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  • MIL-OSI Global: DRC: history is repeating itself in Lubumbashi as the world scrambles for minerals to go green

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Brandon Marc Finn, Research Scientist at the School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan

    Lubumbashi is a city in the mineral-rich Katanga region in the south of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

    Many people might not have heard of it, but Lubumbashi and its surrounding region have been at the centre of global geopolitics since the start of the 20th century. The area provided immense sources of copper, a metal that helped electrify the planet in the 1900s. It was also the source of all the uranium for the atom bombs used in the second world war.

    The global demand for these minerals came at a great price. Lubumbashi grew as a divided city where housing and labour were spatially and racially segregated. Congolese workers were exploited, abused and taxed as urban and mining strategies were used to reshape society.

    History is repeating itself. Neocolonialism now shapes the extraction of DRC resources.



    Read more:
    DRC is the world’s largest producer of cobalt – how control by local elites can shape the global battery industry

    Today, the southern DRC produces over 70% of the world’s cobalt. Cobalt is a mineral essential to decarbonisation – a strategy to reduce harmful carbon dioxide emissions. Cobalt is present in batteries in electric vehicles, mobile phones, laptop computers and renewable energy storage systems.

    Like copper and uranium before it, cobalt mining has been linked to widescale exploitation and child labour. Corruption and elite capture remain defining features of mining in the DRC.

    We are academics who research urbanisation, mining and sustainability as well as urban planning and environmental management. Our recent paper addresses the fact that African cities like Lubumbashi are at the heart of events that have shaped the modern world, yet they are woefully neglected in global urban theory (thinking about how cities form and develop) and urban geography.

    Focusing on the global north and neglecting the south leads to major data gaps and contributes to mismatched and outdated urban policy.

    We also argue that the human rights abuses and perils of today’s cobalt mining are new forms of old colonial practices. They strip the land and people of resources without proper pay. They offer green minerals to the global north at the cost of lives in the global south.

    Sustainable cities and global decarbonisation are essential if we are to reduce cities’ carbon footprints and decarbonise economies in the face of the climate crisis.

    Lubumbashi’s history, therefore, can offer a fuller understanding of the human and historical costs of minerals that shape cities – and the world.

    A brief history of Lubumbashi

    Lubumbashi was originally called Elisabethville. It was established by colonial Belgium in 1910 precisely to extract copper for global markets. This was done through a company named Union Minière du Haut Katanga (UMHK).

    Concessionary companies made enormous profits in the Congo Free State between 1885 and 1908. The entire country stood under the private ownership of King Leopold II of Belgium. These companies were given the right to extract minerals and rubber through taxes imposed on local people.

    The Belgian Compagnie du Katanga (which later founded UMHK) had the task of establishing the physical and economic infrastructure of the region. In exchange for laying the groundwork for the extractive industries, soon to be headquartered in Elisabethville, the company was given a third of all unoccupied land in Katanga. The Belgians established a copper smelter and constructed roads. Temporary headquarters were established to supervise Elisabethville’s expansion.

    One initial method of controlling the local rural people was a “hut tax” that had to be paid to live in Lubumbashi. Later, a “head tax” was introduced to raise funds for colonial management. It forced people into labour as the only means to pay off their newly acquired debt to the colonial state.

    Elisabethville served as the device to assert effective occupation. It also staved off the possibility of British occupation of the territory. The Belgians planned Elisabethville by reproducing the urban forms and racial segregation of Bulawayo’s grid in Southern Rhodesia (part of today’s Zimbabwe) and Johannesburg in South Africa.

    UMHK dominated the colonial economy as demand for copper increased worldwide. UMHK also stipulated which seeds would be planted where for agriculture. It dissolved local markets and whipped labourers.

    Copper was in such high demand because it is a non-corrosive material that conducts electricity well. It lined telegraph and electrical transmission cables across the globe.

    Copper mining acted as a springboard from which UMHK could spread its influence. It developed railways, cities, labour camps and mining sites throughout Katanga.

    This allowed UMHK access to the extraction of another resource that would shape the global geopolitical landscape: uranium – extracted from the Shinkolobwe mine in Katanga.

    It was the Belgian colonial presence that allowed the US to have access to uranium deposits as they sought to beat Germany in the race to build atomic weapons. All the uranium used in the two nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki came from Katanga.

    This highlights the global significance of, but a neglected focus on, the impacts of mineral supply chains in the global south. Control over Lubumbashi’s minerals cannot be underplayed in this global historical event.

    Katanga seceded from the Congo for three years, 11 days after the country gained independence from Belgium in 1960. The fight to gain control over Katanga’s resources led to the US and Belgian-backed assassination of the first independence leader, Patrice Lumumba. He was intent on reunifying Congo.

    Mobutu Sese Seko became president of Zaire (today’s DRC) after a coup in 1965. He nationalised UMHK a year later. Mobutu served as president for almost 32 years, and his regime was characterised by autocratic corruption and economic exploitation.

    Cobalt and global decarbonisation

    The growth of modern technology relies, at least in part, on the extraction of cobalt in the DRC before it is shipped, mainly to China.

    Cobalt is extracted as a byproduct of copper mining. Artisanal and small-scale mining and child labour remain a salient feature of cobalt extraction in the DRC. These miners receive little to no support and reflect the historical structural marginalisation created in the region.

    Lubumbashi serves as the mining headquarters of the southern DRC, and other cities, like Kolwezi, have grown rapidly in response to the surge in cobalt demand. Spatial and labour-related inequalities from the past are being replicated and expanded on in the present.

    The DRC’s impoverishment continues apace as South African, Kazakh, Swiss and, with increasing influence, Chinese mining companies maintain their practice of exclusionary extraction, social displacement and political corruption.

    Why this matters

    Our research shows the importance of understanding the history of extraction and urban settlement in the region to shed light on new forms of old practices associated with decarbonisation. We see this as a continuing form of colonial power – as neocolonialism.

    Contemporary debates around global inequalities associated with decarbonisation highlight how African populations must endure poor living conditions while the global north transitions to low-carbon technologies. We must find ways to move away from carbon-based economies that do not reproduce colonial inequalities.



    Read more:
    Patrice Lumumba’s tooth represents plunder, resilience and reparation

    Lubumbashi demonstrates the importance of African cities and resources in understanding critical global developmental and geopolitical issues.

    For decarbonisation to be socially and environmentally just, it must contend with the people, places, and environments on which the future of low-carbon technology is based. Lubumbashi’s history shows how challenging this task will be.

    Brandon Marc Finn has received funding from the University of Michigan and Harvard University to conduct this research.

    Patrick Brandful Cobbinah has received research funding from the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. He is a member of the Planning Institute of Australia.

    – ref. DRC: history is repeating itself in Lubumbashi as the world scrambles for minerals to go green – https://theconversation.com/drc-history-is-repeating-itself-in-lubumbashi-as-the-world-scrambles-for-minerals-to-go-green-248571

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How Donald Trump’s attacks on Canada are stoking a new Canadian nationalism

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Anna Triandafyllidou, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration, Toronto Metropolitan University

    Is the threatened trade war between Canada and the United States igniting a new form of Canadian nationalism? Polls suggest Canadians are overwhelmingly opposed to any notion of becoming the 51st American state as the U.S. anthem is being roundly booed at sporting events in Canada.

    If a new Canadian nationalism is emerging, what will it look like in a country that declared itself in 2015 the first post-national state, stoking envy around the world over Canada’s inclusive nationalism?

    U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to launch 25 per cent tariffs on most Canadian exports in a month’s time after weeks of persistently provoking both Canadian leaders and citizens with his repeated calls to make Canada the 51st state.



    Read more:
    Canada, the 51st state? Eliminating interprovincial trade barriers could ward off Donald Trump

    Such calls have led to significant outrage, prompting Canadian leaders that include Justin Trudeau, Chrystia Freeland and Doug Ford to respond that Canada is not for sale and that Canada is a country by choice.

    Opposed to joining the U.S.

    If there was any suggestion that being a “post-national” state would lead to an openness to join the U.S., recent polls show the opposite: 90 per cent of Canadians reject that scenario.

    Two thirds of Canadians polled in 2021 felt that Canada is faring better than the U.S. on most counts, including quality of life, protection of rights, standards of living and opportunities to get ahead.

    This percentage had significantly grown compared to the 1980s or 1990s.

    So how does a feeling of being an inclusive, post-national state reconcile with a firm sentiment of patriotism that is growing stronger by the day? And what are the contradictory currents in Canadian identity today?

    Contemporary Canadian identity

    I have been studying nationalism for 30 years, with a special focus on how immigration, migration and national identity interact. My work suggests there are a few elements that buttress and support Canada’s identity today.

    National identity is not a closed container of cultural elements. It develops interactively. As we’re seeing today, amid uncertainty, geopolitical competition as well as close socio-economic interdependence, national identity can emerge with a renewed force.

    Diversity can lead either to a plural national identity that is open to change or a neo-tribal identity that is reactionary. Plural nationalism acknowledges the changing demographic or political circumstances of the nation, and through a process of tension, conflict and change, it creates something new.

    This nationalism is plural not because it acknowledges diversity as a fact, but because it makes a commitment to engage with diversity.

    But dealing with new challenges and increasing diversity may also lead to rejecting “the other.” I use the term tribal to emphasize that this type of nationalism, regardless of whether the in-group is defined in territorial-civic or blood-and-belonging terms, is predicated on an organic, homogenous conception of the nation.

    In this situation, the nation is represented as a compact unit that does not allow for variation or change. The only way to deal with challenges of mobility and diversity is to close rank, resist and reject it.

    Neo-tribal nationalism is not static. It is dynamic and interactive too — although its reaction to new challenges and to diversity, from within or from outside, involves closure and rejection.

    It is neo-tribal because it develops and thrives in a world that is ever more interconnected. Social media platforms play an important role here as their algorithms create neo-tribal digital ecochambers where everyone is closed within their digital bubble of like-minded people.

    COVID-19 experiences

    Challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, Canada faced important dilemmas. For instance, should temporary residents be encouraged to return home or or stay when the pandemic broke out and borders closed around the world? Canada opted for the latter.

    Unlike Australia — where temporary workers and international students were encouraged to go home — the Canadian government stated that temporary migrants whose “effective residence” was in the country would be supported to stay.

    The term “effective residence” defined membership on the basis of habitual residence; where people lived, worked, sent their kids to school and paid taxes. Living together formed a sense of common fate, reinforcing an expansive and inclusive view of who is a Canadian.

    In addition, recognizing the essential work performed by many temporary residents, such as asylum-seekers employed in senior care homes, Canada introduced special measures to facilitate their transition to permanent status.



    Read more:
    Working more and making less: Canada needs to protect immigrant women care workers as they age

    In August 2020, Marco Mendicino, Canada’s immigration minister at the time, announced a special path to permanent residency (now known as the Guardian Angels program), noting that “they demonstrated a uniquely Canadian quality …in that they were looking out for others, and so that is why today is so special.”

    Mendicino emphasized that the behaviour of these workers qualified them as Canadians; their important contribution in “caring for the other” was defined as a very special element in the national identity.

    National unity bolstered by diversity

    The Canadian patriotism that is emerging today in the face of Trump’s actions — and in the words of almost all Liberal, Conservative and NDP leaders — builds on solid ground.

    Canadian nationalism has not just been about being polite, but rather builds on decades of positive confrontation with challenges.

    A July 2024 Environics poll suggested Canadians do not feel they need to choose among their multiple identities or to exclude others in order to revitalize their sense of identity and belonging.

    National unity is strengthened by internal diversity. The looming trade war and threats of annexation by Trump may be having a beneficial impact in reminding Canadians of the values that unite them and that Canada is indeed “a country by choice.”

    Anna Triandafyllidou receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and the Tri-Agency Council of Canada.

    – ref. How Donald Trump’s attacks on Canada are stoking a new Canadian nationalism – https://theconversation.com/how-donald-trumps-attacks-on-canada-are-stoking-a-new-canadian-nationalism-247958

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Features like iPhone’s and Facebook’s ‘Memories’ can retraumatize survivors of abuse

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Nicolette Little, Assistant lecturer, Media and Technology Studies, University of Alberta

    While often considered harmless or fun, memory features on smartphones can have the opposite effect. (Shutterstock)

    In contemporary digital society, remembering is automated. Social media platforms and smartphones often offer features like iPhone’s and Facebook’s “Memories” that resurface users’ past posts and photographs.

    For many people, these reminders of the past are a source of joyful reminiscence. For others — like survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) — they can be harmful.

    These nostalgia-driven Memories features enact what I call “platform violence:” unintended but harmful consequences, caused by automated features, designed to profit tech companies without adequately considering users’ well-being.

    Algorithmic recall

    Algorithms select and retrieve images from users’ digital archives, with the supposed goal of reminding users of happy moments. Introduced in 2018, Memories was promoted by Facebook’s product manager, Oren Hod, as a tool for improving mood and connection with others.

    Yet these algorithms can get it wrong by bringing up painful, or even traumatic, memories instead. Writing about the feature in Forbes Magazine, Amit Chowdhry acknowledges that “memories … are not all positive.”

    While Facebook’s algorithm attempts to filter out negative memories using keywords and feedback from users’ reactions, these safeguards are often inadequate. As my research has found, resurfaced photos of abusers can trigger emotional, psychological and even physiological distress for survivors of GBV.

    When iPhone Memories draws images from a user’s Photos cache to create slideshows, smartphone users can be similarly triggered. The fact that these slideshows are set to cheerful music is something survivors find particularly “creepy,” as images of abusive exes scroll by.

    Unexpectedly being presented with photographs from a phone archive can re-traumatize survivors.
    (Shutterstock)

    Familiar faces

    GBV encompasses a spectrum of abusive behaviours, ranging from catcalling and rape jokes to sexual assault and femicide. In Canada, a woman dies every other day due to GBV, with intimate partner violence claiming a life every sixth day. One in four women reports GBV in their lifetime, although the actual number is higher due to fears of not being believed or stigmatization.

    Particularly relevant to my research, in at least 80 per cent of cases, the perpetrator is someone the survivor knows, such as a partner, friend or family member. This makes it likely that survivors once shared social media connections or posted images with their abuser, increasing the risk these photos will resurface as a memory.

    For survivors, encountering a photo of their abuser can be as traumatic as seeing them in person. In interviews with 15 survivors, all reported intense emotional reactions including panic, upset and physical symptoms like nausea and a racing heart. Those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were particularly vulnerable to being triggered.

    For instance, one participant, Nyla (names have been changed), described experiencing “full panic mode” and emotional shutdown for days after seeing a photo of her abusive ex-partner. Kelly, another participant, felt her “heart race” and avoided her smartphone and social media altogether. Other participants’ responses included feelings of social disconnection, fearfulness when out in public and mistrust of their own judgment of others. This presented barriers to forming new, healthy relationships.

    Nancy, a survivor of an abusive relationship, recalled photos from the period when she was planning her escape.

    “I look into my eyes in those photos and know I was secretly planning on leaving my partner,” she said. The resurfaced images were a “surreal” reminder of the facade she maintained during the final years of her marriage.

    Mobile phones and social media are essential to daily life, and limiting their use can have a negative impact.
    (Angelo Moleele/Unsplash), CC BY

    Inclusive, safe design

    Survivors often lack the familiarity with platforms’ settings to pre-emptively block or delete potentially triggering content. Even when settings exist, they are often buried in menus, hard to navigate or require survivors to manually confront and delete painful memories or photographs.

    Once the survivor has been triggered, they often no longer have the emotional capacity to take the steps needed to delete or remove the upsetting memory at the time.

    Recommendations like telling survivors to leave their device at home or deactivate their social media accounts place responsibility for addressing abuse on survivors, rather than perpetrators. Mobile phones and social media are essential to daily life, including for work, social interaction and access to safety-related services. Advising survivors to simply log off or avoid their devices shifts responsibility onto survivors and distracts from the underlying issues: society’s high rates of GBV and the need for safer, more inclusive design.

    And inclusive design is needed: nostalgia-producing algorithms, as they currently function, disproportionately harm communities exposed to higher rates of violence, including women and LGBTQ+ and BIPOC individuals.

    Opt-in rather than out

    Interview subjects suggested that platforms require users to opt in if they wish to have their past resurfaced, rather than being forced to opt out, often after being triggered.

    Tech developers, often from privileged backgrounds, fail to account for marginalized users’ experiences when designing features.

    Platforms must prioritize user safety by making it easier to control and customize the memories that resurface. Settings for managing features like Memories should be accessible, easy to use and sensitive to the needs of those who have experienced trauma.

    By recognizing the unintended consequences of algorithmically driven nostalgia, tech companies can take steps toward creating platforms that empower all users.

    Nicolette Little receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    – ref. Features like iPhone’s and Facebook’s ‘Memories’ can retraumatize survivors of abuse – https://theconversation.com/features-like-iphones-and-facebooks-memories-can-retraumatize-survivors-of-abuse-231897

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How food can be used to support people living with dementia

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Navjot Gill-Chawla, Doctoral Candidate, Aging, Health and Well-being, University of Waterloo

    From the aroma of freshly ground spices to the rhythmic sounds of a mortar and pestle, food evokes strong sensory memories, making it a powerful tool in dementia care. (Shutterstock)

    As dementia rates rise globally, families and care partners are seeking ways to maintain meaningful connections with loved ones experiencing memory loss. In many cultures, food is central to cultural identity and family life.

    Cooking traditional recipes can also a unique way to evoke memories and foster social connections. Familiar flavours, scents and cooking techniques can provide support and comfort to those living with dementia.

    In South Asian cultures, food is deeply intertwined with identity, memory and relationships. From the aroma of freshly ground spices to the rhythmic sounds of a mortar and pestle, food evokes strong sensory memories, making it a powerful tool in dementia care.

    When it comes to supporting people with dementia, food and cooking can be culturally relevant ways to enhance well-being, strengthen inter-generational bonds and preserve identity — making them an increasingly important tools in dementia care.

    My research focuses on understanding the experiences of people living with dementia and their care partners in South Asian communities, and the importance of culturally inclusive care for dementia.

    Food and memory

    The connection between food and memory is well-documented. For individuals living with dementia who often experience memory loss and disorientation, familiar foods can trigger memories of specific events, places or people. For example, the scent of ghee-laden parathas or the sight of turmeric-coloured curries may evoke memories of childhood kitchens, family celebrations or community gatherings.

    In South Asian communities, food is a cornerstone of cultural identity. Dishes are often tied to regional traditions, religious practices, and family legacies. For individuals living with dementia, preparing or consuming familiar foods can provide a sense of stability and continuity.

    A person with dementia may find comfort in the ritual of making chai, even if they forget other aspects of their daily routine. Similarly, they might find joy in tasting the traditional foods of their region.

    Dementia care often involves strategies that engage the senses to improve quality of life. Food offers a multi-sensory experience — taste, smell, touch, sight and even sound. For South Asian older adults, the act of rolling dough for rotis, smelling fragrant basmati rice or hearing the crackle of mustard seeds in hot oil can stimulate the senses and provide therapeutic benefits.

    Engaging individuals in food preparation can also help maintain fine motor skills and foster a sense of purpose. Even simple tasks like peeling garlic, mixing spices or stirring a pot can provide opportunities for engagement and connection. Importantly, these activities do not need to be perfect — the process itself is valuable.

    In cultures around the world, meals are rarely solitary. Food is inherently social, often prepared and shared among family members. For individuals living with dementia, mealtime can be an opportunity to strengthen familial bonds and reduce feelings of isolation. Sharing a meal allows care partners and family members to engage in meaningful interactions, even if verbal communication is limited.

    Inter-generational cooking can be particularly engaging. Grandparents living with dementia can pass on recipes to their grandchildren, creating moments of joy and preserving cultural heritage. These interactions help younger generations understand dementia while fostering empathy and appreciation for their elders.

    Adapting for dementia care

    While traditional South Asian dishes can be comforting, they may need to be adapted for individuals living with dementia. For example, finger foods like pakoras or stuffed parathas can be easier to handle than dishes requiring utensils. Similarly, simplifying recipes with fewer ingredients or steps can make the cooking process more manageable for individuals living with dementia.

    Nutritional considerations are also crucial. Many South Asian dishes are rich in fats, carbohydrates and spices, which may not align with the dietary needs of older adults. Modifying recipes to include more vegetables, lean proteins and lower salt levels can ensure that meals are both nutritious and culturally familiar.

    Despite its benefits, using food as a tool for dementia care is not without challenges. Care partners often face time constraints, lack of resources or their own emotional burdens, which may limit their ability to engage in food-based activities. Additionally, some families may struggle to adapt traditional recipes, especially if they lack culinary skills or are unfamiliar with healthy substitutions.

    Community support organizations can play a pivotal role in overcoming these barriers. Cooking workshops, memory cafés with food themes or culturally tailored resources can empower families to incorporate food into dementia care. For instance, community centres can organize events where older adults and care partners come together to prepare traditional meals, share recipes and build support networks.

    Inter-generational cooking can be particularly engaging. Grandparents living with dementia can pass on recipes to their grandchildren, creating moments of joy and preserving cultural heritage.
    (Shutterstock)

    Culturally tailored dementia care

    Integrating food into dementia care underscores the importance of culturally tailored approaches. Incorporating cultural elements like food acknowledges the holistic needs of individuals and their families. Health-care providers and community organizations must prioritize cultural humility, recognizing the unique role that food plays in the lives of South Asian families living with dementia.

    In the journey of dementia care, food is more than a tool for nourishment. For South Asian communities, it is a source of connection, identity and healing. By integrating food into care practices, families and care partners can unlock its potential to evoke memories, strengthen relationships and improve the well-being of individuals living with dementia.

    With culturally sensitive support and resources, food can become a powerful ally in navigating the complexities of dementia care, one bite, one memory and one story at a time.

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

    – ref. How food can be used to support people living with dementia – https://theconversation.com/how-food-can-be-used-to-support-people-living-with-dementia-248731

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ahead Of Pam Bondi’s Nomination Vote This Week, Durbin Outlines His Concerns About Bondi’s Ability To Serve As An Independent AG

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    February 03, 2025

    Durbin’s floor speech comes after the Trump Administration forced out dozens of DOJ and FBI officials this weekend and is now threatening additional action against thousands of employees across the country who worked on investigations related to January 6 and President Trump

    WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, outlined his concerns about Pam Bondi, President Trump’s Attorney General nominee. In his remarks, he cited concerns over her ability to act as an independent Attorney General, refusal to acknowledge President Biden won the 2020 election, and echoing President Trump’s calls for prosecuting his political opponents.

    Durbin’s remarks also highlighted the Trump Administration’s purge of dozens of senior career civil servants at the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)—including longtime nonpartisan leaders of the government’s counterterrorism and counterespionage efforts—further exemplifying the need for an independent DOJ.

    “This week, the Senate will vote on the nomination of Pam Bondi to serve as Attorney General. Given the Trump Administration’s ongoing purge of Justice Department officials, I urge my colleagues to look very carefully and closely at Ms. Bondi’s nomination,” Durbin said.

    “President Trump has repeatedly made it clear that he values loyalty above all else in an Attorney General. Don’t take my word for it. Just look at what happened in his first term. He fired his first Attorney General and forced out his second for insufficient loyalty. And President Trump has said time and again that he expects the Justice Department to seek ‘retribution’ on his behalf. With Ms. Bondi, I’m afraid, the President has finally found someone who passes his loyalty test,” Durbin continued.

    Durbin then highlighted his concerns with Ms. Bondi’s nomination.

    “It seems that she [Ms. Bondi] is ready to break with bipartisan tradition when it comes to a nonpartisan Department of Justice —one that upholds the rule of law and is free of undue political influence from the White House. I am unconvinced that she [Ms. Bondi] is dedicated to these ideals. She was a leader in the effort to overturn the 2020 election and to this day, she still clings to the basic loyalty oath. She refuses to acknowledge that Joe Biden won the presidential election in 2020. And she has echoed the President-elect’s calls for prosecuting his political opponents—including a pledge that ‘the prosecutors will be prosecuted, the investigators will be investigated.’”

    Durbin spoke about the Trump Administration forcing out dozens of DOJ and FBI officials this weekend. The Administration is now threatening additional action against thousands of employees across the country who worked on investigations related to the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and President Trump. These career civil servants are responsible for coordinating the Justice Department’s fight against international terrorists and foreign spies that would do us harm. The removals substantially diminish the United States’ ability to respond to national security threats.

    “The Trump Administration’s purge of these officials is a naked political move. In firing a dozen career prosecutors, the Acting Attorney General issued a memo stating, ‘Given your significant role in prosecuting the President, I do not believe the leadership of the Department can trust you.’ Line attorneys and agents are similarly being bullied out simply because they were assigned tasks linked to criminal investigations of the President or the January 6 riots,” Durbin said.

    “Do we expect the Justice Department to do nothing about the hundreds of people who stormed into the Capitol? We saw it on videotape. Nobody is making this up. They were prosecuted for crimes they committed and many of them were sentenced, many of them pled guilty when they saw the videotapes of what they did on that day. Many of them ended up in jail—some of them with serious sentences for their serious misconduct. Now comes the new President, Donald Trump, and absolves them from criminal guilt. Tells them they’re free to go,” Durbin continued.

    Durbin concluded, “The American people deserve an Attorney General who will protect their fundamental rights of this country, demonstrate independence and integrity, and remain faithful to the Constitution, the country, and the rule of law. Ms. Bondi, during the course of her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, was also asked about Kash Patel—the President’s nominee to [lead] the FBI. She made it clear she supports him. I do not… I fear that Ms. Bondi will only protect and remain faithful to one person throughout this whole experience—and that’s the President who has given her this opportunity. I urge my colleagues to look carefully at her record and the record of Kash Patel. They are a team in this effort, and they should be held accountable for what they’ve said and written and positions they’ve taken in support of the President, even when his positions are not consistent, in my mind, with the equal and free administration of justice.” 

    Video of Durbin’s remarks on the floor is available here.

    Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the floor is available here.

    Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the floor is available here for TV Stations.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Fun times ahead as revamped play areas open

    Source: City of Canterbury

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New UK Permanent Representative to NATO appointed

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Angus Lapsley CMG has been appointed UK Permanent Representative to NATO in succession to Sir David Quarrey KCMG. He will take up his appointment in April 2025.

    Mr Angus Lapsley CMG has been appointed as the UK’s next Permanent Representative to NATO.

    The NATO Alliance is made up of 32 countries in Europe and North America and keeps 1 billion people safe. It is the cornerstone of transatlantic security and key to underpinning prosperity at home and abroad.

    Mr Lapsley has more than 30 years of experience in the Civil Service, with relevant expertise from a variety of previous roles – including most recently as NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Defence Policy and Planning.

    He is also a member of the Strategic Defence Review Team, advising the UK government as part of the root and branch review of UK defence and making sure Britain is secure for decades to come. Mr Lapsley will remain on the review team until the review is complete.

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Bay Roberts — Bay Roberts RCMP seeks public’s assistance in locating vehicle stolen in Bay Roberts

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Bay Roberts RCMP is seeking the public’s assistance in relation to a vehicle stolen from Bay Roberts in the overnight hours of Monday, February 3, 2025.

    The grey, four door 2017 Honda Civic Touring, NL license plate JGZ 878, was stolen from a residential property in the Water Street area. A stock photo of the same vehicle is attached.

    Anyone with any information about this crime, the identity of the person(s) responsible or the current location of the vehicle is asked to contact Bay Roberts RCMP at 709-786-2118. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit www.nlcrimestoppers.com or use the P3Tips app. #SayItHere

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Burlington Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Conspiracy Charge

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

    DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Burlington man was sentenced today to 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

    According to public court documents, Giovani Denario Timmons, 24, participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Burlington between December 2019 and November 2021. Timmons served as a source of supply along with Kendric Centrall Childs, 25. Timmons facilitated the transportation of methamphetamine to Iowa, including approximately 362 pounds of methamphetamine seized during a January 2020 traffic stop in Arizona. This traffic stop was the Arizona Department of Public Safety’s largest single seizure of ice methamphetamine at the time.[1] Timmons’s eight co-defendants, including Childs, were sentenced in 2022.

    After completing his term of imprisonment, Timmons will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

    United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Burlington Police Department, Southeast Iowa Narcotics Taskforce, West Burlington Police Department, Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office, Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Iowa Department of Public Safety-Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Drug Enforcement Administration, Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office, Johnson County Drug Taskforce, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County Drug Taskforce, Muscatine County Drug Taskforce, Iowa State Patrol, and Arizona Department of Public Safety.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Expands Clean Energy Siting Invitation to Include Fusion, Hydrogen and Battery Storage

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHALK RIVER, Ontario, Feb. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Canada’s premier nuclear science and technology organization, is pleased to announce it has expanded the scope of its SMR siting invitation program to help organizations pursue commercial opportunities and seize a leadership position in the development and deployment of other new and innovative clean energy technologies.

    Given the continued development of other novel technologies, and CNL’s growing capabilities and expertise across other clean energy categories, the program is being expanded beyond fission based SMRs and other advanced reactor designs. Now known as CNL’s Clean Energy Siting Program, the new program will also invite vendors and technology developers interested in building prototype solutions that include fusion-based technologies, hydrogen production, battery storage and clean fuel production facilities, among others. Overall, the intent is to support the Government of Canada achieve its net-zero objectives, help Canadians businesses develop new and innovative technologies, and make CNL’s resources available to the private sector.

    “Through CNL’s ongoing engagements with clean energy leaders in Canada and around the world, it was clear there was an opportunity for us to expand and grow our SMR siting program, in order to support prototype construction and testing for other clean energy technologies,” commented Jack Craig, CNL’s President and CEO. “More importantly, Canada has set ambitious domestic targets in clean energy, and if we are to meet them, we must recognize that there is no one solution that will address a challenge of this scale and significance. To fight climate change and realize energy security, it will take all these promising technologies working in tandem with one another. That is at the heart of our renewed program, and it is our belief that we can help to accelerate the deployment of these promising technologies and maximize their full potential.”

    As a federal Crown corporation, AECL owns and oversee the sites under management by CNL. “AECL is pleased to see the expansion of the siting program to include even more approaches to clean energy production, use, and storage,” said Fred Dermarkar, AECL’s President and CEO. “This is another example of the value of Canada’s investment in its national nuclear laboratories. Our model allows us to connect commercial and academic partners with Canada’s unique nuclear science assets. This new, expanded program could not be possible without the innovative collaboration between the federal government and the private sector. AECL is proud to facilitate this new invitation process,” added Dermarkar.

    “CNL will continue to work closely with SMR vendors who are already navigating our siting program, and it is our hope that we will see an SMR sited at one of the sites we manage on behalf of AECL in the very near future,” added Dr. Stephen Bushby, CNL’s Vice-President of Science and Technology. “But given all the advances that have been realized in recent years across a number of different clean energy categories, it only makes sense that we expand our siting program to support the development of these technologies and do everything we can to bring them to the market.”

    Under the renewed program, applicants pursuing a clean energy demonstration project must still proceed through four individual stages, though these phases have been updated to align with the more collaborative approach of the renewed program. Depending on the interest and suitability of the applications, these projects could be located at the Chalk River Laboratories or the Whiteshell Laboratories site. Both sites are located on the traditional lands, waterways and ceded and unceded territories of Indigenous peoples; meaningful engagement with Indigenous peoples will be a key component of any successful project.

    While the invitation process does not include access to CNL’s research facilities or other ancillary programs, CNL is very much open to discussion with proponents regarding collaborative approaches to help advance their individual projects.

    To learn more about CNL, including its new Clean Energy Siting Program please visit www.cnl.ca.

    About CNL

    As Canada’s premier nuclear science and technology laboratory and working under the direction of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), CNL is a world leader in the development of innovative nuclear science and technology products and services. Guided by an ambitious corporate strategy known as Vision 2030, CNL fulfills three strategic priorities of national importance – restoring and protecting the environment, advancing clean energy technologies, and contributing to the health of Canadians.

    By leveraging the assets owned by AECL, CNL also serves as the nexus between government, the nuclear industry, the broader private sector, and the academic community. CNL works in collaboration with these sectors to advance innovative Canadian products and services towards real-world use, including carbon-free energy, cancer treatments and other therapies, non-proliferation technologies and waste management solutions.

    To learn more about CNL, please visit www.cnl.ca.

    CNL Contact:
    Philip Kompass
    Director, Corporate Communications
    1-866-886-2325
    media@cnl.ca

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fb2b90fc-6df7-448e-af36-1cb5cfd85ce6

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: AssetMark Appoints Alex Pape as EVP and Chief Technology and Product Officer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CONCORD, Calif., Feb. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AssetMark, Inc., a leading wealth management technology platform for financial advisors, today announced the appointment of Alex Pape as its new Chief Technology and Product Officer.

    Pape will report directly to Lou Maiuri, Chairman and Group CEO of AssetMark, and will oversee AssetMark’s technology productization program, delivering advanced solutions designed to empower financial advisors. “This is a strategically important move as we continue to strengthen our leadership team to support AssetMark’s growth and innovation strategy,” said Lou Maiuri, Chairman and Group CEO of AssetMark Financial Holdings, Inc. “To achieve our strategic goals, we are further strengthening our already strong IT leadership team. Alex’s experience and vision will be invaluable as we continue to scale and innovate, ensuring that our technology and product offerings remain best-in-class.”

    Pape brings extensive experience in technology and product development, having most recently served as the Global Head of Product for BlackRock’s Aladdin Wealth Tech Business. His experience at BlackRock reinforces AssetMark’s strategic direction, particularly as advisors increasingly seek solutions that offer highly personalized portfolio management for their clients. Pape’s expertise in leveraging data analytics and technology will be key to delivering innovative solutions for financial advisors.

    Muk Mehta, Chief Information Officer, will continue to report to Maiuri, overseeing the company’s advanced infrastructure, security, and data strategy, ensuring seamless operational efficiency and technology enablement.

    About AssetMark

    AssetMark operates a wealth management platform whose mission is to help financial advisors and their clients. AssetMark, together with its affiliates AssetMark Trust Company, Voyant, and Adhesion Wealth Advisor Solutions, serves advisors at every stage of their journey with flexible, purpose-built solutions that champion client engagement and drive efficiency. Its ecosystem of solutions equips advisors with services and capabilities to help deliver better investor outcomes by enhancing their productivity, profitability, and client satisfaction. 

    With a history going back to 1996, AssetMark has over 1,000 employees, and its platform serves over 10,700 financial advisors and over 317,000 investor households. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had over $139 billion in platform assets. AssetMark, Inc. is a Registered Investment Adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. For more information, please visit www.assetmark.com. Follow us on LinkedIn. 

    Media Contacts
    Vesselina Davenport
    PR & Communications, AssetMark
    vesselina.davenport@assetmark.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – Cardinal Tagle: Dialogue as an antidote to distrust and hostility towards the religious dimension

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Tuesday, 4 February 2025

    Vatican Media

    Abu Dhabi (Agenzia Fides) – In a world where secularization is advancing more and more, “the only antidote to this is encounter and dialogue marked by friendship and respect between persons of different religious traditions”. This “can help us to overcome a further suspicious attitude which sadly we see increasingly in highly secularized societies, namely the suspicion or even hostility directed not only towards particular religious traditions, but toward the religious dimension as such”, said Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization – Section for the First Evangelization and the New Particular Churches – in his speech in Abu Dhabi at the inauguration of the ceremony for the award of the “Zayed Award for Human Fraternity”. The Award was created in 2019, following the signing of the Document on “Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together”, signed on 4 February of that year in Abu Dhabi by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyeb.Six years after this historic signature, in the “Abrahamic Family House”, a structure also born following the publication of the document, Cardinal Tagle, as representative of the Holy See, assured those present that the Catholic Church recognizes and upholds the “value of promoting friendship and respect among men and women of different religious traditions ” and, at the same time, how important these elements are today, “since, on the one hand, in a certain sense the world has become “smaller” than ever before, and, on the other, because the phenomenon of migration has increased contact between persons and communities from various traditions, cultures and religions”.”In various parts of the world”, said the Pro-Prefect of the Missionary Dicastery, “there are situations in the world where coexistence is difficult, to say the least, where political or economic motives exploit cultural or religious differences, playing upon past misunderstandings or mistakes, and resulting in a climate of suspicion and fear”. Hence the invitation to reflect on dialogue as “the only antidote to this”.”Indeed, whenever we take that route, the path outlined by the Document on Human Fraternity, we become ever more authentically human”, emphasized the Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, recalling that in secularized societies, where “religion is looked upon as something useless or even dangerous, and it is frequently thought that coexistence is only possible if people relegate their own religious affiliation to the purely private sphere or meet in “neutral” spaces, devoid of any reference to the transcendent” dialogue is in fact the only viable solution.“It is impossible to think of fraternity as being “born in a laboratory”. Naturally, it is necessary that everyone respect the sincere convictions of others, including unbelievers, but we must have the courage and patience to do so by holding true to who we are and what we believe,” concluded the cardinal, stressing how “the recognition and proclamation of the fundamental right of religious freedom in all its dimensions is essential for world peace and living together ”.Since its inception (2019), the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, has so far been awarded to 16 recipients, including 11 individuals and 5 organizations. Moreover, 66 countries have been involved in the nomination process. This year’s winner was the World Central Kitchen, a humanitarian organization that provides food to communities affected by crises and conflicts. The Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, was also honored for her commitment to the fight against climate change. Another award went to the Ethiopian-American inventor Heman Bekele, who, at the age of just fifteen, developed a low-cost soap that prevents and cures early-stage skin cancer. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 4/2/2025)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Wetaskiwin — Wetaskiwin RCMP Crime Reduction Unit arrest male with gun offences after ramming police car

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On Jan. 27, 2025, members of the Wetaskiwin Crime Reduction Unit observed a Dodge Durango with a known offender who was a recent suspect in a firearms investigation driving around in Wetaskiwin. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle; however, it fled. Police later observed the vehicle again pulling into a rural driveway off North Boundary Road. RCMP attempted to stop the vehicle however the vehicle rammed the police car and attempted to flee the area. RCMP observed the vehicle become disabled from the earlier contact with the police car and stop. All occupants in the vehicle were arrested. A search of the vehicle revealed a loaded sawed off shot gun as well as stolen mail.

    RCMP have charged a 25-year-old individual, a resident of Maskwacis, with:

    • Drive a motor vehicle while prohibited;
    • Possession of identity documents;
    • Assaulting a peace officer with a weapon;
    • Weapons offences (x4);
    • Possession of property obtained by crime.

    The 25-year-old individual was taken before a justice of the peace and remanded into custody with his next court date set for Jan. 28, 2025, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Wetaskiwin.

    RCMP have charged a 31-year-old individual, a resident of Maskwacis, with fail to comply with a release order.

    The 31-year-old individual was taken before a justice of the peace and remanded into custody with her next court date set for Jan. 28, 2025, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Wetaskiwin.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: FXBO and Deus X Pay Join Forces to Transform Payments in the Forex Industry

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VILNIUS, Lithuania, Feb. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FXBO, a provider of customer relationship management (CRM) solutions for forex brokers, has announced a partnership with Deus X Pay, a regulated institutional stablecoin payment provider. The collaboration aims to enhance brokerage operations by integrating stablecoin payment solutions within FXBO’s CRM platform.

    FXBO offers tools designed to support brokerage firms in managing client relationships, improving retention, and facilitating client acquisition. Through this integration, brokers can access stablecoin payment functionalities while maintaining compliance with industry regulations.

    Key Features of the FXBO and Deus X Pay Integration:

    • Seamless Integration: Enables cryptocurrency deposits and withdrawals through a direct connection with FXBO’s CRM and back-office systems.
    • Flexible SDK & Payment Links: Offers streamlined API integration and custom payment links to facilitate transactions.
    • Dynamic Payment Processing: Supports overpayment and underpayment tolerances to minimize processing errors.
    • Compliance and Security: Incorporates anti-money laundering (AML) measures and transaction monitoring to enhance regulatory compliance.
    • Scalability and Cost Efficiency: Implements a zero-fee onboarding model with a pay-as-you-go pricing structure, supporting expansion into emerging markets.

    Greg Gardner, Chief Commercial Officer of Deus X Pay, stated: “This partnership aligns with our objective of facilitating efficient and secure financial transactions for brokers. By incorporating stablecoin solutions, we aim to enhance payment processing within the FX sector.” Dmitriy Petrenko, Chief Executive Officer of FXBO, added: “The integration with Deus X Pay strengthens our platform by offering clients additional payment options that prioritize speed and security. This collaboration supports brokers in navigating an evolving financial landscape.”

    This partnership underscores the growing intersection of digital assets and traditional finance, providing brokers with tools to enhance operational efficiency while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.

    About FXBO

    FXBO is a provider of advanced customer relationship management (CRM) solutions tailored for forex brokers. The platform offers a suite of tools designed to enhance client acquisition, retention, and operational efficiency. By integrating with payment providers and compliance solutions, FXBO supports brokers in managing their business effectively in a competitive trading environment.

    About Deus X Pay

    Deus X Pay is a regulated institutional stablecoin payment provider offering secure and compliant digital asset transaction solutions. The company enables businesses to integrate stablecoin payments, ensuring fast and efficient financial operations while maintaining regulatory compliance.

    Contact
    PR Manager
    Tshego Tshangela
    Deus X Pay
    tshego.tshangela@deusxpay.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/34796b14-81f6-4a52-905e-b9320c6138e5

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: CORRECTION – ACNB Corporation Announces Completion of Traditions Bancorp, Inc. Acquisition

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GETTYSBURG, Pa., Feb. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a release issued under the same headline on February 3, 2025 by ACNB Corporation please note that in the third paragraph of the release, the deposit amount has been corrected to $2.54 billion instead of $2.04 billion. The corrected release follows:

    ACNB Corporation (NASDAQ: ACNB), the parent financial holding company of ACNB Bank, a Pennsylvania state-chartered, FDIC-insured community bank, headquartered in Gettysburg, PA, announced the completion of the acquisition of Traditions Bancorp, Inc. (“Traditions”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Traditions Bank, headquartered in York, PA, effective February 1, 2025. Traditions was merged with and into a wholly-owned subsidiary of ACNB Corporation immediately followed by the merger of Traditions Bank with and into ACNB Bank. ACNB Bank will operate the former Traditions Bank branches as “Traditions Bank, A Division of ACNB Bank”. In connection with the close of the acquisition, Traditions stockholders received 0.7300 shares of ACNB Corporation common stock for each share of Traditions common stock that they owned as of the closing date, with cash paid in lieu of fractional shares.

    In addition, at the close of the acquisition, three former Traditions directors, Eugene J. Draganosky, Elizabeth F. Carson, and John M. Polli, joined the Boards of Directors of ACNB Corporation and ACNB Bank. Mr. Draganosky has nearly 40 years of banking experience, and is the former CEO and Chair of the Board of Traditions and Traditions Bank, having held those roles since 2017 and 2023, respectively. Ms. Carson, Lead Independent Director of Traditions, joined the Traditions Bank Board in 2015, after over 30 years of banking experience in a variety of leadership roles with community and regional banks. Mr. Polli was a member of the Traditions Bank board of directors since its founding in 2002, and has nearly 40 years of diverse business expertise, from serving as a public accountant to owning, managing, and advising businesses in the transportation, real estate, and insurance industries.

    With the combination of the two organizations, and based on financial information for each organization as of December 31, 2024, ACNB Corporation will have approximately $3.26 billion in assets, $2.54 billion in deposits, and $2.36 billion in loans, and will serve its customers throughout 35 community banking offices in south central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland.

    “We are pleased to announce the completion of our strategic acquisition of Traditions Bancorp, and excited to unite our teams of dedicated local bankers who are committed to their customers and communities,” stated ACNB Corporation President & Chief Executive Officer James P. Helt. “This combination brings together organizations that are unified by a shared vision, values, and a customer-centric approach to banking, to create an even stronger community bank. Importantly, our customers will benefit from expanded products and services delivered by the familiar faces they have come to know and trust. This merger positions us well to continue to grow in the attractive York and Lancaster County markets, and enhances ACNB Bank’s mortgage operations, which will now serve customers throughout our footprint as ‘Traditions Mortgage, A Division of ACNB Bank.’ Together, we look forward to continuing to deliver on our vision of being the financial services provider of choice in the communities we serve.”

    Alan J. Stock, Chair of the Board of ACNB, stated “We welcome Mr. Draganosky, Ms. Carson, and Mr. Polli to the ACNB Boards of Directors, and are confident that their expertise, skills, and strong connections to the York and Lancaster market areas will enhance and complement ACNB’s current Boards of Directors. We are committed to enhancing value for our shareholders and are poised to deliver on that commitment with an experienced and knowledgeable board, a seasoned management group, and a team of bankers and professionals dedicated to a successful integration and customer experience.”

    Bybel Rutledge LLP served as legal counsel and Piper Sandler served as financial advisor to ACNB Corporation for the transaction. Pillar + Aught served as legal counsel and Stephens Inc. served as financial advisor to Traditions Bancorp, Inc.

    About ACNB Corporation
    ACNB Corporation, headquartered in Gettysburg, PA, is the $3.26 billion financial holding company for the wholly-owned subsidiaries of ACNB Bank, Gettysburg, PA, and ACNB Insurance Services, Inc., Westminster, MD. Originally founded in 1857, ACNB Bank serves its marketplace with banking and wealth management services, including trust and retail brokerage, via a network of 35 community banking offices and two loan offices located in the Pennsylvania counties of Adams, Cumberland, Franklin, Lancaster and York and the Maryland counties of Baltimore, Carroll and Frederick. ACNB Insurance Services, Inc. is a full-service insurance agency with licenses in 46 states. The agency offers a broad range of property, casualty, health, life and disability insurance serving personal and commercial clients through office locations in Westminster and Jarrettsville, MD, and Gettysburg, PA. For more information regarding ACNB Corporation and its subsidiaries, please visit investor.acnb.com.

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS – In addition to historical information, this press release may contain forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, (a) projections or statements regarding future earnings, expenses, net interest income, other income, earnings or loss per share, asset mix and quality, growth prospects, capital structure, and other financial terms, (b) statements of plans and objectives of Management or the Board of Directors, and (c) statements of assumptions, such as economic conditions in the Corporation’s market areas. Such forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believes”, “expects”, “may”, “intends”, “will”, “should”, “anticipates”, or the negative of any of the foregoing or other variations thereon or comparable terminology, or by discussion of strategy. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties such as national, regional and local economic conditions, competitive factors, and regulatory limitations. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results and experience to differ from those projected include, but are not limited to, the following: short-term and long-term effects of inflation and rising costs on the Corporation, customers and economy; banking instability caused by bank failures and financial uncertainty of various banks which may adversely impact the Corporation and its securities and loan values, deposit stability, capital adequacy, financial condition, operations, liquidity, and results of operations; effects of governmental and fiscal policies, as well as legislative and regulatory changes; effects of new laws and regulations (including laws and regulations concerning taxes, banking, securities and insurance) and their application with which the Corporation and its subsidiaries must comply; impacts of the capital and liquidity requirements of the Basel III standards; effects of changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the regulatory agencies, as well as the Financial Accounting Standards Board and other accounting standard setters; ineffectiveness of the business strategy due to changes in current or future market conditions; future actions or inactions of the United States government, including the effects of short-term and long-term federal budget and tax negotiations and a failure to increase the government debt limit or a prolonged shutdown of the federal government; effects of economic conditions particularly with regard to the negative impact of any pandemic, epidemic or health-related crisis and the responses thereto on the operations of the Corporation and current customers, specifically the effect of the economy on loan customers’ ability to repay loans; effects of competition, and of changes in laws and regulations on competition, including industry consolidation and development of competing financial products and services; inflation, securities market and monetary fluctuations; risks of changes in interest rates on the level and composition of deposits, loan demand, and the values of loan collateral, securities, and interest rate protection agreements, as well as interest rate risks; difficulties in acquisitions and integrating and operating acquired business operations, including information technology difficulties; challenges in establishing and maintaining operations in new markets; effects of technology changes; effects of general economic conditions and more specifically in the Corporation’s market areas; failure of assumptions underlying the establishment of reserves for credit losses and estimations of values of collateral and various financial assets and liabilities; acts of war or terrorism or geopolitical instability; disruption of credit and equity markets; ability to manage current levels of impaired assets; loss of certain key officers; ability to maintain the value and image of the Corporation’s brand and protect the Corporation’s intellectual property rights; continued relationships with major customers; and, potential impacts to the Corporation from continually evolving cybersecurity and other technological risks and attacks, including additional costs, reputational damage, regulatory penalties, and financial losses; and, the other factors detailed in ACNB’s publicly-filed documents, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2024, June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2024, and its other filings with the SEC. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements only speak as of the date hereof, and ACNB does assume any obligation to revise, update or clarify forward-looking statements to reflect events or conditions after the date of this press release.

    ACNB #2025-5
    February 3, 2025

    Contact:    Kevin Hayes
    SVP/ General Counsel,
    Secretary, and Chief
    Governance Officer
    717.339.5161
    khayes@acnb.com
         

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Kinematics Strengthens Global Leadership in Solar Tracker Intelligence with Completion of P4Q Acquisition

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PHOENIX, Feb. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kinematics, a global leader in intelligent motion control, today announced the successful completion of its acquisition of P4Q. By integrating P4Q’s high-performance electronics portfolio—including over 1 million solar controllers deployed across 2,400 solar sites globally—with Kinematics’ installed base of 2.9 million solar actuators, the combined company becomes the world’s largest supplier of motion control technology for solar trackers supporting more than 134 gigawatts of solar installations worldwide.

    Kinematics has gained P4Q’s expertise in full-stack electronics, including their market-leading tracker controls brand, Suntrack®, to complement its innovative actuation systems. This acquisition allows Kinematics to provide a complete solution for solar tracker motion technology, simplifying design integration and supply for solar tracker OEMs, enabling the most advanced tracking systems for future installations and providing asset owners a path toward upgrading outdated systems.

    “This acquisition creates increased scale, expanded global support, and unified motion control solutions,” said John Payne, CEO of Kinematics. “By combining our strengths, we’re setting new standards for intelligent solar tracking technology. Our expanded portfolio of solutions will improve solar plant production, increase reliability, and enhance value to accelerate the growth and adoption of solar energy on a global scale.”

    “Our integration into Kinematics will enhance our business and create new opportunities for our team. Innovation is in our DNA, and we will continue providing disruptive solutions to our clients as well as excellent service,” said Aitor Alapont, CEO of P4Q.

    A cornerstone of the combined offering is P4Q’s revolutionary Self-Powered Plus (SPP) Controller Technology. This innovative solution eliminates the need for traditional pony panels, freeing up space on the tracker surface, and reducing both capital expenditure and installation complexity, while also offering superior power availability under low irradiance conditions.

    The acquisition builds on Kinematics’ recent innovations in motion control, including the breakthrough ST Series actuators launched in 2024. Featuring a maintenance-free design, the ST Series delivers up to 50% more holding torque in a smaller form factor, enhancing solar tracker performance and reliability – capabilities that will be further strengthened through the integration of both companies.

    “This milestone will create synergies, expand our portfolio of products and services, and optimize our global operations, undoubtedly providing a significant boost to all our business verticals,” said Noemí Pérez, Commercial Director at P4Q.

    The combined company will be headquartered in the U.S. with R&D in the U.S., Europe, and APAC. Kinematics will now have six manufacturing centers, including the U.S. and Europe, and seven service centers located globally.

    About Kinematics
    Founded in 1996, Kinematics is a global leader in precision motion control solutions, specializing in the design and manufacture of slew drives, slew rings, and actuation technology. With a strong focus on renewable energy, Kinematics supplies critical engineered systems, sensors, gears, and controllers that maximize the efficiency of solar installations worldwide, along with applications for the mobile industrial and satellite ground station sectors. The company is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, and operates globally with facilities in Asia and North America.

    About P4Q
    P4Q is a premier provider of IoT solutions, specializing in electronic devices, communication technologies, and cloud-based monitoring for solar tracking systems, medical diagnostic equipment, and more. The company also supports industries such as railway and industrial electronics. Renowned for its commitment to innovation and high-performance solutions, P4Q has established a strong reputation for excellence, particularly in the solar energy sector. Headquartered in Spain, P4Q serves clients across Europe, the Americas, and beyond.

    Press Contact:
    Matt Clarke
    matt@teamsilverline.com
    301.467.7332

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a835f342-87fb-45f3-a382-21134f6fc8a4

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Grenada: 2024 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Grenada

    Source: International Monetary Fund

    Summary

    Through end-June 2024, Grenada’s economy was experiencing sustained strong growth supported by buoyant tourism, moderating inflation, and a narrowing current account deficit. A surge in Citizenship-by-Investment (CBI) revenue supported a strong improvement in budget balances, a build-up of government deposits, and a reduction in public debt. On July 1, Hurricane Beryl caused damage in excess of 16 percent of GDP on the Grenadian islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique, as well as in the northern parishes of the main island, affecting around 15 percent of the population. In response, the authorities triggered the suspension of fiscal rules to permit temporary deficit spending in support of the recovery and reconstruction.

    Subject: Credit bureaus, Debt sustainability, Economic sectors, Environment, External debt, Financial institutions, Financial markets, Imports, Insurance, International trade, Labor, Labor markets, Natural disasters, Public debt, Tourism

    Keywords: Credit bureaus, Debt sustainability, Fiscal stance, Imports, Insurance, Insurance companies, Labor markets, Natural disasters, Tourism

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: IMF Executive Board Concludes 2024 Article IV Consultation with Grenada

    Source: International Monetary Fund

    February 4, 2025

    Washington, DC: On January 24, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation[1] with Grenada.

    Through end-June 2024, Grenada’s economy was experiencing sustained strong growth supported by buoyant tourism, moderating inflation, and a narrowing current account deficit. A surge in Citizenship-by-Investment (CBI) revenue supported a strong improvement in the fiscal position and reduction in public debt. The financial system remained stable. On July 1, Hurricane Beryl caused damage in excess of 16 percent of GDP on the Grenadian islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique, as well as in the northern parishes of the main island. The authorities responded swiftly with a package of fiscal measures, including suspension of fiscal rules to permit temporary deficit spending in support of the recovery and reconstruction.

    Grenada’s near-term economic growth is projected to remain resilient at 3.9 percent in 2025, buoyed by limited hurricane damages to tourism infrastructure and the authorities’ large recovery and reconstruction spending. Sizable government savings and triggering of disaster-contingent instruments create fiscal space for these spending needs. Assuming a subsequent timely return to the fiscal rules, public debt is projected to continue falling and reach the debt target of 60 percent of GDP by 2030.

    Over the medium-term GDP growth is projected to slow given the tourism sector operates near its peak-season capacity. Key downside risks include the threat of further natural disasters, potential shocks to tourism demand, and the uncertain scale of future CBI inflows, while the domestic non-bank financial system faces rising vulnerabilities from the continued rapid expansion of credit unions and the rising costs of property insurance. Prospective hotel developments and public investment projects represent upside risks to the medium-term growth outlook.

    Executive Board Assessment[2]

    Executive Directors agreed with the thrust of the staff appraisal. They welcomed Grenada’s robust economic performance in 2023 and the first half of 2024, buoyed by strong tourism. Directors also commended the authorities’ swift and prudently tailored response to Hurricane Beryl, which supported disaster-relief and helped mitigate the impact on economic growth. Noting that the medium-term outlook remains subject to risks from natural disasters, uncertain Citizenship-by-Investment (CBI) flows, and other external shocks, they encouraged the authorities to exercise continued fiscal prudence and to pursue structural reforms to boost long-term growth and enhance resilience, while leveraging Fund technical assistance.

    Directors welcomed Grenada’s commitment to fiscal prudence and debt sustainability and emphasized the importance of a timely return to the suspended fiscal rules. In that context, they noted the need for continued expenditure prioritization and revenue mobilization to create fiscal space for future investment needs, including for climate resilience. Further strengthening public investment management and budget planning processes would also be important. Directors also saw merit in developing a more uniform framework for managing all CBI resources and encouraged continued progress in resolving outstanding official arrears.

    Directors welcomed the banking system’s resilience despite repeated shocks. They emphasized the need for vigilance and strengthened oversight in the rapidly expanding credit union sector. Directors encouraged strengthening data collection and regional collaboration in the property insurance sector, given rising premiums. They also agreed that further enhancements in the AML/CFT frameworks are essential, including to safeguard correspondent banking relationships.

    Directors commended the authorities’ implementation of Grenada’s Disaster Resilience Strategy including investments in a risk-layering framework of disaster-contingency insurance and financing instruments. Moving forward and noting the risk of future natural disasters, they emphasized the importance of further advancing the energy transition and investment in disaster resilient infrastructure, with support from private financing.

    Directors also encouraged sustained structural reform efforts to foster long-term growth, including investing in active labor market policies and continuing efforts to support off-season and niche tourism. Addressing data gaps is also important.

    It is expected that the next Article IV Consultation with Grenada will be held on the standard 12-month consultation cycle.

    Table 1. Grenada: Selected Social and Economic Indicators, 2019–29

     

    Rank in UNDP Human Development Index

    73

    Infant mortality rate per ‘000 births (2021)

    14.4

    out of 189 countries (2021)

    Adult illiteracy rate in percent (2014)

    1

    Life expectancy at birth in years (2021)

    75

    Poverty rate in percent of population (2019)

    25

    GDP per capita in US$ (2021)

    10,449

    Population in millions (2021)

    0.13

    Unemployment rate (2021 Q2)

    11.1

     

    2019

    2020

    2021

    2022

    2023

    2024

    2025

    2026

    2027

    2028

    2029

    Est.

    Proj.

    National income and prices

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    GDP at constant prices

    0.7

    -13.8

    4.7

    7.3

    4.7

    3.6

    3.9

    3.3

    2.7

    2.7

    2.7

    GDP deflator

    3.3

    -0.3

    2.8

    2.2

    2.7

    1.4

    1.4

    2.0

    2.0

    2.0

    2.0

    Consumer prices, end of period

    0.1

    -0.8

    1.9

    2.9

    2.2

    1.2

    1.9

    2.0

    2.0

    2.0

    2.0

    Money and credit, end of period

    Credit to private sector

    1.4

    3.1

    3.8

    2.1

    3.8

    3.8

    4.2

    4.4

    4.6

    4.5

    4.5

    Broad money (M2)

    2.9

    9.1

    8.5

    9.9

    1.4

    3.7

    5.2

    5.4

    4.8

    4.8

    4.8

    Central government balances (accrual)

    Revenue and grants

    26.6

    28.1

    31.5

    32.7

    36.9

    44.1

    30.5

    29.3

    29.2

    28.9

    28.8

    Expenditure

    21.6

    32.7

    31.2

    31.8

    28.9

    39.5

    39.4

    33.1

    29.6

    29.2

    28.9

    o.w. Capital expenditure

    2.6

    9.6

    8.6

    10.2

    9.3

    11.7

    12.2

    8.7

    6.2

    5.8

    5.6

    Primary balance

    6.8

    -2.6

    2.1

    2.6

    9.5

    8.0

    -5.1

    -1.2

    1.5

    1.5

    1.5

    Overall balance

    5.0

    -4.5

    0.3

    1.0

    8.0

    4.7

    -8.9

    -3.8

    -0.4

    -0.3

    -0.1

     

    Central government debt (incl. guaranteed) 1/

    58.5

    71.4

    70.0

    62.8

    60.5

    59.3

    58.1

    53.9

    53.2

    51.4

    49.6

    Domestic

    14.6

    16.2

    15.3

    12.8

    11.3

    11.1

    9.7

    7.8

    7.1

    6.9

    7.0

    External

    44.0

    55.2

    54.7

    50.0

    49.2

    48.2

    48.5

    46.1

    46.0

    44.5

    42.6

    Public debt (incl. debt of SOEs and SBs)

    62.7

    89.5

    86.6

    78.8

    75.2

    73.3

    71.4

    66.5

    65.2

    62.9

    60.6

    Savings-Investment balance

    -10.4

    -16.1

    -14.5

    -11.0

    -9.1

    -13.1

    -13.8

    -10.6

    -9.9

    -9.1

    -9.1

    Savings

    14.6

    16.3

    15.6

    18.0

    30.8

    28.3

    18.1

    17.8

    15.8

    15.3

    14.9

    Investment

    24.9

    32.4

    30.1

    29.1

    39.9

    41.5

    31.9

    28.4

    25.7

    24.5

    24.0

    External Sector

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Gross international reserves (millions of dollars)

    234.1

    290.9

    324.2

    352.6

    389.1

    435.1

    364.5

    364.8

    390.3

    405.6

    424.6

    (in months of imports)

    5.2

    5.6

    4.9

    5.0

    4.8

    5.2

    4.3

    4.2

    4.3

    4.3

    4.3

    Current account balance, o/w:

    -10.4

    -16.1

    -14.5

    -11.0

    -9.1

    -13.1

    -13.8

    -10.6

    -9.9

    -9.1

    -9.1

    Exports of goods and services

    54.6

    41.1

    47.9

    57.8

    62.8

    63.8

    62.5

    62.8

    63.0

    62.6

    62.3

    Imports of goods and services

    55.8

    52.2

    55.4

    64.3

    63.7

    69.9

    68.5

    65.6

    65.0

    63.8

    63.4

    External debt (gross)

    64.7

    92.5

    94.8

    90.0

    86.9

    85.4

    85.4

    82.6

    82.3

    80.5

    78.4

    Sources: Ministry of Finance; Eastern Caribbean Central Bank; United Nations, Human Development Report; World Bank WDI; and IMF staff estimates and projections.

    1/ Includes the impact of the debt restructuring agreement for the 2025 bonds.

    [1] Under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country’s economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board.

    [2] At the conclusion of the discussion, the Managing Director, as Chairman of the Board, summarizes the views of Executive Directors, and this summary is transmitted to the country’s authorities. An explanation of any qualifiers used in summings up can be found here: http://www.IMF.org/external/np/sec/misc/qualifiers.htm.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Meera Louis

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: FRCE supports Marine F-35 recovery training

    Source: United States Navy

    How does a Marine Corps unit train to recover a downed fighter, when no downed fighter is available to recover? At Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE), a unique depot training asset helped Marines gain real-world experience in recovering a damaged F-35B Lightning II without risking harm to an operational aircraft.

    FRCE recently partnered with Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 (MWSS-271) to assist with the squadron’s F-35 familiarization and aircraft salvage and recovery training. The collaboration with FRCE allowed MWSS-271 access to a stripped-down F-35 airframe used for training and testing at the depot, along with the knowledge and expertise provided by FRCE artisans and engineers who support the F-35 modification program.

    According to Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joseph Durand, the MWSS-271 Heavy Equipment Platoon leader who also serves as the squadron’s salvage and recovery officer, the three-day training simulated the recovery of an F-35 with collapsed front landing gear. The event consisted of three phases: learning proper F-35 lifting procedures through an introductory crane lift; stowing the front landing gear and using the crane to rest the aircraft’s nose on a temporary structure to simulate landing gear failure; and finally, establishing a controlled recovery site and recovering the aircraft.

    While the training event simulated one specific set of circumstances, Durand said it included techniques that can be implemented in a wide variety of recovery scenarios, both in garrison environments and at forward locations. 

    “Recovery has so many different scenarios, and the F-35 is a fairly new aircraft; recovery on this platform hasn’t really been conducted in a broad manner across the Marine Corps,” Durand explained. “We’re training to educate on how pertinent it is to be able to recover an F-35, the practices that go into that recovery and the hazards that come along with it. We’re really stressing the need for that aircraft to be able to get back into the air and do its job.

    “What we’re looking forward to is being able to conduct this same recovery scenario, whether it be a front landing gear that went down or something more catastrophic, no matter where it happens,” he continued. “We need to be able to get that bird back into the fight, and do it in a safe manner that doesn’t harm the aircraft or the individuals working to recover it.”

    FRCE’s ability to provide a nonoperational airframe for use in the Marines’ training offered the squadron unique advantages, said F-35 Branch Head Ike Rettenmair.

    “Having an asset like this airframe on hand is really beneficial in terms of allowing for training without the concern of potentially damaging an operational aircraft,” he said. “While you plan for everything to go perfectly during a training event, there’s always the chance that mistakes could be made; that’s why there’s training in the first place, to provide that learning experience.

    “Using an airframe that isn’t an operational aircraft helps provide a real-world, hands-on experience – everything looks, feels and moves the same – without the added pressure that comes from working with an aircraft that needs to be back on the flight line the later that day,” Rettenmair added.

    Working with MWSS-271 to support the squadron’s activities also benefitted the FRCE team, Rettenmair explained. 

    “Supporting MWSS-271’s training not only allowed their Marines to advance their F-35 aircraft recovery skills, it also gave our team the opportunity to sharpen their expertise while serving as subject-matter experts,” he said. “Developing a way to simulate a landing gear failure, for example, presented a challenge that the team proved ready to tackle. Teaching the Marines the proper way to crane lift the aircraft provided our artisans and engineers the opportunity to refresh their skills, as well. This really was a win-win situation for everyone involved.”

    Durand agreed that the partnership between the squadron and FRCE yielded positive outcomes.

    “It’s extremely effective for us to drive just 15 minutes down the road to FRC East and be able to execute training with all of our partners in the warfighting effort,” he said. “It makes it extremely reliable for us to be able to conduct additional training as scenarios start to develop across the nation and around the world.”

    The F-35 airframe used in this exercise, which arrived to FRCE in early 2021, has also seen use as a training aid in the depot. Its status as a readiness enhancer is not limited to supporting recovery training.

    “We have also used the airframe for artisan and engineer training at FRC East, although the depot maintenance environment is definitely different than an operational unit,” Rettenmair said. “For us, the airframe serves as a training aid that helps us improve processes and procedures, which can in turn drive down the modification turnaround times and enable us to return completed aircraft to the fleet sooner than planned.”

    FRCE is the lead site for depot-level maintenance on the F-35B Lightning II and has conducted modifications and repair on the Marine Corps’ short takeoff-vertical landing variant of the aircraft since 2013. The depot also performs work on the Navy’s F-35C carrier variant and the Air Force’s conventional takeoff and landing F-35A variant.

    FRCE is North Carolina’s largest maintenance, repair, overhaul and technical services provider, with more than 4,000 civilian, military and contract workers. Its annual revenue exceeds $1 billion. The depot provides service to the fleet while functioning as an integral part of the greater U.S. Navy; Naval Air Systems Command; and Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Council inviting applications for Change Fund (Tier three)

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Council inviting applications for Change Fund (Tier three)

    4 February 2025

    In September 2024, the Northern Ireland Executive, led by the Executive Office (TEO) launched the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) Strategic Framework 2024-2031. The Strategic Framework has been co-designed with people and organisations from right across government and society, representing different backgrounds and perspectives, including those with lived experiences.

    The Change Fund is a fundamental part of delivering the EVAWG Strategic Framework and also focuses on the Prevention Outcomes;

    • Challenging attitudes, behaviours and culture
    • Education on healthy and respectful relationships and
    • Ensuring Women and Girls feel safe and are safe everywhere

    It’s part of a wider £3.2m investment for Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) Local Change Fund announced by the First Minister and deputy First Minister last month in which £2m has been made available across the 11 Councils in Northern Ireland, of which £165k has been allocated to Derry and Strabane.

    Derry City and Strabane District Council has announced that its Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Change Fund 2025-26 (Tier three) is now open for applications.

    As part of the allocation to Derry City and Strabane District Council £50,000 has been allocated to Tier three Change Fund Grants Grant between £15,001 and up to £25,000 to support significant programme of activity which include collaboration with and/or mentoring/ support to other community-based organisations.

    Derry City and Strabane District Council is inviting applications from not-for-profit community and voluntary organisations across the Council area who can deliver significant programmes of activity aimed at ending violence against women and girls.

    Applications will be open at 10:00am on Monday 3rd February 2025 and close at 3:00pm on Friday 21st February 2025

    Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Lilian Seenoi Barr said the funding is vital to support Community & Voluntary organisations working at grassroots level to play their part in helping to end the epidemic of violence against women and girls.

    “I am very pleased that the Local Change Fund grant aid provided by The Executive Office will provide funding to our local community organisations to play a proactive role in educating communities and promoting safe and healthy relationships and environments for women and children to feel safe.”

    For more information on the fund and to apply for the grant visit – https://www.dcsdcgrantaid.com/

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: IXCHIQ vaccine approved to protect adults against Chikungunya

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has today, 4 February 2025, approved the vaccine chikungunya vaccine (live) (brand name IXCHIQ) to protect adults against chikungunya disease, caused by the chikungunya virus (CHIKV).

    CHIKV is found in the subtropical regions of the Americas, Africa, Southeast Asia, India, and the Pacific Region, and is spread to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus). It cannot be passed from human to human.  

    The majority of people infected with CHIKV develop a sudden fever and severe pain in multiple joints. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash. These symptoms typically resolve within 7 to 10 days, and most patients make a full recovery. However, in some cases joint pain and arthritis may persist for several months or even years. Occasional cases of eye, neurological and heart complications have been reported, as well as gastrointestinal complaints.  

    Chikungunya vaccine has been approved for use as a prophylaxis against chikungunya disease. The vaccine contains a form of the virus that has been weakened in the laboratory so it cannot multiply. The vaccine works by training the immune system (the body’s natural defences) to recognise CHIKV and it is then able to produce specific antibodies which attack the virus. 

    Julian Beach, MHRA Interim Executive Director of Healthcare Quality and Access, said:

    Patient safety is our top priority, which is why I am pleased to confirm approval of the first vaccine in the UK to protect adults 18 years and older against Chikungunya disease.  It is given as a single dose. 

    While mostly endemic to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Southeast Asia, and parts of the Americas, the virus has been detected in small numbers in new geographical areas including parts of Europe. It is therefore important we are prepared for potential further spread.  

    This approval is another demonstration of our commitment to supporting the UK in its efforts toward global pandemic preparedness.  

    As with all products, we will keep its safety under close review.

    The recommended dose of chikungunya vaccine (live) can only be obtained via a prescription. 
     
    The benefits of chikungunya vaccine (live) were assessed in two main studies involving around 4,500 adults. In one main study, over 4,000 people were given the vaccine or a placebo (a dummy treatment).

    The aim of the study was to determine whether the vaccine would trigger the immune system to produce a level of antibodies that, based on pre-clinical studies and information from people previously exposed to the virus who had developed immunity, is expected to provide protection.

    Results showed that 99% of participants who received chikungunya vaccine (live) had the required level of antibodies after one month, compared with none of those who received placebo. Follow-up data showed that two years after vaccination, this target level was maintained in 97% of people who received the vaccine.  

    During clinical studies, the most common side effects with   chikungunya vaccine (live) (which may affect more than 1 in 10 people) include leucopenia, neutropenia and lymphopenia (low levels of white blood cells, including neutrophils and lymphocytes, as seen in blood tests), headache, fatigue, myalgia (muscle pain),  joint pain (arthralgia), elevated liver enzymes as seen in blood tests, fever, nausea (feeling sick), and tenderness, pain, erythema (redness), induration (hardening) or swelling at the site of injection.

    As with any medicine, the MHRA will keep the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine under close review.   

    Anyone who suspects they are having a side effect from this vaccine are encouraged to talk to their doctor, pharmacist or nurse and report it directly to the Yellow Card scheme, either through the website (https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/) or by searching the Google Play or Apple App stores for MHRA Yellow Card.    

     ENDS    

    Notes to editors    

    • The new marketing authorisation was granted on 4 February 2025 to VALNEVA AUSTRIA GMBH

    • The vaccine has been approved by the MHRA under the International Recognition Procedure, after confirming it meets the UK regulator’s standards of safety, quality, and effectiveness. 

    • More information can be found in the Summary of Product Characteristics and Patient Information leaflets which will be published on the MHRA Products website within 7 days of approval.  

    • The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe.  All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.  

    • The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.  

    For media enquiries, please contact the newscentre@mhra.gov.uk, or call on 020 3080 7651.

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CFTC Staff Issues No-Action Letter to Korea Exchange Concerning the Offer or Sale of KOSPI and Mini KOSPI 200 Futures Contracts

    Source: US Commodity Futures Trading Commission

    CFTC Staff Issues No-Action Letter to Korea Exchange Concerning the Offer or Sale of KOSPI and Mini KOSPI 200 Futures Contracts | CFTC

    /PressRoom/PressReleases/9043-25
    Skip to main content

    February 04, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Division of Market Oversight today issued a no-action letter stating it will not recommend the CFTC take enforcement action against Korea Exchange (KRX) for the offer or sale of Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) 200 Futures Contracts and Mini KOSPI 200 Futures Contracts to persons located within the United State while the Commission’s review of KRX’s forthcoming request for certification of the contracts under CFTC Regulation 30.13 is pending. DMO issued similar letters when the KOSPI 200 became a broad-based security index in 2021 and 2022. [See CFTC Press Release Nos. 8464-21 and 8610-22]
    The KOSPI 200 became a narrow-based security index in February 2024. Futures contracts on narrow-based security indexes are subject to joint CFTC and Securities and Exchange Commission jurisdiction. Futures contracts on non-narrow-based (also known as broad-based) security indexes are subject to exclusive CFTC jurisdiction.
    The KOSPI 200 is set to become a broad-based security index on February 6, 2025, and the no-action position in DMO’s letter will be effective on that date. 

    -CFTC-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Athabasca — Athabasca RCMP dismantle large scale chop shop make major recovery of stolen property – Update 2

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Athabasca RCMP respectfully requests that members of the public refrain from contacting Athabasca Detachment to inquire about potential found property. We understand the interest in recovering stolen items, and we are committed to ensuring property is returned to its rightful owners. RCMP investigators are currently in the process of identifying and cataloging recovered property, including vehicles and equipment. Owners will be contacted directly by police.

    Thank you for your cooperation as we continue this complex investigation. We remain committed to addressing property crime and protecting our communities.

    Background:

    Jan. 2, 2025

    Athabasca RCMP dismantle large scale chop shop make major recovery of stolen property – Update

    Athabasca RCMP has successfully recovered a substantial quantity of stolen property valued in the multi-million-dollar range as part of an ongoing investigation into rural property crime.

    On Dec. 29, 2024, Athabasca RCMP received a report from a member of the public that their vehicle had been stolen. The vehicle’s GPS tracking system indicated that it was located at a rural property, located on Township Road 670.5. Officers from Athabasca RCMP, K Division Auto Theft Unit, Eastern Alberta District (EAD) Crime Reduction Unit, and EAD General Investigations Section attended the property, and during their investigation and subsequent search warrant discovered a large number of stolen items including:

    • Multiple stolen vehicles, including semi-trucks and trailers
    • Off-road vehicles such as quads
    • Heavy equipment and parts

    Further investigation revealed evidence that the property was being used as a “chop shop”, where stolen vehicles and equipment were dismantled and repurposed for illegal resale.

    A 36-year-old individual, a resident of Athabasca, has been charged with the following offences:

    • Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000
    • Alter/destroy/remove a Vehicle Identification Number

    The 36-year-old individual was taken before a justice of the peace and was released with conditions. He is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 27, 2025, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Athabasca.

    This recovery reflects the ongoing dedication of the RCMP to address property crime, particularly in rural areas where these thefts have significant impacts on residents and businesses. “The successful recovery of millions of dollars’ worth of stolen property, including semi-trucks, trailers, RV’s, and construction and oilfield equipment, highlights the critical role of community collaboration in combating property crime.” said S/Sgt. Mark Hall, Athabasca RCMP Detachment Commander. “Thanks to the diligence of a vigilant property owner who tracked their missing equipment and the meticulous investigation by the Athabasca RCMP members, we were able to uncover and recover this significant cache of stolen assets. This operation serves as a powerful example of how community members and law enforcement working together can achieve remarkable results in protecting property and holding offenders accountable.”

    As part of our commitment to addressing property crime, the RCMP would like to share the following tips that can aid in decreasing the risk of becoming a victim of property crime.

    • Store valuables out of sight and in secure locations
    • Secure vehicles and equipment with high-quality locks and immobilizers
    • Use GPS tracking devices on vehicles and heavy equipment
    • Install proper lighting and surveillance cameras on properties
    • Regularly document and photograph property, including serial numbers and other unique identifiers.

    If you have any information regarding property crime within the area of Athabasca please contact Athabasca RCMP at 780-675-4252. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store. To report crime online, or for access to RCMP news and information, download the Alberta RCMP app through Apple or Google Play.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: High Prairie — High Prairie RCMP locate wanted male

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On Jan. 9, 2025, High Prairie RCMP began a project to target offenders on warrant in the area of High Prairie and utilized resources including Faust RCMP, Western Alberta Crime Reduction Unit (WAD CRU), the Provincial Crime Reduction Team (CRT), Alberta’s Emergency Response Team (ERT), High Level and Grande Prairie Police Dog Services (PDS), and RCMP Air Services.

    A 28-year-old individual, a resident of Atikameg, Alta., was located with a stolen vehicle in a forested area; all RCMP units were engaged, and the individual fled on foot.

    Police Dog Peyak, tracked the individual to a residence. All occupants exited the home safely before the individual was located and then arrested, inside the home, with no further incident.

    The individual was charged with 19 offenses, including:

    • Operating a motor vehicle while prohibited x3
    • Flight from police officer
    • Resist/obstruct police officer
    • Possession of property obtained by crime
    • Dangerous operation of motor vehicle
    • Failure to comply with probation order x2
    • Take motor vehicle without consent
    • Firearms offences x 12
    • Additionally, Grey was arrested for his 29 warrants

    The individual was brought before a justice of the peace, where he was remanded with a court date of Jan. 20, 2025, at the Alberta Court of Justice in High Prairie.

    Additionally, RCMP seized several weapons, a firearm and an assortment of ammunition.

    The High Prairie RCMP is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the location of, or sightings of wanted persons or suspicious criminal behaviour in the area. Anyone with information in relation to this incident is asked to please contact the High Prairie RCMP at 780-523-3378 or your local police. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8377 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Bedford Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Fentanyl Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A New Bedford man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.

    Vinicio DeJesus Marrero Arias, 40, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to three years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Arias will also be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. In October 2024, Arias pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.

    Following an investigation into fentanyl trafficking in and around the Lord Phillips Apartments in New Bedford, Arias was identified as fentanyl distributors in the area. A search of Arias’ residence, as well as an apartment that was being used as a stash location and two storage units rented on behalf of Arias’s co-conspirator, Yohenry Contreras-Lara, resulted in the recovery of more than several hundred grams of fentanyl and $1.2 million in cash in suspected drug proceeds.

    Contreras-Lara pleaded guilty in November 2024 and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 3, 2025.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Bradley Parker, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office and the New Bedford Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Panich of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jury finds local man guilty of crimes involving 2 local drug-related murders

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CINCINNATI – A jury found a local man guilty on all counts for crimes related to two murders in Cincinnati during the summer of 2021. 

    Jamal Binford, 33, of Dallas and Cincinnati, was convicted of five counts as charged in a second superseding indictment. The verdict was announced yesterday afternoon following a trial that began on Jan. 15 before Senior U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett.

    According to court documents and trial testimony, Binford purported to manage two co-defendants as boxers, presenting himself as a boxing manager helping young men he wanted to help off the streets. Instead, he directed them to sell fentanyl and marijuana and, after assisting the coconspirators following one murder, he directed a second murder.

    Co-defendants Antwan Coach, Jr., 22, of Cincinnati, and Markel Hardy, 23, of Cincinnati, robbed and murdered Kamar Williams on July 5, 2021, in North College Hill. It is alleged Coach and Hardy robbed Mr. Williams of marijuana and a firearm and shot him to death.

    In August 2021, all three defendants conspired to murder a second victim, Deonte Nuckols, in St. Bernard in connection with a narcotics conspiracy involving 400 grams or more of fentanyl and five kilograms or more of cocaine.

    As the government outlined at trial, Binford paid the two other men to kill Mr. Nuckols, who had had been texting Binford that day about Binford paying a drug debt.

    Binford was arrested in February 2023 at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

    The narcotics conspiracy in this case includes 400 grams or more of fentanyl, five kilograms or more of cocaine, and 100 kilograms or more of marijuana.

    Binford faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 20 years and up to life in prison for participating in the narcotics conspiracy, being an accessory after the fact, murder in connection with the drug trafficking conspiracy, use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and use of a firearm to commit murder.

    Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa A. Theetge; North College Hill Police Chief Ryan Schrand; and St. Bernard Police Chief Michael Simos announced the verdicts. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs of the Department’s Criminal Division also aided during the investigation.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley N. Brucato and OCDETF Deputy Criminal Chief Frederic C. Shadley represented the United States in this case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican National Sentenced for Illegal Re-Entry by a Removed Alien

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW ORLEANS – MAURILIO JASTINTO-JUAREZ (“JASTINTO-JUAREZ”), age 50, a citizen  of Mexico, was sentenced on  January 27, 2025 for illegal reentry by a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.  He was sentenced to (6) six months imprisonment, (1) one year of supervised release and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee. 

    According to court documents, JASTINTO-JUAREZ, illegally reentered the United States after being previously removed on December 16, 2022.  JASTINTO-JUAREZ was discovered in the United States when the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) systems became alerted to his presence via the collection of his  fingerprints by the Louisiana State Police (“LSP”).  The LSP obtained his fingerprints subsequent to their arrest of him for driving while intoxicated in Houma, La. on March 17, 2024.

    U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Louisiana State Police, and the Terrebonne Sherriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New York City Resident Sentenced to Six Years of Prison for Role in Interstate Methamphetamine Trafficking Operation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Queens, New York, was sentenced in federal court to six years of imprisonment on his conviction for violating federal narcotics laws related to a six-month Title III wiretap investigation into drug trafficking in and around Blair, Cambria, Centre, and Clearfield counties of Pennsylvania, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines imposed the sentence on Timothy Paz, 32, on January 21, 2025, also ordering that Paz serve three years of supervised release following his incarceration.

    According to information presented to the Court, Paz was a courier who transported approximately seven pounds of methamphetamine from the New York City area to Altoona, Pennsylvania, on behalf of a large-scale narcotics supplier.  Paz also transported large amounts of United States currency representing payment for the methamphetamine from an Altoona-based narcotics distributor to the supplier.

    Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan D. Lusty prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

    Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Internal Revenue Service, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Paz.  

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Portfolio Update: Sale of portfolio company Hospital Services Group delivers up to 8.5x return for Foresight VCT PLC

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The Board of Foresight VCT Plc (the “Company”) is pleased to announce the successful sale of portfolio company Hospital Services Group Limited (“HSL”), a leading healthcare equipment distributor and service provider operating in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

    The transaction generated proceeds of £26.2 million at completion with potential for a further up to £1.0 million over the coming years, implying a return and IRR of up to 8.5 times the original investment and 25.7% respectively. Prior to the sale of HSL, the Company’s NAV per ordinary share stood at 80.1p, to which the exit will add 1.7p, giving a pro forma NAV per ordinary share of 81.8p.

    Since the original investment, the manager, Foresight Group LLP, has taken a proactive approach to supporting HSL and the business has successfully completed a series of acquisitions, broadened and strengthened the management team and expanded the range of healthcare equipment and services provided Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

    Headcount has increased almost sixfold since Foresight’s initial investment, with revenues increasing approximately ninefold.

    Margaret Littlejohns, Chair of Foresight VCT Plc said: “HSL has grown into a market-leading healthcare company in the UK and Ireland.  With Foresight Group’s support, both financial and strategic, it has made a series of value-enhancing acquisitions and delivered strong organic growth.  We are delighted with this performance and wish the team every success in the future.”

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Portfolio Update: Sale of portfolio company Hospital Services Group delivers up to 8.4x return for Foresight Enterprise VCT PLC

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The Board of Foresight Enterprise VCT Plc (the “Company”) is pleased to announce the successful sale of portfolio company Hospital Services Group Limited (“HSL”), a leading a leading healthcare equipment distributor and service provider operating in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

    The transaction generated proceeds of £9.3 million at completion with potential for a further up to £0.4 million in the coming years, implying a return and IRR of up to 8.4 times the original investment and 25.7% respectively. Prior to the sale of HSL, the Company’s NAV per ordinary share stood at 54.3p, to which the exit will add 0.6p, giving a pro forma NAV per ordinary share of 54.9p.

    Since the original investment, the manager, Foresight Group LLP, has taken a proactive approach to supporting HSL and the business has successfully completed a series of acquisitions, broadened and strengthened the management team and expanded the range of healthcare equipment and services provided across Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain

    Headcount has increased almost sixfold since Foresight’s initial investment, with revenues increasing approximately ninefold.

    Michael Gray, Chair of Foresight Enterprise VCT: “Hospital Services Group Limited has grown into a leading specialist healthcare distribution company, supplying and maintaining technology that play an essential role in early disease detection.

    “We are delighted with the progress the team has made since our initial investment. Highlights include a number of key strategic acquisitions, which have delivered impressive revenue and employment growth. We wish this entrepreneurial management team every success moving forward.”

    The MIL Network –