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  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Hochul Discusses Youth Mental Health at Summit

    Source: US State of New York

    Earlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul participated in a Concordia Summit Fireside Chat on Youth Mental Health in New York City.

    VIDEO: The event is available to stream on YouTube here and TV quality video is available here (h.264, mp4).

    AUDIO: The Governor’s remarks are available in audio form here.

    PHOTOS: The Governor’s Flickr page will post photos of the event here.

    A rush transcript of the Governor’s remarks is available below:

    Penny Abeywardena: Good afternoon. So, we’re going to talk about something that really should be on the top of minds for all of us, and that is the many aspects of phones and schools to explore today. And there is no one better to reflect on this than our mom-Governor, Governor Hochul.

    So there are two massive clusters of changing norms colliding over this past decade. Parents driven a lot by anxiety and concerns have been buying smartphones for their kids. How do I keep my kids safe in school? With mental health challenges and bullying, how can I make sure my kid is okay during the day?

    And then, can I ensure my kid is keeping up with the technology? And then let’s not forget that the smartphone and video game and social media industries have focused on maximizing and monetizing screen time. So now these trends are complex and interdependent, but there is leadership that is going to help address this. And so it is a pleasure to be in conversation with Governor Hochul on this.

    Now, I want to know what your aha moment is, and I do think this is a moment to reflect on personal experience. We were just talking backstage, I have an eight-year-old in the public school system here in New York City. This became a big issue over the last few weeks. And I was properly shocked because he’s eight. And so this is something that quite honestly all of us need to be thinking about. And so, Governor Hochul, through your personal experiences or insights, can you tell us what influenced you to really focus on this issue from a legislative perspective?

    Governor Hochul: Thank you, Penny, and for Concordia for elevating this issue. I was here last year talking about climate change, and I’m always happy to talk about that. I can give you the speech I gave a few hours ago. But this is something a year ago I would not have thought we’d be talking about here. But I am so happy that this has finally taken hold because as a mom, a parent, you are hardwired to protect your children. Full stop. You wake up in the morning, start thinking about them when they’re little, late at night when they’re out with their friends you don’t sleep until they’re back home. That’s how we are. And as the Governor of New York, my number one job also has to be to protect all New Yorkers.

    So, you asked what my aha moment was. About a year and a half ago, I started convening mental health roundtables because we knew we were starting to see the signs that young people in particular had not fully emerged from the pandemic. They are still stressed out. The statistics on suicide, especially for teenage girls contemplating suicide, the depression, the anxiety, it was off the charts. So, I started having meetings and gathering kids and talking all over the state, and there was one not that long ago where the young woman – we started talking about the impact of social media and how it really takes hold of them. They’re held captive to these algorithms that are designed to bombard them with information that they will like because it’s taking personal information about them and turning it around and pulling them in deeper and deeper.

    And I said to this young woman – she was telling me how “I’m getting bullied during the day and all these social media and everybody’s doing this and I’m missing out and I have FOMO,” I said, “What do you want us to do?” She goes, “You have to save us from ourselves.” And that was my aha moment, when I realized it’s hard for parents to say you’re going to be the only teenager in the school without a cell phone, it’s hard for the school district to take it on and say, “We’re going to be the heavies,” teachers have enough on their plates, they don’t have to be the enforcers. And I realized this calls for government intervention, and I’m not afraid to take on the fights, especially when we’re fighting for our kids’ mental health.

    That was when I said, “Let’s find out what we can do to control these social media companies,” and we can talk about our nation-leading legislation, but also I’m right now developing a policy that’s going to say, “Bell to bell, full school day, phones should not be in the hands of children because they’re being denied the chance to learn, the teachers are frustrated that they’re not paying attention anymore, but also it has taken them to negative places, and it’s horrible for their mental health.”

    Penny Abeywardena: It really is. And different levels at different ages and grades, the impact is even more optimized, right?” Now, it would be great if you could talk about the significance of the first-in-the-nation law you signed to combat addictive social media feeds. And I will say, I hope many of you realize this, Instagram changed their policy last week, and I’m assuming it’s because they’re seeing the serious movement that’s coming from around the country, led by –

    Governor Hochul: Well, that’s true. In the era of – waiting for industries to self-regulate in the best interest of consumers is probably never going to happen. So, I’m not holding my breath. We encourage the tech companies, social media companies to work with us. Obviously, you’re always threatened by lawsuits. And I said, first I have a lot of lawyers, I can hire any lawyer in the state I want so bring it on. But I’d rather not. I said, “Why don’t you get out of the courtroom and come into my conference room and help devise solutions, because you know what you’re doing. You know exactly what you’re doing. You design these algorithms that’ll capture all this personal data about any age, a 10-year-old, 12-year-old, 15-year-old,” and they’re using it to structure messaging around your interests.

    We worked with them, they resisted, they built a campaign against us, they spent a lot of money. And I was able to work with our Attorney General, Tish James, here in New York, and legislators, and work with a coalition of parents and Common Sense Media, and formed a coalition where we were able to fight back. And our legislation – which we encourage every other state to adopt, I hear California’s looking at this now – it basically says a couple of things: one, is you cannot collect private data about anyone under the age of 18. You can’t collect it, you can’t sell it. You cannot monetize our children’s mental health any longer, you’re barred from that. Secondly, you are forbidden, barred from being able to target young people with algorithms designed based on their tastes.

    Now, a young person is not prohibited from going to your sites. They can talk, they can go to all kinds of chat rooms, they can talk to their friends, they can do whatever they want. But you cannot target them. And that was a heavy lift for them, and it’s a heavy lift to get through in legislation, but we did it. I just signed it into law a few months ago, and I’m really proud of it.

    We’re working on the regulations, but I always think about the fact that they told us, “Well, we have no capacity to identify who’s under the age of 18. This is an impossibility.” It’s like, “You’re tech companies, you can do anything, figure it out.” And somehow, magically, Instagram announced last week, they figured it out.

    I have immense faith in their ability to solve problems even if it’s against their self-interest.

    Penny Abeywardena: And that’s really bringing everybody to the table. When we think about the efficacy of what you’ve been able to do, it really came down to really strategic collaborations. Can you talk about how you worked not only with parents and teachers, but unions? We talked about authorities and the police; I’d just be curious how everybody’s playing a part in all of this?

    Governor Hochul: That’s a great question because you can’t go into these battles alone, right? You have to have allies as you march into war. And here’s what we needed to have. First of all, many parents on their own have said they know how bad it is. They’ve seen their children, especially if they were able to get a cell phone at age 12, 13, 14, they turn into a different person. First of all, they lose the capacity over time to have real, genuine social interactions. They don’t make eye contact. They don’t talk to other students. In school, the cafeteria is silent. They’re silent when they’re in the schoolyard. They’re silent in the halls. And the school districts that – on their own – were courageous enough to ban them said they now hear children laughing, talking, even arguing, they’re communicating more.

    And it was stopped. It was a dead silence. It was so unnatural. So, I had to get teachers on board, that was the easiest one. 72 percent of teachers across this country say that they are tired of the distractions and their inability to communicate with students or make connections in a way that are positive relationships.

    This is, outside a parent, the most influential person in their lives is a teacher. And the teacher is trying to do the best they can, and they’re being thwarted. They’re not learning, but they’re also not making connections.

    They’re stunted in their growth. They’re not turning into young adults eventually, over time, and ultimately adults. And we needed teachers on board, principals on board, school districts on board, and I said in all my – I did roundtables all over the state with all these parties at the table. I said, “I’ll be the heavy, just blame me, say, ‘that mean Governor made us do this,’ I mean I’ll take that on.” Because as a mom, I know how important this is and it would have helped me enormously to tell my kids, “I would have let you have the cell phones in school, but hey, it’s the law, I can’t let you do that. I still love you and I’d let you do anything else.”

    It’s about relationships, the ability to say no, which I have no trouble saying to my kids, but some do. But I also need law enforcement, and this is interesting, because my kids were in middle school during Columbine, the very high-profile mass shooting, and you still say the word ‘Columbine,’ I get chills because I know what it did to my sense of security. And we have so many other cases since then, I just spoke about Uvalde at another forum.

    So I thought, I have to think about how this affects parents’ sense of security when they say goodbye to their most precious little child, whether it’s kindergarten or 12th grade. I talked to law enforcement, what they said was so striking. If there is a crisis on campus or in the schoolyard, in the school, a mass shooting, worst case scenario, the last thing you want children to be doing, the last thing, is looking at their cell phone, texting mom and dad, sending messages, maybe videoing because they want to be the one who captures this. First of all, you’re telegraphing where you are, okay? You’ll hear this. Also, the police said to me the place their attention has to be is not on their smartphone, it has to be on the front of the classroom where the teacher is going to lead them to safety.

    When I heard that, it was like the clouds parted. I said, that’s the argument for parents. They need to hear that. So we’re not through yet. I’ve proposed this and loosely I said I’m going to be developing a policy. I will be working with these same groups I just mentioned. Everybody to let them understand how important this is and it’s also when I think about employers in my state, I want to be able to let them know that when young people emerge from their educational process, they’ll be fully functioning adults who have social interaction skills, who’ll be able to have the creative collisions and talk to someone else, a colleague, and work in teams and strategize together and really be more productive instead of someone who’s, again, their existence for a number of years has just been with the virtual world.

    And I can’t control what happens after school. Like my nieces are on all night long. I said, who are they talking to all night long? Isn’t anybody sleeping? And so they’re not, because they’re talking to kids on the other side of the world, literally. So we also say no notifications, and parents have the ability to turn it off. Sorry, kids, you can’t have it on from midnight until 6 a.m. I think Instagram actually said 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., which I thought was extraordinary. So parents are being empowered. So now we have to educate the parents. This is what it looks like, this is how you handle it, and when your teenager gets, tries to get around it, this is how you undo what they did. We have to help the parents get through this as well, but ultimately, imagine a world where this never happened. We’re not dealing with these high rates of depression and anxiety in young people and the bullying that goes on in schools.

    One mom said her husband has to leave work every day to be there at the end of the day when the child comes home from school because he gets picked on so badly on his own cell phone, watching it all day long, people are saying that he’s about to commit suicide and they want to keep an eye on him.

    If that doesn’t hit you as a parent – what is happening? But a world where we say, no cell phones, we just go back to the way it was when we were younger.

    Penny Abeywardena: Yeah.

    Governor Hochul: And if you need to – forget your lunch or you need to figure out how you’re getting home at the end of the day, guess what? There’s phones in the office. It’s a radical idea. Go down the hall, talk to your counselor, talk to your principal, can I use the phone?

    Penny Abeywardena: Talk to someone.

    Governor Hochul: And maybe forget your lunch and you go hungry; you won’t do it the next day. That’s called learning about life, right? Consequences. So it’s, that’s how I was raised. I don’t know. Maybe I’m old school, but I want to save our kids. It’s this important. I have to work on this intensely to at least save our state’s kids and hopefully other states will follow. And a number have, there have been other states that have done it.

    Penny Abeywardena: I was curious what kind of advice you would give to other state lawmakers because we talk about these coalitions as groups, but they’re important constituents who vote. So they’re concerned about making parents angry and losing that support. And I’d be curious what strategies and ideas you would offer to other state lawmakers to take this on.

    Governor Hochul: Just looking at it globally, the easiest thing in the world is to do nothing. Just wait for someone else. “It’s too hard.” Believe me, there’s a lot of challenges in New York to be a lot easier to pass on to somebody else. And that has happened. And I’m the cleanup Governor. I have a lot of work to do to try and invest, we never invested in mental health in the state.

    For example, never, no one ever talked about mental health as if it was an issue at all. I invested a billion dollars in my first budgets and said, we have to deal with everything from the lack of training for more professionals to be in the field to school-based clinics, so we can treat the kids right in schools if they have challenges to the homeless on the subways, more beds in hospitals. We looked at it holistically and we’re making real progress. So my advice to them is just show some profiles and courage once in a while. Shock everybody. Do something that’s a little bit difficult on the front end, but we’re in the world to make a difference.

    And these positions are positions of great authority, but they also hold a lot of responsibility for us. If you’re not making a difference every single day when you’re in a position like I am, then just stay in bed. I mean just don’t even bother because your job is to make a difference. Find problems – the easy problems my brilliant staff will solve, the hardest ones are on my desk and that’s what a Governor is supposed to do. It’s just, and if you’re not going to fight for kids, who are you wanting to fight for? That’s a statement about your values.

    Penny Abeywardena: And building on that. So there’s a middle ground, right? There are these bags you can have in school, so the kids get their phones, they get to show up at school with their phones, but then put them in. We had an interesting conversation backstage, and I was wondering if you can share, you know, our kids are smart.

    Governor Hochul: Yeah, kids are very smart. There are a few school districts in New York, Schoharie School District, up near the Capitol. They went full board, they did it a couple years ago, they said it was hard, there was a lot of resistance, parents said no, teachers didn’t want to be enforcers, and now they’re so glad they didn’t. And people now, and they had signs in front lawns, protesting taking cell phones away from kids.

    Give me a break. So I know it’s coming. I know it’s coming. But, these, so they have these bags, and there’s all sorts of ways to do this, but there’s these bags that are magnetic. Teacher watches the children put them in the bag at the beginning of the school. Only the teacher can unlock it so at the end of the school day they’ll get their phone back.

    No one’s going to steal it. It’s safe. Some kids are showing up at school, the teachers told me, with two cell phones. They lock one up in front of the teacher. Okay, kids have burner phones now? Okay, or what parent is buying their kid two cell phones? Okay? And then they use the other one all day.

    The other thing I think is important for parents to know. One of the teachers, she said, “We have to deal with the integrity issues.” I said, “What’s that mean?” It’s a nice way of saying they’re cheating. The whole world, all the answers are sitting there on their lap, and they’re not learning because they don’t have to. Or they run off to the lavatory with their phone, even the schools that ban it but let you have it during lunchtime or during breaks. They’re looking up information that they’re never going to learn properly from. And people say they’re not going to learn how to use technology. What do you think they’re doing the second they get home?

    They have all night long they’re doing that. I can’t control that. That’s up to parents. The last thing I’ll say on this is – parents, watch what you’re doing too. Kids learn from you. If you won’t put down the cell phone at the dinner table, or when you’re talking to them after dinner, by the time they’re mid-teenagers, they don’t even want to see you, so work on them before that. I believe I speak from experience. But show the kids they matter. Go to one of your meetings and leave your cell phone on your desk. The world will not fall apart. Somehow, we got to this age of 2024, surprisingly, throughout most of history, without being able to be connected and scrolling while your boss is talking to you, or while your colleagues are trying to present something. Just show basic respect to each other. Let’s not forget those skills. Respect each other, put down the phone.

    Penny Abeywardena: Put down, and that they’re paying attention to you and what you’re doing. I want to, we’re about to run out of time, but you mentioned, can we just talk about the investment that you made in mental health and other educational initiatives. Can you just share some of the programs and initiatives you have coming up that essentially reinforce this legislative –

    Governor Hochul: Yes. Again, one of the most significant things we’re doing is the mental health services in schools. Yeah. And so we’ve had to ensure that we’re funding workforce training for a whole new generation of more people going into the mental health professions, because I can open up a clinic in every single school. I could never staff it. I have to work with the unions and the training programs and put money behind this and training in hospitals. And so part of ours is creating a whole new generation of more healthcare workers, especially focused in this area. So that’s one big area, but I would say this, we also just need services, wraparound services from the get-go. My job is to make sure that our children emerge with healthy minds and not needing a lifetime of mental health services because we didn’t do our jobs when we had them in school.

    Penny Abeywardena: That is a perfect conclusion. Thank you so much, Governor Hochul.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Onfolio Holdings Inc. Signs Agreement To Acquire Eastern Standard Business

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WILMINGTON, Del., Sept. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Onfolio Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: ONFO, ONFOW) (the “Company” or “Onfolio”), a company that acquires and manages a diversified portfolio of online businesses, today announced that it has entered into an asset purchase agreement to acquire the majority interest in the assets of Eastern Standard LLC. The Company expects the acquisition to close October 1, 2024. The asset purchase agreement includes customary representations, warranties and covenants by the parties and the closing of the asset purchase agreement is subject to customary closing conditions. 

    As with the previous DDS Rank acquisition, this acquisition will occur with the assistance of Onfolio’s Special Purpose Vehicle “Onfolio Agency SPV LLC,” and an additional SPV “Onfolio Agency SPV 2 LLC” which will acquire a minority interest in the business.

    Eastern Standard provides clients with digital marketing services including integrated branding, and digital customer experiences. Their past client roster includes Neil de Grass Tyson, and Cornell Law, among others. For the fiscal year ended 12/31/2023, Eastern Standard generated approximately $4,000,000 in revenue and $630,000 in unaudited adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”).

    “Eastern Standard is an excellent business, with a strong leadership team and another exciting acquisition for us. Similar to Revenuezen, Eastern Standard is not alone a standalone business, but a platform for us to use for further acquisitions targeting organic and inorganic growth,” commented Onfolio CEO Dominic Wells. “As we build out the agency side of our portfolio, we continue to both level up the quality of business we own, and increase our capabilities to serve clients and cross-promote services.”

    On the deal structure, Wells added, “As with DDS Rank, we will complete this acquisition without Onfolio Holdings paying any upfront cash or issuing any common shares.”

    “The purchase price is $2,160,000 for 90% ownership. Our special purpose vehicle funding program, which continues to raise capital that is not dilutive to Onfolio shareholders, is investing $500,000 in exchange for 20% of Eastern Standard. Onfolio will own 70% of Eastern Standard in exchange for $410,000 of Series A Preferred Shares and through two secured promissory notes totalling $1,250,000 in the aggregate.”

    The Series A Preferred Shares and secured promissory notes to be issued by Onfolio will pay dividends and interest and are not convertible into Onfolio common shares.

    “We have mentioned previously that we have several acquisitions with structures similar to the DDS Rank and Eastern Standard transactions and should have enough capital to close because of our special purpose vehicle program’s non-dilutive funding,” said Dom Wells. “This acquisition should help us in our efforts to achieve profitability,” concluded Wells.

    About Eastern Standard

    Eastern Standard, a Philadelphia-based combined web and branding agency since 2014, was created to help clients navigate the creation of integrated branding and digital customer experiences. Using a data-first approach, Eastern Standard blends strategy, creativity, and technology to drive end-to-end brand and digital transformation.

    About Onfolio Holdings

    Onfolio acquires and manages a diversified portfolio of online businesses. Onfolio acquires business that meet its investment criteria, being that such businesses operate in sectors with long-term growth opportunities, have positive and stable cash flows, face minimal threats of technological or competitive obsolescence and can be managed by our existing team or have strong management teams largely in place. The Company excels at finding acquisition opportunities where the seller has not fully optimized their business, and Onfolio’s experience and skillset allows it to add increased value to these existing businesses. Visit www.onfolio.com for more information.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    The information posted in this release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements by use of the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “plans,” “explores,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “continues,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic and business conditions, effects of continued geopolitical unrest and regional conflicts, competition, changes in technology and methods of marketing, delays in completing new customer offerings, changes in customer order patterns, changes in customer offering mix, continued success in technological advances and delivering technological innovations, delays due to issues with outsourced service providers, those events and factors described by us under the caption “Risk Factors” included in our SEC filings and other risks to which our Company is subject, and various other factors beyond the Company’s control.

    Investor Contact

    investors@onfolio.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Verizon Business inks 5G connected-vehicle deal with teledriving car-share company Vay

    Source: Verizon

    Headline: Verizon Business inks 5G connected-vehicle deal with teledriving car-share company Vay

    What you need to know:

    • Now live in Las Vegas, offers remotely driven electric vehicles (EV) that can be rented by the minute. When requesting a car through the app, a Vay teledriver delivers a vehicle to the user and picks it up after the journey is complete. Upon delivery, the user takes over and drives to their destination like in a regular car.
    • Verizon Business is providing 5G connectivity to Vay vehicles and custom data plans to help Vay handle the massive amounts of data generated by its teleoperated fleet.
    • Use cases include near real-time connectivity to provide mobility solutions for teledriven cars; transmitting telematics or diagnostic information from vehicles to Vay and/or Vay customers; and transmitting over-the-air updates to software and firmware in Vay vehicles.

    NEW YORK, NY and Las Vegas, NV – Verizon Business and Vay Technology today announced an agreement bringing Verizon 5G connectivity to Vay’s fleet of teleoperated electric vehicles. The deal also includes custom data plans to help manage massive amounts of data generated by Vay vehicles’ sensors and cameras.

    “Vay’s unique operational model shows the importance of mobile connectivity for the future of transportation. From Vay’s app-based user interface to their high-tech teledriving command centers to the vehicle fleet itself, connectivity touches all corners of the business,” said TJ Fox, Senior Vice President of Industrial IoT and Automotive, Verizon Business. “We’re thrilled to work with a company as innovative as Vay, which can use our unrivaled network to fuel their expansions throughout the U.S.”

    “Verizon’s technology has been critical for Vay’s entry into the U.S. market from Europe, and we look forward to continuing our relationship with them as we expand our commercial and B2B businesses,” said Thomas von der Ohe, Vay co-founder and CEO. “Verizon’s coverage, performance and network reliability are essential for handling the data load inherent to teleoperating our fleet to the highest standards of safety and capability.”

    Vay currently operates its commercial service in Las Vegas, where users can order an electric car via the Vay app and have it delivered to them by a Vay teledriver. While in the car, the users drive themselves, just like in a regular car. When the trip is complete, they end the rental in the app, exit the vehicle, and a Vay teledriver remotely drives it to the next customer. High-performance, low-latency Verizon 5G connectivity helps enable this operational model.

    Verizon connectivity is used for data-intensive, mission-critical workloads such as providing mobility solutions for teleoperation-capable cars; transmitting telematics or diagnostic information from vehicles to Vay and/or Vay customers; and transmitting over-the-air updates to software and firmware in Vay vehicles.

    Visit verizon.com/connectedvehicle to learn more about Verizon’s connected automotive solutions and capabilities.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: China Medical System: New Drug Application for Vitiligo Indication of Ruxolitinib Phosphate Cream Accepted in China

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHENZHEN, CHINA, Sept. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — China Medical System Holdings Limited (the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group” or “CMS”) is pleased to announce that on September 24, 2024, the New Drug Application (NDA) for vitiligo indication of ruxolitinib phosphate cream (the “ruxolitinib cream” or the “Product”) has been accepted by the National Medical Products Administration of China (NMPA). This is another substantial milestone for ruxolitinib cream in China, following the approval for Urgent Clinical Import by Hainan Medical Products Administration and approval for marketing in Macau for vitiligo, and it is also a key step in benefiting over ten million of patients with vitiligo in China.

    Ruxolitinib cream achieved positive results in Chinese Real-World Study. The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of patients in the treatment group who achieved F-VASI 75 response at week 24, which was 49.5%, significantly higher than the target value of 14.1% (p<0.0001). The study met its primary endpoint, demonstrating that ruxolitinib cream is effective in treating patients with nonsegmental vitiligo, reducing the area of the lesions, and repigmenting the skin. All secondary efficacy endpoints showed a trend of benefit consistent with the primary efficacy endpoint, and the treatment effect for vitiligo continued to improve with longer treatment duration. Adverse events mostly had severity levels of grade 1 or 2. No adverse event (AE) leading to discontinuation or withdrawal, and no serious adverse event (SAE) related to the study drug occurred.

    While advancing the process of NDA for the Product, the Group is conducting the transfer of ruxolitinib cream from overseas production to domestic production (localization technology transfer), which is being orderly promoted by the Contract Development Manufacturing Outsourcing Organization (CDMO), and the lab-scale and pilot trial studies have been completed and under scale-up production. The Group strives to complete the localization study as soon as possible, register in Mainland China and obtain marketing approval, so as to enable the Chinese patients with vitiligo to use the innovative product.

    Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by depigmentation of the skin, which results from the loss of pigment-producing cells known as melanocytes. It is estimated that there are approximately 14 million vitiligo patients in China[1]. Non-segmental vitiligo patients account for approximately 85% of them. Topical corticosteroids (TCS) and calcineurin inhibitors (CI) are used off-label for non-segmental vitiligo, however, these therapies have clinical deficiencies with long-term adverse reactions of long-term treatment or limited efficacy[2、3]. If the Product being successfully approved for marketing in China, it will be the first prescription drug approved for repigmentaton in vitiligo in Mainland China, bringing novel treatment hopes for Chinese vitiligo patients.

    CMS has always adhered to its mission of providing competitive products and services to meet unmet medical needs. Guided by innovation strategy, the Group continuously strengthens its independent R&D as well as external collaboration, enriching its product pipelines. Looking ahead, CMS will continue to identify products with differentiated advantages globally and efficiently promote their clinical development and commercialization, bringing more novel and effective drugs to patients.

    About ruxolitinib cream
    Ruxolitinib cream, (Opzelura), a novel cream formulation of Incyte’s selective JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor ruxolitinib, is approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration for the topical treatment of nonsegmental vitiligo in patients 12 years of age and older, and is the first and only treatment for repigmentation approved for use in the United States[4]. Ruxolitinib cream (Opzelura) is also approved in the U.S. for the topical short-term and non-continuous chronic treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis (AD) in non-immunocompromised patients 12 years of age and older whose disease is not adequately controlled with topical prescription therapies, or when those therapies are not advisable[5]. In Europe, ruxolitinib cream (Opzelura) is approved for the treatment of non-segmental vitiligo with facial involvement in adults and adolescents from 12 years of age[6].

    The Product is not approved by the NMPA for any indication in Mainland China. However, on 12 August 2023, the Product was approved by Hainan Medical Products Administration for Urgent Clinical Import, and officially became available to applicable patients in the Hainan Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone (the “Pilot Zone”) on August 18, for the topical treatment of non-segmental vitiligo in adults and adolescents aged 12 and above with facial involvement. Benefiting from the Early and Pilot Implementation Policy granted by the state to Hainan Free Trade Port and the Pilot Zone, patients with vitiligo in China can apply for the Product in Boao Super Hospital first and receive treatment from the expert team. In addition, ruxolitinib cream was approved by the Pharmaceutical Administration Bureau (ISAF) of Macau on 11 April 2024 for the topical treatment of non-segmental vitiligo with facial involvement in adult and adolescents form 12 years of age.

    On 2 December 2022, the Group through a subsidiary of the Company, a dermatology medical aesthetic company (“CMS Skinhealth”) entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement (the “License Agreement”) with Incyte for topical formulations of ruxolitinib for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory dermatology diseases. In accordance with the  License Agreement, the Group through CMS Skinhealth received an exclusive license to develop, register and commercialize the Product in Mainland China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macau Special Administrative Region, Taiwan Region and eleven Southeast Asian countries (Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Timor-Leste and Brunei Darussalam) (the “Territory”) and a non-exclusive license to manufacture the Product in the Territory. The License Agreement commenced on its effective date and has a royalty term of ten years from the date of the commercial sale of the Product in the Territory (the “Royalty Term”). Upon the expiration of the Royalty Term, the License Agreement may be renewed for a period of ten years thereafter (the “Initial Extended Royalty Term”) as per certain conditions defined in the License Agreement. Upon the expiration of the Initial Extended Royalty Term, the License Agreement may be extended for a period otherwise agreed by both sides as per certain conditions defined in the License Agreement.

    Incyte has worldwide rights for the development and commercialization of the Product, marketed in the United States and Europe as Opzelura®. Opzelura and the Opzelura logo are registered trademarks of Incyte.

    About CMS
    CMS is a platform company linking pharmaceutical innovation and commercialization with strong product lifecycle management capability, dedicated to providing competitive products and services to meet unmet medical needs.

    CMS focuses on the global first-in-class (FIC) and best-in-class (BIC) innovative products, and efficiently promotes the clinical research, development and commercialization of innovative products, enabling the continuous transformation of scientific research into clinical practices to benefit patients.

    CMS deeply engages in several specialty therapeutic fields, and has developed proven commercialization capabilities, extensive networks and expert resources, resulting in leading academic and market positions for its major marketed products. CMS continues to promote the in-depth development of its advantageous specialty fields and expand business boundaries. While strengthening the competitiveness of the cardio-cerebrovascular/gastroenterology business, CMS independently operates its dermatology and medical aesthetics business, and ophthalmology business, aiming to gain leading positions in specialty therapeutic fields, whilst enhancing the scale and efficiency. At the same time, CMS has expanded its business territory to the Southeast Asian market, striving to become a “bridgehead” for global pharmaceutical companies to enter the Southeast Asian market, further escorting the sustainable and healthy development of the Group.

    Reference：

    1. Ezzedine K, Eleftheriadou V, Whitton M, van Geel N. Vitiligo. Lancet. 2015;386(9988):74-84. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60763-7
    2. Consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of vitiligo (2021 version)
    3. Kubelis-López DE, Zapata-Salazar NA, Said-Fernández SL, Sánchez-Domínguez CN, Salinas-Santander MA, Martínez-Rodríguez HG, Vázquez-Martínez OT, Wollina U, Lotti T, Ocampo-Candiani J. Updates and new medical treatments for vitiligo (Review). Exp Ther Med. 2021 Aug;22(2):797. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10229. Epub 2021 May 25. PMID: 34093753; PMCID: PMC8170669.
    4. Drug approval information can be found on the FDA official website, as follows: $1
    5. Drug approval information can be found on the Incyte official website, as follows: https://investor.incyte.com/news-releases/news-release-details/incyte-announces-us-fda-approval-opzeluratm-ruxolitinib-cream
    6. Drug approval information can be found on the EMA official website, as follows: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/opzelura

    CMS Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release is not intended to promote any products to you and is not for advertising purposes. This press release does not recommend any drugs, medical devices and/or indications. If you want to know more about the diagnosis and treatment of specific diseases, please follow the opinions or guidance of your doctor or other medical and health professionals. Any treatment-related decisions made by healthcare professionals should be based on the patient’s specific circumstances and in accordance with the drug package insert.

    This press release which has been prepared by CMS does not constitute any offer or invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities, and shall not form the basis for or be relied on in connection with any contract or binding commitment whatsoever. This press release has been prepared by CMS based on information and data which it considers reliable, but CMS makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, whatsoever, and no reliance shall be placed on, the truth, accuracy, completeness, fairness and reasonableness of the contents of this press release. Certain matters discussed in this press release may contain statements regarding the Group’s market opportunity and business prospects that are individually and collectively forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Any forward-looking statements and projections made by third parties included in this press release are not adopted by the Group and the Company is not responsible for such third-party statements and projections.

    Media Contact

    Brand: China Medical System Holdings Ltd.

    Contact: CMS Investor Relations

    Email: ir@cms.net.cn

    Website: https://web.cms.net.cn/en/home/

    Source: China Medical System Holdings Ltd.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Did Romans really fight rhinos? Sports historian explains the truth behind the battle scenes in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Wray Vamplew, Emeritus Professor of Sport, University of Stirling

    In the trailer for Ridley Scott’s hotly anticipated sequel to Gladiator (2000), a new gladiator (played by Paul Mescal) goes to battle in “the greatest temple Rome ever built – the Colosseum”.

    He comes up against naval warfare, a cutthroat promoter (Denzel Washington) and a stampeding rhino. But how much of this really took place in Roman times? As always with films based in the past, pedantic historians will jump in to assess the degree of cinematic licence and historical misinterpretation. So it is with the forthcoming Gladiator II.

    The trailer for Gladiator II.

    Did gladiators fight rhinos?

    One thing that certainly did not happen was a warrior mounted on a rhinoceros (even a non-computer-generated one) charging at a group of gladiators. However, there is a record of a rhino at the inauguration of the Colosseum in 80BC. It didn’t fight men, but a bull, bear, buffalo, bison, lion and two steers. The other rare mentions of rhinos in Rome are of those in menageries, to be admired as exotic creatures.

    This Roman interest in foreign, wild animals was the basis of the initial beast spectacles which began in 275BC with an exhibition of captured war elephants. Such non-violent displays of animals continued into the imperial era, but in 186BC the first staged animal hunt (venatio), featuring both lions and leopards, took place and by 169BC beast hunts had become an official part of republican state festivals.

    Later, under the emperors, collecting and transporting beasts, especially unusual and foreign ones, to be displayed – but more often killed – demonstrated imperial power, territorial control and the vastness of the empire. Thousands of animals were brought from Africa and elsewhere to Roman arenas to be slaughtered for entertainment and the meat from the dead animals was given away to the spectators (it was easier than trying to dispose of the many carcasses).

    A 5th-century mosaic showing two gladiators fighting a tiger.
    Great Palace of Constantinople, CC BY

    Those who fought the beasts were not gladiators but specially trained hunters (venatores) armed with spears. The venatio could also feature fights between animals, as with the Colosseum rhinoceros, but most often the contest consisted of bulls against an elephant or bear. Animal hunts outlasted gladiatorial combats as a source of spectator entertainment, but as both the size of the empire and imperial funds diminished, greater reliance was placed on domestically reared “wild” animals.

    Were there sea battles in the Colosseum?

    More credence in historical terms can be given to the film’s staged sea battle (naumachia) in the flooded Colosseum. Such spectacles were expensive to stage and were reserved for special occasions.

    The first one recorded was for Emperor Augustus in 2BC. Held on an artificial lake, it featured 30 large ships carrying some 3,000 marines plus an unspecified number of rowers. Participants in a naumachia, typically either convicted criminals or prisoners of war, were expected to kill each other or drown, though, the demonstration of fighting ability and courage could gain them a pardon.

    The Naumachia by Ulpiano Checa (1894) imagines naval warfare in the Coliseum.
    Museo Ulpiano Checa

    The grandest sea battle was provided by Emperor Claudius on Lake Fucinus, a spectacle involving 100 ships and some 19,000 marines and oarsmen. It was at this event that the fighting men reportedly said “hail, emperor, we who are about to die salute you”, mistakenly assigned to gladiators in so many films, including the first Gladiator.

    Literary sources (not always to be trusted in antiquity as they were often written well after alleged events) claim that the Colosseum was flooded for a sea battle at its inauguration. After some debate, historians now accept that the engineering mechanisms were in place so that, at least in its early days, the Colosseum could have accommodated a naumachia.

    Did a thumbs down really mean death for a gladiator?

    Gladiator II also showcases the misconstrued sporting legacy of the thumbs up signal to spare a defeated gladiator who requested mercy or the converse of a thumbs down from those who wished him to die.

    The arena was a large, noisy place and hand signals were often used as a means of communication. Indeed, rather than verbally requesting mercy, the defeated warrior himself would raise the index finger of his right hand, or even the hand itself, both of which were recognised pleas for clemency.

    Pollice Verso (Thumbs Down) by Jean-Léon Gérôme, (1872).
    Phoenix Art Museum, CC BY

    When the crowd opted for the death of a fighter they indicated this by means of pollice verso, literally a turned thumb, with no direction specified. When the hand was waved the sign indicated that the gladiator’s throat should be cut by his conqueror. Those who wished to save the vanquished, but courageous, fighter gave the sign pollice compresso, a compressed thumb but one often hidden from sight so as not to cause visual confusion.

    Gladiators were valuable assets. Promoters, who had paid a hiring fee (typically 10-20% of their value) for them to fight, were reluctant to incur the full asset value demanded as compensation should they die. Especially when, at the crowd’s insistence, they could have a choice in the matter.

    In many instances the event had been promoted to curry favour with the spectators so to go against their wishes would be counterproductive. However, whether the ultimate decision-maker gave a thumbs up or thumbs down is debatable. The idea that this occurred seems to have developed around 1872 with the popularity of a painting by French artist, Jean-Léon Gérôme. In it he depicts vestal virgins giving the dreaded sign. Although titled Pollice Verso, it became conventionally referred to as “the thumbs down painting”.


    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    Wray Vamplew 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. Did Romans really fight rhinos? Sports historian explains the truth behind the battle scenes in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II – https://theconversation.com/did-romans-really-fight-rhinos-sports-historian-explains-the-truth-behind-the-battle-scenes-in-ridley-scotts-gladiator-ii-235255

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: President Ramaphosa urges US business to invest in SA’s growing economy

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on US businesses to deepen their investment ties with South Africa, highlighting the country’s renewed focus on economic recovery and structural reform. 

    Speaking at the SA-US Interactive Business Forum in New York on Monday, the President emphasised the progress made under South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU) and the vast opportunities available to foreign investors.

    He said this is a “timely intervention”, referencing his first visit to the US since South Africa’s general elections in May, which led to a coalition government of political parties committed to inclusive growth and job creation.

    “The advent of the Government of National Unity has renewed investor optimism in the South African economy. The message I bring to US investors today is that this optimism is well-placed. 

    “South Africa is firmly on the road to recovery, and we invite you to be part of this journey. Investments in South Africa are secure. Our business environment is stable. This is supported policy certainty and regulatory safeguards,” the President said. 

    He added that South Africa intends to stay the course on the structural economic reform process, on scaling up investment in key infrastructure, and on improving the business operating environment.

    The President noted South Africa’s success in attracting investment, revealing that the country had achieved its target of raising R1.2 trillion (approximately USD 63.6 billion) ahead of schedule in 2022. 

     “We have announced a new target of approximately R2 trillion or approximately USD 100 billion over the next five-year period up to 2028. 

    “The far-reaching structural reforms we have implemented over the past six years have opened up the country to increased levels of investment that continues to grow,” the President said. 

    Ramaphosa particularly underscored the potential in the clean energy sector, which has attracted significant investment, supporting South Africa’s commitment to decarbonisation and energy security. 

    “We are equally committed to a Just Energy Transition that is inclusive, that take our developmental needs into account, and that leaves no community behind. 

    “We have a supportive and enabling industrial policy that incorporates amongst others expanding the special economic zones, driving export-led growth, and harnessing the potential of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area or AfCFTA. In January 2024 we began preferential trading under the AfCFTA,” he said. 

    The President emphasised that the Government of National Unity is furthermore committed to prudent monetary and fiscal policy and to strengthening regulatory and legislative frameworks to combat corruption.

    The President also highlighted the importance of strategic partnerships with US businesses, especially in sectors like advanced manufacturing, energy, healthcare, and infrastructure. 

    “South Africa and Africa is ripe for investment in financial services, advanced manufacturing, energy, healthcare, infrastructure development, mining, science and technology and other sectors. South Africa is also developing the value chains of the future.

    “With substantial reserves of critical energy transition minerals, we are positioning ourselves to be at the forefront of the green energy revolution,” he said. 

    He added that as the country with the world’s largest platinum group metal reserves, South Africa has a competitive advantage when it comes to the production of sustainable energy technologies, including electric vehicles, new energy vehicles and renewable energy components.

    President Ramaphosa praised the collaboration between the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), following the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding. He stated that the partnership between the two stock exchanges “promotes cross-border investment and drives economic growth on a global scale.”

    The President further highlighted the US as one of South Africa’s most valued trade partners, noting that bilateral trade totalled USD 17.6 billion in 2022. 

    He also praised the impact of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in fostering trade and creating jobs in sectors like automotive, agriculture, and precious metals.

    With Africa’s population expected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, President Ramaphosa painted a bright picture of the continent’s economic prospects, noting that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) would “drive a wave of industrialisation and create dynamic regional value chains.”

    “This too presents opportunities for US businesses and investors, and opens up new markets for their goods, products and services. 

    “Mutually beneficial trade and investment not only unlocks the dynamism and potential of an entire continent. It will also aid Africa’s efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,” the President said. 

    In closing, President Ramaphosa reassured investors of the stability and security of investments in South Africa. 

    “South Africa is open for business. Sustainable and inclusive growth spurs development and creates jobs.

    “Together, we can forge a path to shared success and progress, leveraging our combined strengths to achieve enduring prosperity for our people,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za

     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Global: A brief history of former presidents running for reelection: 3 losses, 1 win and 1 still TBD

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Graeme Mack, Visiting Assistant Professor of History, University of Richmond

    Theodore Roosevelt speaks during the Progressive campaign of 1912. AP Photo

    This year’s presidential election has a former president, Donald Trump, running for a nonconsecutive term. It’s the fifth time in U.S. history that’s happened.

    Historically, a former president running for a nonconsecutive term has prompted voters to change their party allegiances.

    In 1848, Martin Van Buren, a former Democratic president, ran as a candidate for the newly formed Free Soil Party and attracted many Northern Democrats who had grown disillusioned with their party’s pro-slavery stance. The Free Soil Party outperformed Democrats in three Northern states and enabled the other major party, the Whigs, to win the presidency.

    And in 1856, former Whig President Millard Fillmore headed the newly formed American Party, otherwise known as the Know-Nothing party. When faced with a choice between two candidates, Fillmore and Democrat James Buchanan, who both seemed deeply complicit with slavery’s expansion, many Northerners voted for the new antislavery Republican Party.

    Fillmore’s candidacy in 1856 made a Republican sweep of the North virtually impossible, ensuring victory for Buchanan, who only won 45% of the popular vote.

    Theodore Roosevelt’s run in 1912 also saw dramatic changes in voter behavior. With the former president on the ballot, millions of voters cast ballots for the other major party or a brand new party.

    By this time, Roosevelt had become one of the most famous men in the world. Reformers praised his ability to attract attention and build support for progressive causes.

    These characteristics repulsed conservative Republicans and traditional Democrats who feared Roosevelt’s return to power.

    After failing to secure the Republican nomination, Roosevelt headed the newly formed Progressive Party, winning six states and 88 electoral votes, the strongest showing for a third party candidate ever.

    However, the split in the Republican ranks enabled Democrats to win by an electoral landslide.

    One former president ran for a nonconsecutive second term and won: Grover Cleveland, whose two terms ran from 1885-1889 and 1893-1897.

    The rise of progressivism

    When Roosevelt ran in 1912, he saw a society convulsed by rapid change.

    Between 1870 and 1900, the population of the United States rose from roughly 38 million to more than 76 million.

    During this time, business transformed from small-scale manufacturing and local trade to huge corporations and factory-based manufacturing.

    From 1900 to 1915, another 15 million immigrants settled in American cities.

    A political reform movement known as progressivism emerged across political parties. It sought to address problems with immigration, urbanization, political corruption, industrialization and the concentration of corporate power.

    Roosevelt’s political career tapped into progressivism’s growing momentum. First elected vice president as a Republican in 1900, he assumed the presidency in September 1901 after the assassination of President William McKinley.

    Campaigning on his progressive “Square Deal” — focused on consumer protections, control of large corporations and conservation of natural resources — in 1904, the popular incumbent won reelection in the largest electoral landslide the country had seen.

    But in 1908, Roosevelt declined to run for a third term. Instead, he advocated successfully for William Howard Taft, his secretary of war.

    However, as Taft’s presidency took shape, Roosevelt grew dissatisfied with him. What most frustrated Roosevelt was Taft’s refusal to use executive power to advance progressive goals.

    Seeing an urgent need for forceful presidential leadership, Roosevelt challenged Taft for the Republican nomination in 1912.

    A political cartoon from 1912 illustrating Theodore Roosevelt’s dissatisfaction with how President William Howard Taft carried out his policies.
    Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

    At the Republican National Convention, however, party leaders rejected Roosevelt and confirmed Taft’s nomination. Roosevelt’s supporters stormed out, complaining that leaders had manipulated rules and procedures to block the former president.

    Despite his loss of the nomination, Roosevelt assured his supporters that he felt as “strong as a Bull Moose” and expressed interest in “bolting” from the Republican Party.

    Roosevelt’s threat to leave his party was echoed more than 100 years later by another former president running for a nonconsecutive term. In late 2023, Trump refused to participate in the Republican presidential primary debates and refused to rule out the possibility of running as an independent.

    In doing so, Trump’s candidacy hampered efforts to seek an alternative candidate. It also disregarded opportunities to win over skeptical Republicans.

    The rise of the Bull Moose Party

    In a matter of weeks after Roosevelt failed to get the Republican nomination, the Progressive Party, popularly known as the Bull Moose Party, held its national convention and nominated Roosevelt as its first presidential candidate.

    His presidential campaign did not lack for energy or spectacle. In October 1912, the former president delivered a one-hour speech immediately after being shot in an assassination attempt.

    He told his supporters, “It takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose.”

    Theodore Roosevelt arrives at a hospital after New York saloon keeper John F. Schrank attempted to assassinate him in Milwaukee in 1912.
    Harlingue/Roger Viollet via Getty Images

    Like the recent assassination attempts on Trump, this attack drew condemnation and galvanized the former president’s core supporters.

    Roosevelt faced off on Election Day against the Republican incumbent, William Howard Taft; Eugene V. Debs, the Socialist Party candidate; and the Democratic candidate, Woodrow Wilson.

    Many Republicans cast their ballots for Wilson, seeing his candidacy as more viable than Roosevelt’s. Some did so out of disgust for what they saw as Roosevelt’s egotistical and radical campaign.

    The split in the Republican Party created an opportunity for Democrats, who had been shut out of the presidency for decades.

    The legacy of 1912

    On election day, Democrat Wilson won 40 states and earned 435 electoral votes. Democrats also won the House and Senate for the first time since 1892.

    However, Wilson prevailed with less than 42% of the national vote, the smallest share won by a president since Abraham Lincoln’s 1860 election.

    A unified Republican ticket would very likely have prevailed in 1912.

    Taft blamed Roosevelt for 1 million Republicans voting for the Democratic ticket to stave off a Progressive win.

    Historical parallels are never perfect. However, the 1912 election invites some comparison, as one of the world’s most famous men runs for the third time for the presidency.

    The 2024 election will be close. Wary of Trump’s return to power, will disillusioned Republicans vote for Democratic Party nominee Kamala Harris, choose a third-party candidate, or sit out the election?

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

    – ref. A brief history of former presidents running for reelection: 3 losses, 1 win and 1 still TBD – https://theconversation.com/a-brief-history-of-former-presidents-running-for-reelection-3-losses-1-win-and-1-still-tbd-234959

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: No, immigrants aren’t eating dogs and cats – but Trump’s claim is part of an ugly history of myths about immigrant foodways

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Adrienne Bitar, Lecturer, Cornell University

    Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump debates Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris on Sept. 10, 2024. Win McNamee/Getty Images

    When Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said during the presidential debate on Sept. 10, 2024, that Haitian immigrants are eating pets, food historians like me were not surprised at the slur. Trump’s lie followed a long American history of peddling ugly rumors about immigrants stealing and eating pets.

    Dietary rules that unite and define American cuisine can so easily be perverted to use disgust to divide Americans. In the U.S., cow is food and dog is friend. Chicken is food. Cat is companion. The sharp lines between the animals Americans eat, love, protect and exterminate help write the dietary rules that define American norms.

    What we eat, what we don’t and with whom we break bread are just some of the food rules that unite and define Americans. Think of how turkey – or tofurkey – unites Americans behind the Thanksgiving ritual. Bottled water. Ice. Ballpark hot dogs. Airplane pretzels. Movie theater popcorn.

    Food can also establish group identity apart from the mainstream. Think of the many factions of vegan, vegetarian, paleo, grain-free and carnivore dieters who use food to express a political position. Also, of course, religious dietary proscriptions have worried scholars for centuries so that Jews, Muslims and Christians may never share a meal.

    There is no evidence that Haitians are stealing and eating pet cats and dogs. There is evidence, however, that racists have long twisted dietary rules to divide people and dehumanize immigrants. Trump told a lie to draw a line between Americans and others who allegedly eat the animals Americans love.

    A sign at a popular hot dog restaurant in Chicago reads ‘Immigrants eat our dogs,’ on Sept. 12, 2024, two days after the presidential debate.
    Scott Olson/Getty Images

    The legend of delicious pets

    The myth of eating pets traces back to old legends in Europe, Australia and the United States that “immigrants are stealing our cats and dogs for their dinner tables or to serve in ethnic restaurants,” writes the folklorist Jan Harold Brunvand.

    Two of the most common food-based legends center on “Oriental restaurants serving dog (or cat) meat, and legends about Asian immigrants in the United States capturing and cooking people’s pets,” Brunvard writes.

    By 1883, the legend was so well-established that the Chinese-American journalist Wong Chin Foo offered US$500 to anybody in New York for proof that Chinese people were eating cats or rats. No proof was found, but that didn’t stop the racist jokes or urban legends.

    None of the many examples deserve retelling. But scholars, for example, have cited “sick jokes” such as a “new Vietnamese cookbook is titled 100 Ways to Wok Your Dog.”

    Or as comedian Tessie Chua joked about her multiracial Chinese, Filipino and Irish identity in 1993 when she said, “That means I eat dog, but only if I can wash it down with Guinness Stout!”

    In 1971, mainstream news outlets, including Reuters, reported an “outrageously silly urban legend” of a pet poodle named Rosa served at a Hong Kong restaurant, complete with chili sauce and bamboo shoots.

    In 1980, Stockton, California, was seized by racist rumors of Vietnamese families stealing expensive purebred dogs for dinner.

    As recently as 2005, the TV show “Curb Your Enthusiasm” showed wedding
    guests vomiting     after being misinformed that they had eaten a German shepherd named Oscar, prepared by a Korean-American florist. “Oscar is bulgogi!,” Larry David cries.

    Scholars calls these tropes a “nativist backlash” and “vehicle for anti-immigrant and especially anti-Asian sentiments in the U.S.”

    A long history of food-based slurs

    More precise, maybe, than the adage that “we are what we eat” is that we are what we won’t eat. Shunning our neighbor for their vile food – stinky, strange, unpalatable – is also decidedly an American tradition.

    “Garlic eater” was at one time recognizable in the U.S. as an ethnic slur for Italian Americans in the early 20th century. The names “spaghetti bender” and “grape stomper” were also used, but “garlic eater” stuck because, as one scholar argued, “garlic served as an ‘olfactory signifier’” – a distinguishing odor – “for the alien who consumed it.”

    So when far-right radical Laura Loomer tweeted in September 2024 that the White House “will smell like curry” if Kamala Harris becomes president, she was also using food to stoke racist fears.

    Americans aren’t alone in doing this. Some Persians call Punjabis “dal khor,” meaning dal-eater, and some Romanians call Italians “macaronar,” meaning macaroni-eater. Both are slurs. Iranians have been known to call Arabs “malakh-khor,” or locust-eater, and Southern Italians sometimes call Northern Italians “polentoni,” or polenta-eater.

    To an outsider, being called a lentil- or polenta-eater seems more like praise for a healthy diet than a racial epithet, but such are the vagaries of racism: People hate who they hate and justify it however possible.

    Other examples of how food can distinguish communities abound. In the Amazon, the Parakanã people appreciate tapir meat but abhor monkey. The Arara people, their neighbors, feel the opposite. Both groups are disgusted by one another. Curry, garlic, tapir, polenta, lentils – it doesn’t matter what the nail is, but how the hammer hits.

    Philomene Philostin, a naturalized U.S. citizen of Haitian origin, works in her store in Springfield, Ohio, that caters mainly to Haitian residents.
    Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images

    Rumors with real-life consequences

    Urban legends about food and racist rumors can have serious consequences. Earlier in 2024, a false rumor that a Laotian and Thai restaurant in Fresno, California, cooked pit bulls led to such vile harassment that the owner, David Rasavong, moved the restaurant to a new location.

    After Trump repeated the myth during the debate that immigrants eat pets, Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, quickly became the target of bomb threats, forcing city buildings and schools to close. Members of the Haitian community have said they fear for their safety.

    But there’s a more hopeful side to the issue of food being used as a way to divide or unite people, too. The Latin origins for the words company and companionship mean the people we share our bread with.

    Garlic is now as central to American cuisine as apple pie. Nowadays, Americans are so much the better for the sushi, garlic and curry – and the diversity behind the deliciousness – that flavor American cuisine.

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

    – ref. No, immigrants aren’t eating dogs and cats – but Trump’s claim is part of an ugly history of myths about immigrant foodways – https://theconversation.com/no-immigrants-arent-eating-dogs-and-cats-but-trumps-claim-is-part-of-an-ugly-history-of-myths-about-immigrant-foodways-239343

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: On the US-Mexico border, the records of Trump and Harris reflect the national mood of less immigration, not more

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By William McCorkle, Assistant Professor of Education, College of Charleston

    Migrants at a shelter in Tijuana, Mexico, watch the first presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump on Sept. 10, 2024. Carlos Moreno/NurPhoto/Getty Image

    In late July 2024, Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris released a campaign ad about the U.S.-Mexico border that resembled something out of the Republican playbook.

    In the ad, Harris said as president she would increase Border Patrol agents, stop human traffickers and prosecute transnational gangs – some of the very things that Republican contender Donald Trump has also promised to do if elected.

    Considered by her campaign strategists to be a good political move, Harris’ shift to the right reflects the more anti-immigrant direction the U.S. population has taken over the past few years. According to a July 2024 Gallup Poll, 55% of Americans wanted increased limits on immigration, marking the first time in nearly two decades that a majority of Americans supported such curbs.

    These anti-immigrant attitudes are partially due to exaggerated claims from conservative politicians and right-wing pundits that management of the U.S.-Mexico border is a disaster and the government is endangering public safety by allowing violent criminals to cross into the U.S.

    Worse, during the presidential debate on Sept. 10, 2024, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump falsely accused Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, of eating dogs and cats.

    As someone who has worked extensively with asylum-seekers at the border since 2019, I see clear differences between Harris and Trump on the issue of immigration.

    While in office, Trump instituted restrictive immigration policies at the border, which all but halted asylum. He also was behind the controversial child separation policy in 2018 and sought to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, the Obama-era federal program that prevents hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children from being deported.

    Though Harris’ record on immigration is not as extensive as Trump’s, she has shown as U.S. senator and vice president a willingness to be more restrictive on the border while continuing to support a pathway to citizenship for “Dreamers” and undocumented migrants who are married to U.S. citizens.

    Trump’s extremist rhetoric and policies

    Given that border security has become his signature issue, Trump may take even more draconian measures than he did during his first term in office, including restricting the asylum system further and deporting as many as 20 million undocumented immigrants.

    Perhaps Trump’s most controversial action during his first term was his child separation policy in 2018, which led to over 5,000 children being taken from their parents after being apprehended at the border. This action led to nationwide protests and international condemnation. As of May 2024, about 1,400 children remained separated from their families.

    Undaunted, Trump pursued other restrictive policies.

    Trump signed an executive order in 2019 and launched the Migrant Protection Protocols, better known as the Remain in Mexico policy. This order required asylum-seekers arriving at the U.S. border to be returned to Mexico while their claims were being processed. This program stayed in effect until the end of Trump’s presidency in 2020 and led to 81,000 expulsions.

    Trump also used Title 42 restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic to quickly expel migrants without visas to contain the pandemic with no exceptions. In the first seven months, almost 200,000 migrants were expelled.

    Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks in Arizona about immigration on Aug. 22, 2024.
    Olivier Touron/AFP/Getty Images

    Notably, the use of violent rhetoric against migrants increased dramatically during Trump’s emergence as the GOP leader. In his first term, Trump and his officials discussed shooting migrants crossing the border in the leg. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, one of his key allies, said the reason officials there do not shoot migrants is because they would be charged by the federal government.

    Trump has also promised he would be willing to use the U.S. military in Mexico to combat drug cartels.

    Harris’ balancing act

    As a U.S. senator in 2019, Harris voted against an anti-sanctuary city amendment that would have allowed local police to cooperate with federal immigration officials and potentially deport immigrants living in the U.S. illegally.

    She was also the initial sponsor of legislation that would limit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions against those caring for unaccompanied minors. But as attorney general of California, Harris did support turning over to immigration authorities minors living in the U.S. illegally who had committed crimes.

    As vice president, Harris has appeared to support a more restrictive approach similar to that of Biden‘s June 4, 2024, executive order that limited the number of asylum-seekers allowed to cross the border.

    She also supports the CBP One app system that was created by the Biden administration in early 2023.

    Under that process, individuals seeking asylum are given an opportunity to meet with an immigration official but often have to wait for months in dangerous conditions in Mexico.

    U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris holds a virtual meeting with immigrant rights leaders on July 22, 2021.
    Win McNamee/Getty Images

    Harris has also consistently spoken out on the need to support DACA. The Biden administration expanded health care coverage in 2024 for DACA recipients, giving them access to insurance through the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare.

    If elected, Harris likely would extend another of Biden’s 2024 executive orders that created a legal pathway to citizenship for immigrants who don’t have legal authorization to be in the U.S. but are married to U.S. citizens.

    In stark contrast, Trump has already criticized the policy and said he would end it if elected.

    The Biden-Harris administration also had a nuanced record on the border and deportations. They have deported almost the same number of immigrants living in the U.S. without legal authorization as Trump did.

    The Texas National Guard conducts an operation to prevent migrants from building a camp along the U.S.-Mexico border in April 2024.
    David Peinado/Anadolu via Getty Images

    As of June 2024, the number of deportations since the start of the Biden administration in January 2021 was already at 4.4 million. At the same time, these higher numbers reflect the fact that more people are coming to the border due to increased chances of entering.

    During the first three years of Biden’s presidency, over 1 million migrants at the border were granted temporary humanitarian parole, which allows them to stay in the U.S. while waiting for their asylum hearing.

    The reality of immigration

    Immigration has been largely portrayed as either a clear and present threat by Republicans or as an act of compassion by Democrats.

    In the increasingly anti-immigrant environment, however, you’ll rarely hear that the increased immigration under the Biden-Harris administration has been a significant factor in U.S. economic growth.

    Indeed, many economists also have argued that working-class immigrants coming from across the border have helped reduce inflation. Its my belief that the U.S. is in need of more migrants, not fewer, and hard-line stances and policies damage our society and economy.

    While Trump’s hard-line stance against immigrants both at the border and within the country is well known, Harris’ record shows a more balanced approach that has offered support for at least some immigrants who are living in the U.S. illegally – and for those seeking asylum.

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

    – ref. On the US-Mexico border, the records of Trump and Harris reflect the national mood of less immigration, not more – https://theconversation.com/on-the-us-mexico-border-the-records-of-trump-and-harris-reflect-the-national-mood-of-less-immigration-not-more-237269

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why home insurance rates are rising so fast across the US – climate change plays a big role

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Andrew J. Hoffman, Professor of Management & Organizations, Environment & Sustainability, and Sustainable Enterprise, University of Michigan

    The U.S. has seen a large number of billion-dollar disasters in recent years. AP Photo/Mark Zaleski

    Millions of Americans have been watching with growing alarm as their homeowners insurance premiums rise and their coverage shrinks. Nationwide, premiums rose 34% between 2017 and 2023, and they continued to rise in 2024 across much of the country.

    To add insult to injury, those rates go even higher if you make a claim – as much as 25% if you claim a total loss of your home.

    Why is this happening?

    There are a few reasons, but a common thread: Climate change is fueling more severe weather, and insurers are responding to rising damage claims. The losses are exacerbated by more frequent extreme weather disasters striking densely populated areas, rising construction costs and homeowners experiencing damage that was once more rare.

    Hurricane Ian, supercharged by warm water in the Gulf of Mexico, hit Florida as a Category 4 hurricane in October 2022 and caused an estimated $112.9 billion in damage.
    Ricardo Arduengo/AFP via Getty Images

    Parts of the U.S. have been seeing larger and more damaging hail, higher storm surges, massive and widespread wildfires, and heat waves that kink metal and buckle asphalt. In Houston, what used to be a 100-year disaster, such as Hurricane Harvey in 2017, is now a 1-in-23-years event, estimates by risk assessors at First Street Foundation suggest. In addition, more people are moving into coastal and wildland areas at risk from storms and wildfires.

    Just a decade ago, few insurance companies had a comprehensive strategy for addressing climate risk as a core business issue. Today, insurance companies have no choice but to factor climate change into their policy models.

    Rising damage costs, higher premiums

    There’s a saying that to get someone to pay attention to climate change, put a price on it. Rising insurance costs are doing just that.

    Increasing global temperatures lead to more extreme weather, and that means insurance companies have had to make higher payouts. In turn, they have been raising their prices and changing their coverage in order to remain solvent. That raises the costs for homeowners and for everyone else.

    The importance of insurance to the economy cannot be understated. You generally cannot get a mortgage or even drive a car, build an office building or enter into contracts without insurance to protect against the inherent risks. Because insurance is so tightly woven into economies, state agencies review insurance companies’ proposals to increase premiums or reduce coverage.

    The insurance companies are not making political statements with the increases. They are looking at the numbers, calculating risk and pricing it accordingly. And the numbers are concerning.

    The arithmetic of climate risk

    Insurance companies use data from past disasters and complex models to calculate expected future payouts. Then they price their policies to cover those expected costs. In doing so, they have to balance three concerns: keeping rates low enough to remain competitive, setting rates high enough to cover payouts and not running afoul of insurance regulators.

    But climate change is disrupting those risk models. As global temperatures rise, driven by greenhouse gases from fossil fuel use and other human activities, past is no longer prologue: What happened over the past 10 to 20 years is less predictive of what will happen in the next 10 to 20 years.

    The number of billion-dollar disasters in the U.S. each year offers a clear example. The average rose from 3.3 per year in the 1980s to 18.3 per year in the 10-year period ending in 2024, with all years adjusted for inflation.

    With that more than fivefold increase in billion-dollar disasters came rising insurance costs in the Southeast because of hurricanes and extreme rainfall, in the West because of wildfires, and in the Midwest because of wind, hail and flood damage.

    Hurricanes tend to be the most damaging single events. They caused more than US$692 billion in property damage in the U.S. between 2014 and 2023. But severe hail and windstorms, including tornadoes, are also costly; together, those on the billion-dollar disaster list did more than $246 billion in property damage over the same period.

    As insurance companies adjust to the uncertainty, they may run a loss in one segment, such as homeowners insurance, but recoup their losses in other segments, such as auto or commercial insurance. But that cannot be sustained over the long term, and companies can be caught by unexpected events. California’s unprecedented wildfires in 2017 and 2018 wiped out nearly 25 years’ worth of profits for insurance companies in that state.

    To balance their risk, insurance companies often turn to reinsurance companies; in effect, insurance companies that insure insurance companies. But reinsurers have also been raising their prices to cover their costs. Property reinsurance alone increased by 35% in 2023. Insurers are passing those costs to their policyholders.

    What this means for your homeowners policy

    Not only are homeowners insurance premiums going up, coverage is shrinking. In some cases, insurers are reducing or dropping coverage for items such as metal trim, doors and roof repair, increasing deductibles for risks such as hail and fire damage, or refusing to pay full replacement costs for things such as older roofs.

    Some insurances companies are simply withdrawing from markets altogether, canceling existing policies or refusing to write new ones when risks become too uncertain or regulators do not approve their rate increases to cover costs. In recent years, State Farm and Allstate pulled back from California’s homeowner market, and Farmers, Progressive and AAA pulled back from the Florida market, which is seeing some of the highest insurance rates in the country.

    In some cases, insurers are restricting coverage. Roof repairs, like these in Fort Myers Beach, Fla., after Hurricane Ian, can be expensive and widespread after windstorms.
    Joe Raedle/Getty Images

    State-run “insurers of last resort,” which can provide coverage for people who can’t get coverage from private companies, are struggling too. Taxpayers in states such as California and Florida have been forced to bail out their state insurers. And the National Flood Insurance Program has raised its premiums, leading 10 states to sue to stop them.

    About 7.4% of U.S. homeowners have given up on insurance altogether, leaving an estimated $1.6 trillion in property value at risk, including in high-risk states such as Florida.

    No, insurance costs aren’t done rising

    According to NOAA data, 2023 was the hottest year on record “by far.” And 2024 could be even hotter. This general warming trend and the rise in extreme weather is expected to continue until greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere are abated.

    In the face of such worrying analyses, U.S. homeowners insurance will continue to get more expensive and cover less. And yet, Jacques de Vaucleroy, chairman of the board of reinsurance giant Swiss Re, believes U.S. insurance is still priced too low to fully cover the risk from climate change.

    Andrew J. Hoffman does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Why home insurance rates are rising so fast across the US – climate change plays a big role – https://theconversation.com/why-home-insurance-rates-are-rising-so-fast-across-the-us-climate-change-plays-a-big-role-238939

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada Investments in Electric Vehicles

    Source: Government of Canada News

    The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced a federal investment of $14.9 million for 20 projects to advance zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure, codes and standards, and education across Canada.

    Everyone has a role to play in tackling climate change. The widespread shift to electric vehicles (EVs) is critical to decarbonizing on-road transportation, which accounts for 18 percent of Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions — of which 50 percent is produced by light-duty vehicles (LDV), or passenger cars.

    In addition, clean fuels, such as clean hydrogen, advanced biofuels, liquid synthetic fuels and renewable natural gas, will play a critical role in hard to decarbonize sectors such as industry and medium- and heavy-duty freight.

    Today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced a federal investment of $14.9 million for 20 projects to advance zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure, codes and standards, and education across Canada.

     

    Zero Emissions Vehicle Infrastructure Program Projects

    • Kang and Gill Construction Limited in Victoria, B.C.: An investment of $340,000 to install 68 EV chargers by March 31, 2024.
    • Halifax County Condominium Corporation #240 in Halifax, Nova Scotia: An investment of $110,000 to install 22 EV chargers by April 2023.
    • Halifax International Airport in Goffs, Nova Scotia: An investment of $180,000 to install 37 EV chargers by December 2024.
    • Park Royal Shopping Centre Holdings Ltd., West Vancouver, North Vancouver and Whistler, B.C.: An investment of $242,000 from NRCan to install 50 EV chargers by November 2023.
    • Concert Realty Services Ltd, Vancouver, B.C.: An investment of $190,000 from NRCan to install 38 EV chargers by January 2025.
    • Westbank Projects Corp., Toronto, Ontario, and Vancouver, B.C.: An investment of $4,914,660 to install 2635 EV chargers by May 2025.
    • THE OWNERS, STRATA PLAN BCS4321, Vancouver, B.C.: An investment of $150,000 to install 30 EV chargers by June 2024.
    • Austeville Properties Ltd., Vancouver, B.C.: An investment of $250,000 to install 50 EV chargers by October 2025.
    • 1125 Denman Developments Limited Partnership by its general partner Denman Developments Ltd, Vancouver, BC: An investment of $500,000 to install 16 EV chargers by July 2025.
    • The Owners Strata Plan LMS1108 “The National,” Vancouver, B.C.: An investment of $260,000 to install 60 EV chargers by May 2024.
    • Strata Corporation LMS4255 “Marinaside Resort,” Vancouver, B.C.: An investment of $500,000 to install 140 EV chargers by May 2024.
    • 1229488 BC Ltd., Vancouver, B.C.: An investment of $99,999, to install 23 EV chargers by March 2024.

    Zero Emissions Vehicle Awareness Initiative

    • Plug’N Drive, Toronto, Ontario: An investment of $1,560,633 to raise awareness of electric vehicles across Canada through a comprehensive awareness and experiential campaign, featuring test drives targeting small and medium-sized communities with limited experience or exposure to electric vehicles.
    • Create Climate Equity Association in Coquitlam, B.C.: An investment of $100,000 to engage one or more lower-income, underserved, urban communities in the City of Vancouver, B.C., on transportation needs and develop a design for equity-based, zero-emission mobility solutions for the participating communities.
    • Steel River Group Ltd in Calgary, Alberta: An investment of $300,000 to empower and equip Indigenous youth with the essential knowledge, skills and confidence to lead sustainable transportation and clean energy initiatives in their communities.
    • Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton, Alberta: An investment of $247,045 to develop non-credit courses on the maintenance of hydrogen fuel cell buses and heavy-duty vehicles to educate fleet owners, operators and heavy-duty vehicle mechanics and technicians on the use and maintenance of MHDVs and raise public confidence and awareness in zero-emission MHDV.
    • HUB Cycling, Vancouver, B.C.: An investment of $241,545 to increase awareness and uptake of e-mobility for transportation across the province of British Columbia.

    Minister Wilkinson also announced $3.6 million in funding for CSA Group to update codes and standards related to ZEV infrastructure through the Energy Innovation Program:

    • CSA Group, Toronto, Ontario, $3,616,373. The objective of this project is to establish and revise codes and standards, develop guideline documents, manage committees, perform literature reviews for zero-emission transportation infrastructure, covering advanced charging equipment, energy storage, management and various transportation modes.

    Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada – Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP)

    Lastly, Minister Wilkinson announced a joint investment of more than $3.1 million through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program for two green infrastructure projects in British Columbia. The projects will enhance access to clean transportation options, use B.C.’s clean electricity supply and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

    • Public Electric Vehicle Charging Expansion – Phase 3 in Vancouver, B.C.
      o   The federal government is investing $824,600 through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The Government of British Columbia is investing $687,098 through the CleanBC Communities Fund. The City of Vancouver is contributing $549,802. 
      o   The project will install approximately 15 Level 2 and nine direct-current fast-charge electric vehicle charging ports around parklands in the city, along with electric and mechanical system upgrades. 
    • Public Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure in the District of North Vancouver, B.C.:
      o   The federal government is investing $217,447 through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The Government of British Columbia is investing $579,821 through the CleanBC Communities Fund. The District of North Vancouver is contributing $289,965. 
      o   The project will install a public network of approximately 10 Level 2 and two direct-current fast-charge electric vehicle charging ports along key transportation routes, in priority buildings and near multi-family and social housing in the district.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Grand Falls-Windsor — Man arrested by Grand Falls-Windsor RCMP in relation to weekend home invasion

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Following a weekend home invasion that occurred at a residence on Irving Street in Grand Falls-Windsor, 28-year-old Michael Cook was arrested by Grand Falls-Windsor RCMP.

    Shortly before 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 22, 2024, police received the report. Two males forced entry into the home, confronted an occupant inside and demanded money. With money unavailable, the suspects stole other items and departed the residence.

    Michael Cook was arrested at a traffic stop a short time later. He appeared in court yesterday, charged with robbery and break and enter. He was released on conditions and is set to appear in court again at a later date.

    The second suspect has been identified with efforts underway to effect his arrest.

    The investigation is continuing. Residents are advised that this crime was not random in nature. The victim and suspects are known to one another.

    Those having information about this crime are asked to contact Grand Falls-Windsor RCMP at 709-489-2121. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: #SayItHere 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit www.nlcrimestoppers.com or use the P3Tips app.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Critical minerals sector key to driving global economic growth

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    President Cyril Ramaphosa has emphasised the importance of the critical minerals sector in driving global economic growth and sustainability. 

    By leveraging key sectors such as mining, energy, and manufacturing, the President said South Africa is set to improve its business environment and attract much-needed investment.

    He was addressing the African Minerals Forum hosted by the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) and Prosper Africa on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 79), in New York, USA, on Monday. 

    He highlighted that four months ago, South Africa held national general elections, which ushered in a Government of National Unity, where 10 political parties have come together to coalesce around a common agenda for economic growth and sustainable development.

    President Ramaphosa underlined South Africa’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change through the country’s Just Energy Transition Plan. This plan aims to guide the shift from coal to renewable energy, while also ensuring equitable economic opportunities for affected communities. 

    “South Africa’s and Africa’s critical minerals sector has a crucial role to play in this regard, and we recognise the importance of collaboration with other countries to develop the potential of our critical minerals sector. 

    “The US in particular has established expertise in advanced mining technologies, automation and sustainability practices. 

    “We want to strengthen our ties with US companies and institutions to foster technological advancements, enhance supply chain efficiencies and attract investment into our mining sector,” the President said. 

    The President also emphasised that South Africa strongly endorses the United Nations Secretary-General’s position paper on Critical Energy Transition Minerals, where he highlights the importance of beneficiation, benefit sharing, local value addition and economic diversification.

    “It would not be an understatement to say that the minerals that lie beneath the soil of Africa are powering the green energy revolution. Thirty percent of the world’s proven critical mineral reserves are found in Sub-Saharan Africa.

    “South Africa has substantial reserves of platinum group metals, manganese, vanadium as well as chromium. 

    “These resources are fundamental to the development of cutting-edge technologies that drive progress in various sectors. What will be critical is to ensure that this progress does not leave Africa behind,” he said.

    The President stressed the need to avoid perpetuating colonial-era exploitation, where African countries primarily export raw minerals. He said that by focusing on beneficiation and domestic processing, African nations could see significant economic growth. 

    President Ramaphosa highlighted that beneficiation and local processing of critical minerals could increase the continent’s GDP by 12% or more by 2050. 

    He cited estimates suggesting that African countries could generate USD 24 billion annually in GDP and create 2.3 million jobs by investing in mining beneficiation and domestic processing.

    President Ramaphosa highlighted the strides made by SASOL, South Africa’s flagship petrochemical company, in leading green hydrogen technologies research and development. 

    “As the global automotive industry moves towards Electric Vehicles and New Energy Vehicles, we are leveraging our rich experience with automotive production to get some of the world’s leading automotive manufactures with a footprint in South Africa to produce more their green vehicles in our country,” he said. 

    Despite improvements in the beneficiation of South Africa’s mineral exports, President Ramaphosa admitted that more needs to be done. 

    He underscored the country’s commitment to creating a supportive policy framework for the critical minerals sector, focused on streamlining regulations, fostering innovation in mining technologies, building workforce skills, improving transport and logistics infrastructure, and incentivising investment.

    South Africa’s five-point policy approach aims to create a supportive environment for the critical minerals sector. This includes simplifying regulations, supporting research and development in mining technologies, investing in workforce skills, improving logistics infrastructure, and incentivising domestic and international investment. 

    “South Africa also has a beneficiation strategy that seeks to translate the benefits of our country’s mineral endowments into a national competitive advantage. 

    “As the UN Secretary-General’s paper has noted, Critical Energy Transition Minerals can transform economies, create green jobs and foster sustainable local, regional and global development,” he said. 

    President Ramaphosa further stressed that for the potential of critical minerals to be fully realised, both mineral-producing nations and their end-user countries must embrace inclusivity. 

    He emphasised the importance of creating decent work opportunities, eradicating exploitative practices such as child and forced labour, and ensuring human rights protections. 

    Local beneficiation and industrialisation were highlighted as priorities, alongside environmental safeguards to ensure sustainable extraction practices. 

    The President urged for a long-term focus on inter-generational equity, recognising that critical minerals are vital for solving global challenges like climate change, energy, and food insecurity. 

    He called on US companies to collaborate in fostering sustainable development.

    “By leveraging our respective strengths, pursuing strategic collaborations, and implementing supportive policies, we stand ready to meet the demands of the global market and drive sustainable development. 

    “I call on US companies and investors to join us on our journey,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI: LYB secures capacity to reach its 2030 renewable electricity goal

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON and ROTTERDAM, the Netherlands, Sept. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LyondellBasell (LYB) today announced it signed a power purchase agreement with Eneco N.V. This agreement brings LYB’s total secured renewable electricity capacity to 100% of its renewable electricity procurement target.

    “Taking climate action is a key part of our strategy to create value for our stakeholders, the environment and society. I am therefore delighted that this latest agreement will help us reach our 2030 renewable electricity goal once all projects become operational,” said Peter Vanacker, LyondellBasell CEO. “Power Purchase Agreements are a critical lever in our efforts to reduce our absolute scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions.”

    Approximately 15% of LYB’s 2020 baseline scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions come from its electricity consumption. The company target to procure a minimum of 50% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 is based on 2020 procured levels.

    Under the 15-year PPA signed today, LYB will secure 25 megawatts (MW) of renewable electricity generation capacity from the Hollandse Kust West VI (HKW-VI) ecology plot offshore wind farm in the North Sea, the Netherlands.

    Eneco will deliver approximately 103 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of offshore wind power to LYB annually, starting in 2027. This is comparable to the annual electricity consumption of approximately 28,500 European homes. The offshore wind park will rank among the largest of its kind in the Netherlands.

    About LyondellBasell

    LyondellBasell is a leader in the global chemical industry creating solutions for everyday sustainable living. Through advanced technology and focused investments, we are enabling a circular and low carbon economy. Across all we do, we aim to unlock value for our customers, investors and society. As one of the world’s largest producers of polymers and a leader in polyolefin technologies, we develop, manufacture and market high-quality and innovative products for applications ranging from sustainable transportation and food safety to clean water and quality healthcare. For more information, please visit or follow @LyondellBasell on LinkedIn.  

    Forward-Looking Statements

    The statements in this release relating to matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions of management of LyondellBasell which are believed to be reasonable at the time made and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially based on factors including, but not limited to, the availability, cost and price volatility of utilities; our ability to meet our sustainability goals, including our ability to reduce our emissions and achieve net zero emissions by the time set in our goals; our ability to procure energy from renewable sources; and the successful construction and operation of the projects described in this release. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the “Risk Factors” section of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, which can be found at www.LyondellBasell.com on the Investor Relations page and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. There is no assurance that any of the actions, events or results of the forward-looking statements will occur, or if any of them do, what impact they will have on our results of operations or financial condition. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made and are based on the estimates and opinions of management of LyondellBasell at the time the statements are made. LyondellBasell does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances or management’s estimates or opinions change, except as required by law.

    For media inquiries, please contact:​
    Media Inquiries
    LyondellBasell Media Relations
    ​Phone: +1 713 309 7575
    ​Email: mediarelations@lyondellbasell.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e76dd5c6-698a-445c-9c45-61d139c32245

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: SUPPLEMENT to Oma Savings Bank Plc’s stock exchange release on 23 September 2024 regarding the issuance of an unsecured senior-term bond

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OMA SAVINGS BANK PLC, STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 24 SEPTEMBER 2024 AT 16.25 P.M. EET, OTHER INFORMATION DISCLOSED TO THE RULES OF THE EXCHANGE

    SUPPLEMENT to Oma Savings Bank Plc’s stock exchange release on 23 September 2024 regarding the issuance of an unsecured senior-term bond

    NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, HONG KONG, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND, SINGAPORE, SOUTH AFRICA OR SUCH OTHER COUNTRIES OR OTHERWISE IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH THE OFFERING OF THE NEW NOTES, THE TENDER OFFER OR THE RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

    Oma Savings Bank Plc (“OmaSp” or the “Company”) supplements the stock exchange release on 23.9.2024 regarding the issuance of an unsecured senior-term bond. The euro amount of the senior-term bond will change from the previously announced amount and the updated total amount is EUR 40 million.

    The Final terms are available on the Company’s website at https://www.omasp.fi/en/investors no later than 27 September 2024.

    Oma Savings Bank Plc

    Additional information:
    Sarianna Liiri, CEO, tel. +358 40 835 6712, sarianna.liiri@omasp.fi

    Distribution:
    Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd
    Major media
    www.omasp.fi

    OmaSp is a solvent and profitable Finnish bank. About 500 professionals provide nationwide services through OmaSp’s 45 branch offices and digital service channels to over 200,000 private and corporate customers. OmaSp focuses primarily on retail banking operations and provides its clients with a broad range of banking services both through its own balance sheet as well as by acting as an intermediary for its partners’ products. The intermediated products include credit, investment and loan insurance products. OmaSp is also engaged in mortgage banking operations.

    OmaSp core idea is to provide personal service and to be local and close to its customers, both in digital and traditional channels. OmaSp strives to offer premium level customer experience through personal service and easy accessibility. In addition, the development of the operations and services is customer-oriented. The personnel is committed and OmaSp seeks to support their career development with versatile tasks and continuous development. A substantial part of the personnel also own shares in OmaSp.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Preparing health and social care for winter

    Source: Scottish Government

    Record high NHS 24 workforce to meet increased demand.

    A record number of NHS 24 call handlers will support the public to access the most appropriate care this winter as services deal with increased demand.

    Through the Scottish Government and COSLA’s joint Winter Preparedness Plan, continued investment for NHS 24 will increase service capacity to provide clinical supervision for at least 150,000 additional calls per year and help prevent unnecessary A&E attendances.

    Key measures to support services in the face of increased demand, include; improving discharge planning for patients admitted to acute or community hospitals, maintaining established care at home packages and a Government led delayed discharge response team to directly support Boards in need of assistance. Planned care capacity will also be safeguarded with a continued focus on clearing long waits.

    The annual winter vaccination programme, which includes respiratory condition RSV for the first time, will support a reduction in severe disease, hospitalisation and mortality – while protecting health and social care service capacity. The joint plan also sets out action to support the mental health and well-being of service staff through increased flexible working options and dedicated mental health resources.

    This year’s plan has been published a month ahead of last year, and earlier than ever before, to allow more time for NHS Boards and care providers to prepare for winter surges in demand.

    Health Secretary Neil Gray said:

    “As winter approaches, the NHS will see surges in demand across all health, social care and social work services. Our joint-plan Winter Plan with COSLA is just one part of a wider programme of work to respond to heightened demand.

    “A record number of NHS 24 call handlers will be available this winter to direct people to the most appropriate care, helping reduce unnecessary A&E attendances. We will continue our work to reduce delayed discharge in hospitals with an increased focus on effective discharge planning and protecting care at home packages. We will also ensure planned care capacity is protected as much as possible in the face of winter pressure so patients are seen as quickly as possible.

    “We are prioritising frontline services with over £14.2 billion investment in our boards this year – an almost 3% real terms uplift – and also investing £2 billion in social care services.

    “I thank all health, social care and social work staff for their continued efforts and dedication to deliver high quality care. It is fundamental we safeguard their wellbeing, and improved options on flexible working and continued access to mental health resources will ensure staff are supported over this challenging period.”

    COSLA Health and Social Care Spokesperson, Councillor Paul Kelly said:

    “It is our shared responsibility to ensure that people and communities have timely access to quality care and support when they need it most. We know that Local Government and Health and Social Care Partnerships across Scotland are working hard to plan and deliver the essential health and social care services our communities rely on every day.

    “The context within which this takes place is increasingly challenging, which is why COSLA have worked jointly with the Scottish Government to produce this plan. Local Government plays a key role in supporting people to experience better wellbeing and better outcomes, so it was only right that this plan reflects the whole system of integrated health and social care, from acute and primary care to social work, our care homes, community settings, and our partners across the sector.

    “Winter is often a time of exceptional pressure on our services so I am pleased that this plan, produced with our partners across the sector, reflects the challenges and the opportunities we face.”

    Background

    Health & Social Care Winter Preparedness Plan for 2024-25

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Leeds low carbon heat network set to expand to thousands more residents

    Source: City of Leeds

    Leeds’s South Bank is to enjoy more affordable and lower carbon heating after £24.5m funding was secured to further expand the Leeds PIPES district heating network.

    The expansion is planned to include up to 28 buildings, with up to 8,000 residents and mixed-use customers benefitting from connections, making it the most significant single investment into the project since its inception.

    Households benefitting from the expansion will enjoy more reliable, more affordable, lower carbon heating.

    By using heat recovered from the city’s non-recyclable domestic waste to provide warmth and hot water to buildings in the city, the Leeds PIPES district heating project is helping businesses and residents to move away from costly fossil-fuel powered heating systems.

    The continued expansion of the district heating network is supporting efforts to end the city’s contribution to climate change by transitioning to lower carbon heating systems. Last year, 5,945 tonnes of carbon were saved through the network.

    The original project connected over 1,900 homes and non-domestic buildings to the energy-from-waste scheme. Earlier this year, over two hundred and fifty council properties in Lovell Park Heights, Lovell Park Grange, and Lovell Park Towers were set up to receive heat from the network.

    This year, connections have been completed at Leeds Conservatoire and the former Technology Campus Student Residential development and both sites are now receiving heat from the network.

    Over the summer, agreements have also been signed with the new Railway Street affordable homes scheme, 24-28 Great George Street, which is to become student apartments with the Victoria Hotel pub reopening on the ground floor, Leeds College of Building’s North Street Campus and the Co-op Academy Brierley SEND School in Cross Green.

    Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space and Councillor Jessica Lennox, executive member for housing, said:

    “We are both pleased that many more residents will soon be paying significantly less to heat their homes thanks to this latest expansion of the Leeds PIPES network.

    “UK’s homes are some of the least efficient and most reliant on costly fossil fuel gas in Europe, and too many families in our city struggle to pay their energy bills. We are committed to helping households by making our homes greener and fit for the future.

    “Leeds is working towards becoming the first net zero city in the UK, and connecting more homes to affordable low carbon heating like Leeds PIPES is a step in the right direction.”

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. House of Representatives Unanimously Passes Trahan’s Bipartisan Legislation to Advance Rare Disease Treatments for Kids

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, celebrated the unanimous passage of her bipartisan Creating Hope Reauthorization Act of 2024 in the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation will reauthorize a key program that incentivizes the development of new drugs and treatments for children battling rare pediatric diseases. Trahan introduced the legislation earlier this year alongside Representatives Michael McCaul (R-TX-10), Anna Eshoo (D-CA-16), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12), Michael Burgess (R-TX-26), and Nanette Barragán (D-CA-44).

    “When a child is battling a rare disease like cancer, currently one of the leading causes of death for kids, they deserve access to the best treatments possible,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “The Creating Hope Reauthorization Act is a critical bipartisan effort to make sure those treatments are available while newer and more effective treatments are being advanced to save children’s lives. The unanimous support for this legislation in the House is a testament to the necessity and effectiveness of this initiative, and I look forward to working with our colleagues in the Senate to send it to the President’s desk to become law.”

    Approximately 30 million Americans are affected by rare diseases, two out of every three of whom are children. However, treatments intended for adults are often too harsh for children, limiting their treatment options or even leaving them with life-altering complications after their disease is cured. The Creating Hope Reauthorization Act seeks to solve this problem by reauthorizing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) cost-neutral priority review voucher (PRV) program, which incentivizes the development of treatments for rare pediatric diseases. Since 2012, the PRV program has spurred the development of therapies for nearly 40 different diseases, 36 of which previously had no safe or effective FDA-approved treatments for children.

    The Creating Hope Reauthorization Act was included in the Give Kids a Chance Act, a bipartisan legislative package created to advance pediatric disease treatment. During a markup last week, members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously passed the Give Kids a Chance Act. In addition to Trahan’s legislation to advance pediatric rare disease treatments, the package also authorizes the FDA to direct companies to research combinations of therapies and cancer drugs in pediatric patients. The FDA is currently only authorized to direct pediatric cancer trials of single drugs, and the majority of these trials are conducted on children with relapsed cancer. However, kids with relapsed cancer are very rarely cured by one-drug treatments because their diagnoses are so advanced.

    Since her appointment to the House Energy and Commerce Committee in 2021, Trahan has spearheaded multiple bipartisan initiatives to expand and improve pediatric health care. Last week, she secured passage by the full House of Representatives of her bipartisan Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act, legislation that will break down barriers for children with complex medical conditions to make it easier for families to access out-of-state care. In July, she introduced the Bolstering Research and Innovation Now (BRAIN) Act, bipartisan legislation to strengthen research and treatment development for brain tumors, the leading cause of cancer-related death among children and young adults. In May, the House passed her bicameral and bipartisan Youth Poisoning Protection Act, bipartisan and bicameral legislation that would ban the consumer sale of products containing high concentrations of sodium nitrite, a meat-curing chemical that has been popularized in online suicide forums because of its lethality when ingested.

    The legislative package containing Trahan’s Creating Hope Reauthorization Act now moves to the Senate where companion legislation has been introduced by Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK).

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia Statement on First Known Post-Dobbs Death

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX-29) issued the following statement based on ProPublica’s recent reporting on the tragic death of Amber Thurman, a 28-year-old mother who lost her life due to Georgia’s extreme abortion ban shortly after the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision:

    “American women woke to learn their worst fears have been realized—a 28-year-old mother in Georgia was left to die because of the Trump abortion bans. A son lost his mother, a family lost their loved one.

    “Two years after her death, she is the first confirmed casualty in the MAGA war on women. It begs the question, how many more women have died, their stories hidden away?

    “What we know for certain is this will happen again. It will happen in Texas, and across the country, until we end these cruel bans.

    “We must defeat these Trump abortion bans and ensure every woman has access to comprehensive reproductive health care without fear of losing her life.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SFST’s speech at 5th Belt and Road Initiative Tax Administration Cooperation Forum welcome dinner (English only)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is the speech by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, at the 5th Belt and Road Initiative Tax Administration Cooperation Forum welcome dinner tonight (September 24):Honourable Commissioner Hu Jinglin (Commissioner of the State Taxation Administration), Deputy Commissioner Wang Daoshu (Deputy Commissioner of the State Taxation Administration and Executive Secretary of the Belt and Road Initiative Tax Administration Cooperation Mechanism Secretariat), honourable Ministers and senior officials from the Belt and Road economies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,     Good evening. I am delighted to welcome you all to the dinner tonight. I am very glad to see so many esteemed officials from tax administrations, representatives from international organisations, business leaders and tax experts from around the world to come to this vibrant city.       I trust your day has been both rewarding and stimulating, filled with productive discussions on emerging tax issues and valuable exchanges of experiences in tax administration. I hope the dialogues today have sparked innovative ideas and fostered meaningful collaborations that will continue to develop throughout this Forum and beyond.     The Belt and Road Initiative Tax Administration Cooperation Mechanism (BRITACOM) has taken up an active role in building a growth-friendly tax environment through promoting international co-operation on tax administration.  Since its inception five years ago, BRITACOM has made substantial achievements and significant milestones in fostering co-operation and building capacity in taxation across Belt and Road jurisdictions. All of you here tonight have witnessed these successes and contributed profoundly to our shared objectives.     The BRITACOF (Belt and Road Initiative Tax Administration Cooperation Forum) is a crucial and exemplary international platform designed to enhance co-operation among tax administrations along the Belt and Road. It facilitates insightful exchanges of experience and expertise among tax authorities, experts, practitioners and the business community, which enable participants to effectively address tax related challenges in their own jurisdictions.         Hong Kong has actively participated in the previous four Forums, and it is our privilege to host this year’s Forum for the first time. I am thrilled to welcome over 400 delegates, both international and local, to this mega event. Indeed, the hosting of the 5th BRITACOF in Hong Kong underscores our unique gateway role in fostering partnerships and creating value for economies, businesses and people along the Belt and Road.     Our commitment to realising the visionary goal of the Belt and Road Initiative goes beyond participation. As the world’s premier international financial centre, Hong Kong brings unique advantages to the table. By integrating our sophisticated infrastructure, globally competitive financial services and transparent legal system, we offer unmatched opportunities for our Belt and Road partners to connect and grow. In every endeavour, we strive to consolidate these advantages, ensuring that Hong Kong continues to serve as a dynamic gateway for international trade and investment, and a “super connector” and “super value-adder” in connecting Mainland China and other Belt and Road jurisdictions.       Now back to the core of our Forum – tax co-operation. An efficient and effective tax system is essential in driving the sustainable growth of an economy. On one hand, it provides resources for governments to deliver essential public services and launch new developments. On the other, tax system must be fair and transparent to avoid becoming a disincentive to people and businesses. Hong Kong’s tax system is internationally recognised for its clarity, efficiency, and compliance with international standards. In fact, the latest World Competitiveness Yearbook 2024 published by the International Institute for Management Development once again acknowledged Hong Kong as one of the most competitive economies in the world, with “Tax Policy” ranking first in the Asia-Pacific region and second in the world. And tomorrow, at a panel to be hosted by Benjamin, our Deputy Commissioner (of Inland Revenue), you will be able to share more and learn more about that. Against this backdrop, Hong Kong is perfectly positioned to be a catalyst for promoting economic activities under the Belt and Road Initiative.      Also, as the globalisation of economic activities continues to evolve and new ways of working and doing business emerge, it is more important than ever for tax administrations to build capacity and share knowledge together. Hong Kong has always been committed to upholding international tax standards, including the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) framework set by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. We are also fully supportive of the international standard of tax information exchange to avoid tax evasion. By endorsing and implementing these standards, Hong Kong ensures that Belt and Road projects involving Hong Kong companies adhere to the highest international benchmarks in terms of tax governance and transparency.       The future holds great promise, and through our concerted efforts, I am confident that we will continue to see a cascade of benefits for all involved. At this juncture, I am pleased to announce a key achievement that reflects our dedication to strengthening global tax collaboration.      On behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, I had the honour of signing a new Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement (CDTA) with Türkiye today as witnessed by all of you. This agreement, along with three others signed earlier this year, bring our total number of CDTAs to 51. Each agreement signed is a step forward in our ongoing effort to broaden Hong Kong’s tax treaty network and reaffirm our commitment to fostering efficient, transparent and fair international tax practices.       Our efforts to conclude more CDTAs with our trading and investment partners from the Belt and Road Initiative will definitely continue. These agreements are instrumental in fostering deeper economic and trade connections between Hong Kong and the Belt and Road jurisdictions. We are now having negotiations with 16 jurisdictions, and about 80 per cent of them are along the Belt and Road. For those who have yet to be our CDTA partners, I hope we can make it happen soon.     Looking ahead, I am filled with optimism about our collective efforts to create a sustainable tax environment. Together, let us strengthen our co-operation in tax administration to support high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, paving the way for a new era with abundant opportunities.        Ladies and gentlemen, I hope you will enjoy this meal and the Chinese cultural performance. And as you are here, I invite you to take some time to explore our wonderful city. Hong Kong actually has 24 country parks, 22 special areas for conservation and other protected areas that together cover more than 40 per cent of the city’s land area. We have some 80 hiking trails totalling 500 kilometres within these areas. We also have some 42 beaches in Hong Kong that you can enjoy the sunshine. Of course, don’t forget to try our wonderful food as well, ranging from street food, dim sum to Michelin cuisine.     Have a productive Forum and an enjoyable stay in Hong Kong. Thank you.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bird Union-CWA Wins First Union Contract at Audubon

    Source: Communications Workers of America

    With a unanimous vote, Bird Union-CWA Local 1180 members ratify first union contract with the National Audubon Society

    NATIONWIDE — Today, members of the Bird Union-CWA Local 1180 unanimously voted to ratify the first union contract at the National Audubon Society. The contract covers 260 union members represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1180 and was reached after more than two years of negotiations, supported by mobilization of union members across the country.

    The contract builds a foundation of union rights at Audubon, giving union workers just cause job protections, the organization’s first grievance procedure, and arbitration rights. The union members will receive up to 7% annual raises, including the first guaranteed across-the-board annual raise of 3% to all members. Across-the-board raises have been shown to improve pay equity, an important goal for Bird Union members. The contract also improves important employee benefits, such as paid parental leave, which will increase sixfold, from the previous two weeks to 12 weeks of paid leave.

    “After four hard-fought years, workers have secured a union contract for the first time in Audubon’s 119-year history,” said Shyamlee Patel, a member of the Bird Union-CWA Local 1180 and Audubon employee. “We’ve won better wages, better benefits, and better working conditions for ourselves—and secured a better future for Audubon. This contract supports and empowers workers who are dedicated to protecting the birds and the planet.”

    “This union contract marks a new beginning for Audubon—one where union members and management are able to collaborate instead of being at odds,” said Erin Hamilton, a member of the Bird Union-CWA Local 1180 and Audubon employee. “Reaching this agreement means so much for so many dedicated working members across the organization. And I am so glad to have been part of this historic moment in Audubon’s growth and a future where we can all focus on what’s really important, the BIRDS!”

    “Members have been waiting a long time for the benefits and protections that a contract provides,” said Soncey Kondrotis, a member of the Bird Union-CWA Local 1180 and Audubon employee. “We will finally see raises and bonuses and wage leveling that has been promised for years—monies that people have needed in these years we have been bargaining. Through the process of forming our union and negotiating our contract, I have had the opportunity to meet some of the great people we have at Audubon, and I only see this organization changing for the better for everyone going forward.”

    “This agreement is the result of membership solidarity, patience, strength, and action,” said Robin Blair-Batte, Secretary-Treasurer of CWA Local 1180, which represents Audubon workers. “Our Bird Union members have shown that when we stand together, we win. Together, Local 1180 members fought for a contract that will raise standards at Audubon and includes significant gains for every part of our membership—and for those who come after.”

    The contract was ratified unanimously through a vote that gave every union member a voice in their union contract.

    ###

    About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.

    cwa-union.org @cwaunion

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – AXA INVESTMENT MANAGERS: Rightmove 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    		 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 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
    REA Group Ltd

    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: 0.1p ordinary
      Interests Short positions
      Number % Number %
    (1)   Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 10,227,030 1.30    
    (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 3,059,659 that are included in the total above 10,227,030 1.30    

    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
    0.1p ordinary Sale 6,872 GBP 6.90
    0.1p ordinary Sale 626 GBP 6.90
    0.1p ordinary Sale 14,403 GBP 6.83
    0.1p ordinary Sale 15,576 GBP 6.84
    0.1p ordinary Sale 28,934 GBP 6.90
    0.1p ordinary Sale 2,634 GBP 6.90
    0.1p ordinary Sale 60,645 GBP 6.83
    0.1p ordinary Sale 65,583 GBP 6.84
    0.1p ordinary Sale 124 GBP 6.90
    0.1p ordinary Sale 2,860 GBP 6.83
    0.1p ordinary Sale 3,093 GBP 6.84
    0.1p ordinary Sale 3,978 GBP 6.90
    0.1p ordinary Sale 362 GBP 6.90
    0.1p ordinary Sale 8,339 GBP 6.83
    0.1p ordinary Sale 9,018 GBP 6.84
    0.1p ordinary Sale 61,706 GBP 6.83
    0.1p ordinary Sale 66,730 GBP 6.84

    (b)        Cash-settled derivative transactions

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

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

    (i)        Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

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

    (ii)        Exercise

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

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

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

    4.        OTHER INFORMATION

    (a)        Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

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

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

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

    (c)        Attachments

    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO
    Date of disclosure: 24 September 2024
    Contact name: Sabrina AID
    Telephone number*: +33 1 44 45 59 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 –

  • MIL-OSI: Investment Management Update

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    THAMES VENTURES VCT 2 PLC
    LEI: 21380035MV1VRYEXPR95

    INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT UPDATE
    20 SEPTEMBER 2024

    Following the novation of the investment management agreement from Downing LLP (“Downing”) to Foresight Group LLP (“Foresight”) comprising management of the Company’s Venture, AIM and DP67 share classes in July 2022, the Board is pleased to confirm that Foresight has now also been appointed as Manager of the Company’s Healthcare share class following completion of a Put-Option Agreement between Downing and Foresight on 20 September 2024.

    For further information, please contact:

    Company Secretary
     Foresight Group LLP
    Contact: Stephen Thayer Tel: 0203 667 8100

    Investor Relations
     Foresight Group LLP
    Contact: Andrew James Tel: 0203 667 8181

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – AXA INVESTMENT MANAGERS: NewRiver REIT plc

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3

    PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE / DEALING 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    		 NewRiver REIT 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”    		 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 ordinary
      Interests Short positions
      Number % Number %
    (1)   Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 5,677,323 1.50    
    (2)   Cash-settled derivatives:        
    (3)   Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        
    TOTAL: 5,677,323 1.50    

    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
           

    (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)
    1p ordinary Receipt of placing shares 650,000 GBP 0.80

    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? NO
    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 –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Saskatchewan —  Saskatchewan RCMP WEST asks members of the public to report sightings of Joey Desjarlais

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Saskatchewan RCMP WEST is asking members of the public to report all sightings and information on the whereabouts of 34-year-old Joseph “Joey” Desjarlais.

    Desjarlais is wanted in relation to a September 8 robbery in Wadena, a September 16 robbery in Melfort, and is now charged in relation to a robbery in Yorkton.

    On September 22, 2024 at approximately 2:05 a.m., Yorkton RCMP received a report of a robbery at a business on Smith Street.

    Investigation determined an adult male entered the business, threatened an employee with a firearm, then stole cash, cigarettes and the keys to the employee’s vehicle. He then fled in that vehicle.

    No physcal injuries were reported as a result of the robbery.

    As a result of investigation, Desjarlais has been charged with:

    • one count, robbery with firearm, Section 344, Criminal Code;
    • one count, theft of motor vehicle, Section 333.1(1), Criminal Code;
    • one count, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, Section 88(1), Criminal Code; and
    • three counts, possession of weapon contrary to order, Section 117.01(1), Criminal Code.

    Saskatchewan RCMP, including the Warrant Enforcement and Suppression Team (WEST), is actively working to locate and arrest Desjarlais on his multiple outstanding warrants. Residents in the area may notice an increased police presence as a result of the efforts to arrest him.

    If you see Desjarlais, do not approach him. Report all sightings of him or information on his whereabouts to police immediately.

    Desjarlais is described as approximately 5’7″ tall and 130 lbs. He has brown eyes, short brown hair, and a short beard. He has tattoos of the words ‘public’ and ‘enemy’ with flames on his hands, and ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ tattooed on the right side of his neck.

    Report information to 310-RCMP. Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.saskcrimestoppers.com.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: NAVFAC Volunteers Help Develop Future Engineers as part of NAS Oceana Outdoor STEM Laboratory

    Source: United States Navy

    The free event, which has been held nearly every year since 2016, allows 5th graders from Virginia Beach City and Chesapeake Public Schools to receive an exclusive sneak peek of the Air Show performances, including the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels and the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team; vendor booths and activities; and numerous STEM Laboratory exhibits. This year’s theme is “Inspire. Educate. Soar!”

    NAVFAC volunteers staffed engineering-themed tables to encourage the participating students to take part in the command’s annual Penny Boat Challenge.

    “The students get a sheet of aluminum foil, and they design a boat to see how many pennies it can hold before it sinks,” said Taylor Priest, a Civil Engineer for NAVFAC LANT and STEM Coordinator. “We talk to the students about weight distribution, boat shapes and design, and buoyancy, among other things.”

    This challenge not only leads the students to think about the basic shape and design of the boat so it can float on water, but strategy and skill also come into play when they start adding the weight of the pennies.

    “The idea of showing these skills to a younger generation is fascinating to me … I have kids who were into STEM and became engineers, so I want to continue to help push and promote STEM for other children,” said Robert Brown, a Project Manager for NAVFAC MIDLANT, and a first-time STEM Lab volunteer. “NAVFAC is connected to all of this, so it gives us an opportunity – as volunteers – to explain and show off what we do at NAVFAC, and hopefully encourage these students to one day become better NAVFAC engineers.”

    As a hands-on learning activity, the Penny Boat Challenge generates significant crowds as the students show off their talent and patience throughout the day.

    “The students get really competitive as they watch each other build different boats,” Priest explained. “When they work side-by-side in the engagement stations, they start to see who gets more pennies, and then they want to do it again, and again to get better results. We also have an ongoing high score board that displays the highest number [of pennies floated] to keep the competition and creativity flowing.”

    According to the National Center for Science and Engineering website, about a quarter of the current U.S. workforce is employed in STEM occupations. Events such as these not only help to plant a seed for students to seek out future STEM careers, but specifically, it plays a role in promoting STEM opportunities for women, persons of color, and persons with disabilities who have historically been underrepresented in U.S.-based science and engineering fields.

    “We love promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics activities, such as this, to allow children to ask questions about future engineering professions and get them interested in engineering,” said Melissa Dyson, Supervisory Project Manager for NAVFAC MIDLANT and STEM Coordinator. “Many of these students incorporate engineering into their daily routines and they don’t even realize it, so this event allows us to help them identify those skills and show them it can be fun. The STEM fields are growing exponentially, so there’s tons of opportunities – and there will be even more within the next 10 years – and NAVFAC is on the forefront.”

    While most of the attending students are a part of Generation Alpha – who were born at a time when technological devices are getting smarter, and everything is connected digitally – they also demonstrate exceptional skill with non-digital, hands-on learning activities.

    “The students use different parts of their brains … some learn visually, some learn by auditory, and others learn through physical activities, so this activity combines a lot of that together when our volunteers coach them and talk to them about the different elements involved,” said Priest. “It completely syncs for them, and I’ve seen students who take these basic skills home to show their parents and teachers so they can recreate the activities again at home or school.”

    The NAS Oceana Air Show is an annual opportunity for the U.S. Navy to give back to our military families and the local Hampton Roads community. Each year, the base welcomes visitors from across the country and around the world to the Navy’s East Coast Master Jet Base to experience the wonder of flight firsthand and meet the exceptional men and women of naval aviation.

    NAVFAC’s STEM team of volunteers will represent the command again on October 17-18 for Naval Station Norfolk’s STEM Days in Norfolk, Virginia, which will be held in conjunction with the installation’s annual Fleet Fest, scheduled on Oct. 19.

    NAVFAC MIDLANT provides facilities engineering, public works and environmental products and services across an area of responsibility that spans from South Carolina to Maine, as far west as Illinois, and down to Indiana. As an integral member of the Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic team, NAVFAC MIDLANT provides leadership through the Regional Engineer organization to ensure the region’s facilities and infrastructure are managed efficiently and effectively.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: New York State Joins the Global Offshore Wind Alliance

    Source: Global Wind Energy Council – GWEC

    Headline: New York State Joins the Global Offshore Wind Alliance

    24 September 2024, New York, USA | The State of New York announced its membership of the Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA) – joining a network of governments, international organizations, and private sector actors committed to expanding offshore wind capacity globally and driving the transition to a clean energy future.

    GOWA is a multi-stakeholder alliance that aims to speed up the global deployment of offshore wind power. The alliance was launched at COP27 by Denmark, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC). Twenty governments have already joined GOWA. The addition of the State of New York further strengthens the global collaboration between regional and national governments and creates a more unified and coordinated approach to offshore wind development across the globe.

     

    Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), said: “New York is honored to join the Global Offshore Wind Alliance as we work with other government partners to grow and build-out the offshore wind industry, which is a critical component of the renewable energy infrastructure in New York and worldwide. This collaboration, which spans from sharing lessons and best practices to helping scale up offshore wind projects, will help further advance and sustain this powerhouse industry as we harness its full potential to secure a clean energy future.”

     

    “New York’s decision to join GOWA is a very timely step in uniting global efforts to expand the deployment of offshore wind energy. The commitment of New York not only enhances the alliance but also strengthens the collaboration between regional and national actors, improves energy security and pushes forward toward our shared global climate goals,” said Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, Lars Aagaard.

     

    Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA, welcomed New York State joining GOWA: “Through GOWA, we work closely with governments, industry, and investors to accelerate the deployment of offshore wind projects worldwide. Offshore wind offers a pathway to decarbonize our power systems, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth. Our World Energy Transitions Outlook projects that offshore wind capacity must increase sevenfold by 2030 and more than thirtyfold by 2050 to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C. We need policies that incentivize investment, streamlined permitting processes, and innovative financing solutions.”

     

    As a pioneer in renewable energy, New York has already set ambitious targets under its Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, including the deployment of at least 9 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035, a goal of at least 70 percent of New York’s electricity being generated from renewable sources by 2030 and a commitment to 100 percent zero-emission electricity by 2040. By joining GOWA, New York contributes to the global effort to accelerate renewable energy development, including the push for tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, a key global goal decided at COP28.

    The GOWA membership fosters collaboration between regional and national governments, a partnership important for advancing the offshore wind industry. This cooperation enables more efficient offshore wind deployment by combining the innovation and localized expertise of regional governments with the broader policy frameworks and resources provided by national authorities.

     

    “The continuous growth of GOWA’s membership reflects a steadfast commitment to offshore wind as a vital force in achieving net zero, supported by multi-national, national, and sub-national governments. I’m encouraged by the eagerness of key players to join our community, united in addressing the challenges of accelerating offshore wind development. New York’s decision to join GOWA at this critical juncture will bring invaluable expertise from a market that has weathered challenging conditions. I look forward to collaborating with New York and all GOWA members as we chart the global offshore wind pathway toward 2050.” – Amisha Patel, Head of Secretariat (Interim), Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA).

    Ben Backwell, CEO of GWEC, said: “The growth of the Global Offshore Wind Alliance demonstrates the vital role offshore wind plays in the energy transition and the importance of collaboration to delivering on the world’s renewable energy ambitions. The addition of the State of New York to the Alliance brings another strong voice and invaluable expertise to the group. The US offshore wind industry is a key part of the energy transition’s acceleration this decade, and we look forward to supporting the State of New York’s efforts in making their offshore wind sector an example for the rest of the world to follow”

     

    He also highlighted GWEC’s research findings:

     

    “GWEC’s research suggests the world could deliver GOWA’s target of 380 GW of offshore wind by 2030, but only with the right frameworks in place. The collaborative work of the Alliance is fundamental to establishing and expanding this framework around the world and ensuring offshore wind delivers on its potential as a key tool of the energy transition.”

     

    GOWA’s goal is to significantly increase the global offshore wind capacity, aiming for a total of at least 380 GW by 2030 and at least 70 GW each year from 2030 onwards. This expansion is essential for reaching global climate neutrality by 2050 and limiting global warming to below 1.5°C, as outlined in the Paris Agreement.

     

    With New York State as its newest member, GOWA now includes 21 member governments, including the European Commission and three subnational governments, and ten other key stakeholders, including the offshore wind sector, inter-governmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: USS Leyte Gulf Decommissioned

    Source: United States Navy

    Over 500 attendees including plankowners and former crew members joined together to celebrate the ship’s distinguished 37 years of naval service. Vice Adm. Eugene Black III, Leyte Gulf’s 14th commanding officer, served as the ceremony’s keynote speaker, wishing the current crew fair winds and following seas as they bade their ship farewell.

    “What a great opportunity to celebrate the Sailors who brought this ship to life, kept her operating at the highest level and ready for a fight throughout her long and illustrious career of service to our nation,” he said.

    Cmdr. Brian M. Harrington, who served as the 23rd and final commanding officer of Leyte Gulf, led the ship’s final crew through the decommissioning process, assuming command following Leyte Gulf’s deployment to the Caribbean Sea and South Atlantic earlier this year.

    “It’s been an honor to lead America’s Battle Cruiser and her crew through the final chapter in her storied career. This crew accomplished the final mission with professionalism and dedication that honors all Leyte Gulf Sailors past and present.”

    The ceremony atmosphere was one of fond but somber remembrance as Black and Harrington shared a few memories created over Leyte Gulf’s 37 years of service, inviting shared laughter from crewmembers past and present.

    Leyte Gulf was built at Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and commissioned in Port Everglades, Florida, on September 26, 1987. Leyte Gulf’s namesake commemorates the largest naval battle in history, fought from October 23-26, 1944 during World War II.

    Since her maiden deployment in 1988, the warship has been vital to America’s national defense strategy, leading the way in air defense throughout 17 deployments around the world. After decommissioning, the ship will be towed on October 16th to the Navy’s Inactive Ship’s facility in Philadelphia, Pa., where it will be in a Logistical Support Asset status.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: New York State Joins the Global Offshore Wind Alliance

    Source: Global Wind Energy Council – GWEC

    Headline: New York State Joins the Global Offshore Wind Alliance

    24 September 2024, New York, USA | The State of New York announced its membership of the Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA) – joining a network of governments, international organizations, and private sector actors committed to expanding offshore wind capacity globally and driving the transition to a clean energy future.

    GOWA is a multi-stakeholder alliance that aims to speed up the global deployment of offshore wind power. The alliance was launched at COP27 by Denmark, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC). Twenty governments have already joined GOWA. The addition of the State of New York further strengthens the global collaboration between regional and national governments and creates a more unified and coordinated approach to offshore wind development across the globe.

     

    Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), said: “New York is honored to join the Global Offshore Wind Alliance as we work with other government partners to grow and build-out the offshore wind industry, which is a critical component of the renewable energy infrastructure in New York and worldwide. This collaboration, which spans from sharing lessons and best practices to helping scale up offshore wind projects, will help further advance and sustain this powerhouse industry as we harness its full potential to secure a clean energy future.”

     

    “New York’s decision to join GOWA is a very timely step in uniting global efforts to expand the deployment of offshore wind energy. The commitment of New York not only enhances the alliance but also strengthens the collaboration between regional and national actors, improves energy security and pushes forward toward our shared global climate goals,” said Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, Lars Aagaard.

     

    Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA, welcomed New York State joining GOWA: “Through GOWA, we work closely with governments, industry, and investors to accelerate the deployment of offshore wind projects worldwide. Offshore wind offers a pathway to decarbonize our power systems, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth. Our World Energy Transitions Outlook projects that offshore wind capacity must increase sevenfold by 2030 and more than thirtyfold by 2050 to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C. We need policies that incentivize investment, streamlined permitting processes, and innovative financing solutions.”

     

    As a pioneer in renewable energy, New York has already set ambitious targets under its Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, including the deployment of at least 9 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035, a goal of at least 70 percent of New York’s electricity being generated from renewable sources by 2030 and a commitment to 100 percent zero-emission electricity by 2040. By joining GOWA, New York contributes to the global effort to accelerate renewable energy development, including the push for tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, a key global goal decided at COP28.

    The GOWA membership fosters collaboration between regional and national governments, a partnership important for advancing the offshore wind industry. This cooperation enables more efficient offshore wind deployment by combining the innovation and localized expertise of regional governments with the broader policy frameworks and resources provided by national authorities.

     

    “The continuous growth of GOWA’s membership reflects a steadfast commitment to offshore wind as a vital force in achieving net zero, supported by multi-national, national, and sub-national governments. I’m encouraged by the eagerness of key players to join our community, united in addressing the challenges of accelerating offshore wind development. New York’s decision to join GOWA at this critical juncture will bring invaluable expertise from a market that has weathered challenging conditions. I look forward to collaborating with New York and all GOWA members as we chart the global offshore wind pathway toward 2050.” – Amisha Patel, Head of Secretariat (Interim), Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA).

    Ben Backwell, CEO of GWEC, said: “The growth of the Global Offshore Wind Alliance demonstrates the vital role offshore wind plays in the energy transition and the importance of collaboration to delivering on the world’s renewable energy ambitions. The addition of the State of New York to the Alliance brings another strong voice and invaluable expertise to the group. The US offshore wind industry is a key part of the energy transition’s acceleration this decade, and we look forward to supporting the State of New York’s efforts in making their offshore wind sector an example for the rest of the world to follow”

     

    He also highlighted GWEC’s research findings:

     

    “GWEC’s research suggests the world could deliver GOWA’s target of 380 GW of offshore wind by 2030, but only with the right frameworks in place. The collaborative work of the Alliance is fundamental to establishing and expanding this framework around the world and ensuring offshore wind delivers on its potential as a key tool of the energy transition.”

     

    GOWA’s goal is to significantly increase the global offshore wind capacity, aiming for a total of at least 380 GW by 2030 and at least 70 GW each year from 2030 onwards. This expansion is essential for reaching global climate neutrality by 2050 and limiting global warming to below 1.5°C, as outlined in the Paris Agreement.

     

    With New York State as its newest member, GOWA now includes 21 member governments, including the European Commission and three subnational governments, and ten other key stakeholders, including the offshore wind sector, inter-governmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Welcome to the Sustainable Development Impact Meetings 2024

    Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

    During the week of 23-27 September 2024, on the occasion of the United Nations General Assembly, the World Economic Forum will host the Sustainable Development Impact Meetings.

    Drawing on the Forum’s dedicated communities of purpose, business leaders, policymakers, international and civil society organizations, innovators and social entrepreneurs will convene in person for a series of carefully curated impact-driven leaders’ dialogues.

    The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.

    World Economic Forum Website ► http://www.weforum.org/
    Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/worldeconomicforum/
    YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/wef
    Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/worldeconomicforum/ 
    Twitter ► https://twitter.com/wef
    LinkedIn ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-economic-forum
    TikTok ► https://www.tiktok.com/@worldeconomicforum
    Flipboard ► https://flipboard.com/@WEF

    #WorldEconomicForum

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cq6zmX_tvM

    MIL OSI Video –