Category: Business

MIL-OSI USA: International President Bryant Showcases IAM Victories, Membership Resources at National Labor and Management Conference

Source: US GOIAM Union

IAM International President Brian Bryant was recently a keynote speaker at the annual National Labor and Management Conference.

“We are the second largest union in organizing new members among our peers in the labor movement,” said Bryant. “The IAM has more organizers on the ground than we have ever had in the course of our union.”

The conference brings together leaders from labor, business, healthcare, pension funds, and employment law to discuss and inform attendees on a wide range of current matters.

More than 600 participants attended this year’s conference. It’s an opportunity to hear different perspectives that impact workers and management in an open forum where information can be exchanged, and interested parties can make their case on what is going to impact workers in the near future.

Bryant’s remark highlighted the IAM’s growth in non-traditional union trades like healthcare and emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence. The IAM’s partnership with AFT fostered a winning organizing campaign at Wexner Medical Center in Ohio, bringing more than 1,000 healthcare workers into the IAM.

Bryant also announced that the IAM has become the first labor union to be recognized by the Veterans Administration as a Veterans Services Organization, providing professional case representation for IAM military veterans at no charge.

During a question and answer session, Bryant gave a detailed response about the seven week strike at Boeing by IAM members from District 751 and W24, which resulted in a 40% wage increase over the next four years.

In response to a follow up question from the audience about the challenges of inflation and worker salaries, Bryant told the audience about fights the IAM sees in negotiations on established collective bargaining agreements with companies that have mismatched expectations.

“Companies want skilled trades, but they don’t want to pay skilled wages,” said Bryant. “President Trump’s administration has said it supports skilled workers and we’re going to see if corporations want to adhere to what this administration is saying.”

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MIL OSI USA News –

March 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina Shares Recovery Progress, Launches Public Dashboard
Source: US State of North Carolina

Headline: Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina Shares Recovery Progress, Launches Public Dashboard

Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina Shares Recovery Progress, Launches Public Dashboard
lsaito
Tue, 03/04/2025 – 13:56

Raleigh, NC
Today, the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina (GROW NC) shared progress on Helene recovery and launched a public dashboard at WNCRecovery.nc.gov. The newly released website features updates, resources, and information detailing progress of Helene recovery efforts, including rebuilding safe housing, restoring infrastructure, and revitalizing the economy.

“My commitment to the people of North Carolina is this: I will bring urgency, focus, transparency, and accountability to everything my administration does as we work to rebuild,” said Governor Josh Stein. “This new resource will allow us to provide regular updates on our progress along with information and resources for our neighbors in western North Carolina.”

Since January, GROW NC has worked across state agencies and with local, state, federal, and nonprofit partners to accelerate recovery in western North Carolina. Much more is left to be done but below is an overview of recovery progress.
- Temporary housing programs are serving 5,720 households, ensuring they have safe, warm shelter.
- 4,753,466 cubic yards of right-of-way debris has been removed from WNC roadways.
- 84% of impacted public roads in western North Carolina are fully reopened. Nearly 1,300 roads have been reopened since the beginning of the storm.
- Interstate 40 reopened to traffic on Saturday, March 1st for the first time since Hurricane Helene swelled the Pigeon River and scoured large swaths of eastbound lanes last September. The N.C. Department of Transportation and contract crews have stabilized the remaining westbound lanes and prepared them to provide one lane of traffic in each direction.
- The WNC Small Business Initiative has funded 989 loans for small business owners impacted by Helene to bolster economic recovery. The program is expected to award more than 600 additional grants to small business owners across western North Carolina in the coming weeks.
- Half of all state parks and cultural sites impacted by the storm have fully reopened, and all but three are open for visitors in some capacity.
“There is still so much work to do to help western North Carolina recover,” said Matt Calabria, Director of GROW NC. “Our team is committed to working quickly to ensure a robust recovery for the region, while providing complete transparency along the way.”

Governor Stein continues to advocate for additional resources from the state and federal government to support recovery efforts. In February, Governor Stein requested an additional $19 billion in federal funds to support home rebuilding, restore critical infrastructure, keep businesses open, shore up local governments, and reduce impacts from future natural disasters. He continues to work with the legislature to secure state funding to address immediate needs in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, following his request for $1.07 billion.
Mar 4, 2025

MIL OSI USA News –
March 5, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: NZ governments enjoy an ‘executive paradise’ – a longer parliamentary term won’t change that

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Shaw, Professor of Politics, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University

Getty Images

Extending the length of the parliamentary term is one of those recurring issues in New Zealand politics, emerging from the constitutional shadows every 30 years or so and quickly retreating from the bright light of scrutiny.

The pending introduction of the Term of Parliament (Enabling 4-year Term) Legislation Amendment Bill – a coalition initiative of the ACT Party but which enjoys qualified cross-party support – sees the question once again enjoying a moment in the sun.

Because of the constitutional protection of the parliamentary term, and if the bill becomes law, an extension would require a public referendum with the 2026 general election (or the support of 75% of all MPs, a route the government will not take).

The standard maximum term of parliament would remain three years. But a prime minister would have the option at the start of a new parliamentary term of advising the governor-general it would be extended to four years.

This could only happen if the allocation of places on select committees reflected the distribution of non-executive MPs across all parliamentary parties. Theoretically, this would be a check on executive power.

But while the coming debate will be framed as one about parliament, the real issue is whether voters wish to extend the length of time governments spend in office. This is a crucial distinction.

Lack of checks and balances

New Zealand voters do not directly elect the executive branch. Rather, the government is formed by the party or parties able to command a majority of MPs following each election.

In short, we elect parliaments, which then provide governments. The length of one is connected to that of the other – meaning elections are one of the few ways New Zealanders can hold their governments to account.

Perhaps for this reason, voters have consistently supported a three-year term, despite historical attempts by earlier governments to extend it. Two previous referendums, in 1967 and 1990, maintained the status quo.

This does make New Zealand something of an outlier internationally. Of 190 lower houses and unicameral national legislatures around the world, only nine have terms of three years or less. The vast majority have terms of four or five years.

But New Zealand also lacks the checks and balances found in many of those other countries: a codified constitution, a Supreme Court responsible for policing it, and an upper legislative chamber.

Consequently, the frequency with which governments are held accountable to the people really does matter.

An ‘executive paradise’

This absence of the sorts of constitutional guardrails common elsewhere is what led former prime minister and constitutional lawyer Geoffrey Palmer to call New Zealand an “executive paradise”.

Former prime minister Geoffrey Palmer.
Getty Images

The introduction of a four-year parliamentary term would do little to alter that, despite the argument it would improve the quality of parliamentary law and the standard of public policy-making.

A three-year cycle, it is often claimed, forces governments to spend their first year in office removing as many traces of the previous administration as possible, the second consolidating its own policy agenda, and the third campaigning for the next election.

A four-year term, the logic goes, would give ministers more time to learn the intricacies of their portfolios and develop policy expertise. It would allow for longer parliamentary deliberation on complex legislation, and ensure parliament properly scrutinises government policies, budgets and performance.

All things being equal, a longer parliamentary term could improve governance and create a more stable, durable policy mix. But, of course, all things are rarely equal.

Missing provisions

In and of itself, a longer parliamentary term is unlikely to produce the benefits its proponents promise. Improved policy-making requires resources as well as more time, including policy and procedural expertise, judgement and institutional wisdom.

These things reside in the professional bureaucracy. Without also addressing the systemic crisis in the public service, an extra year won’t improve matters.

It would be especially important to ensure a longer term went hand in hand with more effective parliamentary scrutiny of government activity, both its forecasts and actual results.

As a 2019 report from the Institute for Governance and Policy Studies suggested, investment in MPs’ policy expertise, systematic work plans for select committees and changes to parliament’s Standing Orders are also needed to improve the legislative process.

But these do not feature in the draft legislation. And without them, an extended parliamentary term would simply tip the balance even further towards the executive branch and away from the legislature.

Democratic accountability

There are other important issues the draft legislation doesn’t address, including the implications of making a four-year term discretionary, and what might prevent a government from ignoring irksome select committee recommendations (as can and does presently occur).

Worryingly, too, advice from the Ministry of Justice to the justice minister points out that parts of the proposed legislation are “constitutionally and practically problematic”.

The inevitable uncertainty at the start of every new parliament would “undermine democratic accountability” and “risks undermining the legitimacy of parliament and its exercise of public decision-making powers”.

The advice also says the legislation is “out of step with other long-standing legal and constitutional principles, including that it appears to encroach on the House of Representatives’ right to control its own operations”. In our constitutional tradition it is not for the executive to determine how parliament functions. A king’s head once rolled over this issue.

The proposed legislation starkly illustrates the tensions that can emerge when constitutional arrangements blur the boundaries between the executive and legislative branches, enabling the former to dictate terms to the latter.

Without other changes – an increase in the size of the House relative to the executive, say, or restrictions on the power of the prime minister to call early elections – the variable parliamentary term promised by the bill will inject more uncertainty into public life, not less.

And it will not improve the quality of our laws. It will simply extend the length of time government ministers get to spend in paradise.

Richard Shaw 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. NZ governments enjoy an ‘executive paradise’ – a longer parliamentary term won’t change that – https://theconversation.com/nz-governments-enjoy-an-executive-paradise-a-longer-parliamentary-term-wont-change-that-251139

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

March 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto, Wyden Lead Colleagues in Reaffirming Congress’ Authority to Maintain Trade Restrictions on Russia

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) led eight of their Senate colleagues in a letter to President Donald Trump reaffirming Congress’ authority to maintain trade restrictions on the Russian Federation while it continues its war of aggression against Ukraine. Their letter follows the devolution of talks between the United States and Ukraine last Friday, just two weeks after the President claimed that Ukraine “should have never started [the war].”
“Vladimir Putin is a ruthless dictator who has led the Russian Federation into a war of aggression against Ukraine with the explicit goal of denying Ukraine and its people their collective rights to independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” wrote the Senators. “Our country, in coordination with our allies and partners and with bipartisan support has imposed sweeping financial sanctions, stringent export controls, and aggressive trade restrictions on the Russian Federation.”
In 2022, Congress passed the Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act which revoked Russia’s permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) status to ensure Russian goods and services do not enjoy privileged, “most-favored nation” access to the U.S. market. Congress also passed the Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act which banned the importation of all energy products from the Russian Federation.
According to these laws, the Russian Federation must reach an agreement relating to the withdrawal of its forces and cessation of military hostilities that is accepted by the free and independent government of Ukraine, recognize the right of the people of Ukraine to independently and freely choose their own government, and pose no immediate military threat of aggression to any NATO member before the President can restore normal trade relations.
“In light of your worrisome statements, we wish to remind you that you must not—and cannot, under statute—attempt to restore normal trade relations or lift the import ban on Russian energy products unless and until Ukraine’s peace demands are met and their free and independent government has accepted a peace agreement,” continued the Senators. “Ukraine must be at the table to determine its future, and conditions for peace cannot be imposed on Ukraine.”
Additional signatories to the letter include Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).
The full letter can be found here.
Senator Cortez Masto has consistently advocated for the U.S. to stand up to Russian aggression and support Ukrainian sovereignty. Earlier this year, Senators Cortez Masto and Cornyn (R-Tex.) introduced the HONOR Act to prevent businesses from claiming a foreign tax credit or deduction against taxes paid to fund the Russian government’s war machine. She has voted to pass bipartisan legislation to support Ukraine and helped pass bipartisan economic sanctions that were signed into law to hold Russia accountable for its illegal invasion of Ukraine. She voted in support of sanctions against Russia and its Nord Stream 2 pipeline, and she supported similar sanctions in the 2020 and 2021 National Defense Authorization Acts.

MIL OSI USA News –

March 5, 2025
MIL-OSI: Plutus Financial Group Limited Announces Exercise of Underwriter’s Over-Allotment Option
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Hong Kong, March 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Plutus Financial Group Limited (“the “Company”) (NasdaqCM: PLUT), a Hong Kong-based financial services company today announced that R.F. Lafferty & Co., Inc., who acted as lead underwriter for the Company’s underwritten initial public offering (the “IPO”), has exercised a portion of the over-allotment option and purchased an additional 150,000 ordinary shares of the Company at the IPO price of $4.00 per share. As a result, the Company has raised an additional $600,000 as result of the over-allotment, for a total of $9 million in gross proceeds, before underwriting discounts and other related expenses, through the issuance of a total of 2,250,000 ordinary shares in the IPO.

R.F. Lafferty & Co., Inc. acted as lead underwriter for the IPO offering, with Revere Securities LLC acting as co-underwriter. The Crone Law Group, P.C. served as lead counsel to the Company. Sichenzia Ross Ference Carmel LLP served as lead counsel to the underwriters with respect to the Offering.

A registration statement on Form F-1, as amended (File No. 333-276791) relating to the IPO was previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) by the Company and subsequently declared effective by the SEC on February 4, 2025. The IPO offering was made only by means of a prospectus, forming a part of the registration statement. A final prospectus relating to the IPO offering was filed with the SEC and is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Electronic copies of the final prospectus relating to the Offering may be obtained from R.F. Lafferty & Co., Inc., 40 Wall Street, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10005, or by telephone at (212) 293-9090.

Before you invest in the Company, you should read the final prospectus and other documents the Company has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Company and the Offering. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Plutus Financial Group Limited

Plutus Financial Group Limited is a Hong Kong-based financial services holding company operating through two wholly-owned primary subsidiaries – Plutus Securities Limited (“Plutus Securities”) and Plutus Asset Management Limited (“Plutus Asset Management”). Plutus Securities, a securities broker licensed by the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong (the “SFC”) and a Participant on the HKEx stock exchange in Hong Kong, provides quality securities dealing and brokerage, margin financing, securities custody, and nominee services. As a licensed securities broker, Plutus Securities provides a range of financial services, including:
- Hong Kong stock trading through the internet, mobile app, and customer phone hotline
- Margin financing;
- Securities custody and nominee services; providing secure and reliable clearing and settlement procedures;
- Access to debt capital markets; and
- Equity capital markets for issuers, offer underwriting for IPO and other equity placements, and marketing, distribution and pricing of lead-managed and co-managed offerings.
Plutus Asset Management, a wealth management and advisory firm licensed by the SFC, provides wealth management services including:
- Professional funds management;
- Discretionary accounts with strategies developed for customers based on individual risk tolerance and investment preferences;
- Investment consulting and advisory services for funds managed by other companies; and
- Investment funds, including a real estate fund, a fixed income fund, a private equity investment, and a hedge fund.
For more information, visit the Company’s website at http://www.plutusfingroup.com./en/index.php.

Forward-Looking Statements

All statements other than statements of historical fact in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, the Company’s proposed Offering. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs, including the expectation that the Offering will be successfully completed. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and in its other filings with the SEC.

For more information, please contact:

Investor Relations:
Plutus Financial Group Limited
Attn: Jeff Yeung
ir@plutusfingroup.com

The MIL Network –
March 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Decolonising Ireland’s education system remains vital despite the country’s wealth and privilege

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Aoife Lynam, Assistant Professor in Psychology of Education, Trinity College Dublin

BearFotos / Shutterstock

Ireland urgently needs to decolonise its higher education system. British rule spanned several centuries in Ireland and policies during this time sought to replace Irish culture with British norms, leaving a legacy that continues to influence Irish higher education.

Today, Ireland is a wealthy and confident nation state. But this hides a colonial past which saw its language, culture and intellectual heritage systematically suppressed. Our education system has long been shaped by English-speaking and, recently, specifically American intellectual ideas. This has left limited space for Irish perspectives and thinkers.

Ireland has grown close in many respects to nations which were once colonising powers. It has taken on many of their entrenched practices. For education, this includes the export of western “expertise” to non-western countries, known as “helicopter research”. This is where researchers from wealthy countries study communities in lower-income countries without involving local researchers.

Another well-known phenomenon, known as “white saviourism”, positions western experts as heroic figures, bringing solutions to “underdeveloped” regions without understanding the local context. Irish professionals are not exempt from this dynamic.

Grassroots, student-led initiatives such as “Why Is My Curriculum White?” and “Liberate My Degree” have emerged from students’ demands to challenge the Eurocentric dominance of university teaching. These initiatives also push for greater inclusivity and representation within higher education.

Our university, Trinity College Dublin (TCD), continues to address its colonial legacy through various initiatives, such as denaming the college library, repatriating human remains and honouring female scholars with new busts in the library.

Recently, a movement emerged, led by Trinity College Dublin’s Students’ Union (TCDSU), advocating for greater recognition of Irish language rights within the university. The union prominently displayed a banner reading “Cá bhfuil an Ghaeilge?” (“Where is the Irish?”) on the university’s iconic Campanile (its bell tower). These efforts aimed to draw attention to the need for stronger representation of the national language in signage, official communications and advertisements: a call that TCD promptly addressed.

Questioning hierarchies

As mentioned, English and American frameworks continue to shape much of Irish university education, sidelining Ireland’s intellectual traditions. This affords little space to Irish thinkers in fields such as Initial Teacher Education (ITE) or psychology.

This issue also finds expression in cultural practices, such as the frequent mispronunciation of Irish names. Names like Siobhán, Aoife, and Tadhg are often treated as comedic challenges in US media, which is widely consumed in Ireland, reducing their rich linguistic and cultural significance to punchlines. While seemingly trivial, this reinforces a broader disregard for linguistic diversity and reflects the ways Irish identity has been marginalised, even in the modern era.

Addressing these challenges requires more than tokenistic gestures. In higher education, decolonisation involves reclaiming neglected voices and critically examining our assumptions and biases. Decolonisation is not about simply adding Irish or non-western thinkers to reading lists but about fundamentally reshaping how knowledge is framed, taught and contextualised.

Efforts to decolonise must address the specifics of Irish identity, such as the revival of the Irish language and culture. Post-independence, these efforts have faced accusations of elitism and uneven implementation. Future efforts must take an inclusive approach that integrates perspectives from migrants and minority communities, reflecting the multicultural reality of today’s Ireland.

Decolonising the higher education system in Ireland requires an approach that acknowledges the legacies of colonialism and privilege, and recognises that Ireland takes part in many practices today that come from that colonial mindset.

But by taking the right approaches, Ireland can create an education system that authentically represents its past, present and future.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Decolonising Ireland’s education system remains vital despite the country’s wealth and privilege – https://theconversation.com/decolonising-irelands-education-system-remains-vital-despite-the-countrys-wealth-and-privilege-251186

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: How our bodies react when we use social media – and when we stop

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Niklas Ihssen, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Durham University

shutterstock rawpixel.com/Shutterstock

The typical adult in the UK spends nearly two hours on social media per day. And for younger users, this can easily be up to five hours. The likes of Instagram or TikTok seem to draw us into their ever-changing feeds and it’s difficult to tear ourselves away from these platforms.

Now our latest study shows that even our body reflects a state of being glued to the screen when we are on social media.

We asked 54 young adults to browse their Instagram on their phone for 15 minutes as they would normally do in their daily life. However, in our study we had attached electrodes to their chest and fingers that allowed us to record their heart rate and “skin conductance”, which is an indicator of sweating. Psychologists can use these physiological markers to infer subtle mental states and emotions. We also added a control condition where our participants read a news article on their phone, just before they logged onto Instagram.

What we found was that, relative to the news reading condition, scrolling away on Instagram led to a marked slowing of participants’ heart rate while, at the same time, increasing their sweating response.

From other research we know that such a pattern of bodily responses shows that someone’s attention is fully absorbed by a highly significant or emotional stimulus in their environment – it’s a state of simultaneous excitement and deep immersion into something very meaningful to us.

Importantly, from the control condition we knew that it was not just being on the phone or reading that caused this bodily response. So there seems to be something special about social media that can easily engross us.

The most intriguing effect in our study happened when we interrupted participants at the end of their Instagram stint and asked them to go back to reading another news article. Rather than snapping out of the excitement and returning to a calmer state, participants’ sweating response increased further, while heart rate also increased rather than slowed down further.

Is it addiction?

What was going on? What helped us interpret these effects were participants’ ratings of their emotions. We collected these before their social media bout and at the time we asked them to log off.

Participants reported being stressed and anxious when they had to disconnect from their feed. They even reported having social media cravings at that moment. So it looked like the physiological response that we observed when participants had to log off reflected another form of arousal – but this time it was more negative and stress-related.

Such bodily and psychological stress responses also occur when people with a substance addiction go through withdrawal during abstinence or after quitting “cold turkey”. So were these signs that we observed “withdrawal” from Instagram?

The answer to this question is not straightforward. However, our study may give us some clues. After the experiment, we asked all participants to fill in a questionnaire assessing symptoms of “social media addiction”.

While this concept is controversial and currently not recognised as a mental health disorder, the questionnaire told us something about how social media use can negatively affect someone’s daily life. This can even include their work or school results, or lead to conflict with their partners.

Notably, we did not see any heart rate and sweating differences between participants who scored high or low on these addiction measures. That means, that all our participants showed a pattern of excited immersion during use and stress-related arousal when use was interrupted.

We don’t think that this finding means that we are all addicted to social media though. Instead, we believe that social media offers very powerful rewards. And some of its features may indeed have an addictive dimension, such as the personalised short-video streams that trap us in an endless loop of entertaining content.

Critically however, our previous study shows that it is primarily the social aspect of social media that drives most people to use it so intensively. This also means that – in contrast to drugs – social media taps into basic human needs: we all want to belong and to be liked.

So if we recognise the existence of “social media addiction”, we might also need to recognise a “friendship addiction”. We should therefore exert caution with the term addiction in the context of social media – the risk is that normal behaviour could become “pathologised” and lead to stigma.

And, as our previous research indicates, we may be just fine abstaining or cutting down from social media for a while without experiencing dramatic changes to our wellbeing (either positive or negative). The reason for this is that in contrast to drugs, we can satisfy our needs through other means – for instance, by talking to people.

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

– ref. How our bodies react when we use social media – and when we stop – https://theconversation.com/how-our-bodies-react-when-we-use-social-media-and-when-we-stop-251291

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Police in Northern Ireland unlawfully spied on journalists – this is not how covert policing is meant to work

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Steve Christopher, Senior Lecturer in Criminal Justice (Police Programmes), De Montfort University

At the end of last year, the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (an independent judiciary body) made a shocking landmark judgement. The tribunal found that the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Metropolitan Police had unlawfully conducted surveillance into two investigative journalists.

The PSNI was forced to pay £4,000 in damages to Barry McCaffrey and Trevor Birney, producers of No Stone Unturned, a 2017 documentary about alleged police collusion in the unsolved Loughinisland massacre in 1994.

The two journalists were arrested in 2018 by the PSNI over leaked documents that appeared in the film. Their arrest was later ruled unlawful. Suspecting that this was one of multiple attempts by the police to identify their sources, McCaffrey and Birney brought a complaint. The tribunal’s subsequent investigation and ruling has revealed the extent of the surveillance on the pair, and drawn attention to more examples of surveillance on journalists. These are now being investigated by a review set up after the tribunal’s ruling.

The PSNI admitted last year to making 823 applications for communications data for journalists and lawyers over 13 years. Additionally, more than 4,000 phone communications between 12 journalists were monitored by police over three months.

The force also admitted employing covert tactics against 320 journalists while intercepting over 4,000 telephone calls and texts between McCaffrey, Birney and a dozen BBC journalists. This is espionage on an industrial scale.

The treatment of the journalists has rightly raised concerns about press freedom. But as a senior detective who specialised in covert policing, and who now lectures criminal investigation students about the practice, I find this case extremely worrying for the future integrity of covert policing in the UK.

Covert policing and human rights

Covert policing refers to a combination of clandestine policing tactics used to
lawfully access information and evidence that may not otherwise be obtainable. These tactics are an essential investigative tool in tackling contemporary organised and serious crime – they are not intended to police the 4th estate.

Journalistic confidentiality is a privilege legally protected from covert policing, other than in exceptional circumstances. These privileges (along with legal and medical) are basic and sacrosanct, and cannot simply be ignored or trampled upon. Hence, the reason for the checks and balances in the process of authorising covert policing.

With the advent of the UK Human Rights Act in 1998, an accountability framework was necessary for covert policing to satisfy the rights set out in the European convention on human rights.

I was a member of various national working groups which worked tirelessly around the turn of the millennium to legitimise and regulate clandestine tactics through the introduction of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act and its associated codes of practice.

To comply with human rights, the deployment of covert policing must be justified, necessary, proportionate and lawful. Law enforcement agencies employing theses tactics are held accountable through oversight by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal.

This framework has largely proved to be very effective and compliant with the relevant laws and human rights. Although there has been a rise in the number of complaints by private individuals to the IPT since 2017, less than 4% were actually found to have failed to comply with the framework.

UK law enforcement and the public are still coming to terms with serious and systematic abuses by undercover police officers targeting campaigners over a period of 40 years. Against that backdrop, it is imperative that the deployment of covert policing by law enforcement agencies complies with the governance regime put in place.

The tribunal found that in the case of Birney and McCaffrey, the former PSNI chief constable did not comply with the necessary legal requirements to authorise the surveillance operation. They said that the constable failed to “consider whether there was an overriding public interest justifying an interference with the integrity of a journalistic source”. Clearly, there is public interest in identifying who was responsible for the Loughinisland massacre, which is what the journalists were seeking to do with their documentary.

Trust in police

At the heart of this calamity lies public confidence and legitimacy in policing. The British public believes in press freedom to expose unacceptable behaviour, especially by public servants, and greatly dislikes the abuse of power by the police to prevent that.

In this case, the police service has again overstepped the mark by its egregious conduct. And I am concerned that it is merely the tip of the iceberg. Given the collaboration between the PSNI and Met police reported in this case, it would be very surprising if such proactive “monitoring” of journalists was not underway in many forces.

McCaffrey, Birney and others are right to call for a public inquiry to establish the extent of such covert operations by the police service. There is a clear and significant danger when the police extend their clandestine reach to unjustifiably and unnecessarily spy on journalists. A review of the extent of such operations across the UK would be in the interests of transparency and accountability. It would also go a long way to repairing the damage caused to public trust in the police and covert policing by this case.

Steve Christopher 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. Police in Northern Ireland unlawfully spied on journalists – this is not how covert policing is meant to work – https://theconversation.com/police-in-northern-ireland-unlawfully-spied-on-journalists-this-is-not-how-covert-policing-is-meant-to-work-247628

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: UK arts sector is getting a £270 million funding boost – but there are winners and losers

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Adam Behr, Senior Lecturer in Popular and Contemporary Music, Newcastle University

“In any civilised community the arts … serious or comic, light or demanding, must occupy a central place. Their enjoyment should not be regarded as something remote from everyday life.” This was a central statement in the white paper (a statement of policy intent) issued 60 years ago by Jennie Lee, the UK’s first minister for the arts under Labour prime minister Harold Wilson in 1965.

Outlining A Policy for the Arts – The First Steps was the first white paper for the arts (and the only one until 2016), and suggested that the arts should be publicly supported, also arguing for increased local and regional support besides national institutions.

Many of Lee’s assertions still ring true today, not least that, “Today’s artists need more financial help, particularly in the early years before they have become established”. There were echoes of that 1965 statement of support for the arts in Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy’s recent announcement of a £270 million funding package. Indeed, the timing was no accident, Nandy explicitly referenced Lee’s “vision for accessibility in the arts”.

This article is part of our State of the Arts series. These articles tackle the challenges of the arts and heritage industry – and celebrate the wins, too.

It’s a broadly welcome intervention for a sector in straitened circumstances. A drop of more than 30% investment through local authorities in England since 2010, and of 21%, overall has left organisations struggling to maintain infrastructure, creating a drag on new developments. So an injection of government support for public assets like museums and libraries is a necessary step to stem the decline.

Much, though, has changed since 1965. Absent from Lee’s communitarian account of governmental support for the arts is the language of economic return. The intervening decades have seen a sea change in the logics of arts funding.

While the stated benefits of arts to society – and particularly education – remain salient, the emphasis has shifted over time from support to “investment”, with the arts and culture increasingly recognised and valued for, as Nandy puts it, “their growth potential to drive our economy forward”.

This rhetorical and practical co-mingling of “culture” with the “creative industries” is a longitudinal shift. In political terms this was made clear by the 1997 rebranding of the Department for National Heritage (the first “culture” department, founded by Conservative prime minister John Major in 1992) as the Department for Media, Culture and Sport (DCMS) the last time Labour returned from a long spell in opposition.

This defence of arts funding in “instrumental” terms (its economic return, or value in bumping up educational achievements) is a mixed blessing. On the one hand, there’s a risk of losing sight of culture’s intrinsic value as something worthy of support – art for art’s sake.

At the same time, it has been accompanied by a move away from the more patrician conception of what merited state support. National institutions and the “high arts” were the main focus in the birth of the arts councils as part of the major overhaul of the role of the state – the postwar consensus – after the second world war.

This points towards wider tensions in arts funding and the DCMS portfolio that derive from the evolving landscape since 1965. There was a strong emphasis in Lee’s paper, and in Nandy’s recent announcement, on buildings, infrastructure and established spaces. Vital as these are, the idea of what counts as culture has moved on and expanded since then.

Even beyond their economic potential, the cultural value of practices more traditionally associated with commercial activity has become more central to the national conversation.

Arts education has also become strategically important in both economic terms and in supporting widening access to opportunities across society, requiring a broad conception of “the arts”. The barriers between high art and popular culture have become porous, and this has a bearing on state support, especially when cultural activity overall is reeling from a pandemic and years of austerity.

This is at the heart of those sectors left out of the current largesse. Drawing on both economic and cultural arguments Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, has noted the absence in Nandy’s proposal of live music venues, nightclubs and festivals.

“The government has placed traditional and heritage culture at the forefront while completely ignoring the vital creative spaces that fuel innovation, inspire younger generations, and contribute significantly to our economy,” he wrote recently.

DCMS funding is also a microcosm of any government spending in that it also comes with questions around opportunity cost (as the recent announcement about boosting the defence budget and immediate ramifications for foreign aid also make clear). Here too, the grassroots are a factor.

Mark Davyd of the Music Venue Trust, for instance, has pointed out that his suggested “£20m to open 40 new grassroots music venues” was derided, but that there’s “£15m to build yet another hall for the National Railway Museum and £5m to build a poetry centre, and nobody thinks that £20m is funny.”

Also rising rapidly up the agenda are concerns about the longer term impact of AI on creative careers, another area in which the DCMS – and the Department of Science Innovation and Technology – might see their plans for growth at odds with those in the creative industries and organisations.

Artists are objecting to a suggested exception to copyright restrictions that would require them to actively “opt out” of their work being used to train AI models, and which benefit AI companies with the presumption that works can be used for that purpose.

None of this is easy, especially after a long period of austerity in the arts, and a context of global uncertainty. But Nandy’s recent announcement of funding can only be seen as a holding action to halt the deterioration.

To realise Jennie Lee’s vision, a more substantive, structural approach is needed, one that brings those activities at the grassroots, and at the margins of traditional views of “culture” under the umbrella of funding.

Adam Behr has received funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy.

– ref. UK arts sector is getting a £270 million funding boost – but there are winners and losers – https://theconversation.com/uk-arts-sector-is-getting-a-270-million-funding-boost-but-there-are-winners-and-losers-251340

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: In New Op-Ed, Warren Warns Trump, Republicans Could Cut Health Care for Millions

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
March 04, 2025
“Should the government work for billionaires and giant corporations? Or should it work for working people, helping our friends, families, and neighbors get access to the medicine and doctors they need when they’re sick?”
“Republicans may think they have the votes in Congress to cut health care, but if Americans ring the alarm bells and fight back, we can again save health care coverage for millions.”
Op-Ed in the Boston Globe
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, published an op-ed warning of the dangers of massive cuts to Medicaid to pay for tax breaks for billionaires and giant corporations. Senator Warren called for working people to fight back and participate in the tax fight by voicing their opposition to these cuts.
Read the full op-ed here and below:
Boston Globe – Senator Warren: Trump is targeting Medicaid. Don’t let him win.March 3, 2025
President Trump and Elon Musk have unleashed a sandstorm of chaos in the past six weeks — on purpose. From starting a trade war with Canada to renaming the Gulf of Mexico, Trump is trying to distract from his real agenda: more tax giveaways for billionaires and billionaire corporations, paid for on the backs of hard-working Americans. One of their top targets? Medicaid.
Life carries lots of risk. No one knows if their grandmother will outlive her savings. No one knows if their baby will run up a million dollars in medical bills. No one knows if their sister will be in a catastrophic accident and need full-time caregivers.
And that’s where Medicaid steps up. Medicaid is jointly funded by states and the federal government and covers more than 79 million people, including almost 2 million people in Massachusetts. If the program is cut, the harm will echo through nearly every home in America.
About half of all births are covered by Medicaid. Over a third of all children have health care thanks to Medicaid. More than half of all nursing home residents are covered by Medicaid. Many people are counting on Medicaid to pay for medicine that treats their cancer, the hip replacement they need to walk, the prescription for their child’s inhaler, or the nursing home that takes care of their uncle with dementia.
Cuts to health care programs would be devastating. In Massachusetts, nearly 2 in 3 seniors in nursing homes are covered by Medicaid. If that funding is cut, some of those nursing homes will be forced to cut back or close entirely, which could leave elderly people kicked to the curb.
Around 92 percent of working-age adults receiving Medicaid coverage are either working — often two or even three low-wage or part-time jobs — or not working because they’re caregivers, have an illness or disability, or are in school. Cuts to Medicaid could mean they have to decide which medicines they will have to skip or whether they will need to cancel a trip to the doctor to have a cough checked out. Failing to treat medical conditions early will cost more money, both in higher long-term medical bills and in knocking more low-wage workers out of their jobs and jeopardizing their ability to support their families.
For pregnant women, decisions about skipping visits to the doctor or forgoing prenatal vitamins can leave them and their babies at risk — again triggering greater costs in the long run for them and their babies. Denying health care to pregnant women could mean that their babies develop preventable conditions that could alter their entire lives.
The consequences of cutting Medicaid will be felt in nearly every community. Massachusetts is rightly proud of its community health centers and network of local and regional hospitals. Without Medicaid, their business models simply wouldn’t work. About half of all revenues at our community health centers come from Medicaid. Significant cuts in funding will probably mean health centers will have to cut care — and may have to close pediatric wings, cancer treatment centers, and mental health services.
All this misery so that a handful of billionaires and billionaire corporations can get another tax break.
The legislative process is not glamorous, but it tells us a lot about our values as a country. Should the government work for billionaires and giant corporations? Or should it work for working people, helping our friends, families, and neighbors get access to the medicine and doctors they need when they’re sick?
Trump, Musk, and Republicans in Congress have made it clear whose side they’re on: giant corporations and billionaires — the very people who don’t seem to understand what one bad medical diagnosis can cost a family. But they do understand that cutting health care for millions of people is unpopular everywhere, which is why they are probably hoping people will pay more attention to Trump’s bluster about buying Greenland than to the tax fight unfolding in Congress. Now is not the time to tune out — now is the time to fight back to save the health care program that helps millions of people in this country get health care.
In 2017, Trump paired up with Republicans in Congress to slash Medicaid by $800 billion and gut health insurance protections. Democrats were in the minority in the House and Senate back then, just as they are today, but thanks to people raising their voices and shaking the ground under the feet of these Republican politicians, their efforts failed, and we managed to save health care for millions.
Republicans may think they have the votes in Congress to cut health care, but if Americans ring the alarm bells and fight back, we can again save health care coverage for millions. We can win, but only if we fight back.

MIL OSI USA News –

March 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Superseding Indictment Charges Two Brothers and a City Mayor’s Assistant with Tax Fraud, Public Corruption, and Money Laundering

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

CLEVELAND – A federal grand jury returned a 32-count superseding indictment charging Zubair Mehmet Abdur Razzaq Al Zubair, 42, recently of Bratenahl, Ohio, his brother Muzzammil Muhammad Al Zubair, 31, recently of Pepper Pike, Ohio, and their associate Michael Leon Smedley, 56, of Cleveland, with multiple fraud, tax fraud, money laundering, and public corruption schemes. The initial 22-count indictment was issued Jan. 24, 2024.

All three defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, and Hobbs Act conspiracy. The Al Zubair brothers were both charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 13 counts of wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, four counts of money laundering, theft of government funds, and aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return. Zubair Al Zubair was also charged with harboring a fugitive and willful failure to file a tax return.

According to court documents, from June 2020 through August 2023, the Al Zubair brothers allegedly employed several deceptive strategies to obtain money and property from victims. Their schemes involved investment fraud, a Small Business Administration COVID-19 relief Emergency Income Disaster Loan, cryptocurrency mining, and commercial and residential real estate transactions.

One scheme was international in scope and involved military munitions. After the Al Zubair brothers found a buyer who was looking to purchase military-grade weapons, they made contact with individuals in Romania, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, and New York about finding sources to supply the munitions their buyer was seeking. The true intent was not the actual sale of the munitions, but rather to convince the purchaser to transfer a commission to the brothers for arranging the transaction.

The Al Zubair brothers’ ill-gotten proceeds allowed them to acquire a trove of jewelry, luxury timepieces and vehicles, as well as more than 80 firearms. Zubair Al Zubair also leased a high-end residential property in Bratenahl, Ohio, before being evicted in August 2023.

The superseding indictment alleges that the two made exorbitant claims about their extraordinary wealth and government connections. Zubair Al Zubair said he was a member of the royal family of the United Arab Emirates through his marriage to a princess. His brother, Muzzammil, claimed to be a hedge fund manager. According to the superseding indictment, he was not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission or as a broker with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and his only education on hedge funds came from watching YouTube videos. Using the illusion of being extremely educated, successful, and well-connected, the brothers befriended a public official employed with the city of East Cleveland to help them to carry out their elaborate and deceptive plots.

As the chief of staff and executive assistant to the mayor of East Cleveland, Smedley allegedly used his position to help navigate red-tape bureaucracy and obtain specific outcomes for the Al Zubair brothers in return for things of value including checks, food and meals at high-end restaurants, and offers of future employment. For example, Smedley secured official letters on city letterhead to sway administrative and judicial proceedings, helped obtain appointment of Zubair Al Zubair as an International Economic Advisor to the city, obtained city business cards in Zubair Al Zubair’s name, and even provided the brothers with City of East Cleveland Police Badges.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of actors unique to this case. These include each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

This case is being investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division and the IRS−Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. Shepherd and Om Kakani for the Northern District of Ohio.

MIL Security OSI –

March 5, 2025
MIL-OSI: Pacific General Forms Strategic Partnership with Lenwich

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK, March 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pacific General, a New York-based private investment firm, announced today that it has acquired a majority stake in Lenwich, the iconic premium sandwich brand that has been a staple in New York City since 1989. Lenwich’s Founder, Lenny Chu, will retain a significant equity interest in the company and continue to lead Lenwich as CEO. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The partnership between Pacific General and Lenwich aims to accelerate Lenwich’s expansion beyond its home market in New York City, extending across the East Coast and the broader United States. This growth will be driven by investments in technology, digital transformation, professional leadership, and franchise development. This strategic approach builds on Pacific General’s proven track record of scaling restaurant brands, as demonstrated by its successful investment and recent exit of Playa Bowls, the largest açai bowl franchise in the country. During its investment in Playa Bowls, Pacific General added over 170 locations nationwide in three years, investing in systems, processes and further professionalizing the leadership team while working closely with the company’s founders.

Founded in 1989 by Lenny Chu, an immigrant from South Korea, Lenwich began as a single deli on the Upper West Side of New York City and has since grown into an iconic sandwich brand, serving New Yorkers for over 30 years. Today, Lenwich operates 14 company-owned locations across the city and is widely recognized for its commitment to fresh, high-quality sandwiches, distinguished by meticulous attention to detail and made-to-order service.

“As a New York-based brand, Lenwich has received numerous unsolicited investment offers over the years. The Pacific General team stood out for their deep appreciation of our brand’s value and for their strategic vision around our company’s growth. I am confident Pacific General is the ideal partner to elevate Lenwich to the next level, and I look forward to collaborating with the Pacific General team in this exciting new chapter,” said Lenny Chu, Founder and CEO of Lenwich.

“Over the years of building our relationship with Lenny, my team and I continue to be impressed by Lenwich’s journey and strong market presence. With a loyal customer base, Lenwich has become a hallmark of New York’s sandwich scene, highlighted by its commitment to quality and taste. We are excited to support Lenwich in expanding into a nationwide brand, addressing the underserved customer demand for high-quality sandwiches and salads,” said Matthew Yoon, Managing Partner of Pacific General.

“With its strong foundation and decades of excellence proven in New York City, one of the country’s most competitive restaurant markets, Lenwich has significant untapped potential for growth. We look forward to bringing our network and expertise to unlock the company’s full potential,” said Dajeong Lee, Partner of Pacific General.

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP served as legal counsel to Pacific General and Pryor Cashman LLP acted as legal counsel to Lenwich. RSM provided financial and tax due diligence in connection with the transaction.

About Lenwich

Founded in 1989, Lenwich is a highly reputable, premium, New York-inspired sandwich concept with 14 corporate-owned stores across Manhattan. Lenwich serves fresh, made-to-order sandwiches, wraps and salads; best known for its Chicken Caesar Wrap and Lenwich sandwich (hot pastrami, corn beef and coleslaw).

About Pacific General

Pacific General is an investment firm focusing on private equity and alternative investments. The firm specializes in originating, structuring, and investing in businesses with growth potential in the consumer, industrials and business services sectors, and leverages its cross-border expertise and global network to create value. The firm operates through offices in New York and Seoul, South Korea and with a presence in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The MIL Network –

March 5, 2025
MIL-OSI: Paperclip SAFE to Present Keynote at The Official Cybersecurity Summit in New York

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

HACKENSACK, N.J., March 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Paperclip Inc. (OTCMKTS:PCPJ), an innovative data security and content management company, is a presenting sponsor at The Official Cybersecurity Summit: New York on Thursday, March 6. Paperclip’s CRO Chad Walter will be presenting a keynote titled ‘Post-Quantum Readiness: Now, Later, or Never?’ The presentation will take place at 10:05 a.m. in the Metropolitan Ballroom at Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel.

The New York Cybersecurity Summit connects C-Suite & Senior Executives responsible for protecting their companies’ critical infrastructures with innovative solution providers and renowned information security experts. This educational forum will focus on sharing best practices and innovations designed to protect highly vulnerable business applications and critical infrastructure. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the nation’s leading solution providers and discover the latest products and services for enterprise cyber-defense.

“We’re excited to be back in New York for the Official Cybersecurity Summit after making so many great connections last year,” said Chad Walter, CRO at Paperclip. “I’ll be presenting on a topic that’s on everyone’s mind in the cybersecurity field—Post-Quantum Computing and Cryptography. As a cybersecurity community we have a responsibility to share new ideas and innovations, which is why it’s critical to bring attention to data-centric security and the latest encryption technologies.”

Analysts are making bold statements about post-quantum cryptography, even going so far as to encourage organizations to build out post-quantum ready environments in 2025. Paperclip’s keynote presentation will explore whether the industry is ringing the alarm bell too early, the implications of jumping ahead to a post-quantum world, and distinguish other priorities that should take precedent over the post-quantum hype.

At the event, Paperclip will also have a booth to showcase its SAFE solution, a breakthrough encryption technology that keeps private data encrypted at all points of its lifecycle. SAFE is the only always-encrypted data security platform that works at the speed of business, working with the fluidity of data instead of against it. Paperclip also specialized in secure content management, data transcription, and fully encrypted email and e-sign technologies.

You can still register and attend Thursday’s event using Paperclip’s code CSS25-Paperclip. For more information on the Cyber Security Summits, to register for the NY event or view the show agenda, visit https://cybersecuritysummit.com/.

About Paperclip, Inc.

Paperclip is a proven technology partner that continues to revolutionize data security, content and document management for Fortune 1,000 companies worldwide. Every second of every day, our innovative solutions are securely processing, transcribing, storing, and communicating highly sensitive content across the internet. Maximizing efficiency to save millions annually, while maintaining absolute security and compliance. For more information, visit paperclip.com.

About SAFE

Paperclip SAFE builds on the foundation of trust and collaboration that Paperclip has established with its security and content management solutions over three decades. Paperclip SAFE utilizes in-depth knowledge of the database and data pipeline to secure all points within the data lifecycle. Nine of the 10 top life insurance carriers in the U.S. are currently protected by Paperclip SAFE. With Paperclip SAFE, outpace threats with data that is always encrypted and always ahead of evolving risk. For more information, visit paperclip.com/safe.

CONTACT
Megan Brandow, Director of Marketing & Communications
Paperclip, Inc.
(585) 727-0983
mbrandow@paperclip.com

The MIL Network –

March 5, 2025
MIL-OSI: Spartan Capital Securities, LLC Serves as Sole Placement Agent in Lipella Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s $3,788,000 Private Placement

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

New York, NY, March 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Spartan Capital Securities, LLC, a premier investment banking firm, is pleased to announce the successful completion of a $3,788,000 private placement for Lipella Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: LIPO). Spartan Capital Securities, LLC acted as the sole placement agent in this private offering.

The proceeds from this offering will further Lipella’s mission to develop innovative therapies addressing significant unmet medical needs, while also funding general corporate purposes.

Jonathan Kaufman, PhD, CEO of Lipella Pharmaceuticals, remains committed to leading the company’s groundbreaking clinical pipeline and advancing transformative treatments.

“We are honored to serve as the sole placement agent in this private placement for Lipella Pharmaceuticals,” said John Lowry, CEO of Spartan Capital Securities. “Lipella’s dedication to medical innovation and improving patient outcomes is commendable. This successful transaction underscores both the strength of Lipella’s vision and Spartan Capital’s commitment to facilitating impactful investment opportunities. We look forward to supporting Lipella’s continued success.”

Sichenzia Ross Ference Carmel LLP served as placement agent counsel, while Sullivan & Worcester LLP acted as counsel to Lipella Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Further details on the transaction will be available in the Company’s Form 8-K, to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and accessible at www.sec.gov.

The common shares and the common shares issuable upon the conversion of related warrants have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws. Until registered, these securities may not be offered or sold in the United States or any state absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction where such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under applicable securities laws.

About Spartan Capital Securities, LLC

Spartan Capital Securities, LLC is a premier full-service investment banking firm offering a comprehensive range of advisory services to institutional clients and high-net-worth individuals. Known for its expertise in capital raising, strategic advisory, and asset management, Spartan Capital delivers tailored solutions to meet clients’ financial goals.

For more information about Spartan Capital Securities, visit www.spartancapital.com.

Contact: Spartan Capital Securities, LLC 45 Broadway, 19th Floor New York, NY 10006 investmentbanking@spartancapital.com

The MIL Network –

March 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kehoe Announces Three Appointments to Various Boards, Fills Two County Office Vacancies

Source: US State of Missouri

MARCH 4, 2025

Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Kehoe announced three appointments to various boards and filled two county office vacancies.

Scott Albers, of Country Club, was appointed to the Missouri Western State University Board of Governors.

Mr. Albers is the president of Public Refrigerated Warehousing at Nor-Am Cold Storage and has served in leadership roles at the company since 2009. Active in the community, he serves on the board of the Global Cold Chain Alliance and previously held roles with the Greater St. Joseph United Way and the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce. Albers earned a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from the University of Northern Iowa and a Master of Business Administration from the UCLA Anderson School of Business.

Kathy Lambertz, of Harrisonville, was appointed as the Cass County Clerk.

Ms. Lambertz currently serves as the chief deputy clerk in the Cass County Clerk’s Office, a position she has held since 2019. She previously served as Cass County clerk from 1999 to 2012 and worked as a senior appraiser in the assessor’s office from 2012 to 2019. With more than 30 years of experience in county government, she is also active in civic organizations, serving on the University of Missouri Extension Board and as an active member of the Harrisonville Kiwanis Club.

William “Blaine” Luetkemeyer, of St. Elizabeth, was appointed to the University of Missouri Board of Curators.

A retired U.S. Congressman, Mr. Luetkemeyer represented Missouri’s 3rd Congressional District from 2013 to 2025 and the 9th Congressional District from 2009 to 2013. During his tenure in Congress, he played a key role on the House Financial Services Committee, chaired multiple subcommittees, and helped secure $20 million for the NextGen MU Research Reactor at the University of Missouri. Before serving in Congress, Luetkemeyer was a Missouri State Representative, and as the Director of the Missouri Division of Tourism. Mr. Luetkemeyer has decades of experience as a small businessman, having worked as a community banker and bank examiner. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Business Administration from Lincoln University. In recognition of his contributions to higher education, Mr. Luetkemeyer received the Henry S. Geyer Award from the Mizzou Alumni Association in 2023.

Todd Michalski, of St. Joseph, was appointed to the Missouri Western State University Board of Governors.

Mr. Michalski is the senior vice president of sales and marketing at Gray Manufacturing Company, Inc. He serves as a board member for the Missouri Western State University Foundation and the Automotive Lift Institute. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and minor in Marketing and Management from Missouri Western State University.

Dave Schatz, of Sullivan, was appointed as the Franklin County Presiding Commissioner.

Mr. Schatz is the vice president of Schatz Underground and the former president of Schatz Construction. He previously served as Missouri Senate President Pro Tem and was a State Senator from 2015 to 2022 and a State Representative from 2011 to 2014. A longtime business owner and community leader, Schatz remains active in local government, education initiatives, and community service throughout Franklin County.

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MIL OSI USA News –

March 5, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Serious Negotiations Must Resume for Gaza Ceasefire, UN Chief Tells Arab League Summit, Calls for Political Framework for Reconstruction

Source: United Nations 4

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the Extraordinary Arab League Summit on the Situation in the Middle East/Gaza today:

President El-Sisi, thank you for convening leaders from across the Arab world to unite at this Extraordinary Arab Summit dedicated to Palestine.

Since the horrific attacks by Hamas in Israel on 7 October, the ensuing Israeli military operations have unleashed an unprecedented level of death and destruction in Gaza, generating an immense trauma. Palestinians in Gaza have suffered beyond measure. And the risk of even greater devastation looms.

This Summit is an important signal that the world has a collective responsibility to support efforts to end this war, relieve profound human suffering and secure lasting peace. In the last few weeks, we have witnessed a meaningful improvement with the ceasefire and the hostage deal.

Since the start of the implementation of the first phase of the ceasefire, Palestinian civilians in Gaza have experienced reprieve. Hostages were released and humanitarian aid dramatically increased. I urge the parties to uphold their commitments and implement them in full, and Member States to use all the leverage they have to support this, especially as we start the holy month of Ramadan.

We must avoid at all costs the resumption of hostilities that would plunge the millions back into an abyss of suffering and further destabilize the region. And simultaneously, the territorial integrity of Lebanon and Syria must be respected.

Serious negotiations for the ceasefire in all its facets must be resumed without delay. All hostages must be released — immediately, unconditionally and in a dignified manner.

The release of Palestinian detainees must be carried out per the terms of the deal and also in a dignified way. The parties must ensure humane treatment for all those held under their power. And all obstacles to the effective delivery of life-saving aid must be removed.

Humanitarian aid is not negotiable. It must flow without impediment. The response needs to be adequately funded, and civilians — including humanitarians — must be protected.

The United Nations has proven, together with our partners, namely the Egyptian Red Crescent, with access, the UN-coordinated response can deliver aid that people need.

Ending the immediate crisis is not enough. We need a clear political framework that lays the foundation for Gaza’s recovery, reconstruction and lasting stability. That framework must be based on principles and respect for international law.

Israel’s legitimate security concerns must be addressed, but that should not be through long-term Israeli military presence in Gaza. And I want to once again salute the dedication of UN staff and all other humanitarian workers — particularly, Palestinian colleagues — who have suffered so much and are working under near-impossible conditions. I appeal for the urgent and full support of UNRWA’s [United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East] work, including financial support.

Finally, as we widen the lens beyond Gaza, we see an alarming situation unfolding in the West Bank. Israeli security forces have launched large-scale operations, including air strikes and also the deployment of tanks for the first time in over two decades.

Over 40,000 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced in the last month — the largest displacement in the West Bank in decades. Meanwhile, demolitions, evictions and settlement expansions continue, with settler violence on the rise. All of this is further weakening the Palestinian Authority at a time when its role is more crucial than ever.

I call for urgent de-escalation. Unilateral actions, including settlement expansion and threats of annexation, must stop. The attacks and mounting violence must end. Israel, as the occupying Power, must comply with all its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law. And the Palestinian Authority must be supported to govern effectively, and to do so in compliance with its own obligations under international law.

The true foundation of recovery in Gaza will be more than concrete and steel. It will be dignity, self-determination and security. This means staying true to the bedrock of international law. It means rejecting any form of ethnic cleansing. And it means forging a political solution.

There is no sustainable future for Gaza that is not part of a viable Palestinian State. There can be no recovery without an end to the occupation. No justice without accountability for violations of international law. And no sustainable reconstruction without a clear and principled political horizon.

The Palestinian people must have the right to govern themselves, to chart their own future, and to live on their land in freedom and security. There must be irreversible steps now toward the realization of the two-State solution — before it’s too late.

The only path to lasting peace is one where two States — Israel and Palestine — live side by side in peace and security, in line with international law and relevant UN resolutions, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States. The United Nations stands with you in this essential effort.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

March 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Nova Scotia Advancing Critical Mineral Opportunities
Source: Government of Canada regional news

Premier Tim Houston attended a major international mining conference to tell developers and investors that Nova Scotia is open for business and eager to advance critical minerals opportunities.

The Premier spoke at the annual Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada conference in Toronto today, March 4.

“Nova Scotia has the critical minerals that the world needs for clean energy, food production, defence, healthcare and more. We can be a reliable, ethical, sustainable source of these materials and reap the economic rewards for Nova Scotians,” said Premier Houston. “We are lifting bans, breaking down barriers and inviting good companies to come talk to us about investing in Nova Scotia. We’re also taking steps in the province to better understand the full potential of our critical mineral resources.”

The Department of Natural Resources is using $1 million from Natural Resources Canada for two projects to learn more about how the province’s critical minerals can be developed.

The Department will use half the funding to study how critical minerals can be extracted from greenfield and brownfield sites, such as historic mine tailings sites. The study will also look at opportunities for turning the raw materials into finished products. Keeping the full value chain in the province – from exploration and mining to finished products – means more jobs and other economic benefits for Nova Scotians.

The Department will use the rest of the money to create a model of the critical mineral potential in Nova Scotia. It will be used to encourage investment and inform development decisions in the private sector. It will also help the Department with effective land management.

Also at the conference today, Canada’s energy and mines ministers met to discuss the country’s opportunities with critical minerals. Natural Resources Minister Tory Rushton joined virtually. The ministers confirmed their commitment to working together to advance priority resource projects and to streamline regulatory processes while still upholding strong environmental and labour standards.

Quotes:

“The effective management of our natural resources starts with good data and ends with jobs for Nova Scotians. We are dedicated to understanding every opportunity to responsibly develop and use the critical minerals we have beneath our feet. We’re also committed to breaking down barriers within Nova Scotia and across the country to strengthen our position as we face the threat of tariffs. We’re at a pivotal moment in time where we can attract more good paying jobs, become more self-reliant and create a brighter future for everyone.”
— Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources

“Nova Scotia has tremendous potential for the critical minerals that are essential to achieving climate goals, such as lithium copper, and many more. Premier Houston’s attendance at Canada’s biggest mining industry event will help us attract investment in our critical minerals sector, create more jobs for Nova Scotians and generate more government revenue to help pay for programs like health and education. It tells the world that the Government of Nova Scotia supports our industry, and the province is a good place to invest.”
— Sean Kirby, Executive Director, Mining Association of Nova Scotia

Quick Facts:
- Nova Scotia launched its critical mineral strategy in 2024; it lists 16 critical minerals that are critical because of their importance to global supply chains
- Nova Scotia has a long and rich history in mining; today’s regulatory frameworks keep people and the environment safe through responsible, sustainable mining practices
- on average, jobs in Nova Scotia’s mining industry pay more than $100,000 in wages and benefits; the industry employs at least 2,500 people in the province
- the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada conference attracts 130 mining companies and more than 30,000 delegates each year
Additional Resources:

Nova Scotia’s Critical Mineral Strategy: https://novascotia.ca/natr/meb/docs/critical-minerals-strategy.pdf

Investing to Make Canada a Global Critical Minerals Superpower (Natural Resources Canada): https://www.canada.ca/en/natural-resources-canada/news/2025/03/investing-to-make-canada-a-global-critical-minerals-superpower.html

Natural Resources on the X platform: https://x.com/NS_DNR

MIL OSI Canada News –
March 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: Generation Uncertain | World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025

Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

The barriers to building secure economic prospects and a high quality of life for young people today are bigger than ever before.

What collaborative effort is needed to restore optimism in the future for young people globally amid the present characterized by crises, conflict and climate change?

Speakers: Gyri Reiersen, Olajumoke Adekeye, Shehrbano Jamali Niazi, Tony Frangie Mawad, Davy Deng

The 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum will provide a crucial space to focus on the fundamental principles driving trust, including transparency, consistency and accountability.

This Annual Meeting will welcome over 100 governments, all major international organizations, 1000 Forum’s Partners, as well as civil society leaders, experts, youth representatives, social entrepreneurs, and news outlets.

The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.

World Economic Forum Website ► http://www.weforum.org/
Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/worldeconomicforum/
YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/wef
Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/worldeconomicforum/
X ► https://twitter.com/wef
LinkedIn ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-economic-forum
TikTok ► https://www.tiktok.com/@worldeconomicforum
Flipboard ► https://flipboard.com/@WEF

#Davos2025 #WorldEconomicForum #wef25

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NV0rr8fUpmU

MIL OSI Video –

March 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Colleagues Blast Trump and Musk’s Plans to Gut Social Security Administration, Threaten Americans’ Social Security

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

Murray: “Donald Trump and Elon Musk are taking a wrecking ball to the Social Security Administration and putting your Social Security benefits at risk.”

Murray: “When you make it impossible for people to meet or talk to anyone about their Social Security benefits, that’s a benefits cut. Maybe making it impossible to talk to a real person is a good business model in Silicon Valley, but it’s not how our government should treat taxpayers.”

ICYMI: Co-President Elon Musk on Friday: “Social Security is the Biggest Ponzi Scheme of All Time

ICYMI: FACT SHEET: Trump and Musk’s Plot to Make It Harder for Americans to Get Their Social Security Benefits

***VIDEO HERE***

Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations, joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Finance Committee, and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) in blasting President Trump and Elon Musk’s plans to gut the Social Security Administration (SSA) and make it harder for Americans who’ve paid into Social Security their whole lives to get the benefits they have earned.

The Trump administration’s plans to gut the Social Security Administration come as Elon Musk calls Social Security “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time.”

Last Thursday, the Social Security Administration announced it will “soon implement agency-wide organizational restructuring that will include significant workforce reductions.” Reports indicate SSA may eliminate up to 50% of its workforce in what the agency calls “massive reorganizations,” which agencies were directed to draw up plans for in a recent Executive Order. SSA has now offered all employees incentives to leave the agency, and Trump’s acting SSA commissioner has boasted of firing employees. 90% of SSA staff work across the country outside of the agency’s headquarters. SSA staff who are not providing direct service support perform critical work that keeps the agency and Social Security system operational, including supporting SSA’s IT infrastructure.

SSA staff ensure 73 million Americans get their Social Security benefits each month–which is more beneficiaries than ever before. They do so even though SSA’s 57,000 staff level is already at the lowest level in 50 years. Customer service at SSA has long suffered from historically low staffing levels and inadequate discretionary funding, which Democrats have pushed to increase each year while congressional Republicans push to cut non-defense funding.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk and DOGE are eager to close SSA field offices across the country that Americans count on. DOGE’s “Wall of Receipts” lists dozens of SSA field offices they have or will terminate leases for. In 2023, SSA field offices had nearly 120,000 Americans visit per day.

Senator Murray’s full remarks, as delivered, are below:

“We’re here today because Donald Trump and Elon Musk are taking a wrecking ball to the Social Security Administration and putting your Social Security benefits at risk.

“People need help getting Social Security at some of the most vulnerable points in their lives—whether that’s the death of a spouse, the onset of a disability, or the loss of income that comes with retirement.

“And despite what Elon Musk says—Social Security is not a Ponzi Scheme.

“Social Security is a promise that the American people should be able to count on after paying into it their entire lives.

“And part of that promise means being able to get on the phone with an actual human being without having to wait on hold for an hour, being able to visit an office in-person to get help with your benefit without having to jump through hoops or drive hundreds of miles.

“But Trump and Elon are decimating the Social Security Administration, and without adequate staff at the agency, there will be people who can’t get their benefits—period.

“The American people should realize the Social Security Administration is already at its lowest level of staffing in fifty years!

“That’s why fewer than 40% of people who call to talk to a Social Security agent can get through to talk to someone.

“That’s why it takes on average 240 days to process a disability claim.

“That’s why, last year, an estimated thirty thousand Americans died while waiting on a decision for their disability benefits.

“Yet Trump and Elon are loudly declaring they want to significantly reduce staff further.

“They told SSA to draw up plans to cut staff by 50% and their hand-picked Acting Commissioner is proudly declaring he wants to cut at least 7,000 Social Security Administration workers.

“And Trump and Elon are now pushing all Social Security Administration employees out of the door.

“They’re threatening all employees with future firings and forced reassignments while offering financial incentives to leave—that’s an ‘offer’ that went to everyone at the agency.

“I want to make sure everyone understands a few things: ninety percent of SSA staff work across the country outside of the agency’s headquarters at over 1,200 field offices to help people in every part of this country.

“Staff who are not providing direct service support perform critical work that keeps the agency and Social Security system operational—including supporting the agency’s IT infrastructure.

“Elon and DOGE are positively gleeful in touting these staffing reductions—and they are working to close as many Social Security offices as they can get away with.

“DOGE has proudly listed 45 Social Security offices on their ‘Wall of Receipts’ as leases they have terminated.

“When you make it impossible for people to meet or talk to anyone about their Social Security benefits—that’s a benefits cut.

“Maybe making it impossible to talk to a real person is a good business model in Silicon Valley, but it’s not how our government should treat taxpayers.

“Year after year, Democrats fight to boost funding for the Social Security Administration so they can hire more staff and modernize their systems.

“Elon Musk almost certainly doesn’t care, but for the friends and neighbors I grew up with—Social Security is the most important reason they could retire with some basic dignity.

“Before he called Social Security a ‘Ponzi scheme,’ it was just last month that Elon called the American people who rely on federal programs like Social Security ‘parasites.’

“Well maybe Elon could use a little refresher on American history. For decades, our federal tax code has said: if you have a higher income, you are going to chip in more. The radical thing is that right now, Social Security actually works in the opposite way.

“If you make around $160,000 a year—you are paying the same amount into Social Security each year as a billionaire like Elon Musk.

“Someone can make over 12 thousand times your salary—and yet their Social Security tax rate is a fraction of a fraction of what your rate is.

“Think about that: billionaires like Elon are putting just a half a cent of every hundred thousand dollars they make into Social Security.

“So, someone is leeching off the American taxpayer for sure but it’s not hard-working Americans who need Social Security to help them retire—it’s billionaires like Elon Musk, someone who is right now smugly breaking government agencies he knows nothing about, all to enrich himself with more tax cuts.

“This is not a left or right issue—Americans of all political affiliations rely on Social Security. This is about whose side you’re on.

“Democrats are with the workers, middle-class families, seniors—and that’s why we are telling Elon to get his hands off Social Security.”

MIL OSI USA News –

March 5, 2025

MIL-OSI Europe: Minister Burke and Minister Dillon address inaugural plenary of the Employment Law Review Group

Source: Government of Ireland – Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation

4th March 2025

The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke and Minister of State for Small Businesses and Retail, Alan Dillon attended the inaugural plenary meeting of the Employment Law Review Group (ELRG).

Professor Michael Doherty, Chair of the ELRG welcomed the members before both Minister Burke and Minister Dillon addressed the ELRG.

Minister Burke congratulated members on their appointments and spoke about what the Government wishes to achieve to support workers and conditions

The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke said:

“The Government has a strong record on strengthening workers’ rights. The ELRG will be a valuable resource in conducting ongoing assessments of employment law to ensure our legal framework is fit for purpose and adapts to changes in the evolving contemporary workplace.”

Minister Dillon thanked the members for their commitment to the important role in reviewing and monitoring Ireland’s employment and redundancy laws to ensure they serve their intended function.

Minister of State for Small Businesses and Retail, Alan Dillon said:

“It is very important that the work of the Group balance carefully the need to ensure legislation remains fit for purpose while not placing an undue or additional burden on business, in particular small and medium enterprises.”

The ELRG will work in accordance with the work programme, which will be determined by the Minister after consultation with the Group. During the inaugural plenary, the ELRG discussed items for this work programme as part of this consultation. The relevant legislative enactments which may be considered in the work programme are listed in the appendix below.

Following the meeting, the full membership of the Employment Law Review Group has been announced. The full membership of the group and their nominating bodies, as appointed by the Minister is as follows:

1.	Michael Doherty (Chair)	Nominated by Minister for ETE
2.	Cathy Smith	Nominated by Minister for ETE
3.	Kevin Duffy	Nominated by Minister for ETE
4.	Claire Bruton	Nominated by Minister for ETE
5.	Desmond Ryan	Nominated by Minister for ETE
6.	Anne Lyne	Nominated by Minister for ETE
7.	Deirdre Malone	Nominated by Minister for ETE
8.	Dónal Hamilton	Law Society of Ireland
9.	Mary Paula Guinness	Employment Bar Association
10.	Gavin Smith	Restructuring and Insolvency Ireland
11.	Nichola Harkin	Ibec
12.	Rachael Ryan	ICTU
13.	John Barry	ISME
14.	Áine Maher	DETE
15.	Orlaith Mannion	Department of Social Protection
16.	Jane Ann Duffy	Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
17.	Gwendolen Morgan	Workplace Relations Commission
18.	Lorraine Williams	Chief State Solicitor’s Office
19.	Deirdre O’Kane	Office of the Attorney General
20.	Jim Finn	Courts Service
21.	Appointment Pending	Labour Court

The ELRG’s function is to monitor, review, and advise on all aspects of employment and redundancy law, with a specific focus on promoting good workplace relations in the State, simplifying the operation of employment and redundancy law in the State, and ensuring that the State’s suite of employment rights and redundancy legislation remains relevant and fit for purpose and is updated to reflect international developments.

The ELRG’s focus is expert, technical, and legal rather than representative of stakeholders’ interests. Members will engage with the work programme of the ELRG and contribute to ELRG reports.

ENDS

APPENDIX – List of Relevant Employment and Redundancy Enactments

Part 1 – Acts of the Oireachtas

Payment of Wages Act 1991
Adoptive Leave Act 1995
Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act 1996
Transnational Information and Consultation of Employees Act 1996
Organisation of Working Time Act 1997
Parental Leave Act 1998
National Minimum Wage Act 2000
Carer’s Leave Act 2001
Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001
Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Act 2003
Maternity Protection Acts 1994 and 2004
Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts 1973 to 2005
Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Act 2006
Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977 to 2007
Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2011
Protection of Employees (Employers’ Insolvency) Acts 1984 to 2012
Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Act 2012
Redundancy Payments Acts 1967 to 2014
Protection of Employment Acts 1977 to 2014
Terms of Employment (Information) Acts 1994 to 2014
Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016
Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019
Sick Leave Act 2022

Part 2 – Provisions of Acts of Oireachtas

Part IV of the Industrial Relations Act 1946
Section 4 (1) of the Protections for Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998
Section 8A (5) of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act 2001
Section 50 of the Competition Act 2002
Section 60 (3) of the Employment Permits Act 2024
Section 8 of the Industrial Relations (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004
Section 55M (1) of the Health Act 2004
Section 27 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005
Section 87 of the Consumer Protection Act 2007
Section 26 (1) of the Chemicals Act 2008
Section 62 (1) of the Charities Act 2009
Section 223 (3) of the National Asset Management Agency Act 2009
Section 38 of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010
Section 20 (1) of the Criminal Justice Act 2011
Section 67 (5) of the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011
Section 35 of the Further Education and Training Act 2013
Section 41 (1) of the Central Bank (Supervision and Enforcement) Act 2013
Section 12 (1) of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014
Part 2 of the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2015
Part 3 of the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023
Section 6(3) of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014

Part 3 – Statutory Instruments

European Communities (Parental Leave) Regulations 2000 (S.I. No. 231 of 2000)
European Communities (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2000 (S.I. No. 488 of 2000)
European Communities (Protection of Employees on Transfer of Undertakings) Regulations 2003 (S.I. No. 131 of 2003)
European Communities (Organisation of Working Time) (Activities of Doctors in Training) Regulations 2004 (S.I. No. 494 of 2004)
Organisation of Working Time (Inclusion of Transport Activities) Regulations 2004 (S.I. No. 817 of 2004)
Organisation of Working Time (Inclusion of Offshore Work) Regulations 2004 (S.I. No. 819 of 2004)
European Communities (Organisation of Working Time) (Mobile Staff in Civil Aviation) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 507 of 2006)
European Communities (European Public Limited – Liability Company) (Employee Involvement) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 623 of 2006)
European Communities (European Cooperative Society) (Employee Involvement) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 259 of 2007)
European Union (Cross-Border Conversions, Mergers and Divisions) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 233 of 2023)
European Communities (Working Conditions of Mobile Workers engaged in Interoperable Cross-border Services in the Railway Sector) Regulations 2009 (S.I. No. 377 of 2009)
European Communities (Road Transport) (Organisation of Working Time of Persons Performing Mobile Road Transport Activities) Regulations 2012 (S.I. No. 36 of 2012)
European Union (Posting of Workers) Regulations 2016 (S.I. No. 412 of 2016)

Back to Department News

MIL OSI Europe News –

March 5, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: Governor Lamont Announces Job Assistance Available for Displaced Federal Workers

Source: US State of Connecticut

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) has brought together several programs and services to assist Connecticut residents who have been fired or put on unpaid administrative leave from their jobs with the federal government.

“The federal government may have decided that they don’t want these skilled workers, but we want them to know that we value their public service and that Connecticut employers can use their skills,” Governor Lamont said. “Right now, Connecticut has more than 70,000 jobs available, and the Connecticut Department of Labor can help connect jobseekers to new employment, or even help them begin an entirely new career if that’s what they want to do.”

Information specifically designed for federal workers and contractors is available on the CTDOL homepage at portal.ct.gov/dol. It covers the steps federal workers need to take to file for unemployment benefits, how to get answers to unemployment questions, and how to find career services. At the most recent count, there were approximately 18,800 federal employees working in Connecticut.

“This continues to be a very difficult time for federal workers, and CTDOL staff and partners are here to help,” Connecticut Labor Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo said. “Filing for unemployment benefits is complex – it’s a federal system that requires workers to have specific separation documentation in order to file. In some cases, workers may have been notified of their dismissal in a non-standard way and need assistance. In other cases, workers may have severance and need career counseling and job search assistance. No matter the circumstance, CTDOL resources are available.”

CTDOL departments – including the Rapid Response team, Business Engagement Unit, and Consumer Contact Center – have been engaged in initiatives to help laid-off workers get back into the job market quickly. In the coming months, the agency is expecting to host a job fair specifically geared towards federal workers and has five general job fairs taking place in March. Job fairs are always free for all jobseekers. All employers and jobs are vetted by CTDOL.

Job placement and career services are also provided to all Connecticut residents at no cost through the American Job Centers. Services include resume writing, career workshops, job search assistance, and help for veterans transitioning to the civilian workforce. In person and virtual appointments are available.

Unemployment is an eligibility program. Each unemployment application is verified and will be approved depending upon the filer’s work and salary history, place of residence, and other factors. Workers who accepted severance packages or other salary continuation payments are advised not to file until those payments end.

CTDOL reminds jobseekers to be fraud aware. The agency does not use text, nor will it reach out by phone or email unprompted or ask for unemployment account details. Everyone is strongly advised to not give personal or unemployment account information out unless certain they are speaking to a CTDOL representative. The Consumer Contact Center can verify if the agency is trying to connect to someone. Additionally, jobseekers are advised to be wary of any employer attempting to charge them to submit a job application or for other employment services.

MIL OSI USA News –

March 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: What Happens When Humans and Robots Create Art Together? | World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025

Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

Internationally acclaimed artist Sougwen Chung explores the intersection of human creativity, AI and machine collaboration, pushing the boundaries of art and technology.

In this session Chung reveals how she “taught” a machine her artistic style and how she is challenging traditional notions of drawing, redefining the mark as a dynamic interplay between human intention and machine intelligence.

Speakers: Sougwen Chung, Hans Ulrich Obrist

The 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum will provide a crucial space to focus on the fundamental principles driving trust, including transparency, consistency and accountability.

This Annual Meeting will welcome over 100 governments, all major international organizations, 1000 Forum’s Partners, as well as civil society leaders, experts, youth representatives, social entrepreneurs, and news outlets.

The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.

World Economic Forum Website ► http://www.weforum.org/
Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/worldeconomicforum/
YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/wef
Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/worldeconomicforum/
X ► https://twitter.com/wef
LinkedIn ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-economic-forum
TikTok ► https://www.tiktok.com/@worldeconomicforum
Flipboard ► https://flipboard.com/@WEF

#Davos2025 #WorldEconomicForum #wef25

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RX4fJkQRwI

MIL OSI Video –

March 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Senators Markey and Cassidy Reintroduce Children and Teen’s Online Privacy Protection Legislation

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
Bill Text (PDF)
Washington (March 4, 2025) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) today reintroduced the bipartisan Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0), which would update online data privacy rules for the 21st century and ensure children and teenagers are protected online. Senator Markey first introduced this legislation to update his original COPPA law in 2011 as a member of the House of Representatives and has introduced the bipartisan legislation in every Congress since.
“We need strong modern legislation that keeps pace with the ever-evolving digital landscape and creates a safer online environment by addressing the youth mental health crisis and protecting the personal information of our kids,” said Senator Markey. “Congress must finally pass my Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act to extend these protections to teenagers, block targeted advertising to kids and teens, and give parents of young people an eraser button to protect them from predatory data collection practices.”
“Every kid has an iPad or smartphone. They’re going to use the internet. Parents should be confident they can do it safely,” said Dr. Cassidy. “COPPA 2.0 is the tool that will give parents the peace of mind they need and keep their children’s personal information secure.”
The legislation is also cosponsored by Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Shelly-Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Angus King (I-Maine), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.).
Specifically, the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act would:
Ban targeted advertising to children and teens;
Create an “Eraser Button” by requiring companies to permit users to delete personal information collected from a child or teen;
Establish data minimization rules to prohibit the excessive collection of children and teens’ data;
Revise COPPA’s “actual knowledge” standard to close the loophole that allows platforms to ignore kids and teens on their site; and
Build on COPPA by prohibiting internet companies from collecting personal information from users who are 13 to 16 years old without their consent.
The legislation is endorsed by AASA – the School Superintendents Association, ACCESS Lab – Washington University in St. Louis, Alaska Eating Disorders Alliance, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association for Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work, American Federation of Teachers, American Psychological Association, Association of Educational Service Agencies, Bilateral Safety Corridor Coalition, Carolina Resource Center for Eating Disorders, Center for Change, Center for Digital Democracy, Center for Humane Technology, Centerstone, CHILD USA, Children’s Justice Fund, Common Sense Media, Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Watchdog, Defending the Early Years, Design It For Us, Early Childhood Work Group, Screen Time Action Network, Eating Disorder Foundation, Eating Disorders Coalition, Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), Fairplay, Farrington Specialty Centers, Foolproof, IFEDD – The International Federation of Eating Disorder Dietitians, Inseparable, International Society for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses, Issue One, Lines for Life, Marsh Law Firm PPLC, Mentari, MO Eating Disorders Council, Multi-Service Eating Disorders Association, Inc. (MEDA), National Association for Pupil Transportation, National Association of School Nurses, National Federation of Families, National Parent Teacher Association (PTA), National Rural Education Association, Network for Public Education, P.E.A.C.E (Peace Educators Allied for Children Everywhere), Parents Who Fight, Phone Free Schools Movement, Public Interest Privacy Center (PIPC), Postpartum Support International, Prosperity Eating Disorders and Wellness, Psychotherapy Action Network (PsiAN), Public Citizen, PEDC, REGO Payment Architectures, Sandy Hook Promise, Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders, Student Data Privacy Project, University of Connecticut Rudd Center for Food Policy & Health, Western Youth Services, Yellowstone Human Trafficking Task Force, and Young People’s Alliance.
“The Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act, reintroduced by Senators Markey and Cassidy and other Senate co-sponsors, is more urgent than ever. Children’s surveillance has only intensified across social media, gaming, and virtual spaces, where companies harvest data to track, profile, and manipulate young users. COPPA 2.0 will ban targeted ads to those under 16, curbing the exploitation, manipulation, and discrimination of children for profit. By extending protections to teens and requiring a simple ‘eraser button’ to delete personal data, this legislation takes a critical step in restoring privacy rights in an increasingly invasive digital world,” said Katharina Kopp, Deputy Director of the Center for Digital Democracy.
“Common Sense Media believes Congress must update the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act to strengthen safeguards for young children and extend vital protections to teenagers. Common Sense applauds Senators Markey and Cassidy for their unwavering commitment to this critical cause. With strong bi-partisan support having carried this legislation through the Senate last year, we are optimistic about securing passage in both chambers this year – America’s families deserve no less. This bill would take decisive action by prohibiting targeted advertising to young users, requiring platforms to acknowledge and protect children on their sites, and prevent companies from exploiting youth vulnerabilities for profit. This time has come for Congress to finally pass this essential legislation,” said James P. Steyer, Founder and CEO of Common Sense Media.
“The Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act is an essential step toward addressing youth mental health and online safety. By expanding critical privacy protections to teens for the first time, banning targeted advertising, and closing loopholes that allow platforms to ignore the presence of underage users, COPPA 2.0 will disrupt the business model that capitalizes on our kids’ attention at the expense of their physical and mental wellbeing. Last year, the Senate demonstrated the importance of this landmark legislation by passing it in a historic 91-3 vote. We applaud Senators Markey and Cassidy for reintroducing it so that Congress can finish the job and pass privacy protections for all youth in the 119th Congress,” said Haley Hinkle, Policy Counsel at Fairplay.
“National PTA is committed to making sure that safeguards are in place to ensure the safety and well-being of children and youth online,” said Yvonne Johnson, President of the National Parent Teacher Association, the nation’s oldest and largest child advocacy association. “That’s why we’ve strongly advocated for COPPA 2.0, which would provide a long-overdue and desperately needed update of federal law to better protect the personal information of children online and ban targeted advertising toward children and teens. Our association applauds Senators Markey and Cassidy for reintroducing this critical legislation.”
“Design It For Us strongly supports Senators Markey and Cassidy reintroducing COPPA 2.0 to better protect the privacy of young people online. As a coalition of young advocates, we are all too familiar with Big Tech’s toxic business model that collects massive amounts of data on young people and uses it to target them with ads and content. Young people deserve the critical protections COPPA 2.0 has to offer, including privacy tools and an eraser button to delete personal information,” said Zamaan Qureshi, Co-Chair of Design It For Us.
“Social media companies generate astronomical profits off our nation’s young people by turning platforms into a playground for advertisers. They are literally selling access to our children with targeted ads designed to prey on kids’ vulnerabilities. A child as young as 13 struggling with an eating disorder will be targeted with a constant stream of deceptive ads for the next miracle diet pill. In what other setting would we ever allow that? Parents across the country are calling for common-sense age restrictions on targeted ads on social media. COPPA 2.0 is a much-needed answer to their call,” said Dr. S. Bryn Austin, Board Member at Eating Disorders Coalition and Director of the Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders.
“The Public Interest Privacy Center (PIPC) is proud to support the re-introduction of COPPA 2.0. COPPA 2.0 increases the age of individuals entitled to foundational privacy protections online from children under 13 to teens under 17. In today’s digital world, prioritizing the privacy and safety of children and teens online should no longer be optional. COPPA 2.0 will help to make this a reality,” said Amelia Vance, President of Public Interest Privacy Center.
“AASA is proud to support the re-introduction of COPPA 2.0. This legislation is more important than ever, as it will fill the gap left by the Federal Trade Commission declining to codify long-standing guidance allowing schools to consent to edtech in their recent update to the COPPA Rule. COPPA 2.0 finds the right balance between increasing protections for children and teen privacy online while still allowing schools to provide appropriate, technology-enhanced educational opportunities for all students,” said Dr. David R. Schuler, Executive Director of AASA, The School Superintendents Association.
“Public school educators and parents want kids to learn and thrive in safe, engaging and welcoming schools. However, Big Tech’s dismal failure to erect basic safeguards around its predatory social media products has resulted in a growing plague of loneliness, anxiety and depression. We must pass commonsense regulations and laws to protect children from these dangers, just as we did with lead paint and seatbelts, and as Congress almost did last year before Meta’s last minute opposition lobbying. Sen. Ed Markey’s bill, COPPA 2.0, would protect our kids by modernizing and strengthening privacy laws to reflect the online world they live in now. And it would stop Big Tech’s invasive data practices that track and traumatize kids for profit,” said Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).
“For too long, Big Tech has evaded accountability by exploiting young users with manipulative design features and harvesting their data to fuel addictive algorithms. As long as these companies profit from hooking children and exploiting their sensitive data, they will continue to prioritize profits at-all-cost over democracy. The Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act 2.0 shifts this paradigm by introducing critical protections, including data minimization requirements, a ban on targeted advertising to children and teens, and the closure of loopholes that allow platforms to ignore young users on their sites. Congress now has a crucial opportunity to stand with millions of Americans — parents, young people, and advocates — demanding common-sense safeguards for kids online,” said Alix Fraser, Vice President of Technology Reform at Issue One.
“In the absence of a strong federal comprehensive privacy law, it’s critical that we at least protect the most vulnerable people online — kids and teens. Senator Markey and Cassidy’s Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) does this by placing critical limits on the amount of data that can be collected from young users online to what is necessary for the product or service requested by the child or teen. EPIC is proud to support COPPA 2.0,” said Caitriona Fitzgerald, Deputy Director at the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC).
“The Young People’s Alliance supports Senator Markey and Senator Cassidy as they reintroduce COPPA 2.0, a critical step in curbing Big Tech’s exploitative revenue model. Data privacy cuts predatory platforms off at the source, limiting their ability to track, manipulate, and profit off kids. This, alongside banning targeted ads and allowing minors to delete their data will give young people more control over their online experiences, which we are extremely grateful to see,” said Ava Smithing, Advocacy Director at the Young People’s Alliance.
“The Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) is an important piece of legislation to protect young people from harmful and exploitative advertising online. We strongly support this bipartisan bill and applaud the legislators who are working to see that it passes. Kids are not just tiny adults – their young minds are incredibly vulnerable to the content they’re exposed to on social media. This can lead to terrible and tragic outcomes like violence, self-harm, and suicide. As trusted adults, we must do all we can to protect our youth from these kinds of dangerous marketing practices and online materials,” said Mark Barden, Co-Founder and CEO of the Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund and father of Daniel, who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting.
In December 2024, Senator Markey blasted the decision not to include COPPA 2.0 in the continuing resolution to fund the government through March 14, 2025. In September 2024, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed COPPA 2.0 by a voice vote. In July 2024, the U.S. Senate passed the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act, which included COPPA 2.0, by a 91-3 vote. In July 2023, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee unanimously passed COPPA 2.0.

MIL OSI USA News –

March 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Votes to Confirm Linda McMahon for Education Secretary

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after former Small Business Administrator Linda McMahon was confirmed as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education:
“Linda McMahon and I collaborated closely during the pandemic to support Texas’ small businesses, and I know in this new capacity she will work with President Trump to ensure every student in Texas and across the country has access to a quality education free of radical woke policies. I was glad to support her confirmation and look forward to working with her.”

MIL OSI USA News –

March 5, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Touchstone 2024 award winners announced
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

News story

Touchstone 2024 award winners announced

Winners demonstrate an ongoing commitment to hallmarking activities and to developing new external partnerships.
The British Hallmarking Council (BHC) is delighted to announce that Hull City Trading Standards have won the prestigious Touchstone Award for 2024.

The UK has one of the most rigorous and long-established hallmarking regimes in the world, which delivers significant benefits to UK consumers and legitimate businesses.

Each year the Council invites applications to be submitted for the Touchstone Award from Trading Standards professionals across the UK. The award, sponsored by the four UK Assay Offices and the National Association of Jewellers, is presented for the most innovative activity related to hallmarking enforcement and education.

Hull City Trading Standards were judged to be highly worthy winners due to:

the demonstration of their consistent, ongoing commitment to hallmarking activities

their commitment to developing new external partnerships

the wide breadth of audiences engaged across both physical and online retail domains

the positive outcomes of inspections (including one ongoing case of fraud)

The judging panel welcomed the quality of applications overall and the ongoing commitment of Trading Standards to this valuable work.

The solid silver Touchstone Award was formally awarded at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute annual conference dinner in June. A presentation, luncheon and hallmarking training event was also held at The Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office in London in November.

Applications for the 2025 Touchstone Award will re-open in January 2025.

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Published 4 March 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
March 5, 2025

MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney Announces Charges Against Seven Defendants in Armed Transnational Cocaine and Methamphetamine Distribution Conspiracies

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

Four Defendants Arrested in Three U.S. States, Along With the Seizure of More Than 350 Kilograms of Methamphetamine, 100 Kilograms of Cocaine, and Four Firearms

Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; James E. Dennehy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”); and Francis J. Russo, the Director of Field Operations for the New York Field Office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging seven defendants with narcotics trafficking and firearms offenses. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos.

Since at least in or about October 2023, SHEHNAZ SINGH, a/k/a “SHAWN,” along with his co-conspirators, AMRITPAL SINGH, a/k/a “AMRIT,” a/k/a “Bal,” AMRITPAL SINGH, a/k/a “CHEEMA,” TAKDIR SINGH, a/k/a “ROMY,” SARBSIT SINGH, a/k/a “SABI,” and GURLAL SINGH (“GURLAL”), operated a transnational conspiracy to import cocaine into the U.S. from Colombia and distribute the drug in cities across the U.S. and into Canada. Beginning in or about April 2024, a subset of these conspirators—led by ROMY and SABI, and joined by co-conspirators including FERNANDO VALLADARES, a/k/a “FRANCO”—stole a cache of cocaine from their original co-conspirators and agreed to distribute it out of, among other places, hotels in New York City. Members of the two armed drug trafficking conspiracies hunted each other down, brandished a firearm, and threatened the lives of each other and innocent family members.

Four defendants are in custody after arrests made on the morning of February 26, 2025. Searches of various of the defendants’ residences and vehicles conducted at the time of arrest resulted in the seizure of four firearms, approximately 391 kilograms of methamphetamine, and approximately 109 kilograms of cocaine. CHEEMA was arrested in the Eastern District of California and was presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher D. Baker and detained; ROMY and SABI were arrested in the Northern District of Ohio and were presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge James E. Grimes Jr. and detained; and FRANCO was arrested in the Eastern District of New York, presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry J. Ricardo, and released on certain conditions. AMRIT and GURLAL are in custody in Pennsylvania after prior arrests. SHAWN remains at large.

Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “For more than a year, Shehnaz Singh and his associates not only imported dangerous drugs to sell across the United States but also armed themselves with deadly weapons and endangered communities here in New York City and around the country. This week, we and our law enforcement partners halted that dangerous activity and took drugs and guns off the street. I commend the career prosecutors of the Southern District of New York, and our partners at the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, for their tireless efforts to disrupt this dangerous distribution network and to keep communities safe for our country and our neighbors, too. We hope that today’s charges bring accountability to those who push drugs and use violence to protect their criminal organizations.”

CBP Director of Field Operations Francis J. Russo said: “Every day our CBP officers and law enforcement partners relentlessly pursue the most vicious and brutal criminal drug organizations in the world who do business globally and right here in our local communities and neighborhoods. We will not stop until networks such as this one and their criminal facilitators are off the street and brought to justice. CBP will continue its unwavering commitment to keeping Americans safe from the dangers of drugs and the violence they often bring.”

According to the allegations contained in the Indictments, other court filings, and statements made during court proceedings:^[1]

Since at least in or about October 2023, a group of conspirators led by SHAWN—a Canada-based drug trafficker who holds himself out as a corrupt police officer—operated a drug trafficking organization that imported cocaine into the U.S., transported it to stash houses and other distribution sites using networks of trucking companies and drivers, and sold it in communities across the U.S. and into Canada (the “Original Cocaine Conspiracy”). AMRIT and CHEEMA, served as, among other things, SHAWN’s enforcers, and helped operated the drug trafficking organization by safekeeping and distributing cocaine while armed with guns.

Members of the Original Cocaine Conspiracy imported cocaine into the U.S. from Colombia and delivered the drug to coconspirators in the midwestern U.S., including a vacant home used by AMRIT and others in Indiana. From there, the cocaine was distributed across the U.S. and to Canada, including through and to California, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. This cross-border trade, from Colombia to the U.S. and Canada, was lucrative. As AMRIT described it: “It costs roughly about two, four, or five thousand dollars per [kilo in Colombia]. When it reaches America, it’s worth twelve to thirteen thousand. When it reaches Canada, it’s thirty thousand.” In total, this organization was moving more than 600 kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine a week.

Beginning in or about April 2024, a subset of the Original Cocaine Conspiracy’s members—ROMY and SABI—stole a large cache of cocaine from their co-conspirators in the Original Cocaine Conspiracy and worked with others, including FRANCO—to distribute the stolen cocaine from, among other places, two hotels in New York City (the “Stolen Cocaine Conspiracy”). After a co-conspirator (“CC-1”) crashed a truck carrying approximately 10 kilograms of the group’s cocaine and abandoned his cargo, members of the Original Cocaine Conspiracy announced plans to travel to New York with weapons to reclaim their stolen drugs and serve vengeance on members of the Stolen Cocaine Conspiracy and their families. As AMRIT put it: “We need our stuff. We aren’t letting anyone go. We are going to kill them all.” The day before arriving in New York City, AMRIT and CHEEMA, took photos of themselves displaying weapons over a large cache of stacked cocaine.

Once in New York, AMRIT and CHEEMA threatened members of the Stolen Cocaine Conspiracy and their family members with violence. In just one such incident, at a meeting in front of a home on suburban Long Island, AMRIT thrust a handgun into CC-1’s teenage brother’s neck while demanding to know the location of the stolen cocaine.

While executing arrests of certain of the defendants and searches of various residences and vehicles, law enforcement agents seized four firearms, approximately 391 kilograms of methamphetamine, and approximately 109 kilograms of cocaine. CHEEMA was stopped while fleeing a residence in Bakersfield, California, and arrested in possession of a loaded handgun. Three additional firearms were seized from residences or vehicles belonging to or controlled by ROMY and SABI in Cleveland, Ohio, where agents also seized approximately 391 kilograms of methamphetamine and approximately 109 kilograms of cocaine. The seized firearms and narcotics are shown below.

Cocaine intercepted en route to ROMY and SABI

Methamphetamine seized from SABI’s residence

* * *

A chart containing the charges and minimum and maximum penalties each defendant faces is attached. The statutory minimum and maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants would be determined by a judge.

Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and CBP. Mr. Podolsky further thanked the New York City Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, the Cleveland Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (“OCDETF”) Strike Force, the Cleveland Division of Police, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, the FBI’s Sacramento Field Office and Bakersfield Resident Agency, the FBI’s Cartel, Gang, Narcotics, & Laundering Task Force, the Cleveland Division of Police Coast Guard Investigative Service, and the Bakersfield (Calif.) Police Department, for their assistance and cooperation in the investigation.

This prosecution is part of an OCDETF operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William C. Kinder and Justin Horton are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges in the Indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Defendant	Age	Charges	Minimum and Maximum Sentences
SHEHNAZ SINGH, a/k/a “Shawn”	34	Cocaine distribution conspiracy; using, carrying, and possessing firearms during and in relation to, or in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime	Minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison (cocaine distribution conspiracy); minimum of five consecutive years in prison and a maximum of life (firearms offense)
AMRITPAL SINGH, a/k/a “Amrit,” a/k/a “Bal”	30	Cocaine distribution conspiracy; brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime	Minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison (cocaine distribution conspiracy); minimum of seven consecutive years in prison and a maximum of life (firearms offense)
AMRITPAL SINGH, a/k/a “Cheema”	26	Cocaine distribution conspiracy; using, carrying, and possessing firearms during and in relation to, or in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime	Minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison (cocaine distribution conspiracy); minimum of five consecutive years in prison and a maximum of life (firearms offense)
TAKDIR SINGH, a/k/a “Romy”	33	Cocaine distribution conspiracy; using, carrying, and possessing firearms during and in relation to, or in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime	Minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison (cocaine distribution conspiracy); minimum of five consecutive years in prison and a maximum of life (firearms offense)
SARBSIT SINGH, a/k/a “Sabi”	32	Cocaine distribution conspiracy; using, carrying, and possessing firearms during and in relation to, or in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime	Minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison (cocaine distribution conspiracy); minimum of five consecutive years in prison and a maximum of life (firearms offense)
GURLAL SINGH	29	Cocaine distribution conspiracy; using, carrying, and possessing firearms during and in relation to, or in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime	Minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison (cocaine distribution conspiracy); minimum of five consecutive years in prison and a maximum of life (firearms offense)
FERNANDO VALLADARES, a/k/a “Franco”	36	Cocaine distribution conspiracy	Minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictments and the description of the Indictments set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

MIL Security OSI –

March 5, 2025

MIL-OSI: 10/2025・Trifork Group AG – Reporting of transactions made by persons discharging managerial responsibilities

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Company announcement no. 10 / 2025
Schindellegi, Switzerland – 4 March 2025

Reporting of transactions made by persons discharging managerial responsibilities

Pursuant to the Market Abuse Regulation Article 19, Trifork Group AG (Swiss company registration number CHE-474.101.854) (“Trifork”) hereby notifies receipt of information of the following transactions made by persons discharging managerial responsibilities in Trifork.

1.	Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities/person closely associated
a)	Name	Jørn Larsen
2.	Reason for the notification
a)	Position/status	CEO
b)	Initial notification/ Amendment	Initial notification
3.	Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor
a)	Name	Trifork Group AG
b)	LEI	8945004BYZKXPESTBL36
4.1	Details of the transaction(s)
a)	Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument Identification code	Shares ISIN CH1111227810
b)	Nature of the transaction	Sale
c)	Price(s) and volume(s)	Price(s)	Volume(s)
		DKK 83.55	60,000
d)	Aggregated information — Aggregated volume — Price	Total volume: 60,000 Total price: DKK 83.55 Total value: DKK 5,013,000
e)	Date of the transaction	3 March 2025
f)	Place of the transaction	Nasdaq Copenhagen (XCSE)

Investor and media contact
Frederik Svanholm, Group Investment Director, frsv@trifork.com, +41 79 357 73 17

About Trifork
Trifork is a pioneering global technology partner, empowering enterprise and public sector customers with innovative solutions. With 1,229 professionals across 73 business units in 16 countries, Trifork delivers expertise in inspiring, building, and running advanced software solutions across diverse sectors, including public administration, healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, energy, financial services, retail, and real estate. Trifork Labs, the Group’s R&D hub, drives innovation by investing in and developing synergistic and high-potential technology companies. Trifork Group AG is a publicly listed company on Nasdaq Copenhagen. Learn more at trifork.com.

Attachment

CA_10_25 PDMR

The MIL Network –

March 5, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: Luján: Trump’s Trade War Will Increase Costs for New Mexicans, Have Devastating Consequences for American Industries and Jobs

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
WSJ: “Economists say American importers and businesses will likely pass along the cost of tariffs to consumers, meaning individuals are likely to see higher prices at grocery stores and car dealerships.”
POLITICO: “The agriculture industry will take a major hit from the new 25 percent duties on Mexico and Canada that went into effect at midnight.”
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, issued the following statement on President Trump imposing sweeping tariffs against Canada, Mexico, and China:
“President Trump’s reckless Trade War will lead to higher prices for New Mexicans on groceries, energy, cars, electronics, and more. Instead of strengthening our economy, he’s putting American jobs and businesses at risk while pushing the Tax Scam 2.0 for the wealthy and gutting essential programs. These tariffs could cost American families up to $2,000 a year in higher prices.
“We’ve seen this before. During his first term, President Trump’s tariffs cost the agriculture industry billions of dollars. Now, our farmers and ranchers are once again paying the price. Despite President Trump’s claims, it’s American families and businesses who will bear the brunt of these tariffs.
“President Trump is doing nothing to lower costs for hardworking Americans.”
Fact sheets on New Mexico trade with Canada, Mexico, and China are available HERE.

MIL OSI USA News –

March 5, 2025
MIL-OSI: ButcherJoseph Advises Jim’s Formal Wear on a Sale to Its Employees

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

ST. LOUIS, March 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Saint Louis, MO, March 2025 – ButcherJoseph & Co. (“ButcherJoseph”) served as financial advisor to Jim’s Formal Wear (“JFW or The Company”) on a sale to its employees through the creation of a new employee stock ownership plan (“ESOP”). The transaction closed on December 30, 2024.

Founded in 1964, Jim’s Formal Wear is the largest independent provider of men’s formal wear services in the USA. The Company is headquartered in Trenton, Illinois, and has a network of seven service centers and eight delivery hubs across the country. JFW carries all garment types necessary for formal occasions, including weddings, proms, quinceañeras and other special events. Having successfully navigated to its third generation of family leadership, JFW has expanded over the years into a nationwide distributor of rental and retail formal wear garments to more than 4,500 independent retailers. These retailers include bridal shops, men’s stores, and tuxedo specialists, among others. The Company maintains long-tenured relationships with its highly diversified retailer network, with the average tenure exceeding a decade. JFW currently employs 500 full-time team members and staff and hires an additional 250-300 seasonal employees.

“The transition to an employee stock ownership plan secures the company’s future while empowering our employees with a meaningful stake in its success,” said Steve Davis, CEO of Jim’s Formal Wear. “We chose to transition ownership to our employees as a way to honor their dedication, talent, and hard work. This move also empowers our team to take an active role in shaping and participating in the benefits of our future growth while preserving the principles and culture that define us. I believe this new structure will drive innovation and long-term success.”

“The transition to an employee-owned company strengthens JFW’s foundation for sustained growth and stability,” said Tristan Tahmaseb, Director at ButcherJoseph. “I am confident the ESOP structure will also foster greater employee engagement and deliver lasting value for the company. It was a true pleasure collaborating with Steve and his team on this transition, and I wish them ongoing success in this new chapter.”

About ButcherJoseph & Co.
ButcherJoseph & Co. is a boutique investment banking firm specializing in sale transactions to strategic and financial buyers, employee ownership transactions (ESOPs), capital advisory (debt & equity), and valuations and fairness opinions for privately held businesses. ButcherJoseph is headquartered in St. Louis with a presence in Chicago, Washington, D.C., Miami, Palm Beach, Charlotte, and Scottsdale.

About Jim’s Formal Wear
Jim’s Formal Wear commitment to quality isn’t just a phase. It’s grounded in 60+ years of experience. JFW has seven strategically located service centers and eight regional delivery hubs nationwide. We employ 500 full-time team members and staff and hire an additional 250-300 seasonal employees. We take pride in serving more than 4,500 menswear stores, bridal shops, and other formalwear-related retailers throughout the country.

###

The MIL Network –

March 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: AI-powered sales journeys: Personalization for exceptional customer experiences
Source: Microsoft

Headline: AI-powered sales journeys: Personalization for exceptional customer experiences

Personalized customer engagement is no longer just an advantage; it’s an expectation. Sales teams are increasingly tasked with delivering real-time, tailored interactions across multiple touchpoints, all while managing a growing number of prospects and customers. The challenge is maintaining that high level of personalization without overwhelming the team or losing the quality of engagement.

We see that many businesses encounter significant challenges when attempting to scale personalized interactions to meet the needs of a diverse and growing customer base. Traditional methods that worked well with smaller datasets and pipelines simply can’t keep up with the demands of a modern, fast-paced sales environment. Companies are looking for better ways to manage and orchestrate customer journeys to deliver relevant, personalized experiences at every stage.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales

Elevate your customer experiences by personalizing them at scale.

The complexity of personalizing at scale

Using outdated CRM systems or doing things manually often means sales teams have to send out generic messages that don’t really connect with individual customers. This makes the engagement feel off, and opportunities slip through the cracks.

The main issue here is that most systems don’t provide real-time insights into what customers are doing. Without up-to-date data, sales teams end up reacting to customer actions instead of anticipating them. As the number of leads grows, it’s nearly impossible to maintain the kind of deep engagement needed to really connect with customers at every stage.

Orchestrating seamless customer journeys with Microsoft AI-driven insights

AI helps companies take a proactive approach to personalizing customer journeys. By analyzing customer behaviors in real-time and delivering actionable recommendations, AI gives sales teams the insights they need to anticipate customer needs and offer solutions before prospects even ask for them.

Beyond insights, AI orchestrates the entire customer journey, helping to ensure that interactions across channels are cohesive and relevant. Whether a prospect first interacts with a brand through email, social media, or a sales meeting, AI helps to ensure that their journey is connected, personalized, and moves them further down the funnel.

Dynamics 365 optimizes every step of the customer journey

Let’s explore how AI-powered insights optimize key stages of the sales journey, enabling sales teams to focus on high-value tasks while still delivering tailored customer experiences.

Enhancing customer interactions with Microsoft 365 Copilot

Effective customer interactions are built on understanding the customer’s history, preferences, and current pain points. However, gathering that information can be tedious and fragmented when done manually, leading to inconsistent and incomplete preparation.

With AI-generated opportunity summaries, sales teams can walk into every meeting fully prepared. Real-time insights about the customer’s journey—including previous interactions, product interests, and engagement history—help to ensure that each interaction is tailored to the customer’s needs. Instead of scrambling to piece together information, sales teams can focus on building relationships and delivering value from the outset.

Investec is a great example here. By using Microsoft 365 Copilot for Sales, they have been able to improve their client relationships while saving about 200 hours a year. This allows them to redirect efforts from routine tasks towards providing a personalized customer experience.

Streamlining post-sale engagement and follow-ups

Maintaining customer satisfaction post-sale is critical for retention, but many organizations struggle with post-sale engagement. Inconsistent follow-ups or delayed CRM system updates lead to disengaged customers and missed upsell opportunities.

AI-powered systems automate the process, ensuring timely follow-ups and engagement reminders. For example, sales reps can receive real-time notifications when a customer interaction is needed—whether it’s a check-in call, a product recommendation, or a renewal reminder. This automation helps to ensure that no opportunity falls through the cracks, supporting teams to strengthen customer relationships and increase long-term value.

Just look at the work that Lynk & Co is doing to transform car usage by offering flexible options for customers to buy, borrow, or subscribe to vehicles. Using Microsoft Dynamics 365 customizable tools, they were able to quickly build an infrastructure that could create unique processes and drive highly personalized experiences.

Creating a cohesive, multi-channel experience

We know that customers engage across multiple channels—email, phone, social media, webinars, and more. Managing these touchpoints individually often results in a fragmented customer journey. Customers can feel disconnected from the brand if interactions on different platforms don’t align.

AI-powered tools help orchestrate seamless interactions across channels, ensuring that customers receive consistent messaging regardless of how they choose to engage. Whether it’s a follow-up after a demo, a personalized offer via SMS, or an email post-webinar, AI helps to ensure that the message is both relevant and timely. Sales teams can manage more channels without sacrificing personalization, improving the customer experience and keeping prospects engaged.

An interesting story here is Zurich Insurance Group. To optimize processes and handle increasing customer data, they chose Microsoft solutions, including Dynamics 365 Customer Insights, to help them find new ways to reach customers and shape customer journeys. As a result, they’ve been able to increase their lead quality by over 40%.

AI’s role in optimizing customer journeys

By continuously analyzing real-time customer behavior, AI provides sales teams with recommendations on what to do next—whether that’s sending a follow-up email, scheduling a demo, or offering a personalized discount.

For sales leaders, this means moving beyond surface-level engagement to deep, data-driven interactions that anticipate customer needs. Rather than reacting to each customer interaction as it happens, AI supports proactive strategies that keep prospects moving smoothly through the sales funnel.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Copilot: Delivering personalization at scale

The challenges of scaling personalization can be daunting, but solutions like Dynamics 365 and Copilot allow businesses to turn customer data into actionable strategies, delivering relevant, personalized interactions from the first touchpoint to post-sale follow-up.

With Dynamics 365 and Copilot, organizations are experiencing the following benefits: ¹
- 15% increase in revenue per customer journey.
- 75% time savings on customer journey development.
- 50% reduction in physical marketing spend.
Here’s how Dynamics 365 addresses the key challenges of scaling personalized engagement:
- Natural language data exploration. Sales teams can instantly access customer insights by asking questions in simple language, such as “Which customers are nearing their renewal date?”. This streamlines data access and empowers quick, targeted action.¹
- Segment creation with Query Assist. Easily create customer segments by describing desired traits, helping sales teams target high-value groups with precision.²
- AI-assisted journey creation. Define customer journey goals in plain language, and Copilot builds personalized journeys across channels, boosting engagement and conversions.³
- Content generation and refinement. Quickly draft messages or emails with Copilot, using tone and key point inputs to tailor content. This speeds up customer response and helps to ensure alignment with brand goals.⁴
AI can scale personalized customer engagement

When talking to customers, it is recommended that businesses consider personalizing engagement across their large pipelines. This can indeed be a major challenge, but with AI-powered tools like Dynamics 365 and Copilot, sales teams can effortlessly maintain meaningful, personalized interactions at every stage of the customer journey. By turning data into actionable insights, AI empowers companies to create proactive and tailored experiences that drive both loyalty and growth. Using AI allows you to scale engagement without sacrificing the personal touch, making it a valuable investment for enhancing customer relationships.

Access the resources below to get started on your AI journey today. You can also stay connected on LinkedIn with more information about innovation and AI transformation.

Learn more about how to personalize at scale with Microsoft Dynamics 365.

Sources:

¹ “Dialog with Data.” Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Insights Documentation. Microsoft, Inc., 2024.

² “Copilot Overview.” Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Insights Documentation. Microsoft, Inc., 2024.

³ “Use Copilot to Create a Journey.” Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Insights Documentation. Microsoft, Inc., 2024.

⁴ “Content Rewrite.” Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Insights Documentation. Microsoft, Inc., 2024.

Jonathan Hunt

Corporate Vice President, Business Applications, Commercial Solution Area

Jonathan Hunt is Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President, Business Applications. In this role, Hunt’s focus is on helping Microsoft’s customers and partners successfully navigate their digital transformation by harnessing the power of technology to understand their data, their customers, and their systems – and to achieve more within an ethical, inclusive, and secure framework. Hunt has spent 20+ years helping organizations scale through technology, process, and change management. Prior to joining Microsoft, he led Go-to-Market Strategy & Operations for Databricks and spent 11 years at Salesforce, most recently serving as COO, North America. Hunt has a wealth of knowledge and experience in optimizing and scaling Go-to-Market models, building high-performing teams and strategic partnerships, and driving business growth, both regionally and globally. Hunt lives in the San Francisco Bay area and enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and three children. He is an aspiring runner and cyclist and enjoys seeking adventures in the backcountry when time permits.

See more articles from this author
MIL OSI Economics –
March 5, 2025

Category: Business

Lack of checks and balances

An ‘executive paradise’

Missing provisions

Democratic accountability

Questioning hierarchies

Is it addiction?

Covert policing and human rights

Trust in police

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APPENDIX – List of Relevant Employment and Redundancy Enactments

Part 2 – Provisions of Acts of Oireachtas

Part 3 – Statutory Instruments

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