NewzIntel.com

Category: housing

  • MIL-OSI USA: RELEASE: Senator Mullin Slams Democrat Falsely Blaming Trump for Biden’s Disastrous Withdrawal from Afghanistan

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator MarkWayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma)

    RELEASE: Senator Mullin Slams Democrat Falsely Blaming Trump for Biden’s Disastrous Withdrawal from Afghanistan

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), a member of the Senate Armed Service Committee, responded to Democrat Senator Tim Kaine’s (D-VA) comments falsely blaming President Trump for former President Joe Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan during the confirmation hearing for Deputy Defense Secretary Nominee Stephen A. Feinberg. During his remarks, the Senator also debunked false claims on the administration’s effort to shrink the federal government, and the U.S. posture towards Russia amid peace negotiations.
    “The disastrous withdrawal came 100% from the Biden administration. And American lives were left behind, and are still dying because of it,” said Senator Mullin. “And you’re going to sit there with a straight face and try to say that it was President Trump’s fault?”

    Watch the senator’s full remarks here.
    Highlights below:
    “And then, as the Senator that just asked questions wanted to bring up the Afghanistan withdrawal. Brother, that’s very, very close to me. That hits home. And you’re going to lay the withdrawal on President Trump, and say it was his fault?”
    “The Biden administration threw out the entire withdrawal plan that the Trump administration had and decided to go their own way. And man, wasn’t that great?” 
    “And then we’re going to start talking about President Trump not calling a bully out, like Putin. Do we forget what happened in 2017 when Trump 100% told Russia to stay out of Syria, not to be involved, especially with the bombing of Assad’s own people? And when they did, President Trump, within 30 minutes, took out the airfield that they operated out of, destroyed it, and then took back the airspace, and we had the airspace in Syria all the way up until Biden took office and we gave it back to Putin.”
    “Do we want to go back to Israel and Hamas and discuss the way the Biden administration handled that? And the way they refused to call Hamas a terrorist organization, and the Houthis a terrorist organization, and Iran a terrorist organization. And you’re going to sit there with a straight face and actually say that about President Trump?”
    “Are we serious saying that President Trump isn’t willing to stand up to a bully when underneath his administration, was the only time that Russia didn’t advance into Ukraine, because [Putin] did it underneath Obama, when they took Crimea and they did it underneath Biden, because they didn’t respect him, because of the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. And every expert will tell you that.”
    “The President is bringing back hostages. He also brought back the hostage that Biden left behind, and he didn’t give up one thing to Russia, including a guy that was highly, highly considered a threat to the world… Doctor death, that we that we decided to trade for. And I’m sure you guys thought that was a good trade.” 
    “Guys, give me a break. We’re trying to advance America’s agenda and do what’s best for this country, and the American people agree with the direction we’re going.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Next Generation of Weight Loss Drugs Being Researched at UConn

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Dr. Se-Jin Lee first discovered myostatin in 1997, a protein that is part of a system of checks and balances that limits human muscle growth. That discovery launched an extensive effort in the pharmaceutical community to develop myostatin inhibitors to treat muscle diseases.

    Despite numerous drugs that were taken into clinical trials for a wide range of conditions characterized by muscle loss and weakness, the results of those trials were initially disappointing in terms of improving clinical outcome — until now.

    Three companies – Scholar Rock, Biohaven, and Roche – have been testing myostatin inhibitors in phase 3 trials in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare neuromuscular disease with devastating consequences. Based on the results of these trials, one of these companies, Scholar Rock, is now seeking FDA approval for their myostatin inhibitor, which is based on a fundamental mechanism discovered by Lee by which myostatin is regulated.

    Dr. Se-Jin Lee, joint faculty member of UConn Health/JAX.

    “I could not be more excited to see this effort now on the doorstep of finally reaching fruition,” says Lee, Presidential Distinguished Professor at UConn School of Medicine and professor at The Jackson Laboratory who consults for Biohaven.

    With the potential use of myostatin inhibitors in patients with SMA on the horizon, this is now accelerating into efforts to target myostatin for obesity.

    This effort has its origin over two decades ago with studies that Lee did showing that knocking out myostatin not only increased muscle growth but also reduced body fat. Fast forward decades later, his discovery of the power of the myostatin pathway is fueling new promising obesity drug development and clinical trial testing.

    As spotlighted in February’s Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, in which Lee’s myostatin discovery and ensuing investigations over the next three decades are featured, there are clinical trials of at least 10 drugs either underway or soon launching that target myostatin and the related protein activin A or their receptors in varied ways or with a combination of drugs, with even more clinical trials rapidly evolving.

    “Many major pharmaceutical companies as well as biotech companies are developing drugs capable of blocking this signaling pathway, as these drugs have the potential to simultaneously increase muscle mass and reduce body fat,” says Lee. “The potential indications for myostatin drug discovery are going to explode in the coming years.”

    Dr. Emily Germain-Lee, joint faculty member of UConn School of Medicine and Connecticut Children’s.

    At UConn School of Medicine Lee and his wife, Dr. Emily Germain-Lee, a physician-scientist and pediatric endocrinologist who is a professor of Pediatrics at the UConn School of Medicine and Head of Academic Affairs and Research for Endocrinology at Connecticut Children’s, are further co-investigating the underlying biologics of obesity and the potential for creating future healthier, weight loss drug options.

    Their study explorations are identifying the key tissues responsible for the regulation of obesity by myostatin and activin A and developing the most effective strategies for modulating the molecules’ signaling pathways. In 2019, they even sent mice to the International Space Station, where studies showed that blocking these molecules prevented bone and muscle loss in the mice, even in the setting of microgravity in which dramatic decreases in both bone and muscle mass typically occur. Now, they are building on their out-of-this-world research efforts to help tackle the obesity epidemic.

    Why myostatin?  

    The renewed interest in targeting myostatin for obesity coincides with the enormous success of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) obesity drugs. As effective as these drugs are in causing weight loss, one concern has been that up to 40% of that weight loss is not due to fat loss but rather due to muscle loss. Moreover, when patients discontinue these drugs, the weight that they regain is predominantly fat rather than muscle.

    The picture shows a mouse on the right with four times the normal muscle mass as a result of genetically targeting the myostatin signaling pathway. A normal mouse is shown on the left for comparison. (Taken from PLoS One 2:e789, 2007)

    As a result, there is an enormous interest in developing myostatin inhibitors to preserve muscle mass in patients receiving GLP-1 drugs. The UConn team’s research has already shown in the lab in mouse models that myostatin inhibitors cause fat loss, so they are currently examining the possibility of developing them as future obesity drugs that can also preserve muscle. The myostatin drugs work by helping muscles grow while in turn reducing fat as the muscles consume more energy.

    The UConn team’s goal is to try to find a more practical and potent solution and to offer obese patients a healthier muscle-sparing weight loss drug option with fewer side effects. Also, they believe the new-age myostatin drugs might work best if given alongside the injectable GLP-1 obesity drugs. The hope is the combination would allow for a reduction in GLP-1 doses leading to fewer untoward consequences.

    “The challenge of the obesity epidemic is widespread and one that even pediatricians face constantly,” adds Germain-Lee, who frequently sees first-hand in children the significant morbidity from obesity. She explains that “effective treatments having the least detrimental impact on the musculoskeletal system are crucial.”  As a physician-scientist with a long-term focus on both endocrine and rare disorders, particularly a rare condition in which obesity is unable to be treated by dietary measures or current therapeutics, she is very excited about the benefits that myostatin inhibitors could provide.

    In her role as director of the Scientific Center for Rare Disease at Connecticut Children’s Research Institute, Germain-Lee adds, “in addition to helping to tackle the global problem of obesity, the potential for seeing infants and children with SMA having their lives transformed by myostatin inhibitors is truly amazing.”

    February 28 marks National Rare Disease Day.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: $19.5M Commitment to Improve Public Safety in Albany

    Source: US State of New York

    February 25, 2025

    Albany, NY

    Commits $1 Million to Albany Police Department and $500,000 to Albany County Sheriff for Supplemental Safety and Enforcement Activities

    Dedicates a Record $2.4 Million Investment To Combat Gun Violence in Albany Through GIVE Initiative

    Strengthens Albany County Law Enforcement Agencies With $2.5 Million Commitment for New Technology and Equipment

    Governor Has Deployed Over $47.6 Million To Strengthen Public Safety and Law Enforcement Efforts Within City of Albany

    Build on Governor’s $400 Million Executive Budget Proposal To Revitalize Downtown Albany

    Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $19.5 million in State investments to improve public safety in Albany, including a new $1 million commitment to the City of Albany Police Department and $500,000 for the Albany County Sheriff’s Office. Governor Hochul’s announcement came after convening a roundtable with local elected officials and public safety leaders to discuss a comprehensive plan to reduce crime in the City of Albany.

    “Our State’s capital should be a vibrant, thriving city that reflects the best qualities New York has to offer,” Governor Hochul said. “By increasing investments in public safety, we’re not only strengthening local law enforcement, but also ensuring all Albany residents and businesses feel safe and secure. When New Yorkers feel safe, our cities and towns thrive and I’m committed to ensuring that Albany’s future is bright, safe and prosperous.”

    [embedded content]

    [embedded content]

    After meeting with local elected and law enforcement leaders, Governor Hochul detailed the State’s investment in the City of Albany and Albany County, administered by the State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, $47.6 million in funding has already been invested in strengthening public safety and law enforcement efforts throughout the city. Following recent investments, illegal gun seizures have increased by 170 percent and gun violence statewide has dropped by 49 percent. In Albany, crime decreased by 7 percent from January to September 2024 compared to the previous year and shootings decreased from 101 in 2020 to 52 in 2024.

    The $1.5 million investment builds on the Governor’s $47.6 million total commitment to support Albany’s city and county law enforcement since taking office. The funding will enable the City of Albany to expand resources in locations that have seen a persistent increase in crime and will supplement existing funding to expand tactics that prove most impactful in suppressing crime. By engaging, supporting and funding local law enforcement agencies and community partners; leveraging technology and data; and implementing evidence-based strategies, the State can help localities address their unique public safety needs while healing and strengthening neighborhoods and families.

    Governor Hochul’s latest public safety investment follows the recent allocation of funding for programs in Albany’s city and county including:

    • $2.4 million for GIVE Initiative
    • $2.5 million for LETech/Body-Worn Cameras
    • $2 million for SNUG Street Outreach
    • $2 million for Project RISE

    New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado said, “I’m grateful for Governor Hochul’s leadership on public safety and comprehensive approach to helping keep our communities safe and strong. These new investments will help our partners within the City of Albany and Albany County continue to drive down violence and reduce crime. We look forward to building a brighter future for all who live, work, and visit the Capital Region.”

    New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said,“The New York State Police is proud to stand alongside Governor Hochul and our local law enforcement partners in the shared mission of ensuring the safety and security of Albany’s residents. This significant investment in public safety—particularly in technology, enforcement, and crime prevention initiatives—demonstrates a firm commitment to making our communities safer. By working together, we can continue to reduce violent crime, disrupt illegal gun activity, and enhance public trust in law enforcement. The New York State Police remains dedicated to supporting these efforts and safeguarding the future of our state’s capital.”

    When New Yorkers feel safe, our cities and towns thrive and I’m committed to ensuring that Albany’s future is bright, safe and prosperous.

    Governor Kathy Hochul

    State Senator Patricia Fahy said, “Investing in our law enforcement partnerships and evidence-based gun violence prevention programming is how we combat the scourge of gun violence and crime. These investments will help Capital Region communities disrupt cycles of violence and provide law enforcement the tools they need to get the job done. Thank you to Governor Hochul for again investing in Albany and the Capital Region—I look forward to working with her, our community, and partners in law enforcement to continue making our communities safer.”

    Assemblymember John T. McDonald III said, “The Governor’s announcement for additional public safety support and resources for the Capital City of Albany is sincerely appreciated. As a former Mayor and former representative for the Capital City, I understand the importance of this commitment and the impact that it will have. When it comes to public safety, despite statistics showing crime has decreased, public perception at times trails the reality and we must be responsive to give our residents peace of mind. The dedication of additional resources to assist the Albany Police Department and Albany County Sheriff along with supporting the efforts of the City of Albany Mayor and Albany County Executive will work toward addressing the complex issues cities face at this time, especially the challenges related to those who experience homelessness and/or have mental health issues.”

    Assemblymember Gabriella A. Romero said, “Albany is a capital city that should make every New Yorker proud. We need serious investments to make that a reality. The Governor’s commitment to fund public safety and downtown revitalization is a huge step to make our city the capital we all deserve.”

    Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy said, “Public safety is a top priority for our residents, and this funding will help ensure that local law enforcement has the resources they need to tackle the violence in our community and address the root causes of crime. The City of Albany is the heart of Albany County, and by working together at the state and local level, we can create an environment where residents and visitors can confidently explore what our city has to offer. I appreciate Governor Hochul’s commitment to this issue and look forward to the positive impact this investment will have.”

    Embedded Flickr Album

    Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said, “As always I have to applaud Governor Hochul’s leadership and commitment to the residents of the City of Albany. Throughout her administration she has focused on quality of life issues people face in our city and across the state of New York. Her continued investments in public safety through GIVE, funding to train law enforcement professionals, equipment, personnel, and the state’s first crime analysis center have led to proven results. We’ve seen a reduction in crime throughout the city, we’ve seen faster response times from our law enforcement personnel and closure rates higher than the national average. Through the Governor’s $1 million investment for the City of Albany, we will continue to keep Albany safe for residents and visitors.”

    Albany Police Chief Brendan Cox said, “This funding and support marks a step forward in joint efforts to enhance the safety and security of our community. With this funding, we can strengthen our focus on community policing, fostering trust and collaboration between our officers and the neighborhoods they serve. We thank Governor Hochul for prioritizing public safety, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with our community as well as business owners to create a secure vibrant environment for everyone.”

    Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple, Sr. said, “l would like to thank the Governor for $500,000 in grant funding from New York State to continue its efforts to strengthen public safety in the City of Albany. These monies will help to provide proactive enforcements throughout the City. The Sheriff’s Office remains committed to working with our State and local partners as well as the community to improve public safety, end the cycles of violence, and eliminate the root causes of criminal recidivism.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: NHRC Helping Leaders Evaluate Command Climate: Meet the Civilian Research Team Working Towards Force Wellness

    Source: United States Navy (Medical)

    When a Navy ship or shore command is at risk or experiences adverse safety events, leaders need clear information about vulnerabilities that exist, who is most at risk and why, and what actions can be taken to prevent future incidents. Understanding how leadership, workplace cohesion and stressors influence and affect sailors’ mental and behavioral health is crucial for developing meaningful solutions to these issues.

    Civilian investigators at Naval Health Research Center developed the Rapid Response Surveillance (RRS) capability to assess these factors quickly and provide practical recommendations to Navy leaders. The multidisciplinary team is made up of researchers with expertise in psychology, public health, mixed-methods research and epidemiology, and can deploy when a command experiences an adverse event or mishap, such as suicide, or when a command is at a heightened risk for such events.

    After RRS has been requested by a command and funding is secured, the team schedules a one-week visit to conduct an anonymous and voluntary command survey as well as in-depth focus groups. The team may screen for depression, suicidal ideation, anxiety and posttraumatic stress symptoms. They ask about alcohol use, sleep habits and aggressive behavior, and assess participant’s perceptions of leadership, workplace cohesion and stressors.
    While it can be challenging to recruit enough Sailors to make the study worthwhile, the team provides incentives to participate, and works to establish trust with the participants.

    “I think the fact that we are civilian researchers is very helpful because we don’t report to their chain of command,” said Robyn Englert, the RRS team study coordinator.

    Once data collection is complete, the RRS team works quickly to analyze their findings. They take extra care to review what they have learned and develop recommendations that can be readily implemented without interfering with the command’s mission.

    Findings are presented to command leadership, and infographics, handouts and summaries are distributed to relevant departments.

    “All of the data we collect is for the purpose of trying to make realistic, specific and actionable recommendations that the command can implement to make the experiences of Sailors better,” said Dr. Jennifer Belding, who was principal investigator of RRS from 2023-2024.

    What sorts of recommendations are made? Consider a hypothetical scenario where junior enlisted personnel face significant stress due to last-minute task assignments every Friday. Perhaps these tasks are communicated with short notice, leaving them scrambling to complete their duties by the end of the day. The RRS team may dig deeper and learn that these issues are due to chiefs receiving task information on Wednesday but then being unable to relay those assignments until Friday due to their own meeting schedules. One actionable recommendation may be to move the chiefs’ meetings earlier to Monday, thus allowing for earlier communication and providing junior enlisted members additional time to complete their tasks. This change could hypothetically reduce work-related stress and lead to positive outcomes.

    “It’s little changes to leadership style, schedules or making a tweak here or there in order to ease stressors that commonly can get overlooked,” explained Englert.

    The RRS capability spawned from a similar effort the team was conducting called the Challenges of Operational Environments (COPE) study. While similar in design and approach, COPE is unique from RRS in that it seeks to understand how work-related stressors impact the mental and behavioral health of sailors throughout the different phases of a command’s life cycle.

    “We know that Navy commands go through different phases or life cycles. For example, a carrier might be stationed in the U.S. for a while, deploy, then change homeports, then visit the shipyard for repairs. We do not currently have data about how these changes impact sailors’ well-being,” said Belding.

    By identifying which stressors are associated with harmful behaviors at specific times, the team can provide commands with crucial information, allowing leaders to anticipate common stressors, potentially preventing issues like suicidal ideation, aggressive workplace behaviors and hazardous drinking. The goal is to help commands offer targeted resources and support, promoting self-care and overall well-being among their personnel.

    The COPE project stalled when COVID-19 halted travel and fieldwork; however, it gained new life when a ship experiencing adverse events requested assistance. Despite initial travel restrictions, the team eventually conducted a rapid response assessment, administering surveys and conducting focus groups. They briefed the ship’s command on their findings within six weeks, which marked the birth of the RRS capability. The swift assessment and feedback proved invaluable, and word began to spread about this unique capability.

    Over the past year, RRS has supported five commands, four of which have requested the team conduct a reassessment as well. Even better, command leaders are sharing their experiences with other commands who might need support.

    “The way that people are getting information about this capability is through word of mouth because of positive experiences,” said Belding. “I think that is a success story.”

    The COPE study will continue to observe personnel aboard two aircraft carriers over a two- to three-year period. The data collected will be used to develop a predictive model of harmful behaviors among sailors over various phases of the ship’s life cycle. The team’s hope is that this model will prove a powerful tool in suicide prevention as well as benefit sailors’ overall readiness and performance.

    NHRC supports military mission readiness with research and development that delivers high-value, high-impact solutions to the health and readiness challenges our military population faces on the battlefield, at sea, on foreign shores and at home.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, 17 Colleagues Lead Bipartisan Resolution Supporting Ukraine on Third Anniversary of Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    February 24, 2025

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, on Monday joined 17 of his Senate colleagues in supporting a bipartisan resolution acknowledging the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The resolution expresses the U.S. Senate’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while condemning Russia’s illegal aggression and attempts to seize Ukrainian territory. It also commends NATO, the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, and the international community for their continued efforts to support Ukraine’s defense and the protection of human rights on its territory; recognizes Ukraine’s democratic progress during wartime; and emphasizes Ukraine’s right to be included in any discussions with Russia about its future.
    U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) also cosponsored the resolution.
    Full text of the resolution can be found HERE and below:
    RESOLUTION acknowledging the third anniversary of Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine and expressing support for the people of Ukraine.
    Whereas, on February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale, unprovoked, and illegal invasion of Ukraine, which followed Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its illegal occupation of parts of the Donbas region in 2014;
    Whereas the international community recognizes the sovereignty and full territorial integrity of Ukraine within the 1991 borders; and
    Whereas the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the people of Ukraine have demonstrated a determined resistance that has prevented Russia from taking control of their country: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate—(1) expresses continued solidarity with the people of Ukraine and condolences for the loss of tens of thousands of Ukrainian people to Russian aggression;
    (2) rejects Russia’s attempts to militarily seize sovereign territory in Ukraine and elsewhere in Europe;
    (3) reaffirms the support of the United States for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine;
    (4) commends NATO, the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, and the international community for their continued efforts to support Ukraine’s defense and the protection of human rights on its territory;
    (5) supports Ukraine’s aspirations to integrate into Euro-Atlantic structures;
    (6) recognizes Ukraine’s efforts to strengthen its democracy during wartime;
    (7) encourages the transatlantic community to continue to denounce Russia’s illegal and unprovoked war in Ukraine and counter Russian aggression; and
    (8) emphasizes that Ukraine must be a partici2 pant in discussions with the Russian Federation 3 about Ukraine’s future.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Colleagues Denounce President Trump’s Unlawful Transfer Of Immigrants To Guantánamo

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, joined Democratic leaders of the Senate Judiciary and Appropriations Committees in sending a letter to President Trump denouncing his transfer of immigrants from the United States to the detention center at Guantánamo Bay as unlawful and asking for answers to basic questions yet to be provided to Congress.
    “We write to object to your illegal and unjustified transfers of immigrants from the United States to the detention center at Naval Station Guantánamo Bay, which follows your directive to the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security to prepare the base to hold tens of thousands of noncitizens. These actions are unprecedented, unlawful, and harmful to American national security, values, and interests,” the senators wrote. “The United States has never sent anyone from the United States to be detained at Guantánamo before now.”
    On the unlawful and unjustified nature of the directive, the senators wrote: “There is no basis in U.S. immigration law for transferring noncitizens arrested inside the United States to a location outside of the United States for detention prior to or for the purposes of conducting removal proceedings. Noncitizens inside the United States are entitled to numerous protections under U.S. immigration law and the U.S. Constitution. For example, removal processes under our immigration laws afford noncitizens due process and an opportunity to seek protection from removal to a place where they could face persecution or torture. These rights cannot be extinguished by transfer to a location outside the United States. Simply put, if the processes for obtaining a lawful removal order have not been followed, the forcible removal of a noncitizen to Guantánamo violates U.S. immigration law.”
    They continued: “Individuals in civil immigration detention have a right to access counsel under ICE detention standards, and immigration laws governing removal proceedings. Impeding access to counsel for detained immigrants also may violate the Constitution in some circumstances. In addition, individuals in immigration detention may have appeal or other review rights  and cannot be held indefinitely,  and the only effective means by which a detained individual could assert these rights would be through access to counsel.”
    On the Trump Administration’s false claim that only high-risk immigrants are detained, the senators wrote: “While no noncitizen should be sent from the United States to Guantánamo, it also appears that your Administration’s claims that it was sending ‘worst of the worst’ there are misleading. Public reporting indicates that noncitizens who DHS deemed low risk were sent to Guantánamo. In response to inquiries from Judiciary Committee staff, your Administration has even left open the possibility that families, including children, will be detained at Guantánamo, stating that future decisions regarding detention would be made on a ‘case-by-case basis.’”
    The senators concluded: “Your efforts to house or detain noncitizens forcibly removed from the United States at the MOC and the Camp 6 law of war detention facilities at Guantánamo are cruel, unlawful, and unprecedented. Such hasty and unlawful actions will cause harms to the United States for years to come. As those familiar with the long history of operations at Guantánamo can tell you, detaining individuals there is not a quick fix. Congress has not appropriated funds for such purposes for good reason. Given the isolated location of the base, its controversial history, and the lack of legal authority to detain noncitizens there, continuing down this path will invite more litigation, drain resources, place undue strain on our servicemembers, diminish military readiness, undermine support from our allies, and harm our standing in the world.”
    U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) also signed the letter.
    Full text of the letter is available HERE and below:
    Dear President Trump: We write to object to your illegal and unjustified transfers of noncitizens from the United States to the detention center at Naval Station Guantánamo Bay, which follows your directive to the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security to prepare the base to hold tens of thousands of noncitizens. These actions are unprecedented, unlawful, and harmful to American national security, values, and interests.
    The United States has never sent anyone from the United States to be detained at Guantánamo before now. More than three decades ago, the base was used temporarily to house sudden influxes of migrants from Haiti and Cuba who were interdicted at sea by the U.S. Coast Guard. Since then, the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have jointly provided housing and other services for a small number of migrants interdicted at sea at the Migrant Operations Center (MOC). Operations supporting even this limited number of migrants have proven challenging and there have been serious concerns regarding the living conditions of the MOC and insufficient access to basic legal rights and services.
    There is no basis in U.S. immigration law for transferring noncitizens arrested inside the United States to a location outside of the United States for detention prior to or for the purposes of conducting removal proceedings. Noncitizens inside the United States are entitled to numerous protections under U.S. immigration law and the U.S. Constitution. For example, removal processes under our immigration laws afford noncitizens due process and an opportunity to seek protection from removal to a place where they could face persecution or torture. These rights cannot be extinguished by transfer to a location outside the United States. Simply put, if the processes for obtaining a lawful removal order have not been followed, the forcible removal of a noncitizen to Guantánamo violates U.S. immigration law.
    Moreover, U.S. immigration law does not provide authority to detain noncitizens after their removal from the United States following a final order of removal. Immigration custody authority is based on immigration enforcement powers to seek and execute a removal order. Once an individual with a removal order departs the United States and arrives in a location outside the United States, the removal order has been executed. After that point, there is no basis under immigration law to retain custody of the individual. In addition, individuals in civil immigration detention have a right to access counsel under ICE detention standards, and immigration laws governing removal proceedings. Impeding access to counsel for detained noncitizens also may violate the Constitution in some circumstances. In addition, individuals in immigration detention may have appeal or other review rights and cannot be held indefinitely, and the only effective means by which a detained individual could assert these rights would be through access to counsel.
    Based on information provided to the Judiciary Committee and in court filings, we are concerned that your Administration did not consider these serious legal concerns or have any plan to address them prior to transferring noncitizens from the United States to Guantánamo. In response to the Judiciary Committee’s inquiry regarding how noncitizens will access counsel once on the base, DHS stated, “Removable aliens housed will be those with final orders pending removal.” This suggests that noncitizens with final orders of removal do not need access to counsel, which is inaccurate. After individuals and legal organizations filed suit seeking access to the noncitizens, the Department of Justice filed a brief arguing that these noncitizens’ constitutional rights were not violated, because, though they did not have a right to meet with attorneys in person under the circumstances, other means of communicating with counsel, such as by telephone, were available. Yet just the day before, when the Judiciary Committee requested details regarding how noncitizens being held at Guantánamo could contact counsel when granted access to a phone, DHS did not know what, if any, procedures were in place to notify them of their rights or provide them with contact information for legal services. Your Administration’s actions and these responses raise serious legal concerns and call into question what effort, if any, was put into ensuring that the transfer of noncitizens complied with applicable laws and regulations.
    While such clarification should be unnecessary, we must also emphasize that there is no colorable argument that noncitizens, including those convicted, accused, or suspected of crimes or criminal associations, can be held in law of war detention or in Department of Defense custody, whether at Guantánamo or anywhere else. The law of war detention facility at Guantánamo has been used to hold alleged members of al Qaeda and “associated forces” in connection with the armed conflict between the United States and these groups following the 9/11 attacks. While these detention operations have been the subject of significant controversy and criticism, these detainees have all been captured abroad and detained pursuant to the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force and Section 1021 of the FY 2012 National Defense Authorization Act.
    While no noncitizen should be sent from the United States to Guantánamo, it also appears that your Administration’s claims that it was sending “worst of the worst” there are misleading. Public reporting indicates that noncitizens who DHS deemed low risk were sent to Guantánamo. In response to inquiries from Judiciary Committee staff, your Administration has even left open the possibility that families, including children, will be detained at Guantánamo, stating that future decisions regarding detention would be made on a “case-by-case basis.”
    Your efforts to house or detain noncitizens forcibly removed from the United States at the MOC and the Camp 6 law of war detention facilities at Guantánamo are cruel, unlawful, and unprecedented. Such hasty and unlawful actions will cause harms to the United States for years to come. As those familiar with the long history of operations at Guantánamo can tell you, detaining individuals there is not a quick fix. Congress has not appropriated funds for such purposes for good reason. Given the isolated location of the base, its controversial history, and the lack of legal authority to detain noncitizens there, continuing down this path will invite more litigation, drain resources, place undue strain on our servicemembers, diminish military readiness, undermine support from our allies, and harm our standing in the world.
    We urge you to heed these lessons, follow the law, refrain from any further expansion of facilities, and cease transferring noncitizens to Guantánamo. To inform our oversight of this situation, please answer the following questions by March 10, 2025:
    What is your Administration’s claimed legal authority for transporting noncitizens from the United States to the Naval Station at Guantánamo Bay? Relatedly, what is your claimed legal basis for detaining noncitizens there, whether at the MOC, JTF-GTMO, or other facilities?
    What are your Administration’s criteria for determining which noncitizens would be sent to Guantánamo?
    Will you definitively state that families and children will not be sent to Guantánamo?
    For what crimes, if any, were the individuals previously sent to Guantánamo convicted? Were individuals provided with representation in their criminal proceedings?
    To what legal processes and rights does your Administration consider individuals sent to Guantánamo to be entitled, including relative to individuals in immigration detention inside the United States and individuals currently housed at the MOC?
    How will your Administration ensure that these rights, such as access to counsel and administrative and judicial review, are upheld given the restricted access to Naval Station Guantánamo Bay?
    How many ICE personnel are stationed at the MOC? How many are stationed at Camp 6?
    What are the projected costs of expanding the MOC and any other operations or actions associated with the transfer of noncitizens to or from Naval Station Guantánamo Bay? How much have the actions already taken cost U.S. taxpayers and how does that compare to the cost of detaining immigrants inside the U.S.? What is the source of funding for these efforts?
    What impact will these operations and expenditures have on military readiness and availability of funds for immigration detention and enforcement inside the United States?
    How does your Administration plan to ensure the facilities meet required standards of care for housing, food, medical care, security, sanitation, education, employment, and the like for both detained noncitizens and U.S. military personnel at the base, given the already deteriorated state of facilities at the base? What contingency plans do you have in place for weather conditions or other emergency situations?
    How does your Administration plan to ensure that Congress and the American people, including the press and civil society, have access to information regarding these operations, including who is, was, or will be detained there and under what conditions and authorities?
    What is your long-term objective and strategy for these detentions, including your plan for individuals for whom repatriation or resettlement may not be feasible?
    Reporting indicates that in one case, you have brought a noncitizen you had transferred to Guantánamo back to the United States. Is this true? If so, why, and under what authorities?
    We look forward to your prompt response.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Budget Bill passed

    Source: Scottish Government

    Parliament approves spending plans.

    The 2025-26 Scottish Budget has been approved by Parliament, including £21.7 billion for health & social care and more than £15 billion for local councils, alongside social security measures supporting an estimated two million people.

    The Budget invests:

    • £21.7 billion in health and social care services, including almost £200 million to cut waiting times and help reduce delayed discharge
    • £6.9 billion in social security, expected to support around two million people in 2025‑26
    • £4.9 billion in climate-positive investment
    • more than £7 billion for infrastructure
    • more than £2 billion for colleges, universities and the wider skills system
    • an additional £25 million to support the Grangemouth Industrial Cluster, taking total investment to almost £90 million

    Finance Secretary Shona Robison said:

    “I am pleased that Parliament has approved the Scottish Government’s Budget – confirming plans to invest in public services, lift children out of poverty, act in the face of the climate emergency and support jobs and economic growth.

    “This is a Budget by Scotland for Scotland. It includes record NHS investment, social security spending to put money in the pockets of low income families and action to effectively scrap the two-child benefit cap next year. We are delivering a universal winter heating payment for the elderly, providing record funding for local government and increasing investment in affordable housing.

    “This Budget has been developed through effective engagement and negotiation across Parliament to build broad support. It is through this compromise that we are delivering spending plans that will most effectively strengthen services and support Scotland’s communities.” 

    Background 

    Scottish Budget 2025 to 2026

    Budget (Scotland) (No. 4) Bill

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: ‘Political courage’ needed to end war in the Middle East: Top UN envoy

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Peace and Security

    A sustainable resolution to the war in Gaza and the broader Israel-Palestine conflict relies on political courage from all sides, the top UN official for the Middle East Peace Process said on Tuesday.

    Briefing ambassadors in the Security Council, Special Coordinator Sigrid Kaag emphasised that peace in the Middle East is possible.

    “We can achieve a future where a safe and secure Israel exists alongside a viable and independent Palestinian State. This requires continued, concerted effort, dedication and political courage by all parties,” she said.

    She urged Council members to ensure Gaza remains an integral part of a future Palestinian State, and that the enclave and the West Bank including East Jerusalem are unified politically, economically and administratively.

    At the same time, she said there should be no long-term Israeli military presence in Gaza – although Israel’s legitimate security concerns must be addressed.

    Four key asks

    “We need to commit to ending the occupation and a final resolution of the conflict based on UN resolutions, international law and previous agreements,” Ms. Kaag said, outlining four priorities.

    These include sustaining the ceasefire agreement while securing the release of all hostages and preventing escalation in the West Bank, where violence continues to rise.

    There must be reform of the Palestinian Authority which governs the West Bank and clarity on its role in post-war Gaza; and the mobilisation of financial and political backing to rebuild the shattered enclave.

    Both sides must ‘fully honour’ ceasefire deal

    Ms. Kaag welcomed the release of 30 Israeli and foreign nationals held in Gaza as part of the ceasefire deal – and a further four bodies of those deceased –  reiterating that all remaining hostages must be released unconditionally.

    She condemned Hamas’ treatment of hostages, including reports of ill-treatment and public displays under duress, demanding that access must be given immediately to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to those still captive.

    On the Palestinian side, she noted that 1,135 prisoners and detainees have been released, though reports of ill-treatment during detention remained concerning.

    She also updated the Council on humanitarian efforts, noting that aid deliveries had increased since the ceasefire took effect on 19 January and that medical evacuations from Gaza to Egypt began on 1 February.

    “The resumption of hostilities must be avoided at all costs. I call on both sides to fully honour their commitments to the ceasefire deal and conclude negotiations for the second phase,” she said.

    UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

    Sigrid Kaag, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Ad Interim, briefs the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East.

    Rebuilding Gaza

    Highlighting the scale of destruction, Ms. Kaag cited an assessment by the World Bank, EU, and UN, which estimated that $53 billion will be needed for recovery and reconstruction.

    Arab states are leading discussions on rebuilding, with Egypt set to host a reconstruction conference.

    “The UN is ready to support reconstruction efforts. Palestinian civilians must be able to resume their lives, to rebuild, and to construct their future in Gaza. There can be no question of forced displacement,” she said.

    Situation in the West Bank

    While international attention is focused on Gaza, Ms. Kaag warned that violence is escalating in the West Bank, amid Israeli military operations, settler violence and severe movement restrictions.

    “I am alarmed by the killing of a pregnant woman and young children during these operations. Such incidents must be thoroughly investigated and those responsible held accountable,” she said.

    She also reported Israel’s advancement of plans for 2,000 new housing units, the continued expansion of settlements and the accelerated eviction and demolition.

    “These developments along with continued calls for annexation, present an existential threat to the prospect of a viable and independent Palestinian State and thereby the two-State solution,” Ms. Kaag warned.

    Regional situation

    Beyond Gaza and the West Bank, Ms. Kaag also addressed both Lebanon and Syria, which have been drawn in and destabilised by the Israel-Hamas-Hezbollah conflict.

    She welcomed the formation of a new Government in Lebanon, calling it an opportunity for stability and urging the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 to prevent further escalation.

    In southwest Syria, Ms. Kaag expressed concerns over violations of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement, urging all parties to uphold their commitments.

    More to follow…

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Free, unlimited access to Think Deeper and Voice announced

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Free, unlimited access to Think Deeper and Voice announced

    We launched Copilot two years ago, focused on helping people access knowledge, get answers, reflect, brainstorm and create. As we continue to build your ultimate AI companion, today we’re excited to start rolling out even more powerful capabilities to all Copilot users with free, unlimited access to Voice and Think Deeper (powered by Open AI’s

    We launched Copilot two years ago, focused on helping people access knowledge, get answers, reflect, brainstorm and create. As we continue to build your ultimate AI companion, today we’re excited to start rolling out even more powerful capabilities to all Copilot users with free, unlimited access to Voice and Think Deeper (powered by Open AI’s o1 model). Now you can have an extended conversation with Copilot using Voice and take advantage of Think Deeper’s advanced reasoning models to tackle more complex questions or tasks, anytime. Try it today.

    We are seeing a lot of excitement for Voice and Think Deeper and we know many of you have been hitting limits. This should help. And if you haven’t tried some of these experiences yet, there has never been a better time.

    Use Voice to practice a few simple phrases in a new language to help you navigate when visiting a new country or meeting new people, tell Copilot about a job you’re applying for and your work experience and ask it to mock interview you, or get some hands-free cooking advice as you follow a new recipe step by step.

    Think Deeper is helpful for tackling more complex topics like making a big purchase, assessing the future value of a home renovation or planning a career move. Here are some prompt ideas to get you started:

    • Compare the best electric cars. I usually prioritize design and comfort, and I want to feel like my purchase is ‘future-proof’. Make a novel scoring system to help me with my assessment.
    • I have $15K to use on a home renovation. I’m deciding between a kitchen island, updated bathroom, or replacing the roof. What would increase the value of my home more over the next 3 years?
    • I live in a neighborhood that has power outage every time there is high wind. Should I buy a generator? What are the pros and cons, things I should consider, and impact to my budget, and convenience.

    We are working hard to scale unlimited access to advanced features to as many people as possible, as quickly as possible, starting today with Voice and Think Deeper. It’s worth noting you may experience delays or interruptions during periods of high demand or if we detect security concerns, misuse or other violations of the Copilot Terms.

    Copilot Pro users will retain preferred access to our latest models during peak usage, early access to experimental AI features (more on that coming soon), and additional use of Copilot in select Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

    Thank you to everyone using Copilot and sharing feedback! Your input on what works and what needs improvement helps us make Copilot better and do more for everyone. We love hearing from you, so keep the feedback coming.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How Nutriset, a French company, has helped alleviate hunger and create jobs in some of the world’s poorest places

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Nicolas Dahan, Professor of Management, Seton Hall University

    Michel Lescanne, founder and president of the French company Nutriset, holds Plumpy’nut packets in 2005. Robert Francois/AFP via Getty Images

    About 19 million children under 5 around the world suffer from severe acute malnutrition every year. This life-threatening condition kills 400,000 of them – that’s one child every 10 seconds.

    These numbers are staggering, especially because a lifesaving treatment has existed for nearly three decades: “ready-to-use therapeutic food.”

    Nutriset, a French company, was founded by Michel Lescanne. He was one of two scientists who invented this product in 1996. A sticky peanut butter paste branded Plumpy’nut, it’s enriched with vitamins and minerals and comes in packets that require no refrigeration or preparation.

    Health care professionals were quickly convinced of its promise. What was harder to figure out was how to manufacture as many packets as possible while cutting costs. In 2008, ready-to-use therapeutic food producers like Nutriset charged US$60 for one box of 150 packets – the number needed to treat one severely malnourished child for the 6-8 weeks needed for their recovery.

    In a study we published in the Journal of Management Studies in October 2024, we explained how the international agencies, nongovernmental organizations, activists and for-profit companies involved in the product’s distribution managed to resolve a public controversy over the use of Nutriset’s patent and its for-profit business model.

    Contrary to the expectations of activists and many humanitarian NGOs, this for-profit company managed to reduce its prices down to $39 per box of Plumpy’nut packets by 2019 and keep them consistently lower than any nonprofit or for-profit competitors could, all the while enforcing its patent rights.

    We interviewed Jan Komrska, a pharmacist then serving as the ready-to-use therapeutic food procurement manager at UNICEF, the United Nations agency for children; Tiddo von Schoen-Angerer, a pediatrician who was leading the access to medicines campaign at Doctors Without Borders, a medical charity; and Thomas Couaillet, a Nutriset executive. We also studied documents issued over the course of a decade to find out why this company’s unusual approach to intellectual property protection was so successful.

    Helping franchisees in low-income countries get started

    Nutriset and humanitarian organizations disagreed at the start over how to proceed with the production of ready-to-use therapeutic food.

    Doctors Without Borders at first accused Nutriset of behaving like a big drugmaker, shielding itself from competition by aggressively enforcing its patents to charge excessively high prices. The nongovernmental organization demanded that Nutriset allow any manufacturer to make its patented packets, without any compensation for that intellectual property.

    By 2012, Nutriset had changed course. It had stopped being almost the sole producer of ready-to-use therapeutic food and instead allowed licensees and franchisee partners, chiefly located in low-income countries, to make the packets without having to pay any royalties. It did, however, make an exception for the United States. It allowed Edesia, a Rhode Island-based nonprofit, to become a Nutriset franchisee.

    It also provided these smaller producers with seed funding and technical advice.

    Nutriset is still the world’s largest ready-to-use therapeutic food producer, we have determined through our research. It’s responsible for about 30% to 40% of the world’s annual production, down from more than 90% in 2008.

    There are some other U.S. manufacturers, such as Tabatchnick Fine Foods, but they aren’t Nutriset partners.

    Nutriset produced this video in 2012 to explain the scale of hunger around the world and how its ready-to-use therapeutic food packets can help.

    Threatening legal action

    At the same time, the company continued to threaten to take legal action against potential rivals located in developed countries that were replicating their recipe without authorization. Usually, cease-and-desist letters were sufficient.

    Nutriset implemented this strategy to ward off competition from big multinational corporations that might try to establish their brands in new markets, gaining a foothold before flooding them with imported ultraprocessed food. A big risk, had that occurred, would have been less breastfeeding for newborns and the disruption of local diets.

    Nutriset’s strategy of opening access to its patent selectively has enabled UNICEF to double the share of packets it buys from producers located in the Global South.

    UNICEF, the world’s biggest buyer of ready-to-use therapeutic food, bought less than one-third of its supplies from those nations in 2011. That share climbed to two-thirds in 2022.

    Nutriset’s reliance on local franchisees has helped create over 1,000 jobs in hunger-stricken regions while strengthening the supply chain and reducing the carbon emissions of transportation, according to UNICEF.

    Nutriset’s creative patent strategy also helped its partner producers in low-income countries, which include nonprofit and for-profit ventures, compete with large corporations in developed countries by the time its patent expired in 2018.

    In this instance, a for-profit company not only managed to keep its prices lower than its competitors, including nonprofits, but used its patent to support economic development in developing countries by shielding startup producers from international competition.

    As a result of these successes, we found that nongovernmental organizations eventually stopped criticizing the French company and recognized that high prices were actually not due to Nutriset’s patent policy but rather to global prices of the packets’ ingredients.

    In recognition of its contributions and innovation, Nutriset won the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Patents for Humanity Award in 2015.

    Offering a cheap, convenient and effective treatment

    One of the biggest advantages of ready-to-use therapeutic food is that parents or other caregivers can give it to their kids at home or on the go. That’s more convenient and cheaper than the alternative: several months of hospitalization where children receive a nutrient-dense liquid called “therapeutic milk.”

    The at-home treatment works most of the time. More than 80% of the children who get three daily food packets recover within two months.

    Severe acute malnutrition deaths remain high because historically only 25% to 50% of children suffering from it get treated with ready-to-use therapeutic food, due to insufficient funding. The treatment programs are run by governments, UNICEF and other international agencies, and NGOs such as Doctors Without Borders.

    USAID’s funding role

    The U.S. government spent about $200 million in 2024 through the U.S. Agency for International Development on ready-to-use therapeutic food, enough packets to treat 3.9 million children. That’s nearly as much as UNICEF, which treats about 5 million children annually.

    It’s unclear whether the Trump administration, which is trying to dismantle USAID, will discontinue its funding of ready-to-use therapeutic food that the U.S. government has purchased exclusively from U.S. manufacturers with U.S.-sourced ingredients.

    At a time when the flow of development aid from several wealthy countries is declining, the precedent Nutriset set suggests that humanitarian organizations, by teaming up with international agencies, governments and for-profit companies, can help drive down the costs of saving lives threatened by hunger while increasing the nutritional autonomy of the Global South.

    But the funding for ready-to-use therapeutic food and its distribution has to come from somewhere, whether it is from governments, foundations or other donors.

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

    – ref. How Nutriset, a French company, has helped alleviate hunger and create jobs in some of the world’s poorest places – https://theconversation.com/how-nutriset-a-french-company-has-helped-alleviate-hunger-and-create-jobs-in-some-of-the-worlds-poorest-places-249258

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: AutoScheduler.AI Exhibits AI-Enhanced Warehouse Orchestration at ProMat 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AutoScheduler.AI, an innovative Warehouse Orchestration Platform and WMS accelerator, will exhibit its award-winning platform at ProMat 2025 in Booth E11539. AutoScheduler booth visitors will learn how to maximize labor utilization, eliminate dock congestion, and optimize automation for peak efficiency.

    “Many supply chains struggle with uncoordinated workflows, unpredictable labor needs, and automation inefficiencies that increase costs and reduce productivity,” says Keith Moore, CEO of AutoScheduler.AI. “These challenges result in dock congestion, labor shortages, data silos, and disconnected automation. With AutoScheduler, companies gain optimum real-time workflows, leading to a fully optimized operation. Our solution prioritizes tasks instantly to streamline operations and improve bottom-line profits.”

    At booth #E11539, AutoScheduler.AI will be showcasing how AI-powered orchestration transforms operations to:

    • Boost labor efficiency and reduce costs
    • Level-load automation for maximum ROI
    • Eliminate dock congestion and streamline workflows

    AutoScheduler is hosting a Happy Hour on March 18. To register for the Happy Hour, visit:
    https://info.autoscheduler.ai/asi_promat_happyhour_2025?utm_campaign=8721832-ProMat%202025&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_xiCihisd_9vNdl3SN6-aLu3tLSqAG3A7iBB0kDUuTSC-M54VRGE4af6aGAmGMmVBzbiim

    ProMat 2025 will showcase the world’s leading manufacturing and supply chain solution providers at McCormick Place in Chicago on March 17 – 20, 2025. In over 200 educational sessions, attendees will gain insights on the leading trends and innovations from thought leaders, see leading solution providers in action, and network with peers and suppliers from around the world to create strong business relationships.

    To schedule a meeting with AutoScheduler executives at the booth, visit: https://info.autoscheduler.ai/asi_promat_2025?utm_campaign=8721832-ProMat%202025&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-853U5Bi9-MNkact1dnl6IiojyVgAnRAlpBaYBSSKAkavYzn8MP3ccg3vhj4Tz1UtNQY5EU

    About AutoScheduler.AI

    AutoScheduler.AI empowers you to take full control of your warehouse with a cloud-based solution that seamlessly integrates with your existing WMS/LMS/YMS or any other solution. We automate critical tasks like labor scheduling, dock management, and task sequencing, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. You’ve already invested in the software to run your warehouse—what we do is provide the orchestration layer that ties it all together to make real-time data driven decisions. With AutoScheduler.AI, you get smart orchestration for a smarter, more agile warehouse. For more information, visit: http://www.autoscheduler.ai.

    Contact:
    Becky Boyd
    MediaFirst PR
    Becky@MediaFirst.Net
    Cell: (404) 421-8497 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Fannie Mae Announces 2024 STAR Program Results

    Source: Fannie Mae

    WASHINGTON, DC – Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTCQB) today announced its 2024 Servicer Total Achievement and Rewards (STAR ) Program results, recognizing 29 mortgage servicers for competency, capability, and overall performance. For more than a decade, Fannie Mae’s STAR Program has awarded high-performing mortgage servicers for their loan volume and portfolio composition, and for demonstrating leading practices to improve the housing industry.

    “We’re proud of this year’s top-performing STAR Program servicers who are critical partners in our mission to provide stability to borrowers based on strong servicing standards,” said Cyndi Danko, Senior Vice President and Single-Family Chief Credit Officer, Fannie Mae. “Our servicers continue to show their commitment to operational excellence while reducing credit loss – a crucial component to the overall safety and soundness of Fannie Mae’s business and the residential mortgage market.”

    Since 2011, Fannie Mae’s STAR Program has enabled broad and lasting improvements across the mortgage servicing industry by promoting servicing knowledge and excellence. The program has seen sustained servicer improvement in both metric performance and operational assessment results year over year.

    For the 2024 program year, mortgage servicers were evaluated for STAR Performer recognition in three categories: General Servicing, Solution Delivery, and Timeline Management based on the results of the Servicer Capability Framework and STAR Performance Scorecard.

    The 2024 STAR Program recipients are:              

    General Servicing

    • Associated Bank
    • Cenlar Federal Savings Bank
    • Colonial Savings
    • Fifth Third Bank, N.A.
    • Gateway First Bancorp, Inc
    • Guild Mortgage Company
    • PHH Mortgage Corporation
    • JPMorgan Chase Bank
    • M&T Bank
    • Truist Bank
    • The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
    • Provident Funding Associates, L.P.
    • University Bank
    • Wells Fargo & Company

    Solution Delivery

    • Flagstar Bank, National Association
    • Rocket Mortgage, LLC

    Timeline Management

    General Servicing and Solution Delivery

    • Arvest Bank
    • Bank of America, N.A.
    • BOK Financial Corporation
    • Dovenmuehle Mortgage, Inc.
    • Freedom Mortgage Corp.
    • Planet Home Lending, LLC
    • Regions Bank
    • Servbank
    • ServiceMac
    • The Huntington National Bank

    General Servicing and Timeline Management

    • NewRez, LLC

    General Servicing, Solution Delivery, and Timeline Management

    • Mr. Cooper

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How the Victorians started the modern health obsession with collagen

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Michelle Spear, Professor of Anatomy, University of Bristol

    Dream79/Shutterstock

    Shimmering, wobbling and painstakingly prepared, jelly was a staple of elite Victorian dining tables. But beneath its elegant presentation lay a deeper significance – one that reveals much about the era’s understanding of bone, health and scientific progress.

    By examining what jelly meant to the Victorians, we gain a fascinating insight into how food, science, and social status were entwined, and why our modern fascination with bone broth and collagen supplements is nothing new.

    To the Victorians, food was not merely sustenance but spectacle, and few dishes displayed culinary prowess as effectively as jelly.

    The ability to produce a flawless, quivering mould showed not only a cook’s technical skill but also a household’s refinement and affluence. A beautifully set table featuring jewel-toned jellies and savoury aspics signified sophistication, wealth and control over one’s domestic sphere.

    Despite its seemingly effortless appearance, jelly was among the most labour-intensive dishes a Victorian cook could prepare. Before the advent of commercially available gelatin, creating the perfect jelly required hours of patient work, beginning with the extraction of gelatin from animal bones.

    Beneath the quivering surface of a Victorian jelly lies a remarkable structural conversion that begins deep within bone.

    The key to jelly is collagen, the most abundant protein in the body and a fundamental component of bone. Collagen provides bone with tensile strength and flexibility, working alongside hydroxyapatite, a crystalline form of calcium phosphate, which lends bone its rigidity.

    In its natural state, collagen exists as a tightly wound triple-helix structure – a molecular arrangement that resists breakdown under normal conditions. However, through prolonged exposure to heat and water, this resilient protein undergoes hydrolysis, breaking apart into gelatin — a substance capable of setting liquids into the delicate, tremulous form so prized by the Victorians.

    The process begins with the slow simmering of bones, a practice familiar to both culinary and medical traditions.

    When bones are boiled in water over extended periods, heat disrupts the hydrogen bonds stabilising the collagen fibrils, causing them to unravel. This process, known as thermal denaturation, leads to the gradual breakdown of collagen’s highly ordered triple helix, transforming it into smaller, soluble protein fragments.

    The longer the bones are boiled, the more collagen dissolves, releasing a rich, proteinaceous broth — the precursor to both gelatin and the contemporary trend of bone broth, a healthy soup made by boiling animal bones.

    As hydrolysis progresses, collagen loses its fibrous structure, forming a loose network of protein chains that remain suspended in the liquid. Unlike intact collagen, which is rigid and insoluble, these denatured fragments possess the unique ability to trap water molecules within a gel matrix when cooled.

    This transformation is the defining characteristic of gelatin: once heated, it dissolves readily into a liquid, but upon cooling, the reformation of weak intermolecular bonds allows it to set into a flexible, semi-solid state.

    The final stages of gelatin extraction involve purification and clarification. Victorian kitchens employed traditional methods of refining the broth, often using egg whites to bind to impurities, which were then skimmed from the surface. Once sufficiently clarified, the liquid was left to cool, allowing the gelatin to set into its characteristic wobbly structure.

    Unlike modern commercial gelatin, which undergoes industrial processing for uniformity and ease of use, Victorian gelatin varied in strength and purity depending on the bones used and the duration of boiling.

    Some bones yielded a stronger gelatin than others, influencing both its setting properties and clarity. Calves’ feet were among the most prized sources, rich in collagen and capable of producing a firm, well-setting jelly.

    In contrast, ox bones, though commonly used for broths, contained less collagen and required prolonged boiling to extract enough gelatin, often resulting in a weaker set.

    Boiling time was critical in determining gelatin strength. A long, slow simmer (12–24 hours) was optimal. Shorter boiling times, often used for poultry or lighter broths (and lighter bones), resulted in weaker gelatin. However, overboiling (beyond 24–36 hours) risked breaking down the protein structure too much, preventing the gelatin from setting properly.

    Collagen and health

    The link between gelatin and bone health was not lost on Victorian society. Medical texts of the period frequently recommended gelatin-rich broths for invalids, children, and the elderly, reinforcing the belief that consuming gelatin could replenish and strengthen the body’s own systems.

    This intuitive logic mirrors contemporary claims that bone broth supports joint health, digestion and skin elasticity. However, while broth provides collagen and minerals, scientific evidence for its direct functional benefits remains limited.

    Collagen from food is broken down during digestion and does not directly restore cartilage or connective tissue. Despite its nutrient content, bone broth is no more beneficial than other protein sources, with its resurgence driven more by slow food and wellness trends than firm scientific backing.

    In many ways, the gelatinous dishes that graced Victorian dining tables were as much a product of scientific curiosity as they were of culinary tradition. The transformation of bone into jelly encapsulated an era fascinated by both anatomy and domestic mastery, offering a rare but not exclusive intersection between the dinner table and the laboratory.

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

    – ref. How the Victorians started the modern health obsession with collagen – https://theconversation.com/how-the-victorians-started-the-modern-health-obsession-with-collagen-249215

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Barragán Introduce Bicameral Bill to Codify DOJ’s Office of Environmental Justice

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla, Barragán Introduce Bicameral Bill to Codify DOJ’s Office of Environmental Justice

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-Calif.-44) introduced bicameral legislation to permanently codify the Office of Environmental Justice within the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). The Empowering and Enforcing Environmental Justice Act follows Attorney General Pam Bondi’s recent order eliminating all environmental justice efforts at the DOJ on her first day as Attorney General.
    Bondi’s directive followed President Trump’s executive order dismantling all Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives across federal agencies. As a result, programs designed to combat pollution in communities of color, indigenous communities, and low-income areas were effectively shut down. The Trump Administration also terminated several ENRD attorneys responsible for prosecuting environmental violations, including cases like the Volkswagen emissions scandal and the East Palestine train derailment.
    “The Trump Administration’s systematic elimination of environmental justice efforts completely abandons millions of Americans whose communities have suffered from toxic pollution for decades,” said Senator Padilla. “Every federal agency has a responsibility to provide justice to these communities, and I remain committed to guaranteeing clean air and water for all. Our legislation would ensure that the Department of Justice holds polluters accountable for environmental crimes and works directly with communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis to rectify longstanding environmental harms.”
    “The Trump Administration’s elimination of environmental justice safeguards at DOJ is a gift to corporate polluters. It has left communities of color and low-income communities vulnerable to disproportionate pollution and harm, with no protection,” said Congresswoman Barragán. “Our bill reestablishes and permanently codifies the Office of Environmental Justice to protect impacted communities and ensure polluters face accountability. No community should bear the health consequences of environmental injustice.”
    The legislation will strengthen efforts at the Department of Justice to enforce environmental laws, hold polluters accountable, and support state and local environmental enforcement capacity. The Empowering and Enforcing Environmental Justice Act would also authorize $50 million in annual grant funding to assist state and local governments with their own environmental enforcement efforts.
    During the Biden Administration, Padilla and Barragán introduced a version of this bill, which led to the DOJ establishing the Office of Environmental Justice. This office undertook the responsibilities that the lawmakers outlined in their original bill. Padilla has since led an appropriations push to provide $1.4 million annually to this office.
    The Main Functions of the Environmental Justice Office include:
    Developing and updating the environmental justice strategy for the DOJ
    Promoting the right of the public to participate in DOJ’s environmental justice work and mission
    Providing support to state and local governments on how to address environmental justice issues
    Funding $50 million in annual grants to boost local and state agency capacity to hold polluters accountable
    Managing a Senior Advisory Council made up of different components at DOJ to advise the Natural Resource Division’s Assistant Attorney General on matters of environmental justice
    In the Senate, the Empowering and Enforcing Environmental Justice Act is cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). In the House, the legislation is cosponsored by Representatives Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.-03), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.-01), Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas-30), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.-01), Tim Kennedy (D-N.Y.-26), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.-08), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.-07), LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.-10), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.-AL), Dina Titus (D-Nev.-01), and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.-12).
    Senator Padilla is a champion for ensuring all communities can breathe clean air and drink clean water in California and across the country, including through improved enforcement on environmental violations. In addition to calling for the establishment of the Office of Environmental Justice, Padilla outlined recommendations to former Attorney General Merrick Garland to strengthen its environmental justice program to advance the nation’s environmental justice goals. Padilla has also called on the Department of Justice to improve enforcement of environmental laws in the Central District of California and explain their policy regarding the use of non-prosecution agreements that spare corporate polluters of criminal liability, specifically in communities in the Los Angeles area, which are severely impacted by multiple sources of pollution.
    Last year, Senator Padilla helped secure $216.5 million the Inflation Reduction Act for 15 California projects to advance local, on-the-ground projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and strengthen workforce development. Following multiple pushes from Padilla, the EPA proposed to add the Exide Technologies – Vernon site, located in Vernon, California, to the Superfund National Priorities List last year. Padilla also applauded the EPA’s release of the strongest national greenhouse gas standards in history for heavy-duty vehicle emissions to begin in model year 2027, protecting environmental justice communities following a series of efforts he led.
    Full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: New York Foreign Press Center Briefing on Strategic Deterrence and the U.S. Air Force Bomber Force

    Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

    New York Foreign Press Center Briefing on Strategic Deterrence and the U.S. Air Force Bomber Force, on February 19, 2025.

    Transcript: https://www.state.gov/briefings-foreign-press-centers/strategic-deterrence-and-the-us-air-force

    The mission of the Foreign Press Centers is to assist foreign media in their coverage of the United States by providing firsthand access to both government and non-government experts to gain a deeper understanding of U.S. politics, history, values, and culture. The views expressed by briefers not affiliated with the Department of State or U.S. government are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of State or the U.S. government. Participation in Foreign Press Center programming by briefers not affiliated with the Department of State or U.S. government does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation of their views.
    ———-
    Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.

    The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.

    Get updates from the U.S. Department of State at www.state.gov and on social media!
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/statedept
    X: https://x.com/StateDept
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/statedept
    Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/statephotos/

    Subscribe to the State Department Blog: https://www.state.gov/blogs
    Watch on-demand State Department videos: https://video.state.gov/
    Subscribe to The Week at State e-newsletter: http://ow.ly/diiN30ro7Cw

    State Department website: https://www.state.gov/
    Careers website: https://careers.state.gov/
    White House website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/
    Terms of Use: https://state.gov/tou

    #StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XN927AKMEz4

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: TRA proposes keeping measures on organic coated steel from China

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    TRA proposes keeping measures on organic coated steel from China

    The TRA has recommended extending anti-dumping and countervailing measures on organic coated steel imported from China until 2029.

    The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has today (Tuesday 25 February) published initial findings, proposing that anti-dumping and countervailing measures on organic coated steel (OCS) imported from China be maintained for an additional five years, until May 4, 2029.  

    In its Statements of Essential Facts (SEF), the TRA found that dumping and subsidisation would likely recur if the measures were removed, potentially causing injury to UK industry. The measures have been largely effective, usually keeping Chinese imports below 1,000 tonnes annually since 2013. Tata Steel UK (TSUK) is the sole producer of OCS in the UK, manufacturing it at the Shotton facility in North Wales. TSUK contributes approximately £222 million to the UK economy annually, including sales of OCS, and employs around 8,100 people across all its operations. 

    OCS is used to maintain the durability of various structures, especially in the construction industry, as well as in metal furniture, heating and ventilation ducting and casings and in several domestic appliances.  

    Current anti-dumping duties on Chinese OCS imports range from 5.9% to 26.1% while countervailing duties range from 13.7% to 44.7%, depending on the exporter. 

    Businesses that may be affected by these findings can submit comments to the TRA by 18 March 2025 and can do so through the TRA’s public file.

    Notes to editors 

    • The Trade Remedies Authority is the UK body that investigates whether new trade remedy measures are needed to counter unfair import practices and unforeseen surges of imports.  

    • Trade remedy investigations were carried out by the EU Commission on the UK’s behalf until the UK left the EU. A number of EU trade remedy measures of interest to UK producers were carried across into UK law when the UK left the EU and the TRA has been reviewing these to assess whether they are suitable for UK needs. 

    • Anti-dumping duties allow a country or union to act against goods which are being sold at less than their normal value – this is defined as the price for ‘like goods’ sold in the exporter’s home market. 

    • Countervailing, or subsidy duties counteract imports being subsidised by their place of origin that cause material injury to a domestic industry.  

    • This transition review was initiated on 15 April 2024, examining data from the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, with injury assessment covering 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2024.  

    • The Statement of Essential Facts (SEF) represents the TRA’s interim findings. All interested parties can submit comments before the TRA makes its final recommendation to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Crisis in the DRC: what’s happening?

    Source: United Nations – Peacekeeping

    This backgrounder was written by Lesley Myers, Editor for UN peacekeeping’s Strategic Communications team. Lesley is a political analyst and strategic planner with over 15 years’ experience in data-driven politics, development, and peacekeeping.

     

     

     

    There’s a crisis happening in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that has led to immense human suffering, displacement, and a deepening humanitarian crisis. It has also sparked fears of a broader, regional war.  

    What’s happening?  

    In January, the M23 armed group rapidly advanced into North Kivu province in DRC’s east, reinforced with troops and equipment from Rwanda’s armed forces, the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF). The M23 has taken control of Goma, a trade hub with a population of over two million people, and the capital of DRC’s North Kivu province. In its latest push, the M23 has now moved into South Kivu province, capturing its capital city, Bukavu, and reports of heavy fighting continue. 

    The ongoing fighting has left thousands dead and hundreds of thousands displaced,  deepening the country’s already catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Civilians are facing shortages of food and water, overwhelmed hospitals, and a growing use of rape and sexual violence as a weapon of war. They are impeding the movement of UN personnel and obstructing humanitarian corridors as civilian casualties continue to rise.  

    The human rights situation has also deteriorated significantly, with documented cases of forced recruitment, looting of displacement sites, and searches of hospitals and homes by M23 in search of both soldiers and civilians who they perceived to be opposed to their group. 

     

    Who are the M23? 

    The M23 are an armed group that  emerged in 2012 amidst tensions between countries in the region, supported by the RDF. They have been accused of war crimes and human rights violations, and have been sanctioned by the UN for committing serious violations of international law involving the targeting of women and children in situations of armed conflict in the DRC including killing and maiming, sexual violence, abduction, and forced displacement.  

    At the time, the group violently seized territory in eastern DRC but were successfully repelled by the DRC’s national army, the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, as well as international pressure on Rwanda.  

    However, in 2021, regional tensions reached new heights, triggering a re-emergence of the M23. The group has been progressively taking control of territories in eastern DRC, establishing a parallel administration and levying “taxes” on local populations, while mass killings and rape continue to be reported.  

    The M23’s resurgence has also contributed to the militarization of mining sites in eastern DRC, which is exceptionally rich in natural resources critical to making electronics like cell phones and electric cars.  

     

    What is UN Peacekeeping doing?  

    MONUSCO has been protecting vulnerable populations and unarmed Congolese defense forces who have sought refuge in its premises. The United Nations Joint Human Rights Office receives daily requests for individual protection from social actors who face threats of reprisals from the M23. 

    MONUSCO is also supporting demining efforts, and working to protect human rights defenders, journalists, and members of civil society organizations.  However, the M23 is severely restricting MONUSCO’s freedom of movement, hampering MONUSCO’s ability to fulfill these critical tasks. 

    Other UN organizations like the World Food Programme (WFP) and World Health Organization (WHO), the UN aid coordination office (OCHA), and  UN’s Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF), are also working to provide life-saving assistance to communities in need. 

     

    What’s next?  

    Long-term peace requires a political solution at the regional level. MONUSCO’s leadership is engaging in diplomatic efforts to push for peace. The UN and the Security Council have called on Rwanda to end its support for the M23 and withdraw its forces from the DRC. The UN Secretary-General has called on both countries to remain engaged in peace talks to bring an end to the violence. 

     

    Why have UN peacekeepers been in DR Congo for 65 years? Learn more here. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Stronger consumer protections coming for people in B.C.

    Proposed amendments to consumer protection laws in B.C. will crack down on predatory sales practices and ensure people are better protected when making new purchases. 

    “For too long, people in B.C. have faced unfair contract terms and predatory sales practices on everyday items,” said Niki Sharma, Attorney General. “These new amendments will better protect people from unfair business practices in an increasingly complex marketplace.”

    The proposed legislative changes modernize the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act (BPCPA) to reflect contemporary business practices. The amendments are designed to promote contract fairness and transparency and to strengthen consumer rights.

    Key proposed changes in the legislation will:

    • require businesses to provide important contract terms up front, including improved remedies for consumers related to renewal, cancellation, return and refund policies, particularly for online orders, bringing more transparency to pre-purchase contracts;
    • introduce notification requirements for automatic subscription renewals and restrict significant contract changes without the customer’s consent;
    • prohibit contract terms that restrict participation in class-action lawsuits, restrict consumer reviews or require private arbitration for disputes;
    • ban direct sales of high-cost household products, such as air conditioners and furnaces, and prohibit offering credit as part of a direct sale, reducing the risk of predatory sales tactics;
    • provide clearer pathways for consumers to cancel contracts under specified conditions; and
    • give consumers the ability to use the Civil Resolution Tribunal to adjudicate disputes under the BPCPA.

    “Our office hears from seniors who have fallen victim to scams and purchased an item or service they didn’t need due to high-pressure sales tactics,” said Dan Levitt, B.C. seniors advocate. “Many older British Columbians live on fixed incomes and take great care with their finances. Therefore, giving seniors and others space to review contracts in advance and prohibiting home sales will reduce the opportunities for older people to buy products and services they don’t need and can’t afford.”

    The amendments were developed based on public and stakeholder engagement to ensure that B.C.’s most vulnerable consumers, including seniors, newcomers and people with lower incomes or disabilities, are aware of their rights and are protected.

    The Province will continue to work with Consumer Protection BC and stakeholders to support a smooth transition to the changes and provide businesses with reasonable time to adjust their practices to meet the new requirements.

    Learn More:

    For more information about consumer protections for people in British Columbia, visit: https://www.consumerprotectionbc.ca/

    To read the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act, visit: https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/04002_00

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The UK farmer protests you probably haven’t heard about

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Alex Heffron, PhD Candidate in Geography, Lancaster University

    Fruit pickers and farm workers protesting labour abuses on British farms. Peter Marshall

    Farm owners have besieged parliament with tractors in order to protest new subsidy schemes and inheritance tax arrangements. The farm workers who milk cows, drive machinery and pick crops have grievances too, yet their demands have been less publicised. So, what do they want?

    I am a farmer based in the south-west of Wales and a researcher of farming policy. I recently joined a protest by a group of Latin American farm workers known as “Justice is Not Seasonal”, outside the Home Office in London.

    The group accused soft fruit supplier Haygrove, which operates farms on three continents and supplies veg box delivery schemes including Riverford and Abel and Cole, of presiding over poor living and working conditions, failing to pay workers and charging inflated flight costs for overseas workers. Haygrove has an annual turnover in excess of £50 million.

    Haygrove denies these allegations. In response to a case brought forward by the trade union United Voices of the World and the charity Anti Trafficking and Labour Exploitation Unit, the Home Office has made an interim decision stating there are reasonable grounds that one of the affected workers, Julia Quecaño Casimiro, has been subjected to human trafficking and modern slavery.

    The case tribunal is due to be held soon although it has been a slow, arduous process reaching this point.

    In an article for the BBC, a spokesperson for Haygrove said that Casimiro’s claims were “materially incorrect and misleading”. Haygrove’s practices are audited by third-party organisations including the Home Office, and the company takes “great care” in ensuring fair recruitment and working processes, the spokesperson said.

    Various trade unions and organisations attended the protest, including the Landworkers’ Alliance, United Voices of the World, Independent Workers’ union of Great Britain, Unite and Solidarity Across Land Trades.

    Conspicuously absent was the National Farmers’ Union, which predominantly represents farm owners. This highlights the divergent class interests that exist within terms like “farmer”.

    More workers and more exploitation

    There are 160,000 UK farm workers (as opposed to owners and managers). Of these, some of the most gruelling agricultural work is done by around 45,000 seasonal migrant workers, either in fields in all weather or in the sweltering heat of polytunnels.

    The UK attracts migrant farm workers with six-month temporary visas. A United Nations special rapporteur, Tomoya Obokata, an expert in human rights law and modern slavery, has suggested that the UK is breaking international law with its seasonal work scheme by failing to investigate instances of forced labour. Claims of exploitation and bullying on UK farms are also becoming more common. Meanwhile, in an effort to appease farm managers, the UK government recently announced a five-year extension of this scheme.

    Food and farming organisations have urged the UK to produce more fruit and vegetables as part of a wider shift towards a less carbon-intensive food system.

    To scale up domestic production will require more workers harvesting crops in poor conditions, especially migrant workers who don’t have the same legal rights as British citizens.

    Seasonal migrant workers, for example, cannot bring family members to the UK and have no access to benefits, while their visas are often tied to one place of work which typically includes accommodation which leaves them particularly vulnerable to abuse. A call for increased labour, without a call for improved conditions, could mean more exploitation on British farms.

    Exploitation is not limited to the allegations of a few bad apples either. It is so widespread that it threatens the resilience of the UK’s food system.

    A recent report found that more than half of migrants at risk of labour abuse work in the food system. A more resilient food supply will require better working conditions, pay and housing for workers in this sector, the report concludes.

    Higher prices don’t mean better welfare

    It’s tempting to ask consumers to pay more for their food so that farm workers might earn more. However, higher prices are no guarantee of better conditions. Leaving aside rising inflation and stagnating wages which make it harder for consumers to buy ethically, organic farms already sell produce at a premium and some are also among those accused of mistreating workers.

    This is even a problem among small-scale organic food producers, as documented by Solidarity Across Land Trades. A report by this land worker’s union found that some small farms use bogus traineeships to justify paying workers as little as £1.41 per hour. This is despite the produce usually being sold for more than conventional supermarket prices.

    Greener diets depend on increased fruit and vegetable production.
    Framarzo/Shutterstock

    The structural problems of the food system are more complicated than the price consumers pay for food. There is also the question of who gets to be heard, who is valued and who is deemed worthy of rights and dignity when food production takes place under a system of class-based exploitation. These challenges cannot be solved at the checkout alone.

    The ecological crisis demands transitions away from diesel-powered machinery and chemical fertilisers and herbicides produced with fossil fuels. Farm workers are needed to carry out the transition towards more sustainable practices, but there will be no green transition unless these workers have a stake in it.

    This idea of “a just transition” has gained traction in recent years, and it is just as relevant to farmers and farm workers as it is to workers in other sectors, such as oil and gas. But what might it look like?

    The demands made by Justice Is Not Seasonal are a good place to start: an end to forced labour and exploitation on UK farms and full accountability for those responsible, fair wages and safe working conditions, residency rights and access to justice and remediation.

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

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

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

    – ref. The UK farmer protests you probably haven’t heard about – https://theconversation.com/the-uk-farmer-protests-you-probably-havent-heard-about-249414

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Mexico’s drug corruption has more to do with US demand than crooked politicians

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Nathaniel Morris, Honorary Lecturer in the Department of History, UCL

    The US president, Donald Trump, asserted in early February that Mexican drug-trafficking organisations have an “intolerable alliance” with the government of Mexico. His remarks have cast a pall over bilateral relations already strained by recent talk of tariffs and military interventions.

    Although the two nations have sometimes clashed in the past, Mexico is today a close US ally. It is America’s top trading partner, with two-way commerce totalling US$807 billion (£640 billion) in 2023. And joint US-Mexican anti-narcotics collaborations stretch back nearly a century.

    Trump’s accusation was, therefore, as unexpected as it was explosive. It has brought figures from across the Mexican political spectrum together in condemnation of what Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, called “baseless slander”.

    The Mexican government is, on paper, a resolute enemy of the drug trade. However, the undeniable existence of drug-related corruption in Mexico means the reality is a little more complex.

    Since the birth of the Mexico-US drug trade in the early 20th century, certain government officials have turned a blind eye to the activities of drug traffickers in exchange for bribes. This “indirect” government involvement in the drug trade has always been by far the most prevalent form of drug-related corruption in Mexico.

    From the 1930s onwards, political bosses, police chiefs and military commanders in Mexico’s so-called “golden triangle” states of Sinaloa, Durango and Chihuahua taxed illicit opium production in the areas under their authority.

    They also sabotaged anti-drugs campaigns waged by other branches of government, in order to avoid conflict with their constituents and take a cut of their profits. Similar intrigues took place in the key trafficking hubs on the US-Mexico border, like Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez and Nuevo Laredo.



    Read more:
    How the ‘Mexican miracle’ kickstarted the modern US–Mexico drugs trade

    Over the second half of the 20th century, Mexican and US drug enforcement efforts created an ever-more profitable black market. Low-level corruption accompanied the expansion of drug production and trafficking south into other areas of Mexico like Nayarit, Michoacán and Guerrero.

    Nowadays, the indirect involvement of local representatives of the Mexican government in the drug trade has become a fact of life in such places. But zones of drug production or trafficking still constitute only a fraction of Mexico’s total territory. This means corrupt local officials comprise a tiny minority of the overall government workforce.

    There are, however, also cases in which higher-level representatives of the Mexican state – or even entire government institutions – have participated directly in the production, transport or sale of illegal drugs.

    Such cases are relatively rare. But, they are inherently higher profile than the more routine, “looking the other way” kind of corruption. They are, therefore, more likely to make headlines in the US and from there inform popular and even national political discourse.

    The earliest such case is probably that of revolutionary military commander Esteban Cantú. Between 1915 and 1920, Cantú constructed a powerful political regime and funded important local development projects in the northern state of Baja California. He did so by taxing the import, sale and production of smoking opium first legally and then, when President Venustiano Carranza banned the practice, illegally.

    High-level official involvement in the drug trade became more frequent as the trade itself became ever more illicit and profitable. In 1940, Sinaloa governor Rodolfo Loaiza cut a series of deals with the up-and-coming drug trafficking organisations of his native state. An attempt to double-cross them cost Loaiza his life in 1944.

    Around the same time, political campaign manager Carlos Serrano looked to regional drug smugglers to help fund Miguel Alemán’s successful run for the presidency. Serrano was rewarded with command of the newly created, US-backed Federal Directorate of Security (DFS) secret police force. He soon used this position to move directly into opium trafficking himself.

    After US president Richard Nixon declared a “war on drugs” on both sides of the border in 1971, increasing crackdowns provided more opportunities for the same Mexican officials charged with enforcing prohibition to cut deals with traffickers. Resulting squeezes on supply also caused prices to soar and made such deals increasingly lucrative for government officials.

    By the mid-1980s, the DFS had become so deeply immersed in the drug trade that several of its agents were implicated in the Guadalajara Cartel’s murder of US Drug Enforcement Administration agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena. The agency was disbanded soon after.

    But US demand for drugs continued unabated through the 1990s and into the 21st century. The profits offered by involvement in the drug trade proved hard to resist for a select number of high-ranking government officials, including members of the federal cabinet and state governors.

    Even Genaro García Luna, the architect of Mexico’s modern “war on drugs” ended up on the take. He is now serving 38 years in a US prison for colluding with Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán’s Sinaloa Cartel.

    Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán being led away by Mexican law enforcement personnel after his arrest in 2014.
    Octavio Hoyos / Shutterstock

    An ‘intolerable alliance’?

    The indirect involvement of Mexican government officials remains far more common than direct or institutional involvement in the drug trade.

    Such corruption is largely opportunistic, rather than systematic, which is why it remains concentrated in areas where drug production and trafficking are particularly prevalent. It is also not limited to the Mexican side of the border. Plenty of crooked American cops and politicians have cut deals with traffickers over the years, too.

    Trump’s recent attacks on the Mexican government are not an accurate diagnosis of a uniquely Mexican problem. They are more of a headline-grabbing shot across the bows in the context of the renegotiation of many different aspects of the US-Mexico relationship.

    In the end, the issue of drug-related corruption in Mexico has less to do with its own government and more to do with American society’s own insatiable demand for drugs. Crackdowns on the cartels inevitably cause the price of drugs to rise, increasing the temptation of Mexican officials to try and grab a piece of the pie.

    As a businessman like Trump should be able to see, it’s not government corruption that drives the US-Mexican drug trade, but the iron laws of supply and demand.

    Nathaniel Morris has previously received funding from the Leverhulme Trust, the Arts and Humanities Research Council and University College London for research that has fed into this article. He is also a member of Noria Research.

    – ref. Mexico’s drug corruption has more to do with US demand than crooked politicians – https://theconversation.com/mexicos-drug-corruption-has-more-to-do-with-us-demand-than-crooked-politicians-249991

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why Trump really wants Ukraine’s minerals – China has put theirs off limits

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dafydd Townley, Teaching Fellow in International Security, University of Portsmouth

    Donald Trump is demanding reparations from Ukraine for the assistance that it has given to Kyiv during the Russian invasion. Trump has demanded Ukraine sign a US$500 billion (£394 billion) deal that would give the US access to, and revenue from, Ukraine’s rare and critical minerals, an essential resource in 21st century economy.

    Trump has said that this would form part of a repayment of the aid given by the US to Ukraine. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has so far refused to sign such an agreement stating that the aid was a grant and not a loan, as agreed by Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden and the Republican-controlled Congress.

    A key reason behind Trump’s push for this mineral deal is the US reliance on rare minerals such as gallium, which is critical for advanced defence technologies but is not readily available domestically.

    China, a leading supplier of gallium, has used its control over the resource as leverage against the US. It has imposed a ban on rare minerals being exported to the US, as part of its retaliation to increased US tariffs on Chinese goods.

    Other minerals are crucial for military technology such as missile system, electronics and electric vehicles. In Ukraine, there are deposits for 22 of the 34 minerals identified by the European Union as critical.

    The problem for the US is that China currently accounts for a high proportion of certain crticial mineral imports.

    So Trump sees a resolution to the Ukraine war as an opportunity to secure alternative sources of critical minerals, reducing US dependency on China and allowing Trump to take a more aggressive approach towards it. He also may not have predicted that China would hit back against the US tariffs with restrictions on these vital resources quite so quickly.

    Gallium is valued by the defence manufacturing industry because it is reliable and durable. In particular, the element is seen as a crucial tool enhancing radar, satellite communication systems, and electronic warfare systems. It is also used in multi-chip modules utilised by navigation and air traffic control systems.

    In addition to gallium, Ukraine has vast resources of graphite, an element that is used in the construction of electric vehicles and nuclear reactors, and a third of Europe’s supply of lithium, which is used in batteries.

    Trump’s focus on critical minerals has also influenced his interest in Greenland which possesses significant reserves of critical minerals, making it a potential alternative to Chinese-controlled resources.



    Read more:
    Trump’s Greenland bid is really about control of the Arctic and the coming battle with China

    Which minerals does Trump want?

    Why is China so important?

    Trump’s concern over China is also driving his negotiations with Russia more generally. One of Trump’s core concerns is China’s partnership with Russia. There is no doubt that China is now the dominant force in the Sino-Russian alliance.

    Given the increasing cooperation between the two nations in military, economic, and technological areas, Trump believes that China’s influence in global affairs needs to be countered aggressively. The Trump administration has sought to undermine the alliance by softening the US’s approach to Russia, a move that has shocked European leaders.

    Trump has long viewed China as the major threat to the US, considering it their biggest economic rival and a significant obstacle to making America “great again”.

    His economic policies have targeted Chinese trade practices, supply chain dependencies and geopolitical manoeuvres. One of his key trade advisers has argued American businesses are at a disadvantage from China’s state-controlled economy, intellectual property theft and trade imbalance.

    The recent tariffs imposed by the US on hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of Chinese imports, were intended to make US products more competitive by driving up the cost of Chinese imports, thereby encouraging businesses and consumers to buy domestic goods instead.

    At the same time, Trump sought to weaken China’s export economy by making it more difficult for Chinese companies to sell goods in the US. His tariff policies extended beyond China, with similar measures being considered for Europe.

    By targeting multiple regions, Trump aimed to shift global supply chains and solidify the US as a manufacturing powerhouse. By ending the war in Ukraine, Trump believes the US can redirect funds and resources used in Europe toward countering China’s growing influence.

    Trump has tried to justify the tariffs on China by claiming Chinese manufacturers are responsible for the mass production of fentanyl, which is then trafficked into the US through various channels. Trump has proposed stricter measures to curb the flow of fentanyl, including sanctions and tariffs on Chinese firms allegedly involved in its production.

    Following China’s retaliation, Trump needs peace in Ukraine and the consequential mineral agreement with Kyiv before China’s ban on exports to the US affects critical US manufacturing. Such an agreement would then allow him to take an even more aggressive posture with China with fewer consequences.

    However, Zelensky recently claimed that Russia has taken control of 20% of Ukraine’s minerals since the invasion. And it’s possible it will be years before any American investor gets any return on their money due to a chronic lack of investment in Ukraine’s minerals sector for almost a decade.

    Even if Trump does get the deal he wants, he will have to wait a while before Ukraine’s minerals will fulfil all of the US’s needs.

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

    – ref. Why Trump really wants Ukraine’s minerals – China has put theirs off limits – https://theconversation.com/why-trump-really-wants-ukraines-minerals-china-has-put-theirs-off-limits-250546

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘I thought about escaping every day’: how survivors get out of Southeast Asia’s cybercrime compounds – Scam Factories podcast, Ep 3

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Gemma Ware, Host, The Conversation Weekly Podcast, The Conversation

    Every day that he was locked up in a scam compound in Southeast Asia, George thought about how to get out. “We looked for means of escaping, but it was hard,” he told The Conversation.

    George, whose name has been changed to protect his identity, managed to secretly contact a rescue organisation in Myanmar, where he was being held. That set in motion a chain of events that would eventually lead to his freedom, but it would take months before he made it back home to his family in Uganda.

    Hundreds of thousands of people like George are estimated to have been caught up in the brutal scamming industry in Southeast Asia, many forced into criminality against their will.

    Scam Factories is a podcast series from The Conversation Weekly taking you inside these brutal fraud compounds. It accompanies a series of multimedia articles on The Conversation.

    In our third and final episode, Great Escapes, we find out the different ways people manage to escape and at what costs, what it takes for them to get home, and what is being done to clamp down on the industry.

    The Conversation collaborated for this series with three researchers: Ivan Franceschini, a lecturer in Chinese Studies at the University of Melbourne; Ling Li, a PhD candidate at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, and Mark Bo, an independent researcher.

    They’ve spent the past few years researching the expansion of scam compounds in the region for a forthcoming book. They’ve interviewed nearly 100 survivors of the compounds, analysed maps and financial documents related to the scam industry and tracked scammers online to find out how these compounds work.

    Read an article by Ivan Franceschini and Ling Li which accompanies this episode.

    The Conversation contacted all the companies mentioned in this multimedia series for comment, except Jinshui who we could not contact. We did not receive a response from any of them.

    This episode was written and produced by Gemma Ware, with assistance from Mend Mariwany and Katie Flood. Leila Goldstein was our producer in Cambodia and Halima Athumani recorded for us in Uganda. Hui Lin helped us with Chinese translation. Sound design by Michelle Macklem and editing help from Ashlynee McGhee and Justin Bergman.

    Newsclips in this episodes are from CNA, Reuters and Al Jazeera English.

    Listen to The Conversation Weekly podcast via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed or find out how else to listen here.

    Mark Bo, an independent researcher who works with Ivan Franeschini and Ling Li, is also interviewed in this podcast series. Ivan, Ling, Mark, and others have co-founded EOS Collective, a non-profit organisation dedicated to investigating the criminal networks behind the online scam industry and supporting survivors.

    – ref. ‘I thought about escaping every day’: how survivors get out of Southeast Asia’s cybercrime compounds – Scam Factories podcast, Ep 3 – https://theconversation.com/i-thought-about-escaping-every-day-how-survivors-get-out-of-southeast-asias-cybercrime-compounds-scam-factories-podcast-ep-3-250673

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Crisis in the DRC: What is it about?

    Source: United Nations – Peacekeeping

    This backgrounder was written by Lesley Myers, Editor for UN peacekeeping’s Strategic Communications team. Lesley is a political analyst and strategic planner with over 15 years’ experience in data-driven politics, development, and peacekeeping.

     

     

     

    There’s a crisis happening in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that has led to immense human suffering, displacement, and a deepening humanitarian crisis. It has also sparked fears of a broader, regional war.  

    What’s happening?  

    In January, the M23 armed group rapidly advanced into North Kivu province in DRC’s east, reinforced with troops and equipment from Rwanda’s armed forces, the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF). The M23 has taken control of Goma, a trade hub with a population of over two million people, and the capital of DRC’s North Kivu province. In its latest push, the M23 has now moved into South Kivu province, capturing its capital city, Bukavu, and reports of heavy fighting continue. 

    The ongoing fighting has left thousands dead and hundreds of thousands displaced,  deepening the country’s already catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Civilians are facing shortages of food and water, overwhelmed hospitals, and a growing use of rape and sexual violence as a weapon of war. They are impeding the movement of UN personnel and obstructing humanitarian corridors as civilian casualties continue to rise.  

    The human rights situation has also deteriorated significantly, with documented cases of forced recruitment, looting of displacement sites, and searches of hospitals and homes by M23 in search of both soldiers and civilians who they perceived to be opposed to their group. 

     

    Who are the M23? 

    The M23 are an armed group that  emerged in 2012 amidst tensions between countries in the region, supported by the RDF. They have been accused of war crimes and human rights violations, and have been sanctioned by the UN for committing serious violations of international law involving the targeting of women and children in situations of armed conflict in the DRC including killing and maiming, sexual violence, abduction, and forced displacement.  

    At the time, the group violently seized territory in eastern DRC but were successfully repelled by the DRC’s national army, the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, as well as international pressure on Rwanda.  

    However, in 2021, regional tensions reached new heights, triggering a re-emergence of the M23. The group has been progressively taking control of territories in eastern DRC, establishing a parallel administration and levying “taxes” on local populations, while mass killings and rape continue to be reported.  

    The M23’s resurgence has also contributed to the militarization of mining sites in eastern DRC, which is exceptionally rich in natural resources critical to making electronics like cell phones and electric cars.  

     

    What is UN Peacekeeping doing?  

    MONUSCO has been protecting vulnerable populations and unarmed Congolese defense forces who have sought refuge in its premises. The United Nations Joint Human Rights Office receives daily requests for individual protection from social actors who face threats of reprisals from the M23. 

    MONUSCO is also supporting demining efforts, and working to protect human rights defenders, journalists, and members of civil society organizations.  However, the M23 is severely restricting MONUSCO’s freedom of movement, hampering MONUSCO’s ability to fulfill these critical tasks. 

    Other UN organizations like the World Food Programme (WFP) and World Health Organization (WHO), the UN aid coordination office (OCHA), and  UN’s Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF), are also working to provide life-saving assistance to communities in need. 

     

    What’s next?  

    Long-term peace requires a political solution at the regional level. MONUSCO’s leadership is engaging in diplomatic efforts to push for peace. The UN and the Security Council have called on Rwanda to end its support for the M23 and withdraw its forces from the DRC. The UN Secretary-General has called on both countries to remain engaged in peace talks to bring an end to the violence. 

     

    Why have UN peacekeepers been in DR Congo for 65 years? Learn more here. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Recidivist Sex Offender Is Sentenced To 14+ Years For Possession Of Child Sexual Abuse Material

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    The Defendant Was on Federal Supervised Release for A 2016 Federal Conviction for Similar Offenses Involving Material Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of Children

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Lenoir, N.C. man was sentenced today to a total of 169 months in prison and a lifetime term of supervised release for possession and access with intent to view child sexual abuse material (CSAM) while on federal supervised release, announced Lawrence J. Cameron, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Joshua Lynn Cook, 40, was also ordered to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison. The Court further ordered Cook to pay $17,000 in special assessments pursuant to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018.

    Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, joins Acting U.S. Attorney Cameron in making today’s announcement.

    “Despite prior convictions and strict court supervision, Cook broke the law once again and revictimized children by accessing and possessing horrific material depicting their sexual abuse,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Cameron. “Cook’s sentence reflects the consequences awaiting those who continue to ignore the law and harm vulnerable children.”

    “This federal prison sentence reinforces the message; the FBI and our partners will not tolerate the victimization of children. We will continue to meticulously investigate these crimes, which cause irreparable harm and trauma to innocent victims,” said Special Agent in Charge DeWitt.

    According to court documents, Cook was on federal supervised release for a 2016 federal conviction for transportation, receipt, and possession of CSAM. Under the terms of Cook’s federal supervision, he was not permitted to own an electronic device capable of accessing the internet, including a cell phone. Cook was also subject to periodic home inspections by the U.S. Probation Office (USPO) to ensure compliance with his probationary terms. Court records show that, on February 8, 2024, during a home inspection, USPO found Cook in possession of an unauthorized phone in his bedroom. Cook admitted to using the phone to access CSAM around the time that he first gained access to the phone, which was within one month of his release from prison. The phone and an SD card were seized and forensically examined by the FBI. The examination revealed that these devices contained images and videos depicting CSAM, including toddlers.  

    On October 9, 2024, Cook pleaded guilty to possession and access with intent to view child pornography involving prepubescent minors. Today, the Court sentenced Cook to 151 months of incarceration for possession and access with intent to view CSAM, and 18 months, to run consecutive, for committing this offense while on federal supervised release, for a total of 169 months of incarceration. Cook will remain in federal custody until he is transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

    The FBI with the assistance of the USPO investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Cervantes with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Podcast with Craig Duncan, head of Xbox Game Studios

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Podcast with Craig Duncan, head of Xbox Game Studios

    SPEAKER 1: Games in this podcast range from E to M.

    TINA AMINI: Hello, and welcome to the official Xbox Podcast. I’m here with a very special guest today, I get the great pleasure of introducing you all to Craig Duncan, our new Head of Xbox Game Studios. Welcome to Xbox Studio, not to be confused with your Xbox Game Studios.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: So I’m in charge of this as well? This is new, like this is — that’s, I didn’t realize that.

    TINA AMINI: We don’t make games here–

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Good to see you, Tina.

    TINA AMINI: Good to see you too. Yeah, so we don’t make games here, we do make games marketing here, as well as this lovely podcast. So yes, thank you so much for joining the podcast. I do want to start with kind of giving the community a little bit of context about your very storied history and career in games. You’ve been in games for two decades, so you’ve seen a lot, you’ve seen the ups and down of the industry, the literal ups and downs.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.

    TINA AMINI: You’ve also been lauded where you were Studio Head at Rare for many years. You’ve been lauded for your work there. The studio culture, obviously you shipped Rare Replay, you’ve been in charge of Sea of Thieves for its millions, aka seven years it’s been ongoing now. And you actually have been working with Ninja Theory and Compulsion before this new role. So you’ve been around the block, as they say.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, it’s been a fun couple of decades, and I love what I do, like that’s why I do what I do. And very lucky to see a bunch of the transition on the games industry, joined back in 2002, I worked for a European publisher called Codemasters that was kind of my learn how to make games, made a bunch of different kind of games; action games, sports games, then a little bit of (inaudible) midway games, a little bit of (inaudible) digital, and then joined Rare to lead them. And I’ve seen Xbox evolve and change over, I guess 14 years I’ve been with Xbox now. And really, the part of the job I love more than anything is working with studios. I think everyone’s role is important, and I think my job as a leader is to help create the right environment for our teams to be successful, create a culture where they can support each other, help each other. Making games is really hard, it’s not any easier now than it was 20 years ago. In fact, it’s harder than ever, competition is higher, player expectations are higher. So, I think my job is about creating the culture and supporting our leaders, supporting our teams to do the very best work they can, because I think if I do that, then hopefully that shows in the games we make and what goes to our players.

    TINA AMINI: Yeah, absolutely. Honestly a favorite part of my job too, just getting to know all of our talent at our studios. Like incredible talent, so an incredible job that you have in front of you. But well-suited to the role, obviously, since you’ve had a lot of that pedigree, which is —

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.

    TINA AMINI: — exciting and I’m happy for the studios and how we’re moving forward. So, I’d love to talk about that as well, like we’ve got a big and exciting year ahead of us. We kicked off the year with Developer Direct. I want to talk about the games that were in Developer Direct, because we’ve got a chance to talk about the release dates so we know what’s coming, when it’s coming. But we also just released Avowed, Obsidian’s latest game. So I’ve been spending the weekend playing that myself. How about you?

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, I mean, again, the lucky part of this job, spend time with all the teams, spent a bunch of time with the Obsidian team. And then really, like I feel like I’ve been playing Avowed for like three or four months, because we’ve — yeah, we obviously look at what we’re building. But just seeing the reaction of players, seeing the reviews, seeing just people share the same love for the (inaudible), they’ve got so much passion, Carrie, Feargus, all of the team, so much passion into the game. And yeah, it’s a wonderful game, it’s got wonderful story. If you haven’t checked it out, go check it out. But just seeing all the reviews and it’s a real personal moment for a team when you put a game out there.

    TINA AMINI: Absolutely.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: And just seeing the reactions and just some of the hype around the game, and people really enjoying it, I think’s been great to see.

    TINA AMINI: Yeah, I’m unfortunately only five hours in, so immediately when we wrap up I’m going home and I’m playing some more.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Okay, yeah.

    TINA AMINI: This has been officially sanctioned. But even five hours in there’s so much depth and richness.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.

    TINA AMINI: And we’ve had the pleasure of having Carrie Patel, Game Director, out on the podcast before. She’s been on Extended with me, so I’ve gotten to talk to her quite a bit. I love Carrie, shout out to Carrie.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, absolutely. And just Obsidians play the game your way, and just like Avowed, sure it’s a game you can play through the story and through the side quests, but there’s actually quite a lot of the way you load out with your character, that you can really play the game in very, very different ways and I love that. >> Yeah. It’s both the game play, but then it’s also the exploration which is really cool. I was just at DICE and a lot of my journalist friends were telling me, oh, my God, the verticality! And it’s like yes, we’ve been basically talking about the verticality in the podcast with Carrie and there is so much to do and there is that sense of, I see that thing in the distance and I want to go engage with that thing. And there’s something in that environment for you to do. Yeah, yeah.

    TINA AMINI: And it’s like my kind of game, and been seeing a lot of good reviews out there.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and just like the story and the setting and like I’m super happy for Obsidian and —

    TINA AMINI: World-class storytellers, I’m loving Kai so far. He’s like scratching my like New Yorker sarcasm itch. So it’s personality-wise, we’re a good fit.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Good, I love that.

    TINA AMINI: Well, we also had a bunch of other games showcased in Developer Direct this year. First off, I just have to say, I absolutely love working on that show. It’s both because we get to like really embed with the studios, like at their studio, so all of the audience gets to see what is the studio environment and like what is the culture, how are people working together. And it’s just such a beautiful storytelling format, I think, if I’m —

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, I love the format and I think just, and I think you said it well earlier, just putting our talent, like we have so many — so much talent across our studios and just the more you put them — I always feel a little bit of a shill when I come and do this thing. It’s like, you don’t really want to hear from me talking about our games, you want to hear from our team members, and Developer Direct is just a really great setting for them to talk about the games and the passion and yeah, like South of Midnight was on there, which obviously a team I’ve worked super closely with. And hearing them tell the story and the inspiration, it’s a great format.

    TINA AMINI: Yeah, I love the Compulsion team, this is actually their third ever game, which is pretty incredible.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yep.

    TINA AMINI: They have a very unique style, if you’ve, if the community our there has played their previous two games as well. People were really celebrating the storytelling, the performances, and there’s so much heart in that game and I love to see people enjoying that when I’ve seen the reviews.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, it’s a, and again, very, very lucky I’ve been playing it a lot. The creatures, the storytelling, the southern gothic, like there’s no game I can think of that’s been in a setting that they’ve realized and it’s beautiful, the art’s beautiful. The, like I said, storytelling, the creatures, the audio, the music —

    TINA AMINI: The music too, yes. Especially the music, you always, in every game the music is definitely matching the tone, like the ambience. Are you in a boss fight, or are you just in an environmental kind of more peaceful setting. But the way that the music’s like literally speaking to the bosses.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: It’s the storytelling.

    TINA AMINI: It’s their theme song. Exactly.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: It’s incredible.

    TINA AMINI: I thought it was so clever. Yeah. So I was really happy to have that in our show, that one’s coming out April 8, we announced in Developer Direct. Fun fact actually, before we talk about the other games, is Art Director, Whitney Clayton, who opened the (inaudible) for South of Midnight, she actually designed their whole studios too. The studio space itself. And it is gorgeous.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: It’s a wonderful place, yeah.

    TINA AMINI: — I wanted to steal her over and help design our of offices and he said, absolutely not. So that’s not happening.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: See, I went for a different thing, I’m like hey, I can just be based in here. Because —

    TINA AMINI: Yes.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: — it just feels so creative and it’s back to back, you want to be surrounded by the things that inspire you.

    TINA AMINI: Yes and you feel the creativity when you’re there.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, absolutely.

    TINA AMINI: I very much love their space and that’s the beauty of Developer Direct, you get to see some of that in the environmental storytelling that we do in the show. But we also had a very exciting reveal with Ninja Gaiden 4. So that’s been in the works for some time. What is our backstory with that franchise?

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and I love the story behind that. So, not only Team Ninja, but along with Platinum Games and I know there was a lot of, what are Platinum Games working on, really prestigious developer. Ninja Gaiden, I mean it’s a franchise started on arcade and then home computers. And I guess, I think the original Nintendo there was a Ninja Gaiden version, if my memory serves me correctly. But it’s also a franchise that’s been synonymous with Xbox over the years in multiple generations. So, just to bring a super up-to-date, highly polished, just seeing just the pace of combat, the excitement, the boss — like it’s got so much. And I think fans are going to be blown away by the game. They’re going to enjoy it. I actually love the shadow drop of Ninja Gaiden 2 as well.

    TINA AMINI: Yes, a little bonus surprise, yes.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: And just the fact that we get to have those kind of surprises in the shows and people can go play it immediately on Game Pass is really great, and look forward to Ninja Gaiden 4 later this year.

    TINA AMINI: Exactly, it’s such a good way to just kind of set it back up and scratch that nostalgia itch, and then remind the community about like the great prowess and —

    CRAIG DUNCAN: It’s been a while since the last one —

    TINA AMINI: Yes, exactly. Yeah.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, just putting it back on people’s radars and what was great about the franchise, but the publishing team really excited about it. Everything we’re seeing, like we think the game’s shaping up really well. So.

    TINA AMINI: Yes, we have so much love for Ninja Gaiden internally. The producer on my team that took on that particular segment and flew to Japan and worked with the studio, used to back in the day work for IGN, 10 years ago was begging for the return of Ninja Gaiden, so very special for a lot of us internally at Xbox, to be kind of bringing this out into the world with those teams and get the community as excited as we are —

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, it’s a great franchise.

    TINA AMINI: — really special. Yes, absolutely. Well, we also had third-party friends show up —

    CRAIG DUNCAN: You did?

    TINA AMINI: — with a new studio, Sandfall Interactive, this is their first game that they’re ever shipping together as a team, and it’s Expedition 33. It looks gorgeous.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: I’m excited to play this one. Like, and again, this is the bit where it’s not part of my job, but it was the, it was the game in the show that I’m like hey, I really like it. JRPG, plus unique setting, plus new IP. Yeah, I’m really excited to play. I think I’ve seen as much as anyone else has seen, but —

    TINA AMINI: The only one you can say that with.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Absolutely, but what I love about Developer Direct again, is it showcasing a new studio, a new IP, and I love that we can do that on the biggest stage and show that to the world. So.

    TINA AMINI: Yeah, and that team is really wonderful. I got to spend time with them working on their segment together. Their love for JRPGs is just so apparent. They were so embedded in their segment it was like such a pleasure to work with them and help them tell their story.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Incredible.

    TINA AMINI: Yes, absolutely, they really have their own like unique positioning on it, and like really making it their own. It’s very fun to learn from the behind the scenes, like just how much they’re putting into this game, and we announced it’s coming out April 24, so —

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yes, very soon.

    TINA AMINI: — another, yeah, another one to make for a busy year. And there was one other game in Developer Direct, of course, our big closer, our summer blockbuster if you will, for DOOM: The Dark Ages, announced for May 15. So very exciting to have that one close out the show.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and again, super excited for the game, the team, and just it’s an amazing franchise, very storied franchise, DOOM. And again, I don’t want to speak for them, but like I think it’s going to be an amazing version of DOOM, very different, but yeah. Just —

    TINA AMINI: It feels that way to me too.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Super cool.

    TINA AMINI: Speaking of it being a storied franchise, they did such a good job, both Hugo and Marty just kind of drawing back on like the previous DOOMs, the role that you played, and then what that is compared to Dark Ages.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.

    TINA AMINI: And that kind of like big mecca, like gob smacking chaos that you’re going to be finding yourself in. So, definitely that big summer blockbuster vibe for May 15 release date. We did also prevails announce that DOOM was going to be coming to other platforms. And since then we’ve had a bunch of other news about other games of ours coming to other platforms. Speaking of Bethesda, also Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yep, of course.

    TINA AMINI: And brief sidebar for Indiana Jones, that won, took home three awards from DICE actually.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, huge, congratulations.

    TINA AMINI: Yeah, I had the pleasure of congratulating Todd in person, like the team was really excited. It was so great to see MachineGames on stage, taking home three awards. So they won Adventure Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Character, which of course went to Trip Baker for Indie himself, and Achievement in Story. All super well-deserved.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Well-deserved.

    TINA AMINI: I loved playing that game. I think I devoured it in two days, doing nothing else with my life, but I think it was well-spent hours I would say.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, me too, and again kind of got to play it pre-launch, but what they built was incredible and well-deserving of all the awards.

    TINA AMINI: Yeah, absolutely. Very happy for that team.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, me too.

    TINA AMINI: But on that note, some of the games that are going to be coming to other platforms, they’re some of our like long-standing kind of flagship series if you will. So I’m just curious what you think the Xbox community should take away from the fact that we’ve made that decision to bring more games to more platforms.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, I think it’s good for gamers, I think it’s good for our studios. Our studios make amazing games, and we want to give those games the chance to reach the broadest audience possible. So, even if I think back to when I had my Studio Head of Sea of Thieves hat on, having to see if these reach their multiple platforms, being able to remove barriers so those players could play together. And then we announced Forza Horizon 5, which one of the biggest games on Xbox. I’m very biased, of course, because I know the team super well, but arguably I think probably one of the best racing games ever, ever, ever, ever made.

    TINA AMINI: I think a lot of people agree with you.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: I just think it’s good for gamers, it’s good to have our games reach more places.

    TINA AMINI: It’s some of that quality of life element for gamers, but also happy for our developers that get a chance to share their art with more people.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Everyone that makes a game wants it to reach as many players as possible. So.

    TINA AMINI: Exactly.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: I love that we can give that opportunity.

    TINA AMINI: Absolutely. Well, there’s one other highly anticipated game —

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yes!

    TINA AMINI: — that people would be very excited about, that we haven’t talked about yet, and that’s Fable.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yes.

    TINA AMINI: So where are we at with Fable?

    CRAIG DUNCAN: So, I just want to start with really excited, really excited about progress, really excited where Playground are. We previously announced the date for Fable as 2025, we are actually going to give Fable more time and it’s going to ship in 2026 now. While I know that’s not maybe the news people want to hear, what I want to assure people of is that it’s definitely worth the wait. And I just, I have unequivocal confidence in the Playground team. If you think about their history and legacy for Forza Horizon, the last two games critically acclaimed (inaudible) —

    TINA AMINI: Award-winning.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Award-winning, beautiful, played great. And just what they’re bringing to Fable as a franchise, just think of the visuals of what you expect of Playground Games, plus amazing game play, British humor, Playground’s version of Albion, so inspired by what’s gone before with the franchise, but their take. And quite frankly, the most beautifully realized version of Albion you’ve ever seen. So really excited about the plans and really excited about the future and I want the community to understand that we do these things for the best of the games, and the teams, and ultimately that results in the best games, or the best game for the community.

    TINA AMINI: And I think from your visit you actually managed to bring over some footage for us to see some of those beautiful visuals as well.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah. So, I think we’re going to show some of the, some of the footage, this isn’t a trailer or anything. We thought as we were going to talk about the game, it was important to show some of the things.

    TINA AMINI: Yeah, we get to see some of these scenes, like kind of both just walking through environments where, and there will be some combat, some city walking scenes, just really seeing how the beautiful variety in environments that are in the game.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and I’ve played some aspects of it that are in the city based, and again, I’m trying to be very careful that I don’t spoil anything. Ralph and the team won’t forgive me if I spoil something. But I played some of the city elements, I played some of the quests, I played some of the combat, I played a boss battle, I’ve used magic. Like it felt amazing, and I had a great time, and again, I remember the originals and the scene, I’ve played that in game play. I’m not going to spoil the backstory of what’s going on, but as you can see, genuinely beautiful. Plays great.

    TINA AMINI: Just seeing like the cinematics and then cutting to the actual like fight over here, it’s gorgeous. It can barely tell the difference, which is such a seamless transition.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah. It’s very real, everything you’re seeing here is very playable. I’ve seen a bunch more than that, I’m very excited. So take my word for it. But hopefully what the team can see here is enough to build excitement.

    TINA AMINI: I love the little details, it’s great to see how much emphasis is being put into all of that.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and there’s no bigger fans of Fable as a franchise as the Playground team that are making it. So I think it’s a really fun balance between what are the game tenets that are true to Fable, and what’s some modern day reimagining of what is Playground Games’ version of Fable.

    TINA AMINI: Yeah, absolutely. The modern retelling of Fable. Very excited myself, I’ve been a massive Fable player since day one. So, I’m excited for 2026.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.

    TINA AMINI: Alright, well that’s all the news that we have for this particular episode and for what’s coming up for the rest of the year. But before we send you back off to go hang out with other studios and see all of their games and tell me about all the things that you’re seeing there, I would just love to know like what are you playing, what are you looking forward to the rest of the year, maybe something non-Xbox Studios.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, it’s kind of tricky, because this job is full on, like as you would imagine. And so I spend a lot of time, so obviously I’m over in Redmond this week. I’ve got a Steam Deck that’s full of XGS games, so I spend a lot of our time playing our own games. We’ve got a bunch of stuff we haven’t announced, so obviously I spend a bunch of time with that. I think as we’ve talked about earlier, I think Expedition 33 I think is something I’m looking forward to playing. Was cool to see the Switch 2 announcement, so like always curious and excited about what Nintendo do, so I think that will be cool. But yeah, just like we have lots going on.

    TINA AMINI: We do.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: So I try and spend as much time as I can playing our own games. Yeah, so.

    TINA AMINI: We’ll call it research.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, yeah.

    TINA AMINI: It’s fun research.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: It is fun research.

    TINA AMINI: That’s me playing Avowed later.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: It’s the best part of the job.

    TINA AMINI: Continue my journey, yes, exactly. Well, thank you so much for coming by, I hope we have you again here at Xbox Studio, not to be confused with Xbox Game Studios.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: That is confusing.

    TINA AMINI: — many locations, we are but one location, here in Redmond as well. And yeah, we’re looking forward to seeing more the rest of the year, and I hope everyone else at home watching is similarly excited. And we’ll see you at the next show.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Minuteman III test launch showcases readiness of U.S. nuclear force’s safe, effective deterrent

    Source: United States Strategic Command

    BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La.  –  

    A joint team of Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile equipped with a single telemetered joint test assembly re-entry vehicle Feb. 19 at 1 a.m. Pacific Time from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.

    The Western Range at Vandenberg Space Force Base serves as the primary testing ground for the Air Force Global Strike Command’s ICBM deterrent architecture. This test launch is part of routine and periodic activities designed to demonstrate that the United States’ nuclear deterrent remains safe, secure, reliable, and effective in deterring 21st-century threats and reassuring our allies. With over 300 similar tests conducted in the past, this particular test is part of the Nation’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a credible deterrent and is not a response to current world events.

    “Today’s Minuteman III test launch is just one of the ways the Department of the Air Force demonstrates the readiness, precision, and professionalism of U.S. nuclear forces,” said Acting Secretary of the Air Force Gary Ashworth. “It also provides confidence in the lethality and effectiveness of the nation’s nuclear deterrence mission.”

    AFGSC Commander Gen. Thomas Bussiere added, “The nuclear triad is the cornerstone of the national security of our country and allies around the globe.”

    “This test launch is demonstrative of our nation’s ICBM readiness and reliability,” he said. “Because of the skill sets and expertise of our maintenance personnel and our missile crews, our freedoms and the homeland remain secure.”

    Vandenberg’s 377th Test and Evaluation Group, located at Vandenberg SFB, oversaw the test launch. It is the nation’s only dedicated ICBM test organization professionally executing tests that accurately measure the current and future capability of the ICBM force.

    “During this test, we collected and analyzed performance and other key data points to evaluate current missile system competencies,” said Col. Dustin Harmon, 377th TEG commander. “This allows our team to analyze and report accuracy and reliability for the current system while validating projected missile system improvements. The data we collect and analyze is crucial for maintaining Minuteman III while we pave the way for Sentinel.”

    The ICBM’s reentry vehicle traveled approximately 4,200 miles to the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command’s Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site located within Republic of the Marshall Islands at the Kwajalein Atoll. Reagan Test Site sensors, including high-fidelity metric and signature radars, as well as optical sensors and telemetry, support the research, development, test and evaluation of America’s defense and space programs. For these tests, RTS team members collect radar, optical and telemetry data in the terminal phase of flight to evaluate system performance.

    “The Reagan Test Site serves as the supporting range for all Glory Trip missions,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Casey Rumfelt, RTS range director. “It’s a vital national asset used to support operational and developmental tests of our nation’s offensive and defensive systems. RTS provides a unique suite of instrumentation and an ideal geographic location to meet many of the U.S. testing needs that cannot be accomplished anywhere else in the world.”

    The test launch is a culmination of months of preparation that involve multiple government partners.

    Airmen from all three missile wings were selected for the task force to support the test launch, while maintainers from the 90th Missile Wing Missile Wing at F.E. Warren Force Base, Wyoming, supported maintenance requirements. The missile bases within Air Fore Global Strike Command have crew members standing alert 24 hours a day, year-round, overseeing the nation’s ICBM alert forces. 

    The ICBM community, including the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, and U.S. Strategic Command, uses data collected from test launches for continuing force development evaluation. The ICBM test launch program demonstrates the operational capability of the Minuteman III and ensures the United States’ ability to maintain a strong, credible nuclear deterrent as a key element of U.S. national security and the security of U.S. allies and partners.

    The Air Force is committed to ensuring Minuteman III remains a viable deterrent.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Guardians of the North, 28th Maintenance Group mobilizes entire B-1 Fleet

    Source: United States Strategic Command

    ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D.  –  

    Raider maintainers from the 34th & 37th Bomber Generation Squadrons recently mobilized Ellsworth’s entire fleet of B-1B Lancers; while most will temporarily relocate to Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., some made their way to Anderson AFB, Guam for a Bomber Task Force deployment.

    The temporary relocation is necessary to complete a runway construction project tied to the future bed down of the B-21 Raider and as the last B-1 departed January 25, 2025, it marked the first time in 30 years the Ellsworth flightline was empty of Lancers.

    Generating aircraft sorties, especially B-1B Lancer sorties, requires an exceptional team of aircraft maintainers. “The mighty B-1 has been around for over 40 years and the foundational mission remains the same: win today, dominate tomorrow” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Andrew Feigen, 37th Bomber Generation Squadron commander. “From production to the technicians to the lowest level, elevating the lethality of the B-1 maintainer in partnership with Grand Forks will cause pause in our enemies.”

    Before the wheels of a B-1 lift off the ground, maintainers are tasked to ensure aircraft are serviceable, safe and combat ready. They conduct detailed inspections, apply necessary repairs, and log every maintenance action for accountability.

    “It’s a very high paced mission from where I stand. You’re always going from one job to the next. The game plan is always changing, quite literally by the minute on the flight line,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Lane Benefield, 37th Bomber Generation Squadron B-1 crew chief. “This gave [our team] the opportunity to step up into different roles, showing great flexibility from enduring the cold and being away from family and loved ones,”

    B-1 Maintainers work around the clock in all types of weather and conditions. Grand Forks is known for challenging winters, but the Raider maintainer’s work ethic remains, and the team ensures there are always combat-ready B-1s available. The Airmen of Grand Forks are also steadfast in their commitment to ensuring the B-1 mission continues.

    “It’s been a long effort in coordination with our partners here at Grand Forks and our supporting agencies back home,” said Lt. Col. Daniel Mount, 28th Maintenance Squadron commander. “This is a once in a career moment for the B-1 community to relocate our fleet completely. It’s not every day that runway repair is done at wholescale. There’s a pride that follows in knowing all of our teams are succeeding in their mission and continue to present a credible threat to our adversaries through power projection.”

    Whether from North Dakota, South Dakota or from a forward operating base Raider maintainers have the capability and capacity to enable long range strike, anytime, anywhere.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Eco Atlantic Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to Speak at Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2025 Amid Orange Basin Expansion

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    PARIS, France, February 25, 2025/APO Group/ —

    Gil Holzman, President & CEO, Eco Atlantic Oil & Gas, will speak at the Invest in African Energy (IAE) Forum 2025 in Paris this May as the company expands its presence in the Orange Basin, offshore South Africa.

    The Canada-headquartered Eco Atlantic has recently expanded its presence in Africa through strategic transactions and exploration initiatives. In June 2024, Eco Atlantic farmed into Block 1 in the Orange Basin, further strengthening its exploration portfolio in the region. The block has extensive 2D and 3D seismic data already completed, with no additional seismic acquisition or well drilling planned during the three-year carried period. During this time, Eco will focus on interpreting and analyzing the existing data to inform its planned Work Program, leveraging its in-house exploration team. The company also holds interests in Blocks 2B and 3B/4B in South Africa, along with four licenses in Namibia.

    IAE 2025 (http://apo-opa.co/3ETVwbj) is an exclusive forum designed to facilitate investment between African energy markets and global investors. Taking place May 13-14, 2025 in Paris, the event offers delegates two days of intensive engagement with industry experts, project developers, investors and policymakers. For more information, please visit www.Invest-Africa-Energy.com. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

    Eco Atlantic’s approach centers on exploring low-carbon intensity oil and gas in stable emerging markets close to infrastructure, aiming to deliver material value for its stakeholders while contributing to the energy transition. The company prioritizes efficient exploration strategies that minimize environmental impact while maximizing resource potential.

    By focusing on proven basins with existing infrastructure, Eco Atlantic seeks to accelerate development timelines and enhance economic viability in its operating regions. The upcoming forum will highlight how oil and gas independents like Eco Atlantic are navigating Africa’s evolving energy landscape, driving investment and sustainable resource development.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The Mayor’s budget should fund a Leasehold Advice Centre

    Source: Mayor of London

    London has the highest proportion of leaseholders in England, with 1.3 million leasehold properties in 2022/23, comprising 36% of all London homes and 64% of all London flats.

    London leaseholders also typically pay higher service charges, with the median annual service charge £1,450 across London in 2022/23, and 20% of London leaseholders paying over £4,000 per year in 2023.

    The London Assembly has today called on the Mayor to commit £150,000 in his Final Consolidated Budget for 2025-26 to fund a Leasehold Advice Centre, giving London’s leaseholders advice, assistance and referrals to other services.

    Andrew Boff AM, who proposed the motion, said:

    “The Assembly has spoken unanimously to support a leasehold advisory service, to support people trapped in leasehold hell. I am pleased with the support for my motion and hope that the Mayor will listen and implement this vital service.”

    The full text of the motion is:

    This Assembly recalls the landmark motion passed unanimously at its plenary meeting on 13th February, where it raised concerns about leasehold, called for its replacement with commonhold, and for the Mayor to lobby the government and use his funding and land to promote pilot projects.

    This Assembly again notes that London had the highest proportion of leaseholders in England, with 1.3 million leasehold properties in 2022/23, comprising 36% of all London homes and 64% of all London flats. London leaseholders also typically pay higher service charges, with the median annual service charge £1,450 across London in 2022/23, and 20% of London leaseholders paying over £4,000 per year in 2023.

    This Assembly also notes that, whilst we wait for Parliament to deliver a viable alternative to leasehold, there is an urgent need to step up the support provided to existing leaseholders.

    This Assembly therefore calls on the Mayor, in his Final Consolidated Budget for 2025-26, to commit £150,000 to fund a Leasehold Advice Centre. This would provide leaseholders with someone they can call for London-specific advice, assistance and referrals to other services. It could also gather valuable data and intelligence to help support GLA policymaking in this area, especially to help fulfil the Mayor’s manifesto commitments to support leaseholders and pilot alternative tenures.

    The proposed GLA-supported Leasehold Advice Centre would complement the Mayor’s existing portal that provides written guidance to leaseholders, and national services such as LEASE and Citizens Advice, providing a personalised advice and support service tailored specifically to London.

    The meeting can be viewed via webcast or YouTube.

    Follow us @LondonAssembly

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Powers for landlords to collect rent from benefit payments to be re-examined

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

    Press release

    Powers for landlords to collect rent from benefit payments to be re-examined

    A controversial system that automatically approves landlord requests to deduct tenants’ benefits to pay rent arrears and ongoing rent payments is being re-examined, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall announced today [Tuesday 25 February].

    • Work and Pensions Secretary pledges to “right the wrongs” of controversial benefit deduction system.
    • Follows decision by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) not to appeal court judgement which found one claimant’s landlord payments were unfair.
    • Action is part of wider plans to make the benefits system fairer and protect people from falling into debt.

    It comes amid concerns that the system – aimed at helping people avoid issues with their landlords such as eviction – may actually be pushing the poorest into debt.

    Currently, a computer program automatically approves landlord requests to deduct up to a fifth of someone’s monthly Universal Credit payments for outstanding rent repayments without them being consulted by either their landlord or DWP.

    The department will now look at this process and consider better ways of ensuring landlords get the rent they are owed in a fair and proportionate way while benefit claimants are protected from falling into debt.

    It comes as part of wider efforts by the Work and Pensions Secretary to fix the broken welfare system to make it fairer and ensure it improves living standards which will unlock economic growth – a key commitment in the government’s Plan for Change.

    Work and Pensions Secretary, Rt Hon Liz Kendall MP, said:

    I am determined to right the wrongs that have persisted in the benefits system for too long. The automatic approval of landlords’ requests for tenants’ benefits to be deducted is one of these.

    As well as urgently reviewing this system, I am bringing forward major changes to the health and disability benefits system so that it works for everyone, underpinned by the biggest employment reforms in a generation.

    We will continue to listen to people’s concerns, and transform our benefits system to one of fairness, not punishment.

    This decision comes in response to a high-profile legal challenge in January, which was won by Nathan Roberts whose benefits were deducted and automatically paid to his landlord to cover alleged rent arrears and ongoing rent payments – despite a dispute about repairs to the property.  The Work and Pensions Secretary has confirmed DWP will not appeal this decision.

    Minister for Social Security and Disability, Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, said:

    The benefits system needs urgent reform and we are taking action across the board to do this – whether that’s tackling the huge accumulation of debt by Carer’s Allowance recipients through no fault of their own, or this automatic deduction of benefits purely at the request of a landlord.

    Combined with our efforts to Get Britain Working and our upcoming health and disability benefits reform, all of this will lead to better support for those who need it, and open doors for those who can work.

    This comes ahead of a manifesto commitment to deliver a wider review of Universal Credit to ensure it is getting people into work, making work pay and tackling poverty.

    In April, the Universal Credit Fair Repayment Rate will also come into force, reducing the cap on how much can be deducted from someone’s benefits from 25% to 15%. This means approximately 1.2 million households will keep more of their Universal Credit payment each month, with households expected to be better off by £420 a year on average.   

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –