NewzIntel.com

Category: KB

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Slashes the Red Tape

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)

    WASHINGTON – After the Biden administration enacted more than $1.8 trillion in regulations that added 356 million new hours of paperwork, Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is undoing the damage with legislation aimed at disrupting the bloated bureaucracy.
    Ernst’s Prove It Act requires federal agencies to demonstrate that any new regulation is compliant with existing laws and considers both the direct and indirect costs placed on small businesses.
     “As chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, unleashing Main Street by slashing red tape is a top priority,” said Ernst. “We are curbing the bloated bureaucracy and empowering job creators to innovate and lead us forward. If Washington thinks more regulations are needed, it will have to prove it.”
    Congressman Brad Finstad (R-Minn.) is introducing companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
    “As a member of the House Committee on Small Business, I am committed to protecting Main Street business owners in southern Minnesota from costly and burdensome regulations,” said Finstad. “The Prove It Act, which passed the House of Representatives in the 118th Congress with bipartisan support, is commonsense legislation that gives small business owners a seat at the regulatory table and holds federal agencies accountable for the impacts of their regulations. I’m proud to reintroduce this important legislation and look forward to continuing to fight against overregulation.”
    The Prove It Act would:

    Create a way for small businesses to raise concerns when regulators do not consider both the direct and indirect costs their regulations place on them;

    Allow small businesses to ask their chief advocate in government to review agencies’ work and make the government regulators prove they are fully compliant with existing laws;

    Exempt small businesses from the agency’s regulations altogether if regulators fail to comply with this review process; and
    Ensure small businesses can easily access preexisting guidance documents online and create a way for small businesses to directly raise questions or concerns with their regulators.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Markey Leads Members of Massachusetts Delegation Blasting Trump’s Drastic Cuts to National Institutes of Health Funding

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Washington (February 10, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), top Democrat on the Primary Health and Retirement Security Subcommittee of the Health Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, along with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representatives Richard Neal (MA-01), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Katherine Clark (MA-05), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), and Bill Keating (MA-09) released the following statement today on the Trump administration’s cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).     

    “Investments in medical research lead to cures, jobs, and economic growth,” said the Massachusetts lawmakers. “The Trump administration is drastically cutting NIH funding and giving away the United States’ and Massachusetts’ leadership in biomedical innovation to pay for tax breaks for billionaires. These cuts and the chaos this announcement has created is already being felt across the country by hospitals, state universities, and research institutions, by the people whose jobs rely on this funding, and by families who will have to wait longer for treatments and cures for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer, diabetes, and more.     

    Massachusetts is a national leader in developing groundbreaking treatments and cures, giving hope to patients, families, and caregivers in need of breakthroughs and discoveries. Committed health providers, researchers, and workers drive these innovations, relying on sustainable funding to do their work. The Trump administration’s illegal NIH funding cut is not only going to impede their work to improve our health care system and save lives, but also diminish our competitiveness and cede leadership to China. This action must be reversed.”  

    In 2024, Massachusetts received nearly 6,000 grants amounting to $3.5 billion, or 9.3 percent of all NIH funding, despite having just 2% of the population.

    President Trump’s nominee for NIH director, Jay Bhattacharya, M.D., Ph.D. will appear before the HELP Committee.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell Statement on Trump’s Latest Steel & Aluminum Tariffs: “He Wants to Double Down on Raising Costs for Americans Even More”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

    02.10.25

    Cantwell Statement on Trump’s Latest Steel & Aluminum Tariffs: “He Wants to Double Down on Raising Costs for Americans Even More”

    In 2024, state imported $1.2B worth of steel & aluminum for aerospace, shipbuilding, electronics & more; Last week, Cantwell delivered a speech on Senate floor calling for increasing exports & voted against advancing Trump’s trade nominee

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and a senior member of the Senate Committee on Finance, issued the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s new 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports.

    “Many of Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminum have been in place since 2018. Nothing was resolved and they added costs to cars, building materials, and energy projects. Now in 2025, he wants to double down raising costs for Americans even more,” Sen. Cantwell said.

    In Washington state, two out of every five jobs are tied to trade and trade-related industries. Combined, the state imported $1.21 billion worth of steel and aluminum last year – and the major industries and employers in Washington that rely on steel and aluminum include aerospace, shipbuilding, utilities, and electronics. When President Trump imposed steel tariffs in 2018, our trading partners immediately responded by imposing tariffs of their own on Washington products, especially agriculture, including cherries, apples, pears, and potatoes. Nationally, across all industries, the steel and aluminum tariffs resulted in a decrease in production worth about $3.4 billion per year, according to an ITC report.  The United States imports $58.81 billion in steel and aluminum every year.

    Last week, Sen. Cantwell also delivered a major speech on the Senate floor last week, arguing that the president’s arbitrary tariffs would threaten domestic job creation and economic growth in an Information Age. She outlined a strategy focused on building coalitions, growing exports, and establishing principles to support innovation in the Information Age.

    Sen. Cantwell also voted against advancing the nomination of Howard Lutnick, President Trump’s choice to be Secretary of the Department of Commerce, citing concerns with Lutnick’s support for Trump’s proposed tariffs. More information on how President Trump’s proposed tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada, and China would affect consumers and businesses in the State of Washington can be found HERE.

    Sen. Cantwell has remained a steadfast supporter of free trade to grow the economy in the State of Washington and nationwide. Sen. Cantwell was the leading voice in negotiations to end India’s 20 percent retaliatory tariff on American apples, which was imposed in response to tariffs on steel and aluminum and devastated Washington state’s apple exports. India had once been the second-largest export market for American apples, but after then-President Trump imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum in his first term, India imposed retaliatory tariffs in response and U.S. apple exports plummeted. The impact on Washington apple growers was severe:  apple exports from the state dropped from $120 million in 2017 to less than $1 million by 2023.  In September 2023, following several years of Sen. Cantwell’s advocacy, India ended its retaliatory tariffs on apples and pulse crops which was welcome news to the state’s more than 1,400 apple growers and the 68,000-plus workers they support.

    In May 2023, Sen. Cantwell sent a letter urging the Biden Administration to help U.S. potato growers finally get approval to sell fresh potatoes in Japan. In June 2023, Sen. Cantwell hosted U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), then-chair of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, in Washington state for a forum with 30 local agricultural leaders in Wenatchee to discuss the Farm Bill.

    In 2022, Sen. Cantwell spearheaded passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, a law to crack down on skyrocketing international ocean shipping costs and ease supply chain backlogs that raise prices for consumers and make it harder for U.S. farmers and exporters to get their goods to the global market.

    In August 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sen. Cantwell sent a letter to then-Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue requesting aid funds be distributed to wheat growers. In December 2018, Sen. Cantwell celebrated the passage of the Farm Bill, which included $500 million of assistance for farmers, including those who grow wheat.

    In 2019, Sen. Cantwell helped secure a provision in the $16 billion USDA relief package, ensuring sweet cherry growers could access emergency funding to offset the impacts of tariffs and other market disruptions.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Address to Public Service Leaders

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Good afternoon everyone and thank you all for making the time to be here.
    I wanted to speak to you early in my tenure as your new Minister for the Public Service because I have a message for you: I’m here to support you in your efforts to deliver the best service possible for the employer we have in common. The taxpayer.
    I’m very happy to have the public service portfolio and I want to acknowledge your hard work and commitment during what has been a challenging past year for many, as ministries and departments have been right-sizing.
    We know it is the right thing to do, to run a ruler over everything we do to make sure we are delivering our best, but it’s never easy telling someone a programme they’ve worked on for several years won’t be proceeding, or that their role no longer exists. I know.  I have had to do it. 
    It’s not something the government has done lightly but it is something that absolutely needed to be done.
    In the six years from 2017 to 2023, the number of people employed in the core public service* grew 34 percent, to 63,117 full-time equivalent employees. Total salary costs for this core public service workforce grew a staggering 72 percent, to about $6.1 billion a year, over the same period.
    We simply do not have sufficient taxpayers to support that kind of growth. We do not have sufficient economic growth to support that level of public spending. 
    And, as I said before, taxpayers pay our wages, and it is the New Zealand taxpayers that we serve. They want to know we are spending their money in ways that are timely and cost-effective.
    New challenges, new solutions
    We live in a fast-changing world that constantly throws up new challenges. Governments and the public service are always under pressure to find new solutions and new ways of working.
    I don’t need to tell you the business of government is complex and challenging and, at times, messy. 
    And when you are knee-deep trying to deliver priorities and the myriad daily challenges that come with the job, it’s not easy looking ahead.
    I know you’ve heard all this before. But my point is this: the more complex and challenging it gets, the more simple we need to keep it.
    Serving the public must always be our top priority, regardless of how tough the operating environment is.  We should never lose sight of this simple objective.
    Setting the highest standards
    It almost goes without saying that the public service must set the highest standards.
    For me, that means doing the basics well and sticking to core business. It means being competent at what you do, upholding political neutrality and delivering free and frank advice, being efficient with taxpayers’ money, being corruption-free and – above all – delivering results for the people we serve.
    Keeping it simple is also being efficient and respectful with the use of taxpayers’ money. Taxpayers trust us to use their resources wisely, and we can not, in the fog of daily pressures and challenges, lose sight of that. 
    Here’s a simple question I would urge you and your staff to ask themselves: if this was my money, would I spend it this way? This is the simple question that I ask myself when I am making funding decisions.  It’s what I need you to do and to enforce. 
    Think of the sharemilker up at the crack of dawn every day whatever the weather. Think of the aged care worker doing their best to give our elderly the care and respect they deserve in their twilight years. Think of the bus driver. The taxi driver. The truck driver.
    All these people want – and deserve – to know that their money is being spent in a way that delivers the services they need in the best way possible. They want results.  They don’t want flow charts, frameworks,  roadmaps, or bubble diagrams.
    They are inherently practical people who want to know that you are helping make their country wealthier, and safer. They want you to treat their taxpayers’ dollars as though it came out of your bank account. 
    Not doing so can harm the reputation of the government, an agency and the public service.  Building trust and confidence, as you know, is a slow and laborious task over many years. But it can be destroyed with one seemingly innocuous act.
    Free and frank
    To that end, I cannot state clearly enough how important it is that you provide free and frank advice.
    Public servants who speak truth to power by telling Ministers their pet policy ideas are crazy and unworkable don’t get far. But neither do public servants who nod along and promise to deliver the undeliverable. That is a betrayal of the responsibilities of a public servant and it results in policy disaster. 
    Ministers do want free and frank advice. Tell us how we can implement our priorities and policies. Tell us how we can improve our policies. Tell us how we can improve outcomes for individuals, families and communities. Tell us when intervention is necessary. And tell us when to stop or change a policy.
    And remember that Ministers, just like senior public servants, have a way of coming back!
    The best public servants know how to use analysis to persuade. They know how to reconcile the vision with realism. And they know how to square the hole. I’ve worked with some fine public servants … some of you here. 
    Public Service Act
    One area of opportunity I want to touch on is the Public Service Act. I think it’s too prescriptive. It’s not allowing the public service to be as innovative as it could be. 
    I intend to look at tightening what the Act says around chief executive responsibilities. The way I see it is that your responsibilities have become too diffuse and roles have become confused.  Instead of telling you that you have to comply with certain named laws brought in by a previous government, why not just require you to implement the law. Laws change.  Standards should not. 
    Coming back into government, it seems to me that you are getting weighed down with things that don’t have much to do with your core responsibilities and where everything becomes a priority. 
    Your core role is to serve the government of the day and focus on the basics, and the Act should reflect this.
    I’d like to hear your thoughts on this. What changes can we make to the Act that will help you do your job better? What are the barriers to you doing your job? What can we change that will allow you to drive innovation and improve service delivery. You are better placed than me and other ministers, so I look forward to any suggestions you have.
    I know the Prime Minister and Minister Willis have asked you to be bold and take a few risks. I’d like to reinforce that. Freedom to fail (hopefully in a small way) can give us freedom to succeed. 
    Innovation isn’t just a nice-to-have – it’s a must. We are facing complex challenges that require immediate action. It’s not just being open to new ways of doing things, we need to be doing it. As Benjamin Franklin said, ‘well done is better than well said.’ That’s the culture I’d like to see in the public service.
    Open to new ideas
    I can assure you the Government is open to new ideas. My only condition is that it leads to better outcomes for the public. That’s tangible results. 
    And the language you use needs to be fit for the person who is your customer. As a lawyer in private practice, I learned to explain legal terminology in everyday language.
    If I talked to customers about the ‘mens rea’ and the ‘actus reus’ required for an offence to have been committed, I would have shown them I know some  ‘legal’ Latin, and they might have been impressed. But really, I would just be showing them that I did not understand the first rule of communication -which is to be understood. 
    You and your staff need to think about your customers.  When you are talking to or writing to your customers, think how it sounds to them. 
    Is it gobbledygook? 
    Is it a word salad? 
    Is it arrogant and lacking in empathy?
    Is it inherently distancing you from the people who are paying your salary? 
    My suggestion is to leave the acronyms at the door. 
    Keep your superior language skills for those who will appreciate them. 
    Be appropriate. And remember… it’s no use if you can understand you, but your audience can not. Speak to people as you would like to be spoken to and show respect. And, no matter what, be genuine. 
    Digitising government
    As you know, I am also the Minister for Digitising Government. It’s a portfolio that goes hand in glove with the public service.
    The use of data and Artificial Intelligence is the big opportunity of our time. We stand at the cusp of a digital revolution that has the power to transform the way our government serves New Zealanders.
    If done right, the digitisation of our public service will be game changing, and I am committed to ensuring this happens.
    Online portals, mobile applications and AI-enabled interfaces will ensure people and businesses can access important government services and information, anytime and from anywhere.
    Data-driven AI technologies will allow government agencies to tailor services to meet the specific needs of individuals, communities and businesses.
    New Zealanders already interact with AI-powered services daily. They expect government agencies will be analysing data to gain insights into customer behaviour, preferences and needs.
    I’d like to see the public service embrace the potential of AI. 
    I look forward to seeing a centralised, AI-powered data platform that enables real-time sharing of insights and collaboration between agencies like health, education and housing. It will be able to identify connections that may not be immediately obvious.
    Data dashboards and predictive analytics will provide the insight and evidence Ministers need to make better decisions and timely interventions to improve outcomes. 
    In modernising our public service for the benefit of New Zealanders, think about how we can, in digital procurement, help Kiwi businesses deliver.  Other countries are looking to how they can use procurement as a way to deliver better and more cost effective results by emphasising their own industrial or technology base.  When it makes sense, we should too. 
    Say Yes
    The work you do is vital. New Zealanders depend on it, and on our ability to drive the change required. 
    We have to deliver results. There simply is no other option. New Zealanders need us and expect us to get on with the job now, and I back you to support the government to do what is required.
    As the Prime Minister has made clear, a culture of saying No is not acceptable.  Your challenge is to inspire your staff, your team, to say “Yes”.
    Yes to the licence.
    Yes to the permit.
    Yes to considering trialling AI tutors for kids.
    Yes to delivering a government app that provides the sort of service that the commercial world delivers.
    And Yes to treating our customers like customers.
    New Zealanders should be treated as though they are valued customers with options. That’s what we need to deliver. Treat the taxpayer with dignity and the level of respect that you like to receive. 
    I know you are up for the challenge. But performance is non-negotiable. 
    I know how hard you work. And you are doing some great work. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take opportunities to reset and ensure our focus is on what matters most – delivering better, more timely results for New Zealanders. 
    I’m excited to be your Minister, and I’m excited at the prospect of what we can achieve together. And I have full confidence in each of you as leaders of our public service. 
    As we move forward together, let’s remember who we serve and how our work impacts the lives of New Zealanders. 
    With hard work, innovation, courage and a shared sense of purpose, we have the power to create a public service that is not only effective, but transformative. 
    I look forward to working with Sir Brian and you to drive the change that is required.
    Thank you.
     
    ** The core Public Service are departments and departmental agencies only. It excludes the wider public sector, such as defence personnel, police, teachers and public healthcare workers.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Armstrong testifies in support of bill to review boards and commissions, shrink government

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    Gov. Kelly Armstrong delivered testimony today in support of legislation that would create a task force to review all state boards and commissions to determine which ones can be combined or dissolved, in keeping with his goal of shrinking government and making it more efficient.

    “Today the Governor’s Office oversees more than 150 boards and commissions in state government. That’s too many,” Armstrong said, noting every board carries a cost – even those with volunteer members. “When government stays in silos, it leads to duplicative work. Our goal for the task force is to create efficiencies and make sure each board’s mission is still relevant today.”

    Senate Bill 2308 was introduced by Sen. Kristin Roers and co-sponsored by House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, Senate Majority Leader David Hogue and Rep. Scott Louser. The bill proposes creating a task force to review the more than 150 boards and commissions in state government and report back to the 2027 Legislature with recommendations on which boards can be combined or dissolved and which ones are essential to the core functions of government.

    Armstrong first voiced support for SB 2308 during his State of the State address on Jan. 7, saying that making government services more efficient and user-friendly will be a focus of his administration. To kickstart the effort, he signed an executive order dissolving five groups that hadn’t met in over a calendar year. As currently written, SB 2308 would dissolve 18 existing boards, with state agencies absorbing the boards’ duties and scope in some cases.

    “I look forward to continuing to work on this bill with all of you to reduce the footprint of government and save North Dakota taxpayers money,” he said to the Senate State and Local Government Committee.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Armstrong appoints Levi Bachmeier, Patrick Sogard to North Dakota Board of Higher Education

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    Gov. Kelly Armstrong announced today he has appointed Levi Bachmeier of West Fargo and Patrick Sogard of Williston to four-year terms on the State Board of Higher Education starting July 1.

    “Levi and Pat bring valuable experience in education policy, finance and operations to the State Board of Higher Education as our colleges and universities are being challenged by changing demographics and learning models. Our University System is still the best workforce recruiting tool we have, and we need our campuses to align their offerings with workforce needs, adapt to trends and thrive, not just survive,” Armstrong said. “We’re thankful for their willingness to serve and the passion for higher education shared by all the candidates.”

    Bachmeier has served as business manager of the West Fargo School District since 2019. From 2016 to 2019 he served as an education policy adviser and policy director for then-North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum. Bachmeier previously taught high school social studies for two years with Teach for America and spent a summer as a policy analyst fellow at the U.S. Department of Education. A native of West Fargo, Bachmeier earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn. He currently serves on the North Dakota Board of Public Education and North Dakota Career and Technical Education Board, in addition to coaching track and field.

    Sogard has chaired the board of American State Bank & Trust Co. in Williston since 2003, also serving as a trust officer from 2000 to 2005. He previously worked as an attorney in private practice from 1986 to 2000. A native of Alamo, N.D., Sogard studied at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and earned his bachelor’s degree in geological engineering from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks and his law degree from the UND School of Law. He is a past board member of Mercy Medical Center and St. Joseph’s Elementary School, both in Williston, and currently serves on the board of the UND Alumni Association & Foundation.

    Both appointments are subject to confirmation by the state Senate. Bachmeier will succeed board member Casey Ryan, a Grand Forks physician who is completing his second term on the board, the maximum allowed by the state Constitution. Sogard will succeed board member Jeffry Volk, a retired Fargo consulting engineer who has served on the board since 2021.

    The Board of Higher Education has eight voting members appointed by the governor, including one student member, and two non-voting members who represent the North Dakota University System’s faculty and staff. The board oversees the system’s 11 public colleges and universities.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Cornyn Praises Trump Admin for Ending Disastrous Biden Energy Policies

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
    WASHINGTON – Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) praised Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright and the Trump administration’s efforts to unleash American energy abundance and reverse the radical climate policies of the Biden administration, including the freeze on liquified natural gas (LNG) export permits. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video can be found here.
    “President Biden prioritized the view of climate radicals while the interest of Texas families and our national security were, apparently, an afterthought.”
    “Last January, President Biden issued a pause on all American exports of liquefied natural gas in order to conduct a study on the environmental impact.”
    “This pause on exports had major repercussions in Texas, which is one of the leaders of the LNG industry.”
    “Last fall, the D.C. Circuit Court issued a ruling that revoked a permit for the LNG export terminal at the Port of Brownsville.”
    “One of the projects affected by this ruling would have created 6,000 jobs and more than $18 billion of investments in South Texas, but the D.C. Circuit sent them back to the drawing board.”
    “President Biden’s energy agenda put Texas workers, and their families, and our national security last.”
    “Thankfully, that’s not where the story ends. President Trump and Secretary Wright are now at the helm.”
    “On the first day of his presidency, he reversed President Biden’s disastrous LNG pause.”
    “I look forward to working with President Trump and his administration to unleash American energy through an all-of-the-above approach so that Texas and the Gulf of America can once again supply the nation and the world with reliable, affordable energy.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Blumenthal, Colleagues Introduce SECURE Firearm Storage Act To Reduce Gun Violence From Stolen Firearms

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    February 10, 2025

    WASHINGTON–U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) introduced bicameral legislation aimed at reducing gun violence by preventing the theft of firearms from federally-licensed gun dealers (FFLs). The Safety Enhancements for Communities Using Reasonable and Effective (SECURE) Firearm Storage Act would address the problem of “smash and grab” gun store burglaries by requiring all firearms to be securely stored when a federally-licensed gun dealer is not open for business. Additionally, the bill would authorize the Attorney General to review and put forth additional security measures to reduce the risk of theft, and require a new section on the FFL application for an applicant to describe security plans before a license can be approved.
    “Every day, we see the consequences of stolen guns being used in crimes that devastate families and communities across this country. Gun dealers need to take simple steps to secure their inventory, just like any other business that sells dangerous products. It’s about basic responsibility—if you’re selling deadly weapons in your store, you should have to lock them up when you close.” said Murphy.
    “Thousands of guns disappear each year during gun store burglaries – posing a serious public safety threat when these firearms show up again in the wrong hands. Responsible gun storage requirements for gun retailers are critical to preventing senseless and unnecessary deaths in our communities. I am proud to support the SECURE Firearm Storage Act, which strengthens sensible safety standards and would save countless lives, and I will continue to fight to put an end to the scourge of gun violence,” said Blumenthal.
    Gun thefts from FFLs are a significant problem across the country.  In 2023, FFLs reported 13,301 guns to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) as lost through burglaries, larceny, robberies, or simply missing from inventory. These guns frequently end up being used in crime; one study found that between 2012 and 2018, nearly 14,800 guns recovered in crimes had been reported as lost or stolen from gun dealers.
    Thefts of guns from FFLs can be deterred by reasonable security measures, and FFLs that fail to take such measures have been the targets of recent burglaries. For example, last September, multiple suspects allegedly broke into a gun store in Springfield, Maryland, and stole 14 guns. Last May, a 14-year-old was arrested and charged with 16 counts of firearm theft stemming from a FFL burglary in New Castle, Delaware. Last February, two suspects allegedly burglarized a store in Virginia, taking six handguns. Such thefts could be deterred or prevented if FFLs ensured that their guns were stored securely.
    U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) also cosponsored the legislation.
    The legislation has been endorsed by Brady United Against Gun Violence, Everytown for Gun Safety, and GIFFORDS.
    To decrease the loss or theft of guns from FFLs, the SECURE Firearm Storage Act would take several commonsense measures to reduce firearm loss by:
    Requiring FFLs, when their premises are closed, to secure all firearms in their inventory either by fastening them to an anchored steel rod or storing them in a locked safe or gun cabinet;
    Requiring FFLs to store all paper records of firearms transactions in a secure location so the records can be preserved in case they are needed for crime gun tracing investigations;
    Authorizing the Attorney General to prescribe regulations with additional security requirements relating to alarm and security cameras, site hardening on FFL premises, and security of electronic records;
    Ensuring that an FFL that fails to follow these security requirements would face a civil penalty for the first violation; possible FFL license suspension for the second violation; and possible license revocation upon a third violation; and,
    Adding a new section to the FFL application for applicants to describe how they will comply with these security requirements, and directing the Attorney General to ensure that an applicant’s plan will be compliant before approving a license application.  
    Full text of the legislation is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: ‘Ne Zha 2’ forecast to become world’s highest-grossing animated film of all time

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    People walk out of a movie screening room at a cinema in Kunming, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, Feb. 3, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Chinese ticketing platform Maoyan has further revised its forecast for “Ne Zha 2,” projecting the animated blockbuster will reach 14.25 billion yuan (about 1.99 billion U.S. dollars) in total earnings in China.

    The new estimate, announced Monday night, would position the Chinese feature as the highest-grossing animated film in global box office history, and potentially place it among the top seven highest-grossing films of all time across all categories globally.

    The revised projection came just one day after Maoyan had raised its domestic box office forecast for the film to over 12 billion yuan — up from its estimate of 10.8 billion yuan on Feb. 6. As the first Chinese release expected to cross the 10-billion-yuan threshold, the film is a milestone for Chinese cinema.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: State Highway 1 maintenance steps up a gear in Wellington

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    The State Highway Summer Maintenance programme remains in full swing with State Highway 1 between Newlands and Tawa the next in line for attention over the next month.

    Mark Owen, Regional Manager Wellington / Top of the South for NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) says to date it has been a big maintenance season for the Wellington region, and there is still a lot of work to do.

    “State Highway 1 into Wellington is a critical link, and it needs regular maintenance. So, for the second half of February our road crews will be hard at work resurfacing the highway’s northbound lanes between Johnsonville and Glenside.

    “These are heavily used routes – for State Highway 1, on an average day, more than  30,000 vehicles use the northbound lanes. That is a lot of wear and tear, which is why this resurfacing is necessary. It is all about ensuring the highway remains safe and reliable,” Mr Owen says.

    From Sunday, 16 February until Thursday, 20 February – 9 pm to 4:30 am the highway’s northbound lanes will be closed for resurfacing between the Helston Road overbridge and the Grenada/Glenside offramp. A local road detour will be available via Johnsonville and Middleton Road. People who live in Johnsonville who need to travel north will need to use the Glenside northbound onramp. The highway’s southbound lanes will be open at all times.

    The week following, contractors will resurface the Takapu Road roundabout at Tawa/Grenada North interchange. We will provide a further update once these details have been confirmed.

    “We are doing these works at night when there is less traffic on the road. Closing the road lets us get the job done quicker and reduces traffic management costs. It is also safer for road workers and the public,” Mr Owen says.

    Works Schedule and Detour Route

    • Sunday, 16 February to Thursday, 20 February. 9 pm – 4:30 am
      • SH1 CLOSED to northbound traffic between Johnsonville northbound offramp and Glenside northbound onramp. Local road detour available via Johnsonville and Middleton Road.
      • SH1 southbound lanes will remain OPEN at all times
      • Johnsonville residents will need to access SH1 northbound at Glenside

    More Information

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Stretches of HB Expressway closing for resurfacing next week

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    |

    Two stretches of State Highway 2 Hawke’s Bay Expressway will be closing overnight for 4 nights next week for resurfacing.

    The stretch between Prebensen Drive and Taradale Road will be resurfaced first, overnight on 17 and 18 February (next Monday and Tuesday). Crews will then move onto the Taradale Road to Meeanee Road section on the nights of 19 and 20 of February (next Wednesday and Thursday).

    The road will be closed from 8pm til 5am each night.

    Signposted detours will be in place during the work – please plan ahead and expect slightly longer journey times.

    • During the first closure (Prebensen Drive to Taradale Road), northbound road users will be detoured onto SH51 Taradale Road and then onto SH50 Prebensen Drive before rejoining the expressway. The reverse will apply for southbound motorists.
    • During the second closure (Taradale Road to Meeanee Road), northbound road users will be detoured left onto Meeanee Road, right onto Guppy Road, right onto Gloucester Street and into Kennedy Road, before turning left onto Taradale Road and rejoining the expressway. The reverse will apply for southbound motorists.

    During the day, the road will be open, with temporary traffic management in place and a temporary lower speed while the new surface settles.

    This work is weather dependent and the contingency dates are 3-7 March.

    NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi wants to thanks motorists for their support in taking the detours, and expects disruption will be kept to a minimum by doing the work overnight.

    Tags

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: SH2 Tauranga, Snodgrass Road rebuilt 2 weeks early

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    Work to rebuild a section of State Highway 2 (SH2) at night near Snodgrass Road has finished 2 weeks ahead of schedule, with the team wrapping things up last week.

    NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) would like to thank people for their patience and our contractor Fulton Hogan for their hard work in getting this quality job completed in less time.  

    “People are now enjoying a very smooth ride through the Snodgrass Road area,” says Sandra King, System Manager Bay of Plenty. 

    “It’s no small feat. Over the past month, contractors dug up 510 metres of existing road surface, rebuilt each layer, then finished it off with a smooth asphalt surface and brand-new line marking.’  

    While the Snodgrass Road work was underway, there were other maintenance activities, including several other chip sealing sites being completed at night. 

    Due to the sensitive nature of this stretch of state highway, and increasing traffic volumes, rebuilding the road with chip seal is becoming increasingly difficult due to the length of time and temporary speed limits needed to bed in the chip once laid.  

    Any work on SH2, day or night, causes disruption and NZTA appreciates the impact this has on motorists as crews work hard to maintain and renew this important route. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Improving resilience on State Highway 1 in Marlborough – stage 2 works brought forward

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    New resilience work recently got underway on State Highway 1 in Marlborough, south of Blenheim at Dashwood.

    • The start date for the second stage of this work has now been brought forward to start on Monday, 17 February to help avoid the upcoming grape harvest, says NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

    During this time one lane of the highway will remain open under stop/go traffic management 24/7 and a 30 km/h temporary speed limit. 

    • Work is expected to continue until 9 April 2025, but NZTA is aiming to have an end to stop/go traffic management by early March.

    The work involves raising the height of the road to minimise future flooding and complete drainage improvements.

    Wayne Oldfield, Marlborough System Manager, says the 500-metre section of state highway between Awatere Valley Road and the Awatere Bridge is prone to flooding.

    “Making these improvements and increasing the highway’s resilience will help keep the road open in bad weather, and ensure people, products, and places remain connected on this busy arterial route.”

    “It means the transport network will be stronger and better prepared for any future disruption,” Mr Oldfield says.

    The work on the three-lane section of the state highway will be carried out in stages.

    Stage 1 will see the start of new drainage works alongside the highway. During Stage 2, one lane of the highway will remain open under a stop/go traffic management 24/7 and a 30 km/h temporary speed limit.  For Stage 3, two lanes will be open under a 30 km/h temporary speed limit.

    Keeping the road open while work is done is particularly important given the Marlborough grape harvest will soon be underway.

    Mr Oldfield says the work is funded by the Crown Resilience Programme.

    “The fund is about covering the cost of resilience improvements on the state highway network and minimising damage from future weather events.”

    “Marlborough residents know only too well how big an impact floods can have. In previous years, heavy rainfall has resulted in the closure of this stretch of the highway. Investments like this can make a big difference,” Mr Oldfield says.

    Other resilience works recently completed in Marlborough include State Highway 6 Rai Saddle and State Highway 63 at the Wash Bridge.

    Works Schedule overall

    Stage 1 – Early February to 9 April

    • Drainage works undertaken in the swale alongside the highway.
    • Northbound passing lane will be closed during the work activities.

    Stage 2 – 17 February to early March (amended from our first notice of this work)

    • Stop/Go temporary traffic management in place from 24/7 – No work on Sundays.
    • A temporary speed limit of 30 km/h will be in place at the site 24/7.
    • Expect delays of up to 10 minutes.
    • This work is subject to weather and unforeseen circumstances.

    Stage 3 – Early to late March

    • State Highway 1 reopened to two lanes
    • A temporary speed limit of 30 km/h will be in place at the site 24/7.

    More Information

    • The Crown Resilience Programme (previously the Transport Resilience Fund) is a $419 million investment package of resilience improvement activities that will reduce the impact of severe weather events on our national roading networks. This will ensure a more resilient and efficient network now and into the future. The total crown resilience programme comprises $279 million for activities on State Highways, and $140 million for activities on Local Roads.
    • This seven-year programme aims to advance proactive resilience improvements on the roading network to minimise the future damage caused to New Zealand roads by weather events, which have been increasing in frequency and severity.
    • Crown Resilience Programme

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Local News – Waimate waste incinerator plan fails 11 February 2025

    Source: Zero Waste Network

    The Waimate incinerator project will not proceed as planned. The sale and purchase agreement for the land has lapsed, and the landowner has said the incinerator does not meet its plans for future growth. The incinerator “Project Kea” by South Island Resource Recovery Ltd has been opposed by the Zero Waste Network and community group Why Waste Waimate for the past three and a half years.

    “We are thrilled that this project is not going ahead. The community of Waimate and local iwi, Te Rūnanga o Waihao, have worked tirelessly to ensure that this toxic project never sees the light of day,” said Dorte Wray, General Manager of the Zero Waste Network.

    “This incinerator project has no social license to operate. It would never get resource consent under normal conditions given its widespread air pollution and climate impacts. The project was included on the Fast Track list meaning that community concerns, human health and environmental considerations would all have been disregarded in favour of the company’s claimed economic benefits.”

    “The Zero Waste Network does not support waste incineration because it locks us into the production of waste. Incinerators require huge capital investment that would be better spent building the waste minimisation infrastructure we need to actually solve our waste crisis and build in the reuse of valuable materials. Incinerators are the old ‘business-as-usual’ linear model of take-make-waste. They are not a realistic solution to the real challenges we face.”

    “The use of the term ‘waste-to-energy’ is almost always an industry sales pitch for burning rubbish, and it represents some of the dirtiest forms of power on earth. A recent UK investigation revealed their so-called ‘waste to energy’ plants that were worse than coal fired power plants.”

    “We pay our deep respects to all of the community of Waimate, to the people of Waihao marae, and to our allies in the movement for a zero waste, zero carbon Aotearoa NZ. We say ‘regenerate, don’t incinerate!’”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: 80 Years Later: 1st Cavalry Division returns to the Philippines to Commemorate the Battle of Manila

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    MANILA, Philippines  –  

    80 years ago, on Feb. 3, 1945, the battle for the capital of the Philippines began between Allied Forces and Imperial Japan. The 1st Cavalry Division was one of three divisions under the control of Gen. Douglas MacArthur. It was here that the 1st Cavalry Division earned its nickname, “America’s First Team,” by being the first U.S. Forces to re-enter Manila after its capture in 1942.

    The battle and subsequent liberation of Manila and the Philippines, in the spring of 1945, fulfilled a promise made by Gen. MacArthur in the spring of 1942: When President Theodore D. Roosevelt ordered him to Australia, he said, “I shall return.”

    On a hot Feb. morning at Adamson University in the heart of the capital, the city government of Manila held a ceremony and wreath-laying in honor of this historic event. The ceremony honored our shared history, ongoing commitment, and continued partnership with the Philippines and the Filipino people.

    The Mayor of Manila City, Honey Lacuna Pangan, presided over the ceremony. Commemorating this historical event, several other countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, China, and Canada, were represented on-site.

    The U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, MaryKay L. Carlson, participated in the ceremony and placed a wreath in honor of those Americans and Filipinos who laid down their lives for the freedom of the Filipino people and the two countries.

    Lt. Col. John Dolan, Commander of the 1st Cavalry Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment “Garryowen,” was on hand to represent the 1st Cavalry Division at the ceremony along with representatives from 5th Security Forces Assistance Brigade and I Corps, both based out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wa.

    “We’re here to honor the courage and sacrifice of so many soldiers and civilians in the liberation of Manila,” said Lt Col. Dolan, “and recognize the bond between both Americans and Filipinos share in our history and the pursuit of freedom.”

    As the number of the Greatest Generation dwindles and will soon be gone, continuing to commemorate these events ensures their efforts and history is not lost. The Liberation of Manila’s 80th anniversary honors the past generations’ sacrifices to safeguard freedom while inspiring future generations to carry the torch.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: USS O’Kane returns home after seven-month deployment to 5th and 7th Fleet

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    SAN DIEGO, Calif.  –  

    O’Kane departed San Diego with the ABECSG, July 17, 2024, and remained in U.S. 5th Fleet following the departure of ABECSG who returned to their homeport in December 2024.

    “I am incredibly proud of the exemplary work this team has invested in themselves and their equipment over the past few months,” said Cmdr. Rich Ray, commanding officer, O’Kane. “We are proud of the work we accomplished this deployment, and we are looking forward to continuing that success into the next challenge.”

    Following the departure of the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-class missile destroyers USS Frank E. Petersen, Jr. (DDG 121), USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) and USS Spruance (DDG 111) from U.S. 5th Fleet, O’Kane and the USS Stockdale (DDG 106) remained in the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) area of responsibility to support global maritime security operations.

    O’Kane and Stockdale successfully escorted U.S. flagged and crewed merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden. During the escort, the destroyers worked alongside other U.S. Central Command forces in successfully repelling multiple Iranian-backed Houthi attacks during transits of the Bab el-Mandeb strait. During the transit, the destroyers were attacked by one-way attack un-crewed Aerial systems, anti-ship ballistic missiles and anti-ship cruise missiles which were successfully engaged and defeated. The vessels were not damaged, and no personnel were hurt. The ships were well prepared, supported, and the well-trained Sailors successfully defended the ship.

    Throughout deployment, O’Kane successfully completed 75 flight quarters, including 84 rotary-wing landings, 26 rotary-wing refueling evolutions, and nine vertical replenishments. In addition, O’Kane conducted 24 replenishments-at-sea, and 22 mooring evolutions.

    Additionally, O’Kane visited Karachi, Pakistan to promote the diplomatic relationship between the United States and Pakistan. Following the port visit, O’Kane conducted a maritime exercise to build interoperability with the Pakistan Navy.

    ABECSG initially deployed to the Indo-Pacific region to support regional security and stability, and to reassure our allies and partners of the U.S. Navy’s unwavering commitment, highlighted by the first-ever U.S.-Italy multi-large deck event with the Italian Navy’s ITS Cavour Carrier Strike Group held in the Indo-Pacific on Aug. 9, 2024.

    The strike group was ordered to the USCENTCOM area of responsibility to bolster U.S. military force posture in the Middle East, deter regional escalation, degrade Houthi capabilities, defend U.S. forces, and again sailed alongside our Italian allies and other partners to promote security, stability and prosperity. Assigned destroyers of the ABECSG, to include O’Kane, were essential to providing a layer of defense to U.S. forces and ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels and partner nations transiting in international waterways like the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden.

    As an integral part of U.S. Pacific Fleet, Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet operates naval forces in the Indo-Pacific and provides the realistic and relevant training to ensure the readiness necessary to execute the U.S. Navy’s timeless role across the full spectrum of military operations. U.S. 3rd Fleet works together with our allies and partners to advance freedom of navigation, the rule of law, and other principles that underpin security for the Indo-Pacific region.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jury Finds Cousins Guilty of 2021 Mayfair Mansions Murder

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

              WASHINGTON – A Superior Court jury today found Deangelo Glover, 33, and Ronnie Wallace, 48, both of Washington, D.C., guilty of murder and other charges related to the January 19, 2021, murder of Tyrone Wright, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

               Wallace was found guilty of one count of first-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for Wright’s murder, plus one count of assault with intent to kill while armed for shooting a second victim, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and one count of carrying a pistol without a license.

               Glover was found guilty of one count of second-degree murder, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and one count of carrying a pistol without a license. Superior Court Judge Jason Park scheduled sentencing for May 2, 2025.

               According to the government’s evidence, on Tuesday January 19, 2021, in a parking lot in front of 3804 Hayes Street NE within the Mayfair Mansions Apartment complex, Ronnie Wallace shot the decedent, Tyrone Wright on belief that Mr. Wright was one of the persons responsible for his brother Marcus Wallace’s murder. In the process, a bystander was shot a single time in the leg. Within moments of Wallace’s initial shots, his cousin and co-defendant Deangelo Glover, ran out of an adjacent building and shot Mr. Wright repeatedly ending his life.

               This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrea Coronado and Matthew Covert.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three People Charged in Commercial Bribery Scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Edward Joseph Chmiel, 49, Henry Lozano, 43, and Sabino Loera, 51, have been charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering arising out of a scheme to submit fraudulent invoices to a contractor providing services for a Colorado electrical utility.

    Loera and Lozano made their initial appearances in federal court on February 10. Chmiel is expected to have his initial appearance later this month.  According to the criminal information, Chmiel and Loera worked for a company providing electrical contracting services to a utility company in Colorado. Lozano owned a company providing trucking and hauling services. In August 2018, the three agreed that Lozano’s company would provide those services in exchange for kickback payments to Chmiel and Loera.  To generate the money that would pay the kickbacks, the three schemed to submit false invoices from Lozano’s company to Chmiel and Loera’s. Once Lozano was paid for those invoices, Loera would direct Lozano to issue checks to a network of 15 other people. Those people cashed the checks and then gave the cash to Chmiel and Loera.  Between August 2018 and June 2020, the false invoices generated approximately $1,495,781.51 in kickback proceeds.

    The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    The investigation is being conducted by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and the FBI Denver Field Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sonia Dave and Bryan Fields.

    Case Number: 25-cr-00024-RMR             

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Humboldt County Woman Charged With Embezzling Over $500,000 From Construction Company Employer

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury has indicted Christina Ann Mobley, also known as Kris Mobley, 58, on charges that she defrauded her former employer, a construction company located in Fortuna, Calif.  

    According to an indictment filed Feb. 5, 2025, Mobley was employed as the business manager for a Fortuna construction company.  When the company’s bookkeeper retired, Mobley took on the accounting and bookkeeping duties, including inputting entries into the company’s accounting software and assisting with bill payments, payroll taxes, employee health benefits, government contracts, and other tasks.

    The company maintained an account at a bank and had several business credit cards through the bank for its employees.  It also held a business credit card at another bank, where Mobley maintained at least two personal credit card accounts.  The indictment describes that Mobley’s scheme to defraud took on several forms.  Mobley allegedly directed checks mailed from the company’s bank account to be applied to the accounts for her personal credit cards; issued electronic payments of company funds to her personal credit cards; misused the company’s credit card for personal expenses such as cash advances at casinos and personal travel; wrote checks from the company to herself; inflated her vacation time, work hours, and bonuses in the company’s payroll system; and issued duplicate payroll checks and unearned bonus payments to herself.  Between January 2022 and November 2024, Mobley allegedly embezzled more than $500,000 from her employer.  

    The indictment charges Mobley with three counts of mail fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1341 and seven counts of wire fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1343.  Mobley made an initial appearance in federal district court in McKinleyville, Calif., this morning, and was released on bond with conditions set by the Court.  Mobley is next scheduled to appear on Feb. 26, 2025, at 1:30 p.m., before Senior U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer.

    United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Dan Costin made the announcement.

    An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  If convicted, Mobley faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count under 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341 and 1343, a fine of $250,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transactions, and forfeiture and restitution.  Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Barry is prosecuting this case with the assistance of Marina Ponomarchuk.  This prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.

    Christina Ann Mobley Indictment
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican National Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Possessing Heroin with Intent to Distribute

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    FRESNO, Calif. — Jose Angel Beltran-Chaidez, 69, a Mexican national residing in Bakersfield, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to two years in prison for possessing with intent to distribute heroin, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

    According to court documents, in January 2022, at the direction of his brother Antonio Beltran-Chaidez, 55, also a Mexican national, Beltran delivered more than 2 pounds of heroin to Jorge Calderon-Campos, 44, a Mexican national residing in Bakersfield, for distribution. However, when Calderon-Campos was unable to sell the drug, Beltran retrieved it from Calderon-Campos and was in possession of the heroin when stopped by a CHP officer for a traffic violation.

    Calderon-Campos and Antonio Beltran-Chaidez previously pleaded guilty and were sentenced to eight years and one month in prison and three years and 10 months in prison, respectively.

    This case was the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Secret Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Kern County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, the California Highway Patrol, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the Kern County Probation Department, and the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar prosecuted the case.

    The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Odysight.ai Announces the Pricing of $21.5 Million Public Offering and Uplisting to the Nasdaq Capital Market

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Odysight.ai common stock to begin trading on Nasdaq Tuesday, February 11, 2025, under the symbol “ODYS”

    OMER, Israel, Feb. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Odysight.ai Inc. (Nasdaq: ODYS) (“Odysight.ai” or the “Company”), a pioneering developer of AI systems for Predictive Maintenance (PdM) and Condition-Based Monitoring (CBM), today announced the pricing of a public offering of 3,307,692 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $6.50 per share. The sole book-running manager of the offering will have a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 496,153 shares of common stock from Odysight.ai at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions.

    Odysight.ai’s common stock has been approved for listing and is expected to begin trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “ODYS” on Tuesday, February 11, 2025.

    The offering is expected to close on February 12, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions.

    The gross proceeds to Odysight.ai from the offering, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, are expected to be approximately $21.5 million. Odysight.ai intends to use the net proceeds from this offering for expanded research and development, increased sales and marketing, working capital and other general corporate purposes.

    The Benchmark Company, LLC is acting as sole book-running manager for the offering.

    A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and became effective on February 10, 2025. The proposed offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the final prospectus, when available, may be obtained from The Benchmark Company, LLC, 150 East 58th St., 17th Floor, New York, NY 10155, by telephone: (212) 312-6700, or by email at prospectus@benchmarkcompany.com.

    This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

    About Odysight.ai 

    Odysight.ai is pioneering the Predictive Maintenance (PdM) and Condition Based Monitoring (CBM) markets with its visualization and AI platform. Providing video sensor-based solutions for critical systems in the aviation, transportation, and energy industries, Odysight.ai leverages proven visual technologies and products from the medical industry. Odysight.ai’s unique video-based sensors, embedded software, and AI algorithms are being deployed in hard-to-reach locations and harsh environments across a variety of PdM and CBM use cases. Odysight.ai’s platform allows maintenance and operations teams visibility into areas which are inaccessible under normal operation, or where the operating ambience is not suitable for continuous real-time monitoring.

    We routinely post information that may be important to investors in the Investors section of our website. For more information, please visit: https://www.odysight.ai or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to future events or our future performance. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the completion of the offering, the satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the offering and the intended use of net proceeds from the offering. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Those statements are based on information we have when those statements are made or our management’s current expectation and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward- looking statements. Factors that may affect our results, performance, circumstances or achievements include, but are not limited to the following: (i) market acceptance of our existing and new products, including those that utilize our micro Odysight.ai technology or offer Predictive Maintenance and Condition Based Monitoring applications, (ii) lengthy product delays in key markets, (iii) an inability to secure regulatory approvals for the sale of our products, (iv) intense competition in the medical device and related industries from much larger, multinational companies, (v) product liability claims, product malfunctions and the functionality of Odysight.ai’s solutions under all environmental conditions, (vi) our limited manufacturing capabilities and reliance on third-parties for assistance, (vii) an inability to establish sales, marketing and distribution capabilities to commercialize our products, (viii) an inability to attract and retain qualified personnel, (ix) our efforts to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection covering our products, which may not be successful, (x) our reliance on a single customer that accounts for a substantial portion of our revenues, (xi) our reliance on single suppliers for certain product components, including for miniature video sensors which are suitable for our Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor technology products, (xii) the fact that we will need to raise additional capital to meet our business requirements in the future and that such capital raising may be costly, dilutive or difficult to obtain, (xiii) the impact of computer system failures, cyberattacks or deficiencies in our cybersecurity, (xiv) the fact that we conduct business in multiple foreign jurisdictions, exposing us to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, logistical, global supply chain and communications challenges, burdens and costs of compliance with foreign laws and political and economic instability in each jurisdiction and (xv) political, economic and military instability in Israel, including the impact of Israel’s war against Hamas and Hezbollah. These and other important factors discussed in Odysight.ai’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 26, 2024 and our other reports filed with the SEC could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Odysight.ai undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

    Investor Relations Contact:
    Miri Segal
    MS-IR LLC
    msegal@ms-ir.com

    Company Contact:
    Einav Brenner, CFO
    info@odysight.ai

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Israeli police cite children’s ‘colouring book’ for Palestinian bookshop raid

    Pacific Media Watch

    Israeli police have confiscated hundreds of books with Palestinian titles or flags without understanding their contents in a draconian raid on a Palestinian educational bookshop in occupied East Jerusalem, say eyewitnesses.

    More details have emerged on the Israeli police raid on a popular bookstore in occupied East Jerusalem.

    The owners were arrested but police reportedly dropped charges of incitement while still detaining them for “disturbing the public order”.

    The bookstore’s owners, Ahmed and Mahmoud Muna, were detained, and hundreds of titles related to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict confiscated, before police ordered the store’s closure, according to May Muna, Mahmoud’s wife, reports Al Jazeera.

    She said the soldiers picked out books with Palestinian titles or flags, “without knowing what any of them meant”.

    She said they used Google Translate on some of the Arabic titles to see what they meant before carting them away in plastic bags.

    Another police bookshop raid
    Police raided another Palestinian-owned bookstore in the Old City in East Jerusalem last week. In a statement, the police said the two owners were arrested on suspicion of “selling books containing incitement and support for terrorism”.

    As an example, the police referred to an English-language children’s colouring book titled From the River to the Sea — a reference to the territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea that today includes Israel, the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

    The bookshop raids have been widely condemned as a “war on knowledge and literature”.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Do men and women agree on how easy it is for each other to find a job or a date?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Whyte, Deputy Director – Behavioural Economics, Society and Technology (BEST) Research Group. Chief-Investigator – ARC ITTC Centre for Behavioural Inisghts for Technology Adoption (BITA).), Queensland University of Technology

    The Conversation, DenPhotos/Shutterstock, Mehaniq/Shutterstock

    Typically, you don’t have to write a cover letter before attending a candlelit dinner. But there are some eerie emotional parallels between finding a job and finding a date.

    Both can require you to put yourself “out there” in uncomfortable ways, brace yourself for repeated rejection and grapple with heartache.

    On the flip side, success in either pursuit can significantly boost your confidence and sense of wellbeing – especially if it feels like a good fit.

    This raises the question: do Australians really believe they have equal access to the labour and dating markets?

    Our study, published in the journal Evolutionary Psychology, examined this question in depth, shining a light on how these beliefs are linked, and where they differ.

    Whether Australians’ perceptions of job and dating market access are completely accurate or not, they can certainly have a big impact on the choices we make and the way we behave in both our personal and professional lives.

    Finding a job versus finding a date

    We surveyed more than 1,000 online daters aged between 18 and 81. Our sample only included participants who described their sexual orientation as heterosexual and who identified as either male or female.

    Our study looked at people’s beliefs about how easy it was to find a job or find a date.
    Arthur Bargan/Shutterstock

    It’s important to understand that we were looking specifically at people’s perceptions of their access to these markets.

    That is, we looked at what men and women believed about their own (and the opposite sex’s) ability to find a job or find a date.

    We also examined what both sexes believed about women’s economic dependence on men.

    On average, we found women think it’s easier for men to find a decently paying job. Women also think they’re less economically dependent on male partners than men think women are.

    Both sexes agree it’s easier for women to find a date than men. But men think they have it much worse off on this metric than women think they do.

    Where beliefs diverge

    These perceptions begin to vary significantly with factors such as age, education, number of children and political orientation.

    There are some big differences in how women perceive women’s economic dependence and ease of dating access at different stages of life.

    Middle-aged men and women (aged 35 to 55 years) share similar perspectives on women’s economic dependence. This contrasts with younger and older women, who believe women are significantly less economically dependent on men.

    Women believe they have an easier time finding a date as they age from 18 to 35 years old. This perception then declines sharply from 40 to 75 years or older.

    These patterns align with evolutionary theories, suggesting that access to resources and shifting household dynamics at different life stages influence how men and women view the labour and dating markets.

    Shifting beliefs about access at different age levels may reflect changing household dynamics.
    aijiro/Shutterstock

    Intertwined ‘markets’

    Importantly, we found that perceptions of labour and dating market access are intrinsically linked, and they tend to reflect broader economic conditions.

    For instance, men in high-income areas think they have better job and dating opportunities, while those in areas with greater gender income disparities see women as more economically dependent.

    On the flipside, women in higher-income areas think they are less economically dependent. And those in areas with lower gender gaps in income perceive women’s dating access to be greater.

    This interplay of beliefs is also reflected in participants’ own dating preferences. Women who believe they are more economically dependent on men tend to seek a long-term male partner with greater earning potential than them.

    On the other hand, men who expect to earn more than their ideal partner think it’s easier for men to find a date.

    Beliefs about how easy it is to find a job and find a date are linked.
    Drazen Zigic/Shutterstock

    Why does this all matter?

    Economic growth is the way economists and politicians measure increases in our standard of living. It is primarily driven by consumption.

    That’s everyday Australians buying their morning coffees at work, leg hams at Christmas time or splurging on a new cabana for the beach.

    Historically, more consumers meant more consumption, which meant higher economic growth and an increased standard of living.

    Many governments have recognised and acted on this link, encouraging Australians to have more children. Back in the early 2000s, for instance, the Howard government implemented the so-called “baby bonus”.

    Then-Treasurer Peter Costello famously asked the nation to “Have one for mum, one for dad, and one for the country”.

    It worked, sort of. Australia’s birth rates increased modestly.

    Fast forward to today, and these issues are just as relevant. Dating and job market choices still have a significant impact on Australian society, both economically and socially.

    Khandis R Blake receives funding from the Australian Research Council (DE210100800 and DP220101023).

    Benno Torgler, Ho Fai Chan, Rachel Hall, and Stephen Whyte do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Do men and women agree on how easy it is for each other to find a job or a date? – https://theconversation.com/do-men-and-women-agree-on-how-easy-it-is-for-each-other-to-find-a-job-or-a-date-247235

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: As Trump abandons the old world order, NZ must find its place in a new ‘Pax Autocratica’

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Chris Ogden, Associate Professor in Global Studies, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

    Donald Trump is moving rapidly to change the contours of contemporary international affairs, with the old US-dominated world order breaking down into a multipolar one with many centres of power.

    The shift already includes the US leaving the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Accords, questioning the value of the United Nations, and radical cuts to the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

    Such a new geopolitical age also involves an assertion of raw power, with Trump using the threat of tariffs to assert global authority and negotiating positions.

    While the US is not significantly less powerful, this new era may see it wield that power in more openly self-interested and isolationist ways. As new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio put it in January, “the post-war global order is not just obsolete – it is now a weapon being used against us”.

    With global democracy in retreat, the emerging international order looks to be moving in an authoritarian direction. As it does, the position of New Zealand’s vibrant democracy will come under mounting pressure.

    But world orders have come and gone for millennia, reflecting the ebb and flow of global economic, political and military power. Looking back to previous eras, and how countries and cultures responded to shifting geopolitical realities, can help us understand what is happening more clearly.

    An evolving world order

    Previous orders have often focused on specific centres – or “poles” – of power. These include the Concert of Europe from 1814 to 1914, the bipolar world of the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union, and the unipolar world of American dominance after the end of the Cold War and since the September 11 attacks in 2001.

    Periods of single-power dominance (or hegemony) are referred to as a “pax”, from the Latin for “peace”. We have seen the Pax Romana of the Roman Empire (27 BCE to 180 AD), multiple Pax Sinicas around China (most recently the Qing Dynasty 1644 to 1912), Pax Mongolica (the Mongol Empire from 1271 to 1368) and Pax Britannica (the British Empire from 1815 to 1924).

    It is the Pax Americana of the US, from 1945 to the present, that Trump seems bent on dismantling. We now live in an international order that is visibly in flux. With autocracy on the rise and the US at its vanguard, a “Pax Autocratica” is emerging.

    This is accentuated by the rapid rise of Asia as the main sphere of economic and military growth, particularly China and India. The world’s two most populous countries had the world’s largest and third largest economies respectively in 2023, and the second and fourth highest levels of military spending.

    The simultaneous rise of multiple power centres was already challenging the Pax Americana. Now, a new international order appears to be a certainty, with Trump openly adapting to multipolarity. Several major powers now compete for global influence, rather than any one country dominating.

    China’s preference for a multipolar international order is shared by India and Russia. Without one dominant entity, it will be the political and social basis of this order, as determined by its major actors, that matters most – not who leads it.

    Pax Democratica

    The current (now waning) international order has been underpinned by specific social, political and economic values stemming from the national identity and historical experience of the US.

    According to US political expert G. John Ikenberry, former president Woodrow Wilson’s agenda for peace after the first world war sought to “reflect distinctive American ideas and ideals”.

    Woodrow imagined an order based on collective security and shared sovereignty, liberal principles of democracy and universal human rights, free trade and international law.

    As its dominance and military strength increased in the 20th century, the US also provided security to other countries. Such power enabled Washington to create open global trade markets, as well as build core global institutions like the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, World Trade Organization, United Nations and NATO.

    For Ikenberry, this Pax Americana (we might call it a Pax Democratica) rested on consent to the US’s “provision of security, wealth creation, and social advancement”. This was aided by the its more than 800 military bases in over 80 countries.

    The democratic deficit

    Trump undercuts the central tenets of this liberal world order and accelerates a slide towards authoritarianism. Like Russia, India and China, the US is also actively constraining human rights, attacking minorities and weakening its electoral system.

    This democratic retreat leaves a country such as New Zealand in a global minority. If Trump targets the region or country with economic tariffs, that precariousness might increase.

    On the other hand, previous world orders have not been truly hegemonic. Pax Britannica did not encompass the entire world. Nor did Pax Americana, which didn’t include China, India, the former Soviet bloc, much of the Islamic world and many developing countries.

    This suggests pockets of democracy can survive within a Pax Autocratica, especially in a multipolar world which is more tolerant of political independence.

    The Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2023 Democracy Index ranked New Zealand, the Nordic countries, Switzerland, Iceland and Ireland highest because their citizens

    choose their political leaders in free and fair elections, enjoy civil liberties, prefer democracy over other political systems, can and do participate in politics, and have a functioning government that acts on their behalf.

    It is these countries that can be at the vanguard of democratic resilience.

    Chris Ogden is a Senior Research Fellow with The Foreign Policy Centre, London.

    – ref. As Trump abandons the old world order, NZ must find its place in a new ‘Pax Autocratica’ – https://theconversation.com/as-trump-abandons-the-old-world-order-nz-must-find-its-place-in-a-new-pax-autocratica-249358

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI China: Ancient genomic study unveils migration and integration patterns in East Asia

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    A study on ancient genomes from east China’s Shandong Province has revealed the complex migration and integration patterns of populations in East Asia spanning over 6,000 years.
    Published in the journal Nature Communications, the research provides new insights into how ancient people moved and mixed across northern coastal regions, inland areas, and islands.
    Conducted by a team of Chinese scientists led by Fu Qiaomei from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the study analyzed nuclear genomes from 85 individuals at 11 archaeological sites in Shandong, dating back 6,000 to 1,500 years.
    Collaborators included researchers from Shandong University, Shandong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, and Jinan Archaeological Research Institute.
    The study reveals that ancestral groups from northern and southern East Asia began mixing in coastal regions at least 7,700 years ago, earlier than previously believed.
    Genetic data from the Xiaojingshan population, dating back 7,700 years, shows strong links to both southern East Asian and ancient Heilongjiang River Basin populations, updating the timeline of north-south genetic interactions in the region.
    The research also highlights two major waves of genetic influence from northern inland populations into Shandong coastal groups during the Dawenkou culture period (6,000-4,600 years ago) and the early dynastic period (3,500-1,500 years ago).
    These genetic exchanges did not always align with known cultural interactions, such as those between the Yangshao and Dawenkou cultures, suggesting complex demographic dynamics beyond cultural connections.
    In a significant breakthrough, the study traces genetic ties between the populations of Shandong and the ancient inhabitants of Miyako Island in the Ryukyu archipelago, southern Japan.
    The Nagabaka population, dating back 500 years, inherited about 75 percent of their ancestry from Shandong groups during the Longshan period (4,600-4,000 years ago), mixed with indigenous Jomon-related lineages.
    This discovery clarifies a previously unknown East Asian component in the Ryukyu triple-origin model and explains genetic differences between Ryukyu and mainland Japanese populations.
    The findings underscore Shandong’s role as a genetic bridge connecting inland, coastal, and island populations over millennia. By integrating north-south and east-west perspectives, the study demonstrates how cultural exchanges, migration, and genetic mixing shaped the diversity of modern East Asians.
    “This research fills critical gaps in our understanding of East Asia’s genetic history,” said Fu, the study’s corresponding author. “It brings us closer to answering the fundamental question: Where do modern East Asians come from?”
    The study not only updates existing theories but also provides a framework for exploring deeper interactions across Eurasia, highlighting the importance of coastal regions in ancient population movements.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Tribute paid to pioneer of China’s nuclear submarines

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    People across China paid great respect to Huang Xuhua, the late chief designer of the nation’s first-generation nuclear submarines, over the past days in remembrance of the renowned engineer’s contributions to the motherland.
    Huang, who received the country’s highest honor, the Medal of the Republic, in September 2019 and the nation’s top science and technology award in January 2020, died on Thursday evening in Wuhan, Hubei province, at the age of 99. A funeral service for him was held on Monday at the city’s Wuchang funeral parlor.
    Inside a memorial hall at the Wuhan-based Nuclear Submarine Institute of China State Shipbuilding Corp, farewell flowers were arranged in the shape of a submarine and ocean waves in front of Huang’s portrait at a farewell ceremony held on Saturday and Sunday.
    Students from primary and middle schools and universities, as well as local residents and colleagues of Huang, came to the site to salute, pay their respects and say farewell to the preeminent researcher.
    Many people from outside Wuhan ordered flowers from online shops and asked them to be delivered to the farewell ceremony.
    In Huang’s hometown of Shanwei in Guangdong province, at Shanghai Jiao Tong University where the researcher studied, and at the PLA Naval Museum in Qingdao, Shandong province, ceremonies were held in remembrance of the submarine designer.
    Many people who commented below online news reports about Huang’s passing said they were grateful to the late engineer, because what he had done had safeguarded the country and its people, and had also contributed to making China a great power in the world.
    In 1958, Huang became one of China’s first researchers designated to design the nation’s own nuclear-powered submarines. Since then, his name remained classified until almost three decades later, when a magazine in Shanghai was allowed to publish a report on him, which only disclosed his surname of Huang.
    From his early 30s to his passing, Huang was closely linked to China’s nuclear submarine force. He led the research and development of the nation’s first-generation nuclear submarines — the Type 09I nuclear-powered attack submarine and the Type 09II nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine. He also trained and established a group of engineers who have played central roles in building new generations of nuclear submarines.
    In addition, Huang had been director of the Nuclear Submarine Institute of China State Shipbuilding Corp and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s Spring Festival spending spree fuels global business growth

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    On a balmy afternoon on the first day of the Chinese Spring Festival, a queue of nearly 40 people, over half of them being Chinese tourists, snaked around the plain ice cream stall of “Uncle Chieng” on Orchard Road, Singapore.

    “Recently, more than half of the customers are Chinese tourists. Around the Spring Festival, I sell about 20 percent more ice cream each day compared to usual,” said Chieng Puay Chui, owner of the stall, which has become one of the must-visit spots for Chinese tourists.

    This scene is just a microcosm of the vibrant Spring Festival celebrations that have swept China and beyond, the first Lunar New Year festivities after the Spring Festival was added to UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list.

    The festival, which falls on Jan. 29 this year, with week-long nationwide celebrations around the date, has not only ignited a surge in domestic consumption but also created vast opportunities for international businesses, as Chinese consumers embrace global goods and cultures.

    A girl participates in activities to celebrate the Chinese New Year in London, Britain, on Feb. 2, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Global goods, local celebrations

    The Spring Festival, a time for family reunion and feasting, has seen a growing appetite for “foreign New Year goods” among Chinese consumers. From French wine to Chilean cherries, global delicacies have become essential elements of the Chinese New Year shopping list.

    France’s Occitanie region, renowned for its wine, has been actively promoting its produce in China through platforms like the China International Import Expo and the “From French Farms to Chinese Tables” initiative. For French wine producers, the Spring Festival is one of the best opportunities to promote their products.

    “Ahead of the Chinese New Year, we organized various events to support wine producers from the Occitanie region and importers in distributing their products so that they would be available during the Spring Festival,” said Catherine Machabert, food and wine international director of the economic development agency of the Occitanie Region.

    “For the Year of the Snake, distributors have prepared a variety of gift boxes featuring snake-themed designs to promote the wines,” said Machabert, adding that Occitanie has always maintained strong ties with China and recognizes the importance of the Chinese market.

    Meanwhile, French confectionery giant Andros has capitalized on the festive season by launching special gift packs and organizing in-store tastings. “Our sales during this Spring Festival are expected to double compared to previous years, setting a new record,” said Maxence Zeng, general manager of Andros China.

    Chilean cherries, with their vibrant red hue and symbolic association with prosperity in the Chinese culture, have also become a favorite among Chinese consumers.

    China is a very important market for fresh Chilean cherries, not only because it receives more than 90 percent of total exports, “but also because of the friendly relationship that has been built between our cherries and the people of China,” said Claudia Soler, executive director of the Chilean Cherry Committee.

    A poster of the animated feature “Ne Zha 2” is pictured at a cinema in Shenyang, northeast China’s Liaoning Province, Feb. 6, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Two-way cultural exchanges

    The Spring Festival is not just about shopping and feasting; it’s also a time for travel and cultural exploration. With extended holidays and visa-free policies, Chinese tourists have been flocking to international destinations, while foreign visitors have been arriving in China to experience the festivities firsthand.

    On the pristine beaches of Zanzibar, Tanzania, Chinese tourists Li Chenguang and his wife, Zhao Xue, marveled at the natural beauty surrounding them. “We can witness the Great Migration in the Serengeti, the azure waters of the Indian Ocean and even the snow-capped peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro,” Zhao exclaimed with excitement.

    Meanwhile, in Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur International Airport has been bustling as Chinese tourists head to Malaysia for tropical experiences and Malaysian travelers embark on winter adventures in China. “We’re planning to visit Harbin, hike up Changbai Mountain and savor traditional northeastern dishes like Guo Bao Rou (crispy sweet and sour pork),” said Zhou Jinglang, a tour guide of a Malaysian travel agency.

    According to the National Immigration Administration, China recorded 14.37 million cross-border trips during the Spring Festival holiday season, a 6.3 percent increase from a year earlier. About 1 million of these trips were made by foreign nationals, marking a 22.9 percent year-on-year rise.

    Meanwhile, the 2025 Spring Festival holiday has marked a new milestone for China’s thriving film industry, with box office revenue soaring to an unprecedented 9.51 billion yuan (approximately 1.33 billion U.S. dollars) between Jan. 28 and Feb. 4, according to the China Film Administration.

    A staggering 187 million moviegoers flocked to cinemas throughout the holiday week, setting new all-time highs in both box office earnings and audience turnout.

    Released on Jan. 29, the first day of Chinese New Year, Chinese animated blockbuster “Ne Zha 2” has shattered multiple box office records, becoming the first film to cross 1 billion dollars in a single market and the first non-Hollywood title to join the coveted billion-dollar club.

    Customers select newly arrived Chilean cherries at a supermarket in Tianjin, north China, Dec. 26, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Vast business opportunities

    The Spring Festival consumption boom has not only showcased the resilience and vitality of China’s economy but also highlighted the potential for international collaboration. From French dairy products to Chilean cherries, foreign businesses are eager to tap into the vast Chinese market and capitalize on emerging consumer trends.

    “Occitanie has always maintained strong ties with China and recognizes the importance of the Chinese market. With its Shanghai office, the regional agency will continue to support wine, agri-food, and cosmetics companies in entering or expanding in the Chinese market,” said Machabert, the trade official of the Occitanie Region.

    Meanwhile, Herve Lanoe, chief executive officer of French dairy company Fit Group, noted that Chinese consumers are increasingly prioritizing quality and health. “Butter with a protected designation of origin is highly appreciated by our Chinese client,” he said, adding that the company will try to take advantage of this opportunity.

    Over the years, Garces Fruit, Chile’s largest cherry exporter, has been actively expanding its presence in China. “The Chinese market is fundamental for the trade of Chilean cherries,” said Hernan Garces Gazmuri, the export manager of Garces Fruit.

    “It is a clear example of win-win,” said Garces Gazmuri, who settled in China in 2017 and opened an office in 2018. “It produces a lot of employment, from the harvests, the packaging, all this positive dynamic is generated thanks to the Chinese market. This industry does not exist without China.”

    “We want to continue to explore the market, developing e-commerce and boosting our Garces Fruit brand. I think there is a lot to do,” he said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Thailand cracks down on mobile, internet signal misuse

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Thai authorities are taking steps to crack down on the misuse of mobile and internet signals along the border as part of their ongoing efforts to combat transnational scam operations.

    The crackdown operation launched in Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province at the border with Cambodia on Monday aims to cut off critical communication channels exploited by scam syndicates operating in three locations across the border, said Yingyot Thepchamnong, commander of Provincial Police Region 2.

    In a statement, Yingyot said investigations revealed that scam syndicates rely heavily on Thailand’s mobile and internet infrastructure to conduct fraudulent activities targeting Thai citizens.

    These operations concealed their activities by using Thai SIM cards and internet connections, making calls and messages appear to be from within Thailand, he added.

    He noted that the Thai telecom regulator has directed mobile operators to curtail signal ranges in critical border areas and dismantle unauthorized infrastructure in order to limit scammers’ access to Thai telecommunications networks from across the border.

    Last week, Thailand’s National Security Council decided to suspend electricity, internet signals and fuel supply to five areas along the border with Myanmar, suspected to be used as bases for cyber scam operations.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese business delegation visits Kazakhstan for closer cooperation

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, Feb. 10 — A delegation of Chinese entrepreneurs from the financial, energy, infrastructure and smart equipment sectors embarked on a four-day trip to Kazakhstan on Monday to promote economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, according to the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).

    The delegation, led by Ren Hongbin, chairman of the CCPIT, includes representatives from more than 30 Chinese enterprises such as CITIC Group, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), Sinopec, China National Offshore Oil Corporation, and Sinochem Holdings. During the visit, they plan to sign cooperation documents and promote mutually beneficial outcomes.

    Wu Junli, deputy chief economist with PetroChina Company Limited, a subsidiary of CNPC, said that the energy cooperation between China and Kazakhstan in the oil and gas sector is highly complementary. He noted that his company has established long-term and stable partnerships with Kazakh partners and expressed high expectations for the trip.

    “We hope to engage in in-depth exchanges with logistics enterprises in Kazakhstan and other places in Central Asia through this trip,” Zhu Guangmei, deputy general manager at Beijing Tegene Robots Co., Ltd. said, adding that the company aims to promote the integration of intelligent logistics equipment with the needs of local companies, thereby improving efficiency and achieving win-win outcomes.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM Union, Coalition Sue Over Elon Musk’s Unprecedented and Illegal Hack of Americans’ Private Data

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    WASHINGTON—A coalition of labor unions representing over 2 million workers filed a federal lawsuit today challenging a data heist carried out by Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency inside three federal government departments.

    Six individuals personally harmed by Musk and DOGE’s theft of their private information joined the suit filed by the AFT, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE), the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) and the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM). Protect Democracy and Munger, Tolles & Olson are counsel to the plaintiffs.

    The suit alleges the Department of Education, the Office of Personnel Management and the Department of Treasury improperly disclosed the sensitive records of millions of Americans to DOGE staff who lack appropriate security clearances and have not been properly vetted, and granted access to some of the government’s most sensitive and closely guarded data systems, in violation of the Privacy Act. DOGE employees include a 19-year-old who has previously leaked proprietary information.

    The Privacy Act carefully regulates how agency records about individuals can be shared and disclosures of personal information beyond what the statute authorizes are illegal.

    “Steamrolling into sensitive government record systems has led to a massive data breach that threatens to upend how these critical systems are maintained and seriously compromises the safety and security of personal identifying information for Americans all across the country,” the suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, reads. “It also violates federal law.”

    Plaintiffs include veterans who receive benefit payments, current and former federal employees whose confidential employment files reside in OPM’s system, and teachers whose pathway to the classroom was reliant on student loans to pay for college tuition.

    When Americans interact with the U.S. government, they often entrust federal agencies with sensitive personal information; the suit argues that bond of trust has been broken. The Education Department alone oversees the private information of 43 million student borrowers who hold $1.6 trillion in student debt. Treasury’s system contains records relating to every American who receives (among other things) a tax refund, Social Security benefit, veterans pay, or a federal salary. OPM holds exceedingly sensitive personal information for all 2.3 million federal employees.

    Plaintiffs are asking the court to impose immediate relief that restores the protections of the Privacy Act. They seek injunctive and declaratory relief to ensure that improper disclosures to DOGE representatives stop immediately and that any data currently in DOGE’s possession be immediately deleted and destroyed.

    Enacted in the wake of Watergate, the Privacy Act sought to restore trust in government and to address an existential threat to American democracy.

    “Elon Musk and his minions are stealing Americans’ private personal and financial data in one of the biggest data hacks in U.S. history,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten. “I suspect no one who voted for Donald Trump thought he would allow Musk permission to invade their privacy. This is a breach of our fundamental freedoms. Right now, inside the Department of Education, the world’s richest man is rifling through 45 million people’s private student loan accounts and feeding the data into artificial intelligence.

    “The department is effectively one of America’s biggest banks—if there was a breach of this magnitude in the private sector, it would rightly be a national scandal. Social Security numbers, financial data, home addresses, and personal demographic data about student borrowers and, in many instances, their parents, spouses or other family members are being illegally vacuumed up by Musk. This lawsuit is being filed to bring an end to his heist before he does irreversible damage to millions more American lives.”

    “The federal government holds in trust vast amounts of data about American citizens, including federal employees and retirees,” said NARFE National President William “Bill” Shackelford. “Without legal guardrails in place to prevent improper use of such data, we risk disclosure to nefarious actors, and abuse by individuals within the government itself, threatening personal liberty and property. The Privacy Act provides those legal guardrails, reflecting a balance between the government’s need to utilize such data for legal purposes and its need to protect against abuse and misuse. Violating the Privacy Act infringes upon individuals’ rights that data held in trust is not misused or abused. NARFE joins this suit to ensure the administration is protecting personal data of federal employees and retirees as required by law.”

    “Government agencies are not private entities that billionaires can simply buy and rummage through,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “Congressional oversight, advocacy and voting are how we make government work for us, not reckless takeovers that put the personal data of millions of Americans into the hands of unqualified, unvetted political operatives. It is up to us—the working families of America—to stand up here and now to protect our privacy and our democracy.”

    “The richest person on the planet hacking into confidential and personal information is not only illegal, but also incredibly dangerous,” said NFFE-IAM National President Randy Erwin. “Musk and his DOGE operatives have no right to access extremely sensitive information of the American public, particularly federal workers who have been targeted and attacked since inauguration day. It is clear that these unauthorized actors intend to use this illegally acquired data to advance their political agenda and undermine the civil service.”

    ”We’re watching in real time as Trump’s cronies break the law to get access to Americans’ most sensitive and personal data,” said Kristy Parker, Counsel to the plaintiffs at Protect Democracy. “No one should be fooled into thinking they’re doing this for our benefit—to save us money or make our lives better. Their goal is to snoop on vast amounts of Americans’ data and try to use what they find to enrich themselves, reward their allies, and punish their critics.”

    The full complaint can be read here.

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