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Category: DJF

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: ‘Pride of place’ at ARU’s Graduate Showcase

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    Some of the work on display at the exhibition

    From intimate reflections on home and heritage to explorations of urban spaces, migration and belonging, this year’s Graduate Showcase exhibition at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) is celebrating the many ways that “place” informs identity and influences creative expression.

    The free exhibition, which features work by students graduating from a range of creative courses at ARU this year, is a fantastic opportunity for employers, fellow creatives or members of the public to engage with exciting, thought-provoking content, form valuable connections and gain new perspectives.

    The Graduate Showcase features projects by more than 300 students from 15 different undergraduate courses, as well as work in progress from ARU’s Masters courses, and will be on show at ARU’s Cambridge campus from 6-13 June.

    Echoes of Home, a Transatlantic Dialogue by BA (Hons) Photography student Betsy Richards-Kemp asks where our sense of belonging comes from as she attempts to understand the impact of the movement and migration of black people, drawing on the intimate story of two sisters separated by the Atlantic.

    Based in Suffolk, Betsy uses her camera to tell the untold stories of people’s lives and to understand “shared culture, shared history and shared connections”.

    The media used in the exhibition is as diverse as the subject matter – from Alice Hibbert’s handknitted jumper celebrating her Welsh roots and the cockle picking women of Penclawdd, South Wales, to Freyja Finnis’ graphic novel exploring a young person’s journey of self-belief and acceptance set in small rural community.

    Fine Art student Zineb Khadraoui’s handmade ceramic tiles map personal and collective histories. Zineb explained:

    “The tiles are made using clay from Morocco mixed with soil from my family’s land, and each one features photographic transfers from my travels or family archives.

    “The installation takes a circular form, inviting the viewer to walk through the space and reflect on the idea of returning to one’s roots – both physically and emotionally.”

    BA (Hons) Graphic Design student Issac Khera examines the ways we experience place through sound. Featuring the town of Hitchin, his auditory map explores the way the sound of rainfall interacts with the environment along a route. It uses a variable typeface to pinpoint the nuances of rainfall on different surfaces, such as trickling into a drain or falling onto cars.

    Film and TV Production students Lisa-Marie Soulier and Claudia Vogt have co-produced a documentary, Saturday Night Butch, highlighting the importance of lesbian nightclubs in the celebration of masculine presenting lesbians.

    Claudia said: “We travelled across the UK to find and understand the community, visiting venues from nightclubs to barbershops. Bringing Lesbians together has brought a new and long overdue appreciation for masculine presenting Lesbians and a unique perspective to Lesbian documentary.”

    “Place is not just a backdrop for these students’ work, it is an active force – something that provokes, inspires, and challenges. Whether it’s a response to local culture, ecological landscapes, or global dislocation, our students are engaging with the world around them in meaningful and original ways.”

    Professor Catherine Lee, Deputy Dean within the Faculty of Arts, Humanities, Education and Social Sciences at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU)

    ARU’s Graduate Showcase 2025 includes installations, moving image from games, film and animation, digital media, and traditional practices, with each piece offering a lens on how place shapes our experiences and futures. Many of the works also reflect a deep commitment to social and environmental issues.

    The free Graduate Showcase is open to the public from Friday, 6 June to Friday, 13 June – including during ARU’s Undergraduate Open Day on Saturday, 7 June – but is closed on Sunday. The exhibition is at ARU’s main East Road campus in Cambridge and further information is available at https://creativeshowcase.aru.ac.uk/showcase/graduate-showcase

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Local businesses invited to join borough-wide ‘Shop ABC’ Gift Card Scheme

    Source: Northern Ireland City of Armagh

    Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council are asking local businesses to sign up to its exciting new gift card initiative, designed to encourage people to shop local, gift local, and spend local.

    Set to go live this summer, the ‘Shop ABC’ Gift Card will be valid across the ABC borough. Businesses of all types and sizes — from retailers and restaurants to salons, hotels, and visitor attractions — are invited to join the scheme for free.

    The card operates via the Mastercard network, meaning no additional equipment is required for businesses already accepting Mastercard payments.

    The ‘Shop ABC’ Gift Card offers a convenient and flexible way for consumers to gift and spend money within the borough. Whether it’s for birthdays, Christmas, thank-you gifts, or corporate rewards, the card will provide a powerful new way to promote local economic activity.

    With a summer launch fast approaching, the Council is urging businesses to register early to ensure they’re part of the scheme from day one.

    Deputy Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough, Councillor Kyle Savage said: “The introduction of the Shop ABC Gift Card marks a significant step in strengthening support for businesses across the borough. We all understand the vital importance of shopping local—and this card makes it easier than ever to do just that. By keeping spending within our city, town centres, and villages, we’re not only backing local businesses but also investing in the long-term vitality and resilience of our communities.”

    Chair of the ABC Business Partnership Alliance, Adrian Farrell, said: “The Shop ABC Gift Card is a powerful new way to support our local economy by making it easier than ever to shop local. Available in both physical and digital formats, it’s designed to appeal to all age groups and spending habits. This initiative gives smaller businesses access to a gift card program that aims to drive footfall and boost sales. With no additional cost to join or accept the card, it’s a win-win for businesses and consumers alike. By working together across the borough, we’re creating a compelling, modern tool that keeps money circulating locally and helps our town centres thrive.”

    Colin Munro, Managing Director of Miconex, said: “The first thing people will do when they receive a Shop ABC Gift Card is check where it can be spent. Being a part of the initiative will drive awareness of your businesses, and is a proven means of driving new customers and new revenue. Signing up to accept the card takes moments and ensures you’re not turning away businesses when the card launches in the summer.” 

    To sign up or find out more about the Shop ABC Gift Card, businesses can email:

    *protected email*

     

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Outgoing Mayor Cllr Seenoi Barr reflects on historic year of inclusion, growth and resilience

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Outgoing Mayor Cllr Seenoi Barr reflects on historic year of inclusion, growth and resilience

    30 May 2025

    As her year as Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council draws to a close, Cllr Lilian Seenoi Barr has reflected on her term in office, highlighting her accomplishments, challenges, and her unwavering commitment to unity and inclusivity.

    Speaking ahead of the Council Annual General Meeting (AGM) that takes place on Monday 02 June, to elect a new Mayor – Mayor Barr, said it was an extraordinary privilege to serve as Mayor of Derry and Strabane, to be the North’s first Black Mayor, as well as a Maasai woman and a Derry Girl.

    She said her year as Mayor was dedicated to making “not just history—but change –from the outset, my pledge was to be a mayor for everyone—approachable, present, and focused on building a city and district where every voice matters.”

    Mayor Barr, who made history last year as the North’s first Black Mayor, expressed her deep gratitude for the opportunity to serve as the district’s First Citizen. She emphasised that her term has been defined by diversity, courage, and a determination to build a more inclusive community despite facing various challenges.

    One of the most pivotal achievements during her tenure was the signing of the Financial Deal for the Derry~Strabane City Deal. “This transformational moment confirmed what we’ve always known: that this district is ready to lead, to innovate, and to thrive,” adding that she firmly believed this investment will bring about positive opportunities for everyone.

    The Mayor said that community was at the heart of her Mayoral year, exemplified by the “One Big Weekend, One Big Cause” initiative, which saw a series of vibrant fundraising events for the Mayor’s chosen charity, the BUD Club. From the “roar of the Supercar event to the rhythm and joy of Derry Rocks for BUD Club, to the colour and energy of my ‘Feel the Beat’ Afro-inspired music celebration,” each event underscored a strong sense of purpose and community spirit,” she said.

    A significant legacy of the Mayor’s term was the Inclusive Youth Hub— ‘Our Guildhall, Our Place’. This initiative provided young voices with a platform and sense of belonging, reflecting a shared commitment to young people and meaningful change.

    The Mayor also proudly recalled the joy of hosting the Inclusive Birthday Party at Foyle Arena, tailored for children and young people with additional needs, proving that “inclusion works when we work together” and the Community Christmas Party held at the Guildhall where those who made a significant impact on their community were acknowledged and recognised.

    The Mayor spoke of the work she did to actively promote diversity and inclusion across civic life, reaching out to fellow Mayors across the North for “powerful and honest conversations about how we can better include all minority communities.” This commitment extended to representing the city internationally, raising awareness around racial inequality, migration, women’s health, and housing.

    The Mayor’s leadership extended to the international stage, welcoming former Taoiseach Simon Harris T.D. and the Lord Mayor of the City of London, cementing Derry~Strabane’s central role in regional growth and global collaboration while a trade and investment mission to the U.S. successfully promoted Derry and Strabane as a hub of innovation and investment.

    A deeply personal and profoundly meaningful highlight was the Mayor’s address at the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., leading to the award of an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Howard University. “This honour was not just a personal milestone—it was a recognition of the values we hold dear: inclusion, justice, and meaningful social change.”

    Mayor Barr said the visit of a delegation from her homeland of Kenya was another very powerful symbol of unity and support, whilst also further strengthening Derry’s international relations.

    The Mayor bravely addressed the “unprecedented levels of online abuse—much of it, racially motivated, and much of it deeply personal.” She said that despite these challenges she refused to be defined by hate, choosing instead to “stay focused, to stay present, and to stay true to my purpose: building a more inclusive, compassionate, and forward-looking district.”

    She credited the people of Derry and Strabane for lifting her up, demonstrating that “love is louder. And hope is stronger.”

    The Mayor extended profound gratitude to Deputy Mayor Alderman Darren Guy for his support during her Mayoral term, her dedicated Mayoral support staff, the Guildhall and wider Council staff, and fellow councillors.

    She also acknowledged the performers and community contributors and sponsors for their continued support with a heartfelt appreciation for her husband Paul and son Brian for their unwavering love and support throughout the year.

    As she prepares to pass the chain of office to the new incoming Mayor, the Mayor concluded saying she left office with her “head held high,” confident that “together, we’ve shown what’s possible when leadership is rooted in community, courage, and compassion.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Edinburgh marks a year of Low Emission Zone (LEZ) enforcement

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    NHS Lothian, and Asthma + Lung UK have praised the benefits of the LEZ, following a year of enforcement.

    Experts at the NHS and a leading charity have highlighted the ongoing impact of the LEZ enforcement on air quality and health. In addition, the new rules have incentivised active travel and greater use of public transport.

    A LEZ was introduced in Edinburgh on 31 May 2022, along with LEZs in Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Dundee, restricting the most polluting vehicles and benefiting everyone’s health. Edinburgh began enforcement alongside Aberdeen on June 1, 2024. Dundee began enforcement on May 30, 2024, and Glasgow on June 1, 2023.

    With Clean Air Day (19 June) just a few weeks away too this one-year anniversary is a timely reminder of the importance of the LEZ here in Edinburgh and beyond.

    In recent years air quality in Edinburgh has improved, with our monitoring data showing reduced pollution levels, and people getting ready for the LEZ may have contributed to this.

    Over the last year, the average amount of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued for non-compliant vehicles entering the zone has been decreasing steadily.

    Between June 2024 and January 2025 alone the total number decreased by 56%. There is also evidence of lower numbers of second contraventions. The vast majority of vehicles entering the LEZ are compliant, over 95%. Around 3% of vehicles entering the LEZ are exempted classed.

    The Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) has also published a study indicating that active travel and public transport use increased within the LEZ during the first six months after LEZ enforcement.

    The first annual report on LEZ operation is expected to be presented to the Transport and Environment Committee later this year, including air quality trends and how the scheme contributes to our carbon reduction targets, as well as operational matters such as the number of PCNs issued, costs of maintaining and operating the scheme, gross and net revenue and other key issues.

    The Council is working with the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) on data collection and analysis of the LEZ and will present a report in the Scottish Parliament that will help inform the national picture of LEZ impact.

    Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson:

    I’m proud that alongside Aberdeen, Dundee, and Glasgow we took the bold step of implementing and enforcing a LEZ. We’re sending a clear message that our major cities are united in pursuing a better future for all. Fundamentally, the LEZs are about making our cities healthier for everyone. 

    As Scotland’s capital city, we have a duty to lead on the response to the climate and nature emergencies which will define our country for generations to come. Multiple studies show that even low levels of pollution can have an impact on our health. Road traffic is one of the main sources of harmful emissions that are damaging people’s health and contributing to climate change, so we have a real responsibility to tackle this.

    The average decrease in PCNs here in Edinburgh show that people are getting used to the LEZ and modifying their habits accordingly. It’s also encouraging to see studies showing a positive shift towards greater use of active travel and public transport.

    I look forward to seeing the annual report when it is considered by Committee.

    The LEZ is one important tool to help us achieve our ambitious climate goals, including net zero emissions by 2030.

    Flora Ogilvie, Consultant in Public Health, NHS Lothian said:

    It’s great to know that the LEZ enforcement has been in place for a year, helping to improve air quality in the city and protect the health of our most vulnerable residents. Improving air quality and reducing traffic levels are also an important way of encouraging more people to travel by walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport.

    Travelling sustainably can help improve individual physical activity levels and mental wellbeing, as well as supporting better environmental health for the whole population and planet.

    Joseph Carter, Head of Asthma + Lung UK Scotland said:

    We are pleased that Edinburgh along with Dundee and Aberdeen made the bold move a year ago to ban the most polluting cars from their city and it is a step in the right direction to help improve the air that we all breathe.

    With air pollution cutting short thousands of lives a year, we want to see our cities become far healthier places, where people can walk and cycle and not be forced to breathe in dirty air.

    With 1 in 5 people in Scotland developing a lung condition like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in their lifetime, for them, air pollution can trigger life-threatening asthma attacks and flare-ups.

    Children are more susceptible to air pollution as their lungs are still growing, and they also breathe faster than adults. As they grow, toxic air can stunt the growth of their lungs, making them less resilient into adulthood and placing them at greater risk of lung disease in the future.

    Further Information:

    77% of all PCNs in the last year were served to light passenger vehicles (private cars) and 21% to light goods vehicles (panel vans) with the remaining 2% being divided among the other classes of vehicle. 62.4% of PCNs are paid within 14 days at the discounted rate.

    The penalty charge structure for all of Scotland’s LEZs is set by the Scottish Government.

    We publish regular updates on PCN figures on our website.

    Income from the LEZ will be used in the first instance to pay for the operation and maintenance of the scheme. Any surplus income will be contributed towards Council projects which contribute towards the wider goals of the LEZ, particularly improving air quality and climate change emission reduction.

    All LEZ monitoring and evaluation information will be made available on our webpages.

    Air pollution is associated with between 29,000 and 43,000 deaths a year in the UK.  The World Health Organization and the UK Government both recognise that air pollution is the largest environmental threat to our health.

    Another key development is that the Low Emission Zone Support Fund has now resumed and is open to new applications. This is funded by Transport Scotland and administered by the Energy Saving Trust.

    There are separate funds available for households, businesses and retrofitting vehicles.  All eligibility criteria and application details can be found on the Energy Saving Trust website

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 30 May 2025 Departmental update Experts and officials show strong support for WHO’s Traditional Medicine Strategy

    Source: World Health Organisation

    The WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 received a powerful endorsement at the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly (WHA), with China and India hosting two influential side events that galvanized international momentum for integrating traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM) into global health systems.

    On 20 May 2025, China’s National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NATCM), joined by Malaysia, Nepal, Saudi Arabia and Seychelles, convened a high-level event titled “Improving Universal Health Coverage through the Implementation of the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034”. Over 100 health leaders, ambassadors, WHO officials and experts gathered to explore the Strategy’s potential to enhance health systems worldwide.

    Photo credit: Team Reporters

    Dr Margaret Chan, former WHO Director-General, hailed the Strategy as “a further step to integrate traditional medicine into national health systems in ways that are evidence-based, people-centred, and respectful of cultural heritage.” WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, praised China’s model of embedding TCIM at all levels of care and underscored the significance of the Beijing Declaration, while Dr Bruce Aylward, WHO Assistant Director-General of the Universal Health Coverage, Life Course Division, emphasized that WHO is committed to supporting Member States in their efforts to advance the safe, effective and evidence-based use of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine.

    Photo credit: Team Reporters

    Professor Yu Yanhong, Commissioner of NATCM, highlighted China’s legislative, educational and research efforts to strengthen traditional Chinese medicine, stressing its complementarity with modern medicine. Dr Rudi Eggers, WHO Director of Integrated Health Services, presented the Strategy’s vision and guiding principles, followed by a panel of global experts sharing country-level experiences and technical insights.

    Photo credit: Team Reporters

    Photo credit: Team Reporters

    On 23 May, India’s Permanent Mission in Geneva, in collaboration with 31 Member States of the Group of Friends of Traditional Medicine (GFTM), hosted a second official side event titled “WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034: From Traditional Heritage to Frontier Science – Health for All.” With over 250 delegates in attendance, the event showcased national experiences and reaffirmed global commitment to traditional medicine.

    Photo credit: Permanent Mission of India in Geneva

    India’s Permanent Representative, H.E. Arindam Bagchi, in his welcome address said, “Let’s work together to build strong regulatory frameworks that leverage the immense strengths of traditional medicine while ensuring protection of intellectual property and ensuring quality and safety – advancing Health for All in an equitable, affordable, and sustainable way.”

    Photo credit: Permanent Mission of India in Geneva

    In his opening remarks on behalf of the Member States, H.E. Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, shared about India’s leadership in the field of traditional medicine and its integration into national health system. Mauritius’ Health Minister, H.E. Anil Kumar Bachoo, shared how Ayurveda is integrated into his country’s health system.

    Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General, Access to Medicines and Health Products & Assistant Director-General, Antimicrobial Resistance, urged Member States to build a strong evidence base for traditional medicine. Dr Eggers reiterated the Strategy’s inclusive framework, while Jaswinder Singh of India’s Ministry of Ayush presented the Ayush Grid – an AI-powered digital platform for integrating traditional medicine into health care.

    Country presentations included Bolivia’s emphasis on the cultural and medicinal value of coca leaves, Sri Lanka’s advancements in Ayurveda integration, and Malaysia’s national model for traditional medicine inclusion. Dr Shyama Kuruvilla, Director a.i. of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre, concluded the session by announcing the 2nd Global Traditional Medicine Summit, to be held in New Delhi from 2–4 December 2025.

    Photo credit: Permanent Mission of India in Geneva

    The event concluded with a lively questions and answers session moderated by Dr Pradeep Dua, WHO Technical Officer. During the interaction, participants expressed great enthusiasm and optimism about the future of traditional medicine as a vital component of universal health coverage.

    Together, these events showcased a unified global vision to elevate traditional, complementary and integrative medicine, as a vital, evidence-based component of universal health coverage. The WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 is poised to transform health systems by bridging traditional knowledge with modern science –ensuring health and well-being of one and all.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Foreign National Charged with Illegal Reentry

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Yosselin Ibanez-Diaz, 28, of Guatemala, has been charged by criminal complaint with unlawful re-entry following prior removal from the United States.

    Court records indicate that Ibanez-Diaz was convicted in federal court in New Mexico in 2019 of entering the United States illegally and, following that conviction, she was removed from the United States. Because of that history, and because she had failed to reapply for admission to the United States, her presence here constitutes a new offense.

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

    Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement–Enforcement & Removal Operations.

    The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Arra. Ibanez-Diaz is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Grand jury indicts Mexican national on charges of illegal reentry, drug trafficking, assaulting federal officer

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal grand jury charged a Mexican national with federal immigration and drug crimes, as well as assaulting a federal officer.

    Jose Adin Benjume-Gutierrez, 45, is charged in a three-count indictment that was filed this morning.

    According to the indictment, on Feb. 3, Benjume-Gutierrez intentionally and forcibly assaulted a special agent of the federal government. Specifically, the defendant assaulted an agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

    It is further alleged that, in April, the defendant distributed cocaine.

    Benjume-Gutierrez had been previously deported from the United States in 2011 and 2016. 

    If convicted as charged, the defendant faces up to 20 years in prison for distributing cocaine and assaulting a federal officer, and up to two years in prison for illegally reentering the United States.

    Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and Robert Lynch, Field Office Director, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Detroit Field Office; and Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Tyler J. Aagard is representing the United States in this case.

    This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Southern District of Ohio Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Roanoke Man Sentenced to 188 Months in Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    FORT WAYNE – Yesterday, William Edwards, 37 years old, of Roanoke, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady, after pleading guilty to Distribution of Child Pornography, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.

    Edwards was sentenced to 188 months in prison followed by 7 years of supervised release. Restitution will be imposed at a later date.

    According to documents in the case, on or about October 18, 2023, Edwards distributed child sexual abuse material.

    This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Indiana State Police, the Fort Wayne Police Department, the Lagrange Police Department, and the Roanoke Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley J. Miller Lowery.

    The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Marion County Man Sentenced To 15 Years In Federal Prison For Receiving Child Sex Abuse Material

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Kyle Burbank (32, Belleview) to 15 years in federal prison for receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Burbank pleaded guilty on October 21, 2024. 

    According to court documents, between January 5 and 17, 2024, Burbank received five video files depicting CSAM over the internet from a 12-year-old child in another state. During a review of Burbank’s social media accounts, investigators identified a second victim, a 13-year-old child, who also was living in a different state. Burbank received CSAM from the second victim on September 26, 2023. 

    “The sentencing of this predator represents the grave nature of his crimes in exploiting children online,” said Homeland Security Investigation Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “Protecting our children is the highest priority for HSI and our law enforcement partners. We vow to remain vigilant ensuring those who prey on children face swift and decisive justice.”

    This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Clinton County (Indiana) Sheriff’s Office and the Rossville (Indiana) Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Army Soldier Convicted of Sexually Abusing Two Children

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant faces a minimum of 30 years imprisonment

     

    SAVANNAH, GA: A jury convicted a local man previously stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia, at trial for victimizing two children.

     

    Austin Michael Burak, 32, Oak Harbor, WA, was convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child, or Attempt and Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child, or Attempt following jury trial in the Southern District of Georgia, said Tara M. Lyons, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.  U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker presided over the four-day trial.

    “We are committed to protecting our most vulnerable citizens,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lyons. “In collaboration with our law enforcement partners, we will strive to keep our children and our communities safe.”

    As described in courtroom testimony, in August of 2017, Burak sexually abused a minor by fondling the child’s genitals when the child was merely nine years old. On the same night in 2017, Burak anally raped another child who was only thirteen years old. The trial was held on May 12-15, 2025.

    Burak awaits sentencing upon the U.S. Probation Services completing a presentence investigation.

    “This sends a clear message: Army CID and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate these heinous acts,” said Special Agent in Charge Michele Starostka of the Department of Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Western Field Office.  “We are committed to aggressively investigating all crimes, establishing the facts, and supporting the legal process against those responsible.”

    “No child should have to experience this heinous abuse. The FBI is committed to tracking down and holding accountable people like Burak who prey on children,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “We will ensure that criminals engaged in this depraved conduct are held accountable in a court of law.”

    The case was investigated by the Army Criminal Investigation Division at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, and Federal Bureau of Investigations and prosecuted for the United States by the Southern District of Georgia Assistant United States Attorneys Sherri A. Stephan and Michael Z. Spitulnik. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 195 Months in Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    FORT WAYNE–Yesterday, Jamic C. Johnson, 50 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after his guilty plea to possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.

    Johnson was sentenced to a total of 195 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.

    According to documents in the case, Johnson had been selling methamphetamine in 2020, and law enforcement located multiple ounces of methamphetamine in his Fort Wayne residence during the service of a search warrant in October of 2020.  Officers also found firearms in Johnson’s home that Johnson was using to facilitate and protect his drug trafficking activity.  Johnson was previously convicted of dealing in cocaine or narcotic drug and carrying a handgun without a license, meaning that he was a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing a firearm. 

    This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the Fort Wayne Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  Also assisting in this investigation was the Drug Enforcement Administration’s North Central Laboratory.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony W. Geller.

    This case was also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mobile Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Distribution and Maintaining a Drug Premises

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Montgomery, AL – On May 29, 2025, a federal judge sentenced 41-year-old Corey Jeremaine Burroughs of Mobile, Alabama, to 195 months in prison following his convictions for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, as well as maintaining a drug premises. Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson and DEA New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer made the announcement today. The judge also ordered Burroughs to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

    According to court records and evidence presented at trial, law enforcement began investigating the trafficking of contraband into multiple Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) facilities prior to 2023. Agents identified Burroughs—a former ADOC inmate—as a suspect.

    On April 18, 2023, law enforcement stopped Burroughs shortly after he left a Montgomery residence. Officers found marijuana and “flakka,” an illegal controlled substance commonly smuggled into prisons. On April 19, 2023, law enforcement officers obtained and executed a search warrant at the Montgomery residence associated with Burroughs. Inside the residence, agents discovered multiple illegal controlled substances, including marijuana and methamphetamine located in a box on the kitchen counter, and vacuum-sealed bags containing methamphetamine and fentanyl. In total, investigators seized over a pound of methamphetamine.

    The search also uncovered drug distribution tools, including a digital scale, a hydraulic compress, and vacuum sealing equipment. Other common prison contraband items such as wireless headphones and cell phones were also recovered. The residence appeared uninhabited and was being used solely for the storage and packaging of illegal narcotics and contraband for distribution.

    “This case reflects our office’s continued commitment to disrupting the flow of dangerous drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl into our communities and correctional facilities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Davidson. “Mr. Burroughs exploited his knowledge of the prison system to further his criminal activity, and now he is being held accountable. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to target those who jeopardize public safety through drug trafficking.”

    “Thanks to the diligent work of our dedicated agents and partners, we’ve removed a significant number of illicit narcotics and dangerous contraband that was destined for Alabama prisons,” said Special Agent in Charge Hofer. “We will continue to identify, investigate, and bring to justice those who profit from illicit drug activity.”

    The Drug Enforcement Administration, Alabama Department of Corrections Law Enforcement Services Division, and Montgomery Police Department investigated this case, with Assistant United States Attorneys J. Patrick Lamb and Mark E. Andreu prosecuting.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Frederica Wilson Awards Over $1 Million to the Divine Nine Organizations in Miami-Dade

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Frederica S Wilson (24th District of Florida)

    Wednesday, May 28th, 2025, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., awarded over $1 million to the Divine Nine Organizations in Miami-Dade County.

    The purpose of the Divine Nine Congressional Earmark is to upgrade, renovate, and build spaces where Divine Nine Organizations and the community can gather to teach and mentor our youth. It is our hope that these spaces will be used to especially expose our children to our history and our culture. In order to draw down funding, the charitable foundations must prove that they are purchasing, building, upgrading or refurbishing properties.

    “I am especially concerned about preserving our history, which is being whitewashed across our nation,” said Congresswoman Frederica Wilson. “African-American history IS American History, and we have a responsibility to protect it from erasure, extinction, and exploitation. We must leave a legacy for our children that must endure for generations.”

    Additional notables in attendance included former International President and CEO of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and former President of Tennessee State University Dr. Glenda Glover; Miami-Dade County Commissioner Oliver Gilbert, City of Miami Gardens Councilman Reggie Leon, and City of Miami Gardens Councilwoman Katrina Wilson.

    Derek Lightfoot from Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. said, “The funds will be used to improve our existing fraternity house and community center. The improvements will include a new roof, hurricane windows and doors. This funding will further our initiatives to provide critical mentoring to youth in our community.”

    Dr. Luvernice Croskey from Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. said, “This award will allow us to expand and update our 8,000 sq ft facilities. These facilities strengthen our community.  Thank you again for this opportunity.”

    Annette Brantley from Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc said, “These funds will help with our Allene Taylor Memorial Center. It’s a legacy whose refurbishment will offer critical services that directly benefit our community, our new mentorship program, parenting counseling and support, tutoring, house assistance, community support and activities, and finally restore a cornerstone of our community.”

    Carolyn Donaldson from Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. said, “Our Zeta Center has served as a cornerstone of service. Over the past 30 years, we have provided a wide range of activities to the community. Youth mentorship, literacy support, maternal help, food distributions. It was in 2022 that we launched a comprehensive initiative to renovate and repurpose our facility.”

    Brandon Fennell from Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., said, “This grant will allow us to make vital upgrades to the Omega Activity Center, which has been serving the county since 1990. We will be able to transform the center into a safer innovation space where we can continue to educate our youth and create space to connect and thrive together.”

    Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated said, “Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is 117 years old. It is the first Black sorority in the country and the largest. This sorority was given funds to purchase land to build a sorority house. As we move forward, we will continue to grow and push the limits on how many lives we can impact. We are the heart of our community, and the Alpha Kappa Alpha house will serve as a place for all children to enjoy.”

    Approximately 200 people were in attendance. Line dancing, strolling, and stepping were part of the celebration which included a presentation by the ‘Miami Gardens Super Soul Steppers.’

    In attendance were the leaders of the following organizations: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Gamma Zeta Omega Chapter, the W.I.S.H. Foundation Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Dade County Alumnae Chapter, the Dade Deltas Foundation Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. Beta Tau Zeta Chapter, the Zeta Blue Network, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. Sigma Alpha Chapter, the Omega Activity Center Foundation Inc., Sig Al Inc., Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Beta Beta Lambda Chapter, the Beta Beta Lambda AlphaLand Community Development Corporation Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Gamma Delta Sigma Chapter, the Allene V. Taylor Memorial Center Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. Miami Alumni Chapter, the Miami Alumni Kappa Foundation Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Rho Sigma Chapter, and the White Dove Community Foundation Inc.

    This project was funded through a Congressional Earmark obtained by Congresswoman Wilson for the Fiscal Year 2024 Congressional Appropriations.

    The event was held at the Omega Activity Center at Florida Memorial University, 15600 NW 42nd Ave, Opa-locka, FL 33054.

    For photos and B-Roll, click here.

    For the full video of the event, click here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Brownley Announces Winner of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)

    Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) announced Angela Liu from Westlake High School as the winner of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition for California’s 26th Congressional District. Liu’s piece, “Get on the Bus,” will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol complex for one year. 

    “Every year, I am in awe of the incredible talent of the young artists across our region who participate in the Congressional Art Competition — and this year was no exception. Liu’s artwork is an exceptional example of the creativity and talent that exists throughout our region, and I wholeheartedly extend my sincere congratulations to her and the winning piece that will represent our district in the Halls of Congress,” said Congresswoman Brownley. 

    “Art is a powerful form of expression that allows students to express their emotions, channel their creativity, and advocate for the causes they care about. Our community is richer for the imagination, insight, and passion these young artists bring to the table. Each student who participated in this competition has contributed something meaningful — a piece of who they are, and a vision of who we can become.”

    “I am deeply honored that my artwork has been selected as the first-place winner in the Congressional Art Competition. It’s especially meaningful considering the immense talents among the high school students in our region. I have participated in this competition for the past three years, and was recognized with an honorable mention last year,” said Angela Liu, the winner of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition. “Art has been an integral part of my life since childhood. What started as simple explorations has grown into a pursuit of techniques and the nuanced interplay of hues, values, and textures. During challenging times, drawing is my sanctuary, offering a way to calm my anxieties and nurture my spirit. Today, my artwork serves a purpose beyond personal fulfillment. I strive to use it as a medium to amplify my voice, connect with my community, and advocate for social justice.”

    “In recent years, I’ve been drawn to the artistic approaches of Rembrandt and Sargent. I find the portrayal of people in art incredibly captivating,” Liu continued. My artistic goal is centered around creating characters that feel alive with their own narratives and distinct personalities that shine through in my work. In my winning piece, “Get on the Bus,” my intention was to offer glimpses into the life of the woman I depicted. I hoped to convey her confidence, her experiences as a witness to history, and the wisdom that comes with age, all within a brief moment captured on a bus.”

    “It comes as no surprise to me that Angela has been selected as the winner of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition,” said Scott Holloway, physics teacher at Westlake High School. “As her AP physics teacher for the past two years, I have been lucky to see Angela combine art and science with a passion. Angela is always creating, whether it be a new drawing or redesigning a project for her science classes. I have encouraged my students to put the A (art) in STEM to make STEAM, and Angela has truly embraced that ideology. She creates both informative as well as creative pieces that increase engagement and elicit more emotion. Angela continues to impress me on a regular basis, from 3-D printing an interactive geared heart for Mother’s Day to designing the physics club T-shirt designs for the year. I know her creativity will not only continue to be a passion for her, but will also inspire others to better interact with the world.”

    “This year’s group of artists demonstrated their talents in a diverse array of media, exploring topics from observations of everyday life to deeply personal experiences,” said Jeffrey Bowen, Director of Library Programming and Public Affairs at Pepperdine University and judge of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition. “Kudos to all the students for experimenting with form and compositions, and even taking some risks in their artistic endeavors. I congratulate the winner and the runners-up for their especially keen artistic eyes and execution of their ideas.”

    “Seeing all of the amazing art pieces makes me realize the amount of talent that there is at the youth level and just how much potential they all have. This is a fantastic platform for students to showcase their art and, with it, share with the greater public a small piece of their life and perspectives, along with the expressiveness of their feelings and thought process about various themes through their amazing art,” said Jesus Delgadillo Galindo, judge of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition.

    “This has been a valuable experience for me, and it is meaningful to be part of this selection process to ensure our district is well represented,” said Chuy Salgado León, judge of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition. “It is also inspiring to see the subject matter that our youth take an interest in. The art I’ve seen through this competition reminds me that effort must match purpose in everything I do.”

    Two honorable mentions were also recognized, including “Peaceful Dayspring” by Riley Rohrer from Oak Park Independent School and “La Pescheria” by Sebastian Costuche from Westlake High School. Their artwork will be displayed in Congresswoman Brownley’s district offices in Thousand Oaks and Oxnard.

    Started in 1982, the nationwide Congressional Art Competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and is an opportunity to recognize and encourage students’ artistic talent across the country. 

    Submissions from students in grades 9-12 across the 26th Congressional District were judged by a panel of local judges who work within the arts, academic, and social work fields. This year’s submissions were judged by Jeffrey Bowen, Director of Library Programming and Public Affairs at Pepperdine University; Jesus Delgadillo Galindo, a local artist and graphic designer from Oxnard; and Chuy Salgado Leon, a local graphic designer from Oxnard.

    ###

    Issues: 119th Congress, Local Issues

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Read More (U.S. Rep. Steube Calls on FL Board of Governors to Reject Ono as Next UF President)

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17)

    May 30, 2025 | Press ReleasesWASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) has sent a letter to the Florida Board of Governors urging them to reject Dr. Santa J. Ono as the next president of the University of Florida.Steube’s letter follows Tuesday’s UF Board of Trustees’ vote to advance Dr. Ono’s selection. Final confirmation now sits with the Florida Board of Governors, who is meeting Tuesday, June 3, at 1:00 p.m. in Orlando, Florida.“As a Double Gator, I am appalled and disappointed by the decision of the University of Florida’s Board of Trustees to select Dr. Santa J. Ono as its next president,” said Rep. Steube. “His dubious record throughout his career makes it clear that Dr. Ono is unfit to lead our state’s flagship university. Hollow assurances of an ‘evolved mindset’ cannot erase Dr. Ono’s history of preferential treatment for far-left causes, coupled with his cold indifference to student safety. I call on the Florida Board of Governors to reject this choice and find a suitable replacement who reflects the values and interests of the University of Florida.” Read the letter here.Background:

    In May of 2024, after pro-Hamas demonstrators assaulted law enforcement, disrupted classes, and vandalized property on the University of Michigan’s campus, Dr. Santa J. Ono waited nearly three weeks before promising to take action to address the violence.
    As President of the University of Michigan, Dr. Ono urged both faculty and students to embrace DEI, declaring in 2022 that they should “believe in and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.”
    During his tenure as President of the University of British Columbia, Dr. Ono made “climate justice” a top priority and promised to integrate these principles across the university. He also promoted radical gender ideology, claiming there are “many great reasons for respecting gender identities and gender expressions.”
    Dr. Ono has claimed that “systemic racism is embedded in every corner of any institution” in the United States.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CE meets foreign govt officials

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Chief Executive John Lee today met senior officials from foreign governments attending the Signing Ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed).

    Mr Lee met Switzerland’s Federal Councillor & Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Justice & Attorney General Pila Niningi and Laos’ Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith.

    Welcoming them to the signing ceremony, Mr Lee said Hong Kong is pleased to contribute to and serve the successful establishment and operation of the IOMed.

    He outlined that upon its establishment, the IOMed will provide friendly, flexible, economical and efficient mediation services for international disputes.

    On economic and trade co-operation, the Chief Executive said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government attaches great importance to strengthening bilateral economic and trade relations with different countries.

    In the face of emerging unilateralism and protectionism, Mr Lee emphasised that the Hong Kong SAR Government will remain steadfast in maintaining the city’s status as a free port and pursuing free trade policies, ensuring the free flow of goods, capital and information, and attracting enterprises from around the world to explore trading and investment opportunities in Hong Kong.

    He highlighted that as an international financial, shipping and trade centre, Hong Kong is the only city that enjoys both “the China advantage” and “the global advantage”. He invited enterprises from all countries to leverage Hong Kong’s platform to explore overseas and Mainland markets.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Solar panels’ shade helps boost Colorado grassland productivity in dry years

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Matthew Sturchio, Postdoctoral Research Associate in Natural Resources and the Environment, Cornell University; Faculty Afffiliate in Ecology, Colorado State University

    Solar panels on grasslands can generate electricity and useful forage or wildlife habitat. Matthew Sturchio, CC BY-ND

    Grasses growing in the shade of a solar array were only a little less productive than those growing nearby in open grassland during years of average and above-average rainfall – but in a dry year, the shaded plants grew much better than those growing in full sun. That’s the result of a four-year study we conducted in a semi-arid grassland of northern Colorado.

    When choosing a location for generating solar power, consistent sunlight and interconnection to the electric grid are key criteria. In Colorado the combination of new electrical transmission infrastructure, abundant sunlight and short vegetation that is easy to maintain have made grasslands a prime target for solar development.

    Grasslands, like those that dominate the eastern plains of Colorado, provide important habitat for wildlife and serve as a critical food source for livestock. Although these grasslands have long been productive despite their normally arid environment, a warmer climate has increased the potential for more frequent and severe drought. For instance, a recent global study found that previous research likely underestimated the threat of extreme drought in grasslands.

    Semi-arid grassland near Cheyenne, Wyo., with close-ups of flowers of some of the plants that grow there.
    Matthew Sturchio, CC BY-ND

    At Colorado State University, biology professor Alan Knapp and I started the ecovoltaics research group to study the effects of solar development in grasslands. Our primary goal is to ensure an ecologically informed solar energy future.

    Solar panels create microclimates

    Strings of solar panels redirect rain to the edge of panels. Because of this, small rain events can provide biologically relevant amounts of water instead of evaporating quickly.

    Simultaneously, solar panels shade plants growing beneath them. Some arrays, including the ones used in our study, move the panels to follow the path of the Sun across the sky.

    This results in a combination of sun and shade that is very different from the uninterrupted sunlight beating down on plants in a grassland without solar panels. In turn, patterns of plant stress and water loss also differ in grasses under solar arrays.

    A time-lapse video shows how a single-axis tracking solar array at Jack’s Solar Garden modifies patterns of sunlight availability.

    How grasses respond to a solar panel canopy

    To get a handle on how these different conditions affect grasses, we measured plant physiological response during the early stages of our study. More specifically, we tracked leaf carbon and water exchange throughout daylight hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., over 16 weeks in summer 2022 at Jack’s Solar Garden, a solar array over grassland in Longmont, Colorado.

    In general, plants that are adapted to full sun conditions, including most grasses, might not be expected to grow as well in partial shade. But we suspected that growth benefits from reduced water stress could outweigh potential reductions in growth from shading. We call this the “aridity mitigation potential” hypothesis.

    Sure enough, we found evidence of aridity mitigation across multiple years, with the most pronounced effect during the driest year.

    When water is scarce, increases in grassland productivity are more valuable because there isn’t as much around. Therefore, increasing grassland production in dry years could provide more available food for grazing animals and help offset some of the economic harm of drought in rangelands.

    Informing sustainable solar development in grasslands

    So far, our research has been limited to a grassland dominated by a cool season grass: smooth brome. Although it is a perennial commonly planted for hay, fields dominated by smooth brome lack the diversity of life found in native grasslands.

    Future work in native shortgrass prairies would provide new information about how solar panels affect plant water use, soils and grazing management in an ecosystem with 30% less precipitation than Jack’s Solar Garden. We’re beginning that work now at the shortgrass ecovoltaic research facility near Nunn, Colorado. This facility, which will be fully operational later in 2025, was constructed with support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the wider SCAPES project.

    Testing the effects of solar panels over grasslands in a native ecosystem with even greater aridity will help us develop a clearer picture of ways solar energy can be developed in concert with grassland health.

    Matthew Sturchio works for Cornell University and serves as a Faculty Affiliate at Colorado State University. Funding for this work came from US Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture Sustainable Agricultural Systems project entitled “Sustainably Co-locating Agricultural and Photovoltaic Electricity Systems,” led by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Grant Number: 2021-68012-35898, 2021–2025.

    – ref. Solar panels’ shade helps boost Colorado grassland productivity in dry years – https://theconversation.com/solar-panels-shade-helps-boost-colorado-grassland-productivity-in-dry-years-257082

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Reform’s threat to the mainstream parties is unique in UK political history

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Martin Farr, Senior Lecturer in Contemporary British History, Newcastle University

    Labour’s former shadow chancellor John McDonnell has declared that Keir Starmer’s government has driven “a knife into the heart of what I believed Labour stood for” and called for party members, unions and MPs to take back control.

    The text was McDonnell’s, but the pretext was Nigel Farage. Earlier in the week, the Reform leader moved his tanks on to Labour’s lawn by promising to reverse the government’s withdrawal of winter fuel payments to pensioners, and remove the two-child benefit limit, a week after Starmer had committed the most perilous of political allusions: evoking the language of Enoch Powell over immigration. Starmer has been singed (as was Tony Benn in 1970) by playing with Powell’s incendiarism. The disingenuousness of denials that so irregular a phrase as “an island of strangers” was not Starmer dog-whistling marked another low.

    At the centre of Labour’s dilemma is political mutability; how those most elemental, political categories “right” and “left” have blurred into indistinction. Reform UK were ostensibly of the former – nationalist, individualist, authoritarian – but now parade the sacraments of the latter: nationalisation, collectivism, welfarism.

    Betrayal narratives follow Labour leaders as night does day, but Sir Keir Starmer’s inconstancy and inability to offer mitigation by counter-narrative at least demonstrates his fidelity to his political hero Harold Wilson. His ministers in the 1960s and 1970s despaired at their electorally successful prime minister’s apparent lack of defining principle.

    Of the many issues Reform UK raises, the most intriguing is also the least answerable: individual agency. It will never be known whether Britain would still be in the EU had Farage not survived his 2010 plane crash, but it’s more probable than not. Similarly, had Farage withdrawn, as he promised, from British politics to more lucrative pursuits across the Atlantic, the existential threat to both the Labour government and the Conservative party would have gone with him.

    But Farage stayed – and Reform is now a threat of a different order to his previous vehicles. They were significant – UKIP with Brexit; the Brexit party providing Boris Johnson’s 2019 victory – without being serious. They lacked policies (or even policy processes), professionalism, personnel (UKIP was the only party to ban former members of the BNP because it was the only party to have need to).

    Reform is now at the tipping point – both financially and electorally – of seriousness. It runs councils. It has mayors. Its triumph in the Runcorn by-election demonstrated discipline, and the importance of a sound candidate.



    Read more:
    UK local elections delivered record-breaking fragmentation of the vote

    When parties split

    In their public personas, Farage and Starmer are antitheses; the one glib, the other grave; the one with too much personality, the other too little. But charismatic politicians who “make the weather” can also break the party: Farage most recently and repeatedly. But before him Joseph Chamberlain split the Liberals in 1886 and the Unionists in 1903 and David Lloyd George again split the Liberals in 1916. Oswald Mosley caused chaos for Labour in 1931 and David Owen left Labour in the 1980s to form the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which he also later split.

    In 1981, the SDP achieved (in alliance with the Liberals) a poll surge of the kind currently being enjoyed by Reform. And in the 1983 general election the SDP/Liberal Alliance won only 675,000 fewer votes than Labour. But thanks to the first-past-the-post electoral system, the Alliance won 186 fewer seats. Labour’s geographical concentration saved it; the Alliance came second all over the country.

    In 2024, first past the post delivered what its advocates love, and its critics hate: a clear, and unfair, outcome. Labour won two-thirds of the seats on one-third of the votes. It was the most disproportionate result in history.

    Britain’s new multi-party politics may deliver a multi-party parliament at the next election, but through an electoral system designed – insofar as it was designed – for two. With Reform set to breach the 30% threshold, safe seats will be fewer and farther between; marginal seats the norm.

    This would present a challenge for a Labour leader much more nimble than Starmer. His dilemma is devilish: ape Reform and yield urban voters to the Greens and Liberal Democrats; repudiate and see the rebuilt red wall razed. There are other places for progressives to go. Indeed, there may soon be another: a new party of the left. McDonnell – who already sits as an independent, having had the Labour whip withdrawn last year – may see it as a lifeboat.

    Kemi Badenoch – and Robert Jenrick, her most likely usurper – face a strikingly similar problem. Responding to Reform in kind will cede affluent voters to the Liberal Democrats. The Conservative party is the most electorally successful in history in part because it never had a challenger on the right. There’s now another place for conservatives to go. (Or, as it were, to remain.)

    This is the historically unique threat of Reform. In warning of Farage – the most consequential politician since Margaret Thatcher – as a serious threat, Starmer and Badenoch may in overstating augment him, but to not do so is to risk acquiescing. Catastrophising and complacency were evident in 2014, when UKIP came first in the European Parliament elections. Two years later, Britain voted for Brexit.

    Reform still has somewhat less than fully thought-out, never mind fully-funded, policies. Its talent pool is a puddle. It’s now in office and will have a record to defend. It’s dominated by one person, and one who repels as much as he inspires. It’s still unlikely that in five years’ time Farage will be in government, much less prime minister. But it is less unlikely than it was, and is likely to become less unlikely still.

    Martin Farr 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. Reform’s threat to the mainstream parties is unique in UK political history – https://theconversation.com/reforms-threat-to-the-mainstream-parties-is-unique-in-uk-political-history-257839

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: “WOW”: Inflation Eases, Incomes Rise, Trade Deficit Plummets

    Source: US Whitehouse

    “This is a GREAT four-month start to any year,” exclaimed CNBC’s Rick Santelli as brand new economic indicators show inflation is down, incomes are up, and the trade deficit is narrowing — shattering economists’ expectations once again.

    • INFLATION IS DOWN: “Inflation rate slipped to 2.1% in April, lower than expected, Fed’s preferred gauge shows,” CNBC reports.
    • INCOME IS UP: Personal income increased 0.8% in April — “almost TRIPLE the expectations.” “They’re powerful numbers — up 0.6% in January, up 0.7% in February, up 0.5% last month, up 0.8% this month. This is a GREAT four-month start to any year.”
      • CNBC: “The income numbers, really, for the first four months of year — they’re stellar … Why don’t we give credit where credit is due? Income really shooting up.”
    • TRADE DEFICIT NARROWS: It was the largest monthly decline in the trade deficit on record.
      • CNBC: “We cut it in HALF!? … This really does underscore how the movement of goods and services has really changed due to a variety of tariff-related issues.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CE meets central govt official

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Chief Executive John Lee today met CPC Central Committee Political Bureau Member and Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi at Government House.

     

    Mr Wang is visiting Hong Kong to attend the signing of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation.

     

    Mr Lee and Mr Wang had a working lunch together and discussed the work of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed), and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s international exchanges and co-operation.

     

    Mr Lee expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the central government for its strong support in establishing the IOMed headquarters in Hong Kong.

     

    Emphasising that the IOMed is a high-level international organisation, Mr Lee said the central government had demonstrated its staunch support of the Hong Kong SAR in its development as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region under the National 14th Five-Year Plan.

     

    The process involved setting up an IOMed preparatory office in Hong Kong, completing negotiations, facilitating a consensus on situating the headquarters in the city, and hosting the convention’s signing ceremony today.

     

    Mr Lee said Mr Wang’s presence to witness the historic moment of the signing is a great encouragement to him and the Hong Kong SAR Government, which he added is well-equipped to promote the IOMed.

     

    The Chief Executive stressed that basing the IOMed headquarters in Hong Kong will bring a host of significant benefits to the city.

     

    Firstly, the IOMed will elevate Hong Kong’s international status and role in international mediation. In turn, the city will be able to make important contributions to the IOMed’s work given its status as the only common law jurisdiction in China under the “one country, two systems” principle.

     

    The city also boasts an established legal system, a solid foundation of the rule of law, diverse legal and dispute resolution services, and a wide pool of legal professionals with a global perspective.

     

    Secondly, the IOMed will generate substantial economic benefits. Its service demand will create a large number of job opportunities for mediators, translators, researchers and more.

     

    The IOMed will also attract international organisations, non-governmental organisations and academic institutions to establish a presence in Hong Kong, drawing high-quality conferences and exhibitions to the city and further boosting other sectors such as hospitality, logistics and transportation.

     

    With a status on a par with the International Court of Justice and the United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, the IOMed will become a pivotal institution for resolving international disputes.

     

    This will facilitate deeper economic co-operation between Hong Kong and overseas economies, including regions participating in the Belt & Road Initiative, thereby creating more business opportunities, Mr Lee added.

     

    Thirdly, the IOMed will further enhance Hong Kong’s ecosystem relating to the rule of law, promote the popularity of mediation and encourage the community to resolve issues through dialogue.

     

    Mr Lee highlighted that the IOMed will help Hong Kong to attract more legal and dispute resolution professionals from around the globe, contributing to the development of the legal framework for dispute resolution, and further consolidating the city’s status as an international legal hub.

     

    He also thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), the Office of the MFA Commissioner in the Hong Kong SAR, and Chinese diplomatic and consular missions overseas for their continued support in deepening the Hong Kong SAR Government’s international exchanges and co-operation.

     

    Mr Lee added that the Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to enhance Hong Kong people’s understanding of consular work and protection policies, and raise their awareness of security and protection.

     

    Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, Financial Secretary Paul Chan, Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan, and Director of the Chief Executive’s Office Carol Yip also attended the meeting.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Scientists identify diagnostic aid to determine risk of diabetic foot ulcer recurrence

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 2

    News Release
    Friday, May 30, 2025

    NIH-funded project shows that trans-epidermal water loss could indicate if wounds are fully healed. .
    A research team funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has identified a diagnostic aid that has the potential to accurately predict the recurrence of diabetic foot ulcers that appear to be fully healed. By measuring the skin’s barrier function through a process known as trans-epidermal water loss, or TEWL, scientists were able to determine which wounds were more likely to reopen. TEWL measurements are a major factor in burn care, where deep layers of the skin are often damaged. The findings suggest that full restoration of skin barrier function should be incorporated into existing wound treatment standards to ensure complete wound closure and to better identify patients at risk of wound recurrence.
    “This study is an important initial step to give clinicians treating diabetic foot ulcers a reliable diagnostic aid for the first time to assess an individual’s risk of ulcer recurrence,” said Teresa Jones, M.D. program director for the Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, & Metabolic Diseases at NIH’s National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). “Foot ulcers are such a confounding issue with diabetes and being able to determine which wounds are at highest risk for recurrence could save many lives and limbs.”  
    Scientists, working together through the NIDDK Diabetic Foot Consortium, evaluated over 400 study participants who had a diabetic foot ulcer that visually appeared to be closed or healed. They measured TEWL at the site of the foot ulcer and found that 35% of participants with high TEWL (more water loss) reported a wound recurrence by 16 weeks, compared to just 17% for those with low TEWL (less water loss). Participants with higher TEWL were 2.7 times more likely to experience a wound recurrence than participants with low TEWL.
    Diabetic foot ulcers are a major complication of diabetes where a break in the skin of the foot is often unnoticed by a patient due to nerve damage, known as neuropathy. They are the leading cause of non-traumatic lower-limb amputations, and untreated or unhealed ulcers significantly increase the risk of death. Wounds that appear to be healed on the surface may not be fully closed below the superficial surface of the skin, hampering the effectiveness of the skin’s barrier function to keep in water and keep out pathogens, such as bacteria.
    Study results will publish in Diabetes Care, a journal of the American Diabetes Association. The study was funded by NIH/NIDDK grants (U01DK119099, U24DK122927, U01DK119100, U01DK119083, U01DK119094, U01DK119085 and U01DK119102) and carried out by members of NIH’s Diabetic Foot Consortium.
    About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
    NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health®

    Reference
    High Trans-Epidermal Water Loss at the Site of Wound Closure is Associated with Increased Recurrence of Diabetic Foot Ulcers: The NIDDK Diabetic Foot Consortium TEWL Study. Diabetes Care. 2025. DOI: 10.2337/dc25-0300

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Centenary parkrun weekend set to get the city moving

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Friday, 30th May 2025

    Stoke-on-Trent residents are invited to lace up their trainers and join in a Centenary parkrun weekend this June.

    In partnership with four local parkrun events, Stoke-on-Trent City Council is marking the city’s 100th anniversary with a weekend of free, fun and inclusive events.

    The Centenary weekend will feature two regular 5k parkruns and two junior parkruns (2k, suitable for ages 4 to 14), where participants of all ages and abilities can run, jog, walk or volunteer in a friendly and supportive environment.

    It is also wheelchair and buggy friendly, good for dogs and it completely free for all.

    All participants will receive a special centenary medal to commemorate their involvement.

    The celebration parkruns will take place at the following locations at 9am:

    • Hanley Park (Saturday 14 June)
    • Trentham Gardens (Saturday 14 June)
    • Burslem Park – Junior parkrun (Sunday 15 June)
    • Longton Park – Junior parkrun (Sunday 15 June)

    Parkrun is one of the largest free 5k community events in the world, with more than 10 million people registered and over half a million volunteers globally. The initiative encourages people of all ages to come together, enjoy the outdoors and reap the benefits of regular exercise – both for physical and mental health. It empowers people of all ages to come together, be active and enjoy the outdoors, while fostering a sense of community.

    Liz Tideswell, regional ambassador for parkrun events in Staffordshire and part of the volunteer team at Hanley parkrun, said: “We’re really pleased that the city’s parkruns will be part of the centenary celebrations.

    “It’s a great opportunity to welcome new people to parkrun alongside regular attendees. It’s also a chance to say thank you to the volunteers who make parkrun happen – they have a positive impact on our local community every week.”

    Councillor Jane Ashworth, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “It’s great that we have four different parkrun events taking place as part of our packed programme of events for the Centenary.

    “Our Centenary programme is all about celebrating the best of our city – and parkrun is a shining example of what community spirit looks like. It’s a great way of getting active regardless of fitness level, boosting mental health and wellbeing and meeting new people in your local community. This will be a fantastic celebration of our city, so I encourage everybody to take part, have some fun and become part of the parkrun community.”

    All parkrun events are weekly and always free; you can register on the parkrun website: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/register/. If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact any of the local events to find out more.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Mongolia reports second measles death

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    ULAN BATOR, May 30 (Xinhua) — Mongolia has officially recorded its second death from measles, the country’s National Research Center for Infectious Diseases said on Friday.

    “A nine-month-old baby was admitted to hospital with symptoms of high fever on Monday. The baby was diagnosed with measles. Despite receiving the necessary treatment, the baby’s condition progressively worsened, resulting in his death on Friday morning,” the official statement said.

    The Center again urges parents to be aware of early symptoms of measles in their children and seek immediate medical attention.

    Measles can only be prevented through vaccination, Mongolian doctors warn. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: The Secretary-General Remarks to the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award, United Nations Woman Police Officer of the Year Award and Dag Hammarskjöld Medal Ceremonies

    Source: United Nations – Peacekeeping

    The bilingual, as delivered

    Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

    Moments ago, I laid a wreath to honour Peacekeepers.

    Four thousand four hundred of our precious blue helmets have lost their lives since United Nations peacekeeping was established – seventy-seven years ago today. 

    In their memory I would like to ask all present in this room to observe a moment of silence.

    [PAUSE for silence]

    Thank you.

    We all pay tribute to those brave women and men who died – far from home and far from their loved ones – while serving humanity’s most noble cause: peace.

    Today, we honour with the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal, 57 peacekeepers who paid the ultimate price for the cause of peace last year, as well as another who lost his life in 1973.

    We hold them all in our hearts.

    And we grieve with their families and loved ones.

    Their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten. 

    Dear Friends,

    Peace is the foundations of the United Nations and with peacekeeping at it’s corner stone.

    This message was reinforced earlier this month at the Peacekeeping Ministerial meeting in Berlin.

    Over 130 countries and partners stood up for peacekeeping — and to make concrete commitments to strengthen it.

    It was a moving testimony to the fact that the worth and work of our peacekeepers are recognised in every corner of the world…

    And a tribute to peacekeeping and to peacekeepers – to all those we honour today.

    Over the decades, more than two million women and men have served in 71 missions on four continents. 

    I am deeply grateful to our Member States for these invaluable contributions.   

    In the communities and countries in which they serve, UN peacekeepers are an important symbol of the United Nations at its best 

    And together, they have helped improve millions of lives:

    Protecting people, preserving peace, and providing hope… 

    Rebuilding infrastructure, repairing institutions and ensuring lifesaving assistance.

    With their support, nations around the world have made the transition from war to peace.

    And many of those countries now contribute peacekeepers themselves – using their experiences to help others in need. 

    We must ensure this essential global resource can thrive over the long term.

    Chers amis,

    En ces temps difficiles et tendus, cela signifie qu’il faut adapter le maintien de la paix aux nouvelles réalités. 

    Les missions de maintien de la paix des Nations Unies sont confrontées à des situations complexes dans un monde complexe : le terrorisme, une criminalité qui ne connaît pas de frontières ; et la désinformation qui les rend vulnérables aux attaques.

    Le Pacte pour l’avenir – adopté l’année dernière aux Nations Unies – comprend un engagement à adapter nos efforts de paix à un monde en mutation.

    La première étape – une revue des opérations de paix de l’ONU – est en cours.

    Et nous continueront à travailler avec les États membres, et d’autres, pour obtenir des résultats.

    Nous le devons aux femmes et aux hommes courageux qui ont servi – et péri – sous notre drapeau bleu.

    Excellencies, Dear Friends,

    Today, as we honour the fallen, we also celebrate the achievements of peacekeepers in the past, present and future.  

    Including critical role of women in preventing, securing, and maintaining peace.

    This was recognized by the United Nations Security Council twenty-five years ago in Resolution 1325.

    A quarter of a century on, it is a miserable truth that women are still routinely excluded and marginalized in peace processes.

    United Nations has made determined efforts to change this:

    To build diverse and inclusive teams…

    And to support, protect and empower women in areas where we work.

    Today we recognize two leading women:

    Squadron leader Sharon Mwinsote Syme of Ghana, the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year…

    And Superintendent Zainab Gbla of Sierra Leone, the UN Woman Police Officer of the Year. 

    The Military Gender Advocate of the Year award recognises dedication and effort in promoting the principles of Resolution 1325.

    And Squadron Leader Sharon Mwinsote Syme demonstrates these qualities in abundance.

    As the Military Gender Adviser in the Interim Security Force for Abyei, her outreach has built strong community links, and brought gender prospective in the field.

    Her work helped us to better understand the concerns of women and girls, and to craft possible solutions, together.

    That has played a vital role in enabling the force to respond to the needs of the local community.

    And she has also conducted an intensive health campaign for the local community on gender-based violence and ending child marriage. These have had a long-lasting impact.

    Thank you, Squadron Leader, for your service.

    The UN Woman Police Officer of the Year award celebrates role models in peace operations. 

    And UN Police Officer Superintendent Zainab Gbla is certainly that.

    She has served in the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei for the past two years, in the dual role of gender officer and police trainer.  

    When she arrived, the area in which she served had no place for children to learn.

    And so, she got to work:

    Initiating a school program…

    Providing educational materials and support, particularly for disadvantaged children…

    And establishing a mentorship program for girls.   

    She initiated projects to provide women with sustainable incomes, allowing them to provide for their families and send their children to school in a nearby town.  

    And, as a police trainer, she taught a diverse range of subjects vital to establishing the rule of law.  

    Thank you, Superintendent, for everything you have done.

    The efforts of these outstanding women have helped to strengthen the bonds between the Abyei mission and the local community – an invaluable gift for any peacekeeping operation.

    Let me offer my heartfelt congratulations to both of you for your achievements, and for receiving these awards today. 

    I am deeply proud of you both, just as I am proud of all our peacekeepers — past, present and future.

    Our peacekeepers selflessly serve the world.

    Let us ensure we serve them, in honour of their service and sacrifice – today and every day.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CT AHEC Offers Clinical Nurse Preceptor Training Conference in Hartford

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Student nurses, new graduate nurses, and nurses transitioning to a new clinical area rely on clinical nurse preceptors to help them successfully move into their new roles. Clinical nurse preceptors help train and retain nurses by providing one-to-one oversight and guidance; however, they are in short supply and training and support for the ones already in this role is inconsistent and often lacking.

    To address this gap, the Connecticut Area Health Education Network (CT AHEC) based at UConn Health, through its affiliation with the New England Nursing Clinical Faculty and Preceptor Academy (Academy), a $4 million Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) project, provided 30 Connecticut nurses with a free one-day conference on clinical nurse precepting skills on May 14.

    “The CT AHEC program is grateful for the opportunity to support nursing professionals as a means of addressing health disparities through workforce development. Effective collaboration with key stakeholders is critical for maximizing fiscal resources, expertise, and delivery of continuation for all healthcare disciplines,” said Petra Clark-Dufner, CT AHEC Director.

    The Academy’s objective is to develop and support preceptors and clinical faculty to strengthen and grow the nursing workforce at all levels across all settings. Nurse who precept in hospitals, community health, ambulatory care, public health, universities, and corrections were in attendance.  UConn Health nurse Deisy Velez, MSN, RN, CMSRN, WCC, participated and said: “On my table we had an LPN, a nurse from Yale whose role was very similar to mine, an in home/ visiting nurse and two APRNs. All from very diverse backgrounds; but sitting together ready to learn the skills to help our peers. The activities given were engaging and allowed us to process and practice the ideas and tools given to us.”

    63% of the participants found the content “extremely useful”, and 52% reported that their knowledge regarding roles, responsibilities, and core competencies of clinical nurse precepting increased a “great deal.” UConn Health labor and delivery nurse Diane Fallon, RN, C-HROB, C-EFM, commented that the conference “stocked my toolbox with evidence-based guidelines to use when I want to encompass the many roles of a nurse preceptor.”

    The conference presenters included seven nurses from Fairview Hospital (Berkshire, MA) and one nurse from the University of Connecticut. The Fairview Hospital nurses had participated in the Academy’s Teaching of Tomorrow program where they attended two weekend conferences focused on building and refining foundational skills for effective clinical teaching alongside other health professionals. They took their learnings and developed their own nurse-targeted training presentation. Participants earned 6.5 contact hours through the Connecticut Nurses Association.

    Minela Jasarevic, LPN, the vaccine coordinator at Charter Oak Health Center (Hartford), commented: “While hands-on experience is key, having a clear framework to follow when precepting is very helpful. A structure system ensures that important teaching steps aren’t missed and that feedback and assessment are consistent. Having tools to guide feedback, track trainee progress, and outline expectation can make the precepting experience smoother and more effective.”

    Instructors of the CT AHEC hosted one-day conference on clinical nurse precepting skills.

    This activity was jointly provided by The Berkshire Area Health Education Center (AHEC), The Connecticut Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Network, and The UMass Chan Medical School/Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing New England Nursing Clinical Faculty and Preceptor Academy with funding by the Nurse Education, Practice, Quality, and Retention – Clinical Faculty and Preceptor Academies program grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration administered by the UMass Chan Medical School/Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing in Worcester, MA in collaboration with partners across New England and support from the Connecticut Student Loan Repayment Program (CT SLRP), housed at the CT AHEC office at UConn Health.

    CT SLRP’s  support included current information on federal nurse loans, like the National Health Service Corps, Nurse Corps, as well as local/regional private resources available for refinancing and employer programs, such as CHESLA (Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority) and RISLA (Rhode Island Student Loan Authority).

    Krystal Nunziata, RN, from the Cornell Scotte Health Center (New Haven) summed up the value of her day of training by saying: “There is definitely a need to train nurse preceptors. Preceptor training can benefit all nurses by providing them with the tools and confidence to effectively mentor others. It can inspire those who may not have previously felt capable of taking on a leadership or mentorship role and also further develop the skills of those already precepting.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mission Woman Sentenced to Over Two Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting Another Person within the Rosebud Reservation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PIERRE – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota, woman convicted of Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to a Dating Partner. The sentencing took place on May 27, 2025.

    Korilyn M. Whipple-Wright, age 25, was sentenced to two years and three months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

    Whipple-Wright was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2024. She pleaded guilty on February 26, 2025.

    On February 16, 2024, Whipple-Wright assaulted her former girlfriend in Rosebud, South Dakota, which lies within the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. The women had recently broken up after dating for approximately six years. Whipple-Wright wrapped her arm around the woman’s neck and choked her, causing her to temporarily lose consciousness. Whipple-Wright also pushed the woman’s face into a wall and punched her. The woman incurred bruising to her forehead, a black eye, and a cut to her head in the assault.

    This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.

    This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.

    Whipple-Wright was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Linneus Man Sentenced for Role in Penobscot and Aroostook County Drug Trafficking Ring

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

    BANGOR, Maine: A Linneus man was sentenced on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Bangor for his role in a northern Maine drug trafficking ring.

    U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced James Valiante, 43, to 36 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. On August 22, 2024, Valiante pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.

    According to court records, between January 2018 and December 2021, Valiante and others trafficked methamphetamine and fentanyl in Penobscot and Aroostook counties and elsewhere. Valiante regularly arranged to obtain quantities of the two drugs from other members of the conspiracy through phone calls and texts using coded language and then distributed those drugs through a network of dealers he supplied in Aroostook County, using the proceeds to purchase more drugs. 

    Twenty-two defendants have been charged in this and related cases for their part in a widespread northern Maine drug trafficking conspiracy. With Valiante’s sentencing this week, 20 of the defendants have been sentenced while two – Daquan Corbett and Daviston Jackson, who were convicted following a two-week trial in December 2024 – await sentencing.

    In addition to the sentence imposed on Valiante today, the Court has imposed the following sentences in related cases:

    Sentenced:

    • Andrew Adams (32, Aroostook County) – 10 years
    • Matthew Catalano (38, Penobscot County) – 165 months
    • Christopher Coty (44, Bangor) – 4 years
    • Jason Cunrod (42, Caribou) – 48 months
    • Blaine Footman (38, Bangor) – 5 years
    • Nicole Footman (41, Holden) – 3 years
    • Dwight Gary, Jr. (54, Medway) – Time served (approx. 5 months)
    • Carol Gordon (53, Bangor) – Time served (approx. 31 months) plus 6 months of community confinement
    • Thomas Hammond (26, Charleston) – 84 months
    • Joshua Jerrell (30, Orrington) – Time served (approx. 36 months)
    • James King (55, Caribou) – 165 months
    • Shelby Loring (29, Bangor) – Time served (approx. 32 months)
    • Danielle McBreairty (34, Glenburn) – 20 years
    • John Miller (24, Caribou) – 54 months
    • Aaron Rodgers (43, Bangor) – Time served (approx. 33 months)
    • Wayne Smith (33, Bangor) – 85 months
    • Joshua Young (48, Presque Isle) – Time served (approx. 2 months) plus 24 months home detention
    • Tamara Davis (29, Fall River, MA) – Time Served (approx. 14 months)
    • Sarah McBreairty (36, Dixmont) – 60 months

    Awaiting sentencing:

    • Daquan Corbett (31, Brockton, MA) – sentencing scheduled for August 11, 2025
    • Daviston Jackson (28, Boston, MA) – sentencing to be scheduled

    The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case. Assistance was provided by the police departments in Orono, Bangor, Brewer, Caribou, Presque Isle and Houlton. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also recognized the cooperation and coordination provided by the Maine State Attorney General’s Office and the Aroostook County District Attorney’s Office.

    Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces: This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Xinjiang aims to boost economy at checkpoints

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    URUMQI, May 30 (Xinhua) — The Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Friday announced regulations to promote economic development at border crossings, which will take effect on July 1 this year.

    The document noted that people’s governments of counties, cities and prefectures where checkpoints are located should strengthen the construction of a comprehensive transportation network, checkpoint inspection infrastructure, and commodity inspection and control facilities to promote transportation connectivity and ensure efficient customs clearance.

    Under the new rules, local border crossings are encouraged to promote the development of multimodal transport and build modern logistics bases and centers that combine functions such as transportation, warehousing, packaging, distribution and delivery.

    Local authorities should improve the placement of production facilities within the checkpoint area and promote international cooperation in production chains and supply chains based on their own resource advantages, according to the provisions.

    As stated in the document, priority attention in the economic development plan at the checkpoint will be given to such emerging industries of strategic importance as oil and gas production and processing, clean and efficient use of coal and new energy systems, as well as specific advantageous industries including grain, oil and food processing, cotton and textile industry, green livestock products and high-quality fruits and vegetables.

    To attract enterprises and projects related to trade, processing, bonded logistics and cross-border e-commerce, it is necessary to utilize open platforms such as the Xinjiang Pilot Free Trade Zone, the Kashgar and Horgos economic development zones, comprehensive bonded zones and cross-border economic cooperation zones.

    The provisions also encourage local enterprises to carry out investment cooperation with Belt and Road Initiative countries in areas such as energy resources, new materials, specialty medicine and pharmaceuticals, and agricultural crop cultivation.

    The document also emphasizes the need to create an internationalized business environment that operates on the basis of market principles and the rule of law.

    The development of these provisions is aimed at stimulating high-quality economic development at Xinjiang checkpoints, promoting the construction of the core zone of the Silk Road Economic Belt and expanding high-level openness, the document noted.

    Let us recall that Xinjiang borders eight countries, including Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. There are 21 checkpoints on its territory. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: PLAAF conducts first aerial refueling training at flight academy

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    SHIJIAZHUANG, May 30 (Xinhua) — The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) recently conducted aerial refueling training at the Shijiazhuang PLAAF Flight Academy to enhance the combat capability of cadet pilots.

    This is the first time such training has been conducted at the PLA Air Force Academy. Previously, aviation academies were unable to conduct such training due to restrictions related to the use of aircraft.

    According to Yu Hongliang, the pilot in charge of the training, the exercises simulate real combat scenarios by coordinating with tanker aircraft units.

    Air-to-air refueling can significantly increase the endurance and combat radius of combat aircraft, allowing combat aircraft to strike targets at long range and increase their control capabilities.

    Shijiazhuang Flight Academy aims to align such training with combat requirements and provide targeted development of specialists to meet operational needs. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Kazakhstan to introduce liability for illegal trade on electronic platforms

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    ALMATY, May 30 (Xinhua) — Kazakhstan plans to introduce administrative liability for illegal trade on electronic trading platforms, the Kazinform news agency reported on Friday.

    This is stated in the response of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin to a parliamentary inquiry.

    According to him, the Ministry of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan is currently working on improving legislation in the field of electronic commerce. “In order to protect the legitimate interests of consumers and copyright holders, the Majilis deputies are working on the issue of introducing administrative liability for electronic commerce entities for the lack of information about the seller and the product, as well as for illegal trade,” the Deputy Prime Minister noted. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –