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  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Coons, Booker, colleagues demand DOJ reverse cancellation of hundreds of public safety grants

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) as well as nearly 30 other Democratic senators urged Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Assistant Attorney General Maureen Henneberg to reverse the abrupt cancellation of hundreds of public safety grants that serve crime victims and improve public safety in communities across the country in a letter sent to the Department of Justice (DOJ) last week.

    “On April 22, the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Justice Programs (OJP) notified hundreds of grant recipients across the country, without warning, that their funding had been terminated, effective immediately. Many of these grants are authorized by Congress and support programs that have enhanced public safety in communities rural and urban, affluent and poor, Democratic and Republican. While this administration continues to market itself as the administration of law and order and public safety, DOJ has decided to defund programs that prosecutors, police and sheriff’s departments, judges, mental health service providers, academics, and more depend on to advance the Department’s longstanding ‘core mission of keeping Americans safe and vigorously enforcing the law,’” the senators wrote. 

    “Based on public reporting, outreach from grantees, and a DOJ Justice Management Division  (JMD) spreadsheet, … it appears that the Department defunded at least 365 public safety grants on April 22, 2025. A review of this information reveals that these grants provide support for victims of crime and resources for communities to ensure public safety,” the senators continued.

    By terminating these grants, the Department has defunded programs that support victims of crime, combat rape in prison, assist people with mental health disorders, reduce and prevent violence, and support successful reentry. These examples offer only a sample of the critical funding that DOJ abruptly pulled away from law enforcement organizations in communities across the country.

    “The magnitude of these defunding measures, Congress’ role in authorizing and appropriating grant funds, and the negative impacts that the sudden termination of funding will have on public safety in communities across the country, requires the immediate review of the processes and decisions that led to the cancellation of these critical grants,” the senators added.

    The senators requested answers to nine questions about the cancellations, including whether the Department has reallocated the money to other programs and how officials determined which grants should be cancelled. 

    “Additionally, we advise that the Department restore immediately the grants terminated on April 22. The cursory termination of these programs imperils the public safety of the victims and communities that rely on these critical resources,” the senators concluded.

    The letter is cosigned by U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).

    You can read the full letter here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: AI therapy may help with mental health, but innovation should never outpace ethics

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Ben Bond, PhD Candidate in Digital Psychiatry, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

    Pavlova Yuliia/Shutterstock

    Mental health services around the world are stretched thinner than ever. Long wait times, barriers to accessing care and rising rates of depression and anxiety have made it harder for people to get timely help.

    As a result, governments and healthcare providers are looking for new ways to address this problem. One emerging solution is the use of AI chatbots for mental health care.

    A recent study explored whether a new type of AI chatbot, named Therabot, could treat people with mental illness effectively. The findings were promising: not only did participants with clinically significant symptoms of depression and anxiety benefit, those at high-risk for eating disorders also showed improvement. While early, this study may represent a pivotal moment in the integration of AI into mental health care.

    AI mental health chatbots are not new – tools like Woebot and Wysa have already been released to the public and studied for years. These platforms follow rules based on a user’s input to produce a predefined approved response.

    What makes Therabot different is that it uses generative AI – a technique where a program learns from existing data to create new content in response to a prompt. Consequently, Therabot can produce novel responses based on a user’s input like other popular chatbots such as ChatGPT, allowing for a more dynamic and personalised interaction.

    This isn’t the first time generative AI has been examined in a mental health setting. In 2024, researchers in Portugal conducted a study where ChatGPT was offered as an additional component of treatment for psychiatric inpatients.

    The research findings showed that just three to six sessions with ChatGPT led to a significantly greater improvement in quality of life than standard therapy, medication and other supportive treatments alone.

    Together, these studies suggest that both general and specialised generative AI chatbots hold real potential for use in psychiatric care. But there are some serious limitations to keep in mind. For example, the ChatGPT study involved only 12 participants – far too few to draw firm conclusions.

    In the Therabot study, participants were recruited through a Meta Ads campaign, likely skewing the sample toward tech-savvy people who may already be open to using AI. This could have inflated the chatbot’s effectiveness and engagement levels.

    Ethics and Exclusion

    Beyond methodological concerns, there are critical safety and ethical issues to address. One of the most pressing is whether generative AI could worsen symptoms in people with severe mental illnesses, particularly psychosis.

    A 2023 article warned that generative AI’s lifelike responses, combined with the most people’s limited understanding of how these systems work, might feed into delusional thinking. Perhaps for this reason, both the Therabot and ChatGPT studies excluded participants with psychotic symptoms.

    But excluding these people also raises questions of equity. People with severe mental illness often face cognitive challenges – such as disorganised thinking or poor attention – that might make it difficult to engage with digital tools.

    Ironically, these are the people who may benefit the most from accessible, innovative interventions. If generative AI tools are only suitable for people with strong communication skills and high digital literacy, then their usefulness in clinical populations may be limited.

    There’s also the possibility of AI “hallucinations” – a known flaw that occurs when a chatbot confidently makes things up – like inventing a source, quoting a nonexistent study, or giving an incorrect explanation. In the context of mental health, AI hallucinations aren’t just inconvenient, they can be dangerous.

    Imagine a chatbot misinterpreting a prompt and validating someone’s plan to self-harm, or offering advice that unintentionally reinforces harmful behaviour. While the studies on Therabot and ChatGPT included safeguards – such as clinical oversight and professional input during development – many commercial AI mental health tools do not offer the same protections.

    That’s what makes these early findings both exciting and cautionary. Yes, AI chatbots might offer a low-cost way to support more people at once, but only if we fully address their limitations.

    Effective implementation will require more robust research with larger and more diverse populations, greater transparency about how models are trained and constant human oversight to ensure safety. Regulators must also step in to guide the ethical use of AI in clinical settings.

    With careful, patient-centred research and strong guardrails in place, generative AI could become a valuable ally in addressing the global mental health crisis – but only if we move forward responsibly.

    Ben Bond receives funding from Research Ireland.

    – ref. AI therapy may help with mental health, but innovation should never outpace ethics – https://theconversation.com/ai-therapy-may-help-with-mental-health-but-innovation-should-never-outpace-ethics-255090

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Tove Jansson: lessons in life from her beloved Moomin characters

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Barbara Tesio-Ryan, ECDS Postdoctoral Fellow in European Languages, University of Edinburgh

    This year marks the 80th anniversary of The Moomins, the Finnish/Swedish trolls that have delighted generations of children, becoming a cultural phenomenon in their own right. While posterity will likely remember her as the inventor of Moomins, Tove Jansson was in fact a strikingly multi-talented creative force.

    Born in Helsinki in 1914, the daughter of artists, Jansson grew up surrounded by creativity, allowing her to develop her own in many different ways. During a career that spanned over 70 years, her work included illustrations, cartoons, paintings, murals, theatre productions, children’s books and beautifully crafted novels.

    The main thing in life is to know your own mind.

    Snufkin, Moominsummer Madness

    In 1929, aged 15, Jansson began her career as a cartoonist. Her illustrations were first published in Garm, the Finnish satirical magazine for which she later became the in-house illustrator.

    Her work as a cartoonist, before and during the war, gave her an outlet to be outspoken and express her militant anti-fascism and opposition to the war. For a woman at that time to assert her views so boldly and publicly was an act of defiance in itself, and she later recalled how liberating it had been to be able to be “so beastly to Hitler and Stalin” through her daring cartoons.

    This is part of a series of articles celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Moomins. Want to celebrate their birthday with us? Join The Conversation and a group of experts on May 23 in Bradford for a screening of Moomins on the Riviera and a discussion of the refugee experience in Tove Jansson’s work. Click here for more information and tickets.

    No one was spared, and her cartoons captured the megalomania of the main political figures of the time, as well as the impact of the war on everyday life. During the strenuous war years, Jansson refined her craft as an illustrator, and also, crucially, learned the importance of laughter in ushering light into the darkness. This is a skill that would characterise her entire output, both as an artist and as a writer.

    Everything looks worse in the dark, you know.

    Moominmama, The Moomins and the Great Flood

    She used humour as a tool to both critique and understand life and the world around her. Through the act of making art, Jansson brought light and lightness when life got darker.

    While Jansson had been sketching some variation of Moomintrolls her whole life, it was during the war that she began creating their Moominvalley world and imagining stories for them.

    In 1991, she wrote that the Moomins had come to her as an escape from the horrors of the war: “Perhaps it was understandable that I suddenly felt an urge to write something that was to begin with ‘once upon a time’.”

    When her first Moomin book, Småtrollen och den stora översvämningen (The Moomins and the Great Flood), was published in 1945, Finland had been through the second world war, as well as the “winter war” and the “continuation war” with Russia. So, while it was published during a time of peace, darkness surrounded the origin of the Moomins.

    This dichotomy of light and darkness pervades all the Moomin books. Often a catastrophe is waiting to happen, or has just happened, and how the Moomins react to those events is central to the story itself. This is what makes those books so universal and so timeless.

    The Moomins are so special because they are normal. Not everyone is a hero and not every day is great. There is space for both sadness and joy in Jansson’s tales, and this is why we keep reading them, because they are just like life itself.

    It would be awful if the world exploded. It is so wonderfully splendid.

    Snufkin, Comet in Moominland

    In the first two Moomin books, Moomins and the Great Flood, and Comet in Moominland, natural catastrophes mirror the horrors of the war and postwar era (such as the atomic bomb). Environmental disasters are also ongoing threats to the the creatures of Moominvalley.

    These are often, and mainly, brought by the sea, and can be fully appreciated only by someone like Jansson who lived between coastal and island landscapes most of her life. The natural landscape of Finland and Sweden, Jansson’s two homelands, are an essential part of her art.

    Moominvalley in particular is a decidedly Nordic landscape, and was in fact inspired by her grandparents’ house on the island of Blidö, and by the Pellinki archipelago. It was here that Jansson spent many happy summers with her family, and later, with her partner Tuulikki Pietilä.

    There is a humbleness to be learned in living by the sea, and a respect for the power of nature that Jansson captured beautifully in so many of her creations, such as The Summer Book.

    In Moominpappa at Sea, where Moominpappa goes on an existential journey to find his purpose in life again, the relationship to the sea also becomes pivotal to his personal development: “There was the sea – his sea – going past, wave after wave, foaming recklessly, raging furiously, but, somehow, tranquil at the same time. All Moominpappa’s thoughts and speculations vanished. He felt completely alive from the tips of his ears to the tip of his tail. This was a moment to live to the full.”

    The Moomins’ unconditional love and respect for nature also translates beautifully into an acceptance of all of life’s diversity. The Moomin’s universe is one where everyone is welcomed and loved for whoever they are and however they feel.

    One of the biggest teachings of Jansson’s work for any reader at any age, is that all feelings are valid, and learning to accept this simple and profound truth makes life so much easier. As Moominpappa says: “For if you’re not afraid, how can you really be brave?”

    You seem to be yourself again. Actually, you’re nicer that way.

    Mymble, Moominvalley in November

    Jansson’s motto, labora et amare (work and love), did indeed mark her existence. She worked incessantly and loved fiercely. Well ahead of her time, Jansson lived her sexuality with a freedom that was truly revolutionary for her time (Finland, like many other countries, decriminalised homosexuality only in 1971).

    What characterised this artist’s life and career was the ambition and the courage to live differently. To create and to love without boundaries and without fear. And this is perhaps Jansson and her Moomins’ most important legacy.

    Barbara Tesio-Ryan 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. Tove Jansson: lessons in life from her beloved Moomin characters – https://theconversation.com/tove-jansson-lessons-in-life-from-her-beloved-moomin-characters-255280

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why a hotline is needed to help bring India and Pakistan back from the brink of a disastrous war

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Syed Ali Zia Jaffery, Deputy Director at the Center for Security, Strategy and Policy Research, University of Lahore

    Two weeks after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, in Indian-administered Kashmir, that claimed 26 lives, India and Pakistan are getting perilously close to a dangerous military confrontation.

    Pakistan carried out two missile tests in three days over the weekend of May 3-5, while India announced that it will conduct on Wednesday May 7 its largest civil defence drill since the 1971 India-Pakistan war.

    The countries have closed their borders and shut down their airspace to each other and have suspended all trade. With both countries possessing nuclear weapons, the rising tension makes managing escalation particularly urgent.

    A key factor in the de-escalation of past crises has been Washington’s role as a third-party crisis manager. While the recent call for restraint from the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, shows US concerns over the gathering crisis, there are considerable uncertainties surrounding what role the US is prepared to play in de-escalation.

    US president Donald Trump remarked after the attack that he is “sure they’ll figure it out one way or the other … There’s great tension between Pakistan and India, but there always has been”, which appears to put the onus of de-escalation on New Delhi and Islamabad.

    What is needed now is robust, real-time crisis communication between the two nations. Instead, both sides appear ready to ratchet up tensions further, with inflammatory rhetoric, enhanced military preparedness and skirmishing along the so-called line of control which separates the two countries in Kashmir.

    The need to give reassurance to each party through empathetic communication is particularly important in the India-Pakistan context. First, the risks of escalation between India and Pakistan are greater than they were in 2019 after the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist bombing, which killed 40 Indian troops at Pulwama near to Kashmir’s main town of Srinagar.

    India identified the Pakistani state as responsible for the attack and responded with airstrikes against what it claimed was a JeM training camp at Balakot in north-western Pakistan. The absence of a trusted channel of communication brought both countries closer than ever to a missile exchange.

    Mike Pompeo, then secretary of state in the first Trump administration, claimed in a 2023 memoir that both sides had readied their nuclear deterrents. Whatever the veracity of Pompeo’s claims, it’s clear that mutual restraint is critical to avoiding miscalculations.

    But Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s delegation of greater operational freedom to the Indian military after the Pahalgam attack has raised concerns that India’s use of force could be more extensive than in 2019. Modi has vowed to pursue and punish the terrorists and their abetters “to the ends of the Earth”, a pledge that raises domestic political costs for him and his government if there is no military follow-through.

    Lessons from the Cuban missile crisis

    One important lesson from past nuclear standoffs – especially the Cuban missile crisis – is that leaders of adversarial nuclear states can sometimes forge empathetic channels of communication that help pull their countries back from the brink. There was no established hotline in October 1962. But US president John F. Kennedy and his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, exchanged a series of letters in which they acknowledged and expressed their shared vulnerability to nuclear war.

    There was no talk of nuclear jingoism or the manipulation of nuclear threats. Instead, as one of us (Nicholas) has argued in a study co-authored with US academic Marcus Holmes, the nuclear shadow that hung over the two leaders encouraged the development of mutual empathy and a bond of trust that were both critical to the peaceful resolution of the crisis.

    Soviet leader Nikita Krushchev and US president John F Kennedy established a leader-to-leader hotline in 1963.
    US State Department

    Kennedy and Khrushchev could have responded to the condition of mutual nuclear vulnerability with brinkmanship, and turned the crisis into what Thomas Schelling – one of the most prominent US nuclear strategists and an advisor to the Kennedy administration – called a “competition in risk-taking”. But instead, they recognised that competitive manipulations of risk could only lead to mutual disaster, which enabled them to avert a potential nuclear exchange.

    Indian and Pakistani leaders could take their cue from this episode. A recent report by the nuclear thinktank Basic (co-edited by Nicholas) urged policymakers to avoid viewing crises as “zero-sum tests of will”. Instead, they should see them as opportunities for cooperation to avert catastrophe.

    Why an India-Pakistan hotline is vital

    But the absence of a trusted confidential line of communication between the leaders of India and Pakistan is a major barrier to empathetic communication. It prevents the two reaching a proper appreciation of shared vulnerabilities that is so critical to crisis de-escalation. As Basic recommended in a 2024 report, the most important contribution to crisis de-escalation between the two countries would be to establish a leader-to-leader hotline.

    Schelling called the US-Soviet hotline agreement of 1963
    the “best single example” of a measure that increased confidence in mutual restraint on both sides, and virtually ruled out what he called the “anxiety to strike first”.

    Such a hotline between the highest levels of Indian and Pakistani diplomacy would be an important step towards preventing these crises from spinning out of control. More crucially, it could play a pivotal role in managing crises when they do occur, offering a vital channel for reassurance and de-escalation.

    Crucially, real-time, reliable and empathetic communication would allow each side to clarify the other’s intent, signal reassurance, correct misperceptions and demonstrate restraint.

    India and Pakistan should not see these mechanisms as concessions or signs of weakness, but as instruments for enhancing mutual security between two nuclear adversaries. In a nuclear age where the margin for error is vanishingly small, overconfidence and brinkmanship must give way to prudence and restraint.



    Read more:
    Moscow-Washington nuclear hotline has averted war in the past – but cool heads will be needed in Trump’s White House and Putin’s Kremlin

    Syed Ali Zia Jaffery is Deputy Director, Center for Security, Strategy and Policy Research, University of Lahore, and Associate Editor, Pakistan Politico Ali was a Visiting Fellow at the Stimson Center, Washington, D.C. Ali regularly writes on strategic issues for national and international publications, to include Routledge, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, South Asian Voices , The National Interest, The Atlantic Council, Asia-Pacific Leadership Network (APLN), CSIS, The Diplomat, Dawn, and 9DashLine, among others. Ali is an alumnus of Woodrow Wilson Center’s Nuclear Proliferation International History Project’s Nuclear History Boot Camp. He is also an alumnus of the International School on Disarmament and Research on Conflicts( ISODARCO). Ali often shares his perspectives on major strategic developments on national and international media. Ali is associated with the British American Security Information Council (BASIC) both as part of its Programme on Nuclear Responsibilities and the Emerging Voices Network. His research interests lie in the fields of nuclear deterrence, strategic stability, and geopolitics. He taught undergraduate level courses on foreign policy, national security, arms control& disarmament, and non-proliferation from 2018 until 2023. He is also a Graduate Research Assistant at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies.

    Nicholas John Wheeler is a non-resident Senior Fellow at BASIC where he works on the Nuclear Responsibilities Programme with special reference to South Asia.

    – ref. Why a hotline is needed to help bring India and Pakistan back from the brink of a disastrous war – https://theconversation.com/why-a-hotline-is-needed-to-help-bring-india-and-pakistan-back-from-the-brink-of-a-disastrous-war-255727

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Are kids resilient? Societies and families need to offer supports and relationships to nurture resilience

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Elena Merenda, Assistant Program Head of Early Childhood Studies, University of Guelph-Humber

    “Kids are resilient.” You have heard this before, right? You might have even said it, with the best of intentions.

    Resilience sometimes seems like a buzzword and is used in ill-defined ways. If adults praise children’s resilience without addressing their needs, this leaves children vulnerable to harm.

    Resilience doesn’t mean being unaffected by adversity — it means having the tools, relationships and supports to cope with it.

    Part of my role as a child development specialist with expertise in therapeutic play, as well childhood loss and grief, is consulting work with families and educators. I see children acting out in classrooms, withdrawing at home or having difficulties processing and regulating emotions and behaviours. Finding the right supports for a child often means many things.

    Offering children the environments and relationships that build resilience includes:

    In the everyday, children need adults who are well enough to care for them and present enough to notice their struggles.

    Many families with deep needs

    The 2024 National Report Card on Child and Family Poverty from Campaign 2000, a network of organizations committed to ending child and family poverty in Canada, reveals that in 2022, nearly one in five children were growing up in poverty.

    The child poverty rate rose by two and a half percentage points from the previous year, representing the largest annual increase in child poverty on record. Lone-parent households, most of them led by women, are disproportionately affected, with one in five relying on social assistance.



    Read more:
    Child poverty is on the rise in Canada, putting over 1 million kids at risk of life-long negative effects

    As financial insecurity deepens and government supports like the Canada Child Benefit lose their effectiveness due to high costs of living, parents are under formidable financial pressure that impacts their parenting capacity and personal wellness.

    Mental health gaps

    Mental Health Research Canada’s 2023 report, Exploring the Mental Health Landscape of Canadian Parents, reveals that younger parents, especially those under 30, are facing self-reported elevated levels of anxiety and depression since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The data also suggests that parents of children under two years of age are more likely to receive a new mental health diagnosis, likely due to decreased contact with health-care providers during the pandemic.

    What happens when parents are overwhelmed? Children feel it, and they need support to bounce back from it.

    The pressures parents face are not isolated. In a 2025 study on the perceptions of kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2 educators in Ontario regarding their students’ developmental and academic skills and their own mental health during the 2021 to 2022 school year, teachers reported increased anxiety and slower developmental progress in children.



    Read more:
    From full-day learning to 30 minutes daily: The effects of school closures on kindergarteners

    Healthy development can’t be taken for granted

    If we only skim headlines that children displayed resilient capacities during the pandemic without looking deeper at how the pandemic also impeded healthy development, we are missing the full picture.

    It is only through longitudinal study — examining how kids are doing across time — that we’ll be able to fully understand impacts. For example, data from the Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth shows about one in five youth who felt their mental health was good in 2019 no longer felt that way four years later.



    Read more:
    Pandemic babies’ developmental milestones: Not as bad as we feared, but not as good as before

    The 2023 Raising Canada Report, based on research conducted by researchers at the University of Calgary and McGill University and published by the non-profit organization Children First Canada, reports on violence, poverty, mental health struggles and online sexual exploitation affecting Canadian children.

    The report reveals there were 40 child homicides in 2022, and rates of hospital visits for self-harm and suicide attempts among youth have doubled over the past decade.

    These alarming reports suggest many families and children are struggling, lacking the resources they need to process their experiences and heal.

    Building your child’s and your own resilience

    Parental burnout is real — and compassion for oneself is the first step in supporting children.

    A few minutes of undistracted time with your child matters.
    (Shutterstock)

    Here are a few strategies parents can try to use, even when worn down:

    Focus on connection. A few minutes of undistracted time with your child — reading a book, going for a walk or simply talking without a phone nearby — builds connection and safety. When children feel a sense of safety and connection with their parent, they are more likely to share their thoughts and emotions. When children feel safe enough to verbalize their emotions, they are more inclined to process challenging times.

    Name and normalize emotions. Help your child build emotional vocabulary by labelling feelings for them in your day-to-day interactions. Saying things like “I noticed you looked frustrated when your Lego broke. That’s OK. It’s hard when things don’t go as planned” helps children to learn how to identify and name their emotions which is the first step in taming emotions.

    Model self-regulation, and when you feel overwhelmed, label your feelings. Try saying, “I’m feeling really worried right now, so I’m going to take a few deep breaths.” This teaches children that big feelings are a normal human experience. It also models for children healthy coping strategies.

    Ask for help and accept support. Parenting shouldn’t be done alone. Ask for help. Find a community of like-minded parents who can talk through big and small moments with you. Let your child see that it’s OK to ask for help — this is how you build resilience.

    Elena Merenda 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. Are kids resilient? Societies and families need to offer supports and relationships to nurture resilience – https://theconversation.com/are-kids-resilient-societies-and-families-need-to-offer-supports-and-relationships-to-nurture-resilience-253789

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gall watching is the new bird watching

    Source: US Geological Survey

    In a new article out recently in American Entomologist, USGS scientists and collaborators describe how you can get into the exciting hobby of “gall watching.” 

    It all starts with an observation: maybe you see a weird, miscolored wart on stems of the oak tree in your backyard, or a fuzzy lump on the leaves of a maple tree on the sidewalk. You can draw, photograph, paint, or simply take notice of the gall. 

    Photos: oak trees parasitized by a variety of gall wasps.

    The next step is identifying the type of gall, maybe from a website like gallformers.com or through an app like iNaturalist. This might narrow your gall observation down to a few species of gall-forming wasps that lay their eggs in oak tree leaves.

    How do you find out which species is it is? Knowing something about the biology of a gall can help. For example, galls formed by wasps typically contain wasp eggs or larva. You can determine what type of wasp laid those eggs by taking a leaf or stem containing galls, adding it to a jar or plastic tub, and bringing it home to see exactly what hatches. And don’t worry – these aren’t wasps that will sting or hurt you. 

    Photos: Red cone galls on an oak tree, and a wasp emerging from a red cone gall in someone’s home. All photos from iNaturalist.

    Ready to take on this new endeavor or want to learn more? 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: People arriving in Tawila from besieged Zamzam camp met with overwhelmed humanitarian response

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    Three weeks on from the large-scale ground offensive by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Zamzam camp, Sudan, in early April 2025, reports of intensified fighting in El-Fasher continue, and more displaced people are arriving in Tawila, North Darfur state. People have been arriving in Tawila in a vulnerable state; many are suffering from malnutrition, and others were injured during the attack on Zamzam camp. Médecins Sans Frontières’ (MSF’s) emergency and nutrition service at the hospital in Tawila has been overwhelmed.

    “They came with their machineguns. They attacked and killed people – including children. They burnt our house, with everything we had inside. They raped the women. They killed, they looted,” says Mariam*, who reached Tawila three days after the attack on Zamzam took place. “Even before the attack, people had died of thirst and of starvation because of the siege that had been imposed on Zamzam for the past year. Everything was so expensive and so unaffordable in the end.”

    Mariam* arrived with her mother, her sisters and their children- a household of 20 people. All of them now spend their days squeezed against each other under the makeshift shelter they built with a few branches and a piece of fabric.

    “Here, there is no food. A few people in Tawila shared a bit of millet flour with us, which we used to make porridge. This is how we have survived so far: begging,” she says. “We get the water from a tank, but they only let us fill one jerrycan per family, and we are 20 in ours. We only have one blanket for all of us.” 

    Since 12 April, when people first began reaching Tawila from Zamzam, the areas surrounding the town have been completely transformed, with tens of thousands of people now estimated to be living in makeshift shelters in fields that were totally uninhabited just a few weeks ago.

    “For four days now, we have been staying here as you see us, with nothing: no walls, no roof,” says Ibrahim*, who fled Zamzam on foot with 11 of his family members. He carried one of his children on his shoulders and another on his back for five days. It’s the fourth time in ten years he has been displaced in similar circumstances. He described how soldiers entered people’s homes, brought them outside and opened fire. Three of his brothers were killed like this. On his way to Tawila, he got looted and witnessed people being beaten so harshly that they could no longer move.

    “Under this tree, it is so crowded, we’re lacking water, or shelter… there is nothing to eat, everyone is hungry,” he says. “We’re getting some food from the community kitchens. Sometimes, we manage to get some rice when they distribute the meals, but if we don’t, we must wait until the next day to eat something. For water, we go to a borehole, but there are so many people, and we have to wait hours to be able to drink.” 

    A handful of organisations are present in Tawila, but the number of people in need of assistance far exceed the capacity to respond. MSF teams have set up two health posts at the main arrival sites to provide the newcomers with water and immediate nutrition and medical support. We are also referring critical patients to Tawila local hospital, where MSF has been working since October 2024.

    Tiphaine Salmon, MSF’s head nurse, was working in the Tawila hospital on 12 April, the day people began arriving with serious injuries.

    “The emergency room was overwhelmed,” she says. “Over the first few days, the number of patients in the hospital almost doubled. At one point, we had four patients in a bed because we did not have enough space.”

    “A lot of people had gunshot wounds and blast injuries – we’ve treated 779 people over the past three weeks, including 138 children. 187 of all the patients were severe cases,” says Salmon. “The youngest I saw was a seven-month-old baby with a bullet wound that went under his chin and into his shoulder. We also received patients as young as one day old suffering from dehydration. Many children arrived without their parents – and many parents were searching desperately for their children.”

    779

    779

    people with gunshot and blast injuries

    138

    138

    of whom were children

    At the same time, MSF teams in the hospital witnessed an explosion of admissions in our intensive therapeutic feeding centre, which treats children under five-year-old suffering from severe acute malnutrition in addition of other comorbidities. In the week following the initial influx, admissions increased almost tenfold from an average of six or seven per week, to more than 60. They were mostly children from Zamzam, showing how desperate the nutrition situation was in the famine-stricken camp.

    To make the situation even worse, a suspected measles outbreak began in Tawila in March. In the hospital, MSF treated more than 900 suspected measles cases since early February, with more than 300 people in such a severe condition that they required hospitalisation. This led our teams to launch a large-scale vaccination campaign in the city on the first week of April, reaching 18,000 children under five. But one week after the massive influx of people from Zamzam began, our teams saw several suspected cases among children who had just arrived.

    Malnutrition and measles, in such sites with a highly dense population and poor hygiene conditions, can be an especially deadly combination for young children.

    MSF is continuing to scale-up our intervention in Tawila. On top of carrying out hundreds of medical consultations per day, our organisation has also donated dry food to local community kitchens, enabling them to prepare and distribute more than 16,000 meals per day. We are providing 100,000 litres of clean water daily and we have additional plans to construct 300 latrines.

    People’s needs remain immense and far exceed our capacity to respond. Although other actors have also mobilised, and a first mass food distribution has taken place, the humanitarian response still needs to be urgently and rapidly scaled up. We urge UN agencies to substantially increase their presence on the ground so that they can coordinate a response of a magnitude that will meet the ever-growing needs.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: There will be a softening – experts have given a forecast for the key rate for the summer of 2025

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Mainfin Bank –

    Why does the regulator keep the key rate at 21%?

    The tight monetary policy in Russia is due to high inflationary expectations, which, in turn, are provoked by a number of negative factors:

    rising prices for goods – food prices are rising faster; a shortage of personnel in the labor market, which leads to an increase in wages at an accelerated pace; an acceleration in lending – the industry has now been stabilized; geopolitical instability with a cooling of the global economy; indexation of housing and communal services tariffs by 12% in July of this year.

    Price growth in the Russian Federation is slowing down, but inflation remains high (above 7%). The population also maintains elevated inflation expectations – there is too much uncertainty in the national economy and on the international track.

    What will happen to monetary policy in the Russian Federation in the summer of 2025?

    The key rate has remained at 21% for more than six months, but in April the regulator revised the signals for the market – the Central Bank of the Russian Federation did not mention the possibility of increasing the indicator at future meetings, as was the case earlier. Let us recall that a new meeting on the key rate will be held on June 6, and on July 25 the Board of Directors of the Bank of Russia will not only revise the indicator, but also publish a medium-term forecast. Decisions will be made taking into account inflation risks, but experts allow for a gradual reduction in the key rate.

    “The monetary policy easing cycle will begin in 2025, but it is difficult to predict the exact timing – the rate revision could take place in June or July,” experts note.

    In general, analysts believe that the regulator will reduce the key rate by 100-200 bp in the summer, and by the end of the year the indicator may fall to 14% per annum. The signals from the Central Bank of the Russian Federation are neutral for now – the regulator does not clearly indicate the possible vector of actions: at the next meetings the rate may be reduced or maintained. However, pessimistic experts also allow for a new round of tightening if there are upheavals in the market and the economic situation significantly worsens.

    15:00 06.05.2025

    Source:

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    HTTPS: //Mainfin.ru/novosti/ Samyagi-being-experts-dali-prognosis-pole-steam-on-ya-summer-2025 year

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder harms relationships for both sufferers and their partners – new study

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sophie Hodgetts, Assistant Professor in Psychology, Durham University

    Until now, little has been known about the effect PMDD can have on relationships. simona pilolla 2/ Shutterstock

    An estimated 2% of people who menstruate are thought to have premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). The condition causes severe emotional, mental and physical symptoms in the week or two before a person’s menstrual cycle – including brain fog, stomach cramps, bloating, mood swings, anger, sadness, low self-worth, anxiety and even thoughts of suicide.

    Although PMDD symptoms usually stop when the period starts, the condition can still make everyday life difficult. Research shows that PMDD is associated with people having a poor quality of life, missing work or school and withdrawing from social activities. The repercussions that PMDD has on a person’s life often persist beyond the symptomatic phase of the person’s cycle.

    Yet despite the prevalence of PMDD, little is known about how it affects life at home, as no studies have been done.

    My recent research is the first to shed light on how PMDD impacts life and relationships – from the perspective of both those with PMDD and their partners. Our findings showed that both PMDD sufferers and their partners experienced similarly poor life and relationship quality.

    My coauthor and I ran two studies that both used online surveys.

    In the first study, we asked people with PMDD to complete two questionnaires. The first was designed to tell us about their quality of life. They answered questions about four different areas of their life: their physical health, psychological health, social relationships and living conditions.

    The second questionnaire was designed to tell us about their relationship with their spouse by asking questions about different components of their relationship (including love, trust, intimacy, commitment and passion), as well as their overall satisfaction with the relationship. We compared their responses to a control group of people of menstruation age who did not have PMDD.

    Our results showed significantly lower quality of life in people with PMDD compared to people in the control group. This difference was evident in all four of the areas of life that we studied. We also found that participants with PMDD consistently reported lower quality of life when it came to their psychological health, social relationships and living conditions – regardless of their menstrual cycle phase.

    Relationship quality, too, was significantly lower for those with PMDD compared to the control group when it came to trust, intimacy and passion. However, when it came to love and commitment, people with PMDD and those without the condition reported similar levels of satisfaction.

    PMDD and partners

    In the second study, we compared the responses of people who are in a relationship with someone who has PMDD, with those who are in a relationship with someone who menstruates but does not have PMDD.

    Our study found PMDD is associated with poor relationship quality for both those with the condition and their partners.
    Roman Chazov/Shutterstock

    We used the same questionnaire as the previous study to investigate relationship quality. To study quality of life, we used a standard questionnaire that was designed for people who provide care or support for an adult. This asked questions about different areas of life that are relevant for familial carers, such as their support for caring, caring choices, any stress they experience, money matters, personal growth, sense of value, ability to care and satisfaction.

    We found that PMDD partners also had lower life quality compared to the control group. This difference was evident in every area of life except money matters (where both groups had similarly low scores). When it came to relationship quality, results from the PMDD partners echoed those from the PMDD patients – both reported lower relationship satisfaction in all areas except for love and commitment.

    Our study shows that PMDD is associated with poor life and relationship quality for both those with the condition and their partners. This highlights the need for support that goes beyond prescription drugs and managing symptoms. This support also needs to be available to the loved ones and partners of people with PMDD who provide care and support.

    These findings suggest that future research should aim to develop PMDD-specific interventions that support both the person with PMDD and their partner. My future research plans are to delve deeper into the aspects of relationships affected by PMDD. For instance, I am planning a follow-up study involving interviews and focus groups with PMDD sufferers and their loved ones, to better identify areas for intervention and inform the development of supportive strategies.

    There are many reasons why this kind of support is important. For instance, we know from research into other mood disorders (such as depression and anxiety) just how crucial good interpersonal relationships are for successfully managing these conditions in the long term.

    We also know that the partners and spouses of people with a mental illness often find themselves acting as a familial caregiver for their partner. Studies of other mood disorders have shown that familial caregivers are at a higher risk of developing mental illnesses themselves, when compared to the general population. Supporting familial caregivers is known to improve life for all involved.

    My research shows that PMDD isn’t just a problem for patients. It impacts daily life and relationship quality for both people in a relationship. This study provides a first step. Now that we have a better understanding of the wider effect that PMDD has, we can start to investigate how to support both people.

    Sophie Hodgetts 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. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder harms relationships for both sufferers and their partners – new study – https://theconversation.com/premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-harms-relationships-for-both-sufferers-and-their-partners-new-study-255083

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘Milkshake tax’: there’s growing evidence that expanding the UK’s sugar levy could help tackle obesity

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By David M. Evans, Professor of Sociotechnical Futures, University of Bristol Business School, University of Bristol

    Luis Molinero/Shutterstock

    The UK government is considering expanding its sugar tax on fizzy drinks to include milkshakes and other sweetened beverages, as part of new proposals announced in April 2025. The Treasury confirmed it plans to move forward not only with broadening the tax but also with lowering the sugar threshold that triggers it from 5g to 4g of sugar per 100ml.

    The changes, dubbed by critics as the “milkshake tax”, would end the current exemption for dairy-based drinks, as well as plant-based alternatives such as oat and rice milk. Chancellor Rachel Reeves first signalled the potential expansion in the 2024 budget, suggesting the soft drinks industry levy (SDIL), to give it its official name, could be widened to cover a broader range of high-sugar drinks.

    Based on our research into dietary change, conducted as part of the H3 project on food system transformation, we see this as a welcome and timely development.

    Not everyone shares this optimism. Opponents of what they see as “nanny state” interventionist policies argue that the SDIL has failed to deliver any real improvements to public health. In a UK newspaper’s straw poll, for example, 88% of respondents claimed the sugar tax has not significantly reduced obesity rates. Shadow Chancellor Melvyn Stride described the proposed expansion as a “sucker punch” to households, particularly given the ongoing cost of living crisis.

    Scepticism around these proposals is not surprising. Many people, regardless of political affiliation, are wary of additional taxation. And indeed, there is evidence suggesting that fiscal tools such as taxes and subsidies can be blunt instruments. They are also often regressive, placing a disproportionate burden on lower-income households.

    These concerns are valid – but they don’t quite apply to the SDIL.

    Crucially, the SDIL is not a tax on consumers. It is levied on manufacturers and importers, who are incentivised to reduce the sugar content of their products to avoid the charge. According to Treasury figures, since the introduction of the SDIL, 89% of fizzy drinks sold in the UK have been reformulated to fall below the taxable threshold.

    For instance, the Japanese multinational brewing and distilling company group Suntory invested £13 million in reformulating drinks like Ribena and Lucozade, removing 25,000 tonnes of sugar, making the products exempt from the levy. This means households aren’t priced out of soft drinks – they can simply choose reformulated and presumably cheaper versions.

    It’s true that the UK is still grappling with a serious obesity problem. In England alone, 29% of adultsand 15% of children aged two to 15 are obese.

    But the SDIL is having an effect. Excessive sugar consumption is consistently associated with rising obesity rates in the UK and globally. There has been a clear reduction in the sales of sugar from soft drinks, and the SDIL is reported to have generated £1.9 billion in revenue since its introduction in 2018.

    Early signs suggest health benefits, too. One study found a drop in obesity rates among 10 to 11-year-old girls following the levy’s implementation. Another analysis suggests that the greatest health benefits will be seen in more deprived areas, and that it may actually help to narrow some health inequalities for children in England.



    Read more:
    Child obesity is linked to deprivation, so why do poor parents still cop the blame?

    Shifting responsibilty

    The government’s 2016 announcement of the sugar tax gave manufacturers time to reformulate products before the tax’s introduction in 2018.

    Of course, the SDIL is no silver bullet. There are many contributing factors to the obesity epidemic, ranging from genetic predisposition to “obesogenic” environments – social contexts that promote unhealthy eating and sedentary behaviour, such as areas with a lot of fast food restaurants, limited access to healthy food options and a lack of pavements, parks, or safe places to exercise.

    Questions remain about the negative health effects of reformulated drinks, some of which still contain high levels of sweeteners or additives. And in the broader context of the need for food system transformation, focusing solely on soft drinks may be too narrow an approach.



    Read more:
    Are artificial sweeteners okay for our health? Here’s what the current evidence says

    But the SDIL’s success lies not just in outcomes but in its design. It shifts responsibility from individuals to industry, encouraging systemic change rather than simply blaming people for making “bad” choices. The government’s 2016 announcement of the levy gave manufacturers a two-year head start, allowing them to reformulate and get their products to market before it took effect in 2018.

    It’s also telling that the idea of taxing milkshakes has sparked such outrage, while most people now accept the high taxation of tobacco. That’s because smoking, as a public health issue, has matured: its risks are well understood and widely acknowledged. Obesity, meanwhile, is still catching up, despite posing similar health threats, including as a leading cause of cancer.

    In the UK, there’s still a strong social stigma around discussing diet and weight. But given the scale and urgency of the obesity crisis, it could be time to overcome this reluctance. Effective change will require bold, systemic policies – not just public awareness campaigns – but multipronged and targeted interventions that reshape the economic and cultural environments in which people make food choices.

    Expanding the SDIL may not be a cure-all, but the evidence so far suggests it’s a smart step in the right direction.

    David M. Evans receives funding from the UKRI Strategic Priorities Fund (grant ref: BB/V004719/1).
    He is affiliated with Defra (the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) as a member of their Social Science Expert Group.

    Jonathan Beacham receives funding from the UKRI Strategic Priorities Fund (grant ref: BB/V004719/1).

    – ref. ‘Milkshake tax’: there’s growing evidence that expanding the UK’s sugar levy could help tackle obesity – https://theconversation.com/milkshake-tax-theres-growing-evidence-that-expanding-the-uks-sugar-levy-could-help-tackle-obesity-255646

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: One Week to Go: Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2025 to Drive Africa’s Licensing and Gas Growth

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

    PARIS, France, May 6, 2025/APO Group/ —

    With just one week to go, the Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2025 Forum is set to ignite a transformative week of upstream deal-making, policy dialogue and strategic engagement. Taking place on May 13-14 in Paris, the forum will place Africa’s active licensing landscape and gas-driven development ambitions firmly at the center of global energy investment discussions.

    With over 150 oil and gas blocks being made available across more than ten African countries, 2025 is emerging as a pivotal year for upstream investment. A wave of new licensing activity is gaining momentum, with governments launching bid rounds and inviting direct negotiations to unlock exploration potential in both established and frontier basins. Countries like Angola, Libya, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Algeria and the Republic of Congo are leading the charge, supported by enhanced seismic data, digitized application systems and updated fiscal regimes designed to lower entry barriers. These licensing initiatives will be a key focus at IAE 2025, offering a dynamic venue for stakeholders to engage on concrete investment opportunities and forge new partnerships.

    IAE 2025 (https://apo-opa.co/44r2RKf) is an exclusive forum designed to facilitate investment between African energy markets and global investors. Taking place May 13-14, 2025 in Paris, the event offers delegates two days of intensive engagement with industry experts, project developers, investors and policymakers. For more information, please visit www.Invest-Africa-Energy.com. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

    IAE 2025 will showcase a powerhouse lineup of keynote speakers from both government and industry, including Bruno Jean-Ricachard Itoua, Minister of Hydrocarbons of the Republic of Congo; Eperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) of Nigeria and Maggy Shino, Petroleum Commissioner, Minister of Mines & Energy, Namibia. From the private sector, featured speakers include Wale Tinubu CON, CEO of Oando Plc; Marco Villa, Chief Business Officer of Technip Energies and Mike Sangster, Senior Vice President at TotalEnergies. These keynote addresses will provide critical insight into evolving policies, corporate strategies and investment frameworks shaping Africa’s energy landscape. A fireside chat with Mauritania’s Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Mohamed Ould Khaled, will further explore the landmark progress of the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim project and its catalytic role in driving regional gas monetization and industrial development in the region.

    During a high-level ministerial panel, African policymakers will converge to discuss “Africa on the Global Energy Stage: Financing the Next Generation of Energy Projects,” exploring how African states are positioning themselves within global energy markets and unlocking partnerships for infrastructure, technology and private sector capital. An IOC-led panel on “Advancing Africa’s LNG Potential: Overcoming Infrastructure and Investment Challenges” – featuring UTM Offshore, Golar LNG, TechnipEnergies, Perenco and Neuman & Esser – will address practical strategies for accelerating LNG projects, from modular design and FSRU deployment to cross-border value chains.

    Additional highlights include the “Monetizing Congo’s Gas Opportunities” session – featuring participation from Société nationale des pétroles du Congo and private sector players – which offers insight into emerging gas strategies and projects currently under development. A special session led by the African Union, “Financing the Transition: Unlocking Private Capital for Sustainable Development,” will address how to mobilize private investment in support of energy access, transition finance and regional integration.

    With governments, NOCs, IOCs and financial institutions from across Africa and beyond confirmed, IAE 2025 is not just a forum – it is the definitive platform for executing upstream and gas-sector strategies. As global energy stakeholders seek new frontiers for growth, Africa is putting forward its strongest case yet.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn, Whitehouse, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Equip Law Enforcement with Trauma Kits

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chris Coons (D-DE), Mike Rounds (R-SD), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the Improving Police Critical Aid for Responding to Emergencies (CARE) Act, which would equip law enforcement officers with quality trauma kits so they can respond immediately if a civilian or fellow officer experiences a traumatic injury during a call:
    “When responding to medical emergencies, time and access to the right tools can mean the difference between life and death,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This legislation would equip law enforcement officers with high-quality trauma kits to prevent deaths due to blood loss and give patients the best chance of survival.”
    “Police officers serve on the frontlines in their communities every day, and they are often first on the scene in medical emergencies,” said Sen. Whitehouse. “Our bipartisan legislation would provide officers in the field with emergency trauma kits, and fund standardized training to allow them to better protect the public and save lives.”
    “As a strong supporter of our brave men and women in law enforcement, I am proud to co-introduce the Improving Police CARE Act which would equip them with the tools they need to keep our communities safe,” said Sen. Tillis. “Ensuring law enforcement officers have effective trauma kits will save countless law enforcement and civilian lives.”
    “Our nation’s law enforcement officers keep our communities safe, and they deserve the resources they need to do just that,” said Sen. Coons. “As co-chair of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, I know that this bipartisan, commonsense legislation will ensure that police officers have trauma kits they need in order to save lives.”
    Background:
    Trauma kits play a vital role in preventing deaths due to blood loss. Between 30-40% of trauma-related deaths are caused by hemorrhaging, or uncontrolled bleeding, with 33-56% of them occurring before the patient arrives at the hospital. During the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, tourniquets and tourniquet training were widely adopted by the military for their lifesaving potential in combat. This practice has since been embraced in civilian populations given its clear survival benefit. In fact, one study found that patient survival was six times more likely when a tourniquet was used, underscoring the critical need for timely bleeding control. This is especially true in rural areas where the average EMS response time is typically double that in urban areas. Having access to a trauma kit and early bleeding control can help bridge this gap and mean the difference between life and death.
    The effectiveness of a law enforcement trauma kit program depends in part on the contents and the quality of the kits. Medical professionals recommend that a kit include bleeding control supplies like tourniquets, bandages, non-latex gloves, scissors, and instructions. However, there is enormous variation in the products available on the market.
    The Improving Police Critical Aid for Responding to Emergencies (CARE) Act would:
    Establish baseline standards in consultation with law enforcement and medical professionals for trauma kits purchased using grant funding under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG);
    And require the development of optional best practices that law enforcement agencies can adapt for training law enforcement officers to use trauma kits and for deployment and maintenance of the kits in vehicles and government facilities.
    The legislation is endorsed by the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA), Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA), National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the Society of Trauma Nurses, the American College of Surgeons (ACS), and the American Trauma Society.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Student accommodation must be included in rent control measures

    Source: Scottish Greens

    06 May 2025 Education

    It’s time to end rip-off rents.

    More in Education

    Student accommodation must be included in the Scottish Government’s rent control measures, says Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer.

    This comes after the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee voted to force the Scottish Government to include student tenancies in planned rent controls, a shock defeat for the government.

    Mr Greer said:

    “Far too many students pay sky high rents for halls and other purpose built accommodation. They deserve the same rights as other renters, and I am glad that MSPs have backed plans to crack down on the accommodation operators ripping off students.

    “Students deserve the same protections as other renters. Their halls are their home, but in many cases the costs are simply out of control and what they get for their money is extremely poor.

    “Private providers, the likes of UNITE and Student Roost, account for over three quarters of purpose-built student accommodation. Their high rates are leaving many students reliant on food banks.

    “Thanks to the Scottish Greens this bill will deliver much needed rent controls and more protections for renters. Our MSPs will continue working with other parties to ensure students get the full benefits of that work and their housing costs are brought back under control.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Young Adults Urged To Help Shape the Future of The Lancaster District Young adults are being called on to help shape the future of the Lancaster district — fro..

    Source: City of Lancaster

    Young adults are being called on to help shape the future of the Lancaster district — from the types of homes we live in to where developments should happen and how transport needs can be met.

    Lancaster City Council and Lancaster University have teamed up to give 18 to 30-year-olds a real voice in major local plans through the Placemaking with Young Adults project.

    Young people’s views will help guide the council in its planning for better housing, jobs, transport, and the environment with their thoughts feeding directly into the Local Plan, a document which shapes how Lancaster, Morecambe, Heysham, Carnforth and the many villages and rural areas are likely to evolve during the next few decades.

    This project builds on earlier work carried out with young people which successfully helped to create Lancaster’s Sustainable Travel and Climate Strategies.

    Those interested can join walking workshops and interactive events in May and June – which will include sharing ideas regarding the development of the district and exploring ideas ranging from innovation in land use to boosting biodiversity.

    Those interested can join walking workshops and interactive events in May and June – which includes looking at sites around Lancaster, Morecambe and Carnforth to look at how they can be developed and explore ideas from innovation to biodiversity.

    “Planning is vital for managing how we live together, meet changing community needs, and carefully make the best use of land, said Mark Cassidy, Chief Officer, Planning and Climate Change at Lancaster city council.

    “The Local Plan sets the direction for how our district will grow and develop over the next 15 to 20 years, guiding everything from new housing to protecting important green spaces.

    “Young people’s voices are crucial in this process. Their ideas and aspirations will help shape policies that design a district which reflects what matters most to them and influences decisions which will ultimately affect their future.”

    Dr Mirian Calvo, Lecturer in Participatory Architecture at Lancaster University, said: “Partnering with Lancaster City Council allows us to support young voices at the core of our mission.

    “It’s vital that their perspectives influence planning, ensuring future environments meet their needs and values.”

    All age groups across the district will have the opportunity to have their say and influence the Local Plan as the plan-making process continues.

    The first ‘walkshop’ takes place on May 7 and places can be booked at https://www.trybooking.com/uk/EMSW

    For more information on the project see here: Shaping Tomorrow: Engaging Young Adults

    To keep in touch with the local plan updates and further chances to be involved, see:  Local Plan Review – Lancaster City Council

    Work shops dates:

    Carnforth Hub: Wednesday, May 7, 2025, 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM

    Lancaster Innovation Centre: Saturday, May 17, 2025, 10:30 AM – 2:00 PM

    Lancaster and Morecambe College: Wednesday, June 4, 2025, 4:00 PM – 7:30 PM

    The Storey, Lancaster City Centre: Saturday, June 28, 10.30AM – 3PM

    Last updated: 06 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/SUDAN – Drone attacks on Port Sudan: The conflict risks spreading to neighboring regions

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Tuesday, 6 May 2025 wars  

    Khartoum (Agenzia Fides) – The war in Sudan has escalated with the bombing of Port Sudan, the stronghold of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) under the command of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).Today, May 6, RSF drones under the command of Mohamed Hamdan “Hemeti” Dagalo attacked the important Sudanese port city for the third consecutive day. The attacks targeted the civilian area of the airport, a fuel depot, the main military base in the city center, and a hotel.The first attack took place on Sunday, May 4, when the military part of the airport was targeted.Although there were no casualties, the attack caused damage to several warehouses and facilities. The May 4 attack came just two days after a similar airstrike against facilities in the city of Kassala.Port Sudan has become increasingly strategically important since the Sudanese government, diplomatic missions, international organizations, and major companies relocated there after the RSF seized control of large parts of the capital, Khartoum. The attacks on Port Sudan have provoked strong reactions from the Sudanese government, which has indicated that the RSF is supported by key international allies such as Kenya, which recently hosted a summit sponsored by Dagalo to form an alternative government to the one led by General al-Burhan (see Fides, 19/2/2025).But the United Arab Emirates is particularly in the sights of al-Burhan, who is accused of supplying the RSF with the drones used in the recent attacks. Just yesterday, May 5, the International Court of Justice dismissed the Sudanese government’s lawsuit against the United Arab Emirates, accusing it of complicity in the genocide in Darfur (see Fides, 11/4/2025). The court ruled that it lacked jurisdiction over the case because the UAE had reservations regarding Article 9 of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.Sudanese government officials suspect that the bombs that hit Port Sudan did not come from rebel-held Sudanese territories, but from Bosaso in Somalia’s Puntland, where the Emirates have established a key logistical center from which they supply the RSF with weapons and ammunition. According to some sources, the Emirati base in Bosaso (protected by sophisticated Israeli-made radar) was hit on May 3 by drones launched by the Sudanese army. The latest attacks on Port Sudan are therefore in retaliation for the May 3 attack, in which a cargo plane chartered by the Emirates carrying Colombian mercenaries and weapons was allegedly hit at the moment of take-off to Nyala in Darfur (western Sudan), the RSF stronghold.The Sudanese conflict therefore threatens to spread to neighboring countries and actors outside Africa. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 6/5/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: VATICAN – Conclave: More and more Cardinals from the countries entrusted to the Dicastery for Evangelization gather in the Sistine Chapel

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Tuesday, 6 May 2025

    Foto d’archivio

    by Fabio BerettaVatican City (Agenzia Fides) – With the image of Christ and the Last Judgment painted by Michelangelo on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel, the Cardinals are gathering in Conclave to elect the successor of Peter. An election in which an increasing number of cardinals from the countries under the jurisdiction of the Dicastery for Evangelization – Section for the First Evangelization and the New Particular Churches – are participating.To date, a total of 1,123 ecclesiastical districts (i.e., Archdioceses, Dioceses, Territorial Abbeys, Apostolic Vicariates, Apostolic Prefectures, Missions sui iuris, Apostolic Administrations, and Military Ordinariates) are subject to the Dicastery for Evangelization. Most of them are in Africa (525) and Asia (481), followed by the Americas (71) and Oceania (46).The Conclave of June 1963When John XXIII died on June 3, 1963, 82 Cardinals were still alive, all of whom had the right to participate in the election of the Successor of Peter. The rule that today prohibits Cardinals over the age of 80 from participating in the Conclave was introduced by Paul VI in 1970. Thus, the College of Cardinals that elected Pope Paul VI included Cardinals over the age of 80.Nevertheless, only 80 of them entered the Sistine Chapel. Two Cardinals did not come to Rome: the Hungarian József Mindszenty (the communist regime forbade him from leaving the country) and Carlos María Javier de la Torre, Archbishop of Quito, Ecuador (absent due to health reasons). A total of 29 nations were represented.A total of seven cardinals from the territories then under the jurisdiction of the Congregation Propaganda Fide participated in the Conclave that year: Peter Tatsuo Doi (Japan, Archbishop of Tokyo, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan), Valerian Gracias (India, Archbishop of Bombay, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India), Laurean Rugambwa (Tanzania, Bishop of Bukoba), Thomas Tien Ken-sin (China, Archbishop of Beijing, Apostolic Administrator of Taipei), and Norman Thomas Gilroy (Australia, Archbishop of Sydney, Primate of Australia, Grand Prior for Australia-New South Wales of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem).The Conclaves of 1978Paul VI was the first Pope to expand the boundaries of the College of Cardinals by appointing numerous non-European cardinals. After the death of the Pope (on August 6, 1978), who decided to exclude Cardinals over eighty from voting with the Motu Proprio “Ingravescentem Aetatem” of 21 November 1970 and modified some norms of the Conclave with the Apostolic Constitution “Romano Pontifici Eligendo” of 1 October 1975, a total of 111 cardinals were eligible to vote.At the conclave in August 1978, however, only 108 people entered the Sistine Chapel: Valerian Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay, John Joseph Wright, Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, and Bolesław Filipiak, Dean Emeritus of the Roman Rota, were all absent from the Conclave for health reasons.A total of 18 cardinals from the so-called mission territories took part in the election of John Paul I, including one cardinal who works in the Roman Curia and one French cardinal who heads an archdiocese in North Africa: Bernardin Gantin (Benin, President of the Pontifical Council “Cor Unum”), Lawrence Trevor Picachy (India, Archbishop of Calcutta, President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India), Justinus Darmojuwono (Indonesia, Archbishop of Semarang), Joseph Marie Anthony Cordeiro (Pakistan, Archbishop of Karachi), Stephen Kim Sou-hwan (South Korea, Archbishop of Seoul, Apostolic Administrator of Pyongyang), Thomas Benjamin Cooray (Sri Lanka, Archbishop of Colombo, President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Sri Lanka), Joseph Marie Trinh-nhu-Khuê (Vietnam, Archbishop of Ha Noi), Maurice Michael Otunga (Kenya, Archbishop of Nairobi, President of the Episcopal Conference of Kenya, Military Vicar for Kenya), Victor Razafimahatratra (Madagascar, Archbishop of Antananarivo, President of the Episcopal Conference of Madagascar), Dominic Ekandem (Nigeria, Bishop of Ikot Ekpene, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria), Hyacinthe Thiandoum (Senegal, Archbishop of Dakar, President of the Episcopal Conference of Senegal, Mauritania, Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau), Owen McCann (South Africa, Archbishop of Cape Town), Laurean Rugambwa (Tanzania, Archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam) Emmanuel Kiwanuka Nsubuga (Uganda, Archbishop of Kampala), Paul Zoungrana (Burkina Faso, Archbishop of Ouagadougou), Joseph-Albert Malula (Democratic Republic of Congo, Archbishop of Kinshasa), Pio Taofinu’u (Samoa, Bishop of Samoa and Tokelau), Reginald John Delargey (New Zealand, Archbishop of Wellington, President of the New Zealand Bishops’ Conference).In 1978, a second Conclave took place just over a month after the first, as John Paul I died after only 33 days of pontificate. During this brief period, there were no Consistories, and when the cardinals met again in the Sistine Chapel in October of that year, the cardinals were the same ones who had met a few weeks earlier. They all held the same offices. Forty-six nations were represented in both Conclaves.The 2005 ConclaveThe first Conclave of the third millennium began with the reform of the conclave, which John Paul II initiated in 1996 with the Apostolic Constitution “Universi Dominici Gregis.” That year, the cardinals were accommodated for the first time in the new guesthouse Casa Santa Marta (instead of in the halls of the Apostolic Palace), which had been built specifically for this purpose. In the conclave that led to the election of Benedict XVI, 117 Cardinals were eligible to vote. A total of 115 entered the Sistine Chapel: Adolfo Antonio Suárez Rivera (Archbishop Emeritus of Monterrey, Mexico) and Jaime Lachica Sin (Archbishop Emeritus of Manila, Philippines) were unable to travel to Rome for health reasons.At the time of John Paul II’s death, the eligible Cardinals came from 52 nations on all continents. In total, there were seventeen cardinals from countries entrusted to the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, some of whom headed dicasteries and bodies of the Holy See: Wilfrid Fox Napier (South Africa, Archbishop of Durban), Gabriel Zubeir Wako (Sudan, Archbishop of Khartoum), Telesphore Placidus Toppo (India, Archbishop of Ranchi), Armand Gaétan Razafindratandra (Madagascar, Archbishop of Antananarivo), Bernard Agré (Ivory Coast, Archbishop of Abidjan), Emmanuel Wamala (Uganda, Archbishop of Kampala), Christian Wiyghan Tumi (Cameroon, Archbishop of Douala), Frédéric Etsou-Nzabi-Bamungwabi (Democratic Republic of Congo, Archbishop of Kinshasa), Francis Arinze (Nigeria, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments), Peter Seiichi Shirayanagi (Japan, Archbishop Emeritus of Tokyo), Michael Michai Kitbunchu (Thailand, Archbishop of Bangkok, President of the Thai Bishops’ Conference), Stephen Fumio Hamao (Japan, President of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People), Anthony Olubunmi Okogie (Nigeria, Archbishop of Lagos), Ivan Dias (India, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples), Julius Riyadi Darmaatmadja (Indonesia, Archbishop of Jakarta, Military Bishop of Indonesia), Jean-Baptiste Pham Minh Mân (Vietnam, Archbishop of Ho Chi Minh), Peter Turkson (Ghana, Archbishop of Cape Coast).The 2013 ConclaveWhen Benedict XVI announced to the world his resignation from the Petrine Ministry during a Consistory in February 2013, 117 eligible cardinals were present, but only 115 entered the Sistine Chapel. Julius Riyadi Darmaatmadja (Archbishop Emeritus of Jakarta, Indonesia) and Keith Michael Patrick O’Brien (Archbishop Emeritus of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland) were absent for health reasons.During the conclave that led to the election of Pope Francis, 17 Cardinals from the territories entrusted to the Missionary Dicastery arrived in Rome. As in previous Conclaves, several of these cardinals served in the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia: Peter Turkson (Ghana, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace), Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don (Sri Lanka, Archbishop of Colombo), Robert Sarah (Guinea, President of the Pontifical Council ‘Cor Unum’), George Alencherry (India, Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly), Oswald Gracias (India, Archbishop of Bombay), Polycarp Pengo (Tanzania, Archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam), John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan (Nigeria, Archbishop of Abuja), John Njue (Kenya, Archbishop of Nairobi), Wilfrid Fox Napier (South Africa, Archbishop of Durban), Gabriel Zubeir Wako (Sudan, Archbishop of Khartoum), Telesphore Placidus Toppo (India, Archbishop of Ranchi), Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya (Democratic Republic of Congo, Archbishop of Kinshasa), John Tong Hon (China, Bishop of Hong Kong), Théodore-Adrien Sarr (Senegal, Archbishop of Dakar), Anthony Olubunmi Okogie (Nigeria, Archbishop of Lagos), Ivan Dias (India, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples), Jean-Baptiste Pham Minh Mân (Vietnam, Archbishop of Hô Chí Minh).The 2025 ConclaveAt the time of Pope Francis’s death, there are 252 cardinals alive, of whom 135 arepotential electors for the Conclave that begins on May 7. Of these, 133 will enter the Sistine Chapel, as two of them, Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera, Archbishop Emeritus of Valencia, and Cardinal John Njue, Archbishop Emeritus of Nairobi, are absent for health reasons.It will be a Conclave with Cardinals from 66 nations. Among them are 34 from the territories under the jurisdiction of the Dicastery for Evangelization. Some of them come from other countries but exercise their ministry in these mission countries, just as some are active in the Roman Curia: Giorgio Marengo (Italy, Apostolic Prefect of Ulan Bator, Mongolia), Virgílio do Carmo da Silva (East Timor, Metropolitan Archbishop of Dili), Dieudonné Nzapalainga (Central African Republic, Metropolitan Archbishop of Bangui), Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla (South Sudan, Metropolitan Archbishop of Juba), Jean-Paul Vesco (France, Metropolitan Archbishop of Algiers), Soane Patita Paini Mafi (Tonga, Bishop of Tonga), Anthony Poola (India, Metropolitan Archbishop of Hyderabad), Ignace Bessi Dogbo (Ivory Coast, Metropolitan Archbishop of Abidjan), Protase Rugambwa (Tanzania, Metropolitan Archbishop of Tabora), Fridolin Ambongo Besungu (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Metropolitan Archbishop of Kinshasa), Stephen Chow Sau-yan (China, Bishop of Hong Kong), Antoine Kambanda (Rwanda, Metropolitan Archbishop of Kigali), Tarcisius Isao Kikuchi (Japan, Metropolitan Archbishop of Tokyo), William Goh Seng Chye (Singapore, Archbishop of Singapore), John Ribat (Papua New Guinea, Metropolitan Archbishop of Port Moresby), Stephen Brislin (South Africa, Metropolitan Archbishop of Johannesburg), Désiré Tsarahazana (Madagascar, Metropolitan Archbishop of Toamasina), Filipe Neri Ferrão (India, Metropolitan Archbishop of Goa and Damão), Cristóbal López Romero (Spain, Archbishop of Rabat, Morocco), Lazarus You Heung-sik (South Korea, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy), Sebastian Francis (Malaysia, Bishop of Penang), Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo (Indonesia, Metropolitan Archbishop of Jakarta), Arlindo Gomes Furtado (Cape Verde, Bishop of Santiago de Cabo Verde), Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij (Thailand, Archbishop Emeritus of Bangkok), Thomas Aquino Manyo Maeda (Japan, Metropolitan Archbishop of Osaka-Takamatsu), Charles Maung Bo (Myanmar, Metropolitan Archbishop of Yangon), Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson (Ghana, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences), John Atcherley Dew (New Zealand, Archbishop Emeritus of Wellington), Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don (Sri Lanka, Metropolitan Archbishop of Colombo), Philippe Nakellentuba Ouédraogo (Burkina Faso, Archbishop Emeritus of Ouagadougou), Jean-Pierre Kutwa (Ivory Coast, Archbishop Emeritus of Abidjan), Joseph Coutts (Pakistan, Archbishop Emeritus of Karachi), Robert Sarah (Guinea, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments), Peter Ebere Okpaleke (Nigeria, Bishop of Ekwulobia). (Agenzia Fides, 6/5/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI USA: Dingell Statement on Trump FY26 Budget Request

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

    Dingell Statement on Trump FY26 Budget Request

    Washington, May 2, 2025

    WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) released the following statement on the Trump Administration’s budget request for fiscal year 2026. 
     
    “Donald Trump promised to lower costs for American families on day one. Not only has he failed to keep that promise, but his proposed budget would weaken our economy, hurt working people, and make Americans less safe, all in exchange for tax cuts for billionaires. His plan would evict hundreds of thousands of seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities from their homes, slash funding for cancer and Alzheimer’s research, gut funding for job training and Small Business Administration programs, and leave communities vulnerable by reducing weather forecasting capabilities, among other outrageous proposals. This budget doesn’t eliminate waste or meet the needs of the American people, it furthers this Administration’s extreme, self-serving agenda.”

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Dingell Remarks on H.J.Res.88

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

    WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) spoke on the House Floor on H.J.Res.88. Dingell’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below.

    See a video of her remarks here.
     
    Thank you, M. Speaker. 
     
    I rise today in opposition to H.J.Res.88.
     
    As a staunch defender of Michigan’s auto industry — the backbone of the American economy — and someone who cares deeply about the environment, I do not take this vote lightly. I have spoken to all the stakeholders involved multiple times.
     
    I believe in preserving consumer choice, maintaining American leadership in innovation, defending the future of domestic manufacturing, and protecting the environment. These are not mutually exclusive.
     
    Michigan, and the United States, put the world on wheels, and now, we are leading the transition to the next generation of vehicles.
     
    We cannot afford to cede that leadership to our adversaries. I will remind my colleagues that it wasn’t that long ago when gasoline prices went up and American consumers wanted smaller cars, Japanese carmakers flooded our market with smaller vehicles, caught our domestic industry flat-footed, and U.S. manufacturers paid the price for a decade. 
     
    We must innovate, adapt, and build vehicles competitively here at home. The global marketplace wants EVs, hybrids, and internal combustion engines.
     
    To lead globally, we must accelerate the manufacturing of cleaner vehicles in a practical, affordable, and inclusive way. That means building out EV charging infrastructure, keeping hybrids and plug-in hybrids available, and ensuring affordability, which is becoming one of the biggest issues in this country. Especially when competing with at least one country where the government subsidizes manufacturing, uses forced labor, and manipulates currency.
     
    We cannot cede our leadership to China or any other country. This also means investing in advanced manufacturing, securing domestic battery supply chains, and protecting the Inflation Reduction Act’s historic EV investments.
     
    California’s Advanced Clean Cars 2 program would impose EV sales mandates across nearly 30 percent of the U.S. market. While that may work for California, it isn’t working in some other states.
     
    Let me be clear: this is not the time to ban gas-powered vehicles. CARB and Governors must be able to adjust these programs if market conditions change. Maryland Governor Wes Moore recently did just that, easing compliance enforcement. 
     
    I share concerns about consumer choice, but this Congressional Review Act resolution has serious legal flaws. The Government Accountability Office and the Senate Parliamentarian both ruled that these waivers are not subject to the CRA. Proceeding sets a dangerous precedent. 
     
    Misusing the CRA today could open the door to striking down a wide range of federal programs tomorrow, including Medicaid waivers, which worries me greatly. I don’t sleep at night on that one. 
     
    We are here today because some states have adopted stricter rules that could ban new gas-powered vehicles by this summer. I support the EV transition, but we are simply not there yet.

    For model year 2026, ACC 2 states would require 35 percent of new car sales to be a mix of electric or hybrid, yet the national average is still around 10 percent. That jumps to 68 percent by 2030 and 100 percent by 2035. For most states, this is not realistic today.
     
    We need all stakeholders at the table — labor, manufacturers, suppliers, dealers, environmental groups, and consumers — to work together for the American people, and figure it out so we stay competitive in a global marketplace, meet consumer demand, take care of the environment, sell affordable cars, and keep manufacturing in this country.
     
    This resolution would be unprecedented federal overreach. While I disagree with California’s timeline, I also disagree with misusing the CRA to address it.
     
    If we’re serious about American leadership, EVs must be in our portfolio. I remain committed to protecting American jobs, expanding consumer choice, and ensuring U.S. leadership in global automotive innovation.
     
    The American people sent us here to solve problems. Let’s stop wasting time on illegitimate messaging CRAs and work together to support innovation, build out the infrastructure, and ensure access to affordable, American-made vehicles — whether gas-powered, hybrid, or electric.
     
    Let’s work together for our country. With that, I will be voting ‘no’.
     
    Thank you, M. Speaker, and I yield back.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Dingell, Fitzpatrick Relaunch Bipartisan PFAS Task Force

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

    WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) today joined the Bipartisan PFAS Task Force as a co-chair, along with her colleagues Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Co-Chair and Founding Member of the bipartisan Task Force, Jen Kiggans (VA-02), and Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08).

    Founded in 2019, the Congressional PFAS Task Force has spearheaded a historic bipartisan effort to confront one of the most urgent environmental and public health threats facing America: the unchecked spread of toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” across the nation’s water, land, and communities.

    “In Michigan we know all too well the urgent, growing threat PFAS pose. It’s more important than ever we’re taking serious action in Congress to keep PFAS out of our homes, water, and environment, hold polluters accountable, and clean up existing contamination,” Dingell said. “I’m proud to co-lead the bipartisan PFAS Task Force to help educate our colleagues on this important issue, and work together across the aisle to advance legislation to protect Americans from the growing and urgent public health threat of forever chemicals.” 

    “In Bucks and Montgomery Counties, we have seen firsthand the devastating cost of PFAS contamination. Families across our community have lived with the fear that the water they drink, the schools their children attend, and the homes they live in may not be safe. That is unacceptable — and it demands action,” said Fitzpatrick. “This fight is personal. It’s about protecting the people I represent, the neighbors I grew up with, and the future we owe to our children. Through the PFAS Task Force, I am doubling down on my commitment to deliver real solutions, real accountability, and a clean, safe future — not just for PA-1, but for every community across America facing this crisis.”

    “Our country needs to address the problems PFAS chemicals create head-on, which is why I’m proud to co-chair the bipartisan Congressional PFAS Task Force with both Republicans and Democrats,” said McDonald Rivet. “We will work together to raise awareness of the risk of PFAS chemicals and advocate for commonsense solutions for our constituents.”

    “Harmful PFAS contamination poses a direct threat to the health of our military families and surrounding communities in Virginia’s Second District,” said Congresswoman Kiggans. “I am proud to join my colleagues as a co-chair of the bipartisan PFAS Task Force to ensure every American has access to clean water and a healthy environment for generations to come. This is a public health crisis that requires immediate action and commonsense solutions.”

    This Congress, the Task Force is intensifying its mission to:

    • Advance comprehensive legislation to end PFAS pollution and hold polluters accountable;
    • Educate lawmakers and the public on the serious health and environmental consequences of PFAS exposure;
    • Secure historic federal investments in research, remediation, and prevention;

    PFAS chemicals have been linked to a range of serious health issues, including cancer, developmental disorders, and immune system dysfunction. Communities across Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Virginia have been among the hardest hit, with groundwater contamination stemming from military installations, industrial sites, and public water systems.

    Across the country, PFAS contamination has left a devastating legacy of poisoned drinking water, rising health risks, and broken public trust—often without families even knowing they had been exposed. Thousands of communities continue to grapple with the long-term consequences of decades of unregulated chemical use. 

    Last week, Dingell and Fitzpatrick led a bipartisan group of 44 House members in sending a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin urging the Agency to uphold the rule designating the two most dangerous PFAS — PFOA and PFOS — as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).

    Dingell has long led the fight against PFAS as the sponsor of the PFAS Action Act, which includes establishing a strong national drinking water standard. Additionally, Dingell has introduced the No PFAS in Cosmetics Act,  PFAS Alternatives Act, and Keep Food Containers Safe from PFAS Act. The designation of PFOS and PFOA – two of the most widely used and notoriously harmful PFAS substances – as hazardous substances by the EPA under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), is a key pillar of Dingell’s bipartisan PFAS Action Act.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Jury Finds Minneapolis Felon Guilty of Illegal Firearms and Machinegun Possession

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

    ST. PAUL, Minn. – A federal jury convicted Clenest Demon Wells, Jr. of illegal possession of a firearm as a felon and unlawful possession of a machinegun, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Clenest Demon Wells, 28, was repeatedly caught illegally carrying firearms. Because Wells has multiple prior felony convictions, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

    On April 6, 2020, law enforcement officers responded to reports in Minneapolis of a passenger wearing a black vest and greyish winter hat on a Metro Transit bus threatening another passenger with a firearm. Law enforcement officers located and boarded the Metro Transit bus at the intersection of Penn and Lowry Avenue North, identified a passenger who closely fit the description, and conducted a pat-down search. The passenger was later identified as Wells, who was found in possession of a black HiPoint 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol.

    On May 23, 2022, Minneapolis Police Department officers on patrol observed a Pontiac G6 speeding through a residential area and conducted a traffic stop. Wells was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle. Officers smelled and observed marijuana in the car, initiated a search, and found Wells in possession of a black Springfield Model XD9 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol.

    On July 30, 2023, law enforcement responded to calls reporting a fight and an individual with a gun in a parking lot at Hennepin Avenue and 5th Street in downtown Minneapolis. Upon arrival, bystanders reported that one of the involved individuals—later identified as Wells—had a gun. As officers approached, Wells turned to walk away, ignoring orders to stop. Wells was subsequently found to be in possession of a Glock model 17 9-millimeter handgun equipped with an auto-sear, commonly called a “switch,” which enabled the Glock pistol to operate as a fully automatic machinegun. Test firing conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation showed that the Glock pistol equipped with a switch possessed by Wells could fire ten rounds in less than one second.  

    “Today’s conviction holds Wells accountable for the fear and violence he has inflicted on the community for far too long,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains steadfast in its commitment to prevent violent crime.”

    “Possession of a firearm modified to function as a machine gun in a public space could have had tragic consequences,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of the FBI Minneapolis. “Protecting our communities from violence is a top priority, and we are committed to working with our partners to stop those who put innocent lives at risk.”

    After a three-day trial before Judge Donovan W. Frank in U.S. District Court, Wells was convicted on three counts of illegal possession of firearms as a felon and one count of unlawful possession of a machinegun. A sentencing hearing will take place at a later date.

    This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Metro Transit Police Department, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Green and Syngen Kanassatega tried the case.
     

    Federal Jury Finds Minneapolis Felon Guilty of Illegal Firearms and Machinegun Possession

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  • MIL-OSI Economics: [Exploring Good Lock ①] The Ultimate Personalisation Tool: Discover the All-New Home Up

    Source: Samsung

    For Galaxy users eager to express their style, Good Lock by Samsung Electronics is the ultimate tool for device personalisation. With the One UI 7 update, this must-have app now delivers an even more versatile suite of user interface (UI) customisation features tailored to individual preferences.
     
    Among the many enhancements, the upgraded Home Up module stands out — introducing greater design flexibility and significantly expanding home screen customisation capabilities. Samsung Newsroom explores the latest in UI personalisation with an in-depth look at what the new Home Up has to offer.
     
    DIY Home Screen: A Fresh Take on App Layout and Organisation
    ▲ (From left) A comparison of the default Galaxy S25 Ultra home screen and a customized home screen using Good Lock
     
    Breaking away from traditional grids and uniform app icons, the DIY Home Screen feature in Home Up empowers users to design a layout that reflects their unique style. Apps, widgets and folders can all be freely resized and repositioned — much like customising the pages of a planner.
     

    ▲ DIY Home Screen
     
    For a playful touch, users can cleverly conceal app icons underneath decorative elements with sticker and layer tools. Simply add a sticker to the home screen, place it over an app icon and adjust the layer settings. This setup transforms the sticker into a fun shortcut that launches the hidden app when tapped.
     https://img.global.news.samsung.com/za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/SamsungMobileGood_LockUltimate_Personalization_ToolHome_UpDIY_Home_ScreenHome_Gesture_Animation_main3_595817.mp4
    ▲ Hiding an app underneath a sticker using the DIY Home Screen feature
     
    Show Favorites: Display or Hide the Favourite Apps Row
    The fixed row of favourites at the bottom of the home screen is a familiar element on most smartphones. With Good Lock, however, this default layout is easy to customise. Users who prefer a cleaner, more minimalist aesthetic can disable the Show Favourites option in the Home Up menu for a simplified and refreshed home screen experience.
     https://img.global.news.samsung.com/za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/SamsungMobileGood_LockHome_UpDevelopers_and_Editors_PicksWonderland_Edge_Lighting_and_Nice_Shot_main4_595813.mp4
    ▲ Show Favourites
     
    Home Gesture Animation: Fine-Tuned Control for Smoother Navigation
    The Home Gesture Animation feature — found under Good Lock > Home Up > Gesture Settings — is perfect for users who want to add a touch of personality to every interaction. The feature offers a unique way to customise the transition animations activated when returning from an app to the home screen, making even the simplest gestures more expressive and enjoyable.
     
    Alongside the four preset animation styles, Advanced Tuning provide granular control over aspects like speed and vibration for a more refined user experience.
     

    ▲ (From left) The Home Gesture Animation feature shown in Classic mode and Sweet mode
     
    The Home Up module within Good Lock offers a set of useful tools for customising device home screens to match personal preferences. In the next article in this series, Samsung Newsroom will spotlight the top three most popular Good Lock features — fan favourites among Galaxy users around the world.
     

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  • MIL-OSI USA: FDA Announces Expanded Use of Unannounced Inspections at Foreign Manufacturing Facilities

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    For Immediate Release:
    May 06, 2025

    Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced its intent to expand the use of unannounced inspections at foreign manufacturing facilities that produce foods, essential medicines, and other medical products intended for American consumers and patients. This change builds upon the agency’s Office of Inspection and Investigations Foreign Unannounced Inspection Pilot program in India and China and aims to ensure that foreign companies will receive the same level of regulatory oversight and scrutiny as domestic companies.  
    “For too long, foreign companies have enjoyed a double standard—given advanced notice before facility inspections, while American manufacturers are held to rigorous standards with no such warning. That ends today. This is a key step for the FDA as part of a broader strategy to get foreign inspections back on track,” said FDA Commissioner Martin A. Makary, M.D, M.P.H.  
    In addition, the FDA will evaluate the agency’s policies and practices for improvements to the foreign inspection program to ensure that the FDA is the gold standard for regulatory oversight. These changes will include clarifying policies for FDA investigators to refuse travel accommodations from regulated industry including lodging and transportation arrangements (taxi, limousine, and for-hire vehicle transit), to maintain the integrity of the oversight process.
    The FDA conducts approximately 12,000 domestic inspections and 3,000 foreign inspections each year in more than 90 countries. While U.S. manufacturers undergo frequent, unannounced inspections, foreign firms have often had weeks to prepare, undermining the integrity of the oversight process. Despite the advanced warning that foreign firms receive, the FDA still found serious deficiencies more than twice as often than during domestic inspections.  
    Only in specific programs and cases are the FDA’s domestic inspections pre-announced to assure that appropriate records and personnel will be available during the inspection. But regulated companies do not have the authority to negotiate the day or time of the inspection— nor should foreign companies have the capability to do so either. With this shift, the FDA is further ensuring that every product entering the U.S. is safe, legitimate, and honestly made. Unannounced inspections will also help expose bad actors—those who falsify records or conceal violations—before they can put American lives at risk. The FDA is authorized to take regulatory action against any firm that seeks to delay, deny, or limit an inspection, or refuses to permit entry for an unannounced drug or device inspection.
    “The FDA’s rigorous, science-based global inspections of manufacturing facilities ensure that the food and drug products that enter the U.S. marketplace, and the homes of American consumers, are safe, trusted, and accessible,” said FDA Assistant Commissioner for Inspections and Investigations Michael Rogers. “These inspections provide real-time evidence and insights that are essential for making fact-based regulatory decisions to protect public health.”
    The FDA’s global inspections generate real-time intelligence that strengthens enforcement and keeps American families safe. Every inspection goes through a classification assignment process to enable an appropriate regulatory response. Even inspections that yield a “No Action Indicated” provide important regulatory intelligence that strengthens the safety net for American consumers.   This expanded approach marks a new era in FDA enforcement—stronger, smarter, and unapologetically in support the public health and safety of Americans. For more information about FDA inspections, visit the Inspections Database Frequently Asked Questions and Inspections Yield Valuable Results, Regardless of Classification.
    ###

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    The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, radiation-emitting electronic products, and for regulating tobacco products.

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    Content current as of:
    05/06/2025

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Miller-Meeks: It’s Time to End Dependence on China and Bring Jobs Back to Iowa

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ (IA-02)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) is standing shoulder-to-shoulder with President Trump in the fight to rebuild American industry, end our reliance on Communist China, and restore good-paying jobs to Iowa and across the country.

    “Under President Trump’s leadership, we are putting America—and American manufacturing—first again. Whether it’s medical supplies, semiconductors, or steel, we must never depend on Communist China for what we can make right here at home,” said Miller-Meeks. “That’s why I’m fighting to bring good-paying jobs back to Iowa, strengthen our supply chains, and ensure our rural communities lead the next chapter of American manufacturing. This isn’t just about economics—it’s about national security, self-reliance, and securing America’s future.”

    With over $5 trillion in U.S. investments and trade agreements secured under President Trump, companies are coming back to the United States. American manufacturing is surging—from semiconductors to steel—and the America First agenda is delivering results.

    In Congress, Miller-Meeks is helping lead that charge with legislation to strengthen domestic manufacturing, medical readiness, and workforce development:

    • Her ONSHORE Act, now signed into law, streamlines federal review processes to bring critical manufacturing projects back to American soil, including rural communities across Iowa.
    • Her bipartisan Diagnostics Testing Preparedness Plan Act (H.R. 1108) ensures the U.S. can develop and manufacture diagnostic medical tests here at home during public health emergencies—never again depending on adversarial nations like China for essential medical supplies.
    • Her Improve Employer-Directed Skills Act (H.R. 2690) empowers Iowa employers to partner with workforce boards to train and upskill workers for the exact jobs local businesses need. A version of this legislation passed the House as part of the Stronger Workforce for America Act with bipartisan support.
    • Her Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act (H.R. 1721), which recently passed the House, directs federal agencies to identify rural communities—like those in Southeast Iowa—best suited for expanded domestic manufacturing. The bill lays the groundwork for long-term job growth, American-made supply chains, and less reliance on foreign adversaries like China.

    A 24-year Army veteran, physician, and former small business owner, Miller-Meeks remains a leading voice in Congress for rebuilding American strength, empowering employers, and restoring opportunity in every corner of Iowa and across the country.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kim, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect U.S. Economy from CCP Military Aggression

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Young Kim (CA-39)

    Washington, DC — Today, U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-40) joined Reps. Zach Nunn (IA-03) and Ritchie Torres (NY-15) to introduce bipartisan legislation to shield American markets from the catastrophic economic fallout of a potential Chinese Communist Party (CCP) invasion of Taiwan.  

    The Fortifying U.S. Markets from Chinese Military Aggression Act would create an advisory committee under the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) to develop an actionable plan to safeguard the U.S. economy in the event of CCP military escalation. 

    “Taiwan is not just a steadfast partner to the United States – it is home to 90% of the world’s advanced semiconductors that power our lives. The impact of a CCP attack on Taiwan on the lives of all Americans cannot be overstated,” said Rep. Young Kim. “The United States must be proactive in protecting our economy in case of an attack or blockade against Taiwan, and I’m glad to partner with Reps. Nunn and Torres on a bipartisan bill that would do exactly that.”  

    “While the United States has long-standing military plans in place to respond to a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, there’s no economic game plan,” said Rep. Nunn. “90% of the world’s advanced semiconductors are manufactured in Taiwan. The economic impact of that capacity falling into the hands of the CCP would be devastating, not just for global markets, but for Main Street Iowa businesses. This bipartisan bill ensures we have a clear, coordinated plan to respond.” 

    “American investors should never be in the business of bankrolling the CCP’s military. Our bipartisan bill is a clear-eyed effort to ensure American financial markets are not exploited to strengthen an authoritarian regime that threatens our values and our allies,” said Rep. Torres. “Transparency and accountability are not just economic principles: they are national security imperatives. I’m proud to work with Congressman Nunn to push for a bipartisan solution to safeguard the integrity of our markets and defend American interests.” 

    “Representatives Zach Nunn, Ritchie Torres and Young Kim are demonstrating the kind of forward-thinking leadership our markets urgently need. In today’s globally interconnected financial system, the economic consequences of a geopolitical crisis — particularly one involving China and Taiwan — could be swift and severe,” said Ari Rubenstein, Global Trading Systems CEO. “This bipartisan bill takes a critical step toward strengthening market resilience, enhancing coordination among regulators, and ensuring we’re not caught flat-footed. Capital markets thrive on stability and preparedness, and I applaud Congressmen Nunn, Torres and Kim for proactively addressing a risk that is too significant to ignore.” 

    The bill responds to growing concerns from financial analysts and national security leaders who warn that the U.S. has no economic contingency plan to address the ripple effects of CCP aggression in the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan produces nearly 90% of the world’s most advanced semiconductors, components critical to the global supply chain and U.S. national security. 

    If the CCP were to invade, economists estimate a short-term market drop of up to 34%. Bloomberg estimates a global GDP loss of $10 trillion, more than double the contraction caused by the 2008 financial crisis or the COVID-19 pandemic. 

    While military contingency plans exist, the U.S. currently lacks an economic response strategy to such an invasion. This bipartisan effort would build a framework for interagency and private sector coordination, ensuring Main Street and U.S. markets are better protected if geopolitical tensions escalate by: 

    • Establishing a 12-member FSOC Advisory Committee that would include market makers, asset managers, exchanges, and experts on China-related geopolitical risk. 
    • Tasking the committee with developing detailed reports and recommendations to identify market vulnerabilities and safeguard U.S. financial stability. 
    • Requiring FSOC to issue annual public reports on economic risks from a Taiwan conflict, including threats to U.S. banking and retaliatory actions from China. 
    • Providing recommendations to regulators to ensure U.S. capital markets are prepared for potential market volatility or trade disruptions. 

    Text of the bill can be found here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mfume Joins Letter Demanding Back Education Dollars Cut by Trump

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07)

    WASHINGTON, DC – As reported today in The Washington Post, Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.-07) joined a letter demanding that the Trump Administration release the $98 million promised for education funding in the state and urging the Department to work with the delegation to ensure Maryland receives this vital funding. This letter was led by Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) with the Maryland Democratic Delegation – U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and Representatives Steny Hoyer, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski (all D-Md.) also signing on in support. 

    “Earlier this year, [Secretary McMahon testified that the President] wants to ‘return education to the states where it belongs.’ We believe that approving Maryland’s application for late liquidation of relief funds would do just that. We appreciate your offer to conduct a thorough review of the ESSER funds rescinded from Maryland and look forward to reaching a resolution in the best interest of the more than 860,000 students in our state who are depending on these Congressionally appropriated funds,” said the lawmakers. 

    “We stand ready to partner with the Department in ensuring the disbursement of this key funding to Maryland,” continued the lawmakers. 

    You can read the full letter to Secretary McMahon here or below:

    Dear Secretary McMahon:

    We write with deep concern regarding the Department of Education’s (the Department) recent letter to State Chiefs of Education, which modified the time period for states to liquidate obligations under the Education Stabilization Fund. The loss of these dollars would be catastrophic for the state of Maryland and its students. We appreciate the fact that the Department did leave an opportunity open for collaboration with states, affording them the chance to appeal for an extension to the liquidation period on a project-specific basis. As such, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has applied for an extension. We strongly support MSDE’s application and urge the Department to approve MSDE’s requests for full reimbursement.

    As you know, on January 22, 2025 – after President Trump was sworn into office – the Department approved MDSE’s late liquidation plan for American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds through March 28, 2026. Similarly, on March 17, 2025, the Department approved a late liquidation plan for the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA) from MSDE through March 31, 2025. Yet on March 28, 2025, the MSDE received notice from the Department that the liquidation period for all pandemic recovery resources authorized in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund was rescinded. This sudden reversal has caused a great deal of confusion and would hinder Maryland’s efforts to address pandemic learning loss.

    The impact of this reversal by the Department will indeed be devastating for Maryland schools. Pandemic relief funds were set to go towards capital projects including school heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning repair and replacement that have been delayed because of supply chain and construction issues, as well as new curricula and instructional materials that Maryland Local Education Agencies (LEAs) are still awaiting.

    As such, Maryland has submitted a late liquidation request to the Department for $98,706,860, which includes $42 million spent by LEAs that have not been submitted to the State for reimbursement, as well as $56.7 million remaining to liquidate. The remaining funding is obligated toward projects to provide temporary housing and mental health support for students experiencing homelessness; community school mental health services; tutoring and technology for students; professional development for staff; Grow Your Own projects, including tuition reimbursement programs for staff to attain teacher certifications; the replacement of older and non-working windows and doors; restroom repairs; and security camera updates to keep students safe. 

    MSDE and the state’s LEAs have utilized ESSER funds to recover reading scores, sustainably address the teacher shortages exacerbated by the pandemic, support student mental and emotional health, and fortify other key ingredients in learning. The state’s reapplication in compliance with the Department’s guidance issued on March 28, 2025, also includes key details of our educational systems’ efforts to modernize classroom infrastructure to mitigate the threat of infectious diseases. 

    We proudly represent a state that places tremendous emphasis on high-quality education and MSDE’s implementation of federal funds is fundamental to that mission. We urge the Department to approve MSDE’s latest reapplication for late liquidation of this vital funding. Like students across the country, the COVID-19 pandemic set young Marylanders back substantially on key metrics of student achievement. As your office has noted, recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results have revealed that “gaps are growing between higher-performing and lower-performing students.” Further, chronic absenteeism still is too high with the latest data indicating “a majority of students still attended schools with 20% or higher levels of chronic absence… in stark contrast to 2019, when slightly over a quarter of schools experienced such high levels of chronic absence.” Years after the COVID-19 pandemic, our schools and communities still have much work to do to help students recover.

    Again, we want to continue to be collaborative and work together to improve Maryland schools. As you noted in your testimony to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee earlier this year, President Trump wants to “return education to the states where it belongs.” We believe that approving Maryland’s application for late liquidation of relief funds would do just that. We appreciate your offer to conduct a thorough review of the ESSER funds rescinded from Maryland and look forward to reaching a resolution in the best interest of the more than 860,000 students in our state who are depending on these Congressionally appropriated funds. 

    We welcome a further conversation between the Department and the Maryland Congressional delegation on this process and would be happy to help support engagements between the Department and MSDE. We stand ready to partner with the Department in ensuring the disbursement of this key funding to Maryland.

    Sincerely, 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ciscomani Hosts Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer in Tucson

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Juan Ciscomani (Arizona)

    Ciscomani, Chavez-DeRemer Visit Pima Community College and Attend Roundtable with the Arizona Builders Alliance 

    TUCSON, AZ — U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani yesterday hosted Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer in Tucson to tour successful job training programs at Pima Community College and discuss collaborative efforts to build a stronger workforce pipeline. 

    “I can’t say enough how important community colleges are in workforce development,” Secretary Chavez-DeRemer said. “They are critical.” 

    At Ciscomani’s alma mater, the congressman and Secretary Chavez-DeRemer got a first-hand glimpse of state-of-the-art programs that train students in automotive technology, advanced manufacturing and construction trades.  

    Ciscomani, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer visit Pima Community College 

    “No matter where I go throughout the district, one of the top issues I hear is about workforce and the importance of workforce development,” Ciscomani told Pima Community College administrators and business leaders. “Community colleges are essential institutions that train and equip the workers of tomorrow with the tools and knowledge they need to thrive as productive members of the workforce. Institutions like this are vital, and I am proud to host Secretary Chavez-DeRemer at my alma mater.” 

    The discussion included Pima Community Chancellor Dr. Jeffrey Nasse, Joe Snell, President and CEO of the Chamber of Southern Arizona, Acting Provost and Vice Chancellor of Workforce Development and Innovation Ian Roark and local business leaders.  

    “We’re honored to welcome Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Congressman Juan Ciscomani to Pima Community College today,” said Pima Community College Chancellor Nasse. “Their visit underscores the critical importance of workforce development and validates the work PCC is doing every day with our industry partners. At Pima, it’s all about building real pathways to good jobs—and we do that by working hand-in-hand with employers and with key partners like the Chamber of Southern Arizona to grow a strong, regional workforce ecosystem.”   

    Ciscomani and the secretary then joined a roundtable discussion with members of the Arizona Builders Alliance to identify ways to address the workforce shortage for skilled construction workers and promote policies that reduce unnecessary red-tape and empower workers and businesses.  

    “You’re building Arizona. You’re building this country,” Ciscomani said. “The current shortage of skilled construction workers is driving costs higher and causing project delays. Secretary Chavez-DeRemer and I are focused on promoting and expanding education programs that bolster the workforce of skilled construction workers, support high-demand, well paying jobs, and support the vital construction industry.”  

    Ciscomani, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer attend roundtable hosted by the Arizona Builders Alliance 

    “I am incredibly grateful to my good friend, Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer for her leadership, commitment to empowering our workers, support for workforce development efforts, and for taking the time to meet with educators, business leaders, and employees in my district,” said Ciscomani. “Secretary Chavez-DeRemer is a fantastic partner, and I look forward to continuing working with her to deliver on our promise to America’s workforce.” 

    Secretary Chavez-DeRemer’s visit to Arizona was the sixth stop on her “America at Work” nationwide listening tour. She is a former congresswoman and mayor who was sworn in as the nation’s 30th Labor Secretary on March 11, 2025. 

    “With strong growth in the construction industry thanks to President Trump, it’s critical the Labor Department continues our mission to upskill American workers by partnering with local leaders to fill these in-demand jobs,” said Secretary Chavez-DeRemer. “I enjoyed learning firsthand how educators and businesses in Tucson have developed pathways to successful, good-paying careers in construction and building trades. Thank you to my friend Congressman Ciscomani for showcasing these achievements and explaining the challenges facing Arizona’s 6th District. I look forward to collaborating on workforce solutions that continue growing our economy.” 

    Background:

    • Below is legislation Ciscomani has introduced to incentivize construction of affordable housing and develop and fund workforce development programs in community colleges:
      • In the 118th Congress, Ciscomani introduced the Grants for Resources in Occupational Workforce Training for Healthcare (GROWTH) Act (H.R. 6078) to provide additional funding to nursing programs at community colleges in order to address the national nursing workforce shortage.
      • In the 118th Congress, the Congressman introduced the Speeding Up Production of Essential Residences (SUPER) Demonstration Act (H.R. 9195) to utilize unused COVID-19 funds to create and fund a pilot program designed to reduce construction times by removing unnecessary regulatory requirements facing developers, which would in turn incentivize more private-sector investment.   
      • In February 2025, Ciscomani reintroduced the Creating Opportunities for New Skills Training at Rural and Underserved Colleges and Trade Schools (CONSTRUCTS) Act (H.R. 1055) to fund and develop residential construction education and certification program at community colleges, junior colleges, and trade schools.    

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The winners of the term paper competition were awarded as part of the Architectural Seasons

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Yulia Kolmykova, “Historical Environment”

    The SPbGASU summed up the results of the term paper competition, which took place within the framework of the International Creative Forum “Architectural Seasons”. This year, the Grand Prix went to the creative group consisting of: Ye Zijian, Zhao Yongkang, Wu Zongda and Tian Hongxu, under the direction of Chen and Lu Honggui (Zhengzhou University, China).

    A total of 800 works were submitted to the competition. Students from the first to fifth years of the bachelor’s degree and the first year of the master’s degree participated. The winners were determined in two stages by voting, in which more than two thousand people took part.

    200 people reached the final. 42 students were awarded the title of laureate in 14 nominations. We asked the laureates from SPbGASU to tell us about their works.

    Religious building

    Arina Tereshchenko, fourth-year student of the Faculty of Architecture, first-degree laureate in the nomination “Religious Building” (supervised by Associate Professor of the Department of Architectural and Urban Heritage Elena Baulina and Senior Lecturer of this department Galina Fedotova):

    – The project is a temple complex inspired by traditional Armenian church architecture. The project uses natural materials that are resistant to climatic conditions and time – stone, basalt, tuff, which emphasizes the connection with the historical context. In addition to the main temple, the complex includes a chapel, a church clergy house, an educational center, and a baptistery. All elements are combined into a harmonious composition with a single architectural style. The project seeks not only to recreate the architectural appearance of the Armenian church, but also to create a living spiritual space that is relevant to the modern parish and open to dialogue between cultures.

    Blocked residential building

    Anna Kasyanova, a third-year student of the Faculty of Architecture, first-degree laureate in the nomination “Blocked Residential Building” (supervised by Associate Professor of the Department of Architectural and Urban Heritage Natalia Dubrovina, assistants of the department Gleb Bagayev and Ksenia Kakunets):

    – My main task in this project is to create a clear, pleasant image of a residential building, without unnecessary details, which would organically fit into the natural environment. The image is the most difficult part of my project. I spent more than three months selecting analogs, coming up with and drawing different versions of the house, architectural details. Over time, my experience increased, and I managed to create the final image of the house.

    Individual residential building

    Veronika Merkul, a second-year student of the Faculty of Architecture, first-degree laureate in the Individual Residential Building nomination (supervisors: Professor of the Department of Architectural Design Oleg Romanov; Deputy Dean for Academic Affairs, Associate Professor of the Department of Architectural Design Elena Voitsehovskaya; Senior Lecturer of the Department of Architectural Design Varvara Khmeleva):

    – In my project, I decided to follow such an architectural trend as dacha constructivism. It seemed to me that it could fully reflect the features of the design location, without claiming historicism. It was important to preserve the culture of the area, avoiding obvious remake. My decisions were influenced by the features of the site, which is located at the end of the street, due to which the house is visible from three sides and should form a dominant feature. Such elements as round or narrow rectangular windows, non-standard volumes on the roof (a reference to the surrounding pine trees) and other decor, according to my idea, should make each facade unique (so that you want to look at it), and spacious terraces encircling the main volume will allow you to fully enjoy the views of the Gulf of Finland. Under the roof, away from the household part of the building, there is an art studio, illuminated by two dormer windows. It was important that the style of the building reflect the creative interests of the owner.

    Public interior

    Gasan Abasov, fifth-year student of the Faculty of Architecture, first-degree laureate in the nomination “Public Interior” (supervised by associate professors of the Department of Architectural Design Igor Ivanov and Maria Yakunenkova):

    – The interior of the engineering center is a multifunctional space, including an entrance group with a cloakroom, a coffee shop, an exhibition space, an auditorium and a block with toilets, technical rooms and a warehouse. The dominant role in the interior of the main building of the engineering center is played by a reinforced concrete cube, as if hovering in the center of the space. It houses another exhibition area. The cube is crossed by a strip of ceiling, connecting the central building with the rest of the complex. The main source of natural light is a large-span wooden structure with stained glass glazing. Sunlight, passing through it, creates an interesting light and shadow pattern, which, in contrast to the minimalist interior, sets a bright rhythm.

    Residential interior

    Ekaterina Sokolova, third-year undergraduate student at the Faculty of Architecture, first-degree laureate in the Residential Interior category (supervised by Associate Professor of the Department of Architectural Design Fyodor Perov, Associate Professor and Academic Secretary of the Department of Architectural Design Olga Kokorina):

    – The main goal of the residential interior design project is to create functional and comfortable housing that is not only beautiful and convenient, but also meets the needs and preferences of its inhabitants. To do this, I studied the regulatory requirements for the design of residential buildings, as well as the expected life scenarios of people, their possible needs. When creating the project, I also took into account the features of the premises and its location.

    Historical environment

    Yulia Kolmykova, first-year student of the Master’s program at the Faculty of Architecture, first-degree laureate in the Historical Environment nomination (supervised by Associate Professor of the Department of Architectural and Urban Heritage Evgeniya Shuvaeva and Senior Lecturer of the Department of Architectural and Urban Heritage Darya Bobrova):

    – The cultural heritage site of regional significance – the Zapolye estate is located in the Luzhsky district of the Leningrad region. Before starting the work, I studied archival and bibliographic materials, identified the current problems of the territory. The objectives of the project were to increase the tourist potential of the territory, restore historical functions, and draw attention to the importance of preserving old Russian estates.

    To solve the tasks set, it is proposed to adapt this territory for a children’s agronomic camp and restore the preserved historical buildings. It is also planned to restore the parterre garden and historical alleys according to archival drawings. It is supposed to locate housing for pupils and employees, as well as sports grounds and parking lots on the unguarded territory.

    Hand-drawn graphics

    Nadezhda Nikolaeva, a second-year undergraduate student at the Faculty of Architecture, first-degree laureate in the Hand-drawn Graphics category (supervised by senior lecturers from the Department of History and Theory of Architecture Igor Khramov and Leonid Krupnik):

    – The Rostov Kremlin is depicted here, but despite its dominant position, it is not the main character. The Kremlin here is not just architecture: it is, first of all, an environment that creates an atmosphere and determines the laws of existence. The key characters are people and cows. Cows are a symbol of timelessness, well-being and tranquility, and people are the personification of progress and the change of eras. The essence of life is revealed in their interaction. Thus, the picture raises the question of the dialogue between architecture and time: something is eternal, and something changes, adapting to new realities.

    Architectural photography

    Artem Titov, a second-year master’s student at the Faculty of Architecture at St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, and a first-degree laureate in the Architectural Photography category, spoke about his series of works, Bosnian Patches:

    – Every year at the end of January, my friends and I go skiing. In search of ski resorts that we had not yet tried, we came across a little-known to Russian tourists complex in Bosnia and Herzegovina – the Jahorina ski resort, where the Winter Olympics were held in 1984. But going to another country with an interesting history just for skiing is pointless. So my friends and I put together a long route around the country, visiting several cities and architectural landmarks. Traditional wooden buildings, medieval stone structures and panel houses from the socialist period coexist here. I tried to capture all this diversity in my photos.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Sues to Block Trump Administration’s Dangerous Dismantling of Health and Human Services Department

    Source: US State of New York

    EW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today led a coalition of 19 other attorneys general in filing a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s unconstitutional dismantling of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Since taking office, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and the Trump administration have fired thousands of federal health workers, shuttered life-saving programs, and abandoned states to face mounting health crises without federal support. Last month, the administration escalated its attack on the department, launching a reckless, irrational, and dangerous restructuring that, in a single day, erased decades of public health progress and left HHS unable to execute many of its most vital functions. Attorney General James and the coalition argue that Secretary Kennedy and the Trump administration have robbed HHS of the resources necessary to effectively serve the American people and will be asking the court to halt the dismantling before even more lives are put at risk.

    “This administration is not streamlining the federal government; they are sabotaging it and all of us,” said Attorney General James. “When you fire the scientists who research infectious diseases, silence the doctors who care for pregnant patients, and shut down the programs that help firefighters and miners breathe or children thrive, you are not making America healthy – you are putting countless lives at risk.”

    On March 27, Secretary Kennedy revealed a dramatic restructuring of HHS as part of the president’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) initiative. The secretary announced that the department’s 28 agencies would be collapsed into 15, with many surviving offices shuffled or split apart. He also announced mass firings, slashing the department’s headcount from 85,000 to 65,000. On April 1, 10,000 employees were locked out of their work email, laptops, and offices without warning. Many only learned they had been terminated when they arrived at work to find their badges deactivated. In a matter of hours, critical HHS operations ground to a halt. Experiments were abandoned, trainings canceled, site visits postponed, and labs shuttered.

    Attorney General James and the coalition assert the impacts of this restructuring have been immediate and disastrous. Programs serving children and low-income families have been particularly devastated. With HHS regional offices shut down and grant funding frozen, Head Start centers are at risk of closing, depriving children of early education and foster families of critical support. Programs aiding children with disabilities, youth experiencing homelessness, and preschool development have been left in limbo. The administration also fired staff responsible for maintaining the federal poverty guidelines, which states rely on to determine eligibility for food assistance like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), housing support, Medicaid, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). The entire team running the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) was terminated, a reckless decision amid extreme weather and rising energy costs.

    Mental health and substance use services have been completely gutted as a result of the administration’s restructuring. The administration fired hundreds of employees working on mental health and addiction treatment, including half of the entire workforce at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and closed all ten SAMHSA regional offices. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline team was slashed, and the National Survey on Drug Use and Health was halted, blinding policymakers to trends amid an escalating overdose crisis. Even the nation’s tobacco prevention agency was dismantled, despite tobacco-related deaths remaining the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S.

    The damage extends to reproductive health, disability services, and the fight against HIV and AIDS. Pregnant people and newborns have been put at risk after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) entire maternal health team was fired, collapsing the nation’s maternal mortality monitoring efforts. The federal fertility tracking program was shut down, stripping families of crucial information on access to IVF and family planning services. Sexual assault and domestic violence prevention efforts have been impacted, with much of the CDC Division of Violence Prevention reportedly fired or placed on leave. Sweeping layoffs at the Administration for Community Living (ACL) stand to devastate services for individuals with disabilities. The nation’s HIV/AIDS response has been undermined with expert scientists fired, prevention initiatives eliminated, and decades of hard-won progress undone in a matter of days.

    The World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP), which provides life-saving care to more than 137,000 9/11 first responders and survivors, faces the loss of the physicians needed to certify new cancer diagnoses. Workers across the country, from nurses to construction crews, risk losing reliable access to N95 masks following the closure of the nation’s only federal mask approval laboratory. Several CDC labs tracking infectious diseases – including measles – were shuttered, paralyzing federal disease surveillance. In the absence of federal leadership, New York’s state lab is now scrambling to fill the void, as it is one of the only remaining labs in the nation with the ability to test for many rare diseases and complex sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

    Attorney General James and the coalition argue that this chaos and devastation are not just collateral damage, but the administration’s intended result. They allege the Trump administration has violated hundreds of laws, bypassed congressional authority, and trampled the constitutional separation of powers, ignoring laws that Congress enacted to protect public health and taking reckless action without regard for the consequences. Secretary Kennedy even publicly acknowledged he rejected a case-by-case review of terminations, saying he feared it would cost “political momentum.” As Attorney General James and the coalition write in the lawsuit, “the terminations and reorganizations happened quickly, but the consequences are severe, complicated, drawn-out, and potentially irreversible.”

    “The disastrous cuts to the WTC Health Program are placing in peril the lives of every first responder and survivor that relies on this health care program to stay alive,” said Gary Smiley, 9/11 First Responder and WTC Liaison for FDNY EMS Local 2507. “Every day there is doubt in these responders’ and survivors’ lives as to what will come next in their health battle. The Trump administration, by slashing research grants and proposals for new and emerging conditions to the bone, leaves them hopeless and Forgotten. The psychological impacts on these members are reprehensible. This is exactly the opposite of what this nation promised to each and every one of them: To Never Forget.”

    “Last month, the federal government suddenly closed five regional Head Start offices, including the one that serves New York. Providers were left scrambling, unable to contact anyone, and worried for the families who rely on them. Recertification applications are unresolved, and uncertainty about payments and the future of Head Start have caused a sense of panic among child care providers,” said Susan Stamler, Executive Director of United Neighborhood Houses. “The shrinking of HHS is clearly having devastating impacts on our neighborhoods and families. Jeopardizing child care is no way to help working parents. We stand proudly with Attorney General James as she fights to protect our communities and ensure every child has the care they deserve.”

    “The dismantling of Medicaid and the erasure of maternal health infrastructure reveal a devastating truth—mothers and babies are not a priority in this nation,” said Chanel Porchia-Albert, Founder and CEO of Ancient Song Doula Services. “In one of the wealthiest, most industrialized countries, we rank among the worst for maternal outcomes. If we do not invest now in data, programs, and policies rooted in equity and upliftment, we will bear the generational cost of this neglect. Maternal health must be a bipartisan priority—because the future of our communities depends on it.”

    “In 2024 alone, Housing Works has provided primary care to nearly 10,000 patients—70% covered by Medicaid or Duals,” said Anthony Feliciano, VP of Community Mobilization at Housing Works. “The Trump administration’s reckless dismantling of HHS directly threatens our ability to serve these communities. From HIV services to substance use support, this attack on public health infrastructure abandons the most vulnerable people in our state. These devastating cuts jeopardize decades of progress toward ending the HIV epidemic—an effort that is not only about public health, but about justice and dignity for our communities. Ending the epidemic is how we serve our people, and we refuse to allow this administration to turn its back on them.”

    Attorney General James and the coalition are urging the court to immediately halt the Trump administration’s unlawful dismantling of HHS and to require the restoration of critical health programs to protect the health and well-being of people nationwide.

    Joining Attorney General James in this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Economic and Social Committee demands immediate action to tackle cost-of-living crisis

    Source: European Union 2

    The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) demands urgent action from the European Commission and EU Member States to dismantle barriers fragmenting the single market and keeping living costs high, even as inflation rates fall.

    Despite steadily decreasing inflation in Europe, cost of living remains a concern, as millions of Europeans — especially the 94.6 million people at risk of poverty or social exclusion — continue to struggle with elevated prices.

    In its opinion How single market dysfunctionalities contribute to the rising cost of living, adopted at its plenary session on 29 April, the EESC identified single market fragmentation as a major driver of persistently high costs and called for swift measures to strengthen competition, lower prices and boost investment.

    ‘The cost of living in Europe is fuelled by dysfunctionalities in the single market. We call for urgent action to tackle barriers that affect the costs of products (such as territorial supply constraints), and to speed up proceedings against national rules that infringe EU law,’ said Emilie Prouzet, rapporteur of the opinion.

    Beyond territorial supply constraints (TSCs), the EESC pointed the finger at geo-blocking and diverging national rules as two of the main culprits of the dysfunction and fragmentation plaguing the single market. Despite the European Commission’s efforts to prohibit geo-blocking and address TSCs, these practices continue to create disparities in prices and product availability across Member States.

    Fragmentation not only increases costs for businesses and consumers but also limits the variety of products available. The lack of harmonisation in financial markets, telecommunications, energy and pharmaceuticals further exacerbates market fragmentation.

    The EESC pointed out that despite the fact that the single market boosts the EU’s GDP by 6-8%, fragmentation still costs the economy up to EUR 500 billion every year, which could be unlocked if the single market were completed. This figure can be broken down into EUR 228 billion each year for goods, and EUR 279 billion for services.

    According to IMF estimates, non-tariff barriers within the EU are equivalent to customs duties of around 44% for goods and 110% for services. New barriers continue to emerge, further driving up costs for businesses and consumers.

    To tackle this, the EESC has called for the following:

    • Immediate removal of regulatory and non-regulatory barriers limiting the free movement of goods, services, capital, and people.
    • Faster enforcement of EU rules that would see the Commission speed up infringement proceedings and use interim injunctions against clear violations of EU law.
    • Elimination of territorial supply constraints that artificially inflate prices for consumers.
    • Completion of the Capital Markets Union to unlock private and public investment across the EU.
    • Promotion of labour mobility and digitalisation to enhance worker protection and economic opportunities.
    • Better infrastructure integration in the energy and telecommunications sectors to create a truly unified market.
    • Assessment of housing market barriers to tackle rising housing costs.
    • Removal of healthcare market restrictions to guarantee affordable access to medicines.

    This opinion is part of a wider EESC initiative tackling the cost-of-living crisis across seven policy areas, providing targeted recommendations for EU and national policymakers, civil society and stakeholders.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: SDTX Continues Efforts to Protect the Border with 259 More Charged in Immigration-Related Crimes

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

    HOUSTON – A total of 256 cases have been filed from April 25-May 1 in matters aimed at securing the southern border, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. 

    As part of the cases, 83 face allegations of illegally reentering the country. The majority have prior felony convictions for narcotics, firearms, sexual or violent offenses, prior immigration crimes and more. A total of 160 people face charges of illegally entering the country, while 13 cases allege various instances of human smuggling with the remainder involving other immigration-related crimes.  

    Those charged by criminal complaint include three Mexican nationals found in the McAllen area who are alleged to be here illegally. The charges allege Luciano Ojeda had been sentenced to two years for robbery before his removal, while Sergio Salazar-Gonzalez and Maria Del Carmen Gutierrez-Perez have convictions for driving while intoxicated (3rd offense) and injury to child/elderly/disabled persons with intent of causing bodily injury, respectively, before they were removed from the United States.

    In addition to the new cases filed, two adult Guatemalan citizens were indicted for making false statements about their age in their juvenile immigration cases. Tadeo Pedro Torres and Marvin Ixcoy-Ajqui claimed they were unaccompanied minors after they entered the United States illegally. As a result, they were allegedly transferred to juvenile shelters contracted to provide care for children in the United States for whom there is no parent or legal guardian with the ability to provide custody. However, the charges allege they were adults and had provided a false date of birth and age.

    A Houston federal jury also convicted a conspirator involved in transporting aliens shot en route. Mailon Almendares-Martinez recruited conspirators who picked up the aliens near the border. On the way to Houston, individuals believed to be a part of a rival alien smuggling organization had shot at them, resulting in gunshot wounds to the arm and leg. After the shooting, Almendares-Martinez told the co-conspirators to return to Houston and not seek medical attention for the two wounded aliens. He now faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

    “This case demonstrates—like so many cases before it—that human smuggling is an inhumane, dangerous, and sometimes fatal business,” said Ganjei. “Those that smuggle human beings for profit deserve prosecution, and those that would willingly place themselves in a situation to be smuggled need to think twice. Stay home, stay safe.”

    In Corpus Christi, Louis Dante Anthony received a 30-month sentence for smuggling three dozen illegal aliens in an 8 by 4.25-foot false compartment. The illegal aliens had no access to air, could not be heard from the outside and were unable to get themselves out of the compartment. All were from the countries of Ecuador, Colombia, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico.

    In Laredo federal court, an illegal alien pleaded guilty to assault of an officer, admitting he struck the agent’s body and face repeatedly while attempting to flee. A Border Patrol (BP) agent had transported Marco Cupil-Hernandez to a local hospital for emergency care after he had waded across the Rio Grande River. Once cleared, the agent attempted to assist him into the vehicle. Cupil-Hernandez then forcefully pushed him away and attempted to flee, resulting in a struggle on the concrete during which Cupil-Hernandez elbowed the agent’s face. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

    Also announced this week was the sentencing of two felons in McAllen for illegally reentering the United States. Porfirio Martinez-Santos, Mexico, was ordered to serve 42 months, while Juan Esteban Zelaya-Hernandez, Honduras, received 21 months. The investigation revealed Zelaya-Hernandez had been ordered removed in August 2024 after serving a federal prison sentence for possession of a firearm by a felon and illegal reentry. Martinez-Santos was removed in 2023 and had previously served a 37-month sentence for illegal reentry.

    Another Mexican citizen with a felony criminal history was sentenced for illegally reentering the United States after eight previous removals. Julio Cesar Corona-Corona will now serve 37 months in federal prison. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that despite prior court warnings not to do so, Corona-Corona was determined to unlawfully reenter the United States, as evidenced by his repeated encounters with immigration authorities. He was first removed from the United States in January 2014 and returned illegally eight times between 2014 and April 2020. In fact, authorities had removed him six times alone between 2017-2018.

    In Brownsville, a 42-year-old man from Aldamas, Tamaulipas, Mexico, was also sentenced for illegal reentry into the United States. Alfredo Balderas-Rivera was first removed in 2016 with a subsequent removal in 2018 and 2023. However, authorities found Balderas-Rivera in Cameron County March 30, 2024. He had been in custody for allegedly committing fraud and assault and bodily injury. He received a 50-month sentence in Brownsville federal court.

    These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – Homeland Security Investigations, ICE – Enforcement and Removal Operations, BP, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.

    The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

    Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the Southern District of Texas (SDTX). Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children. 

    The SDTX remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes. 

    An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

    MIL Security OSI –