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Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: United States and Australia ink historic defense manufacturing agreements

    Source: United States Army

    WASHINGTON – The United States and Australia marked a new chapter in their enduring partnership by signing two landmark memoranda of understanding on collaborative defense manufacturing on March 11, 2025. The historic completion of these documents, signed by Patrick Mason, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, and Rear Adm. Ian Murray, head of the Australian Defence Staff-Washington, paves the way for enhanced interoperability and strengthens the security of the Indo-Pacific region.

    “This is not just about putting pen to paper – we are launching a new era of collaborative defense manufacturing,” said Mason. “This effort builds upon our nations’ shared values, deep history of cooperation and unwavering commitment to a secure and stable Indo-Pacific region.”

    The first MOU solidifies a commitment to co-producing 155 mm ammunition by directly bolstering Australia’s sovereign defense capabilities and ensuring a reliable supply of critical ordnance. This initiative represents a significant investment in Australia’s ability to meet evolving security challenges and contributing to the global munitions supply chain.

    The second MOU breaks new ground with a co-assembly initiative for the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System, laying the foundation for an Australian missile industry capable of producing advanced long-range strike capabilities. This partnership will enhance Australia’s defense posture and will increase interoperability with U.S. forces, allowing for greater coordination and effectiveness.

    These MOUs are a testament to the trust and shared values that underpin the U.S.-Australia alliance. We are not just allies, but partners who innovate and build together, bound by a strong and abiding “mateship” between our militaries.

    These MOUs represent a significant step toward developing advanced capabilities that deter aggression and safeguard the shared interests of both nations by fostering close collaboration between industries, engineers and military personnel, reinforcing the storied partnership between the United States and Australia for years to come.

    In 2024, the United States and Australia committed, through the Australia-United States Ministerial Consultation Joint Statement, to pursue a multi-service roadmap for expanded production and sustainment activities under Australia’s Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance enterprise, and these MOUs are the first munitions manufacturing arrangements to conclude in fulfillment of the GWEO roadmap.

    In February 2025, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth met with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles and reiterated the department’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Australia through the GWEO enterprise.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Army releases version 2.0 of its unified network plan

    Source: United States Army

    WASHINGTON – The U.S. Army has released its Army Unified Network Plan 2.0. While the first AUNP, published in 2021, focused mainly on the first phase of the plan – to unifying the network – AUNP 2.0 focuses mainly on phase two and some of phase three, which are to “operationalize the Unified Network” from 2024 to2026, and to “continuously modernize and transform the Unified Network” in 2027 and beyond.

    Since the publication of the first AUNP – which provided the roadmap for converging Army tactical and enterprise networks around common standards, systems and security to “reduce complexity and increase integration” across the force – global events and emerging technologies have resulted in a persistently contested information environment. As a result, a far more data-centric approach to the Army Network is needed to harness its power to fight and win during multidomain operations.

    Reflecting these changes, AUNP 2.0 focuses on five lines of effort to complete the Army’s portion of the Department of Defense Information Network: 1) establish the Unified Network; 2) posture the force to support MDO; 3) ensure security and survivability based on zero trust principles; 4) transform the Army’s Unified Network investments, policy and governance; and 5) continuously improve the Unified Network.

    “AUNP 2.0 is new guidance on how the warfighter actually approaches, accelerates and operationalizes the Unified Network across the board,” said Lt. Gen. Jeth Rey, the Army’s Deputy Chief of Staff, G-6. “It’s going to enable multidomain operations and chart the roadmap of where we’re going for the Unified Network by 2027. It also talks about the critical enablers required to achieve a multidomain operational Army by 2030.”

    AUNP 2.0 provides a path to reduce technological complexity at the edge by enhancing the Army’s ability to execute MDO; ensuring the Army’s ability to seamlessly plug in anywhere around the globe; continuing the establishment and employment of common data standards and systems for all theaters and domains by ensuring the necessary security, agility and interoperability to stay ahead of adversaries; and enabling faster, more secure data sharing with partners and allies.

    “As warfare continues to evolve across multiple domains and our adversaries challenge our historical dominance, the Army’s dedication to integrating and modernizing its network infrastructure is crucial.” the AUNP 2.0’s conclusion states. “The Unified Network is essential to the future force’s success, enabling seamless and effective operations across air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace…. The AUNP 2.0 sets a direction for technological superiority and operational readiness for an uncertain future.”

    To read the Army Unified Network Plan 2.0, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Generative AI is Making it Easier for Fraudsters to Fool the Public

    Source: US Commodity Futures Trading Commission

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new Commodity Futures Trading Commission customer advisory says generative artificial intelligence is making it increasingly easier for fraudsters to create convincing scams. 
    According to the latest Office of Customer Education and Outreach customer advisory, Criminals Increasing Use of Generative AI to Commit Fraud, crooks are using AI to create fake images, voices, videos, live-streaming video chats, social media profiles, and malicious websites designed to look like legitimate financial trading platforms.  
    The OCEO advisory describes how fraudsters use AI to create fraudulent identifications with phony photos and videos that can appear very real if one is not familiar with the advances of AI technology. The fraudsters also are using AI to forge government or financial documents. An FBI public service announcement also warns the public about how criminals are using AI to commit fraud and how the technology is being used in relationship investment scams. 
    “Fraudsters can use new technologies to mask their identities, not only in still photographs, say, in social media profiles, but also in video chats that alter their facial features and voices to match,” said OCEO Director Melanie Devoe. “Identifying real from fake can be difficult. The best defense is to never give money to people you only meet online.” 
    The advisory provides specific actions people should take to protect themselves, including strengthening social media account privacy settings and keeping personal or sensitive information private, especially from people they only know online or callers using phone numbers they don’t recognize. 
    About the Office of Customer Education and Outreach
    OCEO is dedicated to helping customers protect themselves from fraud or violations of the Commodity Exchange Act through the research and development of effective financial education materials and initiatives. OCEO engages in outreach and education to retail investors. The office also frequently partners with federal and state regulators as well as consumer protection groups. The CFTC’s full repository of customer education materials can be found at: cftc.gov/LearnAndProtect.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Coalition of Education Groups Hosts CT Premiere of “Counted Out” Math Documentary

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    On March 5, several Connecticut educational leadership groups co-hosted the statewide premiere of the documentary film “Counted Out” to support dialogue about Connecticut’s Equity in Mathematics Education joint position statement, which was unanimously endorsed by the Connecticut State Board of Education in 2023.

    “This statement asserts that mathematics education must support students’ math identities, ensure we modernize our mathematics programming, and structurally align and advance systems around this common vision,” said UConn alum Jeffrey Corbishley ’07 (ED), ’08 MA, president-elect of the Associated Teachers of Mathematics in Connecticut and emcee of the event.

    UConn alum Jeffrey Corbishley ’07 (ED), ’08 MA, is the president-elect of the Associated Teachers of Mathematics in Connecticut and emceed the film screening on March 5. (Shawn Kornegay/Neag School)

    Created by filmmaker Vicki Abeles, “Counted Out” focuses on how issues, such as political polarization, racial biases, social injustice, economic inequity, and climate change, can be better understood and addressed with math. In a world increasingly driven by data and numbers, the documentary states that understanding math is a powerful tool that can shape outcomes.

    More than 400 educators, community members, and leaders from workforce development and civic groups attended the screening, which was held at Central Connecticut State University’s Alumni Hall. Corbishley said the event was a unique opportunity for organizations to come together and begin conversations “around the need to look at the role of mathematics in the world and our need to make critical changes in mathematics education.”

    Besides Central, other co-hosts and sponsors of the event included:

    “Our theme in Connecticut this year is a universe of opportunities,” said Connecticut Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker, who gave welcome remarks at the event. “This means that, for all our students and school staff, there’s a future that knows no bounds and part of these universal opportunities is our work to support mathematics education.”

    “Math is more than numbers,” said Steven Minkler, dean of Central’s School of Engineering, Science, and Technology. “It’s a language that shapes how we understand and engage with the world around us. That’s why it’s our shared responsibility to ensure that every student has the opportunity to develop strong quantitative reasoning skills and the confidence to apply them in school, in their careers, and in their daily lives.”

    Jo Boaler, who is an author, co-founder of the math organization youcubed, and the Nomellini and Olivier Professor of Education at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Education, is featured in the documentary and attended the Connecticut premiere as keynote speaker, sharing insights, facilitating dialogue, and extending the film’s message.

    “Every time we learn, one of three things happens in the brain,” Boaler said. “We’re either forming a new pathway, connecting pathways, or strengthening pathways. There is no limit to what people can learn.”

    Through a mosaic of personal stories, expert insights, and real-world examples of math transformation, “Counted Out” reveals the consequences of maintaining the status quo. It raises questions about where math proficiency declines and how individuals can maintain an understanding of the mathematical foundation of society.

    Our theme in Connecticut this year is a universe of opportunities. … and part of these universal opportunities is our work to support mathematics education. &#8212 Charlene Russell-Tucker, Connecticut Education Commissioner

    Megan Staples, associate professor of mathematics education at the UConn Neag School of Education, helped coordinate the event. She emphasizes the importance of mathematics in making sense of critical decision-making in society. This includes the legal system (what’s fair in society), climate change (what’s changing and what steps can be taken), the standard of living (what is affordable housing, how do we provide it), and more.

    The documentary follows Glenn Rodriguez and Rebecca Galicia, whose lives were affected by math. Rodriguez was denied parole and applied mathematical research to analyze the algorithm that led to his denial and, ultimately, his release. Galicia was intimidated by the math components of nursing school, but eventually earned her nursing degree, which in turn substantially increased her income.

    “Robert Moses, a civil rights activist who the film was dedicated to, was a central figure in the film,” Staples says. “He talks about algebra as the new civil right, and if you don’t have a command of algebra, just based on how the pipeline works, then you can be denied economic opportunity regardless of mathematical knowledge requirements.”

    The overall message of the film is that numeric literacy is a critical determinant of social and economic power. It shapes our ability to navigate financial systems, assess risks, make informed decisions, and advocate for ourselves in an increasingly data-driven world.

    “It doesn’t matter what profession you go into, we need math-literate people everywhere,” Staples says. “And for those interested in education, consider teaching math, because it is a major way to impact the world.”

    To learn more about “Counted Out,” visit countedoutfilm.com or watch the trailer on YouTube.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Colombian Navy Personnel Extradited To The United States For Their Role In Selling Locations Of Colombian Navy Drug Interdiction Vessels To International Drug Traffickers

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announced the extraditions of Jair Alberto Alvarez Valenzuela (54) and Luis Carlos Diaz Martinez (32), both from Colombia, to stand trial on an indictment for conspiracy to distribute cocaine having reasonable cause to believe it would be unlawfully imported into the United States. Alvarez Valenzuela and Diaz Martinez were extradited to the United States on March 13, 2025, from Colombia. If convicted, both defendants face a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. 

    According to the indictment, Alvarez Valenzuela and Diaz Martinez were former employees of the Colombian Navy. In exchange for money from drug traffickers they recruited active-duty members of the Colombian Navy to secretly plant global positioning system (GPS) tracking devices in Colombian Navy vessels. Transnational Criminal Organizations used the location data derived from these tracking devices to direct vessels filled with cocaine bound for the United States around Colombian Navy ships and patrols. 

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

    This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi- jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.

    The specific mission of the OCDETF Panama Express Strike Force is to disrupt and dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations involved in large-scale drug trafficking, money laundering, and related activities. The OCDETF Panama Express Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from the Coast Guard Investigative Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigation. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of the Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia provided significant assistance in securing the arrests and extraditions of these defendants. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Stoia.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: A ‘golden age’ of global free trade is over. Smaller alliances can meet the moment

    Source: The Conversation – France – By Armin Steinbach, Professor of Law and Economics, HEC Paris Business School

    The global trade landscape is shifting, and not in the way free traders had hoped. For decades, the belief that economic openness could foster peace and stability reigned supreme. Trade, it was argued, could transform authoritarian regimes into more peaceful players. But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shattered this way of thinking. Rather than mourning the end of a multilateralism based on states’ commitments to jointly agreed trade rules, we should see it as a necessary adjustment to a world where economic security takes precedence over market efficiency, and resilience over cost minimization.

    The World Trade Organization (WTO), which has constrained protectionism since its inception in 1995, is no longer the linchpin of global trade it once was. Multilateral trade talks have stagnated, and the WTO’s dispute settlement system is in paralysis. The US, once a champion of rules-based trade, now finds strategic advantage in a world where power dynamics outweigh legal frameworks. Years of negotiations on agriculture and fisheries subsidies have yielded little progress, underscoring the difficulty of reaching consensus among increasingly divergent national interests.


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    Consider the Uruguay Round negotiations in the 1990s that led to the establishment of the WTO – a rare moment when 123 countries found common ground on liberalizing trade in goods, services and intellectual property. That success stemmed from a broad agenda that offered enough variety to create win-win scenarios for all. Today, narrow negotiation agendas make compromise far harder to achieve.

    Free trade agreements are emerging less frequently: the average number of new trade agreements per year since 2020 is less than half the average of the previous decade. Meanwhile, protectionist measures have proliferated: there were about five times as many in 2023 as in 2015. Regardless of US President Donald Trump’s tariff frenzy, governments are erecting trade barriers and adopting policies that favour domestic industries, driven by the need to secure critical supply chains.

    The trend is clear: trade liberalization is no longer the top priority for most countries. Instead, security concerns are reshaping trade policy, echoing the arguments of the 18th-century philosopher Adam Smith. In The Wealth of Nations, Smith argued that national defence is more valuable than economic wealth. (“Defence,” he wrote, “is of much more importance than opulence”). This idea feels particularly relevant today. In a world of geopolitical conflict, trade is often yielding to strategic concerns.

    The United Nations, despite its mission to maintain peace, has struggled to prevent conflict. If international law cannot deter aggression, economic policy must step in.

    Security-driven trade

    For the EU, this translates into using its trade policy instruments, especially vis-à-vis China, on the basis of a careful dependency analysis that identifies strategic commodities and products. As the European Commission sets self-sufficiency benchmarks for green technologies following the bloc’s Net-Zero Industry Act, it errs if it sees the substitution of domestic products for imports as the right way to reduce dependencies. In most cases, reducing import concentration will require diversifying suppliers rather than European self-production.

    Security-driven trade requires shifting away from fragile multilateralism toward more selective, regional alliances. These “trade clubs” would align economic interests with shared security priorities. The EU’s strengthening ties with the South American Mercosur states, a group of non-hegemonic countries reliant on open trade, exemplify this approach. Intensifying trade with targeted countries could be the best response to Trump’s tariffs, avoiding the lose-lose outcome of tit-for-tat tariff wars. The goal of autonomy from an unpredictable US offers a good framework for crafting new bilateral relationships.

    Another example is the idea of a “climate club”, which policy-makers have discussed for some time. Climate clubs would consist of countries that agree on joint strategies to reduce carbon emissions while fostering energy security and protecting their economies from competitors without adequate carbon pricing.



    À lire aussi :
    Trump protectionism and tariffs: a threat to globalisation, or to democracy itself?

    The challenge is to distinguish between “legitimate” and “illegitimate” security claims. The latter refer to countries’ growing abuse of the national security card to justify trade policies. WTO dispute settlement panels ruled against the “self-judging” character of national security claims, hence subjecting them to legal scrutiny, but this “rule of law” approach has only heightened rejection of the WTO system on the US side. To limit abuse, the EU should seek alignment with the US on issues of common concern, such as responding to industrial overcapacity or preventing technology leaks. A joint approach could avert nationalist unilateralism.

    A new focus for the WTO

    Some worry this shift away from multilateralism could disadvantage poorer nations, leaving them vulnerable to the whims of powerful ones. However, regional trade alliances can empower smaller states. For example, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) gives African nations collective bargaining power they might lack individually. Since its inception with 22 signatories, AfCFTA has grown to include 48 countries, enhancing the continent’s influence in global trade.

    Abandoning multilateralism doesn’t mean sidelining the WTO entirely. Instead, the WTO can refocus on smaller, “plurilateral” agreements among like-minded countries. This “coalition of the willing” approach has already proven effective in areas like e-commerce and investment facilitation. The WTO can remain a forum for building consensus, but its future lies in fostering flexible partnerships rather than pursuing grand, all-encompassing trade deals. In a fragmented world, these smaller agreements could yield the most meaningful progress. Nascent but promising plurilateral efforts are under way to tackle fossil fuel subsidies and environmentally sustainable plastics trade.

    The golden age of global free trade may be over, but that doesn’t spell disaster. As nations grapple with security challenges, trade policy must evolve to reflect new priorities. Strategic alliances, diversified supply chains and targeted trade agreements will shape the future of global commerce. Rather than lament the decline of multilateralism, we should embrace this shift as a necessary response to a more volatile world. In doing so, we can craft a trade policy that prioritizes resilience and security, safeguarding both economic stability and national interests.

    Armin Steinbach ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche.

    – ref. A ‘golden age’ of global free trade is over. Smaller alliances can meet the moment – https://theconversation.com/a-golden-age-of-global-free-trade-is-over-smaller-alliances-can-meet-the-moment-251438

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why international students could be a critical factor in bolstering Canada’s economic resilience

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Isaac Garcia-Sitton, Associate Faculty, School of Education and Technology, Royal Roads University

    In early 2024, the federal government imposed a two-year cap on new study permits. (Shutterstock)

    For decades, international students have contributed to Canada’s research enterprise, workforce development and economic growth.

    Now, as Canada navigates strained relations and an escalating trade war with its largest economic partner, it’s important policymakers stop overlooking international education that could be a critical factor in bolstering Canada’s resilience.

    Unlike volatile trade agreements and fragile supply chains, international education provides a stable, long-term economic and social advantage.



    Read more:
    Canadian supply chains are at the epicentre of Trump’s potential trade war

    Contributions

    In 2018, international students contributed $21.6 billion to Canada’s post-secondary institutions, local communities and gross domestic product (GDP).

    By 2022, that figure had grown to $37.3 billion. This represented just over 23 per cent of Canada’s total service exports and around five per cent of total merchandise exports. The economic contributions from international education outpaced economic contributions from other industries — such as softwood lumber and auto parts.

    But their contributions extend far beyond financial impact. International students drive cutting-edge research in artificial intelligence, clean energy, biotechnology and climate science. This strengthens Canada’s innovation ecosystem and global competitiveness.

    International students also serve as vital ambassadors — diversifying trade connections and expanding Canada’s global reach.

    Despite their undeniable value, recent policy shifts risk undermining Canada’s position as a top destination for global talent. In early 2024, the federal government imposed a two-year cap on new study permits. The cap would mean approximately 360,000 study permits would be approved in 2024 — a decrease of 35 per cent from the previous years.

    However, institutions fell well below the imposed cap. This wasn’t due to a lack of demand but because of the rushed, poorly managed roll-out that amplified disruption beyond expectations. In fall 2024, the number of permits granted was on track to drop by 45 per cent compared to the previous year.

    The government plans a further 10 per cent cut in 2025 and 2026 and will cap approvals at 437,000. They will also, for the first time, restrict master’s and PhD students — limiting access to Canada’s research ecosystem.

    Talent and innovation

    While a cap may have been necessary to moderate the sector’s growth, its rollout created uncertainty for institutions and students. This damaged Canada’s reputation for high-quality education. The impact to our global standing as a top destination for international students will take years to repair.

    The government plans cap student visa approvals at 427,000 by 2026.
    (Shutterstock)

    This policy shift is especially concerning given Canada’s ongoing innovation and productivity challenges. A recent report from U15 research institutions shows Canada lags behind its peers in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). It’s mainly falling behind in research and development intensity, private sector innovation and technology adoption.

    In 2022, Canada’s research and development spending stood at just under two per cent of GDP. This is well below the OECD average of around three per cent.

    Many small and medium-sized businesses rely on university partnerships for research and development. Cutting international graduate student numbers disrupts these collaborations — hindering innovation at a time when Canada can least afford it.

    Policymakers claim restricting international student permits will ease labour market pressures. But the real problems with the labour market lie in skill mismatches, underemployment and employer hiring biases — not the number of international students.



    Read more:
    Canadian immigrants are overqualified and underemployed — reforms must address this

    With unemployment at around six-and-a-half per cent and youth unemployment at 13.6 per cent, concerns about job competition are valid. Yet newcomers and international students face significant barriers in finding jobs in their fields.

    In 2024, the unemployment rate for recent immigrants reached 11 percent. This is nearly double the unemployment rate for Canadian-born workers. Despite holding advanced degrees, two-thirds of foreign-trained professionals remain underemployed. This may be due to employers undervaluing international credentials and prioritizing “Canadian experience.”

    This trend extends to international student graduates who remain less likely than their Canadian peers to find jobs that match their level of education. In 2023, just over 36 per cent of international graduates with a bachelor’s degree secured roles requiring a university-level qualification, compared to just under 59 per cent of Canadian graduates. International student graduates also earn significantly lower salaries, despite having similar levels of job satisfaction.

    International student graduates face barriers in findings employment.
    (Shutterstock)

    Like many newcomers, I personally faced this Canadian experience barrier when I entered the workforce over 15 years ago as a permanent resident. Despite my education, multilingual abilities and professional skills, I submitted hundreds of applications and secured only a handful of interviews before landing my first opportunity. This frustrating, unnecessary and economically wasteful struggle remains just as prevalent today.

    These barriers not only limit individual potential but also weaken Canada’s ability to harness the talent it attracts.

    Addressing systemic issues

    International students are more than workers — they’re entrepreneurs, innovators and future job creators.

    For instance, as of 2022, nearly 180 of the U.S.’s billion-dollar companies were founded by former international students. Each of these companies created an average of 800 jobs and made up nearly a quarter of all dollar companies.

    Canada risks losing similarly bright minds to more welcoming countries if clear pathways for them to stay, contribute and build businesses aren’t established. This would cost the country both talent and billions in economic potential.

    If Canada is serious about building a stronger, more competitive economy, it must address the systemic issues that stand in the way of international student success.

    This includes modernizing credential recognition so employers can fairly assess international experience and qualifications, expanding co-op programs, internships and mentorships so international students can gain relevant Canadian experience before graduation and protect them from misinformation and questionable recruitment practices.

    Employers need to be educated about immigration pathways to reduce hiring hesitancy. The government also must create a stable and predictable immigration policy framework to give businesses confidence in hiring international graduates.



    Read more:
    International university grads speak about aspirations and barriers

    As Canada continues to face labour shortages and growing economic and political volatility, international education remains a strategic asset. It fuels research, diversifies trading partners, supports innovation and supplies the workforce Canada needs for long-term prosperity.

    The future of Canada’s economy depends on its ability to attract and retain the thinkers, creators, and innovators who will define the next generation of progress. At this critical moment, Canada must decide if it will invest in the talent that fuels innovation, or close the door on opportunity.

    Isaac Garcia-Sitton is affiliated with the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE), the Council of Ontario Universities (COU), and the Council of International Schools (CIS)

    – ref. Why international students could be a critical factor in bolstering Canada’s economic resilience – https://theconversation.com/why-international-students-could-be-a-critical-factor-in-bolstering-canadas-economic-resilience-251985

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Emergency alerts and news notifications can make us stressed and anxious — here’s what you can do to cope

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Indu Subramanian, Clinical Professor of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles

    Emergency alerts may amplify distress in people who already have anxiety. (Shutterstock)

    When there’s a disaster, it’s helpful to know what’s going on — and know whether you’re truly at risk. But as essential as emergency alert systems are, they can leave many of us feeling anxious — even when the alert may be a false alarm or test.

    This is because emergency alerts, whether real or tests, can activate the same neural circuits involved in real danger. This can trigger stress, confusion and anxiety.

    Our nervous systems are constantly processing information from both our bodies and our environment, trying to distinguish between warnings that demand action and those that can be safely ignored.

    But over time, the stress associated with being on constant alert can have lasting effects on mental health. Chronic stress can contribute to the risk of developing anxiety disorders and depression, and even physical disorders such as heart disease. This is especially true for people who live in war-torn or natural disaster-prone areas.

    In people who already have anxiety, being unable to distinguish between real and perceived threats can be particularly debilitating. This can amplify their distress, making it difficult to navigate a world filled with both real and perceived threats.

    Similarly, neurological conditions such as migraines, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease can be exacerbated by chronic stress responses. This can lead to a worsening of symptoms and lower quality of life.

    The constant barrage of information we’re exposed to — from daily news alerts to “doomscrolling” on social media — highlights a broader challenge we all face: learning to navigate a world increasingly filled with real and perceived threats that can further exacerbate anxiety.

    Chronic anxiety can disrupt sleep and circadian function. This can lead to a downward cycle in which poor sleep and poor mood can worsen cognitive and physical function.

    People who are chronically anxious may also be at risk for loneliness and social isolation. And when people get lonely, they tend to fixate on threatening stimuli, which can further exacerbate anxiety and perpetuate a vicious cycle.

    The body’s interoceptive system — the brain’s ability to sense and interpret internal physiological signals — plays a crucial role in determining which environmental signals warrant our attention.

    This systems helps us detect when our heart is racing from actual danger, versus when it’s simply responding to stress or uncertainty. But when interoception is disrupted, as it often is during heightened anxiety states, distinguishing between true and false alarms becomes increasingly difficult.

    Nervous system support

    Thankfully, there are things we can do to help better support our nervous systems in making these critical distinctions.

    It’s helpful to be conscious and deliberate about what we expose ourselves to in our internal and external environment. Creating a daily schedule with set times for exercise, sleep and social connection can be effective. Practising mind-body approaches such as mindfulness, breath work, yoga and tai chi might also help to facilitate an inward focus. Sustaining this inward focus can help reset our interoceptive system.

    Spending time with friends and sharing your concerns with them can also be helpful when dealing with perceived threats. This can also enhance social connection, which can buffer stress. It can be very comforting to feel connected to others who are experiencing a similar trauma. Limiting time with people who increase your anxiety is also key.

    Stepping away from information streams might also help. Finding ways to temporarily turn off or physically separate from digital devices such as laptops, cellphones and smart-watches for set periods of time can effectively facilitate a break from media. This can allow our minds to settle and reset our attention on priorities that are meaningful to us.

    Spending time in nature or finding time for stillness in other ways, such as listening to calming music, can also helpful.

    A novel strategy that has recently been studied for reducing anxiety and resetting the interoceptive nervous system is flotation tank immersion, also known as float therapy or flotation-REST. This involves lying in a shallow bath of warm water filled with concentrated levels of Epsom salt. When combined with reduced visual and auditory stimulation, this is thought to enhance the body’s interoceptive signals.

    Float therapy may be helpful for mental health.
    (Shutterstock)

    Float therapy has been shown to quickly reduce anxiety and stress levels, increase relaxation and even lead to lasting improvements in body image.

    Ultimately, understanding the brain’s role in processing internal and external threats is vital to improving our mental and physical wellbeing.

    Using our interoceptive nervous system as a way of developing resilience involves learning to be proactive rather than reactive. Sensing when our body is getting the preliminary cues of anxiety or stress that can mount into full-blown disarray can help. Not reacting to these cues, and consciously and deliberately choosing alternative actions, can help to unwind the anxiety from these cues. This may also potentially even help us avoid an episode of panic.

    Being more in tune with our nervous system can help us better equip ourselves to face the challenges ahead — whether they’re true threats or false alarms.

    Sahib Khalsa receives funding from the National Institute of Mental Health. He is an associate editor of several journals, Biological Psychology and JMIR Mental Health. He is a board member of several nonprofit organizations, the International Society for Contemplative Research and the Float Research Collective, which are non-compensated positions.

    Indu Subramanian 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. Emergency alerts and news notifications can make us stressed and anxious — here’s what you can do to cope – https://theconversation.com/emergency-alerts-and-news-notifications-can-make-us-stressed-and-anxious-heres-what-you-can-do-to-cope-249112

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Achieves Efficiency Through State and Local Preparedness

    Source: The White House

    ENHANCING EFFICIENCY THROUGH STATE AND LOCAL PREPAREDNESS: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to empower states, localities, and citizens to more effectively prepare for incidents like cyber attacks and weather events.

    • The Order enables state and local governments to better understand, plan for, and address the needs of their citizens by reducing the complexity of federal preparedness and response policies.
    • It also launches a National Resilience Strategy that articulates the priorities, means, and ways to advance the resilience of the nation.
    • The Order calls for a review of all infrastructure, continuity, and preparedness policies to modernize and simplify federal approaches, aligning them with the National Resilience Strategy. This includes:
      • Shifting national critical infrastructure policy from an “all-hazards” approach to a risk-informed approach, prioritizing resilience and action over mere information sharing. 
      • Overhauling national continuity policy to modernize its framework, streamline operations, and right-size the federal footprint for sustained readiness.
      • Evaluating national preparedness policies to reformulate the process and metrics for federal responsibility.
    • The Order creates a National Risk Register to identify, describe, and measure risks to our national infrastructure, related systems, and their users in order to guide smarter spending and planning.
    • The Order streamlines federal functions so states and communities can work with Washington more easily and effectively.

    SAVING LIVES THROUGH EARLY PREPAREDNESS: President Trump knows that Americans need fast, effective help when crises hit—not delays or excuses.

    • This Order injects common sense into both infrastructure prioritization and strategic investments through risk-informed decisions. This will make our infrastructure, communities, and economy more resilient to global and dynamic threats and hazards.
    • Local leaders and citizens know their needs best—not bureaucrats in Washington, D.C.
    • The Order streamlines operations and updates relevant government policies to reduce complexity, increase efficiency, and better protect and serve Americans. It enables state and local governments to better understand, plan for, and address the needs of their citizens.

    EMPOWERING STATES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES: This Executive Order delivers on President Trump’s commitment to shift power from Washington to the American people.

    • In his first week back in office, President Trump established a task force to assess FEMA’s ability to effectively address disasters occurring within the United States.
    • President Trump also signed an Executive Order to ensure California gets adequate resources to fight wildfires and assist California and North Carolina in rebuilding quicker, putting local needs first.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Achieving Efficiency Through State and Local Preparedness

    Source: The White House

    class=”has-text-align-left”>By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

    Section 1. Purpose. Commonsense approaches and investments by State and local governments across American infrastructure will enhance national security and create a more resilient Nation. Federal policy must rightly recognize that preparedness is most effectively owned and managed at the State, local, and even individual levels, supported by a competent, accessible, and efficient Federal Government. Citizens are the immediate beneficiaries of sound local decisions and investments designed to address risks, including cyber attacks, wildfires, hurricanes, and space weather. When States are empowered to make smart infrastructure choices, taxpayers benefit.

    This order empowers State, local, and individual preparedness and injects common sense into infrastructure prioritization and strategic investments through risk-informed decisions that make our infrastructure, communities, and economy resilient to global and dynamic threats and hazards.

    Sec. 2. Policy. It is the policy of the United States that State and local governments and individuals play a more active and significant role in national resilience and preparedness, thereby saving American lives, securing American livelihoods, reducing taxpayer burdens through efficiency, and unleashing our collective prosperity. In addition, it is the policy of the United States that my Administration streamline its preparedness operations; update relevant Government policies to reduce complexity and better protect and serve Americans; and enable State and local governments to better understand, plan for, and ultimately address the needs of their citizens.

    Sec. 3. Updating Federal Policy to Save Lives and End the Subsidization of Mismanagement. (a) National Resilience Strategy. Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (APNSA), in coordination with the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and the heads of relevant executive departments and agencies (agencies), shall publish a National Resilience Strategy that articulates the priorities, means, and ways to advance the resilience of the Nation. The National Resilience Strategy shall be reviewed and revised at least every 4 years, or as appropriate.

    (b) National Critical Infrastructure Policy. Within 180 days of the date of this order, the APNSA, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the heads of relevant agencies, shall review all critical infrastructure policies and recommend to the President the revisions, recissions, and replacements necessary to achieve a more resilient posture; shift from an all-hazards approach to a risk-informed approach; move beyond information sharing to action; and implement the National Resilience Strategy described in subsection (a) of this section. For purposes of this order, critical infrastructure policies do not include any policies related to purported “misinformation,” “disinformation,” or “malinformation,” nor so-called “cognitive infrastructure,” which should be reevaluated consistent with the policy set forth in Executive Order 14149 of January 20, 2025 (Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship), through a separate process. The policies to be reviewed and recommended for modification, as appropriate, include:

    (i) National Security Memorandum 16 of November 10, 2022 (Strengthening the Security and Resilience of United States Food and Agriculture);

    (ii) National Security Memorandum 22 of April 30, 2024 (Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience);

    (iii) Executive Order 14017 of February 24, 2021 (America’s Supply Chains); and

    (iv) Executive Order 14123 of June 14, 2024 (White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience).

    (c) National Continuity Policy. Within 180 days of the date of this order, the APNSA, in coordination with the heads of relevant agencies, shall review all national continuity policies and recommend to the President the revisions, recissions, and replacements necessary to modernize and streamline the approach to national continuity capabilities, reformulate the methodology and architecture necessary to achieve an enduring readiness posture, and implement the National Resilience Strategy described in subsection (a) of this section. The policies to be reviewed and recommended for modification, as appropriate, include:

    (i) Executive Order 13618 of July 6, 2012 (Assignment of National Security and Emergency Preparedness Communications Functions);

    (ii) Executive Order 13961 of December 7, 2020 (Governance and Integration of Federal Mission Resilience);

    (iii) National Security Memorandum 32 of January 19, 2025 (National Continuity Policy); and

    (iv) Executive Order 14146 of January 19, 2025 (Partial Revocation of Executive Order 13961).

    (d) Preparedness and Response Policies. Within 240 days of the date of this order, the APNSA, in coordination with the heads of relevant agencies and informed by the reports and findings of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Council established pursuant to Executive Order 14180 of January 24, 2025 (Council to Assess the Federal Emergency Management Agency), shall review all national preparedness and response policies and recommend to the President the revisions, recissions, and replacements necessary to reformulate the process and metrics for Federal responsibility, move away from an all-hazards approach, and implement the National Resilience Strategy described in subsection (a) of this section. The policies to be reviewed and recommended for modification, as appropriate, include:

    (i) Executive Order 12656 of November 18, 1988 (Assignment of Emergency Preparedness Responsibilities);

    (ii) Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 of February 28, 2003 (Management of Domestic Incidents);

    (iii) Presidential Policy Directive 8 of March 30, 2011 (National Preparedness);

    (iv) Presidential Policy Directive 22 of March 28, 2013 (National Special Security Events); and

    (v) Presidential Policy Directive 44 of November 7, 2016 (Enhancing Domestic Incident Response).

    (e) National Risk Register. Within 240 days of the date of this order, the APNSA, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the heads of relevant agencies, shall coordinate the development of a National Risk Register that identifies, articulates, and quantifies natural and malign risks to our national infrastructure, related systems, and their users.

    (i) The quantification produced by the National Risk Register shall be used to inform the Intelligence Community, private sector investments, State investments, and Federal budget priorities.

    (ii) The National Risk Register shall be reviewed and revised at least every 4 years, or as appropriate, to evolve with the dynamic risk landscape.

    (f) Federal National Functions Constructs. The Federal Government organizes national preparedness and continuity through the bureaucratic and complicated lens of overlapping and overbroad “functions,” which include: the National Essential Functions, Primary Mission Essential Functions, National Critical Functions, Emergency Support Functions, Recovery Support Functions, and Community Lifelines. Within 1 year of the date of this order, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall propose changes to the policies outlining this framework and any implementing documents to ensure State and local governments and individuals have improved communications with Federal officials and a better understanding of the Federal role. This proposal shall be coordinated through the process established by National Security Presidential Memorandum 1 of January 20, 2025 (Organization of the National Security Council and Subcommittees), or any successor processes, before being submitted to the President through the APNSA.

    Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

    (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

    (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

    (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

    (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

                                   DONALD J. TRUMP

    THE WHITE HOUSE,
    March 18, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Another “Most Wanted” Criminal Captured by the Trump Administration

    Source: The White House

    Under President Donald J. Trump, the message to criminals who bring harm and destruction to our communities is simple: you will be found, and you will face justice.

    Yesterday, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel announced the capture of another fugitive from its “Ten Most Wanted” list — initiating the extradition of a key senior leader of the brutal MS-13 gang, Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales, from Mexico to face charges in the United States. Roman-Bardales was wanted “for his alleged role in ordering numerous acts of violence against civilians and rival gang members, as well as his role in drug distribution and extortion schemes in the United States and El Salvador.”

    The cold-blooded criminal is the third fugitive on the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted” list apprehended since President Trump took office.

    • Arnoldo Jimenez — a fugitive wanted on first-degree murder charges — was arrested on January 31, 2025.
    • Donald Eugene Fields II — a fugitive wanted on child sex trafficking and child rape charges — was arrested on January 25, 2025.

    The Trump Administration will stop at nothing to keep the American people safe.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin, Duckworth Join Colleagues To Push Back On Proposed Cuts To Disaster Recovery Programs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    March 18, 2025
    In a new letter, the lawmakers pushed back against U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner’s proposed cuts to critical disaster recovery programs
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), along with 40 of their Senate colleagues, in pushing back on U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner’s proposed cuts to crucial disaster recovery programs that are under the umbrella of HUD.
    The cuts would reduce employees at HUD’s office of Community Planning and Development, which administers the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program, a crucial pot of funding that helps impacted communities with disaster recovery following extreme weather events including tornadoes and severe flooding. Under this program, Illinois is scheduled to receive more than $856.3 million for disaster recovery, which would likely be in jeopardy due to the cuts.
    This disaster relief work includes rebuilding houses and small businesses, repairing roads and bridges, restoring water services, and investing in workforce development for Illinoisans who’ve lost jobs.
    “Communities across the country experienced significant natural disasters in 2023 and 2024… Alaska, Louisiana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Illinois experienced severe storms,” the Senators wrote to Secretary Turner. “CDBG-DR provides states, cities, counties, and Tribes with funding to support recovery efforts in the wake of natural disasters.  In December 2024, Congress appropriated $12 billion in emergency supplemental CDBG-DR funding. During your confirmation process, you made clear that, if confirmed, you would prioritize getting our constituents CDBG-DR funding as quickly as possible.”
      
    “Specifically, you [Secretary Turner] stated that ‘one of [your] top priorities’ as HUD Secretary would ‘be to ensure that the disaster recovery funding passed by Congress gets out to communities swiftly’ and ‘into the hands of Americans who have been impacted by recent disasters.’  Your statements indicated a strong commitment to providing our disaster-impacted communities with the resources they need, but we are concerned that recent actions at the Department have not matched that verbal commitment,” the Senators continued.
    “We urge you to immediately stop any additional cuts to the workforce and contracts involved in disaster recovery oversight, and reinstate any recently terminated probationary staff,” the lawmakers concluded.
    A copy of the letter is available here and below:
    March 17, 2025
    Dear Secretary Turner:
    We write today regarding our concerns that recent actions taken by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are hampering our states’ ability to access (CDBG-DR) funds. The CDBG-DR program is critical to our states’ ability to recover from natural disasters, and it is essential that HUD distributes funding as quickly and efficiently as possible. We request additional information on your plans to ensure that communities continue to receive the resources they need to rebuild.
    Communities across the country experienced significant natural disasters in 2023 and 2024. States across the South—including Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia—were devastated by Hurricanes Milton and Helene, while Alaska, Louisiana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Illinois experienced severe storms.  States in the Northeast—including, Vermont, and Massachusetts —faced life-threatening floods, while states in the West – including California, Washington State, and Hawaii – saw catastrophic wildfires in Maui. 
    CDBG-DR provides states, cities, counties, and Tribes with funding to support recovery efforts in the wake of natural disasters.  In December 2024, Congress appropriated $12 billion in emergency supplemental CDBG-DR funding. During your confirmation process, you made clear that, if confirmed, you would prioritize getting our constituents CDBG-DR funding as quickly as possible. Specifically, you stated that “one of [your] top priorities” as HUD Secretary would “be to ensure that the disaster recovery funding passed by Congress gets out to communities swiftly” and “into the hands of Americans who have been impacted by recent disasters.”  Your statements indicated a strong commitment to providing our disaster-impacted communities with the resources they need, but we are concerned that recent actions at the Department have not matched that verbal commitment.
    For years, the HUD Office of Inspector General listed disaster recovery oversight as a top management challenge at HUD, noting the need for systems and staff to keep pace with increases in CDBG-DR funding, as well as the need to build the capacity of CDBG-DR grantees.  The latest Top Management Challenges report highlighted multiple ways in which HUD has made “meaningful progress,” largely due to the investment Congress has made over the years to support staff, systems, and capacity building. Over the last week, however more than one thousand HUD employees (13% of HUD’s workforce) were fired or accepted the Administration’s deferred resignation offer – including staff supporting the CDBG-DR program. Furthermore, according to recent reports, HUD “plans to discharge 50% of its overall workforce”, and the Office of Community Planning and Development, which is responsible for supporting disaster recovery efforts, is targeted for a staggering 84% cut.  Should such cuts move forward, it is unclear how the Department will continue to ensure the efficient delivery of CDBG-DR funds so our states and communities can continue to rebuild after devastating disasters. 
    HUD has also postponed previously scheduled trainings designed to help grantees understand CDBG-DR program requirements, and it is not clear when those trainings will resume.  Moreover, continued uncertainty on whether and the extent to which HUD may change the current Universal Notice governing the latest allocations from the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2025 (Public Law 118-158) could cause additional delays. At least one grantee has already started accepting public comments on their draft action plan. Any major deviations from current requirements could be a huge setback forcommunities, adding months to recovery efforts. 
    We urge you to immediately stop any additional cuts to the workforce and contracts involved in disaster recovery oversight, and reinstate any recently terminated probationary staff.
    To help us better understand the current status of the CDBG-DR program and your plans to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of CDBG-DR funds for our states and others across the country, we request information to the following questions no later than Monday, March 24, 2025:
    All grantees who received allocations from Public Law 118-158 have been using the CDBG-DR Universal Notice to develop their action plans.
    Do you intend to make changes to the Universal Notice?
    If so, how will HUD do that in a way that is minimally disruptive to the grantees whose actions plans are underway and to avoid delaying assistance?
    What is HUD’s timeline for reissuing the second allocation notice for Public Law 118-158 funding that was posted to the Federal Register for public inspection on January 21, 2025 but withdrawn on January 22, 2025?

    How many HUD employees were responsible for supporting the implementation of the CDBG-DR program, including the delivery of recently appropriated supplemental funding, on January 20, 2025? Please delineate by field versus headquarters and employee status (e.g., career, conditional, term, etc.).
    How many HUD employees are responsible for supporting the implementation of the CDBG-DR program, including the delivery of recently appropriated supplemental funding, on[March 17, 2025]? Please delineate by field versus headquarters and employee status (e.g., career, conditional, term, etc.).
    What additional plans, if any, does the Department have to further reduce the number of HUD employees responsible for implementing the CDBG-DR program?
    What analyses, if any, has HUD conducted to assess the impact of any proposed or implemented workforce reductions on the Department’s ability to implement CDBG-DR funding? Please provide copies of any written communications, analyses, and other documentation on how workforce reductions could impact the CDBG-DR program produced between January 21, 2025, and [March 17, 2025].
    What services, such as trainings and the provision of technical assistance, was HUD providing to CDBG-DR grantees on January 20, 2025?
    What services, if any, is HUD currently providing to CDBG-DR grantees? What changes, if any, have occurred to the services provided to CDBG-DR grantees since January 20, 2025?
    What additional plans, if any, does the Department have to alter the available services provided to CDBG-DR grantees? 
    Have any contracts related to the CDBG-DR program been terminated since January 20, 2025, as a result of the ongoing review of the ongoing reviews of HUD programs?  If so, please detail which contracts, the reason for termination, and the plan for addressing the contracted work, if applicable.
    Sincerely,
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: INDIANA COUNTY – Lt. Gov. Davis and DEP Acting Secretary Shirley to Unveil New Blacklick Abandoned Mine Treatment Facility

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    March 20, 2025 – Vintondale, PA

    ADVISORY – INDIANA COUNTY – Lt. Gov. Davis and DEP Acting Secretary Shirley to Unveil New Blacklick Abandoned Mine Treatment Facility

    Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley, and other local/county officials, will tour Pennsylvania’s newest Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD) Treatment Facility. The facility will help clean up 25 miles of waterways.
    The Open House, which is also open to community members, is an opportunity to tour the Blacklick Treatment Facility and learn how it will eliminate uncontrolled discharges of untreated mine water into Blacklick Creek. Tours will be available from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, with a short ceremony beginning at 1:00 PM.

    WHAT: Blacklick Treatment Facility Open House event
    WHEN: March 20, 2025, 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM
    WHERE: 4252 Wehrum Road, Vintondale, PA 15961
    MEDIA CONTACT: Tom Decker, thomadecke@pa.gov// 814-332-6615

    For more information, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s website, or follow DEP on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), or LinkedIn.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Sanjay Malhotra: Transforming grievance redress – the AI advantage

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    I am delighted to participate in this year’s Annual Conference of the RBI Ombudsmen. The Reserve Bank has been organising this conference on or around the World Consumer Rights Day, that is, 15th March. World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated every year with the aim of raising global awareness about consumer rights and needs. We organise this conference to reflect on our achievements with regard to consumer services and to deliberate on how to improve services and reduce grievances. We need to improve consumer services, not only because it is our duty to do so, but because it is in our selfish interest to do so. In this age of competition, we would not survive long if we do not provide quality service to our consumers.

    We have made tremendous strides in improving consumer services over the years. We have enabled internet banking and mobile banking. Most of the banking services, be it opening a deposit account, or taking a small loan have been digitised, adding to the convenience and speed. We are making record number of digital transactions through UPI and other means of digital payments. Many among the younger generation may have never visited a bank branch. We have even enabled opening of accounts using video KYC.

    While we have enhanced customer experience over the years, the high number of customer grievances continues to be a matter of serious concern. I am told that last year (2023-24), the 95 Scheduled Commercial Banks alone received over 10 million complaints from their customers. If we take into account the complaints received at other RBI-regulated entities (REs), the number would be even higher. One may argue that this amounts to only four complaints per thousand accounts per year as there are about 2.5 billion bank accounts. But, for us, even one complaint is a cause of concern. We have 10 million complaints and with the rapidly growing customer base and expanding suite of products, this may grow, if we do not get our act together.

    Customer satisfaction – a cornerstone for banking and other financial services

    Excellent customer service, in fact excellent customer experience is a sine qua non in any service industry. Our effort should be to enhance the total customer experience. The experience should be such that there is no cause for a grievance that requires a redress. Let me state a fundamental truth: every complaint is a test of trust. When a consumer files a grievance – whether for a disputed transaction, a lapse in service, inappropriate pricing or charges or an unfair practice – it is a signal that our system has fallen short. Left unresolved, such issues can erode consumer confidence and tarnish the entire ecosystem.

    I am reminded of a real story about customer service. Some of you, especially the management graduates, may have heard it but it is so appropriate for today’s theme that it is worth being retold. In the winter of 1975, in a town in Alaska, a man walked into a store and complained to the salesman present that the snow tyres that he bought some time ago were not holding. The salesman was a little puzzled. He said that he could not replace them but will check what he could do and went to the back of the store. Those of you, who have visited departmental stores in the USA, would know that refunds are processed at the back of the store. The salesman came back after some time and handed over some cash as refund and the customer left satisfied. Can anyone guess why this was unique, as no questions asked policy for refunds is fairly common in the USA? It is because the company in question is Nordstrom which does not even sell tyres. It sells apparel and shoes. But, for Nordstrom, customer comes first. Trusting him and winning his trust is more important than anything else.

    Some say that this is not a true story. How is this possible? How could a company offer refund for a product which it never sold? Nordstrom, however, insists that this incident did take place. Nordstrom had acquired three stores from another company that sold miscellaneous articles including tyres. The customer did not realise that the store had changed and walked in with his complaint. The key message is that Nordstrom saw itself being in the business of customer service, and not just selling goods. We too need to realise that we are in the business of providing unalloyed customer service and not just selling banking and other financial services.

    Top management to accord priority to customer service

    I am sure you will all agree that we are indeed in the business of customer service. However, I suspect that we are not spending enough time on customer service and grievance redressal as a result of which not only are there a large number of complaints being received by banks and NBFCs but in the absence of satisfactory resolution, a large number of them are getting escalated to RBI Ombudsmen.

    Let me give you some perspective. The number of complaints received under RBI’s Integrated Ombudsman Scheme increased at a compounded average growth rate of almost 50 per cent per year over last two years to 9.34 lakh in 2023-24. The number of complaints processed at the Office of RBI Ombudsman increased by 25 per cent from about 2,35,000 in 2022-23 to almost 2,94,000 in 2023-24. Not only are large number of complaints getting escalated, a large proportion of them – nearly 57 per cent of the maintainable complaints last year – required mediation or formal intervention by the RBI Ombudsmen. You would all agree that this is a highly unsatisfactory situation and needs our urgent attention.

    I would, therefore, strongly urge all the MD&CEOs, Zonal and Regional Managers and the Branch Managers to spend some time every week, if not every day on grievance redressal. This is a must. All great CEOs find time to do it. We too must keep some time in our diary for improving customer service and grievance redressal.

    Improving customer service systems

    Customer complaints aren’t a nuisance – they are in fact opportunities to improve, innovate, and build trust. Handling them well can define your success. Each unresolved grievance is a missed opportunity for regulated entities to reaffirm customer trust and loyalty. It is also a warning signal as repeat complaints are often signs of systemic flaws. Today, complaints often surface on social media even before reaching official channels, highlighting the need for proactive measures.

    The effort thus should be to not only resolve the complaints but also to ensure that the same type of complaint does not arise again. Many of the complaints like digital transaction disputes, unauthorized charges, or miscommunication frequently recur. These are clearcut symptoms of underlying issues in the overall customer service framework of the regulated entities. A thorough root cause analysis should be performed for each complaint so as to enable remedial action and avoid repetition of same type of complaint.

    In fact, I would go a step further. Best service is not one in which there is no occasion for grievance redressal but one in which there is no occasion for the customer service department to step in. Systems should work seamlessly and conveniently so that customers do not have to call the branch or the customer service centre or talk to anyone in the Bank or NBFC. Systems have to be so user-friendly that customers can rely on self-service rather than being dependent on anyone else.

    Improving internal grievance redressal systems

    While improving systems to reduce grievances is important, setting up a robust grievance redressal system is equally important for all regulated entities. I would urge you all to review the same. While the regulations do not make any prescription for the organisational structure for grievance redressal, my experience suggests that there should be at least two levels for grievance redressal in large REs, with unresolved grievances getting escalated from the lower to the higher level. The highest level should be at a fairly high rank. This to ensure that requests do not get rejected without having been examined by a senior functionary who is empowered to take decisions in consumer interest. This will help reduce grievances getting escalated to the Ombudsman. It must also be ensured that there are sufficient number of grievance redress officers at all levels including in the Internal Ombudsman office.

    I would also like to draw your attention to the misclassification of complaints as requests, queries, and disputes by the regulated entities. This results in the complainants’ grievances remaining unaddressed. Moreover, this is also a gross regulatory violation.

    Major areas of service improvement

    Let me now briefly allude to some of the major areas where we need to improve. These relate to KYC, digital frauds, mis-selling, and aggressive recovery practices.

    As for KYC, we need to ensure that once a customer has submitted documents to a financial institution, we do not insist on obtaining the same documents again. Once the customer has updated his details, for example, his residential address, with one regulated entity of any financial sector regulator, it gets updated in CKYCR and other REs are notified of the updation. PML Rules made by the Department of Revenue in the Ministry of Finance and RBI’s Master Directions on KYC mandate regulated entities to check the CKYCR system before seeking KYC documents for opening an account. However, most banks and NBFCs have not enabled the same in their branches/business outlets, causing avoidable inconvenience to customers. This may be facilitated early. This will be in the interest of all.

    Another important issue connected to customer protection is rising digital frauds. It is a matter of great concern that innocent customers continue to fall prey to scamsters. While this could be attributed to rise in digital transactions and innovative methods adopted by fraudsters, lack of customer awareness is also a major reason for the same. To mitigate this menace, REs not only need to put in place robust internal controls but also enhance digital financial literacy.

    The issues of mis-selling and aggressive recovery practices have been highlighted earlier too. In this context too, I would request you to keep consumer interest supreme.

    Embracing technology – the AI way

    Let me now come to the theme of this year’s conference: AI’s potential to revolutionize grievance redressal. We are entering an exciting era where technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), can drive remarkable improvements in speed, accuracy, and fairness of complaint resolution.

    AI can help categorize incoming complaints by urgency, complexity, or subject area, ensuring minimal delay in reaching the right people or the right team. AI can also help in optimising complaint routing. Further, it can assist in decision-making and reducing processing time.

    Secondly, AI can be used to pinpoint systemic gaps by analysing both structured and unstructured data such as emails, chat logs, and call transcripts. This will aid in identifying training needs and guiding necessary process reforms. Using data from millions of consumer branch visits, call centre logs, mobile apps, and social media, a unified, AI-driven view of all these interactions can help identify common pain points more efficiently. Leveraging data analytics, sentiment analysis, and predictive models, AI can be used to analyse large volumes of data to detect spikes in issues – such as ATM failures or erroneous charges – and alert REs pre-emptively.

    Lastly, in a linguistically diverse country like India, AI-driven chatbots and voice recognition tools can eliminate language barriers by operating in local languages. Moreover, the implementation of conversational AI in chatbots, voicebots, and advanced IVR systems can handle routine queries round the clock, thereby freeing people to focus on cases that require empathy and complex problem-solving.

    In short, integrating AI at every stage – from complaint lodging to closure – can result in a seamless, efficient, and data-driven grievance redressal system. Such a framework not only reduces processing times and addresses repetitive complaints but also fosters equitable outcomes by mitigating human biases. It is time that the banking industry explores and pioneers the integration of technology – including AI – to strengthen the grievance resolution mechanisms and make it best in class across the globe.

    Challenges and guardrails in AI driven grievance redressal system

    While AI presents unparalleled opportunities, we need to be cognizant of the challenges and risks that its adoption poses. There are concerns on data privacy, algorithmic bias and complexity in AI-driven models. As we embrace AI in grievance redressal or any other process, we must also remain mindful of ethical considerations. Human oversight, bias mitigation and data privacy must be integrated into the AI Systems to ensure transparent and consistent outcomes.

    Investing in human resources

    While technology in all its forms is a powerful enabler, I would like to emphasise that it is no substitute for integrity, empathy, and human judgment. In a world increasingly driven by data, algorithms, and automation, it is all too easy to lose sight of the human element. Every transaction represents not just a number in a ledger, but the hard-earned savings of a family, the dreams of a small entrepreneur, or the lifelong savings of a senior citizen. It is, therefore, critical that REs continue to invest in human resources dedicated for customer service and grievance redressal. It is essential to invest in training of staff, especially in behavioural aspects of customer service. Moreover, the staff needs to be empowered to take decisions based on their judgement to redress consumer grievances, enhance customer satisfaction and win consumer trust.

    RBI as a facilitator

    In the end, I would like to assure you that, while we exhort you to provide services efficiently to customers, we in the Reserve Bank shall also provide various services, approvals, clarifications, etc. to the regulated entities in a timely manner. We already have a citizen’s charter. We are in the process of reviewing the charter. We will make the charter comprehensive to include all services that we offer either to the REs or directly to citizens. Moreover, we are reviewing the timelines for each service. It will be our endeavour to provide all approvals, etc. within the timelines. We are also making mandatory the use of PRAVAAH, which is RBI’s secure and centralised web-based portal for any individual or entity to seek authorisation, license or regulatory approval on any reference made to the Reserve Bank in a timely manner. This will help us in expediting the disposal of applications received by the Reserve Bank.

    Conclusion

    We stand at a pivotal juncture as India looks to realise its dream of a more resilient and inclusive Viksit Bharat. With the financial sector touching the lives of almost the entire population, we have a critical role. To succeed in this role, we must continue to enhance customer service and customer protection.

    Thank you !

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Ministerial meeting stresses need for strengthened international cooperation to accelerate just and inclusive energy transition for all in the Global South

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    Access to electricity worldwide has increased steadily since the adoption of the SDGs in 2015, to reach 90.7% of the world’s population in 2023 (up from 84.5% in 2015) while the world’s population rose from 7.44bn to 8.06bn in 2023. 

    Hundreds of millions of people have gained access to electricity, enjoying a better life through better access to education, health, business opportunities, mobility, etc. However, some 750 million people, with 600 million in sub-Saharan Africa, still lack access.  

    28 Ministers from Africa, Asis and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, met last week at two Ministerial gatherings at the Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) Global Forum in Bridgetown, Barbados, to advance climate resilience for populations in the Global South. 

    In their Communiqué, Ministers underscored the importance of enhanced global cooperation to support the growing energy needs in developing countries while addressing climate vulnerability.  

    The Communiqué also stresses the role of regional cooperation frameworks and reiterates commitments from the Dar es Salaam Declaration (January 2025) and highlights initiatives such as Mission 300 (M300), aiming to provide electricity access to 300 million people in Africa by 2030.   

    UNFC and UNRMS: supporting sustainable and just energy transitions 

    The Communiqué references the UN Framework Classification for Resources and the UN Resources Management System – endorsed by ECOSOC – as vital mechanisms to help countries translate their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) commitments under the Paris Agreement into action.   

    UNFC and UNRMS are key tools in managing critical raw materials, promoting circular economy practices, and aligning financing strategies with national energy transition plans.  

    UNFC and UNRMS offer countries methodologies to encompass social and equity dimensions, including youth participation and workforce development, into energy transition plans, ensuring intergenerational equity and sustainable financing models. 

    By advocating for stronger policies, inclusive decision-making, and sustainable financing, UNECE’s energy work supports equitable and resilient energy transitions. 

    The dialogue on just and inclusive energy transitions will continue during the 20th session of the Group of Experts on Coal Mine Methane and Just Transition (CMMJT), where experts will further discuss pathways to strengthen international cooperation in support of a fair and sustainable transition. 

    The press release is available here. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: More schools for Edmonton and area | Un plus grand nombre d’écoles pour la région d’Edmonton

    [. That is why through Budget 2025, if passed, Alberta’s government is funding 14 new school projects in the Edmonton metro area, adding about 16,400 new and updated student spaces. In total, there are now 36 projects underway in and around Edmonton.

    “We have heard loud and clear that Edmonton and surrounding communities need new schools. To meet this call, we are supporting new and ongoing school projects in Edmonton and area to ensure every student has a space to grow and thrive.”

    Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Education

    Budget 2025, if passed, funds a total of 41 new school projects across the province. These school projects will add 38,500 new or upgraded student spaces. With the new investments in Budget 2025, there are now 132 active school projects underway in Alberta, all of which are being fast-tracked through the new and improved funding process designed and released by Alberta’s government in fall of 2024.

    “When we ensure that students have access to the classrooms they need, we are setting up the next generation to succeed. Our team is committed to working with everyone involved to turn permits into progress and get students into well-built and well-maintained schools as soon as possible.”

    Martin Long, Minister of Infrastructure

    Last fall, Alberta’s government announced an $8.6 billion program to accelerate school construction and build new classroom spaces to help ensure that every student has the space needed to grow and thrive. Over the next seven years, Alberta’s government will deliver more than 100 new and updated schools or about 200,000 student spaces.

    “The investment in five school projects is welcome news. Space for students in all grades, especially for high schools, is critical for Edmonton Public Schools. A school is the heart of a community, and we are grateful that more students will have access to a public school closer to home.”

    Julie Kusiek, board chair, Edmonton Public Schools

    “We are grateful for this investment in Catholic education. With nearly all our high schools over capacity and enrolment continuing to grow, this commitment is an important step in addressing these pressures. We look forward to advancing these projects quickly to ensure students have the spaces they need to succeed.”

    Sandra Palazzo, board chair, Edmonton Catholic Schools

    Budget 2025 is meeting the challenge faced by Alberta with continued investments in education and health, lower taxes for families and a focus on supporting the economy.

    Quick facts

    • The 2025 Capital Plan allocates $75 million over the next three years for the planning and design of the 41 school capital projects approved in 2025 and $2.3 billion to building and updating previously announced school projects.
    • With Budget 2025, if passed, there are now 36 school projects underway in the Edmonton metropolitan region:
      • 19 projects with construction approval
      • 7 projects with design approval
      • 10 projects with planning approval

    Budget 2025 (if passed) new school projects in the Edmonton region (11):   

    Community

    School division

    Project type/name

    Design funding (2)

    Edmonton

    Edmonton Public Schools 

    addition to Dr. Anne Anderson High School

    new K to 6 in Hawks Ridge

    Planning funding (9)

    Beaumont

    St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Schools

    new 10 to 12

    Black Gold School Division

    new 10 to 12

    Edmonton

    Edmonton Public Schools

    new 10 to 12 in Castle Downs

    new 10 to 12 in The Grange

    new K to 6 in Silver Berry

    Edmonton Catholic Schools

    new 10 to 12 in Lewis Farms

    new 10 to 12 in The Meadows

    Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord

    new K to 6 in Haddow/Henderson

    St. Albert

    St. Albert Public Schools

    new K to 9 in Chérot

    Budget 2025 (if passed) replacement school projects in the Edmonton region (2): 

     Community

    School division

    Project type/name

    Design funding (1)

    Morinville

    Sturgeon Public Schools

    replacement of Morinville Public School

    Planning funding (1)

    Edmonton

    Edmonton Catholic Schools

    replacement of St. Lucy Catholic Elementary School and Katherine Therrien Catholic Elementary School with K to 9 solution in Palisades/Oxford

    Budget 2025 (if passed) public charter school projects in the Edmonton region (1): 

     Community

    Charter authority

    Project type/name

    		  

    Design funding (1)

    		  

    Edmonton

    Alberta Classical Academy

    acquire and modernize the Edmonton Classical Academy, Eastgate Campus (K to 12)

    Related information

    • Budget 2025 Capital Plan
    • Budget 2025 overview
    • School construction accelerator program
    • Public charter schools

    Related news

    • Building schools in every corner of the province (March 7, 2025)
    • More schools for Calgary and region (March 14, 2025)

    Multimedia

    • Watch the news conference

    Quatorze nouveaux projets d’écoles pour Edmonton et les collectivités avoisinantes.

    La population de l’Alberta a augmenté rapidement au cours des dernières années et cette croissance démographique a exercé des pressions sur plusieurs écoles d’Edmonton confrontées à une hausse des inscriptions. Pour cette raison, le budget 2025, s’il est adopté, fera démarrer 14 nouveaux projets d’écoles dans la région métropolitaine d’Edmonton, ce qui permettra de créer et de rénover 16 400 places pour les élèves. Au total, 36 projets d’écoles sont désormais en cours de réalisation dans la région d’Edmonton.

    « Nous avons entendu haut et fort qu’Edmonton et les collectivités environnantes ont besoin de nouvelles écoles. Nous répondons à cet appel en soutenant de nouveaux projets d’écoles ainsi que des projets déjà en cours dans la région d’Edmonton afin que chaque élève ait un espace pour grandir et réussir. »

    Demetrios Nicolaides, ministre de l’Éducation

    Le budget 2025, s’il est adopté, finance un total de 41 nouveaux projets d’écoles dans l’ensemble de la province. Ces projets d’écoles permettront de créer et de moderniser plus de 38 500 places pour les élèves. Grâce aux nouveaux investissements prévus dans le budget 2025, 132 projets d’écoles sont maintenant en cours dans toute l’Alberta, tous accélérés au moyen du nouveau processus de financement amélioré conçu et mis en œuvre par le gouvernement de l’Alberta à l’automne 2024.

    « Lorsque nous veillons à ce que les élèves aient accès aux salles de classe dont ils ont besoin, nous donnons à la prochaine génération toutes les chances de réussir. Notre équipe s’engage à travailler avec toutes les parties concernées pour faire avancer la construction et offrir aux élèves des écoles bien construites et bien entretenues dès que possible. »

    Martin Long, ministre de l’Infrastructure

    L’automne dernier, le gouvernement de l’Alberta a annoncé un programme de 8,6 milliards de dollars pour accélérer la construction d’écoles et pour construire de nouvelles salles de classe afin que chaque élève ait l’espace nécessaire pour grandir et réussir. Au cours des sept prochaines années, le gouvernement de l’Alberta financera plus de 100 projets de construction et de rénovation d’écoles, ce qui permettra d’ajouter plus de 200 000 places pour les élèves.

    « L’investissement dans cinq projets d’écoles est une bonne nouvelle. Le besoin d’espace pour les élèves de toutes les classes, en particulier pour les écoles secondaires, est crucial pour les écoles publiques d’Edmonton. Les écoles sont au cœur des collectivités et nous sommes reconnaissants que davantage d’élèves aient accès à une école publique plus proche de chez eux. »

    Julie Kusiek, présidente, Edmonton Public Schools

    « Nous sommes reconnaissants de cet investissement dans l’éducation catholique. Alors que la quasi-totalité de nos écoles secondaires dépasse leur capacité d’accueil et que les inscriptions continuent d’augmenter, cet engagement est une étape importante pour faire face à ces pressions. Nous sommes impatients de faire avancer ces projets rapidement afin que les élèves disposent des espaces dont ils ont besoin pour réussir. »

    Sandra Palazzo, présidente, Edmonton Catholic Schools

    Le budget 2025 relève les défis auxquels fait face l’Alberta en continuant d’investir dans l’éducation et la santé, en réduisant les impôts pour les familles et en soutenant l’économie.

    En bref

    • Le plan d’immobilisations 2025 alloue 75 millions de dollars sur trois ans pour la planification et la conception des 41 projets d’immobilisations scolaires approuvés en 2025 et 2,3 milliards de dollars pour les projets de construction et de modernisation d’écoles déjà annoncés.
    • Si le budget 2025 est adopté, 36 projets d’écoles seront en cours de réalisation dans la région métropolitaine d’Edmonton :
      • 19 projets approuvés pour la construction;
      • 7 projets approuvés pour la conception;
      • 10 projets approuvés pour la planification.

    Le budget 2025 (si adopté) financera ces projets de nouvelles écoles dans la région d’Edmonton (11).

    Collectivité

    Autorité scolaire

    Type/nom de projet

    Financement pour la conception (2)

    Edmonton

    Edmonton Public Schools

    agrandissement de l’école secondaire Dr. Anne Anderson High School

    nouvelle école M à 6 dans Hawks Ridge

    Financement pour la planification (9)

    Beaumont

    St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Schools

    nouvelle école 10 à 12

    Black Gold School Division

    nouvelle école 10 à 12

    Edmonton

    Edmonton Public Schools

    nouvelle école 10 à 12 dans Castle Downs

    nouvelle école 10 à 12 dans The Grange

    nouvelle école M à 6 dans Silver Berry

    Edmonton Catholic Schools

    nouvelle école 10 à 12 dans Lewis Farms

    nouvelle école 10 à 12 sans The Meadows

    Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord

    nouvelle école M à 6 dans Haddow/Henderson

    Saint-Albert

    St. Albert Public Schools

    nouvelle école M à 9 dans Chérot

    Le budget 2025 (si adopté) financera ce projet de remplacement d’écoles dans la région d’Edmonton (2).

    Collectivité

    Autorité à charte

    Type/nom de projet

    Financement pour la conception (1)

    Morinville

    Sturgeon Public Schools

    école de remplacement pour Morinville Public School

    Financement pour la planification (1)

    Edmonton

    Edmonton Catholic Schools

    école de remplacement pour St. Lucy Catholic Elementary School et pour Katherine Therrien Catholic Elementary School avec solution M à 9 dans Palisades/Oxford

    Le budget 2025 (si adopté) financera ces projets d’écoles publiques à charte dans la région d’Edmonton (1).

    Collectivité

    Autorité à charte

    Type/nom de projet

    Financement pour la conception (1)

    Edmonton

    Alberta Classical Academy

    acquisition et modernisation du campus Eastgate (M à 12) de l’Edmonton Classical Academy

    Renseignements connexes

    • Budget 2025 : Plan d’immobilisations (en anglais seulement)
    • Aperçu du budget 2025 (en anglais seulement)
    • Programme pour accélérer la construction d’écoles
    • Écoles publiques à charte (en anglais seulement)

    Nouvelles connexes

    • Construire des écoles aux quatre coins de la province (7 mars 2025)
    • Un plus grand nombre d’écoles pour la région de Calgary (14 mars 2025)

    Multimédia (en anglais seulement)

    • Regarder la conférence de presse

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada to help skilled newcomers fill labour gaps in key sectors

    Source: Government of Canada News

    The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities and to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Member of Parliament for St. Catharines, Chris Bittle, will be in Toronto to announce funding to improve foreign credential recognition processes and help internationally trained professionals across the country secure employment in the healthcare and construction sectors.  

    The announcement is being made on behalf of the Minister of Jobs and Families, Steven MacKinnon.

    A photo opportunity and media availability will follow the announcement.

    Please note that all details are subject to change. All times are local.

    Date:        Thursday, March 20, 2025

    Time:           9:30 a.m. EDT

    Place:          Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto
                     355 Church Street, Suite 201
                     Toronto, Ontario

    To register, contact media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca with your name and media outlet.

    – 30 –

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: The Government of Canada continues to support unsheltered homelessness response in Thunder Bay and Guelph

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Thunder Bay, March 19, 2025 — The federal government is allocating an additional $1 million to the Lakehead Social Planning Council in Thunder Bay and $500,000 to the County of Wellington in Guelph through the Designated Communities stream of Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy. This brings the total allocation from 2019-20 through 2027-28 to $11.6 million for Thunder Bay, and $17.1 million for Guelph.

    This much needed funding will be invested in services and supports that work with some of the most vulnerable in these communities to find suitable housing and address the systemic challenges that contribute to chronic homelessness.

    Through Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy, the federal government is committed to preventing and reducing homelessness across the country in urban, Indigenous, rural, and remote communities.

    Everyone deserves a safe and stable place to call home, but far too many Canadians face the daily unacceptable reality of homelessness. The Government of Canada and its partners recognize the collective responsibility to develop and deliver community plans with clear outcomes that address local priorities designed to meet the needs of specific populations.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE Boston arrests fugitive wanted in Brazil for manslaughter

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    WALTHAM, Mass. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement apprehended an illegally present 29-year-old Brazilian alien convicted in his native country for manslaughter while driving a motor vehicle Jan. 25 in Waltham.

    The Brazilian fugitive failed to appear for his prison sentence following the manslaughter conviction.

    “This Brazilian fugitive attempted to flee justice in his home country by hiding out in Massachusetts,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “He presented a threat to the residents of our communities that we will not tolerate. ICE will not allow our New England communities to become a safe haven for the world’s bad actors. We will continue to arrest and remove them from our streets.”

    A Brazilian court convicted the fugitive Dec. 11, 2018, for manslaughter while driving a motor vehicle and sentenced him to serve a prison term of four years, eight months, and 21 days

    The U.S. Border Patrol arrested the Brazilian fugitive Nov. 22, 2018, after he illegally entered the United States near Hildalgo, Texas. Immigration Officials issued the fugitive an order of expedited removal and released him on his own recognizance.

    The Brazilian alien remains in ICE custody following his arrest.

    Members of the public can report crimes or suspicious activity by dialing the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our communities on X: @EROBoston.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New Alaska Berry Booklet Features Salmonberries

    Source: US Geological Survey

    New Alaska Berry Booklet Features Salmonberries

    Discover how climate change is affecting salmonberry harvests in the newest addition to the ‘Berry Booklet’ series from the Alaska CASC, featuring local traditions and community adaptation strategies. 

    As warmer temperatures and droughts reshape traditional berry seasons in Alaska, subsistence harvesters are witnessing less-predictable fruiting and harvesting times. The new salmonberry “berry booklet” from the Alaska CASC sheds light on how climate change is impacting harvests and challenging communities that rely on salmonberries for food security and cultural tradition.  

    Salmonberries are so important to the Metlakatla community that their Climate Adaptation Plan prioritizes berry health when making decisions about invasive species control, herbicide use, and even road maintenance. Roadsides are prime gathering locations, offering easy walkable access to berries for families and elders. One of the biggest threats to the availability of salmonberry is changing precipitation, with June water availability (an important period before the plant produces fruit) expected to decrease another 10% over the next 75 years.  

    The booklet also highlights adaptation strategies communities are using, such as identifying resilient patches, pruning plants to increase berry production, sharing seeds, planting food forests, and protecting snowpacks.  

    This newest salmonberry booklet completes a series on Alaska’s five most popular berries – cloudberries, bog blueberries, lowbush cranberries, and crowberries. Each booklet explores how climate change affects harvest timing, plant health, and long-term berry availability while identifying knowledge gaps to guide future research. Developed as part of the “Berry Futures” project funded by the Alaska CASC, the series was shaped by extensive community input from listening sessions with berry harvesters from over 40 Alaskan communities. By combining local observations with scientific studies, the project centers Indigenous Knowledge and lived experiences in understanding and responding to climate impacts.  

    This work is supported by the Alaska CASC Project, “Alaska’s Berry Future: Planning for Changing Resources in an Altered Climate.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Continued Progress Driving Down Gun Violence

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced that gun violence in communities participating in the State’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative declined during the first two months of the year after reaching its lowest level on record in 2024. Shooting incidents with injury decreased 18 percent in January and February, compared to those two months in 2024, and 18 fewer individuals were harmed by gunfire. The Governor’s Fiscal Year 26 Executive Budget Proposal continues record-level funding to further improve public safety and invests $370 million to support local and state law enforcement initiatives, youth employment programs and community-based organizations that increase opportunity for individuals and families and strengthen neighborhoods.

    “Reducing gun violence and implementing programs to make our streets safer is critical to ensuring that all New Yorkers feel safe and are protected from harm,” Governor Hochul said. “The initiatives we’ve implemented to eliminate gun crimes are working, and we will continue to invest in law enforcement and community based programs until each and every New Yorker is free from gun violence.”

    The 18 percent decline reflects 61 shooting incidents with injury reported in January and February 2025, compared to 74 during those two months last year, and the number of shooting victims decreased by 21 percent (68 vs. 86). The 28 police departments participating in GIVE report roughly 90 percent of violent crimes involving firearms and 85 percent of violent crime reported outside New York City.

    The Rochester and Buffalo police departments each reported 10 fewer individuals injured by gun violence, the most significant decreases reported. Shooting incidents with injury, shooting victims and shooting homicide data for each of the 28 GIVE agencies are available on the State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) website. In addition to the collective decrease in gun violence in GIVE communities, the New York City Police Department reported a 27 percent (111 vs. 151) decrease in shooting incidents through March 16, 2025.

    New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado said, “Governor Hochul’s commitment to our law enforcement and community partners is unmatched. She has provided record-level funding for GIVE, our SNUG Street Outreach program, alternatives to incarceration programs and re-entry services, among others, allowing our local partners to address not only the consequences of crime, but its causes. I thank the Governor for her ongoing support and our partners across the State for their tireless efforts to improve public safety and strengthen communities.”

    New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “I appreciate Governor Hochul’s leadership on this issue and for providing the necessary resources to reduce gun violence and build safer communities. By working together, addressing the causes, providing education and support services, we are taking action to avert the senseless tragedies that result from gun violence. We will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners on this integral mission to keep New York State safe.”

    Preliminary index crime reported by police departments and sheriffs’ offices outside of New York City showed an 8 percent decrease from January through September 2024 vs. 2023, the most current data available. There are seven index crime categories that are used to gauge overall crime trends: four violent (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) and three property (burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft). Violent crime declined by three percent and property, eight percent. In the five boroughs, data reported by the NYPD showed a 2 percent reduction in 2024 compared to 2023.

    To date, State Police have seized 318 guns in 2025. In 2024 and 2023 respectively, State Police seized 1,706 and 1,463 guns.

    Governor Hochul’s $370 million investment to reduce and prevent gun violence and strengthen communities disproportionately impacted by crime includes, but is not limited to, the following programs and initiatives administered by DCJS:

    • $50 million through the Law Enforcement Technology grant program, which provides funding so police departments and sheriffs’ offices can purchase new equipment and technology to modernize their operations and more effectively solve and prevent crime.
    • $36 million for GIVE, which funds the 28 police departments and district attorneys’ offices, probation departments and sheriffs’ offices in 21 counties outside of New York City.
    • $21 million for the SNUG Street Outreach Program, which operates in 14 communities across the State: Albany, the Bronx, Buffalo, Hempstead, Mount Vernon, Newburgh, Niagara Falls, Poughkeepsie, Rochester, Syracuse, Troy, Utica, Wyandanch and Yonkers. The program uses a public health approach to address gun violence by identifying the source, interrupting transmission and treating individuals, families and communities affected by the violence.
    • $18 million in continued support for the State’s unique, nationally recognized Crime Analysis Center Network, and $13 million in new funding to establish the New York State Crime Analysis and Joint Special Operations Command Headquarters, a strategic information, technical assistance and training hub for 11 Centers in the State’s network, and enhance existing partnerships and expand information sharing with the New York State Intelligence Center operated by the State Police, the locally run Nassau County Lead Development Center, and the State’s Joint Security Operations Center, which focuses on protecting the State from cyber threats.
    • $20 million for Project RISE (Respond, Invest, Sustain, Empower) in 10 communities to support mentoring, mental health services, restorative practices, trust building, employment and education support and youth development activities, among other programs and services that address trauma resulting from long-term exposure to violence, build resilience and strengthen youth, families and neighborhoods.

    The New York State Police, the State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and the State Office of Victim Services also will receive funding through that $370 million allocation.

    In the Fiscal Year 26 Executive Budget Proposal, Governor Hochul allocated an additional $35 million for the next round of the Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes grants to increase safety and security of organizations at risk of hate crimes or attacks because of their ideology, beliefs, or mission; nearly $41 million to improve the public safety response to intimate partner violence and improve services for victims and survivors; and doubling funding for rape crisis centers to $12.8 million.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Florida Attorney Sentenced to 102 Months for an Attempted Bombing Near the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C.

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

               WASHINGTON – Christopher Rodriguez, 45, of Panama City, Fla., was sentenced today to 102 months in federal prison for the September 2023 attempted bombing near the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Washington, D.C., and for the November 2022 bombing of a satirical sculpture depicting communist leaders Vladimir Lenin and Mao Zedong in San Antonio, Texas.

               The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., and Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington Field Division. 

               Rodriguez, a licensed Florida attorney and a U.S. Army veteran, pleaded guilty August 2, 2024, to damaging property occupied by a foreign government, explosive materials—malicious damage to federal property, and receipt or possession of an unregistered firearm (destructive device). 

               In addition to the 102-month prison term, U.S. District Court Chief Judge James E. Boasberg ordered Rodriguez to serve three years of supervised release.

               According to court documents, on September 23-24, 2023, Rodriguez drove from his home in Panama City, Fla., to Northern Virginia with a rifle and 15 pounds of explosive material. On the way, he stopped in Harrisonburg and Charlottesville, Va., to buy a black backpack, nitrile gloves, and a burner cell phone. On September 24, he parked his car in Arlington, Va., and used the burner phone to arrange for a taxi to drive him to within a few blocks of the Chinese Embassy. Between midnight and 3 a.m. near the back wall of the Embassy in Northwest Washington, Rodriguez placed the explosives-filled backpack next to a streetlight. Rodriguez then attempted to detonate the explosives by shooting at the backpack with a rifle. Rodriguez missed his target, and the device failed to detonate. Law enforcement officers later recovered the backpack containing explosive material, three shell casings, and bullet fragments from the ground along the outer perimeter wall of the Chinese Embassy. Impact marks were found on the Embassy wall near the bullet fragments behind the backpack.

               According to court documents, DNA obtained from the black backpack was found to be consistent with DNA evidence obtained from a previous arrest of Rodriguez in June 2021 in California. During the California incident, Rodriguez possessed three firearms and apparent explosive material consistent with the explosives used during the Chinese Embassy attack. DNA evidence obtained from Rodriguez pursuant to a buccal swab warrant later confirmed this DNA match.

             Between November 5 and 7, 2022, according to court documents, Rodriguez rented a vehicle in Pensacola, Fla., and drove to San Antonio, Texas. At about 2:25 a.m. on November 7, Rodriguez scaled an eight-foot fence to enter a courtyard on the 300 block of West Commerce Street, San Antonio. Inside the courtyard, he placed two canisters of explosive materials at the base of a satirical steel sculpture titled “Miss Mao Trying to Poise Herself at the Top of Lenin’s Head.” At 2:30 a.m., Rodriguez used a rifle to shoot at the canisters at the base of the statue, causing an explosion that caused damages of at least $325,000 to the Miss Mao sculpture.

    Law enforcement arrested Rodriguez on November 4, 2023, in Lafayette, Louisiana. He has been held since that date. 

               This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Washington Field Division. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Northern District of Florida, the Western District of Louisiana, and the Western District of Texas; the ATF’s Tampa, New Orleans, and Houston Field Divisions; the FBI’s Washington and San Antonio Field Offices; the San Antonio Field Office of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; the U.S. Secret Service, Uniformed Division and Foreign Missions Detective Unit; the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security; and the Metropolitan Police Department. 

                The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jolie F. Zimmerman and Stuart D. Allen. Valuable assistance was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maeghan Mikorski and Kelly Stephenson and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael McCarthy.

    23cr392

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Haitian media struggle to survive in face of attacks, revenue collapse

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    By Conor Lennon

    Peace and Security

    An increase in attacks on media outlets in Haiti by armed gangs which control most of the capital Port-au-Prince are intended to intimidate journalists and instill chaos according to the UN agency for culture, UNESCO.

    The Caribbean island nation is facing humanitarian, economic and political crises in addition to the break-down of law and order.

    In the last week, three media houses were targeted, in what appears to be a change in gang tactics in order to isolate the population.

    UN News asked Frantz Duval, the editor of Le Nouvelliste newspaper, Hervé LeRouge, the CEO of Le National newspaper and Télévision-Radio Pacific, and the head of the UNESCO Haiti office, Eric Voli Bi, what effect the attacks are having on journalists’ ability to continue providing accurate information to Haitians about the crisis there.

    UNOCHA

    Most of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, is controlled by gangs.

    An attempt to silence the free press

    Frantz Duval: The Haitian press has been under attack for a long time already. It’s already been a year since our offices were totally vandalized. There have -also been attacks on Radio Télévision Caraïbes, Radio Mélodie, and Télé Pluriel. It’s all part of the total takeover of the Haitian capital by armed gangs, which has affected all institutions as well as private individuals.

    Eric Voli Bi: The situation is very alarming. We are seeing repeated against civilians, students and journalists. The attacks against the media are intended to intimidate them and end their essential mission of informing the public. UNESCO is calling for immediate measures to ensure the safety of journalists, protect their media facilities and create a secure environment for the free exercise of the press.

    Frantz Duval: Le Nouvelliste is 127 years old, and under the same ownership for four generations. It is the first time we have suffered a crisis of this magnitude. There have been difficult political situations in the past which disrupted publication, but only for a week or two. Even when we were hit by the 2010 earthquake, we resumed publishing just a few months later.

    It is very difficult to travel in Port-au-Prince. Those who continue to work are restricted to ever smaller areas. This means that are fewer news images and reports from places where there are violent clashes, because journalists no longer venture into these areas.

    Decades of archives and essential equipment destroyed

    Frantz Duval: When our historic premises were vandalized in March 2024, the editorial staff were unharmed because they had already left, but we couldn’t take the printing presses or our archives. Because downtown Port-au-Prince became a no-go area due to the presence of gangs, it was 10 months before we could get to the building. There was almost nothing left. This means that now we are an online-only news organisation.

    © UNOCHA/Giles Clarke

    A 63-year-old woman lies wounded on the floor of a hospital in Port-au-Prince after warring gangs swept through her neighborhood.

    Hervé LeRouge: So far, neither I nor my media companies have been attacked. However, I own several construction companies, providing concrete and asphalt, and two weeks ago, we were attacked by the gangs. Our premises were reduced to ruins and one of my employees was killed. He had been with me for fifteen years. It was a big loss.

    Non-existent revenue

    Frantz Duval: There are no subsidies or public funds for the Haitian press. Everything is financed by advertising, which has been slashed because hardly any businesses are doing well enough to be able to advertise.

    Hervé LeRouge: 51 people work for my TV station and newspaper, and the revenue doesn’t even cover payroll. My other companies allow me to pay their salaries, and I don’t want to let them go because there is no work for them anywhere else right now. Also, I consider this career to be a social service to the community.

    Eric Voli Bi: For the press to survive this difficult period, it goes without saying that we will still need a minimum of security in this country, and that is the responsibility of the government.

    UNESCO is working with the Ministry of Communications to restructure the state broadcaster (Radio Télévision Nationale d’Haïti), by providing training and new equipment. We are also using social media to help get verified information to the people, but also radio, which remains the must trusted channel of communication, especially in the countryside.

    Reliable information ‘a matter of life and death’

    Eric Voli Bi: Access to reliable information can be a matter of life and death. It can help people to identify safe zones, avoid danger and make the right decisions to protect themselves and their families.

    © UNICEF/Ralph Tedy Erol

    People flee the neighbourhood of Solino in Port-au-Prince following gang attacks there in May 2024.

    Hervé LeRouge: These journalists are used to difficult situations because, every day, they are reporting and presenting live shows from the streets, just as they have always done, showing the population what is happening, so that they know where it is safe to go. That is the service we provide to the people.

    Eric Voli Bi: The armed groups are trying to isolate the population and create chaos in the in the country by attacking the media. Press freedom is essential to guarantee the right to information and ensure transparency in the society. It’s also a platform for diverse voices a key to ensuring transparency. In this country, which has been scarred by violence and instability, knowing the truth can be incredibly healing.

    Hervé LeRouge: I will not leave the country I love. This is my country, and I will defend it even at the risk of my life.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why a journalist could obtain a minister’s ChatGPT prompts – and what it means for transparency

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Tom Felle, Associate Professor of Journalism, University of Galway

    When the New Scientist revealed that it had obtained a UK government minister’s ChatGPT prompts through a freedom of information (FOI) request, many in journalism and politics did a double take. Science and technology minister Peter Kyle had apparently asked the AI chatbot to draft a speech, explain complex policy and – more memorably – tell him what podcasts to appear on.

    What once seemed like private musings or experimental use of AI is now firmly in the public domain – because it was done on a government device.

    It’s a striking example of how FOI laws are being stretched in the age of artificial intelligence. But it also raises a bigger, more uncomfortable question: what else in our digital lives counts as a public record? If AI prompts can be released, should Google searches be next?

    Britain’s Freedom of Information Act was passed in 2000 and came into force in 2005. Two distinct uses of FOI have since emerged. The first – and arguably the most successful – is FOI applied to personal records. This has given people the right to access information held about them, from housing files to social welfare records. It’s a quiet success story that has empowered citizens in their dealings with the state.

    The second is what journalists use to interrogate the workings of government. Here, the results have been patchy at best. While FOI has produced scoops and scandals, it’s also been undermined by sweeping exemptions, chronic delays and a Whitehall culture that sees transparency as optional rather than essential.

    Tony Blair, who introduced the Act as prime minister, famously described it as the biggest mistake of his time in government. He later argued that FOI turned politics into “a conversation conducted with the media”.

    Successive governments have chafed against FOI. Few cases illustrate this better than the battle over the black spider memos – letters written by the then Prince (now King) Charles to ministers, lobbying on issues from farming to architecture. The government fought for a decade to keep them secret, citing the prince’s right to confidential advice.



    Read more:
    Dull content, but the release of Prince Charles letters is a landmark moment

    When they were finally released in 2015 after a Supreme Court ruling, the result was mildly embarrassing but politically explosive. It proved that what ministers deem “private” correspondence can, and often should, be subject to public scrutiny.

    The ChatGPT case feels like a modern version of that debate. If a politician drafts ideas via AI, is that a private thought or a public record? If those prompts shape policy, surely the public has a right to know.

    Are Google searches next?

    FOI law is clear on paper: any information held by a public body is subject to release unless exempt. Over the years, courts have ruled that the platform is irrelevant. Email, WhatsApp or handwritten notes – if the content relates to official business and is held by a public body, it’s potentially disclosable.

    The precedent was set in Dublin in 2017 when the Irish prime minister’s office released WhatsApp messages to the public service broadcaster RTÉ. The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office has also published detailed guidance confirming that official information held in non-corporate channels such as private email, WhatsApp or Signal is subject to FOI requests if it relates to public authority business.

    The ongoing COVID-19 inquiry has shown how WhatsApp groups – once considered informal backchannels – became key decision-making arenas in government, with messages from Boris Johnson, Matt Hancock and senior advisers like Dominic Cummings now disclosed as official records.

    In Australia, WhatsApp messages between ministers were scrutinised during the Robodebt scandal, an illegal welfare hunt that ran from 2016-19, while Canada’s inquiry into the “Freedom Convoy” protests in 2022 revealed texts and private chats between senior officials as crucial evidence of how decisions were made.

    The principle is simple: if government work is being done, the public has a right to see it.

    AI chat logs now fall into this same grey area. If an official or minister uses ChatGPT to explore policy options or draft a speech on a government device, that log may be a record — as Peter Kyle’s prompts proved.

    This opens a fascinating (and slightly unnerving) precedent. If AI prompts are FOI-able, what about Google searches? If a civil servant types “How to privatise the NHS” into Chrome on a government laptop, is that a private query or an official record?

    The honest answer is: we don’t know (yet). FOI hasn’t fully caught up with the digital age. Google searches are usually ephemeral and not routinely stored. But if searches are logged or screen-captured as part of official work, then they could be requested.

    Similarly, what about drafts written in AI writing assistant Grammarly or ideas brainstormed with Siri? If those tools are used on official devices, and the records exist, they could be disclosed.

    Of course, there’s nothing to stop this or any future government from changing the law or tightening FOI rules to exclude material like this.

    FOI, journalism and democracy

    While these kinds of disclosures are fascinating, they risk distracting from a deeper problem: FOI is increasingly politicised. Refusals are now often based on political considerations rather than the letter of the law, with requests routinely delayed or rejected to avoid embarrassment. In many cases, ministers’ use of WhatsApp groups was a deliberate attempt to avoid scrutiny in the first place.

    There is a growing culture of transparency avoidance across government and public services – one that extends beyond ministers. Private companies delivering public contracts are often shielded from FOI altogether. Meanwhile, some governments, including Ireland and Australia, have weakened the law itself.

    AI tools are no longer experiments, they are becoming part of how policy is developed and decisions are made. Without proper oversight, they risk becoming the next blind spot in democratic accountability.

    For journalists, this is a potential game changer. Systems like ChatGPT may soon be embedded in government workflows, drafting speeches, summarising reports and even brainstorming strategy. If decisions are increasingly shaped by algorithmic suggestions, the public deserves to know how and why.

    But it also revives an old dilemma. Democracy depends on transparency – yet officials must have space to think, experiment and explore ideas without fear that every AI query or draft ends up on the front page. Not every search or chatbot prompt is a final policy position.

    Blair may have called FOI a mistake, but in truth, it forced power to confront the reality of accountability. The real challenge now is updating FOI for the digital age.

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

    – ref. Why a journalist could obtain a minister’s ChatGPT prompts – and what it means for transparency – https://theconversation.com/why-a-journalist-could-obtain-a-ministers-chatgpt-prompts-and-what-it-means-for-transparency-252269

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Only 15 countries have met the latest Paris agreement deadline. Is any nation serious about tackling climate change?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Doug Specht, Reader in Cultural Geography and Communication, University of Westminster

    Svet Foto/Shutterstock

    The latest deadline for countries to submit plans for slashing the greenhouse gas emissions fuelling climate change has passed. Only 15 countries met it – less than 8% of the 194 parties currently signed up to the Paris agreement, which obliges countries to submit new proposals for eliminating emissions every five years.

    Known as nationally determined contributions, or NDCs, these plans outline how each country intends to help limit average global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, or at most 2°C. This might include cutting emissions by generating more energy from wind and solar, or adapting to a heating world by restoring wetlands as protection against more severe floods and wildfires.

    Each new NDC should outline more stringent emissions cuts than the last. It should also show how each country seeks to mitigate climate change over the following ten years. This system is designed to progressively strengthen (or “ratchet up”) global efforts to combat climate change.

    The February 2025 deadline for submitting NDCs was set nine months before the next UN climate change conference, Cop30 in Belém, Brazil.

    Without a comprehensive set of NDCs for countries to compare themselves against, there will be less pressure on negotiators to raise national ambitions. Assessing how much money certain countries need to decarbonise and adapt to climate change, and how much is available, will also be more difficult.

    While countries can (and some will) continue to submit NDCs, the poor compliance rate so far suggests a lack of urgency that bodes ill for avoiding the worst climate outcomes this century.

    Who submitted?

    The 15 countries that submitted NDCs on time include the United Arab Emirates, the UK, Switzerland, Ecuador and a number of small states, such as Andorra and the Marshall Islands.

    Cop30 host Brazil submitted a pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 59-67% by 2035, compared to 2005 levels. This is up from its previous commitment, a 37% reduction by 2025 and 43% by 2030. Unfortunately, Brazil is not on track to meet its 2025 target and has set a more recent emissions baseline that will make any reductions more modest than they’d otherwise be.

    Japan aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% in 2035 and 73% in 2040, compared to 2013 levels. Japan’s previous target was for a 46% reduction by 2030. This demonstrates how the ratchet system is supposed to work.

    The UK’s NDC, which pledges to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions by at least 81% by 2035, compared to 1990 levels, was described by independent scientists as “compatible” with limiting global heating to 1.5°C.

    The US submitted a plan to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 61-66% below 2005 levels by 2035. However, this was before Donald Trump pulled the US out of the Paris agreement (for the second time), so the commitment of one of the world’s largest polluters is in doubt.

    Who didn’t submit?

    Some of the world’s largest emitters failed to submit new NDCs, including China, India and Russia.

    India pledged to reduce its emissions by 35% below 2005 levels by 2030 at the signing of the Paris agreement. All of the country’s subsequent NDCs have been rated as “insufficient” by independent scientists. India’s recent national budget announcement offered scant additional funding for climate mitigation and adaptation measures.

    China also made big promises in 2015 with its aim to lower its CO₂ emissions by 65% by 2030, from a 2005 baseline. However, China has been responsible for over 90% of global CO₂ emissions growth since the Paris agreement was signed. China and the US also suspended formal discussions on climate change in 2022. Increased economic competition between these two nations has resulted in export control restrictions and tariffs which have made green technologies like electric vehicles more expensive, which is certain to slow down the shift from fossil fuels.

    Russia joined the Paris agreement in 2019. Its first NDC was labelled “critically insufficient” by scientists, and its follow-up in 2020 did not include increased targets. Russia is maximising the extraction of resources such as oil, gas and minerals and its 2035 strategy for the Arctic included plans to sink several oil wells on the continental shelf.

    With the USA’s 2025 NDC in limbo, President Trump is eyeing mineral reserves in Ukraine and Greenland, further ramping up oil production and cutting international climate research funding.

    The European Union could have positioned itself as a leader of global climate action, in lieu of US involvement. But the EU, which submits NDCs as a bloc alongside individual country submissions, also failed to submit on time.

    Global shifts

    The failure of most nations to submit new emission plans suggests that the era of cooperation on climate change is over. The largest and most powerful of these nations are growing their military and diplomatic presence around the world, particularly in countries with large reserves of critical minerals for electric vehicles and other technology relevant to decarbonisation. The lack of NDCs from these nations may be less a matter of middling green ambitions, more an attempt to disguise their planned exploitation of other countries’ resources.

    If countries keep failing to submit enhanced NDCs, or even withdraw from their commitments entirely, scientists warn that global heating could reach a catastrophic 4.4°C by 2100. This scenario assumes the continued, unabated use of fossil fuels, with little regard for the climate.

    In a more optimistic scenario, countries could limit warming to around 1.8°C by 2100. This will require global cooperation and significant investment in green technology, and entail a transition to net zero emissions by mid-century. This is a process that must include everyone. Simply having the most powerful nations decarbonise by exploiting and hoarding resources will imperil this critical target.

    The actual outcome will probably fall somewhere between these two scenarios, depending on forthcoming NDCs and how quickly and thoroughly they are implemented. All of the scenarios envisaged by climate scientists will involve warming continuing for decades.

    The effects of this warming will vary, however, based on the path we choose today.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Doug Specht 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. Only 15 countries have met the latest Paris agreement deadline. Is any nation serious about tackling climate change? – https://theconversation.com/only-15-countries-have-met-the-latest-paris-agreement-deadline-is-any-nation-serious-about-tackling-climate-change-250847

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Federal government announces $17.1 million for infrastructure to support more housing in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    Sydney, Nova Scotia, March 19, 2025 — Today, Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, and to the Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and Member of Parliament for Cape Breton–Canso; Jaime Battiste, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, and Member of Parliament for Sydney–Victoria; His Worship Cecil Clarke, Mayor of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality; and the Honourable David C. Dingwall, President and Vice-Chancellor of Cape Breton University announced a federal investment of over $17.1 million to improve water infrastructure for two housing developments in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality through the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF).

    Funding for the project in the Tartan Downs location in Sydney will support the installation of new water main and associated components, new sanitary sewer, and new stormwater piping along with a new stormwater retention pond. Once completed, the project will ensure the area has adequate water, wastewater, solid waste, and stormwater protections in place to support the immediate development of 145 housing units and a full-scale development of 600 new housing units in the next four to five years. Cape Breton University donated 24 acres of land from the Tartan Downs location for the purposes of a development that includes student and senior housing as well as affordable housing in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

    The second project will support a new, sustainable and dependable drinking water supply for Cape Breton University’s growing campus. The project will also supply drinking water to the neighbouring Tanglewood subdivision development, which will enable residential growth in the area.

    These investments, delivered through the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF), play a crucial role in strengthening essential infrastructure and getting more homes built faster.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Sanders Announces Winners of Fifteenth Annual State of the Union Essay Contest for Vermont Students

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders

    BURLINGTON, Vt., March 19 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Wednesday announced the winners of his fifteenth annual State of the Union Essay Contest, which gives Vermont high school students the opportunity to describe a major issue facing our country and propose what they would do to solve it. This year, 475 students from 25 Vermont high schools submitted essays. A panel of nine Vermont educators served as volunteer judges, ranking the essays and selecting 12 finalists and three winners.

    Since Sanders started the contest, over 6,600 students throughout Vermont – representing almost every high school in the state – have written essays about critically important issues, including climate change, access to mental health care, immigration reform, the housing crisis, political polarization, and the cost of higher education.

    “In difficult times, what makes me most hopeful is seeing young people engaged, thinking critically about the challenges we face as a country,” said Sanders. “Thank you to all the students who participated in this year’s contest. I look forward to hearing from the finalists and discussing their ideas about how to move forward on some very important issues.”

    Sanders has invited the 15 winners and finalists to join him for a roundtable discussion, which will be held at the Vermont State House on March 29. Sanders has also entered the finalists’ essays into the Congressional Record, the official archive of the U.S. Congress. The contest is timed to coincide with the President’s annual address to a joint session of Congress, which took place on Tuesday, March 4.

    Justason Lahue, from Burr and Burton Academy, won first-place with an essay on the effects of social media on adolescents’ mental health: “A 2023 Gallup survey found that teenagers spend an average of 4.8 hours on social media daily. Alarmingly, a longitudinal study involving 6,595 adolescents revealed that spending over 3 hours daily on social media doubled the risk of poor mental health outcomes, such as anxiety and depression…I propose a bill called the Youth Mental Health Protection Act. This act would target a root cause of social media-related youth mental health issues by changing the legal age of ‘internet adulthood’ (i.e., when one can sign up for most online platforms, consent to terms of service, and share personal data). This act would make 16 the legally required age to access social media.”

    Ari Glasser, the second-place winner from Essex High School, wrote about the influence of billionaires in our political system: “Today, America is in a sort of Second Gilded Age-complete with drastic wealth inequality and a dangerous level of influence by the ultra-wealthy that is becoming ever nearer to oligarchy. Just 735 billionaires hold more wealth than the bottom half of all American households. In order to reduce the concerning level of billionaire influence, many reforms must be enacted, but perhaps most important is a wealth tax. This could raise trillions of dollars for the government while also reducing the wealth and influence of billionaires over time… In addition to reducing the economic power of billionaires, their political influence must be reduced through the use of campaign finance reform-most importantly, overturning the 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC.”

    Ely White, the third-place winner from Leland and Gray Union Middle High School, wrote about political polarization: “Political polarization has grown in the past decade in the United States, transforming healthy debates of ideas into an endless battle of ‘us’ against ‘them’… This deepening division threatens the ideals of our democracy, making it nearly impossible to address the critical issues that face our country today…Ranked-choice voting (RCV) is a system that allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, the votes for the lowest-ranking candidate then redistributed to voters’ next choice until a majority is achieved. RCV would encourage candidates to appeal to broader ranges of voters rather than just their base, incentivizing politicians to take moderate stances rather than extreme party-driven positions…. Integrating civic education and media literacy into our schools and communities could also work as a grassroots solution in helping individuals evaluate information and recognize bias in misinformation and ideological chambers.”

    The winners of this year’s contest:

    • First place: Justason Lahue, Burr and Burton Academy, Junior
    • Second place: Ari Glasser, Essex High School, Junior
    • Third place: Ely White, Leland and Gray Union Middle High School, Senior

    The finalists of this year’s contest (in alphabetical order by last name):

    • Leo Beebe, Winooski High School, Senior
    • Emilee Brownell, Essex High School, Junior
    • Sofia Bush, Mount Mansfield Union High School, Junior
    • Aleksandra Cirovic, Woodstock Union High School, Junior
    • Allie Hamilton, Mount Mansfield Union High School, Junior
    • Mia Konefal, South Burlington High School, Freshman
    • Hazel O’Brien, Twinfield Union School, Senior
    • Mackenzie Russell, Harwood Union High School, Junior
    • Hannah Smiley, Milton High School, Senior
    • Winslow Solomon, Vermont Commons School, Senior
    • Owen Stygles, Bellows Free Academy Fairfax, Senior
    • Amy Vaughan, Oxbow High School, Junior

    Read the essays of the winners and finalists here.

    Learn more about opportunities for Vermont students through Sanders’ office by visiting https://www.sanders.senate.gov/vermont/students/.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Video Game Workers Launch Industry-Wide Union with Communications Workers of America

    Source: Communications Workers of America

    NATIONWIDE – Today, in a historic development for video game organizing, workers across the U.S. and Canada are launching United Videogame Workers-CWA Local 9433, a direct-join, industry-wide video game union with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) in partnership with the American Federation of Musicians (AFM). The launch will be formally announced at the 2025 Game Developer Conference in San Francisco, Calif., the world’s largest industry event for video game professionals, where workers will be joined by other CWA members to launch this powerful new organization.

    CWA members will be handing out an introductory UVW-CWA zine 
    to GDC 2025 attendees. A digital version of the zine can be found here.

    UVW-CWA builds off of the unprecedented mobilization following the Game Developers Conference in 2018, which served as a launching pad for the creation of Game Workers Unite, an international grassroots organization dedicated to labor organizing the industry. The launch of UVW-CWA also coincides with the fifth anniversary of CODE-CWA, which has helped over 6,500 tech and video game workers organize to join the union since 2020.

    “The creation of this union was not done in isolation; it’s a cumulative effort by the thousands of video game workers who have been fighting for years to redefine what it means to stand together and reclaim power in one of the largest and highest-grossing industries on the globe,” said Tom Smith, CWA’s Senior Director of Organizing. “These workers are taking a bold stand, joining together to build power for the workers behind the games we all know and love.”

    As part of the United Videogame Workers-CWA launch, members will be gathering signatures for a petition demanding dignity and job security for all video game workers, particularly those facing layoffs. The video game industry is one of the fastest-growing entertainment industries in the world, with huge revenue increases in recent years. Across the industry, over 10,500 jobs were lost in 2023 and an additional 14,600 jobs were lost in 2024. According to the GDC 2025 State of the Game Industry, more than 10% of surveyed game developers reported being laid off in 2024. Over 30 studios have laid off their entire staff and were closed by their parent companies, including some of the largest and most profitable corporations like Microsoft and Sony Interactive Entertainment. The full petition can be found here.

    “Our mission is to take back our lives, our labor, and our passion from those who treat us like replaceable cogs; to empower our fellow workers; to link up arms with the laid off, with the freelancer, with the disillusioned contractor, with the disenfranchised and the marginalized, with the workers laboring invisibly to keep this industry afloat,” reads UVW-CWA’s mission statement. “We are going to create a game industry that works for us, one that nourishes its talent and invests in its future, rather than constantly seeking short-term profits. We are the ones that make the games, so we must be the ones that set the terms of how we work.”

    UVW-CWA joins a list of several other historic union campaigns with CWA that have organized within a direct-join organizing model, including United Campus Workers-CWA, Texas State Employees Union-CWA Local 6186, and Alphabet Workers Union-CWA. Direct-join organizing, sometimes referred to as pre-majority unionism, enables workers – including freelancers and the thousands of video game workers who were laid off in recent years – to build power across the industry without the obstacles and delays that employers can impose during the traditional union certification process., It also makes it easier for workers to address shared concerns beyond just one video game studio. UVW-CWA will include video game workers across the United States and Canada, as well as video game contractors, freelancers, indie developers, workers who are currently unemployed, and workers who are already organizing their workplaces.

    “The formation of United Video Game Workers-CWA is an exciting next step in our union’s work to help video game workers build power in their industry,” said CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. “As video game studios have consolidated, the workers whose creativity, dedication, and skill bring the games to life have become more an afterthought. They are subject to endless cycles of layoffs and rehiring as corporate executives pursue short-term profits at the expense of a sustainable future.”

    Video game workers and musicians in the United States/Canada who are interested in becoming members can apply here.

    Follow UVW-CWA on Bluesky, X, and Instagram. Visit uvw-cwa.org for more information on campaign updates and membership opportunities.

    ###

    About CODE-CWA
    The Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA) is a network of worker-organizers and their staff working every single day to build the voice and power necessary to ensure the future of the tech, game, and digital industries in the United States and Canada. CODE-CWA is a project of the Communications Workers of America which represents hundreds of thousands of workers throughout tech, media, telecom, and other industries who stand together to fight for justice on the job and in our communities.

    About CWA
    The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Educators, parents, and students host walk-ins to protect our students and families

    Source: US National Education Union

    By: Eric Jotkoff

    Published: March 19, 2025

    Thousands of educators, parents, families, students, and community leaders sent a message to federal, state, and local elected officials around the nation today, holding hundreds of walk-in events throughout the country in support of the strong public schools and other protections students and communities need to thrive. 

    “Most of us believe every student deserves opportunity, resources, and support to reach their full potential no matter where they live, the color of their skin, or how much their family earns. Every student in every community across the nation will be impacted by Donald Trump’s and Elon Musk’s extreme efforts to dismantle public schools to pay for tax handouts for billionaires. Gutting the Department of Education will send class sizes soaring, cut job training programs, make higher education more expensive and out of reach for middle-class families, take away special education services for students with disabilities, and damage student civil rights protections,” said National Education Association President Becky Pringle, who spoke at a walk-in event at Takoma Park Middle School.  

    Walk-ins are positive actions where parents, educators, students, grandparents, caregivers, and families, along with neighbors and community leaders, gather in front of their school 30-45 minutes before the school day begins to discuss what they want for the school and community. Walk-ins are used to celebrate positive achievements, collaborate with school officials, or protest harmful school conditions and policies. 

    Since taking office, Donald Trump and Elon Musk have aimed their wrecking ball at public schools. They have ended critical research into student learning which has taken educators out of the classroom and left students with fewer opportunities and less support. They have fired without cause nearly half of the Department of Education staff, getting rid of the dedicated public servants who help ensure our nation’s students have access to the programs and resources to keep class sizes down, expand learning opportunities, and ensure important higher education access programs like FAFSA can function. And they have worked to take away resources from our public schools – where 90% of our students including 95% of students with disabilities go – to fund unaccountable and discriminatory private schools.  

    “Together, we will protect our students and our communities. We won’t let anyone hurt our students or take away opportunities from our families so Trump and Musk can ensure billionaires continue paying less in taxes than educators, nurses, or firefighters,” Pringle added. “Today was about educating, organizing, and mobilizing. And we’re not done yet.” 

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    The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jamaican National Charged With Illegal Reentry By A Previously Deported Alien

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Orlando, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the filing of a criminal complaint charging Garville Gary Gayle (36, Jamaica) with illegal reentry by a previously deported or removed alien. If convicted, Gayle faces up to ten years in federal prison. 

    According to the complaint, Gayle is a Jamaican citizen and national who was previously removed from the United States on November 19, 2009, and again on May 26, 2016. Prior to being removed from the United States, he was convicted of felony offenses, including illegal reentry by a previously removed alien. He has never applied to the Attorney General of the United States and/or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security for permission to re-enter the United States. On April 29, 2024, Gayle was found voluntarily back in the United States.

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

    This case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO), the Orlando Police Department, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. Del Mastro.

    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 (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

    MIL Security OSI –