NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canadian Coast Guard Inshore Rescue Boat Crews winding down 2024 Great Lakes operations

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    The Canadian Coast Guard’s Inshore Rescue Boat (IRB) stations in Ontario are winding down their seasonal maritime search and rescue service.

    September 23, 2024

    Sarnia, Ontario – The Canadian Coast Guard’s Inshore Rescue Boat (IRB) stations in Ontario are winding down their seasonal maritime search and rescue service.

    IRB stations located at Britt on Gereaux Island, Hill Island (St. Lawrence River), Corunna (St. Clair River), Brebeuf Island (Georgian Bay), and Long Point (Lake Erie) closed on September 4, 2024.

    The Mitchell’s Bay (Lake St. Clair) IRB station will remain open on weekends, from 2:00 p.m. on Fridays until 6:00 p.m. on Sundays, until October 14, 2024.

    The IRB program employs and trains post-secondary students to provide additional maritime search and rescue services during the busy summer season. The Canadian Coast Guard’s search and rescue lifeboat stations across the Great Lakes and Georgian Bay are staffed by Canadian Coast Guard personnel and will remain in service until November/December.

    Marine emergencies can be called in to the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Trenton 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at 1-800-267-7270; or to a Canadian Coast Guard Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centre by VHF radio (channel 16). For additional information on the Canadian Coast Guard’s search and rescue services, please visit: Search and rescue.

    For more information on the IRB program, please visit: Inshore Rescue Boat service.

    Media Relations
    Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard
    Central Region
    204-984-4715
    XCA.Media@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ERO Boston arrests Dominican national convicted of child sexual abuse material crime in Massachusetts

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    BOSTON — Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston apprehended a 25-year-old, unlawfully present Dominican noncitizen convicted of possessing child sexual abuse material in Massachusetts. Officers with ERO Boston arrested Enrique Alberto Ortiz-Brito Sept. 12 in Dorchester.

    “Enrique Alberto Ortiz-Brito was convicted for possessing sick and disturbing sexual material,” said ERO Boston Field Office Director Todd M. Lyons. “He posed a significant threat to the children of our Massachusetts community that we could not tolerate. ERO Boston will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing egregious noncitizen offenders.”

    U.S. Customs and Border Protection lawfully admitted Ortiz into the United States Dec. 16, 2016, in Boston. However, Ortiz violated the terms of his lawful admission.

    ERO lodged an immigration detainer with the Boston Police Department against Ortiz Aug. 31, 2017, following his arrest for possession of child sexual abuse material. Later that day, the Dorchester District Court released Ortiz from custody on a GPS monitoring system pending the outcome of his criminal case.

    The Suffolk County Superior Court convicted Ortiz of possession of child pornography. The court sentenced him to a split sentence with a term of one year with 30 days to serve (deemed served) in the house of correction followed by three years of probation with numerous conditions, including sex offender registration.

    Officers from ERO Boston arrested Ortiz Sept. 12 in Dorchester and served him with a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge. He remains in ERO custody.

    Detainers are critical public safety tools because they focus enforcement resources on removable noncitizens who have been arrested for criminal activity. Detainers increase the safety of all parties involved — ERO personnel, law enforcement officials, removable noncitizens and the public — by allowing an arrest to be made in a secure and controlled custodial setting as opposed to at-large within the community. Because detainers result in the direct transfer of a noncitizen from state or local custody to ERO custody, they also minimize the potential that an individual will reoffend. Additionally, detainers conserve scarce government resources by allowing ERO to take criminal noncitizens into custody directly rather than expending resources locating these individuals at-large.

    ERO conducts removals of individuals without a lawful basis to remain in the United States, including at the order of immigration judges with Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review. The Executive Office for Immigration Review is a separate entity from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Immigration judges in these courts make decisions based on the merits of each individual case, determining if a noncitizen is subject to a final order of removal or eligible for certain forms of relief from removal.

    Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our New England communities on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @EROBoston.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Four Key Moments: Hearing on Chronic Disease Prevention and Treatment

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David Schweikert (AZ-06)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the cost of chronic diseases overwhelming family budgets and federal health care spending, Americans need better tools to manage their health, according to witnesses testifying before a Ways and Means Health Subcommittee hearing. Nearly 90 percent of the $4.1 trillion spent on health care in America each year is attributable to chronic disease. Addressing obesity, a risk factor for several chronic diseases, could save taxpayers up to $500 billion annually, and improve the nation’s physical and fiscal health. Witnesses pointed to the success of programs in various parts of Medicare – including innovative Medicare Advantage coverage options and value-based care delivery options – in improving patient health. The Health Subcommittee hearing follows the Ways and Means Committee voting earlier this year to provide innovative medical treatments to help more Americans manage chronic disease. In June, the Ways and Means Committee advanced bipartisan legislation requiring Medicare to cover certain anti-obesity medications, multi-cancer early detection tests, innovative medical devices and pilot a medically-tailored meal program. This week, the House of Representatives unanimously approved H.R. 3800, the Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act which passed out of the Ways and Means Committee as well and provides private health insurers with the flexibility to cover preventive medication and treatments.

    New Report: Obesity Costs Taxpayers an Additional $9.1 Trillion

    Obesity is a risk factor for several chronic diseases, including but not limited to, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Republicans on the Joint Economic Committee, led by Ways and Means Committee member Rep. David Schweikert (AZ-01), recently issued a report calculating that obesity and its associated health expenses will cost the federal government an additional $9.1 trillion over the next 10 years. Diabetes, a chronic disease, already accounts for a sizable portion of Medicare spending. These costs to taxpayers highlight the need to prevent and effectively manage chronic diseases.

    Rep. Schweikert: “I’m the senior Republican on the Joint Economic Committee…We did the math on obesity in America. We calculate that over the next 10 years, obesity in America may add an additional $9.1 trillion additional health care costs…A bunch of the people on the Left and the Right came to me and said, I can’t believe you were willing to say it, but it’s true. You have a country where we are about to have the fifth year in a row where prime age males are dying younger. The Milken Institute says 47 percent of all U.S. health care is tied to obesity, and in many ways, we also have data that in four years, more than half of America will actually be up against that number. Diabetes now is 33 percent of all U.S. health care spending, 31 percent within Medicare.”

    “Once you get the test, how do we act on that?” Connecting Innovative Screening to Treatment

    Expanding coverage and access to innovative testing for chronic diseases – like multi-cancer early detection screenings – is a major first step in addressing the prevalence of chronic disease by allowing patients and providers to begin treatments even earlier than ever before. However, in response to a question from Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), former Senator and physician Bill Frist highlighted how more can be done to bridge the gap between when a test result is received and care is provided – particularly for patients in rural communities.

    Rep. Fitzpatrick: “I also want to highlight the importance of prevention services – specifically for cancer. Currently there are more than 1.7 million people who receive a cancer diagnosis every single year. Our committee has advanced legislation to increase Medicare access to multi-cancer early detection screenings. Many of us are on the Cancer Caucus which I co-chair. We’ve also introduced numerous pieces of legislation. Dr. Peters and Senator Frist – in your experiences, what other investments, aside from early screenings, should be made to prevent further cancer diagnoses, and get our arms around this terrible killer in America.”

    Former Senator Bill Frist, M.D.: “…Once you get the test, how do we act on that? In terms of the companies that I work with in the field, there’s a huge gap between if you have a positive result or a negative result, what happens? How do you get to that facility, to that critical access hospital, to the local hospital, to the hospital two or three hours away. And that’s where an opportunity, that gap exists for things like telemedicine, patient navigation.”

    “We Mop Up the Floor While the Sink Overflows”: America Ignores the Root Causes of Chronic Diseases

    A common focus of the hearing was how food could be better utilized as preventive medicine to address America’s chronic disease epidemic and its associated cost to individuals, families, and taxpayers. Witnesses discussed the importance of preventive medicine in addressing chronic diseases versus the prevailing approach of simply managing them after Americans have already become ill. As one witness told Health Subcommittee Chairman Vern Buchanan (FL-16), the status quo approach is similar to “mop[ping] up the floor while the sink overflows.”

    Rep. Buchanan: “Dr. Hyman…we’re spending over a trillion dollars. We’re spending more money than we’ve ever spent, but we’re going in the wrong direction in terms of health care. When you look at 42 percent…obesity of adults, 20 percent with children. That’s wrong. That’s sad. We can do a lot better. What are your thoughts on it?”

    Dr. Mark Hyman, Institute for Functional Health: “The science and the data are clear that we can solve this chronic disease epidemic by focusing on its root causes. I practice root cause medicine…What is the root cause? In America, we mop up the floor while the sink overflows. How do we turn off the faucet, so we deal with the root cause of the problem, which is the food that’s driving the chronic disease epidemic. I think there are a lot of levers that the government can pull…I think a deep understanding of food as medicine is very important.”

    More Innovative Medicare Programs Can Be Part of Solving Chronic Diseases

    Medicare Advantage has various programs and payment models specifically designed to prevent and treat chronic diseases. Recent data shows that nearly four million seniors are enrolled in plans that offer food and produce benefits. Additionally, Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans (SNPs) offer specialized care for individuals with severe or debilitating chronic disease (C-SNPs). One study on SNPs found that C-SNP enrollees with diabetes were 38 percent less likely to be admitted to a hospital and 22 percent more likely to have a primary care visit. Primary care providers treating patients upstream is key to chronic disease management. A Medicare Advantage provider detailed to Rep. Adrian Smith (NE-03) specific innovative coverage options targeted to seniors with chronic conditions.

    Rep. Smith: “Dr. Rinaldo, based on your experience with Medicare Advantage, how would you say plan design can better incentivize patients to build stronger relationships with their primary care providers?”Dr. Francesca Rinaldo, Chief Clinical Innovation Officer, SCAN Health Plan:“In our benefit design, we often eliminate or reduce costs for preventive care services like primary care visits, especially those that are related to chronic condition management. For example, we have our chronic condition ‘special needs’ plans related to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and end-stage renal disease. Specifically, for our diabetic members, we provide services and benefits that include no-cost insulin and low-cost other drugs, no-cost diabetic supplies and no-cost diabetic self-management training. For our cardiovascular disease members in our ‘Heart First’ plan, we provide $0 cardiologist visits as well as low-cost cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, and we provide no-cost primary care visits for these patients as well.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Clark, Massachusetts Leaders Secure $472 Million in Federal Funding to Replace Draw One Bridge, Renovate North Station T Stop

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Katherine Clark (5th District of Massachusetts)

    Largest federal award MBTA has won to date

    Funding will increase ridership, streamline operations, and improve resiliency along Amtrak’s Downeaster route and regional rail lines

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5), Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.), along with Representatives Stephen Lynch (MA-8), Ayanna Pressley (MA-7), Lori Trahan (MA-3), Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, and MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng announced a grant of $472 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to fully replace the North Station Draw One Bridge and renovate Platform F at North Station. The grant is the largest federal award the MBTA has won to date.

    The nearly half a billion dollar grant will provide critical support for one of MBTA’s top priority projects and a vital transportation asset to MBTA’s north-side operations. It will also support more than 14,500 jobs, make the bridge more climate resilient by bringing it above projected sea-level rise, and lower emissions. In April 2024, Senator Warren led a letter of support for the MBTA’s funding request to the Department of Transportation.

    Specifically, the new funding for MBTA’s North Station Renovation and the Draw One Bridge Replacement Project will support the full replacement of the existing drawbridge, the extension and activation of a platform with two tracks at North Station, and the replacement of track, signals, and switches to modernize and improve station infrastructure.

    “This bridge is a critical connection point for the communities north of Boston. This federal investment will improve the quality of life for commuters, reduce traffic for everyone, and bring opportunity to the Commonwealth. We will have a faster, more modern, and more user-friendly public transportation system, and that’s exactly the direction we need to move in,” said Democratic Whip Clark.

    “This $472 million investment is a game-changer for the thousands of passengers who pass through North Station every day — and will build a safer, more reliable public transit system for the Commonwealth. Massachusetts leaders worked together to secure the largest ever federal award for the T, and I won’t stop fighting to bring home even more investment to improve transit across the Commonwealth,” said Senator Warren.

    “With $472 million to replace the North Station drawbridge, we’re drawing up a new future for rail transit north of Boston. I’m grateful to the Biden-Harris administration, Governor Healey, General Manager Eng, Senator Warren, and our whole federal delegation for securing this funding. Together, we are delivering critical federal dollars to the T and building a modern, safe, and reliable public transit system for all,” said Senator Markey.

    “We know that improving our transportation infrastructure is critical for improving quality of life and making sure Massachusetts remains the best place to live, work, raise a family and build a future,” said Governor Healey. “That’s why our administration is competing so aggressively to win federal funding that can be put toward our roads, bridges and public transportation. Congratulations to General Manager Eng and the MBTA team for this award that will improve train service for millions of riders. We’re grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration and U.S. Department of Transportation for their continued investment in Massachusetts’ transportation infrastructure.” 

    The Draw One railbridge carries the MBTA Commuter Rail and Amtrak trains, serving approximately 11,250,000 passengers per year. It is particularly critical for Amtrak’s Downeaster, an intercity passenger rail service that travels from Maine and New Hampshire into Boston, which is projected to have some of the highest ridership in New England. Draw One is also a vital connection for all of MBTA’s north-side regional rail lines, including Fitchburg, Lowell, Haverhill, and Newburyport/Rockport. The new federal investment will improve service reliability and operations, reduce congestion along a known bottleneck, and increase capacity across the bridge. Additionally, the funding will allow for upgraded signaling and expanded track capabilities, further improving traffic flow.

    “I am pleased to join my colleagues in government to announce the State of Massachusetts was awarded over $472 million in federal funding that will help improve MBTA and Amtrak services,” said Congressman Lynch. “This funding is the result of our hard work and partnership with the Biden-Harris administration to ensure we invest into our nation’s transportation and infrastructure. People all over the Commonwealth rely on public transportation every day, and this DOT grant is critical to make the necessary repairs and replacements that will make train service more safe and reliable.”

    “Transit justice is a racial and economic justice issue, and a matter of public safety – and this massive federal investment helps make the Commonwealth more connected and our transportation system safer and more reliable for commuters,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “I’m glad that families in the Massachusetts 7th who depend on the commuter rail will be better able to access jobs, healthcare, education, and essential services in other parts of the state, and we won’t stop fighting to build the more just, equitable, and accessible transit system our communities deserve. I thank my delegation colleagues and the Healey-Driscoll Administration for their partnership, and the Biden-Harris Administration for continuing to invest in Massachusetts.”

    “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to deliver unprecedented federal investments to make our transit systems safer and more efficient,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “This massive award is proof that, thanks to the strong partnership between our federal delegation and the Healey-Driscoll administration, Massachusetts continues to punch above our weight when competing for federal funding.”

    “North Station Draw One is a connection point between Boston and Cambridge, and the many cities and towns north who rely on this train bridge to visit and work in our city. Thanks to the leadership of the MA federal delegation and the Healey-Driscoll administration in securing this funding, the Greater Boston area will see benefits from updated infrastructure and more reliable transportation. This funding for a bridge replacement represents our region’s commitment to our local economy and green transit,” said Mayor Wu.

    “I’m proud of the MBTA team that worked diligently to put this project in a strong position to win this highly competitive federal award. I thank the USDOT Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Deputy Secretary of Transportation Polly Trottenberg, and our partners at the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Acting Administrator Veronica Vanterpool, FTA Region 1 Administrator Pete Butler, and their entire team, for this incredible award allowing us to deliver the North Station Draw 1 project, freeing up state capital dollars for other essential needs,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Eng. “This award continues to demonstrate our aggressive approach to pursuing all funding opportunities under the lead of the Healey-Driscoll Administration as we pursue every available federal grant. Our Grants and North Station Drawbridge teams deserve all the credit for their exceptional work to secure this funding which allows us to ensure the efficient and reliable movement of all North Station train lines while greatly improving our ability to provide more frequent, regional rail-style service across the entire northside corridor to serve future generations to come.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Steel Calls on Columbia to Cancel Event with Communist Vietnam Leader

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Michelle Steel (CA-48)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam set to headline an event at Columbia University tomorrow, Congresswoman Michelle Steel (CA-45) is calling on Columbia to cancel the event and clarify whether suffocating basic human rights comports with the university’s values.

    In a letter to Columbia, Steel notes that under To Lam’s leadership Vietnam has doubled down on the repression of human rights, limiting free expression and detaining prisoners of conscience. Such abuses largely occur due to the communist regime’s crackdown on dissent from journalists and activists as well as those seeking to practice their faith.

    “To Lam is a dangerous authoritarian who has stifled free expression and taken many prisoners of conscience in Vietnam. Columbia must reverse course and refuse to grant legitimacy to someone who jails his own citizens simply for speaking their mind,” said Rep. Michelle Steel, who represents a large population of Vietnamese Americans in Orange County, CA.

    “Columbia cannot claim to foster a campus environment of free speech and expression while hosting one of the most prominent leaders of authoritarianism. Going forward with hosting To Lam would unfortunately signal more of the same from an institution that has too often identified itself with civil rights while disregarding the circumstances of those most affected,” Steel added.

    To Lam, who recently took over as Vietnam’s head of state, will be in New York for a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly followed by a trip to Cuba. Even prior to his current human rights abuses, To Lam has a documented history of stifling free speech in his prior role as Vietnam’s Minister of Public Security.

    Below is a copy of Steel’s letter:

    Dear President Armstrong,

    I write to you today to express my serious concern regarding Columbia University’s planned event on September 23 with To Lam, the General Secretary for the Communist Party of Vietnam, and Columbia University’s promotion of an individual who is chiefly responsible for the ongoing repression of the Vietnamese people. Columbia University should immediately rescind its invitation to To Lam and clarify whether suffocating basic human rights comports with its values.

    Since Lam assumed the role of General Secretary, the Communist Party of Vietnam has doubled down in adopting the Chinese Communist Party model of repression. In turn, there are currently over 170 prisoners of conscience detained in Vietnam.

    Prisoners of conscience in Vietnam face lengthy prison sentences, endure solitary confinement, face unfair trials, and are arbitrarily detained by the one-party police state. In addition, Vietnamese prisoners of conscience are unable to seek care for their health conditions, subjected to forced labor, and banned by prison authorities form religious practices, such as prayer. Some have succumbed to unspecified medical issues and have died while serving life sentences.

    Just this week, Vietnam’s Hanoi People’s Court sentenced Phan Van Bach, an independent journalist and prominent activist, for “distributing anti-state propaganda after voicing his concerns about the Communist Party of Vietnam on Facebook and YouTube. While in custody, Mr. Bach’s health has seriously deteriorated according to his wife and attorney.

    Additionally, noodle vendor Bui Tuan Lam was jailed for the same “anti-state propaganda” charges last year after posting 19 videos on Facebook and 25 on YouTube that “affected the confidence of the people in the leadership of the state,” according to the indictment. Days prior, footage surfaced of then-Vietnam Minister of Public Security To Lam eating a $2,000 steak after he had visited the grave of Karl Marx.

    Sadly, Columbia University’s welcoming of To Lam is yet another example of its lack of moral clarity. Columbia cannot claim to foster a campus environment of free speech and expression while hosting one of the most prominent leaders of authoritarianism. Condoning this level of repression will only embolden further persecution of the Vietnamese people.

    Now is the time for Columbia University to define its posture toward the Communist Party of Vietnam. Going forward with hosting To Lam would unfortunately signal more of the same from an institution that has too often identified itself with civil rights while disregarding the circumstances of those most affected.

    Sincerely,

    Michelle Steel
    Member of Congress

    Rep. Steel represents parts of Los Angeles County and Orange County, including the Little Saigon community, which has the largest population of Vietnamese anywhere outside of Vietnam.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “For the third time, we will gather the best scientists and AI researchers in Russia at the HSE site”

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Sciences, Faculty of Computer Science, National Research University Higher School of Economics And AI Center A conference will be held in Moscow on October 25–26 Fall into ML 2024. The main topic of the annual event will be the prospects for the development of fundamental artificial intelligence. Sber will be the title partner of the conference.

    Leading scientists in the field of artificial intelligence will meet at the Higher School of Economics to present their best works published at A* conferences in 2024, the flagship events in this field.

    The conference will feature experts discussing current issues in machine learning, including deep neural networks, reinforcement learning, and their application in industry, natural and social sciences, healthcare, climate science, and other areas. Topics related to language models, computer vision, optimization, robotics, and many others will also be covered.

    Over the course of two days, conference participants will be able to take a mini-course, listen to selected reports, participate in panel discussions, thematic workshops dedicated to AI in bioinformatics, finance and other topics.

    At the panel discussion “Personnel Matters: Nurturing Talented Artificial Intelligence Researchers,” representatives of Russian science and universities will discuss modern achievements in the field of AI, based on the work of scientists conducting research in this field in academia and industry around the world. As part of the discussion, participants will touch on issues of training scientific personnel, retaining and attracting talent.

    For the first time, Fall into ML will host a panel discussion dedicated to women in science. Female scientists will discuss the development of AI technologies and the inclusiveness of the scientific world.

    One of the key events of the conference will be the poster session – a platform where the best works of Russian scientists in the field of artificial intelligence, implemented in 2024, will be presented.

    Gleb Gusev, Senior Managing Director – Director of the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Sber

    “The AI Lab participated in the event last year. Due to the positive feedback from last year’s successful participation, a decision was made to expand the format of interaction with Fall into ML in 2024 and sponsor the event.

    The Fall into ML conference is a targeted event to promote Sber’s scientific brand, within which the AI Lab integrates its scientific section Financial AI, holds lectures and workshops where you can share your experience and talk about publications and research that are in demand at Sber, while simultaneously receiving feedback from experts and colleagues in the industry.”

    In 2023, Fall into ML brought together over 50 authors of publications at A*-level conferences. Over three days, over 300 participants attended thematic workshops, panel discussions, sections and a poster session. See how it was in 2023 on link.

    Undergraduate and graduate students, and researchers in the field of artificial intelligence can register and participate in Fall into ML 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.

    http://vvv.hse.ru/nevs/expertise/965602534.html

    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 United Kingdom: Adult Social Care report reflects on the Council’s performance

    Source: City of Coventry

    Coventry City Council will report on its performance across Adult Social Care to Cabinet next week in readiness for national inspections of the service.

    Each year the Council publishes its annual report and this year, for the first time, it will also report on its self-assessment, reflecting on the way its Adult Social Care services have been performing over the past 12 months.

    Both reports are expected to be approved at its Cabinet meeting on Tuesday 1 October.

    The new self-assessment is something Councils must now produce because the Care Quality Commission (CQC) will be measuring how well Councils perform their adult social care duties. This is similar to the way the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills measure services.

    The CQC is responsible for assessing Local Authorities’ delivery of their adult social care functions.

    The CQC will be visiting the Council at a future date to meet with officers and services users to take a closer look at local adult social care services – and will refer to the Local Authority’s self-assessment to inform its findings. A date hasn’t been confirmed yet.

    Local Authorities are required to complete a Self-Assessment for issuing to the CQC following receipt of a ‘Notification of Inspection’ – that’s when the CQC identifies a date to carry out an inspection.

    Reviewing its services and preparing its self-assessment will support Coventry’s Adult Social Care’s readiness for any future inspection.

    Cllr Linda Bigham, Cabinet Member for Adult Services, said: “We want to be completely open about adult social care services. In fact, the more that local people and stakeholders know, the better.

    “It’s really important that people understand what we and other health agencies and care services can offer.

    “We have a lot of information on our website and during the past year have been holding community events to tell people more about what residents can expect from our services.

    “Both the annual report and self-assessment offer an overview that I think is really useful for everyone to read.

    “We try to focus our own reporting on the views of people who use our services to get a good understanding about how our services make an impact on residents.

    “Both reports cover each of the four CQC themes for inspection and the quality statements associated with these themes.”

    She added: “It’s a good way for us to review where we are doing well and more importantly where we need to make improvements, and it makes sense to focus on the CQC themes.

    “We’ll be updating the self-assessment annually and presenting it with the Annual Report. We’ll also provide it to the CQC when the Council is selected for an inspection.”

    The report states: ‘The approach taken both to the Self-Assessment and Annual Report demonstrates an open approach to our successes, challenges and where we can develop further in order to improve outcomes for people with care and support needs and their unpaid carers within Coventry.

    ‘The Self-Assessment also provides the opportunity to present the context within which CQC will be inspecting Adult Social Care in Coventry. The production of the 2023/24 report has drawn on the pool of feedback and information that was gathered over the year from a range of sources including social care staff, Partnership Boards, the Adult Social Care Stakeholder Group, providers, partner organisations and people who have been in contact with Adult Social Care, along with their families and carers.’

    Around 13 per cent of the population in Coventry is over 65. This is expected to increase by 27.7 per cent by the year 2043.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 4th Forum of Mayors to convene global Cities Summit of the Future

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    Cities are on the front lines of addressing humanity’s most pressing challenges, from climate change to migration as well as natural disasters and socioeconomic inequalities.  

    City leaders from across the globe will convene for the 4th Forum of Mayors (Geneva, 30 September – 1 October) to discuss the implications for local governments of the Pact for the Future, which will be agreed upon by UN Member States at the United Nations Summit of the Future (New York, 22-23 September). 

    At the Forum of Mayors, cities will collaboratively draft an Outcome Statement on the Future of Cities.  

    This statement will emphasize the vital role of cities and local actors in driving a sustainable and brighter future for all. It will then be transmitted to the Secretary General of the United Nations as a contribution to strengthening the engagement of local and regional governments in UN intergovernmental bodies and processes. 

    As a unique platform within the United Nations system, the Forum of Mayors connects local and national authorities within a normative intergovernmental framework, contributing to a more networked and inclusive multilateralism.  

    The Forum will be chaired by Ms. Danela Arsovska, Mayor of Skopje (North Macedonia), with Vice-Chairpersons Mr. Ricardo Rio, Mayor of Braga (Portugal), Ms. Susan Aitken, City Leader of Glasgow Council (United Kingdom) and Mr. Sami Kanaan, Deputy Mayor of Geneva (Switzerland). The keynote address will be delivered by renowned architect Lord Norman Foster. 

    Leaders from a diverse range of cities across the pan-European region and North America will participate, including mayors and deputy mayors from Tirana (Albania), Gyumri (Armenia), Vienna (Austria), Ganja (Azerbaijan), Quebec (Canada), Osijek (Croatia), Nicosia (Cyprus), Ostrava (Czech Republic),  Tallinn  (Estonia), Turku (Finland), Strasbourg Eurometropolis (France), Heidelberg (Germany), Athens (Greece), Debrecen (Hungary), Bat Yam (Israel),  Valmiera (Latvia),  Balzan (Malta), Podgorica (Montenegro), Utrecht (Netherlands),  Łódź (Poland), Mafra (Portugal), Bucharest (Romania),  Novo Mesto (Slovenia), Dushanbe (Tajikistan), Konya (Türkiye), Ashgabat (Turkmenistan), Mykolaiv (Ukraine), London (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), New Orleans (United States of America). Additional Mayors are expected to confirm their participation. 

    Additionally, through collaboration with other Regional Economic Commissions (ESCWA, ECLAC, ECA, ESCAP) and the Global Cities Hub, and in recognition of the global connections between urban areas and the opportunities they present for learning, partnerships, and exchange, the Forum will also unite Mayors from the UNECE region with their counterparts from cities such as Buenos Aires (Argentina), Ifangni (Benin), San Jose (Costa Rica), Pichincha (Ecuador), Irbid (Jordan), Klang (Malaysia), Turbat Kech (Pakistan), Dakar (Senegal), Freetown (Sierra Leone), Lusaka (Zambia), Rabat (Morocco). 

    The Forum will also feature a rich programme of side events, tackling key issues such as the underrepresentation of women in local government leadership, urban peace dialogues, cities’ solutions to the triple planetary crisis, and cities’ experiences with Voluntary Local Reviews of SDGs progress. 

    More information on the Forum is available at https://forumofmayors.unece.org/. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Youth-Led solutions for sustainable resource management

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    Critical raw materials (CRMs) such as copper, lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements are essential for the energy transition, but their extraction often causes deforestation, water pollution, and social disruption, especially in vulnerable communities.   

    To help shift current CRM governance from short-term extraction-focused strategies to policies that prioritize sustainability and intergenerational justice, UNECE’s Resource Management Young Members Group (RMYMG) has developed recommendations for intergenerational justice in CRM Management 

    At the heart of the report “Advancing Intergenerational Justice in Critical Raw Materials Management: Assessing the Potential of Demand-side Measures”  is the principle of intergenerational justice, which emphasizes that resource management today must not compromise the well-being of future generations.  

    The report proposes a shift towards “demand-side solutions”, reducing resource consumption through lifestyle and societal changes rather than just increasing CRM extraction. This approach addresses the root causes of unsustainable consumption while ensuring that future generations inherit a planet with healthier ecosystems and a fair access to resources. 

    Youth-Driven Solutions for a Just Transition 

    Key proposals include: 

    1. Reducing Resource Consumption: By promoting public transport, energy-efficient buildings, and shared resources, societies can cut down on materials demand and mitigate environmental harm. 
    2. Inclusive Governance: The report calls for participatory decision-making frameworks that involve youth, Indigenous communities, and marginalized groups in resource management, ensuring that all voices are heard. 
    3. Strengthening Accountability: The RMYMG advocates for stronger governance frameworks, including binding due diligence laws, to hold governments and corporations accountable for the social and environmental impacts of CRM extraction. 
    4. Shifting Societal Behaviors: Promoting changes in cultural norms to move away from overconsumption, the RMYMG emphasizes that demand-side solutions can create more sustainable economies that prioritize well-being over material growth. 

    The RMYMG, which collaborates with organizations like Generation Climate Europe and ReGeneration 2030, will present its findings to the Committee on Sustainable Energy next week.   

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Twelve Defendants, Including Members of International Criminal Gangs, Indicted for Drug Trafficking Conspiracy in South Florida

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

    MIAMI – An indictment has been unsealed charging 12 defendants, including members of international criminal gangs MS-13, Sur-13, and the Mexican Mafia, with drug offenses in and around Broward and Miami-Dade Counties in the Southern District of Florida.

    The twelve-count indictment charges Edgar Garcia-Velasquez, a/k/a “Diablo,” 34, a citizen of Honduras, Francisco Rangel, a/k/a “Casper,” 41, of Calif., Gabriela Rodriguez-Carrillo, 42, of Calif., Luis Portillo, a/k/a “Shadow,” a/k/a “Sombra,” 35, of Miami, Jose Puga, a/k/a “Stranger,” 45, of Calif., Malinda Martinez, 42, of Fort Myers, Fla., Karina Martinez-Vazquez, 34, of Miami, Rafael Gutierrez, a/k/a “Rafy,” 28, of Miami, Jose Hernandez, a/k/a “Blue Demon,” a/k/a “Labomba3,” 39, of Belle Glade, Fla., Loupe Loredo, a/k/a “L3g3nd,” 39, of Lake Wales, Fla., Felipe Gonzalez,  a/k/a “Wicked,” 41, of Calif., and  Hugo Cruz, a/k/a “Houdini,” 33, of LaBelle, Fla., with conspiring with each other, their co-defendants, and others to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties.

    The indictment charges Garcia-Velasquez, Rodriguez-Carrillo, Puga, Gonzalez, and Martinez Vazquez, with conspiring with each other, their co-defendants, and others to possess with the intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties.

    Garcia-Velazquez, Rodriguez-Carrillo, Martinez, Portillo, Gutierrez, Puga, Loredo, and Martinez Vazquez face additional charges for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties.

    Arrests of the defendants began on Sept. 12, at various locations, and thereafter they began making their initial appearances in the Southern District of Florida. If convicted, all of the defendants face up to life imprisonment.

    U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami; Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division; and Sheriff Gregory Tony of the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) made the announcement.

    HSI Fort Lauderdale, FBI Miami, ATF Fort Lauderdale, DEA Miami, and BSO investigated this case with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Fort Myers, FBI Los Angeles, and FBI Fort Myers. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bertila Fernandez is prosecuting the case.

    This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    An indictment contains allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

    You may find a copy of this press release (and any update) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

    Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-60174.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Powering Africa: new model compares options for off-grid solar in 43 countries

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Hamish Beath, Research Associate in Societal Transitions, Imperial College London

    Sub-Saharan Africa, home to 80% of the global population without electricity access, is unlikely to reach the United Nations’ goal of access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030.

    The region is significantly behind the rest of the world. Globally, access to electricity increased from 79% of the population in 2000 to 90% in 2019. In sub-Saharan Africa, access to electricity rose from 26% to 47%, and most who don’t have access live in rural areas, according to World Bank data.

    The World Bank predicts that, based on current electricity connection and population growth trends, sub-Saharan Africa will have more than 400 million people unconnected to electricity by 2030.

    A lack of access to reliable electricity has a significant negative impact on living standards. For example, it can limit the provision of quality public services such as healthcare, education and water. It also creates a barrier to access to digital services, holding back participation in an increasingly digital global economy.

    Lack of access is not the only challenge for sub-Saharan African countries. Existing connections are unreliable too. About 43% of Africans had access to electricity that worked “most” or “all” of the time in 2022. Reliability issues are typically more common in rural areas.

    Just two sub-Saharan African countries have electricity grids without significant outages: Angola and Botswana. Outages reduce the benefits electricity offers to households and businesses, and create demand for expensive and typically polluting fuel-run generators.

    Studies have proposed off-grid solar generated electricity as one possible solution for economies with poor electricity access. In some locations, they are the lowest-cost option, and can enable electricity access without building electricity grid infrastructure – transmission and distribution networks.

    Some of these studies, however, may have underestimated the potential benefits of off-grid solar power. This is because they don’t consider the cost impacts of poor reliability or of carbon price schemes.

    I was part of a team of scientists using a new approach to assessing the cost of different energy access options. It combines modelling individual energy systems with spatial data covering large areas. Our approach allows us to put a cost to the reliability and the pollution of different sources of electricity. When you account for these, the relative attractiveness of technologies may change.

    Our research explores the role off-grid solar could play in different scenarios in Africa. It covered 43 countries for which data is available, and that are home to more than 99% of the continent’s population without access. Below, we will highlight two countries, Nigeria and Mozambique.

    Cost of carbon and cost of poor reliability

    Using our new approach, we analyse which parts of each country would find solar to be the cheapest technology. We do this at a fine level of detail. Our scenarios include either a carbon price, or a penalty for poor reliability. We can show what policy would make the greatest impact in a given location.

    Electricity access can be arranged into tiers that combine different levels of wattage, hours of availability, number of disruptions, affordability and so on.

    For our medium electricity demand scenario (tier 3), our modelling suggests that off-grid solar would be cheapest for 65 million more people if you applied a carbon price to the calculation. If you applied a reliability penalty, off-grid solar would be cheapest for 80 million more people.

    Carbon markets are financial markets which put a price on emitting greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. These markets influence the relative cost and shares of different electricity generation technologies. However, the use of carbon credits on the African continent remains limited as they are a relatively new initiative on the continent.

    The reliability of supply is crucial in determining the value of a connection. Poor reliability can lead to reduced security and reduced household income.

    Off-grid solar systems may offer improved reliability when compared to national grid networks.

    To demonstrate our methods and findings more clearly, let’s look at two countries in more detail: Nigeria and Mozambique.

    Nigeria

    Nigeria has an unreliable grid, with service levels worse in rural areas. Our analysis projects that Nigeria will have as many as 55 million households – around 20% of the population – without electricity access in 2030. In our research, we find that off-grid solar would be the cheapest way for connecting between 5% and 60% of these people to electricity.

    But solar’s economic viability versus the traditional grid network depends on the level of demand for electricity. At low electricity usage (tier 2 or 200Wh per day), off-grid solar beats traditional electricity grid networks. It meets the energy needs of a higher proportion of the population (60%) at lower cost.

    The reverse is true when demand for electricity is higher (tier 4 or 3,400Wh per day). Under this scenario, high electricity usage demands traditional electricity grids.

    Poor reliability of national electricity grids is an issue on the continent. When the costs of poor reliability are included in the calculation, solar becomes more competitive. It meets the needs of between 38% and 65% of the 55 million households in Nigeria.

    This finding highlights that to provide reliable access, focusing on off-grid solar may be the best solution. Nigeria is already using subsidies to encourage this.

    Read more: Nigeria’s chronic power shortages: mini grids were going to crack the problem for rural people, but they haven’t. Here’s why

    Mozambique

    In Mozambique, we estimate that more than 16 million people (40% of the population) will remain without access to electricity by 2030. As it is for Nigeria, off-grid solar power is cheaper for lower electricity usage levels. Off-grid solar would, by our estimates, be cheapest for between 28% and 88% of the 16 million people, depending on demand levels.

    When carbon pricing is factored in, this increases to 88% from 50%, with the greatest impact seen at higher demand levels. Our research also shows the carbon price levels that are effective at different demand levels, for different parts of the country.

    Due to differences in the costs of different technologies in different places, there is variation in policy effectiveness and thresholds. When considering where carbon credit schemes may be most effective, stakeholders should consider areas highlighted as seeing a shift in technology at the lower price level.

    Read more: Mozambique’s unstable and expensive power supply is devastating small businesses – study examines what’s gone wrong

    Targeted policy can boost access and reliability in Africa

    When considering energy policy across a large region, country-specific and localised factors are paramount. We do not pretend to capture all of these in our research. However, our use of spatial data, and country-level demand and supply modelling, tries to move in the right direction.

    – Powering Africa: new model compares options for off-grid solar in 43 countries
    – https://theconversation.com/powering-africa-new-model-compares-options-for-off-grid-solar-in-43-countries-232192

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri Delivers Remarks at the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics 23rd Annual Compliance & Ethics Institute

    Source: United States Attorneys General 4

    Remarks as Prepared for Delivery

    Thank you for inviting me to speak at the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE). The work you do at SCCE supports compliance and ethics professionals across industries. I’m so pleased to be here with the practitioners virtually who work every day to establish and maintain effective corporate compliance programs that help prevent misconduct before it begins.

    The Criminal Division is on the front lines of the Justice Department’s efforts to hold culpable individuals and companies accountable for corporate crime. We also develop innovative policies both to encourage companies to be good corporate citizens and to enhance the department’s corporate enforcement work. Today, I plan to talk about how these efforts support a key aspect of our mission — to prevent and deter corporate crime by incentivizing corporations to invest in robust compliance programs and report misconduct when it occurs. Companies are the first line of defense against corporate crime. And compliance professionals are charged with holding the line on compliance and good corporate culture. We know how important it is for compliance programs to be robust and well-resourced and for compliance officers and their staff to be empowered.

    That is why we are transparent about how we evaluate compliance programs and what we believe makes a compliance program successful. It’s why our corporate enforcement policies are available on our website. It’s why — in every corporate resolution — we describe the company’s cooperation and remediation and how we evaluated it. And it’s why each of our resolutions requires companies to commit to forward-looking compliance obligations designed to address the misconduct and improve the compliance program.

    I’d like to begin with our Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs, or ECCP. I’m sure many of you are familiar with it — it is an invaluable resource for companies. And it is the roadmap Criminal Division prosecutors use to evaluate a company’s compliance program, including the questions prosecutors will ask as they assess a compliance program in determining how to resolve a criminal investigation.

    Because when we prosecute corporate crime, we ask not just what happened but why it happened and what the company has done to prevent misconduct from recurring. A critical component of our corporate resolutions involves an assessment of the corporation’s compliance program, at both the time of the misconduct and the time of resolution.

    Just as we expect corporations to continuously review and update their compliance programs to account for emerging risk factors, we regularly evaluate our policies and enforcement tools, including the ECCP, to account for changing circumstances and new risks.

    I’m pleased to announce today that we have updated our ECCP to address some of these emerging risks. Our updated ECCP, which is available on our website, includes critical additions in three main areas.

    First, in March, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco announced that prosecutors will consider how companies mitigate the risk of misusing artificial intelligence and directed the Criminal Division to include an assessment of disruptive technology risks — including AI — in the ECCP. Today, I’m unveiling the results. Our updated ECCP includes an evaluation of how companies are assessing and managing risk related to the use of new technology such as artificial intelligence both in their business and in their compliance programs.

    Under the ECCP, prosecutors will consider the technology that a company and its employees use to conduct business, whether the company has conducted a risk assessment of the use of that technology, and whether the company has taken appropriate steps to mitigate any risk associated with the use of that technology. For example, prosecutors will consider whether the company is vulnerable to criminal schemes enabled by new technology, such as false approvals and documentation generated by AI. If so, we will consider whether compliance controls and tools are in place to identify and mitigate those risks, such as tools to confirm the accuracy or reliability of data used by the business. We also want to know whether the company is monitoring and testing its technology to evaluate if it is functioning as intended and consistent with the company’s code of conduct.

    Second, following the recent announcement of our whistleblower awards program, the ECCP now includes questions designed to evaluate whether companies are encouraging employees to speak up and report misconduct or whether companies employ practices that chill reporting. Our prosecutors will closely consider the company’s commitment to whistleblower protection and anti-retaliation by assessing policies and training, as well as treatment of employees who report misconduct. We will evaluate whether companies ensure that individuals who suspect misconduct know how to report it and feel comfortable doing so including by showing that there is no tolerance for retaliation.

    Third, under the updated ECCP, our prosecutors will assess whether a compliance program has appropriate access to data, including to assess its own effectiveness. We have added questions about whether compliance personnel have adequate access to relevant data sources and the assets, resources, and technology that are available to compliance and risk management personnel. As part of this assessment, we will also consider whether companies are putting the same resources and technology into gathering and leveraging data for compliance purposes that they are using in their business.

    We have also updated the ECCP to expand upon an important concept — that companies should be learning lessons from both the company’s own prior misconduct and from issues at other companies to update their compliance programs and train employees.

    Next, I want to give you an update on two Criminal Division pilot programs: our Compensation Incentives and Clawbacks Pilot Program and our Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program.

    In March 2023, we announced a three-year compensation clawback pilot program. We are now halfway through the pilot period and can report some observations.

    The program has two parts. First, each of our corporate resolutions now requires that the company include criteria related to compliance in its compensation and bonus system. In short, we are asking companies to provide clear metrics both to reward compliance-promoting behavior and to deter misconduct. We included similar language in some corporate resolutions before we launched the pilot program, but it is now required in every Criminal Division resolution. Since the program’s launch, we have included this requirement in nine corporate resolutions.

    Let me pause on that for a second. As a result of corporate cases brought by the Criminal Division, nine companies across five industries are upping their game in using their compensation systems to promote compliance. These companies — whether their core business is tech, finance, crypto, manufacturing, or energy — are considering how to align compensation not just with the company’s financial performance, but with conducting business in an ethical manner. And they are setting the tone for others in the marketplace.

    Early indications are that these innovations are changing corporate behavior. For example, one company under agreement with the Criminal Division required consideration of adherence to compliance standards and reporting of misconduct in its annual reviews. As a result of these efforts, and a company-wide messaging campaign, the company is seeing more reports of potential compliance issues.

    We have also seen many companies incorporating into their compensation systems performance reviews that include an assessment of how employees demonstrate the company’s core values. For example, one company incorporated a performance review metric that measured employees across categories including individual and team performance, goal accomplishment, and demonstration of core values. Ratings on these metrics factored into both compensation and promotion decisions. We are asking companies to continuously evaluate the real-world effectiveness of such incentives, share that feedback with us, and adjust their compensation metrics.

    Companies that make compliance a critical factor in determining compensation are sending the message to employees and management that engaging in ethical behavior is critical to success in business. These companies are fostering strong cultures of compliance and promoting leaders who demonstrate ethical values.

    Turning to the second part of the pilot program, we provide a fine reduction to companies that recoup or withhold compensation from culpable employees and others who had supervisory authority over the employees engaged in the misconduct and knew of, or were willfully blind to, the misconduct. Companies that take advantage of this aspect of the pilot program will receive a fine reduction equal to the amount of the withheld compensation. This is also something we look at when we consider a company’s remediation. Because taking steps to hold individuals financially accountable is a critical way a company can send a strong message to employees that it is committed to compliance.

    To date, two companies have received fine reductions under the pilot program, both in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) cases. Albemarle proactively implemented procedures to freeze future bonuses for those suspected of misconduct, who directly oversaw employees engaged in the misconduct, or who were aware of red flags but failed to prevent the misconduct. They were rewarded with a reduction in their criminal monetary penalty equal to the amount of the bonuses that were withheld. Albemarle was also awarded a 45% reduction from the low end of the applicable penalty range — the highest percentage reduction to date — in light of its substantial cooperation and significant remediation.

    SAP also withheld compensation from culpable employees and defended the decision through litigation. These actions sent a clear message to other SAP employees — and employees of companies everywhere — that misconduct will have individual financial consequences. As a result, SAP not only received a fine reduction equal to the amount of withheld compensation. This was also an important aspect of the company’s remediation that supported our decision to award a 40% fine reduction.

    By holding culpable individuals financially accountable — along with those who were in a position to report or stop the misconduct — companies send a clear message that there will be consequences for those who do not stand against misconduct.

    We also have another critical new tool to harness financial incentives in connection with our corporate enforcement work: our Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program, or CWA. The program has been up and running for only a few weeks, but we are already receiving good tips.

    Whistleblower programs are effective. Programs at other agencies have received thousands of tips, paid out hundreds of millions of dollars in awards, and resulted in holding culpable actors accountable for misconduct. But as successful as those programs are, they do not cover the full range of white collar and corporate crime that the department prosecutes. The CWA seeks to fill those gaps. Our program covers four priority areas of white collar enforcement that are not covered by an existing whistleblower program: abuses of the financial system by financial institutions and insiders; foreign corruption and bribery schemes; domestic corruption; and health care schemes targeting private insurers. And if a whistleblower has information about misconduct that is not covered by an existing whistleblower program but does not fall within one of these four categories, we want to hear from them.

    We designed our whistleblower program to encourage internal reporting and to incentivize companies to invest in strong internal reporting structures. A whistleblower who makes an internal report at their company will be eligible for an award if they report to the department within 120 days of their internal report. And critically, making an internal report before coming forward to the department is a factor that will increase the amount of a potential whistleblower award.

    And companies that receive internal reports also have a powerful incentive to come forward to the department. We understand that in considering whether to make a voluntary self-disclosure, companies assess not only the benefits of self-reporting, but also the risk that the department will learn about the misconduct from other sources, like whistleblowers. We expect that the CWA will alter that calculus. That’s why, alongside our whistleblower program, we announced an amendment to our Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy, or CEP. Under that amendment, where a company receives an internal whistleblower report and then reports the misconduct to the department within 120 days, and before the department reaches out to the company, it will be eligible for the greatest benefit under the CEP — a presumption of a declination — so long as it fully cooperates and remediates. This is a significant benefit to companies and a departure from our usual approach, because a company can qualify for a presumption of a declination even if the whistleblower comes to the department first.

    Our whistleblower program also reflects how seriously the department takes the risks that whistleblowers face — and the ways that compliance departments can mitigate those risks. First, we will protect whistleblowers’ identities to the fullest extent allowable under law. Second, we will closely monitor any actions a company takes against whistleblowers who try to do the right thing by raising an alarm within the company. As described in our updated ECCP, compliance departments have an important role here — to implement robust policies that protect employees who report misconduct and to train employees on those policies. Under our updated ECCP, we will closely evaluate a company’s commitment to whistleblower protection and anti-retaliation, as well as whether a company has fostered a “speak up” culture. But if a company retaliates against a whistleblower, we will take all appropriate steps: the company will lose credit for cooperation and remediation and could face sentencing enhancements — and even prosecution — for obstruction of justice.

    We have received tips from over 100 individuals to date, with more coming in every day. If those employees are also reporting internally, which we have incentivized them to do, we hope companies are taking their reports seriously and plan to come forward to the department.

    Let me now turn to some of our corporate resolutions and the lessons compliance officers can take from them. In our corporate resolutions, we recognize and reward different levels of cooperation and remediation.

    Let me start with the greatest benefit we provide: a declination under our CEP. To qualify for a CEP declination, a company must not only voluntarily self-disclose the conduct. It must also fully cooperate and timely and appropriately remediate.

    Last month, we announced a declination under the CEP in an investigation involving the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In addition to timely and voluntarily disclosing evidence of a potential FCPA violation to the department, BCG’s full and proactive cooperation and timely and appropriate remediation resulted in the department’s decision to decline prosecution.

    BCG’s remediation included termination of the personnel involved in the misconduct and compensation-based penalties that included requiring certain BCG partners to give up their equity in the company, denying financial benefits normally accorded to BCG employees who leave the firm, and withholding bonuses.

    A company that does not voluntarily self-disclose misconduct can receive up to a 50% reduction of its fine depending on the extent of its cooperation and remediation. Every company starts at zero and must earn any benefit. From our resolutions, you can identify factors that set strong cooperation and remediation apart from less impressive efforts. Let me touch on a couple of examples.

    SAP, which I mentioned earlier, earned a 40% reduction in the criminal penalty — near the maximum reduction available for companies that do not voluntarily self-disclose. The company immediately began to cooperate after news reports publicized some of the allegations and took steps to proactively cooperate that made a real difference in our ability to advance our independent investigation. The company also moved quickly to remediate the misconduct, including by promptly disciplining responsible employees, reducing its risk profile, and expanding the data analytics capabilities of its compliance program.

    On the other end of the spectrum, Trafigura received a reduction of only 10% for cooperation and remediation. Trafigura’s cooperation credit was limited because the company failed to preserve and produce certain evidence in a timely manner during early phases of the investigation. And the company’s early posture in resolution negotiations caused significant delays and required our prosecutors to expend substantial efforts and resources to develop additional evidence. The company’s remediation was also mixed. While Trafigura improved its compliance program, it was slow to discipline certain employees.

    Through our resolutions, we seek to highlight what a company did, or failed to do, to get more or less credit for cooperation and remediation. We do that to provide transparency and to guide other companies, and to make clear that we provide the greatest benefits to companies that act with urgency and truly go above and beyond.

    Rest assured, we take notice of companies that make the right choices and invest in and support effective compliance programs. When compliance officers have the necessary resources to do their jobs — and a seat at the table in the boardroom to have their voices heard — companies are better situated to prevent, detect, and stay ahead of misconduct when it occurs. And companies that do those things — and move quickly to cooperate and remediate when misconduct occurs — will put themselves in the best position to achieve the most favorable outcomes when dealing with the Criminal Division’s investigations and prosecutions.

    From our whistleblower and clawback pilot programs to our updated ECCP, we are using more tools than ever before to identify corporate misconduct and to encourage companies to be good corporate citizens. Companies that step up and own up to misconduct send a powerful message about the importance of a robust compliance program and an ethical corporate culture.

    I hope today you’ll take this message back to your companies: now is the time to make the necessary compliance investments to help prevent, detect, and remediate misconduct. And when you uncover misconduct: call us before we call you.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: It’s Rail Safety Week in Saskatchewan

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on September 23, 2024

    The Government of Saskatchewan is joining in to proclaim September 23 to 30, 2024 as Rail Safety Week in Canada and reminding everyone to choose safety when around trains. Saskatchewan’s rail system is vital for our province’s export-based economy, and so is rail safety. 

    “Saskatchewan Rail Safety Week serves as a great reminder of how much we rely on our rail system and the significant benefits it brings to our export-based economy,” Highways Minister Lori Carr said. “This week is also a good opportunity to remind motorists about rail safety tips, such as looking and listening for trains, understanding railway signage and markings and being vigilant near all rail crossings.” 

    Everyone is responsible for rail safety. Rail safety requires constant alertness and reminding loved ones, children and communities about the importance of being safe around rail lines. 

    Rail incidents can happen fast and often have tragic consequences.  

    In 2023, 914 accidents, including 67 fatalities, were reported to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.

    The Ministry of Highways is proud to continue educating children through our partnership with Canadian Safety Train Express Inc. by providing funding to print and distribute railway safety activity books to grade four students in communities served by our short lines.  

    “It is important for everyone, especially our youth, to recognize the importance of railway safety,” Canadian Safety Train Express CEO Perry Pellerin said. “Railway safety is everyone’s responsibility. We ask that everyone serve as a rail safety ambassador to ensure everyone can go home safely each and every day.”

    The Ministry of Highways offers financial support to short lines through the Short Line Railway Improvement Program to help upgrade and maintain their tracks.

    There are 13 short line railways in Saskatchewan that are used to move goods such as grain, oil and lumber, and link to the larger national rail lines. There are more than 2,000 km of railways under provincial jurisdiction.

    Motorists with any questions or concerns regarding railway safety, signage, work zones and more are welcome to reach out to the Highway Customer Service Centre at 1-844-SK-HIWAY, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or online anytime.

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    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Mass animal extinctions: our new tool can show why large mammals – like the topi – are in decline

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Joseph Ogutu, Senior Researcher and Statistician, University of Hohenheim

    We could be witnessing the sixth mass extinction at an alarming rate worldwide. It’s marked by the rapid loss of species due to human activities like habitat destruction, pollution and climate change. Unlike previous mass extinctions, which were caused by natural events, this one is driven by human impact – like growing populations, pollution, invasive plant species and human-wildlife conflict.

    Large mammals are especially at risk, in Africa as elsewhere. For instance, nearly 60% of wild herbivores – such as elephants and hippos – are already threatened with extinction.

    Effective conservation and recovery strategies are needed. To develop them, you need to know how the population of a certain animal is doing and, if it is in decline, what’s causing it.

    One tool that’s useful here is a model, using biology, maths, statistics and computer software.

    The problem is that there aren’t enough of these realistic, effective models for large mammals. There’s a shortage of appropriate data and the models are complex to build.

    I was part of a team that developed a model to help fill that void. It’s the first to account for how large mammal populations interact with each other and their environment while also incorporating their detailed biology. It draws on valuable existing data and can be adapted for various wildlife species.

    We tested the model on populations of east Africa’s topi (a large antelope). From the results we’re able to deduce that the drivers of the topi’s massive population decline were habitat loss, poaching and killing by predators.

    Knowing what’s driving population declines is extremely valuable. Large mammals play a critical role in ecosystems. Changes to their populations will also affect many other species and could cause the extinction of connected species.

    How the model works

    Our model combines different types of data, like total population size from aerial surveys and ground vehicle counts, with predicted data on population figures. This allows us to estimate and track population trends that can’t be captured by just one data type. It considers factors like animal age, sex, gestation length, weaning period, calves per birth per year, birth rates, survival, and environmental influences like rainfall and temperature.

    Essentially, the model starts with educated guesses, then updates these guesses as it processes more observed data.

    The model can tell what causes a decline in two ways.

    First, it finds out which factors (such as rainfall) have a strong negative impact on things like birth rates, survival or recruitment, and shows exactly how they affect each other.

    Second, it lets us use simulations to see how changing one of these factors, while keeping others unchanged, changes the population by influencing its key characteristics (such as birth rate).

    Testing the model on topi

    We tested our model on the topi population found in Kenya, Tanzania and other African countries. We chose the topi because it’s a large herbivore in decline.

    The topi is an elegant antelope weighing between 91kg and 147kg, with a long face and uniquely twisted horns. One of the largest remaining topi populations in east Africa occurs in the Greater Mara-Serengeti Ecosystem, which straddles the border between Kenya and Tanzania.

    Kenya’s Directorate of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing has, since 1977, monitored numbers and distribution of topi, and other large wild herbivores and livestock, using aerial surveys in the country’s rangelands, covering 88% of Kenya.

    Based on this data, we can see that topi numbers have declined persistently and strikingly (by 84.5%) in Kenya’s Masai Mara ecosystem between 1977 and 2022, even those in protected conservation areas.

    This decline indicates a high risk of extinction if the trend persists. This is a serious concern, since other antelope species, such as the roan, have gone extinct in the Mara in recent decades.

    But the causes haven’t been fully established.

    We ran the aerial and ground survey data into the model in a computer on a monthly interval. This approach allows the model to capture patterns in trends and dynamics on a monthly scale. It allows us to see the distribution of births per month, the timing of births, the degree to which multiple females in a population give birth around the same time, the proportion of females in a population that give birth, the total number of individuals of each age and sex in each month, and the proportion of young that survive to adulthood.

    The model starts with initial guesses based on existing knowledge, and refines the guesses as it processes more actual data.

    It produces results that match the observed patterns of population decline, seasonality of births and how many animals survive to become juveniles or to adulthood.

    Based on these findings, we see that the decline in the topi population is driven by a combination of low adult female numbers, low newborn survival and low recruitment into the adult class because most young (over 95%) die before they become adults.

    Based on the model, we attribute these changes to impacts from environmental changes, human activities and predation. For instance, since adult animals are the least sensitive to climatic changes, this suggests other factors – such as habitat loss or deterioration, poaching or high predation rates – are likely contributing to the decline.

    The new model enhances our understanding of large herbivore population dynamics besides confirming existing knowledge.

    By combining different kinds of data from different sources, the model helps estimate and track important population details that one type of data alone can’t show. For example, for the first time data is captured that can track the total number of topi of each age and sex in each month, how many adult female topi are ready to conceive and the various stages of pregnancy. This method also estimates changes in the total topi population by age and sex in all four zones of the Mara, even in zones without direct ground age and sex data.

    Refining and enhancing the model

    The team is now extending the model to include more features (like the influence of livestock numbers), make it user friendly, apply it to more wildlife species and assess the effectiveness of ongoing and planned management actions.

    Improving our understanding of the drivers of large mammal losses will ensure that the right conservation actions are taken. It’ll also ensure resources aren’t wasted because solutions could include investing in major infrastructure, changing wildlife conservation and livestock production policies, changing law enforcement and rehabilitation of wildlife habitats – all of which are costly.

    – Mass animal extinctions: our new tool can show why large mammals – like the topi – are in decline
    – https://theconversation.com/mass-animal-extinctions-our-new-tool-can-show-why-large-mammals-like-the-topi-are-in-decline-233882

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI: Salary.com to Showcase Award-Winning Compensation Solutions at This Week’s HR Technology Conference & Exposition 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WALTHAM, Mass., Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In today’s rapidly changing labor market, staying ahead of the curve requires insightful analysis based on real-time compensation data. With this growing need for trusted data and intuitive software, Salary.com will highlight its award-winning solutions, including its latest offering, SalaryIQ™, during this week’s HR Technology Conference & Exposition.

    Attendees will be able to see how the Salary.com platform, which draws over 10 billion compensation data points from 225+ industries, manages all aspects of the compensation process, from job description and compensation package creation to employee surveys, pay equality analysis, employee upskilling and more. This includes Salary.com’s recently released SalaryIQ real-time job posting solution, which continuously scans job boards, company career sites and other publicly available data to deliver actionable insights to end users. With this expanded data resource, HR teams are able to predict staffing needs, anticipate future trends and streamline processes.

    Salary.com will also host the breakout session “How to Conduct a Pay Equity Audit” on September 25, 2024, from 10:45 to 11:30 a.m. PT. Led by Katie Stukowski, Vice President of Solutions Consulting, this session will guide attendees through the essential steps of conducting a pay audit. Attendees will learn how to navigate project management and identify critical problems, prepare for audits, address systemic issues in compensation practices and foster pay equity within their organizations.

    In addition, employment attorney Heather Bussing, who recently co-authored the book “Get Pay Right” with Salary.com CEO Kent Plunkett, will present “Start with the Money: Pay Equity as the Foundation of Fairness.” In this session, taking place on September 24, 2024, from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. PT, during the Women in HR Technology Summit, Bussing will delve into the importance of pay equity and how effective salary assessments can drive fairness in the workplace.

    Carol Ferrari, VP, Product Marketing at Salary.com, commented, “To get pay right, employers need access to integrated compensation data and technology solutions. At this week’s HR Technology Conference & Exposition, attendees will have multiple opportunities to get answers to their most pressing pay questions directly from the Salary.com team. We’re looking forward to helping this year’s attendees make fair pay a reality.”

    Conference attendees interested in learning about Salary.com are encouraged to participate in these educational sessions and meet with company representatives at Booth No. 4911 during expo hours. To pre-book a demo, visit https://www.salary.com/business/events/hr-technology-conference. 

    About Salary.com 

    Salary.com has been solving the complex human capital needs of global organizations for more than 20 years. The company leads the industry in compensation data, software and services. Over 30,000 organizations in 22 countries use Salary.com’s solutions to confidently hire and retain talent so they can better compete in a constantly changing landscape.

    Salary.com provides more than 10 billion data points across more than 225 industries using our powerful, proprietary AI framework to get pay right. The company’s flagship product, CompAnalyst®, empowers organizations with a suite of tools that simplify hiring, eliminate compensation guesswork, and increase retention. Employee trust depends on fair pay and Salary.com’s solutions get pay right. Please visit www.salary.com/business.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Derailment of a freight train at Audenshaw

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Investigation into the derailment of a freight train at Audenshaw, Manchester, 6 September 2024.

    Derailed wagons on the bridge.

    At around 11:25 on 6 September 2024, a freight train travelling between Peak Forest and Salford derailed as it passed over a bridge in Audenshaw, Manchester.

    The train involved was made up of 2 class 66 locomotives and 24 wagons, which were loaded with aggregate. The 2 locomotives and the leading 10 wagons passed safely over the bridge, but the next 9 wagons derailed, with the last of the derailed wagons coming to a stand on the bridge itself.

    No injuries were caused by the accident. However, the derailment caused substantial damage to railway infrastructure and damaged some of the wagons involved.

    Our investigation will seek to identify the sequence of events that led to the accident. It will also consider:

    • the condition of the infrastructure at the time of the derailment
    • the status and condition of the wagons involved
    • any underlying management factors.

    Our investigation is independent of any investigation by the railway industry or by the industry’s regulator, the Office of Rail and Road.

    We will publish our findings, including any recommendations to improve safety, at the conclusion of our investigation. This report will be available on our website.

    You can subscribe to automated emails notifying you when we publish our reports.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UN Human Rights Council 57: UK Statement on Belarus

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue with group of Independent Experts on Belarus. Delivered at the 57th Human Rights Council in Geneva.

    We are deeply concerned by brutal and systematic human rights violations in Belarus.  We condemn ongoing arbitrary arrests and widespread repression.

    To mark the fourth anniversary of deeply flawed presidential elections in Belarus, we announced new sanctions on four commanding officers of penal colonies in response to ongoing human rights violations. 

    In addition, we announced £2.5 million support to Belarusian human rights defenders and civil society.

    To the representatives of Belarus: while we welcome the recent release of some political prisoners, we urge you to immediately release the over 1,300 political prisoners who remain detained without reason. 

    Many face isolation, mistreatment, and a lack of medical care.

    Six political prisoners are reported to have died since 2021.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: On the Eve of Open Banking Regulations, Collaborative Industry Group is Stepping Up

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RESTON, Va., Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) readies to issue new “Open Banking” regulations next month, the financial services industry has been busy getting ready. The Financial Data Exchange (FDX)—an industry standards body focused on Open Banking—announced today significant changes as it prepares to play a bigger role in the industry.

    The FDX Board has approved plans to grow its staff and today is announcing Kevin Feltes as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective November 2024. FDX also finalized an application to the CFPB for formal recognition as a standards setting body, a role that will lend additional weight to the standards FDX issues. These changes add to organizational reforms FDX has been implementing this year to help it become even more balanced and inclusive of diverse stakeholders. Today, FDX’s members include consumer advocacy groups, banks, fintechs, data aggregators, and other stakeholders.

    FDX Board Co-Chairs Steve Smith from Mastercard and Franklin Garrigues from TD Bank said jointly, “Today’s announcement includes some of the most meaningful changes at FDX since the organization was founded. These moves are the culmination of more than a year of work to ready FDX for the significant role it seeks to play alongside regulations in the U.S. and Canada.”

    New “Open Banking” regulations are expected from the CFPB next month and from the Department of Finance in Canada next year. These rules will impact over 100 million consumers and will require thousands of businesses to change how they share or collect consumer-permissioned data. Unlike in other countries, though, the CFPB is taking a novel approach to technical standards. Where other governments have given a larger role to regulatory bodies to define the technical details of how data sharing works, the CFPB has invited industry-led bodies to step up and take a bigger role. The financial industry is coming together at FDX to meet the call.

    Kevin Feltes Appointed FDX CEO

    FDX has appointed Kevin Feltes as its new Chief Executive Officer effective November 2024. Feltes, an industry veteran with extensive experience in Open Finance, will lead FDX in its mission to unify the financial industry around a common standard for secure and convenient access to permissioned consumer and business financial data. Feltes joins FDX from JPMorganChase where he recently served as the Head of Partnerships and Strategy for the Connected Banking group and as an FDX Board member.

    “I am thrilled to lead this organization in its next phase of growth,” said Feltes. “FDX has achieved great success already in building consensus standards and a strong community of diverse organizations. I look forward to working with members to expand FDX’s impact and create win-win solutions that make it easier for firms to reduce costs, comply with regulations, and delight and protect their customers.”

    Feltes has worked closely with data aggregators, fintechs, banks, regulators, and consumer groups to promote safer consumer data sharing and has been deeply involved in planning for the upcoming data sharing regulations.

    “Kevin’s work on the FDX Board has been critical to advancing open banking in the U.S. and Canada,” said FDX Board Member and Head of Policy for Plaid, John Pitts. “As FDX’s first CEO, Kevin will help drive the organization’s growth and progress toward ensuring that the financial services industry gives consumers the full benefit of control over their financial data.”

    Don Cardinal, FDX’s Managing Director, will continue with the organization and work with Feltes to serve FDX’s membership of over 200 firms. 

    FDX Finalizes Application for Formal Recognition by the CFPB

    FDX also finalized an application to the CFPB for official recognition as a standard-setting body (in accordance with the CFPB’s Required Rulemaking on Personal Financial Data Rights; Industry Standard-Setting). FDX’s application will describe how FDX’s governance, structure and ecosystem representation reflect the attributes the CFPB will require of a standard-setting body, including openness, balance, due process, appeals, consensus, and transparency.

    “As the leading technical standards body for sharing permissioned financial data in North America, FDX shares the CFPB’s goal for a fair, open, and inclusive technical standards body and we are excited to submit this application,” added Smith and Garrigues.

    FDX’s application as a standard-setting body will be to define an industry standard “data format.” Today, FDX’s full API specification covers numerous technical components, account types, and data elements, some of which extend beyond what has been proposed for the CFPB’s 1033 rulemaking. FDX and its diverse membership have made significant progress transitioning from credential-based “screen scraping” to the FDX API, with over 94 million consumer accounts now using the FDX API in North America.

    About FDX
    Financial Data Exchange (FDX) is a non-profit organization operating in the US and Canada that is dedicated to unifying the financial industry around a common, interoperable, royalty-free standard for secure and convenient consumer and business access to their financial data. FDX empowers users through its commitment to the development, growth, and industry-wide adoption of the FDX API, according to the principles of control, access, transparency, traceability, and security. Membership is open to all interested parties in the financial data sharing ecosystem. For more information and to join, visit financialdataexchange.org. 

    Contact:
    Porche Matthews
    Marketing Manager
    pmatthews@financialdataexchange.org

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Allied Energy Corporation (OTC: AGYP) Announces Operational Launch of Sloan Petroleum and Enerhash USA Project, Paving the Way for Future Growth

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CARROLLTON, Texas, Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Allied Energy Corporation (OTC: AGYP) announces that the Sloan Petroleum and Enerhash USA project is now fully operational, working at 1MW off the flare gas from the Frost location. This project, which features the placement of advanced Bitcoin mining containers by Enerhash on the Sloan property, promises to drive revenue growth for Allied over the coming months.

    The company is excited to report that Allied has received its first revenue check from the Sloan Petroleum/Enerhash USA Frost operation, a testament to the project’s success and our commitment to innovative energy solutions. The project is set to generate revenues for Allied over the next six months, positioning us for financial growth.

    In addition, we are pleased to share that our Bitcoin project in collaboration with Enegix Global, River Energy Group LLC at the Thiel #1 well site is undergoing a transformation into a commercialized venture. The company anticipates providing its shareholders with further updates in Q4, showcasing the potential of this strategic partnership. As a key partner with Enegix Global, Allied will initially supply gas for the project and gain the opportunity to participate in Bitcoin mining operations, enhancing our revenue streams in this burgeoning market.

    George Monteith, CEO of Allied Energy, expressed his enthusiasm: “The successful launch of the Sloan Petroleum and Enerhash USA operation is a significant event for Allied Energy. We are optimistic about the upcoming developments at the Thiel well with Enegix Global and River Energy Group LLC, these projects have provided Allied Energy and its team a valuable insight into the Data Mining industry, which will be of great value as we move deeper into this space. Our collective efforts will not only maximize the potential revenues from these projects but also strengthen our position in the energy and cryptocurrency sectors with our collective understanding of the inner workings of these types of projects.”

    As we continue to innovate and expand our operations, Allied Energy remains committed to delivering value to our shareholders and stakeholders. The company looks forward to leveraging these projects to secure our future growth and enhance our impact in the energy landscape.

    The Company invites interested parties to check back regularly at https://alliedengycorp.com/ and the corporate Twitter Account https://twitter.com/AlliedEnergyCo1.

    About AGYP:

    Allied Energy Corp. is an energy development and production company acquiring oil & gas reserves in some of the most prolific hydrocarbon bearing regions of the United States. The Company specializes in the business of reworking & re-completing ‘existing’ oil & gas wells located in the thousands of mature oil & gas producing fields across the United States. The Company applies its knowledge, experience, and effective well-remediation technologies to achieve higher production volumes, longer well life, and more efficient recovery of the proven and available oil and gas reserves in the fields/projects in which it has acquired an ownership interest. The Company will utilize updated technologies such as hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”), drilling of lateral (“horizontal”) legs in productive zones, and utilizing new cased hole electric logging to locate bypassed pays, all to enhance daily rates and oil & gas recoveries. By acquiring interests in a growing number of selected projects in various regions, Allied Energy Corp. is diversifying its exposure and effectively minimizing risk as it pursues corporate growth, top line & bottom-line revenues to the benefit of all stakeholders. There are proven, recoverable reserves contained in the many aging oil & gas fields that have been bypassed by companies moving away from these fields in search of deeper, more plentiful, but more costly reserves. The Company plans to concentrate on bypassed oil and gas as there is less competition and, as mentioned above, the costs are considerably less. Additionally, the company will acquire interests in marginal wells that can be acquired at minimal cost, of which there are 420,000 wells in the U.S. Quoting Barry Russell, President of the Independent Petroleum Association of America (“IPAA”) – “With approximately 20 percent of American oil production and 10 percent of American natural gas production coming from marginal wells, they are America’s true strategic petroleum reserve.”

    Safe Harbor Statement:

    This Press Release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company has tried, whenever possible, to identify these forward-looking statements using words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “potential” and similar expressions. These statements reflect the Company’s current beliefs and are based upon information currently available to it. Accordingly, such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or advise in the event of any change, addition or alteration to the information catered in this Press Release, including such forward-looking statements.

    Contact:
    Allied Energy Corporation
    Phone: 972-632-2393
    Email: info@alliedengycorp.com
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlliedEnergyCo1

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: New UN regulations target pedal misapplication and usher in new generation of braking systems for electric vehicles 

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    The United Nations’ Working Party on Automated/Autonomous and Connected Vehicles (GRVA) has adopted the new regulation for Acceleration Control for Pedal Error (ACPE), and regulatory provisions for the introduction of a new generation of braking systems for electric vehicles. 

    The new UN regulation is expected to significantly improve road safety, while the regulatory provisions for the new braking systems in electric vehicles aim at improving energy efficiency. 

    Pedal misapplication more frequent among older drivers 

    Drivers sometimes press the acceleration pedal instead of the brake pedal by mistake, causing serious accidents. Relevant data from Asia and Europe suggest that older drivers tend to make this error more often than young drivers. For example, in Japan, they are 8 times more likely to make that mistake than other generations, leading Japan to propose a draft UN regulation to address this issue.  

    With population ageing affecting Europe, North America and most of Eastern and South-Eastern Asia, and estimates indicating that the number of people aged 65 years or older worldwide will more than double by 2050 the number of older drivers is also expected to rise. For example, in Japan, the number of driving license holders older than 75 is projected to increase from 4% in 2009 to 9.2%  in 2025.  

    According to the United Nations, persons aged 65 years or above account for 30% of the overall population in Japan, 23% in Germany, 22% in France, 20% in Canada, 19% in the Republic of Korea, 18% in the United States, and 15% in China.  

    Given the suggested correlation between pedal misapplication and age, these figures imply a potentially increased risk of accidents in the future.  

    Another factor likely to contribute to this increased risk is the global rise in sales of vehicles with automatic transmission. Crash data from Japan and the United Kingdom reveal that such vehicles are more frequently associated with pedal misapplication cases. For example, in the United Kingdom, 7 out of 8 pedal misapplications with associated gear confusion are automatics. 

    The new UN regulation will therefore only apply to passenger cars with automatic transmission. Expected to enter into force in June 2025, the new regulation introduces a system designed to detect an object in front and rear of the vehicle and then prevent sudden acceleration.   

    New generation of braking systems for electric vehicles to boost energy efficiency 

    The continued growth of electric car sales, and estimates that it could reach 45% of the market share in China, 25% in Europe and 11% in the United States in 2024, has revealed a need to optimize the energy consumption necessary for them to brake.   

    Hydraulic systems, typically used in passenger cars, rely on the muscular energy of the driver for the basic braking function, but may use reserves of stored energy for advanced safety features. Braking systems using compressed air (trucks and buses), and the advanced functions of passenger cars, rely on the energy converted from fossil energy. However, in electric vehicles, it is not efficient to convert electrical energy from batteries to stored energy (pressurized fluids) and then apply the brakes.  

    A new braking technology, employing stored electrical energy for both the control transmission and the energy transmission, aims to be more energy efficient for electric vehicles and is seen as an important element to advance the transition from vehicles employing internal combustion engines to alternatives powered by electric energy.  

    The hydraulic and pneumatic braking systems currently regulated by UN Regulations No. 13 (heavy vehicle braking) and No. 13-H (light vehicle braking) have reached a high level of safety, reducing the risk of dangerous crashes, especially when it comes to heavy-duty vehicles and those transporting dangerous goods. 

    The UNECE Working Party on Automated/Autonomous and Connected Vehicles has reviewed potential layouts for the new braking system in both light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles, and it has defined relevant technical provisions to provide a comparable level of safety.  

    The new regulatory provisions will be adopted as amendments to UN Regulations No.13 and No.13_H. They are expected to enter into force in June 2025, while some manufacturers are anticipated to introduce new braking systems in compliance with the provisions already by end of 2025. 

    Note to editors 

    The UNECE World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) is a unique worldwide regulatory forum hosted within the institutional framework of the UNECE Inland Transport Committee. Overall, the regulatory framework developed by the World Forum WP.29 allows the market introduction of innovative vehicle technologies, while continuously improving global vehicle safety, and vehicles’ environmental performance.  
      
    GRVA is the Working Party preparing draft regulations, guidance documents and interpretation documents for adoption by the parent body, WP.29. GRVA deals with safety provisions related to the dynamics of vehicles (braking, steering), Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, Automated Driving Systems and well as Cyber Security provisions.   

    GRVA meets three times a year, with around 160 experts present at each session. It gathers the decision makers (the representatives of Countries and REIOs – “the Contracting Parties”) as well as many stakeholders having a technical interest in the work of GRVA: the vehicle manufacturers (cars, trucks, buses etc.), the suppliers, the motorists, the test houses, the consumers representatives to name a few.  

    More at: https://unece.org/transport/vehicle-regulations/working-party-automatedautonomous-and-connected-vehicles-introduction  

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Record numbers join the NDA group graduate programme

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Over 100 graduates join the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority group today as applications open for 2025.

    NDA group graduate programme

    As applications open for 2025, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) group also welcomed its largest ever cohort of graduates today, with more than 100 new recruits ready to support delivery of one of the world’s most important environmental programmes.

    This week over 100 recently graduated professionals start their new roles supporting the NDA group’s mission to decommission nuclear sites, manage the UK’s radioactive waste and transport materials globally.

    It’s the largest intake to join the programme since its launch two years ago, providing experience throughout the NDA group as part of a two-year scheme. It sees recruits moving between functions and operating companies to complete a series of secondments, building knowledge and experience, as well as growing networks.

    Jacq Longrigg, NDA Group People Development Director, said:

    Our mission is so long-term that it stretches into the next century and our work is growing, as we take on responsibility for decommissioning more of the UK’s nuclear sites.

    Around 6,000 people applied to join us this year and we increased the number of opportunities, up from 60 in 2023, to reflect the scale of our work.

    We’re so proud to welcome over 100 graduates and look forward to seeing their careers develop as they contribute to our nationally important mission.

    Last year the cohort was the most diverse yet and the NDA group continue to build on this progress with an even higher proportion of graduates this year identifying as an ethnic minority and reporting being a person with a disability. This year 20% of graduates are also from disadvantaged backgrounds.

    NDA group graduate programme 2024 cohort

    This year’s intake has started as recruitment opens for the 2025 graduate programme with a target of recruiting 120 graduates across a range of technical and business functions, based at locations across the UK.

    From engineering and procurement, to IT and digital, environmental protection, or finance and risk, the programme provides one of the most diverse range of opportunities available. You can apply here: Our graduate roles – The NDA group.

    Izzy Thomas-Horton recently completed the graduate programme after securing a job with the NDA as a Junior Sustainability Advisor. She said:

    I was attracted to the NDA group because of the scale of the mission and the opportunity to contribute to such an important mission.

    During my two years on the programme, I’ve worked across multiple disciplines and got the chance to work in central government at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

    I’m grateful for the focus there has been on my development, from having a mentor to completing training courses – I would highly recommend this experience. Whatever your degree subject or career aspirations, it’s likely there is a role for you.

    Candidates gain experience in the NDA and its subsidiary companies including Sellafield, Nuclear Restoration Services, Nuclear Waste Services or Nuclear Transport Solutions. NDA graduates benefit from:

    • A starting salary of £30,000 and 25-days annual leave, plus bank holidays, as well as six discretionary days leave for study and relocation.
    • A comprehensive package of benefits including pension, professional institute membership and additional support with travel, relocation, training and development
    • A commitment to personal and professional development, including a dedicated mentor and access to a team of experts.

    In addition to the NDA group graduate programme, applications are also being welcomed for the highly-acclaimed Nuclear Graduates programme which sees the NDA partner with other leading employers in the nuclear sector.

    Both schemes are open for applications until the end of November 2024. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a recruitment and assessment event at Manchester Central in February 2025.

    Both the NDA group graduate programme and Nuclear Graduates schemes are powered by NDA subsidiary Energus.

    To find out more, visit Graduates – The NDA group or  Nuclear Graduates.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UN Special Envoy for Road Safety to launch the UN global road safety campaign in Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    The UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt, is visiting Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, from 16 to 17 July 2024. During the visit, he will meet with key government officials, representatives of the international community, private, and public sectors in Bosnia and Herzegovina to promote road safety initiatives and advocate for enhanced measures. This aligns with the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, aiming to halve road fatalities by 2030. This silent pandemic represents a significant social and economic burden, particularly in low and middle-income countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina.

    “In addition to the human tragedy, road crashes trap countries into a vicious circle of poverty. According to the World Bank (WB 2016), the cost of road crashes represents 10% of the GDP on Bosnia and Herzegovina. Another reason to rethink mobility and to invest in road safety. Given their social and economic cost, road crashes are jeopardizing the entire sustainable development agenda,” stressed the Special Envoy Todt.

    According to the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023, Bosnia and Herzegovina has seen a concerning rise in road fatalities, with a mortality rate of 14 per 100,000 people, which is double the EU average.

    “Improving enforcement of traffic laws, enhancement of road infrastructure, and fostering behavioral change are crucial for reducing these alarming statistics and ensuring safer roads for everyone in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Special Envoy Todt’s visit will be instrumental in raising awareness and mobilizing support for enhanced road safety measure, which will benefit the society as a whole, particularly the overburden healthcare system, families, and victims affected by these tragedies,” stated Ingrid Macdonald, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

    During the visit, the Special Envoy will launch the UN Global Road Safety Campaign, which aims to raise awareness of life-saving road safety measures. Launched globally in cooperation with JCDecaux Global under the motto #MakeASafetyStatement, it will run through 2025 in over 80 countries in the world, featuring safety statements from 14 global celebrities.                                            

    Support for the campaign has been given by 14 world-renowned personalities, including footballer Didier Drogba, Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc, Oscar-winning actress and UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Michelle Yeoh, tennis player Novak Djokovic, musician Kylie Minogue, motorcycle racer Marc Marquez, supermodel Naomi Campbell, actor Patrick Dempsey, musician and inspirational leader Youssou N’Dour, actress Julie Gayet, actor Michael Fassbender, football icon Ousmane Dembélé, two-time Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon, and Formula 1 driver Mick Schumacher.                                                                                           

    Media representatives are cordially invited to cover the launch of the campaign at the press conference by Special Envoy Todt, Mayor of Sarajevo Benjamina Karić, and United Nations Resident Coordinator Ingrid Macdonald, on Wednesday, 17 July 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at the City Hall in Sarajevo. On the same day, starting at 8:30 p.m., a digital projection of the campaign will be displayed on the Eternal Flame building, in the presence of Special Envoy Todt, Mayor Karić, and United Nations Resident Coordinator Macdonald. With this event, Sarajevo will join Brussels, New York, and other capitals in the world in promoting this important campaign.

    Note to Editors

    The UN has invested heavily in road safety globally. Following the “Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020”, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution in August 2020 for “Improving Road Safety”, which reaffirmed its commitment to halve global road deaths and injuries and provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all by 2030. In July 2022, the road safety community met in New York for the first-ever high-level meeting on improving global road safety at the United Nations General Assembly, unanimously adopting a text entitled: “Political declaration of the high-level meeting level on improving global road safety”.

    About the Special Envoy

    The former United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, appointed in 2015 Jean Todt as his Special Envoy for Road Safety. He was reconfirmed in this role by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, in 2017 and in 2021. In 2018, together with 14 UN organizations, the Special Envoy launched the UN Road Safety Fund (UNRSF). The Special Envoy contributes, among other things, to mobilize sustained political commitment to make road safety a priority; to advocate and raise awareness of UN legal instruments on road safety; to share established good practices in this area; to striving to generate adequate funding through strategic partnerships between the public, private and non-governmental sectors. Special Envoy brochure and Twitter account.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defendants Sentenced for Global Darknet Conspiracy

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

    Defendants Sold Stolen Financial Information from Tens of Thousands of Victims Worldwide

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A citizen of Nigeria, who was extradited from the United Kingdom, was sentenced in federal court yesterday for his involvement in a conspiracy to sell stolen financial information on the darknet from tens of thousands of victims from around the world.

    Simon Kaura was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to five years in federal prison without parole. At sentencing, the court found that Kaura’s crimes resulted in an intended loss of $6,338,500.

    On May 22, 2024, Kaura pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and one count of access device fraud.  According to court documents, Kaura admitted to being part of a sophisticated, global conspiracy to obtain and sell stolen financial information on darknet markets — including a market he helped create and administer with his co-conspirators.  Kaura operated under the online monikers  “apples,” “applepiecards,” “cartman,” and “dpharoah.”

    Kaura and his co-conspirators operated as prominent “carding” (stolen financial information) vendors, sometimes under the moniker brand “ggmccloud” and “ggmccloud1,” on multiple darknet markets. Each market allowed users to buy and sell stolen and fraudulent financial information. The markets operated much like conventional e-commerce websites, except that the goods sold on the markets were primarily criminal in nature. Each market required users to transact in digital currencies, such as Bitcoin. These sites enabled users to distribute illegal contraband to buyers throughout the world to perpetrate fraud.

    Kaura and his co-conspirators obtained large quantities of stolen financial information and passed it along to other co-conspirators to check, organize, and sell on numerous darknet markets. Kaura and his co-conspirators possessed card information belonging to victims from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Kaura and his co-conspirators were responsible for conducting tens of thousands of illegal transactions on darknet markets from Feb. 22, 2016, to Oct. 1, 2019.

    During the conspiracy, Kaura and his co-conspirators also created, launched, and administered their own darknet market, Skynet. From April 2016 to October 2019, the co-conspirators’ market offered stolen financial information and other contraband for sale. The market also hosted a messaging forum and private messaging service, allowing cybercriminals from around the world to meet and communicate freely about their crimes. 

    Co-defendant Taylor Ross Staats, 41, of Texas was sentenced on Jan. 25, 2024, to 18 months in federal prison without parole after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud. Staats’s main role in the conspiracy was to determine, prior to being advertised for sale, whether the stolen payment cards were still active and capable of use. If so, he organized the card information, and it was posted for sale on the darknet.  Staats operated under the online moniker “f9ac4”.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice continue to seek forfeiture of more than $4.5 million in criminal proceeds resulting from the co-conspirators crimes.

    The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the Government of the United Kingdom to secure the arrest and extradition of Kaura.

    This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Heberle, Matthew Blackwood, and John Constance of the Western District of Missouri and Trial Attorneys Michael Christin and Louisa Becker from the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice. It was investigated by the FBI.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: The African Development Bank Group grants over $67 million to Madagascar to relaunch its economy and improve governance in its energy sector

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, September 23, 2024/APO Group/ —

    The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) approved a loan of $67.3 million to Madagascar on 20 September 2024 to implement the first phase of its economic growth-inducing Financial Management and Resilience Support Programme for 2024-2025.

    The loan from the African Development Fund, the Bank Group’s concessional financing window, includes funding from the Transition Support Facility.

    “The programme aims to contribute to the creation of favourable conditions for strong and inclusive economic growth by strengthening economic and financial governance, and improving economic resilience,” said Adam Amoumoun, manager of the African Development Bank’s Country Office in Madagascar.

    “It is supporting the Malagasy authorities in implementing the priority reforms of Madagascar’s General State Policy (PGE) 2024-2028 and New Energy Policy for 2015-2030. It will help remedy the investment deficit by increasing the budget, through releasing additional resources for economic recovery, while improving governance in the energy sector,” he explained.

    The programme plans to support the roll-out of the Integrated Tax Administration System (SAFI) to modernize tax management, computerize tax operations, facilitate local revenue collection and taxpayer management, and combat tax fraud. It will also support the creation of a national register of beneficial owners of legal entities and legal structures, to identify people controlling businesses and facilitate investigations in case of corruption.

    In terms of improving governance in the energy sector, the programme plans to support the action plan established by the JIRAMA (Madagascar’s public corporation for electricity and water services) and improve its short-term technical and financial performance to reduce the need for state support.

    As a priority, the programme will support the people of Madagascar, by creating a better regulatory framework for promoting investments and the development of public-private partnership (PPP) projects and better sectoral governance, specifically in energy. This will help improve the business environment and attract investments to sectors that create jobs.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI: Yeeha! Games Partners with SOMSOC GALLERY to Bridge Web2 and Web3 through Designer Toy Art

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, Sept. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Yeeha! Games, an industry-leading gaming platform, announced an exciting strategic partnership with Tokyo-based SOMSOC GALLERY during the Token2049 conference in Singapore. The collaboration aims to merge the worlds of Web2 and Web3, with both parties launching an exclusive co-branded “HOUSEBOY” designer toy collection, marking their official entry into the designer toy industry. On the 19th, Yeeha! Games presented HOUSEBOY at the National Gallery Singapore.

    As part of this collaboration, Yeeha! Games and SOMSOC GALLERY have created a mascot ——「HOUSEBOY」, which will debut as a limited-edition SOFUBI ONEOFF designer toy. Sofubi, derived from an English term and simplified in Japanese, refers to soft vinyl toys made from flexible PVC material. Sofubi toys have a rich and long history, with the first Sofubi debuting in 1966. Over time, these toys have evolved from being merely a cultural symbol into a significant branch of art toys, including designer and collectible toys. Known for their unique designs and limited releases, Sofubi toys have grabbed the attention of collectors worldwide, making them highly sought-after and valuable. The co-branded HOUSEBOY Sofubi designer toy not only merges traditional craftsmanship with modern pop culture but also represents a new paradigm of cross-collaboration between Web3 and Web2, symbolizing the future creative convergence.

    This limited-edition designer toy features a custom paint job inspired by Yeeha! Games signature brand color scheme, making it even more desirable for collectors and fans of both designer toys and Web3 enthusiasts.

    As an industry-leading Web3 gaming platform that integrates cross-chain technology, Web3 middleware, Content Strategies and Game Distribution, Yeeha! Games connects mass users, including Web2 players, through high-quality gaming content and IPs. One of Yeeha! Games’ key strategies is to seamlessly merge Web3 and Web2 ecosystems, a theme that resonates strongly with its participation in Token 2049. The collaboration with SOMSOC Gallery is an important attempt by Yeeha! Games in advancing this strategy. As a comprehensive art space located at the entrance to Harajuku in Tokyo, SOMSOC Gallery has been dedicated to connecting the inner universe of artists with their expressions in the real world since its establishment in 2022. Through the partnership with Yeeha! Games, SOMSOC has embarked on a journey to explore more possibilities in the Web3 world.

    At the recently concluded WebX Tokyo event, SOMSOC and HOUSEBOY made their debut at Tokyo Tower alongside Yeeha!, receiving widespread recognition and admiration from the audience. Responding to requests from the community and creators, SOMSOC launched a Yeeha! exclusive Lottery Sale during this trip to Singapore. By filling out an order form, creators and users worldwide have the chance to win a one-of-a-kind physical HOUSEBOY figure.

    One of Yeeha! Games’ key goals is to collaborate with leading builders and creators in the Asia-Pacific region, creating a carefully curated content hub and a rapidly growing community. Through this partnership, Yeeha! Games not only demonstrates its strategic expansion into the Web2 designer toy market but also paves the way for new possibilities in cross-industry collaboration between Web3 and Web2.

    In the future, Yeeha! Games and SOMSOC GALLERY will continue to work closely, driving the integration of art and gaming by launching more designer toy NFTs, additional artworks, and even mini-games, jointly exploring the limitless potential of the Web3 ecosystem.

    Contact:
    Yeeha! Games
    Connie
    connie.w@yeehagames.com

    SOMSOC GALLERY
    info@somsoc.jp

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

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1c0c3eb4-fafc-4565-9cfe-1c5f6ceb7e12
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/80da998c-7f5f-4e6a-b96e-5f1125ffc1da
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/38162732-7fd5-42f9-83e4-2a75d41328d7

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Motorists urged to avoid travelling

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Saturday, September 21, 2024

    The Ministry of Transport has advised motorists, who plan on travelling between Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, to delay their trips due to the severe weather conditions. 

    Heavy snowfall continues to blanket the N3 highway, particularly between Warden and Tugela Plaza in KwaZulu-Natal, making travel extremely hazardous. 

    “The ministry is deeply concerned about the situation, especially as many travellers spent the night stranded at filling stations and along the N3, unable to move due to the road closures.

    “[Transport] Minister Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister [Mkhuleko] Hlengwa are receiving regular updates through the Road Traffic Management Cooperation and SANRAL on the ongoing rescue efforts coordinated by State agencies and other stakeholders,” the Transport Department said.

    Emergency services, including paramedics and other necessary personnel, are being deployed to assist those affected. 

    The N3 Toll Route remains closed between Estcourt in KwaZulu-Natal and Harrismith in the Free State due to the dangerous snowy conditions. 

    Motorists are urged to avoid the affected areas, and follow the guidance of authorities, and prioritise their safety by delaying non-essential travel.

    The severe weather conditions have brought heavy snowfall across parts of Gauteng, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape. 

    Motorists across the board are advised to cancel their trips until conditions improve. 

    Those who are trapped in the snow are advised to remain in their vehicles, signal for help, and wait for assistance from disaster management authorities and police, who are already on the ground. 

    No deaths or injuries have been reported so far. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Indonesia: Release of New Zealand pilot held hostage ‘a significant moment amid conflict in Papua’

    Source: Amnesty International –

    ‘The release of Mehrtens is a reminder that conflict in the region continues to have a very real impact for people’s human rights’ – Usman Hamid

    Responding to the release of New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens after more than 19 months held in captivity led by a pro-independence group in the Papua region, Usman Hamid, Amnesty International Indonesia’s Executive Director, said: 

    “We welcome the release of Philip Mehrtens and hope he is provided with appropriate support and care.

    “This is a significant moment amid the conflict in Papua. The release of Mehrtens is a reminder that conflict in the region continues to have a very real impact for people’s human rights. 

    “This momentous development also demonstrates the power of non-violent means in addressing disputes between the pro-independence movement and the Indonesian authorities in a region where widespread human rights abuses persist.

    “This moment should not stand alone. Mehrtens’ release, after more than one and a half years in captivity, is a critical moment that signals the possibility of addressing wider grievances in Papua in a similar spirit of non-violence.”

     

    View latest press releases

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Investments in active transportation infrastructure in Lower Sackville

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    Press release

    Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, September 21, 2024 — The Lower Sackville area has access to a new trail thanks to an investment of more than $680,000 from the federal, provincial and municipal governments and not-for-profit organizations.

    This was announced today by Parliamentary Secretary Darrell Samson, MPP Steve Craig, Mayor Mike Savage, Brenden Blotnicky of the Trans Canada Trail and Matthew Spicer of the Sackville Lakes Park and Trails Association.

    The investment added 1.5 km to the Beech Hill Trail, which is now a 2.9 km gravel trail located in Sackville Lakes Provincial Park. This trail will provide important connections to other regional and provincial trail networks, increasing connectivity in the area. The trail, designed for pedestrians and cyclists, extends from First Lake Drive to Cobequid Road.

    Quotes

    “This trail is a great complement to Sackville Lakes Provincial Park, which offers hiking and cycling trails in a forested setting for those living in nearby urban areas. The federal government is investing in active transportation networks across Canada to make it easier, safer and more convenient for Canadians to navigate their communities without their cars, reducing greenhouse gases and increasing opportunities for movement in our daily lives.”

    Darrell Samson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and Member of Parliament for Sackville–Preston–Chezzetcook, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

    “By providing greener, cleaner ways to get around, Nova Scotia continues to play a leading role in the fight against climate change. With the funding announced today, people of all ages and abilities will have safer, more accessible and greener ways to get around the community.”

    The Honourable Steve Craig, MLA for Sackville–Cobequid on behalf of the Honourable Allan MacMaster, Nova Scotia Minister of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage

    “This investment in the Beech Hill Trail Extension will allow more people to connect with nature and stay active, providing better access to valuable trail networks.”

    Mike Savage, Mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality

    “What a great asset to the community! The Beech Hill Trail has just been completed in Sackville Lakes Provincial Park. The final 1.5 km of this 2.9 km crushed rock trail has just been completed. Hundreds of users have already used this trail that connects the Windsor Junction area to the community of Sackville. We were thrilled to celebrate the official opening of the trail on September 21. The Sackville Lakes Park and Trails Association has managed Sackville Lakes Provincial Park in partnership with the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewable Energy since the park was designated in 2013. Our trail development work in this natural area began in 2001 and we received a great deal of support in building the Beech Hill Trail. Funding includes funding from Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, ACOA, the Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage, the Halifax Regional Municipality Active Transportation Program, the Trans Canada Trail and private sponsors. We also benefited from infrastructure advice and support from the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewable Energy. And of course, none of this would have been possible without the hundreds of volunteer hours of our association members. Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate the opening of our brand new active transportation trail.”

    Matthew Spicer, Sackville Lakes Park and Trails Association

    Quick Facts

    The federal government is investing up to $237,642 in this phase of the project through the Active Transportation Fund (ATF). The provincial government provided $94,000, while the Halifax Regional Municipality contributed $205,000. The Sackville Lakes Park and Trails Association provided $136,701 and the Trans Canada Trail provided $15,000.

    Active transportation refers to the movement of people or goods through human activity. This includes walking, cycling, and the use of human-powered or hybrid mobility aids, such as wheelchairs, electric scooters, e-bikes, inline skates, snowshoeing, cross-country skis, and more.

    To support Canada’s first National Active Transportation Strategy, the Active Transportation Fund is providing $400 million over five years, starting in 2021, to make active transportation travel easier, safer, more convenient and more enjoyable.

    Canada’s National Active Transportation Strategy is the first pan-Canadian strategic approach to promoting active transportation and its benefits. The strategy aims to make data- and evidence-based investments to expand and build new active transportation networks, and to support healthier, more active, more equitable and more sustainable travel.

    Investing in active transportation infrastructure provides many tangible benefits, creating good middle-class jobs, strengthening the economy, promoting healthier lifestyles, ensuring everyone has access to the same services and opportunities, reducing air and noise pollution, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

    The new Canada Public Transit Fund (CCTF) will provide an average of $3 billion per year in permanent funding to address local transit needs by strengthening integrated planning, improving access to transit and active transportation, and supporting the development of more affordable, sustainable and inclusive communities.

    The FTCC serves the needs of communities of all sizes, from large metropolitan areas to mid-sized and smaller communities, including rural, remote, northern and Indigenous communities.

    We are currently accepting expressions of interest for Metropolitan Area Agreements and Core Funding. Visit the website Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada website to find out more.

    The funding announced today builds on work the federal government is doing under the Atlantic Growth Strategy to create well-paying jobs and strengthen local economies.

    Related links

    Contact persons

    For further information (media only), please contact:

    Micaal AhmedCommunications ManagerOffice of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities343-598-3920micaal.ahmed@infc.gc.ca

    Media RelationsHousing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada613-960-9251Toll free: 1-877-250-7154Email:media-medias@infc.gc.caFollow us onTwitter,Facebook,InstagramAndLinkedInWebsite:Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada

    Susan Mader-Zinck Communications Advisor Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage 902-499-1343Susan.mader-zinck@novascotia.ca

    John WedderburnHalifax Regional Municipalityjohn.wedderburn@halifax.ca

    Melissa BolandSackville Lakes Park and Trails Association902-717-0640melissasperry9@gmail.com

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Investing in active transportation infrastructure in Lower Sackville

    Source: Government of Canada News

    News release

    Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, September 21, 2024 — The Lower Sackville area has access to a new section of trail after an investment of over $680,000 from the federal, provincial, and municipal governments and non-profit organizations.

    This was announced by Parliamentary Secretary Darrell Samson, MLA Steve Craig, Mayor Mike Savage, Brenden Blotnicky of the Trans Canada Trail, and Matthew Spicer of the Sackville Lakes Park and Trails Association.

    The investment helped build an additional 1.5 km of the Beech Hill Trail, now a 2.9 km gravel trail located within the Sackville Lakes Provincial Park. The trail will support important linkages to other regional and provincial trail networks. The trail, designed for pedestrians and cyclists, stretches from First Lake Drive to Cobequid Road, creating a link from within the park to Cobequid Road.

    Quotes

    “This trail is a great addition to the Sackville Lakes Provincial Park, which provides walking and cycling trails in a forest setting for those living in close-by urban areas. The federal government is investing in active transportation networks across Canada to make it easier, safer, and more convenient for Canadians to navigate their communities without their cars, reducing greenhouse gases and increasing opportunities for movement in our everyday lives.”

    Darrell Samson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Member of Parliament for Sackville–Preston–Chezzetcook, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

    “Providing greener and cleaner ways to get from place to place helps Nova Scotia continue to be a leader when it comes to responding to climate change. With the funding announced today, people of all ages and abilities — will have more safe, accessible and environmentally friendly ways to move around the community.”

    The Honourable Steve Craig, MLA for Sackville–Cobequid on behalf of the Honourable Allan MacMaster, Minister of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage

    “This investment in the extension of the Beech Hill Trail will help more people connect to nature and stay active, providing greater access to valued trail systems.”

    His Worship Mike Savage, Mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality

    “What a great asset to the community! The Beech Hill Trail has just been completed in Sackville Lakes Provincial Park. It is 2.9 km of crusher-dust surfaced trail with the final 1.5 km piece just finished. Trail users by the hundreds have already taken advantage of this route which joins the Windsor Junction area to the Sackville community. We were excited to celebrate the official opening of the trail September 21. The Sackville Lakes Park and Trails Association has been co-managing Sackville Lakes Provincial Park with the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewables since the park was designated in 2013. Our trail development work in this natural area started in 2001. We have had lots of help building the Beech Hill Trail including funds from Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada; ACOA; Nova Scotia Department of Community, Culture, Tourism and Heritage; Halifax Regional Municipality Active Transportation; Trans Canada Trail; and private sponsors. We have had guidance and infrastructure help from the NS Department of Natural Resources and Renewables. And of course it could not have happened without the hundreds of volunteer hours from members of our association. Thank you to all who came to celebrate the opening or our newest Active Transportation trail.”

    Matthew Spicer, Sackville Lakes Park and Trails Association

    Quick facts

    • The federal government is investing up to $237,642 in this phase of the project through the Active Transportation Fund (ATF). The provincial government contributed $94,000, while the Halifax Regional Municipality contributed $205,000. The Sackville Lakes Park and Trails Association contributed $136,701 and the Trans Canada Trail contributed $15,000. 

    • Active transportation refers to the movement of people or goods powered by human activity. It includes walking, cycling and the use of human-powered or hybrid mobility aids such as wheelchairs, scooters, e-bikes, rollerblades, snowshoes, cross-country skis, and more.

    • In support of Canada’s National Active Transportation Strategy, the Active Transportation Fund is providing $400 million over five years, starting in 2021, to make travel by active transportation easier, safer, more convenient, and more enjoyable.

    • The National Active Transportation Strategy is the country’s first coast-to-coast-to-coast strategic approach for promoting active transportation and its benefits. The strategy’s aim is to make data-driven and evidence-based investments to build new and expanded active transportation networks, while supporting equitable, healthy, active, and sustainable travel options.

    • Investing in active transportation infrastructure provides many tangible benefits, such as creating good, middle-class jobs, strengthening the economy, promoting healthier lifestyles, ensuring everyone has access to the same services and opportunities, cutting air and noise pollution, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

    • The new Canada Public Transit Fund (CPTF) will provide an average of $3 billion a year of permanent funding to respond to local transit needs by enhancing integrated planning, improving access to public transit and active transportation, and supporting the development of more affordable, sustainable, and inclusive communities.

    • The CPTF supports transit and active transportation investments in three streams: Metro Region Agreements, Baseline Funding, and Targeted Funding.

    • We are currently accepting Expression of Interest submissions for Metro-Region Agreements and Baseline Funding. Visit the Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada website for more information.

    • The funding announced today builds on the federal government’s work through the Atlantic Growth Strategy to create well-paying jobs and strengthen local economies.

    Associated links

    Contacts

    For more information (media only), please contact:

    Micaal Ahmed
    Communications Manager
    Office of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
    343-598-3920
    micaal.ahmed@infc.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
    613-960-9251
    Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
    Email: media-medias@infc.gc.ca
    Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn
    Web: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada

    Susan Mader-Zinck 
    Communications Advisor 
    Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage 
    902-499-1343 
    Susan.mader-zinck@novascotia.ca

    John Wedderburn
    Halifax Regional Municipality
    john.wedderburn@halifax.ca

    Melissa Boland
    Sackville Lakes Park and Trails Association
    902-717-0640
    melissasperry9@gmail.com

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s remarks at the opening of the Summit of the Future’s Action Days [bilingual as delivered, scroll down for all-English and all-French]

    Source: United Nations

    Excellencies, Dear Friends, all protocol observed,

    Welcome to the Summit of the Future Action Days – which kicked-off yesterday with the youth-led afternoon. A day full of ideas, energy, hope and expectation – and a perfect reminder of why we are here.

    Today promises to be just as dynamic.

    Looking out, I see world leaders. I see mayors and legislators. I see civil society, the private sector, academics, artists, activists and young people. 

    You come from every corner of the world, every generation and every walk of life. 

    Friends, this is what effective, inclusive, networked multilateralism must look like.
     
    Four years ago, we began the process that brings us here today.

    Because we saw a world in trouble:

    Torn apart by conflict and inequalities;

    Threatened by climate chaos and unregulated technologies;

    With the Sustainable Development Goals in peril – with many countries now mired in disastrous debt and a cost-of-living crisis.

    We saw our multilateral institutions ailing – unable to respond to contemporary challenges, let alone those of tomorrow.

    We saw faith in multilateral solutions eroding.

    And we saw trust in each other dissipating just when we needed it most.

    So, we began a journey to reform.

    To renew the international system: so that it meets the moment, and is fit for the future.

    We need multilateralism that is more inclusive, more effective, and more networked – with stronger links between international institutions and with the people.
     
    That means greater representation of developing countries. And it means a stronger voice for all of you and what you represent.

    This ambition was rooted in some clear truths.

    The world belongs to us all. People want a say in the decisions that affect them.

    And while governments have primary responsibility that we do not deny, we will not solve today’s global problems without contributions from all of society:

    From civil society and young people, delivering change, promoting accountability, demanding better, standing up for truth and justice – and using new technologies to organize for a better world.

    From business and finance – critical to combatting the climate crisis and shaping our digital future for the benefit of all.
     
    And from scientists, innovators and academics, pushing the boundaries of our knowledge and developing solutions to the great challenges that we face – from hunger and disease, to online hate. 

    Dear friends,

    Over the past four years, the people in this room — and your colleagues around the world — participated in the most consultative process ever undertaken by the United Nations.

    We’ve seen:
    A total of 1.5 million people from every one of our Member States involved in discussions and consultations everywhere … 

    Hundreds of civil society groups inputting into the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations…

    And thousands of written contributions.

    Together you have pushed for vision and ambition. And I thank you for that.

    We have now three milestone texts that are on the table. 

    Which must open the door to changes our world in a way that it desperately needs.

    The Pact for the Future must lay the ground for reform:

    Reform of the outdated United Nations Security Council – to make it more effective but also more representative of what the world is today;

    Reform of our international financial institutions – so that they supercharge resources for sustainable development and for climate action;

    Reform of the rules governing outer space – currently a chaotic free-for-all; 

    And reform how we respond to complex global shocks and work together on peace and security.

    On the other hand, the Global Digital Compact must be a blueprint for closing digital divides, and the first universal agreement on Artificial Intelligence – laying the foundations for a global platform centered at the UN that can bring all actors together.

    The Declaration on Future Generations must commit leaders to take tomorrow into account as they make decisions today.

    And gender equality and human rights must weave through every aspect of those texts. Reflecting the fact that they are fundamental to every area of life.

    Excellences, chers amis,

    Les enjeux qui sont au cœur de ces textes – la justice, les droits, la paix et l’égalité – animent mon travail depuis des décennies et me poussent toujours à aller de l’avant.

    Je sais qu’il en va de même pour beaucoup d’entre vous.

    Je n’abandonnerai pas –– et je sais que vous non plus.

    L’adoption de ces textes ne marquera pas la fin du parcours – mais plutôt un nouveau départ.

    Il nous incombera ensuite de donner vie à ces textes.  De passer des mots à l’action. Et de les utiliser pour mettre l’humanité sur une meilleure voie.

    Votre engagement, votre détermination et votre pression continus seront essentiels.

    Ce travail commence avec ces Journées d’Action.

    Nous sommes impatients de connaître vos idées et vos solutions – sur ce que ces nouveaux cadres signifient pour vous et sur la manière dont, ensemble, vous pouvez contribuer à les mettre en œuvre. 

    On ne bâtira pas un multilatéralisme renouvelé du jour au lendemain – ni par les seuls gouvernements. 

    Il sera alimenté et porté par vous tous – et par les groupes que vous représentez.

    Nous nous sommes battus pour plus d’ambition.

    À présent, luttons pour plus d’action – ensemble.

    Au nom de l’Organisation des Nations Unies, merci de vous joindre à nous dans cette mission vitale.

    *****
    [all-English]

    Excellencies, Dear Friends, all protocol observed,

    Welcome to the Summit of the Future Action Days – which kicked-off yesterday with the youth-led afternoon. A day full of ideas, energy, hope and expectation – and a perfect reminder of why we are here.

    Today promises to be just as dynamic.

    Looking out, I see world leaders. I see mayors and legislators. I see civil society, the private sector, academics, artists, activists and young people. 

    You come from every corner of the world, every generation and every walk of life. 

    Friends, this is what effective, inclusive, networked multilateralism must look like.
     
    Four years ago, we began the process that brings us here today.

    Because we saw a world in trouble:

    Torn apart by conflict and inequalities;

    Threatened by climate chaos and unregulated technologies;

    With the Sustainable Development Goals in peril – with many countries now mired in disastrous debt and a cost-of-living crisis.

    We saw our multilateral institutions ailing – unable to respond to contemporary challenges, let alone those of tomorrow.

    We saw faith in multilateral solutions eroding.

    And we saw trust in each other dissipating just when we needed it most.

    So, we began a journey to reform.

    To renew the international system: so that it meets the moment, and is fit for the future.

    We need multilateralism that is more inclusive, more effective, and more networked – with stronger links between international institutions and with the people.
     
    That means greater representation of developing countries. And it means a stronger voice for all of you and what you represent.

    This ambition was rooted in some clear truths.

    The world belongs to us all. People want a say in the decisions that affect them.

    And while governments have primary responsibility that we do not deny, we will not solve today’s global problems without contributions from all of society:

    From civil society and young people, delivering change, promoting accountability, demanding better, standing up for truth and justice – and using new technologies to organize for a better world.

    From business and finance – critical to combatting the climate crisis and shaping our digital future for the benefit of all.
     
    And from scientists, innovators and academics, pushing the boundaries of our knowledge and developing solutions to the great challenges that we face – from hunger and disease, to online hate. 

    Dear friends,

    Over the past four years, the people in this room — and your colleagues around the world — participated in the most consultative process ever undertaken by the United Nations.

    We’ve seen:

    A total of 1.5 million people from every one of our Member States involved in discussions and consultations everywhere… 

    Hundreds of civil society groups inputting into the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations…

    And thousands of written contributions.

    Together you have pushed for vision and ambition. And I thank you for that.

    We have now three milestone texts that are on the table. 

    Which must open the door to changes our world in a way that it desperately needs.

    The Pact for the Future must lay the ground for reform:

    Reform of the outdated United Nations Security Council – to make it more effective but also more representative of what the world is today;

    Reform of our international financial institutions – so that they supercharge resources for sustainable development and for climate action;

    Reform of the rules governing outer space – currently a chaotic free-for-all; 

    And reform how we respond to complex global shocks and work together on peace and security.

    On the other hand, the Global Digital Compact must be a blueprint for closing digital divides, and the first universal agreement on Artificial Intelligence – laying the foundations for a global platform centered at the UN that can bring all actors together.

    The Declaration on Future Generations must commit leaders to take tomorrow into account as they make decisions today.

    And gender equality and human rights must weave through every aspect of those texts. Reflecting the fact that they are fundamental to every area of life.

    Excellencies, friends,

    The issues at the heart of these texts – justice, rights, peace and equality – have animated my work for decades – driving me forward.

    The same is true for many of you.

    I will not give up, and I know you won’t either.

    The adoption of these texts will not be the end of the journey.

    It will simply be the end of the beginning.

    Our next task is to breathe life into them. To put words into action.  And use them to set the world on a better course.

    Your continued engagement, commitment and pressure, will be vital.

    That work starts with these Action Days.

    We look forward to hearing your ideas and solutions – on what these new frameworks mean for you, and how, together, you can help to make them a reality. 

    A renewed multilateralism will not be built in a day – or by governments alone. 

    It will be fueled and carried forward by all of you and the groups you represent.

    We have fought for ambition.

    Now let’s fight for action – together.

    On behalf of the United Nations, thank you for joining us in this vital task.

    *****
    [all-French]

    Excellences, chers amis,

    Bienvenue aux Journées d’action du Sommet de l’avenir, qui ont démarré hier par l’après-midi placée sous le signe de la jeunesse. Hier fut une journée pleine d’idées, d’énergie, d’espoirs et d’attentes – qui nous a rappelé, on ne peut mieux, pourquoi nous sommes ici.

    La journée d’aujourd’hui promet d’être tout aussi dynamique.

    En vous observant, je vois des dirigeants du monde. Je vois des maires et des législateurs. Je vois représentés la société civile, le secteur privé, les milieux universitaires, le monde des arts, les militants et les jeunes.

    Vous venez de tous les coins du monde – toutes générations confondues – et de tous horizons.

    Chers amis, voilà à quoi ressemble un multilatéralisme en réseau, efficace et inclusif.

    Il y a quatre ans, nous avons lancé le processus qui nous rassemble aujourd’hui.

    Parce que nous avons vu un monde en difficulté :

    Déchiré par les conflits et les inégalités ;

    Menacé par le chaos climatique et la présence de technologies échappant à toute réglementation ;

    Les Objectifs de développement durable sont en péril – de nombreux pays se trouvant aujourd’hui embourbés dans une dette catastrophique et une crise du coût de la vie.

    Nous avons vu nos institutions multilatérales fragilisées, incapables de répondre aux défis d’aujourd’hui, et encore moins à ceux de demain.

    Nous avons vu s’éroder la confiance dans les solutions multilatérales.

    Et nous avons vu la foi en l’autre se dissiper, au moment où nous en avions le plus besoin.

    Voilà pourquoi nous avons entrepris de procéder à une réforme :

    De rénover le système international, pour qu’il soit en phase avec notre époque et soit paré pour l’avenir.

    Il nous faut un multilatéralisme plus inclusif, plus efficace et plus interconnecté, marqué par des liens plus étroits entre institutions internationales et avec les populations.

    Qui passe par une plus grande représentation des pays en développement. Et par une voix qui résonne davantage, pour chacun d’entre vous et qui vous représente.

    L’ambition qui nous animait s’appuyait sur quelques vérités évidentes :

    Que la planète appartient à toutes et tous. Et que les individus veulent avoir leur mot à dire dans les décisions qui les concernent.

    Bien que les gouvernements aient un rôle de premier plan à jouer que nous ne pouvons nier, nous ne résoudrons pas les problèmes du monde d’aujourd’hui sans la contribution de la société dans son ensemble :

    De la société civile et des jeunes : pour motiver le changement, encourager les comportements responsables, être plus exigeants, défendre la vérité et la justice – et utiliser les nouvelles technologies afin de préparer un monde meilleur.

    Des entreprises et du monde de la finance : qui sont essentiels pour lutter contre la crise climatique et façonner notre avenir numérique au profit de toutes et tous.
    Et des scientifiques, des innovateurs et des universitaires : pour repousser les limites de nos connaissances et élaborer des solutions aux grands défis face auxquels nous nous trouvons – qu’il s’agisse de la faim et des maladies ou des discours de haine en ligne.

    Chers amis,

    Au cours des quatre dernières années, vous ici présents – et vos collègues à travers le monde – avez participé aux consultations les plus exhaustives jamais entreprises par l’Organisation des Nations Unies.

    À cette occasion :

    Pas moins de 1,5 million de personnes représentant l’ensemble de nos États Membres ont pris part aux débats et aux consultations…

    Des centaines de groupes de la société civile ont contribué au Pacte pour l’avenir, au Pacte numérique mondial et à la Déclaration sur les générations futures…

    Et des milliers de contributions écrites ont été produites.

    Ensemble, vous avez repoussé les limites de la vision et de l’ambition. Et pour cela, je vous dis : merci !

    Nous avons maintenant trois textes importants sur la table.

    Voilà qui doit ouvrir la voie aux changements dont notre monde a désespérément besoin.

    Le Pacte pour l’avenir doit jeter les bases d’une réforme :

    Réforme du Conseil de sécurité de l’ONU, désormais dépassé, pour qu’il soit plus efficace, mais aussi plus représentatif du monde d’aujourd’hui ;

    Réforme de nos institutions financières internationales, pour qu’elles puissent renforcer les ressources destinées au développement durable et à l’action climatique ;

    Réforme des règles régissant l’espace extra-atmosphérique, qui est actuellement une foire d’empoigne générale ;

    Réforme des méthodes que nous employons pour parer aux chocs mondiaux complexes et pour œuvrer, ensemble, à la paix et à la sécurité.

    Par ailleurs, le Pacte numérique mondial doit constituer un cadre d’action pour la réduction des fractures numériques et le premier accord universel sur l’intelligence artificielle, qui jette les bases d’une plateforme mondiale centrée sur l’ONU et rassemblant tous les acteurs.

    La Déclaration sur les générations futures doit engager les dirigeants à considérer l’avenir lorsqu’ils prennent leurs décisions aujourd’hui.

    Enfin, l’égalité des genres et les droits humains doivent sous-tendre tous les aspects de ces textes, démontrant ainsi qu’ils sont fondamentaux dans tous les domaines de la vie.

    Excellences, chers amis,

    Les enjeux qui sont au cœur de ces textes – la justice, les droits, la paix et l’égalité – animent mon travail depuis des décennies et me poussent toujours à aller de l’avant.

    Je sais qu’il en va de même pour beaucoup d’entre vous.

    Je n’abandonnerai pas –– et je sais que vous non plus.

    L’adoption de ces textes ne marquera pas la fin du parcours – mais plutôt un nouveau départ.

    Il nous incombera ensuite de donner vie à ces textes. De passer des mots à l’action. Et de les utiliser pour mettre l’humanité sur une meilleure voie.

    Votre engagement, votre détermination et votre pression continus seront essentiels.

    Ce travail commence avec ces Journées d’Action.

    Nous sommes impatients de connaître vos idées et vos solutions – sur ce que ces nouveaux cadres signifient pour vous et sur la manière dont, ensemble, vous pouvez contribuer à les mettre en œuvre. 

    On ne bâtira pas un multilatéralisme renouvelé du jour au lendemain – ni par les seuls gouvernements. 

    Il sera alimenté et porté par vous tous – et par les groupes que vous représentez.

    Nous nous sommes battus pour plus d’ambition.

    À présent, luttons pour plus d’action – ensemble.

    Au nom de l’Organisation des Nations Unies, merci de vous joindre à nous dans cette mission vitale.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –