NewzIntel.com

Blog

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Single Employer Model grows with 29 new doctors starting work across regional NSW

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: Single Employer Model grows with 29 new doctors starting work across regional NSW

    Published: 6 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for Regional Health

    The NSW Government’s successful Single Employer Model is continuing to boost the regional health workforce, with another 29 doctors joining the Rural Generalist Single Employer Pathway (RGSEP) this week.

    RGSEP is an employment pathway for doctors seeking a career as a rural generalist who work across both primary care and hospital settings.

    Rural generalists are General Practitioners (GPs) who have an extended skill in a specialty area such as anaesthetics, obstetrics, paediatrics, emergency medicine, mental health or palliative care.

    RGSEP trainees are offered a length-of-training contract with a Local Health District (LHD) in regional NSW. This allows trainees to retain and use their NSW Health Award entitlements during GP training.

    Rural generalist trainees also receive the same pay and conditions as their hospital trained counterparts.

    The new recruits bring the total number of doctors participating in the Program to 44 across Far West, Illawarra Shoalhaven, Hunter New England, Mid North Coast, Murrumbidgee, Northern NSW, Southern NSW and Western NSW LHDs.

    RGSEP trainee Dr Marty Ryan has worked across health facilities in Temora, Cootamundra Gundagai and Wagga Wagga and is encouraging other doctors to consider becoming a rural generalist.

    Quotes attributable to Regional Health Minister Ryan Park:

    “I’m excited to welcome 29 new trainees to the Rural Generalist Single Employer Pathway, all with a commitment and passion for regional healthcare and communities.

    “The program supports rural generalist trainees throughout their training, helping to prepare them for a career providing our regional, rural and remote communities with the essential care they need.

    “This year, we have trainees working in regional centres such as Broken Hill, Tamworth and Dubbo, but also in GP practices in our smaller regional communities like Condobolin, Guyra and Tumut.

    “Being a rural generalist means being a part of the community. It’s a unique, challenging and rewarding career, and it’s exciting to see our trainee numbers continue to grow year on year.”

    Quotes attributable to Dr Marty Ryan, Rural Generalist Trainee:

    “The beauty of this model is it allows the seamless transition from the primary setting into a hospital under the one contract.

    “The breadth of experience you get as a rural generalist gives you so much job satisfaction and variety.

    “One moment you’re at a hospital treating someone with pneumonia and the next hour you’re back down at the general practice clinic. It’s constant mental stimulation. That’s why I love the job.

    “Growing up in a country town I know how deep the community spirit runs through them in the hard times as well as the good. It is such a special role and every day there are always compliments from patients who are so grateful to have you here.

    “I thoroughly recommend this program to other doctors who are thinking of becoming a rural generalist.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Wollongong businesses encouraged to pursue growth opportunities in South East Asia

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: Wollongong businesses encouraged to pursue growth opportunities in South East Asia

    Published: 6 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast, Minister for Industry and Trade

    The huge trade potential of Wollongong and the wider Illawarra area will be the focus of the latest NSW Government ASEAN Market Update for NSW Businesses series being held in Wollongong today.

    The updates provide local businesses with information about trends and export opportunities across Southeast Asian markets.

    The ASEAN bloc is NSW’s second-largest trading partner, with two-way trade in goods growing by more than nine per cent in the past year. Continued rapid growth is expected in sectors where NSW businesses excel, such as food and beverage, health, and the digital economy.

    Held in partnership with Asialink Business, today’s session will bring together around 80 participants, including Wollongong businesses, industry groups, and diplomatic representatives from Southeast Asian nations, at iAccelerate within the University of Wollongong’s Innovation Campus.

    Speakers at the forum include NSW exporters who have already utilised Investment NSW’s export support services to build connections and drive export sales across Southeast Asia.

    The NSW Government is focussed on promoting ASEAN market opportunities to NSW businesses, with the region expected to become the world’s fourth largest economy by 2040.

    The ASEAN Market Updates series, is supported by other initiatives led by Investment NSW to help small and medium businesses pursue international growth objectives in Southeast Asia and other important export markets around the globe.

    In 2024/25, these include supporting cleantech companies to export to Malaysia and Singapore, and wine to be exported to Vietnam.

    The ASEAN Market Updates series began with a session in Western Sydney last October and will continue in the coming months with events in the Northern Rivers, the Hunter and Wagga Wagga.

    For more information on how the NSW Government supports business to export, visit Investment NSW: https://www.investment.nsw.gov.au/export/

    Minister for Industry and Trade Anoulack Chanthivong said:

    “The ASEAN region is entering a golden age, propelled by a young population, industrialisation and technological advances, which present significant opportunities for NSW exporters.

    “ASEAN nations are actively pursuing economic growth, with an increasing focus on sustainable development, food and health resilience, the digital economy and skills.

    “My ASEAN Market Updates series is all about unlocking the potential of NSW businesses to export and partner with Southeast Asia, where our two-way trade is worth $33.6 billion and continuing to grow.

    “The attendance of so many senior ranking diplomats, including Ambassadors and Consuls General shows the international attractiveness of the NSW economy and is a big vote of confidence in the Illawarra region.”

    Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast Ryan Park said:

    “The Illawarra is home to innovative businesses with enormous export potential, and Southeast Asia presents a golden opportunity for growth.

    “The NSW Government is here to support Wollongong businesses every step of the way to ensure they can compete and thrive on the global stage.”

    Member for Wollongong Paul Scully said:

    “I’m more than willing to take any opportunity to help sell Wollongong to the world.

    “Wollongong has strong connections with the ASEAN region, but there remains enormous potential to take our trade and investment relationship to the next level.

    “The University of Wollongong has opened three campuses across Malaysia and has several research partnerships, which is just one example of how we’re cultivating deeper connections with the ASEAN region.

    “Today’s ASEAN Market Updates series is an important opportunity for our local businesses to learn more about this dynamic region and how exporting their products and services could turbocharge their growth.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Guardsmen Take On Operation Deep Freeze

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand  –  

    The 152nd Airlift Wing “High Rollers” from the Nevada Air National Guard achieved a historic first by participating in Operation Deep Freeze.

    The High Rollers supported the annual U.S. military mission in Antarctica by flying augmented max duty day missions, logging over 30 hours in three days in December. The operation challenges the U.S. military with Antarctica’s extreme and unpredictable environment— the coldest, windiest and most inhospitable continent on Earth.

    Rapidly changing weather conditions immediately confronted the High Rollers, operating out of Christchurch, delaying their inaugural mission until Dec. 18. Despite the setbacks, the team maintained readiness and transported 39 passengers and vital cargo to McMurdo Station in Antarctica aboard their C-130 Hercules aircraft. Their efforts provided significant relief to the 139th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron of the New York Air National Guard, which has handled the bulk of ODF missions for decades.

    The 139th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron uses LC-130 aircraft equipped with skis, enabling landings on ice and snow. The unit manages the north-south resupply runs between Christchurch and McMurdo Station and intra-Antarctic missions, including deliveries to remote research stations and the South Pole. This demanding workload has heavily strained their fleet and personnel.

    “We are so happy to see you guys here,” said Senior Master Sgt. Dave Ricks, the 139th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron’s superintendent. “We really appreciate the help that the High Rollers are providing.”

    A C-17 unit from Washington state supports north-south missions during the winter months. However, during the summer, warmer temperatures render the runways too slushy for C-17s to land.

    The High Rollers’ deployment to Operation Deep Freeze strengthens partnerships within the Air National Guard and reduces the operational burden on individual units. Col. Catherine Grush, 152nd Airlift Wing commander, highlighted the collaboration’s importance.

    “It is my hope that we can make this an enduring partnership with the New York Air National Guard and the National Science Foundation,” Grush said. “We are excited to help out and provide whatever support is needed from us.”

    The High Rollers brought fresh resources and enthusiasm to the mission, marking an important step in building capacity and resilience within the U.S. military’s Antarctic operations. Their success highlights the value of joint efforts in tackling the logistical and environmental challenges of operating at the bottom of the world.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command and Japan launch First Bilateral Space Effort

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    KAGOSHIMA, Japan  –  

    A U.S. space domain awareness payload hosted on Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite 6 (QZS-6) successfully launched on a Japanese H-3 launch vehicle from the Yoshinobu Launch Complex at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC) in Japan on February 2, 2025. This is the first bilateral U.S. Japan cooperative space effort focused on national security, and the first of two launches as part of the JAXA Quasi-Zenith Satellite System Hosted Payload (QZSS-HP) program.

    The satellite will be operated by Space Operations Command’s (SpOC) Mission Delta 2 (MD 2), which conducts Space Domain Awareness operations to identify, characterize, and exploit opportunities and mitigate vulnerabilities in the national security space terrain on behalf of the U.S. Space Force (USSF) and U.S. Space Command. The satellite will deliver near real time data to the Space Surveillance Network bolstering the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) understanding of the Geosynchronous Orbit regime above the Indo-Pacific region.

    “This launch is a historic milestone for the U.S.-Japan alliance,” said USSF Col. Bryon McClain, program executive officer for Space Systems Command’s (SSC) Space Domain Awareness and Combat Power. “In an increasingly contested space domain, Japan’s contribution to the U.S. DoD’s deterrence strategy has been, and will continue to be, key to INDOPACOM awareness and operations. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with Japan on space modernization, data sharing, satellite communications, and more.”

    “Congratulations to both nations on this achievement. Mission Delta 2 is honored to operate these payloads as they get on orbit on behalf of the USSF. These sensors will support the fusion of space- and ground-based Space Domain Awareness to further reinforce all-domain collective defense with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific,” explained USSF Col. Raj Agrawal, commander or SpOC’s Mission Delta 2.

    “I’m proud of the team for this achievement as the first launch in this first-ever bilateral collaboration,” said CMSgt. Jacqueline Sauve,’ SSC’s senior enlisted leader, who was on-site at TNSC for the launch. “This mission is just the beginning of what we can accomplish together with allies and partners.”

    The QZSS-HP program encompasses the integration, launch, and operations of two U.S. payloads hosted on Japanese satellites. In preparation for launch, USSF and Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory (MIT/LL) teams have worked side-by-side with the NSPS and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MELCO) teams in Japan over the past two years to integrate and test the first hosted payload alongside its Japanese QZS-6 host.

    Both U.S. payloads for this mission were designed and built by MIT/LL in Lexington, MA. The Japanese host Quasi-Zenith Satellites were designed and built by MELCO in Kamakura, Japan to augment the U.S. global positioning system (GPS) capabilities in the region. QZSS-HP utilizes the Multi-Mission Space Operations Center/Enterprise Command and Control – Schriever (MMSOC/EC2-S) enclave located in Colorado.

    “A key component to ensuring the success of the QZSS-HP mission is the ground infrastructure,” said USSF Col. Joe Roth, director of SSC’s Innovation and Prototyping Acquisition Delta. “Ensuring the ground piece exceeds expectation paves the way for continued successful partnership opportunities with our Asia-Pacific allies.”

    The strategic partnership between the USSF and Japan’s National Space Policy Secretariat (NSPS) originated through a December 2020 international agreement to jointly execute the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System-Hosted Payload (QZSS-HP) program. The mission’s second payload aboard QZS-7 is on track for launch in early FY2026.

    Space Systems Command is the U.S. Space Force field command responsible for acquiring, developing, and delivering resilient capabilities to protect our nation’s strategic advantage in, from, and to space. SSC manages a $15.6 billion space acquisition budget for the Department of Defense and works in partnership with joint forces, industry, government agencies, academic and allied organizations to outpace emerging threats. Our actions today are making the world a better space for tomorrow.

    Space Operations Command is the service force provider, focused on generating combat-ready Space forces, sourcing and providing forces for service and combatant commands, and advocating for combat-ready space power from future force to fielded force.

    Mission Delta 2 is the Space Force’s lead Delta for application of Space Domain Awareness to achieve our Nation’s interests in, from, and to space.

    Media representatives can submit questions for response regarding SSC by sending an e-mail to sscpa.media@spaceforce.mil

    Media representatives can submit questions for response regarding SpOC and MD 2 by sending an e-mail to spoc.pa.media@spaceforce.mil

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals Arrest Sexual Assault of a Child Suspect

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Dallas, TX – The U.S. Marshals Service – North Texas Fugitive Task Force apprehended in Roanoke Jan. 28 a man wanted by the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office for sexual assault of a child and by the USMS for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution.

    Joe Tarin, 30, who had been on the run for three years, made his initial appearance at the Tarrant County Courthouse Jan. 29.

    The arrest was a result of the coordination between multiple agencies, including the Forth Worth Police Department, Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office, the Grand Prairie Police Department, the Department of Public Safety, Texas Department of Criminal Justice – OIG, the Mansfield Police Department, the Dallas County Sheriffs Office, and the U.S. Marshals Service.

    The North Texas Fugitive Task Force is sponsored by the U.S. Marshals Service and is comprised of investigators from the U.S. Marshals Service, the Fort Worth Police Department, and other local law enforcement agencies. The task force’s primary mission is to locate, arrest and return to the justice system the most violent and egregious federal and state fugitives.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: CERo Therapeutics Announces $5 Million Public Offering Priced At-The-Market Under Nasdaq Rules

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SOUTH SAN FRANSCISCO, Calif., Feb. 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CERo Therapeutics Holdings, Inc., (Nasdaq: CERO) (“CERo” or the “Company”) an innovative immunotherapy company seeking to advance the next generation of engineered T cell therapeutics that employ phagocytic mechanisms, today announced the pricing of its “reasonable best efforts” public offering with participation from a member of the Company’s board and a single institutional investor for the purchase and sale of 2,551,020 shares of its common stock (or common stock equivalents in lieu thereof) and warrants to purchase up to 2,551,020 shares of common stock at a combined purchase price of $1.96 (the “Offering”). The warrants will have an exercise price of $1.96 per share, will be immediately exercisable upon stockholder approval and will expire 5 years from the initial exercise date.

    The closing of the Offering is expected to occur on or about February 7, 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The gross proceeds from the Offering are expected to be approximately $5 million, before deducting placement agent fees and other estimated offering expenses. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for advancement of our clinical programs and working capital and other general corporate purposes.

    A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners is acting as sole placement agent for the Offering. Jones is acting as financial advisor for the Offering.

    The securities described above are being offered pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-284007), previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), which was declared effective on February 5, 2025. The Offering is being made only by means of a prospectus forming part of the effective registration statement. Copies of the preliminary prospectus and, when available, copies of the final prospectus, relating to the Offering may be obtained on the SEC’s website located at http://www.sec.gov. Electronic copies of the final prospectus relating to the Offering may be obtained, when available, from A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners, 590 Madison Avenue, 28th Floor, New York, NY 10022, or by telephone at (212) 624-2060, or by email at prospectus@allianceg.com.

    This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

    About CERo Therapeutics Holdings, Inc.

    CERo is an innovative immunotherapy company advancing the development of next generation engineered T cell therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. Its proprietary approach to T cell engineering, which enables it to integrate certain desirable characteristics of both innate and adaptive immunity into a single therapeutic construct, is designed to engage the body’s full immune repertoire to achieve optimized cancer therapy. This novel cellular immunotherapy platform is expected to redirect patient-derived T cells to eliminate tumors by building in engulfment pathways that employ phagocytic mechanisms to destroy cancer cells, creating what CERo refers to as Chimeric Engulfment Receptor T cells (“CER-T”). CERo believes the differentiated activity of CER-T cells will afford them greater therapeutic application than currently approved chimeric antigen receptor (“CAR-T”) cell therapy, as the use of CER-T may potentially span both hematological malignancies and solid tumors. CERo anticipates initiating clinical trials for its lead product candidate, CER-1236, in 2024 for hematological malignancies.

    Forward Looking Statements

    This communication contains statements that are forward-looking and as such are not historical facts. This includes, without limitation, statements regarding the expected Closing Date and use of proceeds of the Offering. These statements constitute projections, forecasts and forward-looking statements, and are not guarantees of performance. Such statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. When used in this communication, words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “strive,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. When CERo discusses its strategies or plans, it is making projections, forecasts or forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on the beliefs of, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to, CERo’s management.

    Actual results could differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements in this communication. Certain risks that could cause actual results to differ are set forth in CERo’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on April 2, 2024, and the documents incorporated by reference therein. The risks described in CERo’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission are not exhaustive. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all such risk factors, nor can CERo assess the impact of all such risk factors on its business, or the extent to which any factor or combination of factors may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. You should not put undue reliance on these statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements made by CERo or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. CERo undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

    Contact:

    Chris Ehrlich
    Chief Executive Officer
    chris@cero.bio

    Investors:

    CORE IR
    investors@cero.bio

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Safe Access for Urban Mobility: Community-Led Approaches

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    The brief identifies challenges in urban mobility, including universal access, road safety, personal safety, and quality of service. Using community-led approaches, such as journey mapping, establishment of a community council, and dedicated focus groups, it shows that early and effective engagement throughout implementation helps identify potential issues and solutions, minimizing the need for major changes, complaints, or delays.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Dynamic Impact of Foreign Exchange Trading Volume on Foreign Exchange Volatility

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    FX trading volume is a key factor in volatility. Estimation results from econometric models reveal a significant impact of third-party trade volumes on the volatilities of original currency pairs. Though the United States dollar (USD) exerts sizeable effect through third-party channels, currency pairs without USD linkages also have impact, calling renewed attention to using regional cooperation in mitigating volatility as compared with major FX trading partners.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: ‘The new generation is different’: In Djibouti, activists lobby to end female genital mutilation

    Source: United Nations 4

    Women

    “I still see the knife, and the lady who held me down,” said Hawa’a Mohamed Kamil, a peer educator in Djibouti, who was subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM) at just six years old, an experience that left both physical and psychological scars. 

    “I’m afraid of men, of everyone, of everything,” she told the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency (UNFPA).

    FGM, a practice that involves altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons, is internationally recognised as a violation of fundamental human rights. 

    It is a global issue, reported in 92 countries across all continents, with over 230 million girls and women having survived it in the world.

    Data from about a third of the countries where the practice is still common have indicated a decline over the last three decades, with one out of three girls undergoing the practice compared to one out of two girls previously.

    While steps in the right direction have been taken, in 2025 alone, nearly 4.4 million girls are projected to be at risk. Positive results would need to be stepped up drastically to meet the target of ending the practice by 2030.

    © UNFPA/Fahmia Al Fotih

    Hawa’a Mohamed Kamil is a survivor of female genital mutilation in Djibouti.

    Breaking the cycle

    Hawa’a works together with Elle&Elles, a UNFPA network which supports and trains female leaders advocating for women’s health and rights.

    She travels from Djibouti City to remote villages to raise awareness, including among boys, who can play a crucial role in shifting societal attitudes.

    She also persuaded her own family members to adopt her message: abandon female genital mutilation – simple yet revolutionary for such a traditional area.

    Meanwhile, in the northern-central Tadjourah region, 39-year-old Khadija crosses miles of unforgiving terrain to encourage families to spare their daughters from the procedure.

    After the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation – the largest global programme to accelerate the elimination of FGM – visited her village of Otoy with an awareness-raising session, she decided to join the cause.

    © UNFPA/Fahmia Al Fotih

    Khadija advocates for the elimination of female genital mutilation in Djibouti.

    “Twenty-five years ago, I let my daughter go through female genital mutilation,” she told UNFPA. “But I have vowed to protect my granddaughter.”

    A survivor herself, Khadija has seen the pain that follows female genital mutilation, as well as the infections, complications during childbirth and even tragic deaths. 

    “We lost many women who bled to death before they could reach a health facility,” she said.

    She began weaving her message of change into conversations first with women, then men, and even religious leaders.

    But their journey was far from smooth, as both women described being ostracised by their communities and chastised for spreading false information.  “People suspected my motives,” recalled Khadija. “They couldn’t believe I was doing this for free, from my heart.” 

    Yet their commitment remains unshaken. “I am proud of the change we see today,” said Hawa’a.

    For Khadija, the transformation has been remarkable: Her village recently made a public declaration to abandon the practice for good. “Change takes time, but it comes eventually,” she said.

    © UNFPA/Fahmia Al Fotih

    Ibrahim, a teacher at a school in the Tadjourah region advocates against female genital mutilation.

    A lesson in resistance 

    At a nearby school, the classroom buzzes with young voices reciting French phrases in unison. Beyond the lessons in grammar and vocabulary, however, 31-year-old Ibrahim is teaching something more profound – the value of girls’ rights and well-being.

    “I made a vow that if I got married and had baby girls, I wouldn’t subject them to this and make them suffer,” he told UNFPA.

    Ibrahim brings awareness of female genital mutilation’s harms into his lessons, gently guiding his young students towards a future where girls are empowered and their health safeguarded.

    But when his first daughter was born, Ibrahim had to choose between upholding his promise and confronting opposition from his family, including his wife and grandmother. He chose to keep his promise.

    “The most important thing is health,” he said. “I urge all families to take care of their girls’ health and to not cut them.”

    His stance against female genital mutilation has rippled through his community, where over 100 people now oppose the practice. 

    © UNFPA/Fahmia Al Fotih

    Mother of five Hawi Mohammed is a survivor and community activist against female genital mutilation.

    A religious woman leads the charge

    Hawi Mohammed, 46, is a mother of five, fervent community activist, respected local religious leader, and a survivor of one of the most severe forms of female genital mutilation.

    She is also a prominent member of the Shamikhat Djibouti network – a regional religious leaders’ group against female genital mutilation.

    As a child she was subjected to what is often referred to as infibulation, in which part or all of a girl’s external genitalia are removed and the opening sealed over. An agonising and dangerous procedure, it can lead to severe bleeding, infections and all too often death.

    Hawi said she only understood the full extent of the violation when she hit puberty: the pain, especially during menstruation, was excruciating. “I couldn’t go to school. I needed painkiller injections just to function,” she emphasised.

    Her fury fuelled her advocacy, and she now hosts a popular radio and television programme in the Afari language, delivers lectures in mosques that challenge traditional interpretations and emphasise the true spirit of Islam.

    “People used to run away when we talked about female genital mutilation,” she explained. “But the new generation is different. Mothers are educated, informed. They are doctors, activists, and teachers.”

    Hawi’s own daughters and nieces are living proof of her commitment: Despite facing pressure from family and community members, she refused to subject them to female genital mutilation.

    “I’ve gone through enough pain – I won’t let any girl suffer like I did,” she said.

    Multilateral action 

    As the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation approaches on 6 February, UNFPA is highlighting the importance for the international community to invest in resources, foster open discussions and challenge social norms, alongside local activists’ work.

    This year’s theme, “Stepping up the pace: Strengthening alliances and building movements to end FGM,” underscores the critical need for collaboration. It urges all actors from youth to governments to take action. 

    “As agents of change, everyone has a role to play in ensuring girls grow up free from this harmful practice. The urgency to unite efforts in abolishing FGM has never been greater,” wrote the agency. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Scientists advance development of High-energy Underwater Neutrino Telescope

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Chinese scientists have successfully launched a detector prototype for the High-energy Underwater Neutrino Telescope (HUNT) into the South China Sea, the Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) announced Wednesday.
    The institute said the scientific research ship Tansuo-3 and the manned submersible Shenhai Yongshi (Deep Sea Warrior) helped precisely deploy the detectors at a predetermined location 1,600 meters below sea level.
    According to the IHEP, the detectors were also successfully connected to China’s undersea scientific observation network, a major national scientific and technological infrastructure.
    Neutrinos are highly penetrating particles that carry primordial information. Thus, they are an effective tool for studying the origins of high-energy cosmic rays and the evolution of celestial bodies.
    Chinese scientists have proposed the next-generation HUNT as a large-scale scientific device expected to lead the development of neutrino astronomy. The South China Sea is the only viable site for the telescope in China, which will cover approximately 600 square kilometers of sea area.
    A team of researchers from the IHEP, Ocean University of China, the Institute of Acoustics of the CAS, and other institutions are carrying out the project.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Mainland mourns passing of Koo Chen-fu’s widow

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday expressed profound sorrow on the passing of Koo Yen Cho-yun, wife of Koo Chen-fu, the late former chairman of the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation, and extended heartfelt condolences to her family.
    The mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) has sent a condolence message to Koo’s family, said Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, responding to a media query.
    Koo dedicated herself to promoting Chinese culture, engaged in cross-Strait exchange and cooperation in various fields, and accompanied her husband to meetings with Wang Daohan, then head of ARATS, making positive contributions to the improvement and development of cross-Strait relations, Zhu said.
    Koo upheld the 1992 Consensus and actively promoted cross-Strait exchange, Zhu said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese scientist awarded for excellence in clinical stroke

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Chinese clinical scientist Wang Yongjun has been granted the William M. Feinberg Award for Excellence in Clinical Stroke at the 2025 International Stroke Conference (ISC) held in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
    The Feinberg Award, founded by the American Stroke Association, is named after the late William M. Feinberg, a prominent stroke clinician and researcher who contributed to a more comprehensive understanding to the causes of stroke.
    Wang, president of the Beijing Tiantan Hospital of the Capital Medical University, and president of the Chinese Stroke Association, is the first Asian scientist to receive this award, in recognition of his significant contributions to the investigation and management of clinical research in stroke.
    Addressing the conference, Wang said that over the past 30 years, his team of clinical scientists has produced 12 key pieces of evidence that have changed clinical guidelines and clinical practice. It has brought intravenous thrombolysis into the era of multiple agent options and opportunities of thrombolysis at late time windows.
    “It is very fortunate that our team has been a major force in providing evidence of intravenous thrombolytic therapy for ischemic stroke,” he said.
    “The story continues and our mission is not fully accomplished. Several clinical trials are still ongoing, including thrombolysis with Tenecteplase for minor ischemic strokes, basilar artery occlusion, and thrombolysis for ischemic stroke at very late time windows. We’re looking forward to the results of TRACE-4, TRACE-5 and TRACE-Beyond,” Wang said.
    “Professor Wang has been an inspiration not just to Asia, but to the entire stroke world for the seminal work that he has done both on the prevention side with stroke and with acute stroke. His trials have influenced practice the world over, and have been an inspiration for many of us stroke trialists on how to do large clinical trials,” Bijou Menon, professor of neurology at the University of Calgary, and ISC vice-chair, told Xinhua.
    Tudor G. Jovin, professor of neurology and neurological surgery at the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, said that Dr. Wang’s exemplary career has had a profound impact on the field of vascular neurology, highlighted through his groundbreaking research, his accomplishments in organization of stroke care, and his commitment to teaching.
    “His highly impactful work has not been confined to only one area of stroke care but spans various domains including acute care, (intravenous and endovascular reperfusion) imaging, stroke prevention and organization of stroke care,” Jovin said.
    ISC is the world’s premier conference dedicated to the science of stroke and brain health. Eleven scientists were individually recognized for their exceptional achievements and contributions toward stroke care and research.
    The three-day conference, running from Wednesday to Friday, features a wide range of topics that cover the latest advances in stroke prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation, offering an opportunity to stay updated on cutting-edge research and advancements in the field of stroke for professionals around the world.
    About 4,000 professionals from worldwide participated in the annual conference.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China to further crack down on online gambling, telecom fraud with relevant countries: FM spokesperson

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China will beef up law enforcement cooperation with relevant countries to crack down on online gambling and telecom fraud, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday.

    On the recent string of cross-border telecom fraud and other vicious cases along the Thailand-Myanmar border, China attaches great importance to it and made persistent effort to ask relevant countries to jointly find solutions through consultation, Lin made the remarks at a regular news briefing in response to a related query.

    “China welcomes the robust measures by relevant country. We stand ready to work with Thailand and other countries to beef up law enforcement cooperation, crack down on online gambling and telecom fraud, protect the safety of Chinese citizens overseas and their lawful rights and interests, and keep normal cross-border exchanges between China and relevant countries in order,” said the spokesperson.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China opposes forced displacement of people in Gaza: Spokesperson

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China has all along believed that “the Palestinians governing Palestine” is the fundamental principle of post-conflict governance of Gaza, foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday.

    The spokesperson made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked to comment on U.S. President Donald Trump’s speech in which he said the U.S. will “take over” and “own” the Gaza Strip after resettling Palestinians living there to neighboring countries, like Jordan and Egypt.

    Lin noted that China has all along believed that “the Palestinians governing Palestine” is the fundamental principle of post-conflict governance of Gaza.

    “We oppose the forced displacement of the people in Gaza, and hope that relevant parties will take the opportunity of the ceasefire and post-conflict governance in Gaza to bring the Palestinian question back to the right track of a political settlement based on the two-State solution, so as to realize lasting peace in the Middle East,” Lin said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Pressure is not the right way for the US to deal with China: FM

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Applying pressure is not the right way for the United States to handle its relations with China, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday, referring to the additional 10 percent tariff the U.S. has placed on goods from China under the pretext of fentanyl-related issues.

    “Disregarding the outcomes of China-U.S. cooperation on drug control, the U.S. has insisted on imposing this tariff on Chinese imports. China has expressed its strong dissatisfaction with and firm opposition to the move, and has taken necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests,” Lin told a regular news briefing.

    Shifting the blame to other countries will not resolve the fentanyl crisis in the United States, and there are no winners in trade or tariff wars, Lin said.

    He said that applying pressure and issuing threats is not the right way for the United States to handle its relations with China, noting that the basic solution for the U.S. is reducing its domestic drug demand and strengthening its law enforcement cooperation.

    Lin said that on Jan. 17, China’s head of state held a telephone conversation with then U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at the request of the latter, reaching a principled consensus on undertaking mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

    “What is needed now is not unilateral tariffs, but dialogue and consultation — on equal footing and with mutual respect,” Lin said.

    China has some of the strictest drug control policies and highest levels of enforcement globally, Lin said.

    In 2019, China became the first country in the world to officially schedule fentanyl-related substances as a distinct class, which it did on humanitarian grounds and at the request of the United States, he said.

    In recent years, China and the United States have made clear progress in practical cooperation on drug control in such areas as substance regulation, intelligence exchange and case cooperation, producing tangible benefits, according to the spokesperson.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s top legislator holds talks with ROK official

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, holds talks with Woo Won-shik, National Assembly Speaker of the Republic of Korea (ROK), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 5, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China’s top legislator Zhao Leji held talks with Woo Won-shik, National Assembly Speaker of the Republic of Korea (ROK), in Beijing on Wednesday.

    Zhao, chairman of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said China and the ROK are close in geography and culture, and enjoy convenient conditions for exchanges and cooperation in various fields.

    Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China-ROK relations have developed rapidly and achieved fruitful results, which has brought benefits to both sides and their peoples and also promoted regional stability and development, he said.

    China is willing to work with the ROK to strengthen high-level exchanges and strategic communication, make good use of the dialogue and communication mechanisms between government and political parties of the two countries, and enhance mutual understanding and trust, Zhao added.

    “Taking the 10th anniversary of the entry into force of their Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as an opportunity, the two countries will speed up the second phase of negotiations on the FTA and strive to reach an agreement at an early date,” Zhao said.

    Zhao noted that the legislative bodies of China and the ROK have maintained close exchanges and cooperation for a long time, playing an important role in promoting the development of bilateral relations.

    He said the NPC of China is willing to work with the ROK National Assembly to uphold the tradition of friendship and make good use of regular exchange mechanisms and other platforms to enhance communication and exchanges between high-level legislative bodies, special committees, friendship groups, NPC deputies and parliamentarians, so as to create a sound policy and legal environment for bilateral cooperation in various fields.

    “We will encourage more young people to participate in bilateral exchanges and build strength for China-ROK friendship from generation to generation,” Zhao added.

    Woo Won-shik said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries have made remarkable cooperative achievements in political, economic, cultural and other fields. The ROK and China will host the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting this year and next year respectively. He expressed hope that the two sides will support each other and further deepen bilateral cooperation.

    Adhering to the one-China principle, the ROK hopes to expand bilateral cooperation in such fields as economy and trade, enterprise investment, biomedicine and artificial intelligence, maintain the stability of industrial and supply chains, expand cultural exchanges and continuously enhance the friendly feelings between the two peoples, Woo Won-shik added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Cairo’s biggest book fair concludes with growing popularity of translated Chinese books

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    The annual Cairo International Book Fair (CIBF) wrapped up on Wednesday, witnessing a notable surge in interest in translated Chinese books as readers from across the Arab world sought deeper insights into China’s culture, history, and modernization.

    One of the main attractions of the fair was the Bayt Al-Hekma Cultural Group, a publishing house primarily dedicated to translating Chinese books into Arabic and providing Chinese language learning resources. Over the years, it has built a strong reputation among Arab readers, becoming a key destination for those eager to explore China’s development and cultural heritage.

    Saudi visitor Hussein Ismail was among the visitors who purchased several books from the booth. He explained that his deep interest in China’s modernization and economic success motivated him to explore Chinese literature.

    “Saudi Arabia is experiencing greater openness to China economically and politically, which has sparked increased cultural exchanges and translation efforts,” Ismail told Xinhua.

    He also emphasized a shift in reading preferences among Arab readers, who have traditionally been more exposed to Western literature and history.

    “Now, there is a greater need to explore other civilizations, with China being at the forefront,” he said.

    Egyptian translator Essam Ahmed, who began studying Chinese in 2016, shared a similar perspective.

    “When I first started learning the language, there weren’t many available resources,” he told Xinhua, adding that Bayt Al-Hekma was his primary source for books on Chinese history, culture, and language.

    Ahmed highlighted the increasing diversity of Chinese books at this year’s fair, covering topics such as literature, economics, politics, and history.

    “Bayt Al-Hekma plays a crucial role in introducing Arab readers to China’s rich civilization, as it remains the only specialized exhibitor of translated Chinese books at the fair,” he said.

    According to Amr Moghith, director of Bayt Al-Hekma, this year’s booth featured an extensive selection of translated Chinese books in political, economic, and cultural fields, as well as books written about China by Arab scholars and researchers.

    The newly translated works cover topics such as China’s energy resources, its role in the global economy, cultural identity, and China’s engagement with Africa through travel literature, he noted.

    “Apart from translations, we also focus on original books written in Arabic about China, offering deeper insights for researchers and academics,” Moghith told Xinhua.

    The publisher has also expanded into children’s literature, with more than 120 books translated from Chinese into Arabic for young readers aged 9 to 16. This year, several new titles have been introduced, offering engaging stories that blend adventure and problem-solving, appealing to young audiences.

    Beyond books, Bayt Al-Hekma’s booth featured cultural products from China, including traditional Chinese New Year items.

    “These cultural industries have become an essential part of Arab-Chinese cultural exchange, drawing significant interest from visitors,” Moghith pointed out.

    This year’s edition of CIBF, held under the theme “Read… In the Beginning Was the Word,” ran from Jan. 23 to Feb. 5. The event hosted 1,345 publishers and 6,150 exhibitors from 80 countries, including 10 countries participating for the first time. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China sees surging culture, tourism market during 2025 Spring Festival holiday

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Posters for six Spring Festival blockbusters. [Images provided to China.org.cn]

    China witnessed a remarkable surge in its culture and tourism market during the eight-day Spring Festival holiday, which ended on Tuesday, with several market segments climbing to all-time highs.

    The Spring Festival, traditionally a peak and lucrative period for cinemas, saw record box office revenue and audience turnout highs this year, according to the China Film Administration on Wednesday.

    Based on the statistics up to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, box office revenues totaled a staggering 10 billion yuan (approximately 1.39 billion U.S. dollars) between Jan. 28 and Feb. 4, according to ticketing app Beacon.

    The holiday also saw a significant rise in numbers of moviegoers, with 187 million people packing out theaters in China, the film administration announced.

    Animated feature “Ne Zha 2” has emerged as the undisputed holiday leader, raking in over 5.05 billion yuan as of Wednesday, according to data from Beacon, making it the top-grossing domestic animated feature of all time.

    As ticket sales continue to climb, the sequel could reach a total box office revenue of 6 billion yuan, which would be a record for Chinese film, Beacon projects.

    As China’s most important festival, the Spring Festival features a rich array of traditions and celebrations that mark the end of an old year and the joyful arrival of a new one. In recent years, it has also become a key driver for the tourism sector — both domestically and internationally.

    Fueled by the Spring Festival’s inclusion on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage in December 2024, this year’s holiday saw a booming tourism market.

    According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism on Wednesday, China saw a record 501 million domestic tourist trips during the 2025 Spring Festival holiday, up 5.9 percent year on year. Tourist spending reached a record high of over 677 billion yuan during the period, a 7 percent year-on-year increase.

    More than 2.3 billion passenger trips were made across all regions in China during the holiday, including 96.26 million railway trips, 2.18 billion road trips, 9.41 million waterway trips and 18.24 million air trips, official data showed on Wednesday.

    China recorded 14.37 million cross-border trips during the Spring Festival holiday, a 6.3 percent increase from the previous year and including 958,000 trips made by foreigners, according to statistics released by the National Immigration Administration on Wednesday. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: ‘Bainiaoyi’ Lusheng festival held in S China’s Guangxi

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    ‘Bainiaoyi’ Lusheng festival held in S China’s Guangxi

    Updated: February 6, 2025 08:52 Xinhua
    Women of Miao ethnic group stage a folk performance during the “Bainiaoyi” Lusheng festival in Gandong Township, Rongshui Miao Autonomous County of Liuzhou, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Feb. 5, 2025. During “Bainiaoyi” Lusheng festival, a traditional festival annually held in Gandong Township, people of different ethnic groups gather together to demonstrate traditional ethnic attire, blow Lusheng, a traditional reed-pipe wind instrument, and perform traditional dancing. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People enjoy folk performance during the “Bainiaoyi” Lusheng festival in Gandong Township, Rongshui Miao Autonomous County of Liuzhou, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Feb. 5, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 5, 2025 shows people of different ethnic groups performing traditional dancing during the “Bainiaoyi” Lusheng festival in Gandong Township, Rongshui Miao Autonomous County of Liuzhou, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People blow Lusheng, a traditional reed-pipe wind instrument, during the “Bainiaoyi” Lusheng festival in Gandong Township, Rongshui Miao Autonomous County of Liuzhou, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Feb. 5, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People of Miao ethnic group head towards the venue of “Bainiaoyi” Lusheng festival in Gandong Township, Rongshui Miao Autonomous County of Liuzhou, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Feb. 5, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Women of Miao ethnic group perform traditional dancing during the “Bainiaoyi” Lusheng festival in Gandong Township, Rongshui Miao Autonomous County of Liuzhou, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Feb. 5, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 5, 2025 shows people of different ethnic groups performing traditional dancing during the “Bainiaoyi” Lusheng festival in Gandong Township, Rongshui Miao Autonomous County of Liuzhou, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China witnesses travel boom during Spring Festival holiday

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    China witnesses travel boom during Spring Festival holiday

    Updated: February 6, 2025 09:00 Xinhua
    Tourists visit a scenic spot in Qingzhou City, east China’s Shandong Province, Feb. 4, 2025. China witnessed a record 501 million domestic tourist trips during the eight-day Spring Festival holiday that ended on Tuesday, up 5.9 percent year on year, according to data released by the country’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism on Wednesday. Tourists spent over 677 billion yuan (about 94.43 billion U.S. dollars) on their domestic trips during the holiday, a 7 percent year-on-year increase, data showed. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists watch lion dance in Tancheng County of Linyi, east China’s Shandong Province, on Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists watch dragon dance at a studio complex in Laoling City, east China’s Shandong Province, Feb. 3, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists watch lion dance at a scenic spot in Mengshan Mountain of Pingyi County, Linyi City, east China’s Shandong Province, Jan. 31, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists visit the Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone in Sanya, south China’s Hainan Province, Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists ride camels at the Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring scenic spot in Dunhuang, northwest China’s Gansu Province, Feb. 4, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Mental Health Australia’s 2025-2026 Pre-Budget submission

    Source: Mental Health Australia

    Mental Health Australia has developed the following Budget priorities through review of evidence and outstanding recommendations of recent national reviews,  consultation with members including a workshop at our November 2024 Members Policy Forum, and targeted consultations with subject-matter experts.

    We are pleased to present the following specific recommendations to the Australian Government for the 2025-2026 Federal Budget.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Met seizes one thousand stolen phones in a week

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    The Met’s intensifying clampdown on the £50million-a-year trade in stolen phones has seen 230 people arrested in the space of a week and more than one thousand handsets seized.

    Those responsible for the theft, handling, and onward criminal supply or exportation of smartphones were specifically targeted during a week of co-ordinated activity across London. It built on the work already being ramped up to tackle the scourge of phone thefts, and sets a new standard for how the Met will respond to the issue.

    This includes intensified efforts to tackle phone thefts by increasing patrols and plain-clothed operations in hotspot areas, including the West End and Westminster, where nearly 40 per cent of phone thefts occur. At the same time, officers are using phone-tracking data and intelligence to pursue those handling stolen devices.

    Such measures are proving successful and last year four members of a gang were sentenced to a combined 18 years after handling more than 5,000 stolen phones. They were tracked down by local Met officers after numerous victims reported their stolen phones being at the same location.

    Later today (Thursday, 6 February), the Home Secretary will chair a summit with law enforcement bodies and industry focused on tackling smartphone thefts. One of the items that will be raised by the Met’s Deputy Commissioner, Dame Lynne Owens, will be strengthening security on phones so stolen devices cannot be easily resold. The Met wants to work with industry to prevent stolen phones from being able to re-connect to cloud services and make IMEI numbers accessible from the lock screen of all smartphones.

    Commander Owain Richards, who is leading the Met’s response to phone thefts, said:

    “We are seeing phone thefts on an industrial scale, fuelled by criminals making millions by being able to easily sell on stolen devices either here or abroad.

    “By intensifying our efforts we’re catching more perpetrators and protecting people from having their phone stolen in the capital. But we need help from partners and industry to do more. That is why we’re working with other agencies and government to tackle the organised criminality driving this trade and calling on tech companies to make stolen phones unusable.”

    Kaya Comer-Schwartz, London’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, said:

    “The Met is spearheading targeted police work to prevent and tackle mobile phone theft in our communities. Thanks to the hard work of officers and intervention work led by London’s Violence Reduction Unit, personal robbery is down 13 per cent in the capital compared to the same period last year. We continue to support the Met from City Hall with additional funding for neighbourhood policing.

    “But there is more to do. As the criminal demand for high-value mobile phones continues to grow globally, the Mayor and I are clear that companies must go further and faster to make it harder for stolen phones to be sold on, repurposed and re-used illegally. We’ll continue to work with leading mobile phone companies, the Home Secretary and Met leaders to find innovative solutions to end the scourge of mobile phone crime.”

    Increased patrols in Westminster saw 17 arrests for robbery and theft, following 42 Stop and Searches linked to the Met’s intensive activity. In Hackney and Haringey, officers made 15 arrests linked to the operation, including a 15-year-old boy on an illegal electric bike who was found with £1,000 in cash and a large knife.

    The success in tackling phone thefts comes after the Met moved out of special measures last month, following major improvements in many areas of service to London. These include responding more quickly to emergencies and strengthening neighbourhood policing to better respond to communities’ concerns, including tackling theft and robberies.

    The Met is urging anyone who has lost or had stolen a phone to use the national mobile phone register so recovered handsets can be restored, via The Police National Mobile Property Register – NMPR.

    Phone users should take simple steps to further protect themselves from fraud, by ensuring they have a strong password, two-factor authentication and turning off message previews so thieves cannot see any messages about reset or log-in codes when phones are locked. They should also write down and safely store their IMEI number.

    Inspectorate recognises progress on Met’s mission to deliver for London

    Improvements made by the Met which were recognised by inspectors as it came out of special measures, include:

    We are responding more quickly to emergencies. Last year our dedicated staff and officers in MetCC responded to 4,660,891 contacts, of which 2,394,416 were 999 calls, 1,279,552 were 101 calls and 988,923 were digital contacts. The per cent of 999 calls answered within 10 seconds for 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 was 86.2 per cent compared to 77.6 per cent the previous calendar year – with January 2024 reaching 90.9 per cent.

    We have trained 8000 officers in the identification of child exploitation, launched a new Children’s Strategy and significantly increased the number of officers in our child exploitation teams.

    We have put hundreds more officers in our domestic assault and rape and sexual offence teams, doubled the number of charges for rape and sexual offences and tripled the numbers in our nationally recognised Stalking Threat Assessment Centre.

    Our new neighbourhood policing model has been bolstered by an additional 500 staff ranging from Superintendent to PCSO, working closer than ever with communities to understand their concerns.

    The full focus of the entire organisation remains on delivering the commitments made to London – More Trust, Less Crime and High Standards.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Miami Murder Suspect Attempts to Flee, Captured in Colorado Springs

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Colorado Springs, CO – The U.S. Marshals Service’s Colorado Violent Offender Task Force (COVOTF) along with the Fountain Police Department, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, and Colorado Springs Police Department located and arrested a Florida homicide suspect Tuesday evening in Colorado Springs.

    De Sean Phang, 28, is wanted by the Miramar (FL) Police Department on a felony arrest warrant for second degree murder with a firearm in connection with an incident in early 2023 in Miramar, Florida that left one man dead. A warrant for Phang’s arrest in that case was issued on Jan. 17. 

    Task Force Officers from the Miramar P.D. assigned to the U.S. Marshals Service’s Florida-Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force – Ft. Lauderdale division recently developed information indicating Phang had fled Florida and was possibly hiding in Colorado. On Feb. 3, that information was relayed to the U.S. Marshals Service’s Colorado Violent Offender Task Force in Colorado Springs who then picked up the investigation. COVOTF investigators learned Phang was moving between Colorado Springs and the south Denver metro to include the Englewood and Highlands Ranch areas. He was travelling in a rental car which was located by the COVOTF on Feb 4 near C-470 and S. Quebec St, before moving back south to Colorado Springs.

    COVOTF Deputy U.S. Marshals and Task Force Officers from the Fountain Police Department, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, and Colorado Dept. of Corrections then contacted both the Colorado Springs Police Department and El Paso County Sheriff’s Office for assistance. As CSPD officers approached to make contact, the vehicle Phang was traveling in fled the area at a high rate of speed. The vehicle was followed until it eventually stopped in the parking lot of the Big R store located at 165 Fontaine Blvd in Colorado Springs. All occupants of the vehicle, including Phang, attempted to flee on foot, but were quickly apprehended.

    Phang was transported to the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center where he was booked on the outstanding homicide warrant from Florida. He is currently awaiting extradition. Please direct any inquiries about the underlying case to the Miramar (FL) Police Department.

    The success of this arrest represents a culmination of extensive cooperative investigative efforts between the U.S. Marshals Florida-Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force – Ft. Lauderdale, U.S. Marshals Colorado Violent Offender Task Force, Miramar Police Department, Fountain Police Department, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Colorado Springs Police Department, Colorado Department of Corrections, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, Englewood Police Department, and Boulder County Sheriff’s Office. 

    The Colorado Violent Offender Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional fugitive task force that targets the most violent offenders to include those wanted for murder, assault, sex offenses, and other serious offenses throughout the state and country.  Nationally, the U.S. Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 58 local fugitive task forces, eight regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries. 

    Tips can be submitted to the U.S. Marshals Service directly and anonymously by using the USMS Tips app. You can also follow the latest news and updates about the U.S. Marshals Service on X (previously Twitter): @USMSDenver.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Violent Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm Possession

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    DEL RIO, Texas – An Eagle Pass man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio today to 120 months in prison and a $2,000 fine for one count of felon in possession of firearm ammunition.

    According to court documents, Mark Ivy, 38, was arrested by San Antonio Police officers in San Antonio Dec. 20, 2019 for an outstanding warrant. Ivy was sitting in the front passenger seat of a vehicle in retail parking lot with a loaded 9mm ghost gun. Ivy had been previously convicted in Del Rio on May 13, 2010 for conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats or violence and interstate communications with intent to extort. He was then sentenced to 48 months imprisonment and therefore unable to lawfully possess firearms or ammunition.

    Following his 2019 arrest, Ivy was transferred into federal custody Oct. 9, 2020. He pleaded guilty to the charge in the indictment on Oct. 25, 2021.

    “My office takes felons in possession of firearms and ammunition very seriously, and when the felon has a violent criminal history like that of this defendant, we argue for a sentence which reflects the seriousness of the conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “I appreciate the investigative skill and expertise of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners, all of which provide immense value in these cases.”

    “The FBI is dedicated to ensuring our citizens are safe in their communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp for the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office. “Ivy was aware that he was not allowed to own a firearm or ammunition due to his past actions, but he made the choice to keep a gun on his person while fleeing from the scene of a violent homicide. We want to thank our partners at San Antonio Police Department, who continue to work with us to make our community safer.”

    The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with the San Antonio Police Department, Maverick County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Department of Public Safety.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Holly Pavlinski and Rex Beasley prosecuted the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Texas man arrested for possessing child pornography while working as school bus driver in Fairbanks

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    The FBI is seeking additional information.

    FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A Texas man was arrested early this week on criminal charges related to his alleged possession of child pornography while temporarily working in Fairbanks.

    According to court documents, in December 2024, the Fairbanks Police Department (FPD) received information that a USB drive found in the business center of a Fairbanks hotel allegedly contained child sexual abuse materials (CSAM).

    FPD provided the USB drive to the FBI Anchorage Field Office to process for forensic review. On Jan. 30, 2025, federal agents successfully imaged and extracted the USB drive and found information linking it to Scott O’Toole, 60, of Joshua, Texas. Agents also found images on the drive allegedly depicting child sexual abuse. Within 24 hours of the FBI’s review of the USB drive, law enforcement identified and located O’Toole in Texas, and arrested him shortly thereafter.

    Court documents further allege that federal agents learned O’Toole was on Temporary Duty Assignment (TDY) to Fairbanks as a school bus driver between November and December 2024, and that he stayed at the hotel where the USB drive was found. Shortly after the USB drive was discovered, O’Toole returned to Texas.

    O’Toole is currently charged with one count of possession of child pornography in the District of Alaska. If convicted, O’Toole faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    First Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Vogel of the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement.

    The FBI Anchorage Field Office is investigating the case, with assistance from FPD and the Texas State Troopers. If anyone has information concerning O’Toole’s alleged actions in Alaska, please contact the FBI Anchorage Field Office at (907) 276-4441 or anonymously at tips.fbi.gov.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander is prosecuting the case. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska thanks their colleagues in the Eastern District of Texas for their coordination on this case.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What is callisthenics? And how does it compare to running or lifting weights?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mandy Hagstrom, Senior Lecturer, Exercise Physiology. School of Health Sciences, UNSW Sydney

    Sokirlov/Shutterstock

    Callisthenics is a type of training where you do bodyweight exercises to build strength. It’s versatile, low cost, and easy to start.

    Classic callisthenics moves include:

    • push ups
    • bodyweight squats
    • chin ups
    • burpees
    • lunges using only your bodyweight.

    Advanced callisthenics includes movements like muscle-ups (where you pull yourself above a bar) and flagpole holds (where you hold yourself perpendicular to a pole).

    In callisthenics, you often do a lot of repetitions (or “reps”) of these sorts of moves, which is what can make it a hybrid strength and cardio workout. In the gym, by contrast, many people take the approach of “lifting heavy” but doing fewer reps to build serious strength.

    Traditionally, callisthenics was more of a muscle sculpting, strength-based work out. It is reportedly based on techniques used by ancient Greek soldiers.

    The Oxford Dictionary says the term callisthenics – which is said to be based on the Greek word κάλλος or kállos (meaning beauty) and σθένος or sthenos (meaning strength) – first started showing up in popular discourse the early 1800s.

    Callisthenics is often associated with high intensity interval training (HIIT) routines, where jumping, skipping or burpees are combined with bodyweight strength-building exercises such as push ups and body weight squats (often for many reps).

    Callisthenics exercises draw on your natural movement; when children climb on monkey bars and jump between pieces of play equipment, they’re basically doing callisthenics.

    When children climb on monkey bars, they’re doing callisthenics exercises.
    wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock

    What are the benefits of callisthenics?

    It all depends on how you do callisthenics; what you put in will dictate what you get out.

    When exercise programs combine resistance training (such as lifting weights or doing bodyweight exercises) and aerobic exercise, the result is better health and a reduced likelihood of death from a variety of different causes.

    Callisthenics provide a low cost, time efficient way of exercising this way.

    With improvements in body composition, muscular strength, and posture, it’s easy to see why it’s become a popular way to train.

    Research has also shown callisthenics is better at reducing body fat and controlling blood sugar for people with diabetes when compared to pilates.

    Research has also shown doing callisthenics can reduce body fat and increase lean muscle mass in soccer players, although this research does not compare the benefits between different exercise program types.

    That means we don’t know if callisthenics is better than other traditional forms of exercise – just that it does more than nothing.

    Callisthenics provide a low cost, time efficient way of exercising.
    pedro7merino/Shutterstock

    What are the potential drawbacks?

    With callisthenics, it can be hard to progress past a certain point. If your goal is to get really big muscles, it may be hard to get there with callisthenics alone. It would likely be simpler for most people to gain muscle in a gym using traditional methods such as machine and free weights with a combination of various sets and reps.

    If you want to progress in the gym, you can increase your dumbbells by small increments, such as 1kg. In callisthenics, however, you may find the jump from one exercise to the next too big to achieve. You risk a plateau in your training without some challenging work-arounds.

    Another advantage of traditional strength training with bands, machines, or free weights is that it also increases flexibility and range of motion.

    However, 2023 research found “no significant range of motion improvement with resistance training using only body mass.” So, given its focus on bodyweight exercises, it seems unlikely callisthenics alone would significantly improve your flexibility and range of motion.

    Unfortunately, there is no long-term research examining the benefits of callisthenics in direct comparison to traditional aerobic training or resistance training.

    Is callisthenics for me?

    Well, that depends on your goal.

    If you want to get really strong, lift heavy.

    If you want to increase your muscle mass, try lifting near to the point of “failure”. That means lifting a weight to the point where you feel that you are close to fatigue, or close to the point that you may need to stop. The key here is that you don’t have to get to the point of failure to achieve muscle growth – but you do have to put in sufficient effort.

    If you want to get lean, focus first on nutrition, and then understand that either cardio, lifting or both can help.

    What if you’re time poor, or don’t have a gym membership? Well, callisthenics exercises offer some of the cardio benefits of a run, and some of the muscular benefits of a lifting session, all tied up in one neat package.

    It can be a great holiday workout at a local park or playground, on public outdoor exercise equipment, or even on the deck of a holiday rental.

    But, as with all exercise, there are potential benefits and limitations of callisthenics.

    Callisthenics has its place, but, for most, it’s likely best used as just one part of a well-rounded training routine.

    Mandy Hagstrom is affiliated with Sports Oracle, a company that delivers the IOC diploma in Strength and Conditioning.

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

    – ref. What is callisthenics? And how does it compare to running or lifting weights? – https://theconversation.com/what-is-callisthenics-and-how-does-it-compare-to-running-or-lifting-weights-246326

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King, Intel Colleagues Sound Alarm About “DOGE” Risk to National Security and American Privacy in Letter to White House

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
    WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI),  joined his committee colleagues to sound the alarm on the new national security risks that present themselves with the current operations of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In a letter to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, the Senators write about the risks to national security by allowing unvetted DOGE staff and representatives to access classified and sensitive government materials.
    The Committee members demanded that the administration provide details to Congress about how DOGE staff and representatives are being vetted, which systems, records and information are being shared, and what steps the administration is taking to safeguard them from misuse or disclosure.
    “According to press reports, DOGE inspectors already have gained access to classified materials, including intelligence reports, at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), sensitive government payment systems, including for Social Security and Medicare, at the Treasury Department, and federal personnel data from the Office of Personnel Management. Further, as of today the scope of DOGE’s access only seems to be expanding, as reports indicate DOGE has now entered the Department of Labor and other agencies,” the Senators wrote. “No information has been provided to Congress or the public as to who has been formally hired under DOGE, under what authority or regulations DOGE is operating, or how DOGE is vetting and monitoring its staff and representatives before providing them seemingly unfettered access to classified materials and Americans’ personal information.”
    The Senators added, “As you know, information is classified to protect the national security interests of the United States. Government employees and contractors only receive access to such information after they have undergone a rigorous background investigation and demonstrated a ‘need to know.’ Circumventing these requirements creates enormous counterintelligence and security risks. For example, improper access to facilities and systems containing security clearance files of Intelligence Community personnel puts at risk the safety of the men and women who serve this country. In addition, unauthorized access to classified information risks exposure of our operations and potentially compromises not only our own sources and methods, but also those of our allies and partners. If our sources, allies, and partners stop sharing intelligence because they cannot trust us to protect it, we will all be less safe.”
    “Unclassified government systems also contain sensitive data, the unintended disclosure of which could result in significant harm to individuals or organizations, including financial loss, identity theft, and exposure of medical and other private personal information. The U.S. Treasury payment systems, in particular, are used to disburse trillions of dollars each year, and contain everyday Americans’ personal information, such as Social Security numbers, home addresses, and bank accounts. Allowing DOGE access to this information raises unprecedented risks to Americans’ private personal and financial information,” the Senators continued.
    They concluded, “Such unregulated practices with our government’s most sensitive networks render Americans’ personal and financial information, and our classified national secrets, vulnerable to ransomware and cyber-attacks by criminals and foreign adversaries. The recent unprecedented Salt Typhoon and Change Healthcare attacks that affected tens of millions of Americans further underscore the importance of rigorously fortifying our government systems.”
    Joining King on the letter are Senators Mark Warner (D-VA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ).
    The full text of the letter is available here and below.
    +++
    Dear Ms. Wiles,
    We write to express our grave concern with the illegal actions currently being undertaken by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which risk exposure of classified and other sensitive information that jeopardizes national security and violates Americans’ privacy. The January 20 Executive Order establishes DOGE under the Executive Office of the President with DOGE Teams established by Agency Heads within their respective agencies, and requires the Administrator of DOGE to report to the White House Chief of Staff. According to press reports, DOGE inspectors already have gained access to classified materials, including intelligence reports, at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), sensitive government payment systems, including for Social Security and Medicare, at the Treasury Department, and federal personnel data from the Office of Personnel Management. Further, as of today the scope of DOGE’s access only seems to be expanding, as reports indicate DOGE has now entered the Department of Labor and other agencies.
    No information has been provided to Congress or the public as to who has been formally hired under DOGE, under what authority or regulations DOGE is operating, or how DOGE is vetting and monitoring its staff and representatives before providing them seemingly unfettered access to classified materials and Americans’ personal information.
    As you know, information is classified to protect the national security interests of the United States. Government employees and contractors only receive access to such information after they have undergone a rigorous background investigation and demonstrated a “need to know.”  Circumventing these requirements creates enormous counterintelligence and security risks. For example, improper access to facilities and systems containing security clearance files of Intelligence Community personnel puts at risk the safety of the men and women who serve this country. In addition, unauthorized access to classified information risks exposure of our operations and potentially compromises not only our own sources and methods, but also those of our allies and partners.If our sources, allies, and partners stop sharing intelligence because they cannot trust us to protect it, we will all be less safe.
    Unclassified government systems also contain sensitive data, the unintended disclosure of which could result in significant harm to individuals or organizations, including financial loss, identity theft, and exposure of medical and other private personal information. The U.S. Treasury payment systems, in particular, are used to disburse trillions of dollars each year, and contain everyday Americans’ personal information, such as Social Security numbers, home addresses, and bank accounts. Allowing DOGE access to this information raises unprecedented risks to Americans’ private personal and financial information.
    Moreover, there are strict cybersecurity controls for accessing federal networks, which DOGE does not seem to be following, including by reportedly connecting personal devices to sensitive government systems. Such unregulated practices with our government’s most sensitive networks render Americans’ personal and financial information, and our classified national secrets, vulnerable to ransomware and cyber-attacks by criminals and foreign adversaries. The recent unprecedented Salt Typhoon and Change Healthcare attacks that affected tens of millions of Americans further underscore the importance of rigorously fortifying our government systems.
    The Executive Branch cannot operate without regard to rules, regulations, or Congressional oversight. The American people, and our intelligence officials, deserve to know that their information is being appropriately safeguarded. We therefore respectfully request written responses to the following questions by February 14, 2025:
    Provide a list of personnel operating under DOGE, their position or role, and their duties. 
    Pursuant to the Executive Order, DOGE teams are to be established by Agency Heads within their respective agencies. Provide a list of each agency that has established a DOGE team, and the agency personnel overseeing such team.
    Under what authorities is DOGE conducting its operations?
    Who is overseeing DOGE’s operations?
    Provide a list of each agency DOGE has requested information from.
    Provide a list of all unclassified systems, records, or other information DOGE has requested and/or gained access to. 
    Provide a list of all classified systems, records, or other information DOGE has requested and/or gained access to.
    Do DOGE staff or representatives have access to any Intelligence Community systems, networks, or other information? If so, please specify the extent of such access.
    Under what authority is DOGE requesting and/or gaining access to classified information?
    What security clearances have been provided to DOGE staff or representatives, and who has authorized such clearances?
    What processes have been followed prior to granting security clearances to DOGE staff or representatives?
    What vetting for potential conflicts of interest has been conducted prior to granting clearances or access to government systems, records, or other information to DOGE staff or representatives?
    Provide a list of each DOGE staff or representative who has requested and/or gained access to classified information, what clearance each such individual holds, and who authorized each security clearance. 
    Who is supervising and/or monitoring DOGE employee access to classified information?
    What processes have been followed prior to granting DOGE staff or representatives access to sensitive government systems and networks, and who has authorized such access?
    Who is supervising and/or monitoring DOGE employee access to sensitive government systems and networks?
    Has DOGE briefed you, the White House Chief of Staff, on the counterintelligence and other risks of DOGE staff or representatives accessing classified and other sensitive information? If so, please specify the date of the briefing and those in attendance.
    Has DOGE briefed you, the White House Chief of Staff, on the counterintelligence and other risks of DOGE staff or representatives accessing government networks and systems? If so, please specify the date of the briefing and those in attendance.
    Has the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and/or the Central Intelligence Agency been briefed on the counterintelligence and other risks of DOGE staff or representatives accessing Treasury’s payment systems? If so, please specify the date of the briefing and those in attendance. 
    Has the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and/or the Central Intelligence Agency been briefed on the counterintelligence and other risks of DOGE staff or representatives accessing USAID’s classified and other sensitive information, including security clearance files? If so, please specify the date of the briefing and those in attendance.
    What actions if any has the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and/or the Central Intelligence Agency taken to ensure DOGE employee access does not create counterintelligence risks?
    What actions if any has the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and/or the Central Intelligence Agency taken to ensure DOGE employee access does not compromise classified or other sensitive intelligence and/or personal information of intelligence community officials? 
    To underscore, DOGE seems to have unimpeded access to some of our nation’s most sensitive information, including classified materials and the private personal and financial information of everyday Americans. In light of such unprecedented risks to our national and economic security, we expect your immediate attention and prompt response.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto Joins Bicameral Legislation to Ensure Access to Counsel When Lawfully Entering the United States

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and 13 of her colleagues in introducing the Access to Counsel Act to ensure that U.S. citizens, green card holders, and other individuals with legal status can consult with an attorney, relative, or other relevant party to seek assistance if they are detained by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for more than an hour at a port of entry, including an airport. The bill was introduced in conjunction with the NO BAN Act, legislation to prevent another Muslim Ban.
    “During the first Trump administration, we saw hundreds of travelers with valid visas and legal documents be detained without any way to contact family members or their lawyers,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This legislation would ensure that citizens, students, green card holders, and other lawful immigrants aren’t denied their right to an attorney.”
    The previous Muslim Ban in Trump’s first term unleashed chaos at airports and ports of entry across the country. People from Muslim-majority countries, with lawful permission to enter, were detained for hours without food or water before being deported. These individuals were often pressured to sign documents that amounted to them giving up their legal status. In many cases, these individuals had no opportunity to see an attorney or call anyone for legal guidance. Since then, there have been numerous instances of individual lawfully entering the U.S. being denied access to legal counsel despite having valid visas.
    Specifically, the Access to Counsel Act would require the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that people with valid travel documents who present themselves at the border, airports, or other points of interaction can communicate with counsel and other interested parties if they are subjected to prolonged inspection by CBP. 
    The first and only Latina senator, Senator Cortez Masto has consistently supported immigrant communities in Nevada, calling onboth administrations to protect TPS holders and other immigrants, as well as leading commonsense legislation to fix our broken immigration system. She has worked to pass meaningful immigration reform that balances critical border security measures with a path to citizenshipfor Dreamers, TPS holders, and essential workers, and she’s pushed legislation to allow Dreamers and TPS holders to work in Congress.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Joins Colleagues in Holding Senate Floor All Night to Send Stark Warning Against Confirming Russ Vought to Lead OMB

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    ***VIDEO HERE*** 
    Murray: “Why on earth would any one of us confirm someone whose entire game plan is to break the law and dare the world to stop him?”
    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Budget Committee, helped lead Senate Democrats in holding the Senate floor for a full 30 hours ahead of a final confirmation vote on Russell Vought to serve as Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
    Senator Murray delivered an hour-long floor speech and her remarks below touch specifically on Vought’s long history of extremism and advocacy for illegally blocking enacted funds due to go out to communities across the country. She warned her colleagues that as OMB Director, Vought would not implement the laws they pass, and that it will be much harder to work in a bipartisan way if Senators cannot trust OMB to respect enacted law and get duly passed funds to states and to programs families rely on.
    Senator Murray has repeatedly warned of Vought’s extremism and the threat he poses. At a recent Senate Budget Committee hearing, she grilled him on his views and whether he would, as OMB Director, simply follow the law and ensure funding Congress passed makes it to the families and communities it intended. Vought repeatedly refused to commit to following the law despite admitting that no court in the land has ever found the Impoundment Control Act to be unconstitutional.
    “The Senate should not vote to confirm as the head of OMB—or to any important role for that matter—someone who does not respect the constitutional authority of the Senate and, thus, the people we represent.
    “We should not entrust someone to implement our laws who has made clear, time and again through his past actions in this same role during President Trump’s first term, through his work as head architect of Project 2025, and through his own words in hearings and meetings that he will not follow the laws—that he will not send our communities the funding that we all worked together to pass.”
    “We know if Russ Vought gets his way, and gets his hands on the nation’s funding again, he won’t just draw blood, he will cut programs families rely on to the bone: SNAP cuts that leave families hungry, policies to cut people off from their health care, cuts to disability benefits that veterans have earned through their service, thousands of public servants forced out of roles serving the American people—all while he works with Trump to dole out more tax breaks to billionaires and the biggest corporations.”
    Senator Murray concluded her hour long remarks by emphasizing, once again, that Vought would be a dangerous, lawless OMB Director.
    “Before us, right now, is a nominee who has made clear he will not respect the authority of Congress and the people who voted us in—nominated by a President who is not respecting the authority of Congress and the people who voted us in.
    “We have to say we will not stand for it. We have to say the law is the law. And one simple way we can send that message is by rejecting Russ Vought’s nomination outright. And so, I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in doing just that.”
    The full text of Senator Murray’s remarks on Vought during her speech can be found below, and video can be found HERE.
    “M. President, I rise to urge all of my colleagues to vote against Russ Vought’s nomination to lead the Office of Management and Budget.
    “The Senate should not vote to confirm as the head of OMB—or to any important role for that matter—someone who does not respect the constitutional authority of the Senate and, thus, the people we represent.
    “We should not entrust someone to implement our laws who has made clear, time and again through his past actions in this same role during President Trump’s first term, through his work as head architect of Project 2025, and through his own words in hearings and meetings that he will not follow the laws—that he will not send our communities the funding we pass!
    “Why on earth would any one of us confirm someone whose entire game plan is to break the law and dare the world to stop him?
    “That’s it—that is how Russ Vought plans to run the OMB. It is not a secret, it is a very public fact—he has put this on the record time and again.
    “Just look at what happened last time Russ Vought served as Director of the OMB. He tried to break the law to give President Trump unilateral authority he does not possess to hold up security assistance to Ukraine and override the spending decisions of Congress. And he has not given up on that idea! He has written about it many, many times in the years since.
    “As a chief architect of Project 2025, Vought doubled down on lawlessness and charted a blatantly unconstitutional plan for the President to ignore the will of Congress—which led him to being named in the first Articles of Impeachment Against President Trump.
    “He mapped out a lawless path that—as I will detail shortly—President Trump is already barreling down at full speed.
    “But if you still weren’t convinced that Russ Vought will trample all over the separation of powers, will ignore the authority of Congress, will hurt the American people by holding back funds they rely on—well, you’re in luck, because, at our hearing with him, I asked Vought directly, point blank: ‘Will you follow the law?’
    “That should not be a hard question. Even if you disagree with a law, you don’t ignore it. Maybe you don’t like the 25 mile-an-hour speed limit in a school zone, but unless it’s changed, or struck down, you still have to follow it. It’s true for speed limits—and it is certainly true for the Constitution.
    “That is something almost every single American understands—except, apparently, Russ Vought and Donald Trump. Because, today the Impoundment Control Act is the law of the land. Despite Vought’s own wishes and feelings—it has not been changed and it has not been struck down in court.
    “Despite what Vought pretends is true, the reality is the Constitution gives Congress—not the President—the power of the purse. And yet, Russ Vought will not say he will follow the law.
    “And look, Vought is not just lawless—he is extreme. Let me just drive this home for a second. Let’s take abortion for example. Project 2025 already calls for ripping away birth control, allowing states to deny women life-saving emergency care, and effectively banning all abortion nationwide.
    “That is already a dangerous Republican fever dream—far out of line, by the way, with the American people. But Vought wants to go further! On abortion, he is for, quote: ‘abolition.’ You know what that means?
    “It means a national abortion ban without any exemptions or exceptions—even in cases of rape or when a woman’s life is at risk. That is as far right as it gets!
    “And abortion is not the only issue where Vought has made statements that are deeply alarming. He has stated he believes the 2020 election was, quote: ‘rigged.’ That is not just out of touch with America—that is dangerously out of touch with reality.
    “He has said he wants to ‘traumatize’ our federal workers—that means all the people who work really hard to help in our communities inspecting food, reviewing the safety of drugs, or keeping travel safe, or strengthening our infrastructure, or fostering innovation and small business, or getting care to veterans, or supporting to tribes, and so much more.
    “Vought has even said we live in a, quote, ‘post-constitutional’ time. M. President, it really doesn’t get any clearer than that. A post-constitutional time. That’s what he believes we are in. Do my colleagues agree? Do they think it’s time to shred the Constitution? That’s what is at stake with this confirmation vote.
    “Because Vought has made all too clear that as OMB director, he will put everything on the chopping block—from programs people rely on to the checks and balances our democracy is founded on. Again, he has put it down on paper—in black and white.
    “We know he wants to cut Medicare, and in particular, Medicaid, by hundreds of billions of dollars.
    “We know he wants to find ‘significant savings’ from eligibility changes to veterans’ health care and disability benefits. We don’t even need Project 2025 to see that! He laid some of that out in his budgets from Trump’s first term!
    “Vought’s goals are not secret, nor are they subtle—we do not have to decipher anything here. There is no mystery. We know he is planning for cuts beyond anything this country has ever seen.
    “And we know if Russ Vought gets his way, and gets his hands on the nation’s funding again, he will not just draw blood, he will cut programs families rely on to the bone—SNAP cuts that leave families hungry, policies to cut people off from their health care, cuts to disability benefits that veterans have earned through their service to America, thousands of public servants forced out of roles serving the American people—all while he works with Trump to dole out more tax breaks to billionaires and the biggest corporations.
    “And here’s another thing—we don’t have to imagine just how painful and chaotic Vought’s lawless ideas would be in practice because Vought is actually already putting his agenda in place, which frankly raises another question: why should the Senate vote to confirm someone who is already secretly doing the job behind our backs?
    “Because guess what—those Executive Orders that Trump still has in effect? Those orders which are, right now, illegally blocking money our communities need? That is right out of the Project 2025 playbook.
    “Or the effort now to get rid of thousands of federal workers through illegal firings and now scam buyout offers that have no basis in law to carry out, or trying to illegally abolish entire agencies with the stroke of a pen? That has Project 2025 written all over it.
    “And it’s not just a parallel in ideas here—when OMB issued its blatantly illegal guidance and attempted to block trillions in federal dollars Congress, all of us, passed, there were digital fingerprints all over that document linking right back to Project 2025. And in the chaos that followed—do you know who reportedly met with OMB staffers about how to respond? Russ Vought. So, let’s not pretend we have no idea just how lawless this guy is. Let’s not pretend we have no idea what sort of damage he will cause if he is put back in power.”
    […]
    “Now, Mr. President, before I conclude, I just want to hit once more on what is at stake with Mr. Vought’s nomination—we are talking about hundreds of billions of dollars in federal spending that Congress, us, passed, that our communities are counting on, and that Mr. Vought has made painfully clear he will not think twice about illegally blocking.
    “Giving this man the power to enact his illegal schemes will do real harm to folks back home. It will cut people off from help getting groceries and making rent. It will cut families off from child care and health care. It will cut veterans and their survivors off from disability and education benefits they earned through their service to our country. It will cut off breakthrough medical research, and help for people struggling with opioid addiction. It will cut off communities working to build bridges, improve roads, and strengthen their energy infrastructure.
    “That will have serious consequences we cannot overlook—we are here to fight for our families. But there is also another serious consequence here—one that cuts to the heart of what makes this Senate work, and that makes our democracy work.
    “Confirming Russ Vought to OMB makes it that much harder to negotiate our spending bills. It is much harder to reach a bipartisan deal with my colleagues, whom I respect and trust and have worked with for years, if that deal is going to be implemented by someone in whom I have zero trust—someone who has made clear that despite our laws, he is going to block any funding we pass.
    “And why should any Senator vote to confirm someone who has made it perfectly clear—he would undermine their authority to help their constituents.
    “M. President, as I’ve said, our system of checks and balances does not work on its own—we have to actually do our part here in Congress to be the check on Presidential abuse of power. And we have an opportunity—no, actually it’s an obligation—right now, to do just that.
    “Before us, right now, is a nominee who has made it very clear he will not respect the authority of Congress, of all of us, and all the people who voted us in—nominated by a President who is not respecting the authority of Congress and the people who voted us in.
    “We have to say we will not stand for it. We have to say the law is the law. And one simple way we can send that message is by rejecting Russ Vought’s nomination outright. And so, M. President, I am here today to strongly urge my colleagues to join me in doing just that.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Details Harm Caused By Trump’s Blanket Funding Freeze, Ongoing Chaos

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Murray shared many WA stories and concerns she heard following President Trump’s blanket funding freeze
    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, is helping lead Senate Democrats in holding the Senate floor for a full 30 hours ahead of a final confirmation vote on Russell Vought to serve as Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Senator Murray delivered an hour-long floor speech and her remarks below touch specifically on last week’s Monday night OMB budget memo that froze virtually all federal grants and how communities and organizations across America still cannot access funds that are meant to be unfrozen and fully accessible by now.
    “The calls just keep coming—even now that OMB reversed course. The chaos has not died down—the questions, the uncertainty, the fear from families and communities that Trump will pull the rug out from under them is still there. 
    “Because even though—after the intense outcry from the American people—Trump has now admitted this was a colossal mistake by rescinding the guidance, the threat, the chaos, the panic cannot just be wiped away. Especially while some funds are still being blocked!
    “No one feels any sense of calm after this. People aren’t feeling lasting relief—they are still wondering ‘how could something like this happen’ and ‘what in the world is going to happen next?’
    “The Trump administration—through a combination of sheer incompetence, cruel intentions, and a willful disregard for the law—caused, and is still causing, real harm and chaos for millions of people over the span of just a mere 48 hours.
    “But we did learn something extremely important: when the American people speak out with one voice, when regular people stand up, it makes a real difference. That victory belonged to everyone who raised their voice. But make no mistake, the fight is far from over.
    “As I said before, we still have a lot of work to do right now, to make sure all the funding actually does get moving again—this is not like turning on a light switch.
    “We just saw through the chaotic roll out—this is complicated stuff. So, I will be watching closely to make sure funds get where they belong ASAP. I already know that in many cases this has not been what is happening at all—so this is a serious concern.”
    The full text of Senator Murray’s remarks on the chaos because of Trump’s blanket funding freeze can be found below, and video can be found HERE.
    “The chaos Vought and Trump caused last week alone was unlike anything I can recall. M. President, never in my time in the Senate have I seen a President cause as much chaos, panic, and damage in 48 short hours—chaos, panic, and damage which continues even now!
    “President Trump inflicted serious harm when he implemented Vought’s reckless vision to brazenly and illegally freeze federal grants across the government and across the country.
    “My phone has been ringing off the hook—because unlike billionaires like Trump and Musk, unlike hyper partisans like Vought, the American people actually have a painfully clear sense of how this will hurt our communities. After all, they are the ones who would actually suffer the consequences of a reckless policy like this.
    “And, let’s remember, the Trump administration’s first half-hearted attempt to clean up the massive mess they made with a new guidance, essentially boiled down to: ‘We’ll let some funding go, but we’re still going to hold up everything else.’
    “And while later, they finally admitted they were disastrously wrong and revoked the entire guidance, they are now, still today, illegally holding up other funds—which I will say more about later.
    “And the chaos alone they caused, with their cruelty and incompetence is utterly unacceptable. The explanations the Trump Administration offered throughout that saga—freezing seemingly trillions of dollars that families rely on—created no clarity or certainty for so many panicked families, businesses, nonprofits, towns, and states. And nothing they said changes the basic fact that Trump was—and is still—holding up funding our communities need, funding that is the law.
    “But let’s talk about the effect—let’s talk about the chaos and alarm they caused, the damage done to communities and families that all of us represent, and the collision course we were on before Americans spoke out and forced Trump to retreat.
    “Because, in terms of chaos, the Trump Administration was trying to say a lot of programs were not affected even when we had firsthand accounts making clear that was not what organizations across the country were experiencing.
    “I’ll give you one example: Head Start providers were locked out of their reimbursement portal, meaning folks taking care of our youngest kids were suddenly not sure how they were going to keep their doors open or pay their teachers and staff. And some providers in my state are still locked out, not getting the funding.
    “Let’s talk about rental assistance! The payment system for housing providers was down for over a day—with rents that were due at the end of the week!
    “Seniors who count on Meals on Wheels were left wondering whether they’d have dinner last week.
    “Grant programs to combat the fentanyl crisis, to get families health care, and so much more were—in an instant— put at risk of evaporating into thin air.
    “I mean, M. President, the panic and confusion were absolutely widespread. Because there was a long, long, list of programs President Trump tried to put on the chopping block here—programs that, by the way, help red states and blue states alike.
    “Funding to address the opioid use epidemic could have been paused. This is a long-standing bipartisan priority and Trump wanted funding frozen for an indefinite period—that would absolutely upend prevention efforts and cut people off from treatment that is helping them beat addiction.
    “Or COPS hiring grants which help our states and communities hire career law enforcement officers—Trump was freezing those, too. These investments increase community policing capacity and they prevent crime. Without this money, our streets and neighborhoods would be less safe.
    “And let’s not forget about other crucial DOJ grants—funding for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, for Amber Alerts, and for safe havens that support victims of human trafficking.
    “Or, in my state, there are 25 child advocacy centers that were trying to figure out how they would be affected by the freeze. Think about that.
    “And funding for firefighters—you know what doesn’t stop when federal funding stops? Fires! And speaking of fires—Trump’s move also threw funding for recovery and relief efforts into uncertainty. In Eastern Washington, my state, $44 million was announced weeks ago to help Spokane County rebuild from wildfires—we were left with big questions about the future of that badly needed funding last week.
    “And while it was just two weeks ago that Trump visited communities in both North Carolina and California still reeling from disaster, the very next week, he sent them reeling himself—throwing funds they were counting on into limbo with his initial OMB guidance. Because, for a while there, the system that all of our states use to get disaster relief funding was shut down!
    “And let’s not forget grants from the Violence Against Women Act—I heard from organizations in Washington state that support survivors of violence, they were trying to figure out what to do because their federal payments site went down. Without that vital funding, survivors would be left with no way to access the legal aid and services they deserve. Like so many other organizations, they were ringing the alarm bells—because they were not going to be able to pay staff or pay their bills. This illegal freeze left domestic violence centers wondering how long they could keep their doors open and pay their staff.
    “And our Tribes were thrown into chaos as well. The Puyallup Tribe was told they couldn’t move forward with a critical road project. And our Tribes in general were all concerned that housing, health care, education, and so much else were getting caught up in this funding freeze. One told me they were left trying to determine if they were going to have to lay off 400 people because of this. Causing layoffs with an illegal funding freeze would be a profound breach of the federal trust responsibility to our Tribes.
    “Or here’s another alarming one: one of Trump’s executive orders was set to cut funding used to help detain nearly 10,000 ISIS militants in Syria. That funding was about to be cut off altogether—potentially leading to prison guards leaving the job and risking ISIS militants getting out of jail—until this administration was alerted to how reckless that would be and carved out that funding.
    “But trust me when I say: there are many other funding streams that help keep us safe that are still at risk—especially because of the illegal executive orders that are, today, still blocking foreign assistance, and the absolutely lawless effort to dismantle USAID, which does lifesaving relief work around the world.
    “I will have a lot more to say on that later. And, by the why, how does undermining health, which will mean diseases run rampant—particularly at a time when Bird Flu is on the uptick and impacting many producers, workers and states—how does that make any sense?
    “Because when it comes to health care—this attempted freeze posed a huge threat to our families. Set aside the fact the Medicaid payment portal went down in my state and every state—something that we were told was a coincidence—that doesn’t change the fact all federal health care grant reimbursements stopped.
    “It doesn’t change the fact that community health centers were blocked from getting the funds they need to pay staff and continue providing care in our communities—including rural areas where they are often the only option for miles.
    “It doesn’t change the fact that Title X providers—who support care like family planning services, cancer screenings, and more—couldn’t draw down their funds.
    “I also heard from HopeSparks, a health care provider in my state. They warned that without federal support, kids in the South Puget Sound would lose access to mental health care and crisis services. 
    “And, biomedical researchers were suddenly left dealing with questions—not about how to save lives, but about grant freezes, and how these vague, broad actions might stop research programs and clinical trials across the country.
    “Chaos alone presents a huge risk of derailing crucial studies. Scientists at the University of Washington and Washington State University have told my office they were deeply alarmed—a freeze like Trump ordered would have meant research projects collapsing and staff being furloughed or laid off!
    “The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center moved to bridge the gap to keep research from being derailed—but not getting this fixed would have meant putting them in the hole, to the tune of over $1 million a day. That sort of unexpected burden would have had a huge impact on lifesaving cancer research.
    “And agricultural research was faced with uncertainty as well! WSU is a national leader in this important work—research to help our farmers grow more crops, grow more resilient crops, and fight challenges like pests, and plant diseases. WSU was deeply concerned funding for that research could be cut off, undermining important work supporting our nation’s farmers.
    “And the threats didn’t stop there for those in food and agriculture. One organization, which works alongside local growers, told me losing funding would mean a reduced capacity to grow and distribute fresh, local food to communities. That would hurt both farmers and the families who rely on these programs to help put food on the table!
    “Meanwhile, a group in Washington addressing youth homelessness warned it would have to kick kids out if the funding issue was not resolved. Let me repeat that: a homeless youth group was pushed to the brink of having to kick kids onto the streets because of President Trump’s illegal freeze. 
    “I was also deeply concerned about how the freeze might halt the diaper pilot program.  As well as the reports I got from multiple housing providers in my state worried that tens of thousands of people would be at risk of homelessness thanks to this illegal freeze.
    “And don’t get me started on infrastructure! These are projects that take years to plan, build, and complete, and do a whole lot of good for our communities. In my state alone, there were big questions about what was going to happen to electrical grid upgrades happening in Okanogan and Pierce County, improvements planned at the Ports of Seattle, Everett, and Whitman County, or SeaTac Airport’s plans to deploy new trucks.
    “And some of these questions still remain! Because—as I will detail in a minute—there are still many other ways programs are being put at risk by Trump illegally blocking funds with his executive orders. I will continue fighting for the federal funding Congress already provided to keep all of these projects on track—but that can only get us so far if President Trump illegally blocks it all and our Republican colleagues help let it happen.
    “I mean the list goes on, and on, and on. The calls just keep coming—even now that OMB reversed course. The chaos has not died down—the questions, the uncertainty, the fear from families and communities that Trump will pull the rug out from under them is still there. 
    “Because even though—after the intense outcry from the American people—Trump has now admitted this was a colossal mistake by rescinding the guidance, the threat, the chaos, the panic cannot just be wiped away. Especially while some funds are still being blocked!
    “No one feels any sense of calm after this. People aren’t feeling lasting relief—they are still wondering ‘how could something like this happen’ and “what in the world is going to happen next?’
    “The Trump administration—through a combination of sheer incompetence, cruel intentions, and a willful disregard for the law—caused, and is still causing, real harm and chaos for millions of people over the span of just a mere 48 hours.
    “But we did learn something extremely important: when the American people speak out with one voice, when regular people stand up, it makes a real difference. That victory belonged to everyone who raised their voice. But make no mistake, the fight is far from over.
    “As I said before, we still have a lot of work to do right now, to make sure all the funding actually does get moving again—this is not like turning on a light switch.
    “We just saw through the chaotic roll out—this is complicated stuff. So, I want you to know, I will be watching closely to make sure funds get where they belong ASAP. I already know that in many cases this has not been what is happening at all—so this is a serious concern.
    “I actually spoke with a constituent last week, Mike from Edmonds–he runs a nonprofit supporting military families and helping servicemembers transition back to civilian life. And even days after the OMB guidance was reversed, they still couldn’t access federal funding. He’s using a personal line of credit to pay staff in the meantime. And if this doesn’t get fixed—his organization won’t be able to help military families or pay its employees.
    “The homeless shelter I mentioned at the top—short $5.1 million dollars because of Trump—also still has its funds frozen. It is still looking at reducing beds and facing layoffs.
    “And as I mentioned earlier, some Head Start programs are still not able to access their grant funding—so the chaos of this OMB saga is far, far from over.”

    MIL OSI USA News –