NewzIntel.com

Category: DJF

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján: Republican Bill Betrays New Mexico Families by Taking an Axe to Health Care, Nutrition Programs, and Rural Communities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)

    WATCH: Luján Holds Senate Floor During Midnight Session 

    WATCH: Luján Introduces Amendment to Save SNAP 

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued the following statement after Senate Republicans voted to pass their partisan budget reconciliation bill: 

    “Senate Republicans just pushed through a budget bill that hurts New Mexican families. In their rush to meet President Trump’s demands, they voted blindly, with no regard for the harm this bill will inflict on all of our constituents.

    “This Republican bill guts health care for children and families, strips food assistance from our neighbors, and puts rural hospitals and grocery stores on the brink of closure – all to hand out massive tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy and big corporations. It also adds more than $3 trillion to the national debt – driving up interest rates across the board, making car loans and mortgages more expensive for families, and raising borrowing costs for small businesses and farmers.

    “This bill is not just bad policy – it’s a failure of leadership and a betrayal of New Mexico families, rural communities, and American values.”

    Senator Luján backed a series of amendments and motions to the Republican reconciliation bill aimed at protecting access to health care and nutrition programs and lowering costs for New Mexicans. Senate Republicans blocked these common-sense proposals from Senator Luján and Senate Democrats. Among those measures:

    Keeping Food on the Table for New Mexicans: 

    Millions of families rely on nutrition assistance programs. Senator Luján led a motion to protect funding for SNAP that ensures New Mexico families and children have access to nutritious food. These programs also support New Mexico’s farmers, ranchers, and local communities that rely on these dollars to keep food on shelves and economies strong. 

    Defending Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act:

    Republicans are trying to pay for tax breaks for the wealthy and big corporations by ripping away Medicaid coverage from millions of Americans. New Mexico has the highest per-capita Medicaid enrollment in the country, and children, pregnant women, and working families depend on it. Senator Luján supported a motion to strengthen Medicaid and protect health care for New Mexicans.

    Keeping New Mexico Communities Safe:

    Amid a nationwide shortage of police officers, Senator Luján proposed a motion to provide increased resources for local law enforcement by funding the COPS Hiring Program. Senator Luján previously led dozens of his colleagues in calling for additional funding for public safety.

    Protecting New Mexicans from Wildfires:

    As wildfires continue to devastate New Mexico and the West, Senator Luján supported a motion to invest in wildfire prevention and protect our communities from future disasters.

    Protecting Clean Energy Investments:

    As the climate crisis grows more urgent – and Republicans push to gut clean energy programs – Senator Luján supported amendments to safeguard investments in our energy future and reduce costs.

    Lowering Taxes for Small Businesses and the Middle Class: 

    To bring down costs for New Mexico families and small businesses, Senator Luján supported amendments that would provide tax relief to the middle class and small businesses.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Jaishankar urges Quad partners to back India’s zero tolerance policy on terror

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Tuesday reiterated India’s right to defend itself against terrorism and urged the Quad to understand this position, as the foreign ministers of the four-nation group gathered for their ministerial meeting.

    “India has every right to defend its people against terrorism, and we will exercise that right,” he said, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya standing beside him.

    “We expect our Quad partners to understand and appreciate that,” he emphasised.

    This marks the first Quad ministerial where the four foreign ministers are meeting together following the heinous Pahalgam massacre on April 22, carried out by Pakistan-backed terrorists, and India’s subsequent decisive response — ‘Operation Sindoor’.

    Referring to the Pahalgam attack, EAM Jaishankar said, “A word about terrorism in light of our recent experience: The world must display zero tolerance. Victims and perpetrators must never be equated.”

    Counter-terrorism remains a core focus of the Quad agenda.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to host the Quad leaders’ summit later this year, which will include U.S. President Donald Trump, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

    “We have some proposals on how to make that summit productive,” Jaishankar said. “I’m sure our partners do as well. We will discuss them, and I’m confident we can agree on a constructive way forward.”

    “A lot is happening in the world, and I’m sure that our exchange of views will be very valuable for all of us,” he added.

    He underlined that the Quad is committed to a rules-based international order, stating, “It is essential that nations of the Indo-Pacific have the freedom of choice — a prerequisite for making the right decisions.”

    The task before the Quad, he said, is “deepening our convergence and expanding our common ground.”

    “In recent months, we have made significant progress in various Quad initiatives,” he said.

    “These include areas like the maritime domain, technology, education, and political coordination.”

    Regarding their current meeting, he added, “We will also be discussing how the functioning of the Quad has been enhanced by streamlining working groups into a more cohesive, nimble, and focused structure.”

    “I value our consultations on various dimensions of the Indo-Pacific,” he concluded.

    — IANS

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Play! Memorial Park tennis courts back in use after revamp

    Source: City of Canterbury

    Home  »  Latest News   »   Play! Memorial Park tennis courts back in use after revamp

    Just as Wimbledon is underway, we have now completed a fantastic revamp of the tennis courts in Herne Bay Memorial Park.

    Four of the eight courts have been completely resurfaced, with the other four thoroughly cleaned and resprayed. All eight now sport the classic tennis blue and green colours.

    In addition, they all have new posts and nets, and one of the courts has pickleball line markings as well as tennis markings.

    These courts will remain free of charge to use and no booking is required.

    Cabinet member for open spaces, Cllr Mel Dawkins (pictured left, above), joined Lord Mayor Cllr Keji Moses and Heron ward councillor David Thomas for an inspection and the chance to hit a few shots.

    Cllr Dawkins said: “The courts look absolutely ‘ace’ and we are sure they are going to prove to be a ‘smash’ in the town.

    “It’s a job really well done and thanks go to the council officers who have run this project and our contractor ETC Sports Surfaces for such professional work.”

    The revamp cost £70,000 and was paid for using section 106 planning contributions from developers.

    We are also keen to develop a ‘Friends of…’ group for the courts to encourage activity and help to report any issues.

    Anyone interested in getting involved should email Leisure Development Officer Giles Seaford at giles.seaford@canterbury.gov.uk.

    Published: 1 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Research and outreach in the Clear Lake Volcanic Field

    Source: US Geological Survey

    CalVO geologist Seth Burgess looking across Clear Lake at Mount Konocti, a prominent volcanic dome complex within the Clear Lake volcanic field. Photo courtesy of Alexander Rubin (rights reserved)

    The Clear Lake Volcanic Field is located ~ 100 miles north of San Francisco, CA and is named after the lake adjacent to which much of the volcanism occurred. Eruptions have happened here in the past 10 thousand years, making it a “high threat” volcanic system, the closest such system to the densely populated Bay Area. With eruptions as old as almost 3 million years, the Clear Lake field is a spectacular example of long-lived volcanism. In its lifetime, the field has erupted numerous lava flows, built lava domes and cinder cones, and exploded maar craters. CalVO is actively studying and monitoring the Clear Lake field in an attempt to better understand its volcanic past and thus better predict how it might behave in future years, centuries, and millennia. Part of these efforts includes sharing science with local landowners, such as farmers and wineries, who are very interested in how volcanic soils affect the wines made from grapes grown upon them.

    In this photo, Dr. Seth Burgess, a CalVO geologist, is taking a break from “volcano camp,” an event hosted by Brassfield Estate Winery, during which wine industry professionals came together to discuss worldwide wines made from grapes grown on volcanic rocks. Seth is looking out over Clear Lake at Mount Konocti, a group of volcanic domes and lava flows erupted around 400 thousand years ago. The opportunity to speak with folks at events like Volcano Camp is critical to effectively communicating exciting new science with stakeholders who live and work within the Clear Lake volcanic field.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Sues Trump Administration for Illegally Sharing Californians’ Personal Health Data with ICE

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today, leading a multistate coalition, is filing a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) decision to provide unfettered access to individual personal health data to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which houses Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In the seven decades since Congress enacted the Medicaid Act to provide medical assistance to vulnerable populations, federal law, policy, and practice has been clear: the personal healthcare data collected about beneficiaries of the program is confidential, to be shared only in certain narrow circumstances that benefit public health and the integrity of the Medicaid program itself. In today’s lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Attorney General Bonta and the coalition argue that the mass transfer of this data violates the law and ask the court to block any new transfer or use of this data for immigration enforcement purposes. 

    “The Trump Administration has upended longstanding privacy protections with its decision to illegally share sensitive, personal health data with ICE. In doing so, it has created a culture of fear that will lead to fewer people seeking vital emergency medical care,” said Attorney General Bonta. “I’m sickened by this latest salvo in the President’s anti-immigrant campaign. We’re headed to court to prevent any further sharing of Medicaid data — and to ensure any of the data that’s already been shared is not used for immigration enforcement purposes.”

    Created in 1965, Medicaid is an essential source of health insurance for lower-income individuals and particular underserved population groups, including children, pregnant women, individuals with disabilities, and seniors. The Medicaid program allows each participating state to develop and administer its own unique health plans; states must meet threshold federal statutory criteria, but they can tailor their plans’ eligibility standards and coverage options to residents’ needs. As of January 2025, 78.4 million people were enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) nationwide.  

    California’s Medi-Cal program provides healthcare coverage for one out of every three Californians, including more than two million noncitizens. Noncitizens include green card holders, refugees, individuals who hold temporary protected status, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival recipients, and others. Not all noncitizens are eligible for federally funded Medi-Cal services, and so California uses state-only funds to provide a version of the Medi-Cal program to all eligible state residents, regardless of their immigration status. 

    A certain amount of personal data is routinely exchanged between the states and the federal government for purposes of administering Medicaid, including verifying eligibility for federal funding. Historically, DHS has acknowledged that the Medicaid Act and other federal healthcare authorities foreclose the use of Medicaid personal information for immigration enforcement purposes. Yet now, the federal government appears to have — without formal acknowledgment — adopted a new policy that allows for the wholesale disclosure and use of state residents’ personal Medicaid data for purposes unrelated to Medicaid program administration. On June 13, 2025, California and other states learned through news reports that HHS has transferred en masse their state’s Medicaid data files, containing personal health records representing millions of individuals, to DHS. Reports indicate that the federal government plans to create a sweeping database for “mass deportations” and other large-scale immigration enforcement purposes.

    The federal government claims it gave this data to DHS “to ensure that Medicaid benefits are reserved for individuals who are lawfully entitled to receive them.” But it is Congress that extended coverage and federal funds for emergency Medicaid to all individuals residing in the United States, regardless of immigration status. The states have and will continue to cooperate with federal oversight activities to ensure that the federal government pays only for those Medicaid services that are legally authorized.  

    In today’s lawsuit, Attorney General Bonta and the coalition highlight that the Trump Administration’s illegal actions are creating fear and confusion that will lead noncitizens and their family members to disenroll, or refuse to enroll, in emergency Medicaid for which they are otherwise eligible, leaving states and their safety net hospitals to foot the bill for federally mandated emergency healthcare services.  They may not get the emergency health services they need and will suffer negative health consequences — and even death — as a result. The coalition asks that the court find the Trump Administration’s actions arbitrary and capricious and rulemaking without proper procedure in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act, contrary to the Social Security Act, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Federal Information Security Modernization Act, and Privacy Act, and in violation of the Spending Clause. They ask the court to enjoin HHS from transferring personally identifiable Medicaid data to DHS or any other federal agency and DHS from using this data to conduct immigration enforcement.  

    Attorney General Bonta leads the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washinton in filing the lawsuit. 

    A copy of the lawsuit will be posted online here when available.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department Charges Two Individuals with Acting as Agents of the PRC Government

    Source: US State of California

    Arrests Disrupted Clandestine PRC Ministry of State Security Intelligence Network Operating in the United States

    Two nationals of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) made their initial appearances in federal court in Portland, Oregon, and Houston, Texas, yesterday to face charges issued out of the Northern District of California for acting as agents of the Government of the PRC without prior notification to the Attorney General. The defendants, Yuance Chen, 38, a PRC national and legal permanent resident who resides in Happy Valley, Oregon, and Liren “Ryan” Lai, 39, a PRC national who traveled from the PRC to Houston, Texas, on a tourist visa in April 2025, were arrested Friday on a criminal complaint charging them with overseeing and carrying out various clandestine intelligence taskings in the United States on behalf of the PRC Government’s principal foreign intelligence service, the Ministry of State Security (MSS). These activities included facilitating a “dead drop” payment of cash for information relating to the national security of the United States previously provided to the MSS, gathering intelligence about U.S. Navy service members and bases, and assisting with efforts to recruit other individuals from within the U.S. military as potential MSS assets.

    Chen and Lai were arrested on June 27, 2025, by the FBI in Happy Valley, Oregon, and Houston Texas, as part of a coordinated counterintelligence and law enforcement operation across multiple states.

    “This case underscores the Chinese government’s sustained and aggressive effort to infiltrate our military and undermine our national security from within,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Justice Department will not stand by while hostile nations embed spies in our country – we will expose foreign operatives, hold their agents to account, and protect the American people from covert threats to our national security.”

    “The FBI arrested two Chinese nationals who were allegedly attempting to recruit U.S. military service members on behalf of the PRC,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The Chinese Communist Party thought they were getting away with their scheme to operate on U.S. soil, utilizing spy craft, like dead drops, to pay their sources. This case was a complex, coordinated effort and is an example of outstanding counterintelligence work done by FBI San Francisco, Portland, Houston, San Diego, and the Counterintelligence Division. The FBI will continue to vigilantly defend the homeland from China’s pervasive attempts to infiltrate our borders.”

    “Adverse foreign intelligence services like the PRC’s Ministry of State Security dedicate years to recruiting individuals and cultivating them as intelligence assets to do their bidding within the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Under my leadership, the National Security Division will continue to defend our nation and neutralize our adversaries’ clandestine spy networks.”

    “These charges reflect the breadth of the efforts by our foreign adversaries to target the United States — this time by conducting illegal intelligence-gathering operations aimed at our national security information and military service members,” said U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California. “My office and the FBI remain ever vigilant in guarding against these threats to the United States. We will continue to undertake counterespionage investigations and prosecutions, no matter how complex and sensitive, to disrupt attempts to weaken our national security.”

    As alleged in the criminal complaint unsealed yesterday, the PRC Government conducts intelligence activities against the United States through multiple arms, including the MSS. The MSS handles civilian intelligence collection for the PRC and is responsible for counterintelligence and foreign intelligence, as well as political security. The MSS and its bureaus seek to obtain information on political, economic, and security policies that might affect the PRC, along with military, scientific, and technical information of value to the PRC. The MSS and its bureaus are tasked with conducting clandestine and covert human source operations, of which the United States is a principal target.

    As alleged in the criminal complaint, Lai recruited Chen to work on behalf of the MSS in or about 2021. While in Guangzhou, China, in January 2022, Lai and Chen worked together to facilitate a dead-drop payment of at least $10,000 on behalf of the MSS, working with other individuals located in the United States to leave a backpack with the cash at a day-use locker at a recreational facility located in Livermore, California.

    Following the January 2022 dead drop, Lai and Chen continued to work on behalf of the MSS, including to help identify potential assets for MSS recruitment within the ranks of the U.S. Navy. For example, beginning in 2022, Chen was tasked by Lai and other agents of the MSS to contact a Navy employee over social media, and then later, in 2025, arranged for a tour with the employee of the USS Abraham Lincoln and provided information about the employee to the MSS. In 2022 and 2023, Chen was tasked to visit a U.S. Naval installation in Washington State and a U.S. Navy recruitment center in San Gabriel, California. While in the recruitment center, Chen obtained photographs of a bulletin board containing the names, programs, and hometowns of recent Navy recruits, the majority of whom listed their hometown as “China,” which he appears to have transmitted to an MSS intelligence officer in China. The complaint also alleges that Chen received instruction from the MSS on what to say to potential recruits regarding potential payment that could be made by the MSS, preferred Naval job assignments for potential recruits, and methods for minimizing Chen’s risk of exposure. The complaint alleges that in 2023, Lai flew to the United States from the PRC and provided Chen with a cellphone that Chen then used to communicate with the MSS. The complaint also alleges that Chen traveled to Guangzhou and met with MSS intelligence officers in April 2024 and March 2025 in order to discuss compensation and specific taskings.

    The complaint also alleges that Lai traveled to Houston, Texas, in April 2025, claiming that the purpose of his visit was related to his business as an online retail seller, and that he would be staying in the Houston area for two weeks. However, on May 9, 2025 – more than four weeks after his arrival in the United States – Lai traveled by car with a companion from Houston to Southern California, via New Mexico and Tucson, Arizona, before returning to Texas, on May 15, 2025.

    Chen and Lai are charged with violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 951, which makes it a crime for a person to operate or agree to operate within the United States as an agent of a foreign government without notification to the Attorney General of the United States. If convicted, the defendants face a fine of up to $250,000 and a term of imprisonment of up to 10 years.

    The FBI San Francisco Field Office is leading the investigation, with valuable assistance provided by the FBI Portland, Houston, and San Diego Field Offices. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) also provided valuable assistance during the operation. 

    The National Security and Special Prosecutions Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California and the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are in charge of the prosecution. Significant operational support and assistance is also being provided by the District of Oregon, the Southern District of Texas, and the Southern District of California.

    A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Wayne County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

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

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Randy Price, 52, of Wayne, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 16, 2019, a law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Price in Charleston. Price attempted to flee on foot but was captured. Law enforcement seized a Raven Arms MP-25 .25-caliber pistol from the vehicle.

    Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Price knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for involuntary manslaughter and aggravated robbery in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas on June 28, 2002.

    Price is scheduled to be sentenced on October 2, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

    Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Charleston Police Department.

    United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys JC MacCallum and Negar M. Kordestani have prosecuted the case.

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

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-97.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Wayne County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

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

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Randy Price, 52, of Wayne, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 16, 2019, a law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Price in Charleston. Price attempted to flee on foot but was captured. Law enforcement seized a Raven Arms MP-25 .25-caliber pistol from the vehicle.

    Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Price knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for involuntary manslaughter and aggravated robbery in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas on June 28, 2002.

    Price is scheduled to be sentenced on October 2, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

    Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Charleston Police Department.

    United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys JC MacCallum and Negar M. Kordestani have prosecuted the case.

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

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-97.

    ###

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Pair Admit Attempted Armed Kidnapping and Robbery of Apartment Property Manager

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

    ST. LOUIS – Two people have admitted to attempting to kidnap and rob a St. Louis apartment property manager at gunpoint in 2024, as well as other gun crimes.

    Emma M. Cunningham, 32, pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court to attempted kidnapping, transfer of a firearm to a convicted felon and making a false statement in connection with the purchase of a firearm.

    Jervonz L. Williams, 49, pleaded guilty on June 23 to attempted kidnapping, robbery and possession of a firearm by a felon.

    Both admitted that on Feb. 20, 2024, Cunningham bought a handgun for Williams, her boyfriend and a convicted felon who is thus barred from possessing firearms. Cunningham lied on Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Form 4473 when she claimed she was buying the gun for herself and when she denied being an unlawful user of a controlled substance.

    Williams admitted using the gun to threaten others, including one of Cunningham’s neighbors. He also admitted using it to rob a drug dealer of $17, a gun and cocaine base in late June of 2024. Williams struck the dealer on the head with the revolver multiple times during the robbery.

    Williams and Cunningham used that gun again on Aug. 5, 2024, in a failed bid to kidnap an apartment property manager in St. Louis. The property manager was meeting Cunningham, her tenant, for a final walkthrough. When the victim entered the apartment, Cunningham locked the door and Williams threatened to kill her when she tried to call 911. Williams then demanded cash and the password to her phone so that they could access her financial accounts. They secured her to a chair with duct tape, but she broke free and was able to escape, even though Cunningham and Williams ripped off her shirt and tore out clumps of her hair trying to prevent her from leaving. Two days later, police arrested the couple. Williams had the .38-caliber revolver Cunningham purchased and she had a box of ammunition.

    Williams is scheduled to be sentenced on September 24 and Cunningham on September 30. The kidnapping and robbery charges each carry a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison. The felon in possession and transfer of a firearm charge each carry a penalty of up to 15 years. The false statement charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Bluestone is prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Pair Admit Attempted Armed Kidnapping and Robbery of Apartment Property Manager

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

    ST. LOUIS – Two people have admitted to attempting to kidnap and rob a St. Louis apartment property manager at gunpoint in 2024, as well as other gun crimes.

    Emma M. Cunningham, 32, pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court to attempted kidnapping, transfer of a firearm to a convicted felon and making a false statement in connection with the purchase of a firearm.

    Jervonz L. Williams, 49, pleaded guilty on June 23 to attempted kidnapping, robbery and possession of a firearm by a felon.

    Both admitted that on Feb. 20, 2024, Cunningham bought a handgun for Williams, her boyfriend and a convicted felon who is thus barred from possessing firearms. Cunningham lied on Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Form 4473 when she claimed she was buying the gun for herself and when she denied being an unlawful user of a controlled substance.

    Williams admitted using the gun to threaten others, including one of Cunningham’s neighbors. He also admitted using it to rob a drug dealer of $17, a gun and cocaine base in late June of 2024. Williams struck the dealer on the head with the revolver multiple times during the robbery.

    Williams and Cunningham used that gun again on Aug. 5, 2024, in a failed bid to kidnap an apartment property manager in St. Louis. The property manager was meeting Cunningham, her tenant, for a final walkthrough. When the victim entered the apartment, Cunningham locked the door and Williams threatened to kill her when she tried to call 911. Williams then demanded cash and the password to her phone so that they could access her financial accounts. They secured her to a chair with duct tape, but she broke free and was able to escape, even though Cunningham and Williams ripped off her shirt and tore out clumps of her hair trying to prevent her from leaving. Two days later, police arrested the couple. Williams had the .38-caliber revolver Cunningham purchased and she had a box of ammunition.

    Williams is scheduled to be sentenced on September 24 and Cunningham on September 30. The kidnapping and robbery charges each carry a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison. The felon in possession and transfer of a firearm charge each carry a penalty of up to 15 years. The false statement charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Bluestone is prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: African Development Bank approves ZAR 2.5 billion loan to City of Johannesburg for critical urban infrastructure development


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    The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) has approved a ZAR 2.5 billion (approximately $139 million) corporate loan to the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, marking the Bank’s first direct lending to a subnational entity in Africa.  

    The transaction will finance critical infrastructure projects in electricity, water, sanitation, and solid waste management, directly benefiting over 6 million residents in South Africa’s economic powerhouse. 

    The approval marks a transformative moment for municipal financing across Africa, operationalizing the African Development Bank’s Guidelines for Subnational Finance for the first time. The funding will exclusively support trading services infrastructure that generates revenue, ensuring sustainable debt repayment, while addressing urgent challenges in service delivery. 

    “This landmark transaction, led by the African Development Bank’s Infrastructure and Urban Development Department, in coordination with the Water and Sanitation Department,  and the Power Department, signals a new era in how the African Development Bank can empower cities,” said the Bank’s Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure & Industrialization, Solomon Quaynor. “By directly financing Johannesburg, we are unlocking a scalable model for subnational lending that enables multi-sectoral infrastructure delivery and positions the Bank as a trusted partner in driving sustainable, inclusive urban development across Africa.” 

    The loan will finance over 100 carefully selected projects across four vital sectors: upgrading distribution networks, installing smart meters, expanding renewable energy capacity, and connecting 3,200 new households to the grid; rehabilitating aging pipelines, upgrading treatment facilities, and reducing water losses from 46% to 37%;  and improving landfill compliance, expanding recycling facilities, and enhancing waste collection services. 

    “This historic transaction demonstrates the African Development Bank’s commitment to supporting creditworthy cities as engines of economic growth,” said the African Development Bank’s Director General for Southern Africa, Kennedy  Mbekeani. “Johannesburg is not just South Africa’s largest city – it contributes 16% to the country’s GDP and serves as a gateway for investment across the continent. By strengthening its infrastructure backbone, we’re investing in Africa’s urban future.” 

    The City of Johannesburg faces significant infrastructure challenges, with annual electricity losses of 30% for the past three years and water losses of 46.1%. The project is expected to create 2,869 jobs during construction and substantially improve service reliability for millions of residents. 

    An additional $1.5 million grant through the Bank’s Urban and Municipal Development Fund is being sought to support municipal reforms, governance and climate-resilient planning initiatives. 

    Beyond infrastructure improvements, the project will deliver significant socioeconomic benefits:  

    • 592 full-time equivalent jobs, with 14% reserved for women and 23% for youth. 
    • Reduced electricity and water interruptions will boost productivity for 65% of electricity and 5% of water consumed by industry. 
    •  Enhanced free basic services for 160,000 indigent households.  
    • ZAR 500 million in contracts earmarked for small and medium enterprises, with 40% reserved for women-owned businesses and 50% for youth entrepreneurs. 

    The African Development Bank has included comprehensive safeguards in the project to assure robust monitoring and oversight, transparency, compliance, and sound financial management throughout the loan lifecycle. 

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

    Media contact: 
    Emeka Anuforo
    Communication and External Relations Department
    media@afdb.org

    About the African Development Bank Group:
    The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states.

    For more information: www.AfDB.org

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Feenstra Commends Trump Administration for Detaining Chinese Nationals Found Spying on U.S. Navy

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Randy Feenstra (IA-04)

    HULL, IOWA – Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) issued the following statement commending President Trump and FBI Director Kash Patel for arresting two Chinese nationals found spying on U.S. Navy servicemembers and bases:

    “I commend the Trump administration for arresting two Chinese nationals with ties to the Chinese Communist Party who were spying on U.S. Navy servicemembers and bases. From buying up our farmland to deploying spy balloons in our sovereign airspace, the Chinese Communist Party is no friend of the United States. We will not tolerate foreign espionage that threatens our troops and undermines our national security.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Iran Egypt Foreign Ministers hold telephone conversation


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    Seyed Abbas Araghchi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Badr Abdelatty, the Foreign Minister of Egypt, held a telephone conversation on Monday, to discuss the latest regional developments following the cessation of the Zionist regime’s military aggression against Iran.

    In the conversation, Araghchi pointed to the widespread condemnation of the Zionist regime’s aggression against Iran by the international community—especially Islamic countries and key regional organizations.

    He criticized the failure of two responsible international bodies, namely the UN Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency, to condemn the attacks, and emphasized the Islamic Republic of Iran’s firm pursuit of identifying the aggressor and obtaining reparations.

    The Egyptian Foreign Minister welcomed the end of the Zionist regime’s aggression and stressed his country’s continued efforts to help de-escalate tensions in the region, including efforts to establish a ceasefire in Gaza.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Islamic Republic of Iran.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus M.Ryzhenkov holds negotiations with the Minister of International Relations of Botswana


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    On July 1, 2025 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Maxim Ryzhenkov, held a meeting with the Minister of International Relations of the Republic of Botswana, Phenyo Butale, who is paying an official visit to Belarus.

    This is the first visit by the head of Botswana’s foreign ministry to our country in the history of Belarusian-Botswana relations.

    During the meeting, the parties discussed ways to strengthen political and interministerial dialogue, expand mutual trade, cooperation in the fields of agriculture and food security, healthcare, education, and the formation of a legal framework.

    The parties reaffirmed their commitment to coordinate on all aspects of the bilateral and international agenda.

    The ministers agreed on practical steps to intensify cooperation and confirmed their mutual interest in holding a series of bilateral events in 2025–2026.

    Following the negotiations, a joint statement was signed by the foreign ministers of Belarus and Botswana, expressing their intention to strengthen multifaceted cooperation.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Hexavalent in Senegal: A step forward for immunization coverage and child health


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    On the morning of July 1, 2025, Aissatou, a young mother from Diamniadio, arrived early at the health center, her two-month-old baby snuggled against her. She hadn’t come for a routine consultation—today, her child was receiving the new hexavalent vaccine.

    “Before, I was afraid of multiple injections for my baby. Today, the health workers explained to me that a single dose protects against six serious diseases. It’s reassuring to know that he’ll suffer less while being better protected,” confides Aissatou, gazing at her sleeping son.

    Like her child, 640,000 infants are targeted this year by the new vaccination schedule. Thanks to the introduction of the hexavalent vaccine, they will be protected against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), and poliomyelitis—all in a single shot.

    Behind this apparent simplification lies a long process of preparation. The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), with technical and financial support from partners such as Gavi and the World Health Organization (WHO), led an ambitious transition. WHO in particular trained nearly 6,000 health workers, ensured rigorous cold chain management (the vaccine must be kept between +2°C and +8°C), and deployed digital real-time monitoring tools.

    “Hexavalent represents a qualitative leap for us vaccinators. A single injection means faster vaccination, less crying, and above all, greater protection,” explains Aminata, a vaccinator in Diamniadio.

    1.6 million doses have been positioned across the country’s 14 regions. The aim is to achieve at least 90% vaccination coverage by the end of the year. And the expected benefits are considerable: according to Ministry of Health projections, the introduction of this vaccine could halve hospitalizations for the targeted diseases by 2030.

    For Dr. Badiane, coordinator of the national EPI, this reform marks a turning point: “It’s not just a change of vaccine—it’s a new paradigm. We’re simplifying the schedule, strengthening immunity, and gaining in effectiveness in the field. WHO’s support has been decisive at every stage.”

    Beyond the numbers and logistics, it’s families like Aissatou’s who are feeling the change in concrete terms: less stress at each vaccination appointment, a better understanding of health issues, and above all, renewed confidence in the healthcare system.

    Dr. Jean-Marie Vianny Yameogo, WHO Representative in Senegal, sees this transition as an illustration of health equity: “Introducing the hexavalent vaccine means offering every Senegalese child the same chance to grow up in good health. It’s a concrete commitment to reducing inequalities and building a fairer future for all.”

    As she leaves the health center, vaccination booklet in hand, Aissatou takes a moment to smile. “I’ll be back for the other doses. My child deserves the best possible protection.”

    An individual decision—but a collective step towards a healthier future.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – Senegal.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: The 2025 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Awards honour organizations from Colombia, Egypt, and the Philippines for their contributions to agrifood systems transformation


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    The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) announced the winners of the 2025 FAO Awards, recognizing organizations from Colombia, Egypt, and the Philippines, whose work has led to outstanding progress in building more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems.

    On Monday, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu presented the Champion Award and Partnership Award during the 44th FAO Ministerial Conference held in Rome.

    “These Awards are more than an acknowledgment of achievements – they represent FAO’s core values and aspirations. The ceremony is a celebration of possibility and hope of what happens when commitment and innovation meet the urgent call to transform global agrifood systems,” he said.

    The FAO Champion Award, the Organization’s highest corporate award, which carries a prize of USD 50,000 and recognizes significant and outstanding contributions towards advancing FAO’s overall goals, was conferred to la Confederación Mesa Nacional de Pesca Artesanal de Colombia (COMENALPAC), for its tangible results across organizational, social, economic and environmental dimensions, including championing social protection measures for fishers and played a key role in drafting laws against illegal fishing, thereby improving the welfare and rights of fishing communities.

    Since 2017, COMENALPAC has represented over 800 groups of marine and freshwater fishers across Colombia. Its work has contributed to the design and implementation of key legislation, including Law 2268 of 2022, which guarantees social benefits for commercial and subsistence fishers.

    Through an FAO–COMENALPAC partnership, the organization has strengthened fisher communities in Tumaco by eliminating intermediaries, increasing incomes, and promoting inclusive market opportunities. It has also led to the restoration of 83 wetlands, contributing to aquatic biodiversity and more sustainable food systems. The organization was further praised for helping secure the legal recognition of more than 120,000 fishers and for its role in incorporating the concept of “Aquatic Agrifood Ecosystems” into Colombia’s National Development Plan.

    In addition, within the same category, a Special Mention was also awarded to Youth Uprising, a Philippine-based non-profit organization recognized for its intense engagement of young people in transforming agrifood systems.

    The FAO Partnership Award — valued at USD 10,000 and recognizing outstanding cooperation with FAO in advancing the Organization’s work by its Members — was presented to The Egyptian Food Bank (EFB), the first Egypt NGO focused on addressing food insecurity, providing support to over 24 million people through comprehensive food assistance, nutrition, and empowerment programs.

    Among the EFB’s most notable initiatives are the Community Nutrition Programme, the Ramadan Food Loss Initiative, and the Resilience Index Measurement and Analysis (RIMA). EFB’s programs have benefited over 150,000 families and more than 60,000 schoolchildren. Its work also includes capacity-building for small-scale producers and support to 1,200 farmers — particularly women — promoting sustainable agricultural practices and economic inclusion.

    The FAO Director-General bestowed the awards to representatives of the organizations who attended the ceremony in person.

    Adriana Rocío Cadena Cancino, Director of la Confederación Mesa Nacional de Pesca Artesanal de Colombia (COMENALPAC), received the Champion Award on behalf of the organization.

    Mohsen Sarhan Ali Gamal Ali, Chief Executive Officer of The Egyptian Food Bank (EFB), accepted the Partnership Award on behalf of his organization.

    “These awardees remind us that transformation is already happening and must accelerate. Let us continue working hand in hand for the transformation of global agrifood systems to be more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable,” Qu added in his closing remarks, with a reference to the FAO Four Betters – better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Liberia: Totota Peace Hut Setting the Pace for Rural Women Empowerment


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    The thriving, lively rural town of Totota, Bong County will never be the same, according to women beneficiaries of the Totota Peace Hut. “This town is growing and changing in terms of mentoring and improving the attitude, skills, and public-speaking confidence of women so we can reach to that height we all aspire to acquire in life,” said Annie G. Saah, 53, member of the peace hut and Chairlady of the One Voice Group.

    “Our peace hut in Totota has helped in improving the lives of women and young girls. Through this peace hut, women and girls have gained valuable skills in literacy, computer training, group and individual farming, village savings and loan scheme as well as conflict resolution and mediation outreach at household and community-levels, and I am one such example. I have my individual potatoes garden, my house-side bag garden together with a group farm. We use the proceeds for our children’s tuition and other family needs,” added Annie G. Saah.

    Annie, Miatta Borbor, and nearly 50 other women meet at the peace hut on a weekly basis to support one another in peacebuilding, literacy, computer skills, petty business management, and small-scale farming. “Thanks to UN Women, Plan International, Orange Foundation, and the Peacebuilding Fund for their support in giving women the skills they need to become marketable and active contributors not just to our families but also to the community of Totota,” said Miatta Borbor, a member of One Voice Group at the peace hut.

    True to Annie and Miatta’s words on the empowerment of women, in November 2024, during an indoor programme at Totota Peace Hut in Bong County, visiting Peacebuilding Commission Chair and Sweden’s Ambassador to the UN in New York, Amb. Nicola Clase and delegation witnessed a life-changing moment. Three formerly illiterate women – Mary Sheriff, Gbentelo Kennedy, and Oretha Jallah – proudly demonstrated their peace hut-acquired literacy skills by writing their names and telephone numbers on paper to the admiration of the visitors. The audience applauded them for their literacy achievements. Ma Mary Sandiman, Chairlady of Totota Peace Hut, emphasized the need to continue the peace hut: “This peace hut must continue here so more women can learn to read and write and to enhance women’s unity so women themselves can drive the change they need.”

    The vegetable gardens, small businesses, the conflict mediation roles, and the computer training have all had tremendous impact on women beneficiaries by enabling them to earn money, support their households, participate in public and community discussions, and enhance peaceful co-existence among people. Rev Fahnlon A. Mulbah, Coordinator of the Orange Digital Center (ODC) within the Totota Peace Hut, underscored the life-improving results of the peace hut and the ODC on young women. “Computer literacy is a globally required skills area especially for women and girls to earn income and advertise their work on phone and on a computer.” He disclosed that Grace Pope, a resident of Totota, acquired digital skills in the application of cell phone for business and started advertizing and doing Orange Mobile Money, and then relocated to Monrovia where she’s living and working.

    The empowerment and results-oriented achievements at the Totota Peace Hut was made possible through the seamless collaboration among UN Women, Plan International, Government of Liberia, Orange Foundation, and other partners with funding from the UN Peacebuilding Fund. Each organization lent its own comparative advantage, garnered resources, and provided backstopping and technical inputs to make the peace hut functional and effective.

    Peace huts across Liberia have become a useful model for driving rural women’s collective empowerment. According to UN Women, the women of Liberia gained national and international acclaim as champions of peace through their mass action campaign that pressured warring factions to agree to a peace settlement in 2003.  As part of this effort, the women, under the banner “Liberian Women Mass Action for Peace”, launched the Peace Hut model in 2004 to provide a space for community women to discuss issues of peace, including ongoing community and domestic violence. Since then, the Peace Huts have evolved into a multi-faceted platform that promotes gender equality and the empowerment of women especially in rural communities.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women – Africa.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Kazakhstan Plays Key Role in China-Central Asia Partnership – Chinese Consul General in Almaty

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    Almaty, July 1 (Xinhua) — In an exclusive article for DKnews.kz, Chinese Consul General in Almaty Jiang Wei shared her views on the historic 2nd China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, where the leaders of the six countries opened a new page in centuries-old cooperation. She stressed that Kazakhstan continues to play a key role in deepening Central Asia’s strategic partnership with China.

    As the Consul General noted, an unprecedented level of political mutual trust has been achieved between the parties. According to her, after establishing diplomatic relations, China and the Central Asian countries have built a comprehensive strategic partnership, secured it with numerous documents within the framework of the Belt and Road initiative, and are promoting the concept of a community with a common destiny both at the bilateral and regional levels.

    The Astana Declaration became a symbol of political unity, the diplomat said, adding that in it the parties confirmed their readiness to support each other on key issues, and the declaration itself became a powerful expression of political consensus and a signal of stability in conditions of global uncertainty.

    Jiang Wei also stressed that China and Central Asian countries have achieved impressive results in practical cooperation. “The summit announced that 2025-2026 will be the Years of High-Quality Development of China-Central Asia Cooperation, focusing on six priority areas, such as unimpeded trade, industrial investment, connectivity, green resource management, agricultural modernization, and facilitating people-to-people exchanges,” the consul general noted.

    Speaking about the Action Plan for the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road signed by the heads of six states, she noted that this is the first time that China has signed such a document with all the countries in the border region at once.

    “The summit also decided to establish a poverty alleviation center, an educational exchange and cooperation center, a desertification control center, and a platform to create favorable conditions for trade within the China-Central Asia format. These initiatives are aimed at improving the well-being of the Central Asian population, training highly qualified specialists, managing water and natural resources, and promoting high-quality economic development. All this clearly demonstrates the deep meaning of the slogan “promoting joint modernization through high-quality development,” Jiang Wei emphasized.

    The Consul General said that the summit demonstrated a new level of good-neighborliness and friendship. Speaking about the Treaty on Eternal Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation signed by the six parties, a document that legally enshrines the principle of eternal friendship between peoples, she said: “This agreement has become a new milestone in the history of Chinese-Central Asian relations, opening the way for cooperation for decades to come.”

    “More than 100 agreements on sister cities were signed, which forms a solid humanitarian basis for people’s diplomacy. These “bridges of friendship” contribute to the expansion of cultural and humanitarian interaction. The parties also agreed to intensify cooperation in such areas as parliamentary and inter-party ties, contacts between women and youth, the work of the media, analytical centers and public organizations,” the consul general added. “All this will become a new impetus for the dialogue of civilizations and a continuation of the thousand-year tradition of friendship between peoples,” she emphasized.

    In addition, as the diplomat reported, following the summit, more than 60 bilateral agreements were signed, covering such areas as trade, investment, science and technology, customs regulation, tourism, and the media. These agreements, in her opinion, will give a powerful impetus to further deepening ties between the parties in the “golden period.” –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: State Council Commission Meeting at the State University of Management: Technical Innovations and Traditional Values Will Become Priorities of Russian Education Until 2036

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    On July 1, 2025, a joint meeting of the commissions of the State Council of the Russian Federation in the areas of “Personnel”, “Youth and Children”, “Family” was held at the site of the State University of Management to consider the draft Strategy for the Development of Education in the Russian Federation until 2036.

    The moderator of the meeting, Russian journalist and TV presenter Ernest Matskyavichyus, introduced the main participants in the discussion and reported that more than 1,000 experts worked on the text of the Education Development Strategy, many of whom are present at the meeting.

    The Chairman of the Commission of the State Council of the Russian Federation on “Personnel”, Governor of the Kaluga Region, and graduate of the State University of Management Vladislav Shapsha noted in his welcoming speech that the education system should be flexible and adaptive, integrated into the real sector of the economy and continuous.

    “Today, a situation has arisen where one specialty is no longer enough for an educated person; at least two are needed to always be prepared for the changing situation on the labor market. Qualified specialists of a new type must think innovatively and be able to solve problems in the context of rapid digital transformation and global competition. The key tasks now are: synchronizing education with the labor market, overcoming imbalances in personnel training and forming a system of advanced training, since in the future the situation will change even faster, and artificial intelligence can sharply reduce employment in many areas of labor activity,” warned Vladislav Shapsha.

    The Chairman of the State Council of Russia Commission on “Youth and Children”, Governor of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug Dmitry Artyukhov expressed pleasure at the representative meeting on such a comprehensive topic.

    “Education is a vital area that concerns absolutely everyone: teachers, parents, and millions of children and young people across the country. We have done serious work on the Education Development Strategy on the instructions of the President. Now it is time to move on to action – to focus on implementing our plans. Together, we are laying the foundation for the future of Russian education. This is a vital state task, because it is education that solves key problems for the country: it provides knowledge and skills, trains personnel for the economy, and most importantly, brings up a new generation of Russians,” said Dmitry Artyukhov.

    The Chairman of the State Council of Russia’s Commission on the “Family” Direction, Head of the Republic of Mordovia Artem Zdunov drew the attention of those gathered to the fact that the document under discussion will determine the development vectors not only of education itself, but also through it of the entire country as a whole.

    “I will note two key priorities of the Strategy. The first is the further implementation of high-quality education regardless of the place of residence and social status of the family. Much has already been done for this: new schools and kindergartens have been built, major repairs have been carried out, and institutions have been equipped with modern equipment. The second priority is that the education system should be built on the basis of traditional Russian values, including a strong family. Efforts in this direction should be systemic and continuous, starting from kindergarten to university. The cult of large families should be spread everywhere, similar to how this year we widely celebrate the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War – information should be broadcast from TV screens, from the Internet, from billboards on city streets and in educational institutions,” said Artem Zdunov.

    Deputy Minister of Education of the Russian Federation Irina Shvartsman said that a public opinion poll was conducted to prepare the draft Strategy for the Development of Education, which affected 338 thousand people. The structure of the Strategy was developed by 15 working groups, including representatives of all departments, the Presidential Administration, the Russian Academy of Education and other experts.

    “The strategy does not hide the problems, it is designed to identify and eliminate them. These are the problems of a shortage of personnel and wages, dilapidated buildings, bureaucratic burden on teachers, and the ideological gap between teachers and students. One of the main values in the education system should be a person. The rights of children and teachers should be equally protected. And to achieve humanitarian and scientific-technical leadership of Russia in the world, it is necessary not only to train qualified specialists, but also to work systematically in the direction of patriotic education,” said Irina Shvartsman.

    Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Dmitry Afanasyev noted that for the first time in Russia a single document on issues of education development is appearing.

    “In response to current challenges, the Ministry of Education and Science proposes to create a new list of specialties that meet the country’s strategic objectives, reboot and update state programs such as “Priority 2030” and “Advanced Engineering Schools”, and continue to build new university campuses. In addition, it is necessary to strengthen the influence of domestic education abroad, develop online forms of education, and promote the Russian language as the language of international communication. In this area, the Strategy still requires revision,” Dmitry Afanasyev said.

    Rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev noted the significant number of GUU graduates at a meeting of the State Council commissions and spoke about the work of the university.

    “The need to change the education system is obvious, but its conservatism can also have its advantages. Until the 1990s, GUU was not a management university, but an engineering and economics university. And we managed to preserve elements of the previous system. Starting in 2022, we are actively reviving the system of training industry managers who understand and know the production base well. For this purpose, GUU is implementing a system of seamless project-based learning. The structure of the university includes the Pre-University – a budget school where, in addition to studying general subjects, students begin to get used to practice-oriented learning. GUU is probably the only university in the country where project-based learning is practiced in 100% of areas of education, starting from the 1st year, which by the end of the study leads to a high level of graduate employment. In addition, we do not forget about the meanings – we are a leading university in the field of educational work, we support student families, and we encourage employees to have children. Our task is not only to raise a competent manager, but also to educate him as a responsible citizen who works for the benefit of the state and society,” said Vladimir Stroyev.

    In addition, the rector of the State University of Management introduced the meeting participants to the scientific and technical achievements of the university, in particular, to the system of work of the inter-university design bureau, and invited those interested to take a tour of the university.

    The meeting was also attended by: Deputy Head of the Secretariat of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Government Antony Shvindt, Director of the Department of Personnel Policy of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation Alexey Svistunov, Deputy Governor of the Kaluga Region Tatyana Leonova, Deputy Head of the Federal Service for Supervision in Education and Science Evgeny Semchenko and many other experts.

    Summing up the panel discussion, the Chairman of the State Council of the Russian Federation Commission on Personnel Vladislav Shapsha particularly highlighted the topic raised by many speakers about the key role of education within the Education Development Strategy. “You can teach a lot, but if a person does not have a moral core, then his technical skills can be harmful. The Russian person has always been spiritual. You cannot understand Russia with your mind, you cannot measure it with a common yardstick…”, Vladislav Valerievich concluded the meeting of the State Council commissions with a quote from a poem by Fyodor Tyutchev.

    After the end of the panel discussion, the participants of the meeting of the State Council commissions were given a tour of the State University of Management, as promised by the rector. In addition to the experts, the moderator of the discussion, Ernest Matskyavichyus, did not miss this opportunity.

    The guests were shown the new workshop of the student design bureau “Innovative Solutions”, the Engineering Project Management Center and the Media Center of the State University of Management. Antoniy Shvindt paid special attention to the scientific and technical developments of the State University of Management. Aleksey Svistunov appreciated the comfort and equipment of the premises. Ernest Matskyavichyus, naturally, was most interested in the studios, and Tatyana Leonova even proposed a project for a series of short educational videos on the topic of management science.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Republicans Pass Bills to Strengthen Border Security, Protect Public Safety

    Source: US House of Representatives Republicans

    The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI –

    WASHINGTON—Today, House Republicans passed two pieces of legislation to strengthen border security, protect American communities, and enhance national security.

    House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) released the following statement:

    “House Republicans continue taking decisive action to restore the rule of law at our borders and put the safety of American citizens first,” Chairwoman McClain said. “I was proud to support these two critical bills that ensure dangerous individuals cannot exploit the immigration system or harm Americans and our communities. Michigan families, and all Americans, deserve leaders who will stand up for law, order, and national security.”

    H.R. 875, the Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act, ensures that non-U.S. nationals who commit DUI offenses are deported immediately and denied re-entry to protect public safety.

    H.R. 275, the Special Interest Alien Reporting Act, requires the Department of Homeland Security to provide monthly reports on non-citizens attempting illegal entry who may pose national security threats. This transparency is critical for assessing risks and defending America.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairwoman McClain Slams Democrats for Failing to Condemn Violent Attacks on Police Officers

    Source: US House of Representatives Republicans

    The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI –

    Chairwoman McClain Slams Democrats for Failing to Condemn Violent Attacks on Police Officers

    Washington, June 27, 2025

    WASHINGTON—House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) released the following statement after the U.S. House passed H. Res. 516 – a resolution that condemns the violent riots in Los Angeles, California, and expresses support for law enforcement officers:

    “Burning cars and attacking law enforcement officers should never be considered a ‘peaceful protest’ in America. Democrats just failed to condemn the violent riots in Los Angeles and to express support for our law enforcement officers. Their derangement is on full display,” Chairwoman McClain said. “The contrast is clear: Democrats side with violent criminal illegal aliens, while Republicans will always stand with our heroic law enforcement officers. Shame on them.”  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Republican Leadership Statement on Senate Passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill

    Source: US House of Representatives Republicans

    The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI –

    WASHINGTON—Speaker Johnson, Leader Scalise, Whip Emmer, and Chairwoman McClain released the following joint statement after the Senate’s passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill. The House will consider the bill immediately for final passage and put it on President Trump’s desk by the Fourth of July.

    “The House will work quickly to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill that enacts President Trump’s full America First agenda by the Fourth of July. The American people gave us a clear mandate, and after four years of Democrat failure, we intend to deliver without delay.

    “Republicans were elected to do exactly what this bill achieves: secure the border, make tax cuts permanent, unleash American energy dominance, restore peace through strength, cut wasteful spending, and return to a government that puts Americans first.

    “This bill is President Trump’s agenda, and we are making it law. House Republicans are ready to finish the job and put the One Big Beautiful Bill on President Trump’s desk in time for Independence Day.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE Baltimore investigation leads to decade-long prison sentence for Prince George’s County man convicted of drug conspiracy

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    BALTIMORE — An investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement led to the sentencing of Amos Oluremi Nureni, 43, to 10 years in prison followed by four years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

    “This sentence sends a clear message: Those who traffic fentanyl, a deadly drug fueling our nation’s overdose crisis, will be held accountable,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Baltimore acting Special Agent in Charge Evan Campanella. “In Maryland, we are seeing the devastating impact of fentanyl on our communities every day. Through our strong partnerships with the DEA and the U.S. attorney’s office, HSI will continue to pursue and dismantle the criminal networks responsible for pushing this poison into our neighborhoods. The sentencing of Amos Oluremi Nureni is a direct result of that commitment.”

    In September 2023, HSI and the DEA began investigating Nureni in connection with suspected fentanyl trafficking. During the investigation, law enforcement conducted two controlled purchases in which Nureni sold an undercover officer approximately 400 to 500 pills.

    The pills were blue in color and imprinted with “M30” — mimicking the markings on legitimate pills from a manufacturer containing oxycodone hydrochloride. As confirmed by laboratory analysis, the blue “M30” pills contained fentanyl. In total, Nureni sold approximately 866 fentanyl pills — or nearly 100 grams of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl — to the undercover officer.

    Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Nureni’s Laurel residence March 27, 2024. During the search, law enforcement found a bag containing approximately 10.48 grams (98 pills) of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl and a silver Taurus pistol with an obliterated number in Nureni’s safe. The pistol was loaded with a 9mm round of ammunition in the chamber and a magazine containing six rounds of 9mm ammunition.

    Additionally, law enforcement found a large silver and red hydraulic press; a small silver hydraulic press; a digital scale with white powder residue; and several bags containing approximately 6.44 grams (61 pills) of fentanyl, approximately 6.25 grams of cocaine base, approximately 0.859 grams of cocaine, approximately 3.04 grams of cocaine, approximately 3.02 grams of methamphetamine and approximately 1.478 grams of dipentylone in Nureni’s residence.

    Campanella, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Kelly O. Hayes and DEA Washington Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian announced the sentence.

    Members of the public with information about criminal activity should contact the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423).

    Learn more about HSI Baltimore’s mission to increase public safety in our Maryland communities on X at @HSIBaltimore.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: AFSCME’s Saunders: The Senate’s distorted priorities will leave working people footing the bill

    Source: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union

    WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement after the Senate passed its version of the budget reconciliation bill, which would bring even deeper cuts to Medicaid while also slashing food assistance and public services nationwide:

    “We are deeply disappointed by the Senate’s decision to pass a dangerous budget that tears health care away from over 20 million people, leaves millions without food assistance, and saddles working families with higher costs. From the caregivers who rely on Medicaid to keep their loved ones at home, to the hardworking parents struggling to afford groceries, to the nurses worried about their patients losing care, everyday people will foot the bill for a budget that hands more tax cuts to billionaires at the expense of our communities.

    “For months, AFSCME members have urged Congress to reject this morally bankrupt budget and put working families ahead of debt-exploding tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy. Instead, a narrow majority in the United States Senate sold out their own constituents by gutting the health care, food assistance and public services our communities count on. Their distorted priorities will not only increase costs for working people but also ignite a fiscal catastrophe that will force states, counties, cities and towns to slash funding for local schools, hospitals, nursing homes, emergency response centers, colleges and other basic services or shut them down entirely.

    “This budget bill is deeply unpopular for a reason: It is the largest transfer of wealth from working families to billionaires and big corporations in American history, and it will cost lives and jobs. But this fight is not yet over. As this budget bill moves back to the House for final passage, AFSCME members will be getting organized and fighting tooth and nail to protect our communities.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fugitive Cindy Rodriguez Singh, Wanted for Capital Murder in Everman, Texas, Added to the FBI’s List of Ten Most Wanted Fugitives

    Source: US FBI

    On October 31, 2023, Cindy Rodriguez Singh was charged with capital murder in the District Court of Tarrant County, Fort Worth, Texas. On November 2, 2023, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Rodriguez Singh in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth, Texas, for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution. On August 29, 2024, the FBI announced a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to her arrest and conviction. Today, the FBI is increasing that amount and now offering up to a $250,000 reward.

    “The disappearance and suspected death of Noel Alvarez is still fresh in the minds of everyone in Everman as well as throughout North Texas. The addition of Cindy Rodriguez Singh to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List is an opportunity to bring this case to the eyes and ears of citizens across the country and around the world,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “We are confident that this publicity will culminate in her arrest and that she will be returned to the United States to answer for her alleged crimes.”

    “The addition of Cindy Rodriguez Singh to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list marks a powerful moment in our unrelenting pursuit of justice for Noel. This is a promise we made to him and to this community, that we would never stop until those responsible are held accountable,” said Craig Spencer, former chief of police and current city manager and emergency management coordinator for the city of Everman. “This designation amplifies our reach and renews our focus. We urge anyone, anywhere, with information to come forward now. Noel deserves that much. We are so incredibly thankful to the FBI for their continued effort and support on this incredibly important case.”

    “I deeply appreciate the unwavering dedication of our law enforcement agencies throughout this investigation,” Tarrant County District Attorney Phil Sorrells said. “We are hopeful that Cindy Rodriguez Singh will be apprehended and returned to Tarrant County. My office is committed to delivering justice for Noel.”

    Rodriguez Singh’s last confirmed sighting was on March 22, 2023, as she, her husband, and six juvenile children, boarded an international flight to India. She was born in Dallas, Texas, in 1985, and is 40 years old. The fugitive is 5’1” to 5’3” tall, weighs 120 to 140 pounds, has a medium complexion, and has tattoos on her back, both legs, right arm, right hand, and right calf. She has brown eyes and brown hair.

    Rodriguez Singh is believed to have ties to India and Mexico. Additional information and wanted posters in English, Spanish, and Hindi, can be found at this link: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/topten.

    The FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list was established in March 1950. Since its inception, 537 fugitives have appeared on the list and 497 have been apprehended or located—many due to tips from citizens. Since its inception, there have been eight fugitives wanted from the North Texas region placed on the list. In addition, five fugitives that have been placed on the list were arrested in the North Texas region.

    The FBI is offering a reward of up to $250,000 for information leading to the arrest of Cindy Rodriguez Singh. Anyone with information concerning Rodriguez Singh should immediately contact the nearest FBI office or local law enforcement agency.

    Calls can be directed to 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or the FBI’s Dallas Field Office at 972-559-5000. Individuals from outside of the United States should contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Tips can also be submitted digitally at tips.fbi.gov. All information can remain anonymous, and confidentiality is guaranteed.

    This fugitive investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Fort Worth Resident Agency, Everman Police Department, Northeast Tarrant County Child Abduction Response Team, Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office, and Texas Rangers.

    Media Contact:

    Public Affairs Officer, Melinda Urbina Garcia, murbina@fbi.gov

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Charges Two Individuals with Acting as Agents of the PRC Government

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    Arrests Disrupted Clandestine PRC Ministry of State Security Intelligence Network Operating in the United States

    Two nationals of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) made their initial appearances in federal court in Portland, Oregon, and Houston, Texas, yesterday to face charges issued out of the Northern District of California for acting as agents of the Government of the PRC without prior notification to the Attorney General. The defendants, Yuance Chen, 38, a PRC national and legal permanent resident who resides in Happy Valley, Oregon, and Liren “Ryan” Lai, 39, a PRC national who traveled from the PRC to Houston, Texas, on a tourist visa in April 2025, were arrested Friday on a criminal complaint charging them with overseeing and carrying out various clandestine intelligence taskings in the United States on behalf of the PRC Government’s principal foreign intelligence service, the Ministry of State Security (MSS). These activities included facilitating a “dead drop” payment of cash for information relating to the national security of the United States previously provided to the MSS, gathering intelligence about U.S. Navy service members and bases, and assisting with efforts to recruit other individuals from within the U.S. military as potential MSS assets.

    Chen and Lai were arrested on June 27, 2025, by the FBI in Happy Valley, Oregon, and Houston Texas, as part of a coordinated counterintelligence and law enforcement operation across multiple states.

    “This case underscores the Chinese government’s sustained and aggressive effort to infiltrate our military and undermine our national security from within,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Justice Department will not stand by while hostile nations embed spies in our country – we will expose foreign operatives, hold their agents to account, and protect the American people from covert threats to our national security.”

    “The FBI arrested two Chinese nationals who were allegedly attempting to recruit U.S. military service members on behalf of the PRC,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The Chinese Communist Party thought they were getting away with their scheme to operate on U.S. soil, utilizing spy craft, like dead drops, to pay their sources. This case was a complex, coordinated effort and is an example of outstanding counterintelligence work done by FBI San Francisco, Portland, Houston, San Diego, and the Counterintelligence Division. The FBI will continue to vigilantly defend the homeland from China’s pervasive attempts to infiltrate our borders.”

    “Adverse foreign intelligence services like the PRC’s Ministry of State Security dedicate years to recruiting individuals and cultivating them as intelligence assets to do their bidding within the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Under my leadership, the National Security Division will continue to defend our nation and neutralize our adversaries’ clandestine spy networks.”

    “These charges reflect the breadth of the efforts by our foreign adversaries to target the United States — this time by conducting illegal intelligence-gathering operations aimed at our national security information and military service members,” said U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California. “My office and the FBI remain ever vigilant in guarding against these threats to the United States. We will continue to undertake counterespionage investigations and prosecutions, no matter how complex and sensitive, to disrupt attempts to weaken our national security.”

    As alleged in the criminal complaint unsealed yesterday, the PRC Government conducts intelligence activities against the United States through multiple arms, including the MSS. The MSS handles civilian intelligence collection for the PRC and is responsible for counterintelligence and foreign intelligence, as well as political security. The MSS and its bureaus seek to obtain information on political, economic, and security policies that might affect the PRC, along with military, scientific, and technical information of value to the PRC. The MSS and its bureaus are tasked with conducting clandestine and covert human source operations, of which the United States is a principal target.

    As alleged in the criminal complaint, Lai recruited Chen to work on behalf of the MSS in or about 2021. While in Guangzhou, China, in January 2022, Lai and Chen worked together to facilitate a dead-drop payment of at least $10,000 on behalf of the MSS, working with other individuals located in the United States to leave a backpack with the cash at a day-use locker at a recreational facility located in Livermore, California.

    Following the January 2022 dead drop, Lai and Chen continued to work on behalf of the MSS, including to help identify potential assets for MSS recruitment within the ranks of the U.S. Navy. For example, beginning in 2022, Chen was tasked by Lai and other agents of the MSS to contact a Navy employee over social media, and then later, in 2025, arranged for a tour with the employee of the USS Abraham Lincoln and provided information about the employee to the MSS. In 2022 and 2023, Chen was tasked to visit a U.S. Naval installation in Washington State and a U.S. Navy recruitment center in San Gabriel, California. While in the recruitment center, Chen obtained photographs of a bulletin board containing the names, programs, and hometowns of recent Navy recruits, the majority of whom listed their hometown as “China,” which he appears to have transmitted to an MSS intelligence officer in China. The complaint also alleges that Chen received instruction from the MSS on what to say to potential recruits regarding potential payment that could be made by the MSS, preferred Naval job assignments for potential recruits, and methods for minimizing Chen’s risk of exposure. The complaint alleges that in 2023, Lai flew to the United States from the PRC and provided Chen with a cellphone that Chen then used to communicate with the MSS. The complaint also alleges that Chen traveled to Guangzhou and met with MSS intelligence officers in April 2024 and March 2025 in order to discuss compensation and specific taskings.

    The complaint also alleges that Lai traveled to Houston, Texas, in April 2025, claiming that the purpose of his visit was related to his business as an online retail seller, and that he would be staying in the Houston area for two weeks. However, on May 9, 2025 – more than four weeks after his arrival in the United States – Lai traveled by car with a companion from Houston to Southern California, via New Mexico and Tucson, Arizona, before returning to Texas, on May 15, 2025.

    Chen and Lai are charged with violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 951, which makes it a crime for a person to operate or agree to operate within the United States as an agent of a foreign government without notification to the Attorney General of the United States. If convicted, the defendants face a fine of up to $250,000 and a term of imprisonment of up to 10 years.

    The FBI San Francisco Field Office is leading the investigation, with valuable assistance provided by the FBI Portland, Houston, and San Diego Field Offices. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) also provided valuable assistance during the operation. 

    The National Security and Special Prosecutions Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California and the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are in charge of the prosecution. Significant operational support and assistance is also being provided by the District of Oregon, the Southern District of Texas, and the Southern District of California.

    A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why frequent nightmares may shorten your life by years

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Timothy Hearn, Senior Lecturer in Bioinformatics, Anglia Ruskin University

    Lightfield Studios/Shutterstock.com

    Waking up from a nightmare can leave your heart pounding, but the effects may reach far beyond a restless night. Adults who suffer bad dreams every week were almost three times more likely to die before age 75 than people who rarely have them.

    This alarming conclusion – which is yet to be peer reviewed – comes from researchers who combined data from four large long-term studies in the US, following more than 4,000 people between the ages of 26 and 74. At the beginning, participants reported how often nightmares disrupted their sleep. Over the next 18 years, the researchers kept track of how many participants died prematurely – 227 in total.

    Even after considering common risk factors like age, sex, mental health, smoking and weight, people who had nightmares every week were still found to be nearly three times more likely to die prematurely – about the same risk as heavy smoking.

    The team also examined “epigenetic clocks” – chemical marks on DNA that act as biological mileage counters. People haunted by frequent nightmares were biologically older than their birth certificates suggested, across all three clocks used (DunedinPACE, GrimAge and PhenoAge).

    The science behind the silent scream

    Faster ageing accounted for about 39% of the link between nightmares and early death, implying that whatever is driving the bad dreams is simultaneously driving the body’s cells towards the finish line.

    How might a scream you never utter leave a mark on your genome? Nightmares happen during so-called rapid-eye-movement sleep when the brain is highly active but muscles are paralysed. The sudden surge of adrenaline, cortisol and other fight-or-flight chemicals can be as strong as anything experienced while awake. If that alarm bell rings night after night, the stress response may stay partially switched on throughout the day.

    Continuous stress takes its toll on the body. It triggers inflammation, raises blood pressure and speeds up the ageing process by wearing down the protective tips of our chromosomes.

    On top of that, being jolted awake by nightmares disrupts deep sleep, the crucial time when the body repairs itself and clears out waste at the cellular level. Together, these two effects – constant stress and poor sleep – may be the main reasons the body seems to age faster.

    Your brain clears out waste when you sleep.
    Teeradej/Shutterstock.com

    The idea that disturbing dreams foreshadow poor health is not entirely new. Earlier studies have shown that adults tormented by weekly nightmares are more likely to develop dementia and Parkinson’s disease, years before any daytime symptoms appear.

    Growing evidence suggests that the brain areas involved in dreaming are also those affected by brain diseases, so frequent nightmares might be an early warning sign of neurological problems.

    Nightmares are also surprisingly common. Roughly 5% of adults report at least one each week and another 12.5% experience them monthly.

    Because they are both frequent and treatable, the new findings elevate bad dreams from a spooky nuisance to a potential public health target. Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia, imagery-rehearsal therapy – where sufferers rewrite the ending of a recurrent nightmare while awake – and simple steps such as keeping bedrooms cool, dark and screen free have all been shown to curb nightmare frequency.

    Before jumping to conclusions, there are a few important things to keep in mind. The study used people’s own reports of their dreams, which can make it hard to tell the difference between a typical bad dream and a true nightmare. Also, most of the people in the study were white Americans, so the findings might not apply to everyone.

    And biological age was measured only once, so we cannot yet say whether treating nightmares slows the clock. Crucially, the work was presented as a conference abstract and has not yet navigated the gauntlet of peer review.

    Despite these limitations, the study has important strengths that make it worth taking seriously. The researchers used multiple groups of participants, followed them for many years and relied on official death records rather than self-reported data. This means we can’t simply dismiss the findings as a statistical fluke.

    If other research teams can replicate these results, doctors might start asking patients about their nightmares during routine check-ups – alongside taking blood pressure and checking cholesterol levels.

    Therapies that tame frightening dreams are inexpensive, non-invasive and already available. Scaling them could offer a rare chance to add years to life while improving the quality of the hours we spend asleep.

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

    – ref. Why frequent nightmares may shorten your life by years – https://theconversation.com/why-frequent-nightmares-may-shorten-your-life-by-years-260008

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Where does the UK most need more public EV chargers?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Labib Azzouz, Research Associate in Transport and Energy Innovation, University of Oxford

    Electric vehicle chargers at a motorway service station in Grantham, England. Angus Reid/Shutterstock

    The automotive and EV industry has repeatedly insisted that the UK needs more electric vehicle (EV) chargers to help motorists make the switch from conventional fossil-fuel burning cars.

    The Labour government has announced £400 million to install EV chargers, mainly on streets in poorer residential neighbourhoods, in place of the Conservative’s £950 million rapid charging fund that was directed at installing chargers in motorway service stations.

    Does it matter where these chargers are – and who pays to build them?

    The short answer is yes, it does matter. Our research conducted at motorway and local EV charging stations across England – including those located in residential areas, high streets and community centres – indicates that these two types of infrastructure serve distinct groups of users and fulfil different purposes.

    Suggesting that one can substitute for the other risks sending mixed signals to both the industry and the driving public.

    We found that motorway charging stations tend to cater to wealthier men, who are more likely to own premium EVs with long-range batteries and better performance. Many of these drivers have access to home chargers, so their use of public chargers is only for occasional, long-distance travel for business, leisure, or holidays – trips that require chargers along motorways.

    Convenience and charging speed are often more important than the price of public charging, particularly when the travel costs of these drivers are covered by their employers.

    Local public charging stations, on the other hand, serve more diverse groups. These include drivers from lower-income households who are more likely to own older and smaller EVs with shorter ranges. Access to home charging is often limited, especially for people living in flats or urban areas without driveways, garages or off-street parking.

    Not everyone can plug in at home.
    Andersen EV/Shutterstock

    Local chargers are also vital for taxi and delivery drivers who depend on their vehicles for work and make frequent short trips throughout the day. There are many professional drivers without access to workplace charging stations who need alternative local provision – something the Conservative government recognised in its 2022 EV charging strategy.

    Ultimately, the transition to EVs should take a balanced approach that carefully considers social equity, economic viability and environmental impact.

    Different locations serve different drivers

    Motorway charging stations are commercially attractive to private investors, such as energy companies, specialist charging providers and car manufacturers, despite their higher upfront costs and complex requirements.

    This is because service stations offer greater short-term revenue due to their ability to set premium prices. This is a result of there being limited alternatives and high demand for rapid charging, especially among long-distance travellers, and the willingness of EV drivers to pay for speed and convenience – unlike in more price-sensitive neighbourhood settings.

    Unsurprisingly, the government found that the rapid deployment of motorway chargers in recent years has been largely driven by the private sector. Our research highlighted that these revenues could be enhanced by a broader range of retail, dining and relaxation amenities, turning the time waiting for a car to charge into a more productive and pleasurable experience.

    Residential charging stations may not offer high profits per charge, but they typically require lower capital investment and benefit from consistent and predictable use. They are also suited to measures for reducing strain on the grid and balancing energy supply and demand.

    These measures include tariffs that make it cheaper to charge EVs during off-peak hours, or technology that allows cars to feed electricity stored in batteries back into the grid. These features make them appropriate for public funding, where return on investment is measured not just in profit but in value for the public.

    Considering that local EV charging serves those who do not have access to home charging and who drive for a living, the case for public funding is even stronger. These sorts of chargers make switching to an EV easier for different groups.

    For example, safe and carefully placed public chargers could help more women switch to EVs – although our research suggests that, while “careful placement” might refer to residential areas, it doesn’t necessarily mean on streets. Well-lit car parks and community destinations are sometimes considered safer options.

    Charging points outside a community centre in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland.
    AlanMorris/Shutterstock

    By helping EV drivers make frequent short trips, local chargers can also significantly reduce urban air pollution, emissions and noise, contributing to more liveable, healthier cities.

    That said, motorway charging stations and those near key transport corridors still play a crucial role in a comprehensive national network, and public funding may be required in more peripheral and rural areas of the UK where installations lag and commercial interest is limited.

    While long-distance trips are less frequent than short ones, they account for a disproportionately large share of energy use and emissions. Switching such trips to electric will be essential to reaching net zero goals.

    It seems reasonable to prioritise public investment in local EV charging infrastructure to support a fairer EV transition, but this should not be limited to on-street chargers. Investment is needed in residential and non-residential areas, public car parks, community centres and workplaces.

    Different types of EV charging are not interchangeable – all are needed to support the switch.

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

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Labib Azzouz has received funding from the UK Research and Innovation via the UK Energy Research Centre and Innovate UK as part of the Energy Superhub Oxford (ESO) project.

    Hannah Budnitz receives government funding from UK Research and Innovation grants via the Economic and Social Research Council and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. She has also previously received funding from Innovate UK and the Department for Transport.

    – ref. Where does the UK most need more public EV chargers? – https://theconversation.com/where-does-the-uk-most-need-more-public-ev-chargers-259623

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The Bear season 4: this meaty restaurant drama is still an enticing bingeable prospect

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jane Steventon, Course Leader, BA (Hons) Screenwriting; Deputy Course Leader & Senior Lecturer, BA (Hons) Film Production, University of Portsmouth

    Take a soupçon of identity crisis, a pinch of perfectionism, a scoop of burnout and mix thoroughly with a large measure of fraternal grief and sear over a hot grill and voilà! You have The Bear, a perfectly blended drama about a chef on the edge, driven by relentless ambition and exacting standards as he turns his family’s humble sandwich shop into a fine-dining restaurant.

    This intoxicating family drama was eaten up by critics and audiences alike in 2022, its first season garnering a rare perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, the subsequent two reaching scores of 99% and 89% respectively. It’s certainly a hard act to follow for season four.

    The first ten minutes of The Bear’s pilot episode thrillingly defined what was to come in high-octane style and scene-setting detail. The first season delivered a clever mix of authentic dialogue and setting, relatable family dysfunction and dynamic production style.

    Showstopping scenes of stressful kitchen heat were served up alongside a delectable range of new and established talent in the form of Jeremy Allen White (Carmy), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Richie), Ayo Edebiri (Sydney) and Oliver Platt (Cicero/Uncle Jimmy).

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    In charge is showrunner Christopher Storer, who came up with the concept after being inspired by his friend’s father Chris Zucchero, the owner of Chicago sandwich joint Mr Beef.

    With his professional chef sister also serving as a consultant, Storer succeeded in creating a deliciously authentic and intensely real drama. Buoyed along the way by 21 Emmys and five Golden Globes, Storer also watched his cast ascend, the tortured-soul performance of White garnering particular praise.

    Testing the parameters of a long-running show, Storer focused in on the entire cast of characters and their backstories, a successful tactic used by shows such as Orange is the New Black to keep the drama – largely confined to a kitchen set – fresh.

    Pulling in Hollywood die-hards Oliver Platt and Jamie Lee Curtis for familial tough-love roles further enriched the mix, often using a non-chronological timeframe to go back to moments of family turbulence and tension. This made for three-dimensional characters and enabled evolution around difficult themes such as the aftermath of suicide and generational trauma.

    The Bear has come a long way in three seasons, starting with a spit and sawdust establishment serving up the lunchtime beef sandwiches for its working customers.

    Carmy’s experience and longing for the high-end restaurant of his dreams hurtled forward in season two, as he sent his core crew off in different directions to hone their skills and help form his vision. A restaurant trying to win success but plagued with challenges, there were exhausting familial tensions embedded in every episode of season three.

    Several themes play out in The Bear: love, family, loyalty, community and purpose. The relationship between Carmy and cousin Richie (not a real cousin, but a term of endearment) is key to linking past and future. Richie provides some of the highlights of comedy and pathos as he spits truth bombs, most frequently at talented sous-chef Syd.

    It is Syd who follows Carmy’s aspirations for gastronomic perfection but can’t abide the lack of order or the intense highs and lows that inevitably go hand in hand with his talent. And this is one central question to consider for the latest series: just how long will the audience remain loyal to Carmy and his endless quest for artistry in a high-failure rate industry?

    It’s all in the sauce

    Storer begins season four with a ghost. Carmy and his dead brother Mikey (Jon Berthal) banter in a seven-minute scene, with Carmy ultimately confiding the dream of a restaurant as Mikey watches him make tomato sauce (“too much garlic”). The tomatoes resonate: Mikey left behind money hidden in tomato cans that ended up saving Carmy’s sanity and his dream of a proper restaurant.

    Just as oranges represent death to Frances Ford Coppola, Storer uses tomatoes to underscore themes; here they symbolise familial loyalty and history, a solid base to a meal, a core ingredient. Mikey was one of the core ingredients in Carmy’s life, and now he’s gone.

    Carmy awakens to a rerun of Groundhog Day on late-night TV and fittingly, we too are back – same dish, now more seasoned and enriched with its core ingredients and ready to serve up a big bowlful of family, love, ambition, strife and grief.

    The episode furthers the theme of loyalty as the restaurant receives The Tribune’s review – the cliffhanger of the season three finale. Naturally, Storer doesn’t let up – the food critic highlights “dissonance” and Carmy is back in emotional chaos, with Syd urging him to lighten up and lose the misery.

    In truth, this series could do with adding some more humour in the mix; the teasing and frivolous banter of season one has got somewhat lost in the seasons that followed.

    Storer ramps up the tension, setting several ticking clocks in place: chiefly Uncle Jimmy’s notice period for the business to turn a profit is literally installed on a digital clock in the kitchen. Then Syd’s headhunter calls, offering her desired autonomy and an exit strategy from the chaos.

    And Carmy raises the stakes with an intention to gain a Michelin star. Thus a heroic journey is set in place for the whole cast, with future battles both internal and external laid out.

    There’s too much going on at this feast and the feeling of being stuffed full of story is tangible by the end of the first episode. Still, with a season lining up more emotional turbulence steered by White, more celebrity cameos (Brie Larson and Rob Reiner are lined up) and the excellent cinematography and performances that we have come to expect, Storer stirs his secret sauce.

    The Bear still offers an entertaining and enticing proposition, bingeable and mostly satisfying.

    Jane Steventon 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. The Bear season 4: this meaty restaurant drama is still an enticing bingeable prospect – https://theconversation.com/the-bear-season-4-this-meaty-restaurant-drama-is-still-an-enticing-bingeable-prospect-260143

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Five ways to avoid illness like the Lionesses

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Samantha Abbott, Doctoral Researcher, Department of Sport Science, Nottingham Trent University

    England’s Beth Mead cheering on podium after win v Germany in the Women European Championship Final 2022 photographyjp/Shutterstock

    Think back to the last time you had a cold or the flu. Now imagine stepping onto the pitch for a European Cup final, while battling through those symptoms. For elite athletes, illness can strike at the worst possible time – and it could hit women harder.

    Research suggests that female athletes are more susceptible to cold and flu-like illnesses than their male counterparts. For England women’s national football team, the Lionesses, this risk only increases before a major tournament like the Euros.

    Close contact, shared kit, disrupted sleep and travel all add up to a perfect storm for infection. But targeted nutritional strategies, alongside good sleep and hand hygiene, can offer a crucial line of defence.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    1. Fuel first: energy matters for immunity

    Before anything else, players need to eat enough. Energy supports both performance and immune function. In fact, female athletes who didn’t meet their energy needs in the run-up to the 2016 Olympics were four times more likely to report cold or flu symptoms.

    This is especially relevant in women’s football, where low energy and carbohydrate intake has been documented among professional players and recreational players too. Regular meals and snacks that include carbohydrate-rich foods like oats, bread and pasta, especially around training, are essential to meet energy demands and support immune health.

    2. Eat the rainbow

    Athletes are often encouraged to go beyond the public’s five-a-day fruit and veg target, aiming instead for eight to ten portions daily. Why? Because colourful plant foods are packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds: all vital for immunity.



    Read more:
    We’re told to ‘eat a rainbow’ of fruit and vegetables. Here’s what each colour does in our body

    Each colour offers unique benefits. For instance, red fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes, contain lycopene, a powerful antioxidant. Orange produce like carrots get their colour from beta-carotene, which is converted by the body into vitamin A – a key vitamin for immune health.

    Eating a rainbow of colours means getting a wide range of nutrients.

    3. Vitamin C: powerful but timing matters

    Vitamin C has long been linked with reducing the risk and severity of cold and flu symptoms. One Cochrane review found that regular vitamin C intake halved the risk of illness in physically active people.

    However, more isn’t always better. Long-term use of high-dose vitamin C supplements could blunt training adaptations – the structural and functional changes the body undergoes in response to repeated exercise – because of its anti-inflammatory effects. That’s why vitamin C is most effective when used strategically, such as during high-risk periods like travel or intense competition. Good food sources include oranges, kiwis, blackcurrants, red and yellow peppers, broccoli and even potatoes.

    4. Gut health supports immune health

    Around 70% of the immune system is located in the gut, making gut health a key player in illness prevention. This is where probiotics (live bacteria) and prebiotics (which feed those bacteria) come in.

    Probiotics, found in fermented foods like kefir and kimchi or in supplement form, have been shown to reduce the duration and severity of respiratory illnesses in athletes. Prebiotics have similarly shown promise. In one study, a 24-week prebiotic intervention in elite rugby players reduced the duration of cold and flu symptoms by over two days.



    Read more:
    Gut microbiome: meet Lactobacillus acidophilus – the gut health superhero

    In the build-up to the Euros, including probiotic-rich foods in their diet or taking a daily prebiotic and probiotic supplement may help players stay healthy and return to training faster if they do get ill.

    5. Zinc lozenges: first aid for a sore throat

    If cold-like symptoms do appear, zinc lozenges can offer fast-acting relief. Zinc has antiviral, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. When zinc is delivered as a lozenge, it acts directly in the throat, where many infections begin. Taken within 24 hours of symptoms starting, zinc lozenges could shorten illness duration by a third.

    But caution is key. Long-term use of high-dose zinc supplements can actually suppress immune function. Zinc lozenges should only be used short-term at symptom onset, not as a daily supplement.

    Staying match-ready during major tournaments means more than just tactical drills and fitness. Nutrition is a powerful ally in illness prevention, especially for women’s teams like the Lionesses. From fuelling adequately to supporting gut health and knowing when to supplement, these nutritional strategies can make the difference between sitting on the bench and bringing a trophy home.

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

    – ref. Five ways to avoid illness like the Lionesses – https://theconversation.com/five-ways-to-avoid-illness-like-the-lionesses-259302

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –