NewzIntel.com

Category: Vehicles

  • MIL-OSI Security: Tracy — Police make quick arrest following break, enter and theft

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Police quickly arrested a 27-year-old man from Upper Tracy, N.B., and stolen property was recovered following a break, enter and theft in Tracy, N.B.

    On September 22, 2024, at approximately 10:30 p.m., the Oromocto RCMP responded to a report of a break, enter and theft in progress at a camp on Peltoma Settlement Road in Tracy.

    When members arrived in the area, the property owner was able to provide video surveillance footage, and a suspect was immediately identified. A short time later, members located the suspect, a 27-year-old man, and arrested him in the same area without incident. The suspect’s vehicle was also captured on camera, and located parked in a nearby driveway with the stolen items, including a firearm, inside.

    As a result of the home owner’s quick action in calling police and providing detailed information, police were able to quickly locate and arrest the suspect and recover the stolen property.,” said Sgt. Stéphane Esculier with the Oromocto RCMP Detachment. “We understand that not all crimes can be reported while they are in progress, however, calling us as soon as possible and providing a detailed description of the events can make a big impact on the investigation.”

    The New Brunswick RCMP is committed to intelligence led policing, and this investigation is the latest in a series of police actions aimed at reducing property crimes in the province. The public plays a large role in helping achieve positive outcomes such as this one, and the Oromocto RCMP would like to thank the public for reporting crime and suspicious activity in their communities.

    Anyone with information about, or who suspects, illegal activity in their neighbourhood is asked to contact their local police. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by downloading the secure P3 Mobile App, or by Secure Web Tips at www.crimenb.ca.

    The investigation is ongoing.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: New solar cells break efficiency record – they could eventually supercharge how we get energy from the Sun

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sebastian Bonilla, Associate Professor of Materials, University of Oxford

    Thanun Vongsuravanich / Shutterstock

    The sight of solar panels installed on rooftops and large energy farms has become commonplace in many regions around the world. Even in grey and rainy UK, solar power is becoming a major player in electricity generation.

    This surge in solar is fuelled by two key developments. First, scientists, engineers and those in industry are learning how to make solar panels by the billions. Every fabrication step is meticulously optimised to produce them very cheaply. The second and most significant is the relentless increase in the panels’ power conversion efficiency – a measure of how much sunlight can be transformed into electricity.

    The higher the efficiency of solar panels, the cheaper the electricity. This might make you wonder: just how efficient can we expect solar energy to become? And will it make a dent in our energy bills?

    Current commercially available solar panels convert about 20-22% of sunlight into electrical power. However, new research published in Nature has shown that future solar panels could reach efficiencies as high as 34% by exploiting a new technology called tandem solar cells. The research demonstrates a record power conversion efficiency for tandem solar cells.

    What are tandem solar cells?

    Traditional solar cells are made using a single material to absorb sunlight. Currently, almost all solar panels are made from silicon – the same material at the core of microchips. While silicon is a mature and reliable material, its efficiency is limited to about 29%.

    To overcome this limit, scientists have turned to tandem solar cells, which stack two solar materials on top of each other to capture more of the Sun’s energy.

    In the new nature paper, a team of researchers at the energy giant LONGi has reported a new tandem solar cell that combines silicon and perovskite materials. Thanks to their improved sunlight harvesting, the new perovskite-silicon tandem has achieved a world record 33.89% efficiency.

    Perovskite solar materials, which were discovered less than two decades ago, have emerged as the ideal complement to the established silicon technology. The secret lies in their light absorption tuneability. Perovskite materials can capture high energy, blue light more efficiently than silicon.

    In this way, energy losses are avoided and the total tandem efficiency increases. Other materials, called III-V semiconductors, have also been used in tandem cells and achieved higher efficiencies. The problem is they are hard to produce and expensive, so only small solar cells can be made in combination with focused light.

    The scientific community is putting tremendous effort into perovskite solar cells. They have kept a phenomenal pace of development with efficiencies (for a single cell in the lab) rising from 14% to 26% in only 10 years. Such advancements enabled their integration into ultra-high-efficiency tandem solar cells, demonstrating a pathway to scale photovoltaic technology to the trillions of Watts the world needs to decarbonise our energy production.

    The cost of solar electricity

    The new record-breaking tandem cells can capture an additional 60% of solar energy. This means fewer panels are needed to produce the same energy, reducing installation costs and the land (or roof area) required for solar farms.

    It also means that power plant operators will generate solar energy at a higher profit. However, due to the way that electricity prices are set in the UK, consumers may never notice a difference in their electricity bills. The real difference comes when you consider rooftop solar installations where the area is constrained and the space has to be exploited effectively.

    The price of rooftop solar power is calculated based on two key measures. First, the total cost to install solar panels on your roof, and second, how much electricity they will generate over their 25 years of operation. While the installation cost is easy to obtain, the revenues from generating solar electricity at home are a bit more nuanced. You can save money by using less energy from the grid, especially in periods when it is costly, and you can also sell some of your surplus electricity back to the grid.

    However, the grid operators will pay you a very small price for this electricity, so sometimes it is better to use a battery and store the energy so you can use it at night. Using average considerations for a typical British household, I have calculated the cash savings consumers would gain from rooftop solar electricity depending on the efficiency of the panels.

    If we can improve panel efficiency from 22% to 34% without
    increasing the installation cost, savings in electricity bills will rise from £558ְ/year up to £709/year. A 20% bump in cash savings that would make solar rooftops extremely attractive, even in grey and cloudy Britain.

    The higher the efficiency of solar panels, the cheaper the resulting electricity.
    IM Imagery / Shutterstock

    So when can we buy these new solar panels?

    As research continues, considerable efforts are being made to scale up this technology and ensure its long-term durability. The record breaking tandem cells are made in laboratories and are smaller than a postage stamp. Translating such high performance to metre-square areas remains a vast challenge.

    Yet, we are making progress. Earlier this month, Oxford PV, a solar manufacturer at the forefront of perovskite technology, announced the first sale of its newly developed tandem solar panels. They have successfully tackled the challenges of integrating two solar materials and making durable and reliable panels. While they are still far from 34% efficiencies, their work shows a promising route for next generation solar cells.

    Another consideration is the sustainability of the materials used in tandem solar panels. Extracting and processing some of the minerals in solar panels can be hugely energy intensive. Besides silicon, perovskite solar cells require the elements lead, carbon, iodine and bromine as components to make them work properly. Connecting perovskite and silicon also requires scarce materials containing an element called indium, so there is plenty of research still required to address these difficulties.

    Despite the challenges, the scientific and industrial community remains committed to developing tandem solar devices that could be integrated into almost anything: cars, buildings and planes.

    The recent developments toward high efficiency perovskite-silicon tandem cells indicate a bright future for solar power, ensuring solar continues to play a more prominent role in the global transition to renewable energy.

    Sebastian Bonilla receives funding from UK Research and Innovation, The Royal Academy of Engineering, and The Leverhulme Trust.

    – ref. New solar cells break efficiency record – they could eventually supercharge how we get energy from the Sun – https://theconversation.com/new-solar-cells-break-efficiency-record-they-could-eventually-supercharge-how-we-get-energy-from-the-sun-239417

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: The Children Have to Hear Another Story. A retrospective of the work of Alanis Obomsawin at the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal.

    Source: Government of Canada News

    The Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal (MAC) and the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) are proud to unveil the MAC’s brand-new exhibition, Alanis Obomsawin: The Children Have to Hear Another Story, which will be open to the public from September 26, 2024, to January 26, 2025, in the MAC’s temporary space at Place Ville Marie.

    Montreal, September 18, 2024 – The Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal (MAC) and the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) are proud to unveil the MAC’s brand-new exhibition, Alanis Obomsawin: The Children Have to Hear Another Story, which will be open to the public from September 26, 2024, to January 26, 2025, in the MAC’s temporary space at Place Ville Marie. The exhibition dedicated to the work of Abenaki documentary filmmaker, activist, and singer Alanis Obomsawin, one of the most acclaimed Indigenous directors in the world, will be accompanied by an exclusive mural by artist Caroline Monnet: Wàbigon.

    After having enjoyed great success in Berlin, Vancouver, and Toronto, The Children Have to Hear Another Story will highlight the work of Alanis Obomsawin in the heart of Montreal. Decade by decade, this retrospective provides an exhaustive panorama of her cinematographic, visual, and musical work. The exhibition looks at the motivations of the artist, who distinguished herself from a very young age with her strength and courage. The 1960s followed, a period during which she became known to the public as an artist and activist for Indigenous rights, and the subsequent decades were just as significant, showing the evolution of her trajectory and thinking. “All my life, I have been mainly interested in education, because it is through education that we develop, that we learn hatred or love.” – Alanis Obomsawin

    The exhibition presents 13 of the 64 films Obomsawin made at the NFB, including her first, Christmas at Moose Factory (1971), which depicts a Cree community through the drawings and voices of its children; Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance (1993), which was filmed behind the barricades during the Oka crisis; and We Can’t Make the Same Mistake Twice (2016), which follows a court case First Nations representatives filed against the federal government. These films are accompanied by archival documents shedding new light on their creative process, children’s drawings from Moose Factory, and masks, engravings, and monotypes by the artist.

    Quotes 

    “It is essential to support museums and exhibitions that promote Canadians’ access to heritage to learn from the past and shape the future. I am very proud that, thanks to our government’s investment, the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal highlights the work of Indigenous artist and filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin and offers visitors a unique opportunity to discover the impact of her film work over the decades.” − The Honorable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage

    “It is an honour and privilege for me to present this retrospective exhibition of Alanis Obomsawin in the city where she has lived and worked for 70 years. A prominent figure in our cultural, political, and social landscape, Alanis is a model and inspiration for so many Indigenous and non-Indigenous filmmakers, artists, and activists. We know her for her films; the exhibition allows us to discover the singer, the storyteller, and the depth and richness of her commitment to Indigenous people across Canada.” – Lesley Johnstone, curator of the exhibition at MAC  “The NFB has been Alanis Obomsawin’s creative home for nearly 60 years. This exceptional artist has been a true trailblazer whose work has led to greater recognition of Indigenous peoples, ensuring their experiences and their hopes are seen, heard, and better understood. Her documentaries have chronicled the social and cultural changes experienced by Indigenous peoples and even played a role in bringing about these important changes. Ms. Obomsawin’s essential and accessible films continue to inspire new generations of filmmakers, both in Canada and around the world.”– Suzanne Guèvremont, Government Film Commissioner and NFB Chairperson 

    Organized by Richard Hill and Hila Peleg, Alanis Obomsawin: The Children Have to Hear Another Story is made possible through a partnership between Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin, Art Museum at the University of Toronto, and Vancouver Art Gallery in collaboration with the National Film Board of Canada and with the generous support of CBC/Radio-Canada and the Canada Council for the Arts. This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada. The exhibition at the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal is curated by Lesley Johnstone, with Marjolaine Labelle, and has been made possible by the Government of Québec.

    A Mural by Caroline Monnet 

    Alongside the exhibition, the MAC will unveil an exclusive mural by Caroline Monnet: Wàbigon, which means “a flower blooms” in Anishinaabemowin and which pays homage to the major influence of Alanis Obomsawin. Caroline Monnet, an artist of Anishinaabe and French origin, created a monumental photographic portrait of eight Indigenous women and a child in an enchanted forest. Pictured are Acho Dene Koe First Nation chef and artist Swaneige Bertrand with her daughter Aja-Eyal Ferron; the artist’s sister, Émilie Monnet, an interdisciplinary performer; Caroline Monnet herself; the Guinean-Wendat dancer and choreographer Aïcha Bastien N’Diaye; Eeyou (Cree) writer and artist Virginia Pésémapéo Bordeleau; Atikamekw visual artist Catherine Boivin; Inuk singer-songwriter Elisapie Isaac; and Innu soprano Elisabeth St-Gelais.

    “This work highlights the buds that Alanis has opened during her impressive career. It is also a reaction against the excesses of industrialization. It is characterized by inventiveness, the presence of rhythms, colours, and ornamentations inspired by flora and fauna.” – Caroline Monnet

    About the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal (MAC)

    For 60 years, the MAC has brought together local and international artists, their works, and diverse audiences, celebrating art as an essential component of life in Montreal and Quebec. With the Museum’s head office in the heart of the Quartier des spectacles undergoing a major architectural transformation, the MAC has temporarily relocated its activities to Place Ville Marie, another of the city’s emblematic sites. Throughout the renovations, the Museum has been reaching the public through temporary exhibitions highlighting exceptional artists and presenting a variety of practices. The MAC at Place Ville Marie also offers a wide range of educational services, creative workshops, and community awareness activities. www.macm.org  

    About the National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

    Founded in 1939, the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is a one-of-a-kind producer, co-producer, and distributor of distinctive, engaging, relevant, and innovative documentary and animated films. As a talent Incubator, it is one of the world’s leading creative centres. The NFB has enabled Canadians to tell and hear one another’s stories for more than eight decades, and its films are a reliable and accessible educational resource. The NFB is also recognized around the world for its expertise in preservation and conservation, and for its rich and vibrant collection of works, which form a pillar of Canada’s cultural heritage. To date, the NFB has produced more than 14,000 works, 7,000 of which can be streamed free of charge at nfb.ca. The NFB and its productions and co-productions have earned more than 7,000 awards, including 11 Oscars and an Honorary Academy Award for overall excellence in cinema.

    Credit: Richard Cardinal: Cry from a Diary of a Métis Child, 1986 (production photograph). Courtesy of the National Film Board of Canada and Alanis Obomsawin.

    -30-

    For all interview requests or questions regarding the exhibition, please contact:
     Thara Communications | relations.presse@macm.org
    Thara Tremblay-Nantel | 514-208-6897
    Solneige Diaz | 514-449-7219

    For all questions regarding the NFB:
     Marie-Claude Lamoureux, press officer
    m.lamoureux@onf.ca | 438-304-6358

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: RM of De Salaberry — St-Pierre-Jolys RCMP respond to fatal two-vehicle collision

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On September 24, 2024, at approximately 4:25 pm, St-Pierre-Jolys RCMP received a report of a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Highway 23 and Provincial Road 200, located in the RM of De Salaberry.

    The investigation has determined that a vehicle, travelling northbound on Provincial Road 200, failed to stop at the intersection and was struck by a westbound SUV.

    The 43-year-old male driver of the westbound vehicle, from Mitchell, was not physically injured.

    Three of the four occupants in the northbound vehicle, a 32-year-old male, a 31-year-old male and a yet to be identified female, all from Winnipeg, were pronounced deceased on scene. A 32-year-old female passenger was transported to hospital with serious injuries where she remains in stable condition.

    St-Pierre-Jolys RCMP, along with a Forensic Collision Reconstructionist, continue to investigate.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Meet Hector Chavez: Leading Johnson’s Giant Leap into Low Earth Orbit

    Source: NASA

    As systems integration team lead for NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development Program (CLDP), Hector Chavez helps build a future where NASA and private industry work together to push the boundaries of space exploration.
    With the rise of commercial providers in the space sector, Chavez’s team works to ensure that these companies can develop end-to-end systems to support NASA’s low Earth orbit operations—from transporting crew and cargo to operating mission centers. His team’s role is to assess how commercial providers are using their systems engineering processes to achieve program goals and objectives.

    With a background that spans both the National Nuclear Security Administration and NASA, Chavez brings knowledge and insight into working with interdisciplinary teams to create complex, reliable systems. He has collaborated across organizations, contracts, and government to ensure design and operational improvements were carried out safely and reliably.
    “Systems integration brings different systems together to deliver capabilities that can’t be achieved alone,” said Chavez.
    His previous role in NASA’s Safety and Mission Assurance office deepened his expertise in mitigating technical risks in human spaceflight by integrating engineering, health, and safety considerations into the development of space exploration vehicles.

    Now with CLDP, Chavez helps these companies navigate NASA’s design processes without stifling innovation. “Our challenge is to communicate what we’ve identified during technical reviews without prohibiting commercial partners from developing innovative solutions,” he said.
    One recent success was the team’s development of two technical standards for docking systems and payload interfaces that will help ensure these systems’ compatibility with existing technologies. This work is essential in allowing commercial low Earth orbit systems to seamlessly integrate with NASA’s heritage designs, a key step toward realizing the agency’s vision for sustained commercial operations in space.
    When asked about the biggest opportunities and challenges in his role, Chavez emphasizes the importance of early collaboration. By engaging with commercial partners at the early stages of the system development life cycle, NASA can provide feedback that shapes the future of commercial low Earth orbit architecture.
    “We identify technical issues and lessons learned without dictating design solutions, allowing for innovation while ensuring safety and reliability,” explained Chavez.

    Chavez’s approach to leadership and teamwork is rooted in his values of perseverance, integrity, and encouragement. These principles have helped guide the development of CLDP’s mission and vision statements, creating an environment that promotes collaboration and creativity. 
    He is passionate about building a team culture where people feel empowered to take responsible risks and explore solutions.

    As NASA prepares for Artemis missions and the next generation of space explorers, Chavez offers advice to the Artemis Generation: “Never do it alone. Build a community and find common ground to share a vision.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Children Need to Hear a Different Story: A Retrospective of Alanis Obomsawin’s Work at the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal.

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    The Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal (MAC) and the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) are proud to unveil Alanis Obomsawin: Children Must Hear Another Story, the MAC’s newest exhibition that will be open to the public from September 26, 2024 to January 26, 2025 in the MAC’s temporary space at Place Ville Marie.

    Montreal, September 18, 2024 – The Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal (MAC) and the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) are proud to unveil Alanis Obomsawin: Children Must Hear Another Story, the MAC’s newest exhibition that will be open to the public from September 26, 2024 to January 26, 2025, in the MAC’s temporary space at Place Ville Marie. The exhibition, dedicated to the work of Abenaki documentarian, activist and singer Alanis Obomsawin, one of the world’s most acclaimed Indigenous filmmakers, will be accompanied by Wàbigon, an exclusive mural by artist Caroline Monnet.

    After enjoying great success in Berlin, Vancouver and Toronto, Children Must Hear Another Story will highlight the work of Alanis Obomsawin in the heart of the Montreal metropolis. Divided by decades, this retrospective provides an exhaustive panorama of her cinematographic, visual and musical work. The exhibition focuses in particular on the motivations of the artist, who distinguished herself by her strength and courage from a very young age; followed by the 1960s, a period during which she became known to the public as an artist and activist for indigenous rights, then the subsequent periods, just as significant, which allow us to follow the evolution of her trajectory and her thinking.

    “My whole life I have been primarily interested in education, because it is through education that we develop, that we learn to hate or love.” – Alanis Obomsawin

    The exhibition presents 13 of the 64 films Alanis Obomsawin made at the NFB, including her first, Christmas at Moose Factory (1971), which depicts the Cree community through the drawings and voices of its children; Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance (1993), filmed behind the barricades during the Oka Crisis; and You Can’t Make the Same Mistake Twice (2016), which follows the lawsuit brought against the federal government by First Nations representatives. These films are accompanied by archival documents that shed new light on the process of their creation; drawings by children from Moose Factory; and masks, prints and monotypes by the artist.

    Quotes

    “Supporting museums and exhibitions that provide Canadians with access to heritage is essential to learning from the past and shaping the future. I am very proud that, thanks to our government’s investment, the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal is showcasing the work of Indigenous artist and filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin and offering visitors a unique opportunity to discover the impact of her film work over the decades.” − The Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage

    “It is an honour and a privilege for me to present this retrospective exhibition of Alanis Obomsawin in the city where she has lived and worked for 70 years. A leading figure in our cultural, political and social landscape, Alanis is a role model and inspiration for so many Indigenous and non-Indigenous filmmakers, artists and activists. We know her for her films; the exhibition allows us to discover the singer, the storyteller, and the depth and richness of her commitment to Indigenous peoples across Canada.” – Lesley Johnstone, exhibition curator at the MAC

    “The NFB has been Alanis Obomsawin’s creative home for nearly 60 years. This exceptional artist paved the way for true recognition of Indigenous peoples, so that their realities and aspirations could be seen, heard and better known. Her documentary films bear witness to the social and cultural changes experienced by First Peoples and have contributed in their own way to these major transformations. Ms. Obomsawin’s essential and accessible work continues to inspire new generations of filmmakers in Canada and around the world.” – Suzanne Guèvremont, Government Film Commissioner and Chair of the NFB

    Organized by Richard Hill and Hila Peleg, the exhibition Alanis Obomsawin: Children Must Hear Another Story is made possible through a partnership between the Haus der Kulturen der Welt (Berlin), the Art Museum at the University of Toronto and the Vancouver Art Gallery, in collaboration with the National Film Board of Canada and with the generous support of CBC/Radio-Canada and the Canada Council for the Arts. This project was made possible in part by the Government of Canada. The exhibition at the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal is organized by Lesley Johnstone, with Marjolaine Labelle, and made possible by the Government of Quebec.

    A mural by Caroline Monnet

    In conjunction with the exhibition, the MAC will unveil an exclusive mural by Caroline Monnet that pays tribute to Alanis Obomsawin’s major influence: Wàbigon, which means “a flower blooms” in Anishinaabemowin. Caroline Monnet, an artist of Anishinaabe and French descent, has created a monumental photographic portrait of eight Indigenous women and a child in an enchanted forest. It features Acho Dene Koe First Nation chief and artist Swaneige Bertrand with her daughter Aja-Eyal Ferron; the artist’s sister, Émilie Monnet, an interdisciplinary performer; Caroline Monnet herself; Guinean-Wendat dancer and choreographer Aïcha Bastien N’Diay; Eeyou (Cree) writer and artist Virginia Pésémapéo Bordeleau; Atikamekw visual artist Catherine Boivin; Inuk singer-songwriter Elisapie Isaac; and Innu soprano Elisabeth St-Gelais.

    “This work highlights the buds that Alanis has managed to deploy during her impressive career. It is also a reaction against the excesses of industrialization. It is characterized by inventiveness, the presence of rhythms, colors and ornamentations inspired by fauna and flora.” – Caroline Monnet, artist

    The press kit and visuals can be downloaded here.

    About the Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art (MAC)

    For 60 years, the MAC has brought together local and international artists, their works and diverse audiences, celebrating art as an essential component of life in Montreal and Quebec. With the Museum’s headquarters in the heart of the Quartier des spectacles undergoing a major architectural transformation, the MAC has temporarily relocated its activities to Place Ville Marie, another iconic location in the city. Throughout the renovations, the Museum is reaching out to the public through temporary exhibitions highlighting exceptional artists and presenting a variety of practices. The MAC at Place Ville Marie also offers a wide range of educational services, creative workshops and community outreach activities. www.macm.org

    About the National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

    Founded in 1939, the NFB produces, co-produces and distributes distinctive, engaging, relevant and innovative documentaries and animated films. It is an incubator of talent and one of the world’s largest creative laboratories. For more than eight decades, the NFB has provided Canadians with the opportunity to share their stories and connect with one another. Its films are also a trusted and accessible educational resource. The NFB also has world-renowned expertise in preservation and conservation, and a rich living collection of works that constitute an important pillar of Canada’s cultural heritage. To date, the NFB has produced more than 14,000 works, 7,000 of which are available online for free at nfb.caThe NFB and its productions and co-productions have won over 7,000 awards, including 11 Oscars and an honorary Oscar recognizing the organization’s excellence in all areas of cinematography.

    Credit: Richard Cardinal: The Cry of a Métis Child, 1986 (production still). Courtesy of the National Film Board of Canada and Alanis Obomsawin.

    -30-

    For all interview requests or questions regarding the exhibition, please contact: Thara Communications | relations.presse@macm.orgThara Tremblay-Nantel | 514-208-6897Solneige Diaz | 514-449-7219

    For all questions concerning the NFB: Marie-Claude Lamoureux, press officerm.lamoureux@nfb.ca| 438-304-6358Children need to hear another story. A retrospective of Alanis Obomsawin’s work at the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal.

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Shamattawa — Update 2- Shamattawa RCMP searching for missing child

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    It is with great sadness that we share the following information on the search for Johnson Redhead.

    Earlier this evening, at 7:45pm, searchers located 6-year-old Johnson deceased. His body was found in a marshy area, approximately 3.5km from the school where he was last seen.

    We extend our deepest condolences to his family, the community of Shamattawa First Nation, and to everyone grieving his loss.

    The search for Johnson Redhead, 6, continues.

    RCMP Police Service Dog Phlex has arrived in the community with his handler and is involved in the search. Two drones are now in the community and being used and a helicopter will be en route as soon as the weather allows. In addition, more officers out of Thompson are also on their way to join the search.

    “This search has not stopped in intensity from the moment we received the report up to the present,” said Sergeant Mark Svaren, Shamattawa RCMP Detachment Commander. “Within minutes of the report, Shamattawa RCMP officers were engaged with the community in the search, and I cannot stress enough how community involvement has been strong and steady from the moment it was realized that Johnson was missing.”

    On September 18, 2024, at approximately 12:30 pm, Shamattawa RCMP received a report that a six-year-old boy was missing. Johnson Redhead had attended the local school and attended the breakfast program until 9:00 am, but did not arrive in class after the program ended.

    A large-scale search was immediately initiated by community members and RCMP. Searchers combed through wooded areas, trails, roads, sheds, and construction equipment looking for the child. RCMP officers obtained video footage from the school in an attempt to ascertain which direction Johnson went or the circumstances surrounding him leaving school property.

    ATVs and vehicles are being used to search as well as searchers covering areas on foot.

    The RCMP Search and Rescue Team as well as the Office of the Fire Commissioner, with several volunteers from Winnipeg Volunteer Search and Rescue (WinSar) are en route to the community via air to assist with the search. The Canadian Rangers have also been engaged and will attend the community to assist with the search.

    If you have information, please call Shamattawa RCMP at 204-565-2351, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Grand Falls-Windsor — Grand Falls-Windsor RCMP investigates break, enter and theft at Glen’s Ultramar in Bishop’s Falls, seeks public’s assistance identifying suspect

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Grand Falls-Windsor RCMP is investigating a break, enter and theft that occurred during the early morning hours of September 24, 2024, at Glen’s Ultramar and Convenience on Main Street in Bishop’s Falls.

    At approximately 3:45 a.m. on Monday, a lone suspect arrived on the parking lot of the business, operating what appears to be a moped motorbike. The suspect obtained a fire extinguisher from the outside property and used it to smash a window of the business. The suspect stole two boxes of Jack Link’s pepperoni product that were located inside the store, within reach of the broken window, and departed the property.

    The suspect was wearing a sweater with two colors, black or a darker color on the top portion and grey or a lighter color on the bottom portion. The suspect was wearing a helmet, possibly blue in color.

    The investigation is continuing. Residents are asked to check all available surveillance footage around the time of the crime for a matching vehicle or other suspicious activities.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Oakhill — Lunenburg District RCMP charge a man with multiple offences, including impaired operation and assault

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Lunenburg District RCMP has charged a man with multiple offences after he struck several vehicles attempting to flee police. There were no injuries reported from this incident.

    On September 23 at approximately 12:15 p.m., officers responded to a report of a suspected impaired driver who was observed hitting a parked tractor in Mader’s Cove.

    Officers located the vehicle, a beige Lincoln Town Car, in Blockhouse, and attempted a traffic stop but the driver refused to stop for police and fled the area.

    At approximately 12:50 p.m., officers again located the vehicle, now pulled over on the side of Hwy. 103 near Oakhill. Officers took steps to prevent the driver from attempting to flee again and putting the public at risk. The driver struck and damaged two of the police cars involved, and continued to resist arrest after exiting his vehicle. He was safely arrested and later refused to provide a breath sample.

    Adam Vanderzwaag, 40, of Conquerall Mills, has been charged with the following:

    • Impaired Operation of a Conveyance
    • Flight from Police
    • Dangerous Operation of a Conveyance
    • Assault Peace Officer With a Weapon (2 counts)
    • Resist Arrest
    • Obstruct Justice
    • Failure or Refusal to Comply with Demand
    • Disarming a Peace Officer

    Vanderzwaag appeared at Bridgewater Provincial Court on September 24. His next court appearance is scheduled for October 23.

    Highway 103 was closed between Exits 12 and 11 following this incident, but was reopened after approximately one hour.

    Police appreciated calls from the public that assisted in identifying and locating this vehicle. Road safety is a shared responsibility. If you suspect an impaired driver, it’s an emergency; call 911.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fatal crash, Waimakariri

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Police can now advise one person has died following a crash on Depot Road, View Hill in Waimakariri.

    The single-vehicle crash was reported to Police at 8pm yesterday (25 September).

    The driver and sole occupant of the car died at the scene.

    Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are under way.

    ENDS 

    Issued by Police Media Centre 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 6th Annual IP Excellence in Organizing Awards

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    During the 41st IAM Convention, the 6th Annual International President’s Excellence in Organizing Awards were presented to celebrate a historic achievement in the realm of union organizing—a triumph that embodies the spirit of solidarity, determination, and collective action. It is with great pride and admiration that we honor these Districts for their outstanding contributions to organizing efforts within our union in the year 2023.

    Accepting the award for his district and himself, District 751 Organizer Jesse Cote II

    Western Territory – District 751

    District 751 has emerged as a true leader in the field of union organizing, achieving an unprecedented milestone of organizing 282 new members. Notably, the first private sector acute care organizing victory in healthcare, with 211 new members joining our ranks.

    The success of District 751 in organizing new members within the healthcare sector demonstrates the immense potential of collective action and solidarity in improving the lives of workers across diverse industries. By securing a foothold in the private sector acute care field, District 751 has not only strengthened our union but also paved the way for future organizing victories and advancements in workers’ rights.

    Western Territory – Jesse Cote II

    Cote emerged as a true champion of workers’ rights, leading an impressive eight successful organizing campaigns. Among these victories was a landmark campaign at MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital—an achievement that not only strengthened our union but also empowered hundreds of workers to stand together for fair wages, benefits, and working conditions.

    Throughout Cote’s tenure as a union organizer, he has been a tireless advocate for workers’ rights, a mentor to aspiring organizers, and a steadfast voice for social justice in our communities. Cote’s passion for the cause, his unwavering commitment to our union, and his relentless pursuit of fairness and equality serve as an inspiration to us all.

    Accepting the award for District 78 – ST Mona Burke and Organizer Rootisha Rampat. Territory Grand Lodge Representative Scott Jackson accepting his award.

    Canadian Territory – District 78

    District 78 is one of the most diverse districts in all of Canada. Due to the many contracts they service, they have come up with some unique ways of signing up new members. District 78 shares information with all the other districts in Canada, as well as in the US, in order to constantly “up” their game. District 78 received or shared organizing awards consistently in recent years, and 2023 was no exception. 

    Healthcare, automotive, as well as manufacturing, trucking and labor staff groups are all industries and sectors where they have been feverishly active. The entire teams’ “all hands-on deck” approach has grown the IAM.

    Canadian Territory – Grand Lodge Representative Scott Jackson

    Jackson cut his union teeth in Local 901 in Ajax, Ontario, where he worked as a Machinist rising to the position of local President. Jackson widened the net and expanded the membership to include many diverse groups – including healthcare and labor staff groups. He was appointed Territorial Organizing Leader for Canada in 2020 and has helped to intensify the focus on organizing throughout his many roles and this continues today. With new organizers and new energy, he is helping make the IAM one of the most successful Unions in Canada – and across North America.

    Accepting the award for District 15 DBR and Organizer Norm Shreve and Business Rep and Organizer Cristino Vilorio.

    Eastern Territory – District 15

    This District had a busy 2023! With a 4-2 record. Unit sizes ranged from 15-80 people. Accepting the award is – District 15 Directing Business Representative and Organizer Norm Shreve and Business Representative and Organizer Cristino Vilorio.

    Accepting his award, Special Representative Brent Coleman.

    Eastern Territory – Special Representative Brent Coleman

    While at District 1 as the District Organizer, in 2023, Coleman inspired over 100 members from various fields of work to organize. From service contracts to Vet Techs and IT Professionals. He won them all in 2023. 

    Accepting the award for District 141, Organizer Frank Giannola

    Air Transportation Territory – District 141

    This District is a force to be reckoned with. Their Organizer has made it his mission, along with their organizing team, to organize the organized and to organize the unorganized. Making organizing a top priority, this District continues to grow its membership in the Air Transport Territory.

    Accepting her award, Organizer Tiffany Lopez.

    Air Transportation Territory – Associate Organizer Tiffany Lopez

    Lopez began her organizing career with Air Transport in January 2023 and hit the ground running. Determined to make a difference, she quickly formed an in-house committee for Delta Airlines in Detroit and Minneapolis. She thinks outside the box and constantly searches for new ideas to attract new interactions with those she seeks to organize.

    Accepting the awards for District 1888 and himself, Business Rep and Organizer Ryan McCarthy

    Southern Territory – District 1888

    In 2023 the Southern Territory added over 1,000 members in organizing efforts. District 1888 led the way, not only in the Southern Territory, but in the IAM. Directing Business Representative Ernie Epps and his staff Assistant Directing Business Representative Bill Benson, Business Representative Keith McFarland, Business Representative Ryan McCarthy, Business Representative Billy Givens and Business Representative Chris Harrington added over 600 new members to their District and continue to develop a culture of Organizing that is consistent year to year, this model is an example for all to follow. This District is a great example of the commitment needed in organizing our union into the future.

    Southern Territory – District 1888 Business Representative and Organizer Ryan McCarthy

    In 2023 McCarthy led 332 Lockheed Martin workers at Bluegrass Station, Ky., to a victory. This was a campaign that was hard fought, with many obstacles and a not so friendly employer. McCarthy knew he would need some help and in true Machinists fashion his brothers, sisters, and siblings showed up to help. The team consisted of many dedicated organizers from District 1888, District 776, and the Southern Territory Representatives and Associate Organizers. McCarthy continues to do a Journeyman’s Job to grow the IAM and we look forward to the increased organizing opportunities from this historic victory.

    Accepting the award for District 5 and on behalf of Jeremy Pearson is District Business Rep and Organizer Jeff Hoopman.

    Midwest Territory – District 5

    District 5 is the embodiment of what it means to organize with intention. In 2023, with Grand Lodge Representative Dennis Mendenhall leading, District 5 successfully organized Vaderstad Industries Inc., a 100-person unit that manufactures Agricultural Equipment in Wahpeton, North Dakota. To date, this District has continued organizing both externally and internally. This District’s success is a testament to our collective efforts and commitment, fostering a sense of unity and shared achievement.

    Midwest Territory – District 5 Directing Business Representative Jeremy Pearson

    Pearson’s persistent commitment to his members is better reflected in his work, whether servicing or organizing. He does this with passion and humility, which makes him a compelling and relatable organizer. In late 2023, his versatile approach allowed him to successfully organize Kay & Associates Inc., a group of aviation technicians in South Dakota. His deep dedication to growing our union motivates him to look for opportunities to organize.

    Accepting the award for the Southern Territory is General Vice President Craig Martin

    IAM Top Territory Organizing Distinction 

    The Southern Territory had 14 organizing wins in 2023! Four of those wins were triple digit units, including 332, 248, 176 and 164 new members The Southern Territory successfully organized 1,150 people in 2023!

    Ali Rhodes accepting her awards for Top HQ Organizer and Top IAM Organizer.

    IAM Headquarters Organizer of the Year & the 2023 Top IAM Organizer of the Year Award: Grand Lodge Representative Ali Rhodes

    Rhodes ran a very strategic and comprehensive campaign leading to a monumental victory by successfully organizing nearly 1,000 Patient Care Associates and Psychiatric Care Technicians at the Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center! Rhodes started her IAM career with ExpressJet Airlines in 2011. Over the years, she became actively involved in our union – first as an auditor and later as a committee chairperson. She dedicated her time to organizing, lobbying, and furthering her education at the Winpisinger Center and Eastern Gateway Community College.

    Equipped with her union education and determination to protect fellow workers, she was appointed as a Special Representative with the Organizing Department in 2018.

    “I’ve had the privilege to work closely with this individual during that time and nobody is more committed to growing our Union and helping to improve the lives of workers than her,” said IAM Assistant Organizing Director Juan Eldridge 

    Share and Follow:

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Men Sentenced to Prison for Armed Robbery of a Check-Cashing Business

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

    ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Two men have been sentenced to prison for the armed robbery of a check-cashing business in Chantilly.

    According to court documents, on Nov. 18, 2023, Antonio Chester Lewis, 49, of Oxon Hill, Maryland, and Al Gibran Taylor, 42, of Reston, entered the store intending to rob it of its cash. Lewis had entered the store previously to survey it. Lewis was armed with a .223/5.56 mm caliber semi-automatic rifle, which he pointed at customers and ordered them to put their hands in the air. Taylor attempted to open a cashier booth, which contained the store’s register and safe. When Taylor found the booth locked, Lewis identified the store’s cashier, grabbed her by the neck, and brought her to the cashier booth. The cashier opened the booth, and Taylor removed a large amount of cash from the store’s safe.

    Lewis was arrested on March 26. That day, law enforcement conducted a search of Lewis’ residence and recovered the rifle used during the robbery as well as a privately made firearm with no serial number, a shotgun, and ammunition. On April 4, law enforcement also searched Lewis’ vehicle and recovered a handgun and additional ammunition.

    On June 13, Lewis pled guilty to interference with commerce by robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm. Lewis was sentenced on Sept. 3 to 15 years and eight months in prison.

    On June 21, Taylor pled guilty to use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Taylor was sentenced today to 25 years in prison.

    Both Lewis and Taylor have multiple prior convictions. On Aug. 9, 1994, Lewis was convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. On May 30, 1997, he was convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine while armed. On Oct. 20, 2005, Lewis was convicted in the Eastern District of Virginia for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base. As a previously convicted felon, Lewis cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition.

    Taylor previously was convicted in the Eastern District of Virginia on Dec. 21, 2006, of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence during which the firearm was discharged. On June 30, 2006, Taylor was convicted in the Eastern District of Virginia of possession of a firearm after having been convicted of a felony.

    Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; David E. Geist, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division; and Kevin Davis, Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after Taylor was sentenced by U.S. District Chief Judge Leonie M. Brinkema.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel K. Amzallag prosecuted the case.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Cases No. 1:24-cr-139 and 1:24-cr-130.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Thompson — Update – Thompson RCMP respond to shooting

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    RCMP have identified one of the suspects involved in the shooting and are asking for the public’s assistance in locating him.

    Tyrell Malique Porter, 21, from the Waterloo, Ontario area is described as 5’6′ tall and 132 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

    Porter is wanted on a warrant for multiple firearms offences and is considered armed and dangerous.

    Police believe that the female suspect also involved in the incident is still in the company of Porter.

    If you have information, please call Thompson RCMP at 204-677-6909 Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

    On September 15, 2024, at approximately 10:15 pm, Thompson RCMP received a report of a two-vehicle motor vehicle collision that occurred on Perch Avenue in Thompson. While en route to the call, police were informed that a possible gun shot was heard.

    When officers arrived on scene, a 47-year-old male was found injured. Officers immediately provided emergency care. The male was transported to local hospital, where he was treated and has since been released.

    Investigation determined that the male had been driving a pickup truck that was in a collision with a SUV. The SUV followed the victim to a residence and a male suspect exited the SUV, produced a firearm, and shot at the victim. A neighbouring residence was also struck by projectiles from the firearm, but nobody inside was physically injured.

    After the shooting, the SUV fled the scene and was located soon after by police on Pike Crescent. The male suspect and a female suspect were seen by witnesses going into the residence. The residence was surrounded, and three individuals were taken into custody. However, none of the three individuals were determined to have been involved in the incident and were released. The two suspects were not located inside the residence.

    Thompson RCMP continue to look for the two suspects involved in the shooting. At this time, police do not have confirmed descriptions to provide.

    If you have information, please call Thompson RCMP at 204-677-6909, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine & McConnell Applaud Final Rule to Raise Minimum Age for Tobacco Sales Set by Their Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) applauded a final rule issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding ID requirements for the purchase of tobacco products at retail establishments. The rule will go into effect on September 30. This rule was required by Kaine and McConnell’s bipartisan Tobacco-Free Youth Act, which became law in December 2019 and raised the minimum age to buy all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, from 18 to 21. Additionally, a recent survey by the FDA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concluded the number of young people in America smoking e-cigarettes dropped to its lowest level in the last decade.
    “I’m glad the FDA issued final guidance to implement our bipartisan legislation to raise the tobacco age to 21,” said Kaine. “I was proud to work with Senator McConnell to get this legislation signed into law. Our bipartisan bill has already made a huge difference in keeping tobacco products away from young people, and this final rule will only further these efforts.”
    “Youth e-cigarette use was at its peak just five years ago. That’s when I introduced legislation along with Senator Kaine to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products to 21. Today, the number of young people smoking e-cigarettes dropped to its lowest level in a decade,” said McConnell. “I’m glad to see the FDA finally produce this rule that will help keep even more children from getting their hands on addictive vaping devices. While more work remains, I’m grateful to see our bipartisan legislation making a big impact.”
    In 2022 and again in 2023, Kaine and McConnell pushed the FDA to issue this final rule. The final FDA rule requires retailers to ask for photo identification for anyone under the age of 30 and prohibits retailers from selling tobacco products via vending machines in facilities where individuals under 21 are present or permitted to enter at any time.
    Kaine has long championed policies to limit tobacco use and promote public health. In March 2022, Kaine successfully secured a provision in the Fiscal Year 2022 government funding bill to close a loophole that allowed e-cigarette companies that use synthetic nicotine in their products to avoid government oversight. In September 2021, Kaine and Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) pressed the FDA on its delay of a decision on whether companies with the largest shares of the e-cigarette market can keep selling their products. As Governor of Virginia, Kaine signed a bill into law to ban smoking in bars and restaurants in the Commonwealth and issued an executive order to ban smoking in state buildings and vehicles.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Deeply personal NFB docs and animation showcased at the St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Newfoundland filmmaker Tamara Segura’s National Film Board of Canada (NFB) feature documentary Seguridad headlines an impressive selection of women’s cinema from the NFB at the 2024 St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival (SJIWFF), taking place October 22–26.

    Powerful NFB lineup includes Newfoundland director Tamara Segura’s feature Seguridad and Halifax animator Andrea Dorfman’s short Hairy Legs

    September 24, 2024 – Halifax – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

    Newfoundland filmmaker Tamara Segura’s National Film Board of Canada (NFB) feature documentary Seguridad headlines an impressive selection of women’s cinema from the NFB at the 2024 St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival (SJIWFF), taking place October 22–26.

    Seguridad was just named Best Atlantic Documentary at the Atlantic International Film Festival in Halifax.

    From elsewhere in Atlantic Canada, Halifax filmmaker Andrea Dorfman’s new animated short Hairy Legs will screen at the festival.

    SJIWFF will also be presenting the Atlantic premieres of two feature docs from Toronto directors: Laurie Townshend’s A Mother Apart (Oya Media Group/NFB) and Anishinaabe filmmaker Lisa Jackson’s Wilfred Buck (Door Number 3 Productions/NFB).

    About the films

    Seguridad by Tamara Segura (76 min) | Friday, October 25, at 7 p.m., Majestic Theatre
    Producers: Annette Clarke and Rohan Fernando
    Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/seguridad

    • Once named “Cuba’s youngest soldier” in a publicity stunt, Newfoundland-based filmmakerTamara Segura explores her father’s troubled past and its connection to the Cuban Revolution. She returns to Cuba after four years away, camera in hand, hoping to make amends. But her father’s sudden death forces Segura to confront the past and the role Cuba’s highly militarized system played in his downfall.
    • Tamara Seguragraduated from the prestigious International Film School of San Antonio de los Baños (EICTV). Her films have received awards in Spain, Cuba, Canada and Mexico. Based in Newfoundland since 2012, Segura previously worked with the NFB on such films as Song for Cuba (2014) and Becoming Labrador (2018), and is an instructor at the College of the North Atlantic.

    Hairy Legs by Andrea Dorfman (17 min) | Friday, October 25, at 7 p.m., LSPU Hall
    Producers: Liz Cowie and Rohan Fernando
    Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/hairy-legs

    • Andrea Dorfman’s animated short film documents a 13-year-old girl’s small yet life-changing act of rebellion on the road to womanhood and feminism. Deciding not to shave her legs led the filmmaker to question and ultimately defy society’s expectations. With charm, warmth and humour, Hairy Legscaptures the universality of girls exploring gender, curiosity and freedom as they evolve from spending exuberant, carefree days on their bicycles to facing and defying stereotypes.
    • Andrea Dorfman has written and directed many award-winning documentaries, features and animated films, including the NFB-produced Flawed(2010), Big Mouth (2012) and feature doc The Girls of Meru (2018). Dorfman’s video collaborations with poet-musician Tanya Davis, How to Be Alone (2010) and How to Be at Home (2020), became YouTube sensations.

    A Mother Apart by Laurie Townshend (89 min) | Wednesday, October 23, at 7 p.m., LSPU Hall
    Producers: Alison Duke and Ngardy Conteh George (Oya Media Group); Justine Pimlott (NFB)
    Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/a-mother-apart

    • How do you raise a child when your own mother abandoned you? In a remarkable story of healing and forgiveness, Jamaican-American poet and LGBTQ+ activist Staceyann Chin, renowned for performances in Def Poetry Slamand hit solo shows like MotherStruck!, radically re-imagines the essential art of mothering. In seeking her elusive mother—a trail that leads to Brooklyn, Montreal, Cologne and, finally, Jamaica—Staceyann and her daughter forge a new sense of home.
    • Laurie Townshendis a Toronto-based filmmaker, writer and educator. Her films centre on the human capacity to transform small acts of courage into quiet revolutions, as seen in the dramatic short The Railpath Hero (2013, TIFF Black Star Series), the unscripted series Human Frequency Streetdocs (2014) and the award-winning short doc Charley (2016).

    Wilfred Buck by Lisa Jackson (92 min) | Saturday, October 26, at 2:30 p.m., Majestic Theatre
    Producers: Lisa Jackson (Door Number 3 Productions), Lauren Grant (Clique Pictures); Alicia Smith (NFB)
    Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/wilfred-buck

    • This hybrid, time-travelling road triptakes us into the stellar life of charismatic Cree Elder, star expert and ceremonial leader Wilfred Buck, adapted from Buck’s rollicking memoir I Have Lived Four Lives. Jackson’s portrait of Buck moves between earth and sky, past and present, bringing to life ancient teachings of Indigenous astronomy and cosmology to tell a story that spans generations. 
    • Lisa Jacksonis an Anishinaabe (Aamjiwnaang) filmmaker whose work has garnered two Canadian Screen Awards, been nominated for a Webby and screened at top festivals including Sundance, Tribeca, SXSW, London BFI and Hot Docs. Her 2018 NFB VR experience Biidaaban: First Light was viewed by more than 25,000 people, while her film Indictment won Best Doc at imagineNATIVE. Jackson has been honoured with the 2022 Chicken & Egg Award as well as the 2021 DOC Vanguard Award.

    – 30 –

    Stay Connected

    Online Screening Room: nfb.ca
    NFB Facebook | NFB Twitter | NFB Instagram | NFB Blog | NFB YouTube | NFB Vimeo
    Curator’s perspective | Director’s notes

    About the NFB

    Lily Robert
    Director, Communications and Public Affairs, NFB
    C.: 514-296-8261
    l.robert@nfb.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden Joins Colleagues to Modernize Vehicle Safety Tests, Require Use of Female Crash Test Dummies

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    September 25, 2024
    Senator: “Safety testing that only uses male test dummies is negligent, and women are paying the price”
    Washington D.C.—U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said today he has joined U.S. Senate colleagues from both parties to introduce legislation that would  improve passenger vehicle safety by requiring the use of the most advanced testing devices available — including a female crash test dummy. 
    The bipartisan She Develops Regulations In Vehicle Equality and Safety Act would enhance passenger vehicle safety by updating U.S. crashworthiness testing procedures, Wyden said.
    “The fact that women are much more likely to be seriously injured in a car crash is not just alarming–but flat out unacceptable,” Wyden said. “Safety testing that only uses male test dummies is negligent, and women are paying the price. We need to rectify the status quo so that the safety of everyone is a priority.”
    U.S. crash testing standards rely on a crash test dummy representing a typical adult male. However, this decades-old model does not consider other characteristics such as gender, age, or disabilities. Research indicates women are more vulnerable than men to certain types of injuries in car crashes.
    “Senator Wyden has always put the health and safety of Oregonians and Americans first, and the She DRIVES Act is no exception. As one of the most powerful voices in the U.S. Senate, his choice to co-sponsor S. 4299 is a monumental step towards ending the fatal gender-based discrimination in vehicle safety testing. As a car crash survivor and young woman — thank you, Senator Wyden, for helping to finally make cars safe for everybody,” said Maria Kuhn, Founder and President of Drive US Forward.
    The bill was led by U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Nebr.). In addition to Wyden, the bill was cosponsored by Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), and Susan Collins (R-Maine).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Lebanon/Israel: Fears for safety of civilians grow as devastating death toll in Lebanon continues to rise

    Source: Amnesty International –

    The exponential rise in the death toll in Lebanon over the past three days amid an escalation in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah is a reminder of the crucial need for all parties to the conflict to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law, Amnesty International said today.

    On Monday [23 September] alone, at least 558 people, including 50 children and 94 women, were killed and more than 1,800 injured by Israeli attacks in Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry, as Israel announced the start of Operation Northern Arrows. Scores more have been killed since. Hezbollah attacks on Israel have also significantly intensified and according to Israeli media reports, at least 15 people were injured, the majority by shrapnel or debris and others while trying to access shelter.

    “On Monday, 23 September, Lebanon experienced its deadliest day since the end of the country’s civil war in 1990. We are deeply alarmed by the staggering death toll within a single day, which continues to rise, and the devastating impact on civilians with almost 500,000 displaced from south Lebanon, the Bekaa and other regions that have come under intense bombardment. In northern Israel, due to attacks from Lebanon around 63,000 residents have been displaced since last October. As Israel continues to intensify and expand its bombardment, and Hezbollah continues to launch attacks into Israel, all parties to the conflict must respect international humanitarian law and take all feasible precautions to protect civilian lives,” said Erika Guevara Rosas, Senior Director for Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns.   

    On Monday, 23 September, Lebanon experienced its deadliest day since the end of the country’s civil war in 1990. We are deeply alarmed by the staggering death toll within a single day, which continues to rise

    Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty International

    “In the past, conflicts between Israel and Hezbollah have been characterized by serious violations of international humanitarian law. This raises serious concerns that the current escalation in hostilities will inevitably result again in civilian casualties, injuries and widespread destruction in Lebanon and Israel. We urge all states to halt all arms transfers and other forms of military assistance to Israel and Hezbollah due to the significant risk that these weapons could be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law, including war crimes.”

    Since October 2023, Hezbollah and Israel have engaged in hostilities, mostly confined to the south of Lebanon and north of Israel.  As of 10 September, the total death toll due to Israeli attacks had risen to 589 in Lebanon, as of 19 September, the toll due to Hezbollah attacks rose to 34 in Israel. A further 12 people were killed in the occupied Golan Heights. The spike in the death toll in Lebanon over the past three days alone is therefore exponential.

    During the 34-day conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006, the death toll was 1,100 in Lebanon and 43 in Israel. Amnesty International’s investigations revealed that during the conflict, Israeli forces carried out indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks on a large scale, including massive destruction of civilian infrastructure. It also found that Hezbollah carried out direct and indiscriminate attacks on civilians and appeared to fail to take necessary precautions to protect civilians in Lebanon from the effects of Israeli attacks.

    Many of the areas struck by Israeli attacks in recent days were crowded residential areas, according to videos reviewed by Amnesty International. Lebanon’s health minister said that medical facilities and personnel also came under fire, killing four medics and injuring at least 16.

    Respecting international humanitarian law requires ensuring that only military objectives are targeted, avoiding indiscriminate attacks, disproportionate attack, and direct attacks on civilians and civilian objects and taking all feasible precautions to minimize harm to civilians and damage to civilian infrastructure. Using explosive weapons with wide area effects in the vicinity of densely populated residential areas is likely to violate the prohibition of indiscriminate attacks and also can lead to disproportionate attacks.

    The Israeli authorities and Hezbollah and other armed groups need to recognize that the rules of international humanitarian law apply in all circumstances, whatever the reason for the conflict. Nothing can excuse unlawful killing and injury of civilians

    Erika Guevara Rosas

    “On 25 September, the Israeli army spokesperson issued a public warning in Arabic, advising people not to return to their homes “until further notice” and stating that “air strikes are ongoing”. Such warnings do not absolve Israel of its responsibilities under international humanitarian law to distinguish between military objectives and civilians, and to take all feasible precautions to minimize harm to civilians. According to international law, a warning must ensure that sufficient time is granted. Even so, evacuation calls do not render the impacted areas free-fire zones,” said Erika Guevara Rosas.  

    “Israel’s relentless onslaught on Gaza has already seen more than 42,000 Palestinians killed over the past year. The latest assault on Lebanon has brought a fresh wave of horror to the wider region. The Israeli authorities and Hezbollah and other armed groups need to recognize that the rules of international humanitarian law apply in all circumstances, whatever the reason for the conflict. Nothing can excuse unlawful killing and injury of civilians.”  

    Background

    Israel’s Operation Northern Arrows began on 23 September. During the first day, Israeli forces carried out at least 1,600 strikes in areas across Lebanon. Hezbollah also launched more than 200 rockets towards Israel.

    Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in ongoing cross-border hostilities since the group launched attacks into northern Israel following the start of Israel’s offensive in the occupied Gaza Strip in October 2023. As of 10 September 2024, Israeli attacks on south Lebanon and the Bekaa since 7 October 2023 had killed at least 137 civilians, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health and the United Nations. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced from south Lebanon, the Bekaa, and other areas due to the ongoing hostilities, the majority of them fleeing the latest attacks. 

    Across the same period, Hezbollah and other armed groups have fired projectiles at northern Israel and killed at least 14 civilians in Israel, according to the Israeli authorities. On 27 July, 12 civilians, all children, were killed in an attack on Majdal Shams in the occupied Golan Heights. Around 63,000 residents of northern Israel have been evacuated since 8 October. 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Dauphin — Dauphin RCMP make large seizure after traffic stop

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On September 22, 2024, at approximately 6:45 pm, Dauphin RCMP conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on Mountain Avenue in Dauphin as part of an ongoing investigation. When the officer attempted to stop the vehicle by activating the lights and sirens on the police vehicle, the suspect vehicle fled at a high rate of speed.

    The suspect vehicle ran a red light on Main Street and struck another vehicle, and then spun and struck a 26-year-old male pedestrian. The suspect vehicle then continued and struck a parked vehicle. At this time, the driver and passenger fled on foot. The passenger was taken into custody a short while later.

    An RCMP drone operator and Police Service Dog Marook were engaged to track the driver, and located him after a track that led them across the Vermillion River.

    A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of a loaded shotgun, a large sum of Canadian currency, and a substance believed to be cocaine.

    An RCMP Forensic Collision Reconstructionist attended the scene where the vehicle and the pedestrian were struck to assist with that part of the investigation.

    The pedestrian was transported to local hospital with non-life threatening injuries, and the driver of the vehicle that was struck was not physically injured.

    Samuel Flatfoot, 26, of Dauphin, was the driver and is charged with charged with Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Flight from Peace Officer, Resists/Obstructs Peace Officer, and Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking.

    Marcus George, 22, of Swan River, was the passenger. He is charged with Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose, Resist/Obstructs Peace Officer x2, and Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking.

    Both have been remanded.

    The investigation continues.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Advanced Technology Recycling (ATR) is pleased to announce partnership opportunities to Telecommunications Equipment Manufacturers

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PENSACOLA, Fla., Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The telecommunications industry is advancing at a rapid pace, driving innovation with cutting-edge technologies that now carry unprecedented amounts of confidential data. As equipment becomes more sophisticated, the need for secure disposal of these data-rich devices is more critical than ever.

    As new equipment is introduced to meet growing demands, outdated devices and systems need to be disposed of responsibly. Unfortunately, this critical step is often overlooked, leaving sensitive assets vulnerable to data breaches or improper handling.

    Advanced Technology Recycling (ATR), a recognized leader in electronics recycling and secure asset disposal, offers telecommunications manufacturers the expertise, resources, and certifications necessary to manage decommissioned devices safely. By partnering with ATR, manufacturers can provide their clients with secure and compliant end-of-life solutions, protecting their brands while also ensuring environmental responsibility.

    A Call to Action: Manufacturers Must Play an Active Role

    Telecommunications manufacturers have a unique opportunity to play an active role in securing the disposal of outdated equipment. It’s not enough to simply supply customers with upgraded systems; manufacturers must also take steps to ensure that decommissioned devices are handled securely. ATR is calling on manufacturers to engage with us, so we can work together to identify critical components and areas where sensitive or confidential information may reside, helping to define best practices in asset management and disposal.

    Telecommunications equipment, such as routers, switches, and servers, often contains sensitive customer data or proprietary information. In addition, certain components may be subject to stringent regulations, such as International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Without proper disposal, these assets could end up in the wrong hands, exposing manufacturers and their clients to serious risks, including data breaches, regulatory violations, and damage to corporate reputations.

    By collaborating with ATR, manufacturers can customize disposal solutions to meet the specific needs of their clients, ensuring that these sensitive assets are disposed of securely, compliantly, and sustainably.

    ATR’s Industry-Leading Expertise and Credentials

    ATR is proud to hold the highest certifications in the industry, including R2v3 and RIOS, which guarantee that its recycling and disposal processes meet the strictest standards for environmental and data security. ATR is also approved by the U.S. State Department for handling ITAR-regulated devices, ensuring that telecommunications equipment used in aerospace and defense communications is managed with the highest level of security and compliance.

    Moreover, ATR’s work with key federal agencies, including the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has helped to define “best practices” for the industry as a whole. ATR has provided these agencies with valuable insights into the proper handling of sensitive materials, as well as comprehensive facility tours to demonstrate our state-of-the-art disposal processes. ATR has also provided operational insights to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), showcasing our expertise in secure asset disposal.

    Comprehensive Solutions and Customized Security

    ATR’s ability to offer telecommunications manufacturers customized solutions is a critical part of our service model. Every client has unique needs, and one-size-fits-all approaches often fall short when it comes to secure asset disposal. By working closely with manufacturers, ATR develops customized plans that address the specific challenges and regulatory requirements of their customers.

    • Identifying Hidden Data Risks: Telecommunications manufacturers are encouraged to work with ATR to identify critical components and areas within outdated equipment where sensitive data may reside. ATR’s team of experts will then develop tailored strategies to mitigate risks and ensure the secure destruction of these assets.
    • Proprietary Logistics and Chain of Custody: ATR operates its own fleet of vehicles, equipped with advanced tracking systems and video surveillance. This ensures an unbroken chain of custody for every asset, providing full transparency and peace of mind. Manufacturers can trust that their clients’ equipment is handled securely from pickup to final destruction.
    • ITAR Compliance and U.S. State Department Approval: For clients in aerospace, defense, and other regulated industries, ATR’s ITAR-approved processes guarantee compliance with strict government regulations. This expertise is especially important for telecommunications manufacturers working with federal or defense-related contracts.
    • GSA Discounts for State and Federal Agencies: ATR’s services are available at discounted rates through the General Services Administration (GSA) schedule, making it easy for state and federal agencies to access our secure disposal services.

    The Risks of Ignoring Secure Disposal

    Failing to provide a secure disposal solution for decommissioned telecommunications equipment is more than just an oversight—it’s a serious risk to both manufacturers and their clients. Devices that are not properly disposed of can easily find their way into secondary markets or, worse, be accessed by malicious actors. This can lead to data breaches, regulatory fines, and significant damage to a company’s reputation.

    In today’s world, data security is paramount, and companies that fail to safeguard their clients’ information will pay the price. ATR’s services eliminate these risks, ensuring that all decommissioned telecommunications devices are securely destroyed or responsibly recycled.

    A Partnership That Benefits All Parties

    ATR is not just a service provider—we see ourselves as a partner to the telecommunications manufacturers we work with. By forming a partnership with ATR, manufacturers can ensure that they are working together in the best interest of their clients, the environment, and the broader industry. ATR’s extensive experience with federal agencies like the FCC and FAA means that we understand the regulatory landscape and can help manufacturers navigate complex compliance requirements.

    Together, we can ensure that telecommunications manufacturers are not only providing their clients with the latest technology but also safeguarding their data, protecting their brands, and reducing their environmental impact.

    Contact ATR for Customized Solutions

    Telecommunications manufacturers interested in partnering with ATR are encouraged to contact us to discuss how we can customize a solution to meet their clients’ specific needs. Our expertise, industry credentials, and commitment to secure, compliant disposal make us the ideal partner for manufacturers looking to offer their customers a full lifecycle management solution.

    Conclusion

    The telecommunications industry is at a pivotal moment, where secure and sustainable asset disposal is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Advanced Technology Recycling (ATR) is ready to help manufacturers take responsibility for the end-of-life management of their equipment, offering customized, secure, and compliant solutions that protect both their clients and their brands.

    By partnering with ATR, manufacturers can take an active role in defining best practices and ensuring that they are aligned with the highest standards for security, environmental responsibility, and regulatory compliance. For more information or to schedule a consultation with our telecommunications liaison contact Stacy Jackson-Marsh for additional details.

    About ATR
    Advanced Technology Recycling (ATR) is a Certified Woman Owned, US Based, Nationwide Company formed in 2002 with 7 locations to meet the growing needs of Business-to-Business customers seeking transparent, compliant ITAM/ITAD solutions providing one of the industry’s most comprehensive electronic recycling service portfolios. Visit  ATReCycle.com for additional information.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Lebanon: ‘deep alarm’ over staggering death toll in Israeli attacks

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have hit crowded residential areas, with children and medics among the dead

    Warnings to Lebanese civilians do not absolve Israel of responsibilities under international humanitarian law

    ‘Nothing can excuse unlawful killing and injury of civilians’ – Erika Guevara Rosas

    The exponential rise in the death toll in Lebanon over the past three days amid an escalation in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah is a reminder of the crucial need for all parties to the conflict to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law, Amnesty International said today. 

    During the first day of its offensive, Israeli forces carried out at least 1,600 airstrikes in areas across Lebanon, while Hezbollah also launched more than 200 rockets towards Israel. On Monday alone, at least 558 people – including 50 children and 94 women – were killed and more than 1,800 injured by Israeli attacks in Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

    Scores more have been killed since. Hezbollah attacks on Israel have also significantly intensified and according to Israeli media reports at least 15 people were injured, the majority by shrapnel or debris and others while trying to access shelter.

    Many of the areas struck by Israeli attacks in recent days were crowded residential areas, according to videos reviewed by Amnesty. Lebanon’s health minister said that medical facilities and personnel also came under fire, killing four medics and injuring at least 16.

    Respecting international humanitarian law requires ensuring that only military objectives are targeted, avoiding indiscriminate attacks, disproportionate attacks and direct attacks on civilians and civilian objects, and taking all feasible precautions to minimise harm to civilians and damage to civilian infrastructure. Using explosive weapons with wide-area effects in the vicinity of densely-populated residential areas is likely to violate the prohibition of indiscriminate attacks and also can lead to disproportionate attacks.

    Erika Guevara Rosas, Senior Director for Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns, said:  

    “We are deeply alarmed by the staggering death toll within a single day, which continues to rise, and the devastating impact on civilians with almost 500,000 displaced from south Lebanon, the Bekaa and other regions that have come under intense bombardment.

    “As Israel continues to intensify and expand its bombardment, and Hezbollah continues to launch attacks into Israel, all parties to the conflict must respect international humanitarian law and take all feasible precautions to protect civilian lives. 

    “We urge all states to halt all arms transfers and other forms of military assistance to Israel and Hezbollah due to the significant risk that these weapons could be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law, including war crimes.

    “Israel’s relentless onslaught on Gaza has already seen more than 42,000 Palestinians killed over the past year. The latest assault on Lebanon has brought a fresh wave of horror to the wider region. The Israeli authorities and Hezbollah and other armed groups need to recognise that the rules of international humanitarian law apply in all circumstances, whatever the reason for the conflict. Nothing can excuse unlawful killing and injury of civilians.”  

    Israeli warnings

    On 25 September, the Israeli army spokesperson issued a public warning in Arabic, advising people not to return to their homes “until further notice”, stating that “airstrikes are ongoing”. Such warnings do not absolve Israel of its responsibilities under international humanitarian law to distinguish between military objectives and civilians, and to take all feasible precautions to minimise harm to civilians. According to international law, a warning must ensure that sufficient time is granted. Even so, evacuation calls do not render the impacted areas free-fire zones.  

    Cross-border hostilities

    Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in ongoing cross-border hostilities since the group launched attacks into northern Israel following the start of Israel’s offensive in the occupied Gaza Strip last October. As of 10 September, Israeli attacks on south Lebanon and the Bekaa since 7 October 2023 had killed at least 137 civilians, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health and the United Nations. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced from south Lebanon, the Bekaa, and other areas due to the ongoing hostilities, the majority of them fleeing the latest attacks. Across the same period, Hezbollah and other armed groups have fired projectiles at northern Israel and killed at least 14 civilians in Israel, according to the Israeli authorities. On 27 July, 12 civilians, all children, were killed in an attack on Majdal Shams in the occupied Golan Heights. Around 63,000 residents of northern Israel have been evacuated since 8 October. 

    2006 conflict

    During the 34-day conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006, the death toll was 1,100 in Lebanon and 43 in Israel. Amnesty’s investigations revealed that during the conflict, Israeli forces carried out indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks on a large scale, including massive destruction of civilian infrastructure. It also found that Hezbollah carried out direct and indiscriminate attacks on civilians and appeared to fail to take necessary precautions to protect civilians in Lebanon from the effects of Israeli attacks. 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sorensen Announces Over $12.2 Million for Safety Upgrades at Local Airports

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17)

    MOLINE, IL – Today, Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) announced $12,269,860 from the U.S. Department of Transportation for safety and infrastructure upgrades at Chicago-Rockford International Airport (RFD) in Rockford, the Quad Cities International Airport in Rock Island County, and the Central Illinois Regional Airport (CIRA) in McLean County.  

    “Too many of my neighbors across Central and Northwestern Illinois have to travel miles and sit through hours of traffic just to catch their flights at O’Hare or Midway,” said Sorensen. “By investing in safety upgrades at our local airports, our communities will have better access to affordable air travel right in their backyards. This important funding will be used to repair runways, prevent flooding, and purchase new safety equipment that will make our local airports sustainable for the future. I will always look for ways I can bring tax dollars back home to build up our communities through reliable transportation options.”  

    Northern Illinois 

    “We sincerely thank the FAA’s Airport Improvement Grant Program for the nearly $8 million in grant funding to support RFD’s taxiway replacement project,” said Zack Oakley, Executive Director of Chicago Rockford International Airport. “This vital taxiway section, used by all aircraft operating at RFD, was built during the early 1990s and has been crucial to our operations for over 30 years. With this support, we will replace the infrastructure and continue delivering safe, efficient, and excellent service to all, further strengthening our role as the economic engine of Northern Illinois and specifically the Rockford region.” 

    The Greater Rockford Airport Authority will receive $7,946,166 to reconstruct 2,624 feet of the existing paved Taxiway F pavement that has reached the end of its useful life at Chicago-Rockford International Airport.  

    Western Illinois  

    “The Metropolitan Airport Authority of Rock Island County appreciates the continued support of Senators Durbin and Duckworth as well as Congressman Sorensen in securing discretionary federal funding to support the Quad Cities International Airport,” saidBenjamin Leischner, A.A.E., Executive Director, Quad Cities International Airport. “This money will be used to improve airport safety by eliminating standing water on the airfield that has historically been an attractant to wildlife. Construction is estimated to begin next year with a local contractor.” 

    The Metropolitan Airport Authority of Rock Island County will receive $2,765,727 to construct new drainage improvements to adequately handle storm water runoff and mitigate substances that attract wildlife at the Quad Cities International Airport. 

    Central Illinois 

    “The Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority is grateful for Congressman Sorensen’s support of the Central Illinois Regional Airport and, specifically, for this new infrastructure and safety grant,” said Alan Sender, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners for the Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority. “The federal grant announced by the Congressman will advance two major projects at CIRA in the years ahead: the rehabilitation of Runway 11/29 and the purchase of a new aircraft rescue and fire fighting vehicle. Both components are key for the continued safe operation of the airport.” 

    The Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority will receive $1,557,967 for CIRA to replace one existing rapid response aircraft rescue and fire fighting vehicle to meet safety requirements. In addition, this funding will be used to rehabilitate 5,960 feet of the existing paved Runway 11/29 at CIRA to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement and minimize foreign object debris.  

    Congressman Eric Sorensen serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for nearly 20 years. His district includes Illinois’ Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Edwards’ bill to improve veteran access to commercial driver training heads to president’s desk

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11)

    The U.S. House of Representatives today passed Senate bill S. 656, the Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License (VA CDL) Act, by a unanimous voice vote. Edwards introduced the House companion bill, H.R. 2830, which previously passed the House as part of H.R. 5914, the Veterans Education Transparency and Training (VETT) Act, in April 2023.

    The VA CDL Act is the first bill that Edwards co-led to be sent to the president’s desk to be signed into law.

    Edwards spoke on the House floor to highlight how the VA CDL Act will eliminate red tape that excludes veterans from accessing commercial driver-education programs using their GI Bill benefits.

    The full remarks as prepared for delivery are below, or you may watch online here.

    [embedded content]

    “Thank you Mr. Speaker, and thank you to Senators Fischer and Padilla for their leadership on the Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act. I was happy to introduce the House version of this very important bill, H.R. 2830, and I look forward to the benefit this language will add to veterans’ quality of life once it becomes law.

    “Every day, brave men and women join our military to fight for the American dream so that each of us can live in a country where we have the opportunity to succeed and are free to pursue a better life.

    “But all too often, when our service members are transitioning to civilian life, our government fails them in pursuit of their own American dream.

    “A 2016 study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation found that 53 percent of all veterans were unemployed for at least four months after leaving the military. These are our country’s strongest citizens, yet we repeatedly fail to sufficiently support them as they make the biggest transition in their life – from service member to civilian.

    “S. 656 and H.R. 2830 make a much-needed change to veteran educational assistance programs, expanding job opportunities for the brave men and women who serve our great nation.

    “The VA CDL Act will increase veteran access to timely, quality commercial driver license training, reduce veteran unemployment or underemployment, and reduce the strain on our nation’s supply chain by increasing the truck driver workforce pool.

    “Currently, roughly 8,400 commercial driving programs are approved for use by eligible veterans under the GI bill, but a bureaucratic ‘two-year rule’ prevents these training facilities from accepting GI benefits at secondary locations for two years.

    “This burdensome red tape has excluded many veterans from attending closer ‘secondary branch’ training facilities and dissuaded service members from joining the trucking industry. Because of the rule, veterans must decide between finding a new career path, waiting two years to pursue their commercial driver’s license, or traveling hundreds of miles away from their home for immediate training.

    “S.656 and H.R. 2830 fix that issue by exempting new branches of pre-approved training facilities located in the same state from the statutory two-year wait to accept veterans’ benefits.

    “It’s high time we take meaningful steps towards better supporting a veteran’s transition into the civilian workforce.

    “Too many arbitrary rules are impeding a veteran’s ability to achieve the very American dream that they are fighting for others to pursue, but the VA CDL Act helps to eliminate one of those barriers.

    “Ultimately, this is a commonsense reform that will reduce unnecessary roadblocks to veteran training and workforce opportunities and I urge my colleagues to support.”

    “When the brave men and women in our armed forces return home, the last thing they should have to worry about is red tape preventing them from achieving the American dream that they fought to defend,” said American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear. “Improving veterans’ access to CDL programs will open the door of opportunity to good-paying, in-demand jobs in the trucking industry. We are appreciative of the leadership by Representatives Edwards and Pappas on this important bill, which will help veterans secure rewarding careers and alleviate the truck driver shortage.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Magaziner Co-Leads Bill to Crack Down on Fentanyl Trafficking at Southern Border

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House Committee on Homeland Security today passed H.R.9722: Contraband Awareness Technology Catches Harmful (CATCH) Fentanyl Act. This bipartisan legislation, co-led by U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02), will establish a pilot program to use emerging technologies to crack down on fentanyl trafficking and speed up the inspection process at land ports of entry along the border.

    “Fentanyl has claimed the lives of thousands of Americans, and we need to do more to stop the flow of illicit drugs at the southern border,” said Rep. Seth Magaziner. “This bill will leverage promising new technologies at land ports of entry to crack down on fentanyl trafficking and other contraband while allowing legal trade to flow more efficiently.”

    The CATCH Fentanyl Act will require the Department of Homeland Security to establish a pilot program that tests the use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, quantum computing and other emerging technologies to detect contraband, including illicit fentanyl, illegal weapons and human trafficking. The bill also aims to increase efficiencies in inspections and reduce wait times at ports of entry. 

    Currently, the Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) system program used at ports of entry to scan vehicles and cargo for anomalies such as fentanyl only scans approximately 2% of passenger vehicles and less than 20% of cargo vehicles due to the following issues identified by Customs and Border Patrol (CBP): 

    • Only one-third of the passenger vehicle NII scanning systems CBP plans to use at ports of entry have the capability to adequately scan the undercarriage of vehicles, where fentanyl is often located;
    • Certain NII technology can’t physically fit at ports of entry located on bridges and surrounded by privately-owned land;
    • Machines that scan for weapons of mass destruction (WMD) can’t be placed near cargo scanning machines because of the radiation they release, which causes WMD scanning machines to make false detections;
    • And lines at POEs continue to be eight to 12 hours long during peak times at busier ports.

    The Senate version of this bill was introduced by U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and passed out of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (HSGAC) earlier this year. The House companion is led by U.S. Representatives Clay Higgins (R-LA) and Seth Magaziner (D-RI). The bill text can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mullin Leads Colleagues in Urging Biden-Harris Administration to Remove Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Politics from Support Services and Nutrition Programs for Seniors

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator MarkWayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma)

    Mullin Leads Colleagues in Urging Biden-Harris Administration to Remove Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Politics from Support Services and Nutrition Programs for Seniors

    U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, led his colleagues in authoring a letter to the Administration for Community Living (ACL) to express concern about its recent regulation to require states to prioritize delivering Older Americans Act meal and support services to individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. The lawmakers outline the harmful consequences of this recent change and urge the ACL to reverse its rulemaking.
    The Older Americans Act (OAA) authorizes support services and nutrition programs for older Americans such as congregate meal services, home-delivered meals (e.g. Meals on Wheels), transportation assistance, and caregiver respite. Since all older Americans qualify for services, states and area agencies on aging are required to prioritize the delivery of meals and support services to those with the “Greatest Social Need” and the “Greatest Economic Need.” The Biden-Harris administration’s new regulation under the OAA expands the definition of the “Greatest Social Need” to include social isolation caused by sexual orientation and gender identity among other factors. This expansion has not been approved by Congress and state administrators of OAA services have yet to determine how to comply with this new requirement.
    “The Older Americans Act was designed to fulfill essential services for our seniors, not serve as a vehicle for Kamala Harris’ gender identity politics. This expansion diminishes the prioritization placed on serving rural seniors like those in my state of Oklahoma,” said Sen. Mullin. “The Biden-Harris administration has once again expanded bureaucratic overreach without the consent of Congress or any real plan of how states might carry out this regulation. I want to thank my colleagues for recognizing the harm this haphazard expansion will cause and joining me in this effort to reverse it.”
    Sen. Mullin is joined by Ranking Member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC), and Sen. James Lankford (R-OK).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: RM of Lac du Bonnet — Update – Lac du Bonnet RCMP respond to fatal two-vehicle collision

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On September 17, 2024, after an in-depth investigation and in consultation with Manitoba Public Prosecution Service, Lac du Bonnet RCMP arrested Paul Robinson, 37, from Winnipeg for Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle Causing Death and Impaired Operation of a Motor Vehicle While Impaired by Drug. These charges are in relation to the death of an 82-year-old male from the RM of Lac du Bonnet in August 2023.

    Robinson was released with a court date in Beausejour Provincial Court on November 4, 2024.

    On August 1, 2023, at approximately 6:20 am, Lac du Bonnet RCMP responded to a report of a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Provincial Road 313 and Channel Drive, located approximately 15 kilometres east of Lac du Bonnet.

    A pickup truck, being driven by a 32-year-old male from Winnipeg, was travelling eastbound on PR313 when it collided into the rear of a minivan, being driven by an 82-year-old male from the RM of Lac du Bonnet, which was in the process of making a left hand turn onto Channel Drive.

    The driver of the pickup truck was transported to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening physical injuries. The driver of the minivan was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced deceased on scene.

    Lac du Bonnet RCMP, along with a Forensic Collision Reconstructionist, continue to investigate.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McConnell: Subservience To Autocrats Neither An American Value Nor Strategic Interest

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell
    ‘Hungary’s leaders have made no secret of their conviction that the future is one of American decline. They’re not hiding the ways they’re preparing for American weakness and betting on our failure. There’s nothing tough about bowing to autocrats. And there’s nothing for America’s leaders to gain by praising those who do.’
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding NATO:
    “I’ve spoken frequently about the welcome signs that America’s European allies are waking up to the strategic challenge posed by the PRC, and to the dangers of predatory Chinese influence in their own backyards.
    “Like America, our allies are watching the flaws of China’s statist economic model laid bare. They’re increasingly wary to hitch their wagons to a totalitarian system that stifles innovation, discourages free thought, and complicates free enterprise.
    “They’re hesitant to take risks in a system where the rule of law is trampled by the whims of the state, and assets are subject to expropriation by the regime.
    “Encouraging progress, like a German security strategy that explicitly recognizes the Chinese threat, and efforts across the EU to reduce reliance on Chinese technologies, presents opportunities for the West to work closer together. To secure supply chains. And to lower barriers to cooperation among allies.
    “Unfortunately, this progress is not across-the-board. China may not be a safe business partner, but it’s still an enticing one for far too many economies… including within the NATO alliance.
    “I’ve spoken before about Hungary’s decade-long drift into the orbit of the West’s most determined adversaries. It’s an alarming trend. And nobody – certainly not the American conservatives who increasingly form a cult of personality around Prime Minister Viktor Orban – can pretend not to see it.
    “Hungary’s leaders aren’t cozying up to Moscow, Beijing, and Tehran in private. They’re doing it publicly and vocally as well.
    “The Orban government has welcomed China’s view of a ‘European bridgehead’ in Hungary as the perfect complement to its own declared policy of an ‘opening to the East.’ And it hasn’t been shy about turning words into actions.
    “When Chinese state enterprise has said jump, Hungarian officials have asked, how high?
    “As European allies began to heed warnings from the Trump Administration to reduce reliance on Chinese industry and technology, Budapest repeatedly blocked EU progress and welcomed a geyser of Chinese Belt-and-Road investment.
    “Included in the torrent of PRC influence was five-hundred-million Euros from a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer to build a new facility on Hungarian soil… and another seven-billion-euro investment in a new EV battery plant.
    “Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of a former vassal of Russian communism has nothing but praise for the neo-Soviet imperialist responsible for the first major land war in Europe since 1945.
    “Viktor Orban describes the regime that has sacrificed tens- if not hundreds of thousands of Russian lives and more than $200 billion dollars in military force for its unprovoked – and thus far unsuccessful – aggression against Ukraine as ‘hyper-rational’.
    “But this NATO Prime Minister doesn’t just admire Putin. He helps him. His government runs interference for Moscow, gumming up European and trans-Atlantic efforts to combat Russia’s unlawful aggression at every turn.
    “European allies are providing more assistance to Ukraine than the US is, but Americans who complain the EU isn’t doing more to help Ukraine should look no further than to Budapest’s efforts to block additional EU assistance for the answer.
    “And then there’s Budapest’s relationship with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Hungary’s Foreign Minister has bemoaned that ongoing international sanctions make it ‘really challenging to build effective economic and trade cooperation’ with the world’s most active state sponsor of terror.
    “I have little sympathy for Hungarian companies that struggle to profit from their ties to the genocidal regime in Tehran.
    “Of course, that hasn’t stopped Hungarian firms from committing tens of millions of dollars to financing joint nuclear projects with Iran.
    “It didn’t stop a national Hungarian university from inviting the former Iranian President to a conference on ‘common values in the global environment’.
    “’Common values’ with Tehran. And here I thought it was American conservatives who claimed shared values with Hungary’s ruling party. Has the Orban government forgot its adoring fans on this side of the Atlantic?
    “No. Hungary’s leaders have made no secret of their conviction that the future is one of American decline. They’re not hiding the ways they’re preparing for American weakness and betting on our failure.
    “There’s nothing tough about bowing to autocrats. And there’s nothing for America’s leaders to gain by praising those who do.
    “Subservience to revanchist powers is not an American value. But far more importantly, it is not in America’s interests.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mann Rejects Continuation of Fiscal Insanity

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Tracey Mann (Kansas, 1)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (KS-01) voted against H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025. The legislation, which passed in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 341-82, fails to reduce government spending, protect the integrity of the upcoming U.S. election, or tackle America’s $35 trillion debt. Rep. Mann released the following statement after the vote.

    “I did not come to Congress to be a caretaker in the slow demise of America,” said Rep. Mann. “Our country currently has $35 trillion in debt that our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren will be responsible for. We cannot continue to do the same thing over and over again and expect different results. Kansans regularly tell me that the economy and the federal government’s reckless spending are two of their top concerns. I will not contribute to the decimation of America’s fiscal house by supporting spending bills that fail to prioritize the real needs of America. It is Congress’ job to pass 12 individual appropriations bills each year to fund the government. We must return to regular order, stop kicking the can down the road, and do our job.”

    In March 2024, Rep. Mann voted against H.R. 1061, the first part of a $1.66 trillion spending package. Mann also opposed the second vehicle in the spending package that further exceeded spending caps and ballooned the national debt.

    H.R. 9747 will now go to the U.S. Senate for further consideration.

    ###

    For more information about Representative Mann, visit: www.mann.house.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The Marshall Star for September 25, 2024

    Source: NASA

    By Wayne Smith
    NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center honored top contractors, subcontractors, teams, and individuals of fiscal year 2024 at the 38th meeting of Marshall’s Small Business Alliance. The awards honor aerospace companies and leaders who have demonstrated support of the center’s small business programs and NASA’s mission of exploration.

    The event took place Sept. 19 at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s Davidson Center for Space Exploration in Huntsville. Around 650 participants from industry and government gathered to network, learn about business opportunities, and recognize outstanding achievements in support of NASA’s mission and the small business community. Those attending represented 32 states and 10 nations.
    “The Marshall Small Business Alliance is an outreach tool designed to introduce the business community to the NASA marketplace,” said David Brock, small business specialist for the agency’s Office of Small Business Programs at Marshall. “Those in attendance can gain valuable insight into Marshall’s exciting programs and projects, upcoming procurement opportunities, and get an opportunity to network with Marshall prime contractors.”
    Marshall Director Joseph Pelfrey welcomed attendees, while Jeramie Broadway, deputy director of Marshall’s Office of Strategic Analysis and Communications, provided an update on the center for fiscal year 2025 and beyond.
    Marshall’s Industry & Advocate Awards are presented annually and reflect leadership in business community and sustained achievement in service to NASA’s mission.
    “We are excited about this year’s winners,” Brock said. “Each play a key role in helping NASA achieve successes in support of key programs and projects, including the Human Landing System and Space Launch System rocket. Maintaining and sustaining an experienced and competitive industry base is what makes America strong, and small businesses are at the core of those successes.”

    Marshall manages the Human Landing System and Space Launch System programs.
    This year’s award recipients are:
    Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year
    Media Fusion
    Small Business Subcontractor of the Year
    Zin Technologies
    Large Business Prime Contractor of the Year
    Jacobs
    Mentor-Protégé Agreement of the Year
    Jacobs (mentor) and CodePlus (protégé)
    Procurement Person of the Year
    Joseph Tynes  
    Program Person of the Year
    Patrick McVay
    Small Business Technical Coordinator of the Year
    Leah Fox
    Technical Person of the Year
    David Hood

    NASA civil service employees nominate eligible individuals and organizations for awards. A panel of NASA procurement and technical officials evaluates each nominee’s business practices, innovative processes, adoption of new technologies and their overall contributions to NASA’s mission and the agency’s Small Business Program.
    Award recipients in the following categories become candidates for agency-level Small Business Industry and Advocate Awards:

    Large and Small Business Prime Contractors of the Year
    Small Business Subcontractor of the Year
    Procurement Team or Person
    Technical, Small Business Technical Coordinator/Technical Advisor
    Program Person or Team of the Year

    Learn more about Marshall’s small business initiatives.
    Smith, a Media Fusion employee and the Marshall Star editor, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.
    › Back to Top

    By Serena Whitfield
    A new flag is reaching for the Moon outside the Huntsville Operations Support Center at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center following a Sept.19 ceremony, marking contributions from center team members toward the launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission.
    The Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station will carry NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. The mission is scheduled to launch Sept. 28 no earlier than 12:17 p.m. CDT.

    Crew-9 will be the first human spaceflight mission to launch from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This is the ninth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the orbiting laboratory under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program (CCP). The crew will spend approximately five months at the station, conducting more than 200 science and research demonstrations before returning in February 2025.
    Once aboard the space station, Hague and Gorbunov will become members of the Expedition 72 crew and perform research, technology demonstrations, and maintenance activities. The pair will join NASA astronauts Don Petitt, Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams, as well as Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner. Wilmore and Williams, who launched aboard the Starliner spacecraft in June, will fly home with Hague and Gorbunov in February 2025.

    The flag raising has been a tradition for missions supported at Marshall’s Huntsville Operations Support Center (HOSC), as well as a tradition within the CCP to celebrate the successful conclusion of NASA’s Agency Flight Readiness Review prior to launch. The HOSC provides engineering and mission operations support for the space station, the CCP, and Artemis missions, as well as science and technology demonstration missions. The Payload Operations Integration Center within HOSC operates, plans, and coordinates the science experiments onboard the space station 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.
    The CCP support team at Marshall provides crucial programmatic, engineering, and safety and mission assurance expertise for launch vehicles, spacecraft propulsion, and integrated vehicle performance. Marshall’s role within the CCP is to support certification that the spacecraft and launch vehicle are ready for launch. The support team performs engineering expertise, particularly for propulsion, as well as program management, safety and mission assurance, and spacecraft support. 

    The flag-raising ceremony was a joint effort between the Payload and Mission Operations Division (PMOD) and CCP team. Dave Gwaltney, technical assistant, specialty systems, and Commercial Crew Program representative, gave the introductions. He recognized Brady Doepke, structural analyst for liquid propulsion systems, for his significant contributions in preparation for Crew-9 mission success. Gwaltney said Doepke exemplified leadership and innovation through his guidance of Marshall’s CCP engineering team, which resulted in a successful risk assessment of the updated SpaceX turbine wheel fleet leader acceptance criteria.
    Payload and Mission Operations Division Manager Nicole Pelfrey also recognized Thomas “Reid” Lawrence as the division’s Crew-9 honoree.
    “Reid serves dutifully in the HOSC as part of the HOSC’s Data Operations Control Room Operations Engineers,” Pelfrey said. “Reid has a number of technical specialties, including his expertise in the Backup Control Center activation procedures. This expertise has been vital over the past year as JSC has worked through power upgrades. He also diligently ensures our ISS payload users receive their data and is a key engineer for the testing, verification, and operation of our HOSC interfaces that support commercial crew communications.”
    Whitfield is an intern supporting the Marshall Office of Communications.
    › Back to Top

    NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center hosted the Rossi Prize Recognition Dinner at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville on Sept. 18. The dinner was held to recognize the IXPE (Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer) team members honored with the Bruno Rossi Prize, a top prize in high-energy astronomy. From left, Martin Weisskopf, Rossi Prize awardee and NASA emeritus scientist, who served as the principal investigator for IXPE during its development, launch, and commissioning; Paolo Soffitta, Rossi Prize awardee, and the Italian Space Agency’s principal investigator for IXPE; Hashima Hasan, program scientist for IXPE at NASA Headquarters; Andrea Marinucci, IXPE team member and researcher with the Italian Space Agency; and Marshall Director Joseph Pelfrey, who provided welcome remarks at the dinner. “The Bruno Rossi Prize highlights how partnerships and teamwork can push the boundaries of scientific knowledge,” Pelfrey said. “The (IXPE) mission, a groundbreaking collaboration between NASA and the Italian Space Agency, represents over 30 years of dedicated effort and stands as a testament to the innovative work of a truly multinational team.” (NASA/Jennifer Deermer)

    Rossi Prize winners Weisskopf and Soffitta, center seated, are joined by a plush goat, the unofficial mascot of the IXPE mission, and other IXPE team members at the Rossi Prize Recognition Dinner. Read more about the award and the prize winners. (NASA/Jennifer Deermer)
    › Back to Top

    By Wayne Smith
    Talk with Shannon Segovia for any length of time and you’ll quickly discover the care and enthusiasm she has for her position as director of the Office of Communications at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. And that care and enthusiasm extends to those she works with across the center to share news about Marshall missions and team members.
    In her role, Segovia oversees a team responsible for media relations and public affairs, digital and social media, stakeholder relations and engagement, internal and employee communications, and executive communications for the center.

    “We manage these activities for the entire center of about 7,000 people, so it is a definitely a very busy job!” said Segovia, a native of Athens, Alabama, who was named as permanent communications director this summer after more than 12 years at Marshall.
    She was the deputy director of communications starting in June 2023 after working as Marshall’s news chief and public affairs team lead starting in 2019. From 2012 to 2019, Segovia was a public affairs officer at the center. Prior to joining NASA, she was the communications manager for the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Sequoyah Nuclear Plant near Chattanooga, Tennessee.
     At Marshall, she said it’s the people who continue to be her biggest motivators.
    “As a public servant, I want the people I serve – the people who follow our channels, listen to the news stories we create, and attend our events – to know why NASA’s missions are important and critical to the world we live in,” Segovia said. “I am so fortunate to have such a brilliant team, and they motivate me daily with their hard work.”
    “I’m also motivated by my husband and family because I want to make them proud. I want my nieces and nephews to have a bright future, and I truly believe the work we are doing at NASA will help them do that.”
    Question: What excites you most about the future of human space exploration, or your NASA work, and your team’s role it?
    Segovia: NASA’s missions depend on public and stakeholder support, and that is what our office does – ensures people know what we are doing at NASA and specifically at Marshall, why it is important, and how our missions are benefiting humanity. From social media posts to events like the South Star music festival to interviews with media outlets and stakeholder tours, we use every channel we can to tell others about the work we are doing at Marshall and NASA. Our office touches every organization at the center, and it is so exciting to have a front seat to everything we are doing to get humans back to the Moon and on to Mars.

    Question: What has been the proudest moment of your career and why?
    Segovia: I helped take a team of 12 Marshall female engineers to The Today Show in 2019 for a segment about International Women’s Day. As a public affairs specialist, one of our job duties is to prepare subject matter experts for interviews, making sure they have messages, talking points, and anything else they need. I have never been more proud to be a woman and to work for Marshall than I was that day, seeing how well these women represented NASA and the extraordinary achievements they have made possible. It also made me even more thankful for the job I have – preparing them to make sure they felt confident and could talk about their work was a wonderful experience. The other moment in my career I will never forget is the Artemis I launch in November 2022. I’ve supported the Space Launch System since I started working at NASA, and seeing that rocket fly was one of the best moments of my career. It was the culmination of so much hard work and sacrifice from so many people and was truly an overwhelming and amazing experience.
    Question: Who or what inspired you to pursue an education/career that led you to NASA and Marshall?
    Segovia: My parents have always been my No. 1 fans, encouragers, and supporters. They instilled in me a strong work ethic and the belief I could do anything I wanted to do if I worked hard. They made education a priority for my brothers and I and would do anything to help us succeed. I am so fortunate to have such a wonderful family. My mom always wanted me to do something in the medical field, but a biology course in college changed my mind quickly on that. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do but had been at school for two years and needed to declare a major. I liked to write and read but didn’t know how to make a career out of that until I went to a journalism class taught by Ms. Bobbie Hurt at the University of North Alabama, and I was hooked. She became my mentor and really taught me how to be a good writer, which has been the foundation for my entire career. I ended up with a double major in journalism and public relations, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made.
    Question: What advice do you have for employees early in their NASA career or those in new leadership roles?
    Segovia: Find people to whom you can go to for advice, who have your back, and can help you accomplish your goals. I’ve had some amazing mentors, teammates, and bosses who have not only supported me but pushed me to do things I wasn’t sure I could do and helped me even when I messed up. I would not be here without them, and I think it is so important to have those people in your entire career, but especially when you are new. Ask for help when you need it. Time flies, so enjoy the season and job you are in. You will know when it is time to move on, but being present and learning from where you are will help you succeed.
    Question: What do you enjoy doing with your time while away from work?
    Segovia: I love the water – ocean, river, pool, lake – I like being outside and water activities. I love to read and travel, and also to spend time with family and friends. I have three nieces and two nephews, and I like to go to their games and activities. I have a 4-year-old terrier mix named Ted and I enjoy taking him on walks and to the park.
    Smith, a Media Fusion employee and the Marshall Star editor, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.
    › Back to Top

    NASA has awarded a total of $1.5 million to two U.S. teams for their novel technology solutions addressing energy distribution, management, and storage as part of the agency’s Watts on the Moon Challenge. The innovations from this challenge aim to support NASA’s Artemis missions, which will establish long-term human presence on the Moon.

    This two-phase competition has challenged U.S. innovators to develop breakthrough power transmission and energy storage technologies that could enable long-duration Moon missions to advance the nation’s lunar exploration goals. The final phase of the challenge concluded with a technology showcase and winners’ announcement ceremony Sept. 20 at Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland, Ohio, home of the visitor center for NASA’s Glenn Research Center.
    “Congratulations to the finalist teams for developing impactful power solutions in support of NASA’s goal to sustain human presence on the Moon,” said Kim Krome-Sieja, acting program manager for Centennial Challenges at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. “These technologies seek to improve our ability to explore and make discoveries in space and could have implications for improving power systems on Earth.”

    The winning teams are:

    First prize ($1 million): H.E.L.P.S. (High Efficiency Long-Range Power Solution) of Santa Barbara, California
    Second prize ($500,000): Orbital Mining Corporation of Golden, Colorado

    Four teams were invited to refine their hardware and deliver full system prototypes in the final stage of the competition, and three finalist teams completed their technology solutions for demonstration and assessment at Glenn. The technologies were the first power transmission and energy storage prototypes to be tested by NASA in a vacuum chamber mimicking the freezing temperature and absence of pressure found at the permanently shadowed regions of the Lunar South Pole. The simulation required the teams’ power systems to demonstrate operability over six hours of solar daylight and 18 hours of darkness with the user three kilometers (nearly two miles) away from the power source.
    During this competition stage, judges scored the finalists’ solutions based on a Total Effective System Mass (TESM) calculation, which measures the effectiveness of the system relative to its size and weight – or mass – and the total energy provided by the power source. The highest-performing solution was identified based on having the lowest TESM value – imitating the challenges that space missions face when attempting to reduce mass while meeting the mission’s electrical power needs.

    Team H.E.L.P.S. (High Efficiency Long-Range Power Solution) from University of California, Santa Barbara, won the grand prize for their hardware solution, which had the lowest mass and highest efficiency of all competitors. The technology also featured a special cable operating at 800 volts and an innovative use of energy storage batteries on both ends of the transmission system. They also employed a variable radiation shield to switch between conserving heat during cold periods and disposing of excess heat during high power modes. The final 48-hour test proved their system design effectively met the power transmission, energy storage, and thermal challenges in the final phase of competition.
    Orbital Mining Corporation, a space technology startup, received the second prize for its hardware solution that also successfully completed the 48-hour test with high performance. They employed a high-voltage converter system coupled with a low-mass cable and a lithium-ion battery.
    “The energy solutions developed by the challenge teams are poised to address NASA’s space technology priorities,” said Amy Kaminski, program executive for Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing in NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. “These solutions support NASA’s recently ranked civil space shortfalls, including in the top category of surviving and operating through the lunar night.”

    [embedded content]
    Watch the finale of NASA’s Watts on the Moon challenge, a $5 million, two-phase competition designed to develop breakthrough power transmission and energy storage technologies.

    During the technology showcase and winners’ announcement ceremony, NASA experts, media, and members of the public gathered to see the finalist teams’ technologies and hear perspectives from the teams’ participation in the challenge. After the winners were announced, event attendees were also welcome to meet NASA astronaut Stephen Bowen.
    The Watts on the Moon Challenge is a NASA Centennial Challenge led by Glenn. Marshall manages Centennial Challenges, which are part of the agency’s Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing program in the Space Technology Mission Directorate. NASA contracted HeroX to support the administration of this challenge.
    › Back to Top

    Manufacturing equipment that will be used to build components for NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket for future Artemis missions is being installed at the agency’s Michoud Assembly Facility.
    The novel tooling will be used to produce the SLS rocket’s advanced exploration upper stage, or EUS, in the factory’s new manufacturing area. The EUS will serve as the upper, or in-space, stage for all Block 1B and Block 2 SLS flights in both crew and cargo configurations.

    In tandem, NASA and Boeing, the SLS lead contractor for the core stage and exploration upper stage, are producing structural test articles and flight hardware structures for the upper stage at Michoud and the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center. Early manufacturing is already underway at Michoud while preparations for an engine-firing test series for the upper stage are in progress at nearby Stennis Space Center.
    “The newly modified manufacturing space for the exploration upper stage signifies the start of production for the next evolution of SLS Moon rockets at Michoud,” said Hansel Gill, director at Michoud. “With Orion spacecraft manufacturing and SLS core stage assembly in flow at Michoud for the past several years, standing up a new production line and enhanced capability at Michoud for EUS is a significant achievement and a reason for anticipation and enthusiasm for Michoud and the SLS Program.”

    The advanced upper stage for SLS is planned to make its first flight with Artemis IV and replaces the single-engine Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) that serves as the in-space stage on the initial SLS Block 1 configuration of the rocket. With its larger liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellant tanks feeding four L3 Harris Technologies- built RL10C-3 engines, the EUS generates nearly four times the thrust of the ICPS, providing unrivaled lift capability to the SLS Block 1B and Block 2 rockets and making a new generation of crewed lunar missions possible.
    This upgraded and more powerful rocket will increase the SLS rocket’s payload to the Moon by 40%, from 27 metric tons (59,525 lbs.) with Block 1 to 38 metric tons (83,776 lbs.) in the crew configuration. Launching crewed missions along with other large payloads enables multiple large-scale objectives to be accomplished in a single mission.

    Through the Artemis campaign, NASA will land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the Moon. The rocket is part of NASA’s deep space exploration plans, along with the Orion spacecraft, supporting ground systems, advanced spacesuits and rovers, Gateway in orbit around the Moon, and commercial human landing systems. NASA’s SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.
    NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center manages the SLS Program and Michoud.
    › Back to Top

    Chris Pereira can personally attest to the immense gravitational attraction of black holes. He’s been in love with space ever since he saw a video on the topic in a high school science class.
    But it wasn’t just any science class. It was one specially designed for English learners.

    “I was born and raised in Guatemala,” Pereira said. “I came here at 14 unable to speak any English.”
    Pereira did not know how to navigate the U.S. educational system either, but after that class, he was certain he wanted a career in space.
    Thus began a journey that ultimately landed him at L3Harris Technologies, where he works in the Aerojet Rocketdyne segment as an engineer and operations integrator on the RS-25 engine – used to power the core stage of NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket that will launch astronauts to the Moon under NASA’s Artemis campaign.
    Pereira’s first step was to stay after class and ask to borrow a copy of the video on black holes. His teacher not only obliged but took him across the street to the local library to get his first library card.
    Pereira quickly recognized that the pathway to his desired career in space was through higher education. It was equally clear, however, that he was not yet on that pathway. English as a Second Language classes, including that science class, did not count toward college admissions. His guidance counselor, meanwhile, was nudging him toward the trades.
    But with the help of teachers and a new guidance counselor, he got himself on the college-bound track.
    “I came to understand there were multiple career pathways to explore my interest in space,” Pereira said. “One was engineering.”
    There was a lot of catching up to do, so Pereira took eight classes per day, including honors courses. He also worked every day after school cleaning a gymnasium from 6 to 11 p.m. to help his family make ends meet.
    Pereira earned his mechanical engineering degree at California State University at Los Angeles while also working as a senior educator at the California Science Center to cover the cost of his college tuition and living expenses.
    Pereira’s first career experience was as an intern in manufacturing engineering at Aerojet Rocketdyne. “I learned that making 100% mission-success engines requires a strong culture of attention to detail, teamwork and solid work ethics.” Pereira said. His first full-fledged engineering job was with Honeywell Aerospace working on aircraft programs.
    Eventually, space came calling – literally. “My mentor at Aerojet Rocketdyne called me up and said, ‘Chris, I have a job for you,’” Pereira said.
    He began his new job working on rocket engine programs including the AR1 and RS-68 but shifted to the RS-25 after NASA awarded Aerojet Rocketdyne a contract for newly manufactured versions of the engine. Initial versions of the SLS are using refurbished engines from the Space Shuttle Program. Evolved versions of the RS-25 recently concluded a critical test series and will debut with the fifth Artemis flight.
    As RS-25’s operations integrator, Pereira is responsible for ensuring that the many pieces of the program – from tracking on-time procurement of supplies and labor loads to coordinating priorities on various in-demand machine centers – come together to deliver a quality product.
    Playing a key role in the nation’s effort to return astronauts to the Moon feels a bit like coming home again, Pereira said. “You develop your first love, work really hard, take different pathways and encounter new passions,” he said. “It’s almost funny how the world and life work out – it’s like I’ve taken a big circle back to my first love.”
    NASA is working to land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Orion spacecraft, supporting ground systems, advanced spacesuits and rovers, the Gateway in orbit around the Moon, and commercial human landing systems. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.
    NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center manages the SLS Program.
    Read other I Am Artemis features.
    › Back to Top

    Renee Weber, chief scientist at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, talks during the “Legacy of the Invisible” event in downtown Huntsville on Sept. 20. About 300 people attended the event, which coincided with the 25th anniversary of the launch of the Chandra X-ray Observatory. The celebration featured “No Straight Lines,” a new mural at the corner of Clinton Avenue and Washington Street by local artist Float. The mural honors Huntsville’s rich scientific legacy in astrophysics and highlights the groundbreaking discoveries made possible by Marshall scientists and engineers. Other speakers included Collen Wilson-Hodge, principal investigator of the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. The event also offered members of the community the opportunity to meet the scientists who worked on some of NASA’s most revolutionary astrophysics missions. Featured exhibits from Marshall included the Apollo Telescope mount, the main science instrument on Skylab; the High Energy Astrophysics Program (HEAO); the BATSE instrument on the Compton Gamma-ray Observatory; Chandra X-ray Observatory; Fermi; IXPE (Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer); and Marshall’s X-Ray and Cryogenic Facility. “I had a really nice time at the event,” Weber said. “It’s always great to see such interest and enthusiasm in our science work from the public.” Wilson-Hodge said the mural is an artistic depiction of the historic event detected with the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor and the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory on Aug. 17, 2017. “On that day, for the first time ever, we observed both a gamma-ray burst and gravitational waves from two very dense neutron stars merging to form a black hole,” she said. (NASA/Serena Whitfield)

    From left to right, scientists and astrophysicists from Marshall, Cori Fletcher, Michelle Hui, Steven Ehlert, Weber, Colleen Wilson-Hodge, Lisa Gibby, and the artist Float pose for a photo in front of the “No Straight Lines” mural at the corner of Clinton Avenue and Washington Street in Huntsville. (NASA/Serena Whitfield)
    › Back to Top

    Astronomers using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory have found a galaxy cluster has two streams of superheated gas crossing one another. This result shows that crossing the streams may lead to the creation of new structure.

    Researchers have discovered an enormous, comet-like tail of hot gas – spanning over 1.6 million light-years long – trailing behind a galaxy within the galaxy cluster called Zwicky 8338 (Z8338 for short). This tail, spawned as the galaxy had some of its gas stripped off by the hot gas it is hurtling through, has split into two streams.
    This is the second pair of tails trailing behind a galaxy in this system. Previously, astronomers discovered a shorter pair of tails from a different galaxy near this latest one. This newer and longer set of tails was only seen because of a deeper observation with Chandra that revealed the fainter X-rays.
    Astronomers now have evidence that these streams trailing behind the speeding galaxies have crossed one another. Z8338 is a chaotic landscape of galaxies, superheated gas, and shock waves (akin to sonic booms created by supersonic jets) in one relatively small region of space. These galaxies are in motion because they were part of two galaxy clusters that collided with each other to create Z8338.
    This new composite image shows this spectacle. X-rays from Chandra (represented in purple) outline the multimillion-degree gas that outweighs all of the galaxies in the cluster. The Chandra data also shows where this gas has been jettisoned behind the moving galaxies. Meanwhile an optical image from the Dark Energy Survey from the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile shows the individual galaxies peppered throughout the same field of view.
    The original gas tail discovered in Z8338 is about 800,000 light-years long and is seen as vertical in this image. The researchers think the gas in this tail is being stripped away from a large galaxy as it travels through the galaxy cluster. The head of the tail is a cloud of relatively cool gas about 100,000 light-years away from the galaxy it was stripped from. This tail is also separated into two parts.

    The team proposes that the detachment of the tail from the large galaxy may have been caused by the passage of the other, longer tail. Under this scenario, the tail detached from the galaxy because of the crossing of the streams.
    The results give useful information about the detachment and destruction of clouds of cooler gas like those seen in the head of the detached tail. This work shows that the cloud can survive for at least 30 million years after it is detached. During that time, a new generation of stars and planets may form within it.
    The Z8338 galaxy cluster and its jumble of galactic streams are located about 670 million light-years from Earth. A paper describing these results appeared in the Aug. 8, 2023, issue of the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society and is available here.
    NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center manages the Chandra program. The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory’s Chandra X-ray Center controls science operations from Cambridge, Massachusetts, and flight operations from Burlington, Massachusetts.
    Read more from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory.
    › Back to Top

    What does it take to build a massive spacecraft that will seek to determine if a mysterious moon has the right ingredients for life? Find out in a new video series called “Behind the Spacecraft,” which offers behind-the-scenes glimpses into the roles of five engineers working on NASA’s Europa Clipper mission, from building the spacecraft’s communications systems to putting it through rigorous tests so the orbiter can meet its science goals in space.

    [embedded content]

    With its launch period opening Oct. 10, Europa Clipper is the agency’s first mission dedicated to exploring an ocean world beyond Earth. The spacecraft will travel 1.8 billion miles to the Jupiter system, where it will investigate the gas giant’s moon Europa, which scientists believe contains a global saltwater ocean beneath its icy shell.
    The videos are being released here weekly. The first two are already out.
    Meet the team:

    Dipak Srinivasan, lead communications systems engineer at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, makes sure the Europa Clipper team can communicate with the spacecraft. Learn more about his work in the video above.
    Sarah Elizabeth McCandless, navigation engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, helped plan Europa Clipper’s trajectory, ensuring the spacecraft arrives at Jupiter safely and has a path to fly by Europa dozens of times. Learn more about Sarah’s work here.
    Jenny Kampmeier, a science systems engineer at JPL, acts as an interface between mission scientists and engineers.
    Andres Rivera, a systems engineer at JPL and first-generation American, works on Europa Clipper’s cruise phase — the journey from Earth to Jupiter.
    Valeria Salazar, an integration and test engineer at JPL who spent her childhood in Mexico, helped test the Europa Clipper spacecraft to ensure its launch readiness.

    Europa Clipper experts will answer questions about the mission in a NASA Science Live show airing in English on Oct. 1, and in Spanish on Oct. 3. The broadcasts will appear on NASA+, YouTube, Facebook, and X. The Spanish broadcast will be streamed on the NASA en Español YouTube channel. Viewers can submit questions on social media using the hashtag #askNASA or by leaving a comment in the chat section of the Facebook or YouTube stream.
    Europa Clipper is the largest spacecraft NASA has ever developed for a planetary mission and will fly through the most punishing radiation environment of any planet in the solar system. The spacecraft will orbit Jupiter and, during multiple flybys of Europa, will collect a wealth of scientific data with nine science instruments and an experiment that uses its telecommunications system to gather gravity data.
    Managed by Caltech in Pasadena, California, JPL leads the development of the Europa Clipper mission in partnership with the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. The main spacecraft body was designed by APL in collaboration with JPL and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. The Planetary Missions Program Office at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center executes program management of the Europa Clipper mission. NASA’s Launch Services Program, based at Kennedy, manages the launch service for the Europa Clipper spacecraft.
    › Back to Top

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two appear in court charged with manslaughter of man in Erith

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Two men have appeared in court charged with manslaughter following the death of a man in Erith.

    Mark Pearce, 40 (28.01.84) of Lower Road, Bexley and Markie Collins, 18 (16.04.06) of Galleon Close, Bexley, have been charged with the manslaughter of Amamudin Alikhel, referred to as Ali Khan.

    Police were called at approximately 22:25hrs on Monday, 28 August 2023 to reports of a man injured after being struck by a bus in West Road, Erith.

    Officers and London Ambulance Service attended. Ali Khan, was pronounced dead at the scene. An investigation was launched after it became apparent that there had been an altercation prior to the victim being struck by the bus.

    Pearce and Collins both appeared at Bromley Magistrates Court on Wednesday, 18 September. They were bailed to appear at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, 16 October

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – [KEYWORDS STUDIOS PLC – 24 09 2024] – (CGWL)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3

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

    1.        KEY INFORMATION

    (a)   Full name of discloser: CANACCORD GENUITY WEALTH LIMITED (for Discretionary clients)
    (b)   Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
            The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.    		 N/A
    (c)   Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
            Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree    		 KEYWORDS STUDIOS PLC
    (d)   If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: N/A
    (e)   Date position held/dealing undertaken:
            For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure    		 24 SEPTEMBER 2024
    (f)   In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
            If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”    		 N/A

    2.        POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

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

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

    Class of relevant security: 1p ORDINARY
      Interests Short positions
    Number % Number %
    (1)   Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 1,386,045 1.7216    
    (2)   Cash-settled derivatives:        
    (3)   Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        
    TOTAL: 1,386,045 1.7216    

    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

    (a)        Purchases and sales

    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit
    1p ORDINARY SALE 2,124 2430.0002p

    (b)        Cash-settled derivative transactions

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. CFD    		 Nature of dealing
    e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position    		 Number of reference securities Price per unit
    NONE        

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

    (i)        Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type
    e.g. American, European etc.    		 Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit
    NONE              

    (ii)        Exercise

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

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

    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing
    e.g. subscription, conversion    		 Details Price per unit (if applicable)
    NONE      

    4.        OTHER INFORMATION

    (a)        Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

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

    NONE

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

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

    NONE

    (c)        Attachments

    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO
    Date of disclosure: 25 SEPTEMBER 2024
    Contact name: PHIL HULME
    Telephone number: 01253 376551

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

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

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

    The MIL Network –