Category: AM-NC

MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Bridge Strike Guidance
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

A few years ago, after a high number of bridge strikes across the country, the Senior Traffic Commissioner, Richard Turfitt, wrote a letter to all operators across the country.
Whilst the number of incidents has declined, many new operators have joined the industry and bridge strikes still remain a serious issue. The advice forms an integral part of the messaging sent to all operators joining the industry. The STC has now chosen to make it available to all current operators and drivers, through the Traffic Commissioners website.

Bridge strikes are avoidable, and their cost is huge, both in monetary and safety terms.

Commercial vehicle operators and drivers have a duty to take all practical steps to ensure that vehicles avoid colliding with infrastructure. This starts at the very basics with adequate training on risk assessment.

The Senior Commissioner suggests some control measures which operators and drivers can take, including the information which should be given to those planning or altering a route. Network Rail also publishes useful good practice guides.

Operators and drivers who fail to take appropriate measures can find themselves subject to significant regulatory action.

The letter can be found here: https://draft-origin.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/publications/letter-to-operators-of-large-vehicle-regarding-bridge-strikes

For any further details or enquiries, please contact:

pressoffice@otc.gov.uk

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Published 25 October 2024
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: IMF’s Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Economic Outlook: Reform Amid Great Expectations
Source: IMF – News in Russian

October 25, 2024
- Growth in sub-Saharan Africa is projected at 3.6% in 2024, unchanged from 2023, with a modest increase to 4.2% in 2025 — insufficient to significantly reduce poverty or address development challenges.
- Macroeconomic vulnerabilities persist and inflation remains high in many countries, while elevated public debt and rising debt service costs are crowding-out resources for development spending.
- Policymakers face a tough balancing act in reducing vulnerabilities while addressing development needs and ensuring socially acceptable reforms amid tight financing constraints.
Washington, DC: Sub-Saharan Africa’s economic growth is projected to remain subdued at 3.6 percent in 2024, unchanged from 2023, with a modest pickup to 4.2 percent expected in 2025, according to the latest IMF Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa published today. The report notes that countries in the region are still grappling with macroeconomic imbalances, tight financing conditions, amid rising social pressures, leaving policymakers facing difficult choices in implementing reforms.

“Sub-Saharan African countries are navigating a complex economic landscape marked by both progress and persistent vulnerabilities,” said Abebe Aemro Selassie, Director of the IMF’s African Department. “While many of the region’s countries are among the world’s fastest-growing economies, resource-intensive countries —particularly oil exporters— continue to struggle with lower growth rates. Inflation is declining but remains in double digits in nearly one-third of countries. Public debt has stabilized at a high level, with rising debt service burdens crowding out resources for development spending.”

“While we are seeing some improvement in macroeconomic imbalances, growth remains insufficient to significantly reduce poverty or address substantial developmental challenges in the region.”

The report includes focused notes addressing critical issues facing the region: the urgent need for job creation, the economic divergence between resource-rich and non-resource-rich countries, and the positive effects of striving for greater gender equality.

Against this backdrop, Mr. Selassie pointed to priorities for policymakers in the region:

“The policy mix should be consistent with the size of macroeconomic imbalances, while taking into account the political economy constraints that will affect the pace of reforms.

“Countries with high macroeconomic imbalances are more likely to resort to relatively large and frontloaded fiscal reforms, given the tight financing constraints. The need for financial support from the international community is most acute for this group.

“For countries with lower imbalances, policymakers should consider easing monetary policy toward a more neutral stance, while rebuilding fiscal and external buffers over time.”

“Policymakers need to focus on designing reforms that are socially acceptable, including effective communication and consultation strategies and measures to protect the most vulnerable.

“With continued efforts, sub-Saharan Africa can address its current challenges and move towards more sustainable and inclusive growth,” Mr. Selassie concluded. “However, the path ahead requires careful policy calibration and a strong commitment to implementing necessary reforms while managing social pressures.”

IMF Communications Department

MEDIA RELATIONS

PRESS OFFICER: Kwabena Akuamoah-Boateng

Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

@IMFSpokesperson

https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2024/10/25/pr-24395-ssa-imf-ssa-reo-reform-amid-great-expectations

MIL OSI
MIL OSI Russia News –
January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Statement by Minister Joly on violence in Haiti

Source: Government of Canada News

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement regarding the ongoing violence in Haiti

October 25, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement regarding the ongoing violence in Haiti:

“Canada strongly condemns the horrifying violence that continues to be perpetrated by gangs in Haiti, resulting in immense suffering. Unchecked violence and corruption have created deep insecurity, harming civilians and leaving children at risk of starvation.

“This politically-motivated violence is clearly aimed at undermining the transition process, which is critical to restoring security and democratic institutions. This must not be tolerated. It is essential that all stakeholders continue to abide by the agreed transition process.

“The future of Haiti relies on a stable, democratically elected government, the restoration of security, and improved socio-economic conditions. None of these are possible while gangs hold Haitians hostage.

“Canada reiterates its support to the transition process and remains committed to a coordinated response, with a focus on Haitian-led solutions, together with international partners. It is imperative that the international community support the Haitian National Police and the Multilateral Security Support Mission as they work to prevent further atrocities. We must stand in solidarity with the Haitian people. Only through our collective efforts can Haiti achieve lasting peace and stability.”

MIL OSI Canada News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: S. 5092, Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act

Source: US Congressional Budget Office

S. 5092 would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to report to and brief the Congress on threats to the northern border of the United States, including apprehensions of aliens (non-U.S. nationals), staffing challenges, and improvements needed at and between ports of entry. Under the bill, DHS would have to update its analysis every three years. S. 5092 also would require DHS to update its northern border strategy and develop measures to evaluate the effectiveness of Customs and Border Protection’s efforts to secure the northern border in air and marine environments.

Based on the costs of similar activities, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost less than $500,000 over the 2025-2029 period. Any related spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Lynn Man Charged with Multiple Drug Offenses After Selling Drugs to an Undercover Officer

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

Defendant was on probation for armed robbery when he sold fentanyl and methamphetamine to an undercover officer

BOSTON – A Lynn man was arraigned Oct. 22, 2024 in connection to an ongoing investigation of fentanyl counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine.

Ricardo Bratini-Perez, a/k/a “Rico,” a/k/a “Ricofromthesin,” 29, was arraigned on four counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, fentanyl analog, and methamphetamine, and one count possession with intent to distribute 400 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Bratini-Perez on Oct. 3, 2024.

According to court records, Bratini-Perez was on probation following his release from state custody on armed robbery and firearm charges. While on probation, Bratini-Perez sold fentanyl and methamphetamine to an undercover officer on three occasions in March 2024 and April 2024. On April 8, 2024, Bratini-Perez was arrested following a fourth sale to the undercover officer. Following his arrest, investigators executed a search warrant at Bratini-Perez’s residence and recovered over 5,000 grams of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl.

The charge of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, five years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $10,000,000. 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.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Lynn Police Chief Christopher P. Reddy made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime and Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

MIL Security OSI –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Ocala Man Arrested For Attempting To Transfer Obscene Material To A Minor

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Nicholas Robert Davis (30, Ocala) with attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. If convicted, Davis faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.

According to court documents, during an undercover operation on July 24, 2024, a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agent posed online as a 13-year-old girl (UC) and received a message on an online social media platform from Davis. After learning the UC’s age, Davis and an undercover detective from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, also posing as the minor, had a video call. Davis exposed his genitalia to the detective during the call and, afterward, engaged in a sexually explicit conversation with the UC. He also sent the UC a video of himself masturbating.

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

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

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

MIL Security OSI –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Russia’s Brics summit shows determination for a new world order – but internal rifts will buy the west some time

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stefan Wolff, Professor of International Security, University of Birmingham

The recent Brics summit in the Russian city of Kazan was less notable for what happened at the meeting than for what happened before, on the margins, or not at all. Among the notable things that did not happen was another expansion of the organisation.

Since the addition of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the 2023 Brics summit in Johannesburg, which almost doubled the number of member countries from the original five (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), further enlargement has stalled.

Argentina, which was also invited in 2023, declined to join. Saudi Arabia, another 2023 invitee, has not acted on the offer to become a member either. Its de-facto ruler, crown prince Mohammad bin Salman, was among the notable absentees in Kazan.

And Kazakhstan, Russia’s largest neighbour in Central Asia, decided not to join shortly before the summit. This drew Russia’s ire, resulting in a prompt ban on imports of a range of agricultural products from Kazakhstan in retaliation.

While invitees have declined the opportunity to join Brics, a long list of applicants have not been offered membership. According to a statement by Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, at a meeting of senior Brics security officials in September, 34 countries have expressed an interest in closer relations with Brics in some form.

This appears to be a substantial increase in interest in Brics membership compared to a year ago, when South Africa’s foreign minister, Naledi Pandor, listed 23 applicants ahead of the 2023 summit.

But the fact that, since then, only six invitations have been extended – and four accepted – indicates that formal enlargement of the organisation, at least for now, has been stymied by the inability of current members to forge consensus over the next round of expansion and the reluctance on the part of some invitees to be associated with the organisation.

Meetings on the margins

The summit declaration may offer little of substance. But there were a number of bilateral meetings before and in the margins of the gathering that are more indicative of the direction of Brics. Perhaps most importantly, India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, and China’s president, Xi Jinping, held their first face-to-face discussion in five years.

This is a remarkable change from just a few months ago, when tensions between New Delhi and Beijing were intense enough for Modi to cancel his participation in the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Astana, Kazakhstan. Yet, with a deal now reached over their countries’ longstanding border dispute, the two most populous and, in terms of GDP, economically most powerful members of Brics have an opportunity to rebuild their fraught relations.

A warming of relations between China and India could generate more momentum for Brics to deliver on its ambitious agenda to develop, and ultimately implement, a vision for a new global order. Implicit in this would be a shift of leadership in Brics from China and Russia to China and India, and with it, potentially a change from an anti-western to a non-western agenda.

This is, of course, something that exercises Putin. He acknowledged as much when he referred to the global south and global east in his remarks at the summit’s opening meeting. He also emphasised that it was important “to maintain balance and ensure that the effectiveness of Brics mechanisms is not diminished”.

In his own bilateral meetings before and during the summit, Putin drove home the point that, despite western efforts, Russia was far from isolated on the world stage. One-to-one meetings with Xi, Modi, South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, and the president of the UAE, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, gave Putin the chance to push his own vision of Brics as a counterpoint to the US-led west.

This may be a view shared in the global east – Russia, China and Iran, as well as non-Brics members North Korea, Cuba and Venezuela. But many in the global south – particularly India and Brazil – are unlikely to go all in with this agenda. They will focus on benefiting from their Brics membership as much as possible while maintaining close ties with the west.

Lacking a coherent agenda

India is the most significant player in Brics when it comes to balancing between east and west. Nato member Turkey is the equivalent on the outside. The country’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, travelled to Kazan and did not shy away from an hour-long meeting with his “dear friend” Putin.

The relationship between Moscow and Ankara is fractious and complex across a wide range of crises from the South Caucasus, to Syria, Libya and Sudan. Yet, on perhaps the most divisive issue of all, Russian aggression towards Ukraine, Turkey has consistently maintained opened channels of communication with Russia and remains the only Nato power able to do so.

Read more:
Turkey attempts to broker power between east and west as it bids to join Brics

The fact that there has been relatively little public pressure from official sources in the west on Erdoğan to stop is probably a reflection that such communication channels are still valued in the west. This, and Nato’s continued cooperation with India, point to a hedging strategy by the west. India cooperates with the US, Australia and Japan – the so-called Quad group of nations – on security in the Indo-Pacific, and it has maintained political dialogue with Nato since 2019.

Turkey and India may not see eye-to-eye with the west on all issues. But neither do they with the global east camp inside Brics, and especially not with Russia. If nothing else, this limits the ability of Brics to forge a coherent agenda, deepen integration and ultimately mount a credible challenge to the existing order.

Relying on India and Turkey to do the west’s bidding in undermining Brics, however, is not a credible long-term strategy. Brics may have achieved little as an organisation, but the Kazan summit declaration indicates that its key players continue to harbour aspirations for more.

However, as the flailing expansion drive of the organisation indicates, there is also an internal battle in Brics over its future direction. This, in turn, creates space and time for the west to exercise more positive and constructive influence in the ongoing process of reshaping the international order.

The global east may be beyond redemption, but there is still a massive opportunity to reengage with the global south.

Stefan Wolff is a past recipient of grant funding from the Natural Environment Research Council of the UK, the United States Institute of Peace, the Economic and Social Research Council of the UK, the British Academy, the NATO Science for Peace Programme, the EU Framework Programmes 6 and 7 and Horizon 2020, as well as the EU’s Jean Monnet Programme. He is a Trustee and Honorary Treasurer of the Political Studies Association of the UK and a Senior Research Fellow at the Foreign Policy Centre in London.

– ref. Russia’s Brics summit shows determination for a new world order – but internal rifts will buy the west some time – https://theconversation.com/russias-brics-summit-shows-determination-for-a-new-world-order-but-internal-rifts-will-buy-the-west-some-time-241610

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Why Donald Trump’s accusations of election interference are a lose-lose situation for Keir Starmer

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Christopher Featherstone, Associate Lecturer, Department of Politics, University of York

With less than two weeks to go until the US presidential election, another surprise twist has emerged. Donald Trump has accused the “far-left” Labour party in the UK of election interference by sending volunteers to help the Kamala Harris campaign. This news must have come as a surprise to prime minister Keir Starmer.

The core of the accusations made by Trump and his team is that Labour was offering financial support to volunteers and helping them arrange accommodation for their trips to the US – and that this amounted to “illegal foreign national contributions” to the Harris campaign.

And at the centre of those accusations appears to be a now-deleted LinkedIn post from a Labour official saying she had “10 spots available” to campaign in North Carolina. Labour insists this did not mean any financial support was being offered. Labour figures have suggested the campaigning was being done by private citizens.

Trump’s lawyers filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) against both the Labour party and the Harris campaign on October 22 claiming otherwise. And the finance point is key, since – under the rules of the FEC – foreign volunteers can assist a campaign, but only if they are unpaid. 10 Downing Street insists the campaigners associated with Labour were not being paid.

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While there are important questions that need to be answered as to whether the Labour party did break US election rules, the questions about the implications of Trump’s accusations for US-UK relations are likely to be of even greater significance.

Regardless of whether Trump’s accusations are sustained by the FEC, they are likely to frame his perception of the Starmer government should he win the presidency in less than two weeks’ time. Labour has made improving relations with politicians on both sides of the aisle in Washington a priority. These efforts appear to have been undermined overnight with Trump’s accusations.

These accusations will likely be investigated after the election has been held. If Trump wins the presidency, he will have enormous influence over this investigation and the surrounding media coverage, which would be an unwelcome situation for Starmer to find himself in.

Starmer visits Joe Biden at the White House in September 2024.
Flickr/Number 10, CC BY-NC-ND

Potentially even more serious is the fact that if Trump loses, this could be the story that he focuses on to explain why he lost. It may seem trivial but triviality has not stopped Trump before. The suggestion that Labour helped Harris could prove just as useful to Trump as the unfounded claims of widespread “voter fraud” in 2020 that helped him seed an insurrection on January 6.

Whether the FEC finds that the role of Labour activists in the Harris campaign constitutes foreign interference or not, entanglement in this story is unlikely to help relations with either a Trump or a Harris White House.

UK invovlement in US elections

Foreign activists have long been involved in US election campaigning – and they do so on both sides.

The current UK foreign secretary, David Lammy, campaigned for Barack Obama in 2012. In 2017, the Australian Labor party was fined by the FEC for paying for their volunteer’s flights to the US to campaign for Bernie Sanders in Democratic primaries.

Read more:
What US election interference law actually says about Labour volunteers

Indeed, the Trump campaign has used foreign activists and campaigners in the past. Before he decided to run for the seat of Clacton-on-Sea in July 2024, Nigel Farage claimed that he was going to devote his time to campaigning for Trump. Farage has repeatedly been on stage with Trump at his rallies. Former UK prime minister Liz Truss also attended the Republican National Convention in 2024, supporting Trump and calling Joe Biden, then the Democratic Party’s nominee, “weak”.

What is rare, however, is FEC scrutiny on all this campaigning. While the involvement of foreign volunteers is legal and normal in the US, the rules are rarely debated or tested by a legal probe. These accusations may initiate renewed attention to the issue, and potentially a change in these rules in future elections.

Importantly, while the coverage of Trump’s accusations against Labour and the Harris campaign have received huge coverage in the UK, attention in the US is limited. Much of the US media coverage has focused on allegations from John Kelly against Trump. Kelly, Trump’s former chief of staff, has accused Trump of being a fascist and of having said that he wished he had generals like “Hitler’s generals”. Trump’s claims about the UK have therefore received far less attention in the US than might have been anticipated. This will have diminished the impact of Trump’s claims with US voters, good news for the future. But Starmer should still be concerned about the impact on diplomatic relations.

As with many of Donald Trump’s accusations and more controversial comments, there are a lot of moving parts. Trump showed how important his own personal attitudes were in US diplomacy during his previous administration. He is unlikely to forget about these accusations anytime soon, whether he wins or loses.

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

– ref. Why Donald Trump’s accusations of election interference are a lose-lose situation for Keir Starmer – https://theconversation.com/why-donald-trumps-accusations-of-election-interference-are-a-lose-lose-situation-for-keir-starmer-242063

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Why billionaire philanthropy might not be as generous as you think

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Tobias Jung, Professor of Management, University of St Andrews

Walmart heiress Alice Walton is one of the richest people in the world and a celebrated philanthropist, whose lifetime giving total recently hit an estimated US$1.5 billion (£1.2 billion). Her largest gift to date, US$390 million in the year to September 2023, included US$249 million for the Alice L Walton School of Medicine in her family’s hometown in Arkansas, US.

Walton’s other major philanthropic activities include founding the Alice L. Walton Foundation, to increase access to the arts, improve education, enhance health and advance economic opportunities. She also established the Art Bridges Foundation to expand access to American art across the nation. So it seems unsurprising that Forbes magazine ranks Walton as one of the 30 biggest lifetime givers in the US.

Her philanthropic efforts have also been recognised with accolades and awards: from being named one of the world’s most influential people by Time magazine, to receiving the Smithsonian Institution’s Archives of American Art Medal and the Getty Medal for contributions to the arts and humanities.

But before joining the celebrations, it is important to reflect on billionaire philanthropy for a moment.

From almost a decade of research at the Centre for the Study of Philanthropy & Public Good, it is clear that any billionaire philanthropy comes with questions about the societal costs underpinning it. In the case of huge businesses such as Walmart (a retail chain of hypermarkets, discounters and grocery shops), the sort of areas that come in for scrutiny are labour practices and the treatment of workers, the impact on communities and the environment, as well as tax practices and the cost to the taxpayer.

Such concerns are not new, of course. They are continuations of debates that go back to at least the beginning of the 20th century and the potential tensions between the business practices and philanthropic activities of major industrialists – from Andrew Carnegie, JP Morgan and John D. Rockefeller back then to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg or the Sackler family, founders of Purdue Pharma, nowadays.

There are also questions about the extent to which billionaire philanthropy is actually generous. While US$1.5 billion might sound impressive, it seems a bit like small change when examined more closely.

The size of the sacrifice

With an estimated net worth of US$91.3 billion, Walton has given away around 1.64% of her wealth. According to Forbes’ ranking of billionaires’ philanthropy, this puts her in the second lowest category of philanthropists: those who have given away between 1% and 4.99% of their wealth.

It makes her more generous than her older brother Rob Walton, who is classified as having given away less than 1% of his wealth, but her US$1.5 billion is dwarfed by the philanthropic efforts of some of her contemporaries, such as novelist and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott or investor Warren Buffett.

Scott, with an estimated net worth of US$35.3 billion, has already given away more than US$17 billion, or almost half of her wealth. Buffett, who has given around US$60 billion to date, has promised to give away 99% of his wealth, currently sitting at US$146.4 billion, during his lifetime or at death.

But do these philanthropic efforts actually present personal sacrifices?

It is difficult to get access to billionaires’ income data, but we can assume that a balanced portfolio for a wealthy investor can currently provide an annual return of around 5-8%. In the case of the US$91.3 billion fortune that Walton holds, this could mean an annual return of up to US$7.3 billion per year, acknowledging that depending on investment strategies and successes this might be lower or substantially higher. Compared to this, US$1.5 billion appears, once again, to be quite small.

Whether they present major or meaningful contributions for the billionaire themselves is outlined by Warren Buffett.

“I am giving up nothing that has utility to me”.

Buffett is a signatory of the Giving Pledge, a campaign he launched in 2010 with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Gates’ then-wife Melinda French Gates as an invitation to billionaires to commit the majority of their wealth to philanthropy.

In his pledge, Buffett highlights that although he will give away 99% of his wealth, in fulfilling this pledge neither he nor his family will give up anything they will ever need or want. The remaining 1% of their wealth is sufficient – he has highlighted that “this pledge will leave my lifestyle untouched and that of my children as well”.

So it seems that while billionaire philanthropy might be impressive in absolute terms, and offers significant opportunities for addressing urgent social, cultural, economic, political and environmental challenges, in relative terms its actual contribution might be quite negligible.

This is particularly the case when you compare the societal costs associated with amassing billionaire fortunes with the societal contributions their philanthropy makes, and taking into account the wider damage that extraordinary economic inequality brings about.

So while the major sums involved in billionaire philanthropy can offer unrivalled potential for change, it is still necessary and important to ask questions about the actual significance, scale and sacrifices for all of the parties involved.

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

– ref. Why billionaire philanthropy might not be as generous as you think – https://theconversation.com/why-billionaire-philanthropy-might-not-be-as-generous-as-you-think-241862

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: From fish to clean water, the ocean matters and here’s how to quantify the benefits

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stefanie Broszeit, Senior Scientist, Marine Ecosystem Services, Plymouth Marine Laboratory

Drake’s Island in Plymouth Sound, Devon, is part of the UK’s first national marine park. Artur Niedzwiedz/Shutterstock

Nature protection, conservation and restoration is “not a trivial matter but key to human survival,” according to scientists quoted in a 2005 UN report. To demonstrate this, they developed the concept of “ecosystem services” – the benefits that people derive from nature. Over the next 20 years, this concept has been in constant development to reflect our growing understanding of how ecosystems work and how we benefit from them.

For many people, it feels wrong to take a human-centred view on nature. But for governments and conservation organisations, this concept is a useful tool. It helps us quantify the value of nature and make sure certain aspects are conserved and protected.

My team and I provide other scientists with information about how coastal areas help to regulate the climate and reduce water pollution. In part, we work with marine conservation experts who restore ecosystems that have been depleted, such as seagrass or oyster beds. This can help choose the best approaches to restoring coastal areas to healthy habitats while providing other benefits, such as shelter for young fish or food for seabirds. Another group of scientists use our data to assess the value of these habitats, now and in the future once they have been restored to good health.

In my work as a marine ecologist, I split ecosystem services into three different groups. First, provisioning services include the provision of food or timber along many other material gains we get from nature. For marine ecosystem services ,this includes fish and chemicals used for research and medicines. Second, regulating services support our planet and human wellbeing. Mussels clean water by filtering it and seagrass takes up and stores carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thereby helping to regulate the climate. Third, cultural services include leisure and recreation such as sea swimming or fishing.

Diving deeper

A baby crab on seagrass growing at Kingsand, Plymouth Sound.
Stefanie Broszeit, CC BY-NC-ND

To better understand these marine ecosystem services and how to use them sustainably, my research delves into some of the more complicated processes that regulate ecosystem services. In terms of the ocean’s role in regulating climate, it’s not just about seagrass.

Seaweeds such as kelp take up carbon too, but cannot bury it in the soil beneath them due to holding onto rocks rather than having roots. They store carbon by getting buried in the deep sea when they are whipped off the rocks during winter storms and transported by currents into deeper waters. There, worms and crabs can feed on this important food source, drawing the carbon deeper into the sediment.

Another step is to measure the benefits of particular ecosystem services. Food provision can be relatively easily measured by data collected by harbours to quantify how much fish is being landed and sold. So we can estimate the volume of harvested fish and calculate their market value. Some cultural services, such as measuring the wellbeing benefits people receive from interacting with coastal environments, can be more difficult to measure.

Plymouth Sound is a great place to assess both benefits to human wellbeing and marine ecology, because not only is this city a hotspot for marine biology research with three internationally recognised marine institutes, it’s also the UK’s first national marine park. Here, I can engage not only with the ecological sciences and datasets but also with environmental psychologists who study how nature affects us and how we affect nature. My team and I have created the marine, social and natural capital laboratory to explore this more.

Plymouth Sound provides a multitude of ecosystem services.
Robert Harding Video/Shutterstock

Because of so many complex variables, it’s important that scientists like me choose the appropriate indicators to estimate the value of contributions from different ecosystem services. Then, we can assess whether interventions such as restoring seagrass or building a port might help or hinder the marine environment.

Often, different ecosystem services might interact or conflict with each other. Fishing in the northeast Atlantic might, for example, negatively affect marine mammals such as seal if the fish they rely on as food are also being eaten by humans. So we need to look at the bigger picture to assess all of the ecosystem services provided by a particular area of ocean. And as our understanding of ecosystem services develops, we can refine efforts to give nature a helping hand.

Swimming, sailing, even just building a sandcastle – the ocean benefits our physical and mental wellbeing. Curious about how a strong coastal connection helps drive marine conservation, scientists are diving in to investigate the power of blue health.

This article is part of a series, Vitamin Sea, exploring how the ocean can be enhanced by our interaction with it.

Stefanie Broszeit receives funding from the United Kingdom Research and Innovation and from Horizon Europe, funding European research through the European Commission.

– ref. From fish to clean water, the ocean matters and here’s how to quantify the benefits – https://theconversation.com/from-fish-to-clean-water-the-ocean-matters-and-heres-how-to-quantify-the-benefits-241625

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: The US is now at risk of losing to China in the race to send people back to the Moon’s surface

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jacco van Loon, Reader in Astrophysics, Keele University

Who will be first to return humans to the lunar surface? Merlin74 / Shutterstock

Will the next human to walk on the Moon speak English or Mandarin? In all, 12 Americans landed on the lunar surface between 1969 and 1972. Now, both the US and China are preparing to send humans back there this decade.

However, the US lunar programme is delayed, in part because the spacesuits and lunar-landing vehicle are not ready. Meanwhile, China has pledged to put astronauts on the Moon by 2030 – and it has a habit of sticking to timelines.

Just a few years ago, such a scenario would have seemed unlikely. But there now appears to be a realistic possibility that China could beat the US in a race that America, arguably, has defined. So who will return there first, and does it really matter?

Nasa’s Moon programme is called Artemis. The US has involved international and commercial partners to spread the cost. Nasa set out a plan to get American boots back on lunar soil over the course of three missions. In November 2022, Nasa launched its Orion spacecraft on a loop around the Moon without humans aboard. This was the Artemis I mission.

Artemis II, scheduled for late 2025, is similar to Artemis I, but this time Orion will carry four astronauts. They will not land; this will be left for Artemis III. For this third mission, Nasa will send a man and the first woman to the lunar surface. Though as yet unnamed, one of them will be the first person of colour on the Moon.

Artemis III astronauts are set to use SpaceX’s Starship vehicle to land on the Moon.
Nasa

Artemis III was scheduled to launch this year, but the timescale has slipped several times. A review in December 2023 gave a one in three chance that Artemis III would not have launched by February 2028. The mission is currently slated to happen no earlier than September 2026.

Meanwhile, China’s space programme seems to be moving at speed, without significant failures or delays. In April 2024, Chinese space officials announced that the country was on track to put its astronauts on the Moon by 2030.

It’s an extraordinary trajectory for a country that launched its first astronaut in 2003. China has been operating space stations since 2011 and has been ticking off important, challenging firsts through its Chang’e lunar exploration programme.

Read more:
Nations realise they need to take risks or lose the race to the Moon

These robotic missions returned samples from the surface, including from the lunar far side. They have tested technology that could be crucial for landing humans. The next mission will touch down at the lunar south pole, a region that attracts intense interest because of the presence of water ice in shadowed craters there.

This water could be used for life support by a lunar base and turned into rocket propellant. Making rocket propellant on the Moon would be cheaper than bringing it from Earth, making lunar exploration more affordable. It is for these reasons that Artemis III will land at the south pole. It’s also the planned location for US and Chinese-led bases.

On September 28 2024, China showed off a spacesuit, to be worn by its Moon walkers, or “selenauts”. The suit is designed to protect the wearer against extreme temperature variations and unfiltered solar radiation. It is lightweight and flexible. Is it a sign of China already overtaking the US in one aspect of the Moon race? The company manufacturing the Artemis Moon suit, Axiom Space, is currently having to modify several aspects of the reference design given to them by Nasa.

The lander that will carry US astronauts from lunar orbit to the surface is also delayed. In 2021, Elon Musk’s SpaceX was given the contract to build this vehicle. It is based on SpaceX’s Starship, which consists of a 50m-long spacecraft that launches on the most powerful rocket ever built.

On October 13 2024, Starship scored a successful fifth test flight. But several challenging steps are required before the Starship Human Landing System can carry astronauts down to the lunar surface. Starship cannot fly directly to the Moon. It must refuel in Earth orbit first (using other Starships that act as propellant “tankers”). SpaceX needs to demonstrate refuelling and conduct a test landing on the Moon without crew before Artemis III can proceed.

In addition, during Artemis I, Orion’s heat shield suffered considerable damage as the spacecraft made the high-temperature return through Earth’s atmosphere. Nasa engineers have been working to find a remedy before the Artemis II mission.

Too complicated?

Some critics argue that Artemis is too complex, referring to the intricate way in which astronauts and Moon lander are brought together in lunar orbit, the large number of independently operating commercial partners and the number of Starship launches required. Depending who you ask, between four and 15 Starship flights are needed to complete the refuelling for Artemis III.

Former Nasa administrator Michael Griffin has advocated a simpler strategy, broadly along the lines of how China expects to accomplish its lunar landing. His vision sees Nasa relying on traditional commercial partners such as Boeing, rather than relative “newbies” such as SpaceX.

However, simple is not necessarily better or cheaper. The Apollo programme was simpler, but at almost three times the cost of Artemis. SpaceX has been more successful, and economical, than Boeing in sending crews to the International Space Station.

The Artemis I mission was broadly successful, but Orion’s heat shield suffered damage.
Nasa

New technology is not developed through simple, tried approaches but in bold endeavours that push boundaries. The James Webb Space Telescope is highly complex, with its folded mirror and distant position in space, but it allows astronomers to peer into the depths of the universe as no other telescope can. Innovation is especially crucial bearing in mind future ambitions such as asteroid mining and a settlement on Mars.

Does it matter whether the first 21st-century selenauts are Chinese or American? This is largely a question about the relationship between governments and their citizens, and between nations.

Democratic governments depend on public support to safeguard funding for expensive, long-term ventures – and prestige is an important selling point. But prestige in a 21st-century Moon race will be earned by doing it well, not sooner. Rushing back to the Moon could be costly, both financially and in the risk to human life.

Governments must set an example of responsible behaviour. Peace, inclusivity and sustainability should be guiding principles. Going back to the Moon must not be about dominion or superiority. It should be a chance to show that we can improve on how we have previously behaved on Earth.

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

– ref. The US is now at risk of losing to China in the race to send people back to the Moon’s surface – https://theconversation.com/the-us-is-now-at-risk-of-losing-to-china-in-the-race-to-send-people-back-to-the-moons-surface-241716

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Invitation letter for the European Political Community summit in Budapest

Source: Council of the European Union

European Council President Michel, along with the Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orbán, invited heads of state and government across Europe to the fifth meeting of the European Political Community, which will take place in Budapest on 7 November 2024.

MIL OSI Europe News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Grigorenko: The effectiveness of inspections by regulatory authorities has increased

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

The effectiveness of inspections by regulatory authorities has increased over the first nine months of 2024. This was discussed at a meeting of Deputy Prime Minister – Chief of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko with regulatory authorities.

“The main result is that we have reoriented the work of control bodies to a risk-oriented approach. This means that inspections are carried out only where there is a risk of violating the law. When a business conscientiously complies with mandatory requirements, there is no reason to come to it. The entire inspection system has been digitalized and has become absolutely transparent. Both the Government and the prosecutor’s office – we see when, where and on what grounds the inspector went, what violations he identified during the inspection,” commented Dmitry Grigorenko.

The most effective checks remain those based on the triggering of risk indicators. Over the first nine months of 2024, the accuracy of checks based on the triggering of indicator signals reached 87%, while for the same period in 2023 it was 69%. For comparison: the average effectiveness of checks for all other reasons today is about 60%. Effectiveness is understood as the ratio of the validity of the check and the violations identified during the inspection.

A risk indicator is a set of features that reflects compliance by a controlled entity with mandatory requirements. If the indicator gives a signal, then there is a high probability that mandatory requirements may be violated at the facility. The number of risk indicators is steadily growing. Today, there are 481 risk indicators in the arsenal of control and supervisory authorities. By the end of the year, it is planned to introduce 20 more.

According to the results of the first nine months of the current year, the volume of inspections based on risk indicators has doubled. The total number of inspections (scheduled and unscheduled for other reasons) has been steadily decreasing – by almost 4.2 times since 2019. Over the first nine months of 2024, 284 thousand inspections were carried out, at the level of the same period last year.

At the meeting, the participants also discussed the need to further improve the supervisory system and the risk system based on feedback from businesses. The government receives it through the service for pre-trial appeal of decisions of regulatory authorities. The service is in high demand, with more than 5,000 applications submitted in the first nine months of 2024, which is the same as in 2023. This year, the ability to challenge the assigned risk category, appeal orders based on the results of events without interaction, and file objections to the announced warning has been added.

Representatives of the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Ministry of Economic Development also took part in the meeting.

Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

MIL OSI Russia News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Adams Honored at Stratford Richardson YMCA After Securing Funds for New Clinic

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

Appropriations and community project funding bearing fruit for Mecklenburg and Cabarrus Counties

CHARLOTTE – Yesterday, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) was honored by the YMCA of Greater Charlotte for her years of service to the community and the role she played in securing $2 million for the construction of their new Atrium Health Community Care Primary Care West Boulevard Family Medicine Clinic. This on-campus clinic will help provide quality, affordable care to those in need.

“By providing minor surgical procedures, women’s care, pediatric care, and other preventive services, the Atrium Health Community Care Primary Care West Boulevard Family Medicine Clinic will be the difference between a family having to pay exorbitant emergency room fees and getting immediate treatment,” said Rep. Adams. “I am deeply honored to be chosen for the YMCA of Greater Charlotte’s inaugural ‘Champion of Change’ award. This work is personal for me and this clinic is an important step in closing the healthcare gaps that exist in our community. Healthcare is one of my four H’s, so I am proud to have helped support this clinic and the YMCA of Greater Charlotte by securing funding towards its development.”

“We owe a debt of gratitude not only to Congresswoman Adams but also to our incredible partners—Atrium Health, our YMCA team, the congresswoman’s team, our elected officials, and our community partners,” said Sue Glass, President & CEO, YMCA of Greater Charlotte. “Together, through advocacy, commitment, and collaboration, we are transforming the Stratford Richardson YMCA campus into a catalyst for positive impact in Charlotte’s West Boulevard Corridor.

Other appropriations information and community project funding awards are available on Rep. Adams’ website.

###

Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. represents North Carolina’s 12th Congressional District (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, Cabarrus County) and serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Education & the Workforce, where she serves as ranking member of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: S. 4681, Enhanced Oversight and Accountability in Screening Act

Source: US Congressional Budget Office

S. 4681 would establish a committee to advise the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on its screening, vetting, and inspection activities at airports and other ports of entry. Under the bill, the committee would make recommendations to the department to improve its policies and procedures, including training; data collection, storage, and analysis; internal oversight; and responsiveness to complaints from the public. S. 4681 would require the committee to report to the Congress annually on its activities until its termination on December 31, 2030. The bill also would permit the committee to accept and spend donations and gifts.

S. 4681 would require DHS, within two years of enactment, to report to the Congress on a plan to improve the process for people who believe they have been wrongly identified as a threat while traveling to submit complaints to the department. The bill also would require the Department of Justice to report annually to the Congress on the consolidated terrorism watchlist, a database containing information on people known or suspected to be involved in terrorist activity. Lastly, S. 4681 would require DHS to report to the Congress annually for 11 years after enactment on the effectiveness of its enhanced screenings, which are additional security checks above what is required in airports and other ports of entry.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Historic Deployment: First time in 70 years, the Wyoming Army Guard 2-300th Field Artillery Regiment deploys together

Source: US State of Wyoming

The Wyoming National Guard held send-off ceremonies for different batteries of the 2nd Battalion, 300th Field Artillery Regiment in Torrington, Gillette, Lander and Casper on July 30, 2024, supporting the Soldiers and their families as they embark on their eighth deployment in the past 20 years.

The send-off ceremony formally recognizes the Soldiers and their families who are about to deploy. It also demonstrates that they have the full support of their community, leadership and loved ones, according to Lt. Col. Michael Kingman, 2-300th commander. This is the first full battalion deployment in over 70 years to conduct a field artillery mission.

“This deployment marks the eighth time since September 11, 2001, that this formation has answered the nation’s call,” Kingman said. “Most of those deployments involved only portions of the battalion. This mission marks the first time the battalion has deployed as an integrated whole on a field artillery mission since the Korean War.”

More than 360 Soldiers will deploy to several Middle Eastern countries to support Operations Spartan Shield and Inherent Resolve.

The ceremony started with the arrival of the official party.

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon presided over the ceremonies, joined by Maj. Gen. Greg Porter, Wyoming adjutant general, Chief Master Sgt. Josh Moore, command senior enlisted leader for the Wyoming Guard, Lt. Col. Michael Kingman, 2-300th commander, Command Sgt. Maj. Spencer Jolly, 2-300th command sergeant major, along with other battery and company leadership.

In the next part of the ceremony, Governor Gordon, General Porter, and Lieutenant Colonel Kingman shared their commitment to support and gratitude.

Since taking office in 2019, the governor has made it a point to personally send off each service member and their families during deployments. He shared his thoughts with the Soldiers.

“You are Wyoming proud, Wyoming strong, Wyoming proficient and Wyoming professional,” the governor said. “Thank you. All of us at home, your families, and all of us will know you are protecting us. We thank you from the depths of our hearts, from the bottom of our souls.”

Governor Gordon also expressed his commitment to the families.

“We feel that as much service as our men and women on the front lines give, it is also their families that stand watch,” he said. “We will stand 100 percent with the families as well. Thank you to every family member for your service.”

General Porter spoke about the 2-300th’s rich history of serving the nation.

“For over 136 years, Wyoming citizen Soldiers have raised their right hands and said, ‘I will do the nation’s bidding. I will wear the cloth of my country and go forth to do what needs to be done,’” the general said. “That is an incredible sacrifice, and I deeply appreciate all of you here in the community who are here to congratulate and recognize that sacrifice.”

General Porter also highlighted the role of Soldiers as community members.

“They are also mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, friends, family members, coaches, ministers and teachers. Our guardsmen and women are an indelible part of the community, and when they leave, they leave a gap,” Porter said. “We will fill this gap for you. We will ensure your community is safe while you deploy, and more importantly, we will ensure your families are taken care of.”

Lieutenant Colonel Kingman also thanked the families for their sacrifices and encouraged families to reach out if they need assistance.

“It’s been said, and I believe it to be true, that they have the tougher task, staying behind,” he said. “For the Soldier who goes forward, time often flies. We will be mission-focused here very soon, and these 60 days will go by quickly because we will be busy. But for all the friends and family at home facing the daily grind, they will be going through that without the needed support from their loved ones at their side. I encourage you all to not suffer in silence. If you need someone to talk to, need encouragement, need a hot water heater fixed, or if a door won’t close properly—whatever it is—reach out. We have someone who is not only willing but eager to assist in solving whatever problem comes up.”

The following segments are long-standing traditions of presenting an “Entering Wyoming” highway sign, the Wyoming flag and casing the 2-300th colors.

An “Entering Wyoming” highway sign was presented to each battery. The sign will be displayed at each headquarters. Similar signs have been given to every Wyoming Army National Guard unit that has deployed since the Korean War.

“For the Wyoming National Guard, this sign serves as a visual reminder to all who enter the area that they are in Cowboy Guard territory,” said 1st Lt. Chad Onthank, 920th Forward Support Command executive officer.

Next, the governor presented the Wyoming flag to the 2-300th to remind each Soldier that those Wyomingites at home are with you every step of the way.

Finally, Kingman and Jolly cased the battalion colors to show the unit has a mission forward and will deploy.

For the deployment, Kingman issued a challenge to his Soldiers.

“I am committed to ensuring that you have the best possible leadership and training every step of the way,” he said. “I am confident that if you work hard, are a good teammate, and keep a positive attitude, we can all come out of this experience as better friends, spouses, parents, Soldiers and human beings.”

MIL OSI USA News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: EU concludes crisis response exercise EU Integrated Resolve 2024

Source: European Commission – Justice

European Commission Press release Brussels, 25 Oct 2024 The EU has concluded successfully the EU Integrated Resolve 2024, a joint exercise co-led by the Council of the EU, the European Commission, as well as the European External Action Service.

MIL OSI Europe News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Two men charged with murder of Ahmed Deen-Jah

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Two men will appear in court charged with the murder of Ahmed Deen-Jah who died after being stabbed in east London in 2017.

[D] Lekan Akinsoji – 26 (15.01.98) of no fixed abode and [E] Sundjata Keita – 26 (11.03.98) of St Margaret’s Court, E12 will appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, 26 October.

Both were arrested on Friday, 25 October.

Ahmed died after being attacked in Freemasons Road, Custom House on 2 April 2017.

MIL Security OSI –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Fannie Mae Executes Final Credit Insurance Risk Transfer Transaction of 2024 on $7.9 Billion of Single-Family Loans

Source: Fannie Mae

WASHINGTON, DC – Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTC) announced today that it has executed its seventh Credit Insurance Risk Transfer (CIRT ) transaction of the year. CIRT 2024-L4 transferred $338.6 million of mortgage credit risk to private insurers and reinsurers.

“We appreciate the support of the 26 insurers and reinsurers that committed to write coverage on this deal, including the strong reception to the new structural enhancements that we introduced in the updated CIRT insurance policy,” said Rob Schaefer, Fannie Mae Vice President, Capital Markets. Under the updated terms to the CIRT insurance policy, coverage will be released more quickly over the life of the transaction if the covered pool of loans continues to perform well. Additionally, the insurance premium obligation will be based on the amount of remaining coverage instead of the outstanding balance of the covered loan pool.

The covered loan pool for CIRT 2024-L4 consists of approximately 23,500 single-family mortgage loans with an outstanding unpaid principal balance (UPB) of approximately $7.9 billion. Additionally, the covered pool collateral has loan-to-value (LTV) ratios of 60.01 percent to 80.00 percent and was acquired between September 2023 and December 2023. The loans included in this transaction are fixed-rate, generally 30-year term, fully amortizing mortgages and were underwritten using rigorous credit standards and enhanced risk controls.

With CIRT 2024-L4, which became effective September 1, 2024, Fannie Mae will retain risk for the first 170 basis points of loss on the $7.9 billion covered loan pool. If the $133.9 million retention layer is exhausted, 26 insurers and reinsurers will cover the next 430 basis points of loss on the pool, up to a maximum coverage of $338.6 million.

Coverage for this deal is provided based upon actual losses for a term of 18 years. Depending on the paydown of the insured pool and the principal amounts of insured loans that become seriously delinquent, the coverage amount may be reduced at the first month after the effective date of the policy and each month thereafter. The coverage on this deal may be canceled by Fannie Mae at any time on or after the five-year anniversary of the effective date by paying a cancellation fee.

Since inception to date, Fannie Mae has acquired approximately $28.1 billion of insurance coverage on $935 billion of single-family loans through the CIRT program, measured at the time of issuance for both post-acquisition (bulk) and front-end transactions. As of June 30, 2024, approximately $1.35 trillion in outstanding UPB of loans in our single-family conventional guaranty book of business were included in a reference pool for a credit risk transfer transaction.

To promote transparency and to help insurers and reinsurers evaluate the CIRT program, Fannie Mae provides ongoing, robust disclosure data, as well as access to news, resources, and analytics through its credit risk transfer webpages. This includes Fannie Mae’s innovative Data Dynamics® tool that enables market participants to interact with and analyze both CIRT deals that are currently outstanding in the market and Fannie Mae’s historical loan dataset. For more information on specific CIRT transactions, including pricing, please visit our Credit Insurance Risk Transfer webpage.

MIL OSI Economics –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: IMF’s Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Economic Outlook: Reform Amid Great Expectations
Source: International Monetary Fund

October 25, 2024
- Growth in sub-Saharan Africa is projected at 3.6% in 2024, unchanged from 2023, with a modest increase to 4.2% in 2025 — insufficient to significantly reduce poverty or address development challenges.
- Macroeconomic vulnerabilities persist and inflation remains high in many countries, while elevated public debt and rising debt service costs are crowding-out resources for development spending.
- Policymakers face a tough balancing act in reducing vulnerabilities while addressing development needs and ensuring socially acceptable reforms amid tight financing constraints.
Washington, DC: Sub-Saharan Africa’s economic growth is projected to remain subdued at 3.6 percent in 2024, unchanged from 2023, with a modest pickup to 4.2 percent expected in 2025, according to the latest IMF Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa published today. The report notes that countries in the region are still grappling with macroeconomic imbalances, tight financing conditions, amid rising social pressures, leaving policymakers facing difficult choices in implementing reforms.

“Sub-Saharan African countries are navigating a complex economic landscape marked by both progress and persistent vulnerabilities,” said Abebe Aemro Selassie, Director of the IMF’s African Department. “While many of the region’s countries are among the world’s fastest-growing economies, resource-intensive countries —particularly oil exporters— continue to struggle with lower growth rates. Inflation is declining but remains in double digits in nearly one-third of countries. Public debt has stabilized at a high level, with rising debt service burdens crowding out resources for development spending.”

“While we are seeing some improvement in macroeconomic imbalances, growth remains insufficient to significantly reduce poverty or address substantial developmental challenges in the region.”

The report includes focused notes addressing critical issues facing the region: the urgent need for job creation, the economic divergence between resource-rich and non-resource-rich countries, and the positive effects of striving for greater gender equality.

Against this backdrop, Mr. Selassie pointed to priorities for policymakers in the region:

“The policy mix should be consistent with the size of macroeconomic imbalances, while taking into account the political economy constraints that will affect the pace of reforms.

“Countries with high macroeconomic imbalances are more likely to resort to relatively large and frontloaded fiscal reforms, given the tight financing constraints. The need for financial support from the international community is most acute for this group.

“For countries with lower imbalances, policymakers should consider easing monetary policy toward a more neutral stance, while rebuilding fiscal and external buffers over time.”

“Policymakers need to focus on designing reforms that are socially acceptable, including effective communication and consultation strategies and measures to protect the most vulnerable.

“With continued efforts, sub-Saharan Africa can address its current challenges and move towards more sustainable and inclusive growth,” Mr. Selassie concluded. “However, the path ahead requires careful policy calibration and a strong commitment to implementing necessary reforms while managing social pressures.”

IMF Communications Department

MEDIA RELATIONS

PRESS OFFICER: Kwabena Akuamoah-Boateng

Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

@IMFSpokesperson
MIL OSI Economics –
January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: OEUK news OEUK: Autumn Statement must support a homegrown energy transition 25 October 2024

Source: Offshore Energy UK

Headline: OEUK news

OEUK: Autumn Statement must support a homegrown energy transition

25 October 2024

Leading trade body Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) urges the Chancellor to use next week’s Autumn Statement to back the UK’s homegrown offshore energy sector and make the UK an irresistible place for energy investment.

North Sea oil and gas is a strategic economic asset that has provided a national dividend through energy and economic security for the last 60 years. The North Sea and its expert workforce can continue to power the country for decades to come.

OEUK analysis published last month highlighted that the proposals to extend the windfall tax on the oil and gas sector will deter the very investment needed across our energy landscape. There is a more prosperous path for government and Industry. While we use oil and gas, we must prioritise investment in our homegrown production, value in our economy, and jobs.

A letter from 46 supply chain companies to the Government has set out the scale of the challenge they face. The Chancellor is urged to use the Autumn statement to support and nurture the ecosystem of small, medium, and large companies across the UK’s energy mix.

David Whitehouse, OEUK’s CEO, comments:

“We recognise that the demands on the Exchequer are challenging. Unlocking economic growth is the solution, and building on industrial strengths is key to our path forward.

“The North Sea is a strategic national asset and must be treated as such. Our homegrown offshore energy sector has powered the UK for the past 60 years, and the sector’s firms and skilled people are critical to our energy future as drivers of economic growth.

“We welcome steps to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy, and the recognition that we will use oil and gas for decades to come. Windfall taxes extended on oil and gas producers when no windfall exists deter the very investment that we need across our energy transition. While we use oil and gas, we must surely prioritise investment in our homegrown production, value in our economy, and our jobs.

“In the past 100 days, it has been good to see the engagement of our new Government with the proud and innovative workers and firms in our offshore energy industry. The Government has heard from people across the sector, and now decisions will be made.

“On Wednesday, the Autumn Statement will be a marker. We are in a global race for energy investment. Let us choose the path that encourages and attracts it, to build on our national strengths, so the whole of the UK can win.”

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MIL OSI Economics –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Deerfoot improvement project complete
Source: Government of Canada regional news

Deerfoot Trail is a vital artery for Calgary, enabling the efficient movement of people and goods. Improving this highway is essential to reduce congestion, improve safety and enhance connectivity for thousands of daily drivers. As Calgary grows, the improvements to Deerfoot Trail will better meet the needs of its growing population, helping drivers spend less time staring at tail-lights, and more time doing the things they love.

The expansion of Deerfoot Trail as well as the new connection of Beddington Trail and the adjacent 11 Street NE is now complete, relieving many headaches for drivers. Diverting considerable commuter, industrial and airport traffic between McKnight Boulevard and Beddington Trail to this new connection will increase safety and reduce weaving northbound on Deerfoot Trail. These improvements will also address key bottlenecks between Glenmore Trail and Anderson Road/Bow Bottom Trail, helping people get where they need to go more efficiently.

“It’s great to see provincial construction wrap up on this critical road for Calgary drivers. I’d like to thank the contractors for building a wider, more efficient Deerfoot and also thank Calgarians for their patience during construction. This project will benefit so many families that commute everyday and is another example of how we’re making life better for Albertans.”

Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors

Work on this section of Deerfoot Trail began in Spring 2023 and includes connecting 11 Street NE to westbound Beddington Trail and northbound Deerfoot Trail. Upgrades also included adding a fourth continuous lane to Deerfoot Trail in each direction from Airport Trail to Beddington Trail.

The suite of Deerfoot Trail improvements began in 2022 with work on 64 Avenue, which was competed in 2023. The Beddington Trail and 11 Street project is the second key segment to be completed. The totality of work on Deerfoot Trail includes increased capacity on ramps, additional lanes, reconfiguring exits and intersections and twinning a bridge. Improvements to Deerfoot Trail are being completed in distinct projects, prioritizing the most congested areas. It is estimated that the remaining Deerfoot Trail improvements will be complete by fall 2027. This important work will enhance safety and save time for drivers.

“I am thrilled the province has chosen to invest in one of our most critical transportation corridors. This investment will enhance the efficiency and safety in the movement of goods and people for all road users. We look forward to continuing our collaborative partnership with the provincial government on future enhancements that will contribute to a more effective and safer transportation network for our city.”

Andre Chabot, Ward 10 councillor, City of Calgary

“We are excited to have an improved Deerfoot Trail and completed Beddington Trail NW and 11 Street NE enhancing access to YYC Calgary International Airport for our guests and commercial partners by reducing traffic congestion, providing alternative routes, growing connectivity and boosting economic and logistics efficiency.”

Chris Dinsdale, president and CEO, The Calgary Airport Authority

Quick facts
- Aecon Transportation West Ltd. completed the construction of the Beddington Trail and 11 Street NE connector for $19 million.
- Other improvements will increase capacity for current and future traffic volumes and include:
- Deerfoot Trail and 64 Avenue NE – Began in fall 2022; completed in summer 2023.
- McKnight Boulevard. – Aecon Transportation West began work in spring 2023 anticipated completion in Fall 2025.
- Bow Bottom Trail/Anderson Road, Southland Drive and Glenmore Trail work – Aecon Infrastructure Management started work in spring 2023; anticipated completion in fall 2027.
- 16 Avenue NE – Aecon Transportation West began work in Spring 2024; anticipated completion in Fall 2025.
- Ivor Strong Bridge twinning – Aecon Infrastructure Management continues progress; anticipated completion in fall 2027.
- Budget 2024 allocated $523.8 million for these upgrades.
- Deerfoot Trail is a major north-south freeway in Calgary and has been in operation since the 1970s; up to about 180,000 vehicles travel this road, daily.
- When the entire suite of improvements on Deerfoot Trail is completed, motorists can expect about:
  - 15 per cent faster morning rush hour commutes
  - 22 per cent faster evening rush hour commutes
  - 900,000 hours saved annually on the Deerfoot Trail
  - An economic boost of about $23 million, annually
Related information
- Deerfoot Trail Improvements
MIL OSI Canada News –
January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Analysis: Has Azerbaijan Successfully Domesticated Islam?

Source: Universities – Science Po in English

With COP29, hosted by Baku, right around the corner, let’s have a look at Azerbaijan and its secular history with Altay Goyushow, professor of history at Baku State University and visiting scholar at Sciences Po Center for International Studies (CERI).

A fine observer of the Azerbaijani regime, he answers the questions of Miriam Périer (CERI) about the ruling elite’s attitude toward religion, and Islam in particular, and the need to look back at the Soviet period to understand the current situation.

> Read the full interview on CERI’s website.

What is the aim of the current Azerbaijani ruling elite’s policies in the field of religion?

Azerbaijan is a secular state. A genuine secularist movement was started in Azerbaijan in the mid-nineteenth century by the local Russian and European-educated intelligentsia. The greatest success of this movement was the creation of the first secular republic during the First World War and the Russian Revolution.

In 1920, the Red Army put an end to this republic. However, during Soviet rule the secularist traditions of Azerbaijani society strengthened further, even though, as I said earlier, the collapse of the Soviet Union was accompanied by the impressive revival of religion. Soviet rule eradicated local sources of religious knowledge and because of this, in the 1990s, the revival was led primarily by foreign actors.

Then, in the late 1990s, local clerics educated abroad took the leading role in religious proselytism. This situation was unacceptable to Azerbaijani authorities, as they wanted religious learning to be concentrated in the hands of locally educated Muslim clerics. The authorities have been pursuing a policy of domesticating Islam. Unlike the Soviets, the current Azerbaijani government does not intend to get rid of religion; they instead want to make Islamic elites into loyal supporters of the secular system and ruling elite.

This policy has given birth to a complex religious situation in the country. On the one hand, there is an official Islam loyal to the government. On the other hand, there are Islamic communities that aim to exist without the secular state’s interference. The constitution says that the state and religion are separate; however, the real situation is much more complicated.

Both the government and independent Islamic communities complain about interference from their counterparts. Islamic communities complain that the state infringes on their freedom of conscience, while the government complains that independent communities are a threat to the secular nature of the state.

You mention that the current ruling elite of Azerbaijan is particularly concerned by Muharram traditions, partly because these do not correspond to so-called “civilised religion” according to the government. Can you tell us why?

The Azerbaijani government aims to create distinct characteristics of local Islam which it describes as a “civilised” Islam. The methods used to achieve this goal include the implementation of a unique education programme for training Muslim clerics in the newly established Theological Institute, the adaptation of distinct uniforms for Azerbaijani Muslim clerics, the promotion of joint Sunni-Shi’i prayers, among other things.

“Correcting” rituals of Muharram commemorations are among the planned reforms. It should be noted that Muharram is the most popular religious commemoration in Azerbaijan. It has been for centuries. However, beginning in the early twentieth century, some practices of Muharram commemorations, such as self-flagellation or striking oneself with swords and knives, have been heavily criticised by the local secular intelligentsia as “uncivilised” rituals.

The Soviets launched multiple campaigns against Muharram observations like these and others. In the post-Soviet era, this approach has been continued, and some practices have been replaced with novelties, such as making blood donations instead of striking themselves with knives or self-flagellation with metal chains.

During the last decade, another government concern has been the increased pilgrimage of Azerbaijani believers to Shi’i shrines in Iraq and Iran at the end of annual Muharram commemorations. The government considers the rising number of pilgrims to those places as a security risk. So, by implementing various measures and restrictions, the authorities are trying to curb the number of pilgrims.

Does the Azerbaijani population support the ruling elite’s policies toward religion? What is the position of secular youth movements in the face of the government’s attitude toward independent Muslim communities?

It is an interesting question. Azerbaijan, despite the impressive religious revival in the post-Soviet period, remains a largely secular country. So, most Azerbaijanis cherish their society’s secular characteristics and do not appreciate the interference of religion or religious communities in state affairs.

However, state institutions’ deep interference with the life of religious communities in many instances infringes on people’s freedom of conscience. And in this particular matter, there is a generational disruption within society. While the older Soviet-trained and educated part of the society, especially the urbanised part, is not particularly critical of the excesses of the government’s religious policies, the younger population, especially its quite vocal liberal and progressive representatives, despite appreciating and praising the secular fundamentals of the society, is frequently critical of the tough measures implemented by the government in the promotion of religious conformity.

It should also be added that ethnic nationalism is a strong feature of Azerbaijani society. And traditionally, secular nationalists have been critical of Islamic movements, and on this issue, they tend to align more with the government than Islamic communities.

Cover image caption: Baku, Taza-Pir mosque, the seat of the Sheikh-ul-Islam, the head of the Caucasus Muslim Board. (credits: Altay Goyushow)

MIL OSI Europe News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Tantallon — Police charge three people and seize weapons following search
Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

The RCMP and HRP Integrated Criminal Investigation Division (CID) has charged three people and seized firearms and crossbows after executing a search warrant at a Tantallon residence.

On October 23, officers from the Special Enforcement Section of the Integrated CID, assisted by the RCMP’s Emergency Response Team and the RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment, executed a search warrant at a residence in the 12700 block of Peggy’s Cove Rd as part of an ongoing investigation. Three people were safely arrested at the residence.

During the search, officers located two prohibited firearms, a restricted firearm, ammunition, and four crossbows.

Jedidiah Lewis Langille, 30, and Trena Whittier, 54, both of Tantallon, and Dean Richardson, 51, of Glen Haven have been charged with 26 criminal code offences. The firearms and weapons related offences include, but are not limited to:
- Possession of a Prohibited Firearm
- Possessing a Firearm for a Dangerous Purpose
- Possessing a Weapon (crossbow) for a Dangerous Purpose
- Possessing a Loaded Restricted or Prohibited Firearm
- Possessing a firearm obtained by the commission of an offence
Langille faces an additional 16 charges related to an existing court-ordered firearms prohibition, including but not limited to:
- Possessing a Firearm Contrary to Prohibition Order
- Possessing a Crossbow Contrary to Prohibition Order
- Possession Ammunition Contrary to Prohibition Order
Langille and Richardson were held in custody and appeared in Halifax Provincial Court on October 24, 2024.

Whittier was released from custody to appear in Halifax Provincial Court on December 17, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.

MIL Security OSI –
January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Court Extends Gulf of Mexico Biological Opinion Deadline

Source: International Association of Drilling Contractors – IADC

Headline: Court Extends Gulf of Mexico Biological Opinion Deadline

Houston (25 October 2024) – A federal court has extended the deadline to vacate the 2020 Biological Opinion on the Federally Regulated Oil and Gas Program Activities in the Gulf of Mexico. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) now has until May 21, 2025, instead of December 20, 2024, to issue a new biological opinion, as required by the Endangered Species Act for offshore permitting.

IADC views this deadline extension favorably. The original decision to vacate the 2020 Biological Opinion in December 2024 would have essentially shut down operations in the Gulf of Mexico, threatening thousands of jobs and U.S. energy security. IADC supports the industry stakeholders working diligently on this matter and is fully prepared to provide direct assistance in these efforts.

ABOUT IADC

The International Association Drilling Contractors (IADC) is a non-profit trade association that is the global leader in advancing and promoting innovative technology and safe practices that bring oil and gas to the world’s consumers.

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MIL OSI Economics –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Obernolte, Rep. Panetta laud FAA’s approval of powered lift aircraft
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-Hesperia)

WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-CA) and Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), who together co-chair the bipartisan Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Caucus, applaud the decision by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to issue a final rule for powered lift operations. The Integration of Powered-Lift: Pilot Certification and Operations Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) provides a comprehensive framework for certifying the initial cadre of powered-lift instructors and pilots, a major step forward for the growing AAM industry.

“I commend the decision by the FAA to approve powered lift as a new category of civil aircraft, the first in over 80 years, and their continued efforts to promote innovation in America’s aviation industry,” said Rep. Obernolte. “This rule will allow these aircraft to provide services such as air taxi, cargo delivery, and an array of other operations within the United States. The possibilities of powered lift operations are transformative, and this rule allows industry to provide these services by creating an operational system for advanced air mobility.”

“With the proper federal regulatory framework, Advanced Air Mobility has the potential to revolutionize how we move people and goods throughout our country,” said Rep. Panetta. “The Federal Aviation Administration’s final rule is a significant step forward in allowing powered lift aircraft to be integrated into our airspace and allow these operations to take flight. I look forward to continuing our bipartisan work to advocate for the future of aviation and the innovation in California’s 19^thCongressional District powering these exciting aircraft.”

Due to the concerted efforts of Rep. Obernolte, Rep. Panetta, members of theAAM Caucus, and FAA Administrator Whitaker, powered lift will be the first completely new category of civil aircraft since helicopters were introduced in the 1940s. The rule makes changes to existing regulations, establishes an SFAR for instructor and pilot certification and training, applies helicopter operating requirements to some phases of flight, adopts a performance-based approach to certain operating rules, and allows powered-lift pilot training with a single set of flight controls instead of two.

What They’re Saying:
- “Supernal is pleased to see the FAA finalize the rulemaking for pilot training and operations for the AAM industry, while adopting a more flexible approach to requirements such as dual controls” said Jaiwon Shin, CEO of Supernal. “We look forward to continued collaboration with the FAA and Congress to position the US as a global leader in this exciting new industry.”
- “We applaud the FAA on the release of the SFAR ahead of schedule as it represents a tremendous milestone for our country and the eVTOL industry. Now, Archer has a clear roadmap to pioneer eVTOL here in the U.S. Our team is full speed ahead in our ongoing partnership with the FAA as we work towards commercialization as soon as possible,” said Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO of Archer.
- “The regulation published will ensure the U.S. continues to play a global leadership role in the development and adoption of clean flight,” said JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby. “Delivering ahead of schedule is a testament to the dedication, coordination and hard work of the rulemaking team.”
- “Advanced air mobility promises to change the very definition of on-demand aviation worldwide,” National Business Aviation Association President and CEO Ed Bolen said. “Given the speed at which the technology is developing, it is critical that all stakeholders have clear, official guidance for AAM operations. We commend the FAA for providing that guidance with the publication of this new rule.” 
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MIL OSI USA News –
January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Hageman Protects Private Landowners Through PASTURES Act

Source: United States House of Representatives – Wyoming Congresswoman Harriet Hageman

Washington, D.C. – Today Congresswoman Harriet Hageman introduced the Protecting Agricultural Spaces Through Effective Ranching Strategies (PASTURES) Act which will safeguard landowners with property adjacent to federally leased land from federal enforcement actions related to livestock trespassing.

“The Biden-Harris Administration continues to reduce grazing opportunities for livestock producers who hold federal grazing leases. This administration is making it increasingly difficult for ranchers on public and private lands to adjust to sudden changes in allocations – often creating circumstances where livestock cross into unfenced land, which ultimately results in heavy penalties for the rancher. My bill will prohibit federal land management agencies from enforcing a trespass after permits or leases are adjusted or rescinded – until the relevant land management agency constructs a fence to keep the livestock out.” Hageman stated. “Livestock grazing is an important land management tool that we should be using more, not less, on our federal lands. This legislation would help ranchers while also requiring our agencies to be better neighbors on our public lands by applying these appropriate fencing protocols.”

Margaret Byfield, Executive Director of American Stewards of Liberty, stated “The Pasture Act will prevent the misuse of regulatory authorities by federal land management agencies and increase protections for American landowners. It is common for allotments on federal lands to be unfenced even when bordering other properties. These operations were designed to have as few barriers as possible to facilitate open corridors for livestock and wildlife. Yet, this responsible stewardship practice can too easily be used to entrap landowners when unfenced allotments are canceled by the agency. Congress needs to reign in federal agencies powers, and this Act is a key step towards this end.”

The PASTURES Act provides ranchers with the security and stability needed to continue their operations after significant federal decisions are made regarding the surrounding land. The bill has the support of the American Stewards of Liberty, Wyoming Farm Bureau, Wyoming Stock Growers Association and R-CALF USA.

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Contact: Chris Berardi, Sr. Advisor/Communications Director

MIL OSI USA News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Molinaro Announces Mobile Office Hours in Tompkins County

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Marc Molinaro (R-NY-19)

Binghamton, NY – U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro (NY-19) today announced his constituent service team will hold mobile office hours from 11:00am to 1:00pm on Monday, October 28 at the Trumansburg Village Office.

During this event, constituents will be able to connect with representatives from Rep. Molinaro’s office to share comments and resolve issues they are having with federal agencies like the VA, IRS, and Social Security Administration.

If constituents aren’t able to make this event, Rep. Molinaro also maintains offices in Broome County and Greene County. These offices are open from 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday. Rep. Molinaro also has satellite offices in Sullivan County, Delaware County, and Otsego County. These offices are accessible by appointment and can be made by calling (607) 242-0200 or contacting the office online.

Details for the mobile office hours are as follows:

Tompkins County

Date: Monday, October 28

Time: 11:00am – 1:00pm

Location:

Trumansburg Village Office

56 East Main St.

Trumansburg, NY 14886

MIL OSI USA News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: U.S. Naval Forces Participate in Republic of Korea Multi-National Mine Warfare Exercise

Source: United States Navy

Part of an annual series of exercises hosted by the ROK Navy, MNMIWEX 24 increased proficiency in mine countermeasures (MCM) operations within a multi-national naval force.

This year’s iteration had 19 nations and approximately 100 personnel participating, making MNMIWEX 24 the largest of the series to be held.

“I was grateful for the opportunity to work with our hosts, the ROK Navy, and our partner nations and allies,” said Capt. Antonio Hyde, commodore of Mine Counter Measures Squadron (MCMRON) Seven, which belongs to Task Force 76, U.S. 7th Fleet’s expeditionary warfare force. “This multi-national training refines how we operate in a complex maritime environment to maintain open sea-lanes and freedom of navigation for all countries in the region.”

MCM forces from the U.S., Australia, Canada and New Zealand embarked the tank landing ship ROKS Cheon Wang Bong (LST 686), which teamed with the Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship USS Patriot (MCM 7) to conduct mine hunting operations during the eight-day at-sea phase.

A multinational watch floor directed MNMIWEX operations ashore. This facilitated a command structure that promoted interchangeability and helped build the capacity of multinational MCM forces to operate effectively as a team.

“Through this exercise, we improve our abilities to carry out multinational mine operations to protect major ports and sea lines of communication from the complex threats of enemy in case of emergency,” said Capt. Lee Taek-sun, commander of ROK Navy Mine Squadron 52. “We will continue to develop the combat capabilities necessary for mine warfare and further improve mine operation abilities and procedures with multinational forces.”

MNIMIWEX 24 featured participants from the United States, Republic of Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of the Philippines, Italy, Greece, Türkiye, Thailand, Belgium, Malaysia, Oman, Colombia, United Arab Emirates, Chile and the Netherlands.

The exercise took place in U.S. 7th Fleet, the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, which routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

MIL Security OSI –

January 25, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: N.M. Delegation Announces Over $3 Million for Tribal Communities to Address Opioid Use Disorder

US Senate News:

Source: US Senator for New Mexico Ben Ray Luján

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) are announcing $3,068,909 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to Tribal communities to serve individuals with opioid use disorder and co-occurring substance use disorders by funding culturally specific and evidence-based treatment, including medication for the treatment of opioid use disorder (MOUD). These HHS Tribal Opioid Response Grants are being awarded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

“Tackling the opioid crisis with the urgency it demands means expanding our approach. That includes everything from providing improved access to the lifesaving medication used to treat opioid use disorder to empowering local communities to develop treatment programs that are grounded in their distinct experiences and cultures. I’m proud to welcome over $3 million for Tribal communities to do exactly that,” said Heinrich. “I won’t stop fighting to eliminate barriers to lifesaving medication and help New Mexicans get the care they need.”

“Far too many across our Tribal lands have seen firsthand how the opioid epidemic has devastated our communities,” said Luján, a member of the Indian Affairs and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committees. “This $3+ million in federal funding will deliver critical treatments and medications to address opioid use disorder in our Tribal communities. Throughout my time in Congress, I have secured millions to expand opioid use disorder treatments, introduced bipartisan legislation to increase investments in substance misuse prevention, and called for an increase in funding in our nation’s response to the opioid use disorder epidemic. I am proud to welcome this funding alongside our Congressional delegation and will keep fighting to expand addiction treatment services and protect the health of our Tribal brothers and sisters.”

“For far too long, opioid addiction has ravaged our Tribal communities, and the need for culturally specific treatments is critical,” said Leger Fernández. “This funding will help provide life-saving treatment, tailored to the needs of Native communities, so that we can address the opioid crisis head-on. By combining evidence-based practices with the cultural knowledge of our Tribes, we can offer real hope and healing. I will continue to fight for more resources and support to make sure every New Mexican has access to the care they need to recover and thrive.”

“Culturally informed care is vital to addressing the opioid crisis in every community that is suffering,” said Stansbury. “This $3 million investment will help Tribal communities take care as they see fit, as they know what is best for their communities. I will continue to fight for more funding and tools to solve this crisis so New Mexicans can not only recover from addiction but thrive in life.”

“New Mexico’s Tribes and Pueblos have long faced significant challenges in combating the opioid crisis. I’m proud to welcome these funds to provide critical resources to help address opioid addiction head-on,” said Vasquez. “Supporting culturally specific and evidence-based treatments ensures that we’re not only tackling the crisis but also providing Indian Country with the tools they need to better support recovery. I’m committed to securing more funding and resources to combat this crisis and save lives.”

Recipient	Award Amount
Albuquerque Area Indian Health	$1,478,168
Pueblo of Pojoaque	$250,000
Five Sandoval Indian Pueblos, Inc.	$250,000
Santo Domingo Tribe	$295,107
Ohkay Owingeh	$250,000
Nambe Pueblo Governor’s Office	$295,634
Taos Pueblo	$250,000

The N.M. Delegation has continuously worked to make opioid use disorder treatments more readily available.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 25, 2025

Category: AM-NC

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