NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI Security: GRENADA COUNTY MAN SENTENCED IN OCDETF DRUG TRAFFICKING CASE

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Oxford, MS – A Grenada County man was sentenced today to over twelve years in prison for selling methamphetamine.

    According to court documents, Billy Wayne Winters, of Grenada County, Mississippi pled guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District to Mississippi to distribution of methamphetamine. Winters was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Glen H. Davidson on Tuesday to 151 months in prison for drug trafficking. He was further sentenced to three years supervised release following his release from prison.

    “The defendant, a meth dealer, was willing to destroy lives in return for a profit,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner.  “Our office will continue our outstanding partnership with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics to get dangerous narcotics, and the people who sell them, off of our streets.”

    “Great job to everyone involved in this case,” said Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell. “Another drug dealer taken off the streets, preventing further harm to the livelihood of our citizens.”

    The Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Clyde McGee prosecuted the case.

    The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Illegal alien cartel member sent to prison for possessing nearly 5,000 rounds of ammunition

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LAREDO, Texas – A 20-year-old Mexican national affiliated with Cartel Del Noreste (CDN) unlawfully residing in Laredo has been sentenced for illegally possessing ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Charbel Garza Macias pleaded guilty Oct. 8, 2024.

    U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo has now ordered Macias to serve 63 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that described Macias as member of the CDN. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that Macias was providing tools of war to a brutal criminal organization.

    “This defendant’s goal was to get this ammunition to Mexico and, if he had succeeded, would have contributed to the cartels’ ongoing campaign of brutality,” said Ganjei.  “Those who work to arm, supply, fund, or otherwise aid these organizations take notice; you are going to be found and prosecuted.”

    “The conviction and sentence of this individual highlights the serious consequences of smuggling ammunition across international borders,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI). ICE-HSI remains committed to disrupting cross-border criminal operations and ensuring that individuals who engage in these illegal activities face the full weight of the law.”

    Macias had made several bulk purchases of ammunition in Laredo with the intention of transporting them to Mexico for profit.

    On July 16, 2024, authorities were conducting surveillance when they observed a vehicle previously suspected of transporting large amounts of high caliber ammunition. Macias was driving and had loaded ammunition into the trunk of the vehicle.

    Macias attempted to elude law enforcement as they followed him after departing the parking lot.

    Following a traffic stop, a search resulted in the discovery of approximately 4,800 rounds of .223/5.56 caliber ammunition in the vehicle. At the time of his arrest, Macias admitted he was hired to purchase approximately 20,000 rounds of ammunition to be smuggled into Mexico. He claimed the ammunition was for the CDN operating in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico.

    Macias did not have a license to export ammunition or firearms and knew it was illegal to smuggle ammunition into Mexico.

    He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

    ICE-HSI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan L. Oliver prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Boozman Introduces Former Governor Mike Huckabee, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Nominee, at Senate Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman
    ––U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) introduced former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on his nomination to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Israel.

    Boozman recalled his long-standing relationship with Huckabee, who served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas from 1996-2007. The senator expressed his confidence in the Governor’s leadership and ability to strengthen the relationship between the United States and the Jewish State.

    Click here to watch Boozman’s remarks.
    Below are Boozman’s remarks as delivered:
    Thank you, Chairman Risch and Ranking Member Shaheen, and good morning to my distinguished colleagues.
    It is an honor to be here today to introduce my friend and fellow Arkansan – Governor Mike Huckabee, President Trump’s nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Israel.
    I know Senator Cotton would have liked to be here too. In fact, it was the first call I received very early this morning, reminding me to tell everybody how much he supported this and what a great ambassador he thinks Gov. Huckabee would make. 
    I would also like to say hi to Gov. Huckabee’s family and friends here in attendance, and how glad we are that they are here supporting him. We all know these are family affairs, whether it’s us or people that serve in other aspects of government.
    This is a pivotal moment in history, not just for our country, but for Israel and the special relationship between our nations.
    I’ve had the privilege of knowing the Governor for many years, and I can say without hesitation that he is the right person to be our representative to Israel at this critical moment, and I’m thankful to President Trump for selecting such a staunch and passionate advocate for the Jewish State.
    Mike was raised in Hope, Arkansas, and went on to graduate from Ouachita Baptist University, where he majored in religion. He then attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, in preparation for a lifetime of ministry that included pastoring Immanuel Baptist Church in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and later at Beech Street Baptist Church in Texarkana, Arkansas. 
    He went on to serve as president of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, where his leadership and communications skills intersected at the cornerstone of his life – spreading the gospel and shepherding fellow Christians in their faith – and foreshadowed his calling into public service. 
    Mike served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas for over a decade, with his time as our state’s chief executive marked by his tireless pursuit of pragmatic solutions, a tireless work ethic, and an innate ability to forge relationships across political divides. 
    He brought transformational change to Arkansas, leaving a legacy of lower taxes, job creation, improvement of state infrastructure, K-12 education reform, and his enactment of a nationally recognized health initiative focused on disease prevention.
    Mike is not only qualified to serve as our ambassador to Israel, but he is uniquely suited for this role given the way he has championed Israel throughout his entire life, including as a steadfast supporter of Israel’s right to exist and defend itself.
    He has an intimate familiarity with Israel’s people and its leaders, having frequently visited for over fifty years, leading groups to the region since 1981.
    He also understands the importance of diplomacy and has a profound respect and appreciation for it. And he has worked persistently throughout his life to advocate for strengthening and furthering the distinctly profound ties between our two countries. 
    As the United States Ambassador to Israel, he will bring a thoughtful, principled approach to our relationship – as his extensive experience already shows. 
    He believes, like many of us, that the United States and Israel share a sacred bond that transcends politics – both in terms of shared values and mutual security. 
    In an increasingly dangerous world, where Israel is under constant attack from Iran and its terrorist proxies, the United States needs a representative in Israel who not only understands the complex Middle East geopolitics, but can navigate them with conviction, strength and tact.
    Governor Huckabee’s background, character, and experience all uniquely qualify him to be that figure at this moment and for this purpose.
    His deep understanding and love for Israel and its people will undoubtedly make him an exceptional ambassador.
    I know that he will represent the United States with honor, integrity, and an ironclad commitment to the enduring partnership between our two nations. 
    I look forward to seeing all the great things he will do as the United States Ambassador to Israel. 
    I strongly support his nomination and urge my colleagues to do the same, as does my colleague Sen. Cotton from Arkansas. Thank you very much.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Photo Wrap-Up: Welch Meets with Vermont Business and Farm Owners, Patients, Legislators in Senate’s First In-State Work Week 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

    MONTPELIER, VT – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) spent the Senate’s first in-state work week of the 119th Session meeting with concerned Vermonters, business owners, farmers, patients, and members of the Vermont State Legislature.  
    On Saturday, March 15, Sen. Welch joined Vermont Treasurer Mike Pieciak and local legislators for a town hall in South Burlington. Senator Welch spoke about the Trump Administration’s reckless and illegal policies, which are hurting Vermont families, farmers, businesses, and the local economy. Watch the town hall here:  

    On Tuesday, March 18, Senator Welch convened Vermont and Canadian business leaders for a roundtable in Newport, Vermont —near the U.S.-Canada border— on Tuesday to discuss President Trump’s Trade War and how the Trump Administration’s reckless tariffs are hurting workers, families, and farmers. Senator Welch was joined by the Hon. Marie-Claude Bibeau, Member of Parliament for Compton-Stanstead, and Vermont and Canadian business owners. Following the roundtable, Senator Welch toured Track, Inc. and Built by Newport and continued discussions on the impacts of the tariffs.  

    Welch convenes international business leaders in Newport to discuss impacts of Trump’s trade war

    Welch at Track, Inc. with Mike Desmarais, Owner & CEO of Track Inc.

    Welch at Track, Inc. with Mike Desmarais, Owner & CEO of Track Inc.

    Welch at Built by Newport with owner Dave LaForce

    Welch at Built by Newport with the LaForce family

    On Wednesday, March 19, Senator Welch toured Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, where he discussed his new bipartisan bill to support rural health care providers, the Rural Hospital Support Act and the impact of President Trump’s and Congressional Republicans’ proposed Medicaid cuts on Vermonters. Following the tour at the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Sen. Welch met with business leaders and workers from Allard Lumber Co., and G.S. Precision, Inc., in Brattleboro. 

    Welch at the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital

    Welch Tours Allard Lumber Co. in Brattleboro

    Welch at G.S. Precision, Inc. in Brattleboro

    On Thursday, Senator Welch returned to the Statehouse to meet with the Vermont State Senate Appropriations Committee. The Senator provided an update on the recent passage of the Continuing Resolution and ongoing annual budget negotiations, as well as the harm of the budget proposed by President Trump and Congressional Republicans, which would make drastic cuts to Medicaid and other programs and services Vermonters rely on. Senator Welch was elected to the Vermont State Senate in 1980 and became the first Democrat in Vermont history to hold the position of President Pro Tempore.  
    After, he toured Rhino Foods, which develops and manufactures edible additions for ice cream and frozen foods, such as cookie dough. Rhino Foods is a Certified B Corp and is focused on advancing innovative employee-centered practices that help workers of all abilities and experience succeed. 
    Senator Welch also provided remarks and shared a meal at Winooski High School’s district-wide Community Iftar – an evening of community, celebration, and learning about Ramadan. This was Winooski’s fifth Community Iftar. 

    Welch provides an update to the Vermont Senate Appropriations Committee

    Welch Tours Rhino Foods to discuss workforce training and development

    Welch speaks at Winooski High School’s district-wide Community Iftar

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ricketts Introduces Two Bills to Cut Taxes on Social Security, Military Retirement Benefits

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) introduced two bills to cut federal taxes on Social Security and military retirement benefits. The Social Security Check Tax Cut Act would begin phasing out federal taxes on Social Security benefits. The bipartisan Tax Cuts for Veterans Act,introduced with Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), would eliminate the federal tax on military retirement benefits. The bills are modeled after successful efforts to eliminate state taxes on similar benefits when Ricketts was Governor of Nebraska.
    “Social Security and veterans’ benefits should be completely tax-free,” said Senator Ricketts. “We need to provide relief at the federal level, just like we did in Nebraska. My bills will boost retirement income and ensure seniors and veterans keep more of their hard-earned money – just as President Trump promised.”
    “Veterans in Nevada and across our nation have made huge sacrifices to keep our nation safe, and the least we can do is ensure they can retain all of their retirement pay,” said Senator Rosen of the Tax Cuts for Veterans Act. “We’re introducing this bipartisan bill to make military retirement pay tax-free, giving the heroic men and women who served in our military greater financial relief and stability.”
    The bills were first covered by Punchbowl News here. Senator Ricketts will discuss the bills in his weekly press conference call with Nebraska media tomorrow.
    BACKGROUND ON SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK TAX CUT ACT:
    From its creation in 1935, Social Security has been the backbone of most Americans’ retirement plans. According to the Social Security Administration, nearly nine out of ten people aged 65 and older received a Social Security benefit as of June 30 of this year. From 1935 until 1983, Social Security benefits were untaxed, recognizing that workers already paid into Social Security via the payroll tax each pay period. In 1983, 50% of Social Security benefits became taxable. In 1993, President Bill Clinton signed a bill into law making 85% of benefits taxable.
    As Governor in 2022, Ricketts signed LB873 into law to phase in the elimination of state taxes on Social Security benefits over a period of years. The Social Security Check Tax Cut Act would similarly phase out federal taxes on Social Security benefits, beginning with a 10% cut in year one and increasing to 20% in year two. Congress can continue phasing out the tax by 10% a year and make all Social Security income tax free by 2035. Bill text can be found here.
    BACKGROUND ON TAX CUTS FOR VETERANS ACT
    Around 117,000 veterans live in Nebraska. As Governor in 2021, Ricketts signed LB387 into law to eliminate state taxes on military retirement benefits. The bipartisan bill passed 47-0.
    The Tax Cuts for Veterans Act would provide real financial relief for veterans and their families. The savings per veteran would vary depending on their earned retirement pay. An enlisted soldier, sailor, airman, marine, guardsman, or guardian who served for 20 years could save over $500 per month and over $6,000 per year. Bill text can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Names Small Business of the Week, Mulholland Grocery

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    Published: March 25, 2025
    Throughout this Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties.
    RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: Mulholland Grocery of Mills County. Throughout the 119th Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties.
    “For nearly 150 years, Mulholland Grocery has been a cornerstone of the Malvern community, offering fresh grocery products and beloved local favorites like ham salad and smoked meats,” said Chair Ernst. “After a devasting fire destroyed the business in 2021, Tom Mulholland worked to rebuild and expand his family’s legacy, demonstrating the importance of small businesses and their community network.”
    In 1875, Fred E. Mulholland opened Mulholland Grocery as a dry goods store in the heart of Malvern, Iowa. Fred expanded the store in 1903 to include a small cash-and-carry grocery section, which eventually grew to be the family business. In 1945, Fred passed away, leaving the business to his son, Fred A. Mulholland, who managed it for almost 30 years until 1972. The business changed hands several times before returning to the Mulholland family ownership in 2008 when Tom Mulholland purchased it. 
    Mulholland Grocery is well known for its iconic ham salad, breakfast bratwurst, smoked meats, and warm customer service. In December 2021, tragedy struck when a massive fire devastated the Main Street location. Tom and his team transformed and modernized it, reopening the store in December 2024. This April, Mulholland Grocery plans to officially commemorate its grand reopening and its 150th anniversary in Iowa.
    Stay tuned as Chair Ernst recognizes more Iowa small businesses across the state with her Small Business of the Week award.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Outlines Major Reform to America’s “Least Favorite Government Agency”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    Published: March 25, 2025
    WASHINGTON – With just three weeks until Tax Day, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) outlined a proposal of major reforms for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to cut down on costs, increase efficiency, and better serve taxpayers.
    “Americans, and their elected representatives in Congress, have lost confidence in the IRS. But you have a unique opportunity to address these issues, which can be accomplished without any changes in law,” wrote Ernst in a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
    Ernst’s three main recommendations to improve America’s “least favorite government agency” include ending the political weaponization of the agency, cracking down on tax-dodging bureaucrats, and bringing the agency’s tech, costing $3.6 billion annually, out of the stone age and into the 21st century.
    Click here to read the full letter.
    Background:
    Senate DOGE Caucus Chair Ernst has repeatedly targeted IRS tax cheats and costly software across government.
    Additionally, Ernst exposed that 5,800 IRS and contractor employees owe nearly $50 million in overdue taxes in July 2024, and a follow-up report revealed that more 800 IRS employees still owed millions in back taxes as of November, 2024.
    Ernst’s $2 trillion roadmap to cut waste highlighted that government-wide there are nearly 150,000 tax cheats owing $1.5 billion in unpaid taxes.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: VERB Publishes Management’s Prepared Remarks During Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Earnings Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LAS VEGAS and LOS ALAMITOS, Calif., March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Verb Technology Company, Inc. (Nasdaq: VERB) (“VERB” or the “Company”), Transforming the Landscape of Social Commerce, Social Telehealth and Social Crowdfunding with MARKET.live; VANITYPrescribed; GoodGirlRx; and the GO FUND YOURSELF TV Show, today filed its Form 10-K reporting financial and operating results for the full year and the quarter ending December 31, 2024 and held an earnings conference call at 1 p.m. ET to discuss these results. Prepared remarks during the conference call of Rory J. Cutaia, the Company’s Chairman & CEO, are provided below.

    Company Participant
    Rory J. Cutaia, CEO

    Operator:
    Good afternoon and welcome to the full-year and fourth quarter 2024 Financial Results Conference Call for Verb Technology Company, Inc. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. Please be advised, the call is being recorded at the Company’s request.

    On our call today is Rory J. Cutaia, Verb’s Founder, Chairman and CEO

    Before we begin, I’d like to remind everyone that statements made during this conference call will include forward-looking statements under the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, except as required by law, as the underlying facts and circumstances may change. Verb Technology Company disclaims any obligations to update these forward-looking statements, as well as those contained in the Company’s current and subsequent filings with the SEC.

    I would now like to turn the call over to Rory J. Cutaia, CEO. Rory?

    Rory:
    Thank you moderator, and thanks to everyone for joining us today for our fourth quarter and full-year 2024 financial results and business update conference call.

    Well it sure feels good being back before you, speaking directly to you about our company, our business, our performance, and sharing our direct, transparent, honest thoughts and strategies for how we intend to drive shareholder value in this business now and into the future.

    I’d like to begin with a brief discussion about our history and the challenging market conditions that influenced the formulation of the strategies we undertook to insulate ourselves from those conditions. I’m referring to insulating ourselves from those market conditions that became impediments to value creation in our former direct sales Software as a Service line of business, as well as those market conditions, particularly capital markets conditions, that affected, and are affecting many, many small and micro-cap exchange-listed companies even today.

    Then I’d like to discuss the strategies that we employed and the changes we’ve made that underlie the impressive results we’re now seeing in the business. I’ll also touch on the strategies we employed that resulted in what I’m proud to state is a well cash-infused, extremely healthy debt-free balance sheet and a super clean cap table, the combination of which provide the all-important foundation for the impressive revenue growth we’re now enjoying.

    Ok – let’s jump in. Historically, we were an R&D driven technology business, built around a SaaS platform, with a customer base that was comprised of, for the most part, direct sales companies, or as they are sometimes referred to: multi-level marketing companies. When we entered the market with our interactive video-based sales software, we set out to become the dominant player in this sector. What we saw at that time was the opportunity to address a market that included the large-scale sales teams, including tens of thousands of independent sales reps that these companies managed, all of whom needed a simple and effective, mobile-based sales tool.

    Over time we learned valuable lessons. First, while we onboarded large numbers of new sales reps every month, the attrition rate among sales reps at these companies was extraordinarily high, making it difficult and costly to generate meaningful revenue growth. In addition, while we developed what we believe were extremely effective tools to help sales reps, even inexperienced sales reps generate and convert sales leads, outdated internal communications policies at these companies prohibited us from communicating these tools and how to use them directly to the fields of sales reps which may have curtailed much of the sales rep attrition, as the companies that managed these reps were often ineffective at doing so themselves. Finally, the ever-changing nature of the customer base we served, as well as the give-it-away below cost pricing models adopted by competitors who found themselves marginalized by our superior product offering, required continued, costly R&D expenditures, and continued returns to the capital markets.

    These factors, coupled with what we perceived to be declining market multiples for SaaS businesses generally, drove our decision to sell that business unit and focus instead on our new, though not yet revenue-generating – Market.live, livestream shopping business. A bold move indeed, but one that has certainly proven now to have been in the best interests of our shareholders. This was the first prong of our multi-pronged strategy to restructure, reconstitute, and re-invent VERB.

    The next prong of our strategy was to insulate ourselves from the predatory financing terms imposed universally on companies like ours who relied on access to the capital markets to fund continued R&D and other growth capital requirements. Almost every financing initiative we undertook was fraught with last minute re-trading of material deal terms, ridiculous warrant coverage terms and conditions, post-deal financing exclusivity arrangements, tying the Company to bad financings into the future when additional capital was needed – all of which made us – and so many other companies in the same situation – perfect targets for short-selling – and for companies with any kind of trading volume, greed-driven illegal naked short-selling.

    It wasn’t hard to target companies that announced an upcoming financing as short-sellers could be confident that deal terms and corresponding share prices would be below whatever the then current trading price was. This capital markets environment eroded share prices across the board resulting in reverse splits required to maintain exchange listing requirements, and destroyed cap tables and balance sheets causing an unprecedented level of exchange de-listings. Ultimately, it was the individual retail investors, left without sufficiently aggressive regulatory intervention, who bore the brunt of this market activity and still do.

    To avoid this awful outcome, we developed a unique strategy to utilize Reg A to structure our capitalize raise initiatives and avoid the predatory hedge-fund investors, allowing us to issue straight common shares, priced at-the-market, with no warrant coverage, and no investment banking fees. This financing vehicle, unique for publicly-traded companies, among other financing strategies, allowed us to pay-off all of our debt, redeem all of the previously issued preferred shares, completely restructure our balance sheet, padding it with cash, taking shareholder equity from almost $2 million negative in June 2023 to more than $16 million positive in December 2024, and giving us a cash runway, conservatively assuming zero revenue growth, well into 2028 and beyond.

    The shareholder approved reverse split we did last year resulted in an extremely tight – less than 1 million share float – and essentially eliminated all of the warrant overhang from years-ago predatory financings. We’re very proud of how well that series of initiatives was executed, completing that important second prong of our multi-pronged strategy to restructure, reconstitute, and re-invent VERB.

    The next prong of our strategy was to diversify our revenue streams to insulate ourselves from changes in the market, including economic and regulatory changes, as well as changes within our own customer base and demand for our products and services. The challenge was to identify and develop independent, yet complementary revenue producing business units that could leverage the cost savings produced by a unified internal finance, sales, marketing, and technology department structure utilized by and across all business units.

    Recognizing that the core of our business was our interactive social video commerce technology and know-how, our strategy was to exploit those capabilities by entering the exploding telehealth industry, leading to the development and launch of VANITY Prescribed, followed by GoodGirlRX in partnership with TV and social media celebrity Savannah Chrisley, and then the development and launch of GO FUND YOURSELF, our very exciting, fast-growing crowd funding marketing platform. To give a sense of the revenue potential for Go Fund Yourself, we launched it in Q3 with little to no marketing and recognized $25 thousand in revenue – and then in Q4 we recognized $233 thousand in revenue. And if any of the more recent developments come to fruition for the Show – 2025 may be an extraordinary year for Go Fund Yourself and VERB stockholders.

    VANITY Prescribed was in development during Q3 and Q4, identifying suppliers, onboarding suppliers, then replacing suppliers, developing our online patient screening and prescription approval process, and shoring up our supply chain in anticipation of participating in the extraordinary growth of the telehealth space following the introduction and rapid adoption of the new GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. Revenue, though now growing, was modest through that period and we’re excited for a broad-based launch and marketing campaign that is about to get under way.

    As to MARKET.live, at the end of Q3, we changed our focus and product offering by providing what we believe is an industry-leading end-to-end solution for brands seeking to adopt a social commerce strategy that they cannot manage in-house on a cost effective basis. That strategy has proven to be enormously successful producing exponential revenue growth. As reflected in our 2024 Form 10-K filed today, in Q1 we generated revenue of $7 thousand, in Q2 we generated revenue of $37 thousand, in Q3 we generated revenue of $103 thousand, and in Q4 we generated revenue of $490 thousand. An impressive and most welcomed trend by anyone’s standards.

    Combined 2024 revenue was $895 thousand, an increase of $832 thousand over 2023, representing revenue growth of 1,321% over that period. This performance is the greatest amount of revenue generated since the strategic sale of the Company’s direct sales SaaS business unit in June 2023.

    Looking at Q4 alone, we generated $723 thousand, an increase of $694 thousand over the same period last year, representing revenue growth of almost 2,400% over that period. And as compared to Q3 2024, revenue in Q4 increased by $595 thousand, representing growth of almost 465% quarter-over-quarter.

    While we historically do not provide going-forward guidance, we are comfortable sharing our expectation that Q1 2025 will surpass Q4 2024.

    Finally, as to the last prong of our multi-pronged strategy to restructure, reconstitute, and re-invent VERB, we recognized that any business that fails to identify and develop an artificial intelligence strategy will be marginalized. With that in mind, we explored a number of different strategies, including developing our own A.I. capabilities in-house, which we smartly rejected. Instead, we scoured the market for a company with a developed, tested, proprietary A.I. solution uniquely tailored to video-based social commerce. Upon testing the A.I. and social commerce capabilities of LyveCom, a bleeding-edge, video-based social commerce start-up, we entered into a licensing agreement to incorporate their technology into our MARKET.live platform.

    To our great surprise, we found that the integration of LyveCom’s tech resulted in a massive operational cost reduction. In fact, we anticipate a direct operational cost reduction of approximately $1 million per year. However, perhaps more importantly, we also recognized that the addition of LyveCom’s technology created an entirely new, updated platform, feature rich with capabilities far beyond our current platform and certainly beyond that of many other social commerce platforms. So rather than simply license the technology and risk LyveCom being acquired by a competitor, limiting our access to the technology and future iterations of it, we decided to acquire it ourselves. It is our expectation that the acquisition will be highly accretive and produce meaningful value for VERB stockholders.

    With the closing of the LyveCom acquisition, which remains on track and is expected to occur in the coming weeks, we will have effectively completed the transition of VERB from an unprofitable, cash-hungry business in a challenging market, to an extremely well-capitalized, well diversified business, with proven, strong, fast-growing revenue generation capabilities, A.I.-ready, with a tight float, clean cap table and debt-free balance sheet, poised for meaningful continued growth.

    In closing, I refer you to our Form 10-K filed today for greater details concerning our 2024 financial results as well as the press release distributed today summarizing those results for additional information I’ve not covered in my conference call today. I’ve chosen instead to use this time to provide context for those results and share our strategies and ongoing initiatives for continued growth and value-creation for VERB stockholders.

    Finally, and as anyone who can read a balance can see, with under 1 million shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024, and debt-free with more than $13 million in cash and highly liquid securities – and assuming ZERO value given for our three revenue generating business units – I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that our net cash value per common share is at least $13.50, which we believe represents a very compelling opportunity, very compelling indeed.

    I thank you for allowing me to address you all today and share with you our excitement and optimism for VERB shareholders now and into the future.

    Operator: This concludes the conference call. You may now disconnect.

    About VERB
    Verb Technology Company, Inc. (Nasdaq: VERB), is the innovative force behind interactive video-based social commerce. The Company operates three business units, each of which leverages its social commerce technology and video marketing expertise. The Company’s MARKET.live platform is a multi-vendor, livestream social shopping destination at the forefront of the convergence of e-commerce and entertainment, where brands, retailers, creators, and influencers engage their customers, clients, fans, and followers across multiple social media channels simultaneously. GO FUND YOURSELF is a revolutionary interactive social crowd funding platform and TV show for public and private companies seeking broad-based exposure across social media channels for their crowd-funded Regulation CF and Regulation A offerings. The platform combines a ground-breaking interactive TV show with MARKET.live’s back-end capabilities allowing viewers to tap, scan or click on their screen to facilitate an investment, in real time, as they watch companies presenting before the show’s panel of “Titans”. Presenting companies that sell consumer products are able to offer their products directly to viewers during the show in real time through shoppable onscreen icons. VANITYPrescribed.com and GoodGirlRx.com are telehealth portals, intended to redefine telehealth by offering a seamless, digital-first experience that empowers individuals to take control of their healthcare needs. They were designed and developed to disrupt the traditional healthcare model by providing tailored healthcare solutions at affordable, fixed prices – without hidden fees, membership costs, or inflated pharmaceutical markups. GoodGirlRx.com, a partnership with Savannah Chrisley, a well-known lifestyle personality and advocate for health and wellness, offers customers access to convenient, no-hassle telehealth services and pharmaceuticals, including the new weight-loss drugs, with fixed pricing regardless of dosage, breaking away from the industry’s traditional model of excessive pricing and pharmaceutical gatekeeping.

    The Company is headquartered in Las Vegas, NV and operates full-service production and creator studios in Los Alamitos, California.

    For more information, please visit: www.verb.tech

    Follow VERB and MARKET.live here:
    VERB on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VerbTechCo
    VERB on Twitter: https://twitter.com/VerbTech_Co
    VERB on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/verb-tech
    VERB on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0eCb_fwQlwEG3ywHDJ4_KQ

    Sign up for E-mail Alerts here: https://ir.verb.tech/news-events/email-alerts

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
    This communication contains “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance, or achievements. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, those identified in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including our annual, quarterly and current reports filed with the SEC and the risk factors included in our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC today. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

    Investor Relations Contact: investors@verb.tech

    Media Contact: info@verb.tech

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Secretary Rubio’s travel to Jamaica, Guyana, and Suriname

    Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

    Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Jamaica, Guyana, and Suriname March 26-27 to advance President Donald J. Trump’s U.S. foreign policy priorities in the Caribbean.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3_iV60or7U

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UN Human Rights Council 58: UK Statement for Costa Rica’s UPR

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    World news story

    UN Human Rights Council 58: UK Statement for Costa Rica’s UPR

    UK Statement for Costa Rica’s Universal Periodic Review Outcomes Session Statement. Delivered at the 58th HRC in Geneva.

    Thank you, Mr President.

    The UK welcomes the steps taken by Costa Rica to strengthen its approach to human rights, and the emphasis it places on opportunities to enact change. This includes Costa Rica’s creation of the Inter-Institutional Commission for the Monitoring and Implementation of International Human Rights Obligations. We look forward to following its progress.

    We welcome Costa Rica’s acceptance of the recommendations made relating to freedom of the press and would welcome an update on Costa Rica’s plans to improve the protections for journalists and the media.

    Finally, we welcome Costa Rica’s commitment to implement a new National Policy for a Society Free from Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Other Related Forms of Intolerance. In particular, we would welcome an increased focus on protection of women and girls, and the LGBT+ community.

    As the first country in Latin America and the Caribbean to launch a national strategy against hate speech and discrimination, we look forward to working with Costa Rica on these issues.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Delaware Park Converts from VizExplorer to Quick Custom Intelligence’s (QCI) Enterprise Platform

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI), a leading provider of cutting-edge casino management solutions, is thrilled to announce that Delaware Park has selected the QCI Enterprise Platform to elevate its data-driven operations. The strategic decision to transition from VizExplorer to QCI’s innovative platform highlights Delaware Park’s commitment to providing an enhanced guest experience through superior analytics and real-time operational insights.

    Delaware Park, a prominent gaming destination in Delaware, is well-known for offering its guests exceptional service. By adopting the QCI Enterprise Platform, Delaware Park will now leverage advanced marketing and data analytics to optimize their performance and guest satisfaction.

    Terry Glebocki, President & General Manager of Delaware Park, shared her thoughts on the transition: Delaware Park Casino is excited to partner with QCI. “The real-time insights and innovative analytics provided by QCI will enable us to make data-driven decisions that will enhance the overall experience for our customers and improve our internal processes.”

    Andrew Cardno, CTO of QCI, expressed his excitement about the partnership:

    “We are honored to welcome Delaware Park to the expanding network of gaming properties utilizing the QCI Enterprise Platform. By choosing QCI, Delaware Park demonstrates a strong commitment to innovation, and we look forward to supporting their efforts to streamline operations and drive revenue.”

    Melissa Chiaurro, President of VizExplorer, also commented on the collaboration:

    “The Viz team is excited to begin transitioning our clients to the QCI Platform. This move will not only enhance their analytical capabilities but also offer a more user-friendly experience and deeper insights into player behaviors. We are committed to making the migration process as smooth as possible and are eager to see the innovative opportunities that QCI will unlock for our partners.”

    ABOUT QCI
    Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) has pioneered the revolutionary QCI AGI Platform, an artificial intelligence platform that seamlessly integrates player development, marketing, and gaming operations with powerful, real-time tools designed specifically for the gaming and hospitality industries. Our advanced, highly configurable software is deployed in over 250 casino resorts across North America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Latin America, and The Bahamas. The QCI AGI Platform, which manages more than $35 billion in annual gross gaming revenue, stands as a best-in-class solution, whether on-premises, hybrid, or cloud-based, enabling fully coordinated activities across all aspects of gaming or hospitality operations. QCI’s data-driven, AI-powered software propels swift, informed decision-making vital in the ever-changing casino industry, assisting casinos in optimizing resources and profits, crafting effective marketing campaigns, and enhancing customer loyalty. QCI was co-founded by Dr. Ralph Thomas and Mr. Andrew Cardno and is based in San Diego, with additional offices in Las Vegas, St. Louis, Denver, Dallas, and Tulsa. Main phone number: (858) 299.5715. Visit us at www.quickcustomintelligence.com.

    ABOUT Andrew Cardno
    Andrew Cardno is a distinguished figure in the realm of artificial intelligence and data plumbing. With over two decades spearheading private Ph.D. and master’s level research teams, his expertise has made significant waves in data tooling. Andrew’s innate ability to innovate has led him to devise numerous pioneering visualization methods. Of these, the most notable is the deep zoom image format, a groundbreaking innovation that has since become a cornerstone in the majority of today’s mapping tools. His leadership acumen has earned him two coveted Smithsonian Laureates, and teams under his mentorship have clinched 40 industry awards, including three pivotal gaming industry transformation awards. Together with Dr. Ralph Thomas, the duo co-founded Quick Custom Intelligence, amplifying their collaborative innovative capacities. A testament to his inventive prowess, Andrew boasts over 150 patent applications.
    Across various industries—be it telecommunications with Telstra Australia, retail with giants like Walmart and Best Buy, or the medical sector with esteemed institutions like City Of Hope and UCSD—Andrew’s impact is deeply felt. He has enriched the literature with insights, co-authoring eight influential books with Dr. Thomas and contributing to over 100 industry publications. An advocate for community and diversity, Andrew’s work has touched over 100 Native American Tribal Resorts, underscoring his expansive and inclusive professional endeavors.

    Contact:
    Laurel Kay, Quick Custom Intelligence
    Phone: 858-349-8354

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Boosting Rural Business Development: Governor Polis and OEDIT Introduce Rural Jump-Start Operating Grants

    Source: US State of Colorado

    DENVER – Today, the Business Funding & Incentives division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) announced a three-year Rural Jump-Start (RJS) grant program to continue to encourage economic development and job creation in economically distressed, rural counties of Colorado as approved by the Colorado Economic Development Commission (EDC). 

    “Colorado is committed to supporting the small businesses that drive our economy and these grants will support businesses in our rural communities around the state. Colorado is one of the best places to start and grow a business, and we look forward to building on this important work to strengthen our economy,” said Governor Jared Polis. 

    Grants of $15,000, or $25,000 in identified coal transition communities, will support operating expenses for businesses that move to or start in designated RJS zones. Up to $630,000 is expected to be distributed over three years, supporting approximately 36 businesses and at least 120 new jobs, continuing the RJS program’s impact in rural communities. 

    “Companies in rural Colorado are creating incredible new technologies, enhancing our supply chain and creating valuable, good-paying jobs in their communities. Last year, the Rural Jump-start Program facilitated 212 new hires in our rural communities, and we are thrilled to continue the impact with these new operating grants,” said OEDIT Executive Director Eve Lieberman. 

    The RJS Operating Grants announced today replace the original grant program, which sunsets at the end of this fiscal year. Eligible participating businesses are also eligible for relief from state income tax; state sales and use tax; county personal property tax; and municipal personal property tax (in participating municipalities). Qualified New Hires of participating businesses are also eligible for State income tax relief. 

    “The Rural Jump-start program was initiated in partnership with rural communities and has a proven track record of supporting new businesses and new jobs across Colorado’s rural counties. Implementing these new grants will enable more rural businesses to benefit from the program and contribute to their local communities and economies,” said OEDIT Deputy Director Jeff Kraft. 

    The RJS program was established by state statute in 2016 as a tax incentive program and expanded in 2021 to include operating and new hire grants. Currently, 35 Colorado counties have been approved as RJS Zones by the EDC and 33 companies are participating in the program. 

    About the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade 

    The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) works to empower all to thrive in Colorado’s economy. Under the leadership of the Governor and in collaboration with economic development partners across the state, we foster a thriving business environment through funding and financial programs, training, consulting and informational resources across industries and regions. We promote economic growth and long-term job creation by recruiting, retaining, and expanding Colorado businesses and providing programs that support entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes at every stage of growth. Our goal is to protect what makes our state a great place to live, work, start a business, raise a family, visit and retire—and make it accessible to everyone. Learn more about OEDIT. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Lamont Highlights Significant Investments in Towns and Cities

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the FY 2026/2027 biennial state budget proposal that he presented to the Connecticut General Assembly last month continues recent trends under his administration of increasing state funding for Connecticut’s town and city governments to support the administration and delivery of municipal services, even while the state has made challenging funding decisions and streamlined costs across state government.

    Municipal aid is the largest category of state spending within the entire general fund. Since taking office since 2019, every state budget Governor Lamont has enacted has not only held municipal funding harmless, but it has also increased that funding each year.

    “My budgets prioritized significant municipal aid investments because that funding is about more than ensuring our unique towns and cities are incredible places to live, but because that funding supports our children’s education and gives them the best opportunity at the starting line in life,” Governor Lamont said. “Over the last several years, our budgets have doubled municipal aid and PILOT funding, and in my next biennium proposal we kept with those investments by proposing more special education funding, community economic development grants, and school and local capital improvement projects.”

    Over the last five years:

    • The Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grant to municipalities, which supports the operations of K-12 public schools, has increased 17%. The state’s per pupil spending of $22,000 is among the highest in the country (top five) and nearly $5,000 above the national per pupil average of $16,665.
    • PILOT funding to municipalities has doubled.
    • General government aid to municipalities has doubled.
    • More than $400 million in state grants have been provided to the state’s most distressed municipalities through the Community Investment Fund, which Governor Lamont and the General Assembly established in 2022 to support capital improvement projects in towns and cities.
    • More than $3.3 billion has been provided to municipalities to fund school construction projects.

    The FY 2026/2027 budget that Governor Lamont proposed and is currently being considered by the state legislature contains several areas of increases for municipal services, including:

    • An $85 million increase in the ECS grant to municipalities in FY 2026. This increase will bring ECS aid to municipalities a full two-years ahead of the schedule planned in the state’s current ten-year phase-in timeline.
    • A $40 million increase in the Excess Cost Grant in FY 2027 to support special education services.
    • The creation of a new state grant to municipalities called the High-Quality Special Education Incentive Grant, which will support the ability of school districts to provide high-quality special education programming in-district and regionally, reducing reliance on out-of-district placements and meeting students’ needs as identified by their individualized education program in the least restrictive environment. The budget proposal invests $10 million from the general fund and $4 million in bond funds in this grant program for FY 2027.
    • The largest expansion of preschool access in Connecticut history through the creation of the Universal Preschool Endowment, which will be seeded by $300 million from the FY 2025 surplus and in the following years will receive funding from any unappropriated surpluses in the general fund.
    • An investment of $9.9 million in FY 2027 to continue the Learner Education and Engagement Program (LEAP), which Governor Lamont established during the COVID-19 pandemic to help address chronic student absenteeism and engagement.
    • An investment of $700,000 in FY 2026 to eliminate reduced price lunch and breakfast fees for students statewide.
    • An additional investment of $12.4 million in FY 2027 to provide universal free school breakfast.
    • An investment of $5 million in FY 2027 to support a High Dosage Tutoring Grant program, which will serve nearly 12,000 students to provide tutoring support.
    • An investment of $350 million in FY 2026 and 2027 combined to continue grants through the Community Investment Fund.

    The General Assembly’s Appropriations Committee and Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee are currently reviewing the governor’s budget proposal and are anticipated to act on it in the coming weeks.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Transcript: Governor Hochul On “Mornings With Zerlina”

    Source: US State of New York

    arlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul was a guest on SiriusXM’s “Mornings with Zerlina” with Zerlina Miller. The Governor spoke on her proposal for universal free school meals, the ongoing Budget negotiations and which challenges she is prioritizing from the Trump administration.

    AUDIO: The Governor’s remarks are available in audio form here.

    A rush transcript of the Governor’s remarks is available below:

    Zerlina Miller, SiriusXM: Welcome back to “Mornings with Zerlina.” Joining us on the phone is the first woman to ever be Governor of the great State of New York. Governor Kathy Hochul is all on the line. Good morning, Governor.

    Governor Hochul: Good morning.

    Zerlina Miller, SiriusXM: It is quite a time. There is so much going on and I’m so grateful that you were able to join us this morning.

    One of the things we’ve been focused on since January 20 is the role and the importance of Democratic Governors in being the bulwark against some of the authoritarian moves of the Trump administration. How do you see yourself and your role as the Governor of New York in holding the line for democracy?

    Governor Hochul: That’s an excellent question, and I appreciate the role that Congress plays. I’m a former member of Congress and I would’ve stayed if I had not voted to support the Affordable Care Act representing a very Republican district. So, I have been there. But also — now serving as Governor for the last three-and-a-half years — there is enormous power in being able to speak up with one voice to represent an entire state, a large state like New York, and to call out what is happening to not just the people of our state, but the people all across America. And if we abrogate that responsibility at this moment in history, then we’re not fulfilling our obligations to our citizens or to this nation, and that’s what I feel so strongly about — the role I can play now.

    There are pathways to have a relationship that’s workable on infrastructure and other areas where there’s common interest with the Trump administration, but what I’ve said from the very beginning, and say it all the time: If you cross the line and you come after policies and programs that help New Yorkers and take them away, or you challenge our very values — the ideals that we hold dear in the State of New York — then you have a fight with me.

    So, that’s our position.

    Zerlina Miller, SiriusXM: What are some of the things that you’re speaking up about?

    Governor Hochul: Well, first of all, women’s rights — and this is an issue we have, actually with a judge right now in Louisiana who’s trying to force us to extradite a medical doctor, an abortion provider who prescribed telemedicine abortion pills to a family, a woman and her mother in Louisiana.

    They want me to extradite this person and send her there to face criminal charges. This is, again, a fallout from administration stacking the Supreme Court, overturning Roe v. Wade and the fallout continues all these years later. So, standing up for women’s rights, but also, Medicaid. I was out the very first days they talked about undoing the Medicaid promise that we’ve made to our citizens since the 1960s that we will take care of them. They think it’s just people in poverty who aren’t working — they are wrong. These are our senior citizens in nursing homes and these are programs for children. So, I’ve been out there speaking out strongly on those issues.

    Now we have cuts to FEMA. Are you kidding me? Have they watched the news? Did they see the weather? They see the devastation all across America and at this time of great crisis, you are now talking about eliminating FEMA assistance for states. So, I will tell you this — on education, school lunches, I was in a school just a couple days ago saying, “Don’t touch this essential program that the Department of Education provides,” and there’s almost too much and, in that sense, you have to be a little bit selective or your voice becomes just one of many and you really have to pick your fights.

    But I have to say this, there are plenty of fights to choose from.

    Zerlina Miller, SiriusXM: There are plenty of fights to choose from. Just the ones you just listed off — the Medicaid cuts, FEMA cuts, Department of Education. I feel like cutting the department — I mean they’re really cutting everywhere. You have Elon Musk and his unelected crew of “tech bros,” I guess is the way to describe them. Running from agency to agency and cutting staff and funding. I mean, talk a bit about the impact specifically of the Department of Education cuts in addition to the free school lunches, because I think that that is still very much new, right? It just happened and so the impact has not necessarily been felt by everyone yet.

    Governor Hochul: Right. Before I get to that, let me just quickly say that when we first started seeing these cuts from Elon Musk, we took an exact opposite approach here. We actually have advertising in Union Station in Washington and here in New York at Penn Station. People going on a train see the message, which Elon Musk may say, “You are fired,” but in New York, we say, “You’re hired.” We are trying to hire these individuals because they’re enormously talented. We value public servants. We know the critical role they have in keeping the plane safe, and protecting our nuclear codes, and making sure social security checks are received by our grandparents and parents.

    But on education, New York State receives about $5 billion in assistance, whether it’s $2 billion for Pell Grants — creating that pathway to a higher education, which changes everything, including my own family’s trajectory — $2 billion for school lunches. I mean, you have to go to some of these school lunch rooms and know that there are children whose stomach should be growling throughout the day because their parents, their mom, most likely, did not have the ability to pack that lunch, send them along with money to buy lunch and these are the kids that are the collateral damage of this war on government.

    And if we as moms and parents — first Mom Governor of New York — if I don’t use my voice to stand up for those children across my state in this nation, then what am I doing here? And that’s how strongly I feel about these fights when it comes to the education cuts. There’s a lot of uncertainty and chaos, and we’re trying to do our Budget here in the State of New York, not knowing whether or not the $93 billion we receive from the federal government is going to be affected, so it’s complicating things. But, if our voices don’t rise up at this moment, then why are we sitting in these seats?

    Zerlina Miller, SiriusXM: In the last few minutes here, I want to ask about tariffs because one of the things that is true about New York, it is quite large and it goes up right on the line of Canada and some of the folks who live in New York — the farmers and the folks who benefit from being able to have small businesses in that area will be impacted by Trump’s tariffs. Talk a bit about, number one, the impact and what you can do as Governor to protect their interests.

    Governor Hochul: That is something that has been top of mind, particularly in our farm community. Literally on Saturday morning, I was out celebrating Maple Syrup Weekends. New York is the number two producer of maple syrup in the nation, so I was out there with farmers.

    They said, “What will the tariffs do to you out in this rural area?” Probably a red county. I’m pretty sure that the father who ran the farm was a Republican supervisor, and they are so frightened about tariffs for their farms. Everything from the steel that goes into how they process the maple syrup all the way to the fertilizer.

    I mean, how many people think about fertilizer? There’s something called potash — most of it from our country, in New York, particularly — comes from Canada and it’s only manufactured in Canada, Ukraine, and Russia. So I’d rather get it from Canada any day of the week. But this is what’s jeopardized. So it’s the farm community that is really, really, really anxious at a time when they don’t need this extra stress.

    But also, I’m from Buffalo. I’m from Western New York. The synergy between Ontario and Western New York. It is just one large committee. Everybody supports the Buffalo Bills, everybody watches the hockey games, and so there’s a lot of cross pollination. This is not a foreign country to us. These are our friends to the north, so there’s a lot of business exchange, a lot of trade back-and-forth.

    We have a $50 billion trade balance, which is pretty much in balance with our largest trading partner, which is Canada. That being jeopardized sends chills down the spines of our business leaders who don’t know whether all their costs, all the materials they need. We get so much lumber, we build housing with lumber from Canada, and what is that going to do to our ability to be able to build the housing that I am pushing for — to make up for years of people not having the ambition to do it.

    So, I have to say this: The ripple effect touches every sector of our economy here in New York. And what that means, contrary to what Donald Trump promised, which is lower prices on Election Day. Remember he said that countless times on the campaign trail? The opposite is true.

    Prices are going up and will be going up. And lastly, Canada, because they’re frustrated with these policies — threatened to raise our energy costs that we get from Canada by 25 percent. Now, that is the last thing New Yorkers need right now is a higher energy bill because of the Trump tariffs. So it’s wide ranging and my fear is only just beginning.

    Zerlina Miller, SiriusXM: In the last few minutes here, I wanted to ask you about being somebody who has to stand up for the people in the State of New York against the administration that is trying to grab all the power that they can in such a short amount of time. Do you ever feel afraid or nervous about becoming a target by this administration? They obviously are targeting and attacking people who stand up against them.

    Governor Hochul: No, fear is never an option for someone in my position. Fear is paralyzing at this moment in history when we’re called to stand up to basically the disintegration, the destruction of our democracy and our nation as we know it.

    I do not want to be, as Theodore Roosevelt described as “The Man in the Arena,” which I changed to “The Woman in the Arena.” I will never be the timid soul on the sidelines, questioning what others do. I will be in that arena. I will stand up. I will cooperate and have a partnership with the Trump administration on areas of mutual interest.

    And I will do that because it’s important to my state to get Penn Station redone and focus on infrastructure. But I said this in my first call with the president, after he was elected, I said, “But I will stand up to you. You go after women’s rights, you have to get through me. You’re going to challenge my citizens on issues. And my immigrant community, we are going to have a fight.” So I cannot let fear dictate how I respond. I must govern with strength at this moment. And then that’s exactly what we’re doing.

    Zerlina Miller, Sirius XM: New York Governor Kathy Hochul, thank you so much for being with us. It’s Women’s History Month, it’s the perfect time to have this conversation. Thank you, again. Come back anytime.

    Governor Hochul: Alright, thank you. Bye-bye.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bolstering Accessibility Technology Resources

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced more than $2.1 million in awards to 43 faith-based and not-for-profit organizations through the New York State Office of Faith and Nonprofit Development Services to improve public access to essential technologies. The funds are available to community organizations that will work directly with New Yorkers to help remove barriers for people who need technology resources, including telehealth appointments, career advancement services, remote educational opportunities, social services applications or other computer access needs.

    “Technology is rapidly advancing, and we need to make sure that everyone has a fair chance at taking advantage of its resources,” Governor Hochul said. “From doctors appointments to opportunities in education and professional development, we are making these resources easily accessible for all New Yorkers.”

    Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley said, “The Office of Faith and Nonprofit Development is making good on Governor Hochul’s commitment to ensuring community-based organizations have access to critical state resources in order to serve the people of our great state. These grants to organizations across New York will help remove barriers for those in need to use technology resources to get telehealth, education, career advancement and any other support to better their lives.”

    Director of the Office of Faith and Nonprofit Development Services Caura Washington said, In 2023, Governor Kathy Hochul reimagined the Office of Faith and Nonprofit Development Services Office commissioning this office to go on a 62-county tour. Our dedication to listen, understand, and respond to the needs often highlighted during that tour, in every region across our state, led to the development of this funding opportunity. Through the New York State request for application process, this opportunity was offered statewide, ensuring that funding was awarded with transparency and equal opportunity so that innovation and impact would take precedence. We are excited to continue to provide support across our state and meet the needs of everyday New Yorkers.”

    President of New York State Interfaith Council A.R. Bernard said, “I applaud Governor Hochul for her visionary leadership and commitment to strengthening New York’s communities through the announcement of more than $2.1 million in awards to 43 faith-based and nonprofit organizations. This initiative reflects a deep understanding that communities thrive when faith-based and nonprofit partners are empowered to serve. I stand in full support of this effort and celebrate Governor Hochul’s continued promise to help these organizations fulfill their potential as pillars of hope, access, and opportunity for all.”

    The grants of up to $50,000 will allow these organizations to further break down barriers for people in need of technology services by offering:

    • Technology access for communities across NYS.
    • Helping bridge gaps in technology for vulnerable populations.
    • Enhancing public programs with technology infrastructure investments.
    • Creating opportunities for public access to computers and the internet for education, job advancement, telehealth and more.

    The goal of these grants is to work together with faith-based and non-profit organizations to enhance the ability to meet the community’s needs, including serving distinctly different populations and/or geographic locations and technology demands. The regions to receive the grants are:

    Capital Region

    • Capital District Center for Independence (CDCI) $48,893
    • Higher Horizons Development Corp (HHDC) $49,433

    Central New York

    • Syracuse Northeast Community Center (SNCC) $49,999

    Finger Lakes

    • Episcopal SeniorLife Communities (ESLC) $50,000
    • Literacy West, NY (LWNY) $49,821

    Mid-Hudson

    • CHOICE of New Rochelle (CHOICE of NY) $50,000
    • Echoes Africa Initiatives $50,000
    • NYSARC The ARC Mid-Hudson / Cornell Creative Arts Center $50,000
    • Parcare Community Health Network $50,000
    • Rockland Independent Living Center (BRIDGES) $50,000
    • United Hebrew of New Rochelle $42,431
    • Upon this Rock Ministries, Inc $50,000
    • Westchester Jewish Community Services, Inc. (WJCS) $50,000

    Mohawk Valley

    • Muslim Community Association of Mohawk Valley (MCAMV) $50,000
    • Rescue Mission of Utica (RMU) $49,905

    New York City Bronx

    • Bridge Builders Community Partnership (BBCP) $50,000
    • Kingsbridge Heights Community Center (KHCC) $50,000
    • Practice of Peace Foundation, Inc. $50,000

    New York City Brooklyn

    • CAMBA $50,000
    • Kings Bay Y (KBY) $50,000
    • Metropolitan New York Coordinating Council on Jewish Poverty (Met Council) $41,253
    • University Settlement Society of New York (USS) $50,000

    New York City New York

    • Chinatown Manpower Project, Inc. (CMP) $50,000
    • Girls Write Now (GWN) $50,000
    • Muslim Community Network (MCN) $50,000

    New York City Queens

    • Center for the Integration & Advancement of New Americans (CIANA) $25,000
    • Jewish Community Council of the Rockaway Peninsula (JCCRP) $50,000
    • Korean American Family Services Center (KAFSC) $50,000
    • Korean Community Services of Metro (KCS) $50,000
    • Rise Now, Inc $50,000
    • Rockaway Development & Revitalization Corporation (RDRC) $49,967

    Southern Tier

    • The Economic Opportunity Program, Inc. (EOP) $48,600
    • AIM Independent Living Center (AIM) $50,000

    Western New York

    • Ardent Solutions, Inc. $50,000
    • Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers, Inc. (BFNC) $50,000
    • ChildCare Network of the Niagara Frontier, Inc. (The LINK) $50,000
    • Computers for Children, Inc. (AKA Mission: Ignite) $50,000
    • Gerard Place $49,793
    • Jewish Family Services of Western NY (JFS) $50,000
    • Literacy West NY, Inc. (LWNY) $49,533
    • The Chapel $ 36,715

    Contracting organizations will start the development of the Community Resource Rooms to be available in the next few months, expanding technology accessibility for New Yorkers.

    About the Office of Faith and Nonprofit Development Services

    Since its creation in November of 2023, the New York State Office of Faith & Nonprofit Development Services has stood as a beacon of support and resources for faith-based and not-for-profit organizations across the State. At its core, the Office seeks to empower faith-based and not-for-profit organizations by providing essential information, facilitating access to state grants, and enhancing organizational capacities. More information is available on the Office of Faith & Nonprofit Development Services website.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Imposes Tariffs on Countries Importing Venezuelan Oil

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    PROTECTING UNITED STATES NATIONAL SECURITY: Yesterday, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order imposing tariffs on countries that import Venezuelan oil.
    President Trump is levying a 25% tariff on all goods from any country that imports Venezuelan oil, whether directly from Venezuela or indirectly through third parties.
    The tariffs will lapse one year after a country ceases importing Venezuelan oil—or sooner if officials deem it appropriate.
    If tariffs are imposed on China, they will also apply to Hong Kong and Macau to prevent transshipment and evasion.
    These tariffs aim to sever the financial lifelines of Nicolás Maduro’s corrupt regime and curb its destabilizing influence across the Western Hemisphere.
    This action targets transnational criminal threats, such as the Tren de Aragua gang, and addresses the humanitarian crises fueled by Venezuela’s actions.
    ADDRESSING AN EMERGENCY SITUATION: The Maduro regime poses an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.
    The Maduro regime systemically undermines democratic institutions by suppressing free and fair elections and consolidating power illegitimately.
    Venezuela’s endemic corruption and mismanagement under Maduro have crushed its people and triggered a regional humanitarian and public health crisis.
    Millions of Venezuelans have fled Maduro’s oppressive rule, imposing significant burdens on neighboring countries and destabilizing the Western Hemisphere.
    The Maduro regime has aided and facilitated the infiltration of the Tren de Aragua gang—a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization—into the United States by failing to secure its borders, allowing the gang to flourish within Venezuela, and refusing to take action against its members.
    These dangerous criminals exploited the previous administration’s open-border policies, establishing a foothold in U.S. communities and preying on American citizens through violent acts, including kidnapping, assault, and murder.

    USING OUR LEVERAGE TO SAFEGUARD OUR INTERESTS: President Trump is using America’s economic might to safeguard our interests and punish those who support Maduro’s regime.
    Tariffs are a powerful, proven source of leverage for protecting the national interest.
    President Trump is sending a clear message that access to our economy is a privilege, not a right, and countries importing Venezuelan oil will face consequences.
    As President Trump said in the Presidential Memorandum on American First Trade Policy, trade policy is a critical component in national security.
    President Trump has successfully used tariffs in the past to advance America’s interests and address urgent national security threats and is doing so again today.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Trump Administration’s Actions Made Houthi Terrorists Pay

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Democrats and their media allies have seemingly forgotten that President Donald J. Trump and his National Security team successfully killed terrorists who have targeted U.S. troops and disrupted one of the most consequential shipping routes in the world. This is a coordinated effort to distract from the successful actions taken by President Trump and his administration to make America’s enemies pay and keep Americans safe.
    The Biden Administration sat back as a band of pirates — with precision-guided, Iran-provided weaponry — exacted a toll system in one of the most important shipping lanes in the world.
    In fact, since 2023, Houthi terrorists attacked U.S. Navy warships 174 times and attacked commercial shipping vessels 145 times — and as a result, 75% of U.S.-flagged shipping has been forced to navigate the southern coast of Africa rather than through the Suez Canal.Biden’s weakness invited these unacceptable attacks — while President Trump put these terrorists on notice:
    BIDEN: Removed the Houthis from the list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations.
    TRUMP: Immediately re-designated the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
    BIDEN: Allowed the Houthis to attack U.S. Navy ships and shut down commercial traffic through the Red Sea — responding in feckless, pinprick “attacks.”
    TRUMP: Launched successful, large-scale strikes against the Houthis, eliminating senior terrorists within the organization and putting the world on notice.
    The Trump Administration’s actions to hold the Houthis accountable has been a massive success — and nothing can distract from that unrelenting action to keep Americans safe.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Tyrone and Donegal youngsters have the angling world at their feet

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Tyrone and Donegal youngsters have the angling world at their feet

    25 March 2025

    Three young fishermen from the North West are looking forward to the experience of a lifetime in Idaho Falls in the USA later this summer after qualifying with the Ireland youth team at the International World Fly Fishing Championships.
    Jacob Griffin, Zack Barnett and Lewis Porter who learned their craft on the local waters of the Mourne, the Derg and the Finn sealed their place on the national team at two qualifying events organised by the Trout Anglers Federation of Ireland.
    The trio fought off stiff opposition from 25 other young anglers from all over Ireland at the events in the River Suir in County Tipperary and Ardaire Springs Angling Centre in Kilkenny.
    Jacob and Lewis will exhibit their world class fly tying skills to thousands of people at this weekend’s North West Angling Fair at the Melvin Sports Complex on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th of March.
    The boys TAFI Ulster Coach, Campbell Baird, commended all three of them on their hard work to reach this elite level: “These youths are a credit to the Ulster Fishing community,” he said. “Their dedication, knowledge and determination has shone through in the qualifiers and this team representing Ireland are at the highest level of their game, competing at standard that will hopefully see them reach the top position within the competition and to be on that podium making us all proud.
    “They have come through the ranks of FROG (Foyle River –Catchment Outdoor Group CIC) and are now fishing in world competitions.”
    Damien Devine FROG added: “The climb to the top of the tree in the angling journey of these youth angling representatives is something myself and Joseph Owens could never have imagined at the outset.
    “They came along to us at a very tender age, some without even the basic equipment at that time.
    “However, in the early days of casting lessons, it was very noticeable that there was a hunger from them and a support network from their guardians, which was pointing towards greater heights.
    “With many angling titles and success in the last few years, the world stage now awaits the new generation of Irish youth anglers.
    “All our coaches at FROG CIC are so privileged to have played our part in steering these fine young men towards their dream of international representation.
    “They are now true Ambassadors of our group, as the next generation of 10 years we have in our ranks are aspiring to reach the same heights as these young anglers in the years to come. “All are a credit to us, their families, and the wider angling community of the North-West corner of the Foyle river-basin.”
    The boys will also travel to Scotland with the Irish Trout Fly Fishing Association in July as part of the Ireland Youth Team to compete in the Four Nations Competition 2025, who have already claimed gold medals in the Four Nations in England 2024 and Wales 2023.
    The 2025 North West Angling Fair at the Melvin Sports Complex will host some of the UK and Ireland’s leading fly dressers, casters and angling specialists.
    The public will also have the opportunity to source angling merchandise from a wide range of fishing tackle producers, fly tying brands and fishing outfitters in the Melvin’s Main Hall.
    The North West Angling Fair is organised by Derry City and Strabane District Council with support from the Loughs Agency.
    To see the full programme visit www.derrystrabane.com/anglingfair and follow Northwestangling on facebook for updates.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: NFB feature doc Parade: Queer Acts of Love & Resistance opens Hot Docs 2025. Six National Film Board of Canada documentaries, including five world premieres.

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    March 25, 2025 – Toronto – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

    The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) will be at Hot Docs in Toronto with a stellar selection of six NFB documentaries, including Winnipeg director Noam Gonick and Toronto producer Justine Pimlott’s feature doc Parade: Queer Acts of Love & Resistance, presented Thursday, April 24, at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema as the festival’s opening night film.

    NFB filmmakers will be attending select screenings. The Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival runs from April 24 to May 4, 2025.

    Parade: Queer Acts of Love & Resistance to kick off festival

    A world premiere Special Presentation at Hot Docs, Parade captures pivotal moments that sparked Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ movement, told through first-person accounts and rarely seen archival footage. Key milestones illustrate the power of taking it into the streets and underscore how easily the rights we’ve fought for can be revoked, making the documentary essential viewing for all Canadians. Unflinching, bold, enraging, hopeful; Parade is a vital new chapter in the queer canon.

    Quotes

    “With the attacks that are once again being faced by trans people and other members of our rainbow collective, it is urgently time for a refresher on the activist movements that got us this far. Queer archives shouldn’t be allowed to get dusty; those snapshots, video clips and film reels ought to see the light of day—so we can give flowers to those that made a difference. With Parade we wanted to put viewers on the street where our rights were won. To hear, see and feel the invigorating protests that moved the needle and opened up Canadian society. May this film act as a guidebook, lest those phalanxes need resurrecting in the days to come.” – Noam Gonick, director

    “This is a history that many people are not even aware of, both among the general Canadian public and within 2SLGBTQI+ communities. So, the intention in bringing this film to the screen was to ensure that our histories are documented and that they’re also told by the activist/witnesses themselves, in their own words. It’s important to know whose shoulders we stand on and to pay our respects to them. We need to learn from history so that we don’t repeat the mistakes of the past. Having the platform of the opening night film of Hot Docs 2025 is an incredible gift and wonderful opportunity to get this story out into the world and to reach as wide an audience as possible.”

    – Justine Pimlott, producer 

    Parade screening times
    OPENING FILM: Thursday, April 24, 6:15 p.m. (industry) and 9:30 p.m. (public), Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema
    Saturday, April 26, 11:15 a.m., Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema
    Saturday, May 3, 10 a.m., TIFF Lightbox 1

    More NFB premieres at Hot Docs

    Ghosts of the Sea by Virginia Tangvald (micro_scope/NFB/Urban Factory; 97 min) – ONTARIO PREMIERE | CANADIAN SPECTRUM
    Sunday, April 27, 10:30 a.m., TIFF Lightbox 1
    Wednesday, April 30, 5:15 p.m., TIFF Lightbox 4

    • While searching for clues about the death of her brother, who was lost at sea, Montreal-raised filmmaker Virginia Tangvald embarks on a fascinating investigation into her family’s dark secrets. Calling into question the idyllic life of her father, legendary sailor Peter Tangvald, her quest dismantles the myth of absolute freedom and offers the hope that a toxic cycle has been broken.

    King’s Court by Serville Poblete (20 min) – WORLD PREMIERE | SHORTS PROGRAM
    Thursday, May 1, 4:30 p.m., TIFF Lightbox 4
    Saturday, May 3, 12:15 p.m., TIFF Lightbox 4

    • A fast-paced look at friendship, family and the journey to manhood in modern society, King’s Court blurs the line between documentary and fiction, immersing viewers in the raw emotions and struggles of two lifelong friends of filmmaker Serville Poblete in Toronto’s Bleecker Street neighbourhood—one of Canada’s most diverse and densely populated areas.

    The Nest by Chase Joynt and Julietta Singh (89 min) – WORLD PREMIERE | SPECIAL PRESENTATION
    Sunday, April 27, 8 p.m., TIFF Lightbox 1
    Wednesday, April 30, 11:15 a.m., TIFF Lightbox 1

    • At the end of her mother’s life, decolonial writer Julietta Singh returns to say goodbye to her childhood home in Winnipeg. As she digs into the history of the house, she uncovers 140 years of forgotten matriarchs and political histories she never knew. In this genre-defying cross-community collaboration, a single home is transformed from a place of siloed stories into a site of radical potential.
    • The filmmakers will take part in the Hot Take presentation Cross-Community Collaboration as Documentary Practice, Tuesday, April 29, at the Yorkville Royal Sonesta.

    Night Watches Us by Stefan Verna (42 min) – WORLD PREMIERE | TIPPING POINT
    Thursday, May 1, 2025, 5 p.m., TIFF Lightbox 2
    Saturday, May 3, 2:45 p.m., TIFF Lightbox 3

    • On August 21, 2018, a son lost his father, a mother lost her son, and a nephew lost his uncle. Nicholas Gibbs was a 23-year-old Black man plagued by mental health issues who was murdered by police. Montreal filmmaker Stefan Verna examines the systemic forces that lead to Nicholas’s tragic death, telling the story through the eyes of a family and community united in grief.

    Siksikakowan: The Blackfoot Man by Sinakson Trevor Solway (77 min) – WORLD PREMIERE | CANADIAN SPECTRUM
    Saturday, April 26, 5:45 p.m., TIFF Lightbox 2
    Monday, April 28, 11 a.m., TIFF Lightbox 2

    • Siksika filmmaker Sinakson Trevor Solway intimately portrays the lives of Blackfoot men as they navigate identity, kinship and the complex expectations of manhood. Through unfiltered moments and revealing conversations set against the breathtaking landscape of the Prairies, the film reimagines what it means to be a Native man. Siksikakowan: The Blackfoot Manis a profound ode to strength, vulnerability and love across generations.

    – 30 –

    Stay Connected

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

    About the NFB

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Research Day 2025 Highlights Medical and Dental Research Breadth

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Medicine and dentistry students stood beside their posters, brightly catching the eye of anyone who seemed interested in their work, as faculty and fellow students browsed the buzzing hall.

    “Each year, we are thoroughly impressed by the quality and rigor of the scholarly work that is presented by our students and, if you have looked at the program booklet and have read the abstracts, this year’s presentations will be no different,” School of Dental Medicine Dean Steven Lepowsky promised that morning, as he welcomed attendees to the 2025 Medical and Dental Research Day.

    The energy was infectious. This is the second year the research day has been back in person, after taking a hiatus during the pandemic, and students, faculty, and staff happily mingled while viewing posters on a wildly diverse range of topics, from sexually transmitted disease treatment to maxillofacial surgery.

    “Year after year our students make us so UConn-proud with their novel research investigations and professional presentations about them. They surely are poised to become the next generation of physician-scientists,” said Dr. Bruce T. Liang, dean of UConn School of Medicine.

    After the poster sessions, Wenyuan Shi, the chief executive officer of the ADA Forsyth Institute, addressed the students with a keynote on how to combine a satisfying career in the health fields with opportunities for technological innovation and business development.

    “Research and innovation have everything to do with being a good doctor,” Shi said.

    Wenyuan Shi, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer at the ADA Forsyth Institute, gives a lecture as the keynote speaker at the Medical and Dental Student Research Day at UConn Schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine, on FEbruary 27, 2025. (Tina Encarnacion/UConn Health photo)

    The dental and medical students presented 102 projects, enough to fill the hallways and lobby near the rotunda as well as the landing on the way to the library. Every poster contained original research done by second-year students. It was impossible for a single individual to speak with every presenter, but below is a sampling of the work presented by the students.

    Root to Crown

    Longer roots make for stabler smiles: teeth with longer roots compared to the visible crown of the tooth are more likely to stay put. Especially in orthodontics, the length of the root of the tooth is a good predictor of how successful the treatment will be.

    “It’s important to have that good anchor,” dental student Stephanie Salcines said.  Salcines’s research looked at whether ethnicity correlated with root length in Asian and Hispanic populations. The answer she found was no, aside from the maxillary lateral incisor—but gender did seem to make a difference, particularly among Hispanics.

    Fewer X-rays, Same Imagery

    A new 3D x-ray technique that uses just half the radiation can identify problems in the sinuses as well as the standard method, reported Erica Mallon. The second-year dental student showed that cone beam computed tomography scans taken only from behind, rotating around the head from one ear to the other, can allow clear diagnosis of blockages, deformations, and other sinus troubles. The 180-degree behind the head technique fully shows the teeth and the sinuses, while avoiding radiation to the sensitive eyes and thyroid gland, Mallon found. Previous research showed this reduces the total radiation dose by 40% to 60%.

    “This is a sweet spot between a reasonably low and balanced radiation exposure and the resolution needed for diagnosis and clinical treatment planning,” said Aditya Tadinada, associate dean for graduate research and one of the principal investigators on the project.

    Troughs of Tears

    The thin skin under the eye often sags with age, particularly the area around the tear trough. It’s a common location for cosmetic surgeries, but there are nerves, major blood vessels and veins that must be avoided. Second-year dental student John Fregene surveyed outcomes of tear trough cosmetic procedures and found that surgeons who followed specific guidelines caused little swelling, no artery damage, no nerve damage, and improved the appearance of the tear trough area.

    “There should be a standard protocol to follow in tear trough augmentation,” Fregene said.

    Exon of Action in Hyperparathyroidism

    Hyperparathyroidism is a rare condition in which the parathyroid glands become overactive, causing jaw tumors, renal and uterine issues. There’s a specific gene that commonly causes the condition, called CDC73. Second-year dental student Lorens Carrasquillo found most of the mutations associated with hyperparathyroidism affected Exon 1, a specific location in CDC73.

    Objectively Painful

    Pain is notoriously subjective—but maybe not, according to work done by Victoria Abalyan, a second-year medical student. She used microfilments to apply precise amounts of pressure on a patient’s forearm and asked them to rate their perceived level of pain. There was definitely a correlation between level of pressure and level of reported pain, indicating women were reliably reporting their pain levels. All the patients in the study were women within 48 hours of having given birth.

    “We want to take data further out, at six weeks, or 24 weeks. We might be able to screen for women who are at higher risk of pain in the postpartum period,” Abalyan said.

    Medical and dental students present their research at the UConn Schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine research day on February 27, 2025. (Tina Encarnacion/UConn Health photo)

    Ultrasound in the Emergency Room

    Long waits in the emergency room are common and frustrating for patients. Three student researchers looked at whether ultrasounds done right in the emergency room could speed appropriate treatment for patients with three common issues: joint pain, suspected urinary tract infections, and emergency surgery.

    Second-year medical student Michael Kosover looked into whether ultrasound could help triage joint pain. And it could—not a single joint pain patient with a normal ultrasound required surgery or admission to the hospital.

    “It was 100% sensitivity,” Kosover said. “And the advantage of ultrasound is it’s quicker, no radiation, and portable.”

    Delaney Kehoe looked into whether ultrasounds could diagnose urinary tract infections in the emergency room.

    “We expected to see if there was a different in the inner wall of the bladder—a thicker layer, because of inflammation, or just different,” Kehoe said. In this case, the answer seemed to be no—but the study didn’t recruit enough patients, so they may continue it to get a larger sample size and clearer results.

    Aspiration (inhaling stomach contents) can be a risk during lifesaving intubations in the emergency room. The risk of aspiration is why patients are advised to fast before surgery—but people who need emergency surgery obviously can’t plan ahead. Nicolette Meka evaluated whether ultrasound can reliably determine stomach size, and if so, which angle of the patient’s torso gives the best ultrasound view of their stomach.

    “We found coronal—looking at the stomach from the patient’s side—gave 94.6% specificity,” in whether they had significant food in their stomach, Meka said.

    Hives on Social Media

    Getting hives – those red, itchy raised welts on the skin – happens to a portion of the population all the time, for no apparent reason. Yee Won Kim had them all the time when she was young, and information on how to treat or prevent them was scarce. Now, people are likely to look for advice on social media, the second-year medical student reports in her research.

    “Many people are just asking what helped other people—there are a lot of good conversations happening,” Kim says. She collected information on the people and questions surrounding “chronic spontaneous urticaria,” as hives are known, on social media channels including X, Instagram, and Facebook.

    Following the poster day, the judging committee, composed of medical and dental faculty, decided on the winners of the competition.

    The winners of the 2025 Student Research Day are below.

    Medical and dental students present their research at the UConn Schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine research day on February 27, 2025. (Tina Encarnacion/UConn Health photo)

    School of Medicine

    CONNECTICUT ACADEMY OF FAMILY PRACTICE: One medical student will receive this $200 monetary gift for excellence in Primary Care Research.

    Poster 57 | Survey Connecticut Providers on the Process of Making Patient Referrals to Community-Based Organizations

    • Paul Jude Isaac

    CONNECTICUT HOLISTIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION: Awarded by Dr. Michael Basso, this annual award was established to recognize excellence in research in Integrative/ Complementary and Alternative Medicine. A medical student and a dental student will each receive an award of $100. Special thanks go to Dr. Michael Basso of the Connecticut Holistic Health Association.

    Poster 51 | Financial Strain as a Contributor to Cognitive Impairment in Late Life Depression

    • Brian Fox
    • Madison Witt

    DEAN’S AWARD: In recognition of two outstanding medical student researchers and their faculty mentors. Awards of $250 each will be presented to the four awardees. The awards to faculty mentors will be used for travel to a scientific meeting.

    Poster 31 | Exploring the Impact of Artificial Intelligence Integration in Pediatric Health Care for Patient Education

    • Veronica Sofia Arroyo Rodriguez & Dr. Thomas Agresta

    Poster 77 | Gastric Distention on Ultrasound: Coronal versus Sagittal Approach

    • Nicolette Mary Meka & Dr. Meghan Herbst

    MR. AND MRS. JEFFREY GROSS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENT: Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Gross established this award. Dr. Jeffrey Gross is Professor Emeritus at UCHC. Awards of $250 each will be given to two medical student researchers who presented excellent studies. One award will go to an oral presentation and one award will go to a poster presentation.

    Poster 47 | In vivo modeling of a novel TEK:GAB2 fusion oncogene reveals targetable oncogenic signaling pathways in angiosarcoma

    • Flora Isabella Dievenich Braes

    Poster 52 | Visit characteristics from emergency departments caring for persons living with dementia: a nationally representative sample

    • James Christopher Galske

    JOHN SHANLEY MEMORIAL GLOBAL HEALTH AWARD: The award is to honor the memory of John D. Shanley, MD, MPH, former Chief of Infectious Disease at the University of Connecticut, and Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health and Associate Dean of International Health at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University. This award is sponsored by FNE International and will be given in recognition of a project that best exemplifies collaboration towards sustainable services with an international partner. The student will receive a monetary award of $250.

    Poster 68 | Assessing Dengue Vaccine Acceptance in Pediatric Caregivers in Kandy, Sri Lanka

    • Caitlin Alexandra Lawrence

    LAWRENCE G. RAISZ AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MUSCULOSKELETAL RESEARCH:

    In honor and memory of Lawrence G. Raisz, M.D., this award of $250 will be given to a medical student researcher who presented outstanding work in the field musculoskeletal research.

    Poster 54 | Effect of 4-Aminopyridine and Smoothened Agonist on Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

    • Christopher Jesse Garcia

    PEER RECOGNITION AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH:

    This award of $200 will be given to a medical student researcher in recognition of an exemplary poster presentation, as determined by peer review.

    Poster 76 | Reassessing Maxillary Sinusitis: Recognizing Odontogenic Origins in the ENT Clinic

    • Uma Sandeep Mehta

    WILLIAM M. WADLEIGH MEMORIAL AWARD FOR CROSS-CULTURAL AND INTERNATIONAL HEALTH RESEARCH: The award is in honor the memory of William M. Wadleigh, PhD, anthropologist and Associate Director of the Center for International Community Health Studies in the Department of Community Medicine and Health Care.  This $250 award is given annually to a medical student whose research exemplifies international and cross-cultural understanding of health issues.

    Poster 75 | Assessing the Impact of Pediatric Dengue Hospitalization on Caregiver Stress and Functioning

    • Meghan Martin

    School of Dental Medicine

    DEAN’S AWARD:
    Student: Sadhana Sankar
    Mentor: Dr. Caroline Dealy
    Awarded in recognition of an outstanding presentation demonstrating clinical application and technique relating to dentistry. This award consists of an expense-paid trip as the School of Dental Medicine’s representative to the Hinman Student Research Symposium held in Memphis, Tennessee in October 2025.

    ASSOCIATE DEAN’S AWARD:
    Student: Daniel Kotait
    Mentor: Dr. I-Ping Chen
    Awarded in recognition of an outstanding presentation in basic, clinical, educational, or behavioral science. The award consists of a complimentary meeting registration and travel assistance to present at the AADOCR General Session & Exhibition in 2026.

    DENTSPLY-SIRONA STUDENT CLINICIAN AWARD:
    Student: Claire Ann
    Mentor: Dr. Frank Nichols
    Awarded in recognition of an outstanding presentation. Includes travel assistance to the 2026 AADOCR General Session & Exhibition/Dentsply-Sirona SCADA Program as the School’s representative; allowance for lodging, food and other expenses and a Dentsply-Sirona crystal.

    CONNECTICUT HOLISTIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION:
    Student: Madison Witt
    Mentor: Dr. Gary Schulman
    Presented by Dr. Michael Basso, this annual award was established to recognize excellence in research in Integrative/ Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Special thanks to Dr. Michael Basso of the Connecticut Holistic Health Association.

    HORACE WELLS AWARD FOR INNOVATION IN DENTISTRY:
    Student: Erica Mallon
    Mentors: Dr. Pooja Bysani and Dr. Aditya Tadinada
    Student: Donny You
    Mentor: Dr. David Shafer
    Two awards will be given to dental students in recognition of outstanding research with a focus on innovation in dentistry.This award is supported by the Horace Wells Trust.

    JAMES AND ELLA BURR MCMANUS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN DENTAL RESEARCH:
    Student: Bradley Rosenberg
    Mentor: Dr. Alix Deymier
    Student: Haven Montefalco
    Mentor: Dr. Frank Nichols
    Two awards will be given to dental students presenting at the student research day to recognize excellence in research. This award is supported by the James and Ella Burr McManus Trust.

    DENTAL STUDENT RESEARCH SOCIETY AWARD:
    Student: Marcus Costa
    Mentor: Dr. Flavio Uribe
    Presented for excellence in a science presentation by dental students at the Student Research Day. Special thanks to Dr. Arthur Hand for supporting this award.

    GUSTAVE PERL MEMORIAL AWARD:
    Student: Henry Shaffer
    Mentor: Dr. Dong Zhou
    A scholarship award presented for outstanding original research.

    OMICRON KAPPA UPSILON-PHI CHI CHAPTER AWARDS:
    Two awards given in recognition of outstanding research; the first award is given for basic science research and the second award given for clinical science research.

    OKU-Basic Science Research Category
    Student: Bryson Christian
    Mentor: Dr. Eliane Dutra

    OKU-Clinical Science Research Category
    Student: Alfredo Rendon
    Mentor: Dr. Prazwala Chirravur

    We would like to acknowledge generous donations from our many sponsors in support and recognition of the hard work of our dental research students. Special thanks to our judges and research committees for their review of the abstracts, posters and judging this event. And lastly, congratulations to all of our dental student researchers and their faculty mentors for making this day possible.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Colombian Cocaine Trafficker Sentenced To 24 Years In Prison For Conspiring To Send More Than A Ton Of Cocaine To The United States

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Oscar Henao-Montoya and His Co-Conspirators Touted Henao-Montoya’s Ability to Produce Cocaine, Control of Colombian Airstrips and Ports, and Relationships with Corrupt Members of the Colombian Air Force in Effort to Import Cocaine to the United States

    Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Louis A. D’Ambrosio, the Special Agent in Charge of the Special Operations Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), announced that OSCAR HENAO-MONTOYA, a Colombian national, was sentenced today to 24 years in prison for conspiring to import cocaine into the United States.  HENAO-MONTOYA was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni, before whom he previously pled guilty to one count of cocaine importation conspiracy.  Two of HENAO-MONTOYA’s charged co-conspirators, REHINNER MONTOYA-GARCIA and JUAN FELIPE SANTIBANEZ-CARDONA, also previously pled guilty to one count of cocaine importation conspiracy and were sentenced by Judge Caproni to 20 years and 15 years in prison, respectively. 

    Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “Oscar Henao-Montoya and his co-conspirators sought to send a staggering quantity of cocaine from Colombia to the United States.  Today’s sentence, and those previously imposed in this case, send a clear message that those who seek to traffic cocaine into the United States will pay a steep price for their actions.  This Office, through its longstanding partnership with the DEA’s Special Operations Division, Bilateral Investigations Unit, will hold accountable those who seek to break our narcotics laws and harm our communities, regardless of where in the world they may hide.” 

    As reflected in the Indictment, other filings in Manhattan federal court, and statements made in open court:

    HENAO-MONTOYA is a Colombian drug trafficker with longstanding familial connections to international cocaine distribution.  HENAO-MONTOYA is the younger brother of Orlando Henao-Montoya, a/k/a “El Hombre Overol,” the former leader of the Norte del Valle Cartel, the notorious drug cartel which operated principally in the Valle del Cauca region of Colombia and rose to prominence in the late 1990s after the Cali and Medellin cartels fragmented. HENAO-MONTOYA’s siblings also include Arcángel Henao Montoya, a/k/a “El Mocho,” Fernando Henao-Montoya, and Lorena Henao-Montoya, a/k/a “La Viuda De La Mafia.”  Together, the Henao-Montoya siblings ran the Norte del Valle Cartel, until Orlando and Lorena were murdered, and Arcángel Henao Montoya was deported from Panama to the U.S. 

    Between October 2020 and August 2021, HENAO-MONTOYA and co-conspirators who worked for HENAO-MONTOYA, including MONTOYA-GARCIA and SANTIBANEZ-CARDONA, participated in a series of meetings in Colombia with DEA confidential sources (the “CSes”), who were acting at the direction of the DEA, to discuss their plans to import tons of cocaine into the U.S.  During those meetings, many of which were recorded, HENAO-MONTOYA discussed, among other things, his ability to export large quantities of cocaine from Colombia via control of airstrips (clandestine and overt) and ports in Colombia, as well as his relationships with corrupt members of the Colombian Air Force.  HENAO-MONTOYA and his co-conspirators also discussed various shipping routes to transport cocaine out of Colombia to the U.S. and, specifically, New York.  During certain of the meetings described above, HENAO-MONTOYA and individuals working for HENAO-MONTOYA were armed with firearms.

    During meetings with the CSes, HENAO-MONTOYA also discussed his access to and control of cocaine laboratories that could produce over one ton of cocaine, including a laboratory that HENAO-MONTOYA said could produce 2,000 to 3,000 kilograms of cocaine at a time. On one occasion, MONTOYA-GARCIA brought one of the CSes to territory controlled by the Revolution Armed Forces of Colombia (“FARC”), which MONTOYA-GARCIA said was where HENAO-MONTOYA had drug laboratories, and that these laboratories were guarded by FARC members.

    To ensure that their plan to import cocaine into the U.S. would be successful, HENAO-MONTOYA and his co-conspirators tested and provided cocaine samples for the CSes.  For example, in October 2020, MONTOYA-GARCIA and SANTIBANEZ-CARDONA provided a one-kilogram sample of cocaine to one of the CSes to test its quality.  After expressing satisfaction with the quality of the cocaine, the CS told MONTOYA-GARCIA and SANTIBANEZ-CARDONA that “the Americans will go crazy in the United States” for the cocaine.  In addition, in April 2021, at HENAO-MONTOYA’s direction, MONTOYA-GARCIA provided an eight-kilogram sample of cocaine to undercover agents working for the Colombian National Police in exchange for approximately $16,000, which was intended to serve as a sample for the contemplated ton-quantity cocaine shipments that HENAO-MONTOYA and his co-conspirators sought to send to the U.S.

    *               *                *

    In addition to the prison term, HENAO-MONTOYA, 58, of Colombia, was sentenced to four years of supervised release.

    Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding efforts of the DEA’s Special Operations Division, Bilateral Investigations Unit, as well as the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of the Judicial Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota and the Colombian National Police for their assistance.

    This prosecution is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sam Adelsberg, Matthew J.C. Hellman, David J. Robles, and Chelsea L. Scism are in charge of the prosecution.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Kennedy in The Hill: Stop letting foreign executives cheat American investors

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)
    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) penned this op-ed in The Hill arguing that Congress should pass the Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act to ensure that federal law holds foreign executives to the same insider trading standards as American executives.
    Key excerpts of the op-ed are below: 
    “The American people are tired of watching the U.S. receive the short end of the stick in our global business deals. They don’t understand why some have let other countries lie, steal and cheat in our marketplaces, and they reelected President Trump to help us unstack the deck.
    “During his first term, President Trump worked to level the playing field for American companies and investors. He signed my bill, the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, into law to allow the Securities and Exchange Commission to delist Chinese companies from American stock exchanges if they refuse to open their books to our regulators.
    “It’s common sense. Chinese companies that want to profit from American investors should be held to the same transparency standards as American companies. In the years since President Trump signed this bill into law, Chinese companies have begun to comply with American disclosure requirements. Regulators have already issued millions of dollars in sanctions and penalties against Chinese companies and individuals who were cooking their books or otherwise violating our laws to the detriment of American investors.
    “Now we have an opportunity to build upon this work by stopping the executives of foreign companies from gaming our markets through insider trading.”
    . . .
    “A foreign passport should not be a get-out-of-jail-free card for insider trading in the American stock exchange. There is absolutely no reason why American executives should face a higher standard of transparency than their foreign counterparts.
    “Let’s build on the momentum of Trump’s first term to protect American investors from foreign executives who don’t respect our markets. I urge my congressional colleagues to join me in eliminating this double standard.”
    Read Kennedy’s full op-ed here.
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How Donald Trump’s trade war against Canada reveals tensions inherent in friendship

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Jason Wang, Postdoctoral Fellow, Modern Literature and Culture Research Centre, Toronto Metropolitan University

    In his second inauguration address, United States President Trump began by declaring “the golden age of America begins right now” and closed with, “and our golden age has just begun.” Between these lines, he vowed to “tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens.”

    Tying his trade policies to dubious claims about fentanyl trafficking and illegal immigration, Trump’s approach appears less about economic strategy and more about asserting dominance. Invoking the language of imperial expansion, he even proposed the idea of making Canada the “cherished 51st state.”

    Historians like American Richard White quickly drew parallels to the 19th-century Gilded Age when robber barons thrived, leaving social inequality in their wake.



    Read more:
    Elon Musk’s bid to take over Twitter recalls the robber barons of the 19th century

    The celebrated Canada-U.S. friendship — further entrenched over the past three decades by the 1989 Canada-U.S. free-trade agreement, cross-border activity and snowbirds wintering in Florida and elsewhere in the U.S. — has long balanced underlying tension stemming from the two nations’ power differences. This alludes to tensions inherent in friendships that have long been explored by philosophers.

    A ‘great relationship?’

    Trump’s recent sweeping tariffs on Canadian imports are only the latest chapter in a long history of economic clashes.

    From the U.S.’s Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930, which hit Canada hard during the Great Depression, to Richard Nixon’s 10 per cent import surcharge in 1971 and the long fight over softwood lumber that persisted through the early 2000s despite Canada’s favourable World Trade Organization rulings, these conflicts expose the fragility of Canada-U.S. relations. The uneasy reality is that friendship between nations is never as stable as it seems.

    The trade war has triggered a wave of cultural and economic nationalism in Canada that has gone beyond the “Buy Canadian” movement. At the National Ballet of Canada’s Swan Lake, recently, a stirring rendition of O Canada brought the audience to its feet.

    Chrystia Freeland, now minister of transport and internal trade, voiced the nation’s outrage on CNN: “Canadians are angry,” she said, condemning the tariffs as a betrayal of what she called the “great relationship.”

    Friendship ideals and power dynamics

    But beneath the outrage lies a harsher truth: Canada’s “friend” status is conditional, tied to America’s shifting priorities. The real question isn’t whether Canada is a trusted ally — it’s whether it was ever more than a subordinate in this “friendship.” At stake is the concept of friendship between nations.

    Philosophers exploring the intersection of friendship and politics offer a useful framework for understanding this imbalance.

    Written in the post-Cold War era, French Algerian philosopher Jacques Derrida’s The Politics of Friendship, first published in French in 1994, questions the very possibility of pure, stable friendship, arguing that it is never equal or unconditional.

    Instead, said Derrida, it is always a negotiation of power. Derrida questions idealized Aristotelian notions of friendship between nations — ideals that still quietly underpin our thinking about friendship, loyalty and betrayal.

    Friendship in fiction, Aristotle

    In his study of friendship in fiction, literary scholar Allan Hepburn points out that friendships are inherently political, foundational to social relations and embody democratic ideals of equality and fraternity, as Aristotle suggested.

    Tyrannical systems, by contrast, lack true friendships, while an ideal democracy extends mutual respect to all citizens. In this way, strangers are recognized as equals and potential friends, regardless of legal obligation, as Derrida emphasized.

    In Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, he distinguished transactional and virtuous friendship. The former is built on mutual advantage or shared pleasure, which to Aristotle is the lesser kind of friendship.

    In contrast, virtue-based friendship is both the most enduring and the rarest. Aristotle idealizes this latter type of friendship, describing it as “perfect friendship” in which individuals are “alike in virtue,” wishing well to each other as something good in itself, and are themselves morally upright.

    This ideal friendship — expected to be stable, enduring and intrinsically valuable — underpins discourses about the bond between nations based on shared values.



    Read more:
    What makes a good friend?

    True friendship reserved for individuals

    Political scientist Evgeny Roshchin argues that friendship, as a historical concept in international relations, helped mediate the shift from hierarchical to equal political relationships, shaping sovereignty and political order.

    In contrast, philosopher Simon Keller questions the idea of “friendship between countries,” asserting true friendship is reserved for individuals. He warns that comparing nations to friends may mislead us by shifting focus from genuine human connections to political dynamics.

    Yet the Aristotelian model of the friend as “a second self” has significant limitations, often ignoring differences and reinforcing hierarchy. For Derrida, friendship is not a fixed, harmonious ideal but an ongoing, unpredictable negotiation that blurs the boundary between ally and adversary.

    He contends: “‘Good friendship’ supposes disproportion. It demands a certain rupture in reciprocity or quality, as well as the interruption of all fusion or confusion between you and me.”

    Even at its most personal, friendship is marked by power dynamics — who holds it, who benefits from it and who can be cast aside. Not a cynical rejection of friendship, however, Derrida’s model calls for broadening its moral and political dimensions.

    Transactional structure

    Derrida’s model applies to the Canada-U.S. relationship, which has long been framed as one of mutual respect, built on democratic values and shared economic interests. But its underlying structure is transactional.

    The rhetoric of friendship has always served a function: to justify co-operation when it is useful and to smooth over conflict when it is not. The moment those interests diverge, the limits of the relationship become clear.

    Trump’s tariffs have exposed this dynamic in the clearest possible terms. Canada’s position as a friend to the U.S. is fragile and contingent, shaped by the fluctuating interests of the more powerful side.

    But the rupture is not new, nor is it a break from the norm. It’s simply a reminder of how the relationship has always worked. The question now is not whether Canada can restore its friendship, but whether it can afford to continue believing in it on the same terms.



    Read more:
    Amid U.S. threats, Canada’s national security plans must include training in non-violent resistance

    Embrace inherent fragility

    Derrida’s model of friendship offers a way forward. His model defies the simplistic binary of friend and foe, loyalty and betrayal, as these terms are ultimately mutually constitutive. Derrida calls for relationships that embrace their inherent fragility.

    For Canada, this doesn’t mean abandoning the discourse of friendship with the U.S. entirely, but rather acknowledging the bond’s fragile, conditional nature — always deferred, always on the brink of rupture.

    The challenge for Canada is to redefine its position in North America beyond the framework of mutuality and dependence. At the policy level, with Canada-U.S. relations, this means diversifying trade and diplomatic ties, resisting automatic alignment and asserting independent leadership in global affairs.

    At home, it means forging a national identity that is self-defined and free from the shadow of comparison.

    Jason Wang 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. How Donald Trump’s trade war against Canada reveals tensions inherent in friendship – https://theconversation.com/how-donald-trumps-trade-war-against-canada-reveals-tensions-inherent-in-friendship-252260

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Upcoming Interruption to EROS Processing and Distribution Systems

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Landsat Product Processing 

    Starting: Monday April 7, 2025, 6:00 p.m. CDT 
    Completion: Wednesday, April 9, 2025, after 6:00 p.m. CDT 

    The processing of newly acquired Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 data will be paused starting at 6:00 p.m. CDT on Monday, April 7th.  Processing will resume after all systems return to nominal operations on Wednesday, April 9th. 

    Note: Direct access to the Landsat commercial cloud environment will remain available, but no new data will be added until maintenance completes.
     

    Product and Science Distribution Systems 

    Starting: Tuesday April 8, 2025, 6:00 p.m. CDT 
    Completion: Wednesday, April 9, 2025, after 6:00 p.m. CDT 
     
    All USGS EROS product distribution and science systems, as well as online applications, will be unavailable at 6:00 p.m. CDT on April 8 and will remain down until maintenance activities are complete and systems are brought back online after 6:00 p.m. CDT on Wednesday April 9th. Access to systems may be intermittent during the return to normal operations.

    Affected product and science systems include (but may not be limited to):  

    Impacted online applications include (but may not be limited to):  

     
    We apologize for these interruptions and appreciate your patience. Please contact EROS User Services  with any questions about this announcement.   

    Return to all Landsat Headlines

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM Union, NFFE-IAM Coalition Win Injunction to Stop DOGE From Accessing Member, Military Veteran Private Data

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    After a suit filed by the IAM Union, the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) and other allies, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting the Department of Education (ED), the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and the Treasury Department from disclosing the sensitive personal information to employees affiliated with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

    “Today’s ruling continues to solidify that our members, our nation’s veterans and every American has a sacred right to privacy,” said International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union) International President Brian Bryant. “The IAM Union will always stand with our allies to protect and defend our members’ rights.”

    The Court ruled that the claims from the plaintiffs — including military veterans and unions representing millions of veterans, teachers, scientists, engineers, federal employees — would likely be successful. The plaintiffs argue that ED, OPM, and Treasury violated the Privacy Act by granting DOGE affiliates unauthorized access to systems containing sensitive personal information including Social Security numbers, bank account information, health records, and other private data.

    “Once again, the courts have ruled that Elon Musk and DOGE should not have access to highly sensitive data belonging to American individuals and federal employees,” said National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) National President Randy Erwin. “Everyone in this country has the right to privacy. NFFE and our allies are committed to protecting that right, especially when our members are at risk of having their information compromised by those who wish to do them harm.”

    In the 68-page ruling, Judge Deborah L. Boardman wrote that “[t]he administrative records [provided by the government] indicate that Education, OPM, and Treasury disclosed records with the plaintiffs’ PII to DOGE affiliates. They also indicate that the DOGE affiliates do not need to know this information to perform their job duties.”  

    The Court found that the plaintiffs would suffer irreparable harm without injunctive relief, noting that, “the plaintiffs have shown that DOGE affiliates have been granted access to systems of records that contain some of the plaintiffs’ most sensitive data – such as Social Security numbers, dates of birth, home addresses, bank information, income and assets, and citizenship status.” The Court further found that “without an injunction, the DOGE affiliates’ access to this trove of personal information will continue,” and that the damage incurred by these ongoing disclosures cannot be rectified by damages.

    The preliminary injunction prohibits:

    • The Department of Education from disclosing Plaintiffs’ personally identifiable information to any DOGE affiliates.
    • The Office of Personnel Management from disclosing Plaintiffs’ personally identifiable information to any OPM employee working principally on the DOGE agenda (with the exception of OPM Acting Director Charles Ezell, OPM Chief Information Officer Greg Hogan, and OPM Chief of Staff Amanda Scales).
    • The Treasury Department from disclosing Plaintiffs’ personally identifiable information to DOGE affiliates.

    The Department of Justice has filed a notice of its intent to appeal Judge Boardman’s decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

    The complete ruling is available here, and the opinion can be found here.

    Read more about this case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: TWAICE and Modo Energy Debut Integration to Quantify the Financial Impact of BESS Performance Improvements in ERCOT Markets

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TWAICE, the leading provider of battery analytics software, and Modo Energy, a B2B SaaS platform providing energy data, analytics, and forecasting, announced today a pioneering integration that enables battery energy storage system (BESS) owners and operators in ERCOT to translate improvements in system performance into accurate financial insights. This partnership underscores Modo Energy and TWAICE’s shared commitment to delivering actionable insights for the energy storage industry, reinforcing the value of high-quality, real-time data in optimizing battery performance and maximizing asset value to drive the energy transition forward.

    TWAICE customers in ERCOT can now use Modo Energy’s proprietary battery asset revenue performance data to assess the financial impact of performance adjustments and maintenance plans for their BESS. This enables a more accurate, asset-specific calculation of revenue at the exact settlement point. TWAICE customers will ultimately be able to realize greater BESS uptime – a boost for revenue as market data from the UK and ERCOT show that even a 1% improvement in BESS availability can increase revenue by $2,000 per megawatt per year.1

    “Battery owners need more than just data – they need clear, real-time insights into financial performance,” says Quentin Scrimshire, CEO and co-founder at Modo Energy. “TWAICE is leading the way in battery health analytics, and this partnership brings greater precision to understanding the financial impact of performance optimization. By integrating Modo Energy’s benchmarking intelligence with TWAICE’s analytics, we’re giving battery owners the tools to make smarter, data-driven decisions with confidence.”

    “The success of our customers is directly linked to the performance of their BESS assets,” says Stephan Rohr, Co-CEO of TWAICE. “With the integration of Modo Energy’s data, we’re giving our ERCOT customers a clear understanding of how performance improvements translate into measurable financial gains. By linking BESS performance with real-time revenue insights, asset managers can make data-driven decisions to maximize profitability.”

    Two new features help operators identify the root causes of poor performance and availability
    In addition to the Modo Energy integration, TWAICE also announced today that all customers now benefit from two new tools in its analytics platform: Recoverable Energy and Usable Energy. These features provide BESS operators with an overview of how much energy is currently available for use, and how much can be regained by fixing underlying issues. BESS operators today often struggle to pinpoint the root causes of performance issues, including preventable energy losses caused by factors such as imbalances, weak cells or non-operating components. With Recoverable Energy and Usable Energy, operators can tackle these challenges and maximize availability through recommendations to fix performance bottlenecks and restore lost energy.

    Additional details, including a live demo of the new Usable Energy and Recoverable Energy features, will be presented at the TWAICE Energy Analytics Webinar on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. Attendees at Energy Storage Summit USA can also learn more about TWAICE’s latest developments at the company’s seminar “Beyond Basic O&M: Optimizing BESS Availability with Analytics“ on March 26.

    About TWAICE
    Since 2018, TWAICE has been leading the field of predictive battery analytics, meeting the demand for safe, durable, and highly available energy storage assets (BESS). TWAICE provides advanced software solutions for designing, validating, and operating batteries at scale, combining deep battery knowledge with artificial intelligence to generate actionable insights. While Battery Management System (BMS) and Energy Management System (EMS) providers offer basic monitoring capabilities, TWAICE exceeds the traditional service by providing advanced analytics that uncover hidden patterns and anomalies to optimize battery performance and lifespan. As an independent third-party, TWAICE ensures unbiased recommendations, free from ties to specific insurance companies, manufacturers or vendors.

    About Modo Energy
    Modo Energy is a B2B SaaS platform providing data, analytics, and forecasting to help energy companies, funds, utilities, and banks optimize battery storage assets. The Modo Energy Terminal is the go-to platform for evaluating the commercial case for grid-scale storage—offering trusted revenue indices, customizable benchmarks, bankable forecasts, interactive market analysis, and policy insights. Trusted by thousands, Modo Energy helps teams navigate evolving markets, optimize investments, and make data-backed, bankable decisions in the energy transition.

    Media Contacts
    TWAICE:
    Justin Williams
    Trevi Communications for TWAICE
    justin@trevicomm.com
    +1 (978) 539-7157

    Modo Energy:
    Charlotte Owen
    Executive Assistant at Modo Energy
    charlotte@modo.energy
    +1 (925) 360-5899

    ___________________________
    1 Source: Modo Energy presentation at TWAICE Vision Summit 2024.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a4f505a5-11ff-41b9-9ae5-ccb4a3588086

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s remarks to the General Assembly to mark the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade [as delivered]

    Source: United Nations – English

    he transatlantic slave trade is an indelible stain on the conscience of humanity.

    For more than four centuries, enslaved Africans were kidnapped and trafficked; dehumanized, abused and exploited.

    The depth and scale of the cruelty, inhumanity, and depravity of this practice is incomprehensible.

    So, too, is the suffering, fear, pain and misery endured by those millions of people exploited for profit. 

    Today, we reflect on families ripped apart and communities decimated.

    We remember the women, children, and men forced to work in agonizing conditions, savagely punished, and deprived of their dignity and human rights. 

    And we take strength in their resistance and demands for justice:

    From revolution in Haiti, to the underground railroad in the United States, to countless individual acts of courage and defiance.

    I deeply regret that several countries – including my own – were engaged in this immoral trade… 

    A trade driven by greed and built on lies – particularly the lie of white supremacy…

    A trade enabled by insurers, bankers, shipping companies, legal systems and more…

    That saw individuals, institutions and corporations amass unimaginable wealth on the back of human suffering.

    When slavery was officially abolished, it was not the enslaved who were compensated, but the enslavers – receiving reparations equivalent to billions of dollars in today’s money.

    In an even crueler twist, some slaves were forced to pay compensation.

    Haiti had to fund payouts to those who had profited from its suffering – all in the name of securing its independence. 

    Dear Friends,

    Today is not only a day of remembrance.

    It is also a day to reflect on the enduring legacies of slavery and colonialism and to strengthen our resolve to combat those evils today.

    The obscene profits derived from chattel slavery and the racist ideologies that underpinned the trade are still with us. 

    Systemic racism has been embedded into institutions, cultures, and social systems.

    And deeply rooted exclusion, racial discrimination and violence continue to undermine the ability of many people of African descent to thrive and achieve their full potential.

    For too long, the crimes of the transatlantic slave trade – and their ongoing impact – have remained unacknowledged, unspoken, and unaddressed:

    Links to slavery were buried…

    Histories were rewritten, minimized or overlooked…

    Ongoing harms were excused or dismissed…

    And perpetrators seemed to hope their actions would be lost to the past.

    Dear Friends,

    They were wrong.

    Thanks to the tireless work of affected leaders and communities, calls to acknowledge and repair the past can no longer be ignored.

    This year, at both the African Union Summit and the Caribbean Community Heads of Government Meeting, I heard leader after leader make a powerful case for reparatory justice.

    Some institutions and states are taking steps to acknowledge and address their pasts…

    Museums and public spaces are commemorating the resistance of people of African descent, and celebrating their vast contribution to societies.

    This is a start.

    But we need much more.

    The horrors of the transatlantic slave trade are an undeniable fact.

    Acknowledging this truth is not only necessary – it is vital for addressing past wrongs, healing the present, and building a future of dignity and justice for all. 

    It is also important that reparatory justice frameworks are grounded in international human rights law….

    Developed with the participation of affected communities… 

    And acknowledge the terrible harms caused.

    I urge everyone to play their part in building inclusive societies free from the evils of racism:

    That means countries complying with their international obligations – including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights…

    Implementing the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination…

    And becoming Parties to the Convention if they are not already.

    It means business leaders promoting equality and combatting racism.  

    And it means civil society, and everyday people continuing to push for justice, and taking a stand against racism wherever and whenever it appears.

    Excellencies,

    This mission is at the heart of the United Nations.

    The human dignity of every person is our founding creed.

    We must stand with everyone, everywhere to combat racial discrimination and hate, and to defend the human rights and dignity of all.

    Thank you.
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Secretary Rubio meets with Foreign Ministers from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

    Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

    Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets with Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže, at the Department of State, on March 25, 2025.

    ———-
    Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.

    The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.

    Get updates from the U.S. Department of State at www.state.gov and on social media!
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/statedept
    X: https://x.com/StateDept
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/statedept
    Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/statephotos/

    Subscribe to the State Department Blog: https://www.state.gov/blogs
    Watch on-demand State Department videos: https://video.state.gov/
    Subscribe to The Week at State e-newsletter: http://ow.ly/diiN30ro7Cw

    State Department website: https://www.state.gov/
    Careers website: https://careers.state.gov/
    White House website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/
    Terms of Use: https://state.gov/tou

    #StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcJfj3iCk5o

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Celebrating the return of Costa Rica’s 2023 to 2024 Chevening scholars

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    World news story

    Celebrating the return of Costa Rica’s 2023 to 2024 Chevening scholars

    Returning scholars share their enriching experiences and the impact of their Chevening journey at the Ambassador’s residence in San Jose.

    British Ambassador and Chevening scholars 2023-2024

    On March 6, the British Ambassador in San Jose, Ben Lyster-Binns, hosted a special welcome home event to celebrate the return of the Costa Rican Chevening scholars who had recently completed their Master’s degrees in the United Kingdom.

    The gathering offered a unique opportunity for the scholars to share their transformative experiences and reflect on how their time in the UK has shaped their academic and professional aspirations. The stories of these scholars were truly inspiring and showcased the immense value of international collaboration and the importance of further strengthening the ties between Costa Rica and the United Kingdom.

    The event was a testament to the success of the Chevening Scholarship in fostering long-term partnerships and facilitating the growth of leaders who will continue to contribute to Costa Rica’s social, economic, and environmental progress.

    The Chevening community in Costa Rica continues to grow, with the returning scholars now joining a network of Chevening alumni who are making a difference both locally and globally. Their journey is a shining example of the lasting impact of educational exchange and international collaboration.

    The Chevening Scholarship is the UK government’s global scholarship programme that provides outstanding individuals from around the world the opportunity to pursue postgraduate study at universities in the UK. The programme is fully funded, covering tuition fees, travel expenses, and living costs, and is aimed at fostering international leadership by equipping future leaders with the knowledge and skills to make a positive impact in their home countries. Since its inception in 1983, over 50,000 professionals have benefited from the Chevening programme.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Falkland Islands cricket team returns to Costa Rica after 14 years

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    World news story

    Falkland Islands cricket team returns to Costa Rica after 14 years

    British Embassy in San Jose celebrates the role of sport in fostering bilateral ties.

    British Ambassador, Ben Lyster-Binns, and Falklands Islands Cricket team

    The recently concluded visit of the Falkland Islands cricket team to Costa Rica marked a historic occasion, as the team returned after a 14-year absence to participate in a tournament from 10-14 March.

    The visit, organised by the Costa Rica Cricket Federation, was not only an exciting sporting event but also a chance for the British Embassy in San Jose to highlight the important role of sport in creating lasting social and cultural connections.

    British Ambassador, Ben Lyster-Binns, at cricket prize-giving

    The Embassy hosted a reception for both teams, which was a unique opportunity for the Falkland Islands team and their Costa Rican counterparts to bond over their shared passion for cricket and deepen their understanding of each other’s cultures. This occasion also provided an ideal platform to highlight the growing role of women in cricket, both in Costa Rica and globally, particularly as the Embassy welcomed the winners of the 2024 women’s cricket tournament, the Siquirres Tigresses.

    The Embassy’s involvement in this event reinforced the significance of cricket, a sport with deep roots in British history, as a powerful tool for social change and international connection. In his speech at the reception, the British Ambassador to Costa Rica, Ben Lyster-Binns, spoke about the importance of inclusion in sport:

    Sport belongs to everyone, and every time women step onto the pitch, they are helping to build a future where opportunities in sport are equal. Cricket has a long and proud history, but its future will be even brighter with greater inclusion, diversity, and participation from all.

    British Ambassador, Ben Lyster-Binns, and Siquirres Tigresses

    The Ambassador also took the opportunity to highlight the games intrinsic values:

    Cricket, in particular, is a game of respect, teamwork, and resilience – values that go far beyond the pitch.

    The growing popularity of cricket in Costa Rica, especially among women, was on full display during the reception as the Siquirres Tigres—winners of last year’s women’s cricket tournament—shared their journey and passion for the sport. Their success stands as a powerful example of how women in Costa Rica are finding their place in cricket and shaping the future of the game in the region.

    The tournament, which was part of the Costa Rican national cricket calendar, saw spirited matches and valuable exchanges between the teams, leaving a lasting impression on everyone involved. The event not only rekindled a long-standing sporting connection between the Falkland Islands and Costa Rica but also underscored the importance of inclusivity in sport, especially in empowering women and young people to pursue their athletic dreams.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 March 2025

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