NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Minister Rishworth press conference in Ipswich

    Source: Ministers for Social Services

    E&OE TRANSCRIPT

    Topics: Supporting adolescent boys and young men trial; Family, domestic and sexual violence.

    SHAYNE NEUMANN, FEDERAL MEMBER FOR BLAIR: I’m Shayne Neumann, Federal Member for Blair. I’m here with my friend Amanda Rishworth, who’s the Minister for Social Services, and Aime Carrington, who’s the CEO of Domestic Violence Action Centre, commonly known as DVAC, west of Brisbane, a great service that provides a lot of assistance for women and children in particular. But I’m so pleased, Amanda, to have you here today with this announcement, and you have as a psychologist and I as a lawyer, who practiced in family law and child protection, have worked in this field before, in our professional lives, before in Parliament. But I know this announcement is very, very good for Ipswich and surrounds, and I know that DVAC will do a lot of good with the Federal Government funding and support that you’re providing. I’ll hand over to you, Amanda, to tell us about it.

    AMANDA RISHWORTH, MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES: It’s so wonderful to be here today. Firstly, I’d like to thank Shayne, who’s been an amazing advocate for women and children in particular, who have experienced family, domestic and sexual violence. His advocacy has made sure that the attention, not just here in Ipswich, but right across the country, is really, really focused. I’d also like to thank Aime and the whole team at the Domestic Violence Action Centre, the frontline workforce that I met today. The Commonwealth Government, under the Albanese Labor Government, has really focused on family and domestic violence since we were elected. Our National Plan to End Family Domestic and Sexual Violence in a generation is something that we put in place very soon after we were elected, and we’ve now had a number of budget rounds that have put close to $4 billion on the table when it comes to frontline services and other programs. But it was wonderful to meet with Aime and the other frontline workers to hear how they’re actually working to spend this money. Whether it is through our frontline workforce, through the National Partnerships Agreement that we have, providing help to women and children really in crisis. Or whether it is the work that they complement their casework with, with keeping women safe in their homes, ensuring that there’s the right technical solution and support for women to stay where they want to live in their community, but don’t always feel certain to do so without this extra support. But most importantly, it was wonderful to hear about the enthusiasm for the new announcement today that we’ve made about supporting young men and boys break the cycle of family and domestic violence. We know that children, particularly men and boys, who have experienced family and domestic violence or other adverse childhood experiences, are more likely to choose to use violence, and therefore we know that if we are going to break the cycle, we must work with these boys and men to make sure that the cycle is not repeated. And that is what this trial I’m announcing today is. There’s 12 different organisations that will run support across the country. And it is wonderful that the Domestic Violence Action Centre will be one of those working in this new way. I have to say that one of the really key elements of the National Plan is to acknowledge the experience of children as domestic violence victim survivors and to make sure that they get the support that they need. That’s what these programs are all about. There’ll be both rural and regional areas that will have these trials, as well as metropolitan areas. And here in Ipswich, there is a there is a wonderful program that will be delivered. I’m going to ask Aime to speak about that soon. Services will begin to roll out, and support will begin to roll out from January this year, and will be over a three year period. But I’d just like to thank Aime and her team for the really wonderful application they’ve put in to work with these boys and young men and to make sure that we are really breaking the cycle when it comes to family and domestic violence. So I’m going to ask Aime to speak about her program in particular.

    AIME CARRINGTON, CEO OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACTION CENTRE: I’m Aime Carrington. I’m the CEO of the Domestic Violence Action Centre. DVAC has been operating for just under 30 years within the Ipswich region, and we’re really excited about the announcement today and to be a part of this new partnership with YFS to pilot a program called ‘Breaking the Cycle’. Breaking the Cycle will be working with young men and boys aged 12 to 18 years who have experienced domestic and sexual violence. We will be supporting them on their journey for healing and trauma and abuse that they’ve experienced, and we’ll be supporting them to build their own positive masculinities, behaviours, and ways of behaving within the family and with their own intimate partners. We’re really excited, because what this program will do is it will build a new evidence base through being evaluated to show what really works with breaking the cycle of domestic and sexual violence. I’m really proud of the team at DVAC, and really excited to see the positive gains that we’ll be able to achieve alongside our community, our community partners, young men and their families, with this work together.

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: Okay, we’ll hand over to you for some questions.

    JOURNALIST: Thank you. First question to the Minister. This kind of program for young boys is the first of its kind in Australia, is it? Why do you think it’s so important to have?

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: What we know, and what the evidence shows us is that we must make sure that if we break the cycle, we have to intervene early. And of course, particularly boys and young men, if violence has been normalised in the home, if it has been shown that that’s the only way to respond, then we’re going to see that violence cycle continue. So we must intervene early to break the cycle, but also we must ensure that children, in particular that have experienced family and domestic violence carry their own scars, their own trauma, and we need to support them to heal. We need to make sure that they are over able to overcome what is often a very traumatic experience. So our National Plan has been very focused on that we need to elevate children. Children didn’t get the type of focus in the first National Plan around gender-based violence, but in this plan, we are elevating children, because that’s where we know we can make a real difference.

    JOURNALIST: And of course, it’s not just here in Ipswich, but it is across the country, 12 sites, but likely more to come next year. Is that right?

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: There’s 12 sites that will be running over the next few years. There’s one, for example, in Rockhampton, being run by Centrecare Rockhampton. They’ll be run across rural and regional areas as well as metropolitan areas in most states and territories. And we will be gathering the evidence from these trials to look at how we put in best practice and expand this type of support across the country.

    JOURNALIST: And I have a question for Aime, sorry, how important is it to have these services funded by Government to, I guess, you know, get these kids to help they need?

    AIME CARRINGTON: Government funding is essential to the success of specialist domestic family and central violence services. And it’s really important to be doing innovative pilots like the Breaking the Cycle program, because we need to do more as a society to really make a difference and to change the trajectory. If we want to achieve ending gender-based violence in one generation, it’s services like this that are going to make a real difference alongside everything else that we’re doing. Ending gender-based violence is going to take a whole society, and so this is a really important step forward.

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: Thank you.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Local News – Milestones reached to improve Porirua’s water infrastructure

    Source: Porirua City Council

    Pipe renewals along Awarua and Prosser streets and the first stage of replacement of the water trunk main at Titahi Bay have been completed as part of Porirua City Council’s ongoing work to renew the city’s drinking water network.
    Wellington Water’s GM of Network Development and Delivery, Susannah Cullen, says the community’s patience is appreciated during some disruptions as these important jobs are carried out.
    “Vital work like these pipe renewals is key to keeping the leaks backlog at a sustainable level and building a more resilient water supply,” she says.
    While leaks are a concern across the region, the number of leaks in Porirua is manageable, Ms Cullen says. A “sustainable backlog” is the level of leaks agreed to by Porirua City Council and Wellington Water, meaning water loss is being contained and projects and work can be delivered efficiently.
    Mayor Anita Baker was pleased to see the positive impact from Council’s increased investment.
    “Balancing pipe renewals with leak fixes is vital to keep water loss down in the long term,” she says.
    “But our work doesn’t stop here. As we look ahead to summer, we’ll work to keep leaks down and keep an eye on our wai across the board.”
    Mayor Baker added there are simple, sensible ways the community can help too.
    “Following water restrictions, making easy choices like doing full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher, and turning the tap off when you’re brushing your teeth – it all makes a difference.”
    Porirua City will enter level 1 water restrictions at midnight on Sunday 29 September. At this level, the public are asked to only use sprinklers every second day. Even numbered houses can use their sprinklers on even numbered days, and odd numbered houses on odd numbered days.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Transport – Transporting New Zealand calls for additional measures to support the Low Emissions Heavy Vehicle Fund

    Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand

    National road freight association Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand has welcomed the launch of the Low Emissions Heavy Vehicle Fund (the LEHVF) but says additional policy changes and investment are required to support freight decarbonisation.
    The fund, administered by the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority (EECA) can contribute up to 25 per cent of the cost of new zero and low-emissions heavy vehicles. 
    The LEHVF can also contribute up to 25 per cent of the cost to convert existing higher emitting heavy vehicles to be powered by low-emissions technology – including hydrogen-diesel dual fuel engines. EECA has estimated the LEHVF could prevent 366,622 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions, replacing 500 diesel-only vehicles by 2028.
    Dom Kalasih says the 27-million-dollar fund will help Transporting New Zealand’s members get zero and low carbon trucks on the road, reducing transport emissions.
    “The road freight sector is committed to decarbonisation, including adopting low and zero emission vehicles. However, the high purchase cost and limited range and freight capacity of many available models is a big barrier to uptake. In a low margin industry like ours, practical support from the Government is essential.”
    “Battery electric trucks cost between 2-3 times more than internal combustion equivalents, with limited range and loads. Freight customers are understandably price sensitive, particularly in the current economic climate, and this can make low and zero emission freight services a tough sell.”
    Transporting New Zealand is also calling for the Government to prioritise three actions to support decarbonisation in the road freight sector:
    – introduce accelerated depreciation for low and zero emission vehicles (including higher productivity motor vehicles);
    – reform the vehicle dimension and mass rules to allow more battery weight on front axles; and
    – strengthen roads surfaces and bridges to allow heavier, more efficient, electric vehicles and high productivity motor vehicles to access more of the roading network.
    “Co-funding vehicle purchases is an important piece of the puzzle, but getting our regulatory settings and roading network ready for more efficient vehicles is also essential to increasing uptake and driving down emissions.”
    Transporting New Zealand is currently working with several other transport associations and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi to propose practical amendments to the Land Transport Rules that will improve freight efficiency. 
    About Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand
    Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand is the peak national membership association representing the road freight transport industry. Our members operate urban, rural and inter- regional commercial freight transport services throughout the country. 
    Road is the dominant freight mode in New Zealand, transporting 92.8% of the freight task on a tonnage basis, and 75.1% on a tonne-km basis. The road freight transport industry employs over 34,000 people across more than 4,700 businesses, with an annual turnover of $6 billion.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health and Employment – First day of bargaining action for Te Whatu Ora nurses – NZNO

    Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

    New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki O Aotearoa members will gather in support of their bargaining team on tomorrow morning to mark the first day of collective contract negotiations with Te Whatu Ora.
    Wednesday 25 September will be the first day of bargaining for NZNO’s biggest collective contract.
    “This year’s bargaining is taking place at a time when our health system is om crisis,” NZNO delegate Bruce McIntosh says.
    “There is a chronic shortage of thousands of nurses at Te Whatu Ora nurses which is leading to increased wait times in Emergency Departments and compromising the quality of patient care,” Bruce McIntosh says.
    “Understaffing in our hospitals has been exacerbated with the Government’s obsession with cutting costs.
    “With a commissioner appointed to Te Whatu Ora and a voluntary redundancy process underway, there’s no doubt our bargaining team has their work cut out for them.
    “Members are gathering on Wednesday morning in solidarity with the bargaining team and to wish them all the best as they arrive for this important mahi. They will take with them into the negotiation room the collective strength of 35,000 members covered by this agreement,” Bruce McIntosh says.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Parliament Bill passes first reading

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Parliament Bill has passed its first reading this afternoon, Leader of the House Chris Bishop says. 

    “Today Parliament has taken an important step towards modernising the legislation that supports its operations. 

    “The Parliament Bill will consolidate and modernise the four Acts comprising Parliament’s statutory framework: the Clerk of the House of Representatives Act 1988, the Parliamentary Service Act 2000, the Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Services) Act 2013, and the Parliamentary Privilege Act 2014.

    Other important changes in the Bill include:

    • Updating the functions of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker to clarify when the functions and duties of the Speaker are carried out by the Deputy;
    • Modernising the statutory functions of the Clerk of the House;
    • Providing Parliamentary Security Officers with statutory powers similar to those of court security officers, and
    • Transferring to the Electoral Commission the role of determining whether a petition carries the required number of signatures to trigger a referendum.

    “I am pleased to see this Bill receive unanimous support from across the House. When dealing with matters regarding how Parliament is run, we want to ensure a bipartisan, constructive approach. I thank Members for their contributions to this Bill and to the first reading debate today.

    “As part of the cross-party collaborative approach to this Bill, it has been agreed that a special select committee will be created with representatives from every parliamentary party to consider it. The Government intends to nominate former Speaker of the House, Rt Hon Adrian Rurawhe, to chair this committee.

    “The Bill has now been referred to the special select committee for six months and I hope to pass it into law in 2025.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Environment – New species of NZ ghost shark discovered – NIWA

    Source: NIWA

    Scientists have found a new ghost shark that lives exclusively in the deep waters of Australia and New Zealand.
    The Australasian Narrow-nosed Spookfish was described by NIWA Fisheries Scientist Dr Brit Finucci.
    It was previously thought to be part of a single globally distributed species, until research revealed it is genetically and morphologically different to its cousins.
    Dr Finucci gave it the scientific name Harriotta avia in memory of her grandmother.
    “Avia means grandmother in Latin; I wanted to give this nod to her because she proudly supported me through my career as a scientist. Chimaeras are also rather ancient relatives – the grandmas and grandpas – of fish and I thought the name was well suited,” said Dr Finucci.
    Ghost sharks, or chimaeras, are a group of cartilaginous fish closely related to sharks and rays. Other names for these mysterious animals include ratfish, rabbitfish and elephant fish.
    They have smooth skin, free of scales, and feed off crustaceans such as shrimp and molluscs with their distinctive beak-like teeth.
    ” Harriotta avia is unique due to its elongated, narrow and depressed snout; long, slender trunk; large eyes; and very long, broad pectoral fins. It is a lovely chocolate brown colour.
    “Ghost sharks like this one are largely confined to the ocean floor, living in depths of up to 2,600m. Their habitat makes them hard to study and monitor, meaning we don’t know a lot about their biology or threat status, but it makes discoveries like this even more exciting,” said Dr Finucci.
    The specimens were collected in the Chatham Rise off New Zealand’s coast during research surveys for Fisheries New Zealand. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Public alerted to fake SMS message

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Transport Department today alerted the public to a fraudulent SMS message purportedly issued by HKeToll.

    The message includes a hyperlink leading to a fake website that seeks to deceive recipients into making payments and submitting their credit card information.

    Besides referring the case to Police for investigation, the department iterated that the HKeToll system does not send SMS messages or emails to vehicle owners with hyperlinks directed them to websites to carry out transactions.

    Vehicle owners wishing to pay an outstanding toll online must log in to the HKeToll website or mobile app.

    The department said the public should stay alert when receiving messages from unidentified recipients. For enquiries about HKeToll, call 3853 7333.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Russian specialists complete internship in the Turkish Republic

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    On September 18, as part of an internship in the Republic of Turkey, Russian specialists visited the city of Kocaeli.

    The business program started at Kocaeli University Technopark. The Russian delegation was welcomed by Deputy Director General Omer Ozer. He introduced the activities of the Technopark aimed at promoting the spread of skilled employment, the production of technological products with high added value based on the comprehensive implementation of import substitution and innovation. Omer Ozer spoke about close cooperation with the Kocaeli and Gebze Chambers of Industry and Commerce and the GOBS Technopark, and emphasized that the Technopark is the center of digital transformation and innovation in the region. Russian businessmen presented the activities of their enterprises and discussed issues of interest to them with their Turkish colleagues.

    The next stop was one of the largest ports in Turkey – Poliport. The delegation was received by Poliport CEO Selcuk Denizhan. He noted that the port is not only Turkish, but also one of the largest and most important ports in the European Union with geographical proximity to the industrial zone, where 45% of Turkey’s GDP is generated. The port is the country’s only independent terminal for storing chemicals and one of the few terminals for storing liquids. Russian specialists were given the opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies for handling cargo of various purposes, with the Poliport warehouse sector, as well as with the specifics of managing port infrastructure.

    The business program continued with a networking conference at the Kocaeli Chamber of Industry, whose Secretary General Mehmet Barış Turabi presented the region’s activities in his report, emphasizing that Kocaeli has 14 organized industrial zones, 2 free economic zones, 5 technology parks, 2 national research centers and 2 technology transfer offices. The networking conference ended with a B2B meeting, where Russian and Turkish specialists discussed possible areas of cooperation and exchanged contacts for further interaction.

    The final part of the internship of Russian specialists in the Republic of Turkey took place on September 19-20 in the city of Istanbul.

    On September 19, a meeting was held at Istanbul Kent University with the Consul General of the Russian Federation Andrey Buravov, the head of the branch of the Trade Mission of Russia in Turkey in Istanbul Vera Borisova, the representative of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Russia in Turkey Vladimir Emmer, the head of the Russian export center in Turkey Timur Safin, as well as representatives of Istanbul legal, consulting, financial and transport companies. The key topic of the event was the practical experience of doing business in Turkey. The current state of foreign trade relations between Russia and Turkey, promising export directions, the peculiarities of local buyers’ perception of Russian products, as well as issues of certification, logistics and mutual settlements were discussed.

    The next meeting in the format of a networking conference was held at the Independent Association of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Istanbul (MUSIAD), which specializes in technology, research and development, innovation and knowledge. The meeting was also attended by members of the ASKON association. The conference ended with an exchange of opinions, establishment of business contacts and B2B meetings with Turkish entrepreneurs.

    Next, Russian specialists visited specialized enterprises: the mechanical engineering company Haffner Makina, one of the world leaders in the production of manual and automatic machines for processing PVC and aluminum profiles, and the logistics company Ata Freight, specializing in innovative solutions for managing freight transportation.

    On September 20, the Director of the Federal Resource Center, Alexey Bunkin, joined the internship. The Russian delegation met with the leadership and members of the Turkish-Russian Business Council (TRBC) of the Foreign Economic Relations Council under the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Turkey, where a round table was held on the development of cooperation between Russia and Turkey in the current conditions. The meeting was opened by the Vice President of TRBC, Handan Eren, and Alexey Bunkin also gave a speech. A presentation of the project portfolio of Russian specialists and a discussion platform took place, where Russian and Turkish entrepreneurs considered possible areas and prospects for cooperation, and exchanged contacts for further interaction.

    The next event of the program was a visit to the Bagcilar District Administration of Istanbul, where a networking session was held with representatives of the administration and Turkish businessmen. The Bagcilar District is one of the most important trade and production centers in Turkey. The session was opened with a welcoming speech by the head of the district administration Abdullah Ozdemir and the director of the Federal Resource Center Alexey Bunkin. Russian and Turkish specialists presented their companies, shared their experiences and established business contacts.

    An equally important business meeting was held at the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce. The Russian delegation led by Alexey Bunkin was received by the Vice President of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce Mehmet Develioglu. The meeting was held in the format of an open discussion, during which businessmen discussed issues of development and expansion of trade, creation of new markets, existing problems of development of the business world and measures to eliminate them.

    On September 21, the day of completion of the internship of Russian specialists in the Republic of Turkey, the director of the Federal Resource Center held a briefing during which the results were summed up, the achieved results were presented, and the prospects for the development of subsequent similar projects were discussed. The participants of the program were also awarded certificates of advanced training from the State University of Management in the programs “General Economic Cooperation and Trade” and “Economic Cooperation in Industry”.

    The results of the intensive practice-oriented internship of Russian specialists in the territory of the Republic of Turkey were acquaintance with successful examples of entrepreneurship, establishment of contacts both with representatives of Turkish business and with Russian representative bodies that ensure the state interests of Russia in the sphere of foreign economic activity in Turkey.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 09.24.2024

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

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

    Russian specialists complete internship in the Turkish Republic

    [embedded content]

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. House Members Introduce Resolution Designating Sept. 16-20 as Medical Research Week

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andre Carson (7th District of INDIANA)

    Today Representatives Andre Carson (D-Ind.), Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), and Lloyd Smucker (R-Pa.) recognized the unique contributions of medical research to improve the lives of patients, families, and communities nationwide by introducing a resolution in the House of Representatives declaring Sept. 16-20 as Medical Research Week.  

    Medical research, much of which is conducted at academic medical centers nationwide, has led to breakthrough discoveries that improve the health and well-being of patients and communities while also promoting global competitiveness in science, boosting job creation, preparing the next generation of scientists, and strengthening economic growth.  

    Through the support of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), medical research serves a vital and unique role in the U.S. research enterprise. This work leads to cutting-edge preventative strategies and improved and emerging treatments and cures for diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, sickle cell anemia, obesity, the mental health and opioid epidemics, and emerging threats like yet unknown infectious diseases.  

    “Investing in the NIH today pays a lifetime of dividends in saving lives, promoting better health, and improving the quality of life for all Americans,” said AAMC President and CEO David J. Skorton, MD. “The nation’s medical schools, academic health systems, and teaching hospitals conduct approximately 60% of all NIH extramural research and are proud to pioneer many critical advances that bring the promise of better health to patients, families, and communities nationwide.” 

    “Now, more than ever, it’s important to ensure strong funding growth for NIH so that today’s discoveries can culminate in major breakthroughs in medical research,” said AAMC Chief Scientific Officer Elena Fuentes-Afflick, MD, MPH. 

    As noted in the resolution, NIH funding ripples far beyond its headquarters into every state, drives demand for medical supplies and research equipment, and boosts local and regional economies to benefit manufacturers and suppliers across the country and into many U.S. territories, generating nearly $93 billion in new economic activity and supports approximately 412,000 jobs across the U.S in FY 2023 alone. 

    “Medical research has shaped breakthroughs in science that change lives,” said Rep. André Carson. “The cure for diseases like cancer and diabetes could be possible in our lifetimes, as long as we continue to invest in this important work. I am proud to have led bipartisan efforts over several years to fully fund the National Institutes of Health, expand pancreatic cancer research at the U.S. Department of Defense, and fully fund veteran medical and prosthetic research. We also need to collect more data on how minorities are disproportionately impacted by certain health issues and widen clinical trials to include those left out. I am proud to introduce this resolution highlighting Medical Research Week and will continue to work across the aisle on lifesaving legislation.” 

    “Innovation in health care starts with the groundbreaking medical research that leads to life-changing treatments and cures,” said Rep. Joyce Beatty. “As we celebrate Medical Research Week, we honor the scientists and institutions whose work not only saves lives but also drives our economy and keeps our nation at the forefront of global health innovation. As a stroke survivor, I’ve experienced firsthand the critical importance of these advancements. That’s why I continue to advocate for billions in federal funding to the NIH to reduce the incidence of heart disease, stroke, and other threats to the health and vitality of all Americans. The future of medicine depends on what we invest in today, and I’ll keep fighting for that funding.” 

    “Medical Research Week is an opportunity to celebrate the innovations and efforts of so many scientists who have created the treatments, cures, and diagnostics that tackle terrible conditions like cancer, Alzheimer’s, kidney failure, and the opioid epidemic. This inspirational work and the strong federal investments that power it make the United States the global driver of medical research and development,” said Rep. Suzan DelBene. “Medical Research Week is also an opportunity to recommit ourselves to building on this progress by not only defending but expanding funding for our government’s lead health research agency – the National Institutes of Health – so we can continue to develop the cures of tomorrow.” 

    “Medical research is the foundation of progress: saving lives, driving economic growth, and ensuring our leadership on the world stage. By celebrating Medical Research Week, we are not merely recognizing past breakthroughs but committing to a future where innovation propels our communities forward. I am dedicated to fighting for the vital funding that fuels progress and gives researchers the tools to discover groundbreaking cures and tackle the most devastating diseases. Together, through continued innovation, we will forge a healthier, stronger future for generations to come,” said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick. 

    “It is by no accident that America leads the world in medical innovation. America’s free enterprise system alongside strong federal support of medical research has led to new cures, treatments, and hope for tomorrow that more therapies are on the horizon. I am proud that Pennsylvania institutions and companies play leading roles in developing these new technologies and am glad to join my colleagues in introducing a resolution to recognize Medical Research Week,” said Rep. Lloyd Smucker. 

    During Medical Research Week, the AAMC – along with its member medical schools, academic health systems, research institutions, and collaborators – are celebrating the achievements in medical research and breakthrough innovations on social media using the hashtag #StartsInAcademicMedicine to highlight the immeasurable impact of research on patients and communities.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Take stock of your health with My prevention assessment

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

    Source: Republic of France in FrenchThe French Republic has issued the following statement:

    After being tested in 2023 in certain departments, “My prevention assessment” was extended in 2024 throughout France.

    These free prevention appointments are intended for people in these 4 age groups:

    18-25 years; 45-50 years; 60-65 years; 70-75 years.

    Four types of practitioners can be consulted during these appointments: doctor, nurse, pharmacist and midwife. Physiotherapists will be added to the system soon.

    The assessment can be carried out with a doctor you know or a qualified practitioner. The list of these health professionals is given in the sante.fr directory.

    A prevention assessment, why?

    The aim of this assessment is to allow patients to discuss 5 points concerning their health with the doctor:

    their family and personal medical history; their lifestyle habits: diet, physical activity, addictions, etc.; the identification of chronic diseases and prevention; a general health assessment: weight curve, vaccinations, oral health monitoring, etc.; their mental and social well-being: sleep, emotional life, working conditions, etc.

    How to proceed to carry out the assessment?

    Make an appointment with the healthcare professional you have chosen.

    Before the appointment, you must complete a self-questionnaire (not mandatory) corresponding to your age group. This document is available by logging in to My health space.

    You will need to bring this questionnaire to the prevention appointment as well as documents concerning your state of health (latest blood test, vaccination record, possible results).

    The assessment will take place in 3 stages (allow a maximum duration of 45 minutes):

    Identifying individual risks (in particular using the self-questionnaire). Joint prioritization of one or two prevention topics that concern you, following a decision shared between you and the doctor. Drafting a personalized prevention plan (PPP), drafted jointly with the doctor. This PPP indicates: the priority objectives for your health, the obstacles to changing your lifestyle, concrete actions to be implemented, the resources and stakeholders that the patient can consult (doctors, sports associations, etc.)

    Please note

    Preventive check-ups are 100% covered by Health Insurance for all insured persons, with no upfront costs.

    The prevention assessment can only be carried out once per person and per age group.

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI: Soitec: Soitec and Resonac announce the signing of a joint development agreement in SmartSiC™ to accelerate high-performance silicon carbide adoption in next-generation electric vehicles

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Soitec and Resonac announce the signing of a joint development agreement in SmartSiC™ to accelerate high-performance silicon carbide adoption in next-generation electric vehicles

    Tokyo (Japan) and Bernin (France), September 24th, 2024 — Resonac Corporation (formerly Showa Denko K.K.) and Soitec (Euronext Paris – Tech Leaders), a leader in the design and manufacture of innovative semiconductor materials, have signed an agreement to develop 200mm (8-inch) SmartSiC™ silicon carbide (SiC) wafers using Resonac substrates and epitaxy processes, in a major step for the deployment of Soitec’s high-yielding silicon carbide technology in Japan and other international markets.

    SmartSiC™ silicon carbide is a disruptive compound semiconductor material providing superior performance and efficiency over silicon in high-growth power applications for electric mobility and industrial processes. It allows for more efficient power conversion, lighter and more compact designs and overall system cost savings – all key factors for success in automotive and industrial systems.

    Christophe Maleville, Chief Technology Officer at Soitec, commented: “Silicon carbide is being adopted for EV and industrial applications, where it brings a significant system cost advantage. To further accelerate this adoption, silicon carbide yield and productivity must be improved.  Associating Resonac premium quality SiC materials with Soitec’s unique 200mm (8-inch) SmartSiC™ technology will support volume availability of record quality epi-ready substrate. The combination of our respective technologies and products will optimize these substrates using Resonac’s high-quality epitaxy. Soitec is proud and excited to be partnering with Resonac to develop a best-in-class combined SiC product offering for Japan and the world.”

    Makoto Takeda, General Manager of Device Solutions Business Unit at Resonac, commented: “We are delighted to announce this partnership with Soitec, which is fully aligned with our broader commitment to sustainable and energy-efficient semiconductor solutions. By combining Resonac’s high quality monocrystalline silicon carbide wafers with Soitec’s unique SmartSiC™ technology, we will deliver improved production efficiency of 200mm (8-inch) silicon carbide wafers and diversify the epi-wafer supply chain.”

    Soitec’s SmartSiC™ silicon carbide wafers, or engineered substrates, are produced using the company’s proprietary SmartCut™ technology to bond an ultra-fine layer of high-quality mono-SiC ‘donor’ wafer to a low-resistivity polycrystalline (poly-SiC) ‘handle’ wafer. The resulting engineered substrate delivers significantly improved device performance and manufacturing yields. By allowing multiple re-uses of the prime quality mono-SiC wafer, the process also reduces overall energy consumption during wafer manufacturing.

    Soitec has a new fabrication plant at its headquarters in Bernin, France, primarily dedicated to the production of SmartSiC™ wafers for electric vehicles, renewable energy and industrial equipment component applications.

    About Soitec

    Soitec (Euronext – Tech Leaders), a world leader in innovative semiconductor materials, has been developing cutting-edge products delivering both technological performance and energy efficiency for over 30 years. From its global headquarters in France, Soitec is expanding internationally with its unique solutions, and generated sales of 1 billion Euros in fiscal year 2023-2024. Soitec occupies a key position in the semiconductor value chain, serving three main strategic markets: Mobile Communications, Automotive and Industrial, and Edge and Cloud AI. The company relies on the talent and diversity of its 2,300 employees, representing 50 different nationalities, working at its sites in Europe, the United States and Asia. Soitec has registered over 4,000 patents.

    Soitec, SmartSiC™ and Smart Cut™ are registered trademarks of Soitec.

    For more information: https://www.soitec.com/en/ and follow us on X: @Soitec_Official

    Contact for more information: media@soitec.com

    About the Resonac Group

    The Resonac Group is a new company established as a result of the integration of the Showa Denko Group and the Showa Denko Materials Group (former Hitachi Chemical Group) in January 2023.  The Group’s annual sales of semiconductor and electronic materials amount to about 340 billion yen.  The Group especially has global top share of semiconductor materials for packaging process.  The integration of the two companies has enabled the Resonac Group to design functions of materials as well as to develop them in-house, going all the way back to raw materials.  The new trade name “RESONAC” was created as a combination of two English words, namely, the word of “RESONATE” and “C” as the first letter of CHEMISTRY.  The Resonac Group will make the most of its co-creative platform, and accelerate technological innovation with semiconductor manufacturers, material manufacturers, and equipment manufacturers inside and outside Japan.

    For detail, please refer to the Website of Resonac Holdings Corporation: https://www.resonac.com/

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Haffner Energy teams up with Bambbco, France’s leading bamboo provider, to diversify sustainable biomass procurement

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Haffner Energy teams up with Bambbco, France’s leading bamboo provider, to diversify sustainable biomass procurement

    Vitry-le-François, September 24, 2024, at 8:00 am (CEST)

    Haffner Energy and Bambbco, France’s leading bamboo provider, announce that they have signed a partnership. Both companies are based in France and share a common goal of improving the availability of biomass for energy applications, especially from crops grown on marginal land.

    Biomass, the leading source of renewable energy in France and around the world, often faces conflicts of use. Diversifying sustainable sources of biomass that is free of conflicts of use, thanks to regenerative, resilient, and productive crops such as bamboo grown on marginal lands and barren grounds, is a strategic challenge. The contribution of such crops to decarbonization is going to be significant.

    Haffner Energy has developed an innovative, patented biomass and organic waste thermolysis technology, backed by 30 years of experience. This technology produces renewable hydrogen and clean fuels for industry and mobility applications. In addition, it generates biocarbon (char or biochar), a natural carbon sink, and biogenic CO2.    

    Bambbco is a nature-based solutions company that uses several species of bamboo to produce renewable energy, sequester carbon, prevent soil erosion, re-establish the water cycle, promote biodiversity, and contribute to the biomass-to-energy circular economy. Bambbco is a laureate of France’s start-up booster program French Tech.

    Bamboo produces up to four times as much biomass , as wood residues from a forest in standard conditions. In addition, bamboo displays remarkable characteristics such as being drought tolerant, requiring no chemical inputs, and capturing heavy metals and toxic chemical elements through its roots system. Those properties make it an ideal candidate for soil and ecosystem regeneration on marginal land, while simultaneously generating value.

    “Europe is the only continent in the world where bamboo is not recognized yet for its many benefits, from regenerating marginal lands and natural ecosystems to providing a highly sustainable, renewable, and competitive alternative to wood and wood residues for countless applications,” points out Pierre-Alexandre Lemarquis, CEO of Bambbco. “I am excited about the forward-looking approach that Haffner Energy is taking with regard to biomass procurement. Together, we’ll be able to develop local, circular economy-based ecosystems for clean fuels production projects,” he adds.

    “We are happy to engage with Bambbco and develop biomass-to-energy projects in locations that would otherwise not be suitable. Barren areas can be brought back to life with robust energy crops and our technology,” says Marcella Franchi, Haffner Energy Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Sales. “We can’t wait to show visitors the new bamboo plantation at our new center in Marolles (Marne County, France). The plants can be used on location, among various feedstocks, to produce renewable syngas and hydrogen, and they will beautify the site.”

    The signing of this partnership will enable Haffner Energy and Bambbco to offer a turnkey solution for the production of green energy, with guaranteed feedstock availability and cost all year round. It builds on Haffner Energy’s strategy to diversify sustainable biomass procurement, initiated earlier this year with the signing of a partnership with XanoGrass developer Hexas, in the United States.

    The aggregated environmental virtues of those solutions are formidable: 

    • Securing biomass procurement
    • Capturing CO2 through photosynthesis 
    • Sequestering CO2 in biocarbon (char or biochar) and biogenic CO2 through Haffner Energy’s solutions 
    • Regenerating marginal lands and creating value thanks to specialty crops  
    • Avoiding greenhouse gas emissions by eliminating fossil energy and replacing it by the ultimate renewable energy — energy from energy crops grown on marginal land

    About Haffner Energy 

    Haffner Energy, located in France, supplies solutions to produce competitive clean fuels. Backed by 30 years of experience, its innovative and patented biomass thermolysis technology makes possible the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), as well as renewable gas, hydrogen, and methanol. The company also contributes to carbon sequestration through the co-production of biogenic CO2 and biocarbon (char or biochar). For more information: www.haffner-energy.com

    About Bambbco

    Bambbco is the company that has been pioneering the sustainable production of bamboo biomass in France. Founded with the mission to promote responsible agricultural practices and provide renewable resources for various industries, including energy, Bambbco has quickly established itself in the emerging biomass sector. For more information: www.bambbco.com

    Media relations

    HAFFNER ENERGY 
    Laetitia Mailhes 
    laetitia.mailhes@haffner-energy.com 
    +33 (0) 6 13 04 62 01 

    BAMBBCO
    Pierre-Alexandre Lemarquis
    contact@bambbco.com
    +33 (0)7 64 69 53 94

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Carson, Jayapal, Schakowsky Introduce UNRWA Funding Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andre Carson (7th District of INDIANA)

    WASHINGTON, DC—Representative André Carson (IN-07) has introduced H.R. 9649, the UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act of 2024 with Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09). This bill will end the congressionally and administratively mandated pause on funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNWRA).

    The United States has historically been one of the largest financial supporters of UNRWA, which serves nearly 6 million Palestinian refugees across the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon. In March of this year, the U.S. paused UNRWA funding after the Israeli government alleged that 12 agency employees had direct involvement in Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack.

    Following the UN’s investigation and proactive commitments made by UNRWA toward complete accountability and reform, all countries except the U.S. have resumed their UNRWA funding, including the European Union, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Finland, Germany, Japan, and Sweden.  Approximately 1.9 million people – 9 in 10 Gazans – have been displaced at least once, and an estimated 43,580 are pregnant women. UNRWA has served as the primary humanitarian aid organization operating in Gaza, and without funding, hundreds of thousands of Gaza civilians are left vulnerable. It is estimated that over 1 million Gazans will not have enough food this month, and availability of basic hygiene items has dropped to 15%. In addition to a polio outbreak, Gazans are suffering from malnutrition and treatable diseases due to “systematic dismantling of healthcare”from bombardments on civilians.

    “The scale of this devastating, man-made crisis in Gaza cannot be overstated,” said Congressman Carson. “Providing humanitarian aid to a starving nation – with funding Congress has appropriated year after year – should not be controversial. I urge my colleagues who care about basic human rights, the rights of pregnant women, and the wellbeing of innocent children to join our bill. UNRWA has taken appropriate and proactive steps towards accountability and transparency, conducting multiple independent reviews that continue to prove the organization is both in compliance and imperative to provide the region with lifesaving assistance.  It’s past time we restore funding and save lives.”

    “UNRWA has played a unique and integral role in supporting the welfare of Palestinian refugees for decades. Their on-the-ground understanding is invaluable to ensure that humanitarian aid makes it to the people who need it most — in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and critically in this moment in Gaza,” said Congresswoman Jayapal. “There is no question in my mind that revoking funding for UNRWA will lead to more devastation and loss of life in Gaza. We must ensure that those acting in good faith to save civilian lives are not undermined by a lack of US funding.”

    “For decades, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has been a lifeline for Palestinians, providing food, clean water, healthcare, shelter, education, and livelihoods. Today, UNRWA remains the backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza as it endures ongoing war and a dire humanitarian crisis. UNRWA and the United Nations have taken swift and decisive actions to address the concerns raised by the U.S. government when it paused funding in January and our allies have all resumed funding for UNRWA. The U.S. must follow suit and resume funding for this critical humanitarian agency,” said Congresswoman Schakowsky. “I am proud to co-lead the UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act to restore funding to UNRWA and help Gazans get the humanitarian assistance they need at a time of unprecedented crisis.”

    “J Street is proud to be supporting the UNRWA Emergency Restoration Act of 2024 introduced by Representatives Carson, Jayapal, and Schakowsky. We should restore funding, as all our major allies have, and stop playing politics with Palestinian welfare and Israel’s security,” said J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami. “As UNRWA’s largest donor and Israel’s key security guarantor, the United States has a special obligation to address this crisis.”

    “Gaza isn’t starving. It’s being starved,” said Hassan El-Tayyab, legislative director for Middle East policy at the Friends Committee on National Legislation. “Over two million Palestinian civilians are enduring a man-made humanitarian catastrophe, with famine and disease spreading due to blocked aid access. Meanwhile, the Biden administration and Congress continue to withhold all U.S. funding for the largest aid operation in Gaza—the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). UNRWA is the backbone of aid delivery in Gaza, ensuring that millions receive desperately needed assistance. Blocking U.S. funding for UNRWA’s critical work is a cruel and unjustified decision that only deepens Gaza’s humanitarian suffering. Congress and the Administration must act swiftly to correct this wrong by supporting the UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act and restoring this urgently needed aid.”

    “Restoring funding to UNRWA is a humanitarian imperative,” said Sharif Aly, President of the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP). “For over six decades, the United States has been one of the strongest supporters of UNRWA, which provides lifesaving aid and social services to millions of Palestinian refugees across the Middle East. Those services are desperately needed in Gaza right now, and UNRWA is the only organization with the capacity and expertise necessary to provide them at scale. The United States must uphold its commitment to the human rights of the Palestinian people and pass this legislation to reinstate funding to the humanitarian agency immediately. Failing to do so would lead to further human suffering.”

    “In restoring funding for food, water, shelter, and medical care for Palestine refugees, the UNRWA Restoration Act honors this most basic and inalienable truth — that the people of Palestine are human beings, just like all of us, and all lives are sacred, not just some,” said Mara Kronenfeld, Executive Director UNRWA USA.

    “UNRWA is indispensable to providing Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria with the education, healthcare, and other critical services that are key to successful, productive livelihoods and citizenry, and a future of peace and prosperity, which should be in everyone’s interests. We support full restoration of funding to UNRWA,” said Sean Carroll, President and CEO of Anera.

    “We express our gratitude to Representatives André Carson, Pramila Jayapal, and Jan Schakowsky for introducing the UNRWA Emergency Restoration Act of 2024,” said James Zogby, President of the Arab American Institute. “This lifesaving legislation aims to restore critical U.S. financial support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) by repealing previous funding restrictions and encouraging the Secretary of State to lift the temporary pause on federal funding. UNRWA plays a vital role in providing essential services to millions of Palestinian refugees across the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria. The ongoing genocide in Gaza has resulted in increased displacement, starvation, and death. It is both inhumane and unconscionable to continue withholding financial support from UNRWA. We recognize that the majority of Americans are horrified by the death and destruction they witness daily in Gaza and the West Bank. UNRWA’s humanitarian aid and services often mean the difference between life and death for these vulnerable populations. Restoring U.S. funding to UNRWA is urgent, just, and the only morally responsible option. We urge lawmakers to prioritize the passage of this crucial legislation and ensure that UNRWA can continue to provide life-saving assistance to Palestinian refugees in the region.”

    The UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act of 2024 has been endorsed by the following organizations as of 9/19/24: 

    18 Million Rising
    Action Against Hunger
    Action Corps
    ActionAid USA
    AFSC, American Friends Service Committee
    American Baptist Churches USA
    American Friends of Combatants for Peace
    American Friends Service Committee
    American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)
    Americans for Justice in Palestine Action
    Americans for Peace Now
    Anera
    Avaaz
    Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS)
    Carolina Peace Center
    Center for American Progress
    Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC)
    Center for Constitutional Rights
    Center for Gender & Refugee Studies
    Center for International Policy
    Center for Jewish Nonviolence
    Center for Security, Race and Rights
    Center for Victims of Torture
    Charity&Security Network
    Christian Aid
    Church World Service
    Climate Refugees
    Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA)
    CODEPINK
    CommonDefense.us
    Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, U.S. Provinces
    Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
    Danish Refugee Council
    DAWN
    Demand Progress
    Doctors Against Genocide
    Emgage Action
    FCNL
    Foreign Policy for America
    Friends of Sabeel North America
    Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ
    Health Advocacy International
    Hindus for Human Rights
    Historians for Peace and Democrcy
    Human Rights First
    Human Rights First
    Humanity & Inclusion
    IfNotNow Movement
    International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN)
    International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)
    International Rescue Committee
    Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
    J Street
    Jewish Voice for Peace Action
    KinderUSA
    MADRE
    Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
    Middle East Children’s Alliance
    Middle East Democracy Center (MEDC)
    Migrant Roots Media
    MoveOn
    MPower Change Action Fund
    Muslim Advocates
    National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
    National Council of Churches
    National Iranian American Council Action
    National Partnership for New Americans
    Nonviolent Peaceforce
    Norwegian Peoples aid
    Norwegian Refugee Council USA
    Oxfam
    Partners for Progressive Israel
    Pax Christi USA
    Peace Action
    People’s Action
    Presbyterian Church (USA), Office of Public Witness
    Progressive Democrats of America
    Project HOPE
    Project South
    Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft
    Rebuilding Alliance
    Refugee Congress
    Refugees International
    ReThinking Foreign Policy
    RootsAction.org
    Save the Children US
    Save the Children US
    Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team
    Terre des hommes – Lausanne
    The Episcopal Church
    The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP)
    The United Church of Christ
    UNRWA USA National Committee
    US Campaign for Palestinian Rights Action (USCPR Action)
    Veterans For Peace, Chapter #63 (Albuquerque)
    War Child Alliance
    We Are All America (WAAA)
    Welcoming America
    Win Without War
    Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, US
    Working Families Party
    Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation
    ACCESS of WNY
    Al Otro Lado (CA and Tijuana)
    Atlanta Multifaith Coalition for Palestine
    CAIR-Ohio
    Christian Jewish Allies for a Just Peace in Israel/Palestine
    Church Women United in New York State
    Council on American-Islamic Relations, New York chapter (CAIR-NY)
    Dorothy Day Catholic Worker, Washington DC
    Jewish Voice for Peace Albuquerque
    Minnesota Peace Project
    Muslim Justice League (MA)
    New York Progressive Action Network
    Oasis Legal Services (CA)
    OnceAForest.org (NM)
    Peace Action WI
    Peace, Justice, Sustainability NOW!
    Showing Up For Racial Justice (SURJ) Bay Area
    Veterans For Peace – Santa Fe NM Chapter
    Muslims United PAC (MUPAC)

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Scalise on Violent Democrat Rhetoric: Enough is Enough

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

    WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (R-Va.), and Congressman Zach Nunn (R-Iowa) to discuss the impact – which he has experienced personally – of dangerous rhetoric from the Left that has led to now multiple attempts on President Trump’s life. Leader Scalise pointed to specific quotes of Democrat leaders whose words have been used by unhinged people as calls to engage in political violence. Leader Scalise also highlighted legislation on the House floor this week that would provide the same amount of Secret Service for Donald Trump and Kamala Harris as that of a sitting president.

    Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full remarks. 

    On House Republicans’ legislation to combat violence against women by illegal aliens:

    “Before I talk about that, we have a very busy agenda on the floor this week, and Speaker [Johnson] will talk about some of that, especially the CR with SAVE Act. But today, one of the other bills we’re going to be voting on is a bill that says, if someone is here illegally and they assault a woman – we’ve seen people come here illegally and murder women. That seems like the only time where some of these woke prosecutors will actually arrest the illegal. But there’s so many other horrible things being done to women by illegals. The bill says if they assault a woman in any kind of way, it’s a deportable offense. Now, I’m curious to see how this vote is going to be. Everybody on the House floor should vote for that bill. But if any Democrat dare vote against it, they’re going to have to explain to people back home who are watching this be carried out in every community in America why they would rather stand with illegals than women in their own districts that they represent. That’s going to be today.”

    On protecting Americans workers from woke policy:

    “Tomorrow, we’re going to continue moving forward on our agenda, continue going after wokeness, continue to stand up for families who are struggling. And then Friday, we’re going to be bringing a few bills. One, CRA on tailpipes. Kamala Harris has always been for eliminating the combustion engine and mandating EVs. Her values haven’t changed. That’s what she’s been for her whole life. It’s crushed thousands of jobs in states like Michigan. So [Congressman] John James from Michigan, who has seen the devastation of these horrible policies coming out of the Biden-Harris administration, is bringing a bill to reverse that, to end that mandate on the tailpipe emission, which was designed to kill the combustion engine, fossil fuel cars, in exchange for mandating EVs. People don’t even want to buy the EV cars. The batteries are made in China, and yet they continue their drumbeat. So we’re going to stand up for American workers Friday in that vote.”

    On strengthening the Secret Service: 

    “But one of the last votes we’re going to have, this is what I really want to talk about, is a bill by [Congressman] Mike Lawler that will ensure that both nominees for president, not just Donald Trump, also Kamala Harris, get the same level of Secret Service protection as the president of the United States. As has been talked about by so many already, it’s unacceptable that now we’re at two assassination attempts on President Trump. And luck cannot be a strategy by the Secret Service to have stopped these attempts. He came within inches, as we all know, on the first assassination attempt where shots actually rang out. If not for the advanced Secret Service agent seeing that muzzle just barely coming through a chainlink fence, we may have been talking about something very different right now. Luck cannot be a strategy. Clearly, I think there’s divine intervention. I know Speaker [Johnson] has said that, too. But at the same time, the Secret Service has to do better. Keep in mind, as we talk about adding this extra protection, every year since 2017, Congress has added more money to the Secret Service’s budget than they even requested in their budget.

    “And so it’s not an issue of money. What they’re doing with the money we’ve had a lot of serious questions about before the first assassination attempt – trying to carry out a woke agenda, focusing on the wrong things, and forgetting their main mission, and that is to protect presidents and vice president of the United States. The Secret Service has to shift that focus and shift their priorities and provide this protection.”

    On dangerous Democrat rhetoric:

    “Now I’m going to be very specific because we talk about the rhetoric. When there’s an incident like this, there’s always talk that the rhetoric needs to dial down. I’m one of those who says it, too. But this isn’t generic. There is very specific rhetoric we can now point to that we know is triggering some of these people who are unhinged who take it the wrong way and want to carry out what is being sent to them by Democrats talking about this. We all know Kamala Harris, her quote, where she says, ‘Trump is a threat to our democracy and fundamental freedoms.’ She said this over and over again, not just before the first attempt. Even after the first attempt on President Trump’s life, there might have been a two or three-day pause, and then they went right back to it.

    “In fact, just days before the second assassination attempt, Kamala Harris made that quote. And then the second shooter, attempted shooter, he was regurgitating the same language as Kamala. So this is no longer a dog whistle, which it’s been on the left. It’s now being received by some unhinged people as a call to action when Democrats say this. Kamala needs to stop saying that President Trump is a threat to democracy. There are unhinged people that are taking that as a call to go and try to eliminate President Trump. She needs to stop it now. Leadership starts at the top, and then you’ve got to go down.President Biden has said that as well, along with the quotes, and you’ve heard it from others. It’s important to repeat. President Biden, ‘It’s time to put Trump in a bullseye.’ The President of the United States said that, and then now, two different people have taken that as a call to action. Where is the real scrutiny coming from the press to ask them do you now denounce what you said? Because people are taking it the wrong way and are actually trying to carry it out. It’s not just rhetoric.

    “We almost lost President Donald Trump. And it shouldn’t happen on either side. But you’re seeing this language from the other side get higher and higher. Got to say it again, Congressman Goldman, ‘It is destructive to our democracy, and he, President Trump, has to be eliminated.’ Does anybody need an interpretation of that? One unhinged person hearing that, and what does that mean to them? That they’re going to carry out as a call to action what they’re being called to do. Cannot happen. It cannot happen. Congresswoman Plaskett, ‘Trump needs to be shot.’ Has she been scrutinized on that quote? Are other Democrats being asked to call her out and stop doing that thing that is being taken the wrong way? I’ve seen it personally when people are called to action, one person is all it takes to take it the wrong way and then look at what could be. We don’t want this to happen again. But they, the Democrats that are saying this, starting with Kamala Harris, have to stop the language they’re saying. Talk about your policy differences, but stop all of this language about threats to democracy and Hitler comparisons, and he needs to be shot. Enough is enough.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Business – Ārohia Trailblazers set to forge path to global markets

    Source: Callaghan Innovation

    Callaghan Innovation will support seven trailblazing Kiwi businesses with bold ideas to succeed in global markets, while forging new pathways for like-minded Kiwi innovators.

    Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, Judith Collins announced the Ārohia Trailblazer grant recipients at the New Zealand Aerospace Summit today in Christchurch.

    Callaghan Innovation has allocated $17.5 million in co-funding to Astrix Astronautics, Basis NZ,  Emrod, Fabrum Solutions, Toku Eyes, Zincovery Process Technologies and Zenno Astronautics. The Ārohia Trailblazer

    Innovation Grant supports businesses that are benefiting the Aotearoa New Zealand innovation ecosystem, and have global potential.

    “Congratulations to these Kiwi innovators who have developed these impressive, and ambitious innovations with the potential for success here and in global markets.

    “We look forward to following their success as they inspire and enable other, like-minded ambitious innovators,” says Callaghan Innovation Chief Product Officer, Brett Calton.

    “These trailblazers represent diverse sectors, including HealthTech, CleanTech and aerospace, that are growing and have the potential to make a bigger impact globally.”

    About the recipients:

    Astrix Astronautics
    Astronautics | Auckland | astrix.space

    Astrix Astronautics design unique, reliable high performance power systems for small satellites using a state-of-the art inflatable deployment mechanism that delivers solar power to mega-constellations.

    Basis NZ Limited
    Cleantech | Auckland | wearebasis.com

    Basis has developed the world’s first residential Smart Panel, enabling homeowners to reduce their electricity costs, make their homes dramatically safer and lower barriers to adopting electrification technologies (EV, battery & solar).  

    Emrod Limited
    Hi-tech Engineering | Auckland | emrod.energy

    Emrod is pioneering the transition to a wireless, global energy network. Its technology is hardware for wirelessly sending large amounts of power over long distances, safely and efficiently. Just as the internet transformed communication, wireless power will transform the world’s ability to generate and use energy.

    Fabrum Solutions Limited
    Hi-tech Engineering | Christchurch | fabrum.nz

    The fundamental technologies that Fabrum has developed leverage over 20 years of composite and cryogenic discovery. The company has developed a very desirable library of patents and trade secrets, including cryocoolers, refuelling technologies, liquefiers and storage systems for hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and LNG. Fabrum operates around the globe with 80% of its product made in New Zealand and exported globally.

    Toku Eyes Limited
    Healthtech | Auckland | tokueyes.com

    Toku has developed a product that can identify individuals with elevated chronic kidney disease risk (CKD) using retinal fundus images only. Commercialisation of this AI medical device will remove the need for blood and urine test to identify high-risk CKD individuals, enabling preventative care to avoid costly debilitating kidney failure.

    Zincovery Process Technologies Limited
    Cleantech | Christchurch | zincovery.com

    Zincovery is looking to bring the first 100% recycled, low carbon and high purity zinc product to the market. This is enabled by their innovative zinc recycling technology that avoids the use of fossil fuels, reducing emissions by up to 95% and processing costs by 45%.

    Zenno Astronautics Limited
    Astronautics | Auckland | zenno.space

    Zenno is building the future of agile and sustainable operations in space. They have developed a patented technology based on superconducting magnets that enables spacecraft operators to reduce their costs while also increasing their mission value.

     For more information visit: arohia.govt.nz

    About Callaghan Innovation

    Callaghan Innovation is New Zealand’s innovation agency. It activates innovation and helps businesses grow faster for a better New Zealand.  The government agency partners with ambitious businesses of all sizes, delivering a range of innovation and research and development (R&D) services to suit each stage of their growth. Its staff – including more than 150 of New Zealand’s leading scientists and engineers – empower innovators by connecting people, opportunities and networks, and providing tailored technical solutions, skills and capability development programmes, and grants co-funding. Callaghan Innovation also enhances the operation of New Zealand’s innovation ecosystem, working closely with MBIE, NZTE, NZVIF, Crown Research Institutes, and other organisations that help increase business investment in R&D and innovation. The agency operates from five urban offices and a regional partner network in a further 12 locations across Aotearoa.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Remarks by CE at media session before ExCo

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following are the remarks by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting today (September 24):

    Reporter: My first question is, as the SNSO (Safeguarding National Security Ordinance) has stated that the CE has the power to issue a certificate to certify if a court case concerns national security, yesterday the court has heard that you have issued such a certificate for the HKU Students’ Union Council case. So how many of such certificates have been issued in the past, and what cases were involved? My second question is, a French photojournalist working for the Associated Press was denied entry to Hong Kong earlier this month. What are the reasons behind and will it impact Hong Kong’s image as an international city? Lastly, is there a time frame for Hong Kong to lift the ban on Japanese food imports after Beijing has agreed to lift the ban? Thank you.
     
    Chief Executive: The Chief Executive certificate was issued in accordance with the law. It has been issued more than once, and it is issued whenever it is considered necessary, but all procedures for national security cases will be done in strict accordance with legal procedures and the relevant laws. I want to repeat again: we will deal with national security offences seriously, and we will enforce the law without hesitation, because national security offences are serious. I think we are doing this in the same way as what other jurisdictions are doing in connection with safeguarding national security.
     
         Regarding the issue of discharge of radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea, I am aware that the relevant authorities of China and Japan have recently reached a consensus, and the consensus reads like this: the Japanese side will fulfil its obligation to avoid negative impacts on health and the environment and will continue to carry out impact assessments on the marine environment and ecosystems. Japan will establish a long-term international monitoring arrangement under the framework of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) to ensure China’s participation, independent sampling, monitoring, and inter-laboratory comparisons. The two sides will commence science-based dialogue in the interest of life, health and the ecological environment. After the implementation of the independent sampling and monitoring activities, China will, based on the scientific evidence, consider to adjust the relevant measures. The Hong Kong SAR Government has all along accorded top priority to safeguard health and safety of the Hong Kong people. We emphasise scientific evidence. We have contacted the Commissioner’s Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong SAR for more information and have also contacted the Consul-General of Japan for more details to ensure that the Hong Kong SAR Government will have access to sufficient scientific data and evidence to consider any adjustment possibility.
     
    Regarding your question, all entries into Hong Kong must be considered in accordance with the prevailing immigration policies and relevant laws. The Immigration Department is doing the same as all other immigration authorities are doing in other jurisdictions; that is, they will look at the entries’ characteristics and examine the entries in accordance with the policies and the laws. I think individuals will be considered according to their own cases, and we are doing it in no way different from other jurisdictions. Thank you.
     
    (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Terranet reaches strategic milestone – achieves autonomous braking

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    A key target for the third quarter was to achieve fully automated braking based on a brake request from BlincVision. Recent tests at the certified AstaZero track demonstrated that BlincVision successfully initiated braking with a large margin, marking a significant advancement for the company.

    At AstaZero, the advanced driver assistance system has been tested at various driving speeds and in several Euro NCAP scenarios to evaluate its performance. To further increase the complexity of the traffic environment, Terranet has created modified versions of these scenarios. In one scenario (CPNCO-50), a child walks out from the right side behind a parked car. In the modified version, an additional car was placed behind the child. For existing ADAS solutions on the market, the child often blends into the background of the car, but the BlincVision system was able to identify the child and brake in time. At the same time, large amounts of data have been collected to improve the system’s AI-developed model. This data collection is a key component for the continued development and fine-tuning of the system to better handle a wide variety of traffic conditions. The results show the potential for further optimization and refinement of the system.

    In previous tests, the system only sent a brake request, with the actual braking being theoretical and based on calculations of a potential collision. Now, for the first time, the entire process has been verified: from object detection and classification, to calculating collision risk, making a decision, and finally initiating emergency braking to bring the vehicle to a stop.

    “The fact that BlincVision is now functioning as a stand-alone ADAS system is a crucial milestone in our development process. The system’s growing maturity makes it easier to integrate into other vehicles, further strengthening our ongoing collaboration within the MobilityXlab accelerator program. Our goal to secure agreements with partners in the fourth quarter remains intact,” says Pierre Ekwall, CTO at Terranet.

    Link: Video clip from AstaZero

    For more information, please contact:        
    Magnus Andersson, CEO        
    E-mail: magnus.andersson@terranet.se

    About Terranet AB (publ)
    Terranet’s goal is to save lives in urban traffic. The company develops innovative technical solutions for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Autonomous Vehicles (AV). Terranet’s anti-collision system BlincVision laser scans and detects road objects up to ten times faster than any other ADAS technology available today.

    The company is headquartered in Lund, with offices in Gothenburg and Stuttgart. Since 2017, Terranet has been listed on Nasdaq First North Premier Growth Market (Nasdaq: TERRNT-B). Follow our journey at: www.terranet.se

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: 500 Years of the Three Leagues Free State – Diet in Valchava, Val Müstair

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Italy –

    Source: Switzerland – Canton Government of Grisons in Italian

    The Diet of 6 October 2024 in Val Müstair will be the seventh and final Diet in the 500th anniversary celebrations. The whole day on Sunday will be dedicated to gratitude towards nature and history, but there will also be time for fun and celebration.

    Even before the founding of the Free State of the Three Leagues, Val Müstair was an important transit and trade route. However, the valley has also been the scene of dramatic war events on several occasions. In its anniversary year, the municipality of Val Müstair is recalling its history and its significance for the present and the future. The Diet takes place on the same day as the traditional harvest festival. The combination of the two festivals allows us to delve into the history, nature and culture that characterise Val Müstair today. The play written especially by Eva and Magnus Schleich and performed for the anniversary by the theatre groups of Val Müstair offers insights into the conflicts that have characterised the valley in the past.

    Varied programmeThe day will begin at 10:45 a.m. with a short ecumenical service in the open air at the eastern entrance to the village of Valchava. Immediately afterwards, at 11:10 a.m., the traditional large Thanksgiving procession will begin at the same location with the participation of folklore associations, music societies, pupils from the schools of Val Müstair as well as festively decorated floats and animals. The festivities with speeches by State Councillor Marcus Caduff, Mayor Gabriella Binkert and Grand Councillor Rico Lamprecht will begin at 2 p.m.

    Theatre performance «Spranza chi vegnan meglders temps» (Hoping for better times), 3:00 p.m.The theatre performance about the Free State of the Three Leagues shows the dramatic nature of the time. The introduction to the play reads: «This alliance, signed 500 years ago, is unique, not least in light of the current threat to democratic rights. But all that glitters is not gold.» The performance alternates between historical scenes and discussions between the actors, with the director’s explanations leading from one scene to the next. Always hoping for better times. The theatre performance will also be performed on Wednesday, 2 October, and Friday, 4 October, at 5:00 p.m.

    The celebrations will take place in Valchava. The village will be richly decorated. More than 70 stalls will offer regional specialties, a refreshment point invites you to take a break. Of course, there will be musical entertainment and a children’s program. The cheerful festival will offer the population and guests from near and far a chance to have fun. The Diet will mark the fitting end of the jubilee year celebrations. The detailed program is available in the attachment, as well as on https://500.gr.ch/bundstag-valmuestair.

    We recommend travelling by public transport. Thanks to the offer “Return for the price of a single journey”, those going to the Diete only have to pay for the outward journey. The return journey to the starting point in the Canton of Graubünden is free.

    Further anniversary activities until the end of 2024A number of other anniversary-related activities will take place in all language regions until the end of 2024. These can be found at https://500.gr.ch.

    Photograph:

    Landsgemeinde celebration at Plaun Schumpeder, Sta. Maria, Val Müstair, around 1920, photo by Gian Battista Gross. Grisons State Archives, N2.1420.

    Attached:

    Anniversary flyer Diet in Val Müstair (Romansh/German)

    Contact persons:

    Questions about the 500th anniversary celebrations:

    Prime Minister Dr. Jon Domenic Parolini, Director of the Department of Education, Culture and Environmental Protection, e-mailJondomenic.Parolini@ekud.gr.ch
    Daniel Camenisch, project manager «500 years of the Three Leagues Free State», tel. 41 78 659 63 60, e-mailcamenisch@vinavant.ch

    Questions about the Diet in Val Müstair:

    Competent body: Department of Education, Culture and Environmental Protection

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-Evening Report: Surrogacy is booming. But new research suggests these pregnancies could be higher risk for women and babies

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hannah Dahlen, Professor of Midwifery, Associate Dean Research and HDR, Midwifery Discipline Leader, Western Sydney University

    Helena Lopes/Pexels

    A new study from Canada has found women who agree to carry and birth babies in surrogacy arrangements face a higher risk of complications than other pregnant women.

    These women were at two to three times the risk of health problems such as postpartum haemorrhages and pre-eclampsia. They were also more likely to give birth prematurely.

    With an increasing number of people in Australia and elsewhere having children via surrogacy arrangements, what can we make of these findings?

    First, what is surrogacy?

    Surrogacy is a situation where a woman becomes pregnant and gives birth to a baby (or babies) for another person or a couple in a planned arrangement.

    There are two types of surrogacy.

    The first is where the pregnant woman is the full biological mother, with the child conceived using her own egg (sometimes called “traditional” or “genetic” surrogacy).

    The second is where the pregnant woman is not the genetic mother and the child is conceived using the egg of a different woman (called “gestational surrogacy”).

    Gestational surrogacy involves the transfer of an embryo or embryos into the uterus of a woman who has agreed to carry and birth the child using in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Gestational surrogacy is now the most common form of surrogacy arrangement in Australia.

    The new study looked at gestational surrogacy specifically.

    What the researchers did

    The study, published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, was retrospective. This means it used existing data that is gathered routinely on people using health services.

    It included 863,017 women who had a single baby between April 2012 and March 2021 (multiple births were excluded).

    The researchers compared outcomes for women and babies where the pregnancy was achieved naturally, those who got pregnant using IVF, and those who were pregnant in a gestational surrogacy arrangement where the woman had no genetic link to the baby.

    Most babies were conceived naturally, 16,087 were IVF pregnancies, and 806 women were pregnant in gestational surrogacy arrangements.

    The study looked at more than 860,000 women in Canada who had a baby over a nine-year period.
    PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock

    The researchers found pregnant women in gestational surrogacy arrangements had a rate of severe maternal complications of 7.8%, more than three times the rate of those who became pregnant naturally (2.3%) and almost twice the rate among those who got pregnant through IVF (4.3%).

    These risks included postpartum haemorrhage (losing excessive amounts of blood following the birth), severe pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure associated with pregnancy) and serious postpartum infection (sepsis). There was also a higher risk of the baby being born preterm (before 37 weeks) in gestational surrogacy situations.

    The researchers attempted to take into account differences between the three groups like age, weight, health problems and socioeconomic status, which can all influence the risk of complications for pregnant women and their babies. Despite this, they still saw these concerning results.

    Why might the risk be higher?

    Previous research looking at outcomes with gestational surrogacy has had mixed results. But it is thought the reason risks could be greater for the woman and baby in gestational surrogacy arrangements may be because the baby is genetically unrelated to the woman.

    Pregnancy has a strong impact on the immune system. During pregnancy, women’s immune systems are altered so they do not reject the growing baby.

    An imbalanced or overactive immune response can contribute to pregnancy complications including preterm birth and pre-eclampsia. Having a baby with different genetic material may affect a woman’s immune response during pregnancy, and increase the risk of complications in this way.

    Some limitations

    Only women having a single baby were included in the study, so we don’t know the outcomes where a multiple pregnancy was involved. However, multiple birth is common in surrogacy, and there are increased risks associated with multiple births for women and babies.

    Multiple embryo transfer increases the risk of twins and triplets and is prohibited in the context of surrogacy in Australia (and discouraged in IVF treatments more broadly). But Australians engaging in overseas surrogacy commonly request it.

    Also, the study includes a relatively small number of women pregnant in a gestational surrogacy arrangement (806), meaning there’s an increased risk for statistical error and limited ability to detect rare outcomes.

    People may use a surrogate to have a baby for a range of reasons.
    Lopolo/Shutterstock

    Ethical questions

    An increasing number of Australians are having children via surrogacy arrangements. This is due to a combination of factors including a decline in adoption, women delaying motherhood, and increased social acceptability of male same-sex parenting.

    Australia only allows altruistic surrogacy, where the woman who agrees to have the baby for others is not paid.

    However, some other countries allow women to be paid to become pregnant for others (commercial surrogacy). Concern regarding the exploitation of women via commercial surrogacy is such that Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory have made it illegal for residents to travel overseas to engage in commercial surrogacy.

    Even so, most Australia children born as a result of surrogacy arrangements are born through overseas commercial surrogacy.

    Despite some limitations, this research indicates increased risks for women becoming pregnant in gestational surrogacy arrangements, and the babies they carry. It seems important the potentially elevated risks should be made clear to women considering carrying and birthing a baby for someone else, and to the prospective parents.

    Considering the rise in surrogacy globally it’s important more research is undertaken on the potential health and other impacts of this practice on women and babies. Health, ethical and human rights implications should inform legislative frameworks, policy and practice.

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

    – ref. Surrogacy is booming. But new research suggests these pregnancies could be higher risk for women and babies – https://theconversation.com/surrogacy-is-booming-but-new-research-suggests-these-pregnancies-could-be-higher-risk-for-women-and-babies-239574

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Interview with Adam Steer, ABC Radio Darwin

    Source: Australian Treasurer

    ADAM STEER:

    Stephen Jones is the Assistant federal Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services. Minister, welcome to ABC Radio Darwin. These new laws, how are they going to work in terms of preventing scams? Because my understanding is you can’t force the banks to pay back anyone that’s been scammed, can you?

    STEPHEN JONES:

    Not quite true. Under the existing laws, we have a mandatory reimbursement scheme. If somebody has had money withdrawn from their account that wasn’t authorised and that’s done under the ePayments code. The problem we have is there’s so much grey area and the scams are becoming so incredibly sophisticated. They’ve been industrialised over the last decade; scam losses were doubling every year. They haven’t for the last year because of some corrective measures we’ve put in place. But it’s quite clear we just can’t leave the customers on their own –

    STEER:

    Yeah, well, that example –

    JONES:

    More needs to be done.

    STEER:

    That example I was using with Antonia there. So, the bank originally had said no because she had voluntarily handed her information over to the scammers who had provided – she’d looked up the banks themselves and they had provided her the information which she thought, as someone with English as a second language was okay enough that then she could give them the details, her banking details.

    JONES:

    In circumstances like that I mean, then it’s no answer to say banks never ask you to give over your passcodes. They never do that. In fact, they make it quite clear you shouldn’t give them over to anyone. But, you know, for all the reasons you’ve outlined, it’s quite clear that the existing arrangements and obligations aren’t strong enough. So, the laws that we’ll put in place look at the entire economy or the ecosystem in which these scams are operating in. So, they come to us via a phone or an SMS message, or they’re published on a social media platform, and the bank is the destination for the scammers at the end of the transaction. So, we’ve got to get all of those bodies lifting their protection again for their customers to keep their business and network safe, to prevent, to detect, disrupt, respond and report to scams. A failure to put in place the proper steps in this area will lead to fines of up to $50 million for the businesses who fail to do that. The reason we’re starting with banks, telcos and social media platforms is that’s where most of the damage is being done. But we’ll move beyond there once we get that locked down.

    STEER:

    Banks make, I think they made $32 billion worth of profit at the big 4 last year, but only repay between 4–7 per cent of scam victims. That doesn’t seem fair in itself. What exactly are you doing to ensure banks are helping their customers? So, you were saying, unless you do this, we will fine you $50 million for each individual scam? Am I correct that you’re –

    JONES:

    That’s correct, yeah, absolutely. And I want banks to be on the hook if they’ve done the wrong thing. But I don’t want telecommunications companies or social media platforms to be let off the hook as well. I’ve looked at some data up in Europe at the moment, about half the scam losses at the moment are coming from Meta platforms. That’s not a startup business. In Australia, it makes about $6 billion a year. So, that’s a large entity as well. It’s making more than most of our banks, actually. They need to be in the frame. Telcos need to be in the frame. Banks need to be in the frame if they’ve done the wrong thing. And stronger obligations, stronger obligations to protect customers must be in place. And like we’ve been discussing, fines if they, penalties in compensation if they don’t live up to those obligations.

    STEER:

    Six to 8 on 157, ABC Radio Darwin. Adam Steer is my name. Your guest is the federal Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Financial Services, Stephen Jones. A text coming in, Minister, why don’t we ever hear on news scammers getting caught or convicted? Is this because they’re not getting caught?

    JONES:

    Yeah, great question. When we put our policy together, we assumed that the vast majority of this stuff is operating outside of Australia, because it is, and largely in countries where traditional law enforcement can’t work because we don’t have the sorts of relations you need with the countries where they’re operating. In some we’ve got joint operations going in place, but often on the border of war torn countries or in areas where traditional law enforcement can’t get into. So, the traditional law enforcement approach of kicking down doors and dragging people before a court just won’t work. So, we’ve got to look at what will work with what we can do inside Australia.

    STEER:

    Well, let’s move to one of the other issues. I don’t know whether the 2 supermarkets, the 2 major supermarkets, are going to get painted as the villains of inflation, but the ACCC is alleging Woolies and Coles are now breaching consumer laws, rising prices by 15 per cent prior to some of their big promotional scale – sales. I mean, that’s a scam in itself. How the supermarkets going to get punished here?

    JONES:

    Well, strong action being taken by our regulator with the full support of the government. I have got to be careful because this matter is before the court. But if these matters are proved – and I have every reason to believe that the ACCC will have done due diligence before they took the matter before court – if these matters are proved, then it is an indictment on those businesses and they deserve the full force of the law. In instances where Australians are struggling and they’re ripping us off with bodgy sales and bodgy advertisements, jacking prices up before they drop them, that’s just not right.

    STEER:

    And inflationary as we wait to see whether the mortgage rates stay on hold or not for this year. I’ve got a text asking the ACCC themselves have said, good move from the federal government because they reinforced some laws which have allowed us to take this action. And as you say, it is above the courts – in front of the courts at the moment. If it’s successful and if it’s a very, very large fine which we consider it would have to be given the supermarkets are making $1000 million profit per year each. Where does that money go if they get a significant fine? What happens to that money?

    JONES:

    Yeah, good question. So, in this instance, the ACCC has sought unusual but not exceptional orders where a part of the fine would be diverted towards paying for meals and services to homelessness and low income people as a means of ensuring that some of that money goes towards the people who are hurt most by this sort of alleged pernicious behaviour.

    STEER:

    You know what? We’ll wait and see what happens. Federal Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones, thank you so much for your time this morning. Appreciate it.

    JONES:

    Great to talk.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI… Rep. Richard Hudson, Heritage Foundation Director of the Center for Health in the Washington Examiner: The Harris-Walz healthcare plan: Fewer options, higher prices

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – In case you missed it, Representative Richard Hudson and Heritage Foundation Director of the Center for Health and Welfare Policy Nina Owcharenko Schaefer wrote an op-ed for the Washington Examinerslamming Vice President Kamala Harris, Governor Tim Walz, and the Democrats’ government-run healthcare policies that are leaving patients and families with fewer, lower quality choices and higher costs.

    In theop-ed, Rep. Richard Hudson and Nina Owcharenko Schaefer wrote, “While issues such as the border crisis, global conflicts, and persistent inflation continue to dominate headlines, healthcare remains a key concern for voters.

    That’s especially important because, last month, Vice President Kamala Harris picked Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) as her running mate, solidifying the duo as the first ticket ever to feature two candidates who have fully embraced government-run, single-payer healthcare.

    …

    It would cost tens of trillions of taxpayer dollars and reduce medical productivity, giving patients fewer healthcare choices, worse quality care, and longer wait times while hiking taxes for everyone.

    Harris and Walz have also embraced the Biden administration’s disastrous prescription drug price controls. In North Carolina, these liberal policies are actually making prescription drug costs more expensive while limiting future access to life-saving drugs for seniors.

    …

    Democrats once promised people that the ACA would solve our healthcare woes. But a decade later, their efforts are more focused on masking its failures than fixing what is wrong. Premiums are still rising, families have fewer choices, and the choices that are available are more limited and lower quality.

    …

    Instead of addressing these shortcomings, the Biden-Harris administration’s solution has been to simply slap a Band-Aid over them with more taxpayer-funded subsidies.

    …

    A Harris-Walz administration would take away the coverage you have today and put the government in charge of your care, giving it the power to decide what kind of care you get, where you get it, when you get it, and if you can get it at all.

    …

    While Harris and Walz are focused on expanding government control and eroding your freedom, conservatives in the House of Representatives are focused on making coverage more affordable, prices fully transparent, care more accessible, and overall costs more reasonable.

    …

    It’s time to move away from the Democrats’ failed big-government policies and toward a healthcare agenda that is patient-centered, not government-centered.”

    

    Read the full op-ed in the Washington Examiner HERE.

    -###-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Public urged to get flu jab early

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Government will launch its 2024-25 Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programmes on Thursday, with Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau today urging the public to receive vaccination early.

    The health chief said now is the best time to get vaccinated for effective protection in the coming year against the winter or summer influenza strains predicted by the World Health Organization.

    The health chief today received vaccinations against seasonal influenza and COVID-19 at Sai Wan Ho General Out-patient Clinic, along with other health officials and frontline healthcare workers.

    Prof Lo said Seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) is one of the most effective means to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications.

    “To boost the SIV coverage rate among schoolchildren, special arrangements have been made under the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination School Outreach Programme this year to offer a more flexible choice of vaccine options for kindergartens and childcare centres.”

    He explained that kindergartens and childcare centres can offer injectable inactivated influenza vaccines or nasal vaccines in their outreach vaccination activities.

    The Department of Health will also roll out a pilot scheme in which nasal vaccines will be provided to primary and secondary schools that indicated a preference for them earlier this year.

    At present, around 870 kindergartens and childcare centres, around 610 primary schools and around 390 secondary schools have arranged vaccination activities for their students, according to the Health Bureau.

    Prof Lo called on schools that have yet to join the outreach vaccination programme to enrol as soon as possible.

    Separately, he added that individuals in high-risk priority groups should receive an additional COVID-19 booster no less than six months after their last dose, or infection with COVID-19 infection – whichever occurred later – to enhance protection and reduce the risk of serious complications and death.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Newhouse Introduces Resolution to Honor Gold Star Families

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

    Headline: Newhouse Introduces Resolution to Honor Gold Star Families

    Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) led 44 members in introducing the Gold Star Families Remembrance Week Resolution to honor the sacrifices made by families of U.S. military servicemembers who lost their lives in service to the nation. It designates September 22 – 28, 2024 as Gold Star Families Remembrance Week.

    “Our service members and their families have made great sacrifices in service to their country, and it is important that they are not forgotten,” said Rep. Newhouse.

    Newhouse continues, “By designating September 22-28 as Gold Star Families Remembrance Week, we recognize the extraordinary courage and resilience of our Gold Star Families and reflect on those we have lost. These families bear an unimaginable burden—enduring the loss of their loved ones who gave their lives in service to our nation—and we have a responsibility to ensure their memory is preserved.”

    The following are quotes of support from Gold Star Family members:

    “I am very pleased that Congress is choosing to recognize Gold Star Families Remembrance Week. Every Memorial Day, we honor our warriors who gave their lives in defense of America. We should also honor the families of those fallen warriors, who stood behind them as they served, suffered the pain of their loss, then picked up the pieces and carried on. I’m a Gold Star son who lost my father in Vietnam. Life has taught me three truths. Grief fades. Love never dies. Courage shines on forever.” – Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Hank Cramer, Washington, Gold Star Son of Captain Harry Griffith Cramer Jr. (U.S. Army Special Forces), who was Killed in Action in 1957 in Vietnam.

    “I was just a year old when my father was declared Missing in Action in December 1945 in Germany. I have no memory of him but would like to honor his legacy by sharing his story with others who want to know the experiences of Gold Star families.” – Karen Oberg, California, Gold Star Daughter of Pvt. Worrell F. Oberg (Army) who was Killed in Action on December 22, 1945, and whose remains have yet to be recovered.

    “My brother had just turned one and I was two and a half when our father was killed. As we got older, we often wondered what kind of man he was. In a letter to his sister just before he was killed, dad wrote that he had been wounded and had to build up his courage to go back in combat because he had seen so much death and destruction. From that letter, and in that moment, we knew our dad was a hero and we brought him off the shelf and back into life.” – Walt Linne, Indiana, Gold Star Son of Sgt. Walter John Linne (Army) who was Killed in Action in Germersheim, Germany on March 24, 1945.

    “In 2022, when I visited South Korea and observed for myself the freedom, liberty, prosperity and gratitude of the South Korean people, I further realized that the supreme sacrifice by my father and its effect on our family was not in vain.” – Robert James Johnston, Tennessee, Gold Star Son of Sgt. James Fred Johnston (Army) KIA/MIA, December 2, 1950, at the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea.

    “Since I was only two when my Dad went missing, I have no personal memories of him other than what my Mom told me often that to do my best as my Dad would expect or when I did something good, she would tell me how proud he would be of me. David, my brother, and I grew up loving the same things our Dad did, Boy Scouts, the outdoors, hunting, fishing and family.” – Mike Logan, Tennessee, Gold Star Son of Maj. Samuel P. Logan, Jr. (USAF). He was the pilot of a B-29 shot down and taken captive while on a mission over North Korea on September 9, 1950. In 1954 he was declared Killed in Action. Maj. Logan was survived by his Gold Star Wife and two Gold Star Sons.

    “Being a Gold Star family member signifies profound sacrifice and loss as we bear the enduring grief of losing a loved one in service to the nation. Gold Star families’ identities are shaped with both pride and sorrow.” – Carol Brenneman Reed, California, Gold Star Daughter of Captain Austin E.E. Brenneman (USMC) who was Killed in Action on May 28, 1951, in Anak, North Korea.

    “In July 1951, the 2nd Inf Div deployed to Korea, leaving a pregnant, newlywed wife on a lifetime path of uncertainty, grief, loss, and life challenges. Ellen Marie Blissenbach handled her loss by joining the Gold Star Wives of America, becoming very active in supporting other families and veterans, as well as seeking information on my missing father, ultimately achieving some closure before her passing.” – Maj. Paul K. Blissenbach US Army (Retired), Kentucky, Gold Star Son of SFC Joseph A. Blissenbach, who gave his life on November 30, 1950, in Kunu-ri, North Korea.

    “Losing my father in the Battle of Ia Drang Valley during the Vietnam War was an indescribable blow, not only to my family but to the very fabric of my life. His absence left a profound void, a loss that reverberated through every milestone, forever shaping who I became. The sacrifice he made in such a fierce and historic battle deepens the sorrow, as his life was cut short defending a cause that took him far from home, never to return.” – Army veteran Thomas Barrett, Ph. D., Maryland, Gold Star Son of SSGT Thomas J. Barrett, Jr. (Army), Killed in Action November 15, 1965, Vietnam.

    “During Gold Star Families Remembrance Week, we honor the parents, spouses, siblings and children of those service members who lost their lives defending the United States and her allies. For nearly a century, ‘The Long Gold Line’ of these Gold Star Families has personified the resilience of the American spirit. Here on the home front, they endured the worst possible news delivered from a faraway war front. Yet they moved forward supporting each other and carrying on the legacies of their fallen heroes who, in the name of freedom, gave their last full measure of devotion.” – Tony Cordero, California, Gold Star Son of Maj. William E. Cordero (USAF) who was killed on a bombing mission over North Vietnam on June 22, 1965. He is the founder of Sons and Daughters In Touch – America’s Gold Star Children from the Vietnam War.

    “Our son held a strong sense of honor and service and would have no regrets. We honor his valor and sacrifice every day. We gratefully support this resolution to honor and remember the sacrifices of all of our fallen and of the 7068 men and women Killed In Action in the Global War on Terror and the ongoing sacrifices of the families they left behind. It is this nation’s responsibility to Never Forget, to honor their valor, and to always support the families left behind.” – Barbara and Col. Mark Roland (USAF, Retired), Kentucky, Gold Star Mother and Father of Captain Matthew Roland, USAF, Killed In Action in Afghanistan on August 26, 2015.

    “My father flew 22 missions along the coastal waters of Vietnam to clear the area of enemy submarines before the US could bring in the 7th Fleet at the onset of the Vietnam War. His body was never recovered after his plane plunged into the South China Sea. My life and my family crumbled before my eyes and to this day I continue to live a life never knowing my father. Three months after the attack on the Twin Towers, my son joined the US Army, following his grandfather’s footsteps as he was also willing to die for his country. Unfortunately, it ended horrifically when he was killed by an enemy IED while on patrol near the Hor Rijeb Canal in Iraq. There is no greater love than this: that a person would lay down his life for the sake of his country.” – Elaine M. Roach, California, Gold Star Mother of PFC Joel Brattain, Killed in Action on March 13, 2004, and Gold Star Daughter of Lt. Harold S. Roach (Navy), lost in the South China Sea on October 2, 1964.

    The following Members are co-sponsors of the legislation:

    Reps. Andy Barr (R-KY), Mike Bost (R-IL), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Larry Bucshon (R-IN), Troy Balderson (R-OH), Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), Jake Ellzey (R-TX), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN), Mike Flood (R-NE), Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Mark Green (R-TN), Michael Guest (R-MS), Young Kim (R-CA), Greg Lopez (R-CO), Julia Letlow (R-LA), Nick LaLota (R-NY), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Greg Murphy (R-NC), John Moolenaar (R-MI), Tracey Mann (R-KS), Zach Nunn (R-IA), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Greg Steube (R-FL), Glenn Thompson (R-PA), Daniel Webster (R-FL), Roger Williams (R-TX), Brandon Williams (R-NY), David Valadao (R-CA), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Don Davis (D-NC), Josh Harder (D-CA), Glenn Ivey (D-MD), Derek Kilmer (D-WA), William Keating (D-MA), Joe Morelle (D-NY), Kathy Manning (D-NC), Wiley Nickel (D-NC), Scott Peters (D-CA), Deborah Ross (D-NC), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Paul Tonko (D-NY), and Juan Vargas (D-CA).

    Click here to read the full text of the bill.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Craft Named Value Leader for Supply Chain Risk Management Platform and Achieves Overall Strong Performance in Spend Matters Fall 2024 SolutionMap

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, Sept. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Procurement & Supply Chain Live — Craft, the supply chain resilience company, today announced it was named a Value Leader in the Spend Matters Fall 2024 SRM SolutionMap, which includes an evaluation of 93 procurement technology vendors. Craft scored the highest ratings for its overall functional depth, overall customer scores, UX and UI, supplier intelligence and N-tier capabilities.

    To be considered for the list, Craft underwent a rigorous functionality and capability assessment that included an in-depth capability demonstration of their supply chain risk management platform, and anonymized customer reviews and ratings. Spend Matters helps buyers, consultants, investors, and sellers compare vendors across 500+ request-for-information (RFI) requirements for better and smarter procurement technology purchasing.

    “Thousands of companies look to Spend Matters to help them find the right procurement and supply chain technology for their organizations,” said Ilya Levtov, CEO and founder, Craft. “This comprehensive evaluation in the latest SpendMatters Fall 2024 Solution Map is further validation of Craft’s strategy to expand the definition of supplier risk management and serves as a testament to our ability to deliver the right solutions to power resilience across the entire enterprise. We are thrilled to be recognized by SpendMatters, and above all to earn high marks from our customers as a value leader in this highly competitive market.”

    Craft was evaluated under two vendor categories – Supplier Management (risk enhanced) and Risk Management (TPRM/SCRM) – and earned the following:

    1. Named a “Risk Management Value Leader”: Craft was recognized for excelling in supplier intelligence and AI-driven monitoring and analytics for risk management as a result of high functional and customer scores.

    2. Highest-rated vendor for functional depth: Craft was rewarded with high marks by its customers for its exceptionally quick deployment, user experience (UX) and ease-of-use, and its process expertise in helping clients identify and mitigate supply chain-related risk.

    3. Top score for supplier profiles: Craft rated the top analyst scores within the entire category for SIM (supplier information management) and Supplier Profiling, designated by a gold ribbon in the SRM SolutionMap.

    4. Surpassed other SRM vendors in multiple categories: Craft received high ratings for ability to assess and mitigate risks throughout the entirety of the supply chain, and providing detailed services on behalf of clients for supplier data / profile management.

    “Vendors participating in SolutionMap undergo the most rigorous assessment from a tech capability and customer delivery perspective,” said Carina Kuhl, president, SpendMatters. “Spend Matters has the largest analyst team dedicated to in-depth comparison of solutions in the procurement technology space and pinpointing their differentiators.”

    Craft is the intelligent supply chain resilience platform that enables organizations to know their suppliers, protect against disruptions, and build resilient supply chains. Craft’s flexible data fabric uses best of breed datasets from public and private sources across 500+ risk categories, such as ESG, geopolitical, foreign influence, cybersecurity, supplier financial health, weather, and much more. Its risk engine is enhanced by AI-generated insights that can be shared, tracked and taken action on internally and across organizations via a collaborative workspace. With Craft, organizations like the U.S. Department of Defense, Hapag-Lloyd, major financial services institutions, and other Fortune 500 companies confidently navigate third-party risks, regulatory environments, uphold ethics, and drive business continuity and growth.

    For more information about Craft, visit www.craft.co or contact press@craft.co.

    About Craft
    Craft illuminates the path to global supply chain resilience. It empowers businesses to strengthen their supplier networks and supply chains with the industry’s most reliable and comprehensive data fabric and AI-driven risk mitigation engine. Craft’s user-friendly platform offers 360-degree visibility to explore and evaluate supplier networks, AI-generated insights to detect and mitigate disruptions, and collaborative tools to enhance supply chain strategies. Procurement and supply chain professionals can confidently navigate regulatory environments, adhere to ethical standards, and ensure business continuity. Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, Craft assists commercial and governmental organizations worldwide in creating more resilient supply chains.

    For more information about Craft, visit www.craft.co.

    PR Contact
    Carol Hickins
    carol.hickins@craft.co

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: 21Shares Announces Fee Reduction for Flagship ETPs, HODLX and BOLD

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ZURICH, 24 September 2024 – 21Shares AG (“21Shares”), one of the world’s largest issuers of cryptocurrency exchange traded products (ETPs) and a subsidiary of 21.co, is pleased to announce a significant fee reduction for two of its flagship products: the 21Shares Crypto Basket 10 ETP (HODLX) and the 21Shares Bytetree BOLD ETP (BOLD). Effective immediately, the management fees for these ETPs have been lowered to 0.49% for HODLX and 0.65% for BOLD, making these innovative investment vehicles more accessible to a broader range of investors.

    The 21Shares Crypto Basket 10 ETP (HODLX) provides diversified exposure to the top ten digital assets by market capitalization, rebalanced quarterly to reflect the dynamic nature of the cryptocurrency market. With this fee reduction to 0.49%, investors can now benefit from a more cost-effective way to capture the growth potential of the digital asset space in a single, diversified ETP.

    The 21Shares Bytetree BOLD ETP (BOLD) offers a unique blend of Bitcoin and Gold, designed as a balanced approach to digital and traditional assets. BOLD’s risk-adjusted weighting scheme, rebalanced monthly, combines the security of gold with the growth opportunities of Bitcoin, offering a diversified hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty. The new fee of 0.65% further enhances the appeal of this product for investors seeking strategic and cost-efficient exposure to these assets.

    “At 21Shares, our mission has always been to make investing in cryptocurrency more accessible, and this fee reduction is a reflection of our commitment to delivering value to our investors,” said Mandy Chiu, Head of Financial Product Development at 21Shares. “By lowering the fees on HODLX and BOLD, we are enabling more investors to participate in the future of finance at a lower cost.”

    These fee reductions underscore 21Shares’ dedication to providing innovative, low-cost investment solutions that meet the evolving needs of the global investor community. Both ETPs are 100% physically backed by their underlying assets, held securely in cold storage, ensuring the highest levels of trust for investors.

    For more information about 21Shares and its full range of ETPs, visit https://www.21shares.com/en-eu/product .

    Press Contacts:
    Audrey Belloff, Head of Communications, press@21.co

    About 21.co:
    21.co is the world’s leader in providing access to crypto through simple and easy to use products. 21.co is the parent company of 21Shares, one of the world’s largest issuer of cryptocurrency exchange traded products (ETPs) – which is powered by Onyx, a proprietary technology platform used to issue and operate cryptocurrency ETPs for 21Shares and third parties. The company was founded in 2018 by Hany Rashwan and Ophelia Snyder. 21Shares is registered in Zurich, Switzerland with offices in Zurich, London and New York. For more information, please visit 21Shares.

    Disclaimer:
    This document is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for securities of 21Shares AG in any jurisdiction. Neither this document nor anything contained herein shall form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any offer or commitment whatsoever or for any other purpose in any jurisdiction. Nothing in this document should be considered investment advice.

    This document and the information contained herein are not for distribution in or into (directly or indirectly) the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan or any other jurisdiction in which the distribution or release would be unlawful.

    This document does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in or into the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan. The securities of 21Shares AG to which these materials relate have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. There will not be a public offering of securities in the United States. Neither the US Securities and Exchange Commission nor any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States has approved or disapproved of an investment in the securities or passed on the accuracy or adequacy of the contents of this presentation. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.

    Within the United Kingdom, this document is only being distributed to and is only directed at: (i) to investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”); or (ii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”); or (iii) persons who fall within Article 43(2) of the Order, including existing members and creditors of the Company or (iv) any other persons to whom this document can be lawfully distributed in circumstances where section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply. The securities are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

    Exclusively for potential investors in any EEA Member State that has implemented the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 the Issuer’s Base Prospectus (EU) is made available on the Issuer’s website under www.21Shares.com.

    The approval of the Issuer’s Base Prospectus (EU) should not be understood as an endorsement by the SFSA of the securities offered or admitted to trading on a regulated market. Eligible potential investors should read the Issuer’s Base Prospectus (EU) and the relevant Final Terms before making an investment decision in order to understand the potential risks associated with the decision to invest in the securities. You are about to purchase a product that is not simple and may be difficult to understand.

    This document constitutes advertisement within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 and the Swiss Financial Services Act (the “FinSA”) and not a prospectus. The 2023 Base Prospectus of 21Shares AG has been deposited pursuant to article 54(2) FinSA with SIX Exchange Regulation AG in its function as Swiss prospectus review body within the meaning of article 52 FinSA. The 2023 Base Prospectus and the key information document for any products may be obtained at 21Shares AG’s website (https://21shares.com/ir/prospectus or https://21shares.com/ir/kids).

    ###

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “Eastern Breeze”: Polytech became a prize winner of the All-Russian competition in marine robotics

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    The 7th All-Russian competition in marine robotics “Eastern Breeze” was held in Vladivostok. Over the course of eight days, 31 teams (more than 120 people) competed in the field of promising developments of robotic complexes created by enterprises and research institutes. SPbPU was represented by teams from the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport, studying at the Higher School of Automation and Robotics. The Polytechnicians managed to take three prize places in two categories.

    The students’ trip was supported by the SPbPU Center for Technological Projects, the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport, and the SPbPU Youth Policy Department.

    In the category “Unmanned boats” our team with the device “Bublik-Pi” (developed with the support of the Priority 2030 program) managed to take second place, and the team with the Barracuda apparatus took third place. The teams’ tasks included autonomous or remotely controlled navigation in the sea, namely movement along specified routes and trajectories. Bublik-Pi was the only one that successfully completed all tasks in autonomous mode, but had a low speed at sea (1 knot).

    Also in the category “Remotely controlled unmanned underwater vehicles” among developers, the submarine “Atlant-S” took third place. During the tests, it was necessary to detect objects under water and move them.

    The first team (the Bublik-Pi and Atlant-S devices) included second-year master’s students Artem Akzhigitov, Andrey Klinovitsky, and fourth-year student Artem Klochikhin. The second team (the Barracuda device) was represented by first-year master’s student Vladimir Marin and 2024 graduate Artem Kondratyev.

    The event was quite large-scale, with teams from all over Russia participating, and they represented not only educational institutions, but also law enforcement agencies. The team had the task of performing various types of maneuvers on a water section: to go through a snaking course, to make a dash, etc. To solve the tasks, a remote control system for an unmanned boat was created, and we also laid the groundwork for the future to solve problems in autonomous mode using GNSS, a magnetometer, and a machine vision system, shared one of the developers of the Barracuda, Artem Kondratyev.

    Our teams were lucky to be at these competitions and test new SPbPU developments in extreme (marine) conditions. We successfully coped with the tasks set, especially enjoyed developing the ROV, this is a difficult task that we took on for the first time and successfully implemented it, – Andrey Klinovitsky said about the event.

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

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

    https://vvv.spbstu.ru/media/nevs/achievements/eastern-breeze-polytechnic-became-a-winner-of-the-all-Russian-competition-in-marine-robotics/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Development Asia: Boosting Regional Integration with Enhanced Multimodal Transport Links

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Road Corridors

    Roads are the primary transport infrastructure in most SAARC member states, serving as the main means of domestic connectivity and the key conduit for intra-SAARC trade, either across land borders or via seaports. In recent years, the importance of road transport has grown across all SAARC countries.

    The original SMRTS included ten SAARC road corridors, linking: (i) Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh (two); (ii) Nepal and India (two); (iii) Bhutan and India (one); (iv) Nepal, India, and Bangladesh (one); (v) Bhutan, India, and Bangladesh (one); (vi) India and Bangladesh (two); and (vii) Nepal, India, and Pakistan (one). The updated SMRTS highlights recent physical and nonphysical progress in corridor development.

    Physical progress includes the 6.15-km Padma Bridge, upgrades to the Sarail-Akhaura link and Elenga-Hatikamrul-Rangpur Highway, and four-laning of the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway and Sylhet-Tamabil Road in Bangladesh; the planned Haldia/Howrah-Raxual Expressway in India; Nepal’s Kathmandu-Terai Madhesh Fast Track Project; and Pakistan’s Khyber Pass Economic Corridor and six-lane motorways connecting Karachi to Peshawar. Nonphysical progress includes motor vehicle agreements facilitating cross-border transport.

    Rail Corridors

    Railways have the potential to become a key transport mode in the SAARC region, especially for intraregional movement of goods and passengers between Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. The region’s railway network is mainly broad-gauge and compatible across member states, except for the meter-gauge network east of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Once the SAARC rail corridors are fully developed and nonphysical barriers are addressed, efficient rail connectivity will link the concerned SAARC countries.

    The original SMRTS included five SAARC railway corridors, connecting Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. Recent progress includes several railway projects in Bangladesh (e.g., the Padma Bridge Rail Link, dual-gauge line between Akhaura and Laksam), new rail links in Bhutan and Nepal, and the planned Uzbekistan-Pakistan-Afghanistan Railway.

    Inland Waterway Corridors

    Among SAARC countries, only Bangladesh and India have organized inland waterways, facilitating freight transit between the two nations. In earlier SMRTS stages, two inland waterway corridors of regional importance were identified based on current and potential future traffic. These corridors also offer direct waterway links for Northeast India to the ports of Kolkata and Haldia. Landlocked Bhutan and Nepal could benefit from multimodal and intermodal connections to these waterways, providing access to the sea.

    A recent development is the consolidation of the Eastern Waterways Grid, linking rivers in Bangladesh and India with roads and rail to improve connectivity. The Grid builds on the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Routes, enhancing trade and transit between the two countries. It promises significant cost savings for bulk goods transport in India and revenue generation for Bangladesh through port fees and cargo services, with potential benefits for Bhutan and Nepal.

    Maritime Gateways

    The previous SMRTS versions identified ten major maritime gateways based on current traffic volume, potential to handle future intraregional container traffic, and access for landlocked countries to seaports.

    The updated SMRTS highlights recent progress in the maritime sector. Bangladesh is developing two new gateways: Payra, now operational, and Matarbari, under construction and expected to become the country’s first deep-sea port. Chattogram Port has undergone significant expansion, with a framework for its sustainable development as a transshipment hub for Northeast India. India’s Visakhapatnam (Vizag) Port, the largest on the Eastern Coast, has increasingly served Nepali transit traffic. Other notable developments include a planned new port at Thilafushi in Maldives, a major port concession in Karachi, Pakistan, and continued expansion of Colombo Port, Sri Lanka. Additionally, ferry services between India and Sri Lanka have been proposed.

    Aviation Gateways

    The original SMRTS identified 16 SAARC aviation gateways and noted the need to increase this number by 2030 by upgrading domestic airports to regional hubs and regional airports to international ones. It also acknowledged the complexity of identifying aviation hubs within the SAARC region, which goes beyond the scope of the SMRTS.

    Based on recent developments discussed at a February 2024 workshop in Kathmandu, additional aviation gateways were included in the updated SMRTS. These are in Bangladesh (Chattogram, Sylhet, Cox’s Bazar, Saidpur), Bhutan (Gelephu), Maldives (Gan), Nepal (Gautam Buddha, Pokhara), Pakistan (Islamabad), and Sri Lanka (Mattala Rapsaka, Jaffna, Batticaloa).

    Between 2020-2024, the aviation sector faced challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which lowered passenger and freight demand. As the sector recovers, the challenge is to rebuild and reshape it, redesigning terminals to meet new requirements and implementing measures to address environmental concerns, including decarbonization.

    Connectivity between South Asia and Central Asia

    Recent developments in transport connectivity between South Asia and Central Asia include United Nations General Assembly Resolution 76/299 on strengthening regional connectivity, the Khyber Pass Economic Corridor, the Uzbekistan-Pakistan-Afghanistan Railway Project, the International North-South Transport Corridor (a 7,200-km multimodal route linking India, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Russia), and the Delhi Declaration from the 1st India-Central Asian Summit in January 2022.

    Air connectivity between South Asia and Central Asia remains limited, despite Central Asia’s landlocked nature and challenging geography. Air transport is crucial for moving perishable and high-value goods and facilitating business travel and tourism.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Marat Khusnullin: The online Olympiad “Safe Roads” has started

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The All-Russian Online Olympiad will be held for the fifth time from September 24 to October 27 “Safe Roads”The event is being held with the aim of testing and improving the road literacy of students in grades 1–9, said Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin.

    “Children’s safety is one of our top priorities. In this area, under the national project “Safe High-Quality Roads”, we are carrying out comprehensive work to update routes to schools and other educational institutions across the country, and much has already been done. We also pay special attention to educational events aimed at increasing the level of knowledge about road traffic and behavior on the roads. In particular, within the framework of the national project, the All-Russian online Olympiad “Safe Roads” is held annually, where schoolchildren can consolidate their knowledge of traffic rules. Over four years, more than 15 million participants have tested their road literacy,” said Marat Khusnullin.

    To prevent child road traffic injuries, the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate carries out various activities aimed at raising children’s awareness of the rules of conduct on the roads.

    “Legal information for children on the topic of road safety, instilling in them the skills of safe behavior on the roads is a priority area of activity of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate, which is carried out in cooperation with educational authorities. Taking into account the analysis of the causes of child road traffic injuries, forms and methods of preventive work are selected. The tasks of the online Olympiad allow its participants to test their knowledge in an interactive form and gain new knowledge on the basics of traffic rules. The Olympiad provides for the opportunity to participate in an unlimited number of children, teachers and parents. The most important task of the Olympiad is to reduce child mortality as a result of road accidents,” emphasized the head of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Lieutenant General of Police Mikhail Chernikov.

    The Olympiad tasks focus on safe behavior skills both at pedestrian crossings and in transport, and when using personal mobility devices – last year these topics turned out to be the most difficult for schoolchildren.

    The organizers of the Olympiad are the Ministry of Transport of Russia, the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, the ANO “National Priorities” with the support of the Ministry of Education of Russia, the event is held within the framework of the national project “Safe High-Quality Roads”.

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

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

    http://government.ru/nevs/52780/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Fibabanka launches Türkiye’s first BaaS platform in partnership with GetirFinans

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ISTANBUL, Sept. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fibabanka, a leading player in Türkiye’s banking sector, has launched the country’s first Banking as a Service (BaaS) model through an innovative collaboration with GetirFinans, which received a total of $70 million in investment last year at a valuation of $250 million. This partnership, a significant step in Fibabanka’s broader strategy to expand its BaaS platform, provides non-banking businesses with the infrastructure to offer tailored financial services to their customers efficiently.

    The BaaS model, enabled by Fibabanka’s advanced technology, marks a new era in financial services, making it easier for businesses across industries to integrate financial solutions into their own platforms. Fibabanka is one of the few global institutions to implement this model, positioning itself as a key innovator in the Turkish market.

    A new era for financial services integration

    The partnership with GetirFinans is the first use case for Fibabanka’s BaaS model. Through the GetirFinans, integrated within the Getir, application, users can now access a range of banking services, including account management, card issuance, and payment options, directly from the app. By leveraging Fibabanka’s digital infrastructure, GetirFinans is able to offer these services without needing a banking license, while maintaining focus on its core operations.

    With more than 500 APIs powering its platform, Fibabanka’s BaaS solution enables businesses to seamlessly incorporate financial services into their operations, opening the door to cost-effective and streamlined service delivery. Non-bank organizations, from large retailers to fintech startups, can use Fibabanka’s BaaS platform to meet rising customer expectations for integrated, convenient financial solutions.

    Ömer Mert, General Manager and Member of the Board of Directors at Fibabanka, emphasized the transformative nature of this model: “As consumer expectations around financial services evolve, businesses are seeking ways to offer seamless and integrated experiences through their own platforms. Our Banking as a Service model responds directly to these demands by enabling businesses outside the banking sector to access financial infrastructure easily. The GetirFinans collaboration is just the first step, and we look forward to expanding our platform further to meet the needs of various industries and countries.”

    Expanding the reach of financial services

    Fibabanka’s BaaS model is designed to drive financial inclusion by making banking services more accessible to a wider audience. By working with partners like GetirFinans, the bank is extending its reach beyond traditional banking channels, offering innovative solutions that cater to the changing needs of consumers and businesses alike.

    Fibabanka’s BaaS platform also provides significant operational benefits to partner organizations, reducing the costs and complexity typically associated with offering financial services. By managing the backend processes that require a banking license, Fibabanka enables businesses to focus on growth and customer experience.

    A broader vision for the future

    Fibabanka’s launch of the Banking as a Service model is just the beginning of its journey. The bank has positioned itself as a leader in digital banking solutions in Türkiye and plans to expand its BaaS offerings across more industries in the near future. With its technology-driven approach and commitment to innovation, Fibabanka aims to set new standards in the financial services industry, providing solutions that benefit both businesses and their customers.

    “We are proud to be at the forefront of this shift in the banking landscape,” Mert added. “As the destination for BaaS in Türkiye, Fibabanka will continue to build on this model, offering new collaborations that meet the needs of our partners and their customers. Our mission is to redefine the boundaries of digital banking through innovation, and this is just the first of many milestones we intend to achieve.”

    About Fibabanka:

    Since its establishment in 2010, Fibabanka has been a part of the Fiba Group, positioning itself as a forward-thinking technology company offering banking services for the future. Through its investments in digital infrastructure and innovation, Fibabanka continues to transform conventional banking into an end-to-end digital experience, delivering fast, easy, and accessible solutions to its customers.

    About GetirFinans:

    Founded in partnership with Getir, GetirFinans is a technology company that achieved a valuation of $250 million while still in its establishment phase, having raised a total of $70 million in investments last year. GetirFinans will offer users a fast and advantageous banking experience as an interface provider for the service banking services provided by Fibabanka, in accordance with the Regulation on the Principles of Operation of Digital Banks and Service Model Banking, which came into effect on January 1, 2022.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: MENG ANNOUNCES NEW ONLINE PASSPORT RENEWAL SYSTEM

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Grace Meng (6th District of New York)

    Congresswoman announced pilot program last summer; new and permanent initiative aims to benefit travelers in Queens and across NY and the nation

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – After recently announcing a pilot program to allow travelers from Queens and throughout the nation to renew their passports online, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) said today that the initiative has become permanent.

    Meng announced the pilot program last summer. It provided a limited number of slots for individuals to submit renewal applications, and the application window closed each day once the system reached its daily limit. The new and permanent online system, which aims to enhance how borough residents and other travelers renew their passports, is now fully functional and will be available 24/7 from cell phones, tablets, and computers.

    “As a lawmaker who has fought to reduce wait times for passports, I am thrilled that the process for renewals has been modernized and made easier through this new online tool which is now up and running,” said Meng. “This new platform will take advantage of technology to provide another option for those in Queens and across the country who are seeking to renew their passports. The service will be a huge convenience for travelers seeking to plan international vacations, visit loved ones abroad or conduct business around the world. I am excited to see the online system benefit our borough and country, and positively impact travel for many years to come.”

    To renew a passport online, travelers from Queens and the rest of New York and the U.S. must meet the following requirements:

    1. The passport you are renewing is or was valid for 10 years, and you are age 25 or older.
    2. The State Department issued the passport you are renewing between 2009 and 2015, or over 9 years but less than 15 years from the date you plan to submit your application. 
    3. You are not changing your name, gender, date of birth or place of birth.
    4. You are not traveling for at least 8 weeks from the date you will submit your application. 
    5. You are applying for a regular tourist passport.
    6. You live in the United States.
    7. You have your passport with you, it is not damaged, and you have not reported it as lost or stolen.
    8. You can pay for your passport using a credit or debit card.
    9. You can upload a digital passport photo.
    10. You are aware that the State Department will cancel the passport you are renewing after you submit your application.

    The number of Americans with valid passports has grown exponentially over the past 30 years. In 1990 just five percent of Americans had passports. Now, that number has grown to 48 percent.

    In 2023, the State Department fielded half a million passport applications a week and issued a record 24 million passports. Standard processing times for a passport ranged from 10-13 weeks and expedited requests took about 7-9 weeks. In calling for the passport backlog to be addressed, Congresswoman Meng pushed the State Department to decrease the long wait times, and that included questioning Secretary of State Antony Blinkenabout the problem during a congressional hearing in May 2023. According to the State Department, standard processing times have since been reduced to 6-8 weeks and expedited processing is down to just 2-3 weeks.

    Meng’s office routinely helps residents of her district fulfill passport requests, especially for those with emergency and last-minute travel plans. Last year, her constituent services team assisted with more than 400 passport requests from constituents who were seeking help booking limited appointments at U.S. Passport Agency locations throughout New York. She has also held several events at Queens post offices to help constituents apply for or renew a passport. For emergency requests, constituents can continue to reach out by calling 718-358-MENG with any questions.

    To renew a passport online, travelers can go here.

    MIL OSI USA News –