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Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI Security: Marshall County Man Sentenced for Role in a Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – KC Vanover, age 48, of Moundsville, West Virginia, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking operation.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Vanover was working with others to sell hundreds of grams of methamphetamine in Marshall County and elsewhere. The organization’s source of supply was in Georgia. Vanover has prior convictions for grand larceny and battery.

    Vanover will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton Reid prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.

    Investigative agencies include the Drug Enforcement Administration-Wheeling; the Drug Enforcement Administration-Clarksburg; the Drug Enforcement Administration-Cleveland; the Drug Enforcement Administration-Detroit; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the West Virginia State Police; the West Virginia State Parole; the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department; the Moundsville Police Department; the Marshall County Prosecutors Office; the Wheeling Police Department; the Wetzel County Sheriff’s Department; the Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office (Ohio); the Belmont County Drug Task Force (Ohio); the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department; the Hancock-Brooke-Weirton Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Benwood Police Department; and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (Ohio).         

    U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Washington man admits illegal possession of firearms after being removed from Amtrak train in Montana

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    MISSOULA —A Washington man with a bank robbery conviction admitted today to illegally possessing firearms after law enforcement removed him from an Amtrak train in Libby and found him in possession of multiple guns, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

    The defendant, Mallory Nehemiah Brown, 43, of Auburn, Washington, pleaded guilty to prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Brown faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

    U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. Sentencing was set for May 29 before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Brown was detained pending further proceedings.

    The government alleged in court documents that in 2004, Brown was convicted of bank robbery in federal district court in California and prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. On Jan. 8, 2024, Brown boarded an Amtrak train in Seattle, Washington, with a black duffel bag and several long boxes. Brown placed his bags and boxes on the luggage rack. The train was bound for Washington, D.C., with a stop in Chicago, Illinois. On Jan. 9, 2024, the train stopped in Libby based on a complaint by other passengers about Brown. Law enforcement removed Brown from the train. The train conductor located Brown’s bags. Inside, he discovered four firearms, ammunition, magazines, a suppressor, eight firearms receivers, night vision goggles, a tactical vest and other assorted accessories. The four firearms were identified as a .22LR HV rifle, which had a serial number; a 12-gauge pump shotgun with an obliterated serial number; a 12-gauge semi-auto shot gun with no visible serial number; and a 9mm semi-auto pistol with no visible serial number. Brown denied the bags belonged to him, however, several Amtrak employees identified Brown as the person who loaded the bags on the train. One of the boxes had a shipping label on it addressed to “Mallory Brown.”

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Libby Police Department, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, FBI and Montana Probation and Parole conducted the investigation.

    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.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Admits Transporting Minor to Super Bowl, St. Louis for Prostitution

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ST. LOUIS – A Missouri man pleaded guilty Tuesday and admitted transporting a minor across state lines for sex.

    JoeMarius Green, 24, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one felony count of transporting a minor across state lines to engage in prostitution. Green’s co-defendant, Chantel Robinson, 20, pleaded guilty in November to one felony count of possession of child pornography.

    Green admitted as part of his plea that he took a female minor and others from Dallas to Kansas City on Feb. 12, 2023, to engage in prostitution during the Super Bowl. After about four days, Green took the victim and others to a St. Louis area hotel for the same reason. Green admitted managing the online prostitution ads, renting hotel rooms, setting price points for sex acts and taking all cash proceeds from the victim’s commercial sex acts.

    Robinson admitted engaging in commercial sex acts, taking sexually explicit and sexually suggestive photos of minors and posting online advertisements for commercial sex acts. She oversaw the prostitution activities of minors when Green was absent.

    Green is scheduled to be sentenced on June 25. The charge carries a penalty of 10 years to life in prison. Robinson is scheduled to be sentenced April 8. Her charge carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

    The St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Edwards is prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force Apprehends 2 Suspects Connected to Deadly Shooting in Austin

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Austin, TX – Members of the U.S. Marshals-led Lone Star Fugitive Task Force today arrested a juvenile* who is one of two suspects sought for a Jan. 24 murder in Austin. 

    Another suspect, Bill Tarlue Nyanway, 18, of Austin, was arrested Jan. 27 and charged with tampering with physical evidence that stemmed from the shooting incident. 

    The Austin Police Department, Homicide Division investigated the shooting incident in the 10200 block of Wildhorse Ranch Trail and obtained arrest warrants in the Austin Municipal Court Jan. 27 for the two individuals believed to be connected to the deadly shooting incident. 

    When Austin Police, Fire and Travis County Emergency Medical Services responded to the location, they discovered a white sedan which had been reported crashed in a ditch near Manor Excel Academy, and a victim had been shot. They attempted life-saving measures on the victim, who was ultimately pronounced deceased on scene. 

    The Austin Police Department requested assistance from the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force in the Austin Division to locate and apprehend both suspects.

    Members of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force initiated a fugitive investigation and arrested Nyanway in the 9400 block of North Lamar Blvd without incident, booking him into the Travis County Jail where he will await further judicial proceedings. 

    The juvenile was arrested without incident in the 14500 block of Heartland Drive in Manor and was transported to the Austin Police Headquarters.

    Members of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force in Austin – 

    Austin Police Department-Tactical Intelligence Unit
    Georgetown, Round Rock, and San Marcos Police Department
    Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson County Sheriff’s Office
    Texas Attorney General’s Office
    Texas Department of Criminal Justice OIG
    Texas Department of Public Safety
    U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement
    U.S. DHS/Homeland Security Investigations

    *USMS policy generally prohibits naming juvenile suspects.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jamaican Citizen Sentenced to Prison in Connection with Lottery Scheme

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    A federal judge in Charlotte, North Carolina, sentenced a Jamaican citizen yesterday to prison for operating a Jamaica-based fraudulent lottery scheme.

    Antony Linton Stewart, 40, pleaded guilty on Aug. 3, 2023, to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, in the Western District of North Carolina.  On Jan. 27, U.S. District Court Judge Robert J. Conrad sentenced Stewart to 84 months in prison. Stewart was also ordered to pay $1,104,041.74 in restitution.

    According to court documents, and as part of his plea, Stewart acknowledged that from approximately 2010 through at least August 2016, he led a fraudulent lottery fraud scheme in which he and his co-conspirators targeted victims in the United States. Stewart admitted that he contacted elderly Americans by phone and falsely told them that they had won money and other prizes in a sweepstakes or lottery.  Stewart told victims that they needed to send money to pay fees and taxes on their winnings.  He repeatedly contacted victims for as long as they could be persuaded to send additional money. No lottery existed and no victim ever received any winnings.

    “Overseas lottery schemes are unfortunately a common means by which foreign criminals seek to target U.S. citizens, particularly elder Americans,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Such schemes are unacceptable, and the Department will hold accountable those who participate in them.”

    “Stealing money from elderly individuals is a despicable crime,” said U.S. Attorney Dena J. King for the Western District of North Carolina. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message that fraudsters who target and exploit older adults for financial gain will be brought to justice.”

    This prosecution is part of the Justice Department’s effort to work with federal and foreign law enforcement to combat fraudulent lottery schemes in Jamaica that prey on U.S. citizens.

    The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Jamaica to secure the arrest and extradition of Stewart. The U.S. Marshals Service also provided significant assistance.

    Trial Attorney Ryan E. Norman of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch prosecuted the case, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Ryan for the Western District of North Carolina.

    If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. eastern time. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.

    For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina, visit their website at www.justice.gov/usao-wdnc. Information about the Justice Department’s Elder Fraud Initiative is available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Reeves: I am going further and faster to kick start the economy

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Chancellor unveils new plans to deliver the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor that will boost the UK economy by up to £78 billion by 2035.

    • Rachel Reeves will today vow to go ‘further and faster’ to deliver the government’s Plan for Change to kick start economic growth and put more pounds in people’s pockets.
    • Chancellor to unveil plans to unleash the potential of the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor that will add up to £78 billion to the UK economy according to industry experts, catalysing growth of UK science and technology.
    • Comes after Chancellor last week announced National Wealth Fund and Office for Investment will take new approaches to spur regional growth across the UK.

    Chancellor Rachel Reeves will today vow to go “further and faster” to kick start the economy, as she unveils new plans to deliver the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor that will boost the UK economy by up to £78 billion by 2035 according to industry experts.

    In a speech in Oxfordshire, the Chancellor will tell regional and business leaders that economic growth is the number one mission of this government and its Plan for Change. She will declare that Britain’s economy has “huge potential” and is at the “forefront of some of the most exciting developments in the world like artificial intelligence and life sciences.”

    She will back the redevelopment of Old Trafford and will review the Green Book – the government’s guidance on appraisal – in order to support decisions on public investment across the country, including outside London and the Southeast.

    The speech comes after the Chancellor last week announced a new approach for the National Wealth Fund (NWF) and the Office for Investment (OfI) to work with local leaders to build pipelines of incoming investment and projects linked to regional growth priorities. This includes the NWF trialling Strategic Partnerships in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, West Midlands, and Glasgow City Region and the OfI piloting an approach in the Liverpool City Region and the North East Combined Authority to connect their regions to central government and industry expertise in order to unlock private investment.

    Reeves will say “low growth is not our destiny, but that economic growth will not come without a fight. Without a government that is on the side of working people. Willing to take the right decisions now to change our country’s course for the better.”

    The Chancellor is expected to say: 

    Britain is a country of huge potential. A country of strong communities, with local businesses at their heart.

    We are the forefront of some of the most exciting developments in the world like artificial intelligence and life sciences. We have great companies based here delivering jobs and investment in Britain.

    And we have fundamental strengths – in our history, our language, and our legal system – to compete in a global economy.

    But for too long, that potential has been held back. For too long, we have accepted low expectations, accepted stagnation and accepted the risk of decline. We can do so much better.

    Low growth is not our destiny. But growth will not come without a fight. Without a government that is on the side of working people. Willing to take the right decisions now to change our country’s course for the better.

    That’s what our Plan for Change is about. That is what drives me as Chancellor. And it is what I’m determined to deliver.

    In her speech the Chancellor will announce:

    • The Environment Agency has lifted its objections to a new development around Cambridge that could unlock 4,500 new homes and associated community spaces such as schools and leisure facilities as well as office and laboratory space in Cambridge City Centre. This was only possible as a result of the government working closely with councils and regulators to find creative solutions to unlock growth and address environmental pressures.

    • That the government has agreed for water companies to unlock £7.9bn investment for the next 5 years to improve our water infrastructure and provide a foundation for growth. This includes nine new reservoirs, such as the new Fens Reservoir serving Cambridge and the Abingdon Reservoir near Oxford.

    • Confirming funding towards better transport links in the region including funding for East-West Rail, with new services between Oxford and Milton Keynes this year and upgrading the A428 to reduce journey times between Milton Keynes and Cambridge.

    • Prioritisation of a new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital as part of the New Hospitals Programme bringing together Cambridge University, Addenbrookes Hospital and Cancer Research UK.

    • Support for the development of new and expanded communities in the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor and a new East Coast Mainline station in Tempsford, to expand the region’s economy.
    • That she welcomes Cambridge University’s proposal for a new large scale innovation hub in the city centre. As the world’s leading science and tech cluster by intensity, Cambridge will play a crucial part in the government’s modern Industrial Strategy.
    • A new Growth Commission for Oxford, inspired by the Cambridge model, to review how best we can unlock and accelerate nationally significant growth for the city and surrounding area.
    • Appointment of Sir Patrick Vallance as Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor Champion to provide senior leadership to ensure the Government’s ambitions are delivered. 

    The Chancellor is expected to say:

    Oxford and Cambridge offer huge economic potential for our nation’s growth prospects.

    Just 66 miles apart these cities are home to two of the best universities in the world two of the most intensive innovation clusters in the world and the area is a hub for globally renowned science and technology firms in life sciences, manufacturing, and AI.

    It has the potential to be Europe’s Silicon Valley. The home of British innovation.

    To grow, these world-class companies need world-class talent who should be able to get to work quickly and find somewhere to live in the local area. But to get from Oxford to Cambridge by train takes two and a half hours.

    There is no way to commute directly from towns like Bedford and Milton Keynes to Cambridge by rail. And there is a lack of affordable housing across the region.

    Oxford and Cambridge are two of the least affordable cities in the UK. In other words, the demand is there but there are far too many supply side constraints on economic growth in the region.

    Designed to take advantage of the region’s unique strengths and potential, the announcements are further evidence of the government’s modern Industrial Strategy in action as it seeks to create the right conditions to increase investment in our leading growth sectors like life sciences, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing.

    She will add:

    Taken together, these announcements show that for the first time a government is providing real leadership to deliver this project with a clear strategy for the entire region backed by funding for the housing and infrastructure we so badly need.

    The speech comes after the Chancellor last week announced a package of investment reforms to spur regional growth across the UK. Rachel Reeves set out a new approach for the National Wealth Fund (NWF) and the Office for Investment (OfI) to work with local leaders to build pipelines of incoming investment and projects linked to regional growth priorities. Putting local knowledge and leadership at the forefront, there will be tailored strategies for each region to ensure investment matches local needs and drives sustainable growth. Putting the government’s Plan for Change into action, the Chancellor set out that the goal is to harness growth everywhere to rebuild Britain and usher in a decade of national renewal. Measures included the NWF trialling Strategic Partnerships in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, West Midlands, and Glasgow City Region and the OfI piloting an approach in the Liverpool City Region and the North East Combined Authority to connect their regions to central government and industry expertise in order to unlock private investment.

    Science Minister, Lord Patrick Vallance said: 

    The UK has all the ingredients to replicate the success of Silicon Valley or the Boston Cluster but for too long has been constrained by short termism and a lack of direction.

    This government’s Plan for Change will see an end to that defeatism. I look forward to working with local leaders to fulfil the Oxford-Cambridge corridor’s potential by building on its existing strengths in academia, life sciences, semiconductors, AI and green technology amongst others.

    Together we will build the infrastructure and partnerships needed to join up this region’s academia, investors and business so that we can boost growth, deliver innovations and create new jobs that improve all our lives.

    Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander said:

    Well connected communities are a cornerstone for growth. East West Rail will not only provide better links and lasting benefits to Oxford and Cambridge, but to all the surrounding areas.

    I’m also delighted to announce a brand new station at Tempsford, which will be game changing for the region – allowing a new community and businesses to grow, unlocking faster and smoother access to opportunities, and delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change.

    More details

    • Yesterday, Moderna completed the build for their new vaccine production and R&D site in Harwell, Oxfordshire. They have committed to invest over £1 billion in R&D in the UK, strengthening our position as a global leader in biopharmaceutical innovation.
    • £78 billion added to the UK economy. Source: Public First research for the Oxford-Cambridge Supercluster Board (2025).
    • Dr Andy Williams, Chair of the Oxford-Cambridge Supercluster Board said: 

    The announcements today are extremely positive for the region and for the country. As Chair of the OxCam Supercluster Board, which comprises 45 members across business, academia, and investors, we know that the region has the potential to deliver truly remarkable growth in the coming decade and beyond, as evidenced by the research published this week. Achieving £78 billion in cumulative economic value by 2035 requires us to work dynamically and pro-actively across government, the private sector, educational institutions, and the investment community, to fully harness OxCam’s strengths and address its weaknesses. With the experience and knowledge of Sir Patrick Vallance leading this effort, we are excited by the opportunity to co-design a policy prospectus that will allow the OxCam Growth Corridor to realise its potential as a global centre for science and innovation.

    • Dipesh J. Shah OBE, Chair of the Oxford to Cambridge Partnership said: 

    I welcome the Chancellor’s drive to accelerate growth in the Oxford to Cambridge corridor and her support for strategic investments in enabling infrastructure. The region houses internationally acclaimed clusters of innovation in each of the growth sectors for the nation. Already one of the world’s great science powerhouses, the region’s full potential will rely on connecting its incredible ecosystems of businesses, places and communities. Investments announced today will spur more and will help local leaders to deliver on their ambitious plans for their communities.

    • Professor Alistair Fitt, Chair of Arc Universities Group and Vice-Chancellor Oxford Brookes University said:

    This region hosts a great diversity and scale of universities. Together we offer a wide range of key contributions: globally renowned research brilliance, the powerhouse of skills provision provided by cutting edge teaching, world class knowledge transfer and commercialisation. Our universities, working in close partnership, in alliance with others – particular the private sector – are organised into the Arc Universities Group.  We stand ready for the challenge. We welcome the oversight and experience that the leadership of Sir Patrick Vallance brings to the region, and we look forward to helping deliver the Chancellor’s aspirations for growth.

    • Darius Hughes, UK General Manager for Moderna said:

    We are proud to call Oxfordshire our home with the recent completion of construction of the Moderna Innovation and Technology Centre in Harwell. Today’s announcement demonstrates the government’s commitment to growth and innovation, and we look forward to delivering British-made vaccines to the UK public, advancing cutting-edge research, and strengthening partnerships in this globally significant region.

    • Steve Bates, CEO of the UK Bioindustry Association said:

    The UK is a global leader in biotech innovation and attracts the most venture capital in Europe. New figures we’ve published this week show that biotech is a vibrant growth sector of the UK economy with an exceptional ability to attract global investment. Delivering the infrastructure needed to support the growth at pace – especially in the Oxford Cambridge growth corridor- is key to the success of our sector.

    • The government is continuing to work with local partners to deliver sustainable growth in Cambridge, with the additional homes and infrastructure the city needs. Peter Freeman and the Cambridge Growth Company are building the evidence base for an infrastructure-first growth strategy to realise the full potential of Cambridge and improve lives for residents.
    • The Chancellor today announced that delivery of a new East Coast Mainline station in Tempsford will be accelerated by 3-5 years. The station will link services directly to London, with services in under an hour. It will eventually also be an interchange with the East West Rail station.  
    • The A428 (Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet) scheme will improve journeys between Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge. The scheme will see a new 10-mile dual carriageway delivered, as well as three grade separated junctions, three tier at Black Cat roundabout (A1/A421) and two tier at Cambridge Road (B1428) and Caxton Gibbet (A428/A1198) junctions, respectively. Main construction began in December 2023 and the road is expected to open in 2027.
    • The Environment Agency have lifted their opposition to new development around Cambridge (Waterbeach and the Beehive centre). This unlocks the delivery of 4,500 new homes and associated community spaces such as schools and leisure facilities as well as office and laboratory space in Cambridge City Centre. This demonstrates how the government, councils, and regulators are working together to find solutions that unlock growth and address environmental pressures.
    • The government has agreed water companies’ water resources management plans, including Cambridge Water’s, unlocking a now-confirmed £7.9bn investment in water resources in the next 5 years to provide a foundation for growth and improving our water infrastructure. These plans include nine new reservoirs, including the new Fens Reservoir serving Cambridge to South East Strategic Reservoir Option (Abingdon Reservoir) near Oxford.
    • The Chancellor will announce a new Growth Commission for Oxford, similar to the Cambridge Growth Company to bring together key stakeholders across the city and review how best to tackle the barriers that are constraining development of new housing and infrastructure to accelerate growth in the city.
    • AI Growth Zones, as recommended in the AI Action Plan launched by the PM earlier this month, are designated areas designed to fast-track the development of AI-focused data centres and supporting infrastructure. By concentrating government support on planning and energy, AIGZs aim to attract significant private investment, accelerate the build-out of critical AI infrastructure, and drive local economic regeneration. The first AI Growth Zone will be in Culham, Oxfordshire and the Chancellor today announced a ‘call for expressions of interest’ from regional and local authorities and industry, to inform the next stage of the AI Growth Zones programme. This will help us understand early opportunities and inform the next stage of the programme in what the government regards as a key growth sector in its modern Industrial Strategy.

    • On Monday 20th January the Health Secretary announced the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital is being prioritised for investment as part of wave 1 of the New Hospital Programme. This scheme will improve cancer survival rates by centralising Cambridge University Hospital cancer services under one roof and will further improve the proposition for the life sciences sector in the region, with AstraZeneca and CRUK researchers co-located at the facility, integrating the clinical and research models of cancer services. In doing so it will help create three new research institutes to be integrated with NHS clinical care helping to provide 10 new clinical trials per year and foster increased collaboration between top scientists and clinicians.

    • The Chancellor will welcome Cambridge University’s plans for a new largescale innovation hub in the heart of the city. The Global Innovation Index (GII) 2024 has ranked Cambridge as the world’s leading science and technological cluster by intensity for the third consecutive year.

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    Updates to this page

    Published 28 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Federal government invests in improved flood protection in the Village of Tahsis

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    From: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/housing-infrastructure-communities/news/2025/01/federal-government-invests-in-improved-flood-protection-in-the-village-of-tahsis.html (can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com)

    French version: https://www.canada.ca/fr/logement-infrastructures-collectivites/nouvelles/2025/01/le-gouvernement-federal-investit-dans-lamelioration-de-la-protection-contre-les-inondations-dans-le-village-de-tahsis.html (can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com)

    Improvements to flood protection infrastructure will help the Village of Tahsis become more resilient to riverbank and coastal floods after a combined investment of more than $2.8 million from the federal, provincial and local governments.

    This project involves constructing two flood walls and an earth berm along North Maquinna Drive from north of Rogers Street to Head Bay Road to safeguard the village from extreme-weather events. These new protective measures will include internal drainage improvements such as catch basins, leads and flap gates along the roads. There will also be rock or other material installed to protect shoreline structures against water, wave or ice erosion and to stabilize the riverbank.

    These upgrades will protect existing local public and private assets and essential infrastructure such as the public works yard, the fire hall, water supply and well pumping station, as well as schools, which are currently at risk of flooding from storms and rising sea levels. 

    Quotes:

    “Our government is taking action to increase communities’ resilience and support people’s safety in the face of extreme weather events. Effective flood prevention measures help protect people, property and livelihoods. The Government of Canada will continue to work with our partners to mitigate the effects of natural disasters so that Canadians can continue to adapt in a changing climate.”

    The Honourable Harjit Sajjan, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, on behalf of the Honourable Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

    “In Tahsis and communities throughout the province, we’re working to build a stronger and climate-ready future for everyone. These improvements in the Village of Tahsis will help protect people – including young students – and critical infrastructure from the growing threat of flooding for years to come.”

    The Honourable Kelly Greene, B.C. Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness 

    “On behalf of Tahsis council and the entire community, I thank the federal and provincial governments for recognizing the importance of protecting small, remote communities, like Tahsis, from climate-change impacts. The funding for this project means our residents, businesses, school and day care, first responders and critical infrastructure will be protected from future flood events.”

    Martin Davis, Mayor of the Village of Tahsis

    Quick Facts:

    • The federal government is investing $1,156,861 through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
    • The Government of British Columbia is investing $963,954, and the Village of Tahsis is contributing $771,337, with support from the provincial government.
    • The Government of Canada previously announced funding toward the first two phases of this project in June 2021.
    • The Green Infrastructure Stream helps build greener communities by contributing to climate change preparedness, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and supporting renewable technologies.
    • Including today’s announcement, over 157 infrastructure projects under the Green Infrastructure Stream have been announced in British Columbia, with a total federal contribution of more than $600 million and a total provincial contribution of more than $428 million.
    • Under the Investing in Canada Plan, the federal government is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada’s rural and northern communities.

    Learn More: 

    Investing in Canada: Canada’s Long-Term Infrastructure Plan: https://housing-infrastructure.canada.ca/plan/icp-publication-pic-eng.html 

    Green Infrastructure Stream: https://housing-infrastructure.canada.ca/plan/gi-iv-eng.html

    Housing and Infrastructure Project Map: https://housing-infrastructure.canada.ca/gmap-gcarte/index-eng.html

    Strengthened Climate Plan: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/weather/climatechange/climate-plan/climate-plan-overview.html

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Updated Australia’s Disability Strategy to improve the lives of people

    Source: Ministers for Social Services

    29 January 2025

    All governments have reaffirmed their commitment to building a more inclusive Australia, where all people with disability can participate on an equal basis, through the release of the updated Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031. 

    As part of the joint response to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, Commonwealth and state and territory governments all accepted the Royal Commission’s recommendation to review the Strategy.

    During the review, people with disability, representative organisations and the Strategy’s Advisory Council shared their important perspectives on how governments can continue to improve the everyday lives of people with disability through the Strategy’s implementation.

    Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said the updated Strategy reflects what matters most to the disability community and outlines a roadmap to deliver change.

    “This updated Strategy introduces an additional policy priority focused on addressing homelessness, a commitment to a new Community Engagement Plan and three new Targeted Action Plans, which focus on building more inclusive homes and communities; improving the safety, rights and justice for people with disability; and changing community attitudes,” Minister Rishworth said.

    “These Targeted Action Plans set out the specific steps governments will take to drive change. For the first time, they also include a number of national actions that all governments will work on together, with the disability community, to ensure people with disability right across Australia experience the benefits.

    “It remains important to all governments that our actions are guided by the voices and experiences of people with disability, and we have taken the opportunity to add new and updated evidence about the experiences of people with disability since the Strategy’s launch in 2021.”

    Governments have also agreed to progress an Associated Plan under the Strategy, that will focus on making information and communications more accessible, including through the design and development of agreed standards.

    “People with disability want greater and more diverse opportunities to take part in the decisions and design on matters that impact their lives, and we are committed to actively involving people with disability as we implement these changes,” Minister Rishworth said.

    The updated Strategy release is accompanied by several supporting documents, including:

    • Three new Targeted Action Plans
    • The Third Targeted Action Plans Report
    • A revised Data Improvement Plan
    • Guide to Applying Australia’s Disability Strategy.

    To learn more about the updated Strategy and supporting documents, visit disabilitygateway.gov.au/ads

    MIL OSI News –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Albanese Government delivering free broadband for 30,000 unconnected Australian families

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    The Albanese Government has announced an additional $4.9 million in funding to NBN Co to extend the free School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI) to 30 June 2028, to ease cost of living pressures and narrow the digital divide for unconnected families with school children.

    More than 23,000 families across the country are already accessing free NBN broadband through the SSBI, and this additional funding will assist more families to access the program.

    Families save around $1,000 a year through the program, and it allows children who otherwise would have difficulty accessing the internet connections that are crucial to modern learning to have the same opportunities as their peers.

    The program was due to finish in 2025. The extension will now allow the free services to continue for new and existing families until 30 June 2028, with up to 30,000 places available in the program. It brings the Albanese Government’s total investment in the program to $13.7 million.

    To be eligible, families and carers must:

    • have a child living at home enrolled in an Australian school;
    • have no active broadband service over the NBN network in the last 14 days; and
    • live in a premises where they can access standard NBN services.

    Once a family is assessed as eligible, they are issued with a unique voucher which they can redeem with one of the participating internet providers. The free service begins from the day the service is activated until 30 June 2028 and is available across all NBN technologies

    To apply, families and carers are encouraged to contact the National Referral Centre run by Anglicare Victoria on 1800 954 610 (Mon–Fri, 10am–6pm AEDT) or visit: www.anglicarevic.org.au/student-internet.

    For more information on the program visit: School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI) | Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Art.

    Quotes attributable to the Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP:

    “The Albanese Government is building Australia’s future, and that means investing in our children and their education.

    “The School Student Broadband Initiative is making a serious difference for thousands of families who now are able to enjoy the benefits of having reliable internet at home – a must in our increasingly digital world.

    “It is a fantastic milestone that 23,000 families are now benefitting from this cost of living measure – with the extension meaning families have even more time to sign up and be supported by free NBN broadband.

    “The program is helping Australians from all walks of life, including those who have escaped domestic and family violence, who no longer have to deal with the burden and uncertainty of mobile internet usage and data cost or the need to travel to use public Wi-Fi networks just so their children can complete their homework.

    “The success of this program to date wouldn’t be possible without the support of NBN Co, retail service providers, state and territory governments, schools, community organisations and charities, and I thank them for their ongoing work to help the initiative reach even more families.”

    MIL OSI News –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Australian produce in high demand for Lunar New Year Celebrations in China

    Source: Minister for Trade

    The Lunar New Year marks exciting new opportunities for Australian food and agriculture exporters to China, with $20 billion worth of trade impediments now removed.

    China’s consumers can celebrate the Year of the Snake by dining on a smorgasbord of Aussie cuisine, including delicious lobsters, the world’s best wines, and high-quality beef steaks.

    The Albanese Labor Government has worked calmly and consistently to restore dialogue to Australia’s relationship with China and secure the removal of $20 billion of trade impediments.

    Following the removal of the final trade impediments in December 2024, dining tables in China will now feature Australian live rock lobsters, a welcome outcome for Chinese consumers and Australian businesses alike.

    Over 900 tonnes of live rock lobsters has already been exported to China since the removal of impediments. This has supported the jobs of 3,000 Australians employed in the industry, 2,000 of which are in Western Australia.

    Australian fresh cherries are also highly prized as a gift to celebrate the Lunar New Year, and demand is expected to grow this financial year, after strong growth last year. Australia exported $14 million or 582 tonnes of cherries in 2023-24, an increase of 129 per cent in value and 137 per cent in volume. 

    Exports to China of Australian agricultural products previously affected by trade impediments have rebounded in 2024 year-on-year (January to October):

    • barley increased 221 per cent in value;
    • wine increased over 5,000 per cent in value; and
    • timber logs (specifically, wood in the rough) increased over 8,000 per cent in value.

    China remains Australia’s largest market for agricultural exports, worth $17.1 billion and accounting for around a quarter of total agricultural exports in 2023-24.

    Quotes attributable to Foreign Minister Penny Wong:

    “The Albanese Labor Government’s calm and consistent approach to our relationship with China is delivering for Australians and for our national interest.

    “It’s the result of hard work and a responsible Government that doesn’t play reckless political games with Australia’s most important relationships. 

    “Labor will continue to support Australian businesses to sell their products to the world, including through our efforts to diversify our trade.”

    Quotes attributable to Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell:  

    “Sustained engagement and advocacy by the Albanese Labor Government has resulted in the removal of around $20 billion of Chinese trade impediments, benefiting Australian farmers, exporters and our regions.

    “But we will not rest on our laurels – we are committed to creating even more export opportunities for Australian farmers and producers.

    “Every product we export means more national income and more well-paying Australian jobs.”

    Quotes attributable to Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Julie Collins:

    “Australia has an outstanding reputation as a supplier of high-quality agricultural products in China.  

    “Our Government is focused on strengthening our trade relationships and expanding opportunities for Australia’s farmers and producers.

    “In 2023-24, we recorded 88 market access achievements which opened, improved, maintained, or restored access for Australian businesses, including unlocking 10 new markets.

    “Australia exports over 70 per cent of our agricultural, fisheries and forestry production to 169 markets globally – the most diversified trade has ever been – thanks to the Albanese Labor Government.”

    MIL OSI News –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Federal Disaster Assistance Tops $24.6 Million for Chaves Residents

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Federal Disaster Assistance Tops $24.6 Million for Chaves Residents

    Federal Disaster Assistance Tops $24.6 Million for Chaves Residents

    ROSWELL, New Mexico — It has been just over three months since former President Joe Biden declared a major disaster for the state of New Mexico following the Oct. 19-20 Severe Storm and Flooding in Chaves County. To date, more than $24.6 million in federal assistance has been approved for New Mexican families affected by the disaster.FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) have approved grants and loans for more than 3,000 recovering homeowners, renters and businesses in Chaves County. This assistance helps pay for eligible losses and disaster-related damage repair and replacement of homes and personal property, temporary housing, cleaning and sanitizing, moving and storage, childcare, medical and dental expenses and other needs of New Mexicans affected by the storm and flooding.“FEMA collaborates closely with all our federal, state and local stakeholders to help New Mexicans affected by the disaster as they recover. We must remember that this is a long-term effort, but one that will be critical in building a more resilient and stronger Roswell,” said José Gil Montañez, Federal Coordinating Officer for New Mexico.As of Jan. 27, FEMA Individual Assistance totaled more than $17.8 million in grants to eligible homeowners and renters, including:More than $8.88 million in housing grants to help pay for home repair, home replacement and rental assistance for temporary housing.  More than $8.94 million in grants to help pay for personal property replacement and other serious disaster-related needs, such as moving and storage fees, transportation, childcare, and medical and dental expenses. FEMA Voluntary Agency Liaisons (VALs)The VALs mission is to establish, foster and maintain relationships among government, voluntary, faith-based and community partners. Through these relationships, the VALs support the delivery of inclusive and equitable services and empower and strengthen capabilities of communities to address disaster caused unmet needs. In addition, VALs coordinate with local partners to assist with the collection and distribution of in-kind and monetary donations to aid in the Chaves County recovery process. By coordinating appeals through local Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOADs), the VALs have identified nearly $146,000 in additional FEMA Individual Assistance for Chaves County recovery. State and local VOADs have also distributed more than $461,000 in financial assistance to Chaves County survivors to support immediate needs and recovery efforts.Public Assistance  FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program for the October flooding reimburses the state, counties, local governments, tribes, and certain private nonprofits (including houses of worship) for eligible costs of disaster-related debris removal and emergency protective measures. PA in Chaves County is available, on a cost -sharing basis: FEMA pays 75%, the state 25%. FEMA has received eight applications for project funding under the PA program. Of those, seven projects are now under review. Small Business AdministrationThe U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved more than $6.8 million in long-term, low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses and non-profit organizations. Of that amount, more than $6 million was approved for homeowners and renters with over $2.9 million distributed. Approving more than $476,000 to Chaves – County business, SBA has distributed over $300,000 to assist in their recovery.Applicants may apply at https://lending.sba.gov. Business owners also may apply in-person by visiting SBA Business Recovery Center at the Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Arts and Sciences Center. The deadline to apply to SBA for property damage was Jan, 2, 2025. The deadline to apply for economic injury is Aug. 1, 2025.For the latest information on the Chaves County recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4843. Follow FEMA Region 6 on social media at x.com/FEMARegion6 and facebook.com/femaregion6  
    alexa.brown
    Tue, 01/28/2025 – 20:43

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Woman Sentenced for Fraud Scheme Involving Claims for Unnecessary Respiratory Tests Submitted with COVID-19 Tests

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    A California woman was sentenced today to nine years in prison for her role in fraudulently submitting claims to governmental and private insurance programs during the COVID‑19 pandemic for expensive respiratory pathogen panel (RPP) tests that were medically unnecessary and never ordered by health care providers.

    According to court documents, Lourdes Navarro, 66, of Glendale, and Imran Shams owned and controlled Matias Clinical Laboratory, doing business as Health Care Providers Laboratory (HCPL). Navarro and Shams conspired to obtain nasal swab specimens that enabled HCPL to test for COVID-19, as well as to obtain testing orders from physicians and other medical professionals. The specimens were collected from, among others, residents and staff at nursing homes, assisted living facilities, rehabilitation facilities, and similar types of facilities, and from students and staff at primary and secondary schools, for the purported purpose of conducting screening tests to identify and isolate individuals infected with COVID-19. However, Navarro and Shams caused HCPL to perform RPP tests on most of the specimens, even though only COVID-19 testing had been ordered and there was no medical justification for conducting RPP tests on asymptomatic individuals who needed only COVID-19 screening tests. Through HCPL, Navarro and Shams billed approximately $369 million for the RPP tests to Medicare, the Health Resources and Services Administration COVID-19 Uninsured Program, and a private health insurance company, and were reimbursed approximately $46.7 million for fraudulent claims.

    Navarro was also ordered to forfeit $11,662,939 in funds that the government had previously seized from three bank accounts. The total amount seized and forfeited from Navarro and Shams is $14,518,485. Navarro also was ordered to pay $46,735,400 in restitution.

    Navarro pleaded guilty on Oct. 5, 2023, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. Shams pleaded guilty on Jan. 24, 2023, in the Central District of California to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and concealment of his exclusion from Medicare and was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Jan. 30, 2024. In addition, on May 29, 2024, Shams was sentenced to five years in prison in connection with his 2017 plea in the Eastern District of New York to conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks, and defrauding the United States by obstructing the lawful functions of the IRS, of which three years were ordered to run consecutive to the Central District of California sentence.

    Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Rochelle Wong of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Los Angeles Regional Office made the announcement.

    The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.

    Trial Attorneys Gary A. Winters and Raymond E. Beckering III of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maxwell Coll for the Central District of California handled the financial penalties.

    The Justice Department’s COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force marshals the resources of the department in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The task force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Trump 2.0 chaos and destruction — what it means Down Under

    What will happen to Australia — and New Zealand — once the superpower that has been followed into endless battles, the United States, finally unravels?

    COMMENTARY: By Michelle Pini, managing editor of Independent Australia

    With President Donald Trump now into his second week in the White House, horrific fires have continued to rage across Los Angeles and the details of Elon Musk’s allegedly dodgy Twitter takeover began to emerge, the world sits anxiously by.

    The consequences of a second Trump term will reverberate globally, not only among Western nations. But given the deeply entrenched Americanisation of much of the Western world, this is about how it will navigate the after-shocks once the United States finally unravels — for unravel it surely will.

    Leading with chaos
     Now that the world’s biggest superpower and war machine has a deranged criminal at the helm — for a second time — none of us know the lengths to which Trump (and his puppet masters) will go as his fingers brush dangerously close to the nuclear codes. Will he be more emboldened?

    The signs are certainly there.

    President Donald Trump 2.0 . . . will his cruelty towards migrants and refugees escalate, matched only by his fuelling of racial division? Image: ABC News screenshot IA

    So far, Trump — who had already led the insurrection of a democratically elected government — has threatened to exit the nuclear arms pact with Russia, talked up a trade war with China and declared “all hell will break out” in the Middle East if Hamas hadn’t returned the Israeli hostages.

    Will his cruelty towards migrants and refugees escalate, matched only by his fuelling of racial division?

    This, too, appears to be already happening.

    Trump’s rants leading up to his inauguration last week had been a steady stream of crazed declarations, each one more unhinged than the last.

    He wants to buy Greenland. He wishes to overturn birthright citizenship in order to deport even more migrant children, such as  “pet-eating Haitians” and “insane Hannibal Lecters” because America has been “invaded”.

    It will be interesting to see whether his planned evictions of Mexicans will include the firefighters Mexico sent to Los Angeles’ aid.

    At the same time, Trump wants to turn Canada into the 51st state, because, he said,

    “It would make a great state. And the people of Canada like it.”

    Will sexual predator Trump’s level of misogyny sink to even lower depths post Roe v Wade?

    Probably.

    Denial of catastrophic climate consequences
    And will Trump be in even further denial over the catastrophic consequences of climate change than during his last term? Even as Los Angeles grapples with a still climbing death toll of 25 lives lost, 12,000 homes, businesses and other structures destroyed and 16,425 hectares (about the size of Washington DC) wiped out so far in the latest climactic disaster?

    The fires are, of course, symptomatic of the many years of criminal negligence on global warming. But since Trump instead accused California officials of “prioritising environmental policies over public safety” while his buddy and head of government “efficiency”, Musk blamed black firefighters for the fires, it would appear so.

    Will the madman, for surely he is one, also gift even greater protections to oligarchs like Musk?

    Trump has already appointed billionaire buddies Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to:

     “…pave the way for my Administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures and restructure Federal agencies”.

    So, this too is already happening.

    All of these actions will combine to create a scenario of destruction that will see the implosion of the US as we know it, though the details are yet to emerge.

    The flawed AUKUS pact sinking quickly . . . Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with outgoing President Joe Biden, will Australia have the mettle to be bigger than Trump. Image: Independent Australia

    What happens Down Under?
    US allies — like Australia — have already been thoroughly indoctrinated by American pop culture in order to complement the many army bases they house and the defence agreements they have signed.

    Though Trump hasn’t shown any interest in making it a 52nd state, Australia has been tucked up in bed with the United States since the Cold War. Our foreign policy has hinged on this alliance, which also significantly affects Australia’s trade and economy, not to mention our entire cultural identity, mired as it is in US-style fast food dependence and reality TV. Would you like Vegemite McShaker Fries with that?

    So what will happen to Australia once the superpower we have followed into endless battles finally breaks down?

    As Dr Martin Hirst wrote in November:

    ‘Trump has promised chaos and chaos is what he’ll deliver.’

    His rise to power will embolden the rabid Far-Right in the US but will this be mirrored here? And will Australia follow the US example and this year elect our very own (admittedly scaled down) version of Trump, personified by none other than the Trump-loving Peter Dutton?

    If any of his wild announcements are to be believed, between building walls and evicting even US nationals he doesn’t like, while simultaneously making Canadians US citizens, Trump will be extremely busy.

    There will be little time even to consider Australia, let alone come to our rescue should we ever need the might of the US war machine — no matter whether it is an Albanese or sycophantic Dutton leadership.

    It is a given, however, that we would be required to honour all defence agreements should our ally demand it.

    It would be great if, as psychologists urge us to do when children act up, our leaders could simply ignore and refuse to engage with him, but it remains to be seen whether Australia will have the mettle to be bigger than Trump.

    Republished from the Independent Australia with permission.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Africa Analysis – Perennial War in DRC is a Scorn at Africa’s sovereignty

    Analysis by Mike Omuodo

    A phone vibration drew my attention to an incoming message – a friend had sent a message with an attachment and a note reading, “This is so sad and needs to stop! The message was followed by some crying emojis.

    Curious, I opened the attachment. It was a photo of some of the carnage in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – to be precise, the photo of corpses of those killed in the DRC’s never ending war, piled like some wastes from a city garbage truck. My heart bled for the children and women of DRC, the main victims of this horrendous war!

    The war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has killed over 6 million people over decades, stands as a stark reminder of the continent’s internal and external challenges. Despite Africa’s rich history, cultural diversity, and growing potential, the persistent violence in the DRC represents a failure of both African leadership and the international community to address a crisis that undermines the very notion of African unity, independence, and self-determination.

    The DRC, endowed with an abundance of natural resources—diamonds, gold, copper, coltan—should be one of Africa’s most prosperous countries. Instead, it has become a battlefield where local militias, foreign corporations, and regional powers exploit its riches, leaving its people in poverty and suffering. This is a direct affront to the vision of African sovereignty, which seeks to ensure that African resources benefit Africans and not external actors or corrupt elites.

    The inability of African nations to decisively intervene and resolve the conflict in the DRC highlights a painful reality: while African leaders have championed unity and cooperation through platforms like the African Union (AU), they have largely failed to protect one of their own from decades of exploitation and war. The silence and inaction of many African governments on the DRC crisis is a scorn to the idea of Pan-Africanism, which promises solidarity and collective action in the face of injustice.

    The war in the DRC is also a reflection of how foreign interests continue to meddle in African affairs, undermining Africa’s sovereignty. Since colonial times, external powers have exploited the DRC for its natural resources, leaving the country in a state of perpetual conflict. Today, multinational corporations and foreign governments continue to benefit from the illegal extraction of the DRC’s minerals, funding armed groups and prolonging instability.

    African leaders have a moral and political obligation to assert Africa’s control over its own resources and territory. Allowing foreign actors to dictate the fate of one of the continent’s richest nations not only diminishes the sovereignty of the DRC but also weakens the entire continent’s ability to defend its economic and political interests.

    Failed Governance

    At the heart of the DRC crisis is the failure of governance. While external actors have played a significant role in the conflict, internal divisions, corruption, and weak leadership within the DRC have exacerbated the situation. Successive governments have struggled to maintain control over vast portions of the country, allowing warlords and militias to fill the power vacuum.

    However, the broader failure lies in the inability of African leaders to come together and address these internal issues through diplomatic pressure, peace-building, and robust intervention. Instead, some regional powers have been accused of further destabilizing the country by supporting rebel groups and exploiting the chaos for their own gains. This lack of leadership not only prolongs the suffering of millions of Congolese but also erodes trust in Africa’s ability to solve its own problems.

    Strategic Imperative

    This war shouldn’t be seen merely as Congo’s problem but as a moral and strategic imperative for the entire African continent. The ongoing conflict undermines Africa’s collective goals of peace, security, and economic development. It destabilizes a region that is critical to the future of Africa, limits economic growth, and diverts attention from pressing continental issues such as poverty alleviation, infrastructure development, and healthcare.

    Allowing the DRC to remain in a state of war or even degenerate further into the abyss reflects poorly on the African Union and regional organizations like the East African Community and Southern African Development Community (SADC), which have the capacity to mediate and intervene. If African leaders do not act now to stop the violence and build sustainable peace, it will signal a failure to live up to the founding principles of these organizations and African independence itself.

    Reclaiming sovereignty

    This war is not just a humanitarian catastrophe; it is a direct challenge to Africa’s ability to assert control over its own destiny. The conflict has exposed the fragility of African sovereignty and the vulnerability of the continent’s vast resources to external exploitation. To truly live up to the promise of a united, independent, and prosperous Africa, African leaders must rise to the occasion, reclaim the DRC’s sovereignty, and bring an end to this senseless war.

    Inaction or passive diplomacy will only deepen the wounds and prolong the suffering. It’s time for Africa to lead by example, assert its political will, and save the DRC from becoming a permanent scar on the continent’s legacy. The war in the DRC cannot be allowed to continue as a scorn upon Africa’s sovereignty.

    * The writer is a pan-African Public Relations and Communications expert based in Nairobi, Kenya.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to report by World Weather Attribution looking at climate change attribution of the LA wildfires

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    January 28, 2025

    A report by by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) looks at climate change and the likelihood of wildfire disaster in LA. 

    Prof Gabi Hegerl FRS, Professor of Climate System Science, University of Edinburgh, said:

    “Given the short timeline that WWA aims for this is a very thorough analysis of the role of climate change and also El Nino conditions contributing to the fires in Los Angeles.  The authors determine several factors that have contributed to this disaster, from severely dry conditions to high fire weather indices, late arrival of winter rains etc.  Several of these factors point to high fire risk, both due to El Nino conditions and global warming.  Overall the paper finds that climate change has made the Los Angeles fires more likely despite some statistical uncertainty.  This is a carefully researched result that should be taken seriously.  El Ninos come and go, but as long as the climate warms we will continue to see increasing risk of this hazard.  Adapting to it will help, and the authors make some suggestions, but this example is one of many of how climate change increases the risk of deadly and costly disasters.”

    Dr Karsten Haustein, Climate Scientist, Leipzig University, said:

    “I remember a stark and dire warning of an US-based weather forecaster just before the fires.  Sadly, he was absolutely spot on.  The extremely hazardous mix of dry and windy conditions led to unprecedented destruction, displacing tens of thousands of people and costing billions of dollars.  Naturally, folks want to know what role climate change played in this catastrophic disaster.

    “Following two very rapid attribution studies by teams from UCLA (California) and IPSL-CNRS (France), now WWA has released their comprehensive rapid attribution study.  The former two have already highlighted that climate change did play a role and made the fires more likely.  Especially the so-called ‘hydroclimate whiplash’, where wetter than average years are followed by drier than average years, contributed to the devastating outcome.  While these year-to-year variations are normal given the strong ENSO teleconnection in the region (El Niño leads to wetter conditions and vice versa for La Niña), now wet gets wetter and dry gets drier for longer.

    “Hence one of the key messages of the WWA study is that the dry season in the region lasts longer than it used to be (23 days), increasing the risk for very dry conditions to overlap with strong (St Ana) winds, which occur mainly in winter.  While WWA does not find increasing wind speeds during St Ana events, they do find that the risk for such a dry season has already increased by 35%, with a 6% increase in fire intensity.

    “WWA highlights that a more in-depth analysis is required to make conclusive statements about changes in atmospheric circulation that favour such cut-off lows.  But the thermodynamic climate change fingerprint (drier and warmer) is clearly present.  So is the problem of exposure in the region.  Houses are not build to withstand fire.  Instead, they are fuelling the fires.  A tinderbox when combined with built up vegetation from the preceding two wet seasons.  All these aspects are meticulously discussed in WWA’s new attribution study.

    “Their press release accurately summarises the scientific findings.  The team involved was larger than ever, including the UCLA colleagues mentioned above.  All methods used to conduct the analysis are peer-reviewed.  The results do confirm prior research such as, for example, the hypothesised ‘hydroclimate whiplash’.  The team also mentions the deficits of global climate models to simulate such wind events, which is why no attribution statement regarding the frequency of occurrence or magnitude of the St Ana winds is made.”

    ‘Climate change increased the likelihood of wildfire disaster in highly exposed Los Angeles area’ by Clair Barnes et al. was published by World Weather Attribution at 22:00 UK time on Tuesday 28 January 2025. 

    Declared interests

    Prof Gabi Hegerl: “No competing interests, occasional collaboration with some of the study’s authors.”

    Dr Karsten Haustein: “No conflict of interests.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Full speed ahead: fast-tracking permit approvals

    [. Alberta’s new “Automatic Yes Toolkit” for permits makes life better for Albertans by reducing red tape, speeding up project timelines and creating more opportunities for businesses and individuals to thrive – all while ensuring health, safety and environmental protections remain in place. By addressing long wait times and improving efficiency, this initiative aims to prevent project delays, create jobs and drive economic growth across the province.

    The Automatic Yes Toolkit enables government to identify permits that can benefit from faster decision-making processes. For lower-risk and routine activities such as Water Act applications, permit approvals will be replaced with clear operating requirements, freeing up resources to focus on more complex applications. For permits requiring detailed reviews, the toolkit introduces mandatory time limits for government decisions, providing greater certainty for applicants.

    “While we have met our commitment to reduce red tape by 33 per cent, we are continuing to implement leaner, streamlined processes by adopting an Automatic Yes Toolkit. Business leaders and Albertans have told us that wait times for permit decisions can take too long, so we’ve designed the toolkit to address those concerns, while still maintaining the appropriate health, safety and environmental protections.”

    Dale Nally, Minister, Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction

    The Automatic Yes toolkit incorporates three approaches – Code of Practice (COP), Permit-by-Rule (PBR), and Shot Clock – to be used as additional policy tools to support reduction in permit decision timelines. Each approach is tailored to degrees of regulatory risk, ranging from low-risk activities that pose minimal harm to the environment and public health and safety, to medium-risk activities that may require more extensive review and oversight.

    As these tools are implemented, Albertans applying for permits can expect shorter wait times and fewer project delays. This ensures that government resources are allocated more effectively while safeguarding public health, safety and the environment.

    “The Automatic Yes Toolkit is a big step forward for Alberta’s small businesses. By speeding up permit approvals, entrepreneurs will have more time to focus on growth and job creation instead of navigating bureaucracy. This kind of efficiency is exactly what businesses need to thrive.”

    Dan Kelly, president, Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses

    Even with the Automatic Yes Toolkit in place, Alberta’s government will retain the ability to deny permits when necessary and appropriate, as well as undertake the appropriate enforcement actions when violations have occurred.

    Quick facts

    • The Automatic Yes Toolkit will only be applied to permits categorized as high-risk activities if all assurances can still be met.
    • Alberta already leverages COPs and PBRs for various activities, and various jurisdictions across North America, such as Ontario, British Columbia and Texas, have also applied some of the “Automatic Yes” approaches to streamline their permit approval processes. However, with the introduction of the Automatic Yes Toolkit, Alberta now has a more comprehensive approach for streamlining and accelerating permit approvals.

    Related information

    • Cutting Red Tape
    • Implementing red tape reduction

    Multimedia

    • Watch the news conference

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Speed limit reduction reversals begin

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Reversals to Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions begin tonight and will be in place by 1 July, says Minister of Transport Chris Bishop.

    “The previous government was obsessed with slowing New Zealanders down by imposing illogical and untargeted speed limit reductions on state highways and local roads.

    “National campaigned on reversing the blanket speed limit reductions at the last election, and over 65 per cent of submitters during consultation on the Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2024 agreed.

    “Reversing the speed limit reductions where safe to do so is also part of the National-ACT coalition agreement.

    “Where Labour was about slowing New Zealand down, the coalition Government is all about making it easier for people and freight to get from A to B as quickly and efficiently as possible, which will help drive economic growth and improved productivity.”

    The Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2024 requires NZTA and local councils to reverse all speed limits lowered since January 2020 on several categories of roads back to their previous limits by 1 July 2025.

    “Labour’s Kieran McAnulty said recently that as Associate Transport Minister under the previous government he’d asked NZTA to review the SH2 Wairarapa speed limit, and that they told him no. It seems he just shrugged and accepted that,” Mr Bishop says.

    “Today provides a classic example of our Government’s determination to stop letting government agencies put things in the too-hard basket, and instead to push forward for actual results.

    “Today provides a classic example of our Government’s determination to stop letting government agencies put things in the too-hard basket, and instead to push forward for actual results.

    “The first state highway to reverse will be the section of SH2 between Featherston and Masterton, where the speed limit reduction in early 2023 under the previous government met with huge community hostility – the exact road that Kieran McAnulty failed to get any action on. This change which will take effect overnight tonight.

    “To ensure this process happens efficiently, over the next few months NZTA will incorporate the automatic speed reversal work alongside planned maintenance and project works.

    “I have also released a further list of 49 sections of state highway for further public consultation so local communities can have their say on keeping their current lower speed limit or returning to the previous higher speed. Public consultation on those sections begins tomorrow and will run for six weeks. 

    “In terms of local road changes, councils have until 1 May 2025 to advise NZTA of the specified roads subject to reversal under the new Rule.”

    The new rule requires reduced variable speed limits outside schools during pick up and drop off times.

    “We are prioritising the safety of Kiwi kids by introducing reduced speed limits outside schools during pick-up and drop-off times. We want to see these changes brought about quickly,” Mr Bishop says.

    “By 1 July 2026, local streets outside a school will be required to have a 30km/h variable speed limit. Rural roads that are outside schools will be required to have variable speed limits of 60km/h or less.

    “Throughout the world, 50km/h is used as the right speed limit to keep urban roads flowing smoothly and safely. The evidence on this is clear – comparable countries with the lowest rates of road deaths and serious injuries, such as Norway, Denmark, and Japan, have speed limits of 50km/h on their urban roads, with exceptions for lower speed limits.

    “These countries have strong road safety records, targeting alcohol, drugs, and speeding. Our Government has a clear focus on improving road safety outcomes with clear targets to ensure Police are focussed on the most high-risk times, behaviours, and locations.”

    Notes to editor:

    Attached fact sheets:

    • 38 sections of state highway for speed limit auto reversal
    • 49 sections of state highway for community consultation

    Under the Setting of Speed Limits Rule signed by previous Transport Minister Simeon Brown in September 2024, the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and councils are required to reverse all speed limits lowered since January 2020 on several categories of specified roads back to their previous limits by 1 July 2025.

    To give effect to the new Rule, NZTA will automatically reverse speed limits on 38 sections of the state highway network back to their previous higher speed limit, and publicly consult on a further 49 sections before final decisions are made whether to reverse them or not.

    Public consultation on 49 sections of state highway will begin on 30 January 2025 and run for six weeks. 

    Further note:

    The reference to Mr McAnulty’s comments regarding SH2 in the Wairarapa is taken from Kate Judson’s article in The Wairarapa Times-Age, Jan 25 2025: Slow road back to 100kph for Wairarapa motorists:

    Labour list MP Kieran McAnulty said he was not convinced SH2 speeds south of Greytown would change by July because the decision rested with NZTA.

    “It wouldn’t surprise me if they said they’ll put it up to 100kph if the road gets improved,” he said.

    “I know how resolute NZTA were on it. I was associate transport minister and looked them in the eye and said, ‘I want you to review the speed limit,’ and they said no.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: A Vision for Missouri’s Future: Strengthening Integrity and Service

    Source: US State of Missouri

     

     

    Opinion Editorial Available for Immediate Distribution: January 28, 2025

               

    A Vision for Missouri’s Future: Strengthening Integrity and Service

    By Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, CPA

    It is with great humility and excitement that I step into the role of Missouri’s 41st secretary of state. My journey from the legislature to this office has given me a deep appreciation for the responsibilities entrusted to us by the people of Missouri. I had the honor of speaking before the Missouri Press Association in our state capitol this week. Now, with just over a week on the job, I want to share some reflections and goals as we embark on this journey together.

    One of my core commitments is upholding election integrity. Missourians deserve elections that are secure, transparent, and reflective of their will. To this end, we are auditing voter rolls to ensure they are accurate and free of outdated entries. I have also appointed a new Director of Election Integrity, Nick La Strada, whose expertise will be instrumental in achieving this goal. As we explore policies such as proof of citizenship for voter registration, our focus remains clear: protecting the integrity of our elections while ensuring compliance with the law.

    Another area of focus is securities regulation. Missouri is one of the few states where the secretary of state appoints a Securities Commissioner, and I am proud to have selected Representative Michael O’Donnell, whose financial and markets expertise and leadership will serve Missourians well. Our approach will balance protecting investors, especially seniors, with fostering transparency in financial markets. For example, while we believe individuals should have the freedom to invest in funds that align with their values, clear disclosures are vital to inform investors of the risks and goals associated with their investments, if maximizing shareholder return is not the funds main objective.

    The State Library and Archives are also critical pillars of this office. They serve as custodians of Missouri’s history and enablers of lifelong learning. We will continue to support these essential services while ensuring they remain accessible to all Missourians.

    Lastly, I am committed to engagement and transparency. Former Secretary Jay Ashcroft set a precedent of visiting every county annually and I plan on continuing this tradition. Connecting directly with citizens ensures we understand their needs and concerns. Furthermore, as we improve our digital presence and launch new initiatives like podcasts, we aim to better communicate the great work happening in our state.

    Missouri is a state rich in history, opportunity, and community. As your secretary of state, I am honored to lead an office that touches so many aspects of daily life from supporting businesses to preserving our heritage. Together, we will build a stronger, more transparent, and more prosperous Missouri.

    Thank you for your trust. I look forward to serving you.

    For media inquiries or additional information, please contact:
    Rachael Dunn, Director of Communications
    [email protected]
    JoDonn Chaney, Deputy Director of Communications
    [email protected]


    About Denny Hoskins
    Denny Hoskins, CPA, was elected to the office of Missouri Secretary of State in November 2024. Prior to his election, Hoskins served as a member of the Missouri Senate, where he worked on a variety of initiatives to support Missouri’s economy, improve transparency, and ensure the protection of citizens’ rights. He has a strong background in business and public service and is committed to building a more efficient and accountable government in Missouri.

    Visit www.sos.mo.gov to learn more about the Office of the Missouri Secretary of State.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: SECURING MISSOURI’S FUTURE: Governor Kehoe Delivers First State of the State Address

    Source: US State of Missouri

    JANUARY 28, 2025

    Jefferson City — JEFFERSON CITY, MO – Today, Governor Mike Kehoe delivered his first State of the State Address to the Missouri General Assembly, outlining his legislative and budget priorities for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26).

    Governor Kehoe opened his first address to the 103rd General Assembly by reflecting on lessons learned to stay humble from his mentor, Dave Sinclair, with a commitment to working with the members of the legislature during his time as governor.

    “I said earlier that I will never forget my roots. Well, I’ve sat where you sit. I understand the pressures you face. And I want to work with you—not against you—because I believe we can only secure Missouri’s future if we work together,” said Governor Kehoe.

    Governor Kehoe’s speech focused on the policy priorities that have remained a central focus at the start of his administration, beginning with public safety.

    “Any efforts we may make to improve the lives of Missourians–whether it be education opportunities, cutting taxes, or expanding childcare–none of it matters if Missourians aren’t safe,” Governor Kehoe said. “Securing Missouri’s future begins with public safety.”

    Public Safety

    During his speech, Governor Kehoe discussed the actions his administration took on Inauguration Day, signing six executive orders developed based on input from law enforcement to launch the Safer Missouri initiative.

    To support law enforcement recruitment and retention efforts, Governor Kehoe’s budget recommends funding to bolster the existing Missouri Blue Scholarship Program for law enforcement basic training and $10 million in new funding to assist local communities who prioritize public safety with equipment and training needs through the Blue Shield Program.

    The budget also includes $2.5 million to support the sheriff’s retirement system for another year, and funding for a new crime lab in Cape Girardeau, serving the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop E region.

    As part of the Safer Missouri initiative, Governor Kehoe urged the General Assembly to pass a comprehensive crime bill that includes increasing penalties for crimes like violent rioting and fleeing from law enforcement in a vehicle, cracking down on criminals who participate in reckless stunt driving and street racing, and efforts to increase oversight and accountability of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

    To combat the fentanyl crisis and identify areas of high fentanyl use in schools across the state, Governor Kehoe’s budget includes a $4 million investment for fentanyl testing in wastewater systems at schools. Governor Kehoe also encouraged the legislature to take action on increasing penalties for fentanyl trafficking.

    Economic Development

    Governor Kehoe emphasized his efforts to make Missouri a welcoming state for business investment. From manufacturers, to retail, to Missouri’s sports teams: businesses who provide jobs and opportunities to Missourians are an important part the state’s economic success.

    In order to compete with other states, the Kehoe Administration will focus on reducing taxes and cutting regulations, so families keep more of their own money, and so job creators look at our state to expand and hire more hard-working Missourians.

    Governor Kehoe announced that he has directed the Missouri Department of Revenue to work with his staff on a sustainable and comprehensive plan to eliminate the individual income tax once and for all.

    And, knowing that infrastructure and economic development go hand in hand, Governor Kehoe’s budget includes a reappropriation of last year’s 100 million dollars for rural road improvements to ensure all of those funds are invested in rural infrastructure.

    Governor Kehoe’s speech focused largely on solving the biggest challenge to the child care crisis: addressing the current regulatory environment.

    In an effort to make the child care regulations easier to understand and navigate, Governor Kehoe issued Executive Order 25-15, charging the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education-Office of Childhood with a complete re-write of the child care regulations.

    The budget also includes $10 million to offer grant funding opportunities to support partnerships between employers, community partners, and the child care industry to make more child care slots available for Missouri families.

    In an effort to provide timely payments for the child care providers who partner with the state to provide care, providers will receive payments from the state at the beginning of the month on enrollment, starting in fiscal year 2026.

    To build on Missouri’s career and technical education opportunities, Governor Kehoe’s budget includes $15 million in new funding to address equipment, space, and operational needs of career and technical centers across the state, as well as an increase of $5 million on an annual basis to support increased operational costs.

    The budget includes increased funding to expand career counseling to more high schools across the state, so that students can talk to school counselors about their future career path, whether that includes college or not.

    Governor Kehoe also signed Executive Order 25-16 establishing the Governor’s Workforce of the Future Challenge, instructing DESE to put a plan in place for better coordination among key stakeholders, including K-12 schools, local business and industry, and higher education to improve the state’s career and technical education programs and infrastructure.

    Agriculture

    Securing the future of agriculture also means investing in the next generation. Governor Kehoe’s budget includes $800,000 in permanent funding for Missouri FFA.

    Additionally, the budget includes $55 million in new bonding to support the construction of a 40,000 square foot covered multi-use livestock barn and 80,000 square foot stalling barn to house equine and other livestock at the Missouri State Fair’s new arena, which was previously supported by the legislature and is now under construction.

    Education

    Governor Kehoe is a proud supporter of education in all of its forms–public schools, private schools, charter schools–as long Missouri’s children are getting a quality education that best meets their needs.

    To expand school choice, Governor Kehoe urged the General Assembly to pass voluntary open enrollment in public schools.

    Governor Kehoe’s budget also includes $50 million in general revenue funding to bolster the ESA program.

    This year, Governor Kehoe’s budget recommends a $200 million increase for the Foundation Formula, the largest increase since the current Formula was created. And, over $370 million to fully fund the state’s commitment for school transportation needs. For teachers, the budget includes $33 million to fund teacher salaries. Additionally, the budget includes $30 million for Small School Grants to support the continued success of our small rural school districts, the heartbeat of their communities.

    Governor Kehoe also signed Executive Order 25-14 establishing the School Funding Modernization Task Force to recommend changes to the Foundation Formula to better serve students and families.

    Government Improvements 
    To continue to recruit and retain quality state team members, Governor Kehoe announced a statewide time of service pay plan increase for state employees.

    Governor Kehoe also previewed action on DEI programs in state government and support for creating Missouri’s own version of a DOGE initiative. He committed to working with the General Assembly on these efforts in the coming weeks.

    During his speech, Governor Kehoe recognized special guests for their achievements and commitment to the people of Missouri:

    Special Guests of the Governor

    • Lizzy Schott
    • Safer Missouri Initiative Group
    • Alena Malone
    • Adeline Thessen
    • USS Missouri Crew Members  

    Governor Kehoe emphasized there are safer choices than abortion in Missouri and committed to helping pregnant women know these exist, including the Pregnancy Resource Centers across the state. The budget includes support for alternatives to abortion with $4 million  in additional funding to benefit expecting and new mothers, a more than 50% increase to existing services.

    Governor Kehoe closed the speech thanking veterans and service members, adding that his proposed budget includes an additional $10 million of general revenue funding to our Missouri Veterans Homes.

    “Our work in this building is only possible because of those who came before us: the sacrifices of our brave service men and women,” said Governor Kehoe. “Under the Kehoe Administration, NO veterans home will close due to a lack of state funding.”

    To view a full transcript of Governor Kehoe’s speech and special guest bios, please see attachments. To view the FY2026 Budget in Brief, please see attachment.

    The FY26 Executive Budget will be available here at 3:00 p.m. To view the executive orders signed by Governor Kehoe, visit this link.

    Pictures from today’s events, including special guests, will be available on Flickr. An archived video of the 2025 State of the State is available at mo.gov/live.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. News & World Report Ranks UConn’s Graduate Business Programs Among the Best Online

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Three UConn School of Business programs are ranked among the 2025 Best Online (Non-MBA) Programs by U.S. News & World Report.

    The Financial Technology (FinTech), Human Resources Management (MSHRM), and Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) ranked as No. 12 in the nation. The recognition is particularly gratifying because the first two programs are newcomers to the rankings, having just become eligible for assessment. The MSA program is a long-established program.

    “We are proud to be ranked 12th by U.S. News & World Report in the Best Online Non-MBA Graduate Programs category. This prestigious recognition highlights our commitment to academic excellence and student success and our strategic investment in online education,’’ said professor Jose M. Cruz, Associate Dean for Graduate Programs at the School of Business.

    “By leveraging state-of-the-art technology, innovative course design, and the expertise of our world-class faculty, we have created an engaging, flexible, and high-impact learning environment,’’ Cruz said. “This achievement reaffirms our dedication to empowering professionals to thrive in an ever-evolving global landscape.”

    This year’s U.S. News ranking evaluated more than 1,600 online bachelor’s and master’s degree programs using metrics specific to online learning, including student engagement and program quality. This survey included only non-MBA programs.

    Promotions, Camaraderie, Excellence Highlight Programs

    The 36-credit master’s degree in FinTech offers a mix of analytics, technology and business courses to equip students to lead in fields such as finance, banking, insurance, medicine, regulations and real estate.

    “The UConn MS FinTech program has, since its inception, sought to be a global program in terms of its reach, experiential opportunities and reputation,’’ said professor John Wilson, the program’s academic director. “The rapid development and deployment of a world class online offering for this degree puts UConn as one of the only FinTech programs to offer students choice in their learning modality.’’

    Human Resources Management, a 33-credit master’s degree program, delivers the knowledge and skills to lead an HR department through strategic planning and employee relationship management.

    In the program’s most recent exit survey, 71% of graduating respondents reported receiving a promotion or new position while in the program.

    “The cohort-based format of the MSHRM program means that students complete their coursework as a group. This enables students to develop strong relationships with one another,’’ said professor Travis Grosser, who has led the department. “These relationships form a foundation for peer learning and support. Indeed, many close and lasting friendships have been formed in the MSHRM program. We promote relationship-building by offering informal events outside of the classroom.’’

    Meanwhile, the 30-credit MSA program provides the additional accounting credit hours to complete the educational requirements to earn a CPA license. The program focuses on issues relevant to today’s accounting professionals and is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and led by full-time faculty and other industry experts. The program celebrated its 25th anniversary last year.

    “The MSA Program at UConn has maintained a long tradition of high achievement because of the consistently high quality of the faculty, staff, and students who work diligently towards excellence,’’ said professor Joshua Racca, director of the MSA program.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: McKeesport Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing Firearm

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A former resident of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a violation of federal firearms laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    Paul Kirk, 29, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon to one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.

    In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on August 22, 2023, Kirk fled from McKeesport Police officers during a traffic stop. Upon Kirk’s being taken into custody a short distance from the traffic stop, officers found a loaded handgun in the defendant’s pocket. Kirk has multiple previous felony convictions. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.

    Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for May 29, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.

    Pending sentencing, the court ordered that the defendant remain in custody.

    Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Ball is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and McKeesport Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Kirk.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Belcourt Man Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Sexual Abuse and Domestic Assault by Strangulation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Fargo – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that Justin Lee Baker, age 44, from Belcourt, ND, appeared in federal court on January 28, 2025, before District Court Judge Peter Welte and was sentenced to life in federal prison, and $400 in special assessment fees for the offenses of sexual abuse by threat of death or serious bodily injury (two counts) and assault of a spouse, intimate partner, or dating partner by strangulation (two counts).

    As noted in court documents, in or about August 2020, law enforcement in Belcourt, ND, was dispatched to a residence for a report of a domestic disturbance.  Jane Doe 1 reported she had been severely beaten by her boyfriend, identified as Baker. Law enforcement observed extensive bruising throughout Jane Doe 1’s face, neck, chest, arms, and legs, as well as a laceration on top of her head.  In or about August 2023, Jane Doe 1 was interviewed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding the incident.  In addition to describing the physical assault she previously reported, Jane Doe 1 described being sexually assaulted by Baker including him using objects causing excruciating pain.  Jane Doe 1 believed Baker was going to kill her. Jane Doe 1 indicated Baker had strangled her and she had lost consciousness during the course of the assault. 

    Through the course of the investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigations identified several other women physically and sexually assaulted by Baker, including Jane Doe 2.  Jane Doe 2 was interviewed in August 2023.  She described being held captive in Baker’s camper and being physically and sexually assaulted.  Jane Doe 2 described Baker “wailing” on her, strangling her, and sexually assaulting her with his penis.  Jane Doe 2 stated the assault caused her to lose consciousness and extreme pain. Jane Doe 2 stated Baker threatened she would be “six feet under” and Jane Doe 2 feared Baker would kill her. 

    “This sentence is a fitting one considering the brutality and depravity of the defendant’s crimes against his domestic partners and women in the community,” Schneider said. “Domestic violence and sexual abuse are serious crimes, and as this case shows we will not hesitate to bring abusers to federal court to face justice where our office has jurisdiction. I give credit to our career prosecutors and partners in the FBI for obtaining this result and removing this individual from the community.”  

    “The horrendous sexual abuse committed by Justin Lee Baker is cruel and reprehensible,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “This sentencing sends a clear message: the FBI will relentlessly pursue those who prey on others, especially the innocent and defenseless, and ensure they are held accountable.”

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Member of Violent Gang Pleads Guilty to Racketeering and Firearm and Drug Trafficking Offenses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A Boston-area man pleaded guilty today to his role in Cameron Street, a violent Boston gang.

    Jonathan Darosa, a/k/a “Jeezy,” 31, of Boston, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise (more commonly referred to as RICO or racketeering conspiracy); one count of being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition; one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and oxycodone; and one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for May 1, 2025.

    Over the course of a two-year investigation, Darosa was identified as a member of Cameron Street. On two separate occasions, Darosa distributed cocaine and oxycodone to a cooperating witness. Additionally, in an interaction with law enforcement, Darosa threatened officers, telling them “If I had a gun on me, I would have shot at you,” “I am not going back to jail,” and “I keep it on my hip.” In April 2021 in Dorchester, local law enforcement observed Darosa wearing a “waist bag” across his chest – law enforcement had recovered firearms from similar bags in the past. During a search of Darosa’s person, a Taurus 9 millimeter semi-automatic pistol containing 12 rounds of assorted 9 millimeter ammunition, including one round in the chamber, was recovered.

    According to court documents, Cameron Street is a violent gang based largely in the Dorchester section of Boston that used violence and threats of violence to preserve, protect and expand its territory, promote a climate of fear and enhance its reputation.

    Darosa has been convicted on three prior occasions of unlawful possession of a firearm, including a 2016 conviction in Suffolk Superior Court for which he served a three-year prison sentence.

    The charge of RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to interfere with commerce by force or violence each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of distribution of cocaine and oxycodone provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release up to life and a fine of $1 million. The charge of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute cocaine provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release up to life and a fine of $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Feld Division; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; Suffolk, Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Canton, Quincy, Randolph, Somerville, Brockton, Malden, Stoughton, Rehoboth and Pawtucket (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Charles Dell’Anno of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.

    This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    The remaining defendants named in the indictment are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Lower Burrell Man Sentenced for Fraudulent Use of Neighbor’s Credit Cards

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to three years of probation on his conviction of use of unauthorized access devices, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    Senior United States District Judge David Stewart Cercone imposed the sentence on Jonathan Fry, 44, on January 23, 2025.

    According to information presented to the Court, in April 2019, Fry obtained and used an elderly neighbor’s credit cards and personal identification information, including the neighbor’s date of birth and social security number, in order to make fraudulent and unauthorized transactions. This included obtaining a vehicle loan and insurance, opening accounts, and applying for other credit cards in the victim’s name, ultimately causing losses of more than $40,000.

    Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

    Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the United States Postal Inspection Service for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Fry.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Repeat Offender from South Portland Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PORTLAND, Maine: A South Portland man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Portland today to possessing child sexual abuse material.

    According to court records, in April 2023, agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a federal search warrant at the South Portland residence of Sheldon Rembert, 32, locating Rembert in the bedroom. An agent recovered a smartphone from the bedroom, and during an interview, Rembert admitted that child sexual abuse material would be found on the phone and that he had downloaded the images and videos. Forensic examination of the device found images and videos of children as young as eight years old being sexually abused. In 2020, Rembert was convicted in Cumberland County Superior Court of possessing explicit material of a minor.

    Rembert faces 10-20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, followed by five years to life of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    HSI investigated the case.

    To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child sexual abuse material: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as “child pornography” – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.

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

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three Foreign Nationals Charged With Immigration Offenses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office stated that Saul Mazariegos-Estrada, 29, of El Tejar, Guatemala, has been charged by criminal complaint with the illegal transportation of aliens, and that Byron Sicajau Socoy, 40, of El Tejar, Guatemala, and Christian Rafael Hernandez Villa, 34, of Jalisco, Mexico, have been charged by criminal complaint with being aliens who eluded examination or inspection by immigration officers. The term “alien” is defined by statute to mean a person who is not a citizen or national of the United States.

    On January 27, 2025, all three defendants appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. Judge Doyle ordered that Mazariegos-Estrada be detained pending a detention hearing. At their initial appearances, Sicajau Socoy and Hernandez Villa pleaded guilty to the allegations in their respective criminal complaints and received time-served sentences. Sicajau Socoy and Hernandez Villa had faced up to 6 months’ imprisonment.

    According to court records, on January 25, 2025, at approximately 9:15 a.m., U.S. Border Patrol agents received a report from a concerned citizen who had observed multiple subjects crossing a remote dirt road approximately one mile south of the United States-Canada border in the area of Newport, Vermont.

    Border Patrol agents responded to the area and discovered footprints in the snow where the concerned citizen had reported the crossing. Shortly thereafter, Border Patrol agents conducting surveillance in the area observed a vehicle travelling at a high rate of speed on a remote driveway. Border Patrol agents began following the vehicle, which had Virginia license plates. Agents observed multiple individuals in the back seat and noted that the windows of the vehicle were foggy, which to the agents indicated that the passengers had been exhausting energy, features which the agents had observed in multiple other human smuggling events.

    Border Patrol agents stopped the vehicle and encountered, in the front seat, Mazariegos-Estrada, who stated that he was a Guatemalan citizen and that he did not possess immigration documents to enter or remain in the United States. In the rear, agents encountered Sicajau Socoy and Hernandez Villa, who both admitted to illegally entering the United States and that neither had immigration documents allowing them to enter or remain in the United States. All three were taken into custody and transported to the Border Patrol Station.

    The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that a criminal complaint contains allegations only and that Mazariegos-Estrada is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Mazariegos-Estrada faces up to five years’ imprisonment if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.

    Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the United States Border Patrol.

    The prosecutors are Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan A. Ophardt and Andrew C. Gilman. Mazariegos-Estrada is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Emily Kenyon. Sicajau Socoy was represented by Jason J. Sawyer, Esq., and Hernandez Villa was represented by Kevin M. Henry, Esq.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Economy Analysis – KOF-NZZ survey: where do Swiss economists stand on key economic policy issues?

    Source: KOF Economic Institute

    KOF has collaborated with the Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) newspaper to survey economists on fundamental and current economic questions. The results show that they reject state intervention such as rent controls and trade tariffs. On the other hand, opinions are divided along political lines when it comes to questions about easing Switzerland’s debt brake or subsidising environmentally friendly technologies.

    The December 2024 survey consisted of 19 statements from various economic subject areas. Academic research economists based in Switzerland were questioned. 

    A total of 177 responses were received, which represents a response rate of 21 per cent.
    The respondents* were also asked about three characteristics: their age, gender and political affiliation. As far as political affiliation is concerned, the proportion of respondents defining themselves as being (more) to the left (36 per cent) is higher than the proportion defining themselves as (more) to the right (20 per cent). 

    A large proportion (44 per cent) place themselves politically in the centre. However, it should be noted that 18 per cent of respondents did not answer the question about their political affiliation. A comparison of these characteristics shows that women and young people (tend to) position themselves on the left politically. 
    This is consistent with surveys (in German, French or Italian) conducted by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) among the Swiss population as a whole. The KOF-NZZ survey shows that political affiliation has a significant influence on the responses to 13 out of the 19 questions in the survey.

    Competition and regulation: mostly sceptical about intervention

    Four questions about market intervention show that the economists surveyed tend to favour only little regulation. A majority (71 per cent) are of the opinion that rent controls (tend to) reduce the quantity and quality of housing supply. Respondents who tend to define themselves politically as right-wing overwhelmingly agree with this statement (93 per cent). 

    Among left-leaning economists, around half (51 per cent) agree (25 per cent of them are undecided, i.e. neither agree nor disagree). There is unanimity on the question of whether tariffs and import quotas reduce a country’s material prosperity. A total of 81 per cent of economists (tend to) agree with this statement. This figure rises to 93 per cent among those with a right-wing political affiliation and is 70 per cent among those on the left.

    The view that wage controls and/or price controls should (preferably) not be used as a means of combatting inflation is very widely held among the survey respondents, with 83 per cent agreeing with this opinion (93 per cent of right-wing respondents, 81 per cent of left-wing respondents and 86 per cent of those in the centre).

    By contrast, the responses to the question of whether a binding minimum wage increases unemployment among young people and unskilled workers are less clear-cut: overall, 44 per cent (tend to) agree with this statement while 38 per cent (tend to) disagree. 

    A high proportion (18 per cent) neither agree nor disagree with the statement. The political affiliations are divided in their assessment of this question. While the majority of (more) right-wing respondents (72 per cent) agree with the statement that unemployment will (tend to) increase, the corresponding figure is 50 per cent for respondents from the centre. In contrast, the majority of (more) left-wing respondents (tend to) reject this statement (60 per cent).

    Regulation of large Swiss banks: too-big-to-fail amendment controversial

    Since Credit Suisse was acquired by UBS, the regulation of big banks has once again become the focus of public debate. Economists do not agree on whether it would be possible in principle to amend too-big-to-fail regulation, so that a major Swiss bank could be wound up without any risk to taxpayers in the event of a crisis. 47 per cent (tend to) agree with this statement, 14 per cent neither agree nor disagree, and 39 per cent (tend to) disagree. The influence of political affiliation on response behaviour is not very pronounced here.

    Public debt: considered too high in many advanced economies

    The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a sharp increase in government debt in many countries. This has triggered a broad debate about the extent to which public debt is too high in several countries. Overall, around two-thirds of survey respondents (tend to) consider it to be too high in many advanced economies. The majority of economists who define themselves as politically (more) to the right or in the centre agree with this statement (86 per cent and 75 per cent respectively). The situation is different in the case of respondents who define themselves politically as (more) to the left: 44 per cent of them agree with this statement, 30 per cent neither agree nor disagree, and 26 per cent disagree.

    In Switzerland, the government spending ratio – i.e. public spending as a share of gross domestic product – is not considered to be too high. More than two-thirds of survey respondents reject the statement that the government spending ratio is too high. This view is fairly widespread across the political spectrum, although not equally pronounced in all cases. 48 per cent of respondents who define themselves as (more) right-wing reject this statement, 11 per cent are undecided and 41 per cent agree. The majority of other political affiliations reject this statement (59 per cent of respondents who define themselves as centrists and 90 per cent of those on the left).

    The economists agree less about Switzerland’s debt brake. Overall, 37 per cent agree with the statement that the debt brake should be relaxed, 17 per cent are undecided and 46 per cent disagree. Of the (more) right-wing economists, 71 per cent disagree with the statement. Of those respondents who define themselves politically as centrists, 45 per cent disagree and 33 per cent agree. And, of the economists who see themselves as (more) left-wing, 47 per cent agree and 34 per cent disagree.

    Inequality: wealth distribution too unequal according to around half of respondents

    The economists were also asked about their views on inequality in Switzerland. A distinction was made here between disposable income and wealth. 41 per cent of respondents stated that disposable incomes should (probably) be distributed more equally. On the other hand, 36 per cent (tend to) reject this statement. However, the answers differed considerably depending on the respondents’ political preferences. 71 per cent of those with (more) left-wing leanings agree with the statement that incomes should be distributed more equally, while the same proportion of those with (more) right-wing leanings reject this statement. There is a mixed picture among economists who see themselves politically as centrists, with 30 per cent agreeing and 41 per cent disagreeing with the statement.

    56 per cent consider the distribution of wealth to be (probably) too unequal. 29 per cent (tend to) reject this statement. This means that wealth inequality in Switzerland is viewed more critically than income inequality. However, the influence of political affiliation can be felt here in a similar way to the issue of income inequality. 75 per cent of right-wing respondents disagree with the statement that wealth should be distributed more equally, whereas 88 per cent of left-wing respondents agree with it. 53 per cent of those in the centre agree with the statement.

    Causes of inflation: monetary explanation widespread

    As far as the causes of inflation are concerned, a distinction can be made between monetarist and non-monetarist (e.g. Keynesian, supply-side or structural) explanations. Monetarists believe that inflation is a monetary phenomenon. This means that inflation – particularly beyond the short term – is a consequence of an expansion of the money supply that is greater than the increase in the real production of goods and services. Keynesian inflation theory, on the other hand, focuses on the Phillips curve, which shows that unemployment and the inflation rate are negatively correlated in the short term.

    Both theories tend to meet with approval in the survey. However, approval of the monetarist approach is slightly higher: 58 per cent agree with the statement that inflation is (more likely to be) a monetary phenomenon. In contrast, just under half of respondents (51 per cent) are convinced that unemployment can be reduced in the short term by a higher inflation rate. Views on monetarism differ according to the respondents’ political affiliations: 76 per cent of the (more) right-wing respondents (tend to) agree with monetarism theory, while 68 per cent of economists in the centre of the political spectrum (tend to) agree. Of those respondents on the (more) left wing of the spectrum, 34 per cent (tend to) agree and 47 per cent (tend to) disagree. In contrast, the approval rates for the short-term Phillips curve do not differ greatly across the political spectrum (left: 50 per cent, centre: 61 per cent, right: 45 per cent).

    Environmental policy: disagreement over industrial subsidies

    The economists surveyed also commented on key environmental policy issues. There is disagreement on the question of whether the transition to green technologies in Switzerland should be subsidised by industry. While a total of 45 per cent of the economists surveyed were (mainly) in favour of this, 41 per cent were (mainly) against this approach. A further 14 per cent were undecided. The respondents’ political affiliations play a significant role in this question.

    Industrial subsidies are rejected by 71 per cent of respondents who define themselves as (more) politically right-wing, as do 46 per cent of those in the political centre. In contrast, 65 per cent of respondents on the (more) left wing of the spectrum are in favour of such subsidies.

    On the other hand, the general attitude towards combatting pollution through emissions taxes rather than through the statutory imposition of limits is clearer. A clear majority of 78 per cent overall (tend to) prefer the introduction of emissions taxes over the imposition of limits. This preference applies across the political spectrum.

    There is also a consensus when it comes to assessing the potential of new technologies. A total of 72 per cent of respondents (tend to) believe that carbon-neutral economic growth will be possible as a result of technological innovation. Only 12 per cent are (mainly) sceptical, while 16 per cent are undecided.

    The role of central banks in climate policy is another topic that is repeatedly the subject of intense debate. In April 2024, for example, the National Council discussed climate rules for the Swiss National Bank (SNB). 62 per cent of the economists responding to the KOF-NZZ survey generally (tend to) reject the inclusion of climate targets in central banks’ mandates. By contrast, 28 per cent would (tend to) be in favour of such an extension of these mandates. However, the responses given differ significantly depending on political affiliation. 86 per cent of (more) right-wing respondents and 70 per cent of those located in the political centre (tend to) reject the inclusion of climate targets by central banks. Respondents on the (more) left wing of the spectrum are less clear in their preferences: a narrow majority of 53 per cent are in favour, 15 per cent are neither in favour nor against, and 32 per cent are opposed. It is also clear that female economists are more in favour of including climate targets than male economists.

    Political views most influential in assessing distribution issues

    The respondents’ political views play a role in their responses to the majority of questions. This influence is particularly strong in the case of questions on the distribution of both wealth and income. However, the responses to some of the questions on climate policy also differ according to political affiliation – for example, the role of central banks in climate policy or the use of industrial subsidies. The respondents’ political affiliations are also of great importance when assessing the impact of minimum wages and the public spending ratio in Switzerland.

    On the other hand, views across the political spectrum are similar when it comes to the potential of new technologies for carbon-neutral growth, assessing the introduction of emissions taxes, capital rules for banks, and too-big-to-fail regulation. Assessments of the Phillips curve also hardly differ across the political spectrum.

    ————————
    *Demographics of survey respondents:
    Of those surveyed, 14 per cent are younger than 35, 38 per cent are between 36 and 45, 22 per cent are between 46 and 55, and 26 per cent are older than 56. 84 per cent of respondents are male and 16 per cent are female. Broken down by age category, the proportion of women is highest (20 per cent) in the 36 to 45 age group. The lowest proportion of women (11 per cent) is in the over 56 age group.

    The KOF-NZZ survey of economists covers topics relevant to economic policy in Switzerland and provides a means of publicising the views of economists conducting academic research. The Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) newspaper is KOF’s media partner in the preparation and interpretation of this survey. KOF and the NZZ jointly conducted a survey of major fundamental and topical economic issues in December 2024. Some of the questions are updated formulations of an international survey conducted by Bruno S. Frey, Werner W. Pommerehne, Friedrich Schneider and Guy Gilbert in 1980 (link to the paper). The survey was conducted between 2 December and 20 December 2024. 854 economists were contacted. Responses were received from 177 economists at 19 institutions. (ref. https://news.ethz.ch/d?p00ce04y00o6iq00d0000l3i0000000003muuielzwweyd2e3r5ll4si000bik000000o2qwjku )

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Business – Consultants And Interim Managers Launch BRICS Network

    Source: German Technology & Engineering Corporation (GTEC)

    Karlheinz Zuerl, Interim Manager of the Year 2024*, has set up an international business network to bridge the gap between Western industrialized nations and the BRICS countries.

    Berlin, January 28 2025 – A new international network of consultants and interim managers has been launched under the name “BRICS Project Network” to support Western companies in expanding their business in BRICS countries and vice versa. “The BRICS nations account for nearly half of the global population and produce over a third of the world’s economic output, surpassing the G7 countries,” explained Karlheinz Zuerl, CEO of the German Technology & Engineering Corporation (GTEC) based in Shanghai, China, which spearheads this initiative.

    Karlheinz Zuerl said: “The further development of economic relations between the Western industrialized nations and the BRICS community helps all parties involved. The new network reportedly includes China, Hong Kong, India and Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand), the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Brazil and South America, Mexico, Canada (USMCA customs union), Russia, Eastern Europe and a number of African countries in the global south, such as South Africa, Ethiopia and Egypt.

    Wide Range Of Services

    Acting as a “bridge-builder” between these countries and the Western industrialized world, the new network offers a wide range of services: Management Consulting, Business Development, Project Management, Interim Management, Training and Education. Karlheinz Zuerl gave specific examples: “We carry out market analyses, set up international sales networks, initiate business partnerships and takeovers, represent companies at trade fairs and other events, take care of organizational development, look after human resources, set up branches on behalf of companies, carry out relocations and company transfers, optimize finances and local production and carry out restructuring to improve earnings.”

    According to the information provided, the consultants and managers in the network have many years of experience in a wide range of sectors. Examples given include: Manufacturing, automotive, mechanical and plant engineering, construction, electrical and electronics, domestic appliances, environmental technology, information technology, pharmaceuticals and communications technology. If required, interim managers can take on operational roles such as general management, commercial management, project or quality management, research and development, human resources and finance, sales and marketing or change management.

    Trade Disputes And Sanctions Weigh On Relations

    Trade disputes between the US and China and sanctions against Russia are putting a strain on economic relations. The economic relationship between the Western industrialized nations and the BRICS countries is under severe strain. These tensions have led the BRICS to seek alternatives to reduce their dependence on Western financial systems, for example by discussing a common currency or reducing the use of the US dollar in trade.

    “We are not politicians,” said Karlheinz Zuerl, “but business consultants and interim managers who build cross-border business relationships and investments that benefit all parties. Given the geopolitical tensions, the enormous economic potential for both parties is often underestimated. With experienced professionals like those in our network, this potential can be realized.”

    He points out that a number of BRICS countries play an important role in technological development, as attractive manufacturing locations and as suppliers of raw materials and energy to the Western industrial world. Without China, India, Russia and Brazil, the Western economy would be much poorer,” said Karlheinz Zuerl, underlining the importance of the BRICS countries today.

    * Karlheinz Zuerl was honoured by United Interim, the leading community for interim managers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and Steinbeis Augsburg Business School.

    GTEC (https://gtec.asia) helps Western industrial companies to overcome challenges in Asia. The focus is on business development, the establishment and expansion of branches and production facilities, as well as restructuring and turnaround measures to bring automotive suppliers and mechanical engineering companies in critical phases back into the profit zone. Under the direction of CEO Karlheinz Zuerl, a team of consultants, experts and interim managers is on hand to work on-site with the client if necessary. The CEO himself is available for tasks as an interim general manager and for executive consulting. GTEC’s list of references includes corporations such as BMW, Bosch, General Motors and Siemens, large medium-sized companies such as Hella, Schaeffler, Valeo and ZF, as well as smaller medium-sized companies that are less well known but are operating all the more.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Tech – DeepSeek overtakes ChatGPT with 50x Google Trends surge in a week – Finbold

    Source: Finbold

    The release of the latest version of the Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) model DeepSeek swiftly created a media and stock market storm as it, given the official costs of development, threw into disarray the massive investments made in Western AI companies.

    Finbold research uncovered that in a single week ending on Monday, January 27, Google Trends global score for DeepSeek soared fiftyfold, hitting 100 – the highest figure possible for a selected region and time frame.

    Though the score was the highest in China by far, the new model also soared above ChatGPT in the U.S.

    Hong Kong, likewise, saw exceptional interest and took second place, while the countries where DeepSeek was also highly searched for, in descending order, include Singapore, Tunisia, Morocco, Nepal, Algeria, Ethiopia, Jordan, and Kenya.

    Specifically, the AI model’s Google Trends score stood at 100 in China, 22 in Hong Kong, 16 in Singapore, and 6 in the U.S.

    DeepSeek’s popularity also emerges outside Google Trends

    The surge in interest was also evident on the Play Store, where the DeepSeek app took the top spot, leading to sufficient volume – and possibly a cyberattack – to ensure access is restricted to users with a Chinese phone number.

    Additionally, the emergence of a new major player in the AI industry triggered a stock market bloodbath, with the semiconductor giant Nvidia (NVDA) being hit particularly hard and losing approximately $600 billion in market capitalization – the single biggest one-company valuation drop in a single day.

    Still, as Andreja Stojanovic, a co-author of the research, pointed out, there were some immediate benefits:

    “The introduction of new and powerful competition has had an immediate positive effect on consumers, as OpenAI’s Sam Altman promised additional features to ChatGPT’s paying users.”

    Elsewhere, the tumult triggered some calls for a ban or restrictions on Chinese technology, akin to the tariffs and other protectionist measures imposed on Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers.

    For more: https://finbold.com/deepseek-overtakes-chatgpt-with-50x-google-trends-surge-in-a-week/  

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Russia-Ukraine Conflict – 3-year mark of war in Ukraine: Here’s the Data

    Source: Physicians for Human Rights (PHR)

    Approaching the three-year mark since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) and its Ukrainian partners share new data, resources, and experts available for interview to support your team’s coverage of this upcoming milestone.  

    PHR and partners have systematically documented attacks on health in Ukraine through a database and interactive map (attacksonhealthukraine.org). 

    A staggering 1582 attacks on health care facilities, workers, and infrastructure have been perpetrated since February 2022. We are currently analyzing recent attacks and will again update the map ahead of the three-year mark – if you would like a preview of the upcoming data release please let us know.  

    Additionally: a first-of-its-kind report published last month by PHR and Truth Hounds details how Russia’s widespread and systematic attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid have harmed health care workers and endangered patients. 

    92% of 2,261 Ukrainian health care workers we surveyed report experiencing power outages at their health care facility due to attacks on energy infrastructure. The report documents how Russia’s assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure led to interrupted or delayed surgeries, forcing surgeons to operate in darkness illuminated only by flashlights; failures in life support systems; discontinued flow of water to hospitals; diagnostic and treatment equipment becoming unusable; patients experiencing panic attacks and cardiac arrhythmia due to lack of power; impeded maternal care service delivery; and other impacts on health care provision. 

    Previously, a case study by PHR and partners documented how Russian authorities have systematically sought to target Ukraine’s health care system to cement their control over the civilian population in Ukrainian territories under occupation.  

    PHR and our medical and human rights partners across Ukraine have conducted a wide range of research and advocacy since the full-scale invasion began, from attacks on health care to supporting survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in Ukraine. PHR experts routinely brief policymakers across Ukraine, US, Europe, and the UN system on human rights in the country. 

    PHR experts are available as sources for your reporting on Ukraine and the upcoming three-year mark. This includes Uliana Poltavets, who leads PHR’s Ukraine work from Kyiv and has co-authored all publications noted above. Poltavets can share insights about efforts to hold Putin and Russian military officials accountable for war crimes; the impacts of attacks on the energy grid and hospitals; and the need for sustained international support for Ukraine.  

    In addition to Poltavets, PHR has a wide network of Ukrainian and international clinicians, researchers, and advocates with whom we can also connect you to support your reporting. This includes Roman Koval, head of research at the Ukrainian organization Truth Hounds, and PHR health and human rights researcher Dr. Houssam al-Nahhas, a Syrian physician who researches attacks on health care (and who himself survived attacks on health care by the Assad government).

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

    January 29, 2025
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