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  • MIL-OSI: Buffalo Run Casino & Resort Chooses QCI Chatalytics to Enhance Casino Operations with Integrated AI Solutions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, Feb. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Buffalo Casino & Resort has chosen Quick Custom Intelligence’s (QCI) Chatalytics, an AI-based platform, to transform casino operations and enhance guest satisfaction. The QCI Chatalytics package—encompassing Slot Copilot, Player Copilot, the Dashboard, and the Robot Button—integrates OpenAI technology for real-time insights and efficient decision-making across the gaming floor.

    Designed to boost both player and slot management, QCI Chatalytics delivers an advanced combination of AI-driven features. Slot Copilot empowers operators with live slot machine performance monitoring, predictive analytics, and automatically assigned tasks. Player Copilot focuses on personalized engagement by analyzing guest data to guide service strategies and reward offerings. With the Dashboard, teams benefit from an easy-to-read, real-time overview of key performance metrics, enabling swift, data-informed insights. Additionally, the Robot Button automates routine tasks, freeing up staff to concentrate on more valuable responsibilities and boosting overall productivity.

    Mary Jewett, General Manager of Buffalo Run Casino & Resort, conveyed her enthusiasm: “Bringing QCI Chatalytics on board represents a vital step in leveraging AI to enhance our operations. With cutting-edge tools like the Robot Button, Slot Copilot, and Player Copilot, we can offer more tailored guest experiences while gaining a clearer understanding of our gaming operations.”

    Dr. Ralph Thomas, CEO of QCI, outlined his perspective on the new partnership: “We are thrilled to introduce QCI Chatalytics to Buffalo Casino & Resort. By weaving OpenAI’s capabilities into our solution, we deliver an unprecedented degree of automation and clarity. We believe Chatalytics will be a key factor in refining casino floor management and boosting guest satisfaction through instantaneous, data-driven decision-making.”

    The QCI Chatalytics suite is part of Quick Custom Intelligence’s broader mission to spur innovation in the gaming sector, offering a robust set of tools that streamline operations and enhance the overall player experience.

    ABOUT Buffalo Run Casino & Resort
    Owned and operated by the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, Buffalo Run Casino & Resort is future-focused on a gaming entertainment experience that both excites and exceeds guest expectations. Maintaining its reputation for a clean and friendly environment, it empowers team members and continues to elevate hospitality and guest experiences by investing in team member training and career development programs. Consequently, this strategic reinvestment into team members and property has resulted in earning the vote for one of the Best and Brightest Companies in the Nation to work for in 2022.

    Buffalo Run Casino & Resort has over 70,000 square feet of casino floor and features the area’s widest variety of slots and tables games. The resort also includes a non-smoking Hotel, Truckers Lounge with special amenities and offers, the Peoria Showplace in-door event center, the outdoor amphitheater, complimentary entertainment in the Backwoods Bar, an 18-hole championship golf course, two indoor Top Golf® bays, and a smoke-free high-end Player’s Lounge. Additionally, the Buffalo Run Casino & Resort offers three dining experiences including Coal Creek Restaurant with high-end cuisine, the Bistro with hand-tossed brick oven pizza, and the Backwoods Bar & Grill which claims the title for best in-house smoked barbecue in the area.

    Ongoing advancements to the property include the Peoria Showplace remodel, Hotel updates and restaurant remodel with more to come. New technology has been implemented to streamline offer redemption for guests that include self-serve kiosks for dining and promotions, digital core mail pieces, and a mobile app for monthly promotional information. Updates on the casino floor include in-game bonuses and upgraded slots. Innovation and strategic marketing decisions are powered by data driven technology (QCI), empowering the casino to customize the guest experience and increase loyalty in a highly competitive market.

    ABOUT QCI
    Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) has pioneered the revolutionary QCI Enterprise Platform, an artificial intelligence platform that seamlessly integrates player development, marketing, and gaming operations with powerful, real-time tools designed specifically for the gaming and hospitality industries. Our advanced, highly configurable software is deployed in over 250 casino resorts across North America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Latin America, and The Bahamas. The QCI AGI Platform, which manages more than $35 billion in annual gross gaming revenue, stands as a best-in-class solution, whether on-premises, hybrid, or cloud-based, enabling fully coordinated activities across all aspects of gaming or hospitality operations. QCI’s data-driven, AI-powered software propels swift, informed decision-making vital in the ever-changing casino industry, assisting casinos in optimizing resources and profits, crafting effective marketing campaigns, and enhancing customer loyalty. QCI was co-founded by Dr. Ralph Thomas and Mr. Andrew Cardno and is based in San Diego, with additional offices in Las Vegas, St. Louis, Dallas, and Tulsa. Main phone number: (858) 299.5715. Visit us at www.quickcustomintelligence.com.

    ABOUT Dr. Ralph Thomas
    Dr. Ralph Thomas is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Quick Custom Intelligence. Ralph is a product visionary in applied analytics and the founder of two companies that deliver solutions in casino gaming, education, and adult learning. As a gaming industry veteran, Dr. Thomas has substantial experience implementing analytics into single and multi-property gaming companies to drive tangible and measurable gains to the bottom line and has built business intelligence tools for multibillion-dollar casinos. Dr. Thomas is co-author of seven books and over 80 articles on applied analytics and data science in gaming, an inventor on dozens of patents, and understands gaming from raw data up through casino operations, giving him a unique, 360-degree view of the industry.

    Contact:
    Laurel Kay, Quick Custom Intelligence
    Phone: 858-349-8354

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed, Colleagues Request Information on Elon Musk’s Access to VA Medical Records

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) is teaming up with Senator Jon Ossoff, the Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (Milcon-VA) to safeguard veterans’ private information, asking questions about unelected billionaire Elon Musk’s access to veterans’ medical records and Musk’s dysfunctional and ineffective cost-cutting directives that could make it harder for veterans to get the care they deserve. 
    Reed and Ossoff, along with Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and fellow Subcommittee members Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Gary Peters (D-MI) are pressing U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins to protect veterans, their families, and VA staff from unprecedented access to sensitive information by Elon Musk and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
    The Trump Administration is severely reducing VA staffing levels.  And according to a recent report by Military.com, DOGE employees had accessed VA computer systems at the Department’s headquarters in Washington, DC.
    “We understand that personnel reporting to Mr. Musk have recently visited VA facilities,” the five senators wrote to VA Secretary Collins. “Senators, veterans, and members of the public have serious concerns regarding Mr. Musk’s extraordinary and unprecedented activities and the lack of transparency surrounding them, including his potential access to and handling of sensitive or personal information.”
    “Accordingly, we seek specific information regarding VA’s engagement with Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (“DOGE”),” they continued.
    The U.S. Senators requested a list of DOGE personnel who have visited VA facilities, the systems they accessed, and whether veteran data — including medical and service records — may have been viewed, run through AI/LLM programs, copied, or transferred. The group also requested that Secretary Collins reveal the nature of the agreement under which DOGE personnel are governed by in their engagement with the VA.
    The VA’s mission is to help veterans successfully transition to civilian life and assists them in their post-service journey by ensuring they have access to the benefits they earned.  The VA offers veterans and their families a wide range of services, including healthcare, housing, education, training, disability compensation and pension assistance, and more.
    Read the full letter here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Highclere Capital Launches a New and Transformational Mortgage Company

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Where Deals Get Done

    TORONTO, Feb. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    Highclere Capital Corporation, a new residential mortgage lender who intends to transform the Canadian mortgage industry, today announced its impending launch. The company will offer dynamic mortgage products to Mortgage Brokers across Canada funded by Global Capital Markets Solutions and underpinned by a Loan Origination System powered by AI technology.

    Highclere Capital is actively reaching out to Canadian Mortgage Brokers interested in partnering with an experienced team of lending professionals. Highclere Capital Corporation. plans to provide a range of diversified mortgage solutions—from competitive Prime mortgage products to flexible Alternative options—delivered through a network of reputable Mortgage Brokers and agents committed to empowering Canadian homeowners throughout their journey.

    The company was founded by Leon Dadoun and Paul Grewal, both of which are seasoned and experienced entrepreneurs. The company is led by Leon Dadoun (CEO), a banking professional with 40 years of expertise in Global Debt Capital Markets, International Securitization, and Regulatory Public Policy Formation. Paul Grewal (President) is a well-respected Financial Services Executive in the Canadian Mortgage industry with a proven track record of growing a Mortgage Finance Company and Bank Mortgage Portfolios.

    They have assembled an enthusiastic, experienced team dedicated to supporting Highclere Capital at all levels. In forming this new company, the priority has been on Capital Markets solutions, mortgage technology, product innovation and customer service to ensure that, even in its early stages, Highclere Capital provides reliable, forward-thinking choices to its Canadian partners.

    In a statement, Leon Dadoun, C.E.O., said that “Highclere intends to power its growth, by offering a wide range of residential mortgage products to brokers by innovating in how those mortgages are funded. AI and machine learning technologies will also be at the center of what we do to make sure service levels and adjudication are at the top of the industry. This new system is designed to advance qualified applications more quickly by removing common roadblocks and delays, significantly streamlining the process of securing funding. We will offer flexible solutions tailored to fit unique situations, helping more Canadians achieve their homeownership dreams.”

    Highclere will begin accepting client applications at the end of April 2025

    About Highclere Capital Corporation

    Highclere Capital Corporation is a newly formed Canadian Mortgage Finance Company that specializes in leveraging technology to improve the mortgage process and using internationally sourced capital markets funding to expand mortgage product solutions at competitive rates. In doing so, Highclere intends to empower their partners and clients with innovative approaches that foster long-term success.

    For additional information about Highclere, please visit https://www.highclere.ca.

    Empowering Your Journey

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f65e1c51-02c4-4cf1-a8af-5137759d49fd

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1489550c-beb5-430e-870b-18d619be0e8f

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Anchorage Man Sentenced to Over 11 Years for Attempting to Coerce a Minor

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

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage man was sentenced today to over 11 years in prison and will serve the rest of his life on supervised release for attempting to coerce and entice a minor in 2023.

    According to court documents, in early July 2023, Benjamin Roundy, aka “Aleks” or “Alekzander Marko,” 43, responded to a public group chat post on an internet-based app by an individual who identified herself as a 13-year-old living in Anchorage. The group chat post was actually made by an undercover agent.

    Court documents explain that Roundy communicated with the undercover agent for nearly a month, first on the app and then via text message, and he initiated sexual conversations. Roundy discussed sexual acts he wanted to perform on the individual, who be believed to be a child, and made repeated requests for explicit photos of her.

    On Aug. 4, 2023, Roundy asked the undercover agent to meet in person at the parking lot of a grocery store in Anchorage. The undercover agent told Roundy she was going to walk home from a friend’s house, and Roundy asked what street the friend lived on. Shortly after learning the fictional address of the friend, the defendant left his home to meet the undercover agent, who he thought was a minor.

    Court documents further explain that Roundy texted the undercover agent instructions on where to meet him. When he received no response to his instructions, Roundy drove to a parking lot where he could see the street of the fictitious friend. Law enforcement arrested Roundy in the parking lot shortly thereafter and discovered a new bottle of personal lubricant and condoms in his vehicle.

    The investigation revealed thousands of images and videos depicting child sexual abuse on Roundy’s electronic devices and data detailing his online presence, which included searches for child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) and related terms.

    On April 25, 2024, Roundy pleaded guilty to one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.

    “Mr. Roundy’s conduct was heinous, as he tried to meet with who he believed was an underage girl in Anchorage to engage in sex, sought explicit images of the child, and obtained graphic images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of other minors for years,” said First Assistant U.S Attorney Kathryn R. Vogel for the District of Alaska. “Our office’s commitment to safeguarding Alaska’s children from those who seek to exploit their innocence is unwavering. We will relentlessly pursue justice by working with law enforcement to identify, investigate and hold accountable anyone who targets children.”

    “The defendant posed a significant threat to children in Alaska and abroad, as demonstrated by his disturbing pattern of conduct involving child exploitation,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Even in the darkest corners of the Internet, the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force will find a way to seek justice for our most vulnerable.”

    The FBI and Anchorage Police Department investigated this case as part of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander of the District of Alaska and Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) prosecuted the case.

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

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Will Trump’s tariffs boost the US economy? Don’t count on it

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Lukasz Rachel, Assistant Professor of Economics, UCL

    It’s hard to keep up with all the tariff announcements coming out of Washington. On February 1, the US president, Donald Trump, announced the introduction of 25% tariffs on most imported goods from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10% levy on goods from China. The tariffs against Canada and Mexico were soon postponed by a month following some token gestures.

    A week after that, Trump signed an executive order imposing 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports. These tariffs are set to take effect on March 12, a few days after the broad tariffs against Canada and Mexico supposedly come to pass. Trump has now vowed “reciprocal” duties on countries that target products made in the US.

    This may all sound very familiar. Trump imposed tariffs during his first presidency – for example, on steel and aluminium imports in 2018. Studies of this policy are already available. They show that the tariffs led to rising raw material costs and weakened the competitiveness of US manufacturers.

    It is also true that the subsequent US-China trade war of 2018 and 2019 did not collapse the US or global economy. But the tariffs this time round are more comprehensive and cover a larger number of key products and trading partners. Unlike the previous tariffs on China, which were introduced gradually, the current restrictions are to be introduced in one move.

    Dubious justification

    Trump justified the tariffs on Canada and Mexico as a measure to counter the “serious threat” posed by illegal immigration and the influx of drugs, including fentanyl, across US borders. It is difficult to take such an explanation seriously.

    The fentanyl problem essentially exists at the southern border. In 2024, US Customs seized about 19kg of fentanyl at the border with Canada, compared with nearly 9,600kg at the Mexican border. The same is true for migrants. Imposing tariffs on Canada therefore makes little sense.

    The more likely reason for all of Trump’s tariffs lies in his desire to protect domestic producers from foreign competition. Trump and his strategists often refer to the need to reduce the US trade deficit with the rest of the world.

    The basic problem is that in today’s world of globalised supply chains, many components are imported. Goods often cross borders multiple times before reaching consumers in their final form. A good example is the automotive production complex near Detroit, where semi-assembled cars frequently cross the Canadian-American border.

    It is difficult to predict what effect Trump’s tariffs would have on such organised production. But they would probably amount to a very expensive and inefficient reorganisation of production processes. If the tariffs on Canada go ahead, Canadian and American companies, as well as their employees, would suffer.

    Not all areas of production would be affected so drastically. But for the many components that are imported into America, an increase in their prices would translate into cost pressures. This may lead to financial problems for American companies, layoffs or higher prices for final goods.

    A steel and aluminium door is welded at General Motors’ automobile factory in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
    John Gress Media Inc / Shutterstock

    Paradoxically, tariffs could also decrease the competitiveness of American production, at least when it comes to sales in third markets. Cost pressures caused by more expensive components will affect US manufacturers, but not rival manufacturers in, say, China or Europe – at least until they have responded with a trade war.

    Another reason why Trump’s logic may not work is the US dollar exchange rate. The dollar has soared in recent months, especially when Trump has spoken about tariffs, rising more than 5% against the euro since the election. These moves weaken the competitiveness of American manufacturers on global markets.

    That said, Trump has often expressed his desire for a weaker dollar and, following the delay in the implementation of the tariffs, it has come down in value.

    But, notwithstanding this, US businesses are by no means delighted. The tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China were condemned by groups such as the American Chamber of Commerce. And the Wall Street Journal described the move as “the stupidest trade war in history”.

    That’s not all. The primary effect of tariffs is an increase in the price of imported goods. If prices go up, consumers will be less than enthusiastic. High price levels were, after all, a key part of why Trump won November’s election.

    The direct inflationary impulse from the announced tariffs is not, so far, catastrophic. While the inflationary effects of tariffs are not a given, many economists fear they will trigger a mechanism of increasing inflation expectations. This may happen, especially given the likelihood of retaliation by affected countries.

    Before Trump had paused the tariffs, the Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, had announced retaliatory levies of 25% on American goods worth a total of US$107 billion (£84.9 billion). Canada is also considering restrictions on exports of critical minerals crucial to the US tech industry.

    China, on the other hand, announced retaliatory tariffs and measures against US businesses including Google. And the EU has stood firm on its plans to retaliate should Trump implement tariffs against the bloc.

    Should they arise, higher inflation expectations may prompt the US Federal Reserve to raise interest rates. According to recent research, the increase in the cost of credit is a serious reason for dissatisfaction among American consumers and companies alike.

    Reducing the trade deficit

    If tariffs don’t help consumers and hurt a significant number of domestic producers, perhaps they can at least close the US trade deficit? Unfortunately, they also miss the mark here.

    Economists agree that the deficit is due to macroeconomic conditions – specifically, the balance between national investment and saving. The US has a surplus of investment relative to savings, so borrows money from the rest of the world.

    This is, simply put, because the US economy does not produce as much as the American people consume. When net domestic debt increases, the trade deficit also increases because the borrowed money is spent on foreign goods and services.

    Reducing the trade gap can be done through policies that lower domestic debt. Either households and businesses must save more, or government deficits must shrink. In this sense, tariffs are a poor tool.

    Trump’s tariff strategy will create havoc. This will bring opportunities as well as challenges. Europe and other affected countries should stand united against Trump’s tariff threats, responding firmly while promoting trade liberalisation across the world at the same time.

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

    – ref. Will Trump’s tariffs boost the US economy? Don’t count on it – https://theconversation.com/will-trumps-tariffs-boost-the-us-economy-dont-count-on-it-249621

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Censorship, abortion and the ‘threat within’: what a free speech expert thinks of J.D. Vance’s remarks to Europe

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Eric Heinze, Professor of Law, Queen Mary University of London

    Donald Trump is famous for his attacks on journalists and the media. He has banned critical reporters from official events, threatened them with lawsuits, and branded mainstream outlets the “enemy of the people”. Since last year, the US has dropped ten notches on the World Press Freedom Index. Now in 55th place, the country trails far behind many European and other democracies.

    It is ironic, then, that vice president J.D. Vance dashed to the Munich Security Conference last week to scold Europeans for their supposed failings on free speech and democracy.

    Speaking to European leaders, Vance fretted: “The threat that I worry the most about vis-à-vis Europe is not Russia, it’s not China, it’s not any other external actor.” Rather, it is “the threat from within”. This rehashing of tropes about “the enemy within” forms part of a Trumpist vocabulary borrowed from the most sinister 20th century autocracies.

    One of Vance’s key claims for the decline of free speech in Europe left many UK observers dumbfounded. He rebuked the Scottish government for sending out letters in October 2024 cautioning citizens that, in his words, “even private prayer within their own homes may amount to breaking the law”.

    Vance was referring to Scotland’s Safe Access Zones Act, which prohibits protesters from gathering within 200 metres of clinics that perform abortions. Yet his accusation teaches volumes about Trumpism. To call it distorted would be diplomatic: it is a bold-faced lie. The Scottish government has confirmed that letters sent to residents near safe access zones did not instruct people to stop praying in the privacy of their homes.

    However, the letters did advise against conduct such as displaying anti-abortion posters or banners, or protesting on their property in ways that might be seen or heard within proximity of the clinics, or might encourage such activity in those areas.

    The Scottish law echoes similar laws in other democracies, including several US states. Yes, the right to protest is essential to democratic societies, but these societies have always accepted that protesters must not harass or threaten citizens going about their everyday business, let alone when seeking essential services such as medical appointments.

    Admittedly, “buffer zones” around abortion clinics cannot and need not extend so far as to impede protesters’ freedoms of expression, so a debate about the precise reach of the Scottish law can and should take place. However, as observed in England and Wales, zones have not generally been drawn with excessively broad perimeters.

    Clearly, Vance’s eyes were more fixed on his own future presidential bid, playing more to religious fundamentalists back home than to anyone who might seriously care about free expression. His 18-minute speech invoked God three times, and “prayer” nine times, while saying nothing about the main issue for which delegates had gathered: Russia’s unprovoked onslaught on Ukraine.

    Curiously, Vance whispered not a word of criticism about UK government crackdowns on the kinds of protests that, in the US, Trump most fears, such as protests against specific government policies and practices.

    I should not have to point out that anti-abortionists in Scotland remain entirely free to proclaim their opinions, in public and in print, alongside countless other types of political expression. Such expression has long been recognised as protected under UK law, and enshrined in the Human Rights Act.

    The only impact of Scotland’s new law is to prevent residents living within 200 metres of such clinics from displaying placards or holding events that would target women visiting such facilities. Admittedly, someone “only standing and praying” nearby a clinic may present a borderline case – but well within bounds that can be assessed through our democratic processes, the very processes that Trump loyalists increasingly disdain.

    We can debate the rights and wrongs of the Scottish law, but any suggestion that it seriously abridges free speech – when compared to the kinds of incursions Trump himself wages – would be farcical.

    Admittedly, while Scotland rightly protects its medical facilities, some people will ask whether a law can legitimately reach so far as to regulate the opinions that people wish to display in their windows and gardens. In recent years, many UK homes have flown Ukrainian or Palestinian flags from their homes, which some neighbours may find inappropriate. Yet British law protects their rights to do so.

    Clearly then, we can have meaningful debates about how far free expression in the home extends, but nothing in what Trump officials have said or done on their home turf suggests that this is their real concern.

    Free speech in retreat?

    As it happens, Vance was not totally wrong when he mused: “In Britain and across Europe, free speech, I fear, is in retreat.” For years, Hungarians have faced relentless attacks on free speech under Viktor Orbán – the autocrat whom Trump followers, including Vance himself, have so often praised.

    On several occasions in The Conversation and elsewhere, I have advocated free speech and I have every intention to continue doing so. I am also willing to concede that, despite Trump’s compulsive attacks on free speech, his supporters have raised some valid concerns about the stifling of opinion on the left.

    Abortion exemplifies the type of issue that sparks widespread ethical controversies. Any democracy must ensure that speakers on all sides have safe means of expressing their views in the public arena. Everyone in today’s democracies could use a few lessons in free speech – and the Trump team tops the list.

    Eric Heinze has received past funding from the European Union.

    – ref. Censorship, abortion and the ‘threat within’: what a free speech expert thinks of J.D. Vance’s remarks to Europe – https://theconversation.com/censorship-abortion-and-the-threat-within-what-a-free-speech-expert-thinks-of-j-d-vances-remarks-to-europe-250188

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trust in politics is in long-term decline around the world – new research

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Viktor Valgarðsson, Leverhulme Early Career Fellow in the Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Southampton

    Pro-Trump rioters stormed the US Capitol building to protest against the result of the 2020 presidential election. 72westy / Shutterstock

    Citizens’ trust in their political institutions has been falling around the world. This may not come as a shock to many.

    British politics has been in chaos since the Brexit referendum in 2016. Rioters stormed the US Capitol in protest against the result of the 2020 presidential election. And the US president, Donald Trump, is continuing to attack the supposed “deep-state” controlling American politics. None of these things scream public trust in government.

    But declining political trust is not self-evident. It’s possible that we may be too focused on a couple of countries that dominate our attention, and a lot has been going on in recent years that could explain the situation that we find ourselves in.

    Many researchers have also pointed out that people have never been particularly fond of politics. They suggest that we’ve simply been seeing “trendless fluctuations” in trust – ebbs and flows where we happen to notice declines more than rises or stability.

    In a recently published study, my co-authors and I took on this debate. We analysed more data on political trust than previous studies, from over 5 million respondents to 3,377 surveys conducted in 143 countries between 1958 and 2019.

    Our models suggest that, at least since 1990, trust in parliament and government has indeed been declining by an average of about 8.4 and 7.3 percentage points respectively in democratic countries across the world.

    The same does not apply to trust in non-representative “implementing institutions”, such as the civil service, justice system or police. In fact, we find that trust in the police has increased by about 12.5 percentage points across democracies on average over the same period.

    Thus, declining trust in government appears to be rooted in how politics is practised, which is seemingly less inspiring to citizens today, rather than in a growing distaste for social institutions in general.

    Global trends in trust in six types of institutions in democratic countries between 1990 and 2019.
    Valgarðsson et al. (2025) / British Journal of Political Science, CC BY-NC-ND

    Of course, this global picture masks a more nuanced story. Political trust has been rising in a few smaller countries: Denmark, Ecuador, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. These nations may chart a path forward for the rest of the democratic world.

    Conversely, trust in the legal system has been declining in many countries in eastern Europe and Latin America. The same appears to be the case more recently in the US, suggesting that implementing institutions are not immune to the political trust crisis.

    Our findings do not answer why citizens of democracies are gradually losing faith in their democratic institutions, or what the consequences could be. They also do not suggest how trust in politics can be rebuilt. But what we do know is concerning.

    For instance, our data tells us that political trust was declining dramatically in Hungary right up until 2010, when Viktor Orbán was re-elected as prime minister (his first term ended in 2002). When in office, Orbán started dismantling the country’s constitutional and liberal democratic order.

    Trust in parliament, the legal system and the police in western Europe and North America.
    Valgarðsson et al. (2025) / British Journal of Political Science, CC BY-NC-ND

    We also know that the US has seen one of the more dramatic declines of political trust in recent times, and that political distrust was a powerful predictor of voting for Trump at least in the 2016 Republican primaries.

    In a survey conducted that year by American National Election Studies, about 24% of Trump’s primary voters said they would “never” trust the federal government to do what is right. This compared with about 9% of voters for rival Republican candidate John Kasich, and 8% and 4% of voters for Democrat candidates Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton respectively.

    We do not yet have data for the 2024 US presidential election. But it does not take a political scientist to know that Trump leaned even more heavily on people’s distrust in government in his campaign. Since becoming president, he has stepped up his efforts to dismantle America’s constitutional and liberal democratic order.

    Declining political trust is not the only cause of these developments. We are also seeing illiberal candidates and parties doing increasingly well in countries where we didn’t see the same trust declines in our data. The rising popularity of Geert Wilders in the Netherlands or the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party in Germany are both good examples.

    Some of this may be driven partly by more recent trust declines, like in the Netherlands where trust in parliament has dropped substantially since 2020. Or it could be driven by a polarisation of trust between a more trusting majority and a deeply distrusting minority. But much of it is also probably driven by other factors, such as economic distress, attitudes towards immigration and the “culture wars” of our day.

    It stands to reason that voters who deeply distrust the political establishment would tend to be attracted to populist leaders who rail against that establishment.

    These voters probably still support democracy as an ideal. Support for democratic principles has, in fact, remained high globally – although there are worrying signs among younger generations in US and UK. But these voters appear to be more willing to vote for politicians who will attack the institutions needed to make it work.

    Sceptical mistrust of government

    This brings us to one crucial question: are citizens right to distrust government? After all, political institutions haven’t been working all that well for a large portion of citizens – except maybe in areas like Scandinavia, where we have seen rising trust in recent times.

    A degree of sceptical mistrust of government is certainly vital for a healthy democracy. We are reminded of this by some of the more sobering points in our data.

    China has the highest rates of reported trust in the world, while Hungary and Russia have both seen rising trust levels as their governments have become less democratic and seized control of the media environment. Clearly, trust is not unequivocally good from a democratic perspective.

    Our challenge is to find the right balance: a climate of sceptical trust, where we hold our governments to account and engage critically with our institutions without throwing them away in favour of autocratic populists.

    To save the foundations of liberal democracy, we may need to rediscover its appeal to the ordinary citizen. If it’s something about the way politics is practised that citizens distrust, perhaps those politics need to change.

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

    – ref. Trust in politics is in long-term decline around the world – new research – https://theconversation.com/trust-in-politics-is-in-long-term-decline-around-the-world-new-research-250078

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How refugee entrepreneurs are supplying sustainable energy to the camps they live in

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sarah Rosenberg-Jansen, Research Advisor on Humanitarian Energy, University of Oxford

    Refugees are providing energy within camps home to millions of displaced people around the world, my research has found.

    There are now more than 120 million forcibly displaced people globally. Although United Nations humanitarian agencies provide firewood and small electric lanterns, these are often not enough for most families.

    To make up the shortfall, entrepreneurial refugees in the camps I visited have become energy suppliers by establishing shops, phone charging stations, even cinemas.

    While visiting camps administered by the UN Refugee Agency in Rwanda, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda and other countries across Africa, I was struck by the hum of electricity and the smell of cooking in the camps’ markets. Energy was everywhere.

    A mobile phone and electronics market shop at the Kakuma refugee camp, Kenya.
    Sarah Rosenberg-Jansen, CC BY-NC-ND

    In all the camps I visited, people were selling clothes, cooking bowls and toys, as well as lighting and electrical appliances. These shops all used energy – computers totted up bills and printed receipts, radios played music, and people everywhere were using mobile phones and the internet. Fans and motors were working hard to keep things cool and the power on. Refugees buy these products at local markets – which are often run by refugees themselves.

    After conducting over 170 interviews with refugees and humanitarian practitioners, it became clear refugees buy their own energy to run many of these cafes and shops: buying their own diesel, generators, or electricity technologies including solar panels and batteries.

    Formal refugee energy access provided by humanitarian agencies or national governments is projected to be very low: Chatham House statistics suggest 94% of forcibly displaced people living in camps have no meaningful access to power, and 81% lack anything other than the most basic fuels for cooking.

    Renewable connections

    Local energy businesses operating around the camps in Rwanda and Kenya, such as BBOX or MESH Power, provide solar solutions such as selling solar panels and solar home systems from which refugees can have lighting, charge their phones and plug in electrical appliances. These renewable systems help to lower the costs – but sometimes the companies are not able to expand their businesses within refugee camps due to UN restrictions.

    As one of the refugees I spoke to in Rwanda explained: “You can see two types of solar business really. Those using energy that is easy to get to – off-the-shelf products and services – to keep the lights on in the night, or offer cool drinks or a fan. And those businesses where really energy is the business … where people can use solar home systems or other technologies.”

    Sadly, this picture is not uniform across the world. For example, buying diesel in refugee camps or purchasing kerosene for lanterns can be very expensive. Spending by displaced people on simple cooking fuels and technologies, as well as basic lighting, is estimated to be around US$200 (£160) per year per family, for less than four hours of energy a day.

    Buying from external energy suppliers often comes at great cost to refugee families as energy in refugee camps can be incredibly expensive. Estimates suggest that refugee households in Kenya and Burkina Faso spend between 15% and 30% of their income on energy – a figure that in the UK would mean a household was in a situation of extreme fuel poverty.

    In total, refugee households around the world spend at least US$2.1 billion (£1.68 billion) on energy each year.

    Refugee-led businesses

    In the face of such challenges, refugee energy entrepreneurs are expanding the range of energy services and products available to refugee communities in terms of sustainability: providing new solar solutions and electricity connections from solar-powered energy sources. For members of the refugee community who use this service, this can reduce the cost of energy.

    These refugee-led enterprises often start after refugees have saved or borrowed money from friends and family to start their energy businesses – for example, by buying a solar panel and battery and charging customers to use the electricity it generates. Sometimes referred to as micro-enterprises or energy entrepreneurs, they go beyond being passive users of electricity and become active participants in the energy economies of refugee camps.

    Examples of such businesses include Kakuma Ventures, based in Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, which provides wifi and solar energy access to more than 1,500 people in the camps.

    A grid pylon next to refugee homes at Kigeme refugee camp, Rwanda.
    Sarah Rosenberg-Jansen, CC BY-NC-ND

    Another example is Patapia, based in camps in Uganda, which helps refugee women launch and grow businesses powered by clean energy. Successful refugee-led energy businesses are highlighted by the work of climate change charity Ashden through its Humanitarian Energy Award, and its support for local businesses leading the way on sustainable energy in humanitarian settings.

    Indeed, many new global initiatives and humanitarian programmes are starting to take seriously the role of refugee-led organisations and businesses. Take the work of Last Mile Climate, which is dedicated to helping grassroots initiatives, refugee-led businesses, charities, humanitarian agencies and government organisations tackle climate-related challenges.

    Refugees are also writing on this issue in the media, highlighting how important the issue of inclusivity is in delivering the sustainable energy transition in humanitarian contexts.

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

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

    Sarah Rosenberg-Jansen received funding from the Independent Social Research Foundation (ISRF)

    – ref. How refugee entrepreneurs are supplying sustainable energy to the camps they live in – https://theconversation.com/how-refugee-entrepreneurs-are-supplying-sustainable-energy-to-the-camps-they-live-in-242862

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: New support benefits B.C. tree fruit growers

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    In response to significant challenges faced by the tree fruit sector during the past four years, and the current threats to growers and food businesses from proposed U.S. tariffs, the Province is investing in farmers to help them recover from consecutive years of crop loss and market issues.

    “These past years have been very challenging for B.C. tree fruit farmers and we want to make sure they are ready for this season and seasons to come,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food. “We want farmers to be successful and this $10 million will help them rebuild to ensure a resilient, sustainable future for B.C.’s tree fruit industry. We appreciate the hard work and commitment of the BC Fruit Growers’ Association (BCFGA) and its leadership team, and we will continue working with the sector to support initiatives that further stabilize the industry so people in British Columbia can depend on fruit produced right here at home.”  

    Support will be available to tree fruit farmers throughout the province, based on acreage. This support aims to help growers recover from recent hardships, including labour shortages, production loss and increasingly competitive markets.

    “This $10-million, one-time payment from the Province recognizes the resilience and dedication of our farmers and their families, but also is a testament to the relentless advocacy and efforts of the BC Fruit Growers’ Association on their behalf,” said Peter Simonson, president, BCFGA. “We are thrilled the provincial government has followed through with this support for tree fruit farmers. We deeply appreciate Minister Popham’s efforts to work together to find a solution for our members and we look forward to building on this relationship with the Province so tree fruit growers can survive, grow and eventually thrive.”

    This latest support is part of a broader commitment by the Province to support the tree fruit sector. The tree fruit climate resiliency program, which focuses on long-term strategies to reduce the effects of climate change, recently opened and is fully subscribed. Additionally, the enhanced replant program continues to provide assistance to growers looking to renew their orchards with more resilient varieties.

    “I welcome this much-needed support for our fruit tree growers as they have been through difficult times,” said Harwinder Sandhu, parliamentary secretary for agriculture and MLA for Vernon-Lumby. “I have been directly hearing from our farmers over many months and I’m glad we are doing more to support them. This will help tree fruit farmers in our province and it will help all British Columbians have access to B.C. fruit at a time when the dangers of the U.S. tariffs are looming large.”

    The Province will maintain its collaborative approach with the tree fruit sector, ensuring that farmers have the necessary support and resources to thrive in a changing climate.

    Learn More:

    Funding will be available in spring 2025 with additional details about this one-time payment and other support for tree fruit farmers here:
    https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/animals-and-crops/crop-production/tree-fruits

    For more information about the tree fruit climate resiliency program, visit:
    https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025AF0002-000049

    Additional support for B.C. fruit growers announced in August 2024:
    https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024AF0035-001295

    A backgrounder follows.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: St. John’s — RCMP NL thanks snow plow operators for successful rescue of stranded motorists on TCH during recent winter storm

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Snow plow operators went above and beyond to rescue two motorists who recently found themselves stuck on the Trans-Canada Highway in severe weather on February 17, 2025.

    On Monday morning, the Wreckhouse area, north of Port aux Basques, experienced extremely poor winter driving conditions with snow and high winds with gusts of up to 150 km/h. During this time, Channel-Port aux Basques RCMP received separate reports of two motorists who were stranded on the highway, due to these adverse weather conditions.

    After becoming stuck, one motorist opened the door of the vehicle which blew off with the wind. The vehicle, with three occupants inside, was at risk of blowing over an embankment. Another motorist founds themselves stuck partially off of the highway in white out conditions.

    With severely poor road conditions, police and other first responders were unable to travel on the TCH. Snow plow operators with the provincial department of Transportation and Infrastructure, based out of Doyles and Port aux Basques, located the stranded motorists and brought them to safety.

    RCMP NL thanks the involved snow plow operators for going above and beyond to potentially save the lives of those stranded.

    Those heading out on the highways at this time of year are encouraged to follow RCMP NL’s social media accounts, including Facebook and X, for updates on road closures or condition. Additionally, prior to travel, motorists are encouraged to familiarize themselves with alerts and forecasts issued by various meteorologists or agencies, including Environment Canada. Motorists who choose to drive during poor road conditions may find themselves stuck for a number of hours, as emergency personnel may be unable to respond.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Expanding seaweed farms pose a risk to vital marine life

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Benjamin L.H. Jones, Chief Conservation Officer, Project Seagrass & Research Affiliate, Swansea University

    Seaweeds are commonly grown from long lines of rope. This string of _Eucheuma_ seaweed in Indonesia is positioned above a seagrass meadow. Benjamin Jones/Project Seagrass, CC BY

    Seaweed farming is a rapidly expanding global industry. As a food resource, it has high nutritional value and doesn’t need fertilisers to grow. Seaweed provides valuable habitats for marine life, takes up carbon and absorbs nutrients, plus it helps protect our coastlines from erosion.

    Usually, seaweeds grow on hard, rocky surfaces. Yet, to farm seaweed, potential areas need to be easily accessible and relatively sheltered. This is where seaweed can grow with limited risk of being dislodged by waves. Seaweed farms in Asia, in countries like China and Indonesia, are responsible for more than 95% of global seaweed production. Seaweed farms, particularly those in Southeast Asia, are commonly in the very same environments where seagrass meadows thrive. Competition for resources ensues.

    Evidence shows that tropical seaweed farms, when placed in or on top of tropical seagrass meadows leads to a decline in the growth and productivity of seagrass. There is also evidence that seaweeds outcompete seagrasses in cooler waters, especially when nutrients in the water are very high.

    Despite negative interactions, such as shading, between seaweed and seagrass, some scientists now advocate for a global expansion of seaweed farming in areas where seagrass grows. This call, comes at a time when seagrass global initiatives are trying to stem seagrass loss.

    Efforts are underway to expand these habitats to their once extensive range to help fight climate change and biodiversity loss. Seagrass meadows are a crucial store of carbon, providing habitats for a wide array of animals.

    Why farm seaweed on top of seagrass?

    The reason that some scientists are advocating for farming seaweed in seagrass is that their research claims that the presence of seagrass reduces disease causing bacterial pathogens by 75%. A major win for a relatively low tech industry where seaweed disease outbreaks hinder production. These scientists are not the only ones advocating for seaweed production at scale.

    Global conservation charities, like World Wildlife Fund and The Nature Conservancy, as well as the Earthshot prize launched by Prince William all support seaweed cultivation programmes in areas likely to contain abundant seagrass.

    However, together with other scientists, we have argued in an academic response in the journal PNAS that their claim is premature. We are concerned that, without appropriate management, these seaweed programmes threaten marine biodiversity and the benefits that humans get from the ocean.

    Despite historic and globally widespread seaweed cultivation, effects on seagrass have mostly been ignored. Where studies exist, effects have been negative for seagrass, its ability to capture carbon, and the diverse animals that call it home.

    Entanglement of migratory animals, such as turtles and dugong with seaweed also needs wider consideration. This is especially the case given new legal frameworks to protect their habitat, and there is ongoing concern for these species being killed by seaweed farmers. The equity of coastal fishing grounds also comes into question, as communities that use seagrass for fishing are most likely to lose access.

    Conservation charities advocate for tropical seaweed farms for good reason. This is to improve community resilience in the face of degrading coral reefs and overfishing.

    While projects mostly have the best intentions, they often don’t consider cascading unintended consequences, nor the equity of the whole community. In reality, seaweed farm placement is effectively akin to ocean grabbing (the act of dispossession or appropriation of marine resources or spaces) with farmers winning on a “first come, first serve” basis, despite not owning the seabed.

    Sustainable standards

    If seaweed farming is to be expanded, standards for sustainability must be upheld and strengthened. In 2017, a sustainable seaweed standard was launched by the Aquaculture and Marine Stewardship Councils.

    But few tropical seaweed farms meet the criteria outlined in this standard due to known consequences that affect seagrass (rightly defined in the standard as vulnerable marine habitats) and likely negative effects on endangered species, like dugong, that frequent seagrass habitats.

    Seaweed cultivation strategies have mixed evidence for long-term success. In Tanzania, many farmers have abandoned the industry due to low monetary rewards compared to the investments they put in, and some evidence suggests that the activity reduces income and health, particularly for women. Where seaweed cultivation has been implemented to reduce fishing pressure, it has instead increased (and often just displaced) fishing activity.

    Given the rapidly increasing threats faced by tropical marine habitats despite the role they play in climate resilience, understanding trade-offs prior to large scale expansion of seaweed farming is a priority. To reduce further any negative effects, international programmes and research advocating for large-scale seaweed farms need to align more readily with the seaweed standard.

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

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

    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. Expanding seaweed farms pose a risk to vital marine life – https://theconversation.com/expanding-seaweed-farms-pose-a-risk-to-vital-marine-life-248329

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Bolsonaro’s indictment over alleged coup plot signals shift in Brazil’s approach to political accountability

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Felipe Tirado, PhD Candidate in Law, King’s College London

    Brazil’s top prosecutor has filed federal charges against Jair Bolsonaro, alleging that the former president attempted a coup in 2023. Focus Pix / Shutterstock

    The Brazilian attorney-general has charged the country’s former president, Jair Bolsonaro, with participating in a plot to cling to power through a coup d’etat in 2022. If Bolsonaro is convicted, he could spend between 38 and 43 years in prison.

    Bolsonaro, who governed Brazil between 2019 and 2022 but lost his attempt at re-election to current president Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva, is one of 34 people to be formally charged for offences related to the alleged coup. These include high-ranking serving and retired members of the military, as well as former ministers and politicians.

    The charges levelled against them are involvement in an attempted coup d’etat, violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, and criminal organisation.

    According to the attorney-general’s 272-page indictment, Bolsonaro became increasingly inclined to pursue anti-democratic measures in the months before the election. He allegedly considered taking steps to retain power even before the first round of voting.

    Then, after his defeat by an extremely narrow margin, the indictment claims that Bolsonaro and his alleged accomplices decided to implement the plan before Lula took office in January 2023.

    An investigation by Brazil’s federal police in November found that the insurrection in the country’s capital Brasília on January 8 2023, where rioters invaded the presidential palace, congress and supreme court, was part of this plan. The same investigation suggested the plan also included a plot to assassinate Lula and his vice-president Geraldo Alckmin, as well as supreme court judge Alexandre de Moraes.

    Bolsonaro denies any wrongdoing and – at least in public – is bullish about his fate. Speaking to journalists hours before the charges were filed, he said: “I have no concerns about the accusations, zero.”

    The case will now be considered by the Supreme Court, whose judges will decide whether to initiate criminal proceedings against Bolsonaro and the other defendants. This is expected to happen over the coming weeks. If the judges accept the charges and proceedings are established, the defendants will be called to answer them.

    This is the first time in Brazilian history that high-ranking members of the armed forces have been indicted and charged with crimes associated with a coup d’etat. According to the indictment, the intention was for the armed forces to be called upon to act as a “moderating power”, with the aim of overturning the election result.

    Army generals Augusto Heleno, Walter Braga Netto and Paulo Sérgio Nogueira de Oliveira are among those who have been charged. These men served as ministers in the Bolsonaro government, with Braga Netto also running as the vice-president on Bolsonaro’s ticket in 2022.

    Another high-ranking member of the armed forces charged by the attorney-general is Almir Garnier Santos, the commander of the Brazilian navy. These four men were allegedly part of the inner nuclei that planned and prepared the attempted coup.

    Several other servicemen, including generals, colonels and other officers, were charged with crimes related to the planning and execution of the initial phases of the coup. The sentences for all of these men could amount to up to 30 years in prison.

    Like Bolsonaro, Braga Netto denies any guilt. In a statement released on February 18, his lawyers called the charges a “fantasy”. Lawyers for Garnier Santos and Heleno have chosen not to comment until having fully reviewed the charges.

    Unlike those in the military, some of the political figures charged by the attorney general had criminal antecedents. One of the politicians named in the indictment is Filipe Martins, Bolsonaro’s former international affairs adviser and a “disciple” of the deceased far-right polemicist, Olavo de Carvalho. Martins’ lawyers released a statement on February 18 calling the accusations “unfounded”.

    In December 2024, Martins was convicted of making a gesture alluding to white supremacy during a virtual session of the senate. He initially received a sentence of two years and four months in prison for inciting racial prejudice, which was replaced by 850 hours of community service.

    Far-right commentator Paulo Figueiredo Filho, the grandson of Brazil’s last military dictator, João Figueiredo, was also charged. He appeared on a podcast on February 19 to criticise the charge. Figueiredo lives in the US, where he was arrested in 2019 because of problems with his immigration status.

    Lessons from and to Brazil

    Brazil has already offered some lessons to other countries facing similar authoritarian challenges. Its response to the insurrection in Brasília was swift and robust. Within days, hundreds of rioters had been arrested and the state governor of the federal district was suspended for his sluggish response.

    Then, in 2023, Bolsonaro was banned from running for office for eight years over false claims that the electronic ballots used in the previous year’s election were vulnerable to hacking and fraud. Those involved with the attempted military coup have also been investigated and some subsequently arrested.

    But the coup plot case can also serve as a lesson to the country. Brazil has a history both of successful and unsuccessful military coups. The last successful military coup led to a dictatorship that lasted from 1964 until 1985.

    Brazil also has a history of amnesties, whereby crimes committed during these coups and authoritarian regimes have been pardoned. There have been 48 amnesties in Brazil since 1889, with the most recent one, in 1979, allowing the dictatorship to self-amnesty its crimes.

    For over 45 years, this amnesty hindered criminal accountability for the perpetrators of crimes. This included the murder of politician Rubens Paiva, whose disappearance was the focus of the 2024 Oscar-nominated film, I’m Still Here. The amnesty was declared void by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in 2011.

    Bolsonaro and other individuals charged, as well as their supporters and aligned politicians, have been demanding a “humanitarian amnesty” for those who allegedly participated in the coup plot.

    Given Bolsonaro’s history, this seems paradoxical. Throughout his decades-long public career, Bolsonaro has consistently celebrated the crimes of the military dictatorship and supported violations of human rights. At the same time, he has also opposed individuals and organisations that advocate for victims of the dictatorship.

    If Bolsonaro and his alleged accomplices are found guilty, it could be an unparalleled lesson for Brazil. Punishing anyone convicted would be an opportunity to step away from the country’s tradition of impunity and move towards addressing systemic injustices.

    Felipe Tirado receives funding from the Centre for Doctoral Studies – King’s College London.

    – ref. Bolsonaro’s indictment over alleged coup plot signals shift in Brazil’s approach to political accountability – https://theconversation.com/bolsonaros-indictment-over-alleged-coup-plot-signals-shift-in-brazils-approach-to-political-accountability-250300

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Bilingual children with special educational needs may be missing out on support in England

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Johny Daniel, Assistant Professor, School of Education, Durham University

    Rido/Shutterstock

    English isn’t the first language of over 20% of pupils in schools in England, and this proportion is rising. The children in this group who also have special educational needs or disabilities may be falling through the cracks, missing out on support that would help them succeed.

    My recent research analysed data from 2.5 million English primary school pupils. The findings show that bilingual learners with special educational needs especially struggle with reading. They trail behind both their peers without special educational needs, and other children with special educational needs who speak English as their first language.

    When a pupil has a special educational need such as specific learning difficulties or autism, their language hurdles can make it harder to see the real cause of their challenges. Sometimes, a child’s limited English masks a disability. Other times, disabilities may be confused with language problems. This confusion can delay the help they need.

    Reading is particularly a problem because strong vocabulary and language-processing skills are needed, and the extra task of learning English can slow them down in this area. Maths may rely less on advanced English, so the gap is often smaller in that subject.

    Research suggests that if bilingual pupils with special educational needs get strong support in the early years, they can catch up significantly.

    The right support

    One useful method is data-based decision-making. This means teachers and special needs coordinators regularly track progress in reading, writing or maths. For example, teachers might assess oral reading fluency or brief writing samples to measure progress. By spotting which pupils are falling behind, they can provide small-group tutoring, phonics help or targeted vocabulary lessons.

    Pupils also benefit from clear, structured lessons that focus on reading and writing. They may also need extra time to practise and may learn better if the same vocabulary is taught in different ways, such as through games or acting.

    In addition, research shows that when teachers use examples or stories that reflect different languages and cultures, pupils stay more engaged. This “culturally responsive” teaching boosts children’s language skills.

    Relating lessons to a child’s experiences can help keep them engaged.
    Ground Picture/Shutterstock

    For example, a case study on culturally responsive teaching for bilingual learners with disabilities has shown that connecting lessons to students’ own cultural and linguistic backgrounds can boost both their language skills and their reading comprehension.

    The teacher in the study combined explicit instruction – such as teaching vocabulary or grammar – with discussions in small groups that drew on experiences from the students’ own lives. Her pupils saw significant improvements in literacy that underscores how culturally responsive methods can help bilingual children succeed.

    Room for improvement

    Another way to improve the situation for these children would be better assessments of whether they need additional support.

    My research with colleagues has found that most bilingual pupils in England are not assessed for dyslexia in their first language, which can mask their true skills and needs. If schools allow pupils to be tested in their home language, or at least use bilingual materials, they can get a clearer picture of each pupil’s progress.

    Funding for specialised training is also needed. Schools need resources to hire or develop experts who understand both language learning and disabilities. Educational psychologists, for instance, or English-as-a-second-language teachers with expertise in special educational needs, can provide this much needed support.

    Ofsted inspectors should also check how schools use regular progress monitoring data to adjust teaching for bilingual pupils with special educational needs. If data use becomes a core part of good practice, more schools may be inspired to invest in it.

    The evidence shows many bilingual learners with special educational needs can catch up, or even surpass their peers, if they receive the right support early on. Yet too often, these children are seen only as “language learners,” with their disabilities overlooked, or they are treated as having a disability, while their language needs get ignored.

    We already know strategies that work. By using detailed progress tracking, culturally responsive teaching, and targeted language instruction, schools can close the gap and make sure bilingual pupils with special educational needs and disabilities do not fall behind.

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

    – ref. Bilingual children with special educational needs may be missing out on support in England – https://theconversation.com/bilingual-children-with-special-educational-needs-may-be-missing-out-on-support-in-england-246822

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How satellites revolutionised climate change science

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Will de Freitas, Environment + Energy Editor, UK edition

    aappp / shutterstock

    Until relatively recently, humans were limited by the horizon. Climate scientists of the early 20th century could gather data from the world around them and perhaps what they were able to see from a hot air balloon or plane. But the really big picture – the global snapshot – remained out of sight.

    This roundup of The Conversation’s climate coverage comes from our award-winning weekly climate action newsletter. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed.

    The first satellite of any kind was the USSR’s Sputnik 1, launched in 1957. But it wasn’t until the 1960s that satellites designed specifically to observe the Earth and its climate made it into orbit and gave us the first overview of weather patterns. By the 1970s Nasa’s Landsat satellites were able to monitor things like tree cover.

    Jonathan Bamber, a climate scientist at the University of Bristol, says this “revolutionised our ability to carry out a comprehensive and timely health check on the planetary systems we rely on for our survival”. Data that once required months or even years of fieldwork was suddenly available in the time it took a satellite to orbit the planet.

    These days, this data can be remarkably precise and detailed. Bamber says: “We can measure changes in sea level down to a single millimetre, changes in how much water is stored in underground rocks, the temperature of the land and ocean and the spread of atmospheric pollutants and greenhouse gases, all from space.”

    Here’s a map of sea level rise, from Bamber’s article highlighting five satellite images that show how fast our planet is changing:

    The sea is rising quickly – but not evenly.
    ESA/CLS/LEGOS, CC BY-SA

    “This image,” writes Bamber, “shows mean sea level trends over 13 years in which the global average rise was about 3.2mm a year. But the rate was three or four times faster in some places, like the south western Pacific to the east of Indonesia and New Zealand, where there are numerous small islands and atolls that are already very vulnerable to sea level rise.”



    Read more:
    Five satellite images that show how fast our planet is changing

    In recent years, scientists have used AI to sift through and analyse satellite data. Bamber’s latest research, published in January this year, illustrates this nicely.

    A team of scientists, lead by Tian Li also of the University of Bristol, gathered millions of satellite images of glaciers in Svalbard, a remote and icy archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. In their write up, they note that human researchers once painstakingly looked through this sort of data.

    “This process”, they write, “is highly labour-intensive, inefficient and particularly unreproducible as different people can spot different things even in the same satellite image. Given the number of satellite images available nowadays, we may not have the human resources to map every region for every year.”

    Their solution was to use AI to “quickly identify glacier patterns across large areas”. The satellite-AI combo meant they could examine Svalbard’s retreating glaciers – surely among the least accessible places on the planet – in “unprecedented scale and scope”.

    They found that 91% of the many glaciers that flow into the sea around the archipelago have been “shrinking significantly”. They note that the same types of glacier can be found across the Arctic, and “what happens to glaciers in Svalbard is likely to be repeated elsewhere”.



    Read more:
    We built an AI model that analysed millions of images of retreating glaciers – what it found is alarming

    Many of those glaciers can be found in Greenland, home of the northern hemisphere’s largest ice sheet. In research published earlier this month, Tom Chudley of Durham University used satellite images to assess crevasses (cracks in the glaciers) in Greenland.

    A large glacier in west Greenland flows into the sea. That iceberg filled fjord is several miles wide.
    Copernicus Sentinel / lavizzara / shutterstock

    Chudley also combined satellite images with computerised analysis. His work made use of “ArcticDEM”, three dimensional maps of the polar regions based on high resolution satellite images.

    “By applying image-processing techniques to over 8,000 maps, we could estimate how much water, snow or air would be needed to “fill” each crevasse across the ice sheet. This enabled us to calculate their depth and volume, and examine how they evolved.“

    His conclusion was very blunt: the Greenland ice sheet is falling apart.



    Read more:
    The Greenland ice sheet is falling apart – new study

    Health watchdogs

    Many of you will be well aware that satellites are being used to monitor the health of the planet. What’s less well known is the role they can play in monitoring human health.

    Dhritiraj Sengupta, a satellite scientist at Plymouth Marine Laboratory, says satellites have become Earth’s new health and nature watchdog. His article details how satellites can map mosquito breeding sites to combat malaria, for instance, or can identify air pollution hotspots in cities.

    In his own research, he’s used satellite-derived chlorophyll data to assess the risk of cholera. Chlorophyll is the green pigment in plants that helps them use sunlight to make their food and grow.

    “Many bacteria like Vibrio cholerae which causes cholera, thrive in stagnant water,” Sengupta writes. “My team worked with the European Space Agency to show that its presence can be modelled using the concentration of chlorophyll found on the surface of bodies of water.”



    Read more:
    How satellites have become Earth’s new health and nature watchdogs

    So far, so good. Satellites have undeniably been useful for climate scientists. But in the longer-term, the satellites themselves may have an unforeseen effect on the climate.

    Last year, SpaceX announced it would “deorbit” 100 of its Starlink satellites to burn up in the atmosphere. Fionagh Thomson is a space expert, also at Durham University. She says that “atmospheric scientists are increasingly concerned that this sort of apparent fly-tipping by the space sector will cause further climate change down on Earth.”

    Particles from the satellites themselves won’t have a huge effect compared to the “440 tonnes of meteoroids that enter the atmosphere daily, along with volcanic ash and human-made pollution from industrial processes on Earth.”

    But one team “recently, and unexpectedly, found potential ozone-depleting metals from spacecraft in the stratosphere, the atmospheric layer where the ozone layer is formed.” The worry is that satellite debris may help form certain types of clouds that lead to ozone loss and may add to the greenhouse effect.

    She notes that this is all uncertain and needs more research. “But,” she writes, “we’ve also learnt that if we wait until indisputable evidence is available, it may be too late, as with the loss of ozone. It’s a constant dilemma.”

    Something for SpaceX scientists to look into, perhaps, once they’ve finished rescuing stranded astronauts from the International Space Station.



    Read more:
    Satellites are burning up in the upper atmosphere – and we still don’t know what impact this will have on the Earth’s climate

    – ref. How satellites revolutionised climate change science – https://theconversation.com/how-satellites-revolutionised-climate-change-science-250312

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Files Amicus Brief in Support of Challenge to Refugee Ban and Refugee Funding Suspension

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta, as part of a coalition of 19 attorneys general, today announced filing an amicus brief in Pacito v. Trump in support of a challenge to the suspension of refugee entry and application processing, and the stop work orders for refugee resettlement agencies. In their brief, the attorneys general argue that the Trump Administration’s Refugee Ban and Refugee Funding Suspension are unlawful, misrepresent the concerns and interests of states, and undermine states’ ongoing efforts to successfully assimilate and integrate newly arrived refugees.

    “The foundation of our nation was built by people seeking to create a better life away from persecution,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Refugees are not a burden — they’re a benefit to states. Refugees contribute to our communities both socially and economically as business owners, doctors, teachers, and neighbors. In California, we are home to approximately 50,000 refugee entrepreneurs who bring in an estimated $1.9 billion in business income collectively. The actions by the Trump Administration are unlawful and directly undermine the efforts of states like California to welcome people into our communities.”

    Each year, thousands of refugees are admitted into the United States and welcomed into communities across the country where they can connect with services, resources, and members of their family or cultural community; these resources help them not just adjust but thrive. During the first Trump Administration, President Trump issued an executive order requiring states and towns to opt in if they wanted to resettle refugees; despite the order being quickly enjoined, 42 states and more than 100 mayors elected to opt in. States recognize the benefits of refugee resettlement and are proud to be home to large and diverse refugee populations, whose presence not only enriches the social fabric of our states and local communities, but also promotes a vibrant economy.

    The Refugee Ban, which imposes by executive order an indefinite suspension on all refugee entry and refugee application processing, conflicts with the established Refugee Act by suspending entry and final approvals even for “follow-to-join” refugees — the spouses or unmarried under-21-year-old children of admitted refugees — despite Congress’s judgment that those persons “shall” be entitled to admission so long as they are not specifically barred on other grounds.

    The Refugee Funding Suspension, which relies on the President’s executive order regarding foreign aid, suspends federal funding for resettlement agencies that help refugees apply for admission and help refugees who have been admitted into our country and are already present in the states. The suspension directly prevents agencies from fulfilling their statutorily mandated task of providing basic needs and ensuring economic self-sufficiency and effective resettlement of refugees.

    In the amicus brief, the coalition urges the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington to grant a preliminary injunction preventing this order from going into effect, arguing that both the Refugee Ban and the Refugee Funding Suspension are unlawful and:

    • Conflict and misrepresent states interests, ignoring states’ existing role in the distribution of refugees before their placements; and
    • Harm states by disrupting critical work to assimilate and integrate refugees by depriving them of basic needs and essential services.

    In filing the amicus brief, Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of Washington, Massachusetts, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.  

    A copy of the brief can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: ‘Fragile stability’ in Libya increasingly at risk, Security Council hears

    Source: United Nations 2

    Peace and Security

    The dream of a civil, democratic and prosperous Libya remains unfulfilled 14 years after the revolution that led to the overthrow of the Gaddafi regime, the head of UN Political and Peacebuilding Affairs told the Security Council on Wednesday. 

    Rosemary DiCarlo said entrenched divisions, economic mismanagement, continued human rights violations, and competing domestic and external interests, continue to erode unity and stability in the country.

    “The fragile stability in Libya is increasingly at risk,” she warned. “The country’s leaders and security actors are failing to put the national interest ahead of their competition for political and personal gain.”

    Support new UN envoy

    She urged Council members to support the newly appointed UN Special Representative for Libya Hanna Tetteh “in her work to help break the political impasse, resolve Libya’s protracted crisis and support the Libyan people towards unifying Libya’s institutions and holding inclusive national elections.”

    The North African country has been split between two rival administrations for over a decade, with the internationally recognized Government of National Unity (GNU) based in the northwest while the Government of National Stability (GNS) is in the east.

    Landmark elections scheduled for December 2021 were cancelled, including due to disputes over the eligibility of candidates.

    Advisory Committee established

    Ms. DiCarlo stressed the urgent need for progress in Libya. She said the UN Mission there, UNSMIL, is taking steps to revive a political process anchored in the principles of inclusivity and national ownership.

    UNSMIL recently established an Advisory Committee that will provide recommendations for resolving outstanding contentious issues that have prevented national elections from taking place.

    The Committee is composed of 20 members who include legal and constitutional experts. More than a third are women. She emphasized that it is not a decision-making body, but its proposals will support efforts to remove obstacles to holding national elections.

    “Many Libyan stakeholders, including political parties, social movements, and women and youth groups, have publicly welcomed its establishment as an opportunity to move the political process forward,” she said.

    Supporting inclusive dialogue

    UNSMIL convened the Committee’s inaugural meeting in the capital, Tripoli, last week. Members are meeting again over three days this week to examine the contentious issues in detail and begin considering ways to overcome them.

    “In parallel, UNSMIL is also taking steps to convene a structured dialogue among Libyans on ways to address longstanding drivers of conflict and develop an inclusive, bottom-up vision for their country’s future,” she said.

    The Mission is also facilitating consultations among Libyan economic experts to identify priorities, barriers and solutions to achieve sound economic governance.  

    Divisions and competition

    Ms. DiCarlo said divisions and competition over the control of State institutions continue to dominate the political and economic landscape. No progress has been made on a unified budget or agreed spending framework despite UNSMIL engagement with all relevant stakeholders.

    “It is critical to address the issue to support the efforts of the Central Bank of Libya to stabilize the financial situation of the country and enable transparent and equitable public spending,” she explained.

    A dispute over the position of president of the High Council of State, a top governing body, also remains unresolved even after six months of litigation and contradictory rulings. The Council now stands “deeply divided and unable to fulfil its institutional role.” 

    UNSMIL

    People gather at a market in Tripoli, the capital of Libya. (file)

    National reconciliation at risk

    Politicization and political divisions are also hindering progress on national reconciliation, she added. 

    Last December, UNSMIL facilitated an agreement among three key institutions – the Presidential Council, the House of Representatives, and the High Council of State – on a draft law on the issue. 

    However, subsequent amendments to the draft law by parliamentarians have raised concerns over the independence of a National Reconciliation Commission.

    A charter for reconciliation was agreed earlier this month through a process led by the African Union.  It was adopted on 14 February in the margins of the bloc’s summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

    “While some Libyan stakeholders have supported the charter, others did not,” she said, noting that UNSMIL continues to engage with all relevant parties.

    Security threats persist

    Meanwhile, the activities of non-State and quasi-State armed groups continue to pose a threat to Libya’s fragile stability. 

    Ms. DiCarlo called for a full and transparent investigation into an armed attack on a Government of National Unity (GNU) Minister in Tripoli on 12 February.

    She said the Libyan National Army took control of a military base in the south previously held by a GNU-affiliated military officer. Furthermore, the 2020 Ceasefire Agreement has only been partially implemented. 

    “Renewed efforts by Libyan authorities to implement its remaining provisions are crucial to improve the fragile security situation and to create conditions for the reunification and reform of security institutions,” she said. 

    Migrants and mass graves

    Turning to other challenges, she said the continuing trend of arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances is deeply concerning and the increasing number of deaths in custody is troubling, with 15 cases recorded since March 2024. 

    Migrants and asylum-seekers, including children, also continue to face serious human rights violations including torture and cruel and inhumane treatment. 

    “The alarming and tragic discovery of mass graves following raids on human trafficking sites highlights the severe danger faced by migrants in Libya,” she said.

    On 7 February a mass grave was discovered on a farm in Jikharra in the northeast; another was found a day later in Al-Kufra in the southeast. To date, 93 bodies have been exhumed.

    “A full and independent investigation is critical to bring the perpetrators to justice. “This is yet another reminder of the urgent need to protect migrants and combat human trafficking,” she said.

    Last December, a joint UNSMIL and UN mission to Al-Kufra engaged with local authorities, partners, refugees and host communities to strengthen humanitarian response for Sudanese refugees, who continue to flee to Libya.

    Ms. DiCarlo said the chapter of the 2025 Sudan Refugee Regional Response Plan relating to Libya targets 446,000 people and requires $106 million – double the support from 2024. 

    She appealed to donors for their continued support to address the growing needs of Sudanese refugees in Libya and across the region. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Presses VA Deputy Secretary Nominee on Mass Firings of VA Researchers, Holding Oracle Accountable to Get EHR Right for Veterans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    ICYMI: Senator Murray: Trump Must Reverse Firing of VA Researchers Across the Country, Threatens to Decimate Lifesaving Work on Veterans’ Medical Care, Prosthetics, and More
    ICYMI: Murray, Colleagues Request Information on Elon Musk’s Access to VA Medical Records
    ***VIDEO of Murray’s Q&A at nomination hearing HERE**
    Washington, D.C. – Today at a Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing on Dr. Paul Lawrence’s nomination to be Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, questioned Dr. Lawrence—who will oversee the Electronic Health Record (EHR) system—on what he will do differently to hold Oracle accountable and get the EHR system right for veterans in Washington state. Murray also pressed him on whether he supports the decision by Trump and Musk last week to fire en masse VA researchers in the middle of research on everything from burn pit exposure to mental health, opioid addiction, and preventing veteran suicide, among much else.
    “EHR started in 2018 under President Trump and in 2020, it deployed to two Washington state VA hospitals. Instead of helping to improve our veterans’ health care, the rollout ending up being a complete disaster, and it endangered veteran patients,” Murray said at today’s hearing. “Unfortunately, the system still is not working the way that the VA doctors and nurses need—and veterans are continuing  to suffer. Last month, the VA announced that it would be moving forward with pre-deployment activities at the next four sites for this Electronic Health Record.”
    “You will oversee the EHR program—so if confirmed, I want to know what you are going to do differently to hold Oracle accountable and to make sure we get this system right for our veterans?”
    Dr. Lawrence replied that he would aim to better understand why VA did not listen to employees earlier when they raised issued with the EHR system, and that he would work with the team Secretary Collins plans to convene with “everybody involved” to figure out the best path going forward for EHR. “If confirmed, I want to work on that and figure out what the plan should be in terms of holding everybody accountable for what’s supposed to take place, right, to get the most benefits as quickly as possible to our veterans within the amount of money we have,” Dr. Lawrence said.
    “Well let me make this very clear: we have heard that answer from every VA person that’s come before this committee for a number of years now,” Murray pushed back. “Everybody’s looked at it, everybody’s considered it, everybody’s talked about it, everybody’s convened panels. It is not working. So, I need your commitment that it’s not just—convene people and take a look at, but that you are going to make changes to it and demand changes, and get those fixed. Because we have spent, literally, millions and millions of dollars—and worse, veterans are still in jeopardy in their care, and doctors and nurses and VA facilities are really frustrated.”
    “I asked you a really important question: what are you going to do differently? The answer you gave me—I understand where you’re coming from—but it is the same one I’ve heard over and over,” Murray said.
    Dr. Lawrence responded that the Secretary conveyed a “strong sense of urgency that it should be done much sooner than later,” and that, in his previous tenure at VA as Under Secretary for Benefits, he dealt with technology problems around the GI Bill, appeals modernization, and other issues, and implemented technology: “I’ve actually done this, and so that’s the difference I will bring to this. And I understand the frustration, and I pledge to work as best, as hard as I can to get this done,” said Dr. Lawrence.
    “Well I don’t want to be sitting here again, two years from now, same conversation, new person,” Murray said.
    Murray continued her questioning by pressing Dr. Lawrence on Trump and Elon Musk’s unprecedented firings of VA researchers—last week the administration abruptly refused to honor researchers’ three-year “Not to Exceed” term limits (NTEs) by rolling them over as is standard. Instead, the Trump administration immediately dismissing researchers, including at VA Puget Sound, who were in the middle of research on topics including mental health, alcohol and opioid withdrawal, cancer treatments, burn pit exposure, prosthetics, diabetic ulcers, and so much else.
    “Last week, my office’s phones were ringing off the hook—as I assume a lot of people’s were—with really panicked calls from researchers at the VA. They had been laid off with ZERO justification, ZERO warning,” Murray said.
    “And in fact, up until then, the VA had assured them that they were protected from Trump and Musk’s mass firings. VA research shouldn’t be political. And firing VA researchers who are in the middle of a process to find life-saving treatment for veterans with conditions like PTSD, or opioid addiction, or cancer from toxic exposure is really cruel and wasteful. Some veterans are literally in the middle of receiving breakthrough treatment through these clinical trials. What will happen to them and their care when their lead researcher was just fired?”
    “Were you aware of the Trump Administration’s decision to fire these VA researchers?,” Murray asked.Dr. Lawrence responded that he was “not engaged” in anything at the Department now.
    “Do you support it?,” Murray pressed.Dr. Lawrence replied: “If confirmed, I will look into this to better understand what took place—I don’t have enough information to comment on that.”
    “So you won’t commit to restoring these VA researchers’ positions so they can continue that research on PTSD, and opioid addiction, and cancer that was caused by their exposure to toxic chemicals?” Murray pressed again.
    “If confirmed, I commit to looking in to understand what happened and why,” said Dr. Lawrence. “Well, I hope that’s not like every other answer we get from people that we are hearing from that they’ll look into it and no action is taken—you’ve just promised to look into it; this is critical,” said Senator Murray.
    “I understand,” said Dr. Lawrence.
    Senator Murray was the first woman to join the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the first woman to chair the Committee—as the daughter of a World War II veteran, supporting veterans and their families has always been an important priority for her. Senator Murray has fought throughout her career for increased benefits for veterans, housing assistance, better access to veterans’ clinics throughout Washington state, and more accountability from the VA.
    Senator Murray has spoken out forcefully against President Trump and Elon Musk’s mass firing of VA employees across the country. Just yesterday, Murray and her colleagues sent a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins pressing him to protect veterans, their families, and VA staff from unprecedented access to sensitive information by Elon Musk and his “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE). Earlier this month, Senator Murray sounded the alarm over reports of DOGE at the VA and voted against Doug Collins’s nomination to be VA Secretary, making clear that the Trump administration’s lawlessness was putting our national security and our veterans at risk. Alongside 25 of her colleagues, Murray sent another letter earlier this month to Secretary Collins, demanding that he deny and sever Musk and DOGE’s access to any VA or other government system with information about veterans, and to delete any veterans’ information in their possession.
    Senator Murray has been conducting oversight on the flawed EHR rollout in Washington state since the Trump Administration first negotiated the contract with Cerner (later acquired by Oracle), and at every point in the process since then. Murray has consistently pushed VA on its failed implementation of EHR—conducting oversight, holding the administration accountable, and calling on VA to halt deployment of EHR until they get it right in Washington state. In March 2023, Murray introduced comprehensive legislation that would require VA to implement a series of EHR reforms to better serve veterans, medical personnel, and taxpayers. In the Fiscal Year 2024 funding bills, Senator Murray negotiated and passed as Chair of the Appropriations Committee stronger language to hold VA and Cerner accountable for the rollout of the EHR system, and in May 2024, she sent a letter urging VA to consider feedback on the system from providers and veterans in Spokane and Walla Walla and reiterating that VA must not move forward on the rollout of EHR until the myriad issues that have plagued the system in the locations where it has been launched are fixed.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: FPSO Almirante Tamandaré producing and on hire

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Amsterdam, February 19, 2025

    SBM Offshore announces that FPSO Almirante Tamandaré is formally on hire as of February 16, 2025 after achieving first oil and the completion of a 72-hour continuous production test leading to Final Acceptance.

    FPSO Almirante Tamandaré is the largest oil producing unit in Brazil with a processing capacity of 225,000 barrels of oil and 12 million m3 of gas per day. This FPSO has an estimated greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity below 10 kgCO2e/boe1 and benefits from emission reduction technologies such as the closed flare technology which increases gas utilization, preventing it from being burnt into the atmosphere. FPSO Almirante Tamandaré is the first unit in Brazil to receive a Sustainability-1 Notation2 certification reflecting the Company’s efforts to reduce emissions over the lifecycle of the vessel.

    FPSO Almirante Tamandaré is owned and operated by special purpose companies owned by affiliated companies of SBM Offshore (55%) and its partners (45%). The FPSO will operate under a 26.25-year charter and operation services contracts with Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras).

    FPSO Almirante Tamandaré is installed at the Búzios unitized field located in the Santos Basin, approximately 180 kilometers offshore Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. The Búzios unitized field is operated by Petrobras (88.99%) in partnership with CNODC (3.67%) and CNOOC (7.34%).

    Corporate Profile

    SBM Offshore is the world’s deepwater ocean-infrastructure expert. Through the design, construction, installation, and operation of offshore floating facilities, we play a pivotal role in a just transition. By advancing our core, we deliver cleaner, more efficient energy production. By pioneering more, we unlock new markets within the blue economy. 
    More than 7,400 SBMers collaborate worldwide to deliver innovative solutions as a responsible partner towards a sustainable future, balancing ocean protection with progress.
    For further information, please visit our website at www.sbmoffshore.com.

    Financial Calendar   Date Year
    Full Year 2024 Earnings   February 20 2025
    Annual General Meeting   April 9 2025
    First Quarter 2025 Trading Update   May 15 2025
    Half Year 2025 Earnings   August 7 2025
    Third Quarter 2025 Trading Update   November 13 2025

    For further information, please contact:

    Investor Relations

    Wouter Holties
    Corporate Finance & Investor Relations Manager

    Media Relations

    Giampaolo Arghittu
    Head of External Relations

    Market Abuse Regulation
    This press release may contain inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

    Disclaimer
    Some of the statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements based on management’s current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance, or events to differ materially from those in such statements. These statements may be identified by words such as ‘expect’, ‘should’, ‘could’, ‘shall’ and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The principal risks which could affect the future operations of SBM Offshore N.V. are described in the ‘Impact, Risk and Opportunity Management’ section of the 2023 Annual Report.

    Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and performance of the Company’s business may vary materially and adversely from the forward-looking statements described in this release. SBM Offshore does not intend and does not assume any obligation to update any industry information or forward-looking statements set forth in this release to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise. 

    This release contains certain alternative performance measures (APMs) as defined by the ESMA guidelines which are not defined under IFRS. Further information on these APMs is included in the Half-Year Management Report accompanying the Half Year Earnings 2024 report, available on our website https://www.sbmoffshore.com/investors/financial-disclosures.

    Nothing in this release shall be deemed an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities. The companies in which SBM Offshore N.V. directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this release “SBM Offshore” and “SBM” are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to SBM Offshore N.V. and its subsidiaries in general. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies.

    “SBM Offshore®“, the SBM logomark, “Fast4Ward®”, “emissionZERO®” and “F4W®” are proprietary marks owned by SBM Offshore.

    1 Calculated based on nameplate capacity.
    2 This sustainability certification from Bureau Veritas recognizes the Company’s efforts in minimizing environmental impacts over the lifecycle of the FPSO, from design to construction and operations.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Names Small Business of the Week, Sweetheart Bakery and Homer’s Deli

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: Sweetheart Bakery and Homer’s Deli of Clinton County. Throughout the 119th Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties.
    “Founded by real sweethearts almost 75 years ago, Sweetheart Bakery and Homer’s Deli continues to operate as a family business today,” said Chair Ernst. “Whether it is their homemade breads, custom cakes, or original Blarney Stones, the Thornton family sure knows how to rise to the occasion!”
    In 1950, Charlie and Florence Thornton opened Sweetheart Bakery using original family recipes on Main Avenue. In 1978, their son, Charles, and his wife, Joanne, expanded the business, moving it one block west into its current storefront in the Lyons business district. After decades of success baking generational recipes made from scratch, Charles’ son, Chuck, and his wife, Brenda, purchased the bakery. Upon taking over, they merged the family bakery with Homer’s Deli, a restaurant they also owned next door. Today, their children, Derek and Shauna, help run and manage the store. In March, the business will celebrate its 75th anniversary in Iowa.
    Stay tuned as Chair Ernst recognizes more Iowa small businesses across the state with her Small Business of the Week award.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Urge President Trump to Reject Republican Budget Raising Costs for Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    February 19, 2025
    More than 30 Democratic senators demand Trump reject GOP budget proposals “Republican budget plans do not focus on lowering costs, and in fact will raise costs for American families by forcing them to pay more for groceries, health care, education, and caregiving.”
    Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they are demanding Donald Trump reject Congressional Republicans’ legislative plans to increase the cost of living for Americans after pledging to lower costs on “Day One” of his presidency. 
    The letter to Trump from Wyden, Merkley and 30 other Democratic senators —more than two-thirds of the party caucus— comes after Congressional Republicans last week approved their 2025 budget proposals for floor consideration, their blueprints for a large legislative package that they hope to pass in the coming months.
    “But the Republican budget plans do not focus on lowering costs, and in fact will raise costs for American families by forcing them to pay more for groceries, health care, education, and caregiving,” wrote the senators.
    The senators explained that the Republicans’ budget plans will do the following:
    Raise food costs: The Republican budget plans tee up extensive cuts to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) and Meals on Wheels.  
    Raise health care costs: The Republican budget plans also pave the way for 15 Republican proposals to cut Medicare, Medicaid, and Affordable Care Act coverage. These Republican cuts would raise health care costs for more than 160 million Americans.
    Raise education costs: The Republican budget plans set them up to pass cuts to programs that help families afford college, including Pell Grants and income-driven repayment plans, and tax scholarships for hard-working students. 
    Raise caregiving costs: The Republican budget plans pave the way to cutting programs that help families care for kids, people with disabilities, and aging loved ones. Cuts to these essential programs will make it impossible for many working families to live and work with dignity. 
    “If Congressional Republicans are successful at passing their proposals, it will mean that families will pay more for food, healthcare, education, and caregiving – while Republicans plot more tax cuts for billionaires,” concluded the senators. “We urge you to stand by the promises you made to the American people about lowering costs, including by committing not to sign any legislation that raises their costs.”
    In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the letter was led by U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. The letter was also signed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senators Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., Tim Kaine, D-Va., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Jack Reed, D-R.I., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Mark Warner, D-Va., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Ed Markey, D-Mass., Gary Peters, D-Mich., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Peter Welch, D-Maine, Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Patty Murray, D-Wash., Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., and Andy Kim, D-N.J.
    Full text of the letter is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Making Home Construction More Affordable in Saskatchewan

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on February 19, 2025

    Shifting national priorities, increasing prices and a renewed focus on local industry means the province of Saskatchewan will revert to Tier 1 on building energy efficiency, effective with approval of regulatory amendments. It is anticipated that builders may adopt Tier 1 immediately.

    “All provinces are dealing with the challenges of growth, including affordable housing for all residents, and removing red tape allows us to harmonize our standards and support Canadian industries,” Government Relations Minister Eric Schmalz said. “While Saskatchewan is one of the most affordable places to live in Canada, we understand there is more work to be done, and we have heard from industry that this decision will help maintain housing affordability in the province.”

    “Let’s be clear—our industry will continue to build safe, durable, and energy efficient structures because we take pride in our work and the communities we serve,” Construction Association of Saskatchewan Treasurer Dan Yungwirth said. “This change allows us to prioritize affordability while still achieving exceptional outcomes.”

    “Eliminating red tape is always a good thing when it comes to affordability,” Construction Association of Saskatchewan President and CEO Shannon Friesen said. “We trust the expertise of Saskatchewan’s construction professionals who have a deep understanding of our province’s unique climate and building needs. With less red tape, our industry can continue to deliver exceptional, high-quality infrastructure that meets the needs of our communities.”

    In January 2024, Saskatchewan adopted the 2020 edition of the National Building Code (NBC) by regulation under The Construction Codes Act. The energy efficiency tiers of the NBC only apply to housing and small buildings. Energy efficient standards found in the National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB) applicable to large buildings remain at Tier 1.

    The Ministry of Government Relations had previously announced a delay of implementing additional energy efficiency tiers. Part of this pause was to review the implementation of the codes across Canada with an eye on parity with other provinces. Tiered energy efficiency provisions in the NBC and NECB provide Saskatchewan the tools to determine when and how far to advance energy efficiency in new building construction without imposing a burden on building owners, consumers and industry.

    Any builder retains the ability under The Constructions Code Act to pursue higher tier energy efficiency targets voluntarily, as per their building practices and customer demands.

    To learn more about Saskatchewan’s building code regulations, visit: saskatchewan.ca.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Spring Hill Man Sentenced for Dog Fighting

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, FL — Jose Miguel Carrillo, of Spring Hill, Florida, was sentenced yesterday to 84 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to violate the dog fighting prohibitions of the federal Animal Welfare Act and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    According to court filings, Carrillo conspired with others to purchase, acquire, and breed dogs for use in dog fights. Carillo also staged dog fights at his home and traveled to dog fights in Massachusetts, Florida, and Connecticut.

    A June 2023 search warrant was executed at Carrillo’s home and led to the seizure of 10 pit bull-type dogs, most of which were later adopted by new owners, as well as a firearm and ammunition. Carrillo also possessed dog fighting paraphernalia including a bloodstained dog fighting box, a skin stapler, syringes, and injectable veterinary medications.

    “To its core, dog fighting is a cruel and criminal exploitation of animals for entertainment,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Today’s sentence sends a strong deterrent message that the Justice Department will vigorously prosecute these cases.”

    “Exploiting and endangering the welfare of animals for personal gain is cruel and abhorrent,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Sara C. Sweeney for the Middle District of Florida. “Because of the hard work of our law enforcement partners, justice was served.”

    “The Office of Inspector General is committed to working with all of our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners in pursuing individuals who choose to participate in animal fighting activities and engage in violations involving animal welfare, while also committing other serious offenses in our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG).

    Photo of dogs at Carrillo’s home, from court documents in United State v. Jose Carrillo, number 8:23-CR-00222, in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

    Photo of a bloodstained dog fighting pit at Carrillo’s home, from court documents in United State v. Jose Carrillo, number 8:23-CR-00222, in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

    To report animal fighting crimes, please contact your local law enforcement or the USDA-OIG’s complaint hotline at: usdaoig.oversight.gov/hotline or 1-800-424-9121.

    The USDA-OIG; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Pasco (Florida) Sheriff’s Office and the Fitchburg (Massachusetts) Police Department investigated the case. Assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshals Service, Massachusetts State Police, New Hampshire State Police, Animal Rescue League of Boston’s Law Enforcement Division, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

    Senior Trial Attorney Matthew T. Morris of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Favorit and Tiffany Fields for the Middle District of Florida prosecuted the case. Trial Attorney Caitlyn Cook of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Wildlife and Marine Resources Section assisted with the transfer of the seized dogs to new owners.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: High Ranking Raleigh Crip Gang Member Sentenced to Over Five Years

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW BERN, N.C. – A Raleigh man was sentenced today to 71 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon after trafficking firearms.  On November 3, 2023, Dwight Daniel Hinton, age 34, pled guilty to the offense.

    According to court documents and other information presented in court, Hinton was trafficking firearms in New York through another Crip gang member. Hinton would use a straw purchaser to purchase firearms from local licensed dealers and then sell them illegally. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives utilized a confidential informant to purchase three firearms from Hinton. One of those firearms was an AR-15 rifle, with a high-capacity magazine, a brass catcher, and could be converted into a machinegun.

    While in custody, Hinton was recorded discussing a $20,000 murder for hire scheme he was offered by another gang member. After Hinton pled guilty, and while awaiting sentencing, Hinton assaulted an inmate in the Pamlico Correctional Institute and then assaulted another inmate in the Pitt County Detention Center.  Hinton was found to be in possession of a homemade “shank” weapon while in custody, awaiting sentencing.

    Hinton has eight prior felony convictions including multiple counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, breaking and/or entering, robbery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, and common law robbery.

    Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Sandling and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Aria Q. Merle prosecuted the case.

    Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-00202-FL.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Bradenton Man Sentenced To Over Seven Years In Federal Prison For Firearms And Narcotics Offenses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Terry Lavon McDonald, Jr. (32, Bradenton) to seven years and six months in federal prison for possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The court also ordered McDonald to forfeit a Smith & Wesson firearm and ammunition, which were used in the commission of the offense. McDonald pleaded guilty on November 22, 2024.

    According to court documents, on October 5, 2023, deputies from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office executed a residential search warrant in Bradenton based on a series of controlled fentanyl purchases from another individual at the residence. At the time of the execution, McDonald was the sole occupant of a vehicle backed into the driveway. The vehicle was searched, and McDonald was found in possession of a loaded Smith & Wesson handgun, a digital scale, fentanyl, and cocaine. Prior to the offense, McDonald had been convicted of multiple felonies, including possession of cocaine with intent to sell or deliver, fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, and carrying a concealed firearm. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.          McDonald’s cellphone was recovered during his arrest and a search warrant was obtained for its contents. Multiple photographs were found in the cellphone depicting McDonald in possession of suspected firearms and narcotics, as depicted below.

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.

    This case is part of the 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 for occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Coop Pank AS establishes an EUR 750,000,000 Covered Bond Programme

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Coop Pank AS (Bank) has established an EUR 750,000,000 Covered Bond Programme (Programme). The Central Bank of Ireland has approved the base prospectus (Base Prospectus) for the Programme on 19 February 2025. The Base Prospectus will be available on the website of Euronext Dublin at www.ise.ie and on the Bank’s website at https://www.cooppank.ee/en/investor.

    Establishment of the Programme is one of the preparatory steps in the commencement of issuance of covered bonds by the Bank. According to initial forecasts, the first issuance is expected to take place in the first half of 2025. The Bank will notify the market with a separate stock exchange announcement once the exact timing and conditions of the issuance are determined. The covered bonds to be issued under the Programme are expected to be rated (P)Aa2 by Moody’s Investors Service Ltd.

    Coop Pank, based on Estonian capital, is one of the five universal banks operating in Estonia. The number of clients using Coop Pank for their daily banking reached 209,500. Coop Pank aims to put the synergy generated by the interaction of retail business and banking to good use and to bring everyday banking services closer to people’s homes. The strategic shareholder of the bank is the domestic retail chain Coop Eesti, comprising of 320 stores. 

    Additional information:
    Paavo Truu
    CFO
    Phone: +372 5160 231
    E-mail: paavo.truu@cooppank.ee

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE Columbus and US Marshals arrest Ecuadorian illegal alien wanted for murder

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    February 19, 2025Columbus, OH, United StatesEnforcement and Removal

    COLUMBUS, Ohio – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Marshals Service arrested Luis Naula-Candelario, a criminal alien from Ecuador who is wanted in his home country for murder, in Pickerington, Ohio, Feb. 12.

    “Foreign fugitives will find no safe haven, here in Ohio or across the U.S., for crimes they committed in their home countries,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Detroit Field Office Director Robert Lynch. “By removing these fugitives from our communities, we not only prevent them from victimizing Americans but also ensure that justice is served for their victims abroad.”

    Naula remains in ICE custody pending further immigration proceedings.

    Members of the public can report immigration crimes or suspicious activity by dialing the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE Detroit’s mission to increase public safety in our Michigan and Ohio communities on X at @ERODetroit.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Public invited to learn more about study for future improvements on SR 3 in Gorst

    Source: Washington State News 2

    In-person open house scheduled for Feb. 26

    BREMERTON – It’s no secret: Traffic backups in and around Gorst are a common occurrence.

    The Washington State Department of Transportation is conducting a study to look at State Routes 3, 16, 166 and 304 in Gorst. The study focuses on improving transportation in the area.

    The public is invited to learn more about this Planning and Environmental Linkages study in online and in-person events.

    Beginning Wednesday, Feb. 19, community members can visit the online open house to see the options WSDOT is looking at to relieve congestion in Gorst and create a stronger highway system in the surrounding area.

    After this open house, the study team will work to find the best options for a future project. A second open house will be held in late 2025 to review these options.

    Public feedback will be incorporated into the study’s recommendations. After the study is complete in early 2026, recommended options will go through a National Environmental Policy Act review.

    SR 3 Gorst area online open house information

    When:  Feb. 19 to March 11, 2025

    Where:  engage.wsdot.wa.gov/sr-3-gorst-area/

    Details:  Information about the study is available online 24/7 for people to visit and leave comments whenever best fits their schedule through Tuesday, March 11. The information is available in English, Spanish and Tagalog.

    SR 3 Gorst area in-person open house information

    When:  4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025

    Where:  Naval Avenue Elementary School, 900 Olympic Ave., Bremerton, WA 98312 

    Details:  The in-person open house will have the same information as the online open house. There is no formal presentation. Attendees are welcome to drop by anytime during the two-hour event. Project team members will be available to explain the project, answer questions and take comments. Translators fluent in Spanish and Tagalog will be present.

    Free, temporary internet access is available to those who do not have broadband service in locations throughout the state. To find the nearest Drive-In WiFi Hotspot visit: www.commerce.wa.gov/building-infrastructure/washington-state-drive-in-wifi-hotspots-location-finder/.

    Free WiFi access is available at these locations for people who wish to participate in the online open house:

    • Kitsap Regional Library – Bremerton, 612 Fifth St., Bremerton, WA 98337
    • Kitsap Regional Library – Port Orchard, 87 Sidney Ave., Port Orchard, WA 98366
    • North Mason Timberland Library – 23081 NE State Route 3, Belfair, WA 98528

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Local Plan takes another step closer to unlocking York’s development and growth ambitions

    Source: City of York

    City of York Council is set to consider the adoption of its Local Plan following the findings of the Inspector’s Report on the Examination of City of York’s Local Plan.

    The Local Plan will be presented for consideration at Full Council on Thursday 27 February.

    City of York Council is set to consider the adoption of its Local Plan following the findings of the Inspector’s Report on the Examination of City of York’s Local Plan, which will be presented for consideration at Full Council on Thursday 27 February.  

    Once adopted, this Plan will be the city’s first comprehensive development framework since 1956 and will guide York’s growth for the next decade, marking a pivotal milestone in the city’s future development and growth ambitions, whilst establishing the city’s green belt and historic setting for the first time. 

    The Local Plan outlines the vision for sustainable housing, economic development, and infrastructure in York. It addresses key priorities such as affordable housing, environmental sustainability, and the protection of York’s historic character. The Plan provides a policy framework for decisions on development, shaping the city’s future spatial development until 2038. 

    As part of the adoption process, the Council will review the Inspector’s recommendations and the main modifications to housing allocations, green belt boundaries, and transport infrastructure planning. The final decision on whether to formally adopt the Local Plan will be made at the Full Council meeting on Thursday 27 February. 

    Cllr Claire Douglas, Leader of the Council, said: 

    “The Local Plan is an historic step in shaping York’s bright future, and we’re excited about what it means for our city. We welcome the Inspector’s findings and are confident that their modifications will strengthen the Plan, ensuring it supports York’s vision for a sustainable, inclusive city for all. The Plan provides us with a clear roadmap for how our city will develop and grow over the next decade – meeting the needs of our residents and businesses.  

    “A huge thank you to everyone who has worked so hard to bring this Plan to life. We truly appreciate your dedication and commitment to York’s future.” 

    Cllr Katie Lomas, Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, Human Rights, Equality, and Inclusion, added: 

    “This Local Plan is designed to support the growth of York while promoting equality, accessibility, and sustainability. We are particularly focused on ensuring that affordable housing remains a central component of this Plan, along with infrastructure that meets the needs of all residents, including those from the most disadvantaged groups. This is a long-term investment in creating a fairer, greener York for future generations.” 

    Cllr. Michael Pavlovic, Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities, commented: 

    “The Local Plan represents the outcome of 7 years extensive consultation, public hearings, and thorough examination. The Plan outlines significant investments in housing, transport, and employment opportunities, which will help drive York’s economy and provide much-needed infrastructure. For York to prosper we need to be ambitious, and this Plan unlocks the potential to make those ambitions a reality.” 
     
    Inspector’s Report and Next Steps 

    The Inspector’s Report, published following extensive independent examination, recognised that the Local Plan meets all statutory duties to cooperate and aligns with national planning policies. However, the Report also identified certain areas requiring modifications to ensure the Plan’s soundness, particularly regarding the housing supply, green belt boundaries, and infrastructure delivery.  

    The Council has already responded to the Inspector’s recommendations, requesting main modifications that will address these deficiencies. Full Council will be asked to adopt the plan with the Inspectors’ modifications. 

    The Local Plan in Brief 

    The Local Plan will provide a comprehensive strategy for:
     
    •    Delivering 20,000 new homes over the duration of the plan, including a significant proportion of affordable housing.

     
    •    Allocating sites for economic growth, including areas for employment and retail expansion. 

    •    Investing in sustainable transport infrastructure, including improved bus routes, cycling paths, and EV charging stations. 

    •    Mitigating and adapting to climate change with enhanced green infrastructure, flood defences, and energy-efficient building standards. 

    •    Safeguarding York’s historic and cultural heritage while ensuring new development respects the city’s unique character. 

    •    Setting the city’s green belt and protecting the historic setting for the first time. 

    The adoption of the Local Plan represents a turning point in York’s growth, ensuring that development is sustainable, well-planned, and consistent with local priorities. 

    For more details on the Inspector’s Report and the upcoming Full Council meeting, visit the City of York Council website at www.york.gov.uk/LocalPlanInspectorsReport. 

    Full Council takes place on Thursday 27 February, the agenda is available to view online at https://democracy.york.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=331&MId=15004 and the meeting will be available to view live or on demand at www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.   
     

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Plans for new affordable homes in Lancaster’s Canal Quarter progress, with measures to address parking concern Proposals for new affordable homes as part of Lancaster’s Canal Quarter development site ..

    Source: City of Lancaster

    Proposals for new affordable homes as part of Lancaster’s Canal Quarter development site have taken a further step forward.

    Lancaster City Council has long held ambitions to develop the Canal Quarter, with a masterplan for the area setting out how the derelict and underused site will be transformed into a vibrant new neighbourhood.

    The first of the sites to be made available, the Nelson Street car park, is now set to be redeveloped with South Lakes Housing and Tyson Construction given exclusive rights to draw up proposals for a new affordable housing and mixed tenure development. The project has been developed with the support of the Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF2) from the One Public Estate programme.

    But with it likely to be at least a year before the development gets underway and the car park closes, motorists and businesses have been reassured that temporary and long-term measures will be in place to make up for any loss of parking spaces.

    Work is already underway to increase the available spaces on other car parks and the Castle car park is also set to reopen in April 2026, providing a boost to the city’s parking spaces.

    More extensive parking on Kingsway is also being explored, which would provide overspill capacity and extra spaces for busy times such as when festivals and events are taking place.

    By April 2026, despite losing Nelson Street, it’s planned that the total number of spaces will increase to 1,554, rising to 1,654 with Kingsway. This exceeds the current availability of 1,329.

    In the long-term, the potential for multi storey car parking or the use of decking to increase the capacity of current car parks in the city is also being investigated.

    Councillor Caroline Jackson, leader of Lancaster City Council and portfolio holder for housing, said: “The development of the Nelson Street car park will make an important contribution to the supply of new housing within the city centre, including the provision of affordable homes.

    “We’ve listened to the city’s businesses and understand their concerns over the loss of these valuable car parking spaces.

    “That’s why, by the time the car park has to close for development, we will have measures in place that should lead to an overall net increase across the city compared to what we have currently.”

    The council is also looking to introduce a new car park vehicle counting system to make it easier for motorists to find a space at busy times.

    This system will provide motorists with real time occupancy data, meaning they will be able to see where there is capacity available. It is currently out to procurement with a view to being installed later this year.

    The development of 49 affordable homes is set to be built by South Lakes Housing (SLH) to help meet the urgent need for affordable housing throughout the area.  SLH is an independent, not-for-profit housing association and has previously worked with the city council on the award-winning Lune Walk development at Halton

    Last updated: 19 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Wallet Integrates Monad Testnet to Expand DeFi Capabilities

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, Feb. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget Wallet, a leading Web3 non-custodial wallet, has officially integrated support for Monad Testnet, a high-performance EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain. Users can now easily add the Monad Testnet through the wallet interface and interact with ecosystem projects listed on the dedicated Monad DApp section.

    Monad is a next-generation blockchain built to overcome performance and scalability limitations in decentralized networks. With high transaction throughput and low latency, it offers robust infrastructure for DeFi applications. Its compatibility with Ethereum ensures smooth transitions for developers and users without workflow adjustments. Monad also reduces transaction costs and delays, delivering a more efficient, cost-effective experience in decentralized exchanges, lending, and yield farming.

    Bitget Wallet’s integration of Monad supports its goal of expanding access to innovative DeFi applications. With Monad’s optimized performance, users of Bitget Wallet can experience faster transactions and reduced fees, making activities like token swaps and staking more efficient. This integration empowers users to take advantage of emerging DeFi opportunities while enjoying a seamless user experience.

    “By integrating Monad, we’re reinforcing our mission to simplify access to Web3 innovation while lowering the barrier to blockchain adoption,” said Alvin Kan, COO of Bitget Wallet. “Our users will benefit from faster and more affordable transactions, and we’re excited to leverage this integration in upcoming interactive incentive campaigns to deliver even more value.”

    About Bitget Wallet
    Bitget Wallet is the home of Web3, uniting endless possibilities in one non-custodial wallet. With over 60 million users, it offers comprehensive onchain services, including asset management, instant swaps, rewards, staking, trading tools, live market data, a DApp browser, an NFT marketplace and crypto payment. Supporting over 100 blockchains, 20,000+ DApps, and 500,000+ tokens, Bitget Wallet enables seamless multi-chain trading across hundreds of DEXs and cross-chain bridges, along with a $300+ million protection fund to ensure safety of users’ assets. Experience Bitget Wallet Lite to start a Web3 journey.
    For more information, visit: X | Telegram | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | TikTok | Discord | Facebook
    For media inquiries, please contact media.web3@bitget.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e98f7bc4-08ab-4317-9997-94269e2756e7

    The MIL Network –