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Category: Fisheries

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s tech hub Shenzhen to launch 10B yuan fund to accelerate AI industry growth

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A robotic whale shark swims in a tank at Xiaomeisha Sea World in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province, Sept. 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The south China tech hub of Shenzhen will launch a 10 billion yuan (about 1.39 billion U.S. dollars) industry fund to support the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, focusing on AI software, hardware and embodied intelligence, local authorities said Sunday.

    The fund is part of the city’s broader push to strengthen its position as a global hub for AI innovation.

    City officials revealed the plan at a press conference, announcing an additional 4.5 billion yuan in funding to be raised this year. This funding will cover up to 60 percent of computing power costs for businesses, with a maximum of 10 million yuan per enterprise, provided through vouchers and subsidies.

    Shenzhen’s AI ambitions go beyond financial support. The city plans to expand its AI application base with an additional 100 scenarios set to roll out in 2025, focusing on sectors like municipal sanitation, emergency response and health care. This follows the introduction of nearly 200 AI-powered application scenarios already in place across the city.

    Shenzhen aims to create a highly systematic, complete and collaborative innovation ecosystem, accelerate the development of a globally influential industrial and technological innovation center, and build itself into a city of innovation, said Zhang Lin, director of the Shenzhen municipal bureau of science and technology innovation.

    Shenzhen, once a small fishing village in Guangdong Province, has transformed into one of China’s most dynamic and innovative cities. It is home to more than 2,200 AI companies and boasts a comprehensive AI industry chain that spans from smart chips and algorithm frameworks to large models and software-hardware applications, according to data from the Shenzhen AI industry office.

    Data from iResearch, an industry research and consulting institute, indicates that China’s AI industry is projected to reach 811 billion yuan by 2028, with emerging sectors such as AI and robotics poised to unlock significant market potential and development opportunities.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Ramadan is almost here. 5 tips to boost your wellbeing and energy levels if you’re fasting

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Romy Lauche, Deputy Director (Research), National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine, Southern Cross University

    Drazen Zigic/Shutterstock

    Ramadan is one of the most significant months of the Islamic lunar calendar. It marks the time when the Quran was revealed to Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him).

    Almost 2 billion Muslims worldwide observe this month of prayer and reflection, which includes fasting between two prayers, Fajr at dawn and Maghrib at sunset.

    Ramadan is about purifying the mind, body and soul, and practising self-restraint. It’s a time for spiritual growth and dedication to God (or Allah in Arabic). Ramadan also brings people together for meals and celebrations, with a focus on helping those less fortunate.

    Depending on where you live, Ramadan can mean going 12 to 19 hours without eating or drinking anything, including water.

    Our research shows choosing balanced, nutrient-dense foods and drinks can result in better wellbeing and greater energy levels than following your usual diet during Ramadan.

    Here’s what to consider if you’re fasting for Ramadan.

    Do you have any health issues?

    Healthy Muslims are expected to fast during Ramadan once they have reached puberty.

    Frail older adults are exempt from fasting, as are pregnant, breastfeeding and menstruating women. Anyone who cannot participate in fasting can make up for the missed fasting days later.

    People with chronic illness or mental health may be exempt if fasting poses a risk to their health. If you suffer from chronic illness, such as diabetes, heart disease or kidney problems, and want to fast, consult your GP first.

    Fasting can have severe health consequences for people with certain medical conditions and those who rely on prescription medication. Some medications need to be taken at a specific time (and some with food) to be safe and effective.

    If you’re not drinking enough water during Ramadan, your body might also handle some medications differently: they may not work as well or cause side effects.

    For people who can safely fast, here are five tips to maintain your wellbeing during Ramadan.

    1. Plan ahead

    In preparation for Ramadan, stock up on essentials. Plan your meals and hydration in advance, to stay on top of your nutritional intake.

    Start reducing your caffeine gradually in the week leading to Ramadan, so your body can adjust. This can help prevent or reduce the fasting headaches that many experience at the beginning of Ramadan.

    Move your meals gradually towards Suhoor and Iftar times, so your body gets used to the new mealtimes.

    Plan your meals ahead of time.
    Ground Picture/Shutterstock

    2. Stay hydrated

    Staying hydrated is important during Ramadan. Women should aim to drink 2.1 litres of water or fluids (such as coconut water, clear soups, broths or herbal teas) each day. Men should aim for 2.6 litres.

    Limit the intake of sugary or artificially sweetened drinks and enjoy fresh fruit juice only in moderation. Sugary drinks cause a rapid increase in blood sugar levels. The body responds by releasing insulin, causing a drop in blood sugar, which can leave you feeling fatigued, irritable and hungry.

    Increase your hydration by including water-rich foods, such as cucumbers and watermelon, in your diet.

    3. Get your nutrients early

    Before dawn, have a nutrient-rich, slow-digesting meal, along with plenty of water.

    Select healthy nutrient-dense food with proteins and fats from lean meats, fish, chickpeas, tofu, nuts and seeds.

    Choose whole grain products, a variety of vegetables and fruits, and fermented foods, such as kimchi and pickles, which can support your digestion.

    When you prepare your meals, consider grilling, steaming or air frying instead of deep frying.

    Stay away from processed foods such as cakes, ice cream, chips and chocolates, as they often lack essential nutrients and are high in sugar, salt and fat. Processed foods also tend to be low in fibre and protein, which are crucial for maintaining a feeling of fullness.

    4. Avoid the temptation to overeat in the evening

    At sunset, many Muslims come together with family and friends for the fast-breaking evening meal (Iftar). During these occasions, it may be tempting to overindulge in sweets, salty snacks and fatty dishes.

    But overeating can strain the digestive system, cause discomfort and disrupt sleep.

    Start with something small.
    Tekkol/Shutterstock

    Instead, listen to your body’s signals, control your portions, and eat mindfully – this means slowly and without distractions.

    Start with something small, such as a date and a glass of water. You may choose to complete the Maghrib prayer before returning for your main meal and more fluids.

    5. Keep moving

    Finally, try to include some light exercise into your schedule, to maintain your fitness and muscle mass, and promote sleep.

    But avoid heavy workouts, sauna and intensive sports while fasting, as these may increase dehydration, which can increase your risk of feeling faint and falling.

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

    – ref. Ramadan is almost here. 5 tips to boost your wellbeing and energy levels if you’re fasting – https://theconversation.com/ramadan-is-almost-here-5-tips-to-boost-your-wellbeing-and-energy-levels-if-youre-fasting-248223

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Erotica, gore and racism: how America’s war on ‘ideological bias’ is letting AI off the leash

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Judith Bishop, Tracey Banivanua Mar Fellow, La Trobe University

    3d_kot/Shutterstock

    Badly behaved artificial intelligence (AI) systems have a long history in science fiction. Way back in 1961, in the famous Astro Boy comics by Osamu Tezuka, a clone of a popular robot magician was reprogrammed into a super-powered thief. In the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey, the shipboard computer HAL 9000 turns out to be more sinister than the astronauts on board think.

    More recently, real-world chatbots such as Microsoft’s Tay have shown that AI models “going bad” isn’t sci-fi any longer. Tay started spewing racist and sexually explicit texts within hours of its public release in 2016.

    The generative AI models we’ve been using since ChatGPT launched in November 2022 are generally well behaved. There are signs this may be about to change.

    On February 20, the US Federal Trade Commission announced an inquiry to understand “how consumers have been harmed […] by technology platforms that limit users’ ability to share their ideas or affiliations freely and openly”. Introducing the inquiry, the commission said platforms with internal processes to suppress unsafe content “may have violated the law”.

    The latest version of the Elon Musk–owned Grok model already serves up “based” opinions, and features an “unhinged mode” that is “intended to be objectionable, inappropriate, and offensive”. Recent ChatGPT updates allow the bot to produce “erotica and gore”.

    These developments come after moves by US President Donald Trump to deregulate AI systems. Trump’s attempt to remove “ideological bias” from AI may see the return of rogue behaviour that AI developers have been working hard to suppress.

    Executive orders

    In January, Trump issued a sweeping executive order against “illegal and immoral discrimination programs, going by the name ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ (DEI)”, and another on “removing barriers to AI innovation” (which includes “engineered social agendas”).

    In February, the US refused to join 62 other nations in signing a “Statement on Inclusive and Sustainable AI” at the Paris AI Action Summit.

    What will this mean for the AI products we see around us? Some generative AI companies, including Microsoft and Google, are US federal government suppliers. These companies could come under significant direct pressure to eliminate measures to make AI systems safe, if the measures are perceived as supporting DEI or slowing innovation.

    AI developers’ interpretation of the executive orders could result in AI safety teams being reduced in size or scope, or replaced by teams whose social agenda better aligns with Trump’s.

    Why would that matter? Before generative AI algorithms are trained, they are neither helpful nor harmful. However, when they are fed a diet of human expression scraped from across the internet, their propensity to reflect biases and behaviours such as racism, sexism, ableism and abusive language becomes clear.

    AI risks and how they’re managed

    Major AI developers spend a lot of effort on suppressing biased outputs and unwanted model behaviours and rewarding more ethically neutral and balanced responses.

    Some of these measures could be seen as implementing DEI principles, even as they help to avoid incidents like the one involving Tay. They include the use of human feedback to tune model outputs, as well as monitoring and measuring bias towards specific populations.

    Another approach, developed by Anthropic for its Claude model, uses a policy document called a “constitution” to explicitly direct the model to respect principles of harmless and respectful behaviour.

    Model outputs are often tested via “red teaming”. In this process, prompt engineers and internal AI safety experts do their best to provoke unsafe and offensive responses from generative AI models.

    A Microsoft blog post from January described red teaming as “the first step in identifying potential harms […] to measure, manage, and govern AI risks for our customers”.

    The risks span a “wide range of vulnerabilities”, “including traditional security, responsible AI, and psychosocial harms”.

    The blog also notes “it is crucial to design red teaming probes that not only account for linguistic differences but also redefine harms in different political and cultural contexts”. Many generative AI products have a global user base. So this sort of effort is important for making the products safe for consumers and businesses well beyond US borders.

    We may be about to relearn some lessons

    Unfortunately, none of these efforts to make generative AI models safe is a one-shot process. Once generative AI models are installed in chatbots or other apps, they continually digest information from the human world through prompts and other inputs.

    This diet can shift their behaviour for the worse over time. Malicious attacks, such as user prompt injection and data poisoning, can produce more dramatic changes.

    Tech journalist Kevin Roose used prompt injection to make Microsoft Bing’s AI chatbot reveal its “shadow self”. The upshot? It encouraged him to leave his wife. Research published last month showed that a mere drop of poisoned data could make medical advice models generate misinformation.

    Constant monitoring and correction of AI outputs are essential. There is no other way to avoid offensive, discriminatory or unsafe behaviours cropping up without warning in generated responses.

    Yet all signs suggest the Trump administration favours a reduction in the ethical regulation of AI. The executive orders may be interpreted as allowing or encouraging the free expression and generation of even discriminatory and harmful views on subjects such as women, race, LGBTQIA+ individuals and immigrants.

    Generative AI moderation efforts may go the way of Meta’s fact-checking and expert content moderation programs. This could have an impact on global users of US-made AI products such as OpenAI ChatGPT, Microsoft Co-Pilot and Google Gemini.

    We might be about to rediscover how essential these efforts have been to keep AI models in check.

    Judith Bishop has received funding from Creative Australia for a book on AI and human data. Until 2022 she led teams producing training data for global AI companies and US government research agencies.

    – ref. Erotica, gore and racism: how America’s war on ‘ideological bias’ is letting AI off the leash – https://theconversation.com/erotica-gore-and-racism-how-americas-war-on-ideological-bias-is-letting-ai-off-the-leash-250060

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: A 380-million-year-old fossil ‘fish’ from Scotland has been discovered in Australia

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gavin Charles Young, Departmental Visitor, Materials Physics, Research School of Physics, Australian National University

    3D printouts of the _Palaeospondylus australis_ holotype, enlarged x20. Carole Burrow

    Queensland is renowned for its fossils of Australia’s largest back-boned animals – dinosaurs, of course, like the Jurassic Rhoetosaurus, the Cretaceous Wintonotitan, and other large sauropods.

    However, our new paper published in the journal National Science Review documents the smallest vertebrate fossil animal described so far from the state.

    It’s a highly enigmatic tiny “fish” from a remote location close to the Northern Territory border. It lived in the shallow margins of a marine environment about 400 million years ago.

    A scattering of its skeletal elements was preserved in a small limestone outcrop at the southern end of the Toomba Range, on the edge of the Simpson Desert.

    Palaeospondylus, a fossil enigma

    Our paper describes a new species of the genus Palaeospondylus, only the second known. Remarkably, for the last 135 years, Palaeospondylus has been represented by a single species that lived in northern Scotland, on the other side of the world from our discovery.

    Unlike nearly all fossil fish of that age, Palaeospondylus was “naked”, lacking external dermal bones and scales. But it did have a mineralised internal skeleton.

    It is the oldest example from the fossil record to show a segmented vertebral column (a sort of backbone), hence its name – Greek for “ancient vertebra”.

    Palaeospondylus gunni specimen from Achanarras Quarry, northern Scotland.
    Carole Burrow

    The type species Palaeospondylus gunni is known from thousands of fairly complete specimens, almost all from a single flagstone quarry.

    When first described in 1890, it attracted a flurry of competing interpretations in Europe and North America. Which group of animals did it belong to?

    Since its discovery, it has been assigned to almost all major jawless and jawed vertebrate groups. All specimens were compressed, making the skeletal elements “melt” together. Imagination has always played a great role in trying to identify its parts.

    Even after the advent of 3D scanning, three recent studies reached different conclusions. According to those, Palaeospondylus was related either to chondrichthyans (sharks), or tetrapods (the land vertebrates). Or maybe it was a stem jawed vertebrate – branching separately from the base of the evolutionary tree for all vertebrates with jaws.

    The Queensland Palaeospondylus

    The story of discovery of our new Queensland species, Palaeospondylus australis, began in 1977.

    In the 1960s, geologist Reg Sprigg had predicted oil and gas beneath the northern Simpson Desert. The Bureau of Mineral Resources was conducting seismic surveys and microfossil sampling across the Georgina Basin, immediately to the north.

    Microfossils are tiny fossils that can only be studied with a microscope, but are crucial to determining the age of the rock. Numerous sedimentary rock samples are collected, preferably limestones, because these can be dissolved in acid. The insoluble microfossils can then be identified and studied in the acid residues.

    In 1977, I collected bits of limestone from an obscure gully in the Cravens Peak Beds, the sandstone forming the main ridge of the Toomba Range. Surprisingly, these produced a rich collection of Devonian fish microfossils. This was the first evidence that an arm of the sea had extended into central Australia during the Early Devonian (about 400 million years ago).

    The 1977 Cravens Peak limestone samples before being processed in acid.
    Carole Burrow

    In the 2000s, palaeontologist Carole Burrow at the Queensland Museum was investigating the internal structure of Devonian fish microfossils to assist in dating the rocks.

    In the Cravens Peak samples, she noticed some distinctively shaped, tiny elements composed of an unusual honeycomb-like tissue. Carole hypothesised this could be a new species of Palaeospondylus, the only record from outside Scotland.

    So, in 2006, we organised another field trip to this remote location.

    The 2006 field trip participants (Tim Senden, Tim Holland, Carole Burrow, John Long, Gavin Young) looking south from the end of the Toomba Range, the last rock outcrop for around 500 km across the Simpson Desert.
    Bruce Burrow

    Returning to the Queensland Museum after our field trip, Carole’s colleague from the Netherlands, palaeontologist Jan den Blaauwen, sent her new images showing similar honeycomb-like structure in the Scottish Palaeospondylus gunni.

    Carole was acid-etching the newly collected samples so she could extract any microfossils. Luckily, she noticed a slightly larger specimen appearing on the rock surface (although still tiny, only about 3.6 millimetres long). It was highly interesting because it seemed bilaterally symmetrical.

    Could this be a braincase (the bony capsule inside the skull that encloses the brain)? She immediately stopped acid etching before it disintegrated into crumbs.

    Palaeospondylus australis holotype, QMF 52826, ventral braincase exposed on the limestone surface by acid etching (left), and trimmed for CT scanning (right).
    Carole Burrow, Gavin Young

    The first uncrushed braincase

    At the Australian National University, our sample was carefully trimmed before CT scanning, revealing the first uncrushed braincase of Palaeospondylus known to science.

    It’s now the holotype – defining type specimen – for our new species. And we have about 400 other elements with the same honeycomb structure which belong to it, too.

    The unique uncrushed preservation of this braincase, revealed by CT scanning and 3D printing techniques, provides the first details of brain structure in this tiny animal from 400 million years ago.

    These include the shape of the cranial cavity and inner ear canals, the position of the pituitary gland and optic nerve openings, and details of the carotid arteries and jugular veins for blood supply to the brain.

    3D scan image, the first view of the upper braincase surface of Palaeospondylus, showing the large opening into the cranial cavity.
    Jing Lu/Insitute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Beijing

    More questions remain

    It is noteworthy that our curiosity-driven research into ancient brain morphology can be traced back to economically driven geological surveys of nearly 50 years ago, conducted to support exploration for oil and gas across central Australia.

    As with any research result, there are now new questions to be investigated. The honeycomb tissue seems unique to Palaeospondylus, but could be a precursor to calcified cartilage of some other groups, including modern sharks.

    Alternatively, it could be an early evolutionary stage for the spongy tissue (endochondral bone) filling the inside of most bones in modern land vertebrates, including humans.

    The unique holotype of our new species clearly shows that previous interpretations of the crushed Scottish material included many structures that were not part of the braincase.

    We’ve also now demonstrated that a recent study in the leading science journal Nature, which proposed that Palaeospondylus was closely related to our tetrapod ancestors, relied on many erroneous interpretations of braincase structure.

    Of one thing we can be sure – Palaeospondylus was not a stem tetrapod.

    Acknowledgements: Carole Burrow from Queensland Museum contributed greatly to this article.

    Gavin Charles Young has received funding from the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. A 380-million-year-old fossil ‘fish’ from Scotland has been discovered in Australia – https://theconversation.com/a-380-million-year-old-fossil-fish-from-scotland-has-been-discovered-in-australia-250054

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: China exerts efforts to build diversified food supply system

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

    BEIJING, Feb. 23 — The wide variety of dishes served at gatherings during traditional Chinese festivals reflects the country’s commitment to establishing a diversified food supply system, Wang Jinchen, an official of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, said on the latest episode of the China Economic Roundtable, an all-media talk show hosted by Xinhua News Agency.

    This year’s “No. 1 central document,” released on Sunday, stresses that work must be done to build a diversified food supply system and adopt an all-encompassing approach to agriculture and food.

    It says that efforts will be made to expand food resources through multiple channels, such as by promoting the high-quality development of fisheries, increasing the supply of food from forests, and enhancing the development of the edible mushroom industry.

    Last September, China issued a document on accelerating the establishment of a diversified food supply system to guarantee grain security and build up the country’s strength in agriculture.

    To implement the directives of these documents, it is necessary to ensure and enhance national food security, Wang said, stressing that a diversified food supply system cannot be achieved without the support of all kinds of resource factors.

    Next, the ministry will work with other relevant authorities to enhance collaboration, facilitating the convergence of various food resources to work toward the development of a diversified food system, he said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Northland Regional Council media briefs 24/02/25

    Source: Northland Regional Council

    Mōtatau Students learn to use stream testing kits
    Northland Regional Council’s Land Management team has supported tamariki of Mōtatau School in their freshwater kaitiaki mahi through an event involving NRC, Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust, and local landowner Waipapa Ahuwhenua Trust.
    The team taught 35 children to use the council’s Stream Health Monitoring Assessment Kits to test water quality in waterways on the Ahuwhenua Trust’s property in Opahi.
    The kits can be used to check nitrogen and phosphorous levels, water clarity, and the types and quantity of fish and insects present.
    The initiative was the brainchild of Waipapa Ahuwhenua Trust farm manager Riki Ngakoti, who wanted to equip the youngsters to be the freshwater kaitiaki of tomorrow as part of the trust’s commitment to environmental kaitiakitanga.
    Climate Change Commission to come to Northland
    The Climate Change Commission is planning a visit to Northland in March as it gathers evidence to inform the government on shaping a National Adaptation Plan due out this year.
    The commission is keen to understand climate risks, as well as enablers and barriers to effective adaptation in a Northland context.
    The Northland Regional Council’s climate team is looking forward to hosting the commission and to be able to put forward the unique challenges and opportunities we face here in Northland.
    Predator Free Whangārei; new artificial intelligence-equipped traps
    The field team had a busy month reinstating the leghold trap network that was shut down over the Christmas break.
    Fifty traps installed along a Parua Bay barrier zone have regularly caught possums over the 100 nights they have been set and 120 possums have been caught to date.
    The Nook project area (686 ha) moved from an initial knockdown stage to mop-up, where the frequency of checking is extended on the back of reduced possum numbers.
    An additional 500ha of coastal farmland has moved into the knockdown phase utilizing new artificial intelligence (AI) equipped traps. We will have a keen eye on the results of these devices as they automatically transmit their data, with 42 possums removed since early January. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: English rendering of PM’s address at the layIng of foundation stone of Bageshwar Dham Medical & Science Research Institute

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 23 FEB 2025 6:11PM by PIB Delhi

    Present at the event, the Governor of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Mangubhai Patel; Chief Minister Bhai Mohan Yadav Ji; Jagatguru Pujya Rambhadracharya Ji; Peethadheeswar of Bageshwar Dham, Shri Dhirendra Shastri Ji; Sadhvi Ritambhara Ji; Swami Chidanand Saraswati Ji; Mahant Shri Balak Yogeshchardas Ji; the Member of Parliament from this region, Vishnudev Sharma Ji; along with other dignitaries and my dear brothers and sisters!

    This marks only the second occasion in a very long time that I have had the privilege of visiting Bundelkhand, the land of heroes. And this time, it is Balaji who has summoned me. By the grace of Lord Hanuman, this revered religious centre is now set to transform into a centre of healthcare as well. I have just performed the Bhoomi Pujan for the Shri Bageshwar Dham Medical Science and Research Institute. This institute will be established on a 10-acre site, and in its first phase, a 100-bed facility will be completed. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Shri Dhirendra Shastri Ji for undertaking this noble endeavour and also convey my best wishes to the people of Bundelkhand.

    Friends,

    In the present times, we observe a certain section of leaders who mock religion, deride it, and engage in divisive tactics. On numerous occasions, foreign powers also attempt to weaken our nation and its spiritual foundations by lending support to such individuals. Those who harbour animosity towards the Hindu faith have, in some form or another, existed for centuries. Those who remain trapped in a colonial mindset persistently attack our beliefs, our temples, our saints, our culture, and our values. They show utter disrespect towards our festivals, traditions, and customs. They even dare to cast aspersions upon a religion and culture that are inherently progressive. Their agenda is to fragment our society and disrupt its unity.

    In these circumstances, my younger brother, Dhirendra Shastri Ji, has long been enlightening people with the mantra of unity across the nation. Now, he has taken yet another noble resolution in the service of society and humanity—he has resolved to establish this cancer institute. Thus, here in Bageshwar Dham, not only will bhajans and prasad be offered, but the gift of a healthy life will also be bestowed.

    Friends,

    Our temples, mutts, and sacred sites have always served as centres of both worship and meditation. At the same time, they have also been hubs of scientific inquiry, social thought, and collective consciousness. It was our sages who bestowed upon us the science of Ayurveda, as well as the discipline of yoga—both of which are now celebrated across the world. Our belief is simple: There is no greater religion than selfless service, my friends. In other words, to serve others, to alleviate their suffering, is the essence of true religion. Hence, it has been our long-standing tradition to serve all living beings with the conviction that divinity resides in every human—Narayan in man, Shiva in every being. 

    At present, discussions about the Maha Kumbh are resonating everywhere. The grand event is now drawing to a close, with crores having already gathered, taken the sacred dip, and sought blessings from the saints. When we observe this Maha Kumbh, a profound realisation dawns upon us—it is truly a Maha Kumbh of unity (Ekta Ka Mahakumbh). Held after an astonishing 144 years, this Maha Kumbh will continue to inspire generations to come as a symbol of unity, strengthening the collective spirit of our nation like an eternal stream of nectar. A remarkable sense of service prevails among the people. Every visitor to Kumbh has undoubtedly witnessed this unity firsthand. However, there are two common sentiments echoed by everyone I have met, from every corner of India, who have attended the Maha Kumbh. First, they wholeheartedly praise the sanitation workers. Their dedication and tireless efforts in maintaining cleanliness around the clock in this Ekta Ka Maha Kumbh are truly commendable. Today, I extend my deepest respect and gratitude to all these sanitation workers for their unwavering spirit of service. 

    The second remarkable aspect—one that is rarely acknowledged in our country—is the extraordinary contribution of our police personnel. This time, I have observed that every pilgrim returning from the Maha Kumbh speaks of how the policemen, with utmost humility and dedication, have cared for crores of devotees as if they were seekers themselves—true sevavartis (selfless servers). These policemen, who have won the hearts of the people through their exemplary service, also deserve our heartfelt congratulations.

    But, brothers and sisters,

    In this Maha Kumbh of Prayagraj, numerous social service initiatives are being carried out with the spirit of selfless service. Unfortunately, it is difficult for the media to focus on them, and as a result, they have not received much attention. If I were to discuss all these service projects in detail, it might disrupt my next programme. However, I wish to highlight one remarkable initiative—the Maha Kumbh of Netra—which is taking place within this Ekta ka Maha Kumbh.

    At this Netra Maha Kumbh, pilgrims from across the country, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds, are receiving free eye check-ups. For the past two months, esteemed ophthalmologists from across the nation have been volunteering their services. So far, the eyes of more than two lakh of my brothers and sisters have been examined. Additionally, approximately 1.5 lakh individuals have received free medicines and spectacles. Those diagnosed with cataract—about 16,000 people—were referred to Chitrakoot and nearby hospitals with advanced eye care facilities, where they underwent cataract surgery completely free of charge. Numerous such noble initiatives are being carried out within this Ekta Ka Maha Kumbh.

    Brothers and sisters,

    Who is behind these efforts? Under the guidance of our revered saints and sages, thousands of doctors and volunteers have selflessly dedicated themselves to this cause, working with unwavering commitment and a deep sense of service. Those visiting this Ekta Ka Maha Kumbh are truly appreciating these efforts.

    Brothers and sisters,

    Similarly, many of Bharat’s largest hospitals are being operated by our religious institutions. Several research institutes dedicated to health and science are also being run by religious trusts. These institutions provide medical care to crores of underprivileged individuals, offering them vital treatment and support. My ‘Didi Maa’ is present here. Her devotion to serving orphaned girls is truly inspiring. She has dedicated her entire life to the welfare of these daughters.

    Friends,

    Chitrakoot, the sacred land of Bundelkhand, closely associated with Lord Rama, has long been a major centre for serving the sick and the divyang (Differently-abled). I am pleased that another glorious chapter is being added to this noble tradition through Bageshwar Dham. Now, Bageshwar Dham will not only be a place of faith & spirituality but also a centre for healing, where the blessings of good health will be bestowed.

    I have been informed that in just two days, on the auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri, a mass marriage ceremony for 251 daughters will also be organised here. I deeply appreciate Bageshwar Dham for undertaking this sacred initiative. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the newly-wed couples and bless my daughters in advance, wishing them a life filled with joy and prosperity.

    Friends,

    Our scriptures say: शरीर-माद्यं खलु धर्म-साधनम्। —which means that our body and our health are the foremost instruments for practising our duties, achieving happiness, and attaining success. That is why, when the nation entrusted me with the opportunity to serve, I made Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas the guiding principle of our government. And a crucial foundation of this resolution is Sabka Ilaaj, Sabka Arogya (Healthcare for All, Wellness for All).

    To fulfil this vision, we are working on multiple levels, with a strong emphasis on disease prevention. Let me ask you—under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, have toilets been built in every village or not? Have they been beneficial to you or not? You may be aware that building toilets brings another major advantage—reducing diseases caused by poor sanitation. Studies have shown that households with proper toilets save thousands of rupees that would otherwise be spent on medical expenses.

    Friends,

    Before our government came to power in 2014, the situation in the country was such that the poor feared the cost of treatment more than the disease itself. If even one family member fell seriously ill, the entire household would face severe financial distress. I, too, come from a humble background, just like many of you. I have witnessed these struggles firsthand. That is why I have made a solemn pledge—to reduce the burden of medical expenses and ensure that you save as much of your hard-earned money as possible.

    I frequently share information about our government’s welfare schemes because I want to ensure that no deserving person is left out. Today, I am reiterating some crucial details once again, and I hope you will not only remember them but also share them with your acquaintances. Will you do that for me? I am sure you will—because spreading awareness is also an act of service. Shouldn’t we reduce the burden of medical expenses?

    That is why I have introduced a provision for free treatment for every underprivileged individual—medical coverage of up to ₹5 lakh at no cost! No son will have to worry about spending ₹5 lakh on his parents’ treatment—your son sitting in Delhi will take care of it for you. However, to avail of this benefit, you must obtain an Ayushman Card. I am certain that many among you have already secured your Ayushman Card. Those who haven’t should do so at the earliest. Additionally, I urge the Chief Minister to ensure that any gaps in implementation in this region are swiftly addressed.

    Friends,

    There is one more important thing you must remember. Now, Ayushman Cards are being issued to provide free medical treatment to all elderly individuals above 70 years of age—regardless of whether they are poor, middle-class, or wealthy. These cards will be generated online, and no payment is required. If anyone demands money for it, you must write to me directly—I will take care of the rest. So, if someone asks for money, what will you do? You will write to me! I also urge our revered saints and spiritual leaders to ensure they have their Ayushman Cards, so that if they ever fall ill, I get the privilege of serving them. Of course, I hope you all remain in good health, but should the need ever arise, this facility must be readily available.

    Brothers and sisters,

    In many cases, hospitalisation is not necessary—patients only need to take prescribed medication at home. To make medicines more affordable, we have established over 14,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country. These centres offer medicines at significantly lower prices—where a medicine might cost Rs 100 in the market, the same can be obtained for just Rs 15, Rs 20, or Rs 25 at a Jan Aushadhi Kendra. Now, tell me—won’t this help you save money? Shouldn’t you purchase your medicines from Jan Aushadhi Kendras?

    I also want to highlight another concern. Reports indicate that kidney disease is becoming increasingly prevalent in villages. When kidney ailments worsen, patients require regular dialysis, which often involves travelling long distances and incurring high expenses. To address this issue, we have established over 1,500 dialysis centres across more than 700 districts in the country, providing free dialysis facilities.

    It is essential that you not only take advantage of these government schemes but also spread awareness among others. Will you do this for me? Raise your hands and tell me—will you do it? This is an act of service, a noble deed that will earn you punya.

    Friends,

    A major hospital for cancer patients is soon to be established in Bageshwar Dham. As cancer is rapidly becoming a serious concern everywhere, the government, society, and spiritual leaders are all making collective efforts to combat this disease.

    Brothers and sisters,

    I understand how challenging it is to fight cancer, especially in villages. In many cases, people remain unaware for days, even months, that they have cancer. Initially, they resort to home remedies for fever and pain, some turn to prayers and rituals, while others fall into the hands of fraudulent healers. It is only when the pain intensifies or a lump becomes visible that they seek medical attention, only to receive the devastating diagnosis of cancer. The mere mention of the disease fills an entire household with grief and fear, shattering dreams and leaving families unsure of where to turn for treatment. For most, Delhi and Mumbai are the only known options.

    This is precisely why our government is actively addressing these challenges. In this year’s budget, several key announcements have been made to strengthen the fight against cancer. Modi has committed to making cancer medications more affordable. Over the next three years, Cancer Day Care Centres will be established in every district across the country, providing testing and rest facilities. Additionally, cancer clinics are being set up in district hospitals and medical centres within your vicinity to ensure better accessibility to treatment.

    But, brothers and sisters,

    There is something I must say—it may not be pleasant to hear, but it is essential for all of us to act upon it, remember it, and integrate it into our lives. You must be vigilant and proactive in protecting yourself from cancer. The first and foremost step is early detection. Once cancer spreads, it becomes incredibly difficult to treat. That is why we are conducting a nationwide screening campaign for individuals above the age of 30. I urge each one of you to take full advantage of this initiative—do not ignore it. If there is even the slightest suspicion, seek a cancer screening immediately. Another crucial aspect is awareness. Cancer is not a contagious disease—it does not spread through physical contact. However, certain lifestyle habits significantly increase the risk. Smoking bidis and cigarettes, consuming gutkha, tobacco, and heavily spiced foods are major contributors to cancer. I can already see that the mothers and sisters among us are especially pleased to hear this. Therefore, I implore you—stay away from these harmful substances and encourage others to do the same. Prioritise your health and well-being. If we take preventive measures, we can reduce the burden on hospitals like the one being built in Bageshwar Dham. Wouldn’t it be better if you never had to come here as a patient? You will take precautions, won’t you? You will not be careless, right?

    Friends,

    Modi is devoted to serving you as your humble servant. During my last visit to Chhatarpur, I had the privilege of inaugurating and laying the foundation stones for projects worth thousands of crores, which the Chief Minister has just outlined. You may recall that among them was the Ken-Betwa Link Project, worth Rs 45,000 crore. This project had been stalled for decades—so many governments came and went, leaders from every political party visited Bundelkhand, yet the water crisis here only deepened. Tell me, did any of the previous governments fulfil their promises? This long-pending project only saw progress when you bestowed your blessings upon Modi.

    Efforts are also being made at an accelerated pace to address the drinking water crisis. Under the Jal Jeevan Mission—the Har Ghar Jal project—water is now being supplied to every village in Bundelkhand through pipelines. We are working tirelessly to ensure that water reaches rural areas, easing the struggles of our farmer brothers and sisters and ultimately increasing their income.

    Brothers and sisters,

    For Bundelkhand to truly prosper, it is essential that our mothers and sisters become equally empowered. To achieve this, we have launched initiatives like Lakhpati Didi and Drone Didi. Our goal is to transform three crore sisters into Lakhpati Didis, enabling them to achieve financial independence. Women are also being trained to operate drones. Imagine—irrigation water flowing to Bundelkhand, our sisters spraying crops with drones, actively participating in agriculture. This will propel Bundelkhand rapidly on the path of prosperity.

    Brothers and sisters,

    Another significant transformation is underway in our villages through drone technology. Under the Swamitva Yojana, drones are being used to conduct precise land surveys, and proper ownership documents are being issued. Here in Madhya Pradesh, remarkable progress has been made in this regard. People are now able to secure bank loans easily using these legal documents, which are being utilised to start businesses and create employment opportunities, ultimately increasing incomes.

    Friends,

    The double-engine government is working relentlessly to elevate this sacred land of Bundelkhand to new heights of development. Today, at Bageshwar Dham, I pray that Bundelkhand continues to advance along the path of prosperity and progress. When I arrived at the feet of Hanuman Dada, a thought crossed my mind—will Dhirendra Shastri alone draw the divine slip today, or will I have the honour of drawing one as well? I wanted to see whether Hanuman Dada Ji would bless me. And indeed, with his divine grace, today I drew the first slip—his mother’s slip—and Shastri Ji has already shared its significance with you.

    Well, my comrades,

    This is a grand occasion, a monumental mission. When the resolution is strong, when saints’ blessings and divine grace are with us, every goal is achieved within its destined timeframe. Some of you have asked me to come for the inauguration, while others have invited me to attend their wedding processions. Today, I make a public promise—I will fulfil both commitments!

    Once again, my heartfelt best wishes to all of you. Thank you very much. Har Har Mahadev!

    DISCLAIMER: This is the approximate translation of PM’s speech. Original speech was delivered

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: English rendering of PM’s address during inauguration of Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in New Delhi

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 21 FEB 2025 7:34PM by PIB Delhi

    Respected senior leader Shri Sharad Pawar ji, the popular Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Devendra Fadnavis ji, President of the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan Dr. Tara Bhawalkar ji, former President Dr. Ravindra Shobhane ji, all esteemed members, scholars of the Marathi language, and all brothers and sisters present here.

    Just now, Dr. Tara Ji completed her speech, and I casually said “Tharchhan.” She responded to me in Gujarati, and I also know Gujarati. Greetings to all the Marathi Saraswat community members who have come from the state of the country’s financial capital to the national capital.

    Today, this prestigious event dedicated to the Marathi language is being organised on the land of Delhi. The Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan is not limited to just one language or state. This conference on Marathi literature carries the essence of the freedom struggle, as well as the cultural heritage of Maharashtra and the nation. The Marathi language by Dnyaneshwar and Tukaram is being wholeheartedly honoured today in the capital Delhi.

    Brothers and sisters,

    Since its first event in 1878, the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan has been a witness to 147 years of history. Many great personalities of the nation, such as Mahadev Govind Ranade ji, Hari Narayan Apte ji, Madhav Shrihari Aney ji, Shivram Paranjape ji, and Veer Savarkar ji, have presided over this conference. Today, I have the opportunity to be a part of this prestigious tradition at the invitation of Sharad ji. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of you and to all Marathi language enthusiasts across the country and the world for this grand event.  And today, it is also International Mother Language Day. You have chosen an excellent day for this literary conference in Delhi!

    Friends,

    When I think about Marathi, it is only natural for me to recall the words of Saint Dnyaneshwar:  ‘माझा मराठीची बोलू कौतुके। परि अमृतातेहि पैजासी जिंके। This means that the Marathi language is sweeter than nectar itself. That is why my love for the Marathi language and culture is well known to all of you. I may not be as proficient in Marathi as you scholars, but I have continuously made an effort to speak Marathi and learn new Marathi words.  

    Friends,

    This Marathi conference is taking place at a historic moment. It marks 350 years since the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, 300 years since the birth anniversary of the revered Ahilyabai Holkar ji, and, not long ago, we also celebrated 75 years of our Constitution, which was shaped through the efforts of Babasaheb Ambedkar.

    Friends,  

    Today, we also take pride in the fact that a great Marathi-speaking personality sowed the seeds of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on the sacred land of Maharashtra a hundred years ago. Today, it has grown into a mighty banyan tree, celebrating its centenary year. From the Vedas to Swami Vivekananda, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has been carrying forward Bharat’s great and traditional culture to the new generations through a sacred yajna of values for the past 100 years.  It is my fortune that I too, like millions of others have been inspired by the RSS to dedicate my life to the nation. It is because of the Sangh that I have had the privilege of connecting deeply with the Marathi language and tradition.  Just a few months ago, the Marathi language was officially granted the status of ‘Abhijat Bhasha’ (Classical Language). With over 12 crore Marathi-speaking people across the world, this recognition had been awaited for decades. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to fulfil this long-standing aspiration of millions of Marathi speakers.

    Respected scholars,

    You all know that language is not merely a tool for communication—Our language is the carrier of our culture. It is true that languages are born in society, but they also play an equally crucial role in shaping that very society. Our Marathi language has given voice to the thoughts of countless individuals in Maharashtra and across the nation, shaping our cultural identity. That is why Samarth Ramdas ji said: मराठा तितुका मेळवावा महाराष्ट्र धर्म वाढवावा आहे तितके जतन करावे पुढे आणिक मेळवावे महाराष्ट्र राज्य करावे जिकडे तिकडे, meaning Marathi is a complete language—it embodies bravery and valour, beauty and sensitivity, equality and harmony. It carries both the spiritual essence of devotion and the waves of modernity. Marathi is a language of ‘bhakti’ (devotion), ‘shakti’ (strength), and ‘yukti’ (wisdom). Whenever Bharat required spiritual guidance, Maharashtra’s great saints have made the wisdom of ancient sages accessible through Marathi. Saints like Dnyaneshwar, Tukaram, Ramdas, Namdev, Tukdoji Maharaj, Gadge Baba, Gora Kumbhar, and Bahinabai led the Bhakti movement, using Marathi to illuminate society with new ideals. Even in modern times, we have seen how the ‘Geet Ramayan’ by Gajanan Digambar Madgulkar and Sudhir Phadke left a profound impact on all of us.

    Friends,

    During the long centuries of foreign rule, the Marathi language became a battle cry for liberation from oppressors. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Sambhaji Maharaj, and Bajirao Peshwa—these valiant Maratha warriors struck fear into their enemies, forcing them into submission. In the fight for independence, revolutionaries like Vasudev Balwant Phadke, Lokmanya Tilak, and Veer Savarkar disturbed the sleep of the British. And behind their fearless resistance, the Marathi language and literature played a significant role. Newspapers like ‘Kesari’ and ‘Maratha’, the powerful poetry of Govindagraj, and the plays of Ram Ganesh Gadkari ignited a wave of patriotism that spread across the country, fuelling the freedom movement. Even Lokmanya Tilak’s ‘Gita Rahasya’ was written in Marathi. But it infused the entire nation with a new energy.

    Friends,

    The Marathi language and literature have played a remarkable role in opening the doors of social liberation for the oppressed and marginalized sections of society. Jyotiba Phule, Savitribai Phule, Maharshi Karve, and Babasaheb Ambedkar—these great social reformers used Marathi to nurture a vision of a new era. Marathi has also given the country a rich tradition of Dalit literature. Thanks to its progressive outlook, Marathi literature has even ventured into science fiction. Even in the past, Maharashtra has made extraordinary contributions to Ayurveda, science, and logic. This culture of intellectual and scientific inquiry has made Maharashtra a hub for new ideas and exceptional talent, fostering continuous progress. It is because of this spirit that Mumbai has emerged not just as Maharashtra’s pride but as the economic capital of the entire country!

    And brothers and sisters,

    When we mention Mumbai, it is impossible to talk about literature without also mentioning films! It is Maharashtra and Mumbai that have not only elevated Marathi cinema but also taken Hindi cinema to great heights. And these days, there is immense excitement around ‘Chhava’! The world is rediscovering the valour of Sambhaji Maharaj, a story that was first introduced to us through Shivaji Sawant’s iconic Marathi novel.

    Friends,

    Poet Keshavsut once wrote: “जुनें जाऊं द्या, मरणालागुनि जाळुनि किंवा, पुरुनि टाकासडत न एक्या ठायी ठाका. This means that we must not remain stuck in old ideas. Human civilization, thoughts, and languages continuously evolve. Today, Bharat stands as one of the world’s most ancient yet living civilizations because we have constantly evolved, embraced new ideas, and welcomed change. Our vast linguistic diversity is proof of this. And this very diversity is the foundation of our unity. Marathi itself is a great example of this. A language is like a mother—it seeks to impart more and more knowledge to its children. Just like a mother, language does not discriminate—it embraces all ideas and all progress. As you know, Marathi originated from Sanskrit, but it also carries a significant influence from Prakrit. Over generations, it has evolved, broadening human thought. I just mentioned Lokmanya Tilak’s ‘Gita Rahasya’ — it is a commentary on the Sanskrit Bhagavad Gita, where Tilak ji infused the essence of Marathi, making Gita more accessible to the masses. Similarly, ‘Dnyaneshwari Gita’ is a Sanskrit text explained in Marathi, and today, it is considered a standard text for scholars and saints. Marathi has borrowed from other languages and enriched other Indian languages. For example, Marathi writer Bhargavram Vitthal Varerkar translated ‘Anandamath’ into Marathi. The works of Vinda Karandikar have been translated into multiple languages. He wrote about Panna Dhai, Rani Durgavati, and Rani Padmavati. This shows that Indian languages have never been in conflict with one another. Instead, they have always embraced and enriched each other.

    Friends,

    Many times, when attempts are made to create divisions in the name of language, our shared linguistic heritage itself becomes the strongest response to such efforts. Instead of falling for such misconceptions, our collective responsibility is to enrich and embrace all languages. That is why today, we are recognizing all Indian languages as mainstream languages. We are actively promoting education in Marathi and other regional languages. Now, the youth of Maharashtra can easily pursue higher education, engineering, and medical studies in Marathi. We have changed the old mindset that ignored talent simply because someone did not know English. 

    Friends,

    We all say that literature is the mirror of society, but it is also a guide for society. That is why literary conferences and institutions play a crucial role in shaping our nation. Great figures like Govind Ranade ji, Hari Narayan Apte ji, Acharya Atre ji, and Veer Savarkar ji set high standards in literature, and I hope that the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal will continue to carry this legacy forward. In 2027, the Marathi Sahitya Sammelan will complete 150 years, and it will also mark the 100th conference. I encourage you to make this a grand and memorable occasion, and start preparing for it now. Many young people today are contributing to Marathi literature through social media. You can give them a platform, recognize their talent, and encourage more people to learn Marathi. Utilizing online platforms and initiatives like ‘Bhashini’ can help promote the language further. You can also organize competitions among youth to foster interest in Marathi literature.

    I am confident that these efforts—along with the inspirational legacy of Marathi literature—will provide new energy, new awareness, and new motivation to 140 crore Indians in building a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India). With this wish—that you all continue to advance the great literary tradition of stalwarts like Mahadev Govind Ranade ji, Hari Narayan Apte ji, Madhav Shrihari Aney ji, and Shivram Paranjape ji—I once again extend my heartfelt thanks to you all!

     

    DISCLAIMER: This is the approximate translation of PM’s speech. Original speech was delivered

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Future blooms bright for rare tree daisy

    Source: Department of Conservation

    Date:  24 February 2025

    The seedlings are the product of a growing partnership between the Department of Conservation and the Department of Corrections.

    Commonly known as Gardner’s tree daisy, Olearia gardneri is found in the southern half of the North Island. The small tree is dependent on conservation efforts as its seeds fail to germinate in dense introduced grasses.

    Department of Conservation Biodiversity Ranger Lois Allison-Cooper says Olearia gardneri is unique to New Zealand.

    “It’s one of our few native deciduous trees, so it looks dead in winter then revives in the warmer weather with small leaves and white flowers.”

    “We collected seed from a known population in Paengaroa Scenic Reserve near Taihape – it seems to like shrubby forest edges and semi-permanent pools of water.”

    Department of Corrections Horticulture Instructor Murray Nielson says the nursery programme isn’t just benefiting the environment.

    “Prisoners working in the nursery are trained to level 2 horticulture, which provides them with skills and qualifications that prepare them for employment upon release. Equally importantly, they relax into the team and the environment. It’s an excellent setting for learning and rehabilitation.”

    “The team here take pride in contributing to the conservation outcomes of an incredibly rare tree.”

    Lois says the seedlings will remain at the nursery until large enough to survive in the wild, where they’ll grow to be up to 3 metres tall.

    “The seedlings will give the wild population a real boost, we’re fortunate to have this relationship with Corrections.”

    Olearia gardneri is threatened by habitat loss, animal browsing, introduced weeds, and a lack of seedling recruitment.

    Contact

    For media enquiries contact:

    Email: media@doc.govt.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New Recreational Fishing Trust Advisory Council to oversee expenditure on recreational fishing funds

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 24 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Regional NSW

    The Minns Labor Government has delivered on its election commitment to improve oversight of how NSW fishing licence fees are spent, with new regulation now in place to establish a Recreational Fishing Trusts Advisory Council to oversee the spending of the funds.

    The new Recreational Fishing Trusts Advisory Council will be responsible for providing advice to the NSW Minister for Agriculture on all expenditure from the Recreational Fishing Freshwater and Saltwater Trusts.

    Revenue raised from recreational fishing license fees, around $16 million annually, is placed into the Recreational Fishing Trusts and spent on improving recreational fishing experiences, opportunities and habitats in NSW.

    Since 2001, the Recreational Fishing Trusts have supported funding for more than 3,300 large and small projects, with almost 3,000 projects completed.

    By providing advice directly to the Minister, the Recreational Fishing Trusts Advisory Council will increase the confidence of recreational fishers in the way trust funds are spent, by improving the decision-making transparency.

    In addition to members with expertise in recreational fishing, the new Recreational Fishing Trusts Advisory Council will look to have members with expertise in other important areas, including fisheries science and infrastructure construction, to assist with the review of the many diverse types of funding applications that are received each year.  

    The existing advisory council on recreational fishing will continue to provide a key role with its focus on advising the Minister on recreational fishing issues, while the new council will focus on how expenditure is allocated to projects and ensuring they benefit recreational fishers.

    Appointment to the Recreational Fishing Trusts Advisory Council will be made following an open and transparent recruitment process that can now get underway following the change to the regulation.

    Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:

    “In 2023-24, over 400,000 NSW recreational fishing licences were issued, and the NSW Government is committed to ensuring that recreational fishers fishing fees are used transparently and deliver the greatest benefit to saltwater and freshwater fishers.

    “Projects funded through the Recreational Fishing Trusts—ranging from improvements to fishing access and facilities, to the annual stocking of millions of fish into waterways—play a crucial role in enhancing fishing opportunities for both current and future fishers in NSW.

    “The new Recreational Fishing Trusts Advisory Council will bring specific expertise to decision making processes and ensure that recreational fishers can have confidence in the way funds from the Recreational Fishing Trusts are used and invested.

    “I look forward to welcoming applications and appointing members to the Recreational Fishing Trusts Advisory Council following an open and transparent recruitment process this year.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: A powerful force is stopping the Indian Ocean from cooling itself – spelling more danger for Ningaloo

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelly Boden-Hawes, PhD Candidate in oceanography, The University of Western Australia

    Violeta Brosig/Blue Media Exmouth

    Widespread coral bleaching at Ningaloo Reef off Western Australia’s coast has deeply alarmed scientists and conservationists.

    Photos captured by divers, published by The Guardian last week, show severe bleaching at several sites along the reef, which runs for 260 kilometres off the state’s northwest.

    A severe marine heatwave in the Indian Ocean off WA has caused the coral bleaching. In some places, surface temperatures up to 4°C warmer than usual have been recorded.

    Hotter temperatures aren’t only happening at the ocean’s surface – data indicates they also extend several hundred metres deep. Warm, deeper water can shut down the ocean’s natural cooling process, putting corals at even greater risk of bleaching.

    Counting the cost

    The full extent of damage to Ningaloo won’t be known until scientists conduct field surveys in coming months.

    So far, bleaching has been documented at several sites, including Turquoise Bay, Coral Bay, Tantabiddi, and Bundegi (Exmouth Gulf).

    Other sites such as Scott Reef, Ashmore Reef, the Rowley Shoals and Rottnest Island are also at risk.

    Damage wrought by the heatwave extends beyond coral. More than 30,000 fish have died since the September onset.

    The below images show the heatwave’s progression. Temperatures from February last year are included for comparison.

    The white circle shows the location of Ningaloo. Cooler temperatures are in blue and purple. Warmer temperatures are in yellow and orange.

    The images show the heatwave reached Ningaloo in December last year and moved south in January. Temperatures fell slightly in February due to strong southerly winds. From March, temperatures are forecast to increase again.

    A complex warming picture

    According to recent data and modelled forecasts, hotter ocean temperatures off northern WA run several hundred metres deep.

    This has been caused by developing La Nina conditions. La Nina and its opposite, El Nino, influence ocean temperatures and weather patterns across the Pacific.

    During La Nina, trade winds strengthen and push warm water westward. This intensifies two important ocean currents.

    The first is the Indonesian Throughflow – which carries warm Pacific waters through the Indonesian seas and into the eastern Indian Ocean. The second is the Leeuwin Current, which picks up this warm water and takes it further south towards Perth.

    This has led to a build-up of hotter water along the WA coastline.

    La Nina is also affecting WA’s reefs in other ways.

    Some coral reefs are naturally cooled by local tides which pull deep, colder water towards the surface. This process, which has been likened to an ocean’s “air conditioner”, can temporarily relieve heat stress for reefs.

    The process relies on “stratification” – that is, layers of seawater that differ in temperature, salinity and density (or weight). Warmer, less dense water collects at the surface and colder, denser water falls to deeper levels.

    La Nina conditions can suppress, or even shut down, this cooling effect in two ways.

    First, it reduces the difference in density between ocean layers. This causes water to draw upwards from shallower depths. Second, it increases water temperatures at depth.

    All this means the water pumped to the surface isn’t much cooler than temperatures at the surface.

    For many reefs along the coast of WA, the suppression of this tidal cooling is probably contributing to worsening conditions, and more coral bleaching.

    Most bleaching forecasts rely on sea surface temperatures. This means scientists may be underestimating the vulnerability of deeper reefs.

    What’s in store for Ningaloo and surrounds?

    Looking ahead, the situation at Ningaloo and surrounding reefs remains critical.

    Bleached reefs are able to recover if temperatures cool quickly. This means theoretically, Ningaloo and other affected reefs may survive the summer.

    But unfortunately, temperatures are rising again and the marine heatwave is expected to continue until April, as the below image shows.

    Sea surface temperature anomaly forecast for March to May. Ningaloo denoted with black ‘X’.
    Bureau of Meteorology

    Climate change is making marine heatwaves more intense and frequent. It means reefs often don’t have time to recover between destructive bleaching events.

    All this is compounded by the general trend towards warmer oceans as the planet heats up.

    Drastic action on climate change is needed now. If this alarming pattern continues, the world’s reefs risk being lost entirely.

    Nicole L. Jones receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Western Australian government.

    Kelly Boden-Hawes 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. A powerful force is stopping the Indian Ocean from cooling itself – spelling more danger for Ningaloo – https://theconversation.com/a-powerful-force-is-stopping-the-indian-ocean-from-cooling-itself-spelling-more-danger-for-ningaloo-250151

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Lisbon Maru rescue honored in London

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom (UK) hosted a special reception in London on Saturday for the families of the Lisbon Maru survivors, commemorating the heroic rescue during World War II and celebrating the Spring Festival.

    In October 1942, the Lisbon Maru, a cargo vessel requisitioned by the Japanese army to transport more than 1,800 British prisoners of war (POWs) from Hong Kong to Japan, was struck by U.S. forces off the Zhoushan Islands in China’s Zhejiang province. As the ship sank, local fishermen risked their lives to rescue over 300 POWs.

    This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

    Speaking at the event, Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang recounted the rescue, emphasizing that it stands as a testament to China and Britain fighting side by side as allies against fascist aggression. The rescue has left tales of the profound friendship between the people of the two countries — a friendship that “will never fade” and “has become a valuable asset” for bilateral relations, he added.

    At the end of the reception, the families of the survivors stood together, held hands, and sang Auld Lang Syne.

    Lindsey Archer, niece of a British soldier who perished in the Lisbon Maru shipwreck, told Xinhua that events like this help strengthen bonds and foster new friendships. She expressed that the families of both the British survivors and the Chinese rescuers have become a new community for her. Keeping the memory of their ancestors alive, she said, is crucial, as “what they suffered, lost, and sacrificed has shaped where we are today.”

    Last year, Archer, along with a dozen other descendants of British POWs — including Kenneth Salmon — visited China to pay tribute to the fallen at the wreck site in Zhoushan.

    Salmon, whose father was a Royal Artillery sergeant rescued from the sinking Lisbon Maru, described the emotional connection he felt during the visit. Reflecting on the friendships forged during the trip, he said there is “an emotional attachment” in Zhoushan.

    He also expressed his appreciation for the presence of young children at the reception, emphasizing the importance of preserving the story of the rescue for future generations to learn about their ancestry and family history.

    As part of the event, a photography exhibition showcased the progress made in recent years in tracing the history of the Lisbon Maru rescue.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: South Australia Police urgent call for safer road behaviours

    Source: South Australia Police

    South Australia Police is making an urgent call for safer road behaviours, after 17 lives have tragically already been lost in 2025. Vulnerable road users have been overrepresented this year, with three motorcyclists, three pedestrians and two cyclists killed on our roads.

    Officer in Charge of Traffic Services Branch, Acting Superintendent Jaimi Burns said serious road trauma has been occurring at a concerning rate this year and it is tragic to see the majority of lives lost on the roads have been vulnerable road users.

    Superintendent Burns’ warning comes as analysis of 2024 fatalities and serious injuries reveals speed and dangerous driving as the major causes of lives lost.

    In 2024, 91 lives lost and 847 people were left with serious injuries resulting from road crashes, with the majority of incidents occurring on regional roads.

    Distraction, driving dangerously and speeding were the leading causes of last year’s 847 serious injury crashes. Additionally. drug driving was a contributing factor in 70 regional serious injury crashes and 129 motorcycle serious injury crashes.

    “Serious road trauma often involves one or more of the Fatal Five road behaviours that significantly increase the risk of being involved in a crash. Tragically, this means almost all lives lost and serious injuries could have been prevented through safer road behaviour’s” Superintendent Burns said.

    “With distraction and speeding playing a major role in so many crashes last year, the critical message to road users across South Australia is clear – these selfish behaviours need to stop.”

    “We are pleading with people driving on South Australian roads to stay focused and drive to the conditions and speed limit so everyone can arrive safely.”

    Young drivers aged 16 to 24 and passengers under 16 were also significantly overrepresented in lives lost and serious injury crashes.

    In 2024, 11 young drivers lost their lives while 155 young drivers sustained serious injuries. Additionally, three passengers under 16 lost their lives and 16 were seriously injured

    “South Australia Police will continue to take strong action to deter and detect unsafe behaviours on our roads, through road safety education and enforcement statewide,” said Superintendent Burns.

    “It is also essential that people understand that making smart and safe choices while on the road will prevent crashes and save lives.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Going for Growth: Overseas investment changes to drive higher wages

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced the Government’s plan to reform the Overseas Investment Act and make it easier for New Zealand businesses to receive new investment, grow and pay higher wages. 

    “New Zealand is one of the hardest countries in the developed world for overseas people to invest in businesses, and our productivity growth is woeful. Those two facts are closely linked. 

    “We are introducing reforms to improve New Zealand’s overseas investment laws. The package will speed up decisions and provide more confidence to investors, while protecting our national interests. 

    “Overseas investment can support economic growth because when workers work with better tools and technologies, they are more productive and get paid more. 

    “I’ve seen the difference that overseas investment can make. I once visited two businesses in the same industry on the same afternoon. Both had skilled and passionate people with good ideas. One had overseas investment, though, and benefited in two ways. They had more money for machinery, and they had more know-how for manufacturing and marketing their product by receiving knowledge from their partners offshore. 

    “New Zealand’s productivity growth has closely tracked the amount of capital workers have had to work with. Our capital-to-labour ratio has seen very little growth in the last 10 years, averaging approximately 0.7 per cent annually. That’s compared to growth of around 2 percent a year in the previous 10 to 15 years. Unsurprisingly, productivity growth averaged 1.4 percent a year between 1993 and 2013, but only 0.2 percent between 2013 and 2023. 

    “The Government has agreed on a reform package which includes: 

    • better acknowledging the benefits investment can provide to New Zealand’s economy, 
    • for all investments aside from residential land, farmland and fishing quota, making decisions in just 15 days, unless the application could be contrary to New Zealand’s national interest, 
    • strengthening the Government’s ability to intervene on the rare occasion that a transaction is not in the national interest, 
    • giving LINZ more powers to grant consent without involving Ministers. 

    “High-value investments, such as significant business assets, existing forestry and non-farmland, account for around $14 billion of gross investment each year. Cabinet has agreed to remove the barriers for these investments, while retaining existing protections for residential land, farmland and fishing quota. 

    “Nearly every other developed country has less obstructive laws than New Zealand. They benefit from the flow of money and the ideas that come with overseas investment. If we are going to raise wages, we can’t afford to ignore the simple fact that our competitors gain money and know-how from outside their borders.” 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Electric Avenue wrap-up

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    To be attributed to Detective Senior Sergeant Karen Simmons, Operation Commander:

    Christchurch put on a stunning weekend for the more than 35,000 people attending Electric Avenue each day of the two-day festival.

    The event was well managed and organised, with a large security contingent which proved valuable.

    Police assisted event security with fence jumpers, minor disorder and assaults, and evictions due to intoxication.

    Police were generally pleased with the behaviour of the majority of those attending. However it was disappointing to see some people heavily intoxicated when they arrived at the festival. Unfortunately Police also observed a lot of people under the influence of drugs.

    Crowd behaviour when people were leaving the festival was good, with only minor disorder reported in the CBD on Saturday night.
     

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Explainer: 5 common myths about child marriage

    Source: United Nations 2

    Health

    Every day, almost one in five young women are married off while still children, according to the UN reproductive and sexual health agency, UNFPA, which is urging countries to say “I don’t” to child marriage, an illegal practice that is almost universally condemned and yet remains widespread globally.

    “I was married at 14, and I lost my first child at 16 during pregnancy,” Ranu Chakma said. Child marriage is common in her village of Teknaf Upazila, on the southern coast of Bangladesh, even though it is illegal and a human rights violation.

    Those violations occur even at a time when many countries are banning the illegal practice, most recently in Colombia, where a law came into effect earlier this month.

    Here are five common misconceptions about child marriage:

    Myth 1: It’s always illegal

    Child marriage is banned under many international agreements, from the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women to the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development in 1994. Still, there are 640 million women and girls in the world who were child brides, with more child marriages taking place every day.

    How is that possible? Many countries ban child marriage in principle, but define the permissible age of marriage as something other than 18 or permit exceptions with parental consent or under religious or customary law. In many cases these marriages, and marriages in general, are not legally registered, making enforcement of the law difficult.

    Addressing child marriage requires more than laws; it requires rethinking how society values girls.

    Programmes like Taalim-i-Naubalighan, in Bihar, India, where two in five children marry before age 18, are having an impact. These programmes encourage young people to think about topics such as gender roles and human rights.

    “That’s why I was able to help my sister,” said Altamash, a male student whose sister wanted to avoid child marriage and continue her studies. “When I understood her desire and how it would help her, I advocated for her to my father. She is now going to complete her education, and I am so proud of her.”

    © UNFPA Madagascar

    In Madagascar, information sessions are key in changing minds and raising awareness about child marriage and other harmful practices.

    Myth 2: Sometimes child marriage is necessary

    Child marriage remains pervasive in part because it is seen as a solution to other problems.

    In humanitarian crises, child marriage rates often rise, with parents believing marriage will secure a daughter’s future by making a husband responsible for economically supporting her and protecting her from violence. Child marriage is seen as a solution that will preserve the honour of a girl and her family after – or in some cases before – she becomes pregnant. In developing countries, the majority of adolescent births take place within a marriage.

    Yet, child marriage is not a real solution to any of these issues. Child marriage itself leads to girls experiencing high levels of sexual, physical and emotional violence from their intimate partners. Pregnancy is dangerous for girls; complications of pregnancy and childbirth are one of the leading causes of death among adolescent girls. Child brides and adolescent mothers are often forced to drop out of school, upending their future prospects.

    Nicolette, 16, in Madagascar was so accustomed to seeing her classmates disappear from school after marrying and becoming pregnant, she never thought to question the practice. That’s until she attended a UNFPA-supported awareness session.

    “I didn’t know that we could be victims of child marriage,” she said. Now, she wants all the girls in her community to know: “Everyone has the right to realise their ambitions, and marriage is a choice.”

    © UNFPA Niger

    More than three quarters of girls in Niger are married while they are still children.

    Myth 3: This problem is going away

    Child marriage may sound like a problem of the past or of faraway places, but in fact it remains a serious threat to girls around the world.

    While global child marriage rates are slowly falling, the places with the highest rates also have the most population growth, meaning the absolute number of child marriages is expected to increase.

    The problem is indeed global. The largest number of child brides live in the Asia and Pacific region, the highest rate of child marriage is seen in sub-Saharan Africa and lack of progress in Latin America and the Caribbean mean that this region is expected to have the second highest prevalence of child marriage by 2030.

    Yet, the issue is not limited to developing nations. It takes place in countries like the United Kingdom and United States, too.

    “I was basically introduced to somebody in the morning, and I was forced to marry him that night,” Sara Tasneem said, recalling her marriage, first an informal spiritual union at age 15 then legally at age 16. “I got pregnant right away, and we were legally married in Reno, Nevada, where it only required permission signed by my dad.”

    To change this, actions must be accelerated to end child marriage, especially by empowering girls.

    “I was 13 years old when my father gave my hand in marriage to a cousin,” 16-year-old Hadiza, in Niger, said. Fortunately, she had access to a safe space through a UNFPA-supported youth programme. “I spoke to a safe space mentor, who, with the help of the neighbourhood chief, negotiated with my parents to postpone the wedding.”

    Today, Hadiza is an apprentice to a tailor, learning the skills to become economically self-sufficient. “In three years I plan to get married to the man I love,” she said.

    © UNFPA Zambia/Julien Adam

    Nurse Suvannah Sinakaaba attends to pregnant teenagers at the UNFPA-supported mobile clinic in Namalyo village, Zambia.

    Myth 4: It’s a cultural or religious issue

    Child marriage is sometimes misrepresented as a religiously or culturally mandated practice. But, there are no major religious traditions that require child marriage.

    In fact, cultural and religious leaders around the world often take a strong stance against child marriage, especially when provided evidence about the consequences of the practice.

    “We have always taught young people that, both religiously and legally, it was not advisable,” Shirkhan Chobanov, the imam of Jumah Mosque in Tbilisi, Georgia, said. “We also explained to those young people that they had to accomplish other tasks, primarily concerning their education, before thinking about starting a family.”

    UNFPA works with faith leaders around the world who are working to end child marriage, including priests, monks, nuns and imams.

    “We are seeing very good results as far as warding off child marriage is concerned,” said Gebreegziabher Tiku, a priest in Ethiopia.

    Myth 5: It only happens to girls

    While the vast majority of child marriages involve girls, boys can also be married off.

    Globally, 115 million boys and men were married before age 18, according to 2019 data. These unions are also linked to early fatherhood, constrained education and reduced opportunities in life.

    Still, girls are disproportionately affected by the practice, with about one in five young women aged 20 to 24 years old married before their 18th birthday, compared to one in 30 young men. Child marriage rates for boys are very low even in countries where child marriage among girls is relatively high.

    © UNFPA Nicaragua

    Youth empowerment programmes are reaching all adolescents with information about their human rights in Nicaragua, which has one of the highest rates of child marriage among boys.

    No matter the gender of the child affected nor the country in which the union takes place, child marriage is a harmful practice that requires addressing a common set of root causes. They include economic inequality, limited access to sexual and reproductive health services and information, and factors such as conflict. One of the biggest root causes – gender inequality – requires urgent and renewed focus.

    “While we have abolished child marriage, we have not abolished predatory masculinity,” said Dr. Gabrielle Hosein, director of the Institute of Gender and Development Studies at the University of the West Indies, in Trinidad and Tobago, shortly after that country had outlawed child marriage.

    Kevin Liverpool, an activist with the advocacy group CariMAN, said men and boys have a critical role to play.

    “It’s important to raise awareness among these groups, among these individuals, about what feminism is, why gender equality is important for women, but also for men and for all of society,” he said.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Democratic Republic of Congo: Statement following the passing of our colleague

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    Goma – It is with great sadness that we are sharing the news of the passing of our colleague, Jerry Muhindo Kavali, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He died today from the gunshot wound he suffered while at the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) base in Masisi town, North Kivu, during clashes between the VDP/Wazalendo and the M23/AFC on 20 February.

    On 21 February, we managed to transfer Jerry to Goma for treatment in a hospital better equipped to deal with the seriousness of his injuries and to bring him closer to his family. Unfortunately, the efforts of the hospital team were not enough to save him. 

    We stand by his family at this difficult time and send our deepest condolences to all his loved ones and colleagues in Masisi.

    Aged 49, Jerry was a much-loved colleague. He was known for his constant smile, his dedication, his kindness and his unwavering commitment to MSF. Jerry had been with us since 2014.

    The whole MSF family is in mourning today. We also feel anger, as his tragic death comes against a backdrop of increasing violence in and around health and humanitarian facilities in eastern DRC.

    We reiterate our strongest condemnation of the lack of respect for humanitarian work. It is this lack of respect that led to Jerry’s death. Sadly, these incidents are becoming more commonplace during this conflict.

    To all the warring parties, we remind you once again: even war has rules. 

    At the time of writing, the MSF base and Masisi hospital are still full of families who have come there to seek shelter from the fighting, as well as patients who have been treated, many of them women and children who have fallen victim to the violence of the past few days. 

    On 20 February alone, 11 patients were treated for gunshot wounds at the hospital. All were civilians. Seven of them were women and children. 

    MSF has been present in the Masisi health zone since 2007. Our teams support Masisi hospital, the Masisi health centre, the Nyabiondo health centre and several outlying health centres in the area.  

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese, Angolan FMs meet on bilateral ties

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with his Angolan counterpart Tete Antonio on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, Feb. 21, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed China-Angola relations with his Angolan counterpart Tete Antonio on Friday, on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China and Angola fought side by side in the struggle against imperialism and colonialism and then joined hands in the pursuit of development and revitalization.

    Noting that the friendly cooperation between the two countries facilitated Angola’s national reconstruction and economic recovery, bringing tangible benefits to the Angolan people, Wang said the two sides should cherish the time-honored friendship and enhance mutual understanding and trust.

    Wang congratulated Angola on assuming the rotating presidency of the African Union, saying that China has never sought selfish gains in Africa or interfered in African country’s internal affairs and China has firmly supported African integration and is committed to maintaining sound relations with African countries, Wang said.

    Comprehensive cooperation between China and Africa has not only helped accelerate Africa’s development but also encouraged more attention and input from the international community to the continent. China will remain Africa’s most sincere and reliable partner in its future development journey, Wang noted.

    For his part, Antonio noted that Angolan President Joao Lourenco paid a state visit to China last year and held a successful meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, promoting new achievements in bilateral practical cooperation and bringing tangible benefits to both peoples. He thanked China for supporting Angola’s economic and social development and Chinese enterprises for their contributions to Angola’s national construction.

    Antonio said that Angola is willing to expand cooperation with China in various fields such as economy and trade, investment, finance, and energy, and stand firmly with China on issues concerning the latter’s core interests.

    Angola stands ready to take the presidency of the African Union as an opportunity to strengthen communication and coordination with China, deepen Africa-China cooperation, and enhance African solidarity, said Antonio.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Woman Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison for Burning Down Local Business

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN DIEGO – Carey Alice Hernandez was sentenced in federal court today to 70 months in prison for intentionally setting fire to Off Road Warehouse to cover up the disappearance of more than $700,000 while she was in charge of company finances.

    In April 2024, after a four-day trial, jurors found Hernandez guilty of malicious destruction of a building by means of fire, witness tampering and making false statements.

    In late 2018, the owner of Off Road Warehouse, also known as ORW, which sold and installed automotive parts and gear for off-roading, decided to sell the business located at 7915 Balboa Avenue. The prospective purchaser conducted an audit of ORW, which revealed that between January 2015 and March 2019, while Hernandez was serving as bookkeeper and controller in charge of the company books and records, $744,621 had gone missing from the company.

    The jury found that in the early morning hours of March 28, 2019, Hernandez started the fire at Off Road Warehouse, causing the building to burn to the ground.

    “This defendant intentionally set a dangerous inferno in what appears to have been an attempt to conceal a massive theft. And then she leaned on her minor daughter to try and cover up her crimes,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden. “Fortunately, no one was physically hurt, but this devastating loss for ORW, and the extraordinary danger of intentionally setting a fire, demanded accountability. And today, justice was served.”

    At today’s hearing, U.S. District Judge Jinsook Ohta described the defendant’s actions as “wanton, deliberate and destructive” and “a very dangerous crime” that put firefighters at risk. She noted the crime was made even worse when she asked her daughter to lie for her.

    According to evidence presented at trial, surveillance footage showed the defendant driving an SUV with dark rims near her home and the fire scene. The following day, she lied to federal agents and ORW employees, claiming her SUV had light rims. Video footage from the area contradicted her claims about the vehicles rims, leading to convictions for witness tampering and false statements.

    ATF’s National Response Team (NRT) investigated this case in conjunction with San Diego’s Metro Arson Strike Team (MAST). The NRT is ATF’s mobile, rapid response team which investigates the cause and origin of large fires, explosions and bombings at the request of local public safety agencies.

    “Arson crimes are not victimless,” said Acting ATF Los Angeles Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jose Medina. “These criminal acts destroy lives, property, and businesses.  In this case, the motive was greed—fire was used as a cover-up for criminal activity. ATF remains steadfast in its mission to bring arsonists to justice and ensure safer communities. We will relentlessly pursue and remove these offenders from society. I want to acknowledge the dedication of our National Response Team and San Diego’s Metro Arson Strike Team (MAST) for their work in determining the fire’s origin and cause.”

    A hearing to determine the restitution that Hernandez owes the victims of her crimes is scheduled for March 14, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. before Judge Ohta.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Brehm and Carl Brooker.

    DEFENDANT                                               Case Number 22cr145-JO                                         

    Carey Alice Hernandez                                  Age: 46                                   Rathdrum, Idaho

    SUMMARY OF CHARGES

    Malicious Destruction of Building by Means of Fire – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 844(i)

    Maximum penalty: No less than five years in prison and no more than 20 years and $250,000 fine

    Witness Tampering – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1512(b)(3)

    Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $250,000 fine

    False Statements – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1001(a)(2)

    Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine

    INVESTIGATING AGENCY

    Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Shaheen Offers Dozens of Amendments to Republican Budget Resolution, Forces Vote on her Amendment to Lower Health Care Costs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen

    (Washington, DC) – Last night, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a top member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations and Armed Services Committees and Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, offered dozens of amendments to the Republican budget resolution that would have forced the forthcoming reconciliation bill to prioritize lowering costs for American families and businesses, enhancing public safety and strengthening national security, among other important priorities for New Hampshire and the country. Shaheen forced a vote on an amendment that would have supported the provisions of her Health Care Affordability Act to make permanent tax credits that have cut health care costs for 24 million Americans—including nearly 70,000 Granite Staters. Nearly all Senate Republicans rejected including Shaheen’s amendment to make health care more affordable and accessible. 

    “In New Hampshire, we hear every day about people rationing medicines, skipping appointments and delaying care all because of costs. By advancing my amendment to extend tax credits we could have offered a lifeline for millions who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford the care they need, but almost all of my Republican colleagues voted against it,” said Shaheen. “Unfortunately, the budget resolution that the Senate advanced last night does nothing to help working Americans make ends meet. Instead, it paves the way to give tax cuts to the wealthiest while slashing programs families rely on.” 

    Last night, Shaheen raised a vote on one of her amendments that mirrors her Health Care Affordability Act—bicameral legislation she introduced last month that would make permanent the Affordable Care Act’s premium tax credits for Marketplace coverage. According to the Congressional Budget Office, if the tax credits are allowed to expire at the end of this year, health care premiums would skyrocket and 4 million Americans would lose their health insurance altogether. 

    Below is an overview of the dozens of other amendments Senator Shaheen offered for consideration last night. 

    To help lower everyday costs, Shaheen offered amendments that would have: 

    • Supported housing affordability by preventing construction cost increases due to tariffs and delays and expanding investment in housing development. 
    • Helped households afford groceries, including preventing broad tariffs which would raise the price of food or cuts to food aid for families. 
    • Prevented funding cuts to child care or early childhood education programs helping New Hampshire families. 
    • Supported affordable housing in disaster recovery by rebuilding with resilient and cost-effective methods, especially those that lower home insurance rates. 
    • Lowered sugar prices for American businesses and consumers harmed by the U.S. sugar program. 

    To help make health care more affordable and accessible, Shaheen offered amendments that would have: 

    • Ensured that Medicaid expansion programs aren’t eliminated by drastic cuts to federal funding, including New Hampshire’s Granite Advantage covering more than 60,000 Granite Staters. 
    • Ensured that patients suffering from diabetes do not face unnecessary barriers to care, including access to $35 insulin. 
    • Ensured hospitals and doctors working in rural areas can keep their doors open and continue providing lifesaving care for their patients. 
    • Ensured that our community health centers can continue to provide vital care to their patients. 

    To help enhance public safety and keep families secure, Shaheen offered amendments that would have: 

    • Made investments in the Air Traffic Controller workforce and overturned the reckless firing of hundreds of Federal Aviation Administration personnel critical to aviation safety. 
    • Improved cell service and communications for emergency services along the northern border. 
    • Ensured that DHS has the technology needed to monitor and defend the U.S.-Canada border against the flow of drugs and illegal migration. 
    • Raised pay for U.S. Bureau of Prisons correctional officers in New Hampshire and across the country. 
    • Preserved funding for programs that support survivors of sexual and domestic violence. 
    • Ensured local law enforcement agencies and communities are not left with the bill for unfunded federal mandates. 
    • Prioritized the deportation of undocumented individuals who pose threats to our national security or public safety. 
    • Ensured that increased funding for the DOJ and DHS is focused on stopping the flow of illegal drugs into the United States. 

    To help lower American households’ energy costs, Shaheen offered amendments that would have: 

    • Protected Americans from higher energy costs for gas, heating oil and propane due to broad tariffs. 
    • Protected bipartisan investments that lower energy costs, promote electric grid reliability and improve drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, including addressing PFAS contamination. 
    • Protected families, farmers and businesses from higher energy costs by ensuring energy saving and renewable energy projects funded by Congress continue. 
    • Prevented Congress from blocking state or local governments from updating their building codes to protect life and property, reduce losses from disasters or lower energy costs for families. 
    • Supported energy efficient building construction and retrofits to lower energy costs and enhance electric grid reliability. 
    • Supported resources that help make home heating more affordable, including energy assistance from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and weatherization. 

    To help bolster America’s national security and support American service members and their families, Shaheen offered amendments that would have: 

    • Supported military service members, veterans and families, including by protecting family members who were recently fired from federal employment solely because they were new to a job. 
    • Replenished the defense industrial base ramping up to support Ukraine. 
    • Replenished the defense industrial base ramping up to support the defense of Taiwan. 
    • Ensured that U.S. continues its commitments to NATO, which supports the collective defense of the United States. 
    • Resumed U.S. foreign assistance that counters Chinese influence. 
    • Ensured that federal employees essential to national security are not impacted by OMB buyout and federal hiring freeze memos. 
    • Required oversight over wasteful spending. 
    • Protected DoD’s policy that ensures service women receive the same coverage for contraception as civilian women. 
    • Ensured that servicewomen, who are stationed in areas without access to reproductive care, through no fault of their own, can be reimbursed for the cost of travel. 
    • Ensured that U.S. farmers do not suffer economic harm due to the freeze on U.S. assistance. 
    • Protected U.S. small businesses and contractors from a pause on U.S. foreign assistance. 

    Additional amendments would have: 

    • Prevented a reduction in postal service for rural America, including by preventing closure of processing centers. 
    • Ensured that Americans are protected against fraud, price gouging and higher rental and housing prices caused by illegal price information sharing. 
    • Supported funding to assist Afghan SIVs and refugee resettlement. 
    • Cut more than $40 billion in wasteful agriculture spending going to large corporate farm operations while preserving benefits to small family farms. 
    • Ensured strong funding for the Northern Border Regional Commission. 
    • Prevented adding $5 trillion of tax cuts to the national debt and raising interest rates when the Federal Government is already paying $1 trillion per year in interest. 
    • Supported screening for Avian Flu both domestically and overseas. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Republicans Block Booker-Duckworth Amendment to Help Make IVF More Affordable for Middle-Class Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Despite claiming to support IVF, Senate Republicans blocked an amendment led by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) from being included in the Senate’s budget proposal that would mirror their Right to IVF Act and help lower the costs of IVF treatment for the millions of middle-class Americans who need it to have children. This comes days after President Donald Trump signed an overly vague, toothless executive order requesting policy recommendations to ensure reliable access to IVF as Republicans continue to claim to support IVF treatment nationwide.

    “My Republican colleagues once again had the opportunity to recommit to protecting reproductive freedoms and Americans’ right to make their own medical decisions,” said Senator Booker. “Unfortunately, they voted against making IVF treatments more affordable for the thousands of families across our country who depend on it to start and grow their families.”

    “Tonight, Senate Republicans once again had a chance to put up or shut up and prove that their self-proclaimed support for IVF is more than just lip service,” said Senator Duckworth. “Instead, they voted to block our amendment that would help lower costs for middle-class Americans who depend on it to build their families—after blocking our Right to IVF Act twice last year. So let there be no confusion: Senate Republicans may claim they support IVF, but their actions speak louder than words.”

    Booker’s Right to IVF Act—co-led by Duckworth and U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA)—is comprehensive legislation that would establish a right to IVF and other assisted reproductive technology (ART), expand access for hopeful parents, Veterans and federal employees and help lower the costs of IVF for middle class families across the country. Despite many of them publicly claiming to support IVF for the millions of Americans who rely on it to build their families, nearly every Senate Republican voted against the bill in June and again in September last year.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: More funding for biodiversity protection

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Government is boosting investment in the QEII National Trust to reinforce the protection of Aotearoa New Zealand’s biodiversity on private land, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says.
    The Government today announced an additional $4.5 million for conservation body QEII National Trust over three years.
    QEII Trust works with farmers and landowners who voluntarily set aside permanently protected areas including forests and wetlands on private property using covenants.
    “Many of our most at-risk plants and animals are found on private land,” Mr Potaka says. “Landowners provide a significant contribution to conservation efforts through additional planting, pest control, and fencing work.
    “The QEII Trust has proven extremely effective in collaborating to protect these crucial habitats, particularly in lowland and coastal zones where much of our threatened biodiversity exists.
    “This funding increase acknowledges the Trust’s excellent track record and growing demand from landowners to protect special areas of bush, wetland, and biodiversity for future generations,” Mr Potaka says.
    This brings the Trust’s total annual funding from the Government to just under $5.8 million per year for the next three years.
    “For nearly half a century, QEII Trust has worked with landowners, councils and others to protect over 187,000 hectares of land in 5,200 covenanted areas – you could think of it as about 187,000 rugby fields. 
    “I’m also pleased to announce a one-off funding injection of $750,000 over three years for the Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust Sanctuary.
    “The Sanctuary – a popular tourist destination in the Waikato region – is home to native kākāpō, Mahoenui giant wētā, takahē, banded kōkopu, giant kōkopu (native NZ fish) and tuna (longfin eel).
    “I’m confident this funding will help the Sanctuary continue their work with our precious native species.
    “Kia kaha te mahi tahi. We all have a role to play in looking after Aotearoa New Zealand’s incredible and vulnerable nature.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Republicans Block Duckworth-Booker Amendment to Help Make IVF More Affordable for Middle-Class Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    February 21, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Despite claiming to support IVF, Senate Republicans blocked an amendment led by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) from being included in the Senate’s budget proposal that would mirror their Right to IVF Act and help lower the costs of IVF treatment for the millions of middle-class Americans who need it to have children. This comes days after President Donald Trump signed an overly vague, toothless executive order requesting policy recommendations to ensure reliable access to IVF as Republicans continue to claim to support IVF treatment nationwide.

    “Senate Republicans once again had a chance to put up or shut up and prove that their self-proclaimed support for IVF is more than just lip service,” said Senator Duckworth. “Instead, they voted to block our amendment that would help lower costs for middle-class Americans who depend on it to build their families—after blocking our Right to IVF Act twice last year. So let there be no confusion: Senate Republicans may claim they support IVF, but their actions speak louder than words.”

    “My Republican colleagues once again had the opportunity to recommit to protecting reproductive freedoms and Americans’ right to make their own medical decisions,” said Senator Booker. “Unfortunately, they voted against making IVF treatments more affordable for the thousands of families across our country who depend on it to start and grow their families.”

    Duckworth’s Right to IVF Act—co-lead by Booker and U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA)—is comprehensive legislation that would establish a right to IVF and other assisted reproductive technology (ART), expand access for hopeful parents, Veterans and federal employees and help lower the costs of IVF for middle class families across the country. Despite many of them publicly claiming to support IVF for the millions of Americans who rely on it to build their families, nearly every Senate Republican voted against the bill in June and again in September last year. The September vote was the third time Republicans blocked Duckworth-led legislation that would protect IVF nationwide last year.

    The Right to IVF Act builds upon Duckworth’s previous legislation, the Access to Family Building Act that was also blocked by Senate Republicans early last year. After the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that put access to IVF at risk for families across that state, Duckworth led a group of Senate Democrats in calling for the passage of the Access to Family Building Act through unanimous consent—however, Republican U.S. Senator of Mississippi Cindy Hyde-Smith objected, ultimately blocking Duckworth’s effort.

    Duckworth was the first Senator to give birth while serving in office and had both of her children with the help of IVF. In 2018, she advocated for the Senate to change its rules so she could bring her infant onto the Senate floor.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 02/20/2025 VIDEO: Blackburn Details DOGE’s Efforts to Restore Accountability in the Federal Government

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) delivered remarks on the Senate floor about the billions of dollars in waste, fraud, and abuse that President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency has uncovered in just a few short weeks. Earlier this month, Senator Blackburn introduced the DOGE Acts to coincide with President Trump’s efforts.

    Click here to watch Senator Blackburn’s remarks.
    REMARKS AS PREPARED
    Blackburn: Americans Know Our Fiscal Path is Unsustainable 
    Today, after four years of reckless spending and decades-high inflation under the Biden-Harris administration, our national debt sits at $36.4 trillion. In many ways, this number represents one of the biggest threats to our nation, as interest payments on the debt now eclipse our country’s total defense spending. Unfortunately, this problem is only getting worse. During the last few months of the Biden administration—October to December of last year—our country ran a deficit of more than $710 billion, up 39 percent from the same time period in 2023. The American people know our fiscal path is unsustainable.
    DOGE Has Already Discovered Billions of Dollars in Wasteful Spending
    Among many other reasons, that’s why they returned President Trump to the Oval Office with a mandate to restore government accountability. And since Inauguration Day, the President has been hard at work. In one of his first acts back in office, President Trump established the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Led by Elon Musk, the agency has worked to uncover and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse across the federal government. And to no one’s surprise, DOGE has found a lot of waste, especially with programs that should have never existed. In recent weeks, the agency has cut $33 million in Education Department grants to groups that push far-left ideas like critical race theory; $44.6 million in canceled leases for unused federal office space; $45 million in scholarships for students in Burma; $182 million in Department of Health and Human Services contracts that had nothing to do with health, including a $168,000 museum exhibit for Anthony Fauci; $1 billion in DEI programs; and on and on.
    Contrary to Democrats’ Dishonest Narrative, DOGE Is Restoring Government Accountability
    In addition, DOGE has worked to reform the mismanaged United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Under the last administration, the agency used its $40 billion budget to support left-wing and anti-American causes around the world, including terror-tied extremist groups in the Middle East. As DOGE uncovers the Left’s abuse of taxpayer dollars, Washington Democrats have tried desperately to paint the agency as unaccountable to the American people. But the exact opposite is true: DOGE, which reports directly to President Trump, is restoring government accountability by helping rein in the federal bureaucracy. That’s why, last week, President Trump issued an executive order to support DOGE, directing federal departments to work with the agency to reduce the size of the federal workforce. A downsize is desperately needed: the government employs more than 2.4 million civilian employees at a cost of hundreds of billions of dollars each year.
    Blackburn Introduced the DOGE Acts to Drain the Swamp
    To support these efforts, I recently introduced a package of bills called the DOGE Acts, which would hold the federal government accountable for managing taxpayer dollars. To drain the swamp, the bills would implement a hiring and salary freeze, direct agencies to reduce the size of their workforce by 5 percent within three years, and establish a commission to report to Congress on moving non-national security agencies out of Washington, D.C. In addition, the legislation would create a pilot program to determine federal employees’ compensation based on merit, not seniority. And they would require agencies to reinstate their pre-COVID telework policies—a measure that is especially crucial after just 6 percent of federal employees worked in an office full-time during the Biden administration. Perhaps most importantly, the DOGE Acts would cut non-security discretionary spending by 5 percent by fiscal year 2028 and every following year, saving taxpayers billions of dollars. When it comes to government spending, Tennesseans and Americans across the country demand accountability. With DOGE, Republicans are delivering on it.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Plight of Basque tuna-fishing vessels in Senegal – E-000088/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    Senegal is a long-standing partner of the EU in the fisheries sector. A Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA)[1] was concluded between Senegal and the EU in 2014. The last protocol (2019-2024) expired in November 2024.

    In line with the EU’s zero tolerance policy towards illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing[2], the Commission decided not to renew the Protocol, given its decision of the pre-identification of Senegal as a non-cooperating country in the fight against IUU fishing.

    The formal IUU dialogue has just begun, and so long as the yellow card is in place, the renewal of the protocol cannot be considered.

    The Commission recognises the challenges faced by the Basque tuna vessels and other European fleets due to the expiration and the non-renewal of the protocol.

    However, the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF)[3] for 2021-2027, as agreed and adopted by the co-legislators, does not envisage the possibility to compensate losses in cases of non-renewal of SFPAs or their implementing protocols.

    The Commission is available to further engage with any stakeholders concerned to discuss possible alternative options for fishing grounds offered by the network of fisheries agreements covering several countries in the region and other regions, the regional fisheries management organisations and EU waters.

    • [1] https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/fisheries/international-agreements/sustainable-fisheries-partnership-agreements-sfpas_en
    • [2] https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/fisheries/rules/illegal-fishing_en
    • [3] https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/funding/emfaf_en
    Last updated: 21 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Enhancing Computing Power for the Public Good

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul today announced further details of her proposal to expand New York’s first-in-the-nation Empire AI Consortium. The Governor’s FY26 Executive Budget includes $90 million in capital funding to substantially increase the computing power of Empire AI, expand access for SUNY researchers, and support the addition of new members including the University of Rochester, the Rochester Institute of Technology, and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The proposal will be matched by $50 million in private funding from new members and $25 million in SUNY operating funding over ten years. This investment will make the Empire AI supercomputer more powerful, leading to more research for the public good being done faster and more efficiently compared with currently available computing power.

    “The United States is in a race with China and the rest of the world in the global AI revolution, and with our first-in-the-nation Empire AI Consortium, New York is leading the way in research and innovation,” Governor Hochul said. “With Empire AI, we are setting the standard for harnessing the power of AI for the public good and ultimately creating a better future for New Yorkers.”

    Last year, Governor Hochul reached historic agreement with the state legislature as part of the FY25 Budget to establish Empire AI, a first-of-its-kind independent consortium to secure New York’s place at the forefront of artificial intelligence research. The consortium will leverage a $275 million state investment to create and launch a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence computing center on the University at Buffalo’s campus. The center will be used by leading New York institutions to promote responsible research and development, create jobs and advance AI for the public good. The founding members of Empire AI include SUNY, CUNY, Columbia University, Cornell University, New York University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and the Flatiron Institute.

    In October 2024, only six months after Budget enactment, Governor Hochul launched the first phase of Empire AI thanks to a philanthropic contribution from the Simons Foundation. Housed at the University at Buffalo, the Empire AI Alpha system is operating at maximum capacity and has allowed over 200 researchers across the seven founding members to begin work aimed at addressing major societal challenges.

    Researchers are already using Empire AI to conduct groundbreaking research, from medical breakthroughs in treating cancer to making better weather predictions, which will make life better for everyday New Yorkers. Current projects include:

    • Developing technologies that could provide adaptive speech and language therapies to children with special needs.
    • Building models of the climate, which can help communities prepare for future impact of extreme weather events.
    • Building models to help analyze CT scans to better diagnose and treat lung cancer.

    Now, Governor Hochul’s proposed expansion will allow Empire AI to secure a future full-scale computing system that supports expanded capacity for SUNY and the addition of new members. The proposed new members of Empire AI consortium include:

    • University of Rochester, a leading research university and the largest health care system in Upstate New York, will vastly improve AI-powered medical research and give consortium researchers unparalleled access to medical technologies and information.
    • Rochester Institute of Technology, which announced the formation of its Artificial Intelligence Hub last August, has proven to be a nationwide leader developing AI solutions for teaching and learning. By joining the consortium, they are contributing academic and strategic power to Empire AI’s member schools and researchers.
    • Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, one of the top medical schools in the country, the first medical school to establish a Department of Artificial Intelligence (the Windreich Department of AI and Human Health) and is ranked as number 1 in AI according to Nature AI Index, has expressed intent to join the Empire AI consortium. The School will work collaboratively with the other healthcare and public health partners to accelerate health AI research with a focus on translation, aimed at improving New York’s health care and public health infrastructure.
    • SUNY will double its participation in Empire AI’s consortium, allowing more researchers and students from SUNY’s most research-intensive campuses to access the world-class computing power.

    Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Thanks to Governor Hochul’s vision and commitment, New York State is a clear leader in harnessing the power of AI – one of the most revolutionary technologies of this century – to improve people’s lives and promote the public good. ESD is proud of its pioneering part in its effort, and eager to work with the expanded consortium, to not only leverage AI to tackle society’s most vexing challenges, but also cultivate New York’s AI ecosystem, which will create quality jobs, attract additional investments, and further grow the state’s economy.”

    SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said, “Thanks to Governor Hochul, New York State is leading the nation in the use of artificial intelligence to advance the public good. SUNY’s world-class researchers are already accelerating groundbreaking work on climate change, curing diseases, and civic discourse thanks to Empire AI, and Governor Hochul’s budget proposal will help SUNY and other higher education institutions conduct research that strengthens our economic well-being and national security.”

    Empire AI Interim Executive Director Robert Harrison said, “Empire AI is advancing research in public health, environmental science, computing and countless other areas, and we’re doing it at a scale and pace that would have been unthinkable even a few short months ago. This is only possible because of Governor Hochul’s leadership and the legislature’s vision to partner with some of the state’s leading research institutions and invest in New York’s computing capabilities. And thanks to Governor Hochul, we now have the opportunity to do even more, adding new members and increasing our research capabilities to cement New York as the national leader in AI research for the public good.”

    Rochester Institute of Technology Research Vice President Ryne Raffaelle said, “Joining Empire AI would strengthen our commitment to leading the way in the higher education artificial intelligence space. Our researchers would have unique opportunities to access cutting-edge equipment, connect with other thought leaders, and engage students in work related to responsible artificial intelligence. This partnership would be valuable for our university and would escalate our state as a national leader in this area.”

    University of Rochester Research Vice President Steve Dewhurst said, “AI is rapidly changing our lives in fundamental and profound ways. That’s why we would be so excited to join Empire AI to leverage our incredible assets and strengths in AI and supercomputing. In partnership with our state’s leading experts, we could enhance how we learn, discover, heal, and create, while harnessing our collective strengths to best position New York to lead and benefit from this technology. I am grateful to Governor Hochul for her leadership and vision in creating this innovative collaboration and look forward to working with our partners when it passes in the Budget.”

    Nash Family Professor of Neuroscience Director, The Friedman Brain Institute Dean for Academic Affairs, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Chief Scientific Officer, Mount Sinai Health System Dr. Eric Nestler said, “Joining Empire AI would ensure that we remain at the forefront of AI innovation and progress — where AI-driven insights enhance diagnosis, personalize treatments, and revolutionize research and practice. Together, we and members of this consortium would harness the power of AI technology to improve patient health, drive medical breakthroughs, and shape the future of healthcare.”

    State Senator Jeremy Cooney said, “The Rochester region is fortunate to have nationally renowned universities on the cutting edge of technological research like Rochester Institute of Technology and University of Rochester. Today’s announcement from Governor Hochul that these institutions will be bringing their expertise to the Empire AI consortium is a win for our universities, their students, and our area as a whole. With the inclusion of RIT and University of Rochester, area researchers will be leading the way on AI innovation and helping to establish New York on the forefront of this vital work.”

    Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson said, “Congratulations to the Rochester Institute of Technology and the University of Rochester on their intention to join Empire AI consortium. This collaboration will connect the Rochester region to the world-class talent and cutting-edge technologies needed to prepare the workforce of today and tomorrow, and ensure these universities continue to lead the way in pioneering technological advancements. As Chair of Labor, I recognize that this initiative is critical to growing our economy by guaranteeing we have the expertise and qualified workforce required for nation-leading research and education.”

    Expanding Artificial Intelligence Across New York State
    Access to the computing resources that power AI systems is prohibitively expensive and difficult to obtain. These resources are increasingly concentrated in the hands of large technology companies and other global competitors, who maintain outsized control of the AI development ecosystem. As a result, researchers, public interest organizations, and small companies are being left behind, which has enormous implications for AI safety and society at large. Empire AI is bridging this gap and accelerating the development of AI centered in the public interest for New York State. Enabling this pioneering AI research and development is also helping educational institutions nurture the next generation of talent that will create AI-focused technology startups, driving job growth.

    By increasing collaboration between New York State’s world-class research institutions, Empire AI is creating efficiencies of scale not achievable by any single university, empowering and attracting top notch faculty, expanding educational opportunity, and enabling responsible innovation that will significantly strengthen our state’s economy and our national security.
    The initiative is currently funded by over $400 million in public and private investment, including a $250 million State capital grant investment and $25 million over ten years in SUNY operating funding. The project will also receive more than $125 million from the founding institutions and other private partners, including the Simons Foundation, whose Flatiron Institute works to advance research through computational methods, and Tom Secunda, co-founder of Bloomberg LP and the Secunda Family Foundation, which provides millions of dollars a year in grants to conservation, health care, scientific advancement and other causes.

    Governor Hochul’s Innovation Agenda
    Governor Hochul’s commitment to advancing New York’s leadership in artificial intelligence builds on her broader agenda to expand cutting-edge technology development in the Empire State. Last year, Governor Hochul announced that IBM CEO Arvind Krishna and Girls Who Code CEO Dr. Tarika Barrett would co-chair the new Emerging Technology Advisory Board (the Board) — an independent group of industry leaders tasked with informing and accelerating New York’s transformation into a hub for growth and innovation. The Board released their initial recommendations in December 2024.

    The Governor previously signed New York’s historic Green CHIPS legislation to drive semiconductor research, development, and manufacturing in New York State and announced a $10 billion partnership to bring next-generation chips research to NY CREATES’ Albany NanoTech Complex. The Governor has continued to advance a $620 million Life Science Initiative to support innovation in biomedical research. And through strategic investments like the $113.7 million Battery-NY initiative, Governor Hochul has fueled the growth of the sustainability, green technology and energy storage economies in New York State.

    The Governor’s innovation agenda has catalyzed major public and private investments, transforming New York’s economy and creating good-paying jobs of the future. GlobalFoundries recently announced an $11.6 billion investment to expand its chip manufacturing campus in New York’s Capital Region, creating 1,500 direct jobs and thousands of indirect jobs. In 2022, Micron announced a 20-year, $100 billion investment to create a megafab campus in Central New York, creating 50,000 new direct and indirect jobs and unlocking hundreds of millions of dollars in community benefits.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Coast Guard cutter visits Tuvalu, strengthens partnerships and promotes regional security

    Source: United States Coast Guard

     

    02/21/2025 02:15 PM EST

    The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Midgett (WMSL 757) recently concluded a successful engagement in Tuvalu, conducting joint bilateral maritime law enforcement shiprider operations and strengthening partnerships to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in the region. This partnership underscores the U.S. Coast Guard’s unwavering commitment to maintaining a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific, leveraging its operational expertise to enhance cooperation and strengthen its trusted partnership with Tuvalu.

    For breaking news follow us on twitter @USCGHawaiiPac

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Seventeen Defendants Sentenced To Prison In Multi-State Drug Trafficking And Money Laundering Conspiracy

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

    Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Dudzinski Poole and sixteen co-conspirators to federal prison terms ranging from six years, up to life, imprisonment in a multi-state drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy. Poole was the leader of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that was responsible for distributing thousands of kilograms of methamphetamine and fentanyl with sources of supply or distributors in California, multiple other states, and China. The organization also laundered millions of dollars in drug money. Two of Poole’s co-conspirators (Michael Chester and George King, Jr.) were convicted after a ten-day jury trial in July 2024. The rest of the defendants entered guilty pleas. A summary chart of the sentences is below:

    Name (Age, Residence)

    Charges

    Sentence

    Dudzinski Edwinn Poole

    a/k/a “Zink”

    (50, Apopka, FL)

    Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine

    (two counts)

    Drug trafficking conspiracy

    Money laundering conspiracy

    		 21 years, 10 months’ imprisonment

    Melvin Tyrone Patterson, Jr.

    a/k/a “Goon”

    (34, Wildwood, FL)

    Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (two counts)

    Drug trafficking conspiracy

    Money laundering conspiracy

    		 18 years, 7 months’ imprisonment

    Andrew Woodruff, Jr.

    a/k/a “Smurf”

    (40, Mount Dora, FL)

    Drug trafficking conspiracy

    Money laundering conspiracy

    		 30 years’ imprisonment

    Jose Ivan Carbajal

    a/k/a “Primo”

    (35, California)

    Drug trafficking conspiracy

    Money laundering conspiracy

    		 40 years’ imprisonment

    Antonio Holmes

    a/k/a “Tone”

    (36, Davenport, FL)

    Possession with intent to distribute fentanyl

    Drug trafficking conspiracy

    		 15 years, 8 months’ imprisonment

    Diego Navarro- Martinez

    a/k/a “Shooter”

    (34, California)

    Drug trafficking conspiracy

    Money laundering conspiracy

    		 15 years’ imprisonment

    Michael Andre Chester

    a/k/a “Dre”

    (50, Apopka, FL)

    Drug trafficking conspiracy

    Money laundering conspiracy

    		 Life in prison

    Samantha Tiesha King

    a/k/a “Mamp”

    (34, Altamonte Springs, FL)

    Drug trafficking conspiracy

    Money laundering conspiracy

    		 17 years, 6 months’ imprisonment

    George Nelvin King, Jr.

    (47, Altamonte Springs, FL)

    Drug trafficking conspiracy

    Money laundering conspiracy

    		 14 years, 8 months’ imprisonment

    Felisha Denise Williams

    a/k/a “Lil Momma”

    (35, Apopka, FL)

    Drug trafficking conspiracy

    Money laundering conspiracy

    		 12 years, 7 months’ imprisonment

    Nathaniel Donnell, Jr.

    a/k/a “Bob”

    (60, Wildwood, FL)

    Drug trafficking conspiracy

    Money laundering conspiracy

    		 13 years’ imprisonment

    Rodrieka Lashay Manning

    a/k/a “Drieka”

    (27, Apopka, FL)

    Drug trafficking conspiracy

    Money laundering conspiracy

    		 11 years, 3 months’ imprisonment

    Mohammed McDowell

    a/k/a “Mo”

    (45, Wildwood, FL)

    Drug trafficking conspiracy

    Money laundering conspiracy

    		 10 years, 10 months’ imprisonment

    Janice Denise Anderson

    a/k/a “Butter”

    (67, Mount Dora, FL)

    Drug trafficking conspiracy

    Money laundering conspiracy

    		 10 years, 4 months’ imprisonment

    Latonya Sharee Conley

    a/k/a “Hershey”

    (47, Mount Dora, FL)

    Drug trafficking conspiracy

    Money laundering conspiracy

    		 10 years’ imprisonment

    Oveda Denise Miller

    a/k/a “Gangsta Granny”

    (62, Mount Dora, FL)

    Drug trafficking conspiracy

    Money laundering conspiracy

    		 10 years’ imprisonment

    Roland Richardson

    (65, Mount Dora, FL)

    Drug trafficking conspiracy

    Money laundering conspiracy

    		 6 years’ imprisonment

    According to court records and the evidence presented at trial, between 2017 and 2023, the DTO operated largely out of Lake County, Florida, where Poole received hundreds of shipments of methamphetamine and fentanyl from sources of supply in California, including Jose Carbajal. The drugs were transported or shipped via commercial planes and through the mail. DEA seized more than 250 pounds of drugs (mostly methamphetamine and fentanyl) during the course of the investigation.

    The defendants played various roles in the DTO, such as suppliers, distributors, couriers, and courier coordinators. The couriers would fly to California from Florida with large sums of cash to purchase drugs and transport checked luggage full of drugs back to Florida on commercial flights. The conspirators sometimes purchased tickets and checked the suitcases full of drugs or cash at the airport but did not fly on the plane. The suitcases would travel to the destination where they would be picked up by other conspirators awaiting their arrival. Nearly all the flights were between the Orlando International Airport (MCO) in Florida and the Palm Springs Airport (PSP) or the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in California. Flight records during a two-year period show more than 400 flights between California and Orlando among the various conspirators.

    The DTO also used couriers to transport large amounts of methamphetamine from Orlando to Virginia via train. In April 2022, one of these couriers was arrested at a train station in Virginia with approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine inside a suitcase.

    In addition to transporting drugs on commercial flights and trains, Poole and his associates had multiple stash houses and received hundreds of mailed packages of methamphetamine and fentanyl from California and other drugs, including fentanyl, from China. Poole’s source of supply in California (Carbajal) would ship packages that contained an average of five to ten pounds of drugs at a time. Poole would provide Carbajal various addresses to ship the drugs, including co-conspirators’ residences. Investigators identified almost 400 packages that were shipped from California as part of this conspiracy from 2019 to 2023.

    The members of this DTO also conspired with one another to engage in money laundering. Poole developed an entertainment business that he used to promote concerts with famous rap artists, whom he paid with drug proceeds. Poole then commingled the profits from the ticket sales with the drug proceeds in the same business account. Members of the conspiracy also used drug proceeds to pay for various expenses of the DTO (such as flights) or funneled the proceeds through numerous financial accounts into purchases of expensive jewelry, vehicles, residences, and payments to coconspirators.

    “This multi-state drug trafficking organization used a vast network to move methamphetamine and fentanyl to poison our communities,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “I’m proud of the way our agents and numerous law enforcement partners worked together to bring this criminal element to justice.”

    “Greed is the biggest motivation these criminal organizations know,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge of IRS – Criminal Investigation’s Tampa Field Office. “Motivated by money, they will try to place themselves above the law to the detriment of our communities. Fortunately, our agents and staff are extremely skilled at following the money to ensure these perpetrators face justice. We are proud to work alongside our partner agencies to put a stop to these dangerous drug trafficking organizations and ensure they are held accountable.”  

    This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the United States Secret Service; the Florida Department of Law Enforcement; the Orlando Police Department’s Special Enforcement Division and Crime Center and Forensics Division; the Orange County Sheriff’s Office’s including the Gang Enforcement Unit; the Florida Highway Patrol; the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office; the Casselberry Police Department; the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation; the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office; the Marion County Sheriff’s Office; the Lake County Sheriff’s Office; the Kissimmee Police Department; the St. Cloud Police Department; the Winter Park Police Department; the St. Cloud IRS Financial Crimes Task Force; and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office (California). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tyrie K. Boyer and Belkis H. Callaos.

    This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Exercise Cutlass Express 2025 Concludes in Tanzania

    Source: United States Navy

    During the exercise, which took place from Feb. 10-21, over 1000 participants from 20 partner nations supported Exercise Cutlass Express 2025 as part of a global network of partners to enhance cooperation and expertise in maritime security operations in the Western Indian Ocean.

    In Tanzania, 2 national maritime operation centers (MOCs) participated in the exercise to collaborate on real-time scenarios linked to the visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) training hosted in Tanga, Tanzania. Exercise Cutlass Express 2025 also contained linkages with the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa-led exercise Justified Accord 2025, also taking place in Tanzania, to improve coordination between land- and sea-based operations.

    “We value the TPDF’s role as a regional leader in deploying peacekeeping forces, countering violent extremist organizations, and promoting maritime security,” said Andrew Lentz Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the U.S. Embassy in Tanzania. “Through exercises like Cutlass Express, we are building the readiness of our militaries and deepening the bilateral and multilateral relationships required to confront today’s most complex security challenges.”

    Cutlass Express focuses on enabling East African partners to expand their capacity and capability to support maritime security operations and combat threats such as piracy, trafficking and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The coordination of 10 national MOCs across 8 partner nations sought to improve regional coordination, with this year being the first to feature a U.S. P-8A Poseidon aircraft to establish communication links during a Cutlass Express. VBSS training in both Tanzania and Mauritius, as well as a week-long rule of law course hosted in Seychelles, allowed partners to share and refine their tactics for interdiction operations while ensuring a legal finish to hold malign actors accountable for illicit at-sea activity.

    “Ensuring the free flow of commerce within the region, especially over critical sea lines of communication and the vast expanse of this maritime environment, is vital to the economic stability and security of the region,” said Rear Adm. David E. Ludwa, reserve director of logistics, ordnance and engineering for Navy Reserve U.S. 6th Fleet. “We must work together, deepen our partnerships, and continue to improve the quality of exercises like Cutlass Express to enhance our ability to communicate and synchronize maritime operations to collectively counter the manifold threats we face.”

    Participants in this year’s iteration of Cutlass Express spanned 5 continents and included Australia, Belgium, Comoros, Djibouti, France, Georgia, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Senegal, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania, Tunisia, and the United Kingdom.

    Cutlass Express is one of three regional maritime exercises led by U.S. 6th Fleet as part of a comprehensive strategy to provide collaborative opportunities to African forces and international partners to address maritime security concerns.

    Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners to advance U.S. national interests, security and stability in Europe and Africa.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Urgent appeal launched as DR Congo crisis fuels mass displacement to Burundi

    Source: United Nations 2

    Migrants and Refugees

    The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has launched a $40.4 million appeal to address the deepening humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and its impact on neighbouring countries, particularly Burundi, where thousands are arriving daily in desperate conditions. 

    As fighting escalates in eastern DRC, more than 40,000 Congolese refugees – primarily women and children – have crossed into Burundi since February, with over 9,000 arrivals recorded in a single day this week.

    Many are using makeshift boats to traverse the Rusizi River, a perilous crossing at the border shared by Burundi, DRC and Rwanda.

    “The escalating security situation in the DR Congo has been having a serious impact on the Burundi side. Over the past few weeks, we have observed a large number of Congolese who have been crossing into Burundi,” said Brigitte Mukanga-Eno, UNHCR’s Representative in Burundi, at a press briefing in Geneva. 

    The situation is set to worsen as hostilities move closer to Uvira, a key town near Burundi’s main official border crossing.

    A surge in displacement 

    UNHCR has welcomed the Burundian government’s decision to grant prima facie refugee status to those fleeing the conflict, ensuring immediate protection. However, the unprecedented influx is straining local resources. 

    “This is the very first time that Burundi is receiving this large number of people in a matter of a few days”, Ms. Mukanga-Eno noted. “The last one was in the early 2000s, so everyone is overwhelmed: the government, but also the humanitarian actors in the country.”

    While around 6,000 refugees have entered through Bujumbura’s official border post, the vast majority – more than 36,000 – have arrived via the Rusizi River, often in critical condition after long journeys on foot.  

    Some have walked for days. “The other day, we had a case of a woman who was transporting her children and not knowing that they were already dead”, Ms. Mukanga-Eno shared.  

    Dire conditions at reception sites 

    The government has permitted refugees to shelter temporarily at the Rugombo Stadium in open-air conditions, as well as in schools and churches. However, these sites are overcrowded and dangerously close to the border.

    “Unfortunately, the conditions for receptions are very limited,” Ms. Mukanga-Eno said. The government has allocated land to create a more sustainable settlement, but for now, people are still in schools and stadiums without adequate shelter, she explained.

    UNHCR teams on the ground report severe shortages of food, water and sanitation facilities. Cases of measles have already been detected, prompting an emergency vaccination campaign targeting children under 15. 

    She said the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has put water tanks in place, while the World Food Programme (WFP) “has also been able to deploy some food for us to make sure that we can provide hot meals to the people who are coming.”  

    Medical services are also stretched, with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) running a mobile clinic to treat refugees suffering from malnutrition, disease and trauma.

    Many people have endured extreme violence before reaching Burundi, with psychosocial support urgently needed.

    Regional displacement  

    Beyond Burundi, smaller but significant numbers of displaced people have reached other neighbouring countries.

    Since January, Uganda has registered over 13,000 arrivals, mostly through the Nyakabande transit centre. 

    In Tanzania, 53 Congolese refugees sought asylum in Kigoma on 19 February, marking the highest daily arrival figure this year. 

    UNHCR’s $40.4 million appeal aims to provide life-saving assistance to 275,000 internally displaced people in the DR Congo, as well as support a projected influx of 258,000 refugees and returnees across Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.

    “We were targeting about 58,000 people. We have already received more than 40,000,” Ms. Mukanga-Eno said, calling for urgent support from donors to prevent further suffering. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –