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  • MIL-OSI Security: Charlotte Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Trafficking Kilograms of Cocaine from Charlotte to Wilmington

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    RALEIGH, N.C. – A Charlotte man was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years in prison for injecting large quantities of cocaine into the Wilmington area from early 2017 to July 2022. On November 5, 2024, Kinte Fisher, age 47, pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute a quantity of cocaine.

    According to court documents and other information presented in court, agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Wilmington Police Department (WPD) started investigating Fisher for drug trafficking. The investigation revealed that Fisher, who lived in Charlotte, moved narcotics to a “stash house” that he maintained in Wilmington. From there, he would sell large quantities of cocaine.  Fisher often used the cover of visiting family to deliver cocaine to the area and supervised several other individuals involved in drug trafficking, including his girlfriend. Fisher also mailed packages containing narcotics using the United States Postal Service. Over a five-year period, Fisher distributed at least sixty-two kilograms of cocaine.

    On July 25, 2022, surveillance revealed that Fisher was traveling again to Wilmington. Agents with the FBI saw him enter his stash house with a backpack. A few moments later, Fisher left the apartment and threw a piece of plastic wrap into a municipal trash can before driving off. Law enforcement officers tested that plastic wrap, and it tested positive for cocaine residue. Based on that, law enforcement attempted to initiate a traffic stop. Fisher sped off.  A high-speed chase unfolded where Fisher sped through various areas, including one of Wilmington’s business districts. Fisher abandoned his car and continued to evade arrest on foot. Law enforcement caught up to Fisher at the Wilmington Riverwalk. As they closed in, Fisher tossed his cellphone into the river. A subsequent search of Fisher’s stash house found approximately 340 grams of cocaine, a scale, and drug packaging materials.

    This investigation was an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

    Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The FBI and the Wilmington Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Logan Liles  prosecuted the case.

    Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:22-CR-101-D-1.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Sir John Oldham appointed to help make NHS fit for the future

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Sir John Oldham appointed to help make NHS fit for the future

    Sir John Oldham is a GP by background and has very significant experience in the sphere of primary care, change management, and leading improvement programmes

    Sir John Oldham brings extensive experience of working in the health sector and will work on emerging policy to support the government on its ambition to deliver more care in the community.

    • Sir John Oldham has accepted a direct ministerial appointment to the Department of Health and Social Care.
    • Sir John will work closely with Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, to transform the health and care system and move to a Neighbourhood Health Service.

    Lord Darzi’s 2024 independent investigation of the NHS highlighted the urgent need to transform the health and care system and move to a Neighbourhood Health Service that delivers co-ordinated care closer to home, to create healthier communities, spot problems earlier, and support people to stay healthier and maintain their independence for longer. 

    Sir John is a GP by background and has very significant experience in the sphere of primary care, change management, and leading improvement programmes. He was National Clinical Lead for Quality and Productivity at the Department of Health from 2010-2013. This role has had responsibility for large scale change in the delivery of services to patients with long term conditions and redesigning the urgent care system. He has been a member of the Care Quality Commission and Chair of the Commission on Whole Person Care amongst other roles.

    The appointment is a paid role, which began on 2 December 2024 for a 12-month period. It is not a Civil Service appointment.

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Landsbankinn hf.: Results of the 2025 AGM of Landsbankinn

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The annual general meeting (AGM) of Landsbankinn, held on 19 March 2025, agreed to pay a dividend amounting to ISK 18,892 million to shareholders.

    The dividend is equivalent to 50% of 2024 profits. The dividend will be paid in two tranches, firstly on 26 March 2025 and secondly on 17 September 2025. As a result, total dividend paid by the Bank in the years 2013-2025 amounts to ISK 210.6 billion.

    At the AGM, held in Reykjastræti 6, Jón Thorvarður Sigurgeirsson, Chairman of the Board of Directors, delivered the report from the Board of Directors for 2024. Lilja Björk Einarsdóttir, CEO, spoke of the Bank’s operation, strategy and activities in the past operating year.

    The Bank’s annual financial statement was approved, as was the proposed Remuneration Policy and remuneration to Directors of the Board. The AGM elected Ríkisendurskoðun as the company’s auditor for the 2025 operating year. The Auditor General, in accordance with an authorisation to outsource tasks, and following a tender process, has nominated auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers ehf. as auditor of the company’s annual financial statement for the operating year 2025.

    The following persons were elected Directors and Alternates to sit on the Board of Landsbankinn hf. until its next AGM:

    Directors:

    • Jón Thorvarður Sigurgeirsson (Chairman)
    • Eva Halldórsdóttir
    • Kristján Th. Davíðsson
    • Rebekka Jóelsdóttir
    • Steinunn Thorsteinsdóttir
    • Thór Hauksson
    • Örn Guðmundsson

    Alternates:

    • Sigurður Jón Björnsson
    • Stefanía G. Halldórsdóttir

    Hjörleifur Pálsson was elected as external member to the Bank’s Audit Committee.

    For further information contact:

    Rúnar Pálmason, Public Relations, pr@landsbankinn.is

    Hanna Kristín Thoroddsen, Investor Relations, ir@landsbankinn.is

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Are mental health conditions overdiagnosed in the UK? Two experts go head to head

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Joanna Moncrieff, Professor of Critical and Social Psychiatry, UCL

    Speaking on BBC One’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, Wes Streeting, the UK health secretary, expressed concerns that some mental health conditions were overdiagnosed. The Conversation asked two experts to comment on Streeting’s claim. Is the health secretary right?

    Mental distress is under-diagnosed – but over-medicalised

    Susan McPherson, Professor in Psychology and Sociology, University of Essex

    A year ago, the UK’s then prime minister, the Conservative Rishi Sunak, announced “sick note culture” had gone too far. His work and pensions secretary claimed “mental health culture”, Mel Stride, had gone too far.

    These statements merged concern about affordability of disability benefits with ideas about overdiagnosis of mental illness. This appeared to be in response to a report from the Resolution Foundation, a thinktank.

    The report said that people in their 20s were more likely to be out of work than people in their 40s. The report attributed this to an increase in young people reporting mental distress (from 24% in 2000 to 34% in 2024).

    This was used by some journalists to support the idea of young people as work-shy snowflakes feigning mental illness, which angered many including disability activists, mental health campaigners and members of the opposition Labour party.

    A year on, the UK now has a Labour government. Wes Streeting, the secretary of state for health and social care, is facing criticism for appearing to echo conservative tropes. In an interview about government plans to reduce benefits for disabled people, he agreed that overdiagnosis accounts for an increase in people on benefits due to mental illness. This appears to mirror those media stereotypes about work-shy millennials.

    If that is what Streeting meant, then the evidence is not on his side. Ten years ago, a UK national survey of psychiatric symptoms found that a third of people whose psychological symptoms were severe enough to merit a diagnosis, did not have a diagnosis.

    More recent research using the UK Longitudinal Household Study grouped people according to whether they do or do not have a psychiatric diagnosis and whether they do or do not have psychological symptoms severe enough to merit a diagnosis. The study found 12 times as many people in the “undiagnosed distress” category (with severe symptoms but no diagnosis) than the overdiagnosed category.

    The study also identified significant inequalities. People living with a disability had nearly three times the risk of undiagnosed distress compared with people without a disability.

    Women had 1.5 times the risk of undiagnosed distress compared with men. Lesbian, gay or bisexual people were 1.4 times more likely to have undiagnosed distress compared with heterosexual people. People aged 16-24 had the highest risk compared with all other age groups.

    This all suggests inequalities in undiagnosed distress are a much bigger problem than overdiagnosis in the UK. Given that many forms of support in the UK depend on having a diagnosis, undiagnosed distress probably means people are not getting the support they need.

    However, Streeting also said that too many people “just aren’t getting the support they need. So if you can get that support to people much earlier, then you can help people to either stay in work or get back to work.”

    Given this nod towards prevention and the importance of non-medical support, it is conceivable that Streeting’s sentiment may have been about “over-medicalisation” of mental distress rather than overdiagnosis. The difference is important.

    The term “diagnosis” reflects a medical model of mental illness. Many would agree that the medical idea of “diagnose and treat” does not serve people with mental distress well. This is because there is a lot of evidence suggesting the underlying causes of mental distress are social, economic, environmental or a result of past trauma.

    If Streeting had said “over-medicalised”, he would have been in tune with a growing global concern about over-medicalisation and over-use of medication to treat mental distress, a position advocated by the UN and the World Health Organization.

    Despite UK guidelines recommending psychological treatments as first line interventions for depression, antidepressant prescribing has risen 46% over the last seven years with over 85 million prescriptions in 2022-23. This alongside an increase in long-term use of psychiatric medication with no reduction in mental distress at the population level. If Streeting had said “over-medicalised”, the evidence would have been on his side.

    A mental health diagnosis is just a label – and usually an unhelpful one

    Joanna Moncrieff, Professor of Critical and Social Psychiatry, UCL

    There has been a dramatic escalation in the number of people seeking treatment for mental health problems in recent years. In the year from April 2023 to 2024, 3.8 million people were in contact with mental health services in England alone, which is 40% higher than before the COVID pandemic. The figures include 1 million children. One in five 16-year-old girls is in contact with services.

    The statistics reveal a tendency to over-medicalise a variety of human problems that was supercharged by the pandemic and is likely to result in harmful effects on physical and mental health.

    What many people don’t realise about a mental health diagnosis is that it is nothing like the diagnosis of a physical condition. It doesn’t name an underlying biological state or process that can explain the symptoms someone is experiencing, as it does when someone gets a diagnosis of cancer or rheumatoid arthritis, for example.

    A mental health diagnosis doesn’t explain anything. It is simply a label that can be applied to a certain set of problems. The process by which this label is conferred is not scientific or objective and is influenced by commercial, professional and political interests.

    In most situations, giving people with mental health problems a diagnostic label is unhelpful. It convinces people they have a biological defect, it leads to ineffective and often harmful medical treatment, and most of the time, it misses the actual problems.

    Because getting a diagnosis implies you have a medical condition, it misleads people into thinking that they have an underlying biological abnormality, such as a chemical imbalance, even though there is no good evidence that mental disorders are caused by underlying brain or bodily dysfunctions. Research has shown this makes people pessimistic about their chances of recovery and less likely to improve.

    Being diagnosed often leads to being prescribed a psychiatric drug, such as an antidepressant. About 8.7 million people in England now take an antidepressant, half of them on a long-term basis.

    Prescriptions for other drugs, such as stimulants (prescribed for a diagnosis of ADHD), are also rising fast, even leading to medication shortages. Yet the evidence that any of these drugs improve people’s wellbeing or ability to function is minimal. Moreover, like all substances that alter our normal biological make-up, particularly those that interfere with brain function, they cause side-effects and health risks.

    Antidepressants can cause severe and prolonged withdrawal symptoms, sexual dysfunction (which may persist) and emotional numbing or apathy, among other unwanted effects. Stimulants can cause cardiovascular problems and neurological conditions. The widespread, unwarranted prescribing of these drugs will adversely affect the health of the population.

    Giving people a diagnosis can also obscure the nature of the person’s underlying problems and prevent these from being addressed.

    Mental health problems are often meaningful reactions to stressful circumstances, such as financial, housing and relationship problems and experiences of abuse, trauma, loneliness and lack of meaning. Reducing over-medicalisation doesn’t necessarily mean fewer services. What we need is different services that provide appropriate support for people’s actual problems, not treatment for medical labels.

    We also need ways to excuse people from responsibilities when necessary, without making them feel like they have to take on a “sick” role that implies they are forever ill and helpless.

    Much of today’s employment is poorly paid, insecure, boring, exploitative and pressurising. It shouldn’t surprise us that some people find it hard to endure. We need to improve working conditions for everyone, but we also need to support people who find these conditions especially challenging, without having to label them as sick.

    Joanna Moncrieff is or has been a co-investigator on grants funded by the UK’s National Institute of Health Research and the Australian government Medical Research Future Fund for studies exploring methods of antidepressant discontinuation. She is co-chair person of the Critical Psychiatry Network, an informal and unfunded group of psychiatrists

    Susan McPherson receives funding from NIHR Applied Research Collaboration East of England. She is affiliated with the Labour Party.

    – ref. Are mental health conditions overdiagnosed in the UK? Two experts go head to head – https://theconversation.com/are-mental-health-conditions-overdiagnosed-in-the-uk-two-experts-go-head-to-head-252535

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Baldwin Raises Concerns About How NOAA Firings Will Impact Great Lakes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and a group of her colleagues are pressing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for more information about the termination of staff and the potential impact these firings will have on the health and commerce on the Great Lakes, including the countless Wisconsin communities who rely on Lake Michigan and Superior for fresh drinking water and to support their local economies.

    “We write to express our deep concern over the firing of probationary staff at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the potential impact these firings will have on the Great Lakes,” wrote the Senators in a letter to NOAA’s Vice Admiral Nancy Hann.

    “The Great Lakes are among the United States’ greatest natural treasures, strengthening our economy and attracting millions of visitors each year. The Lakes provide drinking water to over 30 million people, generate clean hydropower, and generate $3.1 trillion in gross domestic product,” the Senators continued. “National and regional NOAA programs help protect these lakes and support our constituents who call the Great Lakes home.

    The Senators pressed Admiral Hann to detail (1) the number of people fired at NOAA during her tenure as Acting Administrator, (2) the number of people fired at each NOAA program serving the Great Lakes, (3) the services that will be terminated as a result, and (4) her plan to preserve these services.

    In addition to Senator Baldwin, the letter was led by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and co-signed by Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Gary Peters (D-MI).

    A full version of this letter is available here and below.

    Dear Vice Admiral Nancy Hann:

    We write to express our deep concern over the firing of probationary staff at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the potential impact these firings will have on the Great Lakes. We request information on these firings—including at the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) and any other NOAA installations and programs that serve the Great Lakes area—as well as a concrete plan for re-establishing terminated public services.

    The Great Lakes are among the United States’ greatest natural treasures, strengthening our economy and attracting millions of visitors each year. The Lakes provide drinking water to over 30 million people, generate clean hydropower, and generate $3.1 trillion in gross domestic product.

    National and regional NOAA programs help protect these lakes and support our constituents who call the Great Lakes home. The National Weather Service provides our weather and climate forecasts and warnings. The National Sea Grant Program helps conserve our aquatic resources. The Marine Debris Program prevents microplastics and litter from entering the Great Lakes, protecting our wildlife, natural resources, fishing and boating economy, and nearby residents’ health. The Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research invests in our clean drinking water. And the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) provides critical information for resource use and management decisions, including information on algal blooms and hypoxia, invasive species, ice cover and shipping navigability, and storm surges and coastal flooding.

    We are deeply concerned that the layoffs at NOAA will harm these critical initiatives. The staffing reductions have already required the GLERL, for example, to take an “indefinite hiatus” from its public communications, depriving the public of critical information such as what to do during a flood warning and how to stay safe in the extreme cold. When these communications go dark, the public suffers.

    Therefore, we request the following information by March 28, 2025:

    1. The number of people fired at NOAA during your tenure as Acting Administrator.
    2. The number of people fired at each NOAA program that serves the Great Lakes:
      1. National Weather Service
      2. National Estuarine Research Reserve System
      3. NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries
      4. National Sea Grant Program
      5. NOAA Marine Debris Program
      6. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS)
      7. Great Lakes Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET)
      8. Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory
      9. Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN)
      10. Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR)
      11. Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS)
      12. Midwestern Regional Climate Center (MRCC)
    3. The services that will be terminated as a result of the firings at each of the above programs.
    4. Your plan to maintain or restore these services.

    Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: More than 20 people housed as council seeks to end encampment

    Source: City of Canterbury

    Home  »  Latest News   »   More than 20 people housed as council seeks to end encampment

    A total of 21 people have been found somewhere to live away from the streets after people started sleeping and spending their days on the side of a busy main road in Canterbury.

    That is on top of the tailored help and support given to those who have been living in tents at an encampment in Pin Hill.

    Support has included working with a range of organisations, including homelessness charities Catching Lives and Porchlight and the NHS, to provide access to healthcare, dental care and support to help people overcome addiction to alcohol and drugs.

    Cllr Pip Hazelton, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “It has broken everyone’s hearts to see people living in this way in such a dangerous place throughout the winter and officers in teams from across the council have done all they can to rehome people and offer other forms of support.

    “Only last week we managed to find emergency bedspace with Porchlight and persuaded someone to take advantage of that opportunity.

    “There is no magic wand and we cannot force people to accept our help.

    “The challenge all along has been that as soon as we find one person a home, they are replaced by someone equally desperate for help.”

    Today (Wednesday 19 March), letters have been posted at the site asking people to move their belongings within seven days.

    Cllr Hazelton added: “While we prefer to help people to move on, this situation simply cannot go on and now we need to take legal action to bring this sad situation to an end.

    “We have overcome challenges with knowing who owns the land and working our way through the complexities of what legislation and powers we can rely on.

    “We are now asking people to remove their tents and belongings within seven days before we the kickstart the legal process that results in enforcement action a little further down the line.”

    Published: 19 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Ukraine deal: Europe has learned from the failed 2015 Minsk accords with Putin. Trump has not

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Natalya Chernyshova, Senior Lecturer in Modern European History, Queen Mary University of London

    Germany’s ex chancellor, Angela Merkel, and France’s former president, François Hollande, were key to brokering the Minsk agreements. Sodel Vladyslav / Shutterstock

    The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has agreed to pause attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure for 30 days following a phone call with his American counterpart, Donald Trump. On social media, Trump said the call was “very good and productive” and came “with an understanding that we will be working quickly to have a complete ceasefire”.

    This optimism is misplaced. The White House did not mention that Putin issued additional conditions for a ceasefire. The Kremlin demands that Ukraine be effectively disarmed, leaving it defenceless against a Russian takeover. Such terms would be unacceptable to Ukraine and its European partners.

    At this juncture, Trump and his negotiators would do well to ponder why previous attempts to restrain Russia and secure a lasting peace for Ukraine did not succeed.

    This war did not start when shells began to rain on Kyiv in February 2022. Russia had already been waging an undeclared war on its neighbour for nearly eight years in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas, where pro-Russian proxy forces have been stoking up trouble in the border regions of Luhansk and Donetsk.

    Attempts to end the fighting there were made in September 2014 and February 2015, when Russia and Ukraine signed ceasefire agreements during negotiations in Minsk, Belarus.

    Both sets of Minsk agreements proved to be non-starters. The fighting in the region rumbled on until it culminated in Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The accords stored problems for the future.

    Russia-backed separatists have controlled the south-eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk since 2015.
    Viacheslav Lopatin / Shutterstock

    Minsk-1 and Minsk-2

    The first Minsk protocols were signed in 2014 by Russia, Ukraine, separatists from Donbas and representatives from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The agreement provided for an immediate ceasefire monitored by the OSCE, the withdrawal of “foreign mercenaries” from Ukraine and the establishment of a demilitarised buffer zone.

    But Moscow also insisted that Kyiv grant temporary “special status” to the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, the two separatist regions in Donbas. Instead of helping Ukraine regain control over its eastern territories, the agreement allowed the Russia-backed rebels to hold local elections and legalised them as a party to the conflict.

    The ceasefire collapsed within days of signing. The provisions that sought to demarcate the lines of the conflict and give Ukraine back control over its eastern border were not observed by the rebels, and fighting intensified during the winter.

    With the death toll rising, the leaders of France and Germany rushed to broker a fresh round of negotiations in February 2015. The resulting accords, which were known as Minsk-2, also failed to bring peace.

    Russia and its proxy militants in Donbas immediately and repeatedly violated its terms. Astonishingly, Minsk-2 did not even mention Russia, despite it signing the protocols. Moscow continued to deny its involvement in eastern Ukraine, while stepping up armed assistance to the rebels.

    Kyiv was saddled with peace terms that were impossible to implement unless Ukraine was prepared to throw away its sovereignty. Minsk-2 stipulated that the “special status” of the eastern separatist regions was to become permanent, and that the Ukrainian constitution was to be amended to allow for “decentralisation” of power from Kyiv to the rebel regions.

    These regions were to be granted autonomy in financial matters, responsibility for their stretch of the border with Russia, and the right to conclude foreign agreements and hold referenda. To undercut Ukrainian independence further, a neutrality clause inserted into its constitution would effectively bar the country’s entry into Nato.

    Understandably, no one in Kyiv rushed to implement these self-destructive terms. In an interview with German magazine Der Spiegel in 2023, Volodymyr Zelensky said that when he became Ukraine’s president in 2019 and examined Minsk-2, he “did not recognise any desire in the agreements to allow Ukraine its independence”.

    Russia-backed separatists in Sloviansk, a city in Donetsk Oblast, in 2014.
    Fotokon / Shutterstock

    Zelensky’s comment points to the fundamental flaw of the Minsk-2 agreement. Its western brokers failed to recognise that Russian war aims were irreconcilable with Ukrainian sovereignty. Moscow’s objective from the start was to use Donbas to destabilise the government in Kyiv and gain control over Ukraine.

    Western peacemakers searched for a compromise, but the Kremlin used Minsk-2 to advance its goals. As Duncan Allan of the Chatham House research institute noted in 2020: “Russia sees the Minsk agreements as tools with which to break Ukraine’s sovereignty.” The war in Donbas raged on and, by 2020, had claimed 14,000 lives, with 1.5 million people becoming refugees.

    Germany’s ex-chancellor, Angela Merkel, a key broker, subsequently defended the Minsk agreements. She said they bought Kyiv time to arm itself against Russia. It was a costly purchase. Minsk-2 froze the conflict in one locality rather than ended it. And it encouraged Russia, paving the way for a full-scale invasion.

    Emphasising Ukrainian sovereignty

    The existential differences between Ukraine and Russia that plagued the Minsk agreements remain today. Ukraine has demonstrated its resolve to defend its sovereignty, while Russia’s invasion in 2022 testifies to its determination to squash Ukrainian resolve. The timing of the attack so close to the seventh anniversary of Minsk-2 adds grim emphasis to that point.

    This clash of objectives must be addressed head-on in any peace negotiations. The only way to secure lasting peace in Europe is to avoid rewarding the aggressor and punishing its victim.

    The Kremlin has already openly declared that it sees Trump-led brokerage as the west’s acknowledgement of Russian strategic superiority. It needs to be disabused of this notion. As argued by Nataliya Bugayova, a fellow at the Institute for the Study of War, the war is not lost yet. Russia is far from invulnerable, and it can be made to accept defeat.

    But for any agreement to be effective, there can be no ambiguity or middle ground on the subject of Ukrainian sovereignty. It must be protected and backed by security guarantees.

    So far, the Trump administration has shown little understanding of this. But ten years down the line from Minsk-2, Europeans have finally grasped it.

    Finland’s president, Aleksander Stubbs, told reporters on March 19 that Ukraine must “absolutely” not lose sovereignty and territory. And, on the day Trump and Putin had their discussion, Germany’s parliament voted for a massive boost in defence spending – another indicator that Europeans are no longer taking Putin on trust.

    Natalya Chernyshova received funding from the British Academy during 2020-2022.

    – ref. Ukraine deal: Europe has learned from the failed 2015 Minsk accords with Putin. Trump has not – https://theconversation.com/ukraine-deal-europe-has-learned-from-the-failed-2015-minsk-accords-with-putin-trump-has-not-252540

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: If we fully engage with how generative AI works, we can still create original art

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Anthony Downey, Professor of Visual Culture, Birmingham City University

    Even before the recent protest by a group of well-known musicians at the UK government’s plans to allow AI companies to use copyright-protected work for training, disquiet around artists’ rights was already growing.

    In early February, an open letter from artists around the world called on Christie’s auction house to cancel a sale of art created with the assistance of generative AI (GenAI). This is a form of artificial intelligence that creates content – including text, images, or music – based on the patterns learned from colossal data sets.

    Without giving specific examples, the letter suggested that many of the works included in the sale, which was entitled “Augmented Intelligence” were “known to be trained on copyrighted work without a licence” and suggested that such sales further “incentivises AI companies’ mass theft of human artists’ work”.

    This article is part of our State of the Arts series. These articles tackle the challenges of the arts and heritage industry – and celebrate the wins, too.

    If we think about Dall-E, Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion, all of which use text prompts to generate images and are trained on data sets harvested from online sources, the letter raised significant issues about the nature of artistic creativity and how the legal concept of “fair use” and originality is applied in such cases.

    These are complex debates, encompassing perennial misgivings about machine automation, intellectual property (IP), and the cherished ideal that ingenuity and originality remain the sole preserve of humanity.

    How to think from within GenAI

    The impact of AI on the creative industries has become a major issue in the UK and elsewhere, so much so that we are faced with an existential question: how do we understand the evolving impact of AI on human creativity today?

    The scope of this enquiry reveals a simple fact: we need to develop more accessible and inclusive ways to think from within AI image processing models. This is exactly what my latest research, produced in collaboration with the acclaimed artist and photographer Trevor Paglen, proposes.

    How, this research asks, do we better understand the mechanisms behind the collation and labelling of the data sets that are used to train AI? And how, in turn, can we create new ways for understanding the extent to which AI image-production models inform our experience the world?

    It is, I argue, through the development of interdisciplinary research methods that draw upon the arts and humanities that we can critically engage with these concerns.

    Although the open letter addressed to Christie’s alluded to these topics, it did not, perhaps unsurprisingly, observe the degree to which some of the more prominent artists in the Augmented Intelligence sale had actively engaged in providing visual methods and insights into how GenAI functions.

    It is notable that Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst’s work xhairymutantx scrutinises how the data sets used in AI models of image production both define and transform images. For example, if you type the word “Holly Herndon” into Midjourney, it will produce images that are based on data sets derived from Herndon’s online presence.

    To draw attention to, and simultaneously disrupt, this process, the artists generated their own data sets of images and labelled them “Holly Herndon”. The images in these data sets had been previously manipulated to emphasise certain qualities associated with Herndon (her red hair, for example). Once fed back into the AI image processing model, the ensuing images of “Holly Herndon” became evermore outlandish and exaggerated.

    This clearly shows that AI image processing is a highly inconsistent and selective procedure that can be manipulated with ease.

    If we consider how models of AI image processing are used in facial recognition and drone technologies – often with fatal consequences – this is an urgent concern.

    Reflecting upon aerial photography in his work Machine Hallucinations – ISS Dreams, artist and data visualisation pioneer Refik Anandol used a data set of 1.2 million images collated by the International Space Station (ISS). Alongside other satellite images of Earth, he produced an AI-generated composition.

    Employing generative adversarial networks (GANs) – an AI model that trains neural networks to recognise, classify and, crucially, generate new images – Anandol effectively produced a unique landscape that changes over time and never seems to repeat itself.

    In both these examples, artists are not simply engaging in either “mass theft” or using AI models that have been trained on large data sets to mechanically produce images. They are explicitly drawing attention to how the data sets used to train AI can be both strategically engineered and actively disrupted.

    In our recent book (to which I contributed as editor and author), Trevor Paglen, whose work was not in the Christie’s sale, reveals how data sets regularly produce disquieting, hallucinatory allegories of our world.

    Given that GANs are trained on specific data sets and do not experience the world as such, they often produce hallucinatory and uncanny versions of it. Although often considered to be a fault or a glitch in the system, the event of hallucination, as Paglen demonstrates, is nevertheless central to GenAI.

    In images such as Rainbow, which was produced using a data set created and labelled by Paglen, we see a ghostly image of our world that discloses the inner, latent mechanics of image production in GANs.

    Paglen’s practice, alongside that of Dryhurst, Herndon and Anandol, defines a clear distinction between those artists who casually use AI to generate yet more images and those who critically investigate the operative logic of AI. The latter approach is precisely what is needed when it comes to thinking through GenAI and rendering it more accountable as a technology that has evolved to define significant aspects of our lives.

    If we allow that the internal workings of AI are opaque to users and programmers alike, it is all the more crucial that we explore how art practices – and the humanities more broadly – can encourage us to think from within these unaccountable systems. In doing so we could significantly improve levels of understanding and engagement with a technology that is defining the future and our relationship to it.

    Anthony Downey 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. If we fully engage with how generative AI works, we can still create original art – https://theconversation.com/if-we-fully-engage-with-how-generative-ai-works-we-can-still-create-original-art-251993

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Art Advisor Lisa Schiff Sentenced To 30 Months In Prison For Defrauding Clients

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that LISA SCHIFF, a Manhattan-based art advisor focused on contemporary art, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison by U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken for perpetrating a multi-year scheme in which she defrauded the clients of her art advisory business of approximately $6.5 million in connection with the purchase and sale of approximately fifty-five artworks. 

    Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “For five years, Lisa Schiff breached the trust of her art advisory clients by diverting millions of dollars to pay her own business and personal expenses, and to fund a lavish lifestyle. Because of Schiff’s lies, and her illusory art advisory scam, Schiff will now serve a substantial sentence in prison.”   

    According to the Information, plea agreement, and statements made in court:

    From 2018 through May 2023, SCHIFF engaged in a scheme to defraud clients of her art advisory business, Schiff Fine Art (“SFA”) by diverting her clients’ funds—profits from the sale of her clients’ artworks or payments they made to purchase artwork—to pay her own personal and business expenses. SCHIFF advised clients regarding the purchase and sale of artworks and bought and sold artworks on behalf of clients in exchange for a commission. In her role as an art advisor, SCHIFF acted as an intermediary between art galleries and auction houses, and her clients, who were art collectors. Typically, when SCHIFF’s clients bought or sold artworks, payments were routed through SCHIFF’s business, SFA. In addition, when SCHIFF sold artworks on behalf of a client, she often had custody or control of the artworks to coordinate the sale. At times, SCHIFF, through SFA, also sold artwork on consignment on behalf of artists and other galleries.   

    Starting in about 2018, SCHIFF began defrauding her clients in two ways: not remitting payments to her clients when she sold their artwork while not disclosing to her clients that their artworks had, in fact, been sold; and not purchasing artworks on behalf of clients despite representing to her clients that she would purchase certain artworks on their behalf using their funds. Instead of using client funds as promised, SCHIFF diverted her clients’ money to pay her business and personal expenses. SCHIFF lied to her clients and galleries in furtherance of her fraud scheme. For example, when defrauding clients in connection with selling their artwork, SCHIFF at times lied to clients, claiming she had not sold the artwork, or the buyer was delayed in making the payment and SCHIFF still had custody of the artwork when, in fact, SCHIFF had sold the artwork, received payment from the buyer, and delivered the artwork to the buyer. When defrauding clients in connection with purchasing artwork on their behalf, SCHIFF lied to galleries from which she was supposed to purchase artwork on behalf clients, blaming delays in payment on clients when, in fact, clients had already paid SCHIFF for the purchase of the artwork and she had diverted the funds for her own use. In 2020, SCHIFF considered admitting to at least two of her victims that she had stolen millions from them, drafting letters of confession to them, but she never sent the letters and instead continued to defraud these two victims and others for three more years. Over approximately five years, SCHIFF defrauded at least 12 clients, one artist, the estate of another artist, and one gallery, collectively, of at least approximately $6.5 million. During her fraud, SCHIFF lived lavishly and incurred substantial debts, which she paid in part using her victims’ diverted funds.

    In about May 2023, SCHIFF could no longer conceal her scheme due to mounting debts. SCHIFF confessed to several clients that she had stolen their money.

    *                *                *

    SCHIFF, 54, of New York, New York, was sentenced to two years of supervised release. SCHIFF was further ordered to pay forfeiture of $6,408,538.20 and restitution of $9,147,789.26.

    Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Art Crime Team.

    This case is being handled by the Office’s Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cecilia Vogel and Jennifer Ong are in charge of the prosecution.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Who Can Actually Do Your Digital Transformation? Your Summer Intern.

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LAS VEGAS, March 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — DreamFactory and Adalo have announced a strategic partnership to eliminate data bottlenecks and empower employees to build business applications without IT intervention.

    The problem with making things better in corporate America
    They are called ‘data silos’ for a reason, and the bigger the company, the harder it becomes for any innovative spirit to come to life. Within the basement of many Global 2000 companies lies a farm of mainframes multiple decades old, and custom-enterprise contracts require any actual customization to occur through pre-approved consultants armed with GANTT charts that never measure beneath 12 months in length. Legacy systems even stopped DOGE, eliciting cabinet-level frustration from Elon Musk himself that “these systems are so old, my people cannot even connect to the data to see what’s going on.” No wonder 70% of digital transformation projects fail, according to the Boston Consulting Group (BCG)1.

    Bottleneck buster

    DreamFactory and Adalo have partnered to end this ‘integration madness’–providing instant plumbing to old systems and the canvas for employees to create the applications they need to get stuff done–all without any need for coding.

    DreamFactory, a LLM and Application Data Gateway, automates what what many firms are struggling with–connecting old and new systems together while adhering to strict data compliance and security. Through creating a portfolio of standardized Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) behind the corporation’s firewall (even in an air-gapped environment such as the DoD), DreamFactory creates a Control Layer for all system data. These APIs are then federated by Roles Based Access Control, meaning that central IT can determine who gets access to what type of data, solving the problem of LLMs retrieving sensitive data and giving it to those it shouldn’t (known as the deterministic data problem in AI).

    Adalo then takes the data served through DreamFactory’s APIs and is able to represent it in any type of application that a team needs. Featuring a drag-and-drop visual canvas with intuitive flows, Adalo is a No Code builder optimized for creating full-scale applications, including automatic publishing to Apple and Google Play App Stores.

    Executive Insight
    “We’re seeing summer interns looking to take on eight-figure business problems–solving the pain associated with legacy systems that are just too expensive to replace. A great example is a workforce dependent on an ERP and several other systems. Instead of slaving internal processes to what these systems need, eating up employee and manager time, companies are creating custom apps in-house that are fast and intuitive. The idea is these fast internal apps then feed the relevant information back to the older systems. The employees bypass consultants, central IT resourcing, and often any imposed cost centre thresholds. Then, of course, there is a real win and sense of ownership for the team,” said James Crennan, CEO of Adalo and Chair of DreamFactory.

    Why It Matters:
    Legacy systems are bleeding corporate budgets dry while throttling innovation and security. The numbers are staggering:

    • IT Budget Drain: Companies spend up to 80% of their IT budgets just maintaining outdated systems instead of innovating (McKinsey, 2023). Globally, legacy maintenance costs exceed $1.14 trillion per year (Mechanical Orchard, 2025).
    • Productivity Black Hole: Employees waste up to three hours per day due to slow, fragmented legacy systems, costing businesses $35,000 per employee annually (UK Productivity Report, 2024). IT teams are equally drained—spending up to 25 hours per week patching legacy systems (CIO Dive, 2024).
    • Cybersecurity Risks: Aging infrastructure is a prime target for hackers, with unpatched vulnerabilities being the root cause of major breaches like Equifax (147M records exposed) and WannaCry ($4 billion in damages) (Forbes, 2023).
    • Regulatory & Compliance Headaches: Outdated IT makes it harder to meet data regulations like GDPR and CCPA, leading to over $2 billion in fines in 2023 (Statista, 2024).
    • Development Bottlenecks: Legacy-bound companies take 6-18 months longer to launch new digital products, forfeiting 3-8% in annual revenue due to missed market opportunities (Forrester, 2023).

    Companies that modernize see up to 40% gains in productivity, 50% faster transaction speeds, and IT cost reductions of up to 41% (McKinsey, 2024).

    The message is clear: modernizing outdated systems isn’t just an IT decision—it’s a business survival strategy.

    Call to Action:
    For senior executives ready to accelerate their digital transformation, discover how Adalo and DreamFactory are turning everyday employees into agents of change. Reach out to Adalo today for more information or to schedule a demo.

    About Adalo
    Adalo is a leading no-code platform that empowers businesses to build web and mobile applications with a simple drag-and-drop interface. Serving startups to enterprise teams, Adalo transforms ideas into impactful digital solutions without the need for extensive coding.

    About DreamFactory
    DreamFactory is an API integration platform that automatically generates secure REST APIs for diverse data sources, unifying legacy and modern systems under one secure access control plane. Its innovative approach enables enterprises to integrate and extend critical systems efficiently and securely.

    Contact Information

    James Crennan – CEO Adalo, Chairman DreamFactory – james.crennan@adalo.com, +1 (775) 577-7769

    Glen Little – Director of Operations, Adalo – glen.little@adalo.com

    Terence Bennett – CEO DreamFactory – terence.bennett@dreamfactory.com

    References

    1. Boston Consulting Group (2020) Flipping the Odds on Digital Transformation Success. Available at: https://www.bcg.com/publications/2020/increasing-odds-of-success-in-digital-transformation (Accessed: 12 March 2025).
    2. McKinsey & Company (2023) AI for IT modernization: Faster, cheaper, better. Available at: https://www.mckinsey.com (Accessed: 12 March 2025).
    3. Mechanical Orchard (2025) Legacy’s drag on productivity. Available at: https://www.mechanicalorchard.com (Accessed: 12 March 2025).
    4. UK Productivity Report (2024) The cost of inefficient systems on workforce productivity. Available at: https://www.ukproductivity.gov.uk (Accessed: 12 March 2025).
    5. CIO Dive (2024) The hidden costs of maintaining legacy IT. Available at: https://www.ciodive.com (Accessed: 12 March 2025).
    6. Forbes (2023) How outdated IT led to major cybersecurity breaches. Available at: https://www.forbes.com (Accessed: 12 March 2025).
    7. Statista (2024) Global fines for data compliance failures. Available at: https://www.statista.com (Accessed: 12 March 2025).
    8. Forrester Research (2023) The impact of legacy systems on revenue and digital agility. Available at: https://www.forrester.com (Accessed: 12 March 2025).
    9. McKinsey & Company (2024) The cost of technical debt and modernization ROI. Available at: https://www.mckinsey.com (Accessed: 12 March 2025).

    1 ‘Flipping the Odds of Digital Transformation Success’ – BCG

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The USGS Library Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the National Center

    Source: US Geological Survey

    To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the USGS’s National Center, the USGS Library is showcasing its collection of materials documenting the planning, development, and completion of this iconic building.

     

    The events

    On display in the National Center Art Hallway during December and January were original photographs, blueprints, documents, and new photographs, including a group photograph on the roof of the National Center taken in October 2024 when more than 150 USGS employees, retirees, and emeriti stood together for an airborne Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS – or, “drone”) “selfie” that recreated original aerial photographs taken in the early 1970s.

     

    The Library hosted an exhibit-opening panel discussion and reception on Tuesday, December 3, in the Dallas Peck Auditorium. Director David Applegate provided opening remarks about the National Center’s storied history, its current role as the center of the USGS, and future opportunities for science and collaboration. Panelists Susan Russell-Robinson (emeritus and former associate program coordinator, Coastal and Marine Geology Program), Harvey Belkin (emeritus research geologist, Geology, Energy, and Minerals Science Center), Jim Devine (former senior advisor for science applications), and Jane Hammarstrom (research geologist) shared stories about the building’s early years, including:

    • Commuting on the employee shuttle bus between downtown D.C. and Reston, which included snacks and beverages on Friday afternoons.
    • Navigating the new building, with its labyrinthine hallways and colorful floor plans. Floors were initially identified by distinctive carpet and wall colors. Navigating the building often involved using landmarks like an American flag or even a “Snoopy” poster used as a waypoint. This system led to episodes of hijinks, such as the surreptitious wall repainting using the color of a different floor, and the moving of navigational landmarks to confusing yet comedic effect.
    • Enjoying a more open environment where exterior doors were left open and staff were not required to show identification.
    • The challenge of packing and unpacking vast numbers of geologic samples and sometimes finding that on-the-fly customization was needed when storage systems didn’t work as intended.
    • The plan to have a helipad on the roof for Secretarial visits. (Once it was determined that fume hood exhaust from the building’s labs posed a potential explosion hazard, the plan was scrapped.) 

    Sandy Brosnahan, the head of the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center’s UAS program, organized the UAS overflight with logistical support from Jessica DeWitt from the Florence Bascom Geoscience Center. Facilities support for the rooftop activities was provided by Alan Ragsdale and Erica Lowe.

    Building history highlights

    As the National Center in Reston marks this milestone, it’s an excellent time to reflect on its history. The journey to the National Center began long before its groundbreaking in 1971. In the years following World War II, the USGS had expanded significantly, operating out of more than 30 different buildings across Washington, D.C., and its surrounding areas, from Silver Spring to Arlington to McLean. With the need for a centralized location to support its growing mission, plans were set in motion to relocate the USGS to a single site. 

    After considering multiple location options, the decision was made to build in Reston, which was then a rural area far from the bustling heart of D.C. In 1970, the Bureau of the Budget approved the project to move forward and in 1971, the George H. Hyman Construction Company of Washington was awarded the $44 million contract to construct the USGS National Center. At the groundbreaking on July 31, 1971, Secretary of the Interior Rogers C.B. Morton turned the ceremonial first shovelful of earth. 

    The challenges of moving to a less-developed location were numerous. Traffic studies were conducted to determine how to manage the daily influx of 2,500 employees into Reston, which at the time had only one bridge and narrow roads. Despite these hurdles, the site offered opportunities that could not be realized in the congested downtown D.C. area.  

    The building’s unique design, which evokes a compass rose, has become synonymous with the bureau’s mission of scientific exploration and discovery. The first occupants of the National Center included a large number of staff and machinery to conduct mapping, printing and the reproduction of USGS products. The building has since housed numerous labs, offices, and support functions, serving as a hub for geological, biological, and environmental research that serves the U.S. and the world.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Raleigh Armed Narcotics Trafficker Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    RALEIGH, N.C. – Darius Donte Privette, a/k/a “Heavy,” a 31-year-old resident of Zebulon, N.C. was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl, crack cocaine, cocaine hydrochloride, and methamphetamine while armed in the Raleigh, Louisburg, and Zebulon areas.  Privette pled guilty on November 12, 2024.

    According to the court documents and other information presented in court, the investigation began on January 19, 2023, when officers with the Raleigh Police Department (RPD), stopped Privette on an outstanding warrant for his arrest.  While conducting a search incident to his arrest, law enforcement located and seized a large sum of money and a key to his car. 

    A search of Privette’s car resulted in the seizure of the following items: 13 round blue tablets labeled as Percocet but containing fentanyl and ANPP, a fentanyl precursor, with a total weight of 1.43 grams of fentanyl; 22 MDMA pills with a total weight of 8.55 grams; 5.88 grams of crack cocaine; 9.94 grams of cocaine; 48.2 grams of marijuana; a 9mm firearm; various ammunition; various drug paraphernalia including digital scales and rolling papers; and a total of $1,886.00 in U.S. currency.

    In an unrelated investigation, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office in Louisburg, North Carolina conducted three controlled purchases of crack cocaine from Privette in October and November 2023.  During each buy, Privette sold a confidential informant approximately one gram of crack in exchange for $100.  

    Law enforcement then executed a search warrant on Privette’s home on November 9, 2023.  In the upstairs bedroom, officers seized a large amount of marijuana, U.S. currency, and a firearm.  On the back porch, law enforcement found a drum-style large-capacity magazine inside a children’s backpack. In total, law enforcement recovered 3 firearms, 1 large-capacity magazine; approximately 348.8 grams of cocaine hydrochloride, 898.11 grams of marijuana, a drug ledger, and a total of $5,020.00.  

    The investigation further revealed that Privette had been previously convicted of Possessing Marijuana, Carrying a Concealed Firearm, Fleeing Law Enforcement with a Motor Vehicle, and Possession with Intent to Sell Cocaine.

    Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III.  The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Raleigh Police Department, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, and Nash County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Nucci prosecuted the case.

    Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for case number 5:24-CR-00199-D-001.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Ukraine deal: Europe has learned from the failed 2014 Minsk accords with Putin. Trump has not

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Natalya Chernyshova, Senior Lecturer in Modern European History, Queen Mary University of London

    Germany’s ex chancellor, Angela Merkel, and France’s former president, François Hollande, were key to brokering the Minsk agreements. Sodel Vladyslav / Shutterstock

    The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has agreed to pause attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure for 30 days following a phone call with his American counterpart, Donald Trump. On social media, Trump said the call was “very good and productive” and came “with an understanding that we will be working quickly to have a complete ceasefire”.

    This optimism is misplaced. The White House did not mention that Putin issued additional conditions for a ceasefire. The Kremlin demands that Ukraine be effectively disarmed, leaving it defenceless against a Russian takeover. Such terms would be unacceptable to Ukraine and its European partners.

    At this juncture, Trump and his negotiators would do well to ponder why previous attempts to restrain Russia and secure a lasting peace for Ukraine did not succeed.

    This war did not start when shells began to rain on Kyiv in February 2022. Russia had already been waging an undeclared war on its neighbour for nearly eight years in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas, where pro-Russian proxy forces have been stoking up trouble in the border regions of Luhansk and Donetsk.

    Attempts to end the fighting there were made in September 2014 and February 2015, when Russia and Ukraine signed ceasefire agreements during negotiations in Minsk, Belarus.

    Both sets of Minsk agreements proved to be non-starters. The fighting in the region rumbled on until it culminated in Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The accords stored problems for the future.

    Russia-backed separatists have controlled the south-eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk since 2015.
    Viacheslav Lopatin / Shutterstock

    Minsk-1 and Minsk-2

    The first Minsk protocols were signed in 2014 by Russia, Ukraine, separatists from Donbas and representatives from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The agreement provided for an immediate ceasefire monitored by the OSCE, the withdrawal of “foreign mercenaries” from Ukraine and the establishment of a demilitarised buffer zone.

    But Moscow also insisted that Kyiv grant temporary “special status” to the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, the two separatist regions in Donbas. Instead of helping Ukraine regain control over its eastern territories, the agreement allowed the Russia-backed rebels to hold local elections and legalised them as a party to the conflict.

    The ceasefire collapsed within days of signing. The provisions that sought to demarcate the lines of the conflict and give Ukraine back control over its eastern border were not observed by the rebels, and fighting intensified during the winter.

    With the death toll rising, the leaders of France and Germany rushed to broker a fresh round of negotiations in February 2015. The resulting accords, which were known as Minsk-2, also failed to bring peace.

    Russia and its proxy militants in Donbas immediately and repeatedly violated its terms. Astonishingly, Minsk-2 did not even mention Russia, despite it signing the protocols. Moscow continued to deny its involvement in eastern Ukraine, while stepping up armed assistance to the rebels.

    Kyiv was saddled with peace terms that were impossible to implement unless Ukraine was prepared to throw away its sovereignty. Minsk-2 stipulated that the “special status” of the eastern separatist regions was to become permanent, and that the Ukrainian constitution was to be amended to allow for “decentralisation” of power from Kyiv to the rebel regions.

    These regions were to be granted autonomy in financial matters, responsibility for their stretch of the border with Russia, and the right to conclude foreign agreements and hold referenda. To undercut Ukrainian independence further, a neutrality clause inserted into its constitution would effectively bar the country’s entry into Nato.

    Understandably, no one in Kyiv rushed to implement these self-destructive terms. In an interview with German magazine Der Spiegel in 2023, Volodymyr Zelensky said that when he became Ukraine’s president in 2019 and examined Minsk-2, he “did not recognise any desire in the agreements to allow Ukraine its independence”.

    Russia-backed separatists in Sloviansk, a city in Donetsk Oblast, in 2014.
    Fotokon / Shutterstock

    Zelensky’s comment points to the fundamental flaw of the Minsk-2 agreement. Its western brokers failed to recognise that Russian war aims were irreconcilable with Ukrainian sovereignty. Moscow’s objective from the start was to use Donbas to destabilise the government in Kyiv and gain control over Ukraine.

    Western peacemakers searched for a compromise, but the Kremlin used Minsk-2 to advance its goals. As Duncan Allan of the Chatham House research institute noted in 2020: “Russia sees the Minsk agreements as tools with which to break Ukraine’s sovereignty.” The war in Donbas raged on and, by 2020, had claimed 14,000 lives, with 1.5 million people becoming refugees.

    Germany’s ex-chancellor, Angela Merkel, a key broker, subsequently defended the Minsk agreements. She said they bought Kyiv time to arm itself against Russia. It was a costly purchase. Minsk-2 froze the conflict in one locality rather than ended it. And it encouraged Russia, paving the way for a full-scale invasion.

    Emphasising Ukrainian sovereignty

    The existential differences between Ukraine and Russia that plagued the Minsk agreements remain today. Ukraine has demonstrated its resolve to defend its sovereignty, while Russia’s invasion in 2022 testifies to its determination to squash Ukrainian resolve. The timing of the attack so close to the seventh anniversary of Minsk-2 adds grim emphasis to that point.

    This clash of objectives must be addressed head-on in any peace negotiations. The only way to secure lasting peace in Europe is to avoid rewarding the aggressor and punishing its victim.

    The Kremlin has already openly declared that it sees Trump-led brokerage as the west’s acknowledgement of Russian strategic superiority. It needs to be disabused of this notion. As argued by Nataliya Bugayova, a fellow at the Institute for the Study of War, the war is not lost yet. Russia is far from invulnerable, and it can be made to accept defeat.

    But for any agreement to be effective, there can be no ambiguity or middle ground on the subject of Ukrainian sovereignty. It must be protected and backed by security guarantees.

    So far, the Trump administration has shown little understanding of this. But ten years down the line from Minsk-2, Europeans have finally grasped it.

    Finland’s president, Aleksander Stubbs, told reporters on March 19 that Ukraine must “absolutely” not lose sovereignty and territory. And, on the day Trump and Putin had their discussion, Germany’s parliament voted for a massive boost in defence spending – another indicator that Europeans are no longer taking Putin on trust.

    Natalya Chernyshova received funding from the British Academy during 2020-2022.

    – ref. Ukraine deal: Europe has learned from the failed 2014 Minsk accords with Putin. Trump has not – https://theconversation.com/ukraine-deal-europe-has-learned-from-the-failed-2014-minsk-accords-with-putin-trump-has-not-252540

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: XRP Goes Multi-Chain: Bitget Wallet’s Super DEX Unlocks XRP Trading Amid Ripple’s Legal Win

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, March 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget Wallet, a leading Web3 non-custodial wallet, now enables seamless XRP trading through its Super DEX, offering users deep liquidity, optimized swap routes, and gas fee flexibility across multiple chains.

    Super DEX offers a seamless multi-chain trading experience, integrating 130+ blockchains and aggregating liquidity from top DEXs for secure and efficient swaps. It enables XRP and other long-tail asset trading with intelligent routing and slippage optimization, ensuring the best execution. Built-in gas abstraction allows users to pay network fees with multiple mainstream tokens, removing friction from cross-chain transactions. With robust security measures and MEV protection by default, Bitget Wallet ensures safe, unrestricted access to XRP trading as its adoption grows for borderless payments.

    Following the U.S. SEC’s recent decision to drop its appeal against Ripple, XRP has surged in market confidence, reinforcing its position as a key digital asset for cross-border payments. To celebrate, Bitget Wallet is launching an XRP trading campaign for new users, featuring a $10,000 prize pool in XRP and Gas Vouchers. From March 19, 23:00 to March 21, 23:00 (UTC+8), new Bitget Wallet users who cross-chain swap at least $50 in XRP will receive $10 in XRP and Gas Vouchers, available on a first-come, first-served basis. With $5,000 in XRP and $5,000 in Gas Vouchers up for grabs, this campaign aims to introduce more users to Super DEX’s XRP trading capabilities, making cross-chain swaps easier than ever.

    “Our goal is to make Web3 trading effortless, and this XRP campaign is the perfect way to welcome new users into the ecosystem,” said Alvin Kan, COO of Bitget Wallet. “With XRP’s resurgence, we are doubling down on our commitment to cross-chain accessibility, allowing traders to capitalize on market trends without the friction of high fees or complicated processes.”

    About Bitget Wallet
    Bitget Wallet is the home of Web3, uniting endless possibilities in one non-custodial wallet. With over 60 million users, it offers comprehensive onchain services, including asset management, instant swaps, rewards, staking, trading tools, live market data, a DApp browser and crypto payment solutions. Supporting over 130 blockchains, 20,000+ DApps, and millions of tokens, Bitget Wallet enables seamless multi-chain trading across hundreds of DEXs and cross-chain bridges, along with a $300+ million protection fund to ensure safety of users’ assets. Experience Bitget Wallet Lite to start a Web3 journey.

    For more information, visit: X | Telegram | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | TikTok | Discord | Facebook

    For media inquiries, please contact media.web3@bitget.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5c1d27ed-0d14-4085-be84-26f0b92e8c47

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City Mayor proposes boundary expansion amid council reorganisation plans

    Source: City of Leicester

    LEICESTER City Council will this Friday (21 Mar) submit its interim proposal for the reshaping of local councils across the city, Leicestershire and Rutland.

    The interim submission – which includes outline plans for expanding Leicester’s boundaries – has been put forward in response to the Government’s invitation to councils to explore how local government could be reorganised.

    It proposes the creation of an expanded city council alongside a second, new unitary authority covering the remaining area of Leicestershire and Rutland, both meeting the Government’s target population of 500,000 or more residents.

    Reorganising the ten existing local councils into two unitary authorities of comparable size would deliver more cost-effective public services, streamlined decision making and a path to financial sustainability.

    To achieve this, the city council’s interim submission outlines a sensible expansion to Leicester’s boundary to include adjoining suburbs and space for future housing growth. This could include land currently within the boundaries of Charnwood, Harborough, Oadby and Wigston and Blaby councils. 

    City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “Any realistic option for local government reorganisation in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland must address the historic accident of our city’s boundaries.

    “Leicester is one of the most tightly constrained major cities in the UK. When you compare Leicester to cities like Bradford, Leeds or Sheffield, our population density is huge because our city covers such a relatively small area – less than a fifth of those cities.

    “That’s because, in the 1970s, when the country’s non-metropolitan districts were determined, the boundaries of most other cities were extended while ours have remained largely unchanged since the 1920s.

    “Critically, our almost uniquely constrained boundary means that now – unlike comparable cities – we have no chance of delivering the extra housing that our city so desperately needs within existing confines.

    “The county and district councils all know that the existing city boundary makes no sense and has to change. The Conservative leader of the county council and the Liberal Democrat leader of Rutland joined me in writing to the Minister in January saying those boundaries should be extended.

    “Unfortunately, although understandably, the forthcoming county elections mean they have chosen to withdraw from that initial proposal. I hope that we will be able to return to sensible discussions about where boundary lines should be drawn after the May elections.”

    Expansion of the city’s boundaries is key to unlocking devolution and the transfer of more powers and funding from central government to a new Mayoral Strategic Authority for the area.

    Initial engagement with stakeholders has been positive and further consultation is planned over the coming months as the proposal is developed, ahead of its final submission in November. It will then be up to the Government to determine which proposals are taken forward and to lead on formal consultation.

    The English Devolution White Paper – published in December 2024 – sets out the Government’s intention to end two tier councils, such as in Leicestershire, and create new, larger single tier unitary authorities. This will see an end to small district councils and pave the way for strategic authorities across England which will be given greater powers over issues such as planning and transport.

    Leicester City Council’s interim proposals for local government reorganisation would see the city population grow from 372,000 now to just over 600,000 by 2028. It would also provide more land for new development and help to accommodate the estimated future need for 32,000 new homes, 18,000 new affordable homes and an expansion of existing employment land.

    Leicester City Council’s full interim submission for local government reorganisation is available to view online at www.leicester.gov.uk/keystrategies

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department Announces Actions to Combat Cost-of-Living Crisis, Including Rescinding 11 Pieces of Guidance

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    The Justice Department today announced that it is taking action in response to President Trump’s Presidential Memorandum “Delivering Emergency Price Relief for American Families and Defeating the Cost-of-Living Crisis.” First, the Department is withdrawing 11 pieces of guidance to streamline Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance resources for American businesses. Next, the Department is raising awareness about tax incentives for businesses related to their compliance with the ADA.

    The Jan. 20 Presidential Memorandum described the regulatory demands put in place by the prior administration and called on the heads of all executive departments and agencies to take appropriate actions to lower the cost of living throughout the country. Today’s withdrawal of 11 pieces of unnecessary and outdated guidance will aid businesses in complying with the ADA by eliminating unnecessary review and focusing only on current ADA guidance. Avoiding confusion and reducing the time spent understanding compliance may allow businesses to deliver price relief to consumers.

    In addition, to further the goals of the Presidential Memorandum and to aid businesses during tax season, the Department is highlighting tax incentives available for businesses to help cover the costs of making access improvements for customers or employees with disabilities. The Department expects that small businesses will find this reminder helpful in reducing costs, especially as they prepare their tax filings. An explanation of these tax incentives is featured prominently on the ADA.gov website.

    “The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that businesses and members of the public can easily understand their rights and obligations, including the tax incentives that are available to help businesses comply with the ADA,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Mac Warner of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Putting money back into the pockets of business owners helps everyone by allowing those businesses to pass on cost savings to consumers and bolster the economy.”

    The Department has identified the following 11 pieces of guidance for withdrawal:

    1. COVID-19 and the Americans with Disabilities Act: Can a business stop me from bringing in my service animal because of the COVID-19 pandemic? (2021)
    2. COVID-19 and the Americans with Disabilities Act: Does the Department of Justice issue exemptions from mask requirements? (2021)
    3. COVID-19 and the Americans with Disabilities Act: Are there resources available that help explain my rights as an employee with a disability during the COVID-19 pandemic? (2021)
    4. COVID-19 and the Americans with Disabilities Act: Can a hospital or medical facility exclude all “visitors” even where, due to a patient’s disability, the patient needs help from a family member, companion, or aide in order to equally access care? (2021)
    5. COVID-19 and the Americans with Disabilities Act: Does the ADA apply to outdoor restaurants (sometimes called “streateries”) or other outdoor retail spaces that have popped up since COVID-19? (2021)
    6. Expanding Your Market: Maintaining Accessible Features in Retail Establishments (2009)
    7. Expanding Your Market: Gathering Input from Customers with Disabilities (2007)
    8. Expanding Your Market: Accessible Customer Service Practices for Hotel and Lodging Guests with Disabilities (2006)
    9. Reaching out to Customers with Disabilities (2005)
    10. Americans with Disabilities Act: Assistance at Self-Serve Gas Stations (1999)
    11. Five Steps to Make New Lodging Facilities Comply with the ADA (1999)

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Violence triggers record displacements in Haiti’s capital

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Peace and Security

    In just one month, intensifying violence has forced over 60,000 people to flee their homes in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, marking another grim record in the country’s worsening humanitarian crisis.

    Gang violence, displacement and instability have long gripped Port-au-Prince and other parts of the country, but attacks over the past two months have shattered even the few remaining gang-free areas, leaving communities increasingly vulnerable.

    The Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince remains closed, and many neighbourhoods – once seen as relatively safe – are now under siege.

    Areas including Delmas, Carrefour-Feuilles, Martissant, Fort National, Pétion-Ville and Tabarre have been heavily impacted, forcing thousands of residents to flee in search of safety.

    The majority have sought refuge in 48 displacement sites, including 12 newly established ones, while others rely on overstretched host families for shelter.

    Forced to flee again

    “This alarming surge in displacements underscores the relentless cycle of violence devastating Haiti’s capital,” said Grégoire Goodstein, the UN migration agency’s (IOM) chief in Haiti.

    “We have never observed such a large number of people moving in this short time. Families are being uprooted time and time again, forced to leave everything behind as they flee for safety. Many of those displaced were already living in precarious conditions after previous displacements,” he explained.

    The crisis has reached unprecedented levels, with over one million people now forcibly displaced – three times the number recorded just a year ago.

    Yet, as suffering reaches new extremes, Haiti’s crisis continues to struggle for the world’s attention, and humanitarian efforts remain severely underfunded.

    Reaching a breaking point

    Humanitarian agencies warn that the situation is reaching a breaking point.

    “People fleeing violence need immediate protection, food, water and shelter. The situation is worsening by the day, and without additional support, we risk seeing an even greater humanitarian catastrophe unfold,” emphasised Mr. Goodstein.

    IOM continues its work in providing lifesaving assistance to displaced communities in Haiti.

    In the past month alone, over 16,000 people were reached with clean water and hygiene support, while 3,700 people benefited from emergency shelter, hygiene kits, medical care and psychosocial support.

    Despite these efforts, the growing number of displaced persons has stretched available resources to the limit.

    Call to action

    Beyond immediate aid, security in Haiti remains a pressing concern.

    Without greater international support, including enhanced resources for the Haitian National Police, restoring stability and protecting vulnerable communities will remain a challenge, IOM explained.

    From emergency relief to long-term recovery, the agency remains committed to providing relief and support for displaced Haitians, ensuring they receive the aid they need to survive and rebuild.

    However, without urgent international intervention, Haiti risks descending further into crisis.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein Announces 2025-2027 Budget Proposal to Keep North Carolina Strong

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Stein Announces 2025-2027 Budget Proposal to Keep North Carolina Strong

    Governor Stein Announces 2025-2027 Budget Proposal to Keep North Carolina Strong
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today, Governor Josh Stein joined State Budget Director Kristin Walker to announce his 2025-2027 budget proposal to keep North Carolina strong. The Governor’s budget makes key investments in the economy, families, education, workforce, health care, and public safety to help ensure every North Carolinian has a shot at a brighter future.

    “North Carolina is strong because our people are strong, and we must work to maintain our strength so that future generations will continue to reap the benefits of our work,” said Governor Josh Stein. “My budget is balanced and puts kids and families – their job opportunities, their education, their wallets, their health and their safety – first.”

    Building A Strong Workforce

    Every North Carolinian deserves the opportunity to get a good-paying job or start a small business. The Governor’s budget expands job opportunities by investing in apprenticeship programs, providing free community college to students pursuing credentials in high-demand industries, and supporting people rejoining the workforce after incarceration. 

    Strengthening Families & Lowering Costs

    Too many North Carolinians are struggling to pay their bills as costs continue to climb, especially housing and child care. Governor Stein’s budget seeks to strengthen families and lower costs by expanding high-quality child care options and paying early childhood educators more, cutting taxes for middle class families, and building more homes. The budget’s targeted tax cuts will put more money back in people’s pockets and help offset the cost of child care and other basic necessities. 

    Improving Public Education

    Investing in North Carolina’s children is an investment in the state’s future. Governor Stein’s budget raises starting teacher pay to be the highest in the Southeast and rewards and retains teachers so that students have access to the best education. It also invests in student health by hiring more school nurses, counselors, and social workers and providing free breakfast in our public schools. It takes on school safety by upgrading school infrastructure and reduces the distraction of cell phones in classrooms. Finally, the Governor’s budget proposes a $4 billion bond to modernize old and outdated school buildings.

    Keeping North Carolinians Safe & Healthy

    Governor Stein is committed to keeping North Carolinians safe & healthy. The Governor’s budget addresses the shortage of law enforcement officers with raises for state law enforcement officers, particularly correctional officers and youth counselors. It also recommends investments that get deadly fentanyl off the street, solve cold sexual assault cases, and fund body cameras to produce objective evidence. Governor Stein’s budget strengthens the health of all North Carolinians by promoting affordable health care, supporting rural clinics, helping people who are struggling with substance use disorder, and ensuring people have clean air to breathe and clean water to drink.

    Promoting Fiscal Soundness & Operational Excellence

    Taxpayers deserve to know that their money is being well spent. The Governor’s budget establishes an IMPACT Center to improve efficiency and effectiveness of state programs so that we can achieve greater value for every tax dollar and ensure a simple, user-friendly experience for North Carolinians. It also recognizes that North Carolina’s needed investments are impossible with current pre-programmed tax breaks for corporations and wealthy individuals. Governor Stein’s budget proposes freezing current individual and corporate tax rates so that the state can keep up with its rapid population growth and avoid a fiscal cliff.

    Click here to read Governor Stein’s full budget proposal.  

    Mar 19, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney announces immigration case updates for the Eastern District of Virginia

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, announced today significant case updates on six immigration cases in the district.

    On Jan. 20 the President signed executive orders addressing the enforcement of U.S. immigration laws. Protecting the American People Against Invasion recognized that enforcing our Nation’s immigration laws is critically important to the national security and public safety of the United States, and that it is the policy of the United States to faithfully execute the immigration laws against all inadmissible and removable aliens, particularly those aliens who threaten the safety or security of the American people. The order tasked the Department of Justice with prioritizing the prosecution of criminal offenses related to the unauthorized entry or continued unauthorized presence of aliens in the United States. Securing Our Borders prioritizes the pursuit of criminal charges against illegal aliens who violate immigration laws and against those who facilitate their unlawful presence in the United States.

    Carlos Alberto Sosa Horellana, a Honduran national, was removed from the United States in 2004. On Nov. 13, 2009, Sosa Horellana was removed again after reentering the United States and being convicted for an aggravated criminal felony in 2007 on two counts of rape with a child under age 13 as the victim. On Feb. 4, Sosa Horellana was arrested in Stafford, and a federal grand jury returned an indictment on March 4 charging him with illegally reentering the United States after removal for an aggravated felony conviction and failing to register as a sex offender. (Case No. 1:25-cr-48)

    On Oct. 2, 2023, Mario Ernesto Ortiz Escobar, a Salvadoran national, was convicted in the Southern District of Texas for illegally reentering the United States after a felony conviction and on Oct. 27, 2023, he was removed. Ortiz Escobar returned, however, and on Feb, 24 pled guilty to illegally reentering the United States. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 5. (Case No. 3:25-cr-31)

    Mayron De Jesus Salazar-De La Rosa, a Guatemalan national, was removed on April 3, 2014.  Salazar-De La Rosa subsequently returned and was found in Alexandria. On Feb. 27, he pled guilty to illegally reentering the United States. Salazar-De La Rosa is scheduled to be sentenced on May 29. (Case No. 1:25-cr-11)

    Jose Charles Medrano, a Mexican national, first entered the United States illegally in 2008. After voluntarily departing the country, Medrano illegally reentered the United States and on July 2, 2014, was convicted of driving under the influence (DUI). He was removed to Mexico on July 31, 2014. After illegally reentering the United States in January 2015, Medrano was convicted on March 21, 2016, of making terroristic threats in Houston, Texas. Medrano was removed to Mexico on March 29, 2016. When Medrano reentered the United States again, immigration officials located him and immediately removed him to Mexico on May 31, 2016. On April 22, 2023, Medrano was arrested in Henrico County for DUI and felony child abuse/neglect. On June 28, 2023, Medrano pled guilty to DUI and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and on Oct. 10, 2023, was removed again to Mexico. On August 17, 2024, Medrano again was arrested in Henrico County, this time charged with assault and battery of a family member and abduction. On Jan. 24, 2025, he was convicted of assault and battery of a family member. On March 5, Medrano pled guilty to illegally reentering the United States and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 20. (Case No. 3:24-cr-175)

    On July 8, 2019, Brayan Josue Flores-Torres, a Salvadoran national and MS-13 member, was arrested in Prince William County and charged with aggravated malicious wounding. On April 23, 2020, Flores-Torres pled guilty to contributing to the delinquency of a minor, possession of illegal alcohol, and assault and battery by mob. On Aug. 14, 2020, Flores-Torres was removed to El Salvador. On Dec. 13, 2022, Chesapeake Police responded to a report of a stabbing in which the victim, who was dating Flores-Torres’ ex-girlfriend, identified Flores-Torres as the person who stabbed him. Flores-Torres was arrested following a high-speed chase. On March 21, 2024, Flores-Torres pled guilty to eluding police and failing to identify himself. On Nov. 7, 2024, Flores-Torres pled guilty to illegally reentering the United States. He was sentenced on March 11 and is subject to removal. (Case No. 2:23-CR-59)

    Melvin Mauricio Valencia Gil, a Salvadoran national, first illegally entered the United States before 2017. On Aug. 20, 2018, Valencia Gil was convicted in Nassau County, New York, of attempted murder, criminal possession of a weapon, and reckless endangerment. On Nov. 26, 2021, Valencia Gil, a member of the Latin Kings gang, was removed to El Salvador. Less than a week after his removal, Valencia Gil left El Salvador and illegally reentered the United States. After being involved in a car accident in Virginia, Valencia Gil was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 2, 2023, for illegal reentry. He pled guilty on Sept. 23, 2024, and was sentenced on March 18 to three years in prison. (Case No. 3:23-CR-54)

    Operation Take Back America is 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.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for the case number provided above.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Announces Actions to Combat Cost-of-Living Crisis, Including Rescinding 11 Pieces of Guidance

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    The Justice Department today announced that it is taking action in response to President Trump’s Presidential Memorandum “Delivering Emergency Price Relief for American Families and Defeating the Cost-of-Living Crisis.” First, the Department is withdrawing 11 pieces of guidance to streamline Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance resources for American businesses. Next, the Department is raising awareness about tax incentives for businesses related to their compliance with the ADA.

    The Jan. 20 Presidential Memorandum described the regulatory demands put in place by the prior administration and called on the heads of all executive departments and agencies to take appropriate actions to lower the cost of living throughout the country. Today’s withdrawal of 11 pieces of unnecessary and outdated guidance will aid businesses in complying with the ADA by eliminating unnecessary review and focusing only on current ADA guidance. Avoiding confusion and reducing the time spent understanding compliance may allow businesses to deliver price relief to consumers.

    In addition, to further the goals of the Presidential Memorandum and to aid businesses during tax season, the Department is highlighting tax incentives available for businesses to help cover the costs of making access improvements for customers or employees with disabilities. The Department expects that small businesses will find this reminder helpful in reducing costs, especially as they prepare their tax filings. An explanation of these tax incentives is featured prominently on the ADA.gov website.

    “The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that businesses and members of the public can easily understand their rights and obligations, including the tax incentives that are available to help businesses comply with the ADA,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Mac Warner of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Putting money back into the pockets of business owners helps everyone by allowing those businesses to pass on cost savings to consumers and bolster the economy.”

    The Department has identified the following 11 pieces of guidance for withdrawal:

    1. COVID-19 and the Americans with Disabilities Act: Can a business stop me from bringing in my service animal because of the COVID-19 pandemic? (2021)
    2. COVID-19 and the Americans with Disabilities Act: Does the Department of Justice issue exemptions from mask requirements? (2021)
    3. COVID-19 and the Americans with Disabilities Act: Are there resources available that help explain my rights as an employee with a disability during the COVID-19 pandemic? (2021)
    4. COVID-19 and the Americans with Disabilities Act: Can a hospital or medical facility exclude all “visitors” even where, due to a patient’s disability, the patient needs help from a family member, companion, or aide in order to equally access care? (2021)
    5. COVID-19 and the Americans with Disabilities Act: Does the ADA apply to outdoor restaurants (sometimes called “streateries”) or other outdoor retail spaces that have popped up since COVID-19? (2021)
    6. Expanding Your Market: Maintaining Accessible Features in Retail Establishments (2009)
    7. Expanding Your Market: Gathering Input from Customers with Disabilities (2007)
    8. Expanding Your Market: Accessible Customer Service Practices for Hotel and Lodging Guests with Disabilities (2006)
    9. Reaching out to Customers with Disabilities (2005)
    10. Americans with Disabilities Act: Assistance at Self-Serve Gas Stations (1999)
    11. Five Steps to Make New Lodging Facilities Comply with the ADA (1999)

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy Meets Tech Leaders in Lafayette

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
    LAFAYETTE – This afternoon, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) met with leaders of the Lafayette Regional Technology Council to discuss their efforts to encourage the growth of high-tech businesses in their community. They also discussed how the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the Opportunity Machine incubator is supporting their efforts.
    “We want the next Amazon, Google, or SpaceX to lay roots in Louisiana,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Tech entrepreneurs and academic leaders are making that possible in Acadiana. And my infrastructure bill helps by extending high-speed broadband, so high-tech businesses can emerge and our young people have the same access to online resources no matter where they live.”
    During his time in Congress, Cassidy has worked to provide resources that make it possible for high-tech businesses to grow throughout Louisiana. In 2021, Cassidy secured $65 billion for broadband in his Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which will connect communities throughout America to high-speed Internet. This includes a $1.35 billion investment announced for Louisiana last year to connect 100,000 homes and 35,000 businesses.
    Cassidy also secured funds in Fiscal Year 2024 for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to help attract bio-medical start-up companies to Lafayette. He also visited FlyGuys, Inc. in February of 2022, an example of a Lafayette-based company using modern drone technology to perform aerial data collection for governmental and commercial entities.
    Founded in February, the Lafayette Regional Technology Council is working to develop and retain talent in the technology sector, facilitate connections and knowledge sharing across the technology community, promote Lafayette’s technology capabilities outside the region to encourage business growth and advocate for policies that support their efforts. A 15-member Steering Committee is at the heart of the council, uniting leaders from across Lafayette’s technology landscape.
    After the meeting, Cassidy took a tour of Opportunity Machine’s incubator and met young entrepreneurs building their businesses. He was welcomed to the meeting by Mr. Ben Johnson, chair of the council.
    “We are grateful to Senator Cassidy for taking the time to engage in meaningful dialogue with the Lafayette Regional Technology Council about the critical role technology and innovation play in driving economic growth and ensuring our community, state and nation remain competitive in a rapidly evolving world,” said Mr. Johnson. “His willingness to listen and explore solutions reinforces the importance of investing in innovation to strengthen our future.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Coalition of Education Groups Hosts CT Premiere of “Counted Out” Math Documentary

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    On March 5, several Connecticut educational leadership groups co-hosted the statewide premiere of the documentary film “Counted Out” to support dialogue about Connecticut’s Equity in Mathematics Education joint position statement, which was unanimously endorsed by the Connecticut State Board of Education in 2023.

    “This statement asserts that mathematics education must support students’ math identities, ensure we modernize our mathematics programming, and structurally align and advance systems around this common vision,” said UConn alum Jeffrey Corbishley ’07 (ED), ’08 MA, president-elect of the Associated Teachers of Mathematics in Connecticut and emcee of the event.

    UConn alum Jeffrey Corbishley ’07 (ED), ’08 MA, is the president-elect of the Associated Teachers of Mathematics in Connecticut and emceed the film screening on March 5. (Shawn Kornegay/Neag School)

    Created by filmmaker Vicki Abeles, “Counted Out” focuses on how issues, such as political polarization, racial biases, social injustice, economic inequity, and climate change, can be better understood and addressed with math. In a world increasingly driven by data and numbers, the documentary states that understanding math is a powerful tool that can shape outcomes.

    More than 400 educators, community members, and leaders from workforce development and civic groups attended the screening, which was held at Central Connecticut State University’s Alumni Hall. Corbishley said the event was a unique opportunity for organizations to come together and begin conversations “around the need to look at the role of mathematics in the world and our need to make critical changes in mathematics education.”

    Besides Central, other co-hosts and sponsors of the event included:

    “Our theme in Connecticut this year is a universe of opportunities,” said Connecticut Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker, who gave welcome remarks at the event. “This means that, for all our students and school staff, there’s a future that knows no bounds and part of these universal opportunities is our work to support mathematics education.”

    “Math is more than numbers,” said Steven Minkler, dean of Central’s School of Engineering, Science, and Technology. “It’s a language that shapes how we understand and engage with the world around us. That’s why it’s our shared responsibility to ensure that every student has the opportunity to develop strong quantitative reasoning skills and the confidence to apply them in school, in their careers, and in their daily lives.”

    Jo Boaler, who is an author, co-founder of the math organization youcubed, and the Nomellini and Olivier Professor of Education at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Education, is featured in the documentary and attended the Connecticut premiere as keynote speaker, sharing insights, facilitating dialogue, and extending the film’s message.

    “Every time we learn, one of three things happens in the brain,” Boaler said. “We’re either forming a new pathway, connecting pathways, or strengthening pathways. There is no limit to what people can learn.”

    Through a mosaic of personal stories, expert insights, and real-world examples of math transformation, “Counted Out” reveals the consequences of maintaining the status quo. It raises questions about where math proficiency declines and how individuals can maintain an understanding of the mathematical foundation of society.

    Our theme in Connecticut this year is a universe of opportunities. … and part of these universal opportunities is our work to support mathematics education. &#8212 Charlene Russell-Tucker, Connecticut Education Commissioner

    Megan Staples, associate professor of mathematics education at the UConn Neag School of Education, helped coordinate the event. She emphasizes the importance of mathematics in making sense of critical decision-making in society. This includes the legal system (what’s fair in society), climate change (what’s changing and what steps can be taken), the standard of living (what is affordable housing, how do we provide it), and more.

    The documentary follows Glenn Rodriguez and Rebecca Galicia, whose lives were affected by math. Rodriguez was denied parole and applied mathematical research to analyze the algorithm that led to his denial and, ultimately, his release. Galicia was intimidated by the math components of nursing school, but eventually earned her nursing degree, which in turn substantially increased her income.

    “Robert Moses, a civil rights activist who the film was dedicated to, was a central figure in the film,” Staples says. “He talks about algebra as the new civil right, and if you don’t have a command of algebra, just based on how the pipeline works, then you can be denied economic opportunity regardless of mathematical knowledge requirements.”

    The overall message of the film is that numeric literacy is a critical determinant of social and economic power. It shapes our ability to navigate financial systems, assess risks, make informed decisions, and advocate for ourselves in an increasingly data-driven world.

    “It doesn’t matter what profession you go into, we need math-literate people everywhere,” Staples says. “And for those interested in education, consider teaching math, because it is a major way to impact the world.”

    To learn more about “Counted Out,” visit countedoutfilm.com or watch the trailer on YouTube.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Kansas Man Sentenced for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 188 months in prison after federal law enforcement officers discovered child sexual abuse materials at his home.

    According to court documents, Scott Warren Vass, 57, of Arkansas City pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. 

    In April 2023, while executing a search warrant at Vass’ home, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents seized multiple devices belonging to Vass containing child sexual abuse materials.  Further investigation revealed several of Vass’ Google accounts also contained sexually explicit depictions of minors under 12 years of age.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case. 

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon prosecuted the case.

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

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: SoftServe Wins NVIDIA’s 2025 Americas NPN Service Delivery Partner of the Year

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AUSTIN, Texas, March 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SoftServe, a premier IT consulting and digital services provider, today announced it has been selected as an NVIDIA Partner Network (NPN) 2025 partner of the year for service delivery in the Americas region. Being named NVIDIA’s 2025 Americas NPN Service Delivery Partner of the Year is a direct reflection of SoftServe’s catalyst work developing and launching a series of Generative AI (Gen AI) solutions built with NVIDIA Blueprints, providing a conduit for rapid enterprise AI adoption.

    SoftServe’s Service Delivery Partner of the Year Award recognize the company’s impact accelerating enterprise deployments with NVIDIA AI Enterprise and NVIDIA Omniverse using custom NVIDIA Blueprints that tap into NVIDIA NIM microservices, including the SoftServe QA Agent, which is the eighth SoftServe Gen AI solution in the series to hit the market.

    “Our teams helped propel NVIDIA Blueprints forward through rapid creation and execution of eight quality solutions that are driving Gen AI proliferation, integration, and innovation across many industries,” said Harry Propper, CEO of SoftServe. “This award is a testament to SoftServe’s mission to make our customers and partners successful. It’s also a well-deserved win underscored by the fact that SoftServe was organically nominated without prompt or application. Our hard work, ingenuity, and close collaboration with the NVIDIA team is what got us here today.”

    The global NPN Program provides partners with the expertise required to develop, deploy, and prioritize energy-efficient accelerated computing solutions designed for today’s most demanding machine learning and AI workloads. Previously, SoftServe was named the 2024 Consulting Partner of the Year for EMEA and the 2023 Outstanding Impact Partner of the Year, demonstrating the company’s strong support in the NVIDIA ecosystem.

    “Businesses racing to adopt AI seek trusted partners with a proven track record of delivering seamless AI experiences,” said Craig Weinstein, Vice President, Americas Partner Organization, NVIDIA. “SoftServe has demonstrated broad expertise in deploying tailored applications built with NVIDIA AI Enterprise, NVIDIA NIM microservices, and NVIDIA Omniverse to help businesses drive results across agentic and physical AI.”

    This year’s awards were announced during NVIDIA’s annual conference, GTC 2025, following the launch of SoftServe QA Agent, which aims to boost quality and assurance (QA) processes with AI test automation. SoftServe is showcasing three immersive demos, including the seventh solution Gen AI Retail Shopping Assistant, at GTC booth #1009.

    Catch the experts in action with presentations on AI content creation, space mission design with NVIDIA Omniverse, and more topics outlined in the GTC 2025 Session Catalog. For those at home to learn more about SoftServe’s collaboration with NVIDIA, please visit this website.

    ABOUT SOFTSERVE
    SoftServe is a premier IT consulting and digital services provider. We expand the horizon of new technologies to solve today’s complex business challenges and achieve meaningful outcomes for our clients. Our boundless curiosity drives us to explore and reimagine the art of the possible. Clients confidently rely on SoftServe to architect and execute mature and innovative capabilities, such as digital engineering, data and analytics, cloud, and AI/ML.

    Our global reputation is gained from more than 30 years of experience delivering superior digital solutions at exceptional speed by top-tier engineering talent to enterprise industries, including high tech, financial services, healthcare, life sciences, retail, energy, and manufacturing. Visit our website, blog, LinkedIn, Facebook, and X (Twitter) pages for more information.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Statement by Jim Allister KC MP in Response to the Third Parcels Border Implementation Date

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Statement by Jim Allister KC MP in Response to the Third Parcels Border Implementation Date

    Jim Allister said:

    “Today we received yet another reminder of the fact that we are still being shielded from the destructive consequences of the Irish Sea border as it disinherits us from our wider home economy, on account of the fact that it has not yet been fully implemented and has indeed had its commencement postponed to a third date.

    “First the Irish Sea Parcels Border was to have been implemented on 30 September 2024, with seminars provided to help people get ready from April 2024.

    “Then on 19 September, in the context if growing concerns, and less than two weeks before implementation day, it was suddenly announced that it was being delayed until 31 March 2025.

    “Unbelievably today the Government has announced that it has been put back yet again until 1 May and now they are saying implementation will only begin on that date.

    “Trying to impose a customs border on parcels movements within a national economy is completely absurd, just as has been the attempt to frustrate the flow of other goods within what was the UK single market for goods through the imposition of other aspects of the customs border.

    “The costly and destructive implications of doing so are plainly demonstrated in the fact that we are now on our third commencement date and in the concerns eloquently presented by businesses to the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee last week.

    “The introduction of the parcels border would seal the demise of the UK single market for goods for many purposes and its replacement with what is effectively a GB single market for goods, and an island of Ireland single market for goods, subject to all island laws, imposed on us.

    “This is a deliberate attempt by the Republic of Ireland and wider EU to undermine the UK and is contrary to international law, including the Declaration on Principles of International Law, Friendly Relations and Co-operation among states in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations which states:

    ‘Every State shall refrain from any action aimed at the partial or total disruption of the national unity and territorial integrity of any other State or country.’

    “Lest anyone should be in any doubt about the importance of these principles, the Declaration also affirms:

    ‘The principles of the Charter which are embodied in this Declaration constitute basic principles of international law, and consequently appeals to all States to be guided by these principles in their international conduct and to develop their mutual relations on the basis of the strict observance of these principles.’

    And

    ‘Where obligations arising under international agreements are in conflict with the obligations of Members of the United Nations under the Charter of the United Nations, the obligations under the Charter shall prevail.’

    The introduction of the Parcels border would also place further pressure on the Windsor Framework itself by means of generating further trade diversion in violation of Article 16.

    “The Windsor Framework is now failing not only in the sense that it is causing real difficulty but in its own terms, generating trade diversion in violation of Article 16.

    “In this context it must be replaced with the viable alternative Mutual Enforcement.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why international students could be a critical factor in bolstering Canada’s economic resilience

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Isaac Garcia-Sitton, Associate Faculty, School of Education and Technology, Royal Roads University

    In early 2024, the federal government imposed a two-year cap on new study permits. (Shutterstock)

    For decades, international students have contributed to Canada’s research enterprise, workforce development and economic growth.

    Now, as Canada navigates strained relations and an escalating trade war with its largest economic partner, it’s important policymakers stop overlooking international education that could be a critical factor in bolstering Canada’s resilience.

    Unlike volatile trade agreements and fragile supply chains, international education provides a stable, long-term economic and social advantage.



    Read more:
    Canadian supply chains are at the epicentre of Trump’s potential trade war

    Contributions

    In 2018, international students contributed $21.6 billion to Canada’s post-secondary institutions, local communities and gross domestic product (GDP).

    By 2022, that figure had grown to $37.3 billion. This represented just over 23 per cent of Canada’s total service exports and around five per cent of total merchandise exports. The economic contributions from international education outpaced economic contributions from other industries — such as softwood lumber and auto parts.

    But their contributions extend far beyond financial impact. International students drive cutting-edge research in artificial intelligence, clean energy, biotechnology and climate science. This strengthens Canada’s innovation ecosystem and global competitiveness.

    International students also serve as vital ambassadors — diversifying trade connections and expanding Canada’s global reach.

    Despite their undeniable value, recent policy shifts risk undermining Canada’s position as a top destination for global talent. In early 2024, the federal government imposed a two-year cap on new study permits. The cap would mean approximately 360,000 study permits would be approved in 2024 — a decrease of 35 per cent from the previous years.

    However, institutions fell well below the imposed cap. This wasn’t due to a lack of demand but because of the rushed, poorly managed roll-out that amplified disruption beyond expectations. In fall 2024, the number of permits granted was on track to drop by 45 per cent compared to the previous year.

    The government plans a further 10 per cent cut in 2025 and 2026 and will cap approvals at 437,000. They will also, for the first time, restrict master’s and PhD students — limiting access to Canada’s research ecosystem.

    Talent and innovation

    While a cap may have been necessary to moderate the sector’s growth, its rollout created uncertainty for institutions and students. This damaged Canada’s reputation for high-quality education. The impact to our global standing as a top destination for international students will take years to repair.

    The government plans cap student visa approvals at 427,000 by 2026.
    (Shutterstock)

    This policy shift is especially concerning given Canada’s ongoing innovation and productivity challenges. A recent report from U15 research institutions shows Canada lags behind its peers in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). It’s mainly falling behind in research and development intensity, private sector innovation and technology adoption.

    In 2022, Canada’s research and development spending stood at just under two per cent of GDP. This is well below the OECD average of around three per cent.

    Many small and medium-sized businesses rely on university partnerships for research and development. Cutting international graduate student numbers disrupts these collaborations — hindering innovation at a time when Canada can least afford it.

    Policymakers claim restricting international student permits will ease labour market pressures. But the real problems with the labour market lie in skill mismatches, underemployment and employer hiring biases — not the number of international students.



    Read more:
    Canadian immigrants are overqualified and underemployed — reforms must address this

    With unemployment at around six-and-a-half per cent and youth unemployment at 13.6 per cent, concerns about job competition are valid. Yet newcomers and international students face significant barriers in finding jobs in their fields.

    In 2024, the unemployment rate for recent immigrants reached 11 percent. This is nearly double the unemployment rate for Canadian-born workers. Despite holding advanced degrees, two-thirds of foreign-trained professionals remain underemployed. This may be due to employers undervaluing international credentials and prioritizing “Canadian experience.”

    This trend extends to international student graduates who remain less likely than their Canadian peers to find jobs that match their level of education. In 2023, just over 36 per cent of international graduates with a bachelor’s degree secured roles requiring a university-level qualification, compared to just under 59 per cent of Canadian graduates. International student graduates also earn significantly lower salaries, despite having similar levels of job satisfaction.

    International student graduates face barriers in findings employment.
    (Shutterstock)

    Like many newcomers, I personally faced this Canadian experience barrier when I entered the workforce over 15 years ago as a permanent resident. Despite my education, multilingual abilities and professional skills, I submitted hundreds of applications and secured only a handful of interviews before landing my first opportunity. This frustrating, unnecessary and economically wasteful struggle remains just as prevalent today.

    These barriers not only limit individual potential but also weaken Canada’s ability to harness the talent it attracts.

    Addressing systemic issues

    International students are more than workers — they’re entrepreneurs, innovators and future job creators.

    For instance, as of 2022, nearly 180 of the U.S.’s billion-dollar companies were founded by former international students. Each of these companies created an average of 800 jobs and made up nearly a quarter of all dollar companies.

    Canada risks losing similarly bright minds to more welcoming countries if clear pathways for them to stay, contribute and build businesses aren’t established. This would cost the country both talent and billions in economic potential.

    If Canada is serious about building a stronger, more competitive economy, it must address the systemic issues that stand in the way of international student success.

    This includes modernizing credential recognition so employers can fairly assess international experience and qualifications, expanding co-op programs, internships and mentorships so international students can gain relevant Canadian experience before graduation and protect them from misinformation and questionable recruitment practices.

    Employers need to be educated about immigration pathways to reduce hiring hesitancy. The government also must create a stable and predictable immigration policy framework to give businesses confidence in hiring international graduates.



    Read more:
    International university grads speak about aspirations and barriers

    As Canada continues to face labour shortages and growing economic and political volatility, international education remains a strategic asset. It fuels research, diversifies trading partners, supports innovation and supplies the workforce Canada needs for long-term prosperity.

    The future of Canada’s economy depends on its ability to attract and retain the thinkers, creators, and innovators who will define the next generation of progress. At this critical moment, Canada must decide if it will invest in the talent that fuels innovation, or close the door on opportunity.

    Isaac Garcia-Sitton is affiliated with the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE), the Council of Ontario Universities (COU), and the Council of International Schools (CIS)

    – ref. Why international students could be a critical factor in bolstering Canada’s economic resilience – https://theconversation.com/why-international-students-could-be-a-critical-factor-in-bolstering-canadas-economic-resilience-251985

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Achieving Efficiency Through State and Local Preparedness

    Source: The White House

    class=”has-text-align-left”>By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

    Section 1. Purpose. Commonsense approaches and investments by State and local governments across American infrastructure will enhance national security and create a more resilient Nation. Federal policy must rightly recognize that preparedness is most effectively owned and managed at the State, local, and even individual levels, supported by a competent, accessible, and efficient Federal Government. Citizens are the immediate beneficiaries of sound local decisions and investments designed to address risks, including cyber attacks, wildfires, hurricanes, and space weather. When States are empowered to make smart infrastructure choices, taxpayers benefit.

    This order empowers State, local, and individual preparedness and injects common sense into infrastructure prioritization and strategic investments through risk-informed decisions that make our infrastructure, communities, and economy resilient to global and dynamic threats and hazards.

    Sec. 2. Policy. It is the policy of the United States that State and local governments and individuals play a more active and significant role in national resilience and preparedness, thereby saving American lives, securing American livelihoods, reducing taxpayer burdens through efficiency, and unleashing our collective prosperity. In addition, it is the policy of the United States that my Administration streamline its preparedness operations; update relevant Government policies to reduce complexity and better protect and serve Americans; and enable State and local governments to better understand, plan for, and ultimately address the needs of their citizens.

    Sec. 3. Updating Federal Policy to Save Lives and End the Subsidization of Mismanagement. (a) National Resilience Strategy. Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (APNSA), in coordination with the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and the heads of relevant executive departments and agencies (agencies), shall publish a National Resilience Strategy that articulates the priorities, means, and ways to advance the resilience of the Nation. The National Resilience Strategy shall be reviewed and revised at least every 4 years, or as appropriate.

    (b) National Critical Infrastructure Policy. Within 180 days of the date of this order, the APNSA, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the heads of relevant agencies, shall review all critical infrastructure policies and recommend to the President the revisions, recissions, and replacements necessary to achieve a more resilient posture; shift from an all-hazards approach to a risk-informed approach; move beyond information sharing to action; and implement the National Resilience Strategy described in subsection (a) of this section. For purposes of this order, critical infrastructure policies do not include any policies related to purported “misinformation,” “disinformation,” or “malinformation,” nor so-called “cognitive infrastructure,” which should be reevaluated consistent with the policy set forth in Executive Order 14149 of January 20, 2025 (Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship), through a separate process. The policies to be reviewed and recommended for modification, as appropriate, include:

    (i) National Security Memorandum 16 of November 10, 2022 (Strengthening the Security and Resilience of United States Food and Agriculture);

    (ii) National Security Memorandum 22 of April 30, 2024 (Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience);

    (iii) Executive Order 14017 of February 24, 2021 (America’s Supply Chains); and

    (iv) Executive Order 14123 of June 14, 2024 (White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience).

    (c) National Continuity Policy. Within 180 days of the date of this order, the APNSA, in coordination with the heads of relevant agencies, shall review all national continuity policies and recommend to the President the revisions, recissions, and replacements necessary to modernize and streamline the approach to national continuity capabilities, reformulate the methodology and architecture necessary to achieve an enduring readiness posture, and implement the National Resilience Strategy described in subsection (a) of this section. The policies to be reviewed and recommended for modification, as appropriate, include:

    (i) Executive Order 13618 of July 6, 2012 (Assignment of National Security and Emergency Preparedness Communications Functions);

    (ii) Executive Order 13961 of December 7, 2020 (Governance and Integration of Federal Mission Resilience);

    (iii) National Security Memorandum 32 of January 19, 2025 (National Continuity Policy); and

    (iv) Executive Order 14146 of January 19, 2025 (Partial Revocation of Executive Order 13961).

    (d) Preparedness and Response Policies. Within 240 days of the date of this order, the APNSA, in coordination with the heads of relevant agencies and informed by the reports and findings of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Council established pursuant to Executive Order 14180 of January 24, 2025 (Council to Assess the Federal Emergency Management Agency), shall review all national preparedness and response policies and recommend to the President the revisions, recissions, and replacements necessary to reformulate the process and metrics for Federal responsibility, move away from an all-hazards approach, and implement the National Resilience Strategy described in subsection (a) of this section. The policies to be reviewed and recommended for modification, as appropriate, include:

    (i) Executive Order 12656 of November 18, 1988 (Assignment of Emergency Preparedness Responsibilities);

    (ii) Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 of February 28, 2003 (Management of Domestic Incidents);

    (iii) Presidential Policy Directive 8 of March 30, 2011 (National Preparedness);

    (iv) Presidential Policy Directive 22 of March 28, 2013 (National Special Security Events); and

    (v) Presidential Policy Directive 44 of November 7, 2016 (Enhancing Domestic Incident Response).

    (e) National Risk Register. Within 240 days of the date of this order, the APNSA, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the heads of relevant agencies, shall coordinate the development of a National Risk Register that identifies, articulates, and quantifies natural and malign risks to our national infrastructure, related systems, and their users.

    (i) The quantification produced by the National Risk Register shall be used to inform the Intelligence Community, private sector investments, State investments, and Federal budget priorities.

    (ii) The National Risk Register shall be reviewed and revised at least every 4 years, or as appropriate, to evolve with the dynamic risk landscape.

    (f) Federal National Functions Constructs. The Federal Government organizes national preparedness and continuity through the bureaucratic and complicated lens of overlapping and overbroad “functions,” which include: the National Essential Functions, Primary Mission Essential Functions, National Critical Functions, Emergency Support Functions, Recovery Support Functions, and Community Lifelines. Within 1 year of the date of this order, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall propose changes to the policies outlining this framework and any implementing documents to ensure State and local governments and individuals have improved communications with Federal officials and a better understanding of the Federal role. This proposal shall be coordinated through the process established by National Security Presidential Memorandum 1 of January 20, 2025 (Organization of the National Security Council and Subcommittees), or any successor processes, before being submitted to the President through the APNSA.

    Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

    (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

    (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

    (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

    (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

                                   DONALD J. TRUMP

    THE WHITE HOUSE,
    March 18, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Securing the future of aviation

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

    Speech

    Securing the future of aviation

    Secretary of State for Transport outlines next steps for modernising the aviation sector at the AirportsUK annual dinner.

    Good evening, everyone, and thank you Karen for inviting me tonight (18 March 2025). 

    I know better than to stand between people and their dinner, so rest assured I will keep my remarks brief.

    And despite this being my second aviation speech in less than a month, you’ll be glad to know I haven’t run out of things to say. I haven’t even exhausted my best material about feedstocks and revenue certainty mechanisms – so brace yourselves.

    But, seriously, it really is a pleasure to be here. I hope you feel, as I do, that these are exciting times for your sector, with much to focus on in 2025 and beyond.

    But let me start with the remarkable year you’ve just had. Bristol exceeding 10 million annual passengers for the first time. Or the busiest year on record for Manchester and Stansted. All told, passenger levels at UK airports were 7% higher in 2024 than the previous year.

    I know none of this happens by accident. Much is down to the changes you’ve made to the passenger experience. The technology you’re implementing. And the investments you’re making to increase capacity.

    Looking longer term, it’s clear this is a trend, not an unusual year. In fact, everything points to a record-breaking 2025 – and it’s easy to see why.

    The world has never been more interconnected. The desire for travel never stronger. Global forecasts show a near doubling of passengers and cargo in the next 20 years  

    So the demand is there. It’s growing. And if we don’t seize it, we not only risk being outpaced by European competitors, but we will be on the wrong side of public aspirations.

    Obviously, I’m preaching to the converted here. But it is brilliant that, right across our airports, we’re seeing palpable optimism for the future.  

    Heathrow’s £2.3 billion investment to overhaul its infrastructure. The best ever financial results for Newcastle, ahead of a £17 million investment to resurface its runway and taxiway. And European Cargo’s decision to choose Cardiff as its second UK base – with regular flights to China.

    But these impacts aren’t just felt within the industry, but outside too. Take Leeds Bradford. Where plans to upgrade its terminal will see a £940 million boost to the local economy, creating thousands of new jobs.

    These investments reveal airports not only as hubs for travel, but hubs for growth – driving jobs, creating opportunity and facilitating the trade which underpins our way of life.

    Now more than ever, you need a government that recognises this. That’s why we see airports as a crucial pillar of our Plan for Change. And it’s why we’ve  acted, and acted quickly, across 3 areas – starting with expansion. 

    It’s no secret that long ignored capacity issues in the south-east, has meant some of our major airports are now bursting at the seams.

    And yet – when it came to expansion – too many people stuck their heads in the sand. It left the industry in a perpetual holding pattern, with decisions circling around Whitehall for years, waiting for a clear signal. 

    Earlier this year, the Chancellor gave that signal – taking the brakes off growth by welcoming plans for a third runway at Heathrow. Britain’s first full-length runway in nearly 25 years. 

    Now, my job has to be balancing the economic benefits of expansion with our social and environmental commitments.

    That underpinned my announcement a few weeks ago on Gatwick, where I set a clear path for expansion if certain conditions are met.

    And, of course, I’ll be making an announcement on Luton very shortly.

    But while I cannot go into any more details tonight – let me say this. I will never accept the false trade off that pits growing aviation against protecting our environment. I honestly believe we can, and must, do both. And how we do that is already being answered – by many in this room.

    Firstly, we cannot hope for quieter, cleaner and greener flights if our most critical piece of infrastructure is stuck in the past.

    Modernising our airspace will create more efficient flight paths, ensure quicker climbs and smoother descents, and help meet our commitments to noise and emission reduction.  

    So, I was grateful for the views you shared on the UK Airspace Design Service (UKADS) – the body that will drive this work. And you’ll have heard that the Chancellor has now given the green light. Not just for a new UKADS but also to reviewing key processes behind modernising our airspace, and to an Airspace Design Support Fund to deliver faster progress.

    We are now working with NATS on the shared goal that UKADS will be up and running this year. 

    Of course, to make progress on this critical reform agenda, we will rely heavily on your support and collaboration. Without that, we cannot maintain the pace we need. So I’m pleased that so many of you are already working constructively with airlines and local communities on your proposals.

    Alongside this, we must ramp up work on reducing emissions. Green flight isn’t only essential for the industry, it’s existential.

    Of course, sustainable aviation fuels will play a major role. It’s why we’ve signed the SAF Mandate into law.

    It’s why we’ve now launched a consultation into a price guarantee for UK SAF producers and investors. And it’s why we’ve backed homegrown SAF projects to the tune of £63 million via the Advanced Fuel Fund.  

    But SAF isn’t the only piece to this puzzle. Lighter wings and more efficient engines will play their part. As will new forms of zero-emission aircraft and supporting infrastructure.

    Many of you have also set net zero targets for your airport operations in advance of 2040. And I’m thrilled to see you following through with solar panels helping power Birmingham and Newcastle airports. And hydrogen power being trialled on the ground at Exeter and Bristol. 

    All this matters. Expansion. Modernisation. Decarbonisation. These 3 areas will secure this industry’s future. 

    It’s why the government has wasted little time in:

    • consulting on reforms
    • getting legislation on the books
    • making the crucial decisions on expansion and growth

    And doing in 8 months, what previously has taken years.

    Of course, challenges remain – I’m not blind to that. But throughout, I promise I will be working with you to remove the barriers holding you back.  

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin, Duckworth Join Colleagues To Push Back On Proposed Cuts To Disaster Recovery Programs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    March 18, 2025
    In a new letter, the lawmakers pushed back against U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner’s proposed cuts to critical disaster recovery programs
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), along with 40 of their Senate colleagues, in pushing back on U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner’s proposed cuts to crucial disaster recovery programs that are under the umbrella of HUD.
    The cuts would reduce employees at HUD’s office of Community Planning and Development, which administers the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program, a crucial pot of funding that helps impacted communities with disaster recovery following extreme weather events including tornadoes and severe flooding. Under this program, Illinois is scheduled to receive more than $856.3 million for disaster recovery, which would likely be in jeopardy due to the cuts.
    This disaster relief work includes rebuilding houses and small businesses, repairing roads and bridges, restoring water services, and investing in workforce development for Illinoisans who’ve lost jobs.
    “Communities across the country experienced significant natural disasters in 2023 and 2024… Alaska, Louisiana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Illinois experienced severe storms,” the Senators wrote to Secretary Turner. “CDBG-DR provides states, cities, counties, and Tribes with funding to support recovery efforts in the wake of natural disasters.  In December 2024, Congress appropriated $12 billion in emergency supplemental CDBG-DR funding. During your confirmation process, you made clear that, if confirmed, you would prioritize getting our constituents CDBG-DR funding as quickly as possible.”
      
    “Specifically, you [Secretary Turner] stated that ‘one of [your] top priorities’ as HUD Secretary would ‘be to ensure that the disaster recovery funding passed by Congress gets out to communities swiftly’ and ‘into the hands of Americans who have been impacted by recent disasters.’  Your statements indicated a strong commitment to providing our disaster-impacted communities with the resources they need, but we are concerned that recent actions at the Department have not matched that verbal commitment,” the Senators continued.
    “We urge you to immediately stop any additional cuts to the workforce and contracts involved in disaster recovery oversight, and reinstate any recently terminated probationary staff,” the lawmakers concluded.
    A copy of the letter is available here and below:
    March 17, 2025
    Dear Secretary Turner:
    We write today regarding our concerns that recent actions taken by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are hampering our states’ ability to access (CDBG-DR) funds. The CDBG-DR program is critical to our states’ ability to recover from natural disasters, and it is essential that HUD distributes funding as quickly and efficiently as possible. We request additional information on your plans to ensure that communities continue to receive the resources they need to rebuild.
    Communities across the country experienced significant natural disasters in 2023 and 2024. States across the South—including Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia—were devastated by Hurricanes Milton and Helene, while Alaska, Louisiana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Illinois experienced severe storms.  States in the Northeast—including, Vermont, and Massachusetts —faced life-threatening floods, while states in the West – including California, Washington State, and Hawaii – saw catastrophic wildfires in Maui. 
    CDBG-DR provides states, cities, counties, and Tribes with funding to support recovery efforts in the wake of natural disasters.  In December 2024, Congress appropriated $12 billion in emergency supplemental CDBG-DR funding. During your confirmation process, you made clear that, if confirmed, you would prioritize getting our constituents CDBG-DR funding as quickly as possible. Specifically, you stated that “one of [your] top priorities” as HUD Secretary would “be to ensure that the disaster recovery funding passed by Congress gets out to communities swiftly” and “into the hands of Americans who have been impacted by recent disasters.”  Your statements indicated a strong commitment to providing our disaster-impacted communities with the resources they need, but we are concerned that recent actions at the Department have not matched that verbal commitment.
    For years, the HUD Office of Inspector General listed disaster recovery oversight as a top management challenge at HUD, noting the need for systems and staff to keep pace with increases in CDBG-DR funding, as well as the need to build the capacity of CDBG-DR grantees.  The latest Top Management Challenges report highlighted multiple ways in which HUD has made “meaningful progress,” largely due to the investment Congress has made over the years to support staff, systems, and capacity building. Over the last week, however more than one thousand HUD employees (13% of HUD’s workforce) were fired or accepted the Administration’s deferred resignation offer – including staff supporting the CDBG-DR program. Furthermore, according to recent reports, HUD “plans to discharge 50% of its overall workforce”, and the Office of Community Planning and Development, which is responsible for supporting disaster recovery efforts, is targeted for a staggering 84% cut.  Should such cuts move forward, it is unclear how the Department will continue to ensure the efficient delivery of CDBG-DR funds so our states and communities can continue to rebuild after devastating disasters. 
    HUD has also postponed previously scheduled trainings designed to help grantees understand CDBG-DR program requirements, and it is not clear when those trainings will resume.  Moreover, continued uncertainty on whether and the extent to which HUD may change the current Universal Notice governing the latest allocations from the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2025 (Public Law 118-158) could cause additional delays. At least one grantee has already started accepting public comments on their draft action plan. Any major deviations from current requirements could be a huge setback forcommunities, adding months to recovery efforts. 
    We urge you to immediately stop any additional cuts to the workforce and contracts involved in disaster recovery oversight, and reinstate any recently terminated probationary staff.
    To help us better understand the current status of the CDBG-DR program and your plans to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of CDBG-DR funds for our states and others across the country, we request information to the following questions no later than Monday, March 24, 2025:
    All grantees who received allocations from Public Law 118-158 have been using the CDBG-DR Universal Notice to develop their action plans.
    Do you intend to make changes to the Universal Notice?
    If so, how will HUD do that in a way that is minimally disruptive to the grantees whose actions plans are underway and to avoid delaying assistance?
    What is HUD’s timeline for reissuing the second allocation notice for Public Law 118-158 funding that was posted to the Federal Register for public inspection on January 21, 2025 but withdrawn on January 22, 2025?

    How many HUD employees were responsible for supporting the implementation of the CDBG-DR program, including the delivery of recently appropriated supplemental funding, on January 20, 2025? Please delineate by field versus headquarters and employee status (e.g., career, conditional, term, etc.).
    How many HUD employees are responsible for supporting the implementation of the CDBG-DR program, including the delivery of recently appropriated supplemental funding, on[March 17, 2025]? Please delineate by field versus headquarters and employee status (e.g., career, conditional, term, etc.).
    What additional plans, if any, does the Department have to further reduce the number of HUD employees responsible for implementing the CDBG-DR program?
    What analyses, if any, has HUD conducted to assess the impact of any proposed or implemented workforce reductions on the Department’s ability to implement CDBG-DR funding? Please provide copies of any written communications, analyses, and other documentation on how workforce reductions could impact the CDBG-DR program produced between January 21, 2025, and [March 17, 2025].
    What services, such as trainings and the provision of technical assistance, was HUD providing to CDBG-DR grantees on January 20, 2025?
    What services, if any, is HUD currently providing to CDBG-DR grantees? What changes, if any, have occurred to the services provided to CDBG-DR grantees since January 20, 2025?
    What additional plans, if any, does the Department have to alter the available services provided to CDBG-DR grantees? 
    Have any contracts related to the CDBG-DR program been terminated since January 20, 2025, as a result of the ongoing review of the ongoing reviews of HUD programs?  If so, please detail which contracts, the reason for termination, and the plan for addressing the contracted work, if applicable.
    Sincerely,
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Bible Hill — Northeast Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit charge man with Murder

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The Northeast Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit (NEN MCU) has charged a man with Murder associated to a death that occurred in September 2023.

    On September 17, 2023, Colchester County District RCMP responded to a report of a sudden death at a home on Wild Chance Drive in Bible Hill. The victim was identified as a 32-year-old woman of Bible Hill, and her death was believed to be suspicious.

    That morning, a Bible Hill man who was known to the victim was safely arrested at the Bible Hill RCMP Detachment and later released without charges.

    On March 17, 2025, the same man, 31-year-old Richard Craig Barrett, was charged with Murder (first degree) and investigators can confirm the homicide was an incident of intimate partner violence.

    “Over the course of this complex investigation, officers collected a significant amount of forensic evidence and spoke with many witnesses who shared valuable information,” says Cpl. Sandy Matharu of the Northeast Nova Major Crime Unit. “We appreciated the patience of the victim’s loved ones as investigators conducted a thorough examination and evaluation of the evidence, enabling us to put together a comprehensive investigation that supports this murder charge.”

    Barrett appeared in Truro Provincial Court on March 18 and was remanded in custody pending future court appearances.

    The investigation is ongoing and is being led by the NEN MCU with assistance from the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service and RCMP Forensic Identification Section.

    Nova Scotia RCMP encourages anyone experiencing, or at risk of, intimate partner violence to reach out. Support is available across Nova Scotia and can be accessed by dialing 211, calling the provincial toll-free line at 1-855-225-0220, or visiting Nova Scotia 211 online. You can access support anonymously.

    Our thoughts continue to be with the victim’s loved ones, and the community, at this difficult time.

    File # 2023-1382910

    MIL Security OSI –