culture and politics.

We know AI is rapidly advancing, but where is it taking us:

To more freedom – or more conflict?

To a more sustainable world – or greater inequality?

To being better informed – or easier to manipulate?

A handful of companies and even individuals have already amassed enormous power over the development of AI – with little accountability or oversight for the moment.

Without a global approach to its management, artificial intelligence could lead to artificial divisions across the board – a Great Fracture with two internets, two markets, two economies – with every country forced to pick a side, and enormous consequences for all.

The United Nations is the universal platform for dialogue and consensus.

It is uniquely placed to promote cooperation on AI – based on the values of the Charter and international law.

The global debate happens here, or it does not happen.

I welcome important first steps.

Two resolutions in the General Assembly, the Global Digital Compact, and the recommendations of the High-Level Body on AI can lay the foundations for inclusive governance of AI.

Let’s move forward together to make AI a force for good.

Excellencies,

Nothing lasts forever.

But a feature of human life is that it appears otherwise.

The current order always feels fixed.

Until it is not.

Across human history, we see empires rising and falling; old certainties crumbling; tectonic shifts in global affairs.

Today our course is unsustainable.

It is in all our interests to manage the epic transformations underway; to choose the future we want and to guide our world towards it.

Many have said that the differences and divisions today are just too great.

That it is impossible for us to come together for the common good.

You proved that is not true.

The Summit of the Future showed that with a spirit of dialogue and compromise, we can join forces to steer our world to a more sustainable path.

It is not the end.

It is a start of a journey, a compass in the whirlwind.

Let’s keep going.

Let’s move our world towards less impunity and more accountability …. less inequality and more justice … less uncertainty and more opportunity.

The people of the world are looking to us – and succeeding generations will look back on us.

Let them find us on the side of the United Nations Charter … on the side of our shared values and principles … and on the right side of history.

I thank you.

MIL OSI Africa –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI USA: Senate Passes Bipartisan Resolution Designating Telehealth Awareness Week

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Maryland Ben Cardin
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan resolution cosponsored by U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) designating September 15-21 as “Telehealth Awareness Week.” The resolution recognizes that telehealth has helped millions of Americans across the country access quality health care, and has become a critical component of health care delivery.
“We fought to expand telehealth access during the pandemic and the results demonstrated how critical a tool it is for countless Americans, especially for mental health services,” said Senator Cardin. “Earlier this Congress, I held a hearing in the Senate Finance Health Care Subcommittee where experts detailed the value of telehealth services being covered by Medicare. The experts agreed with the goals of this legislation and reiterated the importance of providing telehealth permanency to continue treating those who would otherwise struggle to get the care they need.”
“Telehealth helps people access quality health care when and where they need it, and our resolution highlights the broad, bipartisan support for raising awareness of and expanding access to telehealth,” said Senator Schatz, co-chair of the Senate Telehealth Working Group.
“Telehealth is a cost-effective way for people in rural and underserved areas to access health care. Increasing the services available to patients remains one of my top priorities,” Senator Wicker said.
The resolution affirms the bipartisan support in Congress for telehealth and encourages expanded access to telehealth services for all people, including members of rural and underserved communities. It notes that 25 percent of Medicare beneficiaries used telehealth services at least once in 2023, and that nearly 90 percent were satisfied with their experience. It concludes that “Telehealth Awareness Week” unites the efforts of patients, caregivers, health care providers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to advance the role of telehealth in health care.
The resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.).
Schatz has led efforts to expand access to telehealth, including reintroducing the CONNECT for Health Act, the most comprehensive bipartisan telehealth legislation in Congress. Since its first iteration in 2016, several provisions from the bill have been signed into law.
The full text of the resolution is available here.

MIL OSI USA News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Sun Dong begins Wuhan visit

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong began his visit to Wuhan, Hubei Province today.

During a meeting with Hubei Vice Governor Chen Ping on the development of innovation and technology (I&T) and new industries in Hong Kong and Hubei, Prof Sun introduced the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s plan and latest work on leading the development of the city’s I&T industry.

He also learnt about Hubei’s strengths in I&T and advanced manufacturing, particularly the development of chips and new energy vehicle industries.

They also explored ways to further strengthen co-operation between Hubei and Hong Kong in technological innovation and industry development.

Prof Sun later visited Huazhong University of Science & Technology’s Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, which is one of the first six national research centres approved by the Ministry of Science & Technology.

He was briefed on the laboratory’s development history, research conditions and innovation achievements, as well as the comprehensive support and services it provides to the “Optics Valley of China, Wuhan” and the development and industrialisation of the optoelectronics industry.

Prof Sun then toured the Jiufengshan Laboratory to learn about its work on promoting the development of the fundamental research of compound semiconductors in order to support Wuhan to become a global compound semiconductor innovation centre and industry cluster.

While viewing the laboratory’s chip process lines and professional testing infrastructure, he was briefed on the facility’s efforts in pushing forward the technological frontier.

Visiting the Wuhan East Lake High-tech Development Zone in the evening, Prof Sun received an update on the development of the optoelectronics information industry cluster, as well as the efforts and achievements in building the “World Optics Valley”.

He encouraged the East Lake High-tech Development Zone to set up accelerators and incubators in Hong Kong.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Frankel, Miller, Morelle, Bilirakis, Magaziner Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing National Fall Prevention Awareness Week

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

Washington, DC – Today, Reps. Lois Frankel (D-FL-22), Carol Miller (R-WV-1), Joe Morelle (D-NY-25), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12), and Seth Magaziner (D-RI-2) introduced a bipartisan resolution recognizing September 22 – 28, 2024 as National Fall Prevention Awareness Week. The resolution seeks to raise awareness, encourage the prevention of falls among older adults, and highlight evidence-based programs that help reduce fall risks and save the lives of seniors.

“With over 365,000 seniors in Palm Beach County, this issue is near and dear to my heart,” said Rep. Frankel. “Falls are the leading cause of injury among adults over 65. They can be debilitating, heartbreaking, and expensive, but the good news is they are preventable! This year, we’re marking National Fall Prevention Awareness Week to spread the word that tools and resources are available to help prevent falls before they happen, ensuring our seniors can live with the safety and dignity they deserve.”

“It’s no secret the U.S. population is aging, and it’s important to ensure there are enough resources and education for seniors as they are more at risk of falling. By designating a National Fall Prevention Awareness Week, we are bringing awareness to this important issue that affects many of our constituents. I’m glad to join my colleagues in sponsoring this resolution to help prevent falls and protect seniors as they age,” said Rep. Miller.

“As our loved ones get older, we must ensure they have the resources and support to age in place safely, independently, and with dignity,” said Rep. Morelle. “Falls can be scary and have serious health consequences for older individuals. It’s critical we do everything we can to promote fall prevention to help save lives and give seniors and their loved ones some well-deserved piece of mind. I’m proud to join my colleagues in support of this resolution, and I look forward to working with them to secure resources and support for older Americans.”

“As someone who has experienced a fall that resulted in broken ribs, I am very familiar with the pain that often comes from a fall,” said Rep. Bilirakis. “The risks associated with falling are especially high for seniors over the age of 65. According to the CDC, 36 million seniors fall each year. Tragically, these falls result in 34,000 deaths and three million serious injuries that require an emergency room visit. The good news is that falls are preventable and do not need to be an inevitable part of aging. I encourage all seniors and their loved ones to learn more about how to stay safe and active by taking advantage of the fall prevention programs offered in their community. Local Area Agency on Aging organizations have wonderful resources that can help save lives.”

“Falls can be serious—and even deadly—for older Americans, and Congress must consider this issue as seriously as we would for any other medical condition,” said Rep. Magaziner. “Designating a National Fall Prevention Awareness Week will help bring attention to this critical issue and support programs that protect seniors, reduce falls and save lives.”

“The cost of falls among older adults is staggering: $80 billion/year, and untold suffering and pain,” said Ramsey Alwin, President and CEO of the National Council on Aging. “We welcome this Congressional resolution to draw attention to the fact that falls can be prevented. There are proven, cost-effective ways to reduce fall risk. We are grateful to Rep. Frankel for championing this issue and her steadfast leadership throughout the Capitol and across party lines.”

Each year, 14 million older Americans experience falls, resulting in 3 million emergency room visits and 39,000 tragic deaths. Falls are the leading cause of injury for adults aged 65 and older, with non-fatal falls costing our health care system $80 billion annually. Seniors can reduce their risk of falling through basic home modifications, daily exercises, and other simple precautions.

The Members were joined by 24 original cosponsors: Reps. Colin Allred (D-TX-32), Nanette Barragán (D-CA-44), Ami Bera (D-CA-6), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), Kathy Castor (D-FL-14), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO-5), Don Davis (D-NC-1), Madeleine Dean (D-PA-4), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ-7), Jahana Hayes (D-CT-5), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (D-GA-4), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-9), Ro Khanna (D-CA-17), Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), Doris Matsui (D-CA-7), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL-23), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-At Large), Mark Pocan (D-WI-2), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-9), Haley Stevens (D-MI-11), Darren Soto (D-FL-9), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-25), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL-24).

The resolution is supported by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and AARP.

For full text of the resolution, click here.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI USA: Press Release: FDIC Appoints Jennifer Schoen as Director of the Division of Administration

Source: US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation FDIC

WASHINGTON – The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Board of Directors has approved the selection of Jennifer Schoen as Director of the Division of Administration (DOA).

In this role, Ms. Schoen will oversee a wide range of administrative services in support of the FDIC’s business activities, including the operation and management of FDIC facilities, personnel and physical security programs, and acquisition services. She will also provide strategic guidance to ensure the agency is prepared for and effectively responds to emergencies and advise the FDIC’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) and other senior leaders on matters related to facilities, security, capital improvements and maintenance, and procurement.

“Jennifer brings vast knowledge and experience to the role of Director,” said Deputy to the Chairman and COO Daniel Bendler. “I am thrilled that she will be leading the dedicated team in DOA to ensure that the FDIC remains an effective organization that is prepared to carry out its important mission.”

Ms. Schoen currently serves as an Assistant Director in DOA, where she leads a team of contracting officers in support of various Divisions and Offices, procuring complex services and commodities in support of the FDIC mission.

Between June 2023 and May 2024, Ms. Schoen served on a detail as a Corporate Expert supporting the COO Organization on many complex projects. She joined the FDIC in 2006 as a Procurement Analyst and was instrumental in the implementation of the Automated Procurement System. She began her federal career at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in 2001 as a Procurement Analyst and Contracting Officer, where she supported the cutting-edge research and development efforts of the agency.

She has a Juris Doctor from Hofstra University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Union College. She is admitted to the bars of New York and Virginia, and she holds a certification for the Senior Executive Fellows Program from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

###

MEDIA CONTACT:
mediarequests@fdic.gov

FDIC: PR-81-2024

MIL OSI USA News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Security: Haute-Aboujagane — Have you seen this stolen trailer?

Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

The Sackville RCMP is seeking the public’s help locating a stolen trailer from Haute-Aboujagane, N.B.

The theft is believed to have occurred on September 20, 2024, at approximately 2:10 p.m., at a residence on Upper Aboujagane Road in Haute-Aboujagane.

The trailer is described as a black 2010 Crown, Triple E model, with white rims, New Brunswick licence plate TMC 939, and vehicle identification number 1XNU512T9A1031508.

Police are releasing a surveillance footage photo in hopes that, despite the quality, someone may recognize the trailer. The ATV was not on the trailer at the time of the theft.

If you have seen the trailer since September 20, or if you have information that could help further the investigation, please contact the Sackville RCMP at 506-364-5023. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by downloading the secure P3 Mobile App, or by Secure Web Tips at www.crimenb.ca.

MIL Security OSI –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Economics: Microsoft Trustworthy AI: Unlocking human potential starts with trust
Source: Microsoft

Headline: Microsoft Trustworthy AI: Unlocking human potential starts with trust

YouTube Video

As AI advances, we all have a role to play to unlock AI’s positive impact for organizations and communities around the world. That’s why we’re focused on helping customers use and build AI that is trustworthy, meaning AI that is secure, safe and private.

At Microsoft, we have commitments to ensure Trustworthy AI and are building industry-leading supporting technology. Our commitments and capabilities go hand in hand to make sure our customers and developers are protected at every layer.

Building on our commitments, today we are announcing new product capabilities to strengthen the security, safety and privacy of AI systems.

Security. Security is our top priority at Microsoft, and our expanded Secure Future Initiative (SFI) underscores the company-wide commitments and the responsibility we feel to make our customers more secure. This week we announced our first SFI Progress Report, highlighting updates spanning culture, governance, technology and operations. This delivers on our pledge to prioritize security above all else and is guided by three principles: secure by design, secure by default and secure operations. In addition to our first party offerings, Microsoft Defender and Purview, our AI services come with foundational security controls, such as built-in functions to help prevent prompt injections and copyright violations. Building on those, today we’re announcing two new capabilities:
- Evaluations in Azure AI Studio to support proactive risk assessments.
- Microsoft 365 Copilot will provide transparency into web queries to help admins and users better understand how web search enhances the Copilot response. Coming soon.
Our security capabilities are already being used by customers. Cummins, a 105-year-old company known for its engine manufacturing and development of clean energy technologies, turned to Microsoft Purview to strengthen their data security and governance by automating the classification, tagging and labeling of data. EPAM Systems, a software engineering and business consulting company, deployed Microsoft 365 Copilot for 300 users because of the data protection they get from Microsoft. J.T. Sodano, Senior Director of IT, shared that “we were a lot more confident with Copilot for Microsoft 365, compared to other large language models (LLMs), because we know that the same information and data protection policies that we’ve configured in Microsoft Purview apply to Copilot.”

Safety. Inclusive of both security and privacy, Microsoft’s broader Responsible AI principles, established in 2018, continue to guide how we build and deploy AI safely across the company. In practice this means properly building, testing and monitoring systems to avoid undesirable behaviors, such as harmful content, bias, misuse and other unintended risks. Over the years, we have made significant investments in building out the necessary governance structure, policies, tools and processes to uphold these principles and build and deploy AI safely. At Microsoft, we are committed to sharing our learnings on this journey of upholding our Responsible AI principles with our customers. We use our own best practices and learnings to provide people and organizations with capabilities and tools to build AI applications that share the same high standards we strive for.

Today, we are sharing new capabilities to help customers pursue the benefits of AI while mitigating the risks:
- A Correction capability in Microsoft Azure AI Content Safety’s Groundedness detection feature that helps fix hallucination issues in real time before users see them.
- Embedded Content Safety, which allows customers to embed Azure AI Content Safety on devices. This is important for on-device scenarios where cloud connectivity might be intermittent or unavailable.
- New evaluations in Azure AI Studio to help customers assess the quality and relevancy of outputs and how often their AI application outputs protected material.
- Protected Material Detection for Code is now in preview in Azure AI Content Safety to help detect pre-existing content and code. This feature helps developers explore public source code in GitHub repositories, fostering collaboration and transparency, while enabling more informed coding decisions.
It’s amazing to see how customers across industries are already using Microsoft solutions to build more secure and trustworthy AI applications. For example, Unity, a platform for 3D games, used Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service to build Muse Chat, an AI assistant that makes game development easier. Muse Chat uses content-filtering models in Azure AI Content Safety to ensure responsible use of the software. Additionally, ASOS, a UK-based fashion retailer with nearly 900 brand partners, used the same built-in content filters in Azure AI Content Safety to support top-quality interactions through an AI app that helps customers find new looks.

We’re seeing the impact in the education space too. New York City Public Schools partnered with Microsoft to develop a chat system that is safe and appropriate for the education context, which they are now piloting in schools. The South Australia Department for Education similarly brought generative AI into the classroom with EdChat, relying on the same infrastructure to ensure safe use for students and teachers.

Privacy. Data is at the foundation of AI, and Microsoft’s priority is to help ensure customer data is protected and compliant through our long-standing privacy principles, which include user control, transparency and legal and regulatory protections. To build on this, today we’re announcing:
- Confidential inferencing in preview in our Azure OpenAI Service Whisper model, so customers can develop generative AI applications that support verifiable end-to-end privacy. Confidential inferencing ensures that sensitive customer data remains secure and private during the inferencing process, which is when a trained AI model makes predictions or decisions based on new data. This is especially important for highly regulated industries, such as health care, financial services, retail, manufacturing and energy.
- The general availability of Azure Confidential VMs with NVIDIA H100 Tensor Core GPUs, which allow customers to secure data directly on the GPU. This builds on our confidential computing solutions, which ensure customer data stays encrypted and protected in a secure environment so that no one gains access to the information or system without permission.
- Azure OpenAI Data Zones for the EU and U.S. are coming soon and build on the existing data residency provided by Azure OpenAI Service by making it easier to manage the data processing and storage of generative AI applications. This new functionality offers customers the flexibility of scaling generative AI applications across all Azure regions within a geography, while giving them the control of data processing and storage within the EU or U.S.
We’ve seen increasing customer interest in confidential computing and excitement for confidential GPUs, including from application security provider F5, which is using Azure Confidential VMs with NVIDIA H100 Tensor Core GPUs to build advanced AI-powered security solutions, while ensuring confidentiality of the data its models are analyzing. And multinational banking corporation Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) has integrated Azure confidential computing into their own platform to analyze encrypted data while preserving customer privacy. With the general availability of Azure Confidential VMs with NVIDIA H100 Tensor Core GPUs, RBC can now use these advanced AI tools to work more efficiently and develop more powerful AI models.

Achieve more with Trustworthy AI

We all need and expect AI we can trust. We’ve seen what’s possible when people are empowered to use AI in a trusted way, from enriching employee experiences and reshaping business processes to reinventing customer engagement and reimagining our everyday lives. With new capabilities that improve security, safety and privacy, we continue to enable customers to use and build trustworthy AI solutions that help every person and organization on the planet achieve more. Ultimately, Trustworthy AI encompasses all that we do at Microsoft and it’s essential to our mission as we work to expand opportunity, earn trust, protect fundamental rights and advance sustainability across everything we do.

Related:

Commitments

Capabilities

Tags: AI, Azure AI Content Safety, Azure AI Studio, Azure Confidential Computing, Azure OpenAI Service, Copilot, GitHub, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Defender, Microsoft Purview, Microsoft Trust Center, Responsible AI, Secure Future Initiative, Trustworthy AI
MIL OSI Economics –
September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI: NNIT A/S: Reporting of transactions in NNIT’s shares made by person discharging managerial responsibilities
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NNIT has pursuant to article 19 of the Market Abuse Regulation received notification of transactions by person with managerial responsibilities in NNIT.

Reference is made to the attached table showing detailed information about the transactions.

Contact for further information

Carsten Ringius
EVP & CFO
Tel: +45 3077 8888
carr@nnit.com

Media relations
Tina Joanne Hindsbo
Media Relations Manager
Tel: +45 3077 9578
tnjh@nnit.com

NNIT is a leading provider of IT solutions to life sciences internationally, and to the public and enterprise sectors in Denmark.

We focus on high complexity industries and thrive in environments where regulatory demands and complexity are high.

We advise and build sustainable digital solutions that work for the patients, citizens, employees, end users or customers.

We strive to build unmatched excellence in the industries we serve, and we use our domain expertise to represent a business first approach – strongly supported by a selection of partner technologies, but always driven by business needs rather than technology.

NNIT consists of group company NNIT A/S and subsidiaries SCALES, Excellis Health Solutions and SL Controls. Together, these companies employ more than 1,700 people in Europe, Asia and USA.

Read more at www.nnit.com

Attachments
- 6_2024 Company Announcement 24Sep24
- Jan Winther
The MIL Network –
September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Banking: OEUK news OEUK: GB Energy must build on Aberdeen’s industrial 24 September 2024

Source: Offshore Energy UK

Headline: OEUK news

OEUK: GB Energy must build on Aberdeen’s industrial

24 September 2024

Offshore Energies UK, the leading trade body welcomes the announcement that GB Energy will be located in Aberdeen. The city has been Europe’s energy capital for the last fifty years and with the right energy policies in place to back firms and their workers, it can continue to spearhead the UK’s homegrown energy transition.

OEUK says listening to industry’s experts and building partnerships will be key to determining GB Energy’s success. The UK’s transition to cleaner energy is not only the biggest engineering project the UK has seen since the Second World War. It is also the biggest financial undertaking.

The government’s Office for Budgetary Responsibility (OBR) says net zero will cost the UK £1.4 trillion, and that the lion’s share must come from business. 

The new government now needs partnerships with industry to put plans into action, unlock investment and kickstart economic growth.

While welcoming the announcement, OEUK reinforced its continued concerns over plans by the UK government to increase and extend the Energy Profits Levy.

OEUK and its members work closely with policymakers of all parties to champion the UK’s energy security and low carbon future.

David Whitehouse, CEO Offshore Energies UK comments:

“Aberdeen is an energy powerhouse and home to brilliant British engineering. It must and should be part of the UK’s energy future. The people of this city are rightly proud of their energy heritage and it’s imperative GB Energy helps to safeguard their jobs and build on their world class expertise to benefit the whole UK.

“Where GB Energy is located is important but what really matters is what is does. Success will be built on partnerships with industry unlocking the private sector investment needed to achieve the homegrown energy transition and economic growth we all want. This means listening to expert people across our sector, backing our supply chains and safeguarding the jobs of thousands of skilled workers across the UK.

“But I remain concerned the new government’s tax changes will have profound consequences for this sector and its people. The new government committed to safeguarding jobs in its manifesto and must listen to those working in the sector. Today’s announcement is welcomed, but it will do little to alleviate the very real concerns of the impact the government’s tax proposals will have on thousands of jobs and billions of pounds in future economic value.

“I am asking the government to choose a homegrown energy transition that makes the most of our people and businesses. The alternative is importing ever more energy, skills and infrastructure and subtracting value from our economy.”

Ends.

OEUK is campaigning for a homegrown energy transition that makes the most of the UK’s people and industrial strengths to be a secure, sustainable and skilled future. Download a copy of OEUK’s industry manifesto here.

Share this article

MIL OSI Global Banks –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Africa: Heritage sites key tourist destinations – Mashatile

Source: South Africa News Agency

Acting President Paul Mashatile has urged the South Africans to seize the opportunity to highlight heritage sites as key tourist destinations, contributing to socio-economic development, fostering people-to-people connections, and promoting social cohesion.

Mashatile was delivering the keynote address during the Heritage Day commemoration at Meqheleng Stadium, Ficksburg, on Tuesday.

“As we celebrate Heritage Month, which coincides with Tourism Month, we should use this opportunity to showcase to the nation the significance of our heritage sites across the country as tourist destinations of choice that have the potential to contribute to socio-economic development, promote people-to-people relations and enhance social cohesion.

“On this day, we should also celebrate our cultural diversity, our inherited sense of family identity, our traditions, cultural wealth, and artefacts passed down through the generations, particularly since the dawn of democracy,” he said.

The Acting President told South Africans to reflect on 30 years of democracy, which in itself is a milestone that underlines the nation’s diversity and heritage.

He noted that it is also critical that the country recognise and remember the courageous individuals such as JB Marks and Moses Kotane and many others who gave their all for the great gift of our freedom.

The 2024 Heritage Day is celebrated under the theme: “Celebrating the Lives of Our Heroes and Heroines Who Laid Down Their Lives for Our Freedom.

Mashatile said the theme is fitting because it allows the country to honour the lives of those who confronted adversity with unflinching bravery, and stood up against injustice and oppression.

“The commemoration of our heritage is a result of the sacrifices and efforts of those who came before us, fighting against apartheid and championing social justice and human rights.

“It is therefore important that we, as a nation, preserve the memory of those who fought for our freedom. They have dedicated and sacrificed their lives to the defence of our country, as well as the assertion of the values and principles that must be upheld. It is because of their bravery, resilience, and resolute commitment that we have a brighter future for generations to come,” he said.

Mashatile emphasised the importance of honouring struggle heroes and educating future generations about their sacrifices.

As part of this process, and in honour of the freedom fighters who have made the ultimate sacrifice, Mashatile highlighted that the country will be honouring those who have fallen outside of the borders.

A homecoming ceremony will take place this Friday in which President Ramaphosa will officially receive the repatriated remains from Zambia and Zimbabwe.

As South Africa marks three decades of democracy, the nation reflects on its rich heritage while acknowledging ongoing challenges such as unemployment, poverty, and inequality.

Acting President also urged citizens to unite and celebrate diversity in the pursuit of a more equal society where opportunities are not dictated by colour, gender, class, or religion.

“To tackle these ongoing challenges, we must unite and celebrate our diversity while striving to create a more equal society where opportunities are not determined by colour, gender, class, or religion.

“This would entail increasing people’s skills through access to equal education opportunities, quality health care for all, and provision of basic amenities, as well as facilitating work opportunities and shifting economic ownership patterns,” he said.

Furthermore, Mahsatile said government, interfaith, civil society formations and traditional leaders must work together to eliminate persisting inequalities and Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) which is prevalent in our communities. He added that all acts of criminality, and GBVF undermine government efforts to foster the culture of social cohesion and moral regeneration.

“We must not let anybody conceal evil acts of abuse under the guise of one’s belief system and culture. It has to be said that no nation can condone any form of abuse against women, children and those most vulnerable within society, including the LGBTQIA+ community. To demonstrate our commitment to the fight against GBVF, the government has introduced new laws protecting women and children,” he said.

He highlighted that on 24 May 2024, the President signed the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill into law.

This new legislation is a significant step towards protecting women and children from abuse and violence, by way of establishing a council to provide strategic leadership in the fight against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.

Mashatile called for the confrontation of issues related to heritage resources in public spaces, which continue to pose a challenge in defining a collective cultural identity and building a nation united in its diversity.

“In our country, the impact of apartheid remains visible, and the wounds of past divisions and inequalities remain unresolved. Therefore, we need to continue to build on that which unites us and deal with issues that seek to divide us as a nation.

“It is through understanding and celebrating our shared heritage that we can begin to bridge the gaps that divide us and move forward as a united and inclusive society,” he said.

He added that the reality of the nation’s political climate under the Government of National Unity, also gives an opportunity to collectively re-imagine what the heritage of good governance in South Africa can look like.

“Our ability to look beyond our differences and converge on the shared agenda to bring about inclusive growth, job creation and poverty reduction is one of the examples that the government is showing its commitment to uniting through diversity,” he said.

Mashatile further called on different sectors of society to collaborate with the South African Heritage Resource Agency to develop community abilities and capacities to help identify and protect heritage resources.

“We have to guard and protect our heritage from forms of neglect and threats such as natural disasters, urbanisation, globalisation and developments that pose challenges to the preservation of our most treasured landmarks, artefacts, and traditions.

“All communities from the Free State Province, including Ficksburg, have the responsibility to protect and preserve historical sites like the Old Prison Cells and the General Fick Museum. We must educate young people about the significance of such sites because they are an important part of who we are and where we come from,” he said.

He also called for a renewed commitment to heritage conservation, emphasising its importance not only in preserving the past but also in shaping South Africa’s future.

“Our heritage is more than a collection of artefacts; it defines who we are and where we are headed as a nation,” he said.

Mashatile stressed the need to protect both tangible and intangible heritage, highlighting the connections among diverse communities through shared living heritage, including oral histories, belief systems, cultural practices, and indigenous knowledge.

He noted that these elements are foundational to the nation’s identity, saying, “Preserving intangible cultural heritage is vital to maintaining our integrity, values, and mutual respect.”

He urged all stakeholders – families, NGOs, traditional and interfaith leaders, educational institutions, businesses, and media to engage in promoting and protecting intangible cultural heritage

Mashatile encouraged pride in native languages and urged South Africans to learn each other’s dialects to foster mutual understanding and respect.

The Acting President called on intellectuals and language practitioners, along with organisations like the Pan South African Language Board, to implement programmes aimed at preventing linguistic knowledge extinction, especially among younger generations.

“As South Africa continues to develop, it is crucial to preserve our heritage for generations to come. We must cherish, protect, and celebrate the monuments, sites, and traditions that define our unique identities, ensuring that they are passed on to future generations.

“Most importantly, while we celebrate our rich past and unique culture, we must remember the sacrifices made by those who fought for our independence. May we never forget the price paid for our freedom, and may we always remember the lives of our heroes and heroines who sacrificed everything for our country,” he said.

In closing, Mashatile called for collective action to preserve the nation’s legacy and shape a better future for all South Africans. – SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Chancellor urged to deliver Budget of ‘investment and opportunity’
Source: Scottish Government

Pledge to work with UK Government to create ‘the change people need’.

The UK Autumn Budget should focus on “investment and opportunity”, with more funding for public services, infrastructure and measures to eradicate child poverty, Finance Secretary Shona Robison has said.

The Finance Secretary pledged to work with the UK Government and devolved administrations to ensure the Autumn Budget on October 30 “works for all four nations and delivers the change that people need”.

She called for the Chancellor to:
- change the rules around borrowing to allow for greater investment in public infrastructure and services
- reverse the forecast cut to capital funding, enabling the Scottish Government to invest more in hospitals, schools and transport
- abolish the two child limit
- deliver an Essentials Guarantee providing basic necessities for those who need them most
- take greater steps towards delivering net zero, including by reforming motoring taxation
- ensure any changes to tax take account of Scotland’s distinct and devolved tax system
Ms Robison said:

“When I met with the Chancellor last month, we were in full agreement that we must put people first in all that we do. This principle must be at the heart of the decisions at the Autumn Budget.

“I want to work with the Chancellor, and the governments in Wales and Northern Ireland, to ensure that we have a Budget that works for all four nations and delivers the change that people need.

“It does not need to be another Budget of challenge and constraint. Instead it can be a Budget about investment and opportunity.

“We’re calling for measures to tackle child poverty and grow our economy. We’d like to see new rules around borrowing that support investment in public services. We want the UK Government to work hand in hand with the devolved administrations to provide the funding to deliver on our priorities.

“These are the choices I encourage the Chancellor to make.”

Background

UK Autumn Budget: Letter to UK Government – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

The Finance Secretary also confirmed that the Scottish Budget, outlining the Scottish Government’s proposed tax and spending plans for 2025-26, will be delivered on 4 December.

The two child limit restricts universal credit and child tax credits to the first two children in most households, if born after April 2017.
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Appeal to trace relatives of the late Gyorgy Czmor

Source: City of Wolverhampton

Gyorgy Czmor, who was 92, had been living in a care home in the Bilston area and may have originally been from Hungary.

Anyone who is related to Mr Czmor, or has any information which may help trace his friends or relatives, is asked to call the Court of Protection Team’s Protection and Funerals Officer Elaine Thursfield on 07771 836846 or email her at elaine.thursfield@wolverhampton.gov.uk, or Diane Dore on 07919 626117. Alternatively, please email court.ofprotection@wolverhampton.gov.uk.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI USA: Governor Lamont Welcomes Numisma Bank to Connecticut as Fintech Company Opens World Headquarters in Greenwich

Source: US State of Connecticut

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Banking Commissioner Jorge Perez today are welcoming Numisma Bank, a fintech global currency distributor, to Connecticut as the company is celebrating the grand opening of its world headquarters in Greenwich.

Numisma Bank received its innovation bank charter from the Connecticut Department of Banking earlier this year. The charter provides customized regulatory solutions to financial technology companies looking to grow in a competitive marketplace. It is ideal for companies with diverse business models that are engaged in a variety of financial activities and seek to integrate a banking function but whose business plan does not include taking retail deposits from individuals. The charter provides a responsible, streamlined, and flexible regulatory approach allowing companies to operate across the U.S. It also provides a beneficial exemption to money services laws in many other states, reducing regulatory burden.

Numisma Bank is the first Connecticut state-chartered innovation bank to receive a Fed master account, which grants them access to the Federal Reserve System.

“Fintech innovators realize that Connecticut offers a competitive landscape for their companies to grow and thrive in our state,” Governor Lamont said. “I am excited to welcome Numisma Bank to Connecticut’s business community. This launch represents another step forward for Connecticut as a leader in financial services, showcasing the state’s ability to foster a supportive business environment that attracts cutting-edge companies like Numisma Bank.”

“I would like to welcome our newest Connecticut state-chartered bank,” Commissioner Perez said. “Connecticut’s innovations bank charter provides the necessary regulatory framework and guardrails while allowing the flexibility for companies to innovate in the fintech space. We wish Numisma success in its new home.”

“I’d like to thank Governor Lamont and Banking Commissioner Jorge Perez for their support,” Vivek Tyagi, CEO and co-founder of Numisma Bank, said. “The decision to charter the bank in Connecticut was influenced by the state’s business-friendly climate and access to a deep talent pool. The Connecticut Department of Banking has been a key partner in supporting Numisma Bank’s vision. We share its commitment to providing essential services in the global banking industry and are happy the department remains dedicated to offering comprehensive regulatory oversight while fostering an environment where innovative financial services can thrive.”

“The Connecticut Innovation Bank Charter and our direct access to the Federal Reserve System reflect the trust placed in Connecticut’s regulatory system and authority and in us,” Matthew Hurlock, chief administrative officer and co-founder of Numisma Bank, said. “We are committed to upholding that trust through rigorous compliance and operational excellence.”

“Numisma Bank’s choice to establish its global operations in Connecticut is further proof of our state’s exceptional value proposition for financial technology innovators,” Daniel O’Keefe, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, said. “We possess a winning combination of skilled workforce, a supportive business environment, and an innovative culture that attracts market disruptors, leading to new job opportunities and economic growth.”

“I am happy to welcome Numisma Bank as part of Greenwich’s thriving business community,” First Selectman Fred Camillo said. “Greenwich, along with the rest of southwestern Connecticut, is fast becoming a hub for financial innovation and we look forward to having Numisma as a partner in our community. We stand ready to assist companies looking to make Greenwich their home.”

Numisma Bank focuses exclusively on the distribution of U.S. dollar and foreign currency banknotes, a critical service that ensures the flow of physical currency for central banks and international financial institutions. In recent years, many traditional U.S. banks have exited this complex, low-margin business due to increased regulatory demands as well as an overall decline in cash usage. Numisma is positioned to fill this gap by providing essential services to both the Federal Reserve and global monetary systems, ensuring resilience in these key markets. Numisma Bank is the only U.S. bank dedicated exclusively to this niche service.

The company’s cutting-edge, fully cloud-based financial infrastructure is designed to support the purchase and sale of physical banknotes on an international scale. With no retail customers or involvement in loans or investments, Numisma Bank focuses solely on delivering efficient and secure transactions for central banks and financial institutions globally.

Numisma Bank’s leadership team includes former senior executives from top global financial institutions such as Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and White & Case.

MIL OSI USA News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI USA: New cancer diagnoses did not rebound as expected following pandemic

Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 2

Media Advisory

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

What

Cancer incidence trends in 2021 largely returned to what they were before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). However, there was little evidence of a rebound in incidence that would account for the decline in diagnoses in 2020, when screening and other medical care was disrupted. One exception was breast cancer, where the researchers did see an uptick in diagnoses of advanced-stage disease in 2021. The study appears Sept. 24, 2024, in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

A previous study showed that new cancer diagnoses fell abruptly in early 2020, as did the volume of pathology reports, suggesting that many cancers were not being diagnosed in a timely manner. To determine whether these missed diagnoses were caught in 2021, possibly as more advanced cancers, researchers from NIH’s National Cancer Institute (NCI) compared observed cancer incidence rates for 2021 with those expected from pre-pandemic trends using data from NCI’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program.

A full recovery in cancer incidence should appear as an increase over pre-pandemic levels (also known as a rebound) to account for the missed diagnoses. The researchers looked at cancer overall, as well as five major cancer types that vary in how they are typically detected: through screening (female breast and prostate cancer), due to symptoms (lung and bronchus and pancreatic cancer), or incidentally during other medical procedures (thyroid cancer).

Cancer incidence rates overall and for most specific cancers approached pre-pandemic levels, with no significant rebound to account for the 2020 decline. However, in addition to an uptick in new diagnoses of advanced breast cancer in 2021, the data also provided some evidence of an increase in diagnoses of advanced pancreatic cancer. Also, new diagnoses of thyroid cancers in 2021 were still below pre-pandemic levels.

The researchers concluded that 2021 was a transition year that was still affected by new variants and new waves of COVID-19 cases, which continued to impact medical care. They said the findings highlight the need for ongoing monitoring to understand the long-term impacts of the pandemic on cancer diagnoses and outcomes.

Who

Nadia Howlader, Ph.D., Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute

The Study

“Impact of COVID-19 on 2021 Cancer Incidence Rates and Potential Rebound from 2020 Decline,” appears September 24, 2024, in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

About the National Cancer Institute (NCI): NCI leads the National Cancer Program and NIH’s efforts to dramatically reduce the prevalence of cancer and improve the lives of cancer patients and their families, through research into prevention and cancer biology, the development of new interventions, and the training and mentoring of new researchers. For more information about cancer, please visit the NCI website at cancer.gov or call NCI’s contact center, the Cancer Information Service, at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health^®

###

MIL OSI USA News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Translation: Government of Canada successfully completes removal of three problematic vessels from marine environment in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia

MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

Source: Government of Canada – in French

Press release

The Government of Canada is committed to addressing problematic vessels that impact our marine environment and coastal communities. Recently, the Canadian Coast Guard’s operation to safely remove and dismantle three vessels in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, was successfully completed.

September 24, 2024

Dartmouth, Nova Scotia – The Government of Canada is committed to addressing problematic vessels that impact our marine environment and coastal communities. Recently, the Canadian Coast Guard’s operation to safely remove and dismantle three vessels in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, was successfully completed.

The vessels Hannah Atlantic, Cape Rouge and Rupert Brand VI had been in the area for a number of years and, due to their deteriorating condition, the Canadian Coast Guard determined that they posed a pollution risk to the marine environment and that remediation efforts were required. On January 2, 2024, RJ MacIsaac Marine Recycling and Construction of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, was awarded the contract to dismantle and remove the three vessels for $3,769,772.

Work to remove the vessels from the marine environment began in early June 2024. The Canadian Coast Guard remained on-site throughout the operation to provide overall command of the removal. Initially, the removal of the vessels and site cleanup was expected to take six months, but the work was accelerated with the use of additional transportation equipment and was completed in late July 2024, almost four months ahead of schedule. The full remediation and cleanup of the site is now complete. By the end of the operation, more than 15,000 litres of contaminated water had been removed from the vessels and more than 170,000 kg of steel had been recycled.

Protecting the marine environment is a top priority for the Canadian Coast Guard, and all reported problematic vessels are taken seriously. Any citizen who witnesses marine pollution or a maritime hazard is asked to report it to the Canadian Coast Guard.

Additional multimedia

Quotes

“We are proud to announce that these problematic vessels have been safely removed from the Bridgewater marine environment. Thank you to the Canadian Coast Guard for leading and facilitating this major operation to provide our communities with safe and clean waterways.”

The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

“The Canadian Coast Guard is taking steps to ensure that wrecks and abandoned vessels, like the three removed from Bridgewater, are dealt with before they pose a serious threat to the marine environment or the public. Removing these vessels from the waters is essential to restoring Canada’s coastlines and ensuring the safety of Canadians.”

Mario Pelletier, Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard

Related links

Contact persons

Media RelationsCanadian Coast Guard, Atlantic Region902-407-8439Media.MaritimesRegion@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Andrew RichardsonOffice of the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guardandrew.richardson@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Stay Connected

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

MIL Translation OSI

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI: Shipsi Acquired by Rainmakers in Bid to Redefine Shipping Speeds and Disrupt Traditional E-Commerce Logistics

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

MIAMI, Sept. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rainmakers today announced it had acquired the on-demand delivery and logistics technology, Shipsi, from Auctane. Shipsi is the technology leveling the “instant shipping” playing field in retail. Shipsi believes this acquisition will usher in a new era of AI-driven, ultra-fast delivery solutions for retailers of all sizes and looks forward to continuing to enhance its ability to transform retail logistics through ongoing innovation and support from trusted partners, ensuring a seamless and improved experience for both retailers and consumers.

Shipsi’s technology gives retailers the power to offer same-day shipping by mobilizing last-mile networks to deliver goods. To date, Shipsi has given thousands of retailers the power to deliver in under two hours—prior to Shipsi, this has been a massive advantage for only a few select retail giants. Shipsi’s technology seamlessly integrates with a retailer’s existing website and supply chain, often without requiring a single change to the existing process. Brands, retailers and platforms such as Shopify and CommerceCloud, are already leveraging Shipsi’s technology to provide an efficient and hassle-free delivery experience for consumers.

Rye Akervik, the CEO of Shipsi, shared his views about the acquisition: “Final mile instant delivery is one of the most interesting and largely untapped areas in e-commerce and retail today. We’ve seen our partner retailers boost their sales by an average of 18% – a clear indicator that consumers are hungry for the kind of instant gratification that, until now, only a few retailers could provide. With Rainmakers’ AI expertise, we’re not just leveling the playing field; we’re changing the game entirely.”

Rainmakers, known for their groundbreaking work in AI, plan to supercharge Shipsi’s already impressive capabilities. By combining advanced artificial intelligence with innovative dark warehousing strategies, the new management team aims to dramatically expand Shipsi’s geographic reach and further reduce delivery times, even in areas outside major metropolitan centers.

The implications of this acquisition extend far beyond faster deliveries. As part of the deal, Shipsi will remain integrated with Auctane products and services, a global logistics giant that processes $200 billion worth of transactions across 3 billion shipments annually. This continued relationship ensures that Shipsi will have the scale and resources to rapidly deploy its enhanced AI-driven delivery solutions.

The acquisition also comes at a crucial time for the retail industry, which has seen an unprecedented shift towards online shopping in recent years. With consumers increasingly expecting faster delivery times, the Shipsi acquisition could provide a vital lifeline for retailers struggling to meet these evolving demands. “The stats speak for themselves,” Rye Akervik shares, “Consumers want things now, 88% of people are willing to pay more for same-day delivery¹, and over 25% of shopping cart abandonment is because shipping is ‘too slow.²” Retailers of any size can either take action, meet today’s consumer demands and thrive or continue to face mounting pressures from increased consumer demand on faster shipping speeds.”

For more information about Shipsi’s services visit www.shipsi.com

About Shipsi
Founded in 2016 with the mission to democratize ultra-fast delivery, Shipsi Inc. has quickly become the go-to solution for retailers looking to offer instant, same-day, and next day delivery speeds without the need for complex integrations or massive infrastructure investments. It was acquired by Stamps.com in 2020

About Rainmakers
The Rainmakers is at the forefront of AI development, creating intelligent solutions that transform industries. With a focus on practical applications of cutting-edge AI technology, The Rainmakers has a track record of turning advanced concepts into business realities. Rainmakers has grown and exited over 30 companies in its 20 years in business.

Media and Investment Contacts:

For further information, please contact:
Simon Pearce
inquiries@shipsi.com

For investment information, please contact:
Rye Akervik
rye.akervik@shipsi.com

^¹Lopienski, K. (2024, September 9). Best Same-Day Shipping & Delivery Options [Fastest Shipping]. ShipBob. https://www.shipbob.com/blog/same-day-shipping-delivery/
^²49 Cart Abandonment Rate Statistics 2024 – Cart & Checkout – Baymard Institute. (n.d.). Baymard Institute. https://baymard.com/lists/cart-abandonment-rate

The MIL Network –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI USA: ***MEDIA ADVISORY *** TOMORROW: Chair Bean to Hold Hearing on Improving Teacher Preparation

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Aaron Bean Florida (4th District)

WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, September 25, at 10:15 a.m., the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, chaired by Rep. Aaron Bean (R-FL), will hold a hearing titled “Innovative Teacher Preparation: Properly Equipping America’s Educators.”

“Communities across the U.S. are facing teacher shortages. In the 2023-2024 school year, 86 percent of public schools struggled to hire teachers,” said Chairman Bean. “Many teachers are deterred from the profession as well as the prospect of enrolling in preparation programs due to the steep price tag, prolonged time commitment, and lack of professional career opportunities. The nation’s preparation pipeline is failing to prepare teachers for the education environment, and our students are suffering the consequences. This hearing will shine a light on innovative teacher preparation initiatives and allow the Committee to consider meaningful reforms to ensure our educators have the necessary tools to be successful in the classroom.”

What:
Subcommittee hearing titled “Innovative Teacher Preparation: Properly Equipping America’s Educators”

When:
10:15 a.m. on Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Where:
2175 Rayburn House Office Building

Press:
The hearing is open to the press and will be live-streamed on the Committee’s YouTube page.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI: Global Carbon Dioxide Removal Market Size Expected to Reach $2.54 Billion By 2033 as Climate Change Concerns Grow

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

PALM BEACH, Fla., Sept. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – The carbon dioxide removal market has grown rapidly with the developments in the chemical domain. This industry mainly deals with providing solutions for removing C02 from the environment using natural and artificial methods. The C02 removal strategy is mostly integrated into many climate policies, as CO2 is an important element of climate change. CDR includes several methods that are mainly used on land or in aquatic systems. Land-based methods consist of afforestation, reforestation, and other agricultural practices. The water-based methods include ocean alkalinity enhancement, ocean fertilization, wetland restoration, and some blue carbon approaches. There are several products that are used in the CDR process that mainly include Biochar, Direct Air Capture (DAC), Enhanced/Carbon Mineralization, Ocean Alkalinization, BECCS, Microalgae, and some others. The CDR mainly finds applications in the technology and finance sectors. This industry is expected to grow exponentially with the growth in chemical industries. A report from Precedence Research said: “The global carbon dioxide removal market size was USD 638.73 million in 2023, calculated at USD $733.52 million in 2024 and is expected to reach around USD $2,548.29 million by 2033. The market is expanding at a solid CAGR of 14.84% over the forecast period 2024 to 2033. The rising awareness of reducing CO2 emissions across the world is driving the growth of the carbon dioxide removal market.” Active companies in the markets this week include: BluSky Carbon Inc. (CSE: BSKY) (OTCQB: BSKCF), Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: OXY), Arq, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARQ), Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO), Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE: BE).

The Precedence Research report continued saying: “The growing developments in the chemical industry are expected to drive the growth of the carbon dioxide removal market. The rising government initiatives for lowering CO2 emissions have driven the market growth. The increasing demand for clean air across the world fosters market growth. The growing investments from public and private sector entities for developing the carbon dioxide removal industry propels the market growth. The rising awareness of a clean environment among the people boosts the market growth to some extent. Increasing adoption of reforestation across the world is expected to boost market growth. The rise in the number of DAC plants in several countries across the world boosts market growth. The ongoing research and development activities related to CDR methodologies have impacted the carbon dioxide removal market growth positively.”

BluSky Carbon Inc. (CSE: BSKY) (OTCQB: BSKCF) Secures US$105 Million Biochar Sales Agreement – Ten-year contract for agricultural grade soil amendments in Southern USA – BluSky Carbon Inc. (CSE: BSKY) (OTCQB: BSKCF) (FWB: QE4 /WKN A401NM) (“BluSky” or the “Company”), an innovative entry into the carbon removal clean technology sector is very pleased to announce that it has entered into a sales agreement (“Sales Agreement”) with a U.S. based purchaser (“Purchaser”) pursuant to which the Company has agreed to supply, and the Purchaser has agreed to purchase, up to 382,213 tonnes of biochar over a period of 10 years substantially on the schedule and pricing terms as set forth in the press release issued today.

The Agreement sets forth a delivery schedule (see tables 1 to 3 shown in the current press release today) designed to achieve an initial volume of approximately 22,200 short tons within the first year of operation, scaling up to approximately 40,000 tons per year for the remainder of the of the Agreement. Biochar will be supplied on as-is basis. The moisture content will be verified with a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) at delivery. Based upon a negotiated rate of two hundred and seventy-five dollars (US$275) per ton, the sales value under the Agreement is approximately US$105 million.

Biochar is black carbon produced from biomass sources (i.e., wood chips, plant residues, manure or other agricultural waste products) for the purpose of transforming the biomass carbon into a more stable form (carbon sequestration). It can persist for long periods of time in the soil at various depths, typically thousands of years. Biochar is produced by heating biomass or waste materials containing carbon through pyrolysis. Pyrolysis involves thermal and chemical decomposition of biomass in limited or zero supply of oxygen, typically at temperatures ranging from 300°C to 1000°C. Biochar can be used as a soil amendment to improve soil physical and chemical properties, enhance water retention, and sequester carbon. It also contributes to climate change mitigation by stabilizing carbon in soils for thousands of years, preventing it from being released as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Biochar has shown promise in increasing crop yields, improving soil fertility, and reducing environmental pollution through its ability to retain nutrients and minimize greenhouse gas emissions.

The Company notes that its ability to meet scheduled delivery of biochar beyond year 1 is conditional upon its commissioning and receiving an additional two (2) Vulcan Heavy biomass pyrolysis systems (Vulcan Heavy). The Company anticipates that each Vulcan Heavy will cost approximately US$3 million and take up to nine months to be manufactured and delivered to the job site. BluSky’s ability to commission any Vulcan Heavy will be contingent on its ability to secure financing on acceptable terms, and no assurance can be given this will occur. At present, the Company believes that it will have the ability to produce 15,000 tons annually (with a sales value of approximately US$4 million under the Agreement) once it completes the build out of its “Kiloplex” facility, including testing and optimization of its Vulcan Heavy system. CONTINUED… Read this full press release and more news for BluSky Carbon at: https://bluskycarbon.com/news/

Other recent developments in the markets of note include:

1PointFive, a wholly owned subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: OXY), announced recently that the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) will provide up to $500 million to support the development of the South Texas Direct Air Capture (DAC) Hub. The award is a milestone in furthering commercial-scale DAC in the United States and validation of Occidental and 1PointFive’s ability to use their decades-long expertise in carbon management to accelerate the vital climate technology.

The funding will be provided in multiple tranches. The initial award of $50 million will advance 1PointFive’s ongoing work at the South Texas DAC Hub. Upcoming activities include engineering, permitting, the procurement of long-lead equipment and continued community engagement to further 1PointFive’s community benefits plan. The total award value for the South Texas DAC Hub is expected to be up to $500 million for the initial DAC facility at the site, and potentially increased up to $650 million for the development of an expanded regional carbon network in South Texas.

Arq, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARQ), a producer of activated carbon and other environmentally efficient carbon products for use in purification and sustainable materials, recently announced the pricing of an underwritten public offering of 4,770,000 shares of its common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“common stock”), at a price to the public of $5.25 per share. All of the shares in the offering are being sold by Arq. The gross proceeds to Arq from the offering, before deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses, are expected to be approximately $25 million. The offering is expected to close on or about September 23, 2024, subject to customary closing conditions. In addition, Arq has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 715,500 shares of its common stock in the underwritten public offering.

Arq intends to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, which may include working capital, capital expenditures, including continued construction of granular activated carbon facilities at Arq’s Red River and Corbin manufacturing facilities located in Coushatta, Louisiana and Corbin, Kentucky, respectively, research and development expenditures, commercial expenditures, debt service costs and repayment, acquisitions of new technologies, products or businesses, and investments.

Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO) recently announced the sale of approximately $20 million in Investment Tax Credits to an undisclosed corporate buyer. This transaction monetizes Inflation Reduction Act (“IRA”) Investment Tax Credits generated from the commercialization of a renewable natural gas (“RNG”) production facility by Gevo NW Iowa RNG, LLC (“Gevo RNG”) and provides net cash proceeds of approximately $17 million to Gevo after transaction fees.

The Gevo RNG asset has been optimized to produce approximately 400,000 MMBtus of RNG per year, and Gevo expects to further increase production over time. Additional RNG value could be unlocked through the monetization of Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credits under the IRA, once those rules are defined.

Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE: BE) recently in response to market commentary regarding the results of the recent Korea Hydrogen Portfolio Standard auction, Bloom said it expects shipment volumes to Korea to be similar in 2024 and the coming years to what they have been in recent years. As disclosed previously, we continue to expect our partner SK ecoplant Co., Ltd. to purchase 500MW of Bloom solid oxide fuel cells between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2027.

Bloom is the proven leader in solid oxide fuel cell technology, having demonstrated 60% electrical efficiency using hydrogen, and 90% combined heat and power efficiency. Bloom remains fully confident in our partners in Korea, and in the ability for Bloom fuel cells to be transformative to the Korean energy market. The public auction is just one mechanism for the sale of our energy servers into the Korean market. Our partners have other development projects in addition to those emanating from the auction.

About FN Media Group:

At FN Media Group, via our top-rated online news portal at www.financialnewsmedia.com, we are one of the very few select firms providing top tier one syndicated news distribution, targeted ticker tag press releases and stock market news coverage for today’s emerging companies. #tickertagpressreleases #pressreleases

Follow us on Facebook to receive the latest news updates: https://www.facebook.com/financialnewsmedia

Follow us on Twitter for real time Market News: https://twitter.com/FNMgroup

Follow us on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/financialnewsmedia/

DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates FinancialNewsMedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. FNM’s market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks. All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release. FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks. For current services performed FNM was compensated twenty three hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press releases issued by BluSky Carbon Inc. by the company. FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

Contact Information:

Media Contact email: editor@financialnewsmedia.com – +1(561)325-8757

SOURCE: FN Media Group, LLC.

The MIL Network –

September 29, 2024

Category: Transport

The study

Why the findings matter

The study

Why the findings matter

Notes to editors

Share this page

Updates to this page

Achieve more with Trustworthy AI

Related:

What

Who

The Study

Press release

Additional multimedia

Quotes

Related links

Contact persons

Stay Connected