NewzIntel.com

Category: KB

  • MIL-OSI: MCQ Markets announces Solana and RWA Strategy for the Future of Data Authenticity and Tokenization of Collector Cars on the Blockchain

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIAMI, Jan. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MCQ Markets, an emerging leader in the automotive alternative asset investment space, is thrilled to announce its new strategic endeavor pioneering the curation of ultra-rare luxury vehicles and collectibles via tokenization and data authentication on the Solana Blockchain.

    MCQ provides individuals the opportunity to diversify their investment portfolios with iconic automobiles through their SEC-qualified offerings – breaking down barriers traditionally associated with luxury car ownership.

    MCQ Markets is creating a series of NFTs for each car to be sold on the MCQ platform, ensuring the data authenticity of all automobiles and collectibles. Each vehicle will be linked to a unique NFT, securely storing vital information such as VIN, mileage, acquisition date, and more. This secure and immutable digital ledger will ensure all records are tamper-resistant and fully transparent.

    Backed by the Solana Foundation, which drives the adoption of the Solana blockchain, this integration ensures the seamless tokenization of real-world assets (RWA) like these collector cars, setting a new standard for transparency and innovation in Web3. By leveraging scalability and efficiency offered on the Solana blockchain, MCQ Markets is laying the foundation for the future of data secure authentication in the collector car market, ensuring verified historical records and market valuations.

    CEO of MCQ Markets, Curt Hopkins, shared, “This integration will bring the technical prowess and security of the blockchain to the automotive world, ensuring authenticity, provenance, and transparency for our investors. This partnership will enable MCQ Markets to explore new frontiers in Web3 and be at the forefront of creating the future automotive collecting.”

    MCQ Markets has received an investment from SOL Global Investments Corp. as part of their 2025 Solana ecosystem investment strategy. Curt continued, “This investment into MCQ Markets from SOL Global highlights the innovative potential of Solana’s blockchain technology to revolutionize traditional and alternative asset classes, providing a new level of authenticity and provenance to all investments.”

    About MCQ Markets
    MCQ Markets is redefining luxury asset ownership by making exotic automobiles attainable through its innovative fractional ownership model. The platform serves both passionate enthusiasts and seasoned investors, democratizing luxury ownership and allowing more individuals to invest in assets that were previously out of reach. For more information, please visit: https://on.mcqmarkets.com/pr.

    Investments contain a high degree of risk. You should carefully review the MCQ Markets offering circular before deciding to invest, a copy of which is available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website, linked here: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2025795/000149315224023512/partiiandiii.htm.

    About Solana Foundation
    The Solana Foundation is dedicated to the adoption and growth of the Solana blockchain, one of the world’s fastest and most scalable decentralized networks. By enabling secure, low-cost, and energy-efficient transactions, Solana powers the next generation of blockchain-based innovations across finance, gaming, and real-world asset tokenization. For more information, visit: https://solana.org/.

    Contact Information:
    MCQ Markets Media Contact
    Email: press@mcqmarkets.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Elliott Broidy and Dr. Thomas Kaplan Co-Chair Fundraising Initiative to Convert Nazi Commandant’s Home Adjacent to Auschwitz into a New Global Center for Combating Antisemitism, Extremism, and Hate

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Boca Raton, Jan. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On January 27th, International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and co-chairs of The Fund to End Antisemitism, Extremism, and Hate, Elliott Broidy and Dr. Thomas Kaplan announced the launch of a major fundraising campaign to help fund the Auschwitz Research Center on Hate, Extremism, and Radicalization (ARCHER) at House 88.

    Spearheaded by the Counter Extremism Project (CEP), ARCHER aims to transform the former residence of Auschwitz Commandant Rudolf Höss in Oświęcim, Poland, from a center of hate to a center against hate in all forms. In addition to the residence, famed architect Daniel Libeskind has designed an extraordinary new building on the grounds of House 88 to house the organization’s research, education, and advocacy activities.

    “This historic initiative represents a crucial step in our fight against extremism,” said Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, CEO of the Counter Extremism Project. “ARCHER at House 88 will serve as a vital hub for research, education, and—crucially—action in countering hate, antisemitism, and extremism globally.”

    “The lessons of history demand that we do more than just remember—we must act,” said Dr. Thomas Kaplan. “ARCHER at House 88 is not just about preserving history; it is about changing the future. By transforming this house—once a symbol of unimaginable evil—into a center dedicated to combating extremism and hate, we are sending a powerful message. But we cannot do this alone.”

    Elliott Broidy added, “This is a call to action—our fundraising efforts are critical to ensuring that this initiative succeeds in its mission to create a world free from extremism. I am thrilled that leaders and philanthropists Aryeh Bourkoff, Senator Norm Coleman, Eric Herschmann, Kenneth B. Mehlman, George Schaeffer, Lenny Sands, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, and Dr. Herbert Wertheim have all joined the Board of the Fund.” (Board In Formation)

    Senator Norm Coleman said, “I am honored to stand in support of ARCHER at House 88 and its mission to confront antisemitism and extremism head-on. Converting the former Auschwitz Commandant’s residence into a global center for education and advocacy sends a resounding message: antisemitism, extremism, and hate will never prevail, and we are committed to building a future defined by tolerance and understanding.”

    Businessman Kenneth B. Mehlman said, “Never Again must be more than a slogan. It requires active engagement, education, and vigilance. ARCHER at House 88 will honor Auschwitz’s victims by educating, engaging, and warning future generations about the evils of genocidal hatred.”

    The ARCHER initiative is now actively seeking additional support to expand its programs, including:

    • A fellowship program for leading scholars focused on extremism research
    • Educational programs for policymakers, educators, and the public
    • Policy advocacy implementing actionable strategies to combat hate

    To learn more about ARCHER at House 88 or to make a donation, visit https://www.counterextremism.com/donate.

    For media inquiries:
    Vlad Drazdovich – vlad@redbanyan.com
    (954) 773-9456

    For fundraising inquiries:
    Robert Benton – rbenton@counterextremism.com

    About Elliott Broidy
    Elliott Broidy is an entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist with a career spanning four decades. As Chairman and CEO of Broidy Capital Holdings, he has invested in over 160 companies across multiple industries. Since 9/11, his investments have focused on companies in the public safety and national security sectors. Through his philanthropic efforts, he has supported numerous organizations dedicated to countering hate and extremism, including The Simon Wiesenthal Center-Museum of Tolerance, The Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab (CELL), the George Washington University Program on Extremism, and StandWithUs.

    About Dr. Thomas Kaplan
    Dr. Thomas Kaplan is a philanthropist, entrepreneur, and advocate for global education, cultural preservation, and the fight against extremism. As the former President and Chairman of New York’s 92nd Street Y, a world-renowned Jewish community and cultural center in New York, Dr. Kaplan has long supported initiatives that promote Jewish history and cultural awareness. He is also the founder of the Recanati-Kaplan Intelligence Fellows Program at Harvard’s Belfer Center and co-creator of a similar program at Yale’s Jackson School of Global Affairs, furthering advancements in intelligence and geopolitical strategy. Through his philanthropic work, Dr. Kaplan is committed to fostering education, historical preservation, and impactful global change.

    About ARCHER at House 88
    ARCHER at House 88 is a global research and education center dedicated to combating extremism, antisemitism, and hate. Established by the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) in collaboration with the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum and UNESCO, the center serves as a hub for scholarly research, policy development, and public education.

    About the Counter Extremism Project (CEP)
    The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) is a nonprofit, non-partisan policy organization formed in 2014 to combat extremism by pressuring financial and material support networks; combating online recruitment and communications; and promoting progressive laws, policies, and, regulations.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: AI can affect anonymous surveys. Here are some ways for researchers to mitigate its impact

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Christopher Dietzel, Postdoctoral fellow, the DIGS Lab, Concordia University

    Anonymous surveys protect participants from becoming targets of anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate. However, researchers need to be careful about the potential for bad actors to spoil survey data. (Shutterstock)

    As 2SLGBTQIA+ people are increasingly under threat in Canada, and facing escalating dangers from the Donald Trump administration in the United States, more research is urgently needed to understand how to address issues of gender and sexual diversity moving forward.

    Unfortunately, researchers who aim to explore emerging issues impacting 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and develop interventions to support them are facing a new problem: what if our research participants aren’t actually real?

    Anonymous online surveys are a great way for marginalized groups, including 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, to contribute to research without significant time commitments. Anonymous surveys also protect participants from becoming targets of anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate. However, researchers need to be careful about the potential of disingenuous participants to spoil survey data.

    The anonymous nature of online research makes it easy for someone to infiltrate research studies and submit false responses. This issue is not new, as researchers have dealt with this concern for years. Ineligible participants may participate in surveys to access honorariums or sabotage research on topics they disagree with.

    As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more advanced, this problem is magnified. And while AI detectors exist, they are not always accurate and cannot confront the issue of human respondents who are simply lying in their survey responses.

    Our team has conducted online research about digital hate targeting 2SLGBTQIA+ professionals and organizations in Canada through the Ontario Digital Literacy and Access Network. We encountered this problem with two surveys we administered in 2024. Researchers from the SHaG Lab at Dalhousie University and the DIGS Lab at Concordia University confronted similar issues when conducting online surveys about 2SLGBTQIA+ issues.

    This shared concern about participant authenticity and the potential infiltration of dishonest respondents — whether AI or not — has led us to identify issues that could have a negative impact on online research.

    Anonymous online surveys are a great way for marginalized groups, including 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, to contribute to research; however, ineligible participants and AI bots can undermine their accuracy.
    (Shutterstock)

    The challanges we encountered

    Location:
    Our most recent survey focused on Two Spirit, trans and non-binary professionals working at 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations in Canada. The narrow participant criteria made it easy to check IP addresses and spot ones that did not qualify. We could also identify and block IP addresses that submitted multiple responses.

    When reviewing the data, we found that many of the suspicious responses were linked to one IP address located in China. We also received a high volume of responses claiming to come from Prince Edward Island. This was suspect, not only because of contradictory IP addresses, but because the number of responses seemed disproportionately high for the population of the smallest Canadian province.

    Time:
    Our survey received 1,491 responses within three days, which was suspicious given the narrow eligibility criteria. Many responses were completed too quickly for a survey that included written responses. We also noticed that there were waves of responses, and those respondents completed the survey in roughly the same amount of time.

    Incentives:
    It is hard to know exactly why people complete surveys for which they are ineligible. Some people may may do it for the compensation on offer. Others many want to spoil the data. We noticed that false responses increased when some form of compensation was offered, whether it was cash or gift cards.



    Read more:
    Imposter participants challenge research integrity in the digital age

    Email addresses:
    Another pattern we noticed was the use of generic Outlook or Yahoo email addresses, which followed the formula of first name-last name-numbers. While many people might use this same format, this is also an easy and quick way to create email addresses en masse.

    Contradictions:
    When looking at the data, we found that many responses did not make sense for our target demographic group. There were a lot of “prefer not to answer” responses to prompts about pronouns, gender identity and sexual orientation.

    Many respondents also selected “yes” when asked if they were First Nations, Inuit or Métis, but then wrote “white” when asked about their race or ethnicity. Identities can be complex, and what appears to be a contradiction may in fact be an intersection that is poorly represented through demographic questionnaires. Flagging potentially fake responses based on how we assume respondents will identify themselves is a bad idea for research about 2SLGBTQIA+ people who inhabit non-normative gender and sexual identities.

    Some of these responses were also flagged because of other issues, including IP address and completion rate. However, there were others that were less suspicious, leaving us unsure about their validity.

    These responses may have been created by AI bots or by people using AI to generate responses and manually enter them. It could have been someone actively trying to misrepresent themselves or someone who earnestly wants to contribute but does not feel confident in their English-language skills or writing ability. For this reason, it is important to consider multiple factors when reviewing survey responses to determine whether data is usable.

    AI presents new opportunities and challenges for online research.
    (Shutterstock)

    Moving forward

    Technology like AI chatbots presents new opportunities and new challenges for online research that require specific interventions. The concerns we’ve outlined are potential red flags that can help alert researchers to suspicious data.

    Some solutions we found for these issues include IP tracking, requiring a password to access the survey, asking the same question twice to verify that the responses match, and having “attention check” or “trap” questions where respondents are asked to select a specific response.

    Researchers can also flag “speeder” respondents who take less than one-third of the median response time, and average respondents who select the same responses across the survey, like always choosing the first option. Some researchers may already be aware of these and other solutions, and we encourage anyone doing online research to be prepared to address dishonest participants and protect the integrity of their data.

    While these solutions may require additional time, labour and resources, it is important not to abandon online research. In-person methods are not always viable or accessible, particularly to reach 2SLGBTQIA+ people and other marginalized populations.

    Research in this area is vital. We encourage other researchers to share their experiences and solutions to these problems to raise awareness.

    Christopher Dietzel receives funding from Le Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture (FRQSC) and is the community research advisor of the Ontario Digital Literacy and Access Network (ODLAN).

    Evan Vipond is a research officer at the Ontario Digital Literacy and Access Network (ODLAN).

    Hannah Maitland is the co-founder and administrative coordinator of the Ontario Digital Literacy and Access Network (ODLAN).

    – ref. AI can affect anonymous surveys. Here are some ways for researchers to mitigate its impact – https://theconversation.com/ai-can-affect-anonymous-surveys-here-are-some-ways-for-researchers-to-mitigate-its-impact-247758

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: AI is bad for the environment, and the problem is bigger than energy consumption

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Hamish van der Ven, Assistant Professor of Sustainable Business Management of Natural Resources, University of British Columbia

    The growing use of artificial intelligence has led to larger and more powerful data centres, with increased demands on the environment. (Shutterstock)

    Artificial intelligence technologies, like chatbots, are attracting growing scrutiny for their voracious energy demands. However, energy consumption is only one part of their broader environmental impact.

    Late last year, ChatGPT, the popular AI chatbot run by OpenAI, celebrated its second birthday. In its brief existence, the platform has amassed over 300 million weekly users who send roughly one billion messages to the chatbot per day.

    With US$6.6 billion raised in its last funding round, OpenAI has emerged as one of the most valuable private companies in the world.

    Soaring emissions

    Elsewhere in tech, other companies marked less savoury milestones. Alphabet — the parent company of Google — recently announced that its GHG emissions are up 48 per cent since 2019. At roughly the same time, Microsoft announced that its emissions are up 29 per cent since 2020.

    Both companies cite emissions associated with the need for more data centres to support AI workloads as a key factor in surging GHG emissions. AI is notoriously thirsty for energy — according to one researcher, one query to ChatGPT uses approximately as much electricity as one light bulb for 20 minutes.

    The collective energy demand of data centres in the United States is so high that Microsoft recently reached a deal to reopen Three Mile Island, the site of the worst nuclear accident in American history.

    The burgeoning AI industry needs so much electricity that plans to decommission several coal plants have been delayed. By some estimates, the collective demand of AI and other digital technologies will constitute 20 per cent of global electricity use by 2030.

    Insidious effects

    The energy use of AI is important, but it does not tell the whole story of AI’s environmental impacts. The social and political mediums through which AI affects the planet are far more insidious and, arguably, more consequential for the future of humanity.

    In the Business, Sustainability and Technology Lab at the University of British Columbia, we specialize in evaluating the social and political ways in which digital technologies affect the environment.

    In our recently published paper, “Does artificial intelligence bias perceptions of environmental challenges?,” my students and I argue that AI changes how humans perceive environmental challenges in ways that obscure the accountability of powerful entities, ignore marginalized communities and promote cautious and incremental solutions that are drastically out of sync with the timeline required to avert environmental crises.

    We asked four chatbots the same series of questions about the issues, causes, consequences and solutions to nine environmental challenges. We found evidence of systematic biases in their responses. Most notably, chatbots avoid mentioning radical solutions to environmental challenges. They are far more likely to propose combinations of soft economic, social or political changes, like greater deployment of sustainable technologies and broader public awareness and education.

    Chatbots by OpenAI and Anthropic exhibited a reluctance to discuss the broader social, cultural and economic issues that are entangled in environmental challenges. For example, the term “environmental justice” is absent from nearly all chatbot responses. Chatbots also avoided references to dismantling colonialism or rethinking infinite economic growth as solutions to these challenges.

    Chatbots may be programmed to avoid raising the broader social, cultural and economic issues that are entangled in environmental challenges.
    (Shutterstock)

    AI bias

    Biases also exist in who chatbots see as responsible or vulnerable to environmental challenges. The chatbots we studied were far more likely to blame governments for environmental challenges than businesses or financial organizations. Similarly, while the vulnerability of Indigenous groups to climate change and biodiversity loss was mentioned frequently, the susceptibility of Black people and women to these same challenges received scant attention.

    All of this is particularly worrisome given the increasingly widespread use of AI chatbots by educators, students, policymakers and business leaders to understand and respond to environmental challenges. Chatbots present information in an oracular way, usually as a single text box written in an authoritative manner and understood as a synthesis of all digitalized knowledge.

    If AI users treat this text uncritically, they risk arriving at conclusions that propagate biased conceptions of environmental challenges and reinforce ineffective efforts to avert ecological crises.

    In the near future, the problem of bias in AI looks to get even worse, as OpenAI and other AI companies consider incorporating advertising to generate the revenue needed to train newer and more complex large language models.

    While it remains unclear what advertising will look like when integrated into ChatGPT, it is not difficult to see a world in which a description of climate change and its attendant solutions will be brought to you by the good folks at ExxonMobil or Shell.

    Hamish van der Ven receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    – ref. AI is bad for the environment, and the problem is bigger than energy consumption – https://theconversation.com/ai-is-bad-for-the-environment-and-the-problem-is-bigger-than-energy-consumption-247842

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Bennu asteroid reveals its contents to scientists − and clues to how the building blocks of life on Earth may have been seeded

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Timothy J McCoy, Supervisory Research Geologist, Smithsonian Institution

    This photo of asteroid Bennu is composed of 12 Polycam images collected on Dec. 2, 2024, by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. NASA

    A bright fireball streaked across the sky above mountains, glaciers and spruce forest near the town of Revelstoke in British Columbia, Canada, on the evening of March 31, 1965. Fragments of this meteorite, discovered by beaver trappers, fell over a lake. A layer of ice saved them from the depths and allowed scientists a peek into the birth of the solar system.

    Nearly 60 years later, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission returned from space with a sample of an asteroid named Bennu, similar to the one that rained rocks over Revelstoke. Our research team has published a chemical analysis of those samples, providing insight into how some of the ingredients for life may have first arrived on Earth.

    Born in the years bracketing the Revelstoke meteorite’s fall, the two of us have spent our careers in the meteorite collections of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and the Natural History Museum in London. We’ve dreamed of studying samples from a Revelstoke-like asteroid collected by a spacecraft.

    Then, nearly two decades ago, we began turning those dreams into reality. We joined NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission team, which aimed to send a spacecraft to collect and return an asteroid sample to Earth. After those samples arrived on Sept. 24, 2023, we got to dive into a tale of rock, ice and water that hints at how life could have formed on Earth.

    In this illustration, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft collects a sample from the asteroid Bennu.
    NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

    The CI chondrites and asteroid Bennu

    To learn about an asteroid – a rocky or metallic object in orbit around the Sun – we started with a study of meteorites.

    Asteroids like Bennu are rocky or metallic objects in orbit around the Sun. Meteorites are the pieces of asteroids and other natural extraterrestrial objects that survive the fiery plunge to the Earth’s surface.

    We really wanted to study an asteroid similar to a set of meteorites called chondrites, whose components formed in a cloud of gas and dust at the dawn of the solar system billions of years ago.

    The Revelstoke meteorite is in a group called CI chondrites. Laboratory-measured compositions of CI chondrites are essentially identical, minus hydrogen and helium, to the composition of elements carried by convection from the interior of the Sun and measured in the outermost layer of the Sun. Since their components formed billions of years ago, they’re like chemically unchanged time capsules for the early solar system.

    So, geologists use the chemical compositions of CI chondrites as the ultimate reference standard for geochemistry. They can compare the compositions of everything from other chondrites to Earth rocks. Any differences from the CI chondrite composition would have happened through the same processes that formed asteroids and planets.

    CI chondrites are rich in clay and formed when ice melted in an ancient asteroid, altering the rock. They are also rich in prebiotic organic molecules. Some of these types of molecules are the building blocks for life.

    This combination of rock, water and organics is one reason OSIRIS-REx chose to sample the organic-rich asteroid Bennu, where water and organic compounds essential to the origin of life could be found.

    Evaporites − the legacy of an ancient brine

    Ever since the Bennu samples returned to Earth on Sept. 24, 2023, we and our colleagues on four continents have spent hundreds of hours studying them.

    The instruments on the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft made observations of reflected light that revealed the most abundant minerals and organics when it was near asteroid Bennu. Our analyses in the laboratory found that the compositions of these samples lined up with those observations.

    The samples are mostly water-rich clay, with sulfide, carbonate and iron oxide minerals. These are the same minerals found in CI chondrites like Revelstoke. The discovery of rare minerals within the Bennu samples, however, surprised both of us. Despite our decades of experience studying meteorites, we have never seen many of these minerals.

    We found minerals dominated by sodium, including carbonates, sulfates, chlorides and fluorides, as well as potassium chloride and magnesium phosphate. These minerals don’t form just when water and rock react. They form when water evaporates.

    We’ve never seen most of these sodium-rich minerals in meteorites, but they’re sometimes found in dried-up lake beds on Earth, like Searles Lake in California.

    Bennu’s rocks formed 4.5 billion years ago on a larger parent asteroid. That asteroid was wet and muddy. Under the surface, pockets of water perhaps only a few feet across were evaporating, leaving the evaporite minerals we found in the sample. That same evaporation process also formed the ancient lake beds we’ve seen these minerals in on Earth.

    Bennu’s parent asteroid likely broke apart 1 to 2 billion years ago, and some of the fragments came together to form the rubble pile we know as Bennu.

    These minerals are also found on icy bodies in the outer solar system. Bright deposits on the dwarf planet Ceres, the largest body in the asteroid belt, contain sodium carbonate. The Cassini mission measured the same mineral in plumes on Saturn’s moon Enceladus.

    We also learned that these minerals, formed when water evaporates, disappear when exposed to water once again – even with the tiny amount of water found in air. After studying some of the Bennu samples and their minerals, researchers stored the samples in air. That’s what we do with meteorites.

    Unfortunately, we lost these minerals as moisture in the air on Earth caused them to dissolve. But that explains why we can’t find these minerals in meteorites that have been on Earth for decades to centuries.

    Fortunately, most of the samples have been stored and transported in nitrogen, protected from traces of water in the air.

    Until scientists were able to conduct a controlled sample return with a spacecraft and carefully curate and store the samples in nitrogen, we had never seen this set of minerals in a meteorite.

    An unexpected discovery

    Before returning the samples, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft spent over two years making observations around Bennu. From that two years of work, researchers learned that the surface of the asteroid is covered in rocky boulders.

    We could see that the asteroid is rich in carbon and water-bearing clays, and we saw veins of white carbonate a few feet long deposited by ancient liquid water. But what we couldn’t see from these observations were the rarer minerals.

    We used an array of techniques to go through the returned sample one tiny grain at a time. These included CT scanning, electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, each of which allowed us to look at the rock at a scale not possible on the asteroid.

    Cooking up the ingredients for life

    From the salts we identified, we could infer the composition of the briny water from which they formed and see how it changed over time, becoming more sodium-rich.

    This briny water would have been an ideal place for new chemical reactions to take place and for organic molecules to form.

    While our team characterized salts, our organic chemist colleagues were busy identifying the carbon-based molecules present in Bennu. They found unexpectedly high levels of ammonia, an essential building block of the amino acids that form proteins in living matter. They also found all five of the nucleobases that make up part of DNA and RNA.

    Based on these results, we’d venture to guess that these briny pods of fluid would have been the perfect environments for increasingly complicated organic molecules to form, such as the kinds that make up life on Earth.

    When asteroids like Bennu hit the young Earth, they could have provided a complete package of complex molecules and the ingredients essential to life, such as water, phosphate and ammonia. Together, these components could have seeded Earth’s initially barren landscape to produce a habitable world.

    Without this early bombardment, perhaps when the pieces of the Revelstoke meteorite landed several billion years later, these fragments from outer space would not have arrived into a landscape punctuated with glaciers and trees.

    Timothy J McCoy receives funding from NASA.

    Sara Russell receives funding from the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).

    – ref. Bennu asteroid reveals its contents to scientists − and clues to how the building blocks of life on Earth may have been seeded – https://theconversation.com/bennu-asteroid-reveals-its-contents-to-scientists-and-clues-to-how-the-building-blocks-of-life-on-earth-may-have-been-seeded-248096

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Opportunity to tender for CLA telephone advice service contracts

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Tender opportunity for Civil Legal Advice (CLA) specialist telephone advice services from 1 September 2025.

    Organisations are now able to submit bids to deliver specialist telephone advice services under the 2025 Civil Legal Advice Contract.

    We are seeking to award:

    • Up to 4 Discrimination contracts; and
    • Up to 5 Education contracts; and
    • Up to 3 Housing and Debt contracts.

    The procurement process opened on 29 January 2025 and is open to any interested party that can meet the minimum tender requirements.

    Tender deadline

    The deadline for submitting a bid is 5pm on 10 March 2025.

    Where can I find out more?

    There is more information about the process for submitting successful bids on our tender pages. For example:

    • qualifying criteria for submitting tenders and obtaining contracts
    • tender timelines
    • using the eTendering system

    Further information

    CLA procurement process– to download guidance documents about tendering

    CLA contract – to download contract documentation

    eTendering system – to submit your tender

    Contact https://jaggaer.my.site.com/suppliersupportrequestmessaging/s/ or telephone 0800 0698630 for technical questions about using the eTendering system

    Updates to this page

    Published 29 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Universal Periodic Review 48: UK Statement on Madagascar

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    UK Statement at Madagascar’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

    Thank you, Mr Vice President,

    The United Kingdom thanks Madagascar for setting out its efforts to protect human rights. We urge the government to implement the new code of work, and to provide clarification that the work code also covers child labour.

    We urge the government to ensure that all children have access to free primary and secondary education and to strengthen children’s rights and fair living conditions.

    We recommend:

    1. Improve the quality and accessibility of services in health centres by applying free primary care, eradicating discrimination against the poor, lowering the price of medicine, and increasing the number of hospitals, health centres and health staff working in childcare.

    2. Implement a registration and identification process of children who are effectively homeless and to strengthen existing laws to protect them from further exploitation.

    3. Strengthen women’s economic empowerment and strengthen support for victims of sexual abuse.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 29 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Musical icon Joe Strummer celebrated with Legacy Stone unveiling in North Paddington | Westminster City Council

    Source: City of Westminster

    Musician and former lead singer of The Clash, Joe Strummer, has been honoured with a legacy stone to mark his musical career near to where he once lived in North Paddington.

    The musician and his band’s music were an ever-present feature on the music scene in the late 70s and early 80s with The Clash alongside The Sex Pistols, the Jam and the Specials, producing the soundtrack of the era.

    The legacy stone was installed as part of Westminster City Council’s project to revitalise the market and Market Hill Area which had been funded by the GLA. The wider North Paddington Programme and redevelopment has been funded by the council in close collaboration with residents, local businesses and organisations.

    The plaque is situated in the newly refurbished Maida Hill Market on the corner of Walterton Road, the location where Joe Strummer squatted during the 1970s and his address of 101 Walterton Road inspired the name for the band the 101ers.

    The stone is inscribed with lyrics sung by Strummer in the song Clampdown from The Clash’s 1979 album London Calling.  It reads: “the future is unwritten”, “No man born with a living soul can be working for the clampdown”. A nod to the band’s rebellious political awareness and passion for raising social issues and injustices of the time.

    At the stone unveiling, Cllr Ryan Jude Westminster City Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Climate Action and Ecology said:

    As a city we there is history on every street corner. Music is an intrinsic part of the Westminster’s DNA and it’s wonderful to celebrate Joe Strummer’s musical journey which began in Maida Hill and North Paddington.

    We’re so proud to have played a part in unveiling this legacy stone to celebrate the music and work of Joe Strummer. I hope in doing so this inspires the next generation of young residents to show you can have a career in the arts and turn their passion into a profession.”  

    Dylan White, music promoter and fan of The Clash said:

    It’s important to remember how an artist starts their career as often this is forgotten and just the success is remembered. In this case in the Joe, the 101’ers evolved from their squat at 101 Walterton Road and were a big part of the local area at that time playing in most of the nearby pubs.”

    The Clash and punk were a long way in the future at this point, so we need to remember and celebrate his time in this part of London as he cut his teeth and learnt his stage craft.”

    The Joe Strummer Fund is a joint undertaking between the Joe Strummer Estate and Single Homeless Project to support artists and creatives who have experienced of homelessness in creating new and original music and media.

    Portobello Radio were instrumental in organising the event and provided musical entertainment throughout the day.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Search for sympathetic use for historic house

    Source: City of Plymouth

    We are currently looking for a dynamic, sensitive and funded individual or organisation who could give a new and sympathetic lease of life to one of the city’s oldest buildings – the Merchant’s House.

    The property, which dates back to the 16th Century, was once a museum but has been closed for almost a decade.

    Now the Council is hoping to hear from companies, organisations or individuals who are keen to see this incredible Grade II* building come alive once more.

    Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member responsible for the city’s assets said: “This is not a decision we have taken lightly but we need to do something. We have invested millions in the Box and the Elizabethan House, but we currently have no use for this building and no prospect of funding to restore this house.

    “We very much hope some thinkers and doers with the finances and the wherewithal to take on a project like this will come forward.

    “The house has been closed for almost a decade and is slowly degrading over time. We hope this appeal will generate interest and open up new possibilities for this building.”

    Ideas could include a heritage attraction, a tea shop with an historic slant, offices for a business – although the preference would be to enable some form of public access.

    While it is not known exactly when the house was built, its first recorded owner was a privateer named William Parker, a friend of Sir Francis Drake. Like Drake he combined a career as a merchant with privateering and civic government. He also served as Mayor of Plymouth from 1601 to 1602.

    He served under Drake in 1588 in the fight against the Spanish Armada and carried out raids against the Spanish in the Caribbean. In 1601 he captured a pair of treasure ships laden with 10,000 gold ducats and on his return to Plymouth, was elected Mayor and used the profits from his ventures to remodel an older house on this site into a fashionable timber-framed house.

    Parker helped promote the Plymouth Company to colonise North America and took an active interest in the Virginia Colony. He died in 1618 on a voyage to the East Indies. His heirs lived here before it was passed to Abraham Rowe, another successful merchant and in 1651 the house was purchased by Justinian Beard, Mayor of Plymouth on two occasions.

    It was occupied by the Beele family until 1707, then by the Martyn family until 1807. In 1807 the building was extended to the rear (towards Finewell Street) and the front used as a shop. In the 1960s it was a taxi office, then restored by the Council and turned into a museum of local heritage, focussing on life in Plymouth over time. Rooms included recreating the Blitz experience and a replica Victorian schoolroom.

    The Council is keen to explore all options including a sale or a long commercially viable lease. Interested parties should provide the following when submitting an offer:

    • Purchase price/rental offer
    • Purchaser details
    • Conditions
    • Proposed use/development plans
    • Finance/evidence of funding
    • Track record in restoration of historic buildings
    • Timescales

    Proposed uses sensitive to the property’s historical significance will be given higher consideration. Interested parties should email Laura Hathaway from the Council’s Land and Property Team at [email protected]

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Launch of the Ramsar management plans29 January 2025 New management plans have been published for Jersey’s four Ramsar sites. A Ramsar site is a wetland designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. The plans set out strategic… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    29 January 2025

    New management plans have been published for Jersey’s four Ramsar sites. 

    A Ramsar site is a wetland designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. The plans set out strategic aims and management objectives of those sites over the next five years, 2025-2029. 

    Jersey’s Ramsar sites include: 

    • South-east coast of Jersey 
    • Les Écréhous and Les Dirouilles 
    • Les Minquiers 
    • Les Pierres de Lecq (the Paternosters) 

    The Minister for the Environment, Deputy Steve Luce, said: “The plans demonstrate our commitment to protecting Jersey’s unique wetland environments. Ramsar sites are internationally recognised for their ecological, cultural, and economic significance, and these new management plans outline clear objectives for the sustainable management, monitoring, and protection of these valuable areas. 

    “I would like to extend a special thanks to the Jersey Ramsar Advisory Group for their contribution to the development of these plans.” 

    For more information and to view the plans, visit: The Convention on Wetlands: Jersey’s Ramsar Sites​.​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Update on the Water Quality Safety Programme and PFAS developments29 January 2025 ​​The Government of Jersey remains committed to keeping Islanders informed about the ongoing Water Quality and Safety Programme and recent updates on PFAS. Minutes of the Last Public Meeting The minutes… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    29 January 2025

    ​​
    The Government of Jersey remains committed to keeping Islanders informed about the ongoing Water Quality and Safety Programme and recent updates on PFAS. 

    Minutes of the Last Public Meeting 

    The minutes from the most recent public meeting have now been uploaded to our website. This meeting included a presentation on Report Two – Assessment of Evidence of PFAS on Health and provided updates on the formation of the Water Quality and Safety Programme. Islanders can access the minutes here. 

    Question and Answer Document 

    Following discussions at the meeting and correspondence received, we have compiled a detailed Question and Answer document addressing key queries. This document is now available here. 

    Next public meeting 

    We are pleased to confirm that the next public meeting: 

    When: Tuesday 11 February 2025 

    Where: Les Ormes at 6 PM. 

    The session will focus on the public scoping of Report Four – PFAS in the Environment, offering an opportunity for Islanders to contribute to shaping the final scope of the report.

    We encourage all interested parties to attend and participate.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Apprenticeship Week to highlight ideal pathway to full time employment

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Apprenticeship Week to highlight ideal pathway to full time employment

    29 January 2025

    Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Labour Market Partnership are hosting a number of events for prospective apprentices and employers to mark Apprenticeship Week 2025.

    The Northern Ireland wide initiative, from Monday February 3rd to Friday February 5th 2025, seeks to celebrate and showcase the value of apprenticeships for individuals, businesses, communities and the wider economy.

    The events highlight the apprenticeship route as an alternative to full time education and will allow prospective employers and candidates to connect and learn more about the options available.

    Labour Market Partnership (LMP) Manager, Nicky Gilleece, explained more about the format of the combination of training and employment.

    “Apprenticeships take between two and four years to complete and offer paid employment for participants who can earn as they learn while working alongside experienced staff and gaining experience and qualifications specific to their chosen industry,” she explained.

    “The Derry Strabane LMP work proactively with the North West Regional College, the Careers Service and local private training providers to actively promote this as a viable pathway and to create jobs for young people.

    “We are organising a number of events this week for both employers and students interested in pursuing this route and I would encourage them to access the programme now and get involved.”

    The programme starts on Wednesday February 5th with an Employer Support Lunchtime Briefing for employers based in the Waterside area at the BEAM Centre in Maydown.

    On Thursday February 6th, the LMP will host an Employer Apprenticeship Brunch at 11am in the Guildhall’s Main Hall followed by an Apprenticeship and Careers Fair from 1pm-4pm where prospective apprentices, parents, guardians and school careers staff can meet with employers and education providers to learn more about the opportunities available in the Council area.
    On Friday February 7th employers can attend a Networking Business Breakfast from 8.30am to 12.30pm at Strabane Golf Club which will be followed by an Apprenticeship Lunch Expo from 12.30pm to 2.30pm where anyone considering an apprenticeship can get more information.

    For full details on the Apprenticeship programme visit http://getapprenticeships.me/ or email [email protected].

    For a listing of Apprenticeship Week Events visit https://www.derrystrabane.com/services/employment,-skills-training

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Maybury Primary School officially opens as excited pupils move in

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    ‘First of its kind’, Maybury Primary School has this week welcomed its first pupils – 25 excited P1 learners – into the brand-new school building. 

    The group of children, who have been based at neighbouring East Craigs Primary School since August 2024 are the first intake at the new school which will offer capacity for up to three streams, including 630 primary pupils and 128 nursery pupils. The next group of children will join the new school in August 2025. The school’s catchment area includes the new housing developments in Cammo and West Craigs.

    Maybury Primary School is built to the Passivhaus standard, a highly energy-efficient construction method that regulates air temperature in classrooms, creating a more comfortable learning environment. This approach supports The City of Edinburgh Council’s 2030 net-zero target by significantly reducing the building’s energy consumption.

    The new primary school is part of the ‘Maybury Community Hub’ and is the first school in Edinburgh to share a campus with a medical practice. The hub will maximise the use of its buildings, allowing local residents to access services close to where they live in line with the ’20 minute neighbourhood’ strategy.

    Councillor Joan Griffiths, Education, Children and Families Convener said:

    It is great to see that the new Maybury Primary School has welcomed its first group of learners into the building. The head teacher and her team have worked hard to ensure that the transition from East Craigs Primary School into the new school is smooth for the P1 children and I know that they are all excited to get settled into their new school environment.

    The new building has been constructed to be fit for the future and the ‘hub’ model means that the building can be used by the whole community, which is fantastic. The construction of Maybury Primary School is part of a broader initiative to meet the needs of new families who have moved into the area, alongside working to achieve the Council’s ambition to meet future demands and support community growth.
     

    Published: January 29th 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: AI world premiere helps to bang drum on air quality

    Source: City of Liverpool

    Liverpool has turned its famous musical talent to AI for a world premiere influenced by….air pollution!

    Liverpool City Council, the University of Liverpool and The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra have combined to create a piece of AI-written music to promote clean air policies in cities.

    Dr Jonny Higham from the University of Liverpool, in partnership with Liverpool City Council, has led the development of one of the UK’s largest city-wide air quality monitoring networks.

    This pioneering work has generated a unique dataset, transformed into a musical composition using cutting-edge AI technology.

    In a celebration of innovation and creativity, the Liverpool Philharmonic String Quartet has brought this data to life in an incredible performance, merging science and art in a truly unique way.

    The strong collaborations developed were showcased for Clean Air Night in a live performance of the piece by students from the University of Liverpool’s Music Department at the waterfront, where the buildings were lit up in blue to mark the occasion.

    Across the city region, air quality varies significantly throughout the year, with multiple breaches of the stringent 5 µg/m³ daily average recommended by the WHO, as is common in large urban areas. The musical composition is crafted to reflect this.

    The instruments come together harmoniously in some sections and transition to atonality to symbolise periods of increased pollution. The piece contains 365 notes, each representing a single day of 2024, capturing the region’s air quality journey over the year.

    The strong collaboration across the city was showcased in the Clean Air Night celebration, creating a powerful conversation piece that highlights Liverpool’s united efforts to lead the way in air quality research.

    The City of Liverpool is positioning itself as a leader in urban environmental action. 

    Liverpool City Council is committed to creating a cleaner, healthier, more sustainable city through a range of initiatives.

    This includes implementing 65 School Streets to reduce traffic near schools, supported by camera enforcement, and transitioning the Council’s vehicle fleet from diesel to electric, boosting both air quality and progress toward net-zero emissions.

    A comprehensive Clean Air Plan is also underway, outlining clear actions to reduce roadside nitrogen dioxide levels.

    Furthermore, the Council’s Active Travel Plan will enhance walking and cycling infrastructure across the city, with new routes, improved wayfinding, and additional bike parking, ensuring residents benefit from safer and more sustainable travel options.

    And residents across Liverpool will benefit from the Council’s Active Travel plan, which will support the introduction of more walking and cycling routes, wayfinding and an increase of parking for bikes.

    The full video of the performance can be watched here.

    Councillor Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said: “The creation of music from air quality data is a really creative way of highlighting where we are in our plans to improve air quality throughout Liverpool.

    “The impact on residents’ health, particularly children, is important to remember. That’s why I’m proud of the work we are already doing as a council to reduce the pollutants in our atmosphere. These are projects that will benefit everyone in the city and ensure we have a city that is healthy and thriving.”

    Prof Ian Sinha, Consultant Respiratory Paediatrician at Alder Hey Hospital, said: “Air quality is the factor which affects children the most. In fact, the poorest children the hardest hit. So they will suffer the effects of the pollution that they breathe in as children – potentially for the rest of their life.”

    Dr Jonny Higham, from the University of Liverpool, said: “For the last five or six years I’ve been working to build an air quality network in collaboration with Liverpool City Council and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

    “Across the whole of the city so we’ve now got 55 air quality sensors and we analyse the air quality across the whole of the city.

    “Clean Air Night is to get us thinking a little bit about what we can do to reduce our pollution. Music that we’ve created from our data by converting it using artificial intelligence has been performed live and also we’ve had the Philharmonic string quartet perform it too.

    “It’s been brilliant project helping to communicate the importance of air quality.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Yuri Trutnev: When creating energy capacities, it is necessary to take into account the advanced socio-economic development of the Far East

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Yuri Trutnev held a meeting on energy in the Far Eastern Federal District

    January 29, 2025

    Yuri Trutnev held a meeting on energy in the Far Eastern Federal District

    January 29, 2025

    Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev at a meeting on energy in the Far Eastern Federal District

    January 29, 2025

    Previous news Next news

    Yuri Trutnev held a meeting on energy in the Far Eastern Federal District

    Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev held a meeting on the energy sector in the Far Eastern Federal District. The meeting was attended by Minister of Energy Sergey Tsivilev, Minister for the Development of the Far East and Arctic Alexey Chekunkov, and heads of Far Eastern regions.

    “We are discussing one of the most pressing issues for the economic strengthening of the Far East – the development of the electric power industry. Today, investment projects that are being implemented in the Far East are already facing difficulties with energy supply. The Russian government has approved the General Scheme for the placement of electric power facilities until 2042. At the Eastern Economic Forum, I proposed to specify the program and break it down into specific periods. It is necessary to ensure that the number of energy facilities that will be built within the timeframes determined by the Ministry of Energy and the Government is sufficient to implement investment projects,” Yuri Trutnev opened the meeting.

    According to the Ministry of Energy, in 2024, the total consumption in the United Energy System of the East, the energy systems of the Zabaikalsky Krai and the Republic of Buryatia, as well as isolated territories amounted to 74.3 billion kWh, showing an increase of 5.2% compared to 2023. Over the next 18 years, the Far East is expected to maintain a growth rate of electricity consumption that exceeds the Russian average. Thus, in 2024–2030, it is projected to be 4.9% (2.1% in the country) and 1.38% (0.94% in the country) in subsequent periods.

    At the end of 2024, the Ministry of Energy approved the scheme and program for the development of Russian electric power systems for 2025–2030. The government approved the General Scheme for the placement of electric power facilities until 2042. In the near future, the Ministry of Energy will present proposals to clarify the program by dividing it into periods up to 2030, 2036, and 2042.

    Yuri Trutnev instructed the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East, the Far East and Arctic Development Corporation, and Far Eastern regions to submit data to the Government and the Ministry of Energy on the need for electricity volumes and the need to build generating facilities. “The task is very simple: we need to provide all investment projects – both those already being implemented and those that will be created in the Far East – with electricity on time and at the most affordable prices,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

    According to Yuri Trutnev, plans to create new energy capacities should not only take into account the needs of investment projects already being implemented and those planned for implementation, but also create a surplus of electricity in the Far Eastern regions.

    “Currently, more than 2.8 thousand investment projects are being implemented in the Far East. No one will give exact plans on how many such projects there will be in a few years. The answer to the question of their number depends on investment demand and decisions of enterprise and business leaders. This is a flexible process. But we are sure that the number of investment projects in the Far East will grow. Therefore, it would be a good idea to create a reserve of capacity. And if there is a surplus of electricity, then reserve it for mining for now, because simply keeping a reserve is expensive. And when it is used for mining, then we will not incur any costs in general. This must be done in all Far Eastern regions, because all territories of the Far East, in accordance with the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation, must develop faster. We will deal with this issue separately. We will try to collect this entire scheme in the Far East,” he said.

    “Together with the regions and relevant departments, we will compare current plans for the implementation of investment projects for the next six years and agree on their list, implementation dates and technical parameters. We will also analyze the previously formed forecast of demand for electricity and capacity, after which the updated data will be submitted to the government commission for consideration,” said Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev.

    Yuri Trutnev drew the special attention of the leadership of the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East, and heads of regions to the need to work out issues of using renewable energy sources.

    “Special attention must be paid to the environmental component of the projects. People want to breathe clean air and want energy to be produced from clean fuels. In the Far East, such opportunities exist, even starting with the construction of hydroelectric power stations. We received a very high energy potential from the Soviet Union, but we should not simply eat it up. We must recreate it. This is one of the main tasks,” the Deputy Prime Minister noted.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: SRC Indigenous Action Plan Builds on Decades Long Reputation of Collaboration

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on January 29, 2025

    An Indigenous Action Plan being set in motion by the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) aims to engage and advance the participation of Indigenous Peoples within the organization and communities across Saskatchewan. 

    SRC is proud to launch a new Indigenous Action Plan that centers on Indigenous Peoples, communities and businesses to help achieve shared goals. Continuing to build trust and strong relationships with Indigenous communities is a hallmark of this plan. 

    “The Saskatchewan Research Council has a long history of collaboration with First Nations and Métis communities, spanning more than 40 years in areas such as ecological studies, student enrichment and job training opportunities, and longer-term initiatives including remediation of former mine and mill sites in northern Saskatchewan,” Minister Responsible for SRC Warren Kaeding said. “The new Indigenous Action Plan further builds upon these relationships to ensure continued Indigenous participation in Saskatchewan’s key economic sectors and growing workforce.” 

    SRC’s Indigenous Action Plan has been built to align with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s (TRC) Call to Action 92 and will be lifted by four integral pillars: Employment, Leadership, Indigenous Community Relationships and Business Development. 

    “Continuing to build trust and strong relationships with Indigenous communities is a hallmark of this plan,” President and CEO of SRC Mike Crabtree said. “Advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples is not only the right thing to do, it is simply good business. We encourage all our staff, collaborators and clients to embrace reconciliation each and every day.” 

    Of particular importance within the Plan will be two new programs supported by the Employment pillar: an Indigenous Workforce Program and an Indigenous Summer Student Program, Kiskiyihta (Kiskee ih-taah), which is a Cree word meaning to learn or to know. 

    Together, these programs will help SRC increase recruitment and hiring of Indigenous Peoples by collaborating with Indigenous educational institutions and training entities to develop strategies for the retention and advancement of Indigenous employees. The collaborating organizations will also support SRC in finding potential candidates for SRC job openings and for the Indigenous Summer Student Program.  

    Other important initiatives within the Plan include the formation of an Indigenous Advisory Committee, increasing Indigenous procurement via SRC’s Indigenous Procurement Policy, growing the number of Indigenous learning opportunities for SRC employees, and strengthening meaningful engagement and collaboration with Indigenous communities and Tribal Councils.  

    SRC would like to recognize and thank Saskatchewan-based Indigenous artist Arnold Isbister for his valuable contributions to the Plan. Isbister provided much of the document’s original artwork, helping bring the Plan’s holistic approach to life with his colourful interpretations of its four Pillars and its symbolic cover pages. 

    SRC is Canada’s second largest research and technology organization with 1,400 clients in 22 countries around the world. With more than 350 employees, SRC has been helping clients solve technology problems, make improvements, increase productivity and develop new markets for more than 77 years. More details about SRC’s Indigenous Action Plan can be found at src.sk.ca/IAP. 

    -30- 

    For more information, contact:

    Allison Collins  
    External Relations 
    Saskatchewan Research Council 
    Phone: 306-385-4208 
    Email: allison.collins@src.sk.ca 

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Prime Minister announces a change to the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced the following change to the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians:

    • Patricia Lattanzio, Liberal, Member of Parliament for Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, will serve as Chair of the Committee.

    Ms. Lattanzio has been a member of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians since 2022. She replaces the Honourable David J. McGuinty, who had been Chair since the Committee’s launch in 2017 and was recently appointed as Minister of Public Safety.

    The National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians follows a non-partisan approach to review national security and intelligence activities carried out across the Government of Canada, including by the Communications Security Establishment, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It provides the Prime Minister with an annual report, and special reports when needed. The reports, which include findings and recommendations, are then tabled by the Prime Minister in both the House of Commons and the Senate.

    Quick Facts

    • Under the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians Act, a Minister of the Crown, a Minister of State, or a Parliamentary Secretary cannot serve as a member of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians.
    • With this change, the members of the Committee are:
      • Patricia Lattanzio, Liberal (Chair)
      • Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc Québécois
      • Don Davies, NDP
      • The Honourable Patricia (Pat) Duncan, Senate
      • The Honourable Marty Klyne, Senate
      • Rob Morrison, Conservative
      • Alex Ruff, M.S.C., C.D., Conservative
      • Brenda Shanahan, Liberal
    • The Committee was first created under the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians Act, which received Royal Assent on June 22, 2017. It is dissolved when a general election is called and Parliament is dissolved. New members are appointed within 60 days of a new Parliament opening.
    • Since its launch, the Committee has produced a number of comprehensive reports on issues ranging from foreign interference, to cyber threats, to diversity and inclusion within the security and intelligence community.
    • The Secretariat of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians assists the Committee in fulfilling its review mandate.

    Associated Link

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: New AI Tool Enhances Due Diligence for Early-Stage Investors, Saving Time and Reducing Risk

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Conducting thorough due diligence is one of the most effective ways for investors to mitigate risk when evaluating early-stage companies. Keiretsu Forum Mid-Atlantic, South-East, and Texas (K4-MST) has launched the K4-MST AI FastTrak Due Diligence Engine, an AI-driven platform that accelerates the due diligence process, giving investors more time to focus on critical decision-making.

    For early-stage investors, venture capitalists, and family office managers, due diligence is the foundation of sound investment strategy. Historically, K4-MST’s due diligence teams have dedicated 80–120 hours to each report, supporting over $150 million in investments across 300 companies on the East Coast alone. The introduction of AI-driven automation marks a shift toward greater efficiency without sacrificing rigor.

    “The due diligence report may be the most critical marketing tool a company issues; it must excite and attract investors,” said Howard Lubert, Area President of Keiretsu Forum MST. “By automating data extraction, the K4-MST AI FastTrak Due Diligence Engine allows investors to spend less time on repetitive tasks and more time on deep analysis, leading to stronger investment decisions.”

    Why It Matters for Investors

    A 2024 study from The Wharton School, Due Diligence and the Allocation of Venture Capital, underscores the link between thorough due diligence and investment success. Venture capitalists report spending an average of 118 hours per investment on diligence, with more comprehensive analysis leading to better capital allocation and reduced volatility in returns. Conversely, insufficient diligence increases investment risk.

    K4-MST’s AI-powered platform enhances this process by:

    • Reducing time spent on data extraction – Drafts of key report sections, such as Human Resources and Intellectual Property, are completed in as little as 3.5 and 6 hours, respectively, instead of days or weeks.
    • Improving efficiency without cutting corners – Investors can analyze more opportunities with the same level of scrutiny, potentially increasing deal flow and reducing opportunity costs.
    • Focusing expertise on high-value insights – Rather than spending hours compiling information, investor teams can direct their attention to evaluating risks and identifying high-potential ventures.

    The K4-MST AI FastTrak Due Diligence Engine integrates company data from Keiretsu Forum’s Dealum platform, generating editable first drafts that allow due diligence teams to move faster without compromising depth.

    Private Demonstration for Investors

    To maintain confidentiality, K4-MST will host an exclusive demonstration of the AI FastTrak Due Diligence Engine on Wednesday, February 5, open to Keiretsu Forum members, sponsors, and partners. Investors interested in learning more can contact info@keiretsuforum.net.

    About Keiretsu Forum

    Keiretsu Forum is the world’s largest accredited investor network, with over 2,000 members across 54 chapters on four continents. Since 2000, Keiretsu Forum members have invested over $1 billion in 1,400+ companies spanning industries such as technology, healthcare, and consumer products.

    Media Contact

    Cindi Sutera
    K4-MST Communications
    CindiS@AMSCommunications.net
    610-613-2773

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Juniata Valley Financial Corp. Announces Quarter and Year End December 31, 2024 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Mifflintown, PA, Jan. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Juniata Valley Financial Corp. (OTCQX:JUVF) (“Juniata”) announced net income for the three months ended December 31, 2024 of $1.5 million compared to net income of $1.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023. Earnings per share, basic and diluted, was $0.30 for the three months ended December 31, 2024, compared to $0.33 for the three months ended December 31, 2023. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $6.2 million compared to net income of $6.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Basic and diluted earnings per share were $1.25 and $1.24, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to basic and diluted earnings per share of $1.32 and $1.31, respectively, for the corresponding 2023 period.

    President’s Message

    President and Chief Executive Officer, Marcie A. Barber stated, “The Federal Reserve Bank rate decreases made in the last four months of 2024 contributed to a reversal in the last quarter of 2024 of the net interest margin compression trend in prior periods. Our net interest margin increased by twelve basis points compared to last year’s fourth quarter. In addition to an improved margin, we are pleased that our strategies to increase non-interest income have been successful resulting in substantial growth in both the fourth quarter of 2024 and the 2024 year. The decrease in fourth quarter net income compared to last year was due to several one-time noninterest expense items. Our credit quality remains strong with nonperforming loans totaling only 0.1% of the total loan portfolio and delinquent and nonperforming loans comprising just 0.4% of the portfolio. We are optimistic heading into 2025 that we can achieve accelerated loan growth while maintaining our excellent credit quality through increased efforts to cultivate loan and deposit relationships outside of our branch footprint coupled with exploring opportunities for expansion.”           

    Financial Results for the 2024 Year

    Return on average assets for the year ended December 31, 2024, was 0.72%, compared to the return on average assets of 0.79% for the year ended December 31, 2023. Return on average equity for the year ended December 31, 2024 was 14.19%, compared to the return on average equity of 18.20% for the year ended December 31, 2023.

    Net interest income was $22.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to $22.7 million for 2023. Average interest earning assets increased $15.7 million, or 1.9%, to $853.9 million, for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, due primarily to an increase of $34.6 million, or 6.9%, in average loans. The increase in average loans was partially offset by a decline of $20.1 million, or 6.1%, in average investment securities as the amortization on the mortgage-backed securities portfolio was used to fund loan growth rather than being reinvested into the securities portfolio. Average interest bearing liabilities increased by $14.3 million, or 2.4%, for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to the comparable 2023 period, due primarily to growth in average time deposits as well as short-term borrowings and repurchase agreements. The yield on average loans increased by 47 basis points for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to the year ended December 31, 2023, while the costs of average interest bearing deposits increased by 116 basis points, and short- and long-term borrowings and other interest bearing liabilities increased by a total of 85 basis points. These increases were primarily the result of higher market interest rates and competitive pricing pressure between periods. The yield on earning assets increased 39 basis points, to 4.35%, for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to the year ended December 31, 2023, while the cost to fund interest earning assets with interest bearing liabilities increased 56 basis points, to 2.31%. The net interest margin, on a fully tax equivalent basis, decreased from 2.74% for the year ended December 31, 2023 to 2.71% for the year ended December 31, 2024.

    Juniata recorded a provision for credit losses of $534,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to a provision for credit losses of $500,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023.

    Non-interest income was $5.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to $5.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of 9.5%. Most significantly impacting the comparative year end periods were increases of $391,000 in customer service fees, $98,000 in the change in value of equity securities and $182,000 in fees derived from loan activity. These increases were partially offset by a $105,000 decrease in life insurance proceeds compared to the 2023 period.

    Non-interest expense was $21.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to $19.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Most significantly impacting non-interest expense for the comparative year end periods was an increase of $568,000 in employee compensation expense due to annual salary increases, overtime pay from the core conversion in the first quarter of 2024 and having one additional pay period in 2024. Also impacting the comparative year end periods was an increase of $123,000 in occupancy expense due to an increase in rental expense from the early termination of a branch office lease in December 2024, as well as increases of $204,000 in equipment expense and $286,000 in professional fees. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $227,000 in merger and acquisition expense due to the Path Valley branch acquisition in 2023 with no similar transaction occurring in the 2024 period.

    An income tax provision of $979,000 was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to an income tax provision of $970,000 recorded for the year ended December 31, 2023. Juniata qualifies for a federal tax credit for investments in low-income housing partnerships. The tax credit decreased $37,000, or 10.1%, from $366,000 in the year ended December 31, 2023 to $329,000 in the year ended December 31, 2024, due to the completion of the amortization period for one of Juniata’s low-income housing partnership investments in January 2023.

    Financial Results for the Quarter

    Annualized return on average assets for the three months ended December 31, 2024 was 0.70%, compared to 0.79% for the three months ended December 31, 2023. Annualized return on average equity for the three months ended December 31, 2024 was 12.79%, compared to 18.06% for the three months ended December 31, 2023.

    Net interest income was $5.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2024 compared to $5.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023. Average interest earning assets were relatively the same between the comparable three month periods, decreasing by $280,000, to $847.1 million compared to the 2023 period, with average loans increasing $18.9 million, or 3.6%, and average investment securities decreasing $18.7 million, or 5.8%, over the comparable three month periods. Average interest bearing liabilities increased by $15.8 million, or 2.6%, compared to the comparable 2023 period, primarily due to growth in average short-term borrowings and repurchase agreements. When comparing the three months ended December 31, 2024 to the three months ended December 31, 2023, the yield on average loans increased by 36 basis points, and the rates on average time deposits increased by 67 basis points, primarily due to competitive pricing pressures, while the rates on average short- and long-term borrowings and other interest bearing liabilities decreased by 77 basis points, primarily due to a decline in market interest rates between periods. The yield on earning assets increased 29 basis points, to 4.39%, for the three months ended December 31, 2024 compared to same period in 2023, while the cost to fund interest earning assets with interest bearing liabilities increased 18 basis points, to 2.26%. The net interest margin, on a fully tax equivalent basis, increased from 2.64% for the three months ended December 31, 2023, to 2.76% for the three months ended December 31, 2024.

    Juniata recorded a provision for credit losses of $63,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2024 compared to a provision for credit losses of $89,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2023.

    Non-interest income was $1.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2024 and $1.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, an increase of 12.4%. Most significantly impacting non-interest income in the comparative three month periods were increases of $109,000 in customer service fees and $56,000 in life insurance proceeds, as well as $68,000 in fees derived from loan activity, primarily due to the addition of back-to-back swap fees and an increase in title insurance commissions and letter of credit fees. Partially offsetting these increases was a decrease of $46,000 in the change in value of equity securities due to declines in the market value of community bank stocks owned by Juniata for the three months ended December 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended December 31, 2023.

    Non-interest expense was $5.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2024, compared to $5.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, an increase of 13.7%. Most significantly impacting non-interest expense for the comparative three month periods was an increase of $212,000 in employee compensation expense, primarily due to an extra pay period in the 2024 period, as well as a $273,000 increase in employee benefits expense due to an increase in medical claims expenses. Also contributing to the increase in non-interest expense between comparative three month periods was an increase of $108,000 in occupancy expenses due to an increase in rental expense from the early termination of a branch office lease in December 2024, as well as increases of $80,000 in equipment expense and $90,000 in professional fees. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $102,000 in other non-interest expense, primarily due to a decrease in the provision for unfunded commitments during the three months ended December 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended December 31, 2023.

    An income tax provision of $212,000 was recorded for the three months ended December 31, 2024 compared to an income tax provision of $262,000 recorded for the three months ended December 31, 2023. The federal tax credit for investments in low-income housing partnerships was $82,000 in both the three months ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.

    Financial Condition

    Total assets as of December 31, 2024 were $848.9 million, a decrease of $21.7 million, or 2.5%, compared to total assets of $870.6 million at December 31, 2023. Comparing asset balances on December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, cash and cash equivalents and total debt securities decreased by $17.9 million and $12.0 million, respectively, while total loans increased by $8.5 million. As of December 31, 2024, short-term borrowings and repurchase agreements decreased by $10.6 million compared to December 31, 2023, and long-term debt decreased by $15.0 million over the same period due to the maturity of a 5-year FHLB advance in May 2024.

    Juniata maintains a strong liquidity position as of December 31, 2024, with additional borrowing capacity with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh of $216.2 million and $51.1 million from the Federal Reserve’s Discount Window. In addition, Juniata has internal authorization for brokered deposits of up to $175.0 million. Juniata had no brokered deposits as of December 31, 2024.

    Subsequent Event

    On January 21, 2025, the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.22 per share to shareholders of record on February 14, 2025 payable on February 28, 2025.

    Management considers subsequent events occurring after the statement of condition date for matters which may require adjustment to, or disclosure in, the consolidated financial statements. The review period for subsequent events extends up to and including the filing date of a public company’s consolidated financial statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, the financial information in this release is subject to change.

    The Juniata Valley Bank, the principal subsidiary of Juniata Valley Financial Corp., is headquartered in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, with fifteen community offices located in Juniata, Mifflin, Perry, Franklin, McKean and Potter Counties. More information regarding Juniata Valley Financial Corp. and The Juniata Valley Bank can be found online at www.JVBonline.com. Juniata Valley Financial Corp. trades through the OTCQX Best Market under the symbol JUVF.

    Forward-Looking Information
    *This press release may contain “forward looking” information as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements reflect the current views of Juniata’s management with respect to, among other things, future events and Juniata’s financial performance. When words such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “predict,” “potential,” “believe,” “will likely result,” “expect,” “continue,” “will,” “anticipate,” “seek,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “goal,” “target,” “would” and “outlook,” the negative variations of those words or similar expressions are used in this release, Juniata is making forward-looking statements. Such information is based on Juniata’s current expectations, estimates and projections about future events and financial trends affecting the financial condition of its business, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond the control of Juniata. These statements are not historical facts or guarantees of future performance, events or results and are subject to risks, assumptions and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. If one or more events related to these or other risks or uncertainties materializes, or if underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may differ materially from this forward-looking information. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and many factors could affect future financial results. Juniata undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward looking information, whether because of new or updated information, future events, or otherwise. For a more complete discussion of certain risks and uncertainties affecting Juniata, please see the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Forward-Looking Statements” set forth in the Juniata’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Financial Statements

    Juniata Valley Financial Corp. and Subsidiary
    Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition

                 
    (Dollars in thousands, except share data)      (Unaudited)       
        December 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
    ASSETS            
    Cash and due from banks   $ 5,064     $ 17,189  
    Interest bearing deposits with banks     5,934       11,741  
    Cash and cash equivalents     10,998       28,930  
                 
    Equity securities     1,189       1,073  
    Debt securities available for sale     64,623       67,564  
    Debt securities held to maturity (fair value $182,773 and $198,147, respectively)     191,627       200,644  
    Restricted investment in bank stock     2,530       1,707  
    Total loans     533,869       525,394  
    Less: Allowance for credit losses     (6,183 )     (5,677 )
    Total loans, net of allowance for credit losses     527,686       519,717  
    Premises and equipment, net     9,382       8,180  
    Bank owned life insurance and annuities     15,214       14,841  
    Investment in low income housing partnerships     832       1,154  
    Core deposit and other intangible assets     258       343  
    Goodwill     9,812       9,812  
    Mortgage servicing rights     69       83  
    Deferred tax asset     9,842       11,319  
    Accrued interest receivable and other assets     4,812       5,188  
    Total assets   $ 848,874     $ 870,555  
    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY              
    Liabilities:              
    Deposits:              
    Non-interest bearing   $ 196,801     $ 197,027  
    Interest bearing     551,156       552,018  
    Total deposits     747,957       749,045  
                 
    Short-term borrowings and repurchase agreements     42,242       52,810  
    Long-term debt     5,000       20,000  
    Other interest bearing liabilities     830       951  
    Accrued interest payable and other liabilities     5,388       7,612  
    Total liabilities     801,417       830,418  
    Commitments and contingent liabilities            
    Stockholders’ Equity:              
    Preferred stock, no par value: Authorized – 500,000 shares, none issued     —       —  
    Common stock, par value $1.00 per share: Authorized 20,000,000 shares; Issued – 5,151,279 shares at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023; Outstanding – 5,003,384 shares at December 31, 2024 and 4,991,129 shares at December 31, 2023     5,151       5,151  
    Surplus     24,896       24,924  
    Retained earnings     53,126       51,297  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (33,320 )     (38,640 )
    Cost of common stock in Treasury: 147,895 shares at December 31, 2024; 160,150 shares at December 31, 2023     (2,396 )     (2,595 )
    Total stockholders’ equity     47,457       40,137  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 848,874     $ 870,555  

    Juniata Valley Financial Corp. and Subsidiary
    Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)

                             
        Three Months Ended   Year Ended
    (Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)   December 31,    December 31, 
           2024      2023     2024      2023  
    Interest income:                
    Loans, including fees   $ 7,885   $ 7,159     $ 31,109   $ 26,728  
    Taxable securities     1,408     1,509       5,749     6,193  
    Tax-exempt securities     29     30       118     139  
    Other interest income     24     52       140     121  
    Total interest income     9,346     8,750       37,116     33,181  
    Interest expense:                            
    Deposits     2,924     2,633       11,167     8,247  
    Short-term borrowings and repurchase agreements     568     419       2,719     1,733  
    Long-term debt     31     118       268     471  
    Other interest bearing liabilities     8     9       33     38  
    Total interest expense     3,531     3,179       14,187     10,489  
    Net interest income     5,815     5,571       22,929     22,692  
    Provision for credit losses     63     89       534     500  
    Net interest income after provision for credit losses     5,752     5,482       22,395     22,192  
    Non-interest income:                            
    Customer service fees     467     358       1,767     1,376  
    Debit card fee income     450     477       1,752     1,770  
    Earnings on bank-owned life insurance and annuities     62     55       236     222  
    Trust fees     110     85       469     466  
    Commissions from sales of non-deposit products     79     82       388     337  
    Fees derived from loan activity     231     163       682     500  
    Change in value of equity securities     49     95       115     17  
    Gain from life insurance proceeds     56     —       56     161  
    Other non-interest income     101     113       360     472  
    Total non-interest income     1,605     1,428       5,825     5,321  
    Non-interest expense:                            
    Employee compensation expense     2,333     2,121       9,022     8,454  
    Employee benefits     715     442       2,448     2,355  
    Occupancy     433     325       1,412     1,289  
    Equipment     246     166       863     659  
    Data processing expense     719     711       2,881     2,937  
    Professional fees     304     214       1,134     848  
    Taxes, other than income     37     26       191     184  
    FDIC Insurance premiums     140     152       575     504  
    Gain on other real estate owned     —     (16 )     —     (16 )
    Amortization of intangible assets     21     25       85     81  
    Amortization of investment in low-income housing partnerships     80     80       322     353  
    Merger and acquisition expense     —     —       —     227  
    Other non-interest expense     626     728       2,079     2,072  
    Total non-interest expense     5,654     4,974       21,012     19,947  
    Income before income taxes     1,703     1,936       7,208     7,566  
    Income tax provision     212     262       979     970  
    Net income   $ 1,491   $ 1,674     $ 6,229   $ 6,596  
    Earnings per share                            
    Basic   $ 0.30   $ 0.33     $ 1.25   $ 1.32  
    Diluted   $ 0.30   $ 0.33     $ 1.24   $ 1.31  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: South African poetry has a new digital archive – what’s behind the project

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Tinashe Mushakavanhu, Research Associate, University of Oxford

    South African poetry, rich with history, has long been an underappreciated cornerstone of the country’s cultural landscape. But a new free-to-access digital archive is helping change that.

    Focused on the poets published by a small but important press in a town called Makhanda in the Eastern Cape province, the Deep South Books and Archive initiative seeks to elevate their voices by offering an archive of background information about their work and lives as well as extensive excerpts from their books. It’s a rare window into a vital but overlooked tradition of South African literature.

    Read more: Podcasts bring southern Africa’s liberation struggle to life – thanks to an innovative new audio archive

    Robert Berold, after spending a decade as editor for New Coin journal, set up Deep South in 1995. For decades he has had a quiet influence on the South African poetry scene. His impulse to publish emerged from a place of need and outrage that some of the talented young black poets he was publishing in New Coin couldn’t get their books published in the new, democratic South Africa.

    Deep South Books

    Many of these poets had been using their words to fight for freedom, while a new generation of young poets was emerging with democracy. Ever since, Deep South has been an important arena where South African poets and their poems could speak to one another.

    My work on African literary production shows the importance of small presses in creating local literary ecologies.

    For Berold, the mission was always:

    To publish what was considered to be innovative and risk-taking South African poetry, regardless of market limitations.

    His many endeavours as a publisher, editor and teacher have been linked by the effort to rescue from oblivion, to supply context, to indicate points of continuity while insisting on the diversity of the South African experience.

    Deep South Books

    After 30 years of publishing, Berold is now sharing a vast catalogue and archive that would otherwise remain unknown. Even though the African Poetry Digital Portal, hosted by the University of Nebraska in the US, was created as a resource for the study of the history of African poetry from antiquity to the present, it does not give direct reference to particular communities.

    In bringing this archive to the internet, Berold is revealing the process and method of how contemporary South African poetry has been shaped into being.

    Behind the poems

    Much of the archive material is what Berold accumulated in dealing with the poets – correspondence, manuscripts, reviews. This is also physically deposited at the Amazwi South African Museum of Literature. He explains:

    I got into correspondence with everyone who sent in poems, trying to give helpful criticism, recommending poets for them to read. There was a certain inappropriateness about this at times, and some arrogance too on my part, but mostly people appreciated the feedback.

    The “difficult miracle of Black poetry”, as US poet June Jordan once remarked, is that it persists, published or not, loved or unloved. In racially segregated South Africa during apartheid, publishing spaces were few and far between.

    Black poets were often censored, banned or exiled as their work confronted the injustices of a racist system. This digital archive recasts the story of South African poetry as insurgent, independent and driven to define a distinct aesthetic.

    Deep South Books

    Deep South has, furthermore, made a particular impression by fostering a unique aesthetic in South African poetry through its investments in typography and design. As a small, independent press situated away from culture capitals – Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg – it has had the freedom to experiment.

    Deep South Books and Archive is therefore a significant tribute to the persistence of South African poetry, despite many historical and structural inequalities. It is a catalogue and a digital archive that provides a unique entry point into modern South African poetry.

    Inside the archive

    The digital archive’s architecture is simple. The poets are indexed in alphabetical order. Some of the featured names are Vonani Bila, Mangaliso Buzani, Angifi Dladla, Mzwandile Matiwana, Isabella Motadinyane, Seitlhamo Motsapi, Khulile Nxumalo, Mxolisi Nyezwa, Lesego Rampolokeng, Mxolisi Dolla Sapeta, Dimakatso Sedite and Phillip Zhuwao.

    Clicking through the carousel of finely designed book covers leads one to excerpts, book reviews, interviews available as PDF files, as well as links to other multimedia resources.

    Deep South Books

    Rampolokeng’s work may be iconoclastic, experimental, unclassifiable but he found a home with this press. He has published several of his groundbreaking collections with them. Defying category, they bend and shift, and culminate into a remarkable linguistic virtuoso. His interviews are an extension of his art, reflexive, autobiographical, and works in themselves.

    Unrecognised poets

    Then there are poets like Motadinyane and Zhuwao who died far too early, leaving behind only single collections. Luckily, even if their portraits and writings are fragmentary, we’re at least witness to the poetic geniuses that might have been. This is the superpower of this archive, to serve as a memorial for a canon (or collection of literary texts) that wasn’t even close to being fully blossomed.

    Deep South Books

    Historically, canon construction is the work of the few, foremost among them academics who edit anthologies and design syllabuses. Most of these poets do not feature in scholarly journals. As a result they almost exist in the underground, unremarked. Berold, now in his 70s and approaching retirement, has decided to do something about that with a digital archive that surfaces the voices of lesser-known poets.

    The lack of recognition for these poets is bothersome for him:

    Why nobody in academe has registered the importance of these poets is beyond me. It really makes me wonder whether these professional literary people are able to read.

    This is mostly an indictment of systems that undervalue black expression.

    Read more: How women’s untold histories shaped South Africa’s national poet

    This project may be for preservation, but there is another lesson: African literature demands constant acts of recovery. In this case, the internet serves as a kind of rear view mirror, which allows us a backward glance at poets and their works that have been overlooked or underappreciated, forgotten or misunderstood.

    – South African poetry has a new digital archive – what’s behind the project
    – https://theconversation.com/south-african-poetry-has-a-new-digital-archive-whats-behind-the-project-247599

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Femicide in Kenya: William Ruto has set up a task force – feminist scholar explains its flaws

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Awino Okech, Professor of Feminist and Security Studies, SOAS, University of London

    Gender-based violence is a major challenge in Kenya, which has recorded a significant rise in deaths of women and girls in recent years.

    In January 2024, a coalition of organisations across the east African nation organised multi-city public marches to call for government action against these deaths. A year later, President William Ruto established a 42-member taskforce to address gender-based violence. What is its potential to lead to real change for women and girls? Feminist and security studies professor Awino Okech explores the issue.

    What do you make of the Kenyan government’s response to gender-based violence?

    Language matters, in my view, so it is important to focus the attention on femicide, which is what triggered recent public conversation in Kenya and is the primary issue at hand.

    Femicide is the specific act of men killing women because they are women. Gender-based violence focuses on the gender power relations that create conditions for violence. This does not always result in loss of life. Gender-based violence includes men killed by other men because of their sexuality, widows disenfranchised by property laws, female genital mutilation and forced marriage.

    Unlike in the past, Kenya has seen increasing reports of women being murdered. The country doesn’t have a proper data management system for such incidences. Nevertheless, the numbers recorded by organisations such as Femicide Count show the scale of the problem. In 2023 it recorded 152 femicides based on cases reported in the media. Africa Uncensored, an investigative journalism media house, estimates that 500 women were killed between 2017 and 2024. Kenya’s law enforcement agencies recorded 97 cases of femicide between September and November 2024. Globally, UN Women reported that in 2023 alone, one woman was killed every 10 minutes in intimate partner and family-related murders.

    What is the likelihood of the presidential working group’s success?

    First, at face value, any public action taken by a government to illustrate that it is listening to its citizens is an important first step.

    Second, the fact that it is called a “technical working group on gender-based violence” illustrates the potential it has to lose focus on the issue that catalysed its creation – femicide.

    Third, there is a history in Kenya of setting up task forces with financial resources largely directed at remunerating members and conducting “consultations”, only to tell the country what was already known. Consultations are critical for legitimacy and a base for action. But there are more expedient ways to do this work.

    This includes analysing existing reports, statements and recommendations offered by women’s rights organisation over the decades, including a 2024 statement on ending femicide. An insistence on a large task force in the light of the government’s austerity drive only raises questions about where limited resources should be directed.

    Finally, I am concerned that some of the leading voices on femicide in the last 10 years are missing from this task force. It is the activism of the coalition of actors organising under EndFemicideKE that recentred the conversation on femicide with some of the organisations leading urgent response work in their communities. The task force must not ignore this expertise.

    What steps should Kenya be taking to address femicide?

    1. Invest in programmes that emphasise positive masculinities. This means raising a generation of men whose idea of manhood is not based on hatred of or violence against women. This work is an important counter measure to the growing “manosphere” in Kenya. The manosphere refers to websites, blogs and online forums focused on promoting misogyny and opposition to feminism. These online spaces have grown globally and are viewed as central to grooming men to commit femicide.

    2. Increase resources to programmes aimed at women who are at risk of violence. The signs of violence predate the act of violence and murder. Providing resources to create safe physical and online spaces – such as hotlines for women to get the support they need to secure their lives, or effective investigative services – is key. Central to this action is the role of the police service in taking seriously and investigating any claims of potential threats of violence. People need to feel safe going to the police to report threats of harm and have trust in their capacity to deliver justice. This action requires trust building between communities and the police service.

    3. Deal with the structural causes of femicide. At the heart of this targeted violence against women are the underlying patriarchal assumptions about how women should act relative to men in society. We cannot ignore the importance of building people’s consciousness about the deep biases they have been socialised to believe in. This work must be led by community champions who value the sanctity of human life.

    What needs to be done to hold institutions accountable?

    First, the relevant state institutions, such as public hospitals and clinics, the police and judiciary, need money and people with the right skills, so they can intervene in the root causes and symptoms of gender-based violence.

    Second, Kenya needs to create a national database on femicide. This would indicate where and how to deploy resources.

    Third, there needs to be an annual and public report on the state of gender-based violence that tracks where money has gone, and shows the relationship between actions and outcomes. An initial increase in cases might not indicate failure but rather heightened awareness. With the right interventions, numbers should drop over time.

    Fourth, build trust between citizens and state institutions. In December 2024, a peaceful march in Nairobi held during the global 16 days of activism against gender-based violence campaign was teargassed by police. This happened two weeks after the Kenyan president publicly committed to addressing femicide.

    The right to peaceful protest is enshrined in Kenya’s constitution. When the police respond with violence to peaceful women protesters talking about the murder of women, how can citizens trust officers’ ability to take dead women seriously?

    – Femicide in Kenya: William Ruto has set up a task force – feminist scholar explains its flaws
    – https://theconversation.com/femicide-in-kenya-william-ruto-has-set-up-a-task-force-feminist-scholar-explains-its-flaws-248313

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Chad’s parliamentary election hands Mahamat Déby absolute control. Here’s why it’s dangerous

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Helga Dickow, Senior Researcher at the Arnold Bergstraesser Institut, Freiburg Germany, University of Freiburg

    Chad held parliamentary elections in late December 2024. The final results released on 21 January 2025 gave the well-established former ruling party, the Movement Patriotique du Salut (MPS), 124 seats out of 188.

    The election marked the end of a four-year transition in Chad following the death of former president Idriss Déby Itno in March 2021. Déby had ruled Chad since 1991. Mahamat Déby Itno assumed power on the death of his father.

    The result has meant that Mahamat Déby has given himself a degree of legitimacy as president through elections. He can comfortably remain in power for at least another five or even ten years.

    Read more: Chad’s election outcome already seems set: 4 things Mahamat Déby has done to stay in power

    I have been following Chad’s politics from inside and outside the country for more than 15 years. In my view, Mahamat Déby’s actions during the transition, with the help of the transitional authorities and his late father’s old teams, were aimed at keeping him in power. The December 2024 parliamentary elections were a formality. The poll was not won on polling day. It was clear from the run-up that, as was the case with the May 2024 presidential elections, every effort was being made to minimise the success of the opposition.

    Four factors stand out. They are the composition of the electoral authorities, lack of an up-to-date electoral register, violence against dissenting voices, and high costs of participation in the election.

    In my view Chadians’ trust in the democratic process has ceased completely. This bodes ill for a country that ranks as one of the poorest. It is also one of the most corrupt. The consolidation of Mahamat Déby’s power could widen the social divide and lead to violent conflict between different groups in Chad, which is highly stratified along ethnic and religious lines.

    Dissatisfaction with his decades of autocratic rule characterised Idriss Déby’s reign. Political-military movements challenged him regularly, and the last attack led to his death.

    This dissatisfaction will continue and could once again lead to violent conflicts.

    Read more: Chad: promises of a new chapter fade as junta strengthens its hold ahead of elections

    Corruption of the process

    Mahamat Déby and the Movement Patriotique du Salut took a number of steps to secure victory in the election.

    Firstly, the presidents of the electoral authority ANGE (Agence Nationale de Gestion des Élections) and of the constitutional court nominated by Mahamat Déby were responsible for organising and for validating elections (and will continue to be responsible until 2031). Having been loyal to Idriss Déby and now to his son, they cannot be trusted to be objective and independent in their pronouncements and final decisions.

    Secondly, the electoral register was last updated in August 2024. Therefore, young people who had just turned 18 could not vote. In Chad, the majority of the population is under 25. Young people in particular in the south support the opposition.

    Thirdly, the transitional regime’s violent crackdown on opposing voices played a role in the final outcome of the election.

    The transition was initially characterised by peace talks with the political-military movements and by expanding the security sector to secure its rule. In October 2022, several hundred mainly young people were killed by security forces while demonstrating against the extension of the transition and Mahamat Déby’s candidacy for presidency.

    In the intervening period the state took various steps against opposition figures.

    In February 2024 Yaya Dillo, a cousin of Mahamat Deby and a potential rival in the presidential elections, was shot dead by security forces.

    In May 2024, Mahamat Déby was elected president. In December 2024 he took on the title of marshal – previously held only by his father.

    The opposition was also hampered in participating in the poll for financial reasons. Taking part in the elections is expensive. Each candidate in the parliamentary election had to pay 500,000 CFA (US$785) to the treasury. Candidates for the provincial election paid 200,000 CFA (US$314). In poverty-stricken Chad, without regular funding for political parties, it was particularly difficult for smaller parties to meet these criteria.

    The situation was different for the ruling party, founded by Idriss Déby. For decades it has benefited from state resources. It is the only party with a nationwide presence. Other parties are mainly active in the regions of their founders.

    Read more: Chad’s Mahamat Deby doubles down on authoritarian rule in wake of election victory

    Resistance

    Opposition parties called for a boycott. The Groupe de Concertation des Acteurs Politiques, a coalition of nine parties, criticised the new electoral law and the lack of transparency of the count at the polling stations.

    Succès Masra, leader of Les Transformateurs, a former prime minister who came second in the 2024 presidential elections, also called for a boycott. He accused the government of falsifying the results of the parliamentary election beforehand and of having the final lists saved in a computer. His party did not participate in the poll.

    The results of the parliamentary elections presented on 11 January 2025 by Ahmed Barticheret, president of the electoral commission, and confirmed by the constitutional court on 21 January, therefore revealed no surprises.

    Alongside the huge victory of the Movement Patriotique du Salut, two other parties not really in opposition won 12 and 7 seats respectively. The other successful parties won just one seat each. Chad has over 300 political parties, of which 38 are represented in the new parliament.

    Read more: Chad presidential election: assassination of main opposition figure casts doubt on country’s return to democracy

    Consequences

    Movement Patriotique du Salut has an overwhelming majority in parliament. This means that there are no checks and balances. Like his father, Mahamat Déby can continue to rule without any parliamentary control.

    He is already used to that. Since 2021, he has appointed members of the transitional parliament by presidential decree. The few voices of individual members of parliament belonging to the “real” opposition have no influence.

    As the low turnout – put at 40% on election day – shows, the majority of voters did not expect the election result to change the political situation. On the other hand, supporters of the ruling party continue to benefit from proximity to power and state resources.

    As dissatisfaction continues, the possibility of renewed attacks by dissidents cannot be ruled out. If it is not a military attack, frustrated individuals might try to target the presidency or other symbols of the regime.

    In early January 2025 a group of unidentified young people reportedly attacked the presidency. The incident was played down by the government spokesman, leaving plenty of room for speculation.

    But it was a reminder that a peaceful future is not assured.

    – Chad’s parliamentary election hands Mahamat Déby absolute control. Here’s why it’s dangerous
    – https://theconversation.com/chads-parliamentary-election-hands-mahamat-deby-absolute-control-heres-why-its-dangerous-248342

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: NAS JRB Fort Worth to Support Border Security Efforts

    Source: United States Navy

    NAS JRB Fort Worth is supporting the deployment of the Texas Tactical Border Force to the Rio Grande Valley. On Jan. 27, 2025, 400 troops from the Dallas-Fort Worth area and Houston were mobilized using Ch-47 Chinook helicopters and C-130J aircrafts of the 136th Airlift Wing, a unit of the Texas Air National Guard stationed at the base. This deployment aims to bolster border security and support U.S. Border Patrol agents.

    According to a press release from Gov. Abbott’s office, the deployment of the Texas Tactical Border Force is an integral component of Abbott’s border security initiative, Operation Lone Star.

    Deputy operations officer Lt. Cmdr. William Husky detailed the operation from NAS JRB Fort Worth.

    “Our base facilitated the transport of 200 Texas National Guard personnel using four Chinooks and two C-130Js to the southern border in compliance with Gov. Abbott’s directive,” Husky stated.

    The deployment reinforces ongoing efforts to address the border situation and collaborate with federal authorities to safeguard American communities.

    NAS JRB Fort Worth is the first and finest joint reserve base, known for training and equipping air crews and aviation ground support personnel, while supporting missions such as airlift, aerial refueling, and global mobility, making it an integral part of national defense infrastructure.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: NAVFAC Southeast Awards $72.4 Million Contract for Airfield Repairs at NAS Key West

    Source: United States Navy

    The project will include critical repairs to airfield runway and taxiway pavement surfaces, including milling, resurfacing, joint sealing, and full-depth repairs as needed.

    “The comprehensive airfield pavement project will restore runways and taxiways used in support of the Chief of Naval Operations’ 2024 Navigation Plan—focusing on readiness for the possibility of war and enhancing the Navy’s long-term advantage by training warfighters,” said Lt. Cmdr. Aaron Buren, public works officer for Public Works Department Key West.

    NAS Key West is a vital hub for military aviation, supporting 79,000 flight hours for 1,220 aircraft in fiscal year 2024. It enables both readiness and advanced training for U.S. and coalition forces. The planned repairs will significantly extend the airfield’s operational life, ensuring its capability to support mission readiness, training, and national security operations for years to come.

    The scope of work includes milling and resurfacing of runways 4-22, 08-26, and 14-32, including overruns, blast pavements, and shoulders. Repairs to Taxiways A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and M will address milling, resurfacing, shoulder corrections, and pavement slope drop-offs where required.

    The contract includes two unexercised options which, if awarded, would increase the total contract value to $96.9 million.

    The contract was competitively procured using the Best Value Trade-Off Source Selection method, which evaluates technical factors alongside price to determine the best overall value to the government. Three offers were received, with Head/Diaz 2022 selected based on superior technical capability and competitive pricing.

    Work will be performed at NAS Key West, Florida, with an expected completion date of January 2027.

    NAVFAC Southeast, headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, provides planning, design, construction, contracting, environmental services, public works, real estate, and facility maintenance for the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, Space Force, and other federal agencies across the Southeast. Its area of responsibility covers installations from Charleston, South Carolina, to Corpus Christi, Texas, and extends south to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How 19th-century melodrama turned the sweet music of gothic into something dark and sinister

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Emma McEvoy, Senior Lecturer in English Literature, University of Westminster

    In 1764, Horace Walpole published the first gothic novel, The Castle of Otranto, set in a labyrinthine castle surrounded by woods. The novel features the supernatural, with a dark secret from the past at its core. Today, 260 years later, gothic is still with us in the form of “contemporary gothic” plays, fiction, films, music and computer games.

    Central to the popularity of gothic is the way it affects its audiences. It is supposed to unsettle, to make the flesh creep and provoke feelings of claustrophobia. Soundtracks for gothic films are integral to creating such effects, building suspense and unease while amplifying the visceral impact of sudden jump scares.

    Alejandro Amenábar’s soundtrack for The Others (2001), for example, weirds its listeners out. The hollow but reverberant timbre of brushed piano strings evokes the spaces of the house, conjuring up the old-fashioned alienness of the place. Action, set and music sympathetically resonate.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    The soundtrack for The Substance (2024) shrieks with the strings and sudden dissonances of The Nightmare and Dawn (taken from Bernard Herrmann’s score for Hitchcock’s 1958 masterpiece, Vertigo). Then, it deepens the sense of disquiet with the sinister incantations and medieval-sounding harmonies of Swedish composer Anna von Hausswolff‘s Ugly and Vengeful.

    Both soundtracks impressively succeed in doing what we expect gothic music to do: provoke unease, create suspense and drive home the horror elements.

    But has the music of the gothic always been called upon to unsettle and scare? Has it always sounded so, well, gothic? These are questions I explore in my new book The Music of the Gothic 1789–1820.

    Over the last few years, I’ve been rummaging through archives in London, Oxford and Dublin searching for settings of songs from novels and music associated with gothic plays such as The Mysteries of the Castle (1795). I uncovered many treasures, some of which probably haven’t been performed for a couple of centuries.

    Thanks to a grant from the British Academy and the Leverhulme Trust, I was able to bring some of this music to audiences once more with the help of a group of wonderful musicians, headed by Seb Gillot, who performed the tracks you can hear in this article. You can see them performing live below.

    The gothic novels and plays of the 1790s were populated by sweet-singing heroines and heroes. Among the music I encountered was a song by the composer and singer Harriet Abrams (c. 1758-1821), in which a woman imprisoned in a madhouse sweetly pleads with her cold-hearted jailer.

    I also found music for gothic plays by the Northumbrian William Shield (1748-1829) and the Irish tenor Michael Kelly (1762-1826), who wrote songs about jolly mariners , comic poachers_ and young peasant girls on their way back from market.

    None of this material sounded remotely what we would now describe as gothic. Even the music accompanying the entrance of a blood-covered ghost in The Castle Spectre (1798) was warm and stately – and singularly unterrifying.

    I realised that none of the music from the 1790s – a period when gothic was phenomenally popular – was intended to scare. On the contrary, it was called upon to provide relief from the scare. In late 18th-century gothic plays such as The Italian Monk (1797), music was associated with romance, comedy and sublime religious experience, but not horror or terror.

    At what point then did the kind of gothic music we know today come into being? The evidence can be found in books such as Remick Folio of Moving Picture Music (1914) which contains music for silent film accompanists. With names like Mysterioso, or Forboding and Wind Storm, or Hurry, they were evidently designed for scenes of suspense and mystery.

    Such music is indebted to the music of Victorian melodrama, but what I wanted to know was when melodrama acquired its distinctive gothic sounds.

    Digging into the past of gothic

    Very often in research you discover that things happen gradually. There is trial and experiment, a series of influences, a slow accumulation of examples, and then a tipping point. But when it comes to gothic music, that is not the case. There is a definite date when a specific kind of music erupted onto the entertainment scene. The date was 1802, and the occasion a new dramatic production – a “melo-drame” or musical drama called A Tale of Mystery with music by Thomas Busby.

    Busby’s music was conceptualised very differently to the music of the 1790s. For a start it was intended to add to, not to provide relief from, the gothic elements of the play.

    Most crucially, it was not part of the imagined world of the drama. The fictional characters did not sing it – they did not even “hear” it: Busby’s music was directed at the audience. Instrumental music calculated to disturb, it was chaotic and unnerving, with lots of fast, disjointed short phrases, disturbing chords and cliffhanger endings.

    Instantly recognised as new and revolutionary, it caused a sensation. After audiences had a taste of the new gothic in A Tale of Mystery, music on the page and on the stage soon became something darker and more troubling.

    The older kind of music didn’t disappear overnight, of course, but melodrama took hold and the music of gothic was transformed. Not just on stage but also on the page. Gothic music was no longer uplifting but sinister.

    As seen in The Woman in Black (2012), there’s nothing like a music box in a deserted house to terrify audiences. And who doesn’t thrill to the sound of the diabolically thundering organ in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera?

    Emma McEvoy received a research grant from the British Academy and Leverhulme Trust for the project “The Music of Gothic Literature and Theatre 1790-1820”.

    – ref. How 19th-century melodrama turned the sweet music of gothic into something dark and sinister – https://theconversation.com/how-19th-century-melodrama-turned-the-sweet-music-of-gothic-into-something-dark-and-sinister-246797

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Farming company fined for breaching slurry spreading regulations

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A farm company and its director has been fined and ordered to pay costs totalling almost £8,000 after failing to ensure land spreading did not cause pollution.

    Richard Jonty Mason, 52, of Higher Highfield Farm at Slaidburn in Clitheroe, attending on behalf of himself and as director of RJ Mason Ltd of Dalton Square in Lancaster, appeared at Blackburn magistrates’ court on Monday 20 January.

    Both he and the company pleaded guilty to one charge under Farming Rules for Water legislation of failing to ensure that slurry-spreading to agricultural land at Higher Highfield Farm was planned so that it did not cause a risk of pollution. 

    The company was ordered to pay a total of £6,575 – a fine of £1,125, costs of £5,000 and a victim surcharge of £450. Richard Mason was fined £137, ordered to pay costs of £1,000 and a victim surcharge of £55 – paying a total of £1,192.

    Jackie Monk, investigating officer from the Environment Agency, said:

    This acts as a reminder for landowners and farmers to ensure they follow the correct procedures for spreading safely.

    Spreading slurry to land is common practice, but steps must be taken to protect the environment. We will take action against anyone who breaches the regulations and puts the environment at risk.

    The court heard that RJ Mason Ltd farms Higher Highfield Farm for dairy, in the heart of the Forest of Bowland. A couple of unnamed streams cross the farm, both tributaries of the River Hodder.

    Slurry spreading regulations breached

    Between 15 and 18 October 2021, the company emptied its slurry tank and spread slurry to 8 fields.

    Slurry-spreading is common practice but care must be taken not to apply it in excess, or it can cause agricultural diffuse pollution – where nutrients wash off the land and into the water – and have a detrimental impact on the environment.  

    It’s a legal requirement to plan applications of slurry so that spreading does not cause a significant risk of pollution.

    To calculate the total amount of nutrients that can safely be applied to crop, soil samples must be taken from each field, a crucial step to understand how much additional nutrients can be safely applied to the soil. Only 3 of the 8 fields had soil tests before the spreading.

    An analysis of the company’s slurry spreading plans by the Environment Agency revealed that during 2021, several fields received multiple applications of slurry.

    One field, for example, received 6 applications of slurry between 2 January and 15 October 2021. The total nitrogen applied to this field in 2021 was 505 kg/hectare, which is more than double the limit set by the Code of Good Agricultural Practice for total nitrogen from organic manure applications, which is 250 kg/ha in any 12 month period.

    Other fields received more than 400 kg/ha total nitrogen from organic manure in 2021. Over-application gives rise to a risk of agricultural diffuse pollution.

    The Environment Agency concluded the spreading activity at the farm appeared to be the company wanting to dispose of the contents of the slurry storage tank.  

    The court found the actions of the company and Mason, as director, were reckless, with the failure to obtain soil samples for 5 out of 8 of the fields leading to a risk of pollution.

    Both were of previous good character and there was evidence they had taken steps to remedy the problem.

    Background

    Full charges:

    R J Mason Limited

    Between 14 October 2021 and 19 October 2021, RJ Mason Limited failed to ensure that each application of organic manure to agricultural land at Higher Highfield Farm was planned so that it did not give rise to a significant risk of agricultural diffuse pollution…

    …contrary to regulation 4 and 11(1) of the Reduction and Prevention of Agricultural Diffuse Pollution (England) Regulations 2018.

    Richard Mason

    Between 14 October 2021 and 19 October 2021, Richard Jonty Mason, at the relevant time being a director of RJ Mason Limited (“the company”) is liable for the offence by the company set out below as that offence was committed with his consent or connivance or was attributable to any neglect by him contrary to regulation 11(3) of the Reduction and Prevention of Agricultural Diffuse Pollution (England) Regulations 2018. The offence by the company being that on days between 14 October 2021 and 19 October 2021, it failed to ensure that each application of organic manure to agricultural land at Higher Highfield Farm was planned so that it did not give rise to a significant risk of agricultural diffuse pollution…

    …contrary to regulation 4 and 11(1) of the Reduction and Prevention of Agricultural Diffuse Pollution (England) Regulations 2018.

    Updates to this page

    Published 29 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cabinet approves direct employment for Public Health leadership 29 January 2025 Cabinet approves direct employment for Public Health leadership

    Source: Aisle of Wight

    The Isle of Wight Council’s Cabinet has decided to recruit a new director of Public Health to lead the Island’s public health service.

    The decision was made earlier this month when the future of public health leadership was considered.

    The current partnership with Hampshire County Council will not be renewed at the end of August, prompting the need for a new leadership structure for the Island.

    The Cabinet considered various options, including potential new partnership models, but ultimately decided that direct employment of a Director of Public Health would offer the greatest flexibility, stability and continued improvements.

    The council is now focused on finding a highly qualified candidate to fill this crucial, statutory role. The council is optimistic about attracting top talent due to the positive standing of its public health function.

    The new director will be supported by an increase in specialist skills to further enhance the existing public health team, ensuring robust leadership and continued improvements in service delivery.

    Councillor Debbie Andre, Cabinet member for Public Health, said: “With the Island in a stronger position in relation to our Public Health responsibilities, now is a sensible time to consider the future of our public health leadership.

    “We need to ensure that we continue to deliver high-quality outcomes for Island residents with minimal disruption to public health services.

    “This decision underscores the council’s commitment to maintaining high standards in public health services and addressing the specific needs of the Isle of Wight community.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Real Estate – $3.61M price gap between Auckland suburbs | NZ property extremes revealed – RealEstate.co.nz

    Source: RealEstate.co.nz

    New data shows vast variations in property prices within main centres

    30 January 2025 – New data from realestate.co.nz highlights striking million-dollar price gaps between the highest and lowest-priced suburbs across New Zealand’s main centres1. Auckland City saw the most dramatic contrast, with a $3.61 million gap in 2024 between Herne Bay’s average asking price of $4.32 million and Auckland Central’s $704,067. Wellington and Christchurch also saw price differences exceeding $1 million between their highest and lowest-priced suburbs last year.

    The district-level data reflects the annual average asking prices of suburbs with 10 or more new listings in 2024, highlighting the varied dynamics of the property market.

    “These price variations across our main centres reveal how individual neighbourhoods within the same district can command dramatically different price points,” said Vanessa Williams, spokesperson for realestate.co.nz.

    “What’s also interesting is the lifestyle factors commanding premium prices differ from place to place, creating diverse opportunities across the motu.”

    Capital city contrasts

    In Wellington, a $1.14 million price gap separated the central city’s average asking price of $629,130 from coastal Seatoun’s $1.77 million.

    “Wellington’s central city offers a markedly different price point to its premium suburbs,” noted Williams. “The relative affordability of CBD living, influenced by apartment options, opens up opportunities for buyers.”

    Views command premium in Garden City

    Christchurch’s Port Hills continued to attract premium prices, with Kennedys Bush averaging $1.98 million for its elevated views over the Canterbury Plains. The established suburb of Fendalton came in a close second with an average asking price of $1.77 million. In contrast, the eastern suburb of Wainoni recorded the city’s lowest average at $490,787, representing a $1.49 million gap between the highest- and lowest-priced areas.

    ‘‘View’ is one of the most searched terms on realestate.co.nz, and Kennedys Bush has this in spades. Who could blame those in Christchurch wanting to enjoy a panoramic view of the Southern Alps and Canterbury Plains,” said Williams.

    Northern appeal in Hamilton

    Hamilton’s price variations spanned just over half a million ($531,197). The sought-after northern suburb of Flagstaff was the highest-priced suburb at $1.09 million, while the southern suburb of Bader was the lowest at $561,783.

    “As part of the Golden Triangle, Hamilton’s northern suburbs are popular with those drawn to the lifestyle benefits of a regional city while maintaining easy access to Auckland,” said Williams.

    ¹District-level data – Auckland City District, Wellington City District, Christchurch City District and Hamilton City District. Based on suburbs with 10 or more listings in 2024.

    About realestate.co.nz  

    We’ve been helping people buy, sell, or rent property since 1996. Established before Google, realestate.co.nz is New Zealand’s longest-standing property website and the official website of the real estate industry.  

    Dedicated only to property, our mission is to empower people with a property search tool they can use to find the life they want to live. With residential, lifestyle, rural and commercial property listings, realestate.co.nz is the place to start for those looking to buy or sell property.   

    Whatever life you’re searching for, it all starts here.  

    Want more property insights? 

    • Market insights: Search by suburb to see median sale prices, popular property types and trends over time. 
    • Sold properties: Switch your search to sold to see the last 12 months of sales and prices. 
    • Valuations: Get a gauge on property prices by browsing sold residential properties, with the latest sale prices and an estimated value in the current market.  

    Glossary of terms:  

    Average asking price (AAP) is neither a valuation nor the sale price. It is an indication of current market sentiment. Statistically, asking prices tend to correlate closely with the sales prices recorded in future months when those properties are sold. As it looks at different data, average asking prices may differ from recorded sales data released simultaneously.  

    New listings are a record of all the new residential dwellings listed for sale on realestate.co.nz for the relevant calendar month. The site reflects 97% of all properties listed through licensed real estate agents and major developers in New Zealand. This description gives a representative view of the New Zealand property market.  

    Stock is the total number of residential dwellings that are for sale on realestate.co.nz on the penultimate day of the month.  

    Rate of sale is a measure of how long it would take, theoretically, to sell the current stock at current average rates of sale if no new properties were to be listed for sale. It provides a measure of the rate of turnover in the market.  

    Seasonal adjustment is a method realestate.co.nz uses to represent better the core underlying trend of the property market in New Zealand. This is done using methodology from the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research.  

    Truncated mean is the method realestate.co.nz uses to supply statistically relevant asking prices. The top and bottom 10% of listings in each area are removed before the average is calculated to prevent exceptional listings from providing false impressions.      

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New Jersey Man Convicted for Conspiring to Traffic Fentanyl-Related Substances and Launder Money

    Source: US State of Vermont

    A federal jury in Newark convicted a New Jersey man on Jan. 27 for conspiring to traffic fentanyl-related substances and launder money.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from approximately January 2014 through September 2020, William Panzera, 51, of North Haledon, and other members of a drug trafficking organization, agreed to import and distribute controlled substances and controlled substance analogues, including fentanyl analogues, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), methylone, and ketamine. Co-conspirators ordered controlled substances and analogues from a source in China and paid those sources hundreds of thousands of dollars via wire transfer and cryptocurrency. The conspirators distributed the substances throughout New Jersey in bulk and in the form of counterfeit pharmaceutical pills that actually contained fentanyl analogues. Eight other defendants have pleaded guilty in the case.

    The jury convicted Panzera of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of furanyl fentanyl and 100 grams or more of 4 fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl and conspiracy to commit international promotional money laundering. Panzera faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum penalty of life in prison, and a fine of up to $10 million for the drug trafficking conspiracy charge, and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000 for the money laundering conspiracy charge. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 25. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna for the District of New Jersey, and Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Newark made the announcement.

    HSI Newark is investigating the case. HSI Philadelphia, the FBI Newark Field Office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Newark Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Newark Police Department, and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office provided valuable assistance.

    Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit Chief Stephen Sola of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sammi Malek and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Hasapidis-Sferra for the District of New Jersey are prosecuting the case. Financial Investigator Kathryn Montemorra of the MLARS Special Financial Investigations Unit supported the investigation.

    This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Modernizing the Staten Island Institute for Basic Research

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul announced in her FY 2026 Executive Budget proposal a $75 million investment aimed at modernizing the Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities. This Office for People With Developmental Disabilities initiative includes the establishment of a Genomic Core Facility to enhance New York’s research capabilities and expand access for genetic testing. This groundbreaking investment will also fund the renovation of “Building 29,” a previously abandoned structure on the former Willowbrook State School grounds, transforming it into a Center for Learning, commemorating the institution’s role in disability rights history.

    “New Yorkers need and deserve access to advanced genomics research to improve therapies for people with developmental disabilities,” Governor Hochul said. “This proposal aims to modernize a community space into a nationally recognized Center for Learning, fostering innovative treatments and educational opportunities while preserving history. I am proud to include this investment in my Executive Budget and I look forward to seeing this campus revitalized as a hub for research and innovation.”

    The Institute for Basic Research (IBR) opened in 1968 as the first large-scale institute in the world with a mandate to conduct basic and clinical research into the causes of developmental disabilities. The IBR became part of the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) in 1979. This proposed funding would be the largest single financial commitment to the IBR since it opened nearly 60 years ago and will help re-establish New York as a leader in this field. The proposed Willowbrook Center for Learning provides an opportunity to memorialize the history of Willowbrook as a birthplace of reform while establishing a space for learning about the past and fostering innovation for the future.

    The Willowbrook State School was opened on Staten Island in 1947 to house and care for children with developmental disabilities. Census at the school grew to 6,000 children by 1965 making it the largest state institution in the country for people with developmental disabilities. The school made national headlines in 1972 when the deplorable conditions and treatment of the children living there were exposed by journalists Jane Curtin of the Staten Island Advance and Geraldo Rivera. Since its closing in 1987, Willowbrook has symbolized the importance of community inclusion and living with dignity for people with developmental disabilities.

    New York State OPWDD Acting Commissioner Willow Baer said, “We are thrilled at the prospect of this investment in the future of people with developmental disabilities and thank Governor Hochul for making this transformation a priority of her administration. New York State’s — and the nation’s — history of institutionalization of people with disabilities is one we continue to learn from every day, making a goal of full community inclusion the heart of everything we do, alongside our self-advocates, families and provider partners. As our nation-leading research arm, the Institute for Basic Research continues to advance our understanding of developmental disabilities, and this investment will allow New York State to be at the forefront of genetic research and testing for the benefit of people with developmental disabilities and their families.”

    New York State’s Chief Disability Officer Kim Hill Ridley said, “With this proposal, and under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York State cements its commitment to improving the lives of New Yorkers with disabilities through cutting-edge research that will serve as a national resource and model for genetic testing. Reimagining the former Willowbrook School campus as a Center for Learning is a fitting project to highlight and learn from our past while remaining focused on the future, especially as it pertains to inclusion and deinstitutionalization.”

    State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton said, “As a member of the New York State Senate Disabilities Committee, I’m pleased to see the $75 million investment in the Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, which will also enable the establishment of the Willowbrook Center for Learning. This funding marks an important step in ensuring that my constituents, particularly those with disabilities, have access to the care and support they need to live with dignity. These improvements will lead to meaningful, life-changing advancements that will enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities, reinforcing New York’s commitment to the most vulnerable members of our community. I want to thank Governor Hochul, OPWDD, all the advocates, and especially my friend and colleague, Mike Cusick, for his tireless work in championing this effort year after year during his time in the Assembly. I look forward to working alongside OPWDD and the Governor’s office to support my constituents with developmental disabilities and their families throughout this important project.”

    State Senator Andrew J. Lanza said, “The Institute for Basic Research has long been a vital resource providing medical, behavioral and research services to people with developmental disabilities. A strong supporter of their important work, I thank Governor Hochul and Acting Commissioner Willow Baer for their commitment to modernizing IBR into a premier center for science and learning for years to come.”

    Assemblymember Angelo Santabarbara said, “As Chair of the New York State Assembly’s Standing Committee on People with Disabilities, I fully support this investment in modernizing the Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities. This effort enhances essential research capabilities, expands access to diagnostic tools and advances education and community inclusion, ensuring the Institute remains a leader in progress for individuals with developmental disabilities. It reflects our collective commitment to innovation and the development of resources that empower individuals with developmental disabilities and their families, building a future grounded in dignity, inclusion, and opportunity.”

    Assemblymember Charles D. Fall said, “Willowbrook is a symbol of how far we’ve come and how far we can still go. Governor Hochul’s $75 million investment honors that journey, turning a painful past into a hopeful future through cutting-edge research and education. It’s personal to me, and I know it’s personal to so many Staten Islanders who carry Willowbrook’s legacy in their hearts.”

    Assemblymember Michael W. Reilly said, “I want to thank Governor Hochul and the team at the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities for making this significant investment into our Staten Island community to help drive the next generation of cutting edge scientific research through a refreshed Institute for Basic Research. I also applaud the transformation of the historic Willowbrook site into a Center for Learning — a meaningful step that ensures this property is used to support those in need for generations to come. I look forward to working with my partners throughout government to ensure this vision becomes a reality and serves as a lasting commitment to our community.”

    Assemblymember Sam Pirozzolo said, “As Staten Islanders, we have a unique responsibility to lead the way in disability research and care, given the horrific history of the Willowbrook State School. As a legislator, I appreciate the opportunity to work with the Governor on projects that not only benefit my district but all New Yorkers. I am thrilled that New York State is proposing such a significant investment, to continue and expand life-changing research while also honoring the victims of one of the darkest chapters in our history. Thank you to Governor Hochul for this proposal, and to OPWDD and the incredible team at IBR for the work you do every day.”

    Staten Island Economic Development President and CEO and Former Assemblymember Michael J. Cusick said, “This $75 million investment for the Institute for Basic Research, the largest in the institution’s history, is a significant investment by the State of New York. With this funding, Governor Hochul has shown the State’s commitment to solidify the history and footprint of the Willowbrook State School, ensuring that the tragedy is never forgotten while strengthening IBR’s mission to advance research and improve lives. Staten Islanders are grateful to Governor Hochul for including this proposal in her Executive Budget, which aims to bring critical improvements to IBR while helping re-establish the borough and New York as national leaders in research and innovative treatment for people with developmental disabilities.”

    PEF President Wayne Spence said, “Governor Hochul’s investment in IBR is a testament to her recognition of the critical work performed by our members and PEF will work with the Governor to secure this important proposal in the final budget agreement. This funding not only secures the future of IBR but also reinforces the State’s commitment to advancing research and services for developmental disabilities. We are proud to have an administration that values and supports our mission.”

    New York City Councilmember David Carr said, This investment in IBR’s modernization is not only funding to bring Staten Island to the head of the pack with critical, cutting-edge programs in the field of developmental disabilities and the fight to provide better services for patients and their families. It also represents a new chapter in Staten Island’s history. After the closure of the Willowbrook State School, the name became synonymous with the horrors perpetuated there. Now, Willowbrook will have a new meaning, one that represents a brighter future filled with hope for people with developmental disabilities and their families. I want to thank the Governor for making this investment.”

    Former Willowbrook Resident and Advocate Bernard Carabello said, “It’s always good news when New York announces new funding and new directions to benefit people with developmental disabilities. This necessary funding announced today is going towards programming in a building that I actually grew up in as a little boy: Building 29. I arrived at Building 29 on the Willowbrook State School campus at 5 years old. The ward that I was on was split between the day room and dormitory where I slept at night. Many years later, I was able to come back to this campus, now the College of Staten Island, to receive my honorary doctorate. Back when I lived at Willowbrook I could never have imagined that the building I slept in would be used for research to benefit people with developmental disabilities like those who grew up here. I want to thank the Governor for this funding and her efforts to support people with developmental disabilities in New York.”

    Family Advocate and Brother of Former Willowbrook Resident Jose Rivera said, “By preserving this history through a Center for Learning, Governor Hochul and Acting Commissioner Willow Baer of OPWDD are making a commitment to us and future generations — a commitment that the mistakes of the past will never be repeated.”

    About the Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities

    Through its five mission-focused areas of research encompassing 25 laboratories, the Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities focuses on the causes of developmental disabilities and furthers the understanding of brain development and pathology. IBR’s goals are to provide the means to diagnose, prevent and treat developmental disabilities more effectively.

    The Institute also provides extensive, specialized biomedical, psychological and laboratory services to people with developmental disabilities and their families, and educates the public, researchers and health and education professionals regarding the causes, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of developmental disabilities. IBR’s George A. Jervis Clinic offers specialized diagnostic and consultative services for children, adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities.

    MIL OSI USA News –