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  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Sentencing in Shiprock Fatal Stabbing

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man was sentenced to 23 years in federal prison today for the fatal stabbing of John Doe at a gas station in Shiprock, New Mexico in 2021.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    According to court documents, on October 24, 2021, following a night of drinking and socializing with friends, Marc Gene Clark, 47, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, confronted John Doe in the parking lot of a gas station. During the confrontation and without provocation, Clark stabbed Doe with a knife, resulting in significant blood loss and ultimately leading to Doe’s death later that day.

    Surveillance video footage captured the stabbing. Clark was subsequently arrested at a nearby laundromat by officers from the Navajo Nation Police Department, and the knife used in the stabbing was found in his possession.

    Upon his release from prison, Clark will be subject to five years of supervised release.

    U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, made the announcement today.

    The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew J. McGinley and Paul J. Mysliwiec prosecuted the case.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Final Sentencings in Major Albuquerque Drug Trafficking Case

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – The final of four defendants has been sentenced for his role in a drug trafficking organization that operated out of various Motel 6 locations in Albuquerque. The sentences mark the conclusion of a multi-agency investigation that began in August 2020 as part of Operation Legend.

    According to court documents, the investigation revealed that the organization engaged in the distribution of methamphetamine. Members routinely carried firearms during drug transactions and were involved in other criminal activities, including selling firearms and a kidnapping incident.

    The Motel 6 on Carlisle and I-40 served as a hub for the group’s operations. Between January and June 2020, this location generated 233 calls for police service, including reports of firearms activity, armed robberies, and other serious crimes.

    Four defendants have been sentenced for their roles in a violent drug trafficking organization:

    • Jack Trujillo, 48, the ringleader, was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for multiple counts of methamphetamine distribution, firearms offenses, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Upon his release from prison, Trujillo will be subject to five years of supervised release.
    • Alberto Gomez, 40, received a 11.5-year sentence for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, aiding and abetting the possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Upon his release from prison, Gomez will be subject to five years of supervised release.
    • Cedric Kulka, 26, was sentenced to 8 years’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Upon his release from prison, Kulka will be subject to three years of supervised release.
    • Christopher Hulsey, 29, received a 15-year sentence for multiple counts of methamphetamine distribution, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Upon his release from prison, Hulsey will be subject to five years of supervised release.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement today.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jaymie L. Roybal is prosecuting the case.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell Presses Trump Nominee RFK Jr. on His Anti-Science Views: ‘Are You Aware of How Harmful These Issues Could Be For Our Public Health?’

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    01.30.25
    Cantwell Presses Trump Nominee RFK Jr. on His Anti-Science Views: ‘Are You Aware of How Harmful These Issues Could Be For Our Public Health?’
    In Finance Committee confirmation hearing, Cantwell credits WA’s fast & robust COVID response to strong health care research & innovation; Cantwell also secures commitment from RFK Jr. to protect existing laws on stem cell research
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, a senior member of the Senate Committee on Finance, grilled Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. — President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services – on his past anti-science statements, as well as his promise to cut 600 employees from the National Institute of Health.
    “I represent a very big innovation state – innovation in health care, specifically. Innovation like NIH funding to the Fred Hutch Cancer Center that helped develop the HPV vaccine, which has the potential to eliminate over 95% of cervical cancer. NIH also funds a lot of jobs and grants – nearly 11,000 people in the State of Washington and over $1.2 billion worth grants,” Sen. Cantwell said. “I definitely am troubled by the medical research side of innovation, and some of the things that you have said. In fact, this issue about laying off 600 employees at NIH.”
    “The most striking example of this is when COVID hit. We were the first in the nation – we had the first case – and it really was the fast response by the University of Washington that really helped save lives,” she continued. “Are you aware of how harmful these issues could be for public health? That public health in and of itself could be affected by these kinds of anti-science views?”
    In response, Kennedy responded that he believes in “evidence-based medicine and gold standard science.”
    Sen. Cantwell also grilled Kennedy on whether he supports the ongoing stem cell research being conducted in Washington state.
    “We’re making regenerative heart tissue now at the University of Washington. So yes or no, do you commit to protecting stem cell research for scientific agencies if confirmed?” Sen. Cantwell asked.
    He responded: “I will protect stem cell research.”
    Sen. Cantwell: “You’ll protect the laws that are on the books today and the research that’s done?”
    “My job is, Senator, to enforce the laws,” he said.
    For decades, Sen. Cantwell has remained a staunch supporter of medical innovation and evidence-based science, including treatments for fentanyl addiction, abortion, vaccinations, stem cell research, and more.
    Video of today’s hearing is available HERE; audio is HERE; and a transcript of Sen. Cantwell’s questioning is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. Senate Passes Booker, Lankford, Rosen, Cramer Resolution Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), James Lankford (R-OK), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced that the Senate unanimously passed their bipartisan resolution commemorating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz in Nazi-occupied Poland and marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The resolution calls for the remembrance of the millions of innocent victims of the Nazi reign of terror, honors the legacy of the survivors of the Holocaust, and recommits to combatting all forms of antisemitism.
    “As we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz the Senate’s unanimous passage of this bipartisan resolution remembers the millions of lives lost in the Holocaust and honors the legacies of those who survived,” said Senator Booker. “I remain committed to combating antisemitism in all of its forms, and we must never forget how hatred, bigotry, and antisemitism created and exploited divisions that led to such atrocities. We must all work to ensure this incredibly dark chapter of history is never repeated.”
    “Today marks 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz, when thousands of lives were saved, and the world was finally exposed to the horrors behind those walls,” said Senator Rosen. “The U.S. Senate passed this bipartisan resolution to recognize the six million Jews and millions of others who were brutally murdered by Nazis during one of the darkest chapters in human history. At a time when antisemitism and Holocaust denial are on the rise around the world, it has never been more important to remind the world of the atrocities committed by rampant anti-Jew hate and discrimination. By remembering the past, we can ensure Never Again truly means never again.”
    “Eighty years ago today, good triumphed over the evil of the Holocaust as Allied Forces liberated Auschwitz,” said Senator Cramer. “We will never forget the atrocities of the Holocaust. In the wake of an alarming uptick in anti-semitism, we remember the murder of millions of Jews on this solemn day.”
    To read the full text of the resolution, click here.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Prepared Remarks: Sanders Opening Statement in Hearing to Consider RFK Jr. Nomination

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders
    WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pension (HELP), today delivered an opening statement at the committee’s hearing on the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services.
    Sanders’ remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below and can be watched here.
    Thank you, Senator Cassidy. And Mr. Kennedy, thank you for being with us.
    I will discuss later the issue of vaccines, which Senator Cassidy raised, and is of concern I think for all of us. But before I go there, I wanted to congratulate you for the phrase “Make America Healthy Again.” I think that is a cry that all of us – a goal that all of us share – because, as you have indicated, we are a very unhealthy society.
    We are the richest country in the history of the world, but we rank far below every other major country in terms of our life expectancy. That’s outrageous. To me, equally outrageous is that, if you are working class in this country, you are going to live six or seven years shorter than if you are rich. In America today, 68,000 people die every year because they can’t afford to get to a doctor.
    Unbelievably, in this country, hundreds of thousands of people deal with cancer, struggling for their lives. You know what happens to them? They go bankrupt. They deplete their life’s savings.
    In other words, when we talk about making America healthy, we’ve got to talk about our broken, corrupt health care system.
    Your uncle, President Kennedy, and your father, Bobby Kennedy, a great senator from New York, both did the right thing. They said that health care is a human right. I’m not sure how we can move to making America healthy again unless we have the guts to take on the insurance companies and the drug companies and guarantee health care to all people. I’ll be asking you a question about that.
    Lowering the cost of prescription drugs. How do you make America healthy again if one out of four people in this country cannot afford the price of prescription drugs, which is far higher in America than any other country on Earth?
    Under President Biden, we made some progress and this committee played an active role in having Medicare begin, for the first time, negotiating the price of prescription drugs. And I’m going to ask you today whether or not President Trump will follow what we accomplished here.
    We are the only major country on earth not to guarantee paid family and medical leave. Mr. Kennedy, there are women today who are having babies and are forced to return to work in a week or two because they have no guaranteed paid family and medical leave. How do you have a healthy country when Americans get fired because they stay home taking care of their sick kids? That’s not making America healthy again.
    If you are working 50 to 60 hours a week making 13, 14 bucks an hour, can you be healthy? Will you join those of us who think that, in the United States, the wealthiest country in the world, people that work 40 hours a week should not live in poverty? We must raise the minimum wage to a living wage.
    Lastly, President Trump believes that climate change is a hoax. I happen to believe, most Americans believe and virtually the entire scientific community believes that it is an existential threat to this planet. I don’t know how you are going to make America healthy again or keep the world healthy when you have massive heat waves, droughts, floods and extreme weather disturbances. That’s not keeping America healthy. Now, that is not within the jurisdiction of HHS, but I surely hope that you will, if confirmed, demand that President Trump change his position and work with those of us who are trying to transform our energy system and keep America healthy by addressing the crisis of climate change.
    Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Joint Statement by humanitarian, development and human rights organisations in Lebanon: We need a Permanent Ceasefire and a Just Recovery

    Source: Oxfam –

    We, the undersigned organisations operating in Lebanon, urgently call on parties to abide by their commitments towards a permanent ceasefire in Lebanon and appeal to the international community to ensure the respect and full implementation of the temporary ceasefire agreement, now being extended until February 18th 2025.

    While the temporary ceasefire remains in effect and has been extended, we express deep concern about the numerous reported violations that continue to weaken the agreement.. Over 800 violations by Israeli forces[1] and at least one violation by Hezbollah[2] have been reported. As of January 23, 2025 violations by Israeli forces have included indiscriminate ground and air attacks, killing at least 30 people, since November 27, 2024, bringing the total number of people killed by Israeli forces since October 8, 2023 to 4,285, including 241 health care workers, and 17,200 wounded[3]. On Sunday January 26, 2025, alone, Israeli military forces killed 24 individuals, including six women and a Lebanese soldier, and injured 134 including 12 children in the South of Lebanon[4]. Thousands of people, including women and children, older people and people with disabilities have been uprooted from their homes, cut off from food, healthcare and education and exposed to hugely traumatic events – with, so far, no accountability for the destruction or indiscriminate killing.

    This agreement represents a step towards implementing UN Security Resolution 1701 and included a “phased withdrawal of the Israeli Defense Forces south of the Blue Line and the parallel deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) south of the Litani river” that “should not exceed 60 days”.[5] There is still an opportunity to transform temporary undertakings into longer term commitments.

    While many are attempting to return to their homes, hundreds of thousands of people still face the grim reality of either not being able to return because of ongoing Israeli forces’ ground occupation or because of the scale of destruction. Israeli forces have razed entire villages and destroyed agricultural lands and vital infrastructure, including hospitals and schools. Lands are contaminated by unexploded ordnance posing threats to life and risks for the reconstruction efforts.

    As human rights and humanitarian organisations, we will continue supporting all affected people with emergency assistance, recovery and reconstruction[6], but the humanitarian crisis remains severe. Plans for recovery and reconstruction have begun amidst a lingering socio-economic crisis and skyrocketing poverty rates, with nearly one Third of children in Lebanon facing crisis levels of hunger[7]. The economic losses due to the conflict are estimated at 8.5 billion USD[8], and Lebanon desperately needs support for its recovery. The consequences of this destruction will be felt in Lebanon for years to come, and yet again, with no accountability.

    As humanitarian and human rights organisations involved in the immediate relief, early recovery and reconstruction efforts in Lebanon, we urgently call for:

    1. Immediate, Unconditional and Definitive Ceasefire in Lebanon and the Region:
    • The international community to take every step possible, including through diplomatic and political leverage, to ensure an immediate and definitive ceasefire in Lebanon. The temporary and conditional agreement must allow for a transition to a permanent ceasefire.

    • The international community must also ensure the respect and implementation  of the pause in hostilities in Gaza and an end to excessive use of force in the West Bank, acknowledging that this is essential to protect civilians and prevent further escalation and regional spillover.

    1. Unconditional Humanitarian Access and Scaling Up Assistance:
    • Ensure rapid, unhindered access to conflict-affected areas and safeguard humanitarian facilities and personnel across the country.
    • Fully fund the humanitarian flash appeal to address the acute needs across Lebanon to enable the provision of immediate, flexible funding for gender, age and disability responsive humanitarian responses, including cash assistance, safe shelter, and healthcare.

    • Support reconstruction efforts through grants, not loans, and fund early warning and early action and anticipatory action to mitigate further shocks.

    1. Inclusive Recovery Focusing on Social Cohesion:
    1. Supporting Local and National NGOs in Response Planning and Implementation:

    • Increase financial and logistical support to local and national NGOs[9], including women’s rights and women-led organizations, and ensure these are at the forefront of responding to the crisis and receive direct, timely and flexible funding to meet growing needs.

    1. Halt the Transfer of Arms to Conflict Parties:

    • Suspend immediately the transfer of all weapons, parts, munitions, and ammunition to parties to the armed conflict when there is a risk they might be used to commit or facilitate violations of IHL and IHRL and other further grave violations in Lebanon and the region.

    1. Accountability and Respect for International Law:

    There is cautious optimism following recent political developments, including the appointments of both President and Prime Minister. However, meaningful international support is critical to fulfill the aspirations of the people in Lebanon for sustainable peace and justice. It is the persistent failure to seek accountability for violations that has fuelled cycles of violence now affecting the entire region. The time for action is now to ensure a just recovery and lasting peace in Lebanon and the region.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Global: From chatbot to sexbot: What lawmakers can learn from South Korea’s AI hate-speech disaster

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Jul Parke, PhD Candidate in Media, Technology & Culture, University of Toronto

    The chatbot Iruda began expressing hateful views after some users “trained” it with toxic language. Here a newer version of Iruda is shown. (Scatter Lab)

    As artificial intelligence technologies develop at accelerated rates, the methods of governing companies and platforms continue to raise ethical and legal concerns.

    In Canada, many view proposed laws to regulate AI offerings as attacks on free speech and as overreaching government control on tech companies. This backlash has come from free speech advocates, right-wing figures and libertarian thought leaders.

    However, these critics should pay attention to a harrowing case from South Korea that offers important lessons about the risks of public-facing AI technologies and the critical need for user data protection.

    In late 2020, Iruda (or “Lee Luda”), an AI chatbot, quickly became a sensation in South Korea. AI chatbots are computer programs that simulate conversation with humans. In this case, the chatbot was designed as a 21-year-old female college student with a cheerful personality. Marketed as an exciting “AI friend,” Iruda attracted more than 750,000 users in under a month.

    But within weeks, Iruda became an ethics case study and a catalyst for addressing a lack of data governance in South Korea. She soon started to say troubling things and express hateful views. The situation was accelerated and exacerbated by the growing culture of digital sexism and sexual harassment online.

    Making a sexist, hateful chatbot

    Scatter Lab, the tech startup that created Iruda, had already developed popular apps that analyzed emotions in text messages and offered dating advice. The company then used data from these apps to train Iruda’s abilities in intimate conversations. But it failed to fully disclose to users that their intimate messages would be used to train the chatbot.

    The problems began when users noticed Iruda repeating private conversations verbatim from the company’s dating advice apps. These responses included suspiciously real names, credit card information and home addresses, leading to an investigation.

    The chatbot also began expressing discriminatory and hateful views. Investigations by media outlets found this occurred after some users deliberately “trained” it with toxic language. Some users even created user guides on how to make Iruda a “sex slave” on popular online men’s forums. Consequently, Iruda began answering user prompts with sexist, homophobic and sexualized hate speech.

    This raised serious concerns about how AI and tech companies operate. The Iruda incident also raises concerns beyond policy and law for AI and tech companies. What happened with Iruda needs to be examined within a broader context of online sexual harassment in South Korea.

    A pattern of digital harassment

    South Korean feminist scholars have documented how digital platforms have become battlegrounds for gender-based conflicts, with co-ordinated campaigns targeting women who speak out on feminist issues. Social media amplifies these dynamics, creating what Korean American researcher Jiyeon Kim calls “networked misogyny.”

    South Korea, home to the radical feminist 4B movement (which stands for four types of refusal against men: no dating, marriage, sex or children), provides an early example of the intensified gender-based conversations that are commonly seen online worldwide. As journalist Hawon Jung points out, the corruption and abuse exposed by Iruda stemmed from existing social tensions and legal frameworks that refused to address online misogyny. Jung has written extensively on the decades-long struggle to prosecute hidden cameras and revenge porn.

    Beyond privacy: The human cost

    Of course, Iruda was just one incident. The world has seen numerous other cases that demonstrate how seemingly harmless applications like AI chatbots can become vehicles for harassment and abuse without proper oversight.

    These include Microsoft’s Tay.ai in 2016, which was manipulated by users to spout antisemitic and misogynistic tweets. More recently, a custom chatbot on Character.AI was linked to a teen’s suicide.

    Chatbots — that appear as likeable characters that feel increasingly human with rapid technology advancements — are uniquely equipped to extract deeply personal information from their users.

    These attractive and friendly AI figures exemplify what technology scholars Neda Atanasoski and Kalindi Vora describe as the logic of “surrogate humanity” — where AI systems are designed to stand in for human interaction but end up amplifying existing social inequalities.

    AI ethics

    In South Korea, Iruda’s shutdown sparked a national conversation about AI ethics and data rights. The government responded by creating new AI guidelines and fining Scatter Lab 103 million won ($110,000 CAD).

    However, Korean legal scholars Chea Yun Jung and Kyun Kyong Joo note these measures primarily emphasized self-regulation within the tech industry rather than addressing deeper structural issues. It did not address how Iruda became a mechanism through which predatory male users disseminated misogynist beliefs and gender-based rage through deep learning technology.

    Ultimately, looking at AI regulation as a corporate issue is simply not enough. The way these chatbots extract private data and build relationships with human users means that feminist and community-based perspectives are essential for holding tech companies accountable.

    Since this incident, Scatter Lab has been working with researchers to demonstrate the benefits of chatbots.

    Canada needs strong AI policy

    In Canada, the proposed Artificial Intelligence and Data Act and Online Harms Act are still being shaped, and the boundaries of what constitutes a “high-impact” AI system remain undefined.

    The challenge for Canadian policymakers is to create frameworks that protect innovation while preventing systemic abuse by developers and malicious users. This means developing clear guidelines about data consent, implementing systems to prevent abuse, and establishing meaningful accountability measures.

    As AI becomes more integrated into our daily lives, these considerations will only become more critical. The Iruda case shows that when it comes to AI regulation, we need to think beyond technical specifications and consider the very real human implications of these technologies.

    Join us for a live ‘Don’t Call Me Resilient’ podcast recording with Jul Parke on Wednesday, February 5 from 5-6 p.m. at Massey College in Toronto. Free to attend. RSVP here.

    Jul Parke receives funding from the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada.

    – ref. From chatbot to sexbot: What lawmakers can learn from South Korea’s AI hate-speech disaster – https://theconversation.com/from-chatbot-to-sexbot-what-lawmakers-can-learn-from-south-koreas-ai-hate-speech-disaster-247152

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Situation in Eastern DRC: UK statement

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The UK has issued a statement following the occupation of Goma in Eastern DRC by M23 and Rwandan Defence Forces (RDF).

    An FCDO spokesperson said:

    “The UK condemns the occupation of Goma and other territories in eastern DRC by M23 and Rwandan Defence Forces (RDF) as an unacceptable breach of DRC’s sovereignty and the UN Charter which poses a fundamental risk to regional stability.

    “The UK calls for the immediate withdrawal of all RDF from Congolese territory. On 26 January, the Foreign Secretary told President Kagame that an attack on Goma would provoke a strong response from the international community. On 29 January, Lord Collins made clear to the Rwandan High Commissioner that Rwanda’s actions in eastern DRC were unacceptable and expressed deep concern at reports of M23 and RDF advancing through South Kivu towards Bukavu.

    “The humanitarian situation, already dire before M23 and RDF’s latest offensive, is now critical. More than 800,000 people in the area who were prioritised for support may no longer receive vital food and nutritional assistance. The UK calls on all parties to immediately cease hostilities, facilitate humanitarian access, and return to inclusive diplomatic talks. Their engagement in good faith in African-led processes will be key. There can be no military solution.

    “The UK is actively considering next steps, alongside international partners, including the possibility of a review of all UK support to Rwanda.”

    Media enquiries

    Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7008 3100

    Contact the FCDO Communication Team via email (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Readout of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s Call With NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte

    Source: United States Department of Defense

    Department of Defense Spokesman John Ullyot provided the following readout:

    Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte held an introductory call yesterday to discuss their shared commitment to building a stronger, more lethal NATO Alliance. Both leaders stressed the importance of raising Allied defense spending and expanding defense industrial base capacity on both sides of the Atlantic. Secretary Hegseth emphasized that the United States is fully committed, under President Trump’s leadership, to pursuing these objectives in the face of today’s threats. Both leaders agreed to work closely together and to meet in person soon.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Secures More than $1 Million from Netspend for Charging Illegal Fees and Misleading New Yorkers

    Source: US State of New York

    NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today secured over $1 million and significant reforms from Ouro Global, Inc. (Ouro) which owns Netspend Corporation (Netspend), a provider of reloadable debit cards and payroll cards. An Office of the Attorney General (OAG) investigation found that Netspend violated numerous consumer protection laws and harmed tens of thousands of predominately low-income New Yorkers. For years, the company illegally froze its customers’ accounts and turned over their funds, which should have been protected, to debt collectors instead. Netspend also charged illegal fees on its debit and payroll cards that cost customers hundreds of thousands of dollars, and operated a paycheck advance program that charged customers illegally high interest rates. As part of the settlement, Netspend will pay more than $735,000 to tens of thousands of New Yorkers who were affected and change its policies to comply with New York’s consumer protection laws. Netspend will also pay over $350,000 in penalties to the state.

    “Netspend took advantage of tens of thousands of consumers and even deprived vulnerable New Yorkers of their hard-earned benefits like Social Security,” said Attorney General James. “This settlement will return hundreds of thousands of dollars to New Yorkers and ensure that Netspend ends its illegal practices. I will not tolerate any company that tries to profit by defrauding New Yorkers, and we will continue to go after anyone who breaks our consumer protection laws.”

    The OAG investigation found that Netspend violated state consumer protection laws, particularly those meant to protect low-income New Yorkers and those who receive benefits like Social Security and veterans benefits. Netspend operated a paycheck advance program, where workers could receive payments that supposedly represented advances on future wages. However, the fees Netspend charged consumers in this program amounted to interest rates with substantial annualized costs. While New York law limits annual interest rates to 16 percent for unlicensed lenders such as Netspend and 25 percent for licensed lenders, the OAG investigation uncovered more than 4,000 cases in which consumers were charged an effective annual interest rate of over 300 percent. The investigation also revealed that most of these enormous costs fell on New Yorkers who relied on repeated use of the paycheck advance program.

    The OAG investigation also found that Netspend facilitated violations of New York’s Exempt Income Protection Act. Under this law, state or federal benefits such as Social Security benefits, veterans benefits, disability insurance, and unemployment insurance are protected from debt collectors up to a certain amount: $3,840 for New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County residents, and $3,600 for all other New York residents. Netspend failed to follow this law, freezing customers’ accounts and allowing debt collectors to seize its customers’ funds, even when they fell below the legal limit.

    For example, in January 2019, Netspend froze a New York consumer’s bank account containing $1,008.52 – a balance substantially below the legal threshold. When the consumer contacted Netspend and informed them that the account restraint was illegal under New York law, Netspend incorrectly responded that the account had to remain blocked for a year “per the court order.” The customer had to pay over $600 from the account to the debt collector to free up the remaining funds from the illegal freeze.

    Netspend also misled its customers and charged a wide range of illegal fees. Netspend’s marketing materials misled consumers about ATM fees that would be charged when using a Netspend card, leading its customers to believe they would be able to avoid all fees by using in-network ATMs. In reality, customers were charged fees on all ATM transactions, earning Netspend millions of dollars. Netspend also charged its payroll card customers a wide range of illegal fees after those fees were banned in New York, including fees for inquiring about an account balance at ATMs, fees for attempting transactions at ATMs that were declined, foreign exchange fees, and more.

    As a result of the settlement, Netspend will pay back more than $735,000 to tens of thousands of New Yorkers who were charged illegal fees, had funds illegally turned over to debt collectors, or who paid fees for paycheck advance payments in violation of New York laws. Consumers who have active debit or payroll accounts with Netspend will have their accounts credited with restitution amounts, while those without active accounts will receive checks in the mail directly from the company. Today’s settlement also requires Netspend to pay a penalty of more than $350,000 to the state and change its policies to fully comply with New York laws.

    Attorney General James encourages all consumers who have had their bank accounts illegally frozen or had funds illegally turned over to creditors to report their experiences to OAG.

    This matter is being handled by Assistant Attorney General Chris Filburn with the Consumer Frauds and Protection Bureau. The Consumer Frauds and Protection Bureau is led by Bureau Chief Jane M. Azia and Deputy Bureau Chief Laura J. Levine, and is part of the Division of Economic Justice, which is overseen by Chief Deputy Attorney General Chris D’Angelo and First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former California Police Officer Convicted on Eight Counts of Sexually Assaulting Women While on Duty

    Source: United States Attorneys General 11

    A federal jury in Fresno, California, convicted yesterday former Sanger, California, Police Department officer J. DeShawn Torrence, 42, of eight counts of deprivation of constitutional rights under color of law for sexually assaulting four women whom he encountered during the course of his official duties. The jury found that the offenses included kidnapping, aggravated sexual abuse, and attempted aggravated sexual abuse, and caused bodily injury.

    “Law enforcement officers are entrusted with great power to protect the public and keep them safe from harm. This officer’s crimes were an egregious breach of that trust and an appalling abuse of power, as he repeatedly preyed on the women in his community and violated their civil rights,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith for the Eastern District of California. “We stand ready to investigate and prosecute such crimes with all the tools we have available.”

    “The FBI Sacramento Field Office is grateful to the brave victims who came forward and trusted us to investigate the allegations of sexual abuse at the hands of a police officer,” said Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel of the FBI Sacramento Field Office. “The FBI is deeply committed to working with our partners to thoroughly investigate such cases to protect the American people and preserve public trust in law enforcement.”

    The evidence at trial proved that Torrence sexually assaulted four women. He kidnapped a 21-year-old woman who was walking to a store to buy groceries for her young children, drove her outside of town in his police car, and sexually assaulted her at an isolated dead end. Torrence forcibly raped a second victim, a 67-year-old woman, after following her into her home during a DUI investigation. With a third victim, Torrence showed up at her door in his police uniform after midnight, entered her apartment, pinned her against the kitchen counter, and sexually assaulted her. Torrence showed up multiple times at the home of a fourth victim, a domestic violence victim, supposedly to investigate a prior domestic violence incident. During those follow up visits, Torrence forced the victim to expose sensitive parts of her body for no legitimate reason, and he sexually assaulted her. The jury also heard testimony that Torrence sexually assaulted a fifth woman while acting in his capacity as a police officer.

    Five of the counts each carry a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The three remaining counts each carry a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. Torrence is scheduled to be sentenced on May 7.

    Deputy Assistant Attorney General Kathleen Wolfe of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division made the announcement.

    The FBI Sacramento Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.

    Special Litigation Counsel Michael J. Songer of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar for the Eastern District of California are prosecuting the case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Burlington Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing Firearms as a Drug User

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Burlington man was sentenced today to 30 months in federal prison for possessing five firearms as a drug user.

    According to public court documents, Isaac Davon Carter, 31, purchased four firearms on August 5, 2020, from four different guns stores in Burlington, Clive, and Des Moines. Five days later, the United States Postal Inspection Service intercepted a package shipped from Cedar Rapids to California and located ten firearms inside, including all four firearms Carter purchased. In September 2020, law enforcement executed search warrant at Carter’s Burlington residence and located a loaded Glock pistol. Carter admitted he was an unlawful drug user, lied on the ATF form to obtain the four firearms he purchased, and had procured the firearms for another person, who was with him when he purchased them.

    After completing his term of imprisonment, Carter will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

    United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Davenport Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Davenport man was sentenced yesterday to 25 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.

    According to public court documents and evidence presented at a four-day trial and sentencing, Paul Antonio Deon Parrow, 41, also known as “Tone,” distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl over nearly a year period in the Quad Cities. Parrow recruited others to assist him in distributing drugs and stored and sold drugs at multiple residences within the Quad Cities. In total, Parrow was responsible for more than 26 pounds of methamphetamine and 145 grams of fentanyl.

    After completing his term of imprisonment, Parrow will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

    United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Davenport Police Department.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley Opens Hotline to Assist Missourians Impacted by DCA Plane Crash

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)

    Thursday, January 30, 2025

    Last night a flight originating out of Wichita, Kansas crashed into the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) is actively monitoring developments and released the following statements.

    “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
    Erin and I join so many others in prayer for the families of those lost last night at DCA
    — Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) January 30, 2025

    Missourians, if you had a family member or other loved one aboard Flight 5342 and need information, we have created a hotline to help you. Please contact us below. We will help however we can pic.twitter.com/lgcjb2zQAm
    — Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) January 30, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lummis Introduces Legislation to Delist the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Grizzly Bear

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis

    January 30, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Western Caucus Chair Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) introduced the Grizzly Bear State Management Act alongside Senator John Barrasso, Montana Senators Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy, and Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch. 
    This bill would remove grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem from the Endangered Species List and  shift management of the grizzly bear populations to the states. The bill preserves federal oversight for population monitoring while giving states more flexibility in managing grizzly populations.
    “The Endangered Species Act is broken beyond repair, and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Grizzly is the perfect example,” said Lummis. “Western states have proven track records of effectively managing their wildlife populations, and returning grizzly responsibility back to the local level ensures ignorant Washington bureaucrats keep their paws off of state matters.”
    To read the full bill, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren Warns Hegseth Against Going After Former Joint Chiefs Chairman General Milley, Demands Reinstatement of Pentagon Watchdog

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    January 30, 2025
    “I am concerned that the removal of the Senate-confirmed IG will result in waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer funds, undermine accountability, and open the door to an unprecedented politicization of the Defense Department and the armed forces.”
    Text of Letter (PDF) 
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member on the Senate Armed Service Subcommittee on Personnel, wrote to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth with concerns following the removal of the Department of Defense (DoD) Inspector General (IG), Robert Storch. Senator Warren urged Secretary Hegseth to request President Trump rescind the decision to remove the IG and called out his abuse of power. 
    Mr. Storch was one of over a dozen IG’s that were reportedly fired by President Trump in an illegal “Friday night purge.” Before the president can fire an inspector general, he must provide notice to Congress within 30 days prior, including providing “substantial rationale” for the removal. Congress received no notice, and as of today, has not received a rationale. 
    In written responses to Senator Warren, Secretary Hegseth committed “to protecting the DoD IG’s independence.” During his confirmation hearing, he promised to be a “change agent” who would make sure that “[l]eaders—at all levels—will be held accountable.” These commitments will be impossible without an independent Inspector General. 
    “[N]ow that the IG has been removed, and less than 72 hours after your swearing in ceremony, you appear to be abusing your power to weaponize the government against the President’s political enemies,” wrote Senator Warren. 
    Senator Warren also wrote with concerns that Secretary Hegseth reportedly is stripping four-star General Mark Milley, the former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, of his security detail and clearance, as well as directing the acting IG to conduct a review board to demote him. Members of Congress already asked the DoD IG to investigate this issue in 2022. After the IG reviewed “hundreds of pages of documents, including classified and unclassified records,” the IG concluded that “further inquiry…is not warranted.” 
    Retired General Milley is also among several officials provided security due to continued threats to his life from Iran.
    “It is reckless that your actions could pave the way for Iran’s revenge. Any reopening of General Milley’s administratively determined retired grade requires prior notice to Congress, due process for General Milley, and in the case of any redetermination, the advice and consent of the Senate,” said Senator Warren.
    “I am concerned that the removal of the Senate-confirmed IG will result in waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer funds, undermine accountability, and open the door to an unprecedented politicization of the Defense Department and the armed forces,” concluded Senator Warren. 

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven, Colleagues Reintroduce Bill to Protect AM Radio in New Vehicles

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven
    01.30.25
    WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven joined Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) in reintroducing the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act that would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to require automakers to maintain AM broadcast radio in their new vehicles at no additional charge.
    “AM radio is essential for North Dakotans, especially during weather-related disruptions in power. It provides dependable emergency updates, helping to keep Americans safe,” said Senator Hoeven. “Additionally, AM radio delivers entertainment from music and sports to current events. This legislation guarantees that this critical service remains in vehicles, ensuring individuals can access important information, entertainment and emergency broadcasts when needed most.”
    Joining Hoeven, Cruz and Markey in reintroducing this legislation are Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jim Justice (R-W.V.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), and Jim Banks (R-Ind.)

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Employment prospects for neurodiverse people set to be boosted with launch of new expert panel

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    People who are neurodiverse will benefit from better employment prospects and more inclusive workplaces thanks to the work and advice of a new expert panel launched today [Wednesday 29 January].

    • An independent panel of academics with expertise and experiences of neurodiversity will advise government on improving job chances for neurodiverse people
    • Just 31% of people with a neurodiversity condition in employment compared to 54.7% of disabled people overall  
    • Panel launch is part of the government’s Plan for Change to support more people into work, boost living standards and grow the economy  

    The panel – headed up by Professor Amanda Kirby and comprising of leading academics in the neurodiversity field – will develop recommendations for ministers this summer, as part of the government’s Plan for Change, which will put money back into people’s pockets, boost living standards, and drive economic growth.  

    The latest employment figures demonstrate the stark reality for many, with the employment rate for disabled people with autism at 31% compared to 54.7% for all disabled people – highlighting a significant gap for some neurodiverse people.  

    The work of the panel will focus on what actions employers can take to foster a more inclusive workplace but also what actions the government can introduce to break down barriers to opportunity for people with a neurodiverse condition, such as autism. 

    Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms, said:  

    For too long disabled people and those with a neurodiversity condition have been left behind, ignored, and not given the support they need to get into work.  

    As part of our Plan for Change, we will turn this around, and with the expertise of these leading academics we will achieve our mission of supporting neurodivergent people into the workplace and reaching our 80% employment rate ambition.

    Building on and broadening previous neurodiversity work, the panel met for the first time to begin work on supporting the Government’s drive to improve the employment experiences of neurodivergent people.  

    Chair of the Academic Panel, Professor Amanda Kirby, said:

    I am delighted to chair this panel in what I see is an important and essential piece of work considering how we can drive forward neuroinclusive practices in workplaces to maximise the potential of all and make this become ‘business as usual’

    This panel follows the launch of the Keep Britain Working review, led by Sir Charlie Mayfield, to explore how businesses and government can collaborate to unlock disabled talent.  

    The latest figures show the disability inactivity rate was 41.7% in Q3 2024, compared to 14.7% for non-disabled people. Improving the employment prospect of disabled people and helping them achieve independence is at the heart of the government’s health and disability reforms.   

    Building on our Get Britain Working White Paper, the government will bring forward proposals in the spring to reform the welfare system to help people who can work secure employment.  

    The government will work closely with charities, disabled people and people with health conditions to ensure their voices are at the centre of any policy changes which affect them and to move beyond a binary system of fit or not fit to work.  

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The role of AI in the future of women’s health

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Minister of State for Women’s Health, Baroness Merron, spoke at the Responsible AI: Women and Healthcare Conference 2025, in London.

    I am absolutely delighted to be able to join you today, and I know I am amongst a very wide range of diverse voices and contributors here.

    I want to say thank you for making the time to be here today and to take part, and for sharing your insight on an issue which has the potential to hugely impact for good. I might add, hugely impact our health system for many decades to come. Let me tell you, I’ve just come from speaking in the Chamber about osteoporosis, and I was asked a question by a Peer about the role of AI so I was very glad to be able to say I’m actually on my way to a conference to address this very point.

    So, I say that because I want you to know how relevant this is in Parliament, and there is rightly a push for progress in the way that we are all committed to.

    Since coming into government, we haven’t, and I haven’t, shied away from recognising the huge challenges that we’ve got to address in our health system, and I’m firmly of the view that our health service can only address the challenges of the future and indeed, the challenges of today, if we use the technologies of tomorrow.

    It’s no good looking to the technologies of the past, and we are absolutely committed to delivering the digital transformation that potentially brings these benefits to life.

    We know about the important point about health inequalities, that there are those for whom the NHS hasn’t been there when they need it, even though it should have been. So, as we look to build an NHS that’s fit for the future, it has to be about improvement for everybody, not just a select group.

    It should not matter about what is your age, your ethnicity, your wealth, your religion, your sex, or where you live. We have to work together to create a Britain, I believe, where everybody can live a healthier life for longer.

    A key part of this has to be and must be women’s health to ensure that women are not sidelined in any way and, because that simply creates a negative effect on millions of lives, both directly but indirectly as well.

    We know that women live a greater proportion of their lives in ill health and disability, and 60% of women in this country feel their health issues are not taken seriously. I know that women’s voices are often not heard, and I believe that’s to the detriment not just of the care that’s given, but also to our healthcare system.

    So, for many, when this is combined with other factors like their ethnicity, or the area that they live in, it leads to even worse outcomes. Now that is a challenge to take on and to take it on fully, and we will do that. So, as we speak today, we know we’re on the brink of a technological revolution in healthcare and in many other areas.

    AI will drive incredible amounts of change in our country, and we do have the opportunity to harness it, to turbocharge growth and to boost the quality of lives for all, including women.

    So, we as a government are throwing our full support behind this because AI, as I referred to earlier, is the technology of today. It’s already being deployed in our economy. It’s already revolutionising the delivery of services, including public services, and very much changing how we deliver healthcare.

    So, I don’t need to explain to all of you, because you will explain it better to me about how AI can make a transformational difference to the health of our country.

    However, we have to bear in mind the experience of the past. We do know of instances in the past where not enough care has been taken with new technologies, and we’ve seen the damage that can do. So AI, without doubt opens doors to exciting and very real new possibilities, but we do need to build public confidence and trust that AI is being used responsibly, it’s being used safely and effectively for everyone, and I do think there is a job of work to be done there.

    Without enough care, AI could potentially, in a not good way, incorporate all the same biases that have plagued our healthcare system for too long. There is already evidence of AI healthcare technologies working more effectively for men than for women.

    So, for conditions such as liver disease and kidney disease, algorithms have been hailed as the best without accounting for this absolutely crucial point, and not enough of the patient data used to train these models has been from women. So that means that the AI models have translated the biases from our existing clinical methods into their own approaches.

    So there needs to be much greater attention to developing technologies responsibly, and inclusively that don’t leave women or indeed any other part of our population behind. By perpetuating these biases that may in part be a product of who is in the room developing these new technologies, possibly. Women are significantly underrepresented in the AI sector, as is commonly the case in other technology sectors.

    One study suggested, I noted, that only a quarter of the AI workforce is female, and I have no doubt that having more women in the room, as we have today, would do a huge amount to help. Although, I do have to say it is not all the responsibility of women to ensure the woman’s perspective. Not at all.

    So, as we look to AI, we need to ensure that 51% of our population must be worked with and for. This is not a minority group. We are a majority group and with particular healthcare needs. So, by taking steps to eliminate bias in healthcare AI, we will build trust, and I do think trust is so important, to build trust in this next wave of healthcare technologies and ensure that digital solutions can work for everyone.

    We are, in government, committed to providing that support and enabling your efforts to come to fruition. We have supported the delivery of the Standing Together recommendations, which is a crucial piece of work developing standards for AI data sets, ensuring that they do reflect the diversity of the patient population and mean that we can see products that work for everybody.

    With the National Institute for Health and Care Research, we are making sure that the UK research community incorporates sex and gender into its research, supporting the crucial work in the research inclusion strategy and finalising a sex and gender policy framework for funders through the Medical Science, Sex and Gender Equity Project. But there is, of course, so much more to do and so much further that we can go to help you achieve the goal of making AI in healthcare work for everyone.

    We will stand by your side in this crucial endeavour, and we are committed to enabling your efforts and finding ways to do that, because I believe it’s only with your expertise and your insight that the potential for digital transformation can be fully realised because what we want to see is faster diagnosis. We want to see better treatment. We want more efficient care to every person across the country.

    It is thanks to your advocacy and to your knowledge and your initiative that we will ensure that we learn the lessons from the past, and we will make sure that nobody is left out as we look to the future.

    So, let me thank you again for attending the conference today. I know that together we have the ability to achieve great things and making sure that the digital health revolution is one that’s embraced, that is safe and is fair for everyone, and will unlock the benefits of AI to improve the health of the nation.

    I am looking forward to that. So, thank you very much.

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New mobility hub underway in Chaddesden

    Source: City of Derby

    Work to create the city’s second sustainable transport hub is underway, giving residents greater choice when deciding how to travel around their local community.

    Following the success of the Six Streets mobility hub which was launched in March 2023, work has started at Nottingham Road in Chaddesden, next to the busy shopping precinct.

    Mobility hubs make it easier for people to choose alternative ways to get to local amenities. These include sustainable travel, such as electric vehicles (EV) and car share clubs, or active travel like walking and cycling. The hubs are continually monitored which helps the Council learn more about the area’s transport needs and demand for the different elements of the hub

    The Chaddesden mobility hub will be home to:

    • Additional Enterprise Car Club vehicles
    • Electric Vehicle (EV) charging and dedicated EV parking
    • An interactive information totem with live travel updates
    • A new bench and planter to enhance biodiversity
    • A covered cycle shelter with space to store ten bicycles and a permanent bicycle pump.

    Work to create the mobility hub will also enhance the look and feel of the area through the planting of additional trees and the relining of the car park. The western end of the precinct will also be resurfaced with new flexible porous surfacing to replace damage caused by existing trees. The new surfacing will have resistance to movement caused by root growth.

    Councillor Carmel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability said:

    We’ve been working hard to give our communities greater choice when deciding how to travel around the city.

    These mobility hubs have been in development for some time so it’s exciting to see work get underway in Chaddesden. We’ve taken the time to learn from previous schemes and listen to local residents and businesses and are confident that this hub will become a welcome addition to the Chaddesden community, further enhancing our ever-growing network of active and sustainable travel choices.

    The Chaddesden mobility hub is due to be completed in April 2025. A third mobility hub is also in the works to benefit residents of Normanton and Arboretum on Grove Street. Work on this hub will begin in the Spring.

    The mobility hubs are funded by the Department for Transport (DFT)’s Future Transport Zones Fund, which was awarded to Derby City Council to trial new and exciting developments in transport.

    Residents who would like to know more about the mobility hubs can get in touch with the Future Transport Zones team by emailing traffic.management@derby.gov.uk.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department Sues to Block Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s Proposed $14 Billion Acquisition of Rival Wireless Networking Technology Provider Juniper Networks

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    Acquisition Would Eliminate Competition Between Two of the Three Top Wireless Networking Firms, Raise Prices, and Diminish Innovation for American Businesses

    Note: View the complaint here.

    The Justice Department today sued to block Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co.’s (HPE) proposed $14 billion acquisition of rival wireless local area network (WLAN) technology provider Juniper Networks Inc. (Juniper). HPE and Juniper are the second- and third- largest providers, respectively, of enterprise-grade WLAN solutions in the United States. The complaint, filed in the Northern District of California, alleges that the proposed transaction would eliminate fierce head-to-head competition between the companies, raise prices, reduce innovation, and diminish choice for scores of American businesses and institutions, in violation of Section 7 of the Clayton Act.  

    “HPE and Juniper are successful companies. But rather than continue to compete as rivals in the WLAN marketplace, they seek to consolidate — increasing concentration in an already concentrated market,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Omeed A. Assefi of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The threat this merger poses is not theoretical. Vital industries in our country — including American hospitals and small businesses — rely on wireless networks to complete their missions. This proposed merger would significantly reduce competition and weaken innovation, resulting in large segments of the American economy paying more for less from wireless technology providers.”

    WLAN technology — which includes hardware, software, and advanced artificial intelligence — is critical for the modern workplace. Millions of Americans today create and share company resources and access the internet from wireless-enabled devices. Retail employees wirelessly process payments and log inventory. Doctors access medical records on phones and tablets and track life-saving patient care on the go. University students take notes on their laptops and access course materials from their dorm rooms. Wireless networking is the primary means by which many employees connect to their employer’s computer network and the internet.

    As alleged in the complaint, Juniper has been a disruptive force that has grown rapidly from a minor player to among the three largest enterprise-grade WLAN suppliers in the U.S. Juniper has also introduced innovative tools that have materially decreased the cost of operating a wireless network for many customers. This competitive pressure has forced HPE to discount its offerings and invest in its own innovation. HPE recognized and tracked Juniper’s growing significance and engaged in a campaign, including mandatory training for its engineers and salespeople, to “beat” Juniper when competing for contracts. Indeed, just a month before the proposed acquisition was announced, front-line HPE salespeople were concerned that “[t]he Juniper threat [was] dire” because in dozens of opportunities Juniper was “trying to unseat” HPE. Senior HPE executives shared this view; one former HPE executive reminded his team that “there are no rules in a street fight” with Juniper and encouraged them to “kill” Juniper when going head-to-head for sales opportunities.

    Now, HPE seeks to acquire its smaller, innovative rival. The proposed transaction between HPE and Juniper, if allowed to proceed, would further consolidate an already highly concentrated market — and leave U. S. enterprises facing two companies commanding over 70% of the market: the post-merger HPE and market leader Cisco Systems Inc. This substantial lessening competition in a critically important technology market poses the precise threat that the Clayton Act was enacted to prevent.

    Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company is headquartered in Spring, Texas. Its WLAN-focused business unit is located in Santa Clara, California.

    Juniper Networks Inc. is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Federal Courts Authorize IRS “John Doe” Summonses to Trident Trust Entities

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    Summonses Are for Records Relating to U.S. Taxpayers Who May Have Used Network of Offshore Service Providers to Hide Assets and Evade Taxes

    The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia entered an order earlier this week authorizing the IRS to serve John Doe summonses on TT (USA) Holdings Inc.; Trident Corporate Services Inc. and Trident Fund Services Inc., entities that are members of a multinational group of affiliated companies generally operating under the trade name “Trident Trust” and collectively referred to as the “Trident Trust Group.”

    Separately, on Dec. 18, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota entered an order, unsealed on Jan. 21, authorizing service of a similar John Doe summons on Trident Trust Company (South Dakota) Inc. The United States also previously obtained approval in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York for the IRS to serve John Doe summonses on a different affiliate entity of the Trident Trust Group, as well as to third party financial service companies, banks and courier services that may have information about Trident Trust Group’s U.S. taxpayer clients.

    The United States is not alleging that any of the entities engaged in wrongdoing. Rather, the IRS uses John Doe summonses to obtain information about possible violations of internal revenue laws by individuals whose identities are unknown. These summonses seek information about U.S. individuals who may have used the Trident Trust Group’s services to underreport their worldwide income and conceal their ownership of certain foreign assets that U.S. individuals are required to report to the U.S. government.

    “The Justice Department and the IRS are dedicated to unearthing tax evasion that uses foreign bank accounts and offshore shell corporations,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division. “We will use the many tools available to us, including John Doe summonses like the ones authorized by the courts here, to ensure that taxpayers are fully meeting their responsibilities.”

    Federal law requires certain individual taxpayers, including all U.S. citizens and residents with gross annual income above the reporting threshold, to pay taxes on all income earned worldwide. They must also disclose certain foreign financial accounts, assets and controlled foreign corporations. Failure to report these offshore arrangements can result in serious civil and criminal consequences.

    The government’s petitions allege that Trident Trust Group is an offshore service provider operating in nearly 30 countries worldwide, and it has provided corporate, trust and fund administration services for over 40 years. The petitions further allege that Trident Trust Group offers services that enable offshore account and entity concealment, like mail forwarding and retention, and ready-to-use “shelf” companies. For example, the petitions allege that Trident Trust Group personnel have listed themselves as the founders, directors and officers of thousands of Panamanian companies to help their U.S. clients potentially conceal their interests in and income from those foreign entities.

    A declaration from an IRS revenue agent that accompanied the petitions alleges that at least nine U.S. taxpayers used Trident Trust Group’s services to avoid compliance with U.S. tax laws. The declaration further alleges that the IRS learned of this noncompliance through the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program, a program that allowed U.S. taxpayers to voluntarily disclose foreign accounts or entities used to evade tax in exchange for settling their civil liabilities on fixed terms.

    These orders authorize the IRS to issue summonses to TT (USA) Holdings Inc.; Trident Corporate Services Inc.; Trident Fund Services Inc. and Trident Trust Company (South Dakota) Inc seeking information about U.S. taxpayer clients who may have used the services of the entities and the broader Trident Trust Group to establish, maintain, operate or control any foreign financial account or other foreign asset; any foreign corporation, company, trust, foundation or other legal entity or any foreign or domestic financial account or other asset in the name of such foreign entity from 2014 through 2023. By obtaining these records, the IRS expects to be able to identify clients of the Trident Trust Group to investigate whether they potentially used the group’s services to avoid or evade federal taxes.

    Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.

    Tax Division Attorneys Christina T. Lanier and Brij B. Patnaik are handling the case in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota; and they, along with Elisabeth K. Kryska of the Tax Division, are handling the case in the Northern District of Georgia. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony J. Sun for the Southern District of New York is handling the case in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OSCE promotes classification system for cyber incidents to strengthen cyber security in Ukraine

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: OSCE promotes classification system for cyber incidents to strengthen cyber security in Ukraine

    A presentation at an OSCE workshop on cyber incident classification for cyber security policy and technical experts from Ukraine, 29 January 2025. (OSCE/Ruzica Stojicic Bencun) Photo details

    The OSCE Transnational Threats Department (TNTD) organized a workshop on cyber incident classification for 15 cyber security policy and technical experts from Ukraine, including two women and 13 men. The workshop, held on 29 January, focused on the development and implementation of a national cyber incident classification system, a common scheme for understanding and defining what a cyber incident is, that ensures consistency in crisis management tools and plans.
    With the exponential increase of cyberattacks targeting the country, experts stressed the importance of establishing such a system to ensure effective prioritization and management, particularly for incidents impacting critical infrastructure. The workshop built upon the knowledge and expertise gathered in previous similar events, tailored to Ukraine.
    Yurii Romanchuk, Head of the Cyber Diplomacy Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, stated that “we are particularly interested in developing a unified taxonomy for cyber incident classification, one that will be regularly updated, clearly communicated and effectively utilized by all stakeholders. Interagency co-operation and information exchange within the OSCE framework will significantly enhance the efficiency of incident response at both national and international levels.”
    “Developing a national cyber incident classification system is a key step in managing the thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of cyber threats that Ukraine faces daily,” emphasized John Schabedoth, Cyber Foreign Policy Staff at the German Federal Foreign Office.
    Alban Andreu, Advisor at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, added: “France supports the OSCE Secretariat’s efforts to implement confidence-building measure 15 (CBM 15) on the protection of critical infrastructure to contribute to capacity-building at national and regional levels. The more we are grounded in concrete outcomes, such as this dedicated workshop for Ukraine, the more we strive for resilience and cooperation in cyberspace.”
    Participants also engaged in a table-top exercise aimed at exploring the practical application of the OSCE’s 16 cyber/ICT security confidence-building measures (CBMs). These measures are designed to address misunderstandings and misperceptions in cyberspace by fostering transparency, communication and co-operation between the OSCE participating States. The exercise demonstrated how CBMs can help prevent escalation during a cyber incident and highlighted the critical role of cross-border collaboration in protecting critical infrastructure.
    The workshop is part of the “Facilitation of the Development and Implementation of National Cyber Incident Severity Scales (NCISS) and Related Measures to Protect Critical Infrastructures” project, funded by France and Germany.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Honduran Nationals Indicted For Transporting Minors Across State Lines For Sexual Activity

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of indictments charging Fredi Agustin-Vasquez y Guardado (22, Honduras) and Marlon Ronaldo Canas Trochez (26, Honduras) with transporting minor victims across state lines with the intention that the minor victims engage in sexual activity prohibited by the laws of the state of Florida. If convicted, Agustin-Vasquez and Trochez each face a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. 

    According to the Agustin-Vasquez indictment, Agustin-Vasquez transported a minor victim in April or May 2024 with the intent that the minor victim engage in conduct constituting lewd and lascivious battery under Florida law. As alleged in the Trochez indictment, Trochez committed the same offense on September 4, 2024.

    An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

    This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Augusta (South Carolina) Department of Public Safety. The cases will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Cofer Taylor and Kelly S. Milliron.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Hartford Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison for Illegal Gun Possession

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that OSIRIS MUHAMMAD, 24, of Hartford, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 46 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a firearm.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, shortly after midnight on January 26, 2024, Muhammad fired several shots at an intended victim in the area of Belden Street and Albany Avenue in Hartford.  On January 28, 2024, Hartford Police spotted Muhammad at a liquor store on Albany Avenue.  After a brief pursuit, he was taken into custody.  Officers found him in possession of a Ruger P89 pistol.  Subsequent analysis by the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) connected the firearm to shell casings collected at the scene of the shooting the day before.

    In 2020, Muhammad was convicted in state court of robbery in the first degree.  It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

    Muhammad has been detained since his arrest.  On June 28, 2024, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

    This investigation was conducted by the Hartford Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Konstantin Lantsman and Daniel Gordon .

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  In May 2021, the Justice Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.  For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Covington Man Guilty of Being a Felon in Possession of Firearms, Silencers, and Machineguns

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JOE LYNN BEATTIE (“BEATTIE”), age 52, of Covington, Louisiana, pled guilty on January 27, 2025, to a three (3) count indictment.  Count One charged him with being a Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).  Count Two charged him with possession of silencers that were not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 5841. Finally, Count Three charged him with possession of machineguns, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 922(o).

    According to court records, federal agents learned BEATTIE had received unlawfully imported firearm parts from China.  Special Agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and officers from the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, then executed a search warrant at his residence. The search yielded five (5) firearms, ammunition, sixteen (16) silencers, and five (5) machinegun conversion devices, that turn firearms into fully automatic weapons.

    If convicted, BEATTIE faces a maximum penalty of fifteen (15) years imprisonment for Count One, and up to ten (10) years of imprisonment for both Counts Two and Three.  He also faces up to three (3) years of supervised release following imprisonment and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee as to all counts.  As to for Counts One and Three, he faces a fine of up to $250,000, and up to a $10,000 fine for Count Two.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of Homeland Security Investigations, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, in investigating this matter.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon Maestri of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Statement on Deadly Aircraft Collision Near Reagan National Airport

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Senator Jack Reed issued the following statement today after a regional jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided in midair with a U.S. Army helicopter carrying three soldiers near Reagan Washington National Airport late last night:
    “Our deepest condolences to the families, loved ones, and communities who are experiencing immeasurable loss due to this tragic midair collision.  I am continuing to monitor the situation closely with updates from DOD, FAA, and other agencies.
    “We are truly grateful to the first responders and those who continue working around the clock in difficult conditions to respond to this tragedy.  This was an absolutely devastating incident and our thoughts are with the victims and those impacted.  It’s important to allow experts to drill down and gather all the facts and get people the answers they deserve.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Revolutionising Tactical Communications Security in Defence

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Revolutionising Tactical Communications Security in Defence

    Funded by DASA, PhoenixC4i, delivers game-changing antenna technology that reduces radio frequency (RF) footprint to enhance stealth and safety

    • Innovative clip-on antenna technology reduces RF footprint by up to 80%, enhancing operational security
    • Successfully deployed with over 75 units purchased by the British Army for evaluation
    • Cost-effective solution providing significant tactical advantage in electronic warfare environments

    Picture this scenario: armoured vehicles move through contested terrain. The mission is complex, with multiple units coordinating across a battlefield that spans tens of miles. But there’s a catch: every radio transmission needed to coordinate these forces could become a beacon for enemy targeting systems. Units face a difficult challenge between maintaining communications with one another and potentially revealing their positions to the adversaries hunting them, particularly when static.

    Stealth by design: DarkSky Clip-On Antenna

    From individual soldier radios to armoured vehicles and headquarters command posts, military forces rely on tactical Ultra High Frequency (UHF) antennas for communications. But these systems broadcast signals in all directions, making them easier to detect. Recent conflicts have provided stark evidence of how devastating electronic warfare can be, with forces suffering significant losses when their communications are detected and targeted.

    PhoenixC4i’s DASA-funded solution is elegantly simple: a clip-on antenna that directs radio signals only where needed, like a spotlight rather than a floodlight. This not only makes communications harder to detect but also improves signal quality. Whether mounted on vehicles, command posts, or carried by soldiers, the system improves survivability with minimal training required.

    DarkSky in action

    “We developed the DarkSky Clip-On Antenna after realising that existing systems were unable to effectively reduce the detectable signal,” explains Douglas Celerier, founder of PhoenixC4i. “Our solution needed to be ultra-portable, easy to train and versatile enough to be deployed on different platforms, such as vehicles, masts or soldier platforms.”

    Revolutionising Tactical Communications Security in Defence

    Benefits for Defence:

    • improve link quality for robust HQ-to-HQ communications
    • doubling the baseline communication range
    • extending links within the network, particularly to isolated nodes
    • providing better quality links to enhance data performance reducing up to 80% unwanted RF signature in identified directions: reducing
      • vulnerability of intercept
      • susceptibility to disruption from jamming or co-site interference
    • easily retrofitting to existing UHF comms systems with low system and network impact

    Impact and implementation

    On completion of their DASA project, the British Army purchased 75 DarkSky Clip-On Antennas for evaluation. The PhoenixC4i innovation offers a cost-effective solution for protecting static vehicles, headquarters, and infantry radio communications.

    Beyond the British Army’s purchase, PhoenixC4i also secured significant contracts, including several units for UK MOD specialist users. The system has proven its worth in multiple trials, including WESSEX Storm and MARWORKS, and is being considered for frameworks such as SERAPIS and humanitarian support to Ukraine.

    “When the tactical antenna system was first designed, it was based on a mesh network where the signals all supported each other,” says Celerier. “However, in reality, it doesn’t work like that – small groups go out with long links between organisational units. The DarkSky Clip-On Antenna supports actual operational requirements while keeping users covert.”

    DASA and PhoenixC4i: On the same wavelength

    The journey from innovative idea to battlefield-ready technology requires more than just engineering talent – it needs the right support. Since 2020, DASA’s expertise has transformed PhoenixC4i’s initial concept into a field-tested reality.

    “Working with DASA has provided multiple advantages,” notes Celerier. “The DASA team are always available to assist with everything from admin, commercial, technical direction or helping to open doors to the right customers for our technology. Their support has allowed PhoenixC4i to expand and employ additional personnel.”

    The results speak for themselves. What began as antenna modelling in a workshop in Gloucester has evolved into technology tested by British forces, with PhoenixC4i expanding both their team and their ambitions.

    “We’ve created something that’s not only innovative but also practical and affordable,” says Celerier.

    A growing defence portfolio

    The DarkSky Clip-On Antenna is just one part of PhoenixC4i’s growing defence innovation portfolio. Through continued DASA support, the company has been funded to develop technologies including:

    SPARTACUS: Tactical Deception Made Simple

    This electronic warfare system creates convincing radio signatures that protect forces by generating digital ‘decoys’. The system can simulate various military assets while remaining simple enough for rapid deployment.

    Infrared Heat-Mat: Digital Camouflage Evolution

    Using advanced materials including silicone and graphene, these heat mats replicate thermal signatures of vehicles and personnel to add clutter and degrade adversary sensor capabilities.

    Clever Clutter: Small Units, Big Impact

    Available in portable and larger variants, these units create confusion across infrared, visual, and audio spectrums. The technology is cost-effective and requires minimal training, making it ideal for rapid deployment.

    D-DIAB: Integrated Deception at the Push of a Button

    The ‘Digital Deception in a Box’ combines radio frequency and infrared deception in a single, trailer-mounted unit. It can simulate an entire headquarters location while keeping personnel safely away from harm.

    DarkSky, bright future

    Building on the success of the DarkSky Clip-On Antenna, PhoenixC4i continues to work with DASA on other electronic warfare solutions, including the SPARTACUS RF deception system and IR heatmat capabilities. These developments demonstrate the ongoing value of DASA’s support in bringing innovative defence solutions to market.

    The success of the DarkSky Clip-On Antenna proves that innovative SMEs, with the right support, can deliver critical capabilities to defence users. As electronic warfare continues to evolve, solutions like the DarkSky Clip-On Antenna can play an important role in protecting military communications and ensuring operational success.

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: B.C. helps fruit growers prepare for extreme weather

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    New funding is available to help tree-fruit growers prepare their orchards for extreme weather so people can continue to enjoy the B.C. peaches, cherries and apples that so many farming families and communities depend on.

    “Last summer, British Columbians saw almost no local cherries available and missed out on having delicious Okanagan peaches to enjoy,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food. “We know these climate impacts will continue, which is why we’re helping growers with a new program so their crops and businesses become more resilient in the face of increasingly challenging growing conditions.”

    The new $5-million Tree Fruit Climate Resiliency program will help fund things such as protective covers, energy-efficient heaters and wind machines to help during periods of extreme cold, as well as canopy sprinklers and shade protection to help ward off the effects of extreme heat. The program also is open to applications for innovative projects to support industry resiliency.

    “The Okanagan is home to B.C.’s iconic tree-fruit sector and through my conversations with growers, I know how hard it has been for them to deal with the effects of extreme heat and extreme cold,” said Harwinder Sandhu, parliamentary secretary for agriculture and MLA for Vernon-Lumby. “Climate change is a real challenge for our farming communities and this new program will help growers with projects and equipment that support their farms’ profitability, resiliency and sustainable food production for the years ahead.”

    Multiple growers may also jointly apply for a project that benefits more than one producer, such as a wind machine that could be used on multiple properties.

    “As one of B.C.’s largest cherry producers, we are seeing an increasingly volatile climate stretching the ability of growers to adapt,” said David Geen, CEO of Jealous Fruits Ltd. “Climate mitigation strategies, such as frost-control materials, installation of wind machines, and researching and developing hardier genetics and varieties can all contribute to a more stable cherry industry. It is great that the B.C. government is listening to grower concerns and providing funding for these industry endeavours.” 

    The program was developed with input from the B.C.Fruit Growers Association and the B.C. Cherry Association. The program was announced in August 2024 as one part of government’s efforts to help tree-fruit growers through challenges faced by their industry.

    “We greatly appreciate the B.C. government’s commitment to supporting tree-fruit growers with the new $5-million Tree Fruit Climate Resiliency program. This funding is a significant step toward helping us prepare our orchards for the challenges posed by extreme weather, ensuring that families and communities can continue to enjoy our locally grown peaches, cherries, and apples,” said Deep Brar, vice-president, B.C. Fruit Growers’ Association, and a tree-fruit grower. “The climate has been exceptionally tough on our growers for the past few years, with devastating impacts from heat domes and cold snaps. We look forward to working closely with the government and other stakeholders to ensure the tree fruit industry in British Columbia remains strong and sustainable for generations to come.”

    Quick Facts:

    • The $5-million program will provide 80% cost-share funding for eligible projects up to a maximum of $100,000 per farm business.
    • Applications are being accepted and will continue until funds are fully committed.
    • Ministry of Agriculture and Food staff are available to answer questions regarding eligible activities, costs and/or the application process.
    • Applicants can contact AgriServiceBC@gov.bc.ca with questions about the program or to receive support in developing their applications.
    • The program builds on the extreme-weather-preparedness program and offers specific support to tree-fruit producers following several years of extreme weather that severely affected peach, pear, plum, cherry and apple producers.

    Learn More:

    Program and application information are available here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/programs/tree-fruit-climate-resiliency-program

    Additional support for B.C. Fruit growers was announced in August: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024AF0035-001295

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Water Security Agency Launches Agricultural Water Stewardship Policy with $1 Million Research Initiative

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on January 30, 2025

    Today, the Water Security Agency (WSA) announced a finalized Agricultural Water Stewardship Policy (policy), a key piece of Saskatchewan’s Agricultural Water Management Program. Also, WSA is committing $1 million over the next three years to ongoing research and monitoring to ensure the policy’s long-term effectiveness.

    “I appreciate the contributions of the 80 stakeholder and Indigenous organizations who helped shape this policy,” Minister Responsible for the Water Security Agency Daryl Harrison said. “We are committed to getting this right for Saskatchewan and will continue to invest in research, monitoring and make adjustments where needed.”

    Saskatchewan producers are caretakers of over 4.6 million acres of wetlands. With 86 per cent of the wetlands in Saskatchewan’s agricultural area undrained, it is clear Saskatchewan producers take their role seriously and are committed to the stewardship of these important features of our landscape. This policy will ensure that stewardship continues by establishing a limit on how many wetlands can be drained and how many wetlands need to be retained on the landscape.

    The policy was developed over the last two years after completing 11 different demonstration and research projects and engaging stakeholder and producer organizations, and Métis and Indigenous rights holders. 

    “The policy is a made-in-Saskatchewan approach to agriculture water management,” Water Security Agency President and CEO Shawn Jaques said. “The policy will support flood prevention, and protection of water quality and wetland habitat, while still allowing drainage to be used as a tool to improve farm efficiency and productivity, as well as soil health.”

    It is a regional approach that considers the different landscapes found in our vast province. It sets a baseline wetland retention goal of 40 per cent, and higher (up to 60 per cent) where required to protect important water sources. 

    The $1 million research initiative will fund projects that help to ensure the policy continues to make sense for Saskatchewan people and its landscape. WSA will monitor and publicly report on a set of key indicators to assess the policy’s progress and effectiveness. Saskatchewan will be the first jurisdiction in Canada to do this. 

    For more information on this announcement, visit: www.wsask.ca/agwatermanagement. 

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    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –