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  • MIL-OSI USA: Budd, Tillis, Warner, Kaine Urge Swift Distribution of Funding for Public Lands for Helene Recovery

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ted Budd (R-North Carolina)

    Washington, D.C. — Today, Senators Ted Budd (R-NC), Mark Warner (D-VA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Tim Kaine (D-VA) sent a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, urging these departments to quickly allocate funding appropriated by Congress for public lands that were ravaged by Hurricane Helene. 

    Read the text of the letter:

    We write today regarding our states’ recovery from Hurricane Helene and the supplemental funding made available to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of the Interior (DOI) by the American Relief Act of 2025 (H.R.10545). We urge you to expeditiously allocate this funding to our public lands in North Carolina and Virginia that were ravaged by this deadly storm.

    Hurricane Helene devastated communities across North Carolina, Virginia, and large swaths of the Southeast. Historic flooding and high winds resulted in over a hundred deaths, damaged and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses, and decimated critical regional infrastructure in our states. Additionally, the storm caused unprecedented damage to public lands in western North Carolina and Southwest Virginia that are essential drivers of economic activity for many communities.

    Public lands managed by USDA and DOI are crucial economic engines for communities throughout western North Carolina and Southwest Virginia. For example, the National Park Service’s (NPS) most visited unit, the Blue Ridge Parkway, which spans 469 miles across the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina and Virginia, supports the economies of dozens of communities in our states. In 2023, 16.7 million visitors spent nearly $1.4 billion in communities surrounding the Parkway, which supported over 19,000 jobs. Helene decimated the Blue Ridge Parkway resulting in indefinite closures along large portions of the roadway and damage to many trails, historical sites, and recreational areas. The recovery effort for the Parkway will be one of the most significant and expensive infrastructure projects in the park’s history, and its success will be essential for the dozens of gateway communities that rely on the Parkway.

    In addition to National Park Service managed property, many of our communities in Southwest Virginia and western North Carolina contain U.S. Forest Service lands that were decimated by Hurricane Helene. This includes the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests in Virginia, the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee and North Carolina, and the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests in western North Carolina. These lands attract millions of visitors each year who contribute millions more in visitor spending that sustains countless small businesses and gateway communities.

    Perhaps no Forest Service asset in the country suffered more damage from Hurricane Helene than the Virginia Creeper Trail, a 34-mile recreational trail that is co-managed by the Forest Service and the towns of Damascus and Abingdon in Southwest Virginia. The storm obliterated 18 miles of the Creeper Trail from Damascus to Whitetop, Virginia, destroying 18 trestles and washing away extended segments of the trail itself. The Creeper Trail is the most significant driver of economic activity in Damascus and one of the most significant tourism destinations in the entire region. The trail attracts more than 200,000 visitors annually, supporting local bike shops, restaurants, and lodging. In all, the Creeper Trail contributes nearly $13 million annually in tourism spending to the region’s economy. A prolonged closure of the trail could have devastating consequences for Damascus and the entire region. It is critical that USDA and the Forest Service move quickly to allocate appropriated funding to rebuild the Creeper Trail to ensure Damascus and other localities that depend on the trail can fully recover from Helene.

    We were pleased the American Relief Act of 2025 (H.R.10545) included robust funding to address natural disaster-related damage to public lands across the U.S., including $6.4 billion for the U.S. Forest Service and $2.3 billion for the National Park Service. This funding is intended to support the rebuilding of iconic public attractions in our states, including the Blue Ridge Parkway, Appalachian Trail, and Virginia Creeper Trail. It will also support a broad range of other reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts on our public lands to ensure they can continue to safely provide recreational opportunities to our constituents and millions of additional visitors who help sustain these Appalachian communities. As our states continue to rebuild from Hurricane Helene, it is critical that this supplemental funding is deployed to our public lands swiftly to ensure a timely rebuild of these assets that our communities depend on.

    Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to working with you to support the recovery efforts in our states. Please do not hesitate to reach out if we can provide additional information or assistance.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Services & Support for Youth Who Repeatedly Go Missing

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a new state initiative launched in Buffalo to connect youth who repeatedly go missing with services and support that address their needs and the circumstances that cause them to leave home. The Runaway Intervention Program: Services, Training, Opportunity, Prevention, or RIPSTOP, pilot program is designed to increase safety and stability and reduce multiple missing episodes, which put youth at risk of harm and victimization. The Scott Bieler Child Advocacy Center at BestSelf is partnering with the Buffalo Police Department and Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo to implement the pilot program developed by the State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) with support from 10 other state agencies.

    “Public safety is my top priority and I’m committed to using every tool at my disposal to protect all New Yorkers, especially our most vulnerable population,” Governor Hochul said. “That’s why my administration is supporting this pilot program and several other initiatives to provide assistance to our most vulnerable youth. We thank our partners in my hometown of Buffalo for helping us launch this pilot, which, if successful, will be replicated statewide.”

    The pilot will serve children younger than 18 who are involved with social services, and those who are not, providing opportunities to identify specific services and interventions that can reduce or eliminate runaway episodes. The initiative kicked off earlier this week with a community listening circle hosted by the Scott Bieler Child Advocacy Center at BestSelf to raise awareness about the pilot and seek community input. A second session is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 25, at the Martha Mitchell Community Center. The listening circle will be closed to the media to facilitate open and honest dialogue and protect privacy of youth and families in attendance.

    New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado said, “Youth outreach and engagement are critical components in our efforts to prevent crime. When we invest in the future of our youth by providing support, services and opportunities, we improve lives, strengthen families and communities, and increase public safety. I thank Governor Hochul for her commitment to young New Yorkers and my DCJS staff for working with sister state agencies and other partners to spearhead this pilot.”

    The Scott Bieler Child Advocacy Center at BestSelf will administer the two components of the pilot: a Missing Youth Services Referral Program, and a Multi-Disciplinary Runaway Youth Treatment Team. BestSelf plans to hire a youth runaway coordinator to run the referral program, which is funded by a grant from the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. The Buffalo Police Department unit that responds to reports of missing persons, child abuse and domestic violence refers children to the Scott Bieler Child Advocacy Center at BestSelf and plans to have an officer at the Center daily as part of the pilot.

    BestSelf CEO and President Elizabeth Woike said, “We’re incredibly proud that our Scott Bieler CAC at BestSelf was chosen as the pilot program, consistently proving itself as the premier CAC in New York State. We are looking at the youth runaway crisis through a preventative lens to address larger health issues down the road. Our commitment remains strong to provide cutting-edge treatment and lead the way in collaboration and advocacy.”

    Youth who are reported missing are at risk of homelessness, exploitation for sex and/or labor trafficking, academic underachievement that can lead to dropping out of school, and involvement in the juvenile justice system. Children with multiple missing episodes are more likely to be depressed, have attempted suicide, and have mental health or substance use issues. Last year, 12,114 reports of missing children younger than 18 were entered into the New York State register, with 94 percent reported by police as runaways. More than half (6,161) of those reports involved a total of 1,772 children. DCJS identified Buffalo for the pilot due to the high number of missing children reports received by the city’s police department, which had already begun working with the Scott Bieler Child Advocacy Center at BestSelf to address the issue. During that same time period, the City of Buffalo had 522 missing child reports, with nearly 200 representing multiple incidents.

    Staff from the Missing Persons Clearinghouse at DCJS will oversee implementation of the pilot and foster ongoing communication and coordination among all national, state and local partners with the goal of improving how different systems respond and support these youth. The New York State Youth Justice Institute, a partnership between DCJS and the University at Albany, will evaluate the pilot’s implementation and outcomes to determine its success and whether it should be replicated in other communities. The Youth Justice Institute strives to build and strengthen the capacity of localities around New York State to adopt evidence-informed youth justice practices by disseminating information, assisting with implementation and assessing efficacy in existing youth justice programs, and by conducting cutting-edge research to advance the science and practice of evidence-based initiatives.

    The following state agencies are participating: the Department of Health; State Education Department; Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs; Office of Addiction Services and Supports; Office of Children and Family Services; Office of Mental Health; Office for People With Developmental Disabilities; Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence; Office of Victim Services; and New York State Police.

    The New York City Administration for Children’s Services; New York State Association of Chiefs of Police; New York State Sheriff’s Association; New York State Youth Justice Institute; St. Anne Institute; State of New York Police Juvenile Officers Association; National Center for Missing & Exploited Children; and National Child Protection Task Force also are partners in the initiative.

    City of Buffalo Mayor Christopher P. Scanlon said, “I want to thank Governor Hochul for her continued investment in our youth and for recognizing the urgent need to address the challenges facing vulnerable children in our community. One of my administration’s key priorities is collaboration, and the RIPSTOP pilot program is a powerful example of what we can accomplish when we work together. By bringing together New York State, the City of Buffalo, the Buffalo Police Department, the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, and the Scott Bieler Child Advocacy Center at BestSelf, we are ensuring that at-risk youth receive the care and support they need. This initiative reflects our collective commitment to building a safer, more supportive future for the children of Buffalo.”

    Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs Acting Executive Director Maria Lisi-Murray said, “We know from our work safeguarding vulnerable populations that runaway youth are particularly susceptible to trafficking, exploitation, and homelessness. They are also often reluctant to seek help from law enforcement or access critical intervention programs. The RIPSTOP pilot will help bridge those safety and communication gaps by getting youth the support they need sooner to reduce the likelihood of recurrent runaway episodes. Thank you to Governor Hochul for continuing to prioritize the safety of New York’s youth.”

    New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “Providing accessible support services to our youth is imperative for their well-being and is key to reducing the number of runaway and missing episodes. The relationship between law enforcement partners, combined with the execution of effective initiatives are essential in carrying out the mission of keeping the youth of New York State safe. I commend Governor Hochul for her continued commitment in making sure each New Yorker has the assistance available they need.”

    Office of Addiction Services And Supports Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham said, “Young people with an unstable home life are at increased risk of experiencing harm when it comes to their health, including the impacts of substance use and addiction. Programs like this support our goal to reach at-risk individuals and direct them to the services and help they need. As one of the agencies involved with the development of this pilot program, alongside our partners in state government and community stakeholders, we are looking forward to seeing the benefits that this will bring to youth in the Buffalo area.”

    Office of Victim Services Director Bea Hanson said, “Key to our mission at OVS is advocating for victims’ rights and working to ensure that systems designed to assist them are accessible and meet their needs. We are proud to partner with our sister agencies to improve state services for at-risk youth, protect them from harm and give them the support they need to thrive.”

    About the Division of Criminal Justice Services Missing Persons Clearinghouse

    The Missing Persons Clearinghouse at the State Division of Criminal Justice Services provides investigative support to local, state and national law enforcement, including cold case reviews; assists left-behind family members, and offers internet safety education programs for children and parents, among other responsibilities. Staff members have extensive experience in law enforcement, training and information technology, and the Clearinghouse accepts leads and tips about missing persons cases it has permission to publicize at [email protected] and 800-346-3543.

    About BestSelf Behavioral Health

    BestSelf Behavioral Health is the largest community-based behavioral health organization serving Western New York. It offers comprehensive services for mental health and substance use disorders. The organization serves over 41,000 individuals annually across more than 70 locations, focusing on trauma-informed care and person-centered treatment.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Providence Woman Sentenced in Conspiracy to Smuggle Contraband Inside the Wyatt Detention Center

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PROVIDENCE – A Providence woman who previously admitted to a federal judge that she provided contraband that made its way into the Wyatt Detention Center in Central Falls, RI, was sentenced today to two years of federal supervised release, the first six months to be served in home detention with GPS monitoring, and fined $1,500, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.

    Yahaira Cristina Contreras, 32, admitted that in early 2021, she conspired with others to provide 201 suboxone strips containing buprenorphine that made its way to a Wyatt Detention Center correctional officer and into the facility. Contreras admitted that she provided the contraband and that she transferred $3,000 from her bank account to another person’s account to facilitate getting the suboxone strips inside the Wyatt Detention Center.

    Contreras’ sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Melissa R. DuBose.

    Former Wyatt Detention Center correctional officer Kaii Almeida-Falcones, 30, of Smithfield, pleaded guilty on June 10, 2024, to a charge of providing contraband to an inmate. He was sentenced on November 19, 2024, to six months in federal prison to be followed by twenty-four months of federal supervised release – the first six months to be served on home confinement.

    The cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ly T. Chin.

    The matter was investigated by the FBI, the United States Marshals Service, the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Inspector General, and the Professional Standards Unit at the Wyatt Detention Center.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: During Black History Month, Scott Pushes Investment in Underserved Communities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Tim Scott
    Senator Scott announced his goal to unleash $1 trillion into communities like the one he grew up in.
    WASHINGTON — As part of Black History Month, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) is building on his commitment to increase economic opportunity across the United States. In his role as Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, and as a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, Scott is pushing solutions with a goal of unleashing up to $1 trillion of investment into underserved communities.
    Scott joined Walter Davis, founding member of Peachtree Providence Partners, as part of his Opportunity Summit series in celebration of Black History Month to discuss his efforts and their shared goal of helping all Americans achieve their version of the American Dream.

    Click here to watch the panel.
    “I think it’s incredibly important for us to figure out how to unlock capital for disadvantaged communities. My goal is to set the kind of parameters that allows for $1 trillion of capital to be set free in disadvantaged communities in the next 10 years… My goal is to make sure that everyone who is struggling…has an opportunity to access more resources. That’s called the American way, or at least it’s supposed to be the American way. And I aim to make sure that, from a banking perspective, we have the flexibility with our regulators, so that small business owners with a good plan – with decent credit – have access to the capital to start hiring people from their own communities. Because when I started my business, it’s exactly what I did. I took an Allstate Insurance Agency and I crafted three other Allstate agencies out of my one Allstate agency, with two of them being African Americans. How do you do that? You just do the right thing. But it starts at home in your community, and if you want to see higher employment numbers in your community, you probably have to start a business and make it happen,” said Senator Scott.
    BACKGROUND: By focusing on affordable housing, quality education, small business growth, financial inclusion, keeping tax rates low for families and expanding Opportunity Zones, as well as leveraging digital assets, Senator Scott is working to pave the way for transformative economic development across the country. 
    Boosting Affordable Housing Senator Scott’s ROAD to Housing Act will facilitate investment in quality and affordable housing, providing the opportunity to create generational wealth for so many historically ignored communities. The ROAD to Housing Act will change outdated caps on private investment in public housing, open the door to small-dollar mortgages, and help boost the supply of manufactured housing.
    Small Business Growth Small business owners – particularly Black and other minority-owned businesses – face significant challenges accessing capital, including through our capital markets system. Senator Scott’s Empowering Main Street in America Act will fuel economic growth by giving local entrepreneurs – not elites in New York or Silicon Valley – the power to direct capital to historically overlooked communities.
    Increasing Financial Inclusion Senator Scott has consistently prioritized increasing financial inclusion and incentivizing growth in local communities and historically overlooked neighborhoods. Senator Scott will continue to push efforts to streamline and modernize the rules governing financial institutions, prioritizing changes that support access to capital and investment in underserved communities across the country.
    Protecting Taxpayer Dollars Senator Scott’s Opportunity Zones initiative has driven $85 billion to underserved communities, unlocking economic opportunities that had never before been available. With the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act set to expire this year, Senator Scott will work to ensure middle class families and small businesses are not hit with a massive, $4.1 trillion tax hike, and to broaden and extend Opportunity Zones to continue driving economic development in the communities that need it most.
    Leveraging Digital Assets Senator Scott will prioritize establishing a clear, tailored regulatory framework for digital assets through legislation on stablecoins and crypto market structure, aiming to empower families, small businesses, and underserved communities to build wealth and participate more fully in the digital economy. 
    Expanding Quality Education Education is a catalyst to driving long-term economic growth and labor market participation. Americans with a bachelor’s degree face less than half the unemployment rate and earn more than double the income of those who dropout of high school. Unlocking the power of education starts with K-12 education, which is why Senator Scott is helping lead the Education Choice for Children Act (ECCA) to provide up to $10 billion in federal tax credits for charitable contributions to K-12 scholarships for middle- and low-income students, benefitting nearly 2 million students.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Chancellor backs Britain’s financial services to drive development and kickstart economic growth

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Rachel Reeves urges financial industry leaders to seize growth opportunities in emerging markets, creating new business for British firms and boosting trade links with fast-growing economies, delivering on the government’s Plan for Change.

    • Chancellor launches coalition to improve sustainable sovereign debt financing to developing economies, shoring up London’s position as development finance leader amid growing global uncertainty

    • Reeves aims to boost private capital mobilisation for development ahead of her attendance of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s annual meeting on 13-15 May in London

    In Canary Wharf today (20 February) the Chancellor met with some of the UK’s biggest financial services firms such as Aviva, HSBC and Schroders and urged them to work with development institutions including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and British International Investment. To go further and faster in delivering the government’s Plan for Change and put more money in people’s pockets, the Chancellor encouraged firms to seize investment opportunities in emerging markets for Britain’s brightest and best companies.

    Co-hosting a roundtable with Odile Renaud-Basso, president of the EBRD, the Chancellor launched the “London Coalition on Sustainable Sovereign Debt”. This will be co-chaired by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Emma Reynolds.

    The Coalition will bring together government and private sector stakeholders to find innovative solutions to more sustainable sovereign debt financing in developing economies.

    Promoting orderly and transparent debt restructuring and more resilient borrowing will mean that emerging economies can make progress meeting their climate and development targets. The Coalition capitalises on London’s financial services expertise and will help cement its position as a global leader in development finance, in turn supporting economic activity and financing investment across the country. Investing in emerging markets themselves can boost UK growth by creating new opportunities for British businesses in areas such as financial services, and boost trade ties with fast-growing economies amid an increasingly uncertain global environment.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said:

    Business and government must work together to seize opportunities in emerging markets and kickstart economic growth as part of our Plan for Change.

    Today’s roundtable shows how the UK’s world-leading financial centre can help countries unlock new opportunities for our brightest and best British companies to create wealth and drive growth.

    President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Odile Renaud-Basso said:

    Mobilising private capital is key to meeting global development needs. I’m delighted to co-host UK business leaders with the Chancellor to discuss how multilateral banks like the EBRD can help channel further financing to emerging markets. By joining forces, we aim to deliver the much-needed impact for developing countries while creating new opportunities for businesses from developed economies.

    The Chancellor and Renaud-Basso also signed a Memorandum of Understanding setting out cooperation on the EBRD annual meeting and business forum in London, which will be held from 13 to 15 May this year.

    The Chancellor will attend the bank’s first annual meeting in London since 2016 where it will see governors approve the bank’s next 5-year strategy and highlight opportunities for UK businesses to work with the EBRD in its key markets such as Ukraine, Poland and Turkey.

    Reeves and Renaud-Basso discussed with business leaders how to create the right environment for investment. This is being done at home, for example through reforms to the pensions system which could unlock around £80 billion in productive investment and the launch of the Transition Finance Council led by Lord Alok Sharma. It is also key to work overseas, where British International Investment and UK-backed programmes including MOBILIST and the Private Infrastructure Development Group have unlocked billions in private investment for climate and development around the world. A new Institutional Investor Taskforce will advise government and institutional investors on how they can work together to open up even more of this much-needed investment and establish London as the world’s leading climate and development finance hub.

    Reeves outlined the UK’s growth priorities, both at home and abroad, and highlighted the financing tools and instruments to help achieve this such as the National Wealth Fund, which is expected to mobilise over £70 billion in private investment into the high-growth industries of the future. Reeves also underscored the importance of multilateral development banks in helping to mobilise private capital, through working together more effectively as a system and with the private sector.

    As the largest institutional investor in Ukraine, the EBRD has also been working with the UK government to support Ukraine’s resilience and recovery. In December, the UK confirmed its participation in a EUR 4bn capital increase which will unlock billions each year to support critical sectors of Ukraine’s economy. The EBRD and Aon also launched an innovative $110m war insurance facility with UK support in the same month to rebuild the country’s insurance market.

    Elsewhere, the EBRD invests in 36 economies across three continents including in Central, Eastern and Southern Europe, Central Asia and North Africa. This year it will also begin operations in sub-Saharan Africa.

    The roundtable comes ahead of the Chancellor’s visit to Cape Town, South Africa, next week to attend the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting. She will be advocating for the UK’s Growth Mission on the global stage and championing how private capital and the role of the City will kickstart economic growth and raise living standards around the world.

    Baroness Shriti Vadera, Chair of Prudential PLC and Co-Chair of the World Bank Private Sector Investment Lab, said:

    It is critical for governments, international financial institutions, and the private sector to work together to mobilise, at scale and pace, greater levels of finance for climate and development where it is most needed – in emerging and developing markets. I particularly welcome the focus today on practical steps to develop and deploy risk-sharing and blended financial instruments.

    Dame Elizabeth Corley, Chair of Schroders PLC, said:

    I firmly believe asset managers play a key role in crowding in private capital and unlocking it at scale in emerging markets. Schroders, with its impact pioneer BlueOrchard, is eager to share our expertise in blended finance and impact investing to overcome barriers to private sector investment, redressing some of the world’s biggest challenges like climate change and inequality.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: New Mental Health Group Home for Youth Opens in Regina

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on February 20, 2025

    The Government of Saskatchewan is providing $800,000 in annual funding to partner with Eagle Heart Centre in a new, five-space mental health group home for youth. Joe and Irene’s Youth Home, which officially opened today in Regina, provides youth ages 12 to 18 with short-term residential care that includes 24-hour mental health and addictions support. 

    “This funding to Eagle Heart Centre will provide youth in Regina and surrounding communities with the help they need in a safe and stable environment close to home,” Social Services Minister Terry Jenson said. “Staying connected to their communities while receiving care will also help youth transition back to their families or into alternative care arrangements.”

    This mental health group home is part of a larger $2.4 million commitment in the 2023-24 Provincial Budget. The ministries of Social Services and Health each committed $1.2 million to develop three mental health group homes to serve youth struggling with mental health and addictions issues. Each ministry is providing $400,000 in annual operating funding to Eagle Heart Centre. 

    “Supporting Joe and Irene’s Youth Home is part of our effort to ensure that we meet the mental health needs of youth,” Mental Health and Addictions Minister Lori Carr said. “I appreciate the great work that Eagle Heart is doing to help our young people feel cared for, supported, and equipped to face a better future.”

    The Saskatchewan Health Authority works in partnership with the Ministry of Social Services to refer youth with chronic mental health or addiction issues to Eagle Heart Centre. Eagle Heart Centre provides culturally relevant services and trauma-informed care for vulnerable youth and families in Saskatchewan. The community-based organization specializes in providing programming and services that support and empower families, children and youth to attain a healthy lifestyle.

    “Our new home has been named in honour of my Métis parents,” Eagle Heart Centre Founder and Executive Director Delora Parisian said. “Despite facing racism, poverty and personal hardships, my parents raised us with the values of hard work, financial independence and the encouragement to follow our dreams. Joe and Irene’s Youth Home has been built for roots to grow strong and bold, where dreams unfold.” 

    The Eagle Heart Centre mental health group home for youth is the second of the three planned homes to open, with the EGADZ Garden of Hope in Saskatoon as the first to open in December 2023. The third home is currently in development.

    For more information about Eagle Heart Centre and its programs, visit: www.ehcregina.ca.                                                                               

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Net Asset Value(s) as at 31 January 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Volta Finance Limited (VTA / VTAS)
    January 2025 monthly report

    NOT FOR RELEASE, DISTRIBUTION, OR PUBLICATION, IN WHOLE OR PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES

    Guernsey, February 20th, 2025

    AXA IM has published the Volta Finance Limited (the “Company” or “Volta Finance” or “Volta”) monthly report for January 2025. The full report is attached to this release and will be available on Volta’s website shortly (www.voltafinance.com).

    Performance and Portfolio Activity

    Dear Investors,

    Volta Finance started 2025 on a positive note as net performance reached +1.7% in January while Financial Half Year net performance for Volta settled at 11.4%. Both our investments in CLO Debt and CLO Equity performed positively over the course of the month, benefiting from positive market conditions for risky assets.

    In broader economic news, the Federal Reserve decided to keep interest rates unchanged for the first time since it started cutting rates last September. This has led markets to expect that the easing cycle might resume in 2026. In Europe, the eurozone economy showed no growth despite anticipations of a +0.1pp expansion, and Christine Lagarde announced a 25 basis points cut in key European Central Bank interest rates. Although largely backed by the data divergence with the US, it is interesting to note the striking difference in terms of monetary path between the US and the European Union as we anticipate further cuts in Europe.

    Credit markets tightened significantly this month, although we noted heightened volatility in line with broader macro headlines around mid-month. In Europe, High Yield indices were roughly 20bps tighter while US CDX High-Yield tightened by 11bps. On the Loan side, Euro Loans prices increased by about 40cts up to 98.41% (Morningstar European Leveraged Loan Index), while US Loans rose by 28cts to 97.61%.

    The primary CLO markets started strong this year, especially in Europe with New Issue volumes up 120% vs. Jan 24 (down 21% in the US vs. Jan 24). In terms of performance, CLO markets performed in line with US High Yield at +1.4% over the month and better than Global Loans +0.9%. In line with all major rating agencies that expect Loan default rates to go down in 2025 we remain constructive on the CLO asset class and the performance of the underlying loan portfolios this year.

    CLO Equity distributions remained healthy in January, although as expressed earlier, the spread compression in the Loan market has slightly lowered these distributions. Over the last 6 month period, the cashflow generation was c. €27m equivalent of interests and coupons, representing c.19% of January’s NAV on an annualized basis, compared to c. €30m equivalent of interest and coupons received 6 months ago. Refinancing or Resetting CLO liabilities will continue to be a key focus for us in 2025.

    Regarding our portfolio activities, we took profits on a US Mezzanine position as the market was risk-on (c. USD 7mm nominal) while another USD 3mm of US CLO mezzanine debt redeemed at face value.

    Over the month, Volta’s CLO Equity tranches returned a 3% performance** while CLO Debt tranches returned +1.6% performance**, cash representing c.9.0% of NAV. The fund being c.21% exposed to USD, the recent currency moves had a negative impact of -0.1% on the overall performance.

    As of end of January 2025, Volta’s NAV was €279.0m, i.e. €7.63 per share.

    *It should be noted that approximately 0.16% of Volta’s GAV comprises investments for which the relevant NAVs as at the month-end date are normally available only after Volta’s NAV has already been published. Volta’s policy is to publish its NAV on as timely a basis as possible to provide shareholders with Volta’s appropriately up-to-date NAV information. Consequently, such investments are valued using the most recently available NAV for each fund or quoted price for such subordinated notes. The most recently available fund NAV or quoted price was 0.05% as at 31 December 2024, 0.11% as at 30 September 2024.

    ** “performances” of asset classes are calculated as the Dietz-performance of the assets in each bucket, taking into account the Mark-to-Market of the assets at period ends, payments received from the assets over the period, and ignoring changes in cross-currency rates. Nevertheless, some residual currency effects could impact the aggregate value of the portfolio when aggregating each bucket.

    CONTACTS

    For the Investment Manager
    AXA Investment Managers Paris
    François Touati
    francois.touati@axa-im.com
    +33 (0) 1 44 45 80 22

    Olivier Pons
    Olivier.pons@axa-im.com
    +33 (0) 1 44 45 87 30

    Company Secretary and Administrator
    BNP Paribas S.A, Guernsey Branch
    guernsey.bp2s.volta.cosec@bnpparibas.com 
    +44 (0) 1481 750 853

    Corporate Broker
    Cavendish Securities plc
    Andrew Worne
    Daniel Balabanoff
    +44 (0) 20 7397 8900

    *****
    ABOUT VOLTA FINANCE LIMITED

    Volta Finance Limited is incorporated in Guernsey under The Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (as amended) and listed on Euronext Amsterdam and the London Stock Exchange’s Main Market for listed securities. Volta’s home member state for the purposes of the EU Transparency Directive is the Netherlands. As such, Volta is subject to regulation and supervision by the AFM, being the regulator for financial markets in the Netherlands.

    Volta’s Investment objectives are to preserve its capital across the credit cycle and to provide a stable stream of income to its Shareholders through dividends that it expects to distribute on a quarterly basis. The Company currently seeks to achieve its investment objectives by pursuing exposure predominantly to CLO’s and similar asset classes. A more diversified investment strategy across structured finance assets may be pursued opportunistically. The Company has appointed AXA Investment Managers Paris an investment management company with a division specialised in structured credit, for the investment management of all its assets.

    *****

    ABOUT AXA INVESTMENT MANAGERS
    AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) is a multi-expert asset management company within the AXA Group, a global leader in financial protection and wealth management. AXA IM is one of the largest European-based asset managers with 2,700 professionals and €844 billion in assets under management as of the end of December 2023.  

    *****

    This press release is published by AXA Investment Managers Paris (“AXA IM”), in its capacity as alternative investment fund manager (within the meaning of Directive 2011/61/EU, the “AIFM Directive”) of Volta Finance Limited (the “Volta Finance”) whose portfolio is managed by AXA IM.

    This press release is for information only and does not constitute an invitation or inducement to acquire shares in Volta Finance. Its circulation may be prohibited in certain jurisdictions and no recipient may circulate copies of this document in breach of such limitations or restrictions. This document is not an offer for sale of the securities referred to herein in the United States or to persons who are “U.S. persons” for purposes of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or otherwise in circumstances where such offer would be restricted by applicable law. Such securities may not be sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration from the Securities Act. Volta Finance does not intend to register any portion of the offer of such securities in the United States or to conduct a public offering of such securities in the United States.

    *****

    This communication is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”) or (iii) high net worth companies, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). The securities referred to herein are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents. Past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance.

    *****
    This press release contains statements that are, or may deemed to be, “forward-looking statements”. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms “believes”, “anticipated”, “expects”, “intends”, “is/are expected”, “may”, “will” or “should”. They include the statements regarding the level of the dividend, the current market context and its impact on the long-term return of Volta Finance’s investments. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Volta Finance’s actual results, portfolio composition and performance may differ materially from the impression created by the forward-looking statements. AXA IM does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements.

    Any target information is based on certain assumptions as to future events which may not prove to be realised. Due to the uncertainty surrounding these future events, the targets are not intended to be and should not be regarded as profits or earnings or any other type of forecasts. There can be no assurance that any of these targets will be achieved. In addition, no assurance can be given that the investment objective will be achieved.

    The figures provided that relate to past months or years and past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance or construed as a reliable indicator as to future performance. Throughout this review, the citation of specific trades or strategies is intended to illustrate some of the investment methodologies and philosophies of Volta Finance, as implemented by AXA IM. The historical success or AXA IM’s belief in the future success, of any of these trades or strategies is not indicative of, and has no bearing on, future results.

    The valuation of financial assets can vary significantly from the prices that the AXA IM could obtain if it sought to liquidate the positions on behalf of the Volta Finance due to market conditions and general economic environment. Such valuations do not constitute a fairness or similar opinion and should not be regarded as such.

    Editor: AXA INVESTMENT MANAGERS PARIS, a company incorporated under the laws of France, having its registered office located at Tour Majunga, 6, Place de la Pyramide – 92800 Puteaux. AXA IMP is authorized by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers under registration number GP92008 as an alternative investment fund manager within the meaning of the AIFM Directive.

    *****

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Four payment schemes open to help with the cost of living: Apply

    Source: City of Portsmouth

    Four financial support schemes are currently open for Portsmouth residents on low income to apply for – but hurry as some close soon.

    Portsmouth City Council is offering:

    • A child voucher scheme (closes 28 February) – for 0-19s or someone at least 20 weeks pregnant who is part of a household that earns below £1,800 a month.
    • The final round of the Exceptional Hardship scheme (closes 14 March) – one-off payments for adults in extreme financial hardship (check the website for full eligibility)
    • Energy Payment Scheme for 16-24s and carers (closes 17 March) – those on low-income and receiving qualifying benefits (check the website for full eligibility)

    These schemes are funded by the UK Government’s Household Support fund, and you can find the eligibility criteria for all these and apply at https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/hsf

    We are still also offering our council-funded:

    • Portsmouth Older Persons Energy Payment open until 7 March

    This is a one-off payment this year for some pensioners on low income who did not receive the Government’s Winter Fuel Payment. Find the full criteria and apply here.

    Pension Credit support events

    On the same webpage you’ll find information about Pension Credit, how pensioners can find out if they might be eligible and missing out on money. We’re hosting a series of Pension Credit information sessions taking place across the city people can come along to, with dates and locations on the webpage.

    Leader Cllr Steve Pitt said:

    “We want these hardship support payments to reach far and wide and as many Portsmouth residents as possible. So please do let friends, family, and those you work with know about the support that is currently available, or apply yourself if you’re eligible.

    “Our cost of living staff are always available to help anyone with advice about these schemes or the wider support that’s available to them.”

    Cost of living support for all

    • Call our cost of living telephone number 023 9284 1047 for help with these schemes, or if you have general concerns about money and want some professional advice. It’s open 9am-5pm Monday to Thursday, 9am – 4.30pm on Friday, or alternatively visit our cost of living online hub.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: IOM Chief and UN Humanitarian Coordinator Visit Gaza

    Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM)

    Amman, 20 February 2025 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) Director General Amy Pope and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) Muhannad Hadi have just visited southern Gaza and saw how the humanitarian community is scaling up operations to meet the immense needs of people who have endured more than 500 days of unimaginable hardship. 

    As people return to their home areas across Gaza, entire communities are coming back during the ceasefire to find their residences reduced to rubble. With nearly 90% of homes destroyed, hundreds of thousands are left with nowhere to go. Families have been sleeping in makeshift shelters, bombed-out buildings, or out in the open—exposed to winter rain, wind, and cold. Adding to the misery, basic necessities and essential services have been scarce or non-existent.   

    “The scale of the destruction here is staggering. Families who have lost everything are facing the cold with no protection, no infrastructure or services, and no certainty about what tomorrow will bring,” said DG Pope. “I spoke with parents struggling to keep their children alive, using anything they can find to build makeshift shelters because there is simply nowhere else to go. That’s why we must scale up operations to help the people here, so they can recover with dignity and live inside Gaza safely, as they have the right to do.” 

    IOM, alongside its UN and humanitarian partners, is working hard to increase the flow of emergency shelter assistance. Since 19 January, IOM has dispatched more than 325,000 shelter, water, sanitation, hygiene and non-food items to support people in Gaza. IOM has been using its global expertise in emergency response to deliver life-saving aid to people in Gaza through partners since October 2023. 

     

    For more information, please contact: 
     

    Amman: Megan Giovannetti, mgiovannetti@iom.int   
    Cairo: Joe Lowry, jlowry@iom.int   
    Geneva: Daniela Rovina, drovina@iom.int 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: DR Congo violence has pushed 35,000 to Burundi, says UN refugee agency

    Source: United Nations 2

    Peace and Security

    Escalating violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has continued to uproot thousands more people to neighbouring countries where they face dire conditions without many basic necessities, UN humanitarians said on Thursday.

    UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, reported on Thursday that 35,000 Congolese nationals have now reached Burundi since the beginning of February, as Rwanda-backed M23 fighters continue to advance across both South and North Kivu.

    The UN human rights office (OHCHR) in DRC also expressed concern over growing lawlessness as warlords responsible for grave crimes including rape, were reportedly sprung from prison in Goma, Kabare and Bukavu in recent days.

    These former detainees are now at large and pose a threat to their former victims and judges who sentenced them, along with the lawyers who represented victims of sexual violence, said Patrice Vahard, Director of the UN Joint Human Rights Office in DR Congo (UNJHRO).

    “The consequences will be huge, first for the state of law, but in particular for these women who believed in justice because they received help, but who unfortunately now risk being confronted by some of their tormentors.”

    Burundi arrivals

    UNHCR spokesperson Olga Sarrado told UN News that those fleeing DR Congo are entering Burundi via its northwestern border.

    “The vast majority are women and children, they are arriving exhausted, tired,” she said. “Many of them tell our teams on the ground that they have lost family members, sometimes children, while they were fleeing.”

    Ms. Sarrado described dire conditions at the border and said that the majority of those arriving from DRC do so by unofficial means, with many taking risks to cross the Ruzizi River.

    “Some of them are sheltering in the open, just in makeshift shelters, others are being sheltered in schools and also in a stadium at the border,” the UN refugee agency official added.

    Needs are increasing and there is a significant shortage of basic services in the displacement shelters including toilets, food and water.

    Goma aid lifeline resumes

    The UN World Food Programme (WFP) announced on Thursday that it had partially resumed food assistance to parts of Goma, which fell to M23 rebels three weeks ago.

    But as fighting between M23 and national troops continues, the UN aid agency expressed alarm at “soaring hunger” caused by people fleeing displacement camps.

    In North Kivu, WFP has reached 9,000 people with emergency food assistance out of a target of 83,000. “Security must improve for WFP to reach tens of thousands more of the most vulnerable populations at risk,” it stressed.

    Where possible, the UN agency is delivering vital nutrition supplies to treat moderate acute malnutrition in children aged six to 59 months, amid surging staple food prices that have made it increasingly difficult for families to eat.

    Prices rise along with insecurity

    The price of maize flour has risen by nearly 67 per cent, salt is 43 per cent more expensive than before the crisis erupted and the cost of cooking oil has increased by up to 45 per cent, WFP said.

    “Escalating violence is forcing more families to flee – and now they have no food, no security and nowhere safe to go,” said WFP spokesperson Shaza Mograby. “The desperation of affected communities continues to grow by the day.”

    Humanitarians continue to struggle to reach the most vulnerable while major access routes remain blocked and Goma International airport remains closed.

    “WFP’s priority is to resume operations fully as soon as it is safe to do so,” the UN agency insisted.

    “The longer we are unable to give food and emergency assistance to families affected by the conflict, the greater and more dire their needs are,” said Peter Musoko, WFP’s Country Director and Representative in DRC.

    “I do not want to see children and mothers sink deeper into hunger and severe malnutrition. We need the violence to stop so we can resume our humanitarian activities. The most vulnerable people in DRC cannot afford to be overlooked during this crisis.’

    WFP plans to reach seven million of the most vulnerable women, men, and children in DR Congo with lifesaving food and nutrition assistance this year. It is working with other UN agencies, NGOs and Government partners to address immediate needs and prepare for a potential large-scale response once conditions allow.

    A key part of this operation is the WFP-run UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) operation. It provides aid teams with critical access and logistical support for their work across the country but it urgently requires $33.1 million to avoid the suspension of operations by the end of March.

    In recent weeks, the UNHAS fleet relocated to Kalemie in Tanganyika, establishing a new operational hub for eastern DRC.

    So far this year, the air service has transported 2,464 passengers, including humanitarian workers relocated from Goma and Bukavu; it has also delivered 23 metric tons of essential light cargo across DR Congo. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Do your taxes, get benefits

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Every year, thousands of people in B.C. leave money on the table by not claiming the benefits for which they are eligible.

    It’s estimated that more than one in 10 eligible people in Canada do not file their taxes and nearly one-quarter are young people, 18-24. By filing, most people can get money back or their taxes reduced.

    An estimated one in five renters don’t file their taxes, though many could receive support through B.C.’s renter’s tax credit. This provides as much as $400 for renters with adjusted incomes up to $63,000, or a partial credit for adjusted incomes up to $83,000. To claim the renter’s credit, people should fill out Form BC479 British Columbia Credits when doing income tax returns.

    Depending on family income, people are automatically enrolled for many benefits and credits when they file their taxes. These include the B.C. family benefit and the climate-action tax credit.

    The B.C. family benefit is deposited in eligible families’ bank accounts around the 20th of each month. The average family receives an annual total of $2,000 from the B.C. family benefit and the one-year BC Family Benefit Bonus, which lasts until June 2025. Approximately 275,000 families with children receive support through the benefit.

    The climate-action tax credit for individuals and families can provide a family of four as much as $1,008 for the 2024-25 tax year. More than two million families and individuals will receive more than the 2023-24 tax year.

    Help is available to find benefits and credits, and to help people prepare their taxes.

    B.C.’s Benefits Connector includes information about supports, including tax credits and benefits. It also includes help for renters and homeowners, supports for business owners, and ways to save on health care, transportation and education.

    For people with simple tax situations, volunteers at a free tax clinic can help with tax returns. The federal government hosts an online directory with information about where to go for help.

    One in five people living on very low income don’t file their taxes, missing out on getting benefits and credits that can help. Consider visiting a free tax clinic and using the B.C. Benefits Connector to get some support in 2025.

    Quick Facts:

    • Canadians missed out on almost $2 billion in unclaimed benefits in 2015, according to a 2020 report published in Canadian Public Policy.
    • Men are more likely than women to not file.
    • It is estimated that almost one-fifth of people who have lived in Canada for less than 10 years don’t file their taxes.
    • Service BC guides people through provincial programs and services.
      • Call 1 800 663-7867 for help available in more than 220 languages.

    Learn More:

    Explore available benefits like the B.C. family benefit, the climate-action tax credit and the renter’s tax credit by visiting the B.C. Benefits Connector here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/home/benefits

    For information about free tax clinics, visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/campaigns/free-tax-help.html

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Burlington Man Who Committed Shooting Sentenced to 10-Year Prison Term

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on February 18, 2025, Loren Senna, III, age 41, of Burlington, Vermont, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 120 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Senna previously pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute cocaine base and being a felon in possession of ammunition.

    According to court records, on March 19, 2021, Senna leaned out of the driver’s side window of the Jeep he was driving and fired multiple rounds from a semi-automatic rifle-style handgun while chasing another vehicle through a densely populated area of the Old North End in Burlington, Vermont. Although fired bullets went into multiple residences, and although pedestrians were present at the time of the shooting, no one was injured. Senna then sped through Burlington, briefly tried to hide in a parking lot, and crashed into an occupied Burlington Police Department cruiser with his Jeep while escaping the parking lot. He subsequently abandoned the Jeep and ran away on foot, throwing the semi-automatic handgun and a loaded pistol into an empty railcar. A short time later, Senna was pulled over in South Burlington, Vermont, driving a truck that belonged to a friend. In the truck were over 200 grams of cocaine base, over 20 grams of cocaine, and over 4 grams of a heroin/fentanyl mixture. Within a blue backpack on the floor on the passenger side was another loaded pistol. On Senna’s person was $5,812 in cash and a 9-millimeter bullet.

    Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher stated “The defendant’s shooting and subsequent flight from law enforcement the evening of March 19, 2021, were shocking and extraordinarily dangerous. I commend our law enforcement partners for their bravery, and their quick, collaborative, focused investigative work that night to apprehend the shooter without injury to the public, the officers involved, or to the defendant.” Specifically, the Acting United States Attorney thanked the Burlington Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the South Burlington Police Department for their contributions to this case.

    “From dispatch to patrol, to detectives, to our identification unit, dozens of BPD employees took part in this elaborate case, to say nothing of our partners at the South Burlington police department and in federal law enforcement,” said Burlington Chief of Police Jon Murad. “Given the volume of gunfire, the intentional collision with a cop, and the span of the multiple crime scenes—a shooting scene, a vehicle crash, discarded evidence, a traffic stop—it’s nothing short of a miracle that no one was shot or seriously injured. I’m tremendously grateful to the US Attorney’s office, particularly AUSA Cate, for prosecuting this case and winning the kind of just, effective sentence that ensures the defendant won’t put the public at risk again for a long, long time.”

    “The reckless actions of Loren Senna, who fired a weapon from a moving vehicle in a residential neighborhood, posed a serious threat to public safety,” said James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Boston Field Division. “This case highlights the dangers posed by armed felons and drug traffickers that underscores the importance of aggressive enforcement measures to keep our communities safe. We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to hold violent offenders accountable.”

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole P. Cate and Zachary B. Stendig. Senna was represented by Mark Kaplan, Esq.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell, Colleagues File Amicus Brief Over Illegal Inspectors General Firings

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

    02.20.25

    Cantwell, Colleagues File Amicus Brief Over Illegal Inspectors General Firings

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, joined 26 Senate Democrats in filing an amicus brief in support of a lawsuit brought by eight inspectors general (IGs) who were illegally fired by President Donald Trump. The Senators noted that the role of an inspector general is to uncover government waste, corruption, or illegal actions by political appointees and ensure the laws enacted by Congress are faithfully executed. In 2022, by a vote of 93 to 1, the Senate voted to strengthen existing IG protections to require that Congress be notified at least 30 days in advance of the removal of any Inspector General.

    “Inspectors General (“IGs”) are responsible for uncovering and preventing waste, fraud, and abuse in the administration of federal programs. Their investigations, reports, and audits are crucial tools in uncovering corruption and mismanagement in the executive branch, and IGs are vital to fulfilling Congress’ constitutional oversight responsibilities. For those reasons, Congress requires the President by law to provide notice to Congress, and thus an opportunity for interbranch consultation, before removing an Inspector General from position,” wrote the Senators in the amicus brief.

    “IGs are, by design and by law, not partisan political appointees who the President must be able to dispose of at will, lest their faults be attributed to the President,” the Senators continued.

    The eight inspectors general who are suing President Trump and other administration officials over their illegal firings are part of a larger group of about 17 independent inspectors general who were illegally fired on January 24. In order to protect the independence of America’s nonpartisan IGs, federal law explicitly requires the President to provide Congress both a 30-day notice and communicate in writing a “substantive rationale, including detailed and case-specific reasons,” for the termination. However, as the plaintiffs explain in their complaint, and as the Senators describe in their amicus brief, President Trump did not follow the law.

    • Department of Defense
    • Veterans Affairs
    • Health and Human Services
    • State Department
    • Department of Education
    • Department of Agriculture
    • Department of Labor
    • Small Business Administration

    The amicus brief, led by Senate Minority Leader Schumer (D-NY), and Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Chris Coons (D-DE) was also signed by Senators Welch (D-VT), Schiff (D-CA), Luján (D-NM), Blumenthal (D-CT), Van Hollen (D-MD), Duckworth (D-IL), Hassan (D-NH), Bennet (D-CO), Cortez Masto (D-NV), Heinrich (D-NM), Schatz (D-HI), Shaheen (D-NH), Whitehouse (D-RI), Gallego (D-AZ), Slotkin (D-MI), Warren (D-MA), Gillibrand (D-NY), Kelly (D-AZ), Hirono (D-HI), Klobuchar (D-MN), Durbin (D-IL), Peters (D-MI), Reed (D-RI), Booker (D-NJ), and Rosen (D-NV).

    The full amicus brief is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: America Is Back — and President Trump Is Just Getting Started

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    President Donald J. Trump took office just one month ago, but has already accomplished more than most presidents do in their entire term as he makes good on his promise to usher in the New Golden Age of America.
    Here is a non-comprehensive list of President Trump’s wins after just one month:
    SECURING OUR HOMELAND:
    President Trump declared a national emergency at the border and deployed the military, including the 10th Mountain Division, to secure our nation.
    Illegal border crossings have hit lows not seen in decades as U.S. Border Patrol is re-empowered to once again enforce the law.
    ABC News: “From Jan. 21 through Jan. 31, the number of U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions along the southwest border dropped 85% from the same period in 2024, according to data obtained by ABC News. In the 11 days after Jan. 20, migrants apprehended at ports of entry declined by 93%.”

    Illegal aliens have started turning around in droves amid the crackdown.
    The Department of Homeland Security announced that arrests of criminal illegal immigrants have doubled under President Trump.
    President Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law, which requires illegal immigrants arrested or charged with theft or violence to be detained — honoring the legacy of Laken Riley, a Georgia college student brutally murdered by an illegal alien released into the country.
    President Trump ended “catch-and-release,” reversing the dangerous Biden-era policy that released dangerous illegal aliens back into our communities.
    President Trump shut down the “CBP One” app, which “paroled” more than one million illegal immigrants into the country.
    A migrant shelter in San Diego announced it will shut down after it has received no new arrivals since President Trump took office.

    President Trump terminated all taxpayer-funded public benefits for illegal aliens.
    President Trump ramped up deportation flights of criminal illegal aliens.
    After President Trump announced “urgent and decisive retaliatory measures” against Colombia over its refusal to accept deportation flights from the U.S., the country’s president quickly backtracked — even offering the use of his personal plane for the deportations.
    El Salvadorian President Nayib Bukele offered to accept deportees of any nationality, including violent American criminals currently imprisoned in the U.S.

    President Trump began transferring criminal illegal aliens to Guantanamo Bay ahead of their repatriation back to their own countries.
    President Trump re-established the successful “Remain in Mexico” policy.
    President Trump restarted construction of the border wall.
    The Trump Administration officially declared Tren de Aragua, MS-13, the Sinaloa Cartel, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, the United Cartels, the Gulf Cartel, the Northeast Cartel, and the Michoacán Family as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.
    New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) agreed to allow federal immigration officials to operate on Rikers Island and deport illegal alien criminals following his meeting with Border Czar Tom Homan.
    Mexico announced a deployment of 10,000 troops to the border to combat illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking, while Canada announced a flurry of measures to combat fentanyl manufacturing and trafficking following President Trump’s imposition of tariffs on the two countries.
    President Trump implemented an additional 10% tariff on imports from China in order to stem the flow of illegal aliens and fentanyl.
    President Trump ordered an end to birthright citizenship.
    President Trump suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.
    The Department of Justice filed suit against the State of New York and some of its elected officials over their willful failure to follow federal immigration law and announced that it will take action against so-called “sanctuary cities” for their obstruction of U.S. law.
    The Department of Homeland Security “clawed back” tens of millions of dollars in funds paid by rogue FEMA officials to house illegal aliens in luxury New York City hotels.
    President Trump reinstated the death penalty for federal capital crimes.
    PROTECTING AMERICAN WORKERS AND FOSTERING ECONOMIC GROWTH:
    President Trump restored a 25% tariff on steel imports and elevated the tariff to 25% on aluminum imports to protect these critical American industries from unfair foreign competition — a move praised by the Steel Manufacturers Association, the Aluminum Association, and businesses across the country.
    Robert Simon, CEO of JSW Steel USA, praised President Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs, celebrating them “as a project that will flood the U.S. with jobs as trading partners move their industries to U.S. soil to avoid tariffs.”

    Makoto Uchida, the CEO of global automaker Nissan, said President Trump’s tariffs could push the car manufacturer to move its production from Mexico to the U.S.
    President Trump unveiled a plan for fair and reciprocal trade, making clear to the world that the United States will no longer tolerate being ripped off.
    President Trump secured hundreds of billions of dollars in new investments.
    President Trump announced the largest artificial intelligence infrastructure project in history, securing $500 billion in planned private sector investment — with major CEOs agreeing it would not have been possible without President Trump’s leadership.
    Saudi Arabia declared its intention to invest $600 billion in the United States over the next four years.
    President Trump secured a $20 billion investment by DAMAC Properties to build new U.S.-based data centers.
    Taiwan pledged to boost its investment in the United States.
    Electronics giants Samsung and LG “are considering moving their plants in Mexico to the U.S.” now that President Trump is back in office.

    In February, forecasters from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia revised their economic growth projections for the first quarter of 2025 up from 1.9% to 2.5%, and their unemployment rate projections for the quarter down from 4.2% to 4.1%.
    After a meeting with President Trump, Stellantis announced it will reopen its assembly plant in Belvidere, Illinois — putting 1,500 employees back to work — and build its next-generation Dodge Durango in Detroit, Michigan. The company also announced new investments in their Toledo, Ohio, and Kokomo, Indiana, facilities.
    President Trump laid out a visionary plan to establish a Sovereign Wealth Fund to maximize the stewardship of the $5+ trillion in assets held by the United States.
    Following President Trump’s victory, the S&P 500 set a new record as the stock market surged to record highs — while major Wall Street firms like JP Morgan Chase posted their highest ever annual profits.
    LOWERING THE COST OF LIVING:
    President Trump directed the heads of all executive departments and agencies to “deliver emergency price relief … to the American people and increase the prosperity of the American worker.”
    President Trump established the National Energy Dominance Council to maximize use of the U.S.’ extensive energy resources, thereby enabling lower energy prices.
    Crude oil prices have fallen over 5% since President Trump took office.
    The Department of Energy postponed burdensome Biden-era efficiency standard rules for the following appliances, saving American consumers large sums:
    Central air conditioners: Biden rules were slated to make air conditioners $1,100 more expensive, according to Alliance for Consumers.
    Gas water heaters: Biden rules were slated to make water heaters $2,800 more expensive.
    Clothes washers and dryers: Biden rules were slated to make washers $200 more expensive.
    Light bulbs: Biden rules were slated to make light bulbs $140 more expensive.
    Walk-in coolers and freezers, commercial refrigeration equipment, and air compressors.

    The total cost of federal regulations in 2023 was a record-breaking $2.1 trillion, or $15,788 per U.S. household, according to the Competitive Enterprise Institute. By requiring agencies to identify at least ten existing rules, regulations, or guidance documents to be repealed for every one rule they promulgate, President Trump has put the U.S. on track to severely reduce regulatory costs for everyday Americans.
    The National Associations of Manufacturers found the cost of federal regulations was even greater — at $3.079 trillion in 2022.

    Secretary Sean Duffy’s very first action at the Department of Transportation was to initiate rulemaking resetting Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards — effectively eliminating the Biden-era electric vehicle mandate.
    NBER economist Mark R. Jacobsen “estimates that a one-mpg increase in CAFE standards costs consumers of all income levels approximately 0.5% of their income in the first year of the increase. By the 10th year following the increase, however, this cost becomes regressive, as the increase drives up the price of used cars. A one-mpg increase in CAFE standards costs consumers earning less than $25,000 per year 1.12% of their income, but only costs consumers earning more than $75,000 per year 0.41% of their income.”

    RE-ESTABLISHING AMERICAN STRENGTH:
    President Trump secured the release of six American hostages in Venezuela, two Americans in Afghanistan, an American-Israeli citizen in Hamas captivity, a Pennsylvania teacher in Russian captivity, and an American citizen in Belarus — bringing the total number of American hostages released under President Trump to 11.
    President Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in pursuit of finally securing peace as negotiations get underway.
    President Trump restored maximum pressure on Iran, “sanctioning an international network for facilitating the shipment of millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the People’s Republic of China.”
    President Trump redesignated the Iran-backed Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
    President Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a visit where he proposed a bold vision for securing lasting peace in Gaza.
    Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman described the proposal as “brilliant, historic and the only idea I have heard in 50 years that has a chance of bringing security, peace and prosperity to this troubled region.”

    President Trump hosted Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who announced his intention to “elevate Japan’s investment in the United States to an unprecedented amount of $1 trillion,” import “historic” quantities of LNG from Alaska, and open new auto plants in the U.S.
    President Trump hosted Jordan’s King Abdullah II, who announced that the Kingdom will accept 2,000 sick children from Gaza “as quickly as possible.”
    President Trump hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a visit where they announced new deals between the two countries on immigration, trade, energy, and artificial intelligence.
    President Trump banned funding to UNRWA — a United Nations agency that employed hundreds of Hamas and jihad operatives.
    President Trump imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court, which has illegitimately asserted jurisdiction over internal U.S. matters and baselessly targeted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
    President Trump reinstated the Mexico City Policy to ensure no taxpayer dollars support foreign organizations that perform, or actively promote, abortion in other nations.
    The Department of State ordered embassies worldwide to only fly the American flag — not activist flags.
    President Trump declared all foreign policy must be conducted under the President’s direction, ensuring career diplomats reflect the foreign policy of the United States at all times.
    The Department of State declared that U.S. foreign policy will be America First going forward.
    Following a visit from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino agreed to withdraw from China’s Belt and Road Initiative, a debt-trap diplomacy scheme the Chinese Communist Party uses to gain influence over developing nations.
    The U.S. rejoined the Geneva Consensus Declaration, which promotes and strengthens opportunities for women and girls around the world, and protects the family as the fundamental unit of society.
    President Trump cracked down on anti-Semitism by canceling visas for foreign students who are Hamas sympathizers.
    President Trump ordered the immediate dismissal of the Board of Visitors for the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard following years of woke ideologies infiltrating U.S. service academies.
    The U.S. Army barred transgender people from enlisting and stopped using taxpayer funds for sex change surgeries.
    President Trump reinstated, with backpay, U.S. service members who were discharged under the military’s nonsensical COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
    Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth restored Fort Liberty, North Carolina, to “Fort Bragg,” in honor of a World War II hero.
    President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the World Health Organization.
    President Trump paused enforcement of the overregulation of American businesses abroad, which negatively impacted national security.
    President Trump proclaimed “Gulf of America Day” after the Department of the Interior officially established it on its mapping databases.
    President Trump initiated a process to build a next-generation missile defense shield over the United States.
    UNLEASHING AMERICAN ENERGY:
    President Trump declared a National Energy Emergency to unlock America’s full energy potential and bring down costs for American families.
    President Trump rescinded every one of the Biden Administration’s job-killing, pro-China, anti-American energy regulations.
    President Trump empowered Americans with choice in vehicles, showerheads, toilets, washing machines, light bulbs, and dishwashers, and killed Biden-era regulations that restricted water flow and mandated inadequate light bulb standards.
    President Trump terminated the job-killing Green New Scam.
    President Trump withdrew from the disastrous Paris Climate Agreement, which unfairly ripped off our country.
    President Trump paused federal permitting for massive wind farms, which degrade our natural landscapes and fail to serve American consumers.
    President Trump reversed bureaucratic regulations that impeded Alaska’s ability to develop its vast natural resources.
    President Trump re-opened 625 million acres for offshore drilling, which Biden banned in his waning days, in order to “drill, baby, drill.”
    President Trump scrapped an Obama-era rule on greenhouse gases.
    President Trump ended the Liquefied Natural Gas pause and approved the first LNG project since the Biden Administration banned them last year.
    BRINGING BACK COMMON SENSE:
    Health systems across the nation stopped or downsized their sex change programs for minors following President Trump’s “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation” executive order.
    In Illinois, Chicago’s Lurie Children’s Hospital paused sex-change surgeries for patients under 19 as it “work[s] to understand the rapidly evolving environment.”
    In Colorado, Denver Health announced it would stop performing sex change surgeries on minor children, while UCHealth said it was ending so-called “gender-affirming care” for all minors.
    In Washington, D.C., Children’s National Hospital “paused” prescribing puberty blockers and hormone therapies for minors, while Northwest Washington Hospital did the same.
    In Virginia, VCU Health and Children’s Hospital of Richmond “suspended” providing transgender-related medication and surgeries for minors, while UVA Health also “suspended” transgender-related services for minors.

    President Trump ended the unfair, demeaning practice of forcing women to compete against men in sports — which resulted in the NCAA changing its rules.
    The Department of Education launched investigations into the California Interscholastic Federation and the Minnesota State High School League over their failures to comply.

    President Trump made it the official policy of the U.S. government that there are only two sexes.
    President Trump banned COVID-19 vaccine mandates at schools that receive federal funding.
    President Trump rolled back the Biden-era push to mandate paper straws.
    President Trump instructed the Secretary of the Treasury to stop production of the penny, which cost 3.69 cents each to make.
    President Trump directed full enforcement of the Hyde Amendment, which bars taxpayer dollars from being used to fund or promote elective abortion.
    The Department of Transportation terminated the approval for New York City’s burdensome “congestion pricing” scheme.
    RESTORING ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT
    President Trump established the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to maximize government productivity and ensure the best use of taxpayer funds — which has already achieved billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers.
    President Trump commenced his plan to downsize the federal bureaucracy and eliminate waste, bloat, and insularity.
    President Trump ordered federal workers to return to the office five days a week.
    President Trump ordered federal agencies hire no more than one employee for every four employees who leave.
    President Trump ended the wasteful Federal Executive Institute, which had become a training ground for bureaucrats.
    President Trump ordered the termination of all federal Fake News media contracts.

    President Trump ordered the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — the brainchild of Elizabeth Warren, which funneled cash to left-wing advocacy groups — to halt operations.
    President Trump ordered an end to anti-Christian bias in the Federal Government.
    President Trump ordered an examination of all regulations to assess any infringements on Americans’ Second Amendment rights.
    The Environmental Protection Agency canceled tens of millions of dollars in contracts to left-wing advocacy groups, announced an investigation into a scheme by Biden EPA staffers to shield billions of dollars from oversight and accountability, and put 168 “environmental justice” employees on leave.
    President Trump stopped the waste, fraud, and abuse within USAID — ensuring taxpayers are no longer on the hook for funding the pet projects of entrenched bureaucrats, such as sex changes in Guatemala.
    President Trump ordered an end to the weaponization of the Federal Government against American citizens.
    The Department of Justice immediately began rooting out politically motivated lawfare that occurred in the Biden Administration.

    President Trump reversed the massive over-expansion of the IRS that took place during the Biden Administration.
    President Trump eliminated discriminatory DEI offices, employees, and practices across the bureaucracy alongside a return to merit-based hiring — including at the Federal Aviation Administration, where the Biden Administration specifically recruited individuals with intellectual disabilities and psychiatric issues.
    As a result, taxpayer-funded PBS closed its DEI office, Disney dropped two of its DEI programs, Goldman Sachs ended its DEI policy, and Institutional Shareholder Services announced it would no longer consider diversity of company boards when making its voting recommendations.
    The Federal Communications Commission opened an investigation into discriminatory DEI policies at Comcast, an entity it regulates.

    President Trump ordered an end to all censorship of Americans by the federal government.
    President Trump ordered a review of funding for all non-governmental organizations, so taxpayers are no longer funding those that undermine America’s interests.
    The Department of State issued a “pause” on existing foreign aid grants to ensure accountability and efficiency.

    President Trump lifted last-minute collective bargaining agreements issued by the Biden Administration, which sought to impede reform.
    President Trump overrode bureaucratic red tape that limited water availability in California following the failure of the state’s water system during the devastating wildfires.
    President Trump terminated the Biden-era electric vehicle mandate.
    President Trump suspended the Biden-era EV charging program, which had resulted in just eight charging stations despite $7.5 billion earmarked for the program.

    President Trump shut down the wasteful Biden-era “Climate Corps” program.
    The Federal Communications Commission took action against a Soros-backed radio station that leaked sensitive information about ICE operations.
    President Trump ordered the declassification of documents related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Jr., Robert F. Kennedy, and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
    President Trump opened the White House Press Briefing Room to non-legacy media outlets as the White House sets a new standard for transparency in the digital age.
    President Trump reinstated press privileges for roughly 440 journalists who the Biden Administration sought to silence.
    President Trump fired members of The Kennedy Center’s Board of Trustees amid their obsession with perpetuating radical, left-wing ideology at taxpayer expense.
    President Trump revoked the security clearances of the 51 “spies who lied.”
    EMPOWERING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
    President Trump established the Make America Healthy Again Commission, which redirects the national focus to promoting health rather than simply managing disease.
    President Trump took executive action to expand access to in vitro fertilization (IVF).
    President Trump established the White House Faith Office to protect Americans’ religious liberty.
    President Trump ordered an end to the radical indoctrination of children in K-12 schools that receive federal funding.
    President Trump took executive action to support parents in choosing the best education for their children.
    President Trump established the Presidential Working Group on Digital Asset Markets to strengthen U.S. leadership in digital finance.
    President Trump granted full and unconditional pardons to 23 pro-life Americans who were unjustly persecuted by the Biden Administration.
    President Trump pardoned two Washington, D.C., police officers who were imprisoned simply for doing their jobs of apprehending criminals.
    President Trump has had his cabinet confirmed by the Senate at a far faster pace than his predecessors, with a majority of his cabinet earning confirmation in his first month.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The Global Geopolitical Situation: Foreign Secretary speech at G20 South Africa

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s intervention on Discussions on the Global Geopolitical Situation at the G20 Foreign Ministerial Meeting, South Africa

    Thank you very much, Ronald (Ronald Lamola, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa) and let me say, my dear brother, what a joy is to see the G20 in Africa at long last. And we thank Brazil for its stewardship last year.

    The challenges that we face are truly global.

    We will not begin to tackle them unless we harness the potential of this continent, bursting with growth and opportunities and with so many young people, talented young people at its heart.

    The starkest challenge we face is escalating conflict, both between and within nations, driving vicious cycles of grievance, displacement and low growth.

    Your presidency, Ronald calls for solidarity, and solidarity starts by recognizing and naming the victims of war and injustice.

    Innocent Ukrainians enduring bombardment night after night from Odessa to Zaphorizhya, the hostages still cruelly held underground by Hamas, 16 months old on from the trauma of October the 7th, and the Palestinian civilians driven from their homes in Gaza and the West Bank, the Sudanese refugees flee their burning villages to escape across the border to Chad, the overwhelming majority of them, women and children having endured the most unimaginable and indiscriminate violence.

    As I said when I visited Chad, there can be no geopolitical stability, whilst there remains a hierarchy of conflicts, with those on this continent finding themselves at the bottom of the global pile.

    And that’s why, since starting this job, I’ve made a reset with the so called Global South, a central plank of the UK Foreign Policy, and it’s why I doubled British aid for Sudan, and I prepared a conference in London to push for a political process which will end the fighting and protect civilians.

    And that’s why I’ve called out the Rwandan Defence Force operations in the eastern DRC as a blatant breach of the UN Charter which risks spiralling into a regional conflict, and that’s why I will again make clear to President Kagame, that further breaches of DRC’s sovereignty will have consequences.

    Because at the heart of my government’s approach to foreign policy lies the belief that regional and geopolitical stability can only be delivered through respect for international law and the principles of the UN Charter.

    And as my Canadian, Australian, Japanese colleagues have said, respect for international law must underwrite a free and open Indo Pacific, just as it must underwrite the Euro Atlantic, with the security of those two regions ever more closely linked.

    And as we turn to the Middle East, the ceasefire in Gaza is painfully fragile, I’m grateful that so many of us here today are working together to ensure that it holds we must continue to work together tirelessly to secure the release of the remaining hostages, to bolster the Palestinian Authority, and to boost aid into Gaza and to develop a long term plan for governance and security on the strip so that we can advance towards, a two state solution. Which remains the only long term viable pathway to peace.

    And finally, in Ukraine, the only just and lasting peace will be a peace that is consistent with the UN Charter, and we want that as soon as possible.

    You know, mature countries learn from their colonial failures and their wars, and Europeans have had much to learn over the generations and the centuries.

    But I’m afraid to say that Russia has learned nothing.

    I listened carefully to Minister Lavrov intervention just now he’s, of course, left his seat, hoping to hear some readiness to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty.

    I was hoping to hear some sympathy for the innocent victims of the aggression.

    I was hoping to hear some readiness to seek a durable peace.

    What I heard was the logic of imperialism dressed up as a realpolitik, and I say to you all, we should not be surprised, but neither should we be fooled.

    We are at a crucial juncture in this conflict, and Russia faces a test.

    If Putin is serious about a lasting peace, it means finding a way forward which respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and the UN Charter which provides credible security guarantees, and which rejects Tsarist imperialism, and Britain is ready to listen.

    But we expect to hear more than the Russian gentleman’s tired fabrications.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Nick Park CBE, unveils statue of Feathers McGraw at Animate, Preston

    Source: City of Preston

    Nick Park CBE, four-time Academy Award®-winner and Preston-born creator of Wallace & Gromit, has officially opened the city’s £45m+ Animate entertainment and leisure destination.

    The Honorary Freeman of Preston and multi award-winning filmmaker, unveiled a four-foot-high bronze statue of Feathers McGraw, the villainous penguin character in the Wallace & Gromit animated films, to mark the opening, close by to the existing famous Wallace & Gromit bench at Preston Markets.

    Joining Nick at the unveiling were the Mayor of Preston Councillor Philip Crowe, Chris Butler and Chris Jones, owners and directors of Castle Fine Arts Foundry, which created the statue, and Merlin Crossingham, Bafta@ award-winning creative co-director of Wallace and Gromit at Aardman Animations.

    Nick and Merlin are executive directors and creative directors, respectively, at Bristol-based independent studio Aardman, makers of the Wallace & Gromit films and other beloved brands, including Shaun the Sheep, Creature Comforts, Chicken Run, and Morph.

    Nick Park CBE said:

    “As a proud Prestonian, I couldn’t be more ‘egg-cited’ to see our infamous Feathers McGraw joining Wallace and Gromit in my hometown.

    “I’m not sure how happy Wallace and Gromit will be, though, to have their arch nemesis clutching the limelight.”

    Councillor Matthew Brown, Leader at Preston City Council said:

    “To have Nick Park officially opening our flagship regeneration scheme, Animate, is a genuine honour and landmark moment for the Council and the city. In addition, the new Feathers McGraw statue is a fantastic complement to the Wallace and Gromit bench, which has drawn so many visitors to Preston – its popularity has blown us away.

    “Today heralds a new era for Preston, providing an unrivalled multi-tenanted entertainment and leisure complex for residents and visitors from the wider regionin the ownership of our city.”

    Chris Jones, Director at Castle Fine Arts Foundry added:

    “It was such an honour for us all at the Foundry to be given the opportunity to depict the deliciously malign Feathers McGraw in bronze, having enjoyed creating Wallace & Gromit a couple of years ago.

    “We had felt Feathers ‘wee beady eyes’ upon us in the workshop for a good few months since we completed him, so it was both a relief and a joy to put him where he truly belongs, alongside his arch nemeses in Preston.”

    Animate features The Arc Cinema with eight screens, 16-lane Hollywood Bowl bowling alley with gaming zone, public realm, a socialising unit and 164-space basement car park, alongside leading family restaurant brands Ask Italian, Cosmo, Taco Bell, Argento Lounge and a variety of street food outlets and a cocktail bar in Mad Giant Food Hall, run by Northern Lights Group.

    The scheme was delivered by Maple Grove Developments (MGD), part of Preston-based contractor Eric Wright Group, on behalf of Preston City Council. Commercial property agents Sanderson Weatherall are the estate managers.

    Built on the former indoor market and car park site, Animate is fully owned by Preston City Council and is one of six major projects in Preston’s Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme, a £200m programme including £20.9m of funding by UK Government to support several regeneration projects.

    The leisure scheme supports the Council’s commitment to Community Wealth Building – a fair, inclusive and ethical approach to fostering sustainable economic development and prosperity for all in Preston – via measures including using locally based businesses and the creation of approximately 300 full and part-time jobs when fully open and 105 apprenticeship weeks worked throughout the construction period to date.

    Opening dates at Animate

    • Argento Lounge – Open
    • Taco Bell – Open
    • The Arc Cinema – Open
    • Hollywood Bowl – opening March
    • Ask Italian – opening early April 
    • Mad Giant Food Hall – coming soon  
    • Cosmo – coming soon

    Visit Animate Preston for more information

    Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme

    Projects included in Preston’s £200 million Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme are:

    • Animate – £45m multi-use entertainment and leisure complex anchored by a state-of-the-art cinema and bowling venue next to Preston Markets
    • Educate Preston: The creation of a new Careers and Employment, Information, Advice and Guidance Hub in the Harris Quarter.
    • Renewal of Harris Quarter Assets: Investment to support the redevelopment of publicly-owned buildings in the Harris Quarter to support new cultural and community uses, including Amounderness House.
    • Illuminate and Integrate: A project to deliver improved pedestrian and cycleway infrastructure, street lighting and other public realm improvements within the Harris Quarter.
    • Preston Youth Zone:The development of Preston Youth Zone as a state-of-the-art facility for young people in Preston aged eight to 19.
    • #HarrisYourPlace:The refurbishment of the Grade I listed Harris Museum, Art Gallery & Library, enhancing and protecting the building for future generations.
    • Preston Pop Ups: £1m pop-up programme of events bringing together new temporary event space, artworks and improvements to public realm infrastructure, aimed at boosting visitor activity in the Harris Quarter.

    For more information, visit Invest Preston.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Sues Nation’s Largest Vape Distributors for Fueling the Youth Vaping Epidemic

    Source: US State of New York

    NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced a lawsuit against 13 major e-cigarette, or “vape,” manufacturers, distributors, and retailers for their role in fueling the youth vaping epidemic. These companies are responsible for illegally distributing, marketing, and selling flavored disposable vapes – including popular brands such as Puff Bar, Elf Bar, Geek Bar, Breeze, MYLE, and more – which have become extraordinarily popular among minors. An Office of the Attorney General (OAG) investigation found that these companies market highly addictive, candy- and fruit-flavored nicotine products to underage consumers, mislead customers about the safety and legality of their products, illegally ship products to New York, and violate health regulations designed to curb youth vaping.  

    With this action, Attorney General James is holding the nation’s leading vape distributors accountable for their role in this public health crisis. The landmark lawsuit seeks hundreds of millions of dollars, including financial penalties for wide-ranging violations of local, state, and federal laws; damages and restitution for the public health impact of the companies’ illegal actions; the recovery of all revenue made from unlawful activity; and the establishment of an abatement fund to address the youth vaping crisis in New York. 

    “The vaping industry is taking a page out of Big Tobacco’s playbook: they’re making nicotine seem cool, getting kids hooked, and creating a massive public health crisis in the process,” said Attorney General James. “For too long, these companies have disregarded our laws in order to profit off of our young people, but we will not risk the health and safety of our kids. Today, we are taking critical steps toward holding these companies accountable for the harm they have caused New Yorkers.” 

    The vaping industry has adopted deceptive, inescapable marketing strategies that are reminiscent of the tactics that made the tobacco industry infamous. Vaping companies directly target youth with bright, colorful packaging, candy and fruit flavors, social media and influencer campaigns, and unproven claims that their products are “safe” alternatives to cigarettes. The vape products the defendants often help develop, design, and even taste-test are intended to attract young people, with eye-catching, cartoonish packaging and flavors like “Blue Razz Slushy,” “Sour Watermelon Patch,” “Unicorn Cake,” “Fruity Bears Freeze,” “Cotton Candy,” “Rainbow Rapper,” “Sour Fruity Worms,” “Fruity Pebbles,” and “Strawberry Cereal Donut Milk,” to entice kids.

    Vape companies use bright, colorful packaging and candy and fruit flavors to entice children.

    The OAG investigation found that these companies often rely on social media in their marketing and ensure their vapes are abundantly available within walking distance of schools in an effort to reach young consumers. The companies also make use of celebrity or influencer endorsements, sponsor brand activations and social media photo opportunities at popular festivals and events, and promote dangerous vaping trends and challenges to drive engagement online. One company, Puff Bar, ran a social media advertisement during the early days of the pandemic lockdown that billed their vapes as “the perfect escape from back-to-back zoom calls [and] parental texts.”

    Vaping advertisements feature bright colors and candy, as well as illegal discounts and relatable language to attract kids.

    The investigation also revealed that vape companies have long been aware that their products pose health risks to users – and are particularly harmful to youth – but have continued to target young people with deceptive and misleading messages about the products’ safety. In particular, the companies’ advertisements often position vaping products as a safer, healthier alternative to cigarettes. One of the defendants has even advanced conspiracy theories in an attempt to brush away concerns over the safety of vaping, repeatedly pushing the idea that state governments were campaigning to crush vaping in an attempt to boost tobacco sales for financial gain. In addition, despite knowing that New York banned the sale of flavored vapor products in 2020, the companies have continued to sell these products while intentionally misleading customers about the legality of the sales.

    None of the companies named in the lawsuit have received authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for their fruit – or – candy flavored vapes, making their sale illegal under federal law. Attorney General James’ lawsuit alleges the companies have knowingly and intentionally ignored FDA warning letters and regulations, as well as the federal Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act, which prohibits online sales of vaping products to consumers and unlicensed retailers. In addition to violating federal bans on shipping these products, the companies fail to register with the appropriate authorities, verify recipients’ ages, or follow any other shipping restrictions.

    Attorney General James also alleges that these vape companies have blatantly disregarded New York state public health laws, including several policies enacted in recent years to curb youth vaping. In 2020, New York banned the sale of flavored vapor products, restricted the shipment and transport of nicotine products, and raised the legal purchase age for all vapes to 21. The state also banned coupons and discounts on vapes, and began requiring certain companies to disclose dangerous ingredients in their vapes. The vape companies named in this lawsuit have repeatedly and knowingly violated these laws.

    The OAG investigation uncovered widespread evidence of this illegal conduct, including documents showing illegal shipments of flavored vapes to New York residential addresses, communications demonstrating companies’ knowledge of health and legal risks, and company advertisements and social media campaigns that misleadingly promoted vapes as safe and fun.

    The rise in youth vaping has reversed years of progress in reducing tobacco and nicotine use among adolescents. According to the New York State Department of Health (DOH), e-cigarette use among high school students has skyrocketed over the past decade, with flavored vapes being the most commonly used tobacco and nicotine product among youth. Attorney General James’ lawsuit highlights the severe health risks associated with vaping, including nicotine addiction, respiratory issues, and long-term cognitive impairments. According to the American Lung Association, some vape ingredients have been found to cause irreversible lung damage, while nicotine exposure during adolescence can permanently alter brain development. Kids who use nicotine products are also at increased risk for future addiction to other drugs. 

    The rapid rise popularity of vaping among teenagers reversed years of progress in reducing youth nicotine use. 

    For their illegal conduct and role in fueling the youth vaping crisis, Attorney General James is seeking broad relief from the companies, including a permanent ban on selling flavored vapes in New York, significant financial penalties and restitution for harm caused to New Yorkers, public corrective statements to inform consumers of the dangers of vaping, and the creation of an abatement fund to address and mitigate the effects of the public health crisis these companies helped create. In addition, OAG is pursuing total disgorgement of all revenues earned as a result of illegal activity. In total, Attorney General James is seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in financial compensation for the havoc these companies’ products and marketing have wreaked on New York’s kids and their health and well-being.

    The manufacturers, distributors, and retailers named in the lawsuit are Puff Bar, MYLE Vape, Pod Juice, Mi-One Brands, Happy Distro, Demand Vape, EVO Brands, PVG2, Magellan Technology, Midwest Goods, Safa Goods, EVO Brands, and Price Point Distributors, as well as Price Point principals Weis Khwaja, Hamza Jalili, and Mohammad Jalili. 

    “These predatory companies purposefully preyed on our classmates and peers, irreparably damaging our lives,” said Erin Kennedy, founder of anti-vaping advocacy group at East Hampton High School and a frontline witness to the second youth nicotine epidemic. “Therapeutic tools are the only useful actions to try to help the second wave of youth nicotine addiction. Money received from lawsuits with vaping companies must be funneled to therapeutic treatments to try and undo the harm, even death, created by these exploitative companies.”

    “I thank Attorney General James for her significant financial commitment to Suffolk County to hopefully invest in community-based therapeutic treatments for my friends and classmates who have been poisoned and now struggle with nicotine addiction,” said Samantha Price, founder of anti-vaping advocacy group at East Hampton High School and a frontline witness to the second youth nicotine epidemic.  

    “Vaping continues to be a public health issue for teens and young adults and has been exacerbated by irresponsible marketing strategies,” said Dr. Susan Gasparino, Medical Director of the Clinical and Community-Based Programs at the Center for Community Health & Prevention at the University of Rochester Medical Center. “I applaud and sincerely thank Attorney General Letitia James for, once again, taking action to hold these companies accountable. Her efforts, paired with the counseling and educational services like those we provide at our Center’s clinic, are what it takes to see change and advocate for the health of our young people.” 

    “Parents Against Vaping is enormously grateful to New York’s Attorney General Letitia James and her team for their ongoing commitment to and leadership in the fight to protect kids from a predatory industry that seeks to addict an entire generation to nicotine,” said Meredith Berkman, Co-Founder of Parents Against Vaping. “By going after those who deliberately market, promote, and peddle illegal flavored vapes to minors, causing serious negative health consequences that can impact young people for years to come, the Attorney General makes clear that she will not allow these bad actors to continue making enormous profits while harming New York’s children.” 

    “The vaping industry has taken advantage of youth as a vulnerable and profitable market through flavoring, advertising, and sales techniques, putting their health at risk,” said Melissa Safford, Program Director of Uplift Irondequoit. “Our coalition and community work hard to promote prevention amid a market that is flooded with false claims surrounding the safety and benefits of vaping. It is wonderful to see that Attorney General James is continuing to be a champion for youth’s health, protecting them from the vaping industry.” 

    “The Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD) offers our professional support to the continued leadership by our New York State Attorney General Letitia James in her unwavering efforts to keep New Yorkers safe from unscrupulous marketing strategies flagrantly targeting our youth and exposing them to dangerous and addictive nicotine products,” said Steve Chassman, Executive Director of LICADD. “Nicotine is a potent mind- and mood-altering drug that potentially develops into a physical and psychological dependence. The implications of nicotine intoxication and dependence for young people on their mental, physical, academic, and social well-being are far reaching when dangerous levels of nicotine are consumed at a vulnerable age. These dangerous products are being callously marketed as ‘candy-like’ materials, distorting the harmful effects the drug has on human development. LICADD commends Attorney General Letitia James for fighting for the health and wellness of our youth who are potentially falling prey to monetary greed and a total disregard of public health.” 

    This lawsuit builds on Attorney General James’ efforts to hold the vaping industry accountable. Last month, Attorney General James filed a lawsuit against a retailer in upstate New York for knowingly selling vapor products to underage customers. In April 2023, Attorney General James secured $462 million from Juul Manufacturers for its role in the youth vaping epidemic. In August 2021, Attorney General James co-led a bipartisan coalition calling on the FDA to regulate e-cigarettes and oral nicotine products. In December 2020, Attorney General James ordered dozens of retailers across the state to immediately stop selling e-cigarette products to underage customers and to stop selling flavored vaping products in violation of New York state law. Also in December 2020, Attorney General James held a roundtable with elected officials, students, and parents on the subject of vaping among young people in New York state. In July 2020, Attorney General James cracked down on three online retailers that were illegally selling e-cigarettes online to consumers in New York, including minors. In April 2019, Attorney General James led a coalition of seven states in urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take stronger action in addressing the scourge of e-cigarette use among youth by taking proposed measures such as strengthening guidance, beginning enforcement earlier, and banning online sales of e-cigarettes.   

    This matter is being handled by Special Counsel Monica Hanna with assistance from Health Care Deputy Bureau Chief Leslieann Cachola, Special Counsel for Complex Litigation Collen Faherty, Assistant Attorneys General Alex Finkelstein, Wil Handley, and Joy Mele, Legal Assistants Ketty Dautruche and Dana-Ann Henry, and Document Review Managers Carol Cheng and Kristin Petrella, under the supervision of Health Care Bureau Chief Darsana Srinivasan. Data analysis was provided by Data Scientist Blythe Davis under the supervision of Deputy Director Gautam Sisodia and Director Victoria Khan of the Research and Analytics Department. The Health Care Bureau is part of the Division of Social Justice which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Meghan Faux and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.   

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Leads Multistate Coalition to Defend the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

    Source: US State of New York

    NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today co-led a coalition of 23 attorneys general to warn against efforts by the Trump administration and Elon Musk to defund and disband the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The CFPB is an independent agency that oversees big banks, lenders, credit card companies, and mortgage servicers and ensures companies are following federal consumer protection laws. Since its creation, the CFPB has helped millions of New Yorkers and Americans by helping homeowners facing foreclosure stay in their homes, stopping banks from charging junk fees, and returning more than $20 billion to the pockets of consumers nationwide. Attorney General James and the coalition argue in an amicus brief filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland that dismantling the CFPB would significantly harm consumers and hamper enforcement of federal consumer protection laws.

    “Eliminating the CFPB will hurt everyday people and benefit billionaires like Elon Musk and his friends,” said Attorney General James. “The CFPB has put billions of dollars back in the pockets of Americans by going after predatory lenders, deceptive companies, and slashing junk fees. The only reason to get rid of this watchdog agency is to protect bad actors. Working families need the CFPB, especially as rising prices are making it hard to make ends meet and put food on the table. My office is leading this coalition to help protect the agency that has protected all of us.”

    On February 9, the Trump administration directed the CFPB to stop all its ongoing work and to not begin any new investigations. The CFPB was formed in 2011 following the Great Recession to enforce federal consumer protection laws. Since its creation, the CFPB has worked with state attorneys general to address consumer issues related to banking, student loan servicers, mortgage servicers, auto lending, and other consumer financial matters. The CFPB has also partnered with attorneys general to stop deceptive, unfair, and abusive conduct by companies. As a result of the Trump administration’s actions, the nation’s largest banks are no longer being closely watched for compliance with key consumer protections by any federal regulator.

    In their brief, Attorney General James and the coalition argue that the administration’s efforts to destroy the CFPB could prevent consumers from reporting issues of fraud or deception. The coalition also writes that efforts to shut down the CFPB would significantly reduce oversight of big banks, further harming consumers. The attorneys general warn that this may lead to financial institutions loosening their regulatory compliance, as was seen in the years leading up to the financial crisis.

    Attorney General James has partnered with the CFPB on several actions to protect consumers and hold companies accountable. In January 2024, Attorney General James, the CFPB, and a multistate coalition sued a web of related shell companies for running an illegal debt-relief enterprise and swindling consumers out of more than $100 million. In April 2024, Attorney General James, the CFPB, and a multistate coalition won an $811 million judgment against a bond services company, Libre by Nexus, for unfairly targeting immigrants and their families with deceptive and abusive tactics. In January 2023, Attorney General James and the CFPB sued one of the nation’s largest auto lenders, Credit Acceptance Corporation (CAC), for deceiving thousands of low-income New Yorkers into signing high-interest car loans. The CFPB and the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) also sued a cash advance company for defrauding 9/11 victims out of money intended to help cover their medical costs, lost income, and other critical needs.

    Joining Attorney General James in filing today’s brief are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Inmate Given Life Sentence for Brutal Murder of Cellmate at Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    TERRE HAUTE— Lawrence Taylor, 44, formerly of Akron, Ohio, and current inmate of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, has been sentenced to life in federal prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder.

    According to court documents, Taylor and Jan Stevens (“Stevens”) were inmates at the Federal Correctional Complex, in Terre Haute, Indiana, and housed within the Special Housing Unit (“SHU”). Taylor and Stevens were cellmates in the SHU for just three days prior to January 12, 2019.

    On January 12, 2019, at approximately 1:25 a.m., a SHU staff member walked by Taylor’s and Stevens’s cell and observed Stevens lying on the lower bunk, partially covered with a sheet, with his head at the foot of the bed. Taylor was also inside the cell, standing in front of the door window. Upon a second glance, the staff member saw a laceration to Stevens’s neck, along with blood spattered against the wall and pooling on the floor. The next day, a forensic pathologist conducted an autopsy of Stevens and found his cause of death to be 43 stab wounds to his body, most significantly to the neck area, leading him to bleed out. During an interview with FBI agents, Taylor admitted to killing Stevens with a weapon he had possessed for the previous three months.

    At the time of the murder, Taylor was serving a 284-month sentence for a series of bank robberies in 2009.  Prior to the murder of Stevens, Taylor was projected to be released from the Bureau of Prisons in September 2031.

    “This murder extends beyond the taking of a life – it shatters the lives of those closest to the victim.  Taylor’s act was heinous; well justifying the imposition of a life sentence,” said John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “I commend the FBI, Corrections Officers and our federal prosecutors who handled this case with such a determination for justice.”

    “This life sentence reflects the FBI’s commitment to justice for all victims including those who are incarcerated in federal correctional facilities. The brutality of this violent murder deserves the maximum penalty allowed under the law,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “The FBI will continue to work closely with the Bureau of Prisons and all of our law enforcement partners to investigate and apprehend those who commit violent acts and hold them accountable.”

    “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message – those who threaten or harm others will be held accountable,” said a Federal Bureau of Prisons Spokesperson. “The safety and security of our facilities will always be the FBOP’s top priority in our mission to ensure public safety.”

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Prisons investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jayson W. McGrath and former Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Warden, who prosecuted this case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Chief of Naval Operations Visits New England Bases, Stresses Lethality and Readiness

    Source: United States Navy

    NEWPORT, R.I. – Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Lisa Franchetti traveled to New England to meet with area Sailors, civilians, and leadership, tour General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (BIW) and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY), and meet with students and faculty at Navy school houses and the Naval War College in Newport, R.I., Feb. 18-19.

    This visit underscores the Navy’s commitment to putting more ready players on the field and prioritizing training with a focus on warfighting, wargaming, and readiness.

    At BIW, in Bath, Maine, Franchetti met with two dozen shipbuilders who are working on the new radar and combat suite for Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG 126), BIW’s first Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. She commended them for their hard work and recognized their vital contributions to the Navy’s shipbuilding efforts.

    “I’m focused on warfighting and the warfighters that do that warfighting, and they can’t do that without platforms like this,” said Franchetti to Bath Iron Works shipyard workers aboard DDG-126. “I believe in service both in uniform and out. Your service here, building this amazing warship, is also service to your nation. You’re making sure we have the most ready, capable, and lethal Navy that our Nation needs to be able to protect our national security interests all over the world. That all starts right here.”

    Franchetti also met with Sailors from the PCUs Harvey C. Barnum Jr (DDG 124) and Patrick Gallagher (DDG 127), the final DDG Flight IIA being built for the Navy.

    “It’s exciting to be the plank owners of ships that are going to serve our Nation for 30 years,” said Franchetti. “At the commissioning ceremony for the first Arleigh Burke destroyer, Adm. Arleigh Burke told the crew, ‘this ship was built to fight.  You better know how,’ and I know that’s what this crew thinks about when you go to work every day.”

    Franchetti added, “we’ve had 26 warships operating in the Red Sea over the last 15 months, at a level of combat intensity we haven’t seen since World War II. Twelve of those ships were built right here at BIW and have been performing magnificently. That performance is because of our investments in lethal systems, investments in our foundation – shipyards like this one – and investments in Sailors who live and breathe the warrior ethos every day.”

    Continuing the visit, CNO took a Quality of Service tour at PNSY where she visited various facilities, including the Bachelor Enlisted Quarters, the Navy Exchange, and the Micromart. During the tour, she engaged in discussions about initiatives focused on improving the quality of life for Sailors. These efforts are part of the ongoing commitment to deliver the high level of service that Sailors deserve and are a key Project 33 target outlined in the CNO’s Navigation Plan for America’s Warfighting Navy.

    CNO also received updates on ongoing Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program modernization efforts, ship maintenance, and refit timelines at PNSY. She emphasized the need to build readiness and capability now as the Navy partners to scale industrial capacity and expand budgets for future growth—an effort that aligns with another key target in the CNO’s Navigation Plan, to strengthen and modernize the Navy’s industrial base to get platforms in and out of maintenance on time. While at PNSY, she presented the FY24 Battle “E” award to the crew of the Virginia-class fast attack submarine USS North Dakota (SSN 784).

    “One of the big tenants of America’s Warfighting Navy is getting more players on the field. That’s platforms with the right capabilities, the right modernization, the right lethality, and people with the right skillset, toolset, and mindset, and you embody that every single day,” Franchetti told the crew. “I’m confident that you’re going to get this player back out on the field as fast as possible because of your very clear commitment to getting after every challenge that comes your way. Your partnership with the shipyard team is second to none, and together, you got left of any barrier that came up. Our submarines are the Apex Predators of the Fleet, and I know the ‘Reapers of the Deep’ are excited to get back out there.”

    Following the visit, the CNO went to Newport, R.I., to meet with leadership at the Surface Warfare Schools Command (SWSC) and to speak at the department head graduation. While there she also relayed her charge of command and spoke about standards to the prospective commanding officers.

    “You’re going back to the Fleet at a critical time for our Navy and our nation. As you have seen this past year, our Navy-Marine Corps team, and really our surface warfare community, has been in high demand in every region around the globe,” Franchetti said. “We are operating in contested waterways and airspaces to underwrite the global security environment, and to keep the sea lanes of communication open for all to use. There’s no other Navy that operates at this scale, no other Navy can train, deploy and sustain such a lethal, globally deployed, combat credible force at the pace, the scale, and the tempo that we do.”

    The CNO then met with leadership from the U.S. Naval War College and received briefs from the college’s Halsey Group advanced research programs, which conduct data collection, research, analysis and wargaming to examine challenges at the operational level of war in the Middle East and East Asia.

    To wrap up the visit, CNO met with leadership and students from both the Naval Supply Corps School and the Naval Justice School to thank them for their work delivering warfighting advantage every day.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Conservation Officers Investigation Uncovers Illegal Outfitting in Northern Saskatchewan

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on February 20, 2025

    After a three-year investigation conducted by Saskatchewan conservation officers, an American cabin owner is now facing a hefty fine for operating an illegal outfitting operation in Northern Saskatchewan. 

    Cree Lake is 81 kilometers long and is located approximately 220 kilometers north of Pinehouse Lake. With no highway access, most summer anglers and outfitting services can only access this area by float plane.

    In 2020, Pinehouse Lake conservation officers became aware of an unlawful outfitting operation on the southwest shore of Cree Lake. Throughout the summer months of 2022 and 2023, officers conducted an investigation to gather evidence to support concerns of unlawful outfitting. This included visits by boat and multiple float plane inspections.

    As a result of the investigation, the American owner pleaded guilty to one count of operating “without an outfitter’s licence endorsed for that activity to act as an outfitter” contrary to The Outfitter and Guide Regulations, 2004. On December 23, 2024, he was handed a $10,000 fine, plus a $4,000 surcharge, in La Ronge Provincial Court.

    Recognized as a world-class trophy northern pike and lake trout waterbody, Cree Lake is visited by anglers from all over the world who use the services of licensed outfitters to catch trophy fish. When recreational lease holders use private cabins for unlawful outfitting, it negatively impacts provincially licensed outfitters who rely on guiding and outfitting clients for their livelihood. Unlawful outfitting can also negatively affect Saskatchewan’s fishery resources and populations.

    The Conservation Officer Service would like to thank the public for their support during this investigation. 

    If you suspect wildlife, fisheries, forestry or environmental violations, please call Saskatchewan’s Turn in Poachers and Polluters (TIPP) line at 1-800-667-7561 or report online at saskatchewan.ca/tipp. You can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward from the SaskTIP Reward Program.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Overland AI Opens New Factory for Manufacturing Advanced Ground Autonomy at Scale

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SEATTLE, Feb. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Overland AI, a leader in autonomous ground systems, announced the opening of the Overland AI Factory in South Seattle. Congressman Adam Smith, representing Washington’s Ninth Congressional District, visited yesterday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour of the facility, which will significantly enhance the company’s in-house manufacturing and production of autonomous ground vehicles at scale.

    Congressman Adam Smith participating in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Overland AI Factory (South Seattle)

    The Overland AI Factory is designed for end-to-end development and rapid production of both crewed and uncrewed ground vehicles, integrating sophisticated tooling and scalable workflows. The facility will serve as a hub for Overland AI-designed platforms and the precision upfitting of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) vehicles, enabling mission-ready adaptability for defense and national security applications.

    “I’m honored to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony of this new Overland AI Factory,” said Congressman Adam Smith. “By investing in local talent and resources, Overland AI is fostering innovation and creating job opportunities in the Ninth Congressional District to support our national security.”

    The Congressman touring Overland AI’s new facility with co-founders Stephanie Bonk (President) and Greg Okopal (Chief Operating Officer)

    Located in Seattle’s industrial corridor, Overland AI’s new Factory accelerates the development of ground vehicles powered by OverDrive. With differentiated capabilities like GPS-denied operation and multi-robot coordination, OverDrive-enhanced vehicles are supporting tactical operators today across the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, and Special Operations Command. The Factory’s strategic location near Joint Base Lewis-McChord, key military airports, and major seaports streamlines defense logistics and the rapid deployment of mission-ready autonomous systems for mission partners.

    “This facility marks a new chapter for Overland AI and the future of autonomous ground systems,” said Greg Okopal, co-founder and chief operating officer of Overland AI. “By bringing manufacturing in-house, we are now offering our partners an integrated solution, from remote operator to effect on the battlefield.”

    “The Overland AI Factory cements the region’s role as a hub for defense technology and manufacturing,” said Byron Boots, co-founder and chief executive officer of Overland AI. “This opening reinforces our commitment to advancing ground autonomy for national security.”

    For more information, visit https://www.overland.ai.

    About Overland AI
    Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Overland AI is powering ground operations for modern defense. The company leverages over a decade of advanced research in robotics and machine learning, as well as a field-test forward ethos, to deliver advanced autonomy for unit commanders. Hazardous missions in austere and electronically denied environments demand that this technology is reliable and resilient. Overland AI’s autonomy kit and OverDrive stack enable ground vehicles to navigate off-road without GPS or direct operator control, while its OverWatch C2 provides commanders with precisely coordinated capabilities that are vital for complex missions to succeed. Overland AI is developing these capabilities and putting them into the hands of tactical operators today.

    Media Contact
    Kristen Hoff
    kristen@firecrackerpr.com
    Firecracker PR
    1-888-317-4687 ext. 702

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/00a4379a-11e2-4231-8453-8a80fb2055bb

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/266e9ad0-4d9b-41bb-9635-03772d2718a1

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta Announces Preliminary Fourth Quarter and Annual 2024 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ATLANTA, Feb. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (the Bank) today released preliminary unaudited financial highlights for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2024. All numbers reported below for 2024 are approximate until the Bank announces audited financial results in its Form 10-K, which is expected to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on or about March 7, 2025.

    Fourth Quarter 2024 Operating Results

    • Net interest income for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $250 million, an increase of $9 million, compared to net interest income of $241 million for the same period in 2023. The increase in net interest income was primarily related to a decrease in interest rates between the comparative quarters which impacted expense from interest-bearing liabilities more than the income from interest-earning assets, partially offset by a decrease in average advance balances.
    • The average advance balances were $96.1 billion and $111.4 billion for the fourth quarter of 2024 and 2023, respectively.
    • Net income for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $176 million, an increase of $2 million, compared to net income of $174 million for the same period in 2023. The Bank had $16 million of voluntary housing contribution expense during the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to $12 million during the same period in 2023.
    • The net yield on interest-earnings assets for the fourth quarter of 2024 was 67 basis points, an increase of nine basis points, compared to 58 basis points for the same period in 2023. Many of the Bank’s assets and liabilities are indexed to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR). Average daily SOFR during the fourth quarter of 2024 was 4.68 percent compared to 5.32 percent for the same period in 2023.
    • The Bank’s fourth quarter of 2024 performance resulted in an annualized return on average equity (ROE) of 8.36 percent as compared to 7.83 percent for the same period in 2023. The increase in ROE was primarily due a decrease in the average total capital outstanding during the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.

    Annual 2024 Operating Results

    • Net interest income for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $966 million, an increase of $77 million, compared to net interest income of $889 million for the same period in 2023. The increase in net interest income was primarily related to an increase in interest rates during the year which impacted income from interest-earning assets more than the expense from interest-bearing liabilities, partially offset by a decrease in average advance balances.
    • The average advance balances were $98.8 billion and $125.4 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
    • Net income for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $697 million, an increase of $48 million, compared to net income of $649 million for the same period in 2023. The increase in net income was primarily due to a $77 million increase in net interest income. Additionally, during 2024 the Bank had $49 million of voluntary housing contributions expense, compared to $19 million during 2023.
    • The net yield on interest-earnings assets for the year ended December 31, 2024 was 64 basis points, an increase of 14 basis points, compared to 50 basis points for the same period in 2023. The year-to-date average daily SOFR as of December 31, 2024 was 5.15 percent compared to 5.01 percent for the same period in 2023.
    • The Bank’s 2024 performance resulted in an annualized return on average equity (ROE) of 8.31 percent as compared to 7.43 percent for the same period in 2023. The increase in ROE was primarily due to the increase in net income during the year.

    Financial Condition Highlights

    • Total assets were $147.1 billion as of December 31, 2024, a decrease of $5.3 billion from December 31, 2023.
    • Advances outstanding were $85.8 billion as of December 31, 2024, a decrease of $10.8 billion from December 31, 2023.
    • Total capital was $7.9 billion as of December 31, 2024, a decrease of $183 million from December 31, 2023. Retained earnings increased to $2.8 billion as of December 31, 2024, compared to $2.5 billion as of December 31, 2023.
    • As of December 31, 2024, the Bank was in compliance with all applicable regulatory capital and liquidity requirements.

    Reliable Source of Liquidity

    • For 2024, the Bank originated a total of $311.4 billion of advances, thereby providing significant liquidity to its members to support lending and other activities in their communities. The Bank is proud to continue to execute on its mission to be a reliable source of liquidity and funding for its members, while remaining adequately capitalized.

    Commitment to Affordable Housing and Community Development

    • The Bank is required and commits 10 percent of its income before assessments to support the affordable housing and community development needs of communities served by its members as required by law, which amounted to $72 million for the 2023 statutory Affordable Housing Program (AHP) assessment available for funding in 2024. As of December 31, 2024, the Bank has accrued $77 million to its AHP pool of funds that will be available to the Bank’s members and their communities in 2025 for funding of eligible projects.
    • During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Bank made an additional $49 million of voluntary housing and community investment contributions. This consisted of $15 million of additional voluntary housing contributions to the Bank’s AHP Homeownership Set-aside Program, $8 million of additional voluntary housing contributions to the Bank’s AHP General Fund, $20 million of voluntary contributions to the Bank’s Workforce Housing Plus+ Program, and $6 million of voluntary contributions to the Bank’s Heirs’ Property Family Wealth Protection Fund.
    • In 2025, the Bank has voluntarily committed an additional five percent of its 2024 income before assessments, equal to $41 million, to further support the affordable housing and community development needs of its communities. This will result in a total commitment by the Bank to support affordable housing and community development needs of $118 million in 2025.
    • Since the inception of its AHP in 1990, the Bank has awarded more than $1.2 billion in AHP funds, assisting more than 177,000 households.
     
     
    Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta
    Financial Highlights
    (Preliminary and unaudited)
    (Dollars in millions)
     
        As of December 31,
    Statements of Condition  2024    2023
      Advances $         85,829       $         96,608    
      Investments           60,084                 54,207    
      Mortgage loans held for portfolio, net           89                 103    
      Total assets           147,091                 152,370    
      Total consolidated obligations, net           135,851                 141,572    
      Total capital stock           5,148                 5,597    
      Retained earnings           2,785                 2,524    
      Accumulated other comprehensive loss           —                 (5 )  
      Total capital           7,933                 8,116    
      Capital-to-assets ratio (GAAP)           5.39   %             5.33   %
      Capital-to-assets ratio (Regulatory)           5.39   %             5.33   %
        Three Months Ended December 31,   Years Ended December 31,
    Operating Results and Performance Ratios  2024    2023    2024    2023
      Net interest income $         250       $         241       $         966       $         889    
      Standby letters of credit fees           4                 4                 17                 10    
      Other income (loss)           2                 (1 )               6                 (5 )  
      Total noninterest expense (1)           61                 51                 215                 173    
      Affordable Housing Program assessment           19                 19                 77                 72    
      Net income           176                 174                 697                 649    
      Return on average assets           0.46   %             0.41   %             0.45   %             0.36   %
      Return on average equity           8.36   %             7.83   %             8.31   %             7.43   %
    __________
    (1) Total noninterest expense includes voluntary housing and community investment contributions of $16 million and $12 million for the three months ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $49 million and $19 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
       

    Additional financial information concerning the Bank’s results of operations for the most recently completed year ended December 31, 2024, will be available in the Bank’s Form 10-K that the Bank expects to file with the SEC on or about March 7, 2025 and will be available at www.fhlbatl.com and on www.sec.gov.

    About Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta

    FHLBank Atlanta offers competitively-priced financing, community development grants, and other banking services to help member financial institutions make affordable home mortgages and provide economic development credit to neighborhoods and communities. The Bank is a cooperative whose members are commercial banks, credit unions, savings institutions, community development financial institutions, and insurance companies located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. FHLBank Atlanta is one of 11 district banks in the Federal Home Loan Bank System (FHLBank System). Since 1990, the FHLBanks have awarded approximately $9.1 billion in Affordable Housing Program funds, assisting more than 1.2 million households.

    For more information, visit our website at www.fhlbatl.com.

    To the extent that the statements made in this announcement may be deemed as “forward-looking statements”, they are made within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which include statements with respect to the Bank’s beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, assumptions, estimates, intentions, and future performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which may be beyond the Bank’s control, and which may cause the Bank’s actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on them, since those may not be realized due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation: legislative, regulatory and accounting actions, changes, approvals or requirements; completion of the Bank’s financial closing procedures and final accounting adjustments for the most recently completed quarter; SOFR variations; future economic, liquidity and market conditions (including in the housing market and banking industry); changes in demand for advances, advance levels, consolidated obligations of the Bank and/or the FHLBank System and their market; changes in interest rates; changes in prepayment speeds, default rates, delinquencies, and losses on mortgage-backed securities; volatility of market prices, rates and indices that could affect the value of financial instruments; changes in credit ratings and/or the terms of derivative transactions; changes in product offerings; political, national, climate, and world events; disruptions in information systems; membership changes; mergers and acquisitions involving members; changes to the Bank’s voluntary housing program and other adverse developments or events, including extraordinary or disruptive events, affecting the market, involving other Federal Home Loan Banks, their members or the FHLBank System in general, including acts or war and terrorism. Additional factors that might cause the Bank’s results to differ from forward-looking statements are provided in detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available at www.sec.gov.

    The forward-looking statements in this release speak only as of the date that they are made, and the Bank has no obligation and does not undertake to publicly update, revise, or correct any of these statements after the date of this announcement, or after the respective dates on which such statements otherwise are made, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors may emerge, and it is not possible for us to predict the nature of each new factor, or assess its potential impact, on our business and financial condition. Given these uncertainties, we caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

    CONTACT: Sheryl Touchton
    Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta
    stouchton@fhlbatl.com
    404.716.4296

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget’s CEO Gracy Chen Joins Consensus Hong Kong 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, Feb. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company will be attending Consensus 2025, set to be held in Hong Kong, scheduled from February 18 to 20 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. Consensus’ expansion into Hong Kong highlights Asia’s growth as a global powerhouse for Web3, with millions of crypto users, blockchain developers, and industry leaders. Serving as the most influential crypto event, Hong Kong sees itself strategically positioned as a pivotal digital assets hub, uniting East and West for pivotal conversations and plans that will define what’s next for the future of technology.

    Bitget CEO, Gracy Chen, will be a distinguished speaker at the event, sharing her insights on a panel titled ‘Beyond Trading: How Crypto is Shaping the Market‘ on the Mainstage on Wednesday, 19 February, at 2:30 PM HKT. Since assuming the role of CEO in May 2024, Gracy has been instrumental in driving Bitget’s global strategy, leading to a fourfold increase in the company’s user base and establishing strategic partnerships, including collaborations with big names like Lionel Messi and LALIGA. Her leadership has propelled Bitget into the ranks of the top global exchanges. 

    “One trend that I observed is the integration of centralized exchange and decentralized exchange. All of the strongest exchanges have put a lot of resources into building their DEX service, not just focusing on the CEX service. In 2024, we saw great growth in our DEX, Bitget Wallet, which hit 45 million users,” said Gracy Chen, CEO at Bitget. “For trash time in the market, it is the best time to be more focused on our own product and really create value for our targeted users and community. That’s probably how we survived in the last bear market.”

    On February 18th, Bitget held the BGB Builders Night, an exclusive event celebrating BGB’s all-time high. The event promises networking with fellow BGB holders, industry influencers, and project founders and was opened by Bitget CEO Gracy, who shed light on Bitget’s future developments. Attendees engaged with key members of the BGB and Bitget Wallet teams, participated in the ‘BGB Hunt’ for a chance to win $BGB, and exchanged ideas with Bitget CEO, Gracy. 

    Participation in Consensus Hong Kong 2025 shows Bitget’s dedication to creating a collaborative environment to drive innovation within the crypto community. This event will convene the industry’s brightest minds, serving as a launchpad for meaningful discussions, networking, and the forging of partnerships that will influence the trajectory of the digital asset landscape.

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 100 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, token swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more.

    Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

    For more information, users can visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

    For media inquiries, users can contact: media@bitget.com

    Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, users can refer to the Terms of Use.

    Contact

    Simran Alphonso

    media@bitget.com

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/961f8995-8b0c-4f27-8793-17ca12645372

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c97f743b-d88d-41ef-b337-8668848a682b

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Kindred Studios set to return to North Paddington with a permanent home at 300 Harrow Road | Westminster City Council

    Source: City of Westminster

    Kindred Studios are poised to make a return to North Paddington, having been selected to manage the new purpose-built enterprise space in the 300 Harrow Road development. Previously located at the former Westminster College in Maida Vale, they are delighted to be back in the borough, supporting the creative community.  

    The new enterprise space is part of a comprehensive regeneration project led by the council, which includes new truly affordable homes, a nursery, community space and a community café. The affordable business space is a key component of the council’s Enterprise Space programme and is designed to serve as a hub for creative incubation, education and outreach. This aligns with the council’s vision for North Paddington, centred around creating a more inclusive, connected and vibrant community.  

    North Paddington is one of several areas designated as Creative Enterprise Zone (CEZ), with the Mayor of London granting £170,000 towards fostering a vibrant creative and cultural economy in the area and opening opportunities for local people. This comes at a crucial time, as there have been significant losses of space for creatives across the capital, and in North Paddington this included Kindred Studios’ previous home, and the London Print Studio. 

    The council will now begin working with Kindred Studios who will fit out the space in the coming months, with an opening anticipated later this year. Once completed the 7,500 square foot space will be equipped with around 30 – 36 affordable studios, and co-working spaces for up to 100 local creatives and businesses. Kindred Studios will soon be inviting applications from artists to express interest in the new space. Stay informed by signing up for the Westminster Business Newsletter. 

     

    Cllr Geoff Barraclough, Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development, said:  

    “Small businesses in the creative sector need space but often can’t afford market rents in central London.  

    “That’s why we’re delighted to welcome Kindred Studios to manage our newly purpose-built low-cost workspace at 300 Harrow Road, located in our North Paddington Creative Enterprise Zone.   

    “Kindred will run a continuous programme of networking, training, and events to transform the council’s newest enterprise space into a permanent, supportive environment for creative businesses. With our help, these small businesses will soon grow into bigger ones, generating good growth and employment for local people.” 

    Angelique Schmitt, Founder and CEO, of Kindred Studios said: 

    “It’s a great pleasure for us to be back in the borough, working alongside Westminster Council to deliver a hugely exciting new facility that will benefit creatives, college students, and the wider public with a transformative arts programme designed to foster connection and engagement.” 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Twenty-Nine-Year-Old Arrested, Charged With Threatening to Shoot Up Elementary School

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

    A man who threatened to shoot up a Lubbock elementary school has been arrested and charged, announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad Meacham.

    Stephen Patrick Furr, 29, was charged via criminal complaint with interstate threatening communications and arrested Monday afternoon. He made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Amanda ‘Amy’ R. Burch Wednesday morning.

    “The foresight of a single tipster – coupled with the prompt action of law enforcement – may have saved dozens of young lives,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham. “The adage holds true: If you see something, say something. You may help law enforcement avert a tragedy.”

    “The defendant’s concerning social media posts were reported to the FBI, and the resulting law enforcement response ensured no one was harmed,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “The FBI and our partners are committed to protecting the communities we serve, and we encourage the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious or threatening behavior to law enforcement.”

    According to the complaint, on Feb. 2, the FBI received a tip about threats posted on BlueSky, a microblogging site.

    “Thinking about going out and buying a gun,” the user posted. “When in Texas, shoot [expletive] [expletive] am I right? Good thing I live next to an elementary school.”

    The posts escalated from musings about a possible future shooting to statements that the user had a gun and intended to carry out a school shooting: 

    “Will be fun to legally shoot up a school,” the user posted. “I can already smell the blood.”

    “Anyone wanna sign my gun?” he added.

    The user also posted images from the March 2019 shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand, which killed 51 people and injured 89 more.

    Agents identified the user of the account as Mr. Furr and visited him at his home in Lubbock on Feb. 3.

    According to the complaint, Mr. Furr was “disheveled and unkempt.” He allegedly screamed incoherent profanities and stated that he would not talk to the agents until the President confirmed their identity.

    Officers contacted two of Mr. Furr’s family members, who stated that Mr. Furr had also threatened them.

    A criminal complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Like all defendants, Mr. Furr is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

    If convicted, he faces up to five years in federal prison.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office – Lubbock Resident Agency conducted the investigation with the Lubbock Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Haag is prosecuting the case.

    Members of the public can report potential threats to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at tips.fbi.gov.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Kumasi was called the garden city – but green spaces are vanishing in a clash of landuse regulations

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Stephen Appiah Takyi, Senior Lecturer, Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)

    Urban parks in Kumasi, the capital city of Ghana’s Ashanti region, are fast disappearing or in decline. Kumasi was designed 60 years ago as a “garden city”, with green belts, parks and urban green spaces. These have been encroached on by developments and are in a poor condition.

    Like other cities in Ghana, Kumasi has been growing. According to the latest population data from Ghana’s Statistical Service, the population of Kumasi in 1950 and 2024 was 99,479 and 3,903,480 respectively. The city’s current annual population growth rate is 3.59%. This growth is a challenge for city authorities.

    Adding to the challenge is the fact that in Ghana, political authorities and traditional leadership exist together. It’s the capital of the Ashanti Region and the capital of the ancient Ashanti Kingdom. Most of the land is owned by the traditional authority. This makes it difficult sometimes for city authorities to enforce planning regulations.

    We are urban planners who have conducted research on environmental planning, urban informality and inclusive city development. We studied the extent to which areas demarcated as urban parks in the Kumasi Metropolis have been rezoned, and why there’s been encroachment into urban parks.

    Our study showed that 88% of the 16 parks studied in the Kumasi Metropolis had either been rezoned or encroached upon by other land uses. This was done in an unplanned way. Zoning regulations have not been enforced and urban sprawl has not been controlled. Part of the reason is that land scarcity drives up its value and customary authorities have an incentive to allow other uses. As a result, the city has lost green spaces that are important for their environmental, traditional and recreational functions.

    Decline of urban parks in Kumasi Metropolis

    To understand why Kumasi has been losing its green spaces, our study looked at 16 parks across six communities within the Kumasi Metropolis.

    The World Health Organization recommends there should be 9m² of green space per city dweller. We calculated that Kumasi currently has only 0.17m² of green space per city dweller.

    We also noted significant changes in land zoned for parks. This was mainly due to the politics of land ownership and administration. Other social factors played a part too. The results of the research showed that out of the 16 existing parks studied, 14 (88%) had been rezoned to residential or commercial use or encroached upon by other uses.

    The rezoning of parks was gradual, unapproved by local planning authorities, and unplanned. Existing land tenure arrangements and laxity in the enforcement of laws are some of the barriers affecting park development and management in the city.

    An official of the city’s Physical Planning Department indicated that places zoned as parks were supposed to be owned, controlled, managed and protected by the state. But this was not the case, because of the complex land tenure arrangement of the city, where most land is customarily owned.

    Though Ghana’s land tenure system recognises customary ownership, the determination of land use remains the responsibility of local planning authorities. Land sold for physical developments must conform to an approved scheme prepared by the Physical Planning Department. In most cases, the parks rezoned by the customary owners were in contravention with spatial planning laws (such as the Land Use and Spatial Planning Act, 2016).

    The representative of the planning department noted that even though it prepared layouts that made provision for parks and open spaces, it was often helpless when it came to enforcement and other land use regulations. We were told that information about the land ownership and transfer process between government agencies and customary landowners was not made available to the department.

    Due to poor coordination and increased demand for land for development, about 88% of land demarcated for park development across the study communities had been leased or sold to private developers by the customary landowners.

    Our study also revealed a lack of funding for parks development and management. All the agency officials confirmed that parks were planned for but the funds to support their development and management were inadequate. They explained that property values rose as a result of urban development, leading to intense competition among various land uses. We were told that landowners were willing to sell any land available in their community at a higher value without considering its use in the community.

    Bringing back the green

    The once green city of Kumasi has lost much of its foliage. We suggest that this decline can and should be stopped.

    City authorities can incorporate cultural elements that highlight the identity of neighbourhoods to promote ownership and a sense of place in the design of parks. Local planning institutions, custodians of land and residents should collaborate so that plans meet everyone’s needs.

    Traditional authorities, together with relevant city authorities, should consciously ensure that parks are developed, protected, managed and sustained. Laws and regulations which guide park use and protection should be enforced strictly.

    Finally, parks and green spaces can only survive if there is sustainable funding. City authorities could consider green taxation and charges. For example, they can fine residents whose activities threaten the environment, and use the money to fund parks and green spaces. A percentage of property tax can be dedicated to the protection and development of green spaces in the city.

    – Kumasi was called the garden city – but green spaces are vanishing in a clash of landuse regulations
    – https://theconversation.com/kumasi-was-called-the-garden-city-but-green-spaces-are-vanishing-in-a-clash-of-landuse-regulations-248016

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Kumasi was called the garden city – but green spaces are vanishing in a clash of landuse regulations

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Stephen Appiah Takyi, Senior Lecturer, Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)

    Urban parks in Kumasi, the capital city of Ghana’s Ashanti region, are fast disappearing or in decline. Kumasi was designed 60 years ago as a “garden city”, with green belts, parks and urban green spaces. These have been encroached on by developments and are in a poor condition.

    Like other cities in Ghana, Kumasi has been growing. According to the latest population data from Ghana’s Statistical Service, the population of Kumasi in 1950 and 2024 was 99,479 and 3,903,480 respectively. The city’s current annual population growth rate is 3.59%.
    This growth is a challenge for city authorities.

    Adding to the challenge is the fact that in Ghana, political authorities and traditional leadership exist together. It’s the capital of the Ashanti Region and the capital of the ancient Ashanti Kingdom. Most of the land is owned by the traditional authority. This makes it difficult sometimes for city authorities to enforce planning regulations.

    We are urban planners who have conducted research on environmental planning, urban informality and inclusive city development. We studied the extent to which areas demarcated as urban parks in the Kumasi Metropolis have been rezoned, and why there’s been encroachment into urban parks.

    Our study showed that 88% of the 16 parks studied in the Kumasi Metropolis had either been rezoned or encroached upon by other land uses. This was done in an unplanned way. Zoning regulations have not been enforced and urban sprawl has not been controlled. Part of the reason is that land scarcity drives up its value and customary authorities have an incentive to allow other uses. As a result, the city has lost green spaces that are important for their environmental, traditional and recreational functions.

    Decline of urban parks in Kumasi Metropolis

    To understand why Kumasi has been losing its green spaces, our study looked at 16 parks across six communities within the Kumasi Metropolis.

    The World Health Organization recommends there should be 9m² of green space per city dweller. We calculated that Kumasi currently has only 0.17m² of green space per city dweller.

    We also noted significant changes in land zoned for parks. This was mainly due to the politics of land ownership and administration. Other social factors played a part too. The results of the research showed that out of the 16 existing parks studied, 14 (88%) had been rezoned to residential or commercial use or encroached upon by other uses.

    The rezoning of parks was gradual, unapproved by local planning authorities, and unplanned. Existing land tenure arrangements and laxity in the enforcement of laws are some of the barriers affecting park development and management in the city.

    An official of the city’s Physical Planning Department indicated that places zoned as parks were supposed to be owned, controlled, managed and protected by the state. But this was not the case, because of the complex land tenure arrangement of the city, where most land is customarily owned.

    Though Ghana’s land tenure system recognises customary ownership, the determination of land use remains the responsibility of local planning authorities. Land sold for physical developments must conform to an approved scheme prepared by the Physical Planning Department. In most cases, the parks rezoned by the customary owners were in contravention with spatial planning laws (such as the Land Use and Spatial Planning Act, 2016).

    The representative of the planning department noted that even though it prepared layouts that made provision for parks and open spaces, it was often helpless when it came to enforcement and other land use regulations. We were told that information about the land ownership and transfer process between government agencies and customary landowners was not made available to the department.

    Due to poor coordination and increased demand for land for development, about 88% of land demarcated for park development across the study communities had been leased or sold to private developers by the customary landowners.

    Our study also revealed a lack of funding for parks development and management. All the agency officials confirmed that parks were planned for but the funds to support their development and management were inadequate. They explained that property values rose as a result of urban development, leading to intense competition among various land uses. We were told that landowners were willing to sell any land available in their community at a higher value without considering its use in the community.

    Bringing back the green

    The once green city of Kumasi has lost much of its foliage. We suggest that this decline can and should be stopped.

    City authorities can incorporate cultural elements that highlight the identity of neighbourhoods to promote ownership and a sense of place in the design of parks. Local planning institutions, custodians of land and residents should collaborate so that plans meet everyone’s needs.

    Traditional authorities, together with relevant city authorities, should consciously ensure that parks are developed, protected, managed and sustained. Laws and regulations which guide park use and protection should be enforced strictly.

    Finally, parks and green spaces can only survive if there is sustainable funding. City authorities could consider green taxation and charges. For example, they can fine residents whose activities threaten the environment, and use the money to fund parks and green spaces. A percentage of property tax can be dedicated to the protection and development of green spaces in the city.

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

    – ref. Kumasi was called the garden city – but green spaces are vanishing in a clash of landuse regulations – https://theconversation.com/kumasi-was-called-the-garden-city-but-green-spaces-are-vanishing-in-a-clash-of-landuse-regulations-248016

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/NIGERIA – Father Damulak escapes after his kidnapping on February 6

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Diocesi di Shendam

    Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – Father Cornelius Manzak Damulak, kidnapped on February 6 (see Fides, 7/2/2025), managed to escape from the hands of his kidnappers.According to the police in the State of Niger (central Nigeria), the priest was able to free himself on the evening of February 13 and was rescued by a police patrol the next morning. “On February 14, around noon, a person was found by a police patrol from Chanchaga on the Pogo Paiko highway and immediately taken to safety,” says a statement from the police command. “During questioning, the person was identified as Cornelius Damulak (36), a student at the ‘Veritas University’ in Abuja.” The police statement added: “The victim was kidnapped from his home in Bwari (Abuja) at around 5 a.m. on Thursday, February 6, and taken to the forests. Fortunately, on February 13, Father Damulak managed to escape from the kidnappers and found himself on the Pogo Paiko Highway in Minna, where, after a long walk, he was picked up by one of our patrols.”Father Damulak belongs to the clergy of the diocese of Shendam in Plateau State (central Nigeria), but was studying in the federal capital, Abuja, in whose urban area he was kidnapped. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 20/2/2025)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mayor of London’s St Patrick’s Day Festival returns on Sunday 16 March

    Source: Mayor of London

    • London’s St Patrick’s Day parade and Trafalgar Square celebrations to take place on Sunday 16 March
    • Londoners and visitors can look forward to a free, family-friendly afternoon of entertainment in the heart of the capital
    • Paralympic gold medal winning cyclist Katie-George Dunlevy and Olympic gold medal boxer Kellie Harrington will be Grand Marshals of this year’s parade

    The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today announced that London’s famous St Patrick’s Day Festival and parade will return on Sunday 16 March. The celebrations bring together Londoners and visitors in the heart of the capital to honour the immense contributions of London’s Irish community.

    Irish Paralympic gold medal winning cyclist Katie-George Dunlevy and Olympic gold medal winning boxer Kellie Harrington are this year’s Grand Marshals. Following their incredible success in Paris last year, Katie-George and Kellie will lead the spectacular parade of more than 50,000 people through central London. There will be great floats, marching bands, and dance troupes as the procession weaves its way from Hyde Park Corner, past Piccadilly, Trafalgar Square, and on to Whitehall.

    Trafalgar Square will be the centre of the celebrations with a free afternoon of entertainment hosted by Irish-Indian-Malaysian DJ and broadcaster Tara Kumar. The main stage will feature a wide range of family-friendly performances, including world-class acts Kíla, Irish Women in Harmony, Ragz-CV, and many more.

    Celebrity chef Anna Haugh is returning to demonstrate how to cook Irish culinary delights, and there will be food stalls to suit all tastes.

    This year’s programme includes the Peace Heroines exhibition, an art project which celebrates Ireland’s unsung women heroes. Visitors can also enjoy the Irish Creative Collective Sessions showcasing the best of Ireland’s comedy, music, and film and TV shorts.

    There will be an opportunity to learn traditional Irish dancing steps in the Irish Dance Zone, while in the Children’s Zone Artburst will run free creative workshops using recycled materials to promote sustainability – a key theme for this year’s event.

    On the big screen there will be clips of The Song Cycle, a film that documents Nick Kelly and his band Dogs as they cycled from Dublin to Glastonbury to perform at last year’s festival. They’ll be cycling all the way from Dublin to London to join the parade before performing on the main stage.

    London’s St Patrick’s Day Festival is a wonderful opportunity to experience the warmth, creativity and culture of the capital’s Irish community while celebrating the enduring ties between London and Ireland.

    Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “London’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations are a key part of our capital’s cultural calendar and I’m delighted that each year the festival gets bigger and better. I’m proud that we host this major event to honour and celebrate Irish culture and the immense contributions of our capital’s Irish community. From business and public service to the arts and culture, Irish Londoners have played – and continue to play – a vital role in shaping the very fabric of our city, making London a better, brighter and more prosperous place for everyone. Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh!”

    Ireland’s Ambassador to the UK, Martin Fraser, said: ““The Embassy of Ireland is delighted to support and be part of this event once again. It is a joyful and diverse celebration of Irish arts and culture, with a fantastic programme devised by our friends at the London Irish Centre.

    “St Patrick’s Day in London is truly special, bringing together not only our Irish community but all friends of Ireland here in Britain, and people from around the world who feel a connection to Ireland. It is also a wonderful way to recognise the contribution of the Irish diaspora to London over so many years.

    “The parade and Trafalgar Square show is consistently a highlight in London’s cultural calendar and one which we are so proud to be part of – made all the more special this year by the presence of our Olympic medallists Grand Marshals: para-cyclist Katie-George Dunlevy and boxer Kellie Harrington. It is an honour to have the opportunity to walk alongside these exceptional Irish athletes. We are also happy to highlight the inclusion this year of the “Peace Heroines” exhibition, a series of portraits by the artist FRIZ celebrating the role of women in the Good Friday Agreement. 

    “I know that this year’s events will be a great success, with thanks to the hard work and creativity of all involved, and with the support of Mayor Sadiq Khan.

    “Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh go léir!”

    Grand Marshal, Irish Olympic gold medal winning boxer Kellie Harrington, said: ” I am honoured to be attending as Grand Marshal alongside my good friend Katie George Dunlevy in the London St Patrick’s Day Parade on March 16th. I have always gone to the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Ireland on Dublin’s O’Connell St, this be my first Parade away from home and I am very excited to celebrate it with everyone in London. I look forward to celebrating with you all. “

    Grand Marshal, Irish Paralympic gold medal winning cyclist Katie-George Dunlevy, said: “”I’m really honoured and excited to be part of the St Patrick’s Parade and Festival on March 16th in London. I take such pride in representing our wonderful country on the world stage, at the Paralympics. After such an incredible year, where I came home with three medals and retained my time trial title, this is truly the cherry on top!”

    Séamus MacCormaic, CEO of the London Irish Centre, said: “The London Irish Centre are honoured to be Programme Partner for the London St Patrick’s Festival 2025 and to curate the iconic concert in Trafalgar Square each year. This special event acknowledges and celebrates the contribution of Irish communities to London, and we are proud to be part of this story for the past 70 years. Our Culture Team will bring a diverse programme of Irish arts and culture to the iconic Trafalgar Square and celebrate the creativity and huge contribution of the Irish community in London. We want to thank the Mayor Sadiq Khan and London Authority for working with us. and to everyone who works so hard to make this festival such a huge success.”

    Ger Hayes, Managing Director of the event’s title sponsor Sisk, said: “We are delighted to continue our sponsorship of the London St Patrick’s Day parade yet again this year. 

    “St Patrick’s Day is an excellent opportunity for our diverse workforce, many of whom who are Irish diaspora to come together with their friends and family to celebrate with us. 

    “As an Irish business, it is crucial for us to remain active in the London Irish community. We do a lot of voluntary work in the communities in which we operate and have built an excellent relationship supporting the Kilburn Irish Pensioners group in Brent.  

    “As an Irish business, we have been operating in London since the 1980’s and we have completed many major projects including the redevelopment of the Royal Academy of Arts and we are currently building the new Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital Children’s Cancer Centre.

    “We would like to wish everyone a Happy St Patrick’s Day!”

    Tourism Ireland’s Acting Deputy Head of Great Britain, David Wood, said: “St Patrick’s Day Festival in London’s Trafalgar Square returns for a fantastic day showcasing the vibrancy of Irish culture, arts, food and community. Join Tourism Ireland in celebrating on the 16th March for the festival’s 22nd year. Visit us on the stand for a warm welcome and to find out the latest news and reasons to visit the island of Ireland in 2025.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –