Category: DJF

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City of York Council to invest £500,000 in green spaces

    Source: City of York

    Clarence Gardens

    Published Monday, 7 July 2025

    City of York Council has announced a significant £500,000 capital investment over the next two years to revitalise parks, play areas, and public green spaces across the city.

    The Executive is set to approve the proposed criteria and prioritisation framework that will guide the funding allocation and ensure the greatest community impact.

    This initiative marks the first major investment in York’s public spaces in several years and comes in response to widespread resident support and strategic ambitions laid out in the Council Plan 2023–2027. A key focus is ensuring accessible and sustainable outdoor environments that enhance biodiversity, wellbeing, and social inclusion. Work on assessing the conservation needs of our much-valued War Memorials will take place alongside the parks projects.

    Strategic Benefits

    The funding aligns with national findings from the “Space to Thrive” report by The National Lottery, which highlights the vital role parks play in supporting physical and mental health, community engagement, and local economies. The council aims to amplify these benefits by engaging residents, community organisations, and volunteer groups in improving green spaces citywide.

    The decision also aligns with the council’s core commitments to equality and health. By prioritising sites in high deprivation areas and those with ageing infrastructure, the programme seeks to redress inequalities in access to quality recreational space.

    Next Steps

    Council officers will assess potential projects over the summer, with a final decision on funded schemes to be presented to the Executive this September. Recruitment for a dedicated project officer is already underway to support delivery through March 2027.

    Cllr Jenny Kent, Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency, said: “In investing in our parks and public spaces, we’re not just enhancing infrastructure or play equipment – we’re investing in communities, public health, and a greener future. York people love our parks and have spoken clearly about the value of these shared spaces. This project reflects our commitment to creating a more vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable city, with people and pride in place at its heart.”

    For more information, visit the council’s website or read the Space to Thrive report at: Space to Thrive – National Lottery Heritage Fund

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Regeneration framework for emerging city centre neighbourhood to get major update

    Source: City of Manchester

    Key updates to the Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) for Manchester’s East Village Central will be considered as part of a report to the Council’s executive committee next week (Tuesday 8 July).

    First approved in 2022, the SRF for the East Village area – which sits within the wider Piccadilly SRF area – guides investment and development in the emerging city centre neighbourhood behind Piccadilly train station.   

    The 2022 SRF did not give detailed proposals for the 1.6ha former Presbar Diecastings Foundry (‘Diecast’) site, as it was expected to be a later phase of development.  

    This update to the East Village plan will incorporate the site as part of the long-term regeneration aspirations for this neighbourhood.  This site has significant potential to deliver 1,400 new homes, significant hotel space, 12,000sqm of workspace, and 6,500sqm of retail, leisure and event space.    

    To note – this SRF update does not include the Stockton’s site within the East Village Central Framework area, which remains governed by the previously agreed 2022 East Village Central SRF document.   

    East Village Central opportunity  

    The update to the SRF, covering the former Diecasting Foundry site, provides the opportunity to deliver new homes and commercial space, with complementary leisure amenities for existing residents in the immediate vicinity.  

    The vision set out within the draft framework is to create a unique, vibrant and green neighbourhood in the city centre supporting a mix of uses to create a welcoming and inclusive space. A distinct character and sense of place will be developed inspired by the history of the area through a sustainable reuse and repurpose approach.  

    Approximately 40% of the site area could be used to create an inclusive green public space that encourages community participation and interaction, including pop up events.   

    The site will improve connectivity through the site and to neighbouring communities through improved walking and cycling routes together with interconnected green spaces. Sustainability will be embedded throughout the lifecycle of development, implementing green practices throughout the process. 

    The site is envisioned as a hub for commerce and community, building on the tech hub already established in the area, new leisure opportunities, and local amenities that will prioritise local suppliers and independent businesses.   

    A new purpose-built building will provide a long-term home for the current Diecast hospitality venue, which will also enable the site to be designed to manage any potential impact on local residents. Development will be coordinated and phased to ensure the venue can continue to operate through the duration of the regeneration of the area.   

    Former Stockton’s Furniture site  

    A planning application for the former Stockton’s furniture site has also now been submitted to the Council with proposals to deliver 758 apartments and 45,000sq ft of office space. This development will be complemented by 55% of the site being developed for new public space.   

    Read the East Village Central SRF report in full  

    Consultation on the SRF update is expected to begin in mid July 2025.   

    Leader of the Council Bev Craig said:   

    “The neighbourhoods behind Piccadilly train station offer some of the most exciting regeneration opportunities in our city centre to continue our sustainable growth agenda – creating opportunities for new jobs, new homes and new green spaces in the heart of our city.   

    “The East Village Central vision – with new homes, workspace and leisure uses – is an important part this and we have an incredible opportunity to create a vibrant, sustainable destination with a unique sense of place. This area will celebrate the city’s industrial past while creating opportunities for our city’s residents into the future.   

    “And importantly this will be a green neighbourhood with interconnected public spaces that help bring people together, seamlessly connected to the wider city centre, to create a thriving place for everyone.”  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Leader sends condolences to family and friends of Dr Fortune Gomo

    Source: Scotland – City of Dundee

    Dundee City Council Leader Cllr Mark Flynn has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Dr Fortune Gomo following the recent news of her death in the city.

    Council Leader Cllr Mark Flynn said: “On behalf of the city, I want to extend my deepest sympathies to Dr Gomo’s family, friends and everyone who knew her.

    “This is a deeply sad time for the community and our thoughts are with everyone affected.

    “I want to voice my support for the community at this difficult time and echo the appeal made by Police Scotland for anyone with any information that might assist in their investigation to come forward.”

    Police Scotland have appealed for anyone who was in the area at the time and witnessed the incident or has information that may assist them to contact 101 quoting incident number 2283 of 5th July 2025. 

    Information can also be given through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UN chief ‘deeply saddened’ by devastating Texas floods as toll climbs past 80

    Source: United Nations 2

    In a statement issued on Monday by his spokesperson, António Guterres said he was “deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life, notably of a large number of children,” during what should have been a time of celebration.

    Friday, 4 July, marked Independence Day in the United States – a time when families and communities traditionally gather for outdoor celebrations.

    The Secretary-General extended his “heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims” and expressed solidarity with all those affected, including the people of Texas and the government of the United States.

    According to media reports, the floods – triggered by heavy rainfall over the July Fourth weekend – caused massive damage in parts of central Texas, particularly along the Guadalupe River. The deluge struck Camp Mystic, killing at least 27 campers and counselors.

    Catherine Russell, Executive Director of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), said in a post on social media that “all of us at UNICEF are heartbroken at the reports coming out of Central Texas.”

    Our hearts and thoughts are with those mourning loved ones and those still waiting for news of the missing, including children,” she said.

    Search and recovery efforts continue as the region braces for more rain, according to media reports.

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Adam Smith Strongly Opposes the Big Ugly Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adam Smith (9th District of Washington)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) issued the following statement regarding the upcoming House vote on the so-called “Big Ugly Bill,” a sweeping Republican proposal that would severely harm families across Washington state—including tens of thousands in the Ninth Congressional District:
     
    “This bill is one of the most reckless and cruel legislative efforts I’ve seen in my career and it’s Washington families who would pay the price.

    “It threatens the basic health care coverage that hundreds of thousands of people across our state depend on. It strips food assistance from tens of thousands of families. It raises energy costs, cuts clean energy jobs, and guts support for our public schools — all while giving billionaires a massive tax break and adding over $3 trillion to the debt.

    “In our district, we know how critical programs like Apple Health and SNAP are to ensuring that families, seniors, and children can live with dignity. We know what happens when hospitals close, when energy bills spike, and when student debt becomes even more crushing. This bill would make all of that worse.

    “Let’s be clear: none of this is necessary. These cuts aren’t about balancing the budget — this bill actually increases the debt and deficit by trillions. These cuts are about handing more power and more money to the wealthiest Americans while punishing working people. It’s cynical, it’s dangerous, and it’s wrong.

    “The people of the Ninth District elected me to fight for their best interests, not to stand by while Congress pulls the rug out from under their lives. I will be voting no on the Big Ugly Bill and I urge my colleagues to do the same.”
     

    ###


    Background & Local Impact

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mason County Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    COVINGTON, Ky. – A Maysville, Ky., man, David M. Elliot, 35, was sentenced on Thursday to 262 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. 

    According to his plea agreement, on September 1, 2024, law enforcement stopped a vehicle driven by Courtney Beckett, Elliot’s co-defendant, for several traffic violations. Officers found a methamphetamine pipe in her pocket and removed the passenger, Elliot, from the vehicle. Officers found two bags of methamphetamine in Beckett’s purse and 165.5 grams of methamphetamine in Elliot’s waistband. 

    Elliot admitted that all the methamphetamine was his, that he and Beckett drove to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region to purchase methamphetamine and were on their way back to Maysville, Ky., and he had instructed Beckett to hold the methamphetamine for him. In March 2022, Elliot was convicted of trafficking controlled substances in Mason Circuit Court and was on parole at the time of this offense. 

    Beckett was previously sentenced to 66 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. 

    Under federal law, Elliot must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years. 

    Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Casey Kilgore, Ft. Thomas Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.

    The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Ft. Thomas Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel King is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

    – END –

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Pleads Guilty in Federal Court Following Robbery of a Montgomery Dry Cleaner Business

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced today that Zedekiah Sykes, 58, of Montgomery, Alabama, has pleaded guilty to his role in the March 10, 2025, robbery of a Montgomery dry cleaning business. Sykes entered his guilty plea in federal court on July 3, 2025.

                According to court records and Sykes’s plea agreement, on March 10, 2025, Sykes and three accomplices forced their way into the business, located on East South Street in Montgomery. The group shattered the front door with a rock to gain entry.

                Once inside, the assailants confronted the business owner and forced him into an office that housed a locked safe. One of the individuals brandished what appeared to be a handgun—later determined to be a BB gun—and demanded the owner open the safe. When the owner hesitated, struggling to recall the combination, one of the assailants struck him in the left eye, causing visible bruising and swelling. The group eventually gained access to the safe and stole approximately $8,000 in cash.

                The robbers then restrained the owner by zip-tying his hands and feet, then stole his cell phone and car keys. Sykes and the others fled the scene in the owner’s vehicle using the stolen keys.

                Sykes pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act Robbery, a federal offense that carries a statutory maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled in the coming months.

    In a related development, on May 27, 2025, Spencer Thomas, 57, of Prattville, Alabama, was arrested and subsequently indicted for his involvement in the same robbery. An indictment is merely an allegation that a crime has been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

                The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Montgomery Police Department, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), and the Metro Area Crime Suppression (MACS) Task Force investigated this case, with assistance from the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul Markovits.

                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: Another Member of the Marion Gardens Street Gang Sentenced to Multiple Life Sentences without the Possibility of Parole

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEWARK, N.J. – Five more members of the Marion Gardens street gang were sentenced by the Honorable Michael E. Farbiarz for their roles in the racketeering enterprise, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

    On July 2, 2025, Roger Pickett, a/k/a “Zy G,” 24, was sentenced to four consecutive terms of life imprisonment for racketeering conspiracy and three counts of murder in aid of racketeering, each stemming from a separate gang-related murder.  He was also sentenced to an additional consecutive sentence of 50 years’ imprisonment, consisting of 20 years’ imprisonment for Hobbs Act robbery, and three ten-year terms of imprisonment for discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.

    Also on July 2, 2025, Javon Williams, a/k/a “J45,” 28, was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment for racketeering conspiracy and Keith Anderson, a/k/a “Beef3,” 23, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment for racketeering conspiracy.

    On July 1, 2025, Quaseame Wilson, a/k/a “Qua Gz,” 28, was sentenced to 195 months’ imprisonment for racketeering conspiracy, Hobbs Act robbery, and aiding and abetting the discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence.  On June 26, 2025, Anthony Rogers, a/k/a “MG,” 25, was sentenced to 54 months’ imprisonment for racketeering conspiracy.

    Earlier in June, three other members of the Marion Gardens street gang were sentenced for their roles in the racketeering conspiracy.  On June 17, 2025, Myron Williams, a/k/a “Money,” a/k/a “Tunchi,” 31, of Newark was sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment for racketeering conspiracy and murder in aid of racketeering, plus 240 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and 120 months’ imprisonment for discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, with all sentences to run consecutively.  Also on June 17, 2025, Jawaad Davis, 23, of Jersey City, was sentenced to 170 months’ imprisonment for his role in the Marion Gardens street gang, which included orchestrating a robbery that resulted in murder.  Additionally, on June 5, 2025, Khalil Kelley, a/k/a “Billski,” 26, of Jersey City, was sentenced, to life imprisonment, plus a consecutive ten-year term of imprisonment for racketeering conspiracy, for his role in the Marion Gardens street gang and a gang-related murder.

    Three other individuals who previously pled guilty before trial are pending sentencing.  Each defendant will be sentenced before Judge Farbiarz in Newark as follows:

    Naim Richardson, a/k/a “Ninicks” July 16, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.
    Andre Alomar, a/k/a “Dre8” July 24, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.
    Herbert Thomas October 1, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.

    According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

    Myron Williams, Khalil Kelley, Roger Pickett, Jawaad Davis, Anthony Rogers, Quaseame Wilson, Andre Alomar, Keith Anderson, Javon Williams, and Naim Richardson are all members and associates of the neighborhood street gang associated with the Marion Gardens Housing Complex. Since 2013, they and their fellow gang members have committed numerous acts of violence, including three separate murders, on March 29, 2021, Nov. 20, 2021, and Nov. 1, 2022.

    On March 29, 2021, Kelley and other gang members lured a rival gang member outside by sending him Instagram messages pretending to be the victim’s fellow gang member. When the victim opened the door to his residence, Kelley and another gang member brandished firearms, and the victim was shot multiple times in the chest, killing him. Pickett and Myron Williams then picked up Kelley and other gang members after they abandoned the murder vehicle in Newark.

    On Nov. 20, 2021, Myron Williams, Pickett, and Richardson lured a rival gang member outside by sending him Instagram messages pretending to be the second victim’s fellow gang member. Williams and another gang member shot the victim when he opened the door to his residence.

    On Nov. 1, 2022, Davis facilitated the murder of the third victim by coordinating a narcotics transaction with the victim and the victim’s associate. When the victim and his associate arrived at the Marion Gardens Housing Complex to complete the narcotics transaction, they were robbed of their narcotics supply. During the robbery, Pickett and Wilson held the victim and his associate at gunpoint. After a struggle ensued, Pickett shot and killed the victim while his associate fled. Pickett then fled the Marion Gardens Housing Complex with Wilson.

    For months, investigators observed and documented hundreds of narcotics transactions in and around the Marion Gardens Housing Complex.  The investigation likewise revealed that Herbert Thomas was a primary supplier of narcotics to the Marion Gardens street gang.

    When each defendant was arrested on March 17, 2023, law enforcement seized contraband at several different locations, including heroin, fentanyl, crack cocaine, narcotics packaging materials, ammunition, bulletproof vests, and a loaded handgun.

    U.S. Attorney Habba credited investigators of the Gang Intelligence Unit and the Homicide Unit of the Major Case Division of Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Esther Suarez, and special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks Jr., and investigators of the Jersey City Police Department, under the direction of Director James Shea, with the investigation leading to the convictions. She also thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, and the U.S. Marshals, under the direction of U.S. Marshal Juan Mattos, for their assistance.

    This investigation was conducted as part of the Jersey City Violent Crime Initiative (VCI). The VCI was formed in 2018 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Jersey City Police Department, for the sole purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Jersey City. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate to strategize and prioritize the prosecution of violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New Jersey Division, the U.S. Marshals, the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Jersey City Police Department, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Parole, the Hudson County Jail, and the New Jersey State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center.

    The government is represented by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Desiree Grace, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Maloy and Javon Henry, of the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Newark.

                                                                           ###

    Defense counsel:

    Roger Pickett – Brandon Minde, Esq.
    Keith Anderson – Eric Jaso, Esq. and Francesca Simone, Esq.

    Javon Williams – Joseph Rubino, Esq.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Salvadoran National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant previously convicted of assault and battery on a police officer; assault and battery with a deadly weapon; larceny; malicious destruction of property

    BOSTON – A Salvadoran national has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to illegally reentering the United States after deportation.

    Arsenio Valladares, 44, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick scheduled sentencing for July 23, 2025. Valladares was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2025.

    Valladares was deported from the United States on or about April 23, 2008. Sometime after his removal, Valladares illegally reentered the United States without permission.

    Prior to his removal, Valladares was convicted of offenses including assault and battery with a deadly weapon, assault and battery on a police officer, assault and battery, operating under the influence, larceny and malicious destruction of property. In November 2024, federal immigration authorities became aware of Valadares’ presence in the United States after being notified that his fingerprints were taken in connection with criminal charges in Massachusetts. Valladares was detained by immigration authorities on March 18, 2025.

    The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Benjamin is prosecuting the case.
     

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: South Kingstown Man Indicted for Trafficking Cocaine

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PROVIDENCE – A South Kingstown man is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday, charged by way of a federal indictment for allegedly trafficking cocaine, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.

    The grand jury returned an indictment on July 2, 2025, charging Hector Villa, 40, with distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine. A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    Charging documents alleged that Villa delivered three kilograms of cocaine to another individual on June 3, 2025, while under law enforcement surveillance. He was detained and arrested a short time later. The drugs were seized by law enforcement.

    Charging documents reflect that following Villa’s arrest, a court authorized search of a suspected drug stash house in North Providence was conducted. The search resulted in the seizure of a kilogram of cocaine, a firearm, and various items used in the packaging and distribution of narcotics.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julie White.

    The matter was investigated by members of the Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Two Counts of Attempted Production of Child Pornography

    Source: US FBI

    Jackson, MS – On June 26, 2025, a Hinds County man pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to produce of child pornography images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

    According to court documents, beginning in February of 2023, and continuing through December 2023, Joe Lewis, 54, attempted to persuade, induct, entice, and coerce minors into Face Timing him as the minors exposed their nude private area to him, thereby engaging in sexually explicit conduct for Lewis’ live viewing and recording.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.  The Jackson Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.

    Lewis is scheduled to be sentenced on October 23, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of thirty years per count in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda R. Haynes prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Pearl River Community Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Habitual Domestic Violence

    Source: US FBI

    Jackson, MS – A Pearl River Community man was sentenced to 37 months in prison for habitual domestic violence.

    According to court documents, Eric Shane Dan, 48, using his fist, struck his spouse causing a laceration to her face which required medical treatment. Dan was previously convicted of domestic assault on two separate occasions.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Choctaw Police Department investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Kemper County Woman Pleads Guilty to Production of Child Pornography

    Source: US FBI

    JACKSON, MS – On June 27, 2025, a Kemper County woman pleaded guilty to production of child pornography.

    According to court documents, in July 2020, Adreoinna Latoria Hickman, age 25, video recorded herself engaging in sexually explicit conduct with a minor. She faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda R. Haynes is prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News in Brief: Delaware Returns Home from Deployment

    Source: United States Navy

    GROTON, Connecticut – The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Delaware (SSN 791), under the command of Cmdr. Jason Patton, returned to Naval Submarine Base New London Saturday, July 5, completing a six-month deployment to U.S. European Command area of responsibility.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News in Brief: Delaware Returns Home from Deployment

    Source: United States Navy

    GROTON, Connecticut – The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Delaware (SSN 791), under the command of Cmdr. Jason Patton, returned to Naval Submarine Base New London Saturday, July 5, completing a six-month deployment to U.S. European Command area of responsibility.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Economics: How startups are using AI to support healthcare providers and patients

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: How startups are using AI to support healthcare providers and patients

    Healthcare is constantly evolving, driven by the need to improve patient outcomes and in so doing the delivery of healthcare itself. With the power of AI, the potential to leverage health data in a meaningful way grows exponentially, both in terms of our ability to understand health-related data as well as the potential impact that deeper understanding holds for the delivery of patient care.

    “If all of this data is being captured already, then why is it that still up to 90% of the patients are being left untreated or undertreated?” said Vibhor Gupta, PhD, founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pangaea Data. “For me, it was important to do something about it.”

    Pangaea Data is at the forefront of using AI at the point of care, leveraging cutting-edge technology to address some of the most pressing challenges. Harnessing the power of Microsoft Azure and NVIDIA, the startup ensures that healthcare providers are empowered to diagnose and treat their patients more effectively—and more personally.

    “An AI-powered clinician will only be a better clinician,” said Monica Mok, Biomedical Analyst at Pangaea Data. “It’ll be a clinician that has more brain capacity to actually talk to you, to understand you, to be more empathetic, to actually think, and be supported in the decision making and personalize their treatments for you.”

    Combining the practice of medicine with the power of AI

    Pangaea Data’s flagship AI platform, PALLUX, is designed to mimic the decision-making process of physicians, integrating vast amounts of medical knowledge and patient data to provide real-time insights. This technology empowers clinicians to make informed decisions, helping patients receive the best care possible.

    By leveraging technology to help surface insights—in real time—at the point of care, Pangaea Data enables clinicians to focus on building human connections with their patients.

    “As we think about how healthcare needs to evolve, this will be a critical component,” said David Rhew, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Microsoft. “We know that technology can help. We know that Pangaea Data solutions work. But we also have to find ways to make this workflow compatible. And that means we have to think about how all these different systems work together.”

    Microsoft Azure and NVIDIA GPUs play a crucial role in enabling PALLUX to perform complex reasoning and deliver real-time responses to clinicians. The combination of Azure’s compliance across different countries and territories and NVIDIA’s powerful GPUs ensures that the platform is both trusted and efficient. 

    Learn more about how Pangaea Data, supported by Microsoft Azure and NVIDIA graphics processing units (GPUs), is revolutionizing healthcare by providing innovative solutions that improve patient care and streamline processes. Their work exemplifies the power of technology in transforming industries and making a positive impact on people’s lives.

    Interested in hearing from other Catalysts?

    True innovation happens when startups are able to harness the power of Microsoft Azure Infrastructure coupled with NVIDIA AI solutions to spark industry-disrupting breakthroughs. Watch the Catalyst series to see how today’s boldest innovators are building the future, unlocking what is possible—and to provide inspiration for your startup to catalyze change.

    Get started with Microsoft for Startups today 

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: How startups are using AI to support healthcare providers and patients

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: How startups are using AI to support healthcare providers and patients

    Healthcare is constantly evolving, driven by the need to improve patient outcomes and in so doing the delivery of healthcare itself. With the power of AI, the potential to leverage health data in a meaningful way grows exponentially, both in terms of our ability to understand health-related data as well as the potential impact that deeper understanding holds for the delivery of patient care.

    “If all of this data is being captured already, then why is it that still up to 90% of the patients are being left untreated or undertreated?” said Vibhor Gupta, PhD, founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pangaea Data. “For me, it was important to do something about it.”

    Pangaea Data is at the forefront of using AI at the point of care, leveraging cutting-edge technology to address some of the most pressing challenges. Harnessing the power of Microsoft Azure and NVIDIA, the startup ensures that healthcare providers are empowered to diagnose and treat their patients more effectively—and more personally.

    “An AI-powered clinician will only be a better clinician,” said Monica Mok, Biomedical Analyst at Pangaea Data. “It’ll be a clinician that has more brain capacity to actually talk to you, to understand you, to be more empathetic, to actually think, and be supported in the decision making and personalize their treatments for you.”

    Combining the practice of medicine with the power of AI

    Pangaea Data’s flagship AI platform, PALLUX, is designed to mimic the decision-making process of physicians, integrating vast amounts of medical knowledge and patient data to provide real-time insights. This technology empowers clinicians to make informed decisions, helping patients receive the best care possible.

    By leveraging technology to help surface insights—in real time—at the point of care, Pangaea Data enables clinicians to focus on building human connections with their patients.

    “As we think about how healthcare needs to evolve, this will be a critical component,” said David Rhew, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Microsoft. “We know that technology can help. We know that Pangaea Data solutions work. But we also have to find ways to make this workflow compatible. And that means we have to think about how all these different systems work together.”

    Microsoft Azure and NVIDIA GPUs play a crucial role in enabling PALLUX to perform complex reasoning and deliver real-time responses to clinicians. The combination of Azure’s compliance across different countries and territories and NVIDIA’s powerful GPUs ensures that the platform is both trusted and efficient. 

    Learn more about how Pangaea Data, supported by Microsoft Azure and NVIDIA graphics processing units (GPUs), is revolutionizing healthcare by providing innovative solutions that improve patient care and streamline processes. Their work exemplifies the power of technology in transforming industries and making a positive impact on people’s lives.

    Interested in hearing from other Catalysts?

    True innovation happens when startups are able to harness the power of Microsoft Azure Infrastructure coupled with NVIDIA AI solutions to spark industry-disrupting breakthroughs. Watch the Catalyst series to see how today’s boldest innovators are building the future, unlocking what is possible—and to provide inspiration for your startup to catalyze change.

    Get started with Microsoft for Startups today 

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Xi Jinping inspects manufacturing plant in Shanxi province

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    YANGQUAN, SHANXI PROVINCE, July 7 (Xinhua) — Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, inspected a valve manufacturing enterprise in Yangquan, north China’s Shanxi Province, on Monday afternoon, where he learned about the province’s efforts to accelerate industrial transformation and upgrading and promote high-quality development.

    While visiting Yangquan Valve Co., Ltd., Xi Jinping inspected the production workshop and product exhibition of the company, and had a warm conversation with workers. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Xi Jinping honors fallen heroes of resistance against Japanese aggression /more details/

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    YANGQUAN, SHANXI PROVINCE, July 7 (Xinhua) — General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Xi Jinping paid tribute to the heroes who died in the Battle of the Hundred Regiments during the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression during an inspection tour of Yangquan City, north China’s Shanxi Province, on Monday.

    Xi Jinping arrived at the square near the monument to the heroes of the “Battle of the Hundred Regiments,” laid a basket of flowers in memory of the fallen soldiers and visited the memorial museum of this major military operation.

    The general secretary of the CPC Central Committee once again recalled the glorious history of the Chinese Communist Party uniting the people and the army in a fierce struggle against Japanese aggression. Xi Jinping also learned how revolutionary history education is being carried out at local levels and the spirit of the great Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression is being preserved and passed on. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: West Africa terror: why attacks on military bases are rising – and four ways to respond

    Source: The Conversation – Africa (2) – By Olayinka Ajala, Associate professor in Politics and International Relations, Leeds Beckett University

    More than 40 Malian soldiers were killed and one of the country’s military bases was taken over in early June 2025 in a major attack by an al-Qaeda linked group, Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), on the town of Boulikessi.

    The same group launched an attack on the historic city of Timbuktu. The Malian army claimed it repelled the Timbuktu attack and killed 14 terrorists.

    Terrorist groups have attacked Boulikessi in large numbers before. In October 2019, 25 Malian soldiers were killed. The target was a G5 Sahel force military camp.

    Timbuktu has been in the sights of terrorist groups since 2012. JNIM laid siege to the city for several months in 2023. Timbuktu has a major airport and a key military base.

    In neighbouring Burkina Faso, there have been running battles in recent months between the military and terrorist groups. About 40% of the country is under the control of groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State. Military bases in the country have also been targeted.

    Mali and Burkina Faso are under military rule. Insecurity, especially increasing terrorist attacks, were key reasons the military juntas gave for seizing power in both countries.

    I have been researching terrorism and the formation of insurgent groups in west Africa and the Sahel for over a decade. What I am observing is that the terrorist groups are becoming more daring and constantly changing tactics, with increased attacks on military camps across the region.

    Military camps are attacked to lower the morale of the soldiers and steal ammunition. It also sends a message to locals that military forces are incapable of protecting civilians.

    I believe there are four main reasons for an increase in large scale attacks on military bases in the region:

    • the loss of the US drone base in Niger, which has made surveillance difficult

    • an increase in human rights abuses carried out in the name of counter terrorism

    • a lack of a coordinated approach to counter terrorism

    • constant changes of tactics by the terrorists.

    Identifying and addressing these issues are important to counter the trend.

    Why are the attacks increasing?

    First is the loss of the US drone base in Agadez, Republic of Niger, in 2024 after the military seized power in the country.

    I was initially sceptical when the drone base was commissioned in 2019. But it has in fact acted as a deterrent to terrorist groups.

    Terrorist organisations operating in the Sahel knew they were being watched by drones operating from the base. They were aware surveillance information was shared with member states. The loss of the base has reduced reconnaissance and surveillance activities in the region.

    Second, an increase in human rights abuse in the fight against terrorism in the region is dividing communities and increasing recruitment into terrorist groups. A report by Human Rights Watch in May 2025 accused the Burkina Faso military and allied militias of killing more than 130 civilians during counter-terrorism operations.

    The report argued that members of the Fulani ethnic group were targeted in the operations because they were perceived to have relationships with terrorist groups. Terrorist groups are known to use such incidents to win the hearts and minds of local populations.

    Third, the lack of a coordinated approach to counter terrorism in the region is reversing the gains made in the last decade. Major developments have included the dissolving of the G5 Sahel. This grouping was created in 2014 to enhance security coordination between members. The members were Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad and Niger. The organisation launched joint counter-terrorism missions across member states but was dissolved in December 2023 after Niger and Burkina Faso withdrew.

    The weakening of the Multinational Joint Task Force due to the military coup in Niger and the countries’ strategic repositioning is undermining counter-terrorism initiatives. Task force members were Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Benin.

    The mandate of the task force is to combat Boko Haram and other terrorist groups operating around the Lake Chad basin. After its establishment in 2015 the task force achieved significant progress. In January 2025, Niger suspended its membership, putting the fight against terrorism in the region in jeopardy.

    Fourth, terrorist groups in the region are becoming more sophisticated in their approach. In April 2025, JNIM terrorists were suspected of launching a suicide drone attack on Togolese military positions.

    For its part, the military in the Sahelian countries are struggling to adapt to the terrorists’ new tactics. In the last few years, there has been a proliferation of drones in Africa by states and non-state actors.

    Halting the trend

    To combat the increasing attacks by terrorist groups, especially large-scale attacks on military positions, four immediate steps are necessary.

    First, nation states need to invest in surveillance capabilities. The loss of the drone base in Niger means Sahelian states must urgently find new ways of gathering and sharing intelligence. The topography of the region, which is mainly flat, with scattered vegetation, is an advantage as reconnaissance drones can easily detect suspicious movements, terrorist camps and travel routes.

    There is also a need to regulate the use of drones in the region to prevent use by non-state actors.

    In addition, countries fighting terrorism must find a way to improve the relationship between the military (and allied militias) and people affected by terrorism. My latest publication on the issue shows that vigilante groups engaged by the military forces are sometimes complicit in human rights abuse.

    Training on human rights is essential for military forces and allied militias.

    Terrorism funding avenues must be identified and blocked. Large scale terrorist attacks involve planning, training and resources. Funding from illegal mining, trafficking and kidnapping must be identified and eradicated. This will also include intelligence sharing between nation states.

    Finally, the Sahelian countries must find a mechanism to work with the Economic Community of West African States.

    As the numbers and intensity of terrorist activities are increasing across the Sahel, immediate action is necessary to combat this trend.

    Olayinka Ajala 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. West Africa terror: why attacks on military bases are rising – and four ways to respond – https://theconversation.com/west-africa-terror-why-attacks-on-military-bases-are-rising-and-four-ways-to-respond-258622

    MIL OSI

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Samora Machel’s vision for Mozambique didn’t survive: what has taken its place?

    Source: The Conversation – Africa (2) – By Luca Bussotti, Professor at the PhD Course in Peace, Democracy, Social Movements and Human Development, Universidade Técnica de Moçambique (UDM)

    Samora Moisés Machel, the first president of independent Mozambique, was born in 1933 in Gaza province, in the south of the country. He died in an unexplained plane crash on 19 October 1986, in Mbuzini, South Africa.

    Authoritarian and popular, humble and arrogant, visionary and tactical. All these words have been used to describe Machel. Despite these contradictions, there was one quality that everyone recognised in him: his charisma. At the time this gift wasn’t lacking in many political leaders of emerging countries, especially those of Marxist-Leninist inspiration. Cuba’s revolutionary leader Fidel Castro above all.

    Their common faith went beyond any personal or family interest. It was a faith for the progress of humanity, for the liberation of oppressed peoples from the colonial yoke, from the chains of capitalism and from traditional values and practices considered regressive.

    Machel’s enlightenment programme was as fascinating as it was difficult to achieve in Mozambique in the mid-1970s. Small farmers, with all their “traditional” beliefs, made up the majority of the population. It was a political battle for social justice as well as a cultural crusade.

    Machel’s speech on 25 June 1975, at the Machava Stadium in Maputo, proclaiming Mozambique’s independence from Portugal, highlighted the contradictions. The new head of state addressed the “workers”, who represented a small minority of the Mozambican people. At the same time, he called for freedom from colonial-capitalist oppression and the effective, total independence of the new country, already identifying its possible enemies: the unproductive and exploitative bourgeoisie.

    The task of nation-building

    Machel’s charisma recalled that of the proto-nationalist hero Gungunhana, who had tried to resist the Portuguese occupation at the end of the 19th century. Machel’s grandfather, Maguivelani, was related to the “terrible” Gungunhana, the last emperor of Gaza, who was defeated in 1895 by Mouzinho de Albuquerque after years of struggle. He was deported to Portugal, where he died in 1906.

    Paradoxically, the anti-traditionalist Machel was the descendant of a great traditional chief. This heritage played a role in shaping his personality and political action.

    Machel’s main task was to build a nation that only existed because of political unification under the Portuguese. The initial choices, embedded in the Cold War atmosphere, forced the nationalist Machel to opt for a rapprochement with the Soviet Union. Mozambique formally adopted a Marxist-Leninist doctrine at its Third Congress in 1977.

    That approach meant political intolerance and the repression of “dissidents”, as well as the marginalisation of certain ethnic groups, above all the Amakhuwa people, who did not sympathise with Machel’s party, Frelimo.

    The forces opposed to the Marxist-Leninist solution expected democratic elections to be held after the proclamation of independence from Portugal. But this opportunity never came. Portugal handed over power to Frelimo (Lusaka Accords, 1974), ignoring the existence of other political groups.

    The treatment of leaders who opposed Frelimo’s vision was harsh. On their return from abroad, many were imprisoned in concentration camps in the north of the country.

    They included the resistance leader Joana Simeão, along with others such as Uria Simango, former vice-president of Frelimo, his wife, Celina Simango, and Lázaro Kavandame, the former Makonde leader who left Frelimo because he didn’t agree with its political line.

    They were put on arbitrary trial and executed. The dates and the method of execution are still officially unknown, despite the former president Joaquim Chissano’s public apology, in 2014, for these deaths.

    About a year after independence, an armed opposition, Renamo, was formed. It was financed first by Ian Smith’s Southern Rhodesian government, and then by the South African apartheid regime.

    Renamo, contrary to Machel’s expectations, had a solid popular base in central and northern Mozambique, especially among peasant populations who had expressed opposition to the policies of collectivisation and cooperation imposed by the Marxist-Leninist government.

    And it was war which led Machel to a controversial agreement with the South African apartheid enemy. The Nkomati Accords, signed in 1984, provided for the end of Mozambique’s logistical support to the exiled African National Congress in Mozambique and South Africa’s military and financial support to Renamo.

    This agreement did not bring peace. On the contrary, the war intensified, as the South African regime continued to finance Renamo.

    Machel died in 1986, with the war still raging, unable to see the end of a conflict that had devastated Mozambique and which defeated the socialist principles.

    The General Peace Accords between the Mozambican government, represented by the president, Chissano, and Renamo, represented by its leader, Afonso Dhlakama, were only signed in Rome in 1992.

    End of an era

    Machel took the first, important steps towards a rapprochement with the west, as demonstrated by his visit to Ronald Reagan in Washington in September 1985.

    It can be said that with his death the First Mozambican Republic ended, with all its positive and negative elements. The dream of building a fair Mozambique with an equitable distribution of national wealth came to an end.

    Machel had worked hard to ensure that health, education, transport, water and energy were distributed equally among Mozambicans. A poor but fair welfare state was born. But it was quickly dismantled in the years following his death. The Mozambican state had very few resources to devote to the welfare state. The rest was done by the rapid abandonment of an ideology, the socialist ideology, which by then the Frelimo elite no longer believed in.

    In addition, international financial institutions entered the country, with the notorious structural adjustment policies, as early as 1987.

    Corruption, which Machel sought to combat with various measures, and which he addressed at many of his rallies, spread across the country and all its institutions. The Frelimo political elite soon became the richest slice of the nation.

    Several observers began to speak of a kleptocracy. The country suffered from continuous corruption scandals. One of the biggest became known as “hidden debt,” in which the political elite, including one of ex-president Armando Guebuza’s sons and former intelligence chief, Gregório Leão, were convicted of a scheme that cost the public treasury more than US$2 billion.

    However, the main defeat was the fall of an inapplicable socialism.

    The adoption of a capitalist, liberal and democratic model, at least formally, put an end to the arbitrary violations of human rights as in the age of the socialist state, such as “Operation Production” of 1983. The programme aimed to move “unproductive” people living in cities to the countryside to promote agricultural production.

    In reality, it turned into arbitrary detentions and displacement of entire families, increasing the systematic violation of human rights by the state.

    At the same time, the end of socialism meant democratic openness. Since the 1990 constitution, Mozambique has had as its fundamental principles respect for civil and political freedoms based on the 1948 Declaration of Human Rights. Still, socio-economic rights have been denied as a result of the dismantling of the welfare state.

    How he’s remembered

    Today, many people miss Machel’s rule. Those who were close to him, such as José Óscar Monteiro, the former interior minister, recall him as an ethical statesman, intolerant of corruption and abuses against “his” people. So do some of the international media.

    Others, since the 1980s, such as Amnesty International, have denounced the serious violations of the most basic human rights by the Mozambican government and its leader.

    What remains of Machel today is above all his ethical teaching. He died poor, committed to the cause of his nation, leaving his heirs moral prestige.

    It is curious that his figure is associated, even in musical compositions by contemporary rappers from Mozambique, with his historical enemy, Dhlakama, who died in 2018.

    This popular tribute is proof of the distance between the country’s current ruling class and a “people” who are looking to the charismatic figure of Venâncio Mondlane, the so-called “people’s president”. But that’s another story that won’t fit here.

    Luca Bussotti 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. Samora Machel’s vision for Mozambique didn’t survive: what has taken its place? – https://theconversation.com/samora-machels-vision-for-mozambique-didnt-survive-what-has-taken-its-place-260110

    MIL OSI

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Alcohol and colonialism: the curious story of the Bulawayo beer gardens

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Maurice Hutton, Research Associate, School of Environment, Education and Development, University of Manchester

    Kontuthu Ziyathunqa – Smoke Rising – was what they used to call Bulawayo when the city was the industrial powerhouse of Zimbabwe. Now, many of its factories lie dormant or derelict. The daily torrent of workers flowing eastward at dawn, and back out to the high-density western suburbs at dusk, has diminished to a trickle.

    But there is an intriguing industrial-era institution that lives on in most of the older western suburbs (formerly called townships). It is the municipal beer hall or beer garden, built in the colonial days for the racially segregated African worker communities. There are dozens of these halls and garden complexes, still serving customers and emitting muffled sounds of merriment to this day.




    Read more:
    Mbare Art Space: a colonial beer hall in Zimbabwe has become a vibrant arts centre


    Like other urban areas in Rhodesia (colonial Zimbabwe), Bulawayo was informally segregated from its inception, and more formally segregated after the second world war. Under British rule (1893-1965) and then independent white minority rule (1965-1980), municipal drinking amenities were built in the townships to maintain control of African drinking and sociality. At the same time, they raised much-needed revenue for township welfare and recreational services.




    Read more:
    Zimbabwe’s economy crashed – so how do citizens still cling to myths of urban and economic success?


    I researched the history of these beer halls and gardens as part of my PhD project on the development of the segregated African townships in late colonial Bulawayo. As my historical account shows, they played a key role in the contested township development process.

    From beer halls to beer gardens

    Bulawayo’s oldest and most famous beer hall, MaKhumalo, also known as Big Bhawa, was built more than a century ago. It still stands at the heart of the historic Makokoba neighbourhood. It’s enormous, but austere, and in the early days it was oppressively managed. Drinkers would describe feeling like prisoners there.

    The more picturesque beer gardens began to emerge in the 1950s, reflecting the developmental idealism of Hugh Ashton. The Lesotho-born anthropologist was educated at the Universities of Oxford, London and Cape Town, and took up the new directorship of African administration in Bulawayo in 1949.

    He was tuned into new anthropological ideas about social change, as well as developmental ideas spreading through postwar colonial administrations – about “stabilising” and “detribalising” African workers to create a more passive and productive urban working class. He saw a reformed municipal beer system as a key tool for achieving these goals.

    Ashton wanted to make the beer system more legitimate and the venues more community-building. He proposed constructing beer garden complexes with trees, rocks, games facilities, food stalls and events like “traditional dancing”. So the atmosphere would be convivial and respectable, but also controllable, enticing all classes and boosting profits to fund better social services. As we shall see, this strategy was full of contradictions…

    Industrial beer brewing

    MaKhumalo, MaMkhwananzi, MaNdlovu, MaSilela. These beer garden names, emblazoned on the beer dispensaries that stick up above the ramparts of each garden complex, referenced the role that women traditionally played in beer brewing in southern Africa. This helped authenticate the council’s “home brew”.

    But the reality was that the beer was now produced in a massive industrial brewery managed by a Polish man. It was piped down from steel tanks at the tops of the dispensary buildings into the plastic mugs of thirsty punters at small bar windows below. (It was also sold in plastic calabashes and cardboard cartons.)

    And the beer garden bureaucracy, which offered a rare opportunity for African men to attain higher-grade public sector jobs, became increasingly complex and strictly audited.

    As the townships rapidly expanded, with beer gardens dotted about them, sales of the council’s “traditional” beer – the quality of which Ashton and his staff obsessed over – went up and up.

    Extensive beer advertising in the council’s free magazine mixed symbols of tradition (beer as food) with symbols of modern middle-classness.

    Beer monopoly system

    The system’s success relied on the Bulawayo council having a monopoly on the sale of so-called “native beer”. This traditional brew is typically made by malting, mashing, boiling and then fermenting sorghum, millet or maize grains. Racialised Rhodesian liquor laws restricted African access to “European” beers, wines and spirits.

    So, the beer hall or garden was the only public venue where Africans could legally drink (apart from a tiny elite, for whom a few exclusive “cocktail lounges” were built). The council cracked down harshly on “liquor offences” like home brewing.

    This beer monopoly system was quite prevalent in southern and eastern Africa, though rarely at the scale to which it grew in Bulawayo. Nearly everywhere, the system caused resentment among African townspeople, and so it became politically charged.

    In several colonies, beer halls became sites of protest, or were boycotted (most famously in South Africa). And they usually faced stiff competition from illicit drinking dens known as shebeens.

    In Bulawayo, the more the city council “improved” its beer system after the Second World War, the more contradictory the system became. It actively encouraged mass consumption of “traditional” beer, so that funds could be raised for “modern” health, housing and welfare services in the townships. Ashton himself was painfully aware of the contradictions.

    In his guest introduction to a 1974 ethnographic monograph on Bulawayo’s beer gardens, he wrote:

    The ambivalence of my position is obvious. How can one maintain a healthy community and a healthy profit at one and the same time? I can almost hear the critical reader questioning my morality and even my sanity. And why not? I have often done so myself.

    Many citizen groups – both African and European – questioned the system too. They called it illogical, if not immoral; even some government ministers said it had gone too far. And when some beer gardens were constructed close to European residential areas, to cater for African domestic workers, many Europeans reacted with fear and fury.

    As Zimbabweans’ struggle for independence took off in the 1960s, African residents increasingly associated the beer halls and gardens with state neglect, repression, or pacification. They periodically boycotted or vandalised them. Nevertheless, with few alternative options, attendance rates remained high: MaKhumalo recorded 50,000 visitors on one Sunday in 1970.

    After independence

    After Zimbabwe gained independence in 1980, the township beer gardens remained in municipal hands. They continued to be popular, even though racial desegregation had finally given township residents access to other social spaces across the city.

    The colonial-era municipal beers continued to be produced, with Ngwebu (“The Royal Brew”) becoming a patriotic beverage for the Ndebele – the city’s majority ethnic group.

    But with the deindustrialisation of Bulawayo since the late 1990s, tens of thousands of blue collar workers have moved to greener pastures, mostly South Africa. The old drinking rhythm of the city’s workforce has changed, and for the young, the beer gardens hold little allure. Increasingly, they have been leased out to private individuals to run.




    Read more:
    Beer, politics and identity – the chequered history behind Namibian brewing success


    Nevertheless, there is always a daily trickle of regulars to the beer gardens, where mugs and calabashes are passed around among friends or burial society members. Some punters play darts or pool. And there are always some who sit alone, ruminating – perhaps in the company of ghosts from the past.

    The beer gardens of Bulawayo embody the moral and practical contradictions of late colonial development – and the ways in which such systems and infrastructures may live on, but change meaning, in the post-colony.

    Maurice Hutton received funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the University of Edinburgh’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences to conduct the research on which this article is based.

    ref. Alcohol and colonialism: the curious story of the Bulawayo beer gardens – https://theconversation.com/alcohol-and-colonialism-the-curious-story-of-the-bulawayo-beer-gardens-256511

    MIL OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: 2025 Great New York State Fair Tickets on Sale, July 7

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul announced that admission and parking for The 2025 Great New York State Fair went on sale today. Packed with value, a single admission ticket costs $8 and includes access to all grounds entertainment and the Chevrolet Music Series, while parking costs $12. In addition, a Frequent Fairgoer ticket option is available for $25. Admission remains free for those aged 65 and older along with children 12 years old and under, continuing to ensure that The Fair is one of the most affordable fairs in the nation, providing an accessible space for the whole family to get offline and get outside.

    For those superfans who are planning to be at The Fair at least four days over its 13-day stretch, the Frequent Fairgoer option again allows the ticket holder to enter The Fair once a day, every day during The Fair. A Frequent Fairgoer ticket is non-transferable and is available exclusively online.

    “The Great New York State Fair is a time-honored tradition and a cornerstone of our summers here in New York State,” Governor Hochul said. “People shouldn’t have to break the bank to have fun. As of today, tickets for this affordable, family-friendly event are now on sale. New Yorkers – get your tickets today and I’ll see you at The Fair this summer!”

    New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “Summer means one thing – it’s time for The Great New York State Fair! I encourage everyone to get their tickets now and start planning their trip to learn about New York agriculture, sample some delicious foods, check out some fantastic entertainment, and so much more.”

    New York State Fair Director Julie LaFave said, “The 2025 Great New York State Fair is just 43 days away, so now’s the time for fairgoers to start planning a day (or 13!) of unforgettable summer fun. From animals, to hundreds of commercial attractions, scores of exciting midway rides, and dozens of big-name entertainers, The Fair has something in store for the whole family and so many great memories waiting to be made. We strongly encourage fairgoers to make their ticket and parking arrangements before arriving at the grounds. With close to 100,000 people in the vicinity of the Fairgrounds daily, purchasing in advance helps to keep lines to a minimum and ensure fairgoers move through the gates as quickly as possible to experience all the fun that The Fair has to offer! From our Fair family to yours – we can’t wait to see you soon!”

    Fair admission includes the ability to watch dozens of national recording acts in the Chevrolet Music Series, including Grammy winners, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame performers, and so many more. There will be a daily 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. concert at Chevy Court (located near Gate 1) with an extra show at 9:00 p.m. on Friday nights, as well as a daily 8:00 p.m. concert at Suburban Park (located on the western end of the Fairgrounds, beyond the Midway).

    Updated concert schedules are available on The Fair’s website at pages dedicated to Chevy Court and Suburban Park.

    HOW TO PURCHASE TICKETS AND PARKING TO THE GREAT NEW YORK STATE FAIR

    There are three ways to buy admission tickets and/or parking: online, over the phone, and in-person from August 20 through September 1.

    • Online: The link to purchase admission tickets and parking will go live at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, July 7, at The Great New York State Fair’s website.
    • Over the Phone: Starting July 7, tickets and parking may also be purchased over the phone by calling Etix toll-free at 1-800-514-3849 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday.
    • At the Gate: Beginning Wednesday, August 20, kiosks positioned at all gates will be available for electronic ticket purchases. To minimize waiting time for the kiosks, large signs featuring QR codes will also be available at all entrances and in parking lots so fairgoers can use their smartphone to purchase tickets.

    Including fees, the total cost for fairgoers will be:

    • Admission: $8.32 per ticket ($8 admission, ticket fee of 14 cents, credit card processing fee of 18 cents)
    • Frequent Fairgoer: $25.70 ($25 Frequent Fairgoer pass, ticket fee of 14 cents, credit card processing fee of 56 cents; note that the Frequent Fairgoer passes are available exclusively online)
    • Parking: $12.41 per vehicle ($12 parking, ticket fee of 14 cents, credit card processing fee of 27 cents)

    Upon arrival to The Fair, drivers must show their parking ticket to lot attendants electronically on their phones or through a printed copy. Please note that again this year, EZPass Plus is not an option for parking. Parking passes may be purchased with a credit card at the lots. Please note that cash is not accepted.

    There will be no cash sales at The Fair’s entrance gates or in parking lots. Machines that can convert cash into a usable card will be positioned at The Fair’s Main Gate for those fairgoers bringing cash to the grounds.

    HOURS OF OPERATION

    The Great New York State Fair begins on Wednesday, August 20 and continues through Labor Day, September 1. The Fair’s hours of operation are from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. every day, except for Labor Day, when The Fair closes at 9:00 p.m. Gates open to the public at 9:00 a.m. and close at 9:00 p.m. every day except for Labor Day, Monday, September 4, when no entry will be permitted after 8:00 p.m.

    Parking Hours: The Orange parking lot opens at 9:00 a.m. daily, with the Brown and Pink lots opening daily at 6:00 a.m., and the Gray lots opening daily at 8:30 a.m. The Willis Ave parking lot opens at 10:00 a.m., but will only be accessible only on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Labor Day.

    Trams: For the convenience of fairgoers, trams will run continuously on the Fairgrounds, stopping at 10 stops from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.* every day. Plus, a dedicated ADA shuttle runs between the Gray Accessible Parking lot, located outside Gate 10, to Tram Stop #3 at the rear entrance of the Horticulture Building from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.* each day.

    *Note, on Monday, September 1, the trams stop running one hour earlier.

    CENTRO’S PARK-N-RIDE DIRECT SHUTTLE SERVICE TO AND FROM THE FAIR

    Centro’s Park-N-Ride direct shuttle service will provide passengers with transportation from the Centro Transit Hub Downtown, Long Branch Park, and Destiny USA to and from the Fairgrounds with drop-off and pick-up points to the left of the Main Gate. To ride the shuttle one way, the fee is $1 for adults, and 50 cents for senior citizens, children six to nine years old, and those who are living with disabilities. The last shuttle leaves the Fairgrounds each day at 11:15 p.m. Shuttles will run on a limited schedule after 9:00 p.m. on September 1 as The Fair closes earlier that day.

    WADE SHOWS MIDWAY: TICKETS ON SALE SOON

    Advance tickets for The Fair’s famous Midway, operated by Wade Shows, will go on sale in the coming weeks. Stay up-to-date with The Fair’s social media and website to be the first to hear when these tickets are available for purchase.

    ABOUT THE GREAT NEW YORK STATE FAIR

    Founded in 1841, The Great New York State Fair showcases the best of New York agriculture, provides top-quality entertainment, and is a key piece of the state’s CNY Rising strategy of growing the Central New York economy through tourism. It is the oldest fair in the United States and is consistently recognized as being among the top five state fairs in the nation.

    The New York State Fairgrounds is a 375-acre exhibit and entertainment complex that operates all year. Audiences are encouraged to learn more about The Great New York State Fair online, browse photos on Flickr, and follow the fun on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Completion of Renovations for NYCHA Residents

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt today announced the completion of 125 elevator replacements, 17 heating system upgrades, and 36 building facade renovations, benefitting 38,974 NYCHA residents at 24 developments across the five boroughs, made possible by $1.2 billion in funding that has been provided by the State of New York through the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY). Additionally, State capital funding is also supporting an additional 126 elevator replacements, 105 heating systems upgrades, and 29 building facade renovations all currently under construction, and an additional 172 elevator replacements and 59 building facade renovations in design and procurement. In total, these capital investments are expected to benefit nearly 123,000 residents across 75 developments. As part of the FY25 and FY26 budgets, Governor Hochul allocated an additional $365 million to NYCHA, bringing the total state capital funding allocation to $1.6 billion since 2019.

    “With this important milestone, NYCHA has completed major building improvements, leveraging $1.2 billion in state investment to improve the homes and lives of tens of thousands of NYCHA residents,” Governor Hochul said. “NYCHA residents deserve access to a safe, affordable, and quality place to live — and these improvements are critical to making that reality. I am proud to partner with NYCHA, its residents, and local and state officials to support NYCHA communities.”

    New York City Mayor Eric Adams said, “We are proud to call ourselves the most pro-housing administration in New York City history and that includes public housing. From unlocking over $4.7 billion for capital repairs through the PACT program to delivering free internet to over 150,000 NYCHA households through our Big Apple Connect initiative, we are putting public housing first every day. These renovations will help tens of thousands of NYCHA residents stay safe, stay warm, and stay healthy. Thank you to the state for funding these critical upgrades and to all our NYCHA leaders for their tireless advocacy on behalf of our public housing tenants.”

    NYCHA CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt said, “Since 2019, NYCHA has worked diligently to address the pillar areas of the HUD Agreement and make tangible quality of life improvements for NYCHA residents. The Authority has made tremendous progress in the face of decades of federal disinvestment, and the support of our partners at the State has been integral as we continue working to improve building infrastructure and make much needed capital improvements across the portfolio. We deeply appreciate the State’s ongoing dedication to all the New Yorkers that call NYCHA home.”

    Dormitory Authority of the State of New York President and CEO Robert J. Rodriguez said, “Governor Hochul’s commitment to public housing is making a real difference for NYCHA residents. DASNY is proud to support this work by disbursing critical resources that help advance essential upgrades — from modern elevators to reliable heating systems. These improvements reflect the quality of life all New Yorkers deserve, and we’re honored to partner with the State and NYCHA on this transformative effort.”

    New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “This $1.2 billion investment of state funds has helped make significant improvements to NYCHA properties that will improve the quality of life for nearly 39,000 residents throughout the five boroughs. This investment reflects Governor Hochul’s continued commitment to ensure NYCHA residents have a safe and affordable place to call home.”

    Nearly 39,000 residents will benefit from 125 elevator replacements, 17 heating system upgrades, and 36 building facade renovations at 24 developments. Since Governor Hochul has taken office, NYCHA has received a total capital funding allocation of $1.2 billion from the State through three funding agreements: $450 million for boiler and elevator upgrades in November 2021; $300 million for additional elevator upgrades in April 2022; and $485 million for facade restoration and additional heating system upgrades in December 2023.

    As part of the FY25 and FY26 budgets, Governor Hochul secured $140 million to fund additional facade and heating system upgrades and $225 million to fund additional capital improvements, including $25 million for vacant NYCHA units and $200 million other capital work, providing vital support to this essential housing stock and critical quality of life improvements for the residents who call it home. This builds on the Governor’s ongoing commitment to public and subsidized housing, including her dedication of $391 million in additional state Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) and other funding in her FY24 budget to help ensure public housing residents who fell behind on their rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic received payments. An estimated 58,000 households have been assisted as a result to date. In June 2022, Governor Hochul previously signed legislation creating the New York Public Housing Preservation Trust, aimed at addressing overdue repairs, rehabilitation, and modernization of up to 25,000 NYCHA apartments.

    State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal said, “I’m thrilled that thanks to $1.2 billion in funding from New York State, NYCHA has completed much needed upgrades to 24 developments throughout the five boroughs. Once the remainder of the work is finished, over 120,000 New Yorkers across 75 NYCHA developments will be able to benefit from more reliable elevator service, new and improved heating systems, and crucial facade repairs that will improve both the aesthetics and the safety of their buildings. All New Yorkers deserve to live in homes that are safe, accessible, and comfortable. I’m grateful to my colleagues in the State Legislature, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, and Governor Hochul for allocating this funding, which will go a long way towards making that a reality.”

    State Senator Roxanne J. Persaud said, “I am pleased to learn of the much-needed improvements made to NYCHA housing, especially in Senate District 19. The recent investments in Unity Plaza and Pink Houses are a long-overdue step toward improving the quality of life for NYCHA residents in our community. With new elevators at Unity Plaza and heating system upgrades at Pink Houses, families in East New York are seeing progress. I will continue to advocate for sustained and expanded support to ensure all NYCHA residents live in safe, modern, and healthy homes.”

    State Senator Jamaal T. Bailey said, “This milestone reflects our unwavering commitment to providing safe, healthy, and modern homes for NYCHA residents across the five boroughs. With the support of $1.2 billion in essential State funding, vital improvements to elevators, heating systems, and building facades have been made, directly impacting the quality of life for nearly 39,000 New Yorkers. These investments not only address critical infrastructure needs but also reaffirm our mission to preserve housing for generations to come.”

    State Senator Luis R. Sepúlveda said, “Every New Yorker deserves to live with dignity, and that begins with safe, warm homes and reliable infrastructure. I’m proud to have helped deliver funding for NYCHA developments in my district, ensuring that residents can rely on modern systems that meet their needs. These improvements are more than brick and mortar — they are a lifeline for our families, our seniors, and our future. This progress is a great start, but it is just the beginning. I stand proudly alongside NYCHA and my colleagues as we continue to fight for the investment our communities have long deserved.”

    State Senator John C. Liu said, “Too many NYCHA residents have had to forgo their health, security and dignity due to crumbling infrastructure and delayed repairs. With this state funding, NYCHA residents across the city will finally see long-overdue improvements to heating, elevators and building facades. While there is always more to be done to keep our NYCHA buildings in a state of good repair, this funding will address many urgent needs and help improve the long-term viability of our NYCHA developments.”

    State Senator Julia Salazar said, “I applaud the recent progress and upgrades made by NYCHA, which benefit nearly 39,000 residents and was made possible by a state funding initiative. I look forward to continuing our work toward addressing the pressing needs of our NYCHA developments.”

    State Senator Kristen Gonzalez said, “As a State Senator, I am proud to have helped secure state funding for these projects. Seniors, children, and residents with mobility impairments deserve modern, working, and safe elevators, and I’m so happy that Queensbridge North residents are receiving these replacements. I look forward to continuing to fight for more NYCHA funding to repair and maintain these essential developments in NYC.”

    State Senator Gustavo Rivera said, “I’m thrilled to see state funding finally put to good use for critical infrastructure upgrades at Pelham Parkway Houses and across the City. I’m glad to see this funding prioritized for major capital projects rather than tinkering around the edges of deep-rooted issues.”

    Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie said, “The completion of these projects to make NYCHA properties more accessible and efficient will be an incredible benefit to residents across the city. The Assembly Majority understands the critical need for affordable and reliable housing and will continue to support NYCHA’s efforts to improve facilities so that all residents can thrive.”

    Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz said, “I am very excited that we were able to provide 1.2 billion dollars in funding to help with capital upgrades for dozens of NYCHA developments throughout the city, including Marble Hill Housing in my district. Tens of thousands of residents live in these developments and these capital improvements will have a significantly positive impact on all of them. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the future so that we can continue to make the necessary improvements in our public housing.”

    Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal said, “Investing in public housing is critical to ensuring that New Yorkers have stable and affordable places to call home. Our state budgets have delivered $1.2 billion in capital funding to NYCHA since 2021, and I am pleased that residents are seeing the benefits of elevator replacements, heating system upgrades, facade renovations and more across the city. With looming threats to our federal funding, we must continue to protect and preserve public housing. As Housing Chair, I will continue my work to ensure NYCHA has the necessary support to succeed.”

    Assemblymember Chantel Jackson said, “There is not enough the state of New York can do to fix the years of disinvestment done by the federal government but I’m glad to say that every year I advocate for NYCHA funding. This year was no different. These funds will help the over 20 developments in my district and across the city. Cheers to us!”

    Assemblymember Manny De Los Santos said, “These upgrades are a long-overdue investment in the dignity and well-being of NYCHA residents. I’m proud to see State funding delivering real results, safer elevators, better heating, and improved living conditions for thousands of families. This is what housing justice looks like.”

    Assemblymember Alec Brook-Krasny said, “Improvements to the housing situation of the city’s most vulnerable were long overdue and I’m happy to have been able to direct our public funds to where they were so sorely needed. With the newly completed elevator projects in Coney Island, residents’ quality of life will change for the better, which will add to their well-being in multiple ways. It’s about time we showed NYCHA residents the respect they deserve.”

    Assemblymember Micah C. Lasher said, “The capital challenges facing NYCHA are vast, and all of us in government have much more to do for NYCHA residents. But it’s good to be able to celebrate small wins, particularly right here in our community. The heating system improvements at 830 Amsterdam Avenue, and building facade renovations at Douglass I, Douglass II, and Thomas Apartments will hopefully improve the quality of life for thousands of NYCHA residents in the 69th assembly district.”

    Assemblymember Amanda Septimo said, “As a representative of the South Bronx, I’m proud to see our state’s investment delivering real results for NYCHA residents. These critical upgrades — new elevators, reliable heating, and safer buildings — are long overdue and deeply deserved. This is about dignity, safety, and making sure our public housing residents are not forgotten. We must continue to prioritize funding that improves the quality of life for the families who call NYCHA home.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man convicted of Hackney murder

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A man has been convicted of murdering 53-year-old Derek Thomas, who was fatally stabbed outside his home in Hackney in July 2024.

    Today, Monday, 7 July, Kamar Williams, 34 (21.01.91) of West Ferry Road, E14, was found guilty of Derek’s murder following a trial at the Old Bailey.

    The court heard how, in the early evening of 30 July 2024, Williams sent threatening text messages to Derek’s daughter, who was William’s ex-partner, warning her to “watch this space”.

    Hours later, CCTV captured Williams driving a grey van along Benthal Road, N16. He stopped directly outside Derek’s home. Williams was wearing a pair of reflective trainers, which made him easily identifiable throughout the CCTV footage.

    Williams was seen pacing along Benthal Road, loitering near Derek’s home, before disappearing out of shot. Moments later, he returned to his van and drove away at 23:03hrs.

    At 23:04hrs, police received a 999 call from a member of the public reporting that a man had been stabbed with a ‘very big knife’. Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended, but despite their best efforts, Derek died at the scene.

    Detective Inspector John Marriott, who led the investigation, said: “This was a brutal and premeditated attack on a much-loved father. Kamar Williams showed clear intent that night, driving to Derek’s home, waiting for the right moment, and carrying out this senseless act of violence.

    “The swift response from our officers, combined with extensive CCTV, forensic work, and determination from our investigation team, led to his arrest and conviction.

    “Our thoughts remain with Derek’s family, who have shown immense strength throughout this ordeal.”

    Following the conviction, Derek’s family said: “Derek will be greatly missed by his family and friends, he was a dedicated family man and worked hard to provide for them. He was the life and soul of the family. Derek was always on hand to provide support, knowledge, advice and was a calming influence when it was required. His passing has left a massive hole in the lives of his wife, children, grandchildren, family and all that knew him. He was greatly loved by all and will never be forgotten.”

    The investigation progressed rapidly. On 1 August 2024, police were contacted about an abandoned grey van on Langford Close, E8. Inside, officers recovered a bank card belonging to Williams from the driver’s seat, directly linking him to the vehicle.

    Analysis of the Automatic Number Plate Recognition system showed that the van had travelled multiple times between the crime scene and Williams’ home address.

    Enquiries at a local hospital also revealed that Williams had sought treatment for a 5cm cut to his left knee on 31 July, the day after the murder—further evidence tying him to the violent incident.

    Williams repeatedly attempted to evade police. On 3 August, traffic officers tried to stop a silver BMW on Burnt Ash Hill, SE9, but the driver made off. It was later established that Williams was behind the wheel.

    In a further effort to avoid arrest, Williams left London temporarily. However, following a manhunt, officers identified and arrested him within the footprint of Notting Hill Carnival on 26 August 2024. He was charged with murder the following day.

    Kamar Williams was also found guilty of possession of an offensive weapon. He will be sentenced on Friday, 18 July at the same court.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Laurel Lee’s Statement on the Passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Laurel Lee – Florida (15th District)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Laurel Lee joined her House Republican colleagues in passing the amended version of H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, through the House of Representatives. This landmark legislation delivers the largest tax cut in decades for working- and middle-class American families. It eliminates the looming $3,650 tax hike threatening the average Florida household, protects nearly 400,000 jobs, and preserves critical benefits like the child tax credit and small business deductions that millions of Floridians rely on. The bill now heads to President Trump’s desk.

    Congresswoman Lee issued the following statement:

    “This legislation gives Florida families real relief—protecting their paychecks, lowering their tax burden, and expanding opportunity. It makes the Trump tax cuts permanent, ends unfair taxes on tips and overtime, and preserves essential benefits like the child tax credit. It also strengthens critical programs like Medicaid and Social Security to ensure they work better and last longer. In addition, it empowers law enforcement to enforce our immigration laws and restore order at the southern border.

    At its core, the One Big Beautiful Bill stands with the hardworking people who make our country strong—American families, small businesses, and the workers who are the foundation of Florida’s economy and our nation’s future.”

    Key Provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill for Florida:

    • Permanently codifies the 2017 Trump tax cuts, preventing a tax increase of up to 24% for families and 43.4% for small businesses in Florida.
    • Eliminates federal taxes on tips, overtime pay, and car loan interest, benefiting workers in Florida’s hospitality, tourism, and service sectors.
    • Provides relief to seniors by increasing their standard deduction and exempting more Social Security income from taxation. 
    • Implements Medicaid reforms to ensure program integrity and long-term sustainability by focusing resources on qualified individuals and preventing fraud.
    • Strengthens border security by expanding immigration enforcement capacity through the 287(g) program, allowing state and local law enforcement to assist in enforcing federal immigration laws and detaining individuals who enter the country illegally.
    • Enhances protections for unaccompanied minors by requiring the federal government to coordinate with states to ensure proper placement, track their whereabouts, and prevent trafficking or exploitation.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Video: President Cyril Ramaphosa wrap interview at the XVII BRICS Summit in Rio deJaneiro.

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)

    President Cyril Ramaphosa wrap interview at the XVII BRICS Summit in Rio deJaneiro.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtU1J1I8OKI

    MIL OSI Video

  • Norwegian carbon storage model may shape India’s net-zero path: Hardeep Puri

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, said on Monday that the government is exploring various projects in Norway to leverage its expertise to upgrade and expand India’s energy capabilities.

    “In our continued quest to provide momentum to India’s efforts to achieve energy security under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I visited the Northern Lights CO₂ Terminal in Bergen, Norway. It is the largest project for carbon storage funded by the Norwegian government and partnered by Equinor, Shell & Total Energies,” Puri said in a post on X.

    “We are reviewing this and similar projects to upgrade and expand India’s energy capabilities. Norway’s expertise in deepwater exploration, seismic oil surveys, offshore wind, and carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies aligns well with India’s ambitious energy transition agenda,” Puri added.

    He pointed out that Norway’s unique terminal in Bergen can store up to 100 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. It has an open and flexible infrastructure to transport CO₂ from capture sites by ship to a receiving terminal in western Norway for intermediate storage, before being transported by pipeline for safe and permanent storage in a reservoir 110 km offshore and 2,600 metres under the seabed.

    Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology involves capturing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from industrial sources like power plants and factories, transporting it, and then storing it underground to prevent its release into the atmosphere. This process is a key strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change.

    The process involves separating CO₂ from other gases at the source of emission, such as power plants or industrial facilities. Different capture methods exist, including post-combustion capture (separating CO₂ from flue gas), pre-combustion capture (separating CO₂ before fuel combustion), and oxy-fuel combustion (burning fuel with pure oxygen).

    The captured CO₂ is typically compressed into a supercritical state (liquid-like) to be transported via pipelines, ships, or other means. The CO₂ is then injected deep underground into geological formations like depleted oil and gas reservoirs, saline aquifers, or other suitable rock formations.

    These formations are chosen to ensure the CO₂ remains trapped and isolated from the atmosphere for long periods.

    CCS is a crucial technology for mitigating climate change by preventing CO₂ from entering the atmosphere. It can help decarbonise industries that produce significant CO₂ emissions, such as cement and steel production.

    IANS

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Admissions Campaign 2025: Entrance Exams for Bachelor’s and Specialist Degrees at HSE

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University “Higher School of Economics” –

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    We use cookies to improve the HSE website and make it more convenient to use. More detailed information about the use of cookies can be foundHere, our rules for processing personal data are –Here. By continuing to use the site, you confirm that you have been informed of the use of cookies by the HSE website and agree with our rules for processing personal data. You can disable cookies in your browser settings.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Admissions Campaign 2025: Entrance Exams for Bachelor’s and Specialist Degrees at HSE

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University “Higher School of Economics” –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The site may not display correctly in older browser versions. For optimal site experience, we recommend using a modern browser.

    We use cookies to improve the HSE website and make it more convenient to use. More detailed information about the use of cookies can be foundHere, our rules for processing personal data are –Here. By continuing to use the site, you confirm that you have been informed of the use of cookies by the HSE website and agree with our rules for processing personal data. You can disable cookies in your browser settings.

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