NewzIntel.com

Category: Education

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Arrest – Domestic violence – Katherine

    Source: New South Wales Department of Education and Communities

    The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested a 21-year-old female in relation to a stabbing incident in Katherine last night.

    About 7:45pm, police received multiple reports that a 41-year-old male, who is known to the alleged offender, had multiple stab wounds to his shoulder.

    The male was transported to Katherine Regional Hospital by St John Ambulance in a stable but serious condition. He was later transported to Royal Darwin Hospital for further treatment to his injuries.

    Investigations are ongoing and the crime command have carriage.

    If you or someone you know are experiencing difficulties due to domestic violence, support services are available, including, but not limited to, 1800RESPECT (1800737732) or Lifeline 131 114.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: North Dakota Delegation: NDSU Bison to Visit White House, U.S. Capitol on April 9

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven

    03.21.25

    Click for video and audio.

    WASHINGTON – Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer and Representative Julie Fedorchak today announced that the North Dakota State University (NDSU) Bison football team will visit the White House and U.S. Capitol on April 9, meeting with President Trump in honor of the team winning the NCAA Division I FCS national championship. Hoeven has been working to coordinate the visit, following Hoeven and Cramer speaking with President Donald Trump to arrange the invitation.

    “The Bison are tremendous representatives of our state, having developed a record of excellence through their hard work, dedication and strong leadership. We are looking forward to honoring their achievements on April 9 with this visit to the White House, and we appreciate President Trump and his team for working with us to make it happen,” said Senator Hoeven.

    “Like President Trump, the Bison never get tired of winning,” said Senator Cramer. “Looking forward to celebrating our victory together.”

    “In North Dakota, we take pride in our agriculture, our energy, and our North Dakota State University Bison,” said Representative Fedorchak. “With 10 national championships in 14 years, NDSU represents nothing short of football dominance. Their unwavering commitment to excellence, teamwork, and resilience embodies the best of our state, and I’m thrilled to see them honored by President Trump at the White House.”

    “Our Bison football team’s national championship victory is a source of great pride for the entire NDSU community and the state of North Dakota. Their invitation to the White House highlights the exceptional talent and determination of our student-athletes. We thank Senators Hoeven and Cramer for joining us in celebrating this remarkable milestone,” said NDSU President David Cook.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Helping disengaged NSW youth get back in the game

    Source: Government of Victoria 3

    Joint with:

    The Hon Jim Chalmers MP
    Treasurer
    Member for Rankin
     

    The Hon Amanda Rishworth MP
    Minister for Social Services 
    Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme
    Member for Kingston
     

    The Hon Steve Whan MP
    Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education
    Member for Monaro

    The Albanese and Minns Governments are partnering to connect disadvantaged young people with education, training and employment in NSW. 

    Both governments are investing $5 million each into the Get Back in the Game Program – helping local organisations deliver specialist support to young people aged 15 to 21.

    The funding, through the $100 million Commonwealth Outcomes Fund, will support around 1,400 young people a year who may not have reached their full potential. 

    Treasurer Jim Chalmers said Get Back on Track would help to tackle intergenerational disadvantage in communities across NSW. 

     “This is all about helping more young people get great training, get a great job and get ahead,” the Treasurer said. 

     “No matter who you are or where you live, you deserve a decent education and a decent opportunity to earn a good living and provide for your loved ones. 

     “We’re backing local organisations to give local kids the opportunities they need and deserve.

     “Programs like this one will help us tackle intergenerational disadvantage in communities right around Australia where a national approach on its own will never be enough.”

    Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth, said investing in local partnerships ensures Government funding is tailored to the needs of young people and their communities.

    “The Outcomes Fund will give community organisations under the Get Back in the Game Program the flexibility to design and deliver services for young people that recognises where they are at and will get the best results they need,” Minister Rishworth said.

    “I am excited to be partnering with the NSW Government on the program so community organisations can get on with their important work with young people across NSW.”

    Minister Whan said empowering our youth is crucial for building a stronger future for NSW. 

    “I’ve met some of the young people who have benefited from this program – it quite literally has changed their lives.  From being disengaged from school to building a career.  It is producing results for young people,” Minister Whan said.

    “By investing in skills training and education opportunities, we are ensuring that no young person is left behind. This program will provide essential pathways for those who need it the most. Thank you to the Albanese Government for investing in this important program.”

    Participants must be aged 15-21 and not be a current participant in any Commonwealth or NSW program or service supporting youth transitions to work or study.

    The Get Back in the Game program is the last of the four projects to be announced from the first Expression of Interest process under the $100 million Commonwealth Outcomes Fund.

    The Outcomes Fund gives providers the flexibility to tailor services to the needs of communities and young people. They receive payments when outcomes are achieved. 

    The Fund aims to achieve service delivery and funding reform as part of the over $200 million Targeting Entrenched Disadvantage package.

    Sue Watson, Manager of Yourtown’s Get Back in the Game program, said that the program funding will make a real difference for disengaged youth.

    “Yourtown works together with young people to uncover and supercharge their strengths, providing the practical training, education and skills development they need to land a job and break the cycle of unemployment,” Ms Watson said.

    “Our program creates pathways to help young people unlock their potential and achieve a bright future. This funding makes a real difference to these young people.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Labrador Letter – Victory at the Ninth Circuit: Roe v. Critchfield

    Source: US State of Idaho

    Dear Friends,
    Yesterday, in Roe v. Critchfield, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously upheld a district court decision in support of Idaho’s law that mandates separate-sex facilities in public schools, like bathrooms and other areas with expectations of privacy.  Idaho’s common-sense law for now can be enforced as intended, protecting the safety, privacy and dignity of Idaho students.
    Last March, Idaho enacted Senate Bill 1100 which protected children’s privacy by ensuring that sex-specific facilities in K-12 public schools like showers, locker rooms, restrooms, and overnight accommodations remained sex-specific, while also allowing single-user facilities. But activists sued Idaho State Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield and the State Board of Education last July, demanding that K-12 public schools force girls to share private spaces with males and vice-versa.  As your Attorney General, I represented Superintendent Critchfield and the State Board of Education in defense of Idaho’s law.
    We initially won at the federal district court level when Judge David Nye denied a motion for preliminary injunction from the Plaintiffs who claimed irreparable harm by having to use facilities that corresponded with their biological sex.  This ruling was appealed by the Plaintiffs to the Ninth Circuit and that court granted a temporary injunction while this case was being argued, effectively putting Idaho’s law on hold.   My office, aided by counsel from the Alliance Defending Freedom, argued this case in December of last year.
    In yesterday’s decision, the Ninth Circuit wrote that it saw “no argument at this stage that [Idaho law’s] mandatory segregation of [showers and overnight stays] on the basis of ‘biological sex’ is not substantially related to the State’s interests in: (1) not exposing students to the unclothed bodies of students of the opposite sex; and (2) protecting students from having to expose their own unclothed bodies to students of the opposite sex.”  By upholding the denial of a preliminary injunction, the Ninth Circuit also acknowledged the Plaintiffs in Roe v. Critchfield were not likely to succeed on the merits of their case.
    The reality is that boys and girls are different. Trying to force a fundamental change in the most basic concept of biology by putting a male into a girls’ locker room isn’t safe or dignified, or respectful of anyone.  Children suffering from gender dysphoria need compassion, support, and competent counseling. But to enable and perpetuate their condition by putting other kids at risk and removing everyone’s privacy and dignity is simply unacceptable.  Idaho’s law drew a very clear line on this issue, and I was proud to successfully defend it.
    Idaho has led the way, pushing back against the gender identity agenda.   Idaho was the first state to pass a law keeping men from participating in women’s sports.  Idaho was the first state to pass a law to stop gender transition surgeries and procedures for minors.  Despite being challenged by activists, many of these laws across the country are being affirmed by higher courts and are now supported by a new Administration that isn’t caving to the gender identity movement.
    I won’t stop fighting for Idaho.  Our laws are the voice of our people, expressed through our legislature and the statutes they pass on our behalf.  Those who oppose Idaho’s laws – regardless of the topic – have shown a willingness to engage in endless lawfare to get their way.  As your Attorney General, I will make sure that Idaho’s laws have the very best defense against activist agendas, every time.
    Best regards,

    Not yet subscribed to the Labrador Letter?  Click HERE to get our weekly newsletter and updates.  Miss an issue?  Labrador Letters are archived on the Attorney General website.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: General Assembly Adopts Texts, Marks International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    The poison of racism remains in the veins of global institutions, laws and everyday practices and must be fought in all its forms, speakers urged the General Assembly today, as the body commemorated the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in addition to taking action on three draft texts.

    One of these, the draft resolution titled “Permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan” (document A/79/L.59), was introduced by that country’s representative.  She affirmed neutrality as a fundamental principle of her nation’s foreign policy — “a beacon of peace, stability and constructive engagement in the international community for three decades”.  The Assembly then adopted the draft resolution without a vote.

    By the text, the Assembly called on Member States to respect and support this status of Turkmenistan and to respect its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.  It further welcomed the decision of the Government of Turkmenistan to host an international forum, in December 2025, devoted to the International Year of Peace and Trust, the International Day of Neutrality and the thirtieth anniversary of the permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan.

    The Assembly also adopted without a vote the draft decision titled “United Nations Pledging Conference for Development Activities” (document A/79/L.61).  By its terms, the Assembly decided to convene the next such Conference in 2026.  Also adopted without a vote was the draft decision titled “Speakers for the opening segment of the ‘World Social Summit’ under the title ‘the Second World Summit for Social Development’” (document A/79/L.65).

    International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

    At the outset of the meeting, Philémon Yang (Cameroon), President of the General Assembly at its seventy-ninth session, recalled that peaceful protesters stood against injustice in Sharpeville, South Africa, 65 years ago.  While 69 lives were lost that day, “their courage ignited a movement — one that continues today,” he stated.  And, on the sixtieth anniversary of the adoption of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination — to which 182 Member States are party — he said:  “We must recommit to its provisions that prohibit racial discrimination in all its forms.”  Further, he called on the international community to “take decisive action to enforce antidiscrimination laws and ensure they are effective”.

    Urging States to invest in inclusive education, raise public awareness and challenge harmful stereotypes, he emphasized that the fight against racial discrimination is not just a moral duty, but essential to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  And, while Africa has long carried the weight of historical injustice, he stressed that the continent is also a beacon of resilience and leadership that “has shown the world how to successfully end abhorrent examples of institutional racism and bigotry”.  The international community must therefore listen to African voices and fully integrate their perspective into global anti-racism efforts.  Additionally, he called on the next generation to “carry forward the fight against racial discrimination with hope and determination”.

    Speaking next was Courtenay Rattray, Chef de Cabinet of the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, who said that the poison of racism is the toxic legacy of historic enslavement and colonialism.  Today, it continues to corrupt communities and erode the foundations of justice, stoked by “growing inequalities and algorithms that capitalize on polarizing content”, he stated.  Forged amidst the civil rights and anti-Apartheid movements of the 1960s, the Convention remains a beacon of hope.  Calling for its universal ratification, he urged business leadership, civil society and everyday people to take a stand against racism in all its forms.

    Ilze Brands Kehris, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, then emphasized that race, colour, descent or origin must never silence people, block their opportunities, make them targets or endanger their lives.  While the Convention was a milestone treaty, she warned that “we once again find ourselves in a period of turmoil” — with racism still permeating institutions, social structures and everyday life in all societies.  While diversity is profoundly human and enriches societies, “because of it, millions of people are treated as sub-human”, she stated.  Condemning the resurgence of nationalist populism and ideologies of racial superiority, she called today’s gathering an opportunity for States, national human-rights institutions, civil society, the private sector and United Nations entities to commit to concrete steps to combat the scourge.

    Echoing calls for universal ratification, Michał Balcerzak (Poland), Chair of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, also encouraged Member States to recognize the competence of his Committee to receive individual communications to provide effective access to justice for victims.  “Formal ratification is essential, but not sufficient,” he said, noting that various provisions were included in the Convention to address historical injustice and structural racism — such as the obligation to adopt special or affirmative measures.  “We witness today the challenging of these measures in many countries,” he pointed out, calling on States and judicial bodies to protect them.  He added:  “Racist and xenophobic discourse are not only increasing, but also encouraged by some politicians and public figures.  This is not the time to remain silent.”

    For her part, Sarah Lewis, Associate Professor at Harvard University, noted that she is “the descendant of enslaved men and women from, we believe, Ghana and Nigeria, and also from slave owners who came from the United Kingdom”.  While this anniversary is a chance to salute the extraordinary progress made to confront racial discrimination, she emphasized that “much more is needed today in many parts of the world to combat injustice”.  Stressing that the racial divide around the world is built on the fiction of racial superiority, she cited ignorance — for example, that slavery could ever be construed as beneficial for the skills it taught the enslaved.  She recalled the words of civil-rights leader Frederick Douglass, who spoke of internalized narratives that seemed to justify inequity, making the case for the power of culture as an overlooked tool for ending racism.  “He said it might take over 150 years for society here, and around the world, to understand these ideas,” she observed.

    During the ensuing discussion, South Africa’s delegate recalled that, “on this day 65 years ago”, people gathered around police stations in his country without carrying the dompas — the document that restricted the movement of people based on their race.  During this peaceful protest, Apartheid security forces and police opened fire on a crowd in Sharpeville, killing 69 and injuring 130.  “Most were shot in the back,” he said.  While the equal enjoyment of human rights is a basic principle of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights — adopted in 1948 — he noted that, in 1965, “it was obvious that this was not a universal understanding”.  This is why the global community recognized the need to establish international law to protect human rights, regardless of race.  The Convention, he recalled, remains the only active legal instrument against racism and racial discrimination.

    Echoing those sentiments, the representative of Equatorial Guinea, speaking for the African Group, stressed the need to address contemporary forms of racism and new forms of slavery, such as human trafficking.  All States must eliminate systemic barriers and racial discrimination faced by people of African descent in housing, healthcare, education and other sectors.  Further, global reparatory justice is crucial for equitable sustainable development.  In a similar vein, Jamaica’s delegate, speaking for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), said that the injustice of the transatlantic slave trade lingers and affects the lives of people of African descent today.  He also expressed concern about “the growing incitement of hatred and intolerance, including through the use of new and emerging technologies”.

    Echoing that, the representative of Greece, speaking for the Group of Western European and Other States, affirmed the collective “responsibility to address all factors that ignite racist harassment, hate speech, hate crimes and all other forms of incitement”.  Moreover, nationalist and populist ideologies and rhetoric that erode social cohesion have no place in societies.  The representative of Fiji, speaking for the Asia-Pacific Group, strongly condemned racial profiling and negative stereotyping on any grounds and against any persons.  Meanwhile, Suriname’s delegate, speaking for the Group of Latin America and Caribbean Countries, expressed solidarity with all victims of racial discrimination around the world.  He further highlighted the intersection of racial and gender discrimination, calling for gender-responsive policies. 

    However, the representative of the Russian Federation recalled that the international community is far from consensus on fighting racism, with the various documents and decisions adopted by the General Assembly lacking support from Western countries.  “We all know that, in Europe, discrimination flourishes,” she said, spotlighting bans on studies in one’s native language and on participating in elections.  Condemning Western Governments for “turning a blind eye” to their racist, xenophobic and colonialist pasts, she voiced support for the objectives of the Second International Decade for People of African Descent.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – Tiny but Mighty, Endangered Native Species Making a Comeback!

    Source: Merlin Entertainments
    SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium Releases, 252 Southern Pygmy Perch in a World-First for Conservation supported by NSW DPIRD Fisheries

    Sydney, AUSTRALIA, Friday 21 March 2025 – In a world-first, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium has bred and released 252 Southern pygmy perch (Nannoperca australis) at Lade Vale, New South Wales, marking a key milestone for conservation efforts to protect this native Endangered species.

    “Though they are small, the Southern pygmy perch are mighty! They play a vital role in freshwater ecosystems by controlling insect populations and supporting biodiversity, which ensures the health of streams and wetlands,” said Laura Simmons, Head of Conservation, Welfare, and Education for SEA LIFE Aquariums Australia and New Zealand.
    “Four years ago, when the NSW Government’s Fisheries Division approached SEA LIFE Sydney, we embraced the challenge to take on custodianship, develop best practices within the aquarium, and ultimately breed the Southern pygmy perch for a cooperative breed-for-release program to encourage wild repopulation. We are incredibly proud of reaching this milestone, which marks a significant step in recovering the species and securing its future in Australia’s freshwater ecosystems,” she added.
     
    Southern pygmy perch were once widely distributed and abundant in the Murray, Lachlan, and Murrumbidgee catchments. The species has now disappeared from most locations in NSW and has only been recorded from a handful of sites in the last 30 years.
     
    The aquarium-bred Southern pygmy perch have been released into a waterway on a private property at Lade Vale, NSW, determined as a suitable habitat by the project experts. Post-release, project partners, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) Fisheries and Gunning District Landcare, will closely monitor the fish to ensure their successful integration into the wild.
    “It’s exciting to be working with SEA LIFE Sydney and the local landcare group on new and innovative ways to re-establish this unique and important species back in the landscape”, said Luke Pearce, DPIRD Senior Fisheries Manager.
    Southern pygmy perch are threatened by habitat loss from flood control measures and dams, which disrupt river flow and temperature, as well as by competition and predation from invasive species like Redfin perch, common carp and Eastern gambusia.
    As part of its broader conservation strategy, SEA LIFE Sydney will continue to support research, breeding programs, and habitat restoration projects, collaborating with government and conservation partners to secure a future for the Southern pygmy perch and other vulnerable species within Australia and around the world.
    For more information on SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium’s conservation efforts or to plan a visit, please visit: www.visitsealife.com/sydney/conservation/local-conservation-projects/southern-pygmy-perch-breeding-program

    About Merlin Entertainments:  

    Merlin Entertainments is a world leader in branded entertainment destinations, offering a diverse portfolio of resort theme parks, city-centre gateway attractions and LEGOLAND® Resorts which span across the UK, US, Western Europe, China, and Asia Pacific. Dedicated to creating experiences that inspire joy and connection, Merlin welcomes more than 62 million guests annually to its growing estate, with over 140 sites across 23 countries. An expert in bringing world-famous entertainment brands to life, Merlin works with partners including the LEGO® Group, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Peppa Pig, DreamWorks and Ferrari to create destinations where guests can immerse themselves in a wide array of brand-driven worlds, rides and uplifting learning experiences.  

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: From hempseed gruel to CBD: the curious history of cannabis as a health product

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Lauren Alex O’Hagan, Research Fellow, School of Languages and Applied Linguistics, The Open University

    H_Ko/Shutterstock

    The cannabis-derived product CBD has been hailed “the wonder drug of our age”, offering potential health benefits without the high. From juices and coffee to truffles and ice cream, CBD products have flooded the market for consumers looking for an answer to health problems from anxiety to insomnia.

    But with CBD products in the UK and EU falling under “novel foods” regulations rather than pharmaceutical standards, they aren’t subjected to the same rigorous safety and quality controls as drugs. The UK’s Committee on Toxicology has even flagged potential health risks, such as liver injury, leading the Food Standards Agency to issue safety guidance.

    The regulatory gaps and health concerns of today reflect those of the 19th century when cannabis products were commercialised by the food industry.

    In the 1830s, William Brooke O’Shaughnessy, an Irish doctor, discovered that cannabis was effective in treating muscle spasms and stomach cramps. French psychiatrist Jacques-Joseph Moreau later explored its potential for mental illness. This led many 19th-century doctors to champion cannabis as a cure-all.

    It wasn’t long before patent medicine manufacturers began using cannabis as a common ingredient in their formulas. But soon, cannabis wasn’t just in pharmacies – it was in food.

    Surprisingly, this shift was not driven by the food industry, but by the free church environment in Sweden as part of efforts to combat tuberculosis – a leading cause of death across all social classes in the country at the time.

    Paul Petter Waldenström, leader of the Swedish Mission Covenant, wrote a letter to Svenska Morgonbladet about a woman reportedly cured of tuberculosis by a homebrewed gruel made with hempseed, rye flour and milk. His endorsement helped popularise the remedy and many started making their own “Waldenström gruel”, as it became known.

    Sensing a business opportunity, entrepreneur J. Barthelson developed a powdered commercial version with the elegant French name Extrait Cannabis. He marketed it as a dietary remedy for tuberculosis, chest diseases and low energy. As demand grew, competitors quickly jumped on the bandwagon, using fearmongering tactics to persuade consumers that they were putting their lives at risk without it.

    The rise and fall of Maltos-Cannabis

    The most striking cannabis-infused product of the era came from the Red Cross Technical Factory. Their “health drink”, Maltos-Cannabis, was a maltose and cannabis blend marketed as both nutritious and delicious, especially when mixed with cocoa.

    With an aggressive advertising campaign, the company raked in nearly SEK 290,000 a year (around £775,000 in modern money), opening factories in Chicago, Helsinki, Brussels and Utrecht.

    A particularly dramatic advertisement depicted the Grim Reaper fleeing from the light of science, shining from a lighthouse. Meanwhile, a mother and daughter raised their arms triumphantly, symbolising victory over death thanks to Maltos-Cannabis. The tagline boldly claimed that the product had “a big future”.

    Maltos-Cannabis advertisement, Hälsovännen, 1 February 1894.
    Wikimedia Commons

    However, questions swirled about its legitimacy. Newspapers debated whether the product was a groundbreaking remedy or “a pure scam product”. While some critics called the craze an “epidemic”, others argued coffee was more harmful – a hot topic in Sweden’s parliament at the time.

    In response, Red Cross published a half-page rebuttal signed by its executives, defending the product’s credibility. But scepticism persisted. After various lawsuits and growing concerns over its effectiveness and safety, sales of Maltos-Cannabis began to decline. By the 1930s, the product had disappeared entirely.

    History repeats itself?

    The 19th-century commercial cannabis market was able to thrive due to the absence of marketing regulations for both food and pharmaceutical products. Manufacturers freely advertised their products using pseudo-scientific claims and buzzword-heavy marketing – strategies we’re seeing again today in the thriving CBD industry.

    This is because CBD is a “borderline” product, existing in a regulatory grey area that allows for marketing strategies to flourish without stringent oversight. Much like in the past, brands tap into consumers’ health anxieties with promises of a wellness revolution. Most worryingly, social media influencers are being used to endorse CBD, making it particularly appealing for younger audiences.

    With the global CBD market valued at US$19 billion in 2023 and projected to grow by 16% annually until 2030, looking back at the broader, problematic history of commercial cannabis should serve as a cautionary tale.

    Lauren Alex O’Hagan 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. From hempseed gruel to CBD: the curious history of cannabis as a health product – https://theconversation.com/from-hempseed-gruel-to-cbd-the-curious-history-of-cannabis-as-a-health-product-251967

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Murkowski Addresses the Alaska State Legislature

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski
    03.19.25
    “We are all Alaskans; we are all invested in the future of this great place.”
    Juneau, AK – U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today delivered her annual address to the Alaska State Legislature during a joint session at the Alaska State Capitol Building.
    Murkowski thanked many of the legislators for their good work and recapped the progress the delegation has made for Alaska over the past year. While celebrating many Alaskans’ accomplishments, she expressed her concern for the indiscriminate firing of federal employees and the impacts the federal funding freeze will have on the state. Murkowski also spoke to areas where Alaska can work closely with the new administration, particularly resource development.
    After her remarks, Murkowski took questions from the legislators on a variety of topics, which are available to watch in the video linked below.

    Senator Murkowski addresses the Alaska State Legislature on March 18, 2025.
    Click here to watch the Senator’s remarks.
    Below is the text of Murkowski’s remarks as delivered.
    Good morning. We’ve got a full house, full crowd, and it is good to be home with all of you.
    Mr. Speaker Edgmon and Mr. President Stevens, to our Majority Leaders Senator Giessel and Representative Kopp, Minority Leaders Senator Shower and Representative Costello, to all members of the Legislature: thank you for the opportunity to be back with you in these chambers.
    I’ve had a good morning. I think I’ve been able to meet with the vast majority of you, exchanging conversation as Alaskans and as fellow lawmakers. Thank you for the time you have given me already, and for the hour that we will have this morning.
    A lot of new faces, this is good to see. When you have a House with 10 new members, that’s impressive, this is good. And I love, and I will emphasize love, the fact that we have so many women in our House, more women than men. It has taken a little bit of time, but congratulations to all of you.  I look forward to the many contributions that we will see.
    At the same time that you see the new faces, there are many that I have known over the years. You have a few that I’ve actually served with. They’re more like friends and extended family. We’ve got Lyman back there in the corner. We’ve got Gary.
    I know I’m supposed to be using your formal titles here, but you know, you look at these guys in their tenure here, these are the giants of the place. I think of you as the Ted Stevens and the Don Young of the Legislature. I’ll let you figure out which one’s which, but you’ve been around, been around a little bit of time.
    Whether you’re new to public service or continuing this, thank you for stepping up. Thank you for engaging. Thank you for being in the arena at a time that our state needs each and every one of you.
    So, for those of you that are new, you need to know, I start out every one of my legislative addresses, not talking about you, but talking about my family, because our families are so important to who we are and what we do.
    When I got on the plane on Monday, coming out of Anchorage to come to Juneau, I run into Representative Costello, you, Mia, and I remembered when you first came to this body, your kids were young. They were about the same age as my kids were when I joined the Legislature. And I remember thinking mornings were when you’re leaving the kids and you’re saying, “have a good week,” instead of “have a good day at school.”
    So, to each and every one of you who leave your families behind, or who bring them here and who uproot them to be part of this, thank you for what you do. Thank you for the sacrifice that you are making. Your children will be better because of your service. So, thank you for making those trips every Monday.
    So, my family is doing well. The boys are good. They’re getting older, they’re both married. One is living in Anchorage, the other is living in Tennessee. They married great women. Verne is doing well, he is on both ends of the country, flying with me. We never fly on the same airplane, he’s always looking for more legroom, and I’m always so used to being squeezed into wherever I need to be.
    My parents are well, thank you for inquiring. Dad is turning 91 here at the end of the month. They are celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary at the end of this month, so they’re hanging in there.
    As for me, I’ve spent a lot of time in Washington, DC this year. We’re beginning a new Congress and a new administration.  This is actually our first recess of the year. Usually I come here during President’s Day, but this is our first recess that we have had, so you’re not going to find anyone that is happier about being home right now than me. 
    I wasn’t quite sure it was actually going to happen. We managed to avoid a government shutdown. That’s a good thing. But the end result was less than desirable. The Continuing Resolution that we will be operating under from now through the end of September is not what I would have hoped. We were dealing with a situation that I think was best described as a Morton’s Fork. For those of you who are not familiar with this term, it’s okay to look it up. Basically, it’s a choice between two equally bad options: a shutdown, which is never good, and a continuing resolution that doesn’t do much, if anything, to reduce the level of spending. It takes away the work we had done to identify what our priorities would be, and tells the administration, “here is the money,” but we’re not providing you with the details to administer it.
    So, we’re moving forward and that’s going to be important. Beginning next week, we begin, in earnest, budget reconciliation. We can talk about it a little bit later if you want. But, before I get started, I want to recognize some of the good work that has gone on here, in this Legislature. Some of the good work that you are doing. 
    Representative Dibert, Senator Kawasaki, and Representative Carrick, I want to thank you for saying it loud and proud—it’s Denali. So, thank you for that. That resolution is really important. I thank you, I thank all 50 of you who voted for it.
    Senators Wielechowski, Tobin, Cronk, and Hughes, Speaker Edgmon and Representatives Himschoot, Johnson, and Ruffridge, all of you who have been tackling K-12 funding with the Governor—thank you for what you’re doing there. I know this is hard, but there is nothing more important that we can do for Alaska’s future than focusing on our kids’ education. So, thank you for working through those hard things. I appreciate that.
    To those of you who were part of the Joint Legislative Task Force on Alaska’s Seafood Industry, I’m not going to name all the names, but I was with you at the Commissioners’ task force meeting in January, and thank you for the good recommendations to help our fish, fishermen, fish processors, and coastal communities. Thank you. We need to take your recommendations and help you with implementation.
    Senator Hughes, I appreciate what you’re doing on food security. These are important initiatives. I’m proud to support your work through the microgrants program I was able to create for Alaska, so there’s good work going on there.
    Representative Stutes, Representative Tomaszewski, and all who supported HB 65—great work on your legislation for a new passenger dock in Seward and the economic development that will bring. Good work on so many of these initiatives that I appreciate.
    On a personal level, Senator Olson and Representative Dibert, we’re glad you’re better and back to work. Glad to know that you are on the mend. I was able to earlier congratulate Representative Schrage on the birth of your daughter. So again, congratulations to you and your wife on the birth of your daughter, Emily.
    Keep doing good work in all of these really important areas.
    I’ve got some friends and colleagues in the gallery I want to introduce. I am going to try to introduce folks in the gallery because you might not be familiar with because they haven’t been in the gallery yet.
    You’ve got a gentleman that is no stranger to you, Joe Plesha. He’s handling all of my communications. I don’t know whether we let him continue with the mustache, but I guess that’s who he is. 
    The gentleman seated on the end there, that is my Chief of Staff, Garrett Boyle. Garrett has been on my team now in this capacity since last April.
    Next to Joe is Hali Gruber, who is my advisor for energy and natural resources. She was working previously for Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers on the House side, and did a great job over there. So, we were able to pick her up.
    Next to her, we have my regional director here in Juneau, Kara Hollatz.  
    Next to Kara, we have Karina Waller. Karina has worked on the federal side for a long time before coming to me. She was with Senator Stevens a long time ago, btu has been heading up my state operations since last April.
    So those are the new faces you’re going to see. You’re going to see more of my team wandering the halls, having meetings with you. This is a good opportunity for us, again, to start figuring where we can partner and work together.
    I’m proud of the partnerships and relationships that we’re able to develop with one another. Don’t hesitate to call. Call me, call them, call all of us, get us engaged. 
    Back in Washington, DC, some of the things we’re doing there, we have made progress. It’s tough to sometimes think of what we did last year. It was an election year, right? Who was paying attention to anything about accomplishments. But we did.
    One of the things I know Dan and I are particularly proud of is the effort we were able to advance across the finish line, which is to secure a commercially available icebreaker, and the Coast Guard’s commitment to homeport that vessel, called the Storis, here in Juneau.
    We were able to secure cold weather pay for Alaska’s Air and Space Forces, and something that was quite personal to me, we were able to save the Alaska Air National Guard from cuts that would have cost 80 positions. That was really important.
    We were able to secure $300 million for fishery disasters and passed legislation to reform the declaration process to work better for Alaska. This is something we need to keep doing more on. We’ve improved it, but the fact of the matter is the process still does not work for our fisherman, so we’re not letting up on that.
    We broke ground on the Kenai Bluff Stabilization Project, this is one of many major infrastructure projects now underway around our state. This is one that many of you on the peninsula have been working on with us for a long time, so it’s good to see that going.
    We were able to work with our military leaders to help Kake, Angoon, and Wrangell secure long overdue apologies for the bombings that wiped out their Native villages in the late 1800s. So, to be part of those ceremonies was quite impactful.
    We increased funding to address natural hazards, including the landslides that continue to claim lives across Southeast. It’s great to see Jeremy Bynum here from Ketchikan, and to see the role that you played in your local government, and to see the impact that had on your community when we had a devastating loss just last year in Ketchikan.
    We’ve been able to make some headway, finally, for better, more reliable weather observing systems, which we will deliver through the Don Young Alaska Aviation Safety Initiative, but we have more that we need to be doing on that. After the devastating Bering Air crash outside Nome, I think we’re all rightly focused on what we can be doing on aviation safety.
    Then on the Congressionally Directed Spending process, we were able to advance dozens of community priorities. This was everything from housing for Sitka to the expansion of the University’s program for nurses and the allied healthcare workforce.
    Then we were able to finish up some things that have been outstanding for a long time. We secured nearly all funding needed for an Alaska Veterans Cemetery in Fairbanks. I remember when Representative Guttenberg started that ages ago. We’re putting a new roof on the Palmer Pioneer Home after years of delay, seeing the threats from heavy snowfalls. And, a personal one, this is big for Frank and Nancy Murkowski, we finally repainted the Wrangell Post Office. Sometimes you take your wins where you can.
    We also have good news this week.  I’ve told many of you in our conversations, but I’ve been working with Secretary Lutnick and Secretary Rubio, and I’m able to confirm that our fishermen will be able to get out on the water on Thursday for the black cod and halibut opener. That was caught up in a process that most fishermen will not know, they don’t care to know how the sausage is made, they just want to know they’ll be able to get out on the water and be able to do their fishing. We were able to do that for them, so that was a good win.
    We’ve accomplished a lot, and it takes hard work from the delegation, from you, from our teams, and from Alaskans across our state. Before I move on, I want to acknowledge someone that, as I’m looking in the gallery, I see my friend and our Lieutenant Governor, Nancy Dahlstrom. Thank you for joining us. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen you back there before, but I don’t want to skip over your contributions and those of the Governor, and all that you do when we talk about working together to make things happen. So, thank you.
    It really is our people that make the difference. And that’s what I want to focus on today.      
    It’s not just the great Alaskans who make us proud at the Olympics, like Kristen Faulkner from Homer, or who receive top honors from the National Endowment for the Arts, like Chief Reverend Dr. Gilbert Trimble from Arctic Village.
    It’s not just the Alaskans who run James Beard award-winning restaurants, like Carolina and Heidi and Patricia at Lucky Wishbone in Anchorage. Or those who have built institutions, like Jack Hébert did with the Cold Climate Housing Research Center in Fairbanks. Or our military men and women, who we are proud to have serving in our state, and who come from all over the country.
    We celebrate them all, as we should. But today, I want to talk about another set of people who make a difference, and these are Alaska’s federal employees. There are about 15,000 of them across our state. On a per capita basis, we have more than just about any state outside of Maryland and a couple of others. I want to give them the credit they are due—and express how disturbed I am by how they have been treated recently.
    As I stand here, federal employees across Alaska are losing, or have lost, their jobs. 
    I can’t tell you with accuracy how many, because no one who has that information is either able to share it, or willing to share it. 
    What I do know is that these abrupt terminations have affected NOAA, the National Weather Service, the National Park Service, the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, USDA Rural Development, the VA, and other federal agencies. 
    These terminations are indiscriminate and many, we are learning, are unlawful. They are being made regardless of performance and with little understanding of the function and value of each position. At a human level, they are traumatizing people and leaving holes in our communities. 
    As one couple said to us, they’re not just losing their jobs, they’re losing their lives. They’re losing their community. We heard that yesterday in a discission with some terminated employees.
    No one should feel good about that.
    Now I agree, and every single person in this chamber would agree that the federal government is too big. The debt is now above $36 trillion. We’re spending more on interest than national defense. So, I support the mission behind DOGE, to find efficiencies in government. This is our responsibility—you need to find them at the state level, we need to find them at the federal level. And reductions in the federal workforce make absolute sense, but let’s do it in the right way. 
    Not like this. 
    The Trump administration’s approach lacks the type of planning you need to avoid unintended consequences, and it lacks the fundamental decency you need when dealing with real people. Public servants are not our enemies. They’re our friends and neighbors; they are integral to our economy and our ability to function as a state and as a country.
    Their work may go underappreciated. Maybe we don’t know what it is they’re doing, but that doesn’t make it any less important.
    Just because I don’t know who is processing my renewal for my passport, all I care about is getting it in a timely manner. I’ll never know that person. And I’ll never know that they’ve been working at that same job for twelve years, and it is not glamorous, but they show up, and they work, and they give me and you what we’re hoping for. So, I want us to think about the value that comes to us from these public servants.
    Today, I asked if there was any update on Mount Spurr. We’re all wondering when she’s going to pop her top. Do we want to go back to the days of KLM Flight 867, which lost its engines and 14,000 feet of altitude after flying through a cloud of ash? I don’t want that.
    In a few weeks, I think it’s April 14, thousands of tourists will arrive here on the first cruise ship of the season—do we really think one or two people can handle them all at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center? I was out there yesterday, and I don’t think a couple of people are going to be able to do it.
    Do we no longer recognize that our weather forecasters save lives in our state? 
    Is it a good idea to fire the scientists who are tracking avian flu, given our status as a global flyway for migrating birds?  
    We had a conversation earlier this morning about the potential for a really bad fire season this year. With fire season starting yesterday, the earliest ever—do we really want to gut the support staff for the firefighters who will be on the front lines here?
    I was able to visit with some folks yesterday, one was a NOAA fish biologist, he’s one of the guys doing the trawl surveys, which are so necessary to be able to give direction to the council on the management of our fisheries. The fish aren’t going to be able to save themselves. We need our fish biologists, our stream ecologists, they need our help.
    I’m just as frustrated by the federal funding freeze—another area where Alaska faces disproportionate impact. 
    We have more than $1 billion in limbo, even though Congress approved the funding, a president signed it into law, and Alaskans secured these resources through competitive national processes. 
    Keep in perspective what’s being targeted will not put a dent in the deficit or balance the budget. But we’re going to see project costs go up. Construction seasons lost. Employees and contractors laid off. And we may lose some projects, entirely.
    We worked for more than 20 years to get funding for Angoon’s Thayer Creek hydro project, and let me assure you, we are not about to let go of that. So, we have to keep working to advance all of this.
    But again, this is happening indiscriminately, with little understanding of what projects mean for Alaska—how a small hydro project in the total scheme of things may not seem that substantial back in Washington, DC, but if you can reduce your reliance on expensive diesel in a community where you have no other option, don’t we want to encourage that? Making sure people understand the impacts, not only of a small little hydro project, but the impact on the victims of domestic violence who have no safe place to go.  
    I thank folks for weighing in. I kind of like this process, it can be a little unruly, a little rambunctious, but they are weighing in, and I welcome that. And then there are some very measured ways.
    President Stevens and Speaker Edgmon, I got your letter. Senator Kiehl and Representatives Story and Hannan, I got yours, too. I accept the challenge. And I want you to know that I’m doing everything in my power to make the best of this. 
    We are engaging every day to identify where we are seeing challenges presented to us in Alaska, and ways we can work to address it and get it unlocked. I’ve been working directly with Cabinet Secretaries and folks at the White House. We are making some progress, and that’s good. But, a reminder: I’m one of three in the delegation. We all need your help. I can’t do my job alone.
    When I ask you for these stories, when I ask you to share what you’re hearing from your folks back home, take us up on the offer. Don’t be afraid to give us too much. We can be more responsive and help more Alaskans when we do this all together. I’m opening the door to more work, but we’re going to pass it through both ways. 
    I also stood here in 2017 and said that as long as this Legislature wants to keep the Medicaid expansion, you should have that option. 
    My commitment remains to you. I did not support Medicaid cuts then, and I will not support them now. I know what it would mean to Alaskans, and I know what it would mean to you here in the Legislature. There may be some reasonable reforms we can make, and we have talked a little bit about them, about what we may be able to do in Medicaid, we do need to address the rising costs of these entitlement programs. But I just can’t be on board with anything that hurts our people or puts you in a budget hole.  
    Speaking of holes, I need to bring up a difficult subject: the Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan. The STIP. The reality is Alaska is on pace to wind up hundreds of millions of dollars short of where we could and should be. I’m not here to point fingers, that is not my job, but I can’t solve this one. And the longer it takes to sort out, the more our contractors and communities will lose. So, let’s be working on that.
    The same goes for the Alaska Marine Highway System. We’re about to enter the final year of our bipartisan infrastructure law. We’ve delivered $700 million and counting for AMHS, but the system isn’t modernized. It’s not on track for the long-term. There’s a plan for that, but it’s a draft on paper. Unless the State steps up on capital and operating expenses, we’ll have wasted a once-in-a-generation opportunity to do right by all who depend on our ferries.
    Senator Bjorkman, I know you get it, and I commend your work on the Transportation Committee on federal funding, AMHS, the STIP, and more.  
    When federal dollars are on the table, we need to go after them, especially as spending is constrained. And when the delegation manages to throw a lifeline, I’d hope the State grabs it and uses it to reach stable ground.
    We have enough problems, without creating more for ourselves. But that seems to be what we are doing. 
    The environment in Washington, DC is, let’s just say…challenging.
    Take tariffs: that’s the topic of the day back in Washington, DC. But you can’t talk about them in isolation and say, “Washington, DC.” We can talk about it our own state’s Capitol here, and the impact.
    This afternoon I’m going to be meeting with folks from the Alaska Forest Association, and I am going to hear their concerns about tariffs, and what it may mean for some of our small operators down south from here, with China’s retaliatory tariffs.
    We also have Canada threatening tolls on goods trucked to our state. Whether they make good on that, we have no idea, but now we’re talking about what will we have to do to insulate ourself from that, will we have to revamp the PVSA. I don’t know about you, but I didn’t anticipate that we would be dealing with this in March of 2025.
    Or foreign policy, I think you’ve seen some of my comments, but I have been stunned by a turn of events that threatens to abandon Ukraine and collapse long-standing alliances from NATO to NORAD. 
    We have two close neighbors. We’ve got Russia over here, and Canada over here. How we came to a place where we are fighting with Canada and placating Russia is beyond me. As long as we have to send up fighter jets to chase off Russian Bear Bombers from our ADIZ, I won’t trust Putin, and I’m not going to be quiet, I will continue to stand up and speak out. 
    I want to acknowledge, it’s easy to stand here and say something, but I can’t tell you how proud I am of those who do get that call and who go up and lead on these intercepts. It’s the 18th Fighter Interceptor Squadron up north, and it’s our Air National Guard helping to facilitate these intercepts through their refueling mission. We should be so exceptionally proud of the men and women that are serving us, honoring us every day, and taking these threats that we see as just another day at work. They are my everyday heroes, and I’m just so very grateful.
    You’ve heard me describe a few things from the Trump administration that I oppose. When I feel strongly about it, I am going to say something about it. But there are also plenty of areas where I agree with the President. 
    We do need to secure our borders. We do need to stop the flow of fentanyl. Our trade relationships aren’t always fair. The war in Ukraine does need to end, and I am encouraged that there may be some progress here that we will actually see that end. Our partners and allies do need to step up for themselves and the defense of democracy.
    Things are going to be different, for the next two to four years or beyond.  We’re already seeing that.
    Some of it will be difficult—I’m acknowledging that Alaskans are out of jobs, projects are stuck or canceled, volatility in the markets, the potential for trade wars or the collapse of international partnerships, to name a few.   
    Some of it has been difficult for a while—like in our fisheries, which need every bit of help we can give amid Russia’s war on fish, trade manipulations, lawsuits from extreme environmental groups, and climate change. This has been hard.  
    But some of it is also going to be notably better. There are good people we can work with to do good things for Alaska.
    On fisheries, as we push to bring back our fish and crab, we recognize we have the ability to modernize. We need to reinvest. We need to recapitalize an aging fleet. The President’s push for more domestic shipbuilding can be great for us, and it can extend to Ketchikan, Seward, and more. So, these are good areas of cooperation.
    We also have a chance to grow our private sector and reduce our dependence on the federal government. We need to embrace that, because it will benefit and could define our economy, our budget, and our quality of life for a generation or more.
    We can put Alaska back on the global map for energy and resource production. Turn the NPR-A back into a petroleum reserve, as it was designated by law decades ago. We need to tap into the rich resources beneath a small fraction of the non-wilderness Coastal Plain. Reverse the political decision to reopen and reject the Ambler Road.
    We can get Graphite One through permitting. Produce antimony, copper, nickel, tungsten, tin, and other critical minerals. Restore our federal timber harvests to more than a single—but beautiful—Christmas tree in front of the U.S. Capitol. Lift public land orders, complete conveyances, and ensure our Alaska Native veterans receive their rightful allotments. We can not only approve, but build the life-saving road to King Cove that has been sought for so long.
    All of that is now right in front of us—and we are working hard through every person and every process available to us, including budget reconciliation—but there’s more. 
    After years of skepticism and doubt, I think we have a real chance to move forward on an Alaska natural gas pipeline. The President mentioned it in his recent address to Congress, and he’s given the project an incredible lift.
    Here in Alaska, Senator Sullivan and Governor Dunleavy have helped bring Japan, Korea, and Taiwan into the conversation. There is movement and there is reason for encouragement as we think about our natural gas resources. And I thank them for working this.
    You know I hate LNG imports with the white-hot fury of a thousand suns, but I will acknowledge, just this once, that maybe we can take those lemons and use them as part of a bigger plan to export our North Slope reserves. 
    There’s so much we can begin to partner on. Again, though, I would remind you—every one of our opportunities depends on our people. People make it all happen. People allow us to be resilient.     
    Resource development. Road construction. Fishing and tourism. Everything.   
    Our opportunities, our industries, require people. They depend on the essential workers who build our houses, keep us healthy, and teach and watch the kids while we work. To bring it full circle, our opportunities also depend on functional government—the men and women who do the trawls and the surveys, who issue permits, maintain visitor facilities, forecast the weather, and a whole lot more. 
    We have incredible potential, but it will take all sorts of people, doing all sorts of things, to realize it. 
    A big part of my job is to make sure we have people in place at the federal level who will help us. And at the state level, it’s a big part of yours. 
    We need to grow our own, for every facet of life in Alaska, so we can grow as a state. We need to take care of our own, so that people can stay and build and enjoy their lives here. And that means we need to work together to knock down every barrier we find in housing, schooling, childcare, healthcare, infrastructure, the cost of living, the cost of energy, and everything else.
    Through it all, we also need to treat people like people—because we are all Alaskans, we are all invested in the future of this great place, and we all contribute to it in our own way.       
    We must treat one another with the respect and dignity that we would wish to be treated with ourselves. So, I wish you all success in this session; we’ve got a lot of work to do. And I believe you will find it, if you keep the Alaskan people front and center in everything you do.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine, Warner & Colleagues Demand Answers Over Trump Administration’s Illegal Cancellation of Grants to Train and Retain Quality Teachers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Mark R. Warner (both D-VA) joined 23 of their colleagues in a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon demanding detailed answers about the Trump Administration’s illegal cancellation of over $600 million in federal funding for teacher training grants, and to warn the Secretary of the detrimental effects the cancellation is already having on communities across the nation.
    “We write to raise serious objections and call for the immediate reinstatement of federal funding provided in the Department of Education’s (Department) appropriations laws intended to help strengthen our educator workforce in at least 34 states and improve teaching and learning for our nation’s students. It is shocking to us that the Department would take such disruptive action to take away funding from schools as they work to implement their approved plans to improve outcomes for our nation’s students,” the senators wrote.
    The senators continued, “The cancellation of these grants comes at a time when our country faces dire teacher shortages. A recent analysis of state-identified teacher shortages found that in recent school years, nationally, 1 in 8 of all teaching positions—or over 400,000 positions— are vacant or filled by a teacher who is not fully certified for their position. … Congress created and funded the Teacher Quality Partnership, Supporting Effective Educator Development, and Teacher and School Leader Incentive Fund programs in a bipartisan manner to ensure that all students have access to an effective educator workforce. The Department’s decision to terminate locally-driven grants previously awarded to schools, institutions of higher education, and other partners to address educator shortages and improve the quality of the teaching workforce will have long-term consequences on student outcomes.”
    Regarding the confusion and distress caused by the cancellation of funds already promised, the senators wrote, “Cutting off grant funds already adopted and in use in local budgets shows utter disregard to local officials who are now faced with a lengthy process for challenging the terminations and are required to adjust their adopted budgets and plans. These local communities may also face difficult decisions to curtail activities paid for by these terminated grant funds, such as recruiting teachers in rural communities, improving literacy, and mentoring early-career teachers to improve retention.  Ultimately, the Department’s decision to terminate these grant funds simply passes necessary expenses onto local and state taxpayers, who may have to sustain costs previously supported by federal funds that have been taken away by the Trump administration.”
    “We are deeply disappointed that despite claims of radical transparency from President Trump and other administration officials, the Department has not provided any transparency to Congress or the public about its teacher training grant terminations. Instead, the President’s disregard for the law and his desire to find savings to pay for his tax cuts for billionaires and large corporations seems to be driving these terminations. Given the need for actual transparency, stability, and productivity in government, as well as the bipartisan support these critical education training programs have received for many years, it is critical for the Department to provide accurate, timely responses on its use of taxpayer resources provided by the laws passed by Congress,” the senators wrote before concluding their request with a detailed list of questions for McMahon.
    The letter was led by Kaine and U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and signed by Warner and U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jack Reed (D-RI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Tina Smith (D-MN), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Edward Markey (D-MA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Andy Kim (D-NJ).  
    The full text of the letter is available here and below:
    Dear Secretary McMahon:
    We write to raise serious objections and call for the immediate reinstatement of federal funding provided in the Department of Education’s (“Department”) appropriations laws intended to help strengthen our educator workforce in at least 34 states and improve teaching and learning for our nation’s students. Approximately two weeks ago, the Department announced that it terminated “over $600 million in divisive teacher training grants” and created confusion for schools and institutions of higher education around our nation.[1][2][3] The amount of reported savings is misleading since many of the terminated grants had already been partially spent and were in active use. Further, it appears that terminated grantees received no information from Department staff in response to their requests for additional information, even for grants with obligated and spent funds.[4]  It is shocking to us that the Department would take such disruptive action to take away funding from schools as they work to implement their approved plans to improve outcomes for our nation’s students. Thankfully, a federal judge ordered the administration to temporarily restore these grants in eight states[5] and just yesterday, another federal judge ordered the reinstatement of more than 100 of these grants,[6] but every impacted grantee deserves immediate action. 
    U.S. students have not recovered from the devastating effects of the pandemic. National scores are below pre-pandemic levels in all tested grades and subjects, and gaps continue to grow between higher-performing and lower-performing students.  A February 2025 analysis found that our students are approximately half a grade level behind pre-pandemic achievement in math and reading.[7] With teachers and principals being the most important in-school factors to student learning, these grant cancellations will hinder pandemic learning recovery and break President Trump’s promises of “great principals and great teachers.”[8] 
    The cancellation of these grants comes at a time when our country faces dire teacher shortages. A recent analysis of state-identified teacher shortages found that in recent school years, nationally, 1 in 8 of all teaching positions—or over 400,000 positions— are vacant or filled by a teacher who is not fully certified for their position.[9] This school year, 49 states reported to the Department critical shortages in math, science, or special education teachers.[10] In rural America, to attract and retain teachers in many places, including in states like Colorado,[11] Louisiana,[12] Missouri,[13] and Texas,[14] districts were forced to move to 4-day school weeks, despite the unknown impact on student achievement. Research shows that principals are the second most important in-school factor to student learning and also impact teacher retention. Yet, about one in ten principals leave the field every year.[15]
    Congress created and funded the Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP), Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED), and Teacher and School Leader (TSL) Incentive Fund programs in a bipartisan manner to ensure that all students have access to an effective educator workforce.  The Department’s decision to terminate locally-driven grants previously awarded to schools, institutions of higher education, and other partners to address educator shortages and improve the quality of the teaching workforce will have long-term consequences on student outcomes. These terminations create confusion for dozens of local communities supported by now unavailable grant funds.[16]  Cutting off grant funds already adopted and in use in local budgets shows utter disregard to local officials who are now faced with a lengthy process for challenging the terminations and are required to adjust their adopted budgets and plans. [17] These local communities may also face difficult decisions to curtail activities paid for by these terminated grant funds, such as recruiting teachers in rural communities, improving literacy, and mentoring early-career teachers to improve retention.  Ultimately, the Department’s decision to terminate these grant funds simply passes necessary expenses onto local and state taxpayers, who may have to sustain costs previously supported by federal funds that have been taken away by the Trump administration. 
    We are deeply disappointed that despite claims of radical transparency from President Trump and other administration officials, the Department has not provided any transparency to Congress or the public about its teacher training grant terminations. Instead, the President’s disregard for the law and his desire to find savings to pay for his tax cuts for billionaires and large corporations seems to be driving these terminations. Given the need for actual transparency, stability, and productivity in government, as well as the bipartisan support these critical education training programs have received for many years, it is critical for the Department to provide accurate, timely responses on its use of taxpayer resources provided by the laws passed by Congress. We request you provide written answers to the following questions as soon as possible but not later than March 26, 2025:
    Please describe the policy and procedure established for the review of grants terminated on or after January 20, 2025.
    Are they the same as any grant terminations prior to this date?  If not, how and why were they different, including in the use of any program or technology not previously employed?
    Please identify the offices and titles of staff involved in the review.
    How many employees involved in the review were onboarded at the Department on or after January 20, 2025?  Please describe each of such employee’s role in the review.
    Please provide the total costs, including all personnel and non-personnel costs, of the review.
    Please identify any other program currently undergoing or planned for the same or similar review and the associated timeline for each such review. 
    Please specifically identify each program undergoing a different review and explain each difference and the reason for each such difference for such program.

    Please explain the policy and procedure for offering grantees the opportunity to clarify, explain or modify any element of their approved application prior to termination to avoid the disruption to grant activities that the Department’s termination has caused.  Please explain why an opportunity was not offered in each case of it not being offered. 
    Please explain the policy and procedure for offering grantees the opportunity to appeal their grant termination. When will appeals be reviewed, and when will grantees receive a decision on their appeal?
    For each program that includes a terminated grant, please provide the following about all such terminated grants:
    The total number of grants terminated by fiscal year of initial funding,
    The total amount of funding expected under the approved budgets of terminated grants on official documentation as of January 1, 2025 for each fiscal year,
    The total amount of funding outlaid as of the date of response to this letter for each fiscal year, and
    The total amount of funding deobligated by fiscal year as of the date of termination.

    For each program that includes a terminated grant, please provide the following about all such terminated grants:
    The total number of educators expected to participate in professional development activities,
    The total number of new educators expected to be prepared,
    The expected number of years of service that were expected from participants under each grant,
    The number of years of service that had already been completed,
    The total number of schools expected to benefit from any grant activities, and
    The total number of states in which any grant activities were expected to take place.

    For each program that includes a terminated grant, please provide the following:
    The name of each recipient of a grant not terminated by program and fiscal year of initial funding,
    An assurance that each non-terminated grant was subject to the same policy and procedure described in response to the first question, and as applicable, the reason for not doing so, and
    Please provide the most recent annual performance report submitted by each non-terminated grantee prior to January 1, 2025.

    For each terminated grant, please provide the most recent annual performance report submitted by such grantee prior to January 1, 2025, if applicable.
    For each terminated grant, please provide the following:
    The Department’s definition of divisive ideology,
    The Department’s definition of inappropriate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and
    The specific evidence demonstrating how the grantee’s approved grant activities are inconsistent with such definitions of divisive ideology and DEI.

    Please explain how and when you will comply with the temporary restraining orders issued by  federal judges on March 10, 2025 and March 17, 2025.
    Please provide a detailed plan on how the Department will prioritize training and preparing educators for the classroom.
    Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We look forward to your prompt response.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner, Kaine Push USDA to Reverse Decision Cancelling Vital Food Service Programs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) wrote a letter to Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins urging the Trump administration to reverse their decision cancelling the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) and the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS), vital programs that support Virginia’s food banks, schools, and other food providers in purchasing food directly from local farms, ranchers and producers.
    Across the country, LFPA and LFS boost local economies by allowing states to procure local food and distribute to providers. With USDA’s decision, Virginia alone will lose out on nearly $21 million in federal funding that would directly support the Commonwealth’s farmers, ranchers and other food producers. Already in Virginia, the impact of these abrupt cancellations are felt, with local food banks struggling to make ends meet following the sudden loss of funding.
    “LFPA and LFS allow Virginia to procure local food and distribute to providers such as food banks and schools, benefitting producers, those experiencing food insecurity, and local economies,” the senators wrote. “In Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25), Virginia was eligible to receive nearly $21 million through LFPA and LFS – including $10.1 million for schools and $3.4 million for childcare facilities – to support 183 farmers in providing fresh produce and other healthy foods to food-insecure households across the Commonwealth. With USDA’s decision to cancel these funds, Virginia farmers are deprived of a crucial market for this season and low-income communities face even greater barriers to access fresh, healthy foods.”
    They continued, “Cancelling LFPA and LFS, with the ~$21 million Virginia was to receive in FY25, hurts Virginia farmers, food providers, families, and those working tirelessly to support them.”
    A copy of letter is available here and text is below.
    Dear Secretary Rollins:
    We write to share our serious concerns regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) decision to cancel the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) and the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS), both vital programs intended to support Virginia’s food systems by expanding purchases from local producers and distributing that fresh food to underserved communities. We strongly urge you to reverse this decision and continue these programs of great importance to Virginia’s local communities.
    LFPA and LFS allow Virginia to procure local food and distribute to providers such as food banks and schools, benefitting producers, those experiencing food insecurity, and local economies. In Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25), Virginia was eligible to receive nearly $21 million through LFPA and LFS – including $10.1 million for schools and $3.4 million for childcare facilities – to support 183 farmers in providing fresh produce and other healthy foods to food-insecure households across the Commonwealth. With USDA’s decision to cancel these funds, Virginia farmers are deprived of a crucial market for this season and low-income communities face even greater barriers to access fresh, healthy foods.
    Communities across the Commonwealth work with USDA and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to ensure LFPA and LFS funding has the maximum impact among families, farmers, and local economies. In the first year of LFPA, for example, over 100 local producers were supported, providing over 100,000 Virginians with fresh, healthy food. This is fresh, nutritious produce for food-insecure families that often cannot afford healthy food, all while providing local farmers a dependable market for their products. Cancelling LFPA and LFS, with the ~$21 million Virginia was to receive in FY25, hurts Virginia farmers, food providers, families, and those working tirelessly to support them. 
    Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s executive order to dismantle the Education Department was inspired by the Heritage Foundation’s decades-long disapproval of the agency

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Fred L. Pincus, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

    The Heritage Foundation flag flies over its building on July 30, 2024, in Washington, D.C. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

    President Donald Trump issued an executive order on March 20, 2025, that calls for closing the U.S. Department of Education.

    The president needs congressional approval to shutter the department. The order, however, directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities while ensuring the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely.”

    The executive order reflects many recommendations from the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, a conservative political initiative to revamp the federal government. But it’s worth noting that the foundation’s attempt to abolish the Education Department goes back more than 40 years.

    The think tank first called for limiting the federal role in education in 1981. That’s when it issued its first Mandate for Leadership, a book offering conservative policy recommendations.

    As a sociology professor focused on diversity and social inequality, I’ve followed the Heritage Foundation’s efforts to eliminate the Department of Education since 1981. Although the idea didn’t garner enough support 44 years ago, the current political climate makes conditions more favorable.

    Mandate 1981

    In its 1981 mandate, the Heritage Foundation struck now-familiar themes.

    Its education policy recommendations included closing the Department of Education and “reducing its controls over American education.”

    Additionally, the think tank called on lawmakers to repeal the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which provides federal funding for disadvantaged students in K-12, so that “the department’s influence on state and local education policy and practice through discretionary grant authority would disappear.”

    And the Heritage Foundation called for ending federal support for programs it claimed were designed to “turn elementary- and secondary-school classrooms into vehicles for liberal-left social and political change …”

    The Heritage Foundation building is seen on July 30, 2024, in Washington, D.C.
    Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

    Education experts disputed these proposed reforms just a few years later.

    Four educational task forces, composed mainly of educators, corporate executives and politicians, published reports on education in 1983. All four reports were critical of the more liberal education policies of the 1960s and 1970s – such as an emphasis on student feelings about race, for example, rather than a focus on basic skills.

    But they all saw the need for a strong federal role in education.

    The four reports blamed the U.S. educational system for losing ground to Japan and Western Europe. And all called for more required courses rather than the “curriculum smorgasbord” that had become the norm in many public schools. They all wanted longer school days, longer school years and better-trained teachers.

    Nevertheless, President Ronald Reagan tried unsuccessfully to abolish the Department of Education in 1983.

    Project 2025

    Jumping ahead more than 40 years, Project 2025 reflects many of the main themes the Heritage Foundation addressed in the 1981 mandate. The first line of Project 2025’s chapter on education states: “Federal education policy should be limited and, ultimately, the federal Department of Education should be eliminated.”

    The charges of leftist indoctrination have expanded. Now, conservative advocates are calling to eliminate anything that has to do with diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI.

    Other executive orders that Trump has signed reflect these attitudes.

    For example, they call for defending women from “gender ideology extremism” and eliminating “radical” DEI policies.

    According to Project 2025, school choice – which gives students the freedom to choose schools that best fit their needs – should be promoted through tuition tax credits and vouchers that provide students with public funds to attend private school. And federal education programs should either be dismantled or moved to other federal departments.

    Current political climate

    In the 1980s, the Heritage Foundation was seen as part of the New Right, a coalition that opposed issues such as abortion, homosexuality and affirmative action. The GOP’s alliance with conservative evangelical Christians, mobilized by advocacy groups such as Jerry Falwell’s Moral Majority, was picking up steam, but it was still seen as marginal.

    By 2025, things have moved significantly to the right.

    Conservative Republicans in Congress view the Heritage Foundation as an important voice in educational politics.

    The far right is emboldened by Trump after his Cabinet appointments and pardons of Jan. 6 rioters.

    And Christian Nationalism – the belief that the United States is defined by Christianity – has grown.

    Paul Dans, director of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, speaks at the National Conservative Conference in Washington, D.C., on July 10, 2024.
    Dominic Gwinn/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

    Trump’s executive order does not abolish the Education Department. He needs congressional approval to do that.

    But he has already weakened it. His administration recently canceled nearly $900 million in contracts at the Institute of Education Sciences, the independent research arm of the Education Department.

    Despite public reluctance to eliminate the department – in February, 63% of U.S. residents said they opposed its elimination – it looks like Heritage Foundation influence could cause significant damage, with the additional firing of staff members and the reduced distribution of funds.

    McMahon sent a directive to department employees in early March calling the dismantling of their agency a “final mission.”

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

    – ref. Trump’s executive order to dismantle the Education Department was inspired by the Heritage Foundation’s decades-long disapproval of the agency – https://theconversation.com/trumps-executive-order-to-dismantle-the-education-department-was-inspired-by-the-heritage-foundations-decades-long-disapproval-of-the-agency-250605

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kehoe Announces Three Appointments to the Missouri Sentencing Advisory Commission, Fills One County Office Vacancy

    Source: US State of Missouri

    MARCH 21, 2025

    Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Kehoe announced three appointments to the Missouri Sentencing Advisory Council and the appointment of a new Atchison County Treasurer.

    Roye Cole, of Rogersville, was appointed to the Missouri Sentencing Advisory Commission.

    Mr. Cole has served as Sheriff of Webster County since 2008 and has been a certified police officer since 2003. He previously worked as a deputy juvenile officer for the State of Missouri and as a security guard at Drury University. Cole holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Criminology and a Master of Business Administration from Drury University, with expertise in leadership, management, and economics.

    Amanda Grellner, of Linn, was appointed to the Missouri Sentencing Advisory Commission.

    Ms. Grellner has served as the prosecuting attorney for Osage County since 2002. In addition to her prosecutorial work, Grellner has held leadership roles in various organizations such as the Community Health Center of Central Missouri, Missouri Association of Treatment Court Professionals, Rape and Abuse Crisis Service, and the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Missouri and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri School of Law.

    Kurt D. Marquart, of Lee’s Summit, was appointed to the Missouri Sentencing Advisory Commission.

    Mr. Marquart is a retired attorney, and has operated a private law practice since 1991. Before practicing law, he served as a Missouri State Highway Patrolman. Marquart is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Missouri Bar Association, and the Knights of Columbus. He also serves as a director for the Missouri Association of State Troopers Emergency Relief Society (MASTERS). He earned his Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement from Southeast Missouri State University and his Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law.

    Tasha Zach, of Rock Port, was appointed as the Atchison County Treasurer.

    Ms. Zach is currently filling the vacant county treasurer position, having been appointed by the county commission in December of 2024. She previously served as an accounts payable deputy and the election deputy in the Atchison County clerk’s office for over nine years. Ms. Zach holds an Office Information Systems Technology certificate from Iowa Western Community College.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Louisville Middle School Teacher Sentenced to Over 19 Years in Federal Prison for Child Pornography Offenses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Louisville, KY – A former middle school teacher in Louisville, Kentucky was sentenced today to 19 years and 7 months in federal prison for multiple child pornography charges. 

    U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement.

    “I commend the FBI’s outstanding work during the investigation of this case and that of AUSA McKiness for his tireless effort in prosecuting it,” stated U.S. Attorney Bennett. “Combatting the sexual exploitation of our children is a priority of this office and working with our law enforcement partners we will continue to identify, arrest, and aggressively prosecute those who victimize our most vulnerable citizens.”   

    “Jordan Fautz chose to abuse his position of trust by egregiously violating the privacy of innocent children. His sentencing marks a critical step in our efforts to combat the exploitation of children,” said Special Agent in Charge Stansbury. “With the emergence of offenders using cutting-edge technology to inflict harm and pain on one of our most vulnerable populations, law enforcement will exhaust all of its available resources and expertise to ensure those who choose to abuse children in any way face justice.”

    According to court documents, Jordan Fautz, 40, was sentenced to 19 years and 7 months in prison, followed by 30 years of supervised release, for three counts of distribution of child pornography, two counts of distribution of the obscene visual representation of child sexual abuse, one count of production of the obscene visual representation of child sexual abuse, and one count of possession of child pornography. Fautz used an online chatting application to distribute child sexual abuse material to an undercover law enforcement officer. Fautz also produced and distributed photoshopped images depicting minors’ faces on the bodies of people engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Fautz also possessed material depicting child sexual abuse on his computers and cell phone.

    Fautz was also ordered to pay $28,130 in restitution to victims.

    There is no parole in the federal system.     

    This case was investigated by the FBI.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Spencer McKiness prosecuted the case.

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

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Heathrow closure: what caused the fire and why did it bring down the whole airport? Expert panel

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Kirk Chang, Professor of Management and Technology, University of East London

    Heathrow Airport, the busiest airport in Europe, was shut down following a fire at a single electricity sub-station on the night of March 20. The fire at the North Hyde substation in Hayes, about 1.5 miles from Heathrow, seriously disrupted the local area’s power supply, including that of the airport.

    The closure has caused chaos, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. More than 1,300 flights have been affected, according to the plane tracking website Flightradar24. About 120 of these were already in the air.

    Below, a panel of experts offer their insights – and consider the implications of such a major incident. (Elements of this panel were sourced by the Science Media Centre, which published a version here.)

    Power in west London is highly constrained

    Barry Hayes, associate professor in electrical power systems, University College Cork

    It appears that a transformer fire in the North Hyde 275kV substation caused the power outage (videos from the scene clearly show one of the large power transformers ablaze). This is a large electrical substation which supplies the area to the northeast of Heathrow airport as well as the Heathrow airport site. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks, the local electricity distributor, said 67,000 homes and businesses in the area were cut off overnight as a result of this issue.

    While the North Hyde substation is a very important part of the west London electricity grid, it is generally not expected that this would cause such a big impact at Heathrow airport. There are also dedicated supplies to other parts of the airport site.

    Typically, a critical electricity load such as Heathrow would be served from multiple supply points in the electricity grid, and therefore there would be an option to feed the loads at Heathrow from an alternative supply point. There are some reports that parts of the airport (for example, Terminal 5) have power.

    The exact reasons for such a big impact are unclear at this point, but we do know the North Hyde substation is in a highly constrained area of the UK electricity grid – an area where there has been “a steep increase in the number of new electricity connection requests across west London, driven by new housing developments, commercial investment and datacentres”.

    The UK power grid (as in many developed countries) is generally old or outdated, with many of its components at the end of their anticipated service lifetime and in urgent need of modernisation. These issues may be a factor in the power outage affecting Heathrow. However, it will take some time before the exact causes of this incident are established.

    Weather, ageing equipment or malicious attacks could be to blame

    Chenghong Gu, professor in smart energy systems, University of Bath

    This is a very rare event. Substations are built and operated according to very strict standards, and they are monitored 24/7. There are also many automatic devices in substations like this one to deal with faults.

    A substation has many components including transformers, circuit breakers, an isolator, busbars and measuring equipment. Transformers are the most vulnerable to fire. There is insulation oil in them and in high-temperature, high-pressure situations, they can explode – meaning the insulation oil leaks and can catch fire.

    However, it is very unusual for big substations like this to catch fire. One cause can be extreme weather such as lightning strikes, which could cause extreme high voltage on the equipment. Extreme hot weather together with high demand can also cause transformers to become overheated, thus leading to faults.

    Another factor is the ageing of transformers. The insulation gas can degrade, which could cause an explosion inside a transformer. Or there could be a malfunction of other auxiliary devices such as the insulator, switch gears or circuit breakers inside the substation.

    Other possible causes include a malicious attack on the substation – someone setting fire to it deliberately, for example. Cyber-attacks on IT systems can also cause a malfunction of devices in the substation, leading to fire.

    Serious questions about Heathrow’s back-ups

    Kirk Chang, professor of management and technology, University of East London

    The airport lost power because of the fire – we understand that. But the back-up system didn’t work. It’s difficult to understand how that could happen.

    There are two things we need to look at. Number one is the technical part. Why did the back-up machines not work? Maybe the machines did not have sufficient fuel, or for some reason the system was not linked to the grid. The backup should kick in immediately.

    The second point is more the human side. Who is responsible for the power management, and what intervention strategies were attempted? I would assume they would need a second back-up system if the first fails. It’s very unusual to see both Plan A (the back-up) and Plan B (the back-up to the back-up) not working.

    Usually, a main back-up (Plan A) will supply about 90% of the power the facility usually receives. Whereas Plan B will usually only supply a fraction of the power – maybe 50% or 30%. The reason is that Plan B is usually expensive to maintain all the time. It may be outsourced to a third party – either the power company or a software company which manages their power distribution network.

    Critical infrastructure arguably needs more security

    Paul Cuffe, assistant professor, School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, University College Dublin

    An airport like Heathrow requires a lot of electricity to operate, equivalent to a large town. As such, it would be typical for it to be given a dedicated connection from the substation at Hayes.

    There is likely a dedicated power line and transformer there that connects the airport to the wider grid. When a major fire severs that link, it will no longer be possible to bring bulk electricity to the airport.

    I would anticipate that a major airport like Heathrow would have some on-site emergency capability to ride through a grid disturbance. I would hope the traffic control tower and runway lights weren’t totally plunged into darkness!

    However, processing planeloads of passengers requires Heathrow in its totality to consume a town’s worth of electricity, and the inability to meet this requirement is probably why the flights had to be cancelled.

    The failure is not overtly abnormal. We can anticipate that, from time to time, substation equipment will fail and downstream power outages will result. But one could argue that a critical piece of national infrastructure like Heathrow deserves special grid connection arrangements to secure its supply of electricity further. For instance, sometimes critical loads like this are fed from two separate substations to provide redundancy when outages happen.

    It is ultimately a political and economic question to determine the right level of capital investment into grid infrastructure to avoid the problems that outages like this cause. Redundant power supplies for an airport the size of Heathrow do not come free.

    Climate change means the grid will face more threats like this

    Hayley J. Fowler, professor of climate change impacts;
    Colin Manning, postdoctoral research associate in climate science; and
    Sean Wilkinson, professor of structural engineering, Newcastle University

    The closure of one of the world’s largest airports due to a failure of just one electricity substation underlines how important it is that critical national energy infrastructure – pylons, substations and so on – keeps functioning. This is only becoming more important as demand for electricity increases, thanks to transport and domestic heating switching to lower-carbon electrified alternatives – notably electric cars and heat pumps.

    Yet the UK’s energy system is facing growing threats from unprecedented risks. We still don’t know what caused the Heathrow fire, but it appears to be unusual in this regard, as threats to energy systems come mainly from extreme weather. In the UK, that tends to mean windstorms, flooding, heatwaves and associated wildfires, and cold spells.

    2024 was the warmest calendar year on record, and the “fingerprints” of climate change are increasingly evident in more intense and frequent extreme weather events. It is crucial to ensure the energy network can handle this weather.

    Gas and electricity operators in the UK have established protocols for managing networks in adverse weather, investing large amounts to protect critical assets. But recent events have exposed vulnerabilities. The storms Arwen and Éowyn left thousands without power for days, underscoring the previous UK government’s admission that the country is underprepared for extreme weather events.



    Read more:
    Heathrow fire shows just how vulnerable UK energy infrastructure is – we’ve simulated the major climate-related risks

    Barry Hayes has an active research collaboration with ESB Networks, and is an academic member of ESB Networks’ Innovation Stakeholder Panel.

    Colin Manning receives funding from UKRI.

    Hayley J. Fowler receives funding from UKRI, NERC, EPSRC, and the EU Horizon 2020 Programme. She is a member of the UK Climate Change Committee and was a member of the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero Science Expert Group (E-SEG) from 2021 to 2025. This article represents her own work and views, not the position of either of these organisations.

    Paul Cuffe has no direct links with the electricity industry in the UK. As an Irish academic, he has had occasional collaborations with Eirgrid, the transmission system operator, and ESB Networks, the distribution network operator. He has received funding as part the ESIPP and NexSys projects; these were co-funded by stakeholders in the Irish energy sector.

    Sean Wilkinson receives funding from EPSRC and DESNZ.

    Chenghong Gu and Kirk Chang 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. Heathrow closure: what caused the fire and why did it bring down the whole airport? Expert panel – https://theconversation.com/heathrow-closure-what-caused-the-fire-and-why-did-it-bring-down-the-whole-airport-expert-panel-252834

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

    **Guest

    Alright.  Good afternoon, everyone.  As you know, tomorrow [22 March] is World Water Day.  I will be joined here shortly by Bhanu Neupane, the Process Coordinator for the UNESCO [United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization] World Water Development Report, who will talk to you about the report.

    **Secretary-General’s Travel

    The Secretary-General is about to leave Brussels. Earlier today, he was in Leuven, where he accepted an honorary doctorate given to the United Nations by the universities KU Leuven and UC Louvain.  In his remarks, Mr. [António] Guterres said that by bestowing this honour, the universities are sending a message of support for the mission of the United Nations — a message of solidarity to all those working to make it real — and a message of inspiration for us to keep up the fight.

    He said the universities’ 600th anniversary coincides with a moment of reflection for the United Nations, which marks its own eightieth anniversary as an organization at the epicentre of multilateralism.  Standing here in Europe, the Secretary-General added, we know this same commitment to multilateralism is the beating heart of the European Union – a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to the world’s most vulnerable people, and proof that isolationism is an illusion, never a solution.

    Turning to the situation in Gaza, the Secretary-General renewed his appeal for the ceasefire to be restored, for unimpeded humanitarian assistance to be reestablished and for the remaining hostages to be released immediately and unconditionally.  His full remarks have been shared with you.

    This afternoon, the Secretary-General also had a meeting with the Prime Minister of Belgium, Bart De Wever.  I believe the readout of this meeting had just been made available. The Secretary-General will be back in the office on Monday morning.

    **Security Council

    Sigrid Kaag, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process ad interim, briefed the Security Council this morning on Israel and Palestine, and she said that hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally. She strongly condemned the reported ill-treatment of hostages, as well as the fact that there are reasonable grounds to believe that hostages may be subjected to sexual violence and abuse.

    Ms. Kaag unequivocally condemned the widespread killing and injury of civilians and the destruction of civilian infrastructure in Gaza. Nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people, she said.  She mourned the UN staff killed in Gaza and strongly condemned the killing of all humanitarian personnel and called for the full investigation of all such incidents.

    The Special Coordinator reiterated her call for a sustained ceasefire and urged the parties to redouble efforts to end human suffering. She rejected the forced displacement of the Palestinian population from any part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which would constitute a grave violation of international human rights and humanitarian law.  Ms. Kaag added that the escalation of violence in the occupied West Bank is deeply troubling.  Alongside the rising death toll, Palestine refugee camps in the northern West Bank are being emptied and are sustaining massive infrastructure damage during Israeli operations.

    **Occupied Palestinian Territory

    Turning to Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that as hostilities continue across the Strip, the Israeli closure of all crossings for incoming cargo has entered its twentieth day — the longest shutdown since 7 October 2023.  As a reminder, the crossings were also completely closed for two weeks starting on that date.  This latest closure is having a devastating impact on people already facing catastrophic conditions.  Each passing day further erodes the progress made by the UN and our humanitarian partners during the first six weeks of the ceasefire.

    Beyond the depletion of stocks, OCHA warns that humanitarian operations are now being severely hampered by hostilities.  Civilians, including aid workers, and civilian assets have come under attack.  The UN is seeking concrete assurances for the safety of our staff and operations in Gaza, following the killing of six UN personnel and injury of several others this week, including in the attack on a clearly designated UN compound.  As Tom Fletcher, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, said Wednesday, we demand answers on their behalf and for those who continue the work.

    As attacks continue across multiple areas of the Gaza Strip, OCHA warns that the steady flow of trauma injuries is putting even more pressure on an already shattered healthcare system.  Our humanitarian partners estimate that more than 120,000 Palestinians have been displaced once again this week, driven by intensified attacks and new Israeli evacuation orders across the Gaza Strip.  That’s about 6 per cent of the surviving population.  A new evacuation order covering areas in northern Gaza was also issued today, following reports of rocket fire by Palestinian armed groups.

    And turning to the West Bank, OCHA has just released the findings of a rapid survey of movement obstacles across the occupied territory. It recorded nearly 850 checkpoints, gates and other physical obstacles — the highest number documented in any of the 16 surveys OCHA has conducted over the past two decades. In just the past three months, three dozen new movement obstacles have been established — most of them following the announcement of the Gaza ceasefire in mid-January.  Road gates account for a third of all obstacles — and most of them are frequently kept closed.

    Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), noted that today marks 60 days since Israeli began its military operations in Jenin Camp in the West Bank.  He said that such large-scale, militarized operations cannot become the new norm in the West Bank.  This trend of escalating violence — which started even before 7 October 2023 — must be reversed.  OCHA adds that it has received just over 4 per cent of the roughly $4 billion required to meet vast needs across the Occupied Palestinian Territory — in the West Bank and Gaza — this year.

    **Democratic Republic of the Congo

    Turning to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that clashes continue in parts of North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri.  In North Kivu Province, fighting continued yesterday in several areas of Walikale Territory, damaging a humanitarian partner’s logistics base and other civilian infrastructure.  We and humanitarian organizations in the area have relocated staff to Kisangani, in the neighbouring Province of Tshopo.

    In South Kivu, people from Burembo and Fizi-Centre have fled fighting among armed groups in several waves since 5 March.  And in Ituri, clashes in the town of Fataki yesterday continued to displace people.  Since 18 March, many humanitarian partners have suspended their activities there due to the ongoing insecurity.  OCHA reiterates that all parties to the conflict must uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure in military operations.

    **Sudan

    Turning to Sudan:  Today, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has condemned in the strongest terms the looting of vital humanitarian supplies from Al Bashair Hospital in Jabal Awlia in Khartoum.  These supplies are intended to support malnourished children and provide critical healthcare to mothers and newborns.

    The Al Bashir Hospital is one of the last functioning medical facilities in Jabal Awlia.  UNICEF had managed to deliver these critical supplies on 20 December 2024, marking the first successful humanitarian shipment to Jabal Awlia in over 18 months.  The looting of these supplies will compound an already dire humanitarian catastrophe for children and families in the area.  We reiterate our urgent call for an unimpeded humanitarian access to reach children and families in need and we call for the protection of hospitals and other civilian infrastructure in line with international humanitarian law.

    **South Sudan

    Our peacekeeping colleagues in South Sudan have an update on the intensive diplomacy that is under way in the country.  The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Nicholas Haysom, is working with international and regional partners, including Heads of States, the African Union and others, to try and de-escalate tensions and stop the aerial bombardment of civilian areas in Upper Nile State, which could spill over into wider conflict.

    Mr. Haysom is also engaging with influential national partners to promote a peaceful resolution.  He is urging the parties to adhere to the ceasefire and peace agreement, and to resolve tensions through dialogue rather than military confrontation. Mr. Haysom stresses that the already troubled region cannot afford another war.  And in fact, on Monday, our guest will be Nicholas Haysom.  He will join us virtually to brief on the situation in South Sudan.

    **Ukraine

    Today in Ukraine, authorities and our humanitarian partners confirmed that hostilities across multiple regions killed a dozen civilians and injured many others, with widespread damage to homes.  In Odesa, a large-scale drone attack injured children and damaged shops, warehouses and vehicles.  Most casualties were reported in the Donetsk region, while in the Kharkiv region, local authorities report intensified hostilities and disrupted electricity in Kupiansk town and neighbouring villages.

    Yesterday, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, condemned an attack in the central Ukrainian city of Kropyvnytskyi, in which children were among many civilians injured.  Apartment buildings were also damaged.  Mr. Schmale stressed that international humanitarian law is clear:  Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected.

    Amid relentless hostilities, evacuations from high-risk areas continue, with scores of people leaving front-line areas each day.  Humanitarians are supporting the most vulnerable — especially families with children and people with limited mobility — through medical evacuations, psychosocial support and basic items.  Most evacuees have remained within their home regions, while some have been relocated to central and western Ukraine.

    OCHA reports that in the first two months of the year, seven humanitarian staff were injured in six separate incidents near the front line. Attacks also damaged humanitarian assets and facilities in the Kharkiv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolai, and Sloviansk regions, further hampering the response.

    **Haiti

    Turning to Haiti, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that the recent United States funding freeze is having a devastating impact on the overall HIV response, including treatment and prevention.  The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) says that, as a result of the freeze, most pre-exposure prophylaxis services, also known as PrEP — which are key to reducing HIV infections — had to be suspended, affecting 80 per cent of interventions.

    The National HIV Programme estimates that at least 35,000 people living with HIV and receiving antiretroviral treatment are being affected by the freeze on USAID-funded health services.  The Programme also foresees an increase between 30 and 50 per cent in new HIV infections in the absence of prevention activities.  HIV/AIDS affects an estimated 140,000 people in Haiti.

    The health sector, as part of the broader humanitarian response, needs $43.5 million to address the urgent needs for healthcare services and support to vulnerable people in Haiti.  The Government, World Health Organization (WHO) and UNAIDS are exploring alternatives to ensure that health services can continue.

    **International Days

    Today we have multiple International Days.  It’s the Day of Days, as we call it.  Starting off with the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.  In a message, the Secretary-General says that the poison of racism continues to infect our world.  He urges everybody, including business leadership, civil society and ordinary people to take a stand against racism in all its forms.

    Today is also the International Day of Nowruz.  In his message, Mr. Guterres says that Nowruz celebrates new beginnings and the arrival of spring.

    Today is World Down Syndrome Day.  People with Down syndrome need support to live and be included in the community, like everyone else.

    Today is also World Poetry Day.  On this Day, we celebrate one of humanity’s most treasured forms of cultural and linguistic expression and identity.

    And moving on to environment-related days.  Today is the World Day for Glaciers, and coincidentally, this year was declared the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation.

    And if that’s not enough, today is also the International Day of Forests, and the theme this year is “Forests and Food”.

    And tomorrow is World Water Day and the theme this year is glacier preservation.  Our guests will be here to talk more about this, but I just want to mention that in his message, the Secretary-General said that glaciers may be shrinking, but we cannot shrink from our responsibilities.

    And Sunday is World Meteorological Day and the theme is “Closing the early warning gap together”.  So, those are all the days; anything before we go to our guest?  Yes, Edie.

    **Questions and Answers

    Question:  Thank you, Farhan.  Does the Secretary-General have any comment on the Israeli Defence Minister’s announcement ordering an increase in an intensified military operation in Gaza?

    Deputy Spokesman:  This is completely contrary to what the Secretary-General has been calling for days.  And even today, in Belgium, and in the previous days, he’s said repeatedly that what we need is to get back to a ceasefire.  In what I just read at the first part of this briefing, it’s clear that all of our efforts to help the people of Gaza are at a standstill as long as this goes on.  There are millions of people who need for this to end now.

    Question:  On Sudan, with the Government forces claiming they’re back in the Presidential Palace in Khartoum and other areas, is Mr. [Ramtane] Lamamra going to make any kind of a fresh effort to bring both sides together for peace talks?

    Deputy Spokesman:  Yeah.  On that, regarding Mr. Lamamra’s efforts, he continues to engage the parties with the aim of bringing them closer to a peaceful resolution.  He’s intensifying consultations with the parties and other key stakeholders on modalities to strengthen the protection of civilians and to deescalate the conflict.  A sustainable resolution to this devastating conflict can only be achieved through an inclusive political process.  And from the Secretary-General’s side, I can say that he, the Secretary-General, renews his appeal for the parties to immediately cease the fighting and take steps towards the lasting peace that the people in Sudan demand.  Benno?

    Question:  Thank you, Farhan.  There has been quite a number of stories of people that were either denied entrance to the United States recently or have been arrested and deported or tried to being deported.  I want to focus on these last cases.  In many cases, they were not based on actual crimes, but the authorities said the people were parts of protests that they deemed as antisemitic or dangerous for the United States’ security.  Do you have any comment on this ongoing situation in the United States?

    Deputy Spokesman:  I think it’s important that all of the basic rules in terms of dealing with entrants into the United States, including migrants, including refugees and others, follow the accepted norms of international law.  And part of what you’re saying is that there are many cases where people were moved without sufficient due process, and it’s important that everyone’s due process rights be respected.

    Question:  Do you see that there is an implication for free speech in the United States, especially when we see the Columbia [University] protest and other university protests last year?  Does the UN have an opinion or a standpoint if pro-Palestinian protests are also antisemitic protests at the same time?  This is how the US Government obviously portrays it right now.

    Deputy Spokesman:  Well, certainly for us, it’s important that freedom of speech and freedom of peaceful assembly be protected.  So, obviously, if there are expressions of racial hatred, of actual antisemitism, those are things that authorities need to respond to. But, that shouldn’t impede the rights of people to conduct peaceful protest.  Yes, Denis?

    Question:  So, there are reports that head of UNCTAD [United Nations Conference on Trade and Development), Rebeca Grynspan, will head to Moscow.  So, when will she go to Moscow, and what is her programme in here?

    Deputy Spokesman:  Yes, I can confirm that Rebeca Grynspan and her team will have their next consultation in Moscow on 24 March. That’s part of regular consultations to discuss the implementation of the memorandum of understanding between the UN and the Russian Federation on food security.

    Question:  So, will she discuss alleviating sanctions from Russian fertilizers — so, easing the access of Russian fertilizers to world markets?

    Deputy Spokesman:  I think I’ll wait for the discussions to take place before we provide more details.  But, like I said, it’ll concern the various aspects of the memorandum of understanding.  Yes, please?

    Question:  Thank you.  Do you have any updates on the condition of the UN staff who were wounded in Gaza and their whereabouts?  Thank you.

    Deputy Spokesman:  They’re receiving hospital assistance.  As you know, there were five people who were injured. One of them was lightly injured; two of them, I believe, have ever remained in intensive care, and their condition is being monitored.  And we hope that they will all recover.

    Question:  Could you help with the nationality of the two who remain in intensive care, please?

    Deputy Spokesman:  I believe we’ll provide those details further down.  The hiring organization, the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), I believe is in touch with the respective Governments and family members at this stage.  Benny, I think you have a question online, and then we’ll go to Ephrem.  Are you there?  Are you there?

    Question:  Thank you, Farhan.  The ban on UNRWA, it’s been a few weeks now since it entered into effect.  How would you say it is being felt on the ground so far?

    Deputy Spokesman:  It’s affected the ability of UNRWA staff to move in and out in terms of getting visas for UNRWA personnel.  But, to the extent that UNRWA is capable of going about its work, including in Gaza and the West Bank, UNRWA continues to go about its work.  And Benny, are you online?

    Question:  I have a question, Farhan.  Can you hear me?

    Deputy Spokesman:  I can hear you.

    Question:  Should I go ahead?  Farhan, I want to ask you about the Turkish Palestinian Friendship Hospital in Gaza, which was built by Türkiye, and it was actually operated by local authorities as a cancer treatment centre.  You may have seen images online.  It was completely blown up by Israel.  And Israel argued that it was used being used by Hamas.  But, in fact, you may recall that after 7 October [2023], there are also many images that showed Israel deploying many military vehicles around the hospital.  So, I would just like to ask you, why is there no mention of this in your briefing today?  I mean, have we become so accustomed to Israel blowing up hospitals that we don’t need to bring it up?  And does the Secretary-General have a reaction to this hospital being blown up?  Thank you.

    Deputy Spokesman:  Yes.  On that, we certainly are against any of the attacks on medical infrastructure.  All attacks against medical infrastructure by any of the parties is a violation of international humanitarian law, and we stand opposed to this.  And we have reported, as you know, regularly on the fact that all of the hospitals in Gaza have sustained at least some damage over the course of this conflict, and that is an intolerable situation for the suffering population.  And with that, let me go to our guest.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada Strengthens Wildfire Response Through Training

    Source: Government of Canada News

    On March 21, 2025, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson announced a $16.3-million investment in 25 projects through the Government of Canada’s Fighting and Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate Program (FMWCC) – Training Fund to increase fire management capacity across the country.  

    Project Name: Peerless Trout First Nation Firefighter Training
    Recipient: Peerless Trout First Nation
    Location: Peerless Lake, Alberta
    Funding from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan): $93,000
    Project Summary: This project supports the training of 12 community members in Type II Wildland Firefighter Training, as they requested support to train additional crew members to ensure in-house capability to combat fires within their community.

    Project Name: Prince Albert Grant Council – Fire Guardians Pilot Project
    Recipient: Prince Albert Development Corporation Management Co. Ltd.
    Location: Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
    Funding from NRCan: $946,330
    Project Summary: This project supports the training of 20 youth in wildfire prevention and mitigation by providing opportunities for skills development and job coaching in the wildland fire industry. This will aim to address the need identified by the communities to improve local and regional capacity in northern fire prone regions.   

    Project Name: Firefighter Training in the Whitefeather Forest
    Recipient: Whitefeather Community Resource Managment Authority
    Location: Red Lake/Pikangikum, Ontario
    Funding from NRCan: $1,579,655
    Project Summary: This project supports the training of 144 community members in Type II Wildland Firefighter Training in Pikangikum, which aims to address the identified need to develop a firefighting workforce that can be quickly mobilized to increase community preparedness and to support Indigenous-led approaches.

    Project Name: Firetack Training
    Recipient: Sturgeon Lake Resources Ltd.
    Location: Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, Alberta
    Funding from NRCan: $214,272
    Project Summary: This project supports the training of 48 community members in Type II Wildland Firefighter Training that is needed to address the low firefighter numbers available within the local community.

    Project Name: Wildland Firefighters TrainingRecipient: Sq’éwqel (Seabird Island)
    Location: Agassiz, British Columbia
    Funding from NRCan: $161,912
    Project Summary: This project supports the training of 20 youth participants in Indigenous communities in wildfire prevention and mitigation by providing opportunities for skills development in the wildland fire industry, addressing a gap identified by the community to offer opportunity for youth to learn about wildfires, receive training and learn about career paths in this area. 

    Project Name: Fire for the Future
    Recipient: Muskeg Lake Cree Nation
    Location: Marcelin, Saskatchewan
    Funding from NRCan: $204,093

    Project Summary: This project supports the training of 30 community members in wildland fire training to address the need of the community to alleviate and mitigate the dangers of a wildfire by building capacity of First Nations in the region.

    Project Name: Community-led Wildfire Risk Assessments and Mitigation Strategies
    Recipient: Yukon First Nation Wildfire (YFNW)
    Location: Whitehorse, Yukon
    Funding from NRCan: $1,508,000
    Project Summary: This project supports the training of 126 community members across various Yukon First Nations communities, situated in remote and forested areas, in basic wildfire training including traditional land management practices and emergency training to identify wildfire-risks and to host workshops to collaboratively develop mitigation strategies. This aims to address YFNW’s need to empower Indigenous communities to respond to wildfires.

    Project Name: IFNA Wildland Interface Firefighter Project
    Recipient: Independent First Nations Alliance (IFNA)
    Location: Sioux Lookout, Ontario
    Funding from NRCan: $1,999,999
    Project Summary: This project supports the training of 50 participants in Type I Wildland Firefighter Training, while also leveraging partnerships, technology and youth engagement, and will aim to address the identified need for additional trained staff and crews in IFNA’s remote communities to increase the capacity to manage wildfires locally.

    Project Name: Enhancing Wildfire Resilience in KO Communities
    Recipient: Keewaytinook Okimakanak (KO)
    Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario
    Funding from NRCan: $329,109
    Project Summary: This project supports the training of 25 youth in wildfire prevention and mitigation by providing opportunities for skills development and job coaching in the wildland fire industry, addressing the community’s need to build local fire management practices and enhance community resiliency to wildfires.

    Project Name: Lil’wat Forestry Wildland Firefighting Training
    Recipient: Lil’wat Forestry Ventures LP
    Location: Mount Currie, British Columbia
    Funding from NRCan: $1,232,460
    Project Summary: This project supports the training of 72 community members in Type II Wildland Firefighter Training, which aims to address Lil’wat Nations’ identified need to enhance resiliency to wildfire through the development of a community-based workforce with the skills to both prevent and respond to wildfires in the local area.

    Project Name: Firetack Training Retreat – Treaty 7
    Recipient: Piikani Employment Services
    Location: Brocket, Alberta
    Funding from NRCan: $466,110
    Project Summary: This project supports the training of 32 Treaty 7 First Nations and Métis community members in Type I Wildland Firefighter Training, addressing Piikani Employment Services’ identified need to have more trained and experienced wildland firefighters to respond to wildfires, both within Treaty 7 communities and Alberta.

    Project Name: Youth Wildfire Training
    Recipient: National Indigenous Fire Safety Council
    Location: Tyendinaga, Ontario
    Funding from NRCan: $909,100
    Project Summary: This project supports the training of 420 youth across Canada in wildfire prevention and mitigation, addressing the pressing needs of Indigenous communities facing with the escalating threat of wildfires and bridging the gaps in the shortage of trained Indigenous peoples in wildfire management roles.

    Project Name: Mamow Wuskaweewin – Moving Together
    Recipient: Metis Settlements General Council
    Location: Edmonton, Alberta
    Funding from NRCan: $499,330
    Project Summary: This project supports training 320 participants in wildland firefighting, wildfire resiliency and reconciliation to address the need to involve and engage Metis Settlements people in wildfire management dialogues.

    Project Name: Fire Crew Training
    Recipient: Geraldton Community Forest Inc. in partnership with Matawa First Nations Management
    Location: Geraldton, Ontario
    Funding from NRCan: $933,312
    Project Summary: This project supports the training of 36 community members to a Type II standard across the nine Matawa Tribal Council communities, which aims to address the need for enhanced trained crews within Indigenous communities that have a real need for increased forest fire safety.

    Project Name: OKIB Wildland Fire Training
    Recipient: Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB)
    Location: Vernon, British Columbia
    Funding from NRCan: $868,201
    Project Summary: This project supports the training of 30 firefighters to a Type II and III standard, responding to OKIB’s need for improved wildfire response and addressing the shortage of certified Type II and III wildland firefighters within the community.

    Project Name: Responding to the Interface-Wildfire Training
    Recipient: International Association of Fire Fighters
    Location: Ottawa, Ontario
    Funding from NRCan: $1,077,661
    Project Summary: This project is in addition to a 2024 budget announcement and supports the training of wildland firefighter training to up to 925 structural and community-based fire personnel to address the need to better prepare and equip structural firefighters to fight wildfires, with a focus on the wildland urban interface.

    Project Name: MLTC Community Wild Fire Preparedness
    Recipient: Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC)
    Location: Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan
    Funding from NRCan: $278,000

    Project Summary: This project supports the training of 170 participants to a Type II and III standard to address the communities’ identified need for additional support for wildfire training to increase their capacity to prepare for and respond to wildfire events.

    Project Name: Firetrack Community Training Initiative
    Recipient: Neyaskweyahk Wildland Firefighting
    Location: Maskwacis, Alberta
    Funding from NRCan: $93,078
    Project Summary: This project supports the training of 16 community members in Type II Wildland Firefighter Training in Ermineskin Cree Nation, which aims to address the community’s need to have fully trained and skilled community members to join the workforce to respond to wildfires within the nation and support the efforts of the provincial government.

    Project Name: Building Wildfire Response Capacity Through Engagement With Local Wildfire Response Agencies
    Recipient: Thompson Rivers University

    Location: Kamloops, British Columbia
    Funding from NRCan: $1,692,156
    Project Summary: This project supports the training of up to 260 firefighters. In partnership with BC Wildfire Service, Thompson Rivers University aims to address the need to enhance wildfire response capacity, particularly in rural, remote and Indigenous communities.

    Project Name: St’at’imc Climate Emergency Response and Preparation
    Recipient: Lillooet Tribal Council
    Location: Lillooet, British Columbia
    Funding from NRCan: $612,916
    Project Summary: This project supports the training of five firefighters to a Type II standard and 90 firefighters to a Type III standard in five St’at’imc communities of Bridge River, Cayoose Creek, Ts’kw’aylaxw First Nation, Tsal’alh and Xaxli’p that are continually and increasingly impacted by climate emergencies with annual risks of wildfires continuing to increase in severity.

    Project Name: Onion Lake Cree Nation Wildland Fire
    Recipient: Onion Lake Cree Nation
    Location: Onion Lake, Saskatchewan
    Funding from NRCan: $31,050
    Project Summary: This project supports the training of 16 firefighters to a Type II standard to address the identified need of Onion Lake Cree Nation for a well-trained local response team aiming to enhance community capacity and ensure an effective response to future wildfire events.

    Project Name: St’at’imc Youth Wildfire Pathways Project
    Recipient: Sqwem Sqwem Consulting Services
    Location: Lillooet, British Columbia
    Funding from NRCan: $88,211

    Project Summary: This project supports the training of 20 youth in wildfire prevention and mitigation by providing youth with opportunities for skills development and job coaching in the wildland fire industry, which aims to address the identified need of St’at’imc nations to increase local capacity and resources available.

    Project Name: Wildfire Training
    Recipient: Lower Similkameen Indian Band
    Location: Keremeos, British Columbia
    Funding from NRCan: $188,083
    Project Summary: This project supports the training of 30 participants in pre-burn and post-burn assessments, traditional ecological knowledge and community engagement in order to address the identified need of Lower Similkameen Indian Band to increase wildfire management capacity to better respond to wildfire events within their community.

    Project Name: SP100 Training for Bimose Member Communities
    Recipient: Bimose Tribal Council
    Location: Kenora, Ontario
    Funding from NRCan: $157,033
    Project Summary: This project supports the training of 48 firefighters in SP-100 Wildland Fire Fighter Certification in the 10 member First Nations: Eagle Lake First Nation, Iskatewizaagegan #39 Independent First Nation, Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation, Shoal Lake #40 First nation, Washagamsis Bay First Nation, Wabuskang First Nation, Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation, Wabaseemoong Independent Nations and Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek. The project aims to address the pressing need for enhanced wildfire response capabilities within Bimose First Nation communities.

    Project Name: Riding Mountain Indigenous Fire Guardians
    Recipient: Keeseekoowenin First Nation
    Location: Elphinstone, Manitoba
    Funding from NRCan: $135,000

    Project Summary: This project supports the training of 30 Indigenous community members working towards becoming Indigenous Guardians, in collaboration with Parks Canada. This training will aim to provide participants with a variety of skills and competencies with the aim to increase the Nation’s capacity to actively and more efficiently manage wildfire on the traditional territory. 

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Research improving brain cancer treatment

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Professor Leonie Quinn, Canberra Brain Cancer Collaborative Lead and Research and Innovation Fund recipient

    Canberra Brain Cancer Collaborative has created Canberra’s first Brain Cancer Biobank.

    Headed by Professor Leonie Quinn and her team, the collaborative has been able to develop this with a $300,000 grant awarded in the 2022 Research Innovation Fundround.

    The biobank stores brain cancer biospecimens and genomic data from patients treated at Canberra Hospital.

    It contributes to Brain Cancer Biobanking Australia – a virtual biobank hub that allows researchers around the country to access brain cancer tissue, samples and data.

    The information gathered by the biobank enables researchers at ANU’s John Curtin School of Medical Research to create 3D bio-printed ‘mini brains’.

    This allows them to analyse how tumours grow and respond to treatment, and to trial new therapeutic drugs tailored to each patient. It is hoped this will help develop new cancer treatments and improve clinical care.

    “The ACT Health Research Innovation Fund has provided us with an exciting opportunity to explore the complex environment where brain cancer occurs and ultimately develop new treatments,” Professor Quinn, Canberra Brain Cancer Collaborative Lead and Research and Innovation Fund recipient, said.

    “The biobank will enable more personalised treatments, which are critical to improving survival rates and quality of life for people diagnosed with the disease. It will secure the ACT as a health research hub and improve the clinical experience of cancer patients around Australia.”

    The Research and Innovation Fund is guided by Better Together: A strategic plan for research in the ACT health system 2022-2030.

    Five fellowships through the Research Innovation Fund2023 have recently been announced, supporting early and mid-career Canberra health researchers.

    The diverse research projects selected include enhancing post-diagnostic care for dementia patients, supporting community response to voluntary assisted dying, and studying allergies and immunodeficienciesof patients in the ACT.

    For more information about the fund go to health.act.gov.au/research/centre-health-and-medical-research.

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Canberra’s Skykraft take to space with PIP grant

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Skykraft’s Air Traffic Management satellites take off from California in June this year on board a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

    A Canberra-based company is taking their satellites to space and notching up world first achievements in both the space industry and the global air navigation sector.

    Skykraft is developing a constellation of more than 200 satellites in low-earth orbit to provide global Air Traffic Management (ATM) services from space.

    These services will provide surveillance and communication capabilities for air traffic control, especially over remote or oceanic regions not covered by ground-based infrastructure.

    In 2018-19 Skykraft applied for and won $1 million dollars in matched funding from the ACT Government’s Priority Investment Program (PIP). PIP grants foster innovation and collaboration between, industry, research institutions and universities to solve industry needs.

    Skykraft was established in 2017 as a spin-off from The University of New South Wales (UNSW) Canberra. Skykraft’s CEO, Dr Michael Frater, said funding early on from the ACT Government was the financial boost they needed to get things off the ground.

    “The confidence from receiving the PIP funding, rather than being drip-fed small grants, created a big shift for us. It gave us the ability to build our team and focus on developing our product,” he said.

    Skykraft’s recent successful trial of space-based voice communications in the Very High Frequency (VHF) aviation band demonstrated the feasibility of satellite communication directly with aircraft using existing equipment. This use of satellites in place of ground-based radio systems will allow global real-time communications between pilots and air traffic controllers for the first time.

    “We are proud to have taken another step to bringing this world-first capability to market,” said Dr Michael Frater, CEO of Skykraft.

    “VHF voice and data communication that covers the entire extent of an aircraft’s journey is the missing piece for Air Traffic Management and will unlock efficiency gains globally.”

    Skykraft’s satellite manufacturing facility in Canberra is the centre for the design, build and operation of the more than 200 satellites that will make up the constellation providing space-based ATM services, which will commence operations in 2025.

    This constellation will be maintained with a regular five-year satellite replenishment cycle. It will support a sustainable space manufacturing capability in the nation’s capital producing 40-50 satellites annually.

    “Our manufacturing capability provides long-term employment for Canberrans in the advanced manufacturing sector,” Dr Frater said.  “We’re also creating opportunities for companies from the Canberra region to input to the manufacturing process, with suppliers in Queanbeyan, Wodonga and Newcastle.”

    In 2023, Skykraft put 10 satellites into space across two launches, more than tripling the total mass of Australian manufactured space objects ever placed in orbit.

    Skykraft will continue this rapid pace as they deploy the full satellite constellation to deliver their ATM service globally.

    The ACT Government’s PIP grant is currently open until 31 October 2023.

    For more information visit the PIP website: act.gov.au/pip

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Garran Surge Centre deconstruction underway

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Following deconstruction of the Garran Surge centre, an improved oval will be returned to the community.

    Work has started to deconstruct the Garran Surge Centre.

    The purpose-built centre played a critical role in during the COVID-19 pandemic as a testing site, vaccination centre and COVID-19 treatment clinic for minor injuries and illnesses.

    Once the centre has been deconstructed, an improved Garran oval will be returned to the community. The oval will include a new cricket pitch, modern LED lighting and a drought-tolerant playing surface.

    The upgraded oval is expected to open for Garran Primary School students and public use by mid-2024.

    In addition to the removal of the surge centre, the final Critical Services Building crane at the Canberra Hospital Expansion project has also been removed.

    The two cranes that worked on the building were named Cranosaurus and Lightening McCrane by students from Garran Primary School. The flags from the cranes have been returned to the students.

    Construction of the critical services building is moving at pace with more of the façade now visible as scaffolding is removed. Inside the building, installation of internal facilities is also progressing well.

    For more information about the Garran oval restoration please visit: builtforcbr.act.gov.au

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Law Enforcement in Chicago Seizes $214 Million in Alleged “Pump and Dump” Investment Fraud Investigation; Seven Defendants Indicted

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHICAGO — Seven individuals have been indicted on criminal charges as part of a federal investigation that disrupted an alleged “pump-and-dump” investment fraud scheme and resulted in government seizures of approximately $214 million.

    From November 2024 to February 2025, the defendants engaged in misleading promotion and coordinated trading of shares of China Liberal Education Holdings, Ltd., a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands that purported to provide educational services in China, according to an indictment returned Thursday in U.S. District Court in Chicago.  The scheme, known as a “pump-and-dump,” allegedly involved individuals in China posing as U.S.-based investment advisors on social media and messaging platforms and falsely promising significant returns from investments in the company.  The misleading promotion and coordinated trading caused the stock price to artificially rise, at which point the defendants sold thousands of shares and made millions of dollars in profits, the indictment states.  The stock price ultimately decreased significantly, at the expense of other investors, some of whom lost almost the entirety of their investment.

    Charged with wire fraud and securities fraud are LIM XIANG JIE CEDRIC, 50, of Malaysia, MING-SHEN CHENG, 36, of Taiwan, KO SEN CHAI, 57, of Malaysia, KING SUNG WONG, 39, of Malaysia, SIONG WEE VUN, 37, of Malaysia, CHIEN LUNG MA, 54, of Taiwan, and KOK WAH WONG, 56, of Malaysia.  The defendants are not in custody and warrants have been issued for their arrests.

    During the investigation, federal law enforcement seized approximately $214 million in alleged proceeds from the fraud scheme. The funds are currently in U.S. custody. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago on Thursday filed a civil complaint seeking to have the money permanently forfeited to the United States, which would allow the government to return the money to victim investors.

    The indictment and forfeiture complaint were announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.  Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston Regional Office of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the SEC’s Office of Inspector General.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Hasten represents the government.

    Each count of securities fraud is punishable by up to 25 years in federal prison, while the maximum sentence for each count of wire fraud is 20 years.  The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt.  The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

    If you believe you or someone you know may have been victimized by the fraud scheme charged in the indictment, you are encouraged to notify the FBI by completing this online form or calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Avoiding your neighbor because of how they voted? Democracy needs you to talk to them instead

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Betsy Sinclair, Professor and Chair of Political Science, Washington University in St. Louis

    As Americans’ social worlds grow further apart, stereotypes intensify – driving an even deeper wedge between red and blue America. wildpixel/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    Are you angry about politics right now? Seething? You’re not alone. According to the Mood of the Nation Poll by researchers at Penn State, 9 in 10 Americans can name a recent news event or something about American politics that made them angry.

    Political scientists Steven Webster, Elizabeth Connors and I have investigated what happens to people’s social networks – their friends, family and neighbors – when partisan anger takes over. For example, suppose your neighbor is a member of the opposite political party. You’ve always watered their plants when they go on vacation. Given the news these days and how angry you’re feeling, what will you say when they ask for help during their next trip?

    We found that when someone is angry with the opposite party, they avoid people with those views. That can include not assisting neighbors with various tasks, avoiding social gatherings attended by people from the other side, and refusing to date people who vote differently. It means being disappointed if your son or daughter marries a supporter of the opposing party, and even severing close friendships or distancing yourself from close relatives.

    We see that political anger disrupts ordinary life – coffee with a friend – as well as more major life decisions. Political anger breaks our social networks.

    People rely on their relationships to understand our world – and to vote. The more we isolate ourselves from people who see things differently, the easier it is to misunderstand them, pushing us to separate even more.

    Stereotype vs. reality

    During the Obama administration, my collaborators and I asked a nationally representative sample of voters to describe their stereotypes about the opposite party. Our questions were intended to tap into perceptions of the other side’s lifestyles and cultural values, in addition to policy attitudes.

    First, we wanted to establish each side’s actual views. Our 2012-2016 study asked around 1,300 Americans whether they agreed with statements that are often associated with one party or the other – including creationism, guns, taxes and eco-friendliness.

    For example, 42.5% of all Republicans we surveyed agreed with the statement that “this country would be safer if every law-abiding citizen possessed a firearm,” versus 25.1% of independents and 14.2% of Democrats. Meanwhile, 38.7% of Democrats agreed that “this country would be better if every citizen drove an electric car,” compared with 22% of independents and 11.4% of Republicans.

    Which party do you associate with these cars?
    3alexd/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    Two months later, we went back to the same voters and asked them a different question: What percentage of Democrats and Republicans did they think would agree with these statements?

    We saw dramatic evidence of stereotypes. For example, only 19% of Democrats agreed that all Americans should pay more taxes, but more than 80% of Republicans believed the percentage to be higher. The same pattern occurred with electric cars and firearms. Just over 42% of Republicans agreed that all “law-abiding” citizens should have a gun, but the typical Democrat believed the percentage to be 60%-80%.

    Americans do not understand each other across the red-blue divide. Importantly, respondents with more ideologically extreme views themselves had less accurate perceptions of the other party.

    Avoiding the Joneses

    The more extreme our beliefs become, the harder it will be to understand our neighbors.

    Suppose you are a Republican. You learn that your Democratic neighbors believe that everyone should drive an electric car, marijuana should be legal in all states, and universal health care should be available to all citizens. Or suppose you are a Democrat, and you learn that your Republican neighbors believe that humans and dinosaurs walked the Earth at the same time, that elementary school students should be required to recite the Pledge of Allegiance every morning, and that a fence should be built between the U.S. and Mexico.

    Would you want to be friends?

    These hypothetical neighbors have stereotypical beliefs – and most Americans say they do not want those neighbors in their social networks. Specifically, according to our 2023 study, they reported not wanting to become friends, not having this neighbor over for a family meal, and not feeling comfortable allowing their children to play with the neighbor’s kids, among other activities.

    Stereotypes don’t just drive individual people and families apart; they make neighborhoods less cohesive. We ascribe stereotypical beliefs to people who are members of the opposite party – and then we react to these stereotypes, not to our neighbors themselves.

    You’re still neighbors, no matter how you vote.
    monkeybusinessimages/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    Social citizens

    Cutting off those in-person relationships isn’t just a problem for safety and friendliness around the block. It’s a problem for democracy because Americans need relationships with people whose politics are different than their own.

    A majority of Americans have social circles that are politically homogeneous. Even in 2020, 53% of Republicans said that their network was exclusively composed of Donald Trump supporters, and 55% of Democrats said that their network was exclusively composed of Joe Biden supporters.

    In her book “Through the Grapevine,” political scientist Taylor Carlson documents that approximately 1 in 3 American voters mostly learn about politics from socially transmitted information: news they get from talking with friends or scrolling on social media. Relying on these sources is particularly problematic in social networks that are homogeneous, as exposure to information from someone in your own party can lead people to have more extreme positions. Carlson’s work highlights that voters who rely on friends to shape their views rely upon a resource that is heavily biased.

    In my own book “The Social Citizen,” I investigated the influence peers have on political decisions, from voting and donating to identifying with a political party. For example, if a neighbor knocks on your door and asks you to turn out to vote, you are 4%-11% more likely to go cast a ballot than if a stranger knocked on your door.

    Democracy in action

    What can we do to remedy the fractures? We need to understand each other.

    The U.S. has a long tradition of political dialogue. Indeed, after a brutal election tested their friendship, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson did not exchange letters for 11 years. But the pair resumed their correspondence in 1812 with Adams’ statement – later echoed by Jefferson – “You and I, ought not to die, before We have explained ourselves to each other.”

    What Adams and Jefferson understood in the 19th century still applies to the divisions in American society today: Reconciliation requires understanding. These conversations are frequently painful and hard; data scientists have noted that Thanksgiving dinners with guests who cross party lines are frequently shorter. But as my own research shows, we are most able to persuade people with whom we have the closest ties.

    Democracy challenges us to participate in more ways than simply by voting. It challenges everyone to understand those around us and seek what is in the collective best interest.

    And we have the most influence over people in our social networks. So that friend you’re really angry with about their politics? It’s time to give them a call and have a conversation.

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

    – ref. Avoiding your neighbor because of how they voted? Democracy needs you to talk to them instead – https://theconversation.com/avoiding-your-neighbor-because-of-how-they-voted-democracy-needs-you-to-talk-to-them-instead-250376

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: York schools accredited ‘ADHD friendly’ as part of citywide support for neurodiverse students

    Source: City of York

    8 York schools have been accredited as ‘ADHD friendly’ as part of a citywide commitment to support neurodiverse children and young people.

    Awarded by the ADHD Foundation*, the schools were accredited as ADHD friendly because they committed to making their schools safe, nurturing, welcoming and exciting places, in which all learners with ADHD can achieve their academic potential.

    Schools also had to work with the foundation to achieve six ADHD school friendly pledges, including training school staff, providing opportunities for learners to get access to physical activity, exercise and self-calming strategies throughout the school day and providing information and support to families.

    Funded by City of York Council, as part of its wider Neurodiversity support Programme, Copmanthorpe Primary, Dunnington Church of England Primary School, Lakeside Primary Academy, Haxby Road Enhanced Resource Provision, Millthorpe School, Tang Hall Primary, Wigginton Primary, and York High School have all achieved the ADHD Friendly School Award.

    Cllr Bob Webb, the council’s Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education, said:

    “Supporting neurodiverse students, their families, and teaching staff, is a key part of our strategy to ensure York is a great place to live and learn for all young people.

    “We want to see inclusion at the heart of Education in York and I’m really pleased that schools have committed their time and energy to promote inclusion and the needs of all learners.

    “I’m delighted that eight schools in York have now received official ADHD accreditation and hope that they will share their expertise and knowledge with others across the city.”

    Luke Dancer, headteacher at Copmanthorpe Primary School, said:

    “We are incredibly proud to be recognised as an ADHD Friendly School.

    “At Copmanthorpe Primary, we strive to create an inclusive and supportive environment where all children can thrive. This accreditation is a testament to the ongoing dedication and hard work of the staff in creating a school where learners with ADHD feel valued, understood, and empowered to reach their full potential. Since joining the school in January, it has been clear to me that the whole team is deeply committed to ensuring that every child receives the support they need to succeed. Working alongside the ADHD Foundation and City of York Council has helped us implement meaningful strategies that benefit all of our pupils.”

    Colin Foley from the ADHD Foundation said:

    “It has been a pleasure to work with a range of schools across the City of York.

    “In each school, there is a commitment to understanding and nurturing children and young people with ADHD. Thank you to all of the professionals involved, these awards are very well deserved.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 46 Patents, One Fiscal Year

    Source: US National Renewable Energy Laboratory

    NREL Innovations Fuel New Energy Technologies

    What is your technology, what is innovative about it, and how will it change the world? These are the initial questions the innovation management team at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) asks researchers when they have new inventions with commercialization potential.

    Researchers submit their innovative ideas as records of invention (ROI) or software records, thus initiating a collaborative review and discussion with members of NREL’s Technology Transfer Office and Office of General Counsel. Technologies that pass muster and show potential for measurable market impacts may move on to the multiyear process with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to secure the patent rights necessary to bring yesterday’s ideas into today’s practical use.

    In Fiscal Year 2024, researchers at NREL submitted a record-breaking 294 innovations, representing potentially patentable inventions or copyrightable software. This remarkable level of innovation productivity resulted in 46 awarded U.S. patents and 12 NREL-enabled startup companies—an unprecedented amount of growth for this DOE laboratory focused on integrated energy solutions for an affordable and secure energy future.

    To Eric Payne, licensing executive lead for the tech transfer office, NREL’s record year signals that researchers are more engaged than ever before in the commercialization process as a means for their research to have impact.

    “NREL scientists are among the most inventive in the national lab system, and this record year reflects their continued dedication to having commercial impacts in the U.S. energy economy,” Payne said.

    A subtle, yet crucial, distinction about patents, Payne explained, is that they are “a snapshot back in time” of the research NREL was conducting three to five years ago.

    “Patent issuances are actually a lagging indicator of innovation, because if you think about the timeline, a researcher will first file an ROI. We typically file a patent application about six to 12 months after that, and then the patent application is pending within the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for at least two to five years,” Payne said.

    The process can sometimes take even longer, partly due to the volume of applications received at the U.S. Patent Office and partly due to the complexity of the technology itself. The more complicated the technology, the more time it takes for a patent application to be examined, with NREL’s team of patent attorneys expertly navigating the prosecution process. Because research at the laboratory is often early stage, researchers will typically use this waiting period to continue developing their technologies toward market readiness.

    In the case of FY 2024, the “oldest” awarded patent originated from an ROI submitted in 2014, though most patents were initiated in 2019 or later.

    So, what was cutting edge at NREL five years ago? In short: NREL’s origins as a solar research institute still shine, accompanied by advances in wind, hydropower, geothermal, and bioenergy fields. The patents overwhelmingly represent improvements in the efficiency of energy systems and manufacturing processes to make technology easier to scale and cheaper to use. New materials and advanced composites were introduced, and methods that reduce the amount of energy needed to power everyday lives were proposed.

    Protecting Power Grids From Cyberattacks

    With the rise of new technologies, power grids are becoming more vulnerable to advanced malware capable of infiltrating a utility company and toggling the on/off switch of electricity for millions of customers at once, remotely.

    Joshua Rivera and Vivek Kumar Singh, two researchers at NREL’s Cybersecurity Research Center, aim to get ahead of these threats by exploring how modern cybersecurity concepts—like cloud-based programs, process automation, and even artificial intelligence—can be applied to the energy grid to make it more resilient.

    This thought led to the Cybersecurity Research Center’s first patent, issued in February 2024, titled “Network visualization, intrusion detection, and network healing.” Rivera and Kumar Singh are coinventors along with NREL’s Adarsh Hasandka and Joshua Van Natta.

    The patent proposes a system that detects, visualizes, and mitigates anomalies in power grids automatically. The system’s rapid response lies in the rule-based, model-based, and AI-driven methods it was developed with. By comparing incoming data to preestablished models, plotted by the team, the system can immediately trigger corrective actions when disruptions are found.

    Vivek Kumar Singh (presenting) describes the NREL-patented tool for protecting power grids. Photo from Vivek Kumar Singh, NREL

    The team’s ROI for the technology was initiated in 2019, “at the right place and the right time,” according to Rivera and Kumar Singh.

    “In 2019, we were trying to capture the moment; we were forecasting that people were really going to care about AI,” Rivera added. “Terms like virtualization, software-defined networking, automation, and orchestration are common in IT and cloud security for ensuring resilience. So, we set out to adapt those philosophies with these new detection methodologies and apply them specifically to power systems. By combining them, we realized we could create something truly novel at the time.”

    As electrical grids become more connected and vulnerable to online threats, cybersecurity is now a core component of energy systems rather than an afterthought. To refine and bring technologies like this patent to market, the team said that partnerships and collaborations will be essential.

    “This patent required a diverse team of people with different domain expertise and different capabilities,” Rivera said. “The more collaboration and involvement we get from others, the more likely we can build something that will be successful.”

    Matereal’s NIPU Foam Replaces Traditional Polyurethane

    For retired NREL researcher Phil Pienkos, his renewable, nontoxic polyurethane product, trademarked as Polaris, came closer to commercialization in FY 2024 with a new patent for the technology.

    Developed with Tao Dong and Lieve Laurens of NREL, Pienkos’ non-isocyanate polyurethane (NIPU) foam can be made from readily available oils, such as linseed or soybean oil, as well as oils derived from algae or food waste. It is synthesized without petroleum-based chemicals and isocyanates: hazardous chemicals that are known to cause irritation, asthma, and severe lung issues. And its end product offers both recyclable and biodegradable options for polyurethane used in everything from textiles, automotive interiors, mattress cushioning, and more.

    Phil Pienkos (right) holds a prototype of his non-isocyanate polyurethane material, while Eric Payne (left) holds the patent license agreement that helped Pienkos form his company, Matereal. Photo from Eric Payne, NREL

    This latest patent, “Non-isocyanate polyurethane products and methods of making the same,” specifically addresses the method of making NIPU foam. By increasing the reaction speed between amines and cyclic carbonates, the building blocks of the material, researchers have made NIPU foam synthesis more comparable to conventional polyurethane production, which is crucial for uptake by industry partners.

    “It’s got regulation push. It’s got market pull,” Pienkos said of the opportunities for commercialization. “It’s got everything.”

    As of summer 2024, Pienkos’ startup company, Matereal, had completed a round of seed funding, raising $4.5 million to continue Polaris’ development after early partnerships with brands like Patagonia, the outdoor company, and Tempur Sealy, the mattress company.

    Ocean Wave Energy Converters Make a Splash

    Two patents issued in the last fiscal year centered on marine energy and the conversion of the ocean’s waves into “something more useful,” said Blake Boren, a senior engineer on NREL’s water power research and development team—be it electricity or desalinating seawater into drinkable fresh water.

    Boren was a lead researcher on the patent titled “Flexible wave energy converter,” also known as a flexWEC, a device that can bend, flex, and/or stretch to generate electricity from ocean waves. Where traditional wave energy converters are typically rigid and move within one degree of freedom, a flexWEC is innately able to move in several degrees of freedom and can therefore interact with a broader range of ocean wave periods and frequencies than what would otherwise be directly possible. With many small energy transducers embedded across the device, instead of concentrated at central point, the flexWEC can better adapt to changing wave environments and continue operating even if some transducers fail.

    A prototype of the inflatable pump Jenne built in his garage. Photo by Scott Jenne, NREL

    “If a couple of the smaller energy transducers fail, it’s not ideal, but the overall energy conversion structure should largely still operate as intended, and in that way, flexible wave energy converters could be more robust than a more conventional WEC,” Boren said.

    The flexWEC is an ocean wave energy converter based on distributed embedded energy converter technologies (DEEC-Tec), a new type of marine energy innovation that was patented in September 2022 by Boren and Jochem Weber, chief engineer for NREL’s water power program, also named on the new patent.

    Dale “Scott” Jenne’s FY 2024 patent, “Inflatable pressure absorption wave actuated pump,” also described a wave energy converter, though based on a different mechanism than the flexWEC. After six years of working on desalination technologies, Jenne—a multidisciplinary research engineer on the water power team—noticed a common theme.

    “Almost every wave energy converter that I had worked with or analyzed was, in some way, pumping a fluid. And a lot of companies earlier on were using what we call hydraulic systems: a piston that is pushing up and down, then that motion runs a motor, which can then run a generator,” Jenne said.

    But hydraulic systems are expensive, prone to leaks, and rely on rigid parts like gearboxes that could break over time, leading Jenne to question, “How do you simplify that process and make a system that pumps water with the simplest mechanism possible?”

    The result, a prototype Jenne built in his garage with $150 of supplies, is a modified version of a diaphragm pump that relies on the kinetic energy of a moving wave to pressurize a bag. Squeezing the bag then forces air through a column to generate electricity. The inflatable pump has no moving parts and reduces the complexity of mechanical systems with hydraulic seals. And the prototype’s low-cost build implies the technology could be scaled inexpensively.

    NREL researchers Blake Boren and Stephen Chamot (from left to right), with Isabel Hess, a Ph.D. student from the University of Florida, do final checks to the distributed embedded energy conversion technology (DEEC-Tec) equipment before testing it in the Wave Tank at the NREL Flatirons Campus. Photo by Gregory Cooper, NREL

    In December 2024, Jenne’s team applied for a Technology Commercialization Fund grant from DOE to advance the inflatable pump for high-pressure scenarios, like those needed for desalination.

    In both cases, the flexWEC and the inflatable pump hold promise for generating energy from the harsh environment of ocean waves, particularly in areas affected by hurricanes or in remote coastal areas that lack reliable infrastructure. Ocean wave energy has unique advantages in niche applications like those, filling in gaps where wind and solar renewables are less effective. Demonstrating that WECs can succeed in smaller-scale systems—such as powering oceanographic sensors for data collection, desalinating seawater, or supplying energy to microgrids in island communities—could build momentum for larger-scale applications of marine renewable energy technologies in the future.

    Solar Panels, Minus the Lengthy Setup

    Innovations in solar energy technologies represented a majority of the patents NREL acquired in FY 2024, mirroring the growing role solar plays in the global electricity market at-large. As the most abundant renewable resource, solar is predicted to account for 40% of the U.S. electricity supply by 2035 and 45% by 2050. 

    One standout solar technology comes from researchers Bryon Larson and Obadiah Reid of NREL’s chemistry and nanoscience program. Their patent, “Microwave photoconductance spectrometer and methods of using the same,” describes a technique to analyze materials used in photovoltaics (PV) quickly and efficiently, without needing to build a full solar panel device first.

    The device could help solar panel manufacturers implement real-time quality control monitoring on production lines and facilitate more efficient research on PV materials beyond silicon. Where traditional silicon solar panels have established metrics for quality, new materials, such as perovskites, are less well characterized and require more meticulous processing to achieve optimal performance.

    Reid and Larson’s spectrometer works by aiming microwaves at a film of semiconducting material. When the waves bounce back, they are carrying information about the material’s quality at high speed, allowing manufacturers to adjust factors to improve the material’s conductivity in real-time. The spectrometer is built to incorporate into a future where solar panels are manufactured on a roll-to-roll press akin to a newspaper printing press.

    “The technique is contactless, so you are essentially pointing a probe at a running web of material that is moving very rapidly,” Larson said. “The faster you run the printing press, the higher the yields in solar panel production—per hour, day, or year. That’s important because, in a manufacturing setting, the less downtime you have, the more likely you’ll be profitable.”

    After the ROI was filed in 2018, DOE selected Reid and Larson’s spectrometer for its Small Business Innovation Research grants where industry competed to advance the technology. Oregon-based Tau Science Corporation adapted the team’s research tool into a commercial prototype, and along the way, Reid and Larson made the technology even better. Though their original spectrometer is 1,000 times more sensitive than traditional methods, today’s version is even more precise, enabling research into higher-quality perovskites, cadmium telluride, and other trending semiconducting materials.

    Chemistry researchers Bryon Larson (left) and Obadiah Reid demonstrate a commercial prototype of their microwave spectrometer. Photo by Werner Slocum, NREL

    Reid predicts that as the solar industry adopts roll-to-rolling printing—projected to be a $50 billion annual market in the next two decades—the microwave spectrometer will naturally transition to industrial applications.

    “I have pretty high hopes that it will be adopted by research laboratories because it is super useful as a way of characterizing the material you’re making before going all the way to a full device,” Reid said. “If that happens, if the people developing the materials are trained with this particular technique, they’re going to want that same feedback in their systems when they join industry.”

    These and NREL’s remaining patents from FY 2024 have been added to an ever-expanding portfolio of technologies that Payne’s office is managing, including 750 patented technologies and 700 commercial and open-source software records. Each invention is available for licensing through NREL’s Technology Transfer Office.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New Family Hub opening in North Prospect

    Source: City of Plymouth

    The new North Prospect Family Hub is opening this month, with families invited to come along to the official launch event.  

    Located on North Prospect Road, the new Family Hub is celebrating with an afternoon of free games, activities and entertainment for children and young people on Thursday 27 March between 1pm and 4pm.  

    The new hub is run by LARK, which also manages Morice Town Family Hub, and is the eleventh and final hub to open in Plymouth. 

    In 2023, Plymouth City Council was awarded a share of £300 million from the Government to help develop the Family Hubs and establish Start for Life, a programme providing support to parents for the first 1001 days of their child’s life, starting from pregnancy. 

    Family Hubs have developed the support previously offered by children’s centres and help families from conception until children are 19 years old, or up to 25-years-old for young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).  

    The aim is to provide a safe, welcoming and friendly environment to families and there’s a range of support on offer including antenatal classes, activity sessions, parenting programmes, breastfeeding support and practical help from a wide range of professionals.  

    Councillor Jemima Laing, Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, said: “Our Family Hubs are so important, providing a supportive environment and professional advice to families with children of all ages within their communities.  

    “I’m delighted about the launch of the new North Prospect Family Hub, which is the final hub to open in the city. We now have eleven hubs across Plymouth and I would encourage all parents and carers to find their local hub and reach out to see what support is available – our Hubs are here to make sure you get the help you need in the right place, at the right time.”   

    Kirsty Mole, Family Hub Lead at LARK, said: “We are so excited after a busy few months with our move from The Beacon, to be opening on North Prospect Road in the heart of our community. 

    “We’d like to thank everyone who has helped us with this move, from volunteers to local councillors, and a huge thank you to our local families for their patience whilst we have been moving. 

    “We welcome children, young people and families into our Hub and have a range of support available as well as providing links with other agencies for help and advice. Our team have lots of knowledge and are experienced in working in our area for many years. We are really proud of our new Hub and hope that you will come along and celebrate with us.” 

    The other Family Hubs in Plymouth are:  

    • Nomony Family Hub, Cattedown  
    • The Barn Family Hub, Barne Barton  
    • Rees Family Hub, Plympton  
    • Four Woods Family Hub, Crownhill Road  
    • Green Ark Family Hub, Devonport   
    • Manor Street Family Hub, Stonehouse 
    • Southway Family Hub  
    • Whitleigh Family Hub at Four Greens Community Trust 
    • Efford Family Hub at High View Primary School 
    • Morice Town Family Hub  
    • Southway Family Hub  

    For more information, please visit www.plymouth.gov.uk/family-hubs or follow Plymouth Family Hubs on Facebook.  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New MBA Residential series focuses on supply chains The latest trends in global supply chains will be the focus of a three day event hosted by the University of Aberdeen Business School this summer.

    Source: University of Aberdeen

    The latest trends in global supply chains will be the focus of a three day event hosted by the University of Aberdeen Business School this summer.
    From exploring the use of AI and Blockchain, understanding supply vessel logistics and establishing new supply chains in emerging markets; through to raising awareness of the environmental, social and governance requirements in value chain planning, the event is part a new MBA Residential series.
    Supported by the Development Trust Student Experience Fund, it will bring together MBA students from Aberdeen, Qatar and those studying online for a comprehensive programme of lectures and on-site industry visits.
    In addition to visiting the National Decommissioning Centre, ANM Group and Peterhead Port Authority, delegates will hear from speakers including Rex Gu, Global Head of Finance, Contract Logistics and E-Commerce Logistics at A.P. Moller – Maersk; Alan Buhamba, Executive Assistant to the Minister of Energy in the Government of Uganda; Cyril Bruce-Cathline, New Business Management for Europe and Africa at Fugro; and Yingli Wu,  Managing Director (China) at Wrist Ship Supply. They will also be joined by Russell Borthwick, Chief Executive of Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce.

    This event provides a unique opportunity for students across the MBA cohort to network, engage and enhance their understanding of supply chain resilience directly from industry.” John Storm, Director of MBA Programmes at the Business School

    “In today’s interconnected world, supply chain resilience is not just a strategic advantage but a necessity,” said John Storm, Director of MBA Programmes at the Business School and event moderator.
    “The challenges of geopolitical instability, resource scarcity and technological integration demand agile and adaptable networks. Yet, these very challenges also present opportunities for innovation, sustainability, and enhanced collaboration, paving the way for more resilient and efficient global supply chains.
    “This event provides a unique opportunity for students across the MBA cohort to network, engage and enhance their understanding of supply chain resilience directly from industry.”
    Supply Chain Resilience in the Age of ESG takes place at the University of Aberdeen’s King’s College campus from 4-6 June 2025. Free to attend, register to express your interest here.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New posts to strengthen links between University and industry Bridging the gap between academia and key industry sectors at the heart of the North East of Scotland’s economy is the key aim for three new business development executives at the University of Aberdeen.

    Source: University of Aberdeen

    Bridging the gap between academia and key industry sectors at the heart of the North East of Scotland’s economy is the key aim for three new business development executives at the University of Aberdeen.
    The three new posts have been created by the 430-year-old institution in order to build and strengthen links and partnerships with the business community across energy, health and life sciences, and digital and creative industries.
    It’s hoped that the initiative will foster greater collaboration as part of a wider drive by the University to support regional economic development.
    Responsible for the health and life sciences portfolio is Dr Marina Kovaleva who boasts 25 years in the sector working within academia and biotech and pharma companies.
    Marina pioneered the discovery of new drug therapies developed from the shark immune system, leading to the first preclinical study on shark-based drugs for rheumatoid arthritis and designing targeted tumour therapies. This research was spun out into the biotech company Elasmogen Ltd in 2016, of which Marina is a founding team member.
    Marina has degrees in Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Veterinary Medicine obtained from universities in Russia and Germany.
    Taking on the digital and creative industries brief is Dr Allison Noble who has held various roles in both government and the charity sector.
    Following roles involving helping NHS health boards address vaccine hesitancy and develop clear travel guidance during the pandemic and sustainability research with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Allison comes to the University after two and a half years with Research Data Scotland (RDS). With RDS, Allison helped restructure the organisation’s information architecture and implemented AI safely at an institutional level whilst working with bodies such as National Records of Scotland, Scottish Government and Public Health Scotland.

    These appointments demonstrate the University’s ongoing support for the region’s ambition to be an innovation-driven economy, leveraging our world-class research expertise to support business.” Professor Pete Edwards, Vice-Principal for Regional Engagement

    Her doctorate from the University of Southampton investigated how music streaming platforms and their algorithms impact the creation, distribution, and consumption of music.
    Aberdeen Geology and Petroleum Geology graduate, Dr Ian Brightmore, will be the lead for energy. He returns to the University, where he also obtained his PhD, with 15 years of international operator experience in the UK continental shelf, Norwegian continental shelf, Kurdistan and Barents.  
    Ian worked as geologist with ExxonMobil in Norway and Houston before returning to Aberdeen to take a position with Canadian Natural Resources (CNR) and has worked for numerous international operators since in the capacity of exploration geologist.
    Dr Liz Rattray, University of Aberdeen Interim Chief Operating Officer and Director of Research and Innovation, said: “There is an abundance of cutting-edge research being carried out at the University of Aberdeen which could have real and immediate benefits for industry.
    “The challenge is having key individuals in place with an overview of vital areas – such as energy, health and life science and digital and creative industries – who can act as a single point of contact between industry requirements and our researchers they could be collaborating with.
    “The appointment of our three new business development executives to cover these key industry sectors is crucial to maximising collaboration, fostering long-term industry links and promoting the expertise that the University of Aberdeen boasts – to the benefit of all parties.”
    Professor Peter Edwards, Vice-Principal for Regional Engagement, said: “These appointments demonstrate the University’s ongoing support for the region’s ambition to be an innovation-driven economy, leveraging our world-class research expertise to support business.
    The University of Aberdeen hosts the largest concentration of academic researchers in the North of Scotland and the new business development executives will work with industry to understand their problems, before connecting them to the relevant academic experts, and providing advice on the most appropriate mechanism to facilitate joint work.”
    Related Content

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Advancing gender equality and supporting victims and survivors of gender-based violence across Canada

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    March 21, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario — Women and Gender Equality Canada

    A strong Canadian economy depends on everyone having the opportunity to fully participate in economic, social and cultural life. Removing systemic barriers to gender equality, while preventing and addressing all forms of gender-based violence, is essential to building a future where all Canadians can thrive.

    Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Culture and Identity, Parks Canada and Quebec Lieutenant, who is responsible for the Department of Women and Gender Equality, announced up to $5.9 million for seven projects that will advance gender equality.

    The following two organizations will receive up to $1.2 million to increase their capacity as well as the capacity of national women’s organizations to achieve their goals, build knowledge, and implement change: 

    • Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (CRIAW) (Ottawa, ON)

    Project name: Building the Capacity of National Women’s Rights Organizations

    Women’s Program Funding Amount: $1,100,000

    • Famous 5 Foundation (Calgary, AB)

    Project name: Advancing Equality on the Way to the 100th Anniversary of the ‘Persons’ Case

    Women’s Program Funding Amount: up to $99,998

    The following five organizations will receive up to $4.7 million to help support victims and survivors of gender-based violence by expanding the scope and effectiveness of their efforts, and will be another step towards ending gender-based violence:

    • Andrew Fleck Children’s Services (Ottawa, ON)

    Project name: Equitable Start: Accessible Early Learning and Child Care for survivors of GBV

    Gender-based Violence Program Funding Amount: up to $299,855

    • Ending Violence Association of Canada (Ottawa, ON)

    Project name: Improving Institutional Accountability Project – Phase III

    Gender-based Violence Program Funding Amount: up to $755,331

    • La rue des femmes de Montréal (Montréal, QC)

    Project name: Relational Healing and Health in Women Survivors of GBV: Trauma-Informed Relational Care

    Gender-based Violence Program Funding Amount: up to $1,256,918

    • Vesta Social Innovation Technologies (Toronto, ON)

    Project name: Resilience in Action: Intersectional Approaches to Addressing GBV in Diverse Communities

    Gender-based Violence Program Funding Amount: up to $1,988,556

    • Women’s Centre for Social Justice (WomenatthecentrE) (Toronto, ON)

    Project name: Over-Represented, and Under-Protected: Building A Reproductive Justice Framework Centring Indigenous, Black, and Afro-Indigenous Communities in the GTA

    Gender-based Violence Program Funding Amount: up to $400,000

    Whether it is by supporting women in business, leadership, and culture, or ensuring their safety and security, everyone plays a role in advancing gender equality and ending gender-based violence. Investing in initiatives that empower women helps build a stronger, more sustainable future for all.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NIH researchers develop eye drops that slow vision loss in animals

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 2

    News Release
    Friday, March 21, 2025

    Treatment shows potential to slow the progression of human degenerative eye diseases, including retinitis pigmentosa.

    Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have developed eye drops that extend vision in animal models of a group of inherited diseases that lead to progressive vision loss in humans, known as retinitis pigmentosa. The eye drops contain a small fragment derived from a protein made by the body and found in the eye, known as pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF).  PEDF helps preserve cells in the eye’s retina. A report on the study is published in Communications Medicine.
    “While not a cure, this study shows that PEDF-based eye drops can slow progression of a variety of degenerative retinal diseases in animals, including various types of retinitis pigmentosa and dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD),” said Patricia Becerra, Ph.D., chief of NIH’s Section on Protein Structure and Function at the National Eye Institute and senior author of the study. “Given these results, we’re excited to begin trials of these eye drops in people.”
    All degenerative retinal diseases have cellular stress in common. While the source of the stress may vary—dozens of mutations and gene variants have been linked to retinitis pigmentosa, AMD, and other disorders—high levels of cellular stress cause retinal cells to gradually lose function and die. Progressive loss of photoreceptor cells leads to vision loss and eventually blindness.
    Previous research from Becerra’s lab revealed that, in a mouse model, the natural protein PEDF can help retinal cells stave off the effects of cellular stress. However, the full PEDF protein is too large to pass through the outer eye tissues to reach the retina, and the complete protein has multiple functions in retinal tissue, making it impractical as a treatment. To optimize the molecule’s ability to preserve retinal cells and to help the molecule reach the back of the eye, Becerra developed a series of short peptides derived from a region of PEDF that supports cell viability. These small peptides can move through eye tissues to bind with PEDF receptor proteins on the surface of the retina.
    In this new study, led by first author Alexandra Bernardo-Colón, Becerra’s team created two eye drop formulations, each containing a short peptide. The first peptide candidate, called “17-mer,” contains 17 amino acids found in the active region of PEDF. A second peptide, H105A, is similar but binds more strongly to the PEDF receptor. Peptides applied to mice as drops on the eye’s surface were found in high concentration in the retina within 60 minutes, slowly decreasing over the next 24 to 48 hours. Neither peptide caused toxicity or other side effects.
    When administered once daily to young mice with retinitis pigmentosa-like disease, H105A slowed photoreceptor degeneration and vision loss. To test the drops, the investigators used specially bred mice that lose their photoreceptors shortly after birth. Once cell loss begins, the majority of photoreceptors die in a week. When given peptide eye drops through that one-week period, mice retained up to 75% of photoreceptors and continued to have strong retinal responses to light, while those given a placebo had few remaining photoreceptors and little functional vision at the end of the week.
    “For the first time, we show that eye drops containing these short peptides can pass into the eye and have a therapeutic effect on the retina,” said Bernardo-Colón. “Animals given the H105A peptide have dramatically healthier-looking retinas, with no negative side effects.”
    A variety of gene-specific therapies are under development for many types of retinitis pigmentosa, which generally start in childhood and progress over many years. These PEDF-derived peptide eye drops could play a crucial role in preserving cells while waiting for these gene therapies to become clinically available.
    To test whether photoreceptors preserved through the eye drop treatment are healthy enough for gene therapy to work, collaborators Valeria Marigo, Ph.D. and Andrea Bighinati, Ph.D., University of Modena, Italy, treated mice with gene therapy at the end of the week-long eye drop regimen. The gene therapy successfully preserved vision for at least an additional six months.  
    To see whether the eye drops could work in humans – without actually testing in humans directly – the researchers worked with Natalia Vergara, Ph.D., University of Colorado Anschutz, Aurora, to test the peptides in a human retinal tissue model of retinal degeneration. Grown in a dish from human cells, the retina-like tissues were exposed to chemicals that induced high levels of cellular stress. Without the peptides, the cells of the tissue model died quickly, but with the peptides, the retinal tissues remained viable. These human tissue data provide a key first step supporting human trials of the eye drops.
    The research was funded by the NEI Intramural Research Program. Additional funding was provided by the Prevention of Blindness Society, Fondazione Telethon, HEAL-ITALIA Foundation, CellSight Development Fund, and Research to Prevent Blindness.
    Reference: Bernardo-Colón A, Bighinati A, Parween S, Debnath S, Piano I, Adani E, Corsi F, Gargini C, Vergara N, Marigo V, and Becerra SP. “H105A peptide eye drops promote photoreceptor survival in murine and human models of retinal degeneration.” Mar 21, 2025, Comms Med. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-025-00789-8
    NEI leads the federal government’s research on the visual system and eye diseases. NEI supports basic and clinical science programs to develop sight-saving treatments and address special needs of people with vision loss. For more information, visit https://www.nei.nih.gov.  
    About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
    NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health®
    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How to write your own physics poem

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sam Illingworth, Professor of Creative Pedagogies, Edinburgh Napier University

    NASA images/Shutterstock

    Physics and poetry might seem like an unlikely pair, but both are rooted in structure, rhythm and precision. Both rely on clarity – distilling complex ideas into their simplest, most elegant form. And, as I explore in my latest book The Poetry of Physics, both seek to capture something fundamental about the universe.

    Some physicists have embraced this connection. James Clerk Maxwell, the Scottish physicist and mathematician behind the classical theory of electromagnetic radiation, wrote verse about atoms, thermodynamics and imposter syndrome. Rebecca Elson, an astrophysicist studying dark matter, wrote poems that fused cosmic exploration with human fragility. Their work reminds us that physics is not just about numbers – it is about patterns, motion and meaning.

    Writing poetry about science can seem daunting. But structure helps. Just as scientific experiments follow a method, poetic forms can provide a scaffold that can shape your ideas and guide your writing, giving you boundaries within which to explore.

    Form matters. The structure of a poem can mirror the scientific idea it describes, making both the form and the content work together. A nonnet, for example, is a perfect choice for writing about loss, decay, or transformation.

    A nonnet is a nine-line poem that starts with a line of nine syllables and decreases by one syllable per line, ending with a single-syllable word. This structure creates a natural sense of diminishing, making it ideal for exploring physical processes like entropy, energy loss, or the melting of sea ice. The shrinking lines do not just tell the story – they embody it, visually and rhythmically reinforcing the concept.

    Take entropy for example. Entropy is a measure of disorder or randomness within a system. A system with high entropy is more chaotic, while a system with low entropy is more structured. According to the second law of thermodynamics, the total entropy of an isolated system can only increase or remain constant – it never decreases. This natural progression toward disorder can be creatively captured through a nonnet, a poetic form that mirrors the gradual decline of structure.

    The tea cools, spreading its warmth outward

    Molecules slow, drift apart, fade

    Heat unwinds in quiet waves

    Order gives way to chance

    Each moment less still

    Motion dissolves

    Atoms hum

    Time flows

    Gone

    The structure mirrors the process it describes – just as the syllables fall away, so too does energy, dissipating into the surroundings. The poem does not just explain entropy; it makes you feel it.

    Writing your own physics poem

    To start, choose a scientific concept with a natural progression – something that grows, collapses, fades or transforms. A black hole swallowing light. The cooling of a neutron star. The flickering of a quantum state.

    Once you have your subject, let the structure guide you. The longest line should introduce the concept, setting up the movement that follows. Each line should shrink not just in syllables but in intensity, following the physical process you are describing. Keep the language clear and simple – both physics and poetry thrive on precision.

    Most importantly, let the poem take its time. Writing is like experimentation – your first attempt is rarely your final result. Refine, adjust and revise until the form and meaning align.

    Once you have experimented with a nonnet, you may want to explore other poetic forms. Different structures can emphasise different aspects of physics, shaping the way the subject is presented and experienced. Perhaps a haiku, a villanelle, or maybe even a sestina?

    Eventually, as in physics, structure should not confine you. It should empower you. Just as quantum mechanics could only emerge after centuries of classical physics, free verse poetry becomes most effective once you understand the forms it is breaking away from. Poetic structure teaches control, rhythm and precision. It helps you learn how to balance content and form, just as classical mechanics teaches foundational principles that underpin later discoveries.

    Once you are comfortable with structured poetry, try letting go. Write about physics with no predetermined form. Let the language shape itself. See where the words take you.

    And when you have something you are happy with, why not share it? The Brilliant Poetry Competition 2025 invites writers from around the world to explore the connections between science and poetry. This year’s competition is themed around UNESCO’s international year of quantum science and technology, with prizes of up to £1,000 and entries accepted in English, French and Spanish.

    Physics is already rich with poetry. Its rhythms are found in the orbits of planets, its symmetry is woven into the fabric of the universe, its surprises are hidden in the flicker of quantum states. Writing a physics poem is not about forcing science into art but about recognising the poetry that is already there. The universe is waiting. Now, all you need to do is write.

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

    – ref. How to write your own physics poem – https://theconversation.com/how-to-write-your-own-physics-poem-252647

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: From hempseed gruel to CBD: the curious history of cannabis as health product

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Lauren Alex O’Hagan, Research Fellow, School of Languages and Applied Linguistics, The Open University

    H_Ko/Shutterstock

    The cannabis-derived product CBD has been hailed “the wonder drug of our age”, offering potential health benefits without the high. From juices and coffee to truffles and ice cream, CBD products have flooded the market for consumers looking for an answer to health problems from anxiety to insomnia.

    But with CBD products in the UK and EU falling under “novel foods” regulations rather than pharmaceutical standards, they aren’t subjected to the same rigorous safety and quality controls as drugs. The UK’s Committee on Toxicology has even flagged potential health risks, such as liver injury, leading the Food Standards Agency to issue safety guidance.

    The regulatory gaps and health concerns of today reflect those of the 19th century when cannabis products were commercialised by the food industry.

    In the 1830s, William Brooke O’Shaughnessy, an Irish doctor, discovered that cannabis was effective in treating muscle spasms and stomach cramps. French psychiatrist Jacques-Joseph Moreau later explored its potential for mental illness. This led many 19th-century doctors to champion cannabis as a cure-all.

    It wasn’t long before patent medicine manufacturers began using cannabis as a common ingredient in their formulas. But soon, cannabis wasn’t just in pharmacies – it was in food.

    Surprisingly, this shift was not driven by the food industry, but by the free church environment in Sweden as part of efforts to combat tuberculosis – a leading cause of death across all social classes in the country at the time.

    Paul Petter Waldenström, leader of the Swedish Mission Covenant, wrote a letter to Svenska Morgonbladet about a woman reportedly cured of tuberculosis by a homebrewed gruel made with hempseed, rye flour and milk. His endorsement helped popularise the remedy and many started making their own “Waldenström gruel”, as it became known.

    Sensing a business opportunity, entrepreneur J. Barthelson developed a powdered commercial version with the elegant French name Extrait Cannabis. He marketed it as a dietary remedy for tuberculosis, chest diseases and low energy. As demand grew, competitors quickly jumped on the bandwagon, using fearmongering tactics to persuade consumers that they were putting their lives at risk without it.

    The rise and fall of Maltos-Cannabis

    The most striking cannabis-infused product of the era came from the Red Cross Technical Factory. Their “health drink”, Maltos-Cannabis, was a maltose and cannabis blend marketed as both nutritious and delicious, especially when mixed with cocoa.

    With an aggressive advertising campaign, the company raked in nearly SEK 290,000 a year (around £775,000 in modern money), opening factories in Chicago, Helsinki, Brussels and Utrecht.

    A particularly dramatic advertisement depicted the Grim Reaper fleeing from the light of science, shining from a lighthouse. Meanwhile, a mother and daughter raised their arms triumphantly, symbolising victory over death thanks to Maltos-Cannabis. The tagline boldly claimed that the product had “a big future”.

    Maltos-Cannabis advertisement, Hälsovännen, 1 February 1894.
    Wikimedia Commons

    However, questions swirled about its legitimacy. Newspapers debated whether the product was a groundbreaking remedy or “a pure scam product”. While some critics called the craze an “epidemic”, others argued coffee was more harmful – a hot topic in Sweden’s parliament at the time.

    In response, Red Cross published a half-page rebuttal signed by its executives, defending the product’s credibility. But scepticism persisted. After various lawsuits and growing concerns over its effectiveness and safety, sales of Maltos-Cannabis began to decline. By the 1930s, the product had disappeared entirely.

    History repeats itself?

    The 19th-century commercial cannabis market was able to thrive due to the absence of marketing regulations for both food and pharmaceutical products. Manufacturers freely advertised their products using pseudo-scientific claims and buzzword-heavy marketing – strategies we’re seeing again today in the thriving CBD industry.

    This is because CBD is a “borderline” product, existing in a regulatory grey area that allows for marketing strategies to flourish without stringent oversight. Much like in the past, brands tap into consumers’ health anxieties with promises of a wellness revolution. Most worryingly, social media influencers are being used to endorse CBD, making it particularly appealing for younger audiences.

    With the global CBD market valued at US$19 billion in 2023 and projected to grow by 16% annually until 2030, looking back at the broader, problematic history of commercial cannabis should serve as a cautionary tale.

    Lauren Alex O’Hagan 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. From hempseed gruel to CBD: the curious history of cannabis as health product – https://theconversation.com/from-hempseed-gruel-to-cbd-the-curious-history-of-cannabis-as-health-product-251967

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –