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Category: Latin America

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s remarks to the Informal Interactive Dialogue on the Implementation of the Pact for the Future [bilingual, as delivered; scroll down for all-English version]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Mr. President of the General Assembly, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

    I thank the President of the General Assembly for convening this important dialogue — the first of three in the coming months. 

    From day one of the Pact for the Future’s adoption, the President has been its active champion.

    I deeply appreciate your efforts, Mr. President, and your leadership.

    Excellencies,

    Adopting the Pact was the beginning of the process, not the end. 

    Today I want to focus on what we have done over the last six months — and what we need to do.

    We face a long list of challenges.  

    Conflicts and climate disasters are intensifying.  

    The Sustainable Development Goals are far off-track — as is the funding required to achieve them.

    Geopolitical divisions and mistrust are blocking effective action, with some actively questioning the value of international cooperation and the multilateral system itself.

    But let me be very clear.  It is exactly because of these divides and these mistrusts that the Pact for the Future and the two parallel documents are more important than ever.  And the bigger the obstacle, the bigger will be my determination to make things move forward in line with the will expressed by Member States in the Summit of the Future.

    Meanwhile, critical funding is being drastically cut for people in desperate need — with more reductions to come.

    Resources are shrinking across the board — and they have been for a long time. 

    From day one of my mandate, we embarked on an ambitious agenda to become more effective and cost-effective across our organization.

    Earlier this month, I announced the “UN80” initiative to continue this work and intensify it.

    We’re reviewing efficiencies and improvements to current arrangements, the implementation of mandates handed down by Member States, and structural changes and programme realignment.

    All these will contribute for a more effective implementation of the Pact for the Future.

    Excellencies,

    We’ve wasted no time moving into the implementation phase of the Pact.

    From an operational perspective, we established a principal-level steering committee — which I chair — overseeing six working groups focused on action and reforms in key areas:

    Sustainable Development Goals acceleration…peace and security… international financial architecture…digital technologies…UN governance…and youth.

    We’ve created two task teams focusing on future generations and the need to look beyond GDP as a measure of progress and guide to policy-making. 

    And we’re establishing an internal tracking system to monitor our progress on Pact implementation.

    Today, I’d like to report on our efforts since the Pact was adopted, and outline the work ahead in four areas.

    First — peace and security.

    United Nations peace operations help safeguard people and communities in some of the most desperate corners of the world. 

    The Pact represents a commitment to strengthen tools to prevent and address conflict, to ensure that our peace efforts respond to new and emerging threats.

    In November, I issued a report on peacebuilding which included concrete suggestions to strengthen the Peacebuilding Commission and Fund. 

    We’re actively working on the second independent progress study on the positive contribution of young people to peace processes.  

    And we’re progressing on a review of all forms of Peace Operations — as requested in the Pact. 

    Our recent proposals to the Security Council regarding Haiti are a case in point where new approaches can be developed to complex security challenges.

    The review will be an opportunity to help adapt peace operations to today’s realities, and ensure they’re guided by clear and sequenced mandates that are realistic and achievable — with viable exit strategies and transition plans.

    It will also recognize the limitations of our operations where there is little or no peace to keep.

    We will also continue pushing forward on other peace-related priorities of the Pact — including disarmament commitments around nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, lethal autonomous weapons and the growing weaponization of outer space.

    And we will continue advocating — including through the intergovernmental negotiations process — for the Pact’s call to make the Security Council more representative of today’s world and more effective in the capacity to promote peace in the world.

    Second — finance for development.

    Since the Pact’s adoption, we’ve taken action on several fronts.

    For example, our Resident Coordinators and Country Teams are now mapping out how we can accelerate progress at the national levels in close cooperation with the Governments.

    We’ve begun analyzing the impact of military expenditure on the achievement of the SDGs and on our own work at the UN — with a final report out by September.

    The Expert Group called for in the Pact to develop measures of progress that go beyond Gross Domestic Product will soon be announced, and will work throughout the year before an inter-governmental process takes over in 2026.

    And we’ve been working closely with the World Bank and the IMF to follow-up on the Pact’s action points addressing improvements to the international financial system.

    Developing countries must be represented fairly in the governance of the very institutions they depend on.

    We know the environment is not favourable.

    But we must not give up.

    Since the Pact’s adoption, I have also established an expert group to identify practical steps for action on debt.

    In the coming weeks, they will propose a list of achievable outcomes — and release a full report in June in advance of the Financing for Development Conference in Spain.

    Debt relief is a central issue if we want the implementation and the Pact for the Future a reality.

    At the same time, we will continue advocating to increase the lending capacity of Multilateral Development Banks, to make them bigger and bolder.

    This includes both stretching their balance sheets and recapitalization.

    And we must ensure that concessional finance is deployed where it is most needed.

    Many of these actions depend on decisions of other multilateral institutions and of Member States, but we will not relent in our constant advocacy for what the Pact for the Future has clearly indicated as the way to pursue.

    Three — youth and future generations 

    Our efforts must deliver for young people and the generations to come. 

    The Pact’s central promise to young people is to listen to their concerns and ideas, and including them at the decision-making table.

    Following the establishment of a UN Youth Office in 2022, young people played a key role in shaping the Pact’s priorities.

    With the Pact’s adoption, we’re now progressing towards establishing a Youth Investment Platform to ensure that national funding mechanisms and investment platforms are focused on the needs of young people.

    And we’re developing core principles to strengthen youth engagement across our work at the United Nations — including by broadening the representation of younger colleagues within our organizational structures.

    Through the Declaration on Future Generations, we’re also looking to the generations yet to be born.

    We’ve established a Strategic Foresight Network and Community of Practice, to ensure our policies, programmes and field operations are based on long-term thinking.

    And later this year, I will appoint a Special Envoy for Future Generations to scale up these efforts.

    Quatrièmement : la technologie.

    Nous mettons en œuvre les appels du Pacte mondial pour le numérique pour combler toutes les fractures numériques et veiller à ce que tout le monde puisse bénéficier d’un espace numérique sûr et sécurisé.

    L’intelligence artificielle fait l’objet d’une attention particulière.

    Nous élaborons un rapport sur les options novatrices de financement volontaire qui permettraient de renforcer les capacités en matière d’intelligence artificielle afin d’aider les pays du Sud à exploiter cette technologie au service de l’intérêt général – en tenant compte des recommandations formulées par mon Organe consultatif de haut niveau. 

    Un avant-projet de résolution visant à établir le Groupe scientifique international indépendant sur l’IA et à organiser un Dialogue mondial sur la gouvernance de l’IA a été distribué la semaine dernière – grâce au travail des co-facilitateurs, l’Espagne et le Costa Rica.

    J’invite l’Assemblée générale à agir rapidement pour mettre sur pied ce Groupe et veiller à ce que le savoir-faire et les connaissances en matière d’IA soient mis à la disposition de tous les pays – tout en soutenant le Dialogue mondial.

    L’ensemble du système de l’ONU se tient prêt à soutenir ces travaux.

    Excellences,

    Tout en défendant ces priorités, nous nous attelons par ailleurs à améliorer l’efficience et l’efficacité de nos opérations – comme l’exige le Pacte.

    L’automne dernier, nous avons entrepris une évaluation complète dans l’ensemble des entités de l’ONU afin d’exploiter le potentiel de l’innovation, de l’analyse des données, de la transformation numérique et de la prospective dans l’ensemble de nos travaux – conformément à l’initiative ONU 2.0.

    Les résultats sont déjà au rendez-vous : nous avons par exemple été capable de constater une accélération de l’évaluation des catastrophes dans la région Asie-Pacifique, un renforcement des programmes de sécurité sociale au Malawi, ou encore une consolidation des fonctions relatives à l’informatique dans l’ensemble du système des Nations Unies.

    Ces efforts, où les données sont une question essentielle pour que nous puissions faire une bien meilleure gestion de ces données – ces efforts doivent se poursuivre, en particulier au regard des problèmes de financement auxquels nous devons faire face.

    Nous comptons sur votre soutien pour mener ce travail à bien.

    Excellences,

    Alors que nous œuvrons pour remodeler le système multilatéral et ainsi relever les défis du monde d’aujourd’hui, le Pacte pour l’avenir est un rouage essentiel de ce processus de renouvellement constant.

    Nous ne pouvons pas diluer nos efforts.

    Gardons intact l’esprit et la détermination qui ont permis de forger et d’adopter le Pacte.

    Nous comptons sur vous pour éclairer, inspirer et guider le travail de mise en œuvre à venir.

    Une fois encore, merci pour vos idées et votre engagement.

    ***
    [All-English]

    Mr. President of the General Assembly, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

    I thank the President of the General Assembly for convening this important dialogue — the first of three in the coming months. 

    From day one of the Pact for the Future’s adoption, the President has been its active champion.

    I deeply appreciate your efforts, Mr. President, and your leadership.

    Excellencies,

    Adopting the Pact was the beginning of the process, not the end. 

    Today I want to focus on what we have done over the last six months — and what we need to do.

    We face a long list of challenges.  

    Conflicts and climate disasters are intensifying.  

    The Sustainable Development Goals are far off-track — as is the funding required to achieve them.

    Geopolitical divisions and mistrust are blocking effective action, with some actively questioning the value of international cooperation and the multilateral system itself.

    But let me be very clear.  It is exactly because of these divides and these mistrusts that the Pact for the Future and the two parallel documents are more important than ever.  And the bigger the obstacle, the bigger will be my determination to make things move forward in line with the will expressed by Member States in the Summit of the Future.

    Meanwhile, critical funding is being drastically cut for people in desperate need — with more reductions to come.

    Resources are shrinking across the board — and they have been for a long time. 

    From day one of my mandate, we embarked on an ambitious agenda to become more effective and cost-effective across our organization.

    Earlier this month, I announced the “UN80” initiative to continue this work and intensify it.

    We’re reviewing efficiencies and improvements to current arrangements, the implementation of mandates handed down by Member States, and structural changes and programme realignment.

    All these will contribute for a more effective implementation of the Pact for the Future.

    Excellencies,

    We’ve wasted no time moving into the implementation phase of the Pact.

    From an operational perspective, we established a principal-level steering committee — which I chair — overseeing six working groups focused on action and reforms in key areas:

    Sustainable Development Goals acceleration…peace and security… international financial architecture…digital technologies…UN governance…and youth.

    We’ve created two task teams focusing on future generations and the need to look beyond GDP as a measure of progress and guide to policy-making. 

    And we’re establishing an internal tracking system to monitor our progress on Pact implementation.

    Today, I’d like to report on our efforts since the Pact was adopted, and outline the work ahead in four areas.

    First — peace and security.

    United Nations peace operations help safeguard people and communities in some of the most desperate corners of the world. 

    The Pact represents a commitment to strengthen tools to prevent and address conflict, to ensure that our peace efforts respond to new and emerging threats.

    In November, I issued a report on peacebuilding which included concrete suggestions to strengthen the Peacebuilding Commission and Fund. 

    We’re actively working on the second independent progress study on the positive contribution of young people to peace processes.  

    And we’re progressing on a review of all forms of Peace Operations — as requested in the Pact. 

    Our recent proposals to the Security Council regarding Haiti are a case in point where new approaches can be developed to complex security challenges.

    The review will be an opportunity to help adapt peace operations to today’s realities, and ensure they’re guided by clear and sequenced mandates that are realistic and achievable — with viable exit strategies and transition plans.

    It will also recognize the limitations of our operations where there is little or no peace to keep.

    We will also continue pushing forward on other peace-related priorities of the Pact — including disarmament commitments around nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, lethal autonomous weapons and the growing weaponization of outer space.

    And we will continue advocating — including through the intergovernmental negotiations process — for the Pact’s call to make the Security Council more representative of today’s world and more effective in the capacity to promote peace in the world.

    Second — finance for development.

    Since the Pact’s adoption, we’ve taken action on several fronts.

    For example, our Resident Coordinators and Country Teams are now mapping out how we can accelerate progress at the national levels in close cooperation with the Governments.

    We’ve begun analyzing the impact of military expenditure on the achievement of the SDGs and on our own work at the UN — with a final report out by September.

    The Expert Group called for in the Pact to develop measures of progress that go beyond Gross Domestic Product will soon be announced, and will work throughout the year before an inter-governmental process takes over in 2026.

    And we’ve been working closely with the World Bank and the IMF to follow-up on the Pact’s action points addressing improvements to the international financial system.

    Developing countries must be represented fairly in the governance of the very institutions they depend on.

    We know the environment is not favourable.

    But we must not give up.

    Since the Pact’s adoption, I have also established an expert group to identify practical steps for action on debt.

    In the coming weeks, they will propose a list of achievable outcomes — and release a full report in June in advance of the Financing for Development Conference in Spain.

    Debt relief is a central issue if we want the implementation and the Pact for the Future a reality.

    At the same time, we will continue advocating to increase the lending capacity of Multilateral Development Banks, to make them bigger and bolder.

    This includes both stretching their balance sheets and recapitalization.

    And we must ensure that concessional finance is deployed where it is most needed.

    Many of these actions depend on decisions of other multilateral institutions and of Member States, but we will not relent in our constant advocacy for what the Pact for the Future has clearly indicated as the way to pursue.

    Three — youth and future generations 

    Our efforts must deliver for young people and the generations to come. 

    The Pact’s central promise to young people is to listen to their concerns and ideas, and including them at the decision-making table.

    Following the establishment of a UN Youth Office in 2022, young people played a key role in shaping the Pact’s priorities.

    With the Pact’s adoption, we’re now progressing towards establishing a Youth Investment Platform to ensure that national funding mechanisms and investment platforms are focused on the needs of young people.

    And we’re developing core principles to strengthen youth engagement across our work at the United Nations — including by broadening the representation of younger colleagues within our organizational structures.

    Through the Declaration on Future Generations, we’re also looking to the generations yet to be born.

    We’ve established a Strategic Foresight Network and Community of Practice, to ensure our policies, programmes and field operations are based on long-term thinking.

    And later this year, I will appoint a Special Envoy for Future Generations to scale up these efforts.

    Fourth — technology.

    We’re implementing the Global Digital Compact’s calls to close all digital divides and ensure all people benefit from a safe and secure digital space.

    Artificial Intelligence is a particular focus.

    We’re developing a report on innovative voluntary financing options for AI capacity-building to help the Global South harness AI for the greater good, taking into account the recommendations of my High-Level Advisory Body. 

    The zero draft resolution to establish the International Independent Scientific Panel on AI and convene a Global Dialogue on AI Governance was also circulated last week — thanks to the work of the co-facilitators, Spain and Costa Rica.

    I urge the General Assembly to act swiftly to establish this Panel, and ensure that AI expertise and knowledge are available to all countries, while supporting the Global Dialogue.

    The UN system stands ready to support this work.

    Excellencies,

    As we push for these priorities, we’re also improving the efficiency and effectiveness of our operations, as called for by the Pact.

    Last fall, we undertook a comprehensive assessment across UN entities to harness the potential of innovation, data analytics, digital transformation and foresight across our work — as called for in the UN 2.0 initiative.

    We’re already seeing results: from speeding-up disaster assessments in the Asia-Pacific, to strengthening social security programmes in Malawi, to consolidating Information Technology functions across the UN System.

    This work must continue — especially in light of the funding challenges we face.

    We’re counting on your support as we move forward.

    Excellencies,

    The Pact for the Future is an essential part of this process of constant renewal, as we re-shape the multilateral system for the challenges of today’s world.

    We cannot dilute our efforts.

    We need to sustain the same spirit and determination in which the Pact was forged and adopted.

    We count on you to inform, inspire and guide the implementation work ahead.

    Once again, thank you for your ideas and commitment. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: Digicel and Caban Energy Combat Climate Change With Solar Rollout

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    KINGSTON, Jamaica, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a powerful statement of its commitment to environmental responsibility and combatting climate change, Digicel today announced a partnership with Caban Energy (Caban) which will diversify its energy source using solar technology and reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while significantly reducing operational costs.

    This partnership in renewable energy infrastructure will support the Caribbean region in achieving its sustainability goals as outlined in the Paris Agreement. As a leader in renewable energy, Caban is working to deploy solar energy and storage solutions on cell towers across Jamaica for Digicel, both in collaboration with Phoenix Tower International (PTI) and independently.

    Providing a reliable, sustainable and cost-effective alternative power source for cell tower, data centers and other critical infrastructure locations, solar energy and storage solutions enhance network reliability, energy security and communications resilience. By integrating renewable energy into its network once fully deployed, Digicel will reduce GHG emissions by over 38,674 tons of CO2e per year or 580,109 tons of CO2e for the life of the project.

    Commenting on the partnership, Digicel Group CEO, Marcelo Cataldo, said; “As a meaningful expression of our Connecting. Empowering mission, our commitment to ESG is fundamental to who we are as a business. With robust social and governance programmes in place, we’re now making tangible progress in our environmental agenda as we drive multiple benefits through the deployment of sustainable, renewable and cost-effective energy solutions. Jamaica is our first market with Caban and is the shape of things to come with the expectation that more of our 25 markets will come on stream in the coming months.”

    Stephen Murad, Digicel Jamaica CEO, elaborates; “In the wake of Hurricane Beryl in July 2024 which caused significant damage to the south coast of Jamaica, and in particular to the power supplies that we rely on to run our telecoms infrastructure, we made a commitment to the Prime Minister of Jamaica that we would invest in renewable energy. We’re proud that just eight months later, we’re honouring that commitment and actively stepping up to help combat climate change.”

    Alexandra Rasch, CEO of Caban, commented; “This is about building a sustainable future for all. With Caribbean countries at the forefront of the negative effects of climate change, the region’s energy landscape is evolving. Mindful of its ESG commitments, Digicel is partnering with us to harness renewable energy sources to benefit those same countries and enable their progress towards achieving national and global climate targets. It makes for an exciting future.”

    About Digicel

    Enabling customers to live, work, play and flourish in a connected world, Digicel’s world class LTE and fibre networks deliver state-of-the-art mobile, home and business solutions.

    Serving nine million consumer and business customers in 25 markets in the Caribbean and Central America, our investments of over US$5 billion and a commitment to our communities through our Digicel Foundations in Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago have contributed to positive outcomes for over two million people to date.

    With our Connecting. Empowering vision at the heart of everything we do – supported by our DIGI values of Diversity, Integrity, Growth and Innovation – our 5,000 employees worldwide work together to make that a powerful reality for customers, communities and countries day in, day out. Visit www.digicelgroup.com for more.

    About Caban

    Caban, founded in 2018, set out to tackle the challenge of decarbonizing the most fossil fuel-dependent industries. Initially focused on providing alternative energy solutions for the telecommunications industry in the Americas, the company has since grown and demonstrated success in supplying energy to several of the world’s largest telecom operators. Building on this momentum, Caban has scaled globally and expanded its reach to support clean energy needs across critical infrastructure sectors worldwide.

    Caban uniquely combines service, hardware, software, and finance to deliver reliable, clean power and boosts your bottom line. This turnkey approach allows you to work directly with one trusted ESG partner to achieve decarbonization across your operations. Visit www.cabanenergy.com for more.

    Contact:
    Antonia Graham
    Head of Group Communications
    +1876 564 1708
    antonia.graham@digicelgroup.com

    Jacqueline Castillo
    info@cabanenergy.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Snow White: this opportunity to empower Disney’s first princess falls short at every turn

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Laura O’Flanagan, PhD Candidate, School of English, Dublin City University

    Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was a wonder of animation and cinema when it was first released by Disney in 1937. Based on the 1812 German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm, it tells the story of a princess whose wicked step mother is intimidated by her youthful beauty. Desperate to be the “fairest of them all” the evil queen tries to have Snow White killed. Evading death, she is forced into hiding with seven dwarves.

    It was Disney’s first animated feature-length film and a critical and commercial success. Snow White was also the first Disney princess.

    In the decades since, Disney’s pantheon of princesses has grown. Alongside newer princess, Snow White seems pretty antiquated and uninspiring. She is a passive, innocent character who doesn’t do very much but wait around for her prince with whom she travels into the sunset at the film’s conclusion. In contrast, Moana (2016) and Elsa from Frozen (2013) are strong and independent characters who develop into thoughtful and careful leaders by the end of their stories.

    So, in an age of live-action remakes of some of Disney’s most iconic films it seemed fitting to give the character who started it all an update for modern audiences. However, the production was mired in controversy before it was even released, raising questions about whether Snow White is a story that can ever really be retold in a more empowering way.

    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.

    Changing the story to move with the times is in keeping with traditions of oral folk tales. But, controversy has followed the film since it was announced. As a result, Disney scaled back their usual red carpet premieres and it has been critically panned upon release.

    To many, the prospect of an updated, less romantically inclined Snow White was unthinkable. Some online commenters dubbed a Snow White story where the princess is not dreaming of true love “woke”.

    There was also backlash against the choice of Rachel Zegler as Snow White because of her Colombian background. The live-action Snow White isn’t the first remake to be the source of such racism. The ire echoes the hatred which accompanied 2023’s The Little Mermaid, when black actress Halle Bailey was cast as Ariel.

    There were also those who had concerns about the story, particularly the titular seven dwarves. Actor Peter Dinklage, who has a form of dwarfism, has condemned the production’s use of CGI, rather than casting dwarf actors to play Snow White’s mining companions. The story’s representation of people with dwarfism, has led some to say that the story shouldn’t be retold altogether.



    Read more:
    Why the changing representation of dwarfism in Disney’s live action Snow White remake is so important

    However, there are some aspects of the story that could have provided interesting opportunities to explore modern issues.

    For instance, it could have thoughtfully explored female ageing through the character of the evil queen. It could also, perhaps, have commented on the politics of beauty and the pressure for consumers in their teens and twenties, who have started buying beauty products at younger ages than ever before.

    Like Frozen’s tale of sisters saving each other, it could have subverted the trope of the damsel in distress saved by her prince charming. Snow White could have been a strong heroine who can overcome evil on her own terms.

    The story could have revised mistakes of the past and depicted different body types and people of different sizes and statures. It could also have portrayed consensual kisses by updating the kiss Snow White receives while asleep, turning it into a moment she chooses to participate in.

    Unfortunately, the new Snow White does not achieve any of these, or really anything much at all. The result is a dull, pointless story with poorly rendered visuals, cheap-looking costumes and lacklustre musical numbers.

    Falling short

    The 1937 film was a technical marvel and remains one of Disney’s visual masterpieces. Snow White of 2025 looks like she is gallivanting through a theme park ride as she moves through the forest, bathed in permanent evening light among computer-generated woodland creatures in her garish costume.

    The miners are introduced as 274-year-old magical creatures. Their appearance is neither human nor magical creature, landing somewhere uncanny in between. This is the crux of the film’s entire problem. The opportunity to update Snow White fails on every level because it does not go far enough.

    The story largely remains intact, with some expansion in terms of backstory and some additional characters. The evil queen remains a one-dimensional villain obsessed with beauty.

    The script plays with the word “fair”, with it taking on a confused double-meaning in the story. To the queen “fair” is beautiful, in keeping with the 1937 film, but to Snow White, “fair” means just. This is an interesting idea but it becomes muddled as the film progresses, and loses its way.

    Snow White is portrayed with an expanded backstory and is certainly given more motivation than in the 1937 film. For instance, she wants to reinstate “fairness” in the kingdom, which has been under the tyrannical rule of the evil queen since Snow White’s father’s death. But as more characters are introduced to aid Snow White on her journey, these serve as distraction and buffer, preventing her from showing any real development or growth.

    Prince Charming has been replaced by Jonathan, a Robin Hood-style bandit who condescendingly explains to Snow White why she has “princess problems”. He ultimately saves her by giving her true love’s kiss when she is under the queen’s spell. The issue of consent still swirls around this scene and underscores the question: is this an update at all?

    In the end, the queen is ultimately defeated by collective action, compared with a lightning bolt like in 1937. This is a significant development and perhaps the clearest update in the film. In 2025, the defeat of a vain autocrat by collective action is an appealing thought. Perhaps the filmmakers could have leaned into this idea, allowed Snow White to truly become one of the people and a clear democracy could have been established. But, like every other of the film’s updates, it falls short and she remains an unelected autocrat – albeit “the fairest one of all”.

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

    – ref. Snow White: this opportunity to empower Disney’s first princess falls short at every turn – https://theconversation.com/snow-white-this-opportunity-to-empower-disneys-first-princess-falls-short-at-every-turn-253064

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Trade Crypto with 100x Leverage and No KYC – Get Double Deposit Bonus and $50 Instantly on BexBack

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With Bitcoin’s price fluctuating below $100,000, many analysts predict a prolonged period of high volatility in the crypto market. Holding spot positions may struggle to generate short-term profits in such conditions. As a result, 100x leverage futures trading has become the preferred tool for seasoned investors looking to maximize potential gains in this volatile market. BexBack Exchange is ramping up its efforts to offer traders unmatched promotional packages. The platform now features a 100% deposit bonus, a $50 welcome bonus for new users, and 100x leverage on cryptocurrency trading, providing exceptional opportunities for investors.

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s tariffs on Canada and Mexico could spell trouble for distilled spirits

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Andrew Muhammad, Professor of Agriculture and Resource Economics, University of Tennessee

    If all the tariff drama in the news lately has you reaching for a stiff drink, you’re not alone. Unfortunately, those same tariffs might make it harder to get your hands on your favorite brand of tequila.

    In early March 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump levied import tariffs of 25% on goods from Canada and Mexico, following through on a promise he made back in November 2024. While he later partially reversed course, suspending tariffs on some goods, tensions remain high. Mexico is largely holding off on retaliation, but Canada quickly fired back with counter-tariffs on billions of dollars’ worth of U.S. products.

    These trade tensions spell trouble for numerous industries, including the booming spirits market. Canada and Mexico – two of the top U.S. trading partners – accounted for nearly half of the US$12 billion in distilled spirits the U.S. imported in 2024.

    As an agricultural economist, I’ve analyzed how a 25% tariff could affect tequila, whiskey and other distilled spirits – and the results weren’t pretty. I found that these tariffs would cost distilled spirit importers over $1 billion in lost trade, with tequila alone taking a more than $800 million hit.

    Americans’ thirst for imported liquor

    The U.S. imports far more distilled spirits than it exports – five times as much by value, as of 2024.

    Since 2000, U.S. imports of distilled spirits have surged by more than 300%, driven largely by the explosive rise in tequila consumption. Between 2000 and 2024, tequila imports rose by 1,400%, skyrocketing from $350 million to $5.4 billion.

    While imports of whiskey, liqueurs, vodka and brandy also grew, none matched tequila’s explosive rise. Tequila now represents 45% of all spirits imported into the U.S., up from 12% in 2000.

    Not surprisingly, 99% of tequila and mezcal is imported from Mexico, making it the leading foreign supplier of distilled spirits to the United States. Meanwhile, Canada has supplied between 4% and 6% of U.S. spirits imports over the past two decades, primarily whiskey and liqueurs.

    Since distilled spirits are classified as agricultural products, their rising imports have significantly contributed to the U.S. agricultural trade deficit. However, this isn’t necessarily a problem. Imports help meet demand from U.S. consumers, generate value-added opportunities for U.S. companies, and support economic activity in bars, liquor stores, restaurants and beyond.

    A 25% tariff on Mexican goods is a 25% tax on tequila

    In my study, published in February in the peer-reviewed journal Agribusiness and in a follow-up policy brief, I found that 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada could reduce imports of distilled spirits by $1.2 billion. This loss exceeds the total amount of tax revenue those tariffs can expected to bring in.

    Unsurprisingly, tequila imports would be the hardest hit, falling by $810 million. I found that the tariff revenue from tequila – $910 million – could actually exceed the corresponding fall in imports. That’s because demand for tequila, like most alcoholic beverages, is what economists call “inelastic,” meaning that when prices rise, consumers are unlikely to change their purchasing decisions by very much.

    However, it would be a mistake to consider tequila in isolation. When I factored in other notable decreases, such as a $100 million drop in whiskey imports, I found that the value of total trade losses, in the form of decreased imports, would outweigh the total tariff revenue. I also found that no product category would come out ahead.

    In fact, even products like vodka, which are mostly exempt from these tariffs, would be indirectly affected. This is because tariffs can increase the overall cost of importing, leading businesses to reduce all imports, tariffed or otherwise. My research suggests that this “trade destruction” effect, to use an economics term, will be quite significant.

    A new era of tariffs

    The Trump administration has argued that tariffs will generate a lot of money for the federal government. But my research suggests those gains may not outweigh the economic costs to businesses and consumers.

    Contrary to common belief, trade losses don’t just affect exporting countries. Domestic consumers also face higher prices and fewer choices – hurting their overall economic welfare. Reducing imports also affects U.S. businesses involved in marketing, distribution and sales.

    Trade is more complex than a simple formula of “exports good, imports bad.” Research makes it clear that tariffs have negative consequences, including higher consumer prices, reduced product availability and downstream economic disruption. Policymakers would be wise to take those effects seriously. Otherwise, they might find themselves with a serious economic hangover.

    Andrew Muhammad does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Trump’s tariffs on Canada and Mexico could spell trouble for distilled spirits – https://theconversation.com/trumps-tariffs-on-canada-and-mexico-could-spell-trouble-for-distilled-spirits-251583

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: From Greenland to Fort Bragg, America is caught in a name game where place names become political tools

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Seth T. Kannarr, PhD Candidate in Geography, University of Tennessee

    President Donald Trump re-renamed Denali as Mount McKinley in 2025. Tim Rains/National Park Service, CC BY

    Place names are more than just labels on a map. They influence how people learn about the world around them and perceive their place in it.

    Names can send messages and suggest what is and isn’t valued in society. And the way that they are changed over time can signal cultural shifts.

    The United States is in the midst of a place-renaming moment. From the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, to the return of Forts Bragg and Benning and the newly re-renamed Mount McKinley in Alaska’s Denali National Park, we are witnessing a consequential shift in the politics of place naming.

    This sudden rewriting of the nation’s map – done to “restore American greatness,” according to President Donald Trump’s executive order that made some of them official – is part of a name game that recognizes place names as powerful brands and political tools.

    In our research on place naming, we explore how this “name game” is used to assert control over shared symbols and embed subtle and not-so-subtle messages in the landscape.

    As geography teachers and researchers, we also recognize the educational and emotional impact the name game can have on the public.

    Place names can have psychological effects

    Renaming a place is always an act of power.

    People in power have long used place naming to claim control over the identity of the place, bolster their reputations, retaliate against opponents and achieve political goals.

    These moves can have strong psychological effects, particularly when the name evokes something threatening. Changing a place name can fundamentally shift how people view, relate to or feel that they belong within that place.

    In Shenandoah County, Virginia, students at two schools originally named for Confederate generals have been on an emotional roller coaster of name changes in recent years. The schools were renamed Mountain View and Honey Run in 2020 amid the national uproar over the murder of George Floyd, a Black man killed by a police officer in Minneapolis.

    Four years later, the local school board reinstated the original Confederate names after conservatives took control of the board.

    One Black eighth grader at Mountain View High School — now re-renamed Stonewall Jackson High School — testified at a board meeting about how the planned change would affect her:

    “I would have to represent a man that fought for my ancestors to be slaves. If this board decides to restore the names, I would not feel like I was valued and respected,” she said. The board still approved the change, 5-1.

    Even outside of schools, place names operate as a “hidden curriculum.” They provide narratives to the public about how the community or nation sees itself – as well as whose histories and perspectives it considers important or worthy of public attention.

    Place names affect how people perceive, experience and emotionally connect to their surroundings in both conscious and subconscious ways. Psychologists, sociologists and geographers have explored how this sense of place manifests itself into the psyche, creating either attachment or aversion to place, whether it’s a school, mountain or park.

    A tale of two forts

    Renaming places can rally a leader’s supporters through rebranding.

    Trump’s orders to restore the names Fort Bragg and Fort Benning, both originally named for Confederate generals, illustrate this effect. The names were changed to Fort Liberty and Fort Moore in 2023 after Congress passed a law banning the use of Confederate names for federal installations.

    Veterans and other guests posed in 2023 next to a newly unveiled sign for Fort Moore, named for Lt. Gen. Harold ‘Hal’ Moore, who served in Vietnam, and his wife, Julia Moore. In 2025, President Donald Trump reverted the name back to Fort Benning.
    Cheney Orr/AFP via Getty Images

    Trump made a campaign promise to his followers to “bring back the name” of Fort Bragg if reelected.

    To get around the federal ban, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth identified two unrelated decorated Army veterans with the same last names — Bragg and Benning — but without any Confederate connections, to honor instead.

    Call it a sleight of hand or a stroke of genius if you’d like, this tactic allowed the Department of Defense to revive politically charged names without violating the law.

    A soldier walks beside a sign that was unveiled when Fort Liberty was rededicated as Fort Bragg during a ceremony on base on March 7, 2025.
    AP Photo/Chris Seward

    The restoration of the names Bragg and Benning may feel like a symbolic homecoming for those who resisted the original name change or have emotional ties to the names through their memories of living and serving on the base, rather than a connection to the specific namesakes.

    However, the names are still reminders of the military bases’ original association with defenders of slavery.

    The place-renaming game

    A wave of place-name changes during the Obama and Biden administrations focused on removing offensive or derogatory place names and recognizing Indigenous names.

    For example, Clingmans Dome, the highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains, was renamed to Kuwohi in September 2024, shifting the name from a Confederate general to a Cherokee word meaning “the mulberry place.”

    Under the Trump administration, however, place-name changes are being advanced explicitly to push back against reform efforts, part of a broader assault on what Trump calls “woke culture.”

    The view from a lookout tower on Kuwohi, formerly known as Clingmans Dome, in the Great Smoky Mountains.
    National Park Service



    Read more:
    From Confederate general to Cherokee heritage: Why returning the name Kuwohi to the Great Smoky Mountains matters

    President Barack Obama changed Alaska’s Mount McKinley to Denali in 2015 to acknowledge Indigenous heritage and a long-standing name for the mountain. Officials in Alaska had requested the name change to Denali years earlier and supported the name change in 2015.

    Trump, on his first day in office in January 2025, moved to rename Denali back to Mount McKinley, over the opposition of Republican politicians in Alaska. The state Legislature passed a resolution a few days later asking Trump to reconsider.

    Georgia Rep. Earl “Buddy” Carter made a recent legislative proposal to rename Greenland as “Red, White, and Blueland” in support of Trump’s expansionist desire to purchase the island, which is an autonomous territory of Denmark.

    Danish officials and Greenlanders saw Carter’s absurd proposal as insulting and damaging to diplomatic relations. It is not the first time that place renaming has been used as a form of symbolic insult in international relations.

    Renaming the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America might have initially seemed improbable, but it is already reflected in common navigation apps.

    Google Maps displays the name ‘Gulf of America’ instead of Gulf of Mexico in March 2025.
    Google INEGI



    Read more:
    Yes, Trump can rename the Gulf of Mexico – just not for everyone. Here’s how it works

    A better way to choose place names

    When leaders rename a place in an abrupt, unilateral fashion — often for ideological reasons — they risk alienating communities that deeply connect with those names as a form of memory, identity and place attachment.

    A better alternative, in our view, would be to make renaming shared landscapes participatory, with opportunities for meaningful public involvement in the renaming process.

    This approach does not avoid name changes, but it suggests the changes should respond to the social and psychological needs of communities and the evolving cultural identity of places — and not simply be used to score political points.

    Instead, encouraging public participation — such as through landscape impact assessments and critical audits that take the needs of affected communities seriously — can cultivate a sense of shared ownership in the decision that may give those names more staying power.

    The latest place renamings are already affecting the classroom experience. Students are not just memorizing new place labels, but they are also being asked to reevaluate the meaning of those places and their own relationship with the nation and the world.

    As history has shown around the world, one of the major downsides of leaders imposing name changes is that the names can be easily replaced as soon as the next regime takes power. The result can be a never-ending name game.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. From Greenland to Fort Bragg, America is caught in a name game where place names become political tools – https://theconversation.com/from-greenland-to-fort-bragg-america-is-caught-in-a-name-game-where-place-names-become-political-tools-251201

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: US swing toward autocracy doesn’t have to be permanent – but swinging back to democracy requires vigilance, stamina and elections

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jennifer Victor, Associate Professor of Political Science, George Mason University

    The United States is no longer a democracy.

    At least, that’s the verdict of one nonprofit, the Center for Systemic Peace, which measures regime qualities of countries worldwide based on the competitiveness and integrity of their elections, limits to executive authority and other factors.

    “The USA is no longer considered a democracy and lies at the cusp of autocracy,” the group’s 2025 report read.

    It calls Donald Trump’s second inauguration following a raft of criminal indictments and convictions, combined with the U.S. Supreme Court’s July 2024 granting of sweeping presidential immunity, a “presidential coup.”

    Generally, only scholars pay attention to this kind of technical index. This year, however, many people are calling out the erosion of U.S. democracy.

    Political scientists like myself can see that in the guise of government “efficiency,” the Trump administration is sabotaging the rule of law to such an extent that authoritarianism is taking hold in America.

    How long might this situation last?

    US no longer a democracy?

    The term “political regime” refers to either the person or people who hold power, or to a classification of government, including in a democracy.

    Since the mid-1960s, when the U.S. expanded voting rights to include its Black citizens, historians and political scientists have generally classified the U.S. as having a democratic regime. That means the government holds free and fair elections, embraces universal voting rights, protects civil liberties and obeys the law.

    All of these areas have significantly degraded in the U.S. over the last few decades due to partisan polarization and political extremism. Now, the rule of law is under attack, too.

    Trump’s unprecedented use of nearly 100 executive orders in the first two months of his presidency aims to enact a vast policy agenda by decree. For comparison, President Joe Biden issued 162 executive orders over four years.

    This is not what the founders had in mind: Congress is the constitutional route for policy-making. Skirting it threatens democracy, as do the issues Trump’s orders address. From attempting to deny citizenship through birthright to abolishing the U.S. Department of Education, Trump is attacking both the U.S. Constitution and Congress. His administration has even defied judges who order it to stop.

    All of this challenges the rule of law – that is, the idea that everyone, including those in power, must follow the same laws.

    When things get this bad, can a country recover?

    Autocrats can be beaten

    Based on my research, the short answer is yes – eventually.

    When a political party that does not honor democratic institutions or heed critical democratic norms takes power, political scientists expect the government to shift toward autocratic rule. That means restricting civil liberties, quashing dissent and undermining the rule of law.

    This is happening right now in the U.S.

    The Trump administration is challenging broadcasters for their election coverage and banning speech that does not conform to its gender ideology. It’s flagrantly violating the Constitution. And it’s eliminating federal funding for universities and research centers that oppose its actions.

    However, as long as a country has a robust opposition and elections that offer real opportunities for alternative parties to win office, the regime shift is not necessarily permanent.

    Take Brazil, for example.

    Its 2022 election ousted President Jair Bolsonaro, leader of an autocratic regime that had attacked the Brazilian media, judiciary and legislature. Bolsonaro claimed his loss to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was fraudulent, and in January 2023 his supporters attacked the nation’s capital. Since then, Bolsonaro has been charged with plotting a coup and barred from seeking office until 2030.

    Brazilian voters and the courts stemmed the country’s autocratic slide and returned it to a democratic regime.

    Polarization swings the pendulum

    Today the American public is deeply divided and dissatisfied with how U.S. democracy works. This polarization translates into presidential elections that are narrowly won.

    According to the American Presidency Project at the University of California Santa Barbara, which measures presidential margins of victory by subtracting the electoral vote percentage from the popular vote percentage for each election, the average margin of victory in presidential elections between 1932 and 2000 was 25 points. Since 2000, it has been 7.8 points.

    Moreover, since 1948, every time the White House changed hands after an election, it flipped parties as well, with one exception in 1988. Political scientists refer to this back-and-forth as “thermostatic shifting.” In other words, the electorate regularly sours on the status quo and aims to adjust the thermostat to another temperature – or political party.

    When a party that more strongly favors democratic principles takes power, the U.S. more firmly adheres to democratic institutions and norms. This was essentially Biden’s winning pitch to voters in 2020.

    Trump’s return to the White House despite two impeachments and a criminal conviction on 34 felony charges marked another pendulum swing – this time, back in the direction of authoritarianism.

    The U.S. political pendulum has been singing back and forth like this since at least 2016, with Trump’s first win. I expect the oscillation to continue.

    A kind of equilibrium

    The risk, of course, is that a ruling authoritarian-leaning party abuses its power to ensure that the opposition can never again win. This has happened in recent decades in Hungary, Turkey and Venezuela, to name a few.

    There are good reasons to believe that a permanent slide into autocracy is harder in the U.S. than in those countries.

    The U.S. has a robust and wealthy network of civil society organizations, which are well versed in exercising their civil liberties. Its decentralized federalist structure is harder for any one person or party to seize. U.S. elections for example, are run by state and local governments, not the federal government. This makes its election systems more resilient than more centralized election systems.

    At the moment, I see no reason to fear that the U.S. will fail to hold free and fair elections in 2026 or 2028.

    For the time being, then, the U.S. is in what I call a “pendular equilibrium.” Parties trade majority control as voters react to extremism, shifting the regime from more autocratic to more democratic depending on who is in power.

    The effect is a stable outcome of sorts – not a static stability but a dynamic stability. Despite the day-to-day chaos, there is balance over time in the predictable shift back and forth.

    When the pendulum stops swinging

    Until, that is, some other force comes along to disrupt the pattern.

    This might be a force more toward fascism that restricts elections to the point of futility, as in Venezuela and Russia. Or the equilibrium could be thrown off by a democratic resurgence, in the model of Brazil or Poland.

    Even just maintaining the pendular equilibrium to conserve some manner of democratic regime will require those who oppose authoritarianism to boldly insist on political leaders who value democratic principles: fair elections, voting rights, civil liberties and rule of law.

    Dangerously, many Americans won’t notice the end of democracy as it happens. As the political scientist Tom Pepinksy writes, life in authoritarian states is mostly boring and tolerable.

    For those who pay attention, the frequency and seriousness of lawless actions can nonetheless make it difficult to sustain an organized opposition.

    Until and unless the U.S. nurtures and elects political movements and leaders who make lasting democratic changes, I believe the country will continue to lurch back and forth in its pendulum swing.

    Jennifer Victor serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of OpenSecrets, a non-partisan, non-profit. This is an unpaid position.

    – ref. US swing toward autocracy doesn’t have to be permanent – but swinging back to democracy requires vigilance, stamina and elections – https://theconversation.com/us-swing-toward-autocracy-doesnt-have-to-be-permanent-but-swinging-back-to-democracy-requires-vigilance-stamina-and-elections-250383

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s remarks to the Virtual High-Level Segment of the 16th Petersberg Climate Dialogue [as delivered]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Thank you for this opportunity — and for your focus today on collective climate action and acceleration of implementation. 

    This could not be more timely. 

    There is much uncertainty and instability in our world.

    But today we meet in the wake of some good news.

    Just this morning, the International Renewable Energy Agency officially confirmed that 2024 was a record year for renewables additions to global power capacity. 

    Renewables represented more than 92 per cent of all new electricity generation capacity installed last year.
     
    The amount of renewables added represents more than the total electricity capacity of Brazil and Japan combined.

    Europe’s capacity grew by 9 per cent – with Germany contributing more than one-quarter of that growth. Africa’s capacity grew by almost 7 per cent.

    All of this is another reminder of a 21st century truth:

    Renewables are renewing economies. 

    They are powering growth, creating jobs, lowering energy bills, and cleaning our air. 
     
    And every day, they become an even smarter investment. 

    Since 2010, the average cost of wind power has plunged 60%.  Solar is 90% cheaper. 

    In 2023, clean energy sectors accounted for five per cent of economic growth in India and six in the US. It accounted for a fifth of China’s GDP growth, and a third of the EU’s.

    The economic case for – and opportunities of – climate action have become ever clearer – particularly for those who choose to lead. 

    And leadership is what we need – as today’s IRENA report shows:

    To accelerate the shift to renewables…

    And to correct the imbalances in the transition, which is still starving developing countries – outside China – of the investment needed to fully embrace clean energy. 

    Excellencies, dear friends,

    As the title of this session puts it so well: we are indeed at a turning point to the future.

    In the ten years since Paris, we have seen other important progress.

    Ninety percent of global emissions are now covered by net-zero targets. 

    A decade ago, the planet was on course for a global temperature rise of over four degrees Celsius.

    Today, countries’ national climate plans – or NDCs – if fully delivered – will take us closer to a 2.6-degree rise.

    At the same time, climate challenges are piling up.  

    It seems records are shattered at every turn — the hottest day of the hottest month of the hottest year of the hottest decade ever. 

    All of this is hitting the vulnerable hardest, and everyday people in their pockets – with higher living costs, higher insurance premiums, and higher food prices.

    Just last week, the World Meteorological Organization confirmed that 2024 was another alarming year:

    Almost every climate indicator reached new and increasingly dangerous heights – inflaming displacement and food insecurity and inflicting huge economic losses.

    And, for the first time, the annual global temperature was 1.5 degrees Celsius hotter than pre-industrial times.

    Scientists are clear – it is still possible to meet the long-term 1.5 degree limit.

    But it requires urgent action. And it requires leadership.

    Excellencies, dear friends,

    I see two critical fronts to drive action. 

    First, new national climate plans – or NDCs – due by September.

    Investors need certainty and predictability.

    These new plans are a unique opportunity to deliver – and lay out a coherent vision for a just green transition.

    They must align with the 1.5-degree limit, as agreed at COP28. And cover all emissions and the whole economy.

    Together, they must reduce global emissions 60% by 2035 – compared to 2019…

    And contribute to the COP28 global energy transition goals.

    All this must be achieved in line with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in the light of national circumstances but everybody, everybody must do more.

    The G20 – the largest emitters and economies – must lead.

    Every country must step up and play their part.

    The United Nations is with you all.

    President Lula and I are working to secure the highest ambition from the largest economies.

    The United Nations Climate Promise is supporting a hundred countries to prepare their new climate plans.

    And we will convene a special event in September to take stock of the plans of all countries, push for action to keep 1.5 within reach, and deliver climate justice.

    Second, we must drive finance to developing countries.

    The COP29 finance agreement must be implemented in full.

    I count on the leadership of the COP29 and COP30 Presidencies to deliver a credible roadmap to mobilize $1.3 trillion a year by 2035.

    We need new and innovative sources of financing, and credible carbon pricing.

    Developed countries must honour their promise to double adaptation finance to at least $40 billion a year, by this year.

    And we need serious contributions to the fund for responding to Loss and Damage, and to get it up and running.
    Excellencies,

    We can only meet these goals with stronger collaboration – between governments, and across society and sectors.

    Those that will lag behind need to be not a reason for us to be discouraged but an increase in our commitment to move forward.

    The rewards are there for the taking, for all those ready and willing to lead the world through these troubled times.

    We are at a turning point.  I urge you to seize this moment; and seize the prize.

    Thank you.
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Welcome Back to Honduran Chevening Scholars 2023-24

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    World news story

    Welcome Back to Honduran Chevening Scholars 2023-24

    Deputy Head of Mission, Paul Huggins, welcomed the Honduran Chevening Scholars who successfully completed their master’s programs at UK universities.

    Two Honduran scholars from the 2023-24 academic year pursued master’s degrees at various renowned British institutions. 

    The Embassy congratulated the scholars on the successful completion of their studies and for being outstanding representatives of Honduras during their time in the UK. 

    Chevening is the UK government’s global scholarship program, offered by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in partnership with various organizations. Since 1983, Chevening has helped build bridges with over 160 different countries and territories, supporting the education and development of future leaders, influencers, and decision-makers worldwide. 

    The returning scholars are:

    • Eva Carolina Salgado Aguilar – MSc in Data Analytics at Queen Mary University of London. 
    • Fanny Carolina Nuñez Soriano – MSc in Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship at University of Strathclyde. 

    Chevening has fostered economic development and better business environments worldwide by funding scholars who have created businesses, become directors, and hold high-level positions in global organizations. 

    The application window for the 2025-2026 scholarships will open in August 2025. We strongly encourage mid-career professionals to apply for the program and sign up for alerts by visiting the Chevening website.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Wallet Champion Program Enters Beta with 40% Trading Rebate

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget Wallet, a leading Web3 non-custodial wallet, has launched the beta phase of “Bitget Wallet Champion” program, the first ecosystem partner initiative among Web3 wallets to feature a 40% built-in rebate mechanism.

    The Champion program aims to reward early supporters who help drive growth across the Bitget Wallet ecosystem. The participation of the beta phase is currently limited to invited KOLs, community leaders, and media channels. Selected partners who successfully join the program will not only enjoy a 40% rebate on their referees’ trading fees, but also gain access to a range of exclusive perks including airdrops from key partner projects, custom merchandise, and official traffic support.

    This initiative reflects a growing trend among Web3 platforms to deepen collaboration with creators, educators, and community builders through performance-based rewards. As a leading Web3 wallet with integrated crypto trading and payment tools, Bitget Wallet continues to expand its role in supporting ecosystem growth through incentive-driven programs. This initiative also marks a key step in Bitget Wallet’s efforts to bridge online influence with real-world presence, working in tandem with the upcoming Bitget Wallet Connect meetup series, which aims to bring builders and users together through curated local gatherings across key regions.

    The full version of the Bitget Wallet Champion program will be revealed in the coming weeks, with a broader rollout planned. “We believe Web3 growth should be community-powered and value-driven. Champion is a step toward building sustainable partnerships with those who share our vision,” said Alvin Kan, COO of Bitget Wallet.

    Interested participants can now apply for the beta via Bitget Wallet’s official X account.

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

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

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

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b9fb3ae2-30d5-47b1-bce7-94f8725ae8d7

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Forget booing the anthem, Canada must employ strategic communications to fight Trump’s lies

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Matthew Hefler, Senior Research Fellow, Center for Statecraft and Strategic Communication, Stockholm School of Economics

    Since his return to office, United States President Donald Trump has launched a trade war on Canada. The White House has twice set deadlines for the imposition of sweeping 25 pre cent tariffs — and twice pulled back.

    Trump has also threatened to use “economic force” to compel Canada to become the 51st state, remarks that are a focal point of the ongoing federal election campaign.

    Canadians are offended. They’ve voiced this displeasure, with Canadian sports fans continuing to boo the American anthem at recent events.

    This might be counterproductive.

    Trump says Canada is ‘nasty’

    In this trade war, Canada faces more than tariffs: it’s confronting a communications effort by the president to paint Canadians as mean, disrespectful and “nasty.”

    Trump’s most consistent line is that Canadians are “not fair,” “very abusive” and taking advantage of the U.S. on trade.

    Regardless of the truth, the president repeats these allegations over and over and over again.

    The repetition is the point — it’s an important practice in strategic communications or what’s known as StratCom, the use of communication to achieve objectives.

    The repetition is key to Trump’s StratCom — it’s a way of making his message stick. Hard as it is for Canadians to believe this, there’s a danger of this “nasty Canadian” narrative taking hold south of the border.

    Take it from a communications expert who often works in the U.S. and Europe: not everyone is as well-versed on the dispute as Canadians are. Even actions like booing the American anthem risk reinforcing Trump’s slurs against Canada.

    Canada must devise its own strategy to counter Trump’s message and remind Americans — and the world — that Canada trades on fair terms. By dampening American support for the president’s trade war, this StratCom effort could actually help protect the Canada-U.S. relationship for the long term.

    Creating false counter-narratives

    Trump has long mastered the art of swapping one narrative with a preferred alternative. This tactic has arguably helped save his political career.

    For millions of Americans, the president turned Russian interference in the 2016 election into the “Russia Hoax” — something he raised as recently as the infamous Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

    Rather than concede the 2020 election, Trump and his allies adopted the mantra “Stop the Steal.” And in a most striking StratCom effort, Trump and supporters recast the events of Jan. 6, 2021 at the U.S. Capitol into “a day of love.” Trump also issued a blanket pardon of all those convicted over the attack.

    These are astounding examples of strategic communications, whatever we might think of the president’s honesty or his objectives.

    Every time Trump repeats claims that Canada is taking advantage of the U.S., that narrative becomes further entrenched. So far, Ottawa has reminded Americans that Canada is a good partner and that tariffs would hurt both countries.

    But it’s not clear that appealing to the long Canadian-American history as allies is having much effect in the White House. In early February, Vice President JD Vance posted: “Spare me the sob story about how Canada is our ‘best friend’” and noted Canada’s low defence spending.

    A Canadian StratCom strategy

    The Canadian government therefore must invest in an ambitious campaign of strategic communications. It should drive home that Canadians trade on fair terms and that Canada buys more American goods than China, Japan, the United Kingdom and France combined.

    This StratCom effort must make clear that Canadians can and will be forced to buy elsewhere. It must note that Trump renegotiated a new Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade deal in 2018 and that the agreement was a win for the U.S.

    The campaign can employ humility and humour, but it must reinforce the mutual benefit of trade and make clear that Trump’s anti-Canada comments are not based in reality.

    Some specific claims must be targeted. Trump often notes that Canada has high tariffs on specific American products, like milk. But this can be misleading, as these are part of a negotiated supply control quota system.

    Rather than simply counter Trump’s narrative, the campaign should advance a Canadian one.

    Canadian leaders are starting to recognize this. Before leaving office, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau compared Trump’s treatment of Canada over trade with his conciliatory stance toward Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

    Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland has underscored the importance of communicating directly to regular Americans. The federal government has paid for anti-tariff ads on digital billboards along key highways in red states, including Florida, Nevada, Georgia, Michigan and Ohio.

    Canadians themselves are in on the act. Decades after Canadian actor and broadcaster Jeff Douglas appeared in the iconic “I am Canadian” commercial, he’s come out with a new rendition.

    “We are Canadian” rejects the president’s “51st State” threats. Its polite but firm tone is the sort of quintessentially Canadian response that should form the basis of a national StatCom effort.

    A new Jeff Douglas ‘We Are Canadian’ video.

    Controlling the narrative

    Given time and space, Trump can reshape the terms of the debate or even perceptions of reality. The Canadian government should therefore lead the way in defending the country’s trading practices and its value as a partner.

    This effort should reflect Canada’s traditional emphasis on respect and decency. Canadians are offended. But they should resist responses like booing another nation’s anthem — especially if it contributes to the president’s effort to paint Canadians as mean or disrespectful.

    The Canada-U.S. relationship will be changed by this experience. But whether the rift is lasting depends in part on whether Canadians believe regular Americans accept or reject the president’s narrative.

    A good communications effort could help Canada counter the president’s StratCom campaign and reduce the longer-term fallout from this unfair attack — no matter the repeated threats and slurs emanating from the Oval Office.

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

    – ref. Forget booing the anthem, Canada must employ strategic communications to fight Trump’s lies – https://theconversation.com/forget-booing-the-anthem-canada-must-employ-strategic-communications-to-fight-trumps-lies-252704

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Red Cat Holdings to Report Financial Results for the 2024 Stub Period (as of December 31, 2024 and the eight months then ended) and Provide Corporate Update on Monday, March 31, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: RCAT) (“Red Cat” or the “Company”), a drone technology company integrating robotic hardware and software for military, government, and commercial operations, announces that financial results for the 2024 Stub Period (as of December 31, 2024 and the eight months then ended) will be reported on Monday, March 31, 2025 at the market close.

    Company management will host an earnings conference call at 4:30p.m. ET on Monday, March 31, 2025 to review financial results and provide an update on corporate developments. Following management’s formal remarks, there will be a question-and-answer session.

    Interested parties can listen to the conference call by dialing 1-844-413-3977 (within the U.S.) or 1-412-317-1803 (international). Callers should dial in approximately ten minutes prior to the start time and ask to be connected to the Red Cat conference call. Participants can also pre-register for the call using the following link: https://dpregister.com/sreg/10198203/fecb0dc7ae

    The conference call will also be available through a live webcast that can be accessed at: https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=kOCu4DoZ

    A replay of the webcast will be available until April 30, 2025 and can be accessed through the above link or at www.redcatholdings.com. A telephonic replay will be available until April 30, 2025 by calling 1-877-344-7529 (domestic) or 1-412-317-0088 (international) and using access code 4379690.

    About Red Cat Holdings, Inc.

    Red Cat (Nasdaq: RCAT) is a drone technology company integrating robotic hardware and software for military, government, and commercial operations. Through two wholly owned subsidiaries, Teal Drones and FlightWave Aerospace, Red Cat has developed a Family of Systems. This includes the Black Widow™, a small unmanned ISR system that was awarded the U.S. Army’s Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) Program of Record contract. The Family of Systems also includes TRICHON™, a fixed-wing VTOL for extended endurance and range, and FANG™, the industry’s first line of NDAA-compliant FPV drones optimized for military operations with precision strike capabilities. Learn more at www.redcat.red.

    Forward Looking Statements

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “seek,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “aim,” “should,” “will” “would,” or the negative of these words or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements are based on Red Cat Holdings, Inc.’s current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the section titled “Risk Factors” in the Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2023. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and Red Cat Holdings, Inc. undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.

    Contact:

    INVESTORS:
    E-mail: Investors@redcat.red

    NEWS MEDIA:
    Phone: (347) 880-2895
    Email: peter@indicatemedia.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: IASC Task Force 4 Peace Dialogue: Building resilience through disaster risk reduction action in fragile and conflict-affected areas

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    As the world faces multiple overlapping crises, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remains challenging, especially in fragile and conflict-prone areas. Strengthening the linkages between disaster risk management and sustaining peace is an essential step to address the complex challenges of these settings. By exploring how Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) can act as a natural bridge for collaboration across humanitarian, development, and peace partners, this session aims to provide concrete strategies for risk reduction, resilience building, and joint planning.

    The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Task Force 4 Peace Dialogue Series aims to unpack the peace component within the Humanitarian-Peace-Development (HDP) Nexus approach, linking humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding efforts. This third session, titled “Building Resilience Through Disaster Risk Reduction in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Areas,” will focus on how DRR can contribute to peacebuilding and sustaining peace, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.

    This dialogue, co-organized by the Departement of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and UNDRR, is designed for technical-level staff from IASC member organizations, including HDP Nexus advisors and practitioners who operate in fragile and conflict-affected areas. Through expert-led discussions, real-world case studies and practical tools, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how DRR can be integrated into peacebuilding efforts and strategies for sustaining peace.

    Session Objectives

    This dialogue will:

    1. Explore the role of DRR in supporting peacebuilding and sustaining peace within fragile and conflict-affected areas.
    2. Highlight practical approaches for integrating DRR into humanitarian and development programming.
    3. Showcase field experiences and case studies from practitioners working at the intersection of DRR, peace, and security.
    4. Identify challenges and opportunities for joint action within the humanitarian-development-peace (HDP) Nexus.
    5. Strengthen partnerships between humanitarian, development, and peace actors for risk-informed, conflict-sensitive programming.

    Speakers

    • Ronald Jackson, Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery Advisor, UNDP (Moderator)
    • Sandra Amlang, Head of the Interagency Cooperation Unit, UNDRR
    • Sadjo Barry, Peace and Development Advisor, UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, Mauritania
    • Paule Juneau, Environmental Law Specialist and Mediator, UNEP, Haiti
    • Andrea Dekrout, Climate, Peace and Security Advisor, UNAMI, Iraq
    • Silja Halle, Programme Manager, Climate Change and Security, UNEP
    • Ivo Ananji, Youth Climate Action and Peacebuilding Innovator

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Potential security risks and geopolitical implications of the Iran-Venezuela alliance for the EU – E-000309/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The High Representative/Vice-President (HR/VP) is aware that Venezuela cooperates with Russia on defence matters, conducting joint military exercises and receiving military training.

    Iran has maintained oil deals with Caracas in order to circumvent sanctions and obtain financial resources. The EU monitors those developments closely.

    The rapprochement between Caracas, Moscow and Tehran is of concern due to potential impact on democratic stability in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region and on the EU-LAC partnership.

    As the HR/VP said at the Munich Security Conference[1], the EU has to keep united and work with allies, including the United States, to counter the attempts of Russia, Iran and others to team up against the EU.

    For this reason, it is crucial to continue supporting the democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan people, to promote an enabling environment for civil society and to uphold human rights.

    Working together with key international and regional partners is essential to foster a Venezuelan-led democratic resolution to the crisis.

    In doing so, the EU will pursue targeted engagement to address concerns and facilitate meaningful dialogue on human rights and the transition to democracy.

    The EU will continue to protect shared values and mutual interests in Latin America. The EU has mobilised all its foreign policy instruments to foster democracy in Venezuela, including targeted sanctions against those responsible for undermining democracy, the rule of law and human rights, and by putting in place an embargo on arms and equipment used for repression.

    • [1] https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/munich-security-conference-press-remarks-high-representativevice-president-kaja-kallas-upon-arrival_en?channel=eeas_press_alerts&date=2025-02-14&newsid=0&langid=en&source=mail
    Last updated: 26 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitfarms Appoints James Bond as Senior Vice President of High-Performance Computing

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitfarms Ltd. (NASDAQ/TSX: BITF), a global Bitcoin and vertically integrated data center company, today announced that it has appointed James Bond as Senior Vice President of High-Performance Computing (“HPC”).

    Mr. Bond is a subject matter expert in HPC/AI with a proven record of launching new cloud and service provider offerings for large scale data centers across the U.S. He has over 20 years’ experience in public sector solution architecture and IT infrastructure design and implementation, including 15 years at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (“HPE”) where he most recently led their North America HPC/AI infrastructure platforms category. Under his leadership, the business grew to $2 billion in 2024, representing annual growth of 160%. At HPE North America, Mr. Bond was responsible for all HPC/AI go-to-market activities including the creation of new customer offerings, designing sales and pricing programs, managing partners, including NVIDIA, Intel and others, and managing net new logo sales and business development teams.

    Prior to HPE, Mr. Bond led all product development, engineering, marketing, operations, and pre-sales business development for Apptix, the largest (at the time) Application Service Provider for Microsoft Exchange, SharePoint, and Unified Communications. Prior to Apptix, Mr. Bond served as the Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of IceWEB, where he created one of the first fully automated software-as-a-service (SaaS) cloud offerings, before cloud and SaaS terms were coined.

    Mr. Bond is also the author of “The Enterprise Cloud” and a keynote speaker at industry events nation-wide, covering topics, such as the benefits of on-premise and hybrid cloud, AI/GenAI use cases, and how to build and deploy AI infrastructure including GPUs, HPC storage, and power/cooling specifically tuned for AI workloads. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer and Information Science from the University of Maryland.

    CEO Ben Gagnon stated, “We are thrilled to welcome James into this critically important role for Bitfarms. James, and the team he builds around him, will spearhead the development and implementation of our long-term HPC/AI strategy. With our Pennsylvania pipeline of 1.1GW of secured power, we are in a strong position to develop an HPC/AI business geared for scale in the U.S. James’ impressive track record of implementing HPC solutions at scale and driving exponential growth for HPE’s HPC business makes him the ideal candidate to lead this new growth chapter at Bitfarms.”

    James Bond stated, “I am excited to join the talented team at Bitfarms at such a pivotal time in their growth trajectory. I look forward to leveraging their premium Pennsylvania properties, existing data centers, and power capacity to deploy a world-class high-performance computing infrastructure to host state-of-the-art artificial intelligence solutions for future customers.”

    About Bitfarms Ltd.

    Founded in 2017, Bitfarms is a global Bitcoin and vertically integrated data center company that sells its computational power to one or more mining pools from which it receives payment in Bitcoin. Bitfarms develops, owns, and operates vertically integrated mining facilities with in-house management and company-owned electrical engineering, installation service, and multiple onsite technical repair centers.

    Bitfarms currently has 15 operating Bitcoin data centers in four countries: the United States, Canada, Paraguay, and Argentina. Powered predominantly by environmentally friendly hydro-electric and long-term power contracts, Bitfarms is committed to using sustainable and often underutilized energy infrastructure.

    To learn more about Bitfarms’ events, developments, and online communities:

    www.bitfarms.com
    https://www.facebook.com/bitfarms/
    https://x.com/Bitfarms_io
    https://www.instagram.com/bitfarms/
    https://www.linkedin.com/company/bitfarms/

    Glossary of Terms

    • HPC/AI = High Performance Computing / Artificial Intelligence
    • GW = Gigawatt

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This news release contains certain “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking information”) that are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release and are covered by safe harbors under Canadian and United States securities laws. The statements and information in this release regarding the ability to enhance the business of the Company through adding additional human resources to HPC/AI strategies, opportunities relating to the potential of the Company’s data centers for HPC/AI opportunities, the merits and ability to secure long-term contracts associated with HPC/AI customers, the North American energy and compute infrastructure strategy, projected growth, target hashrate, and other statements regarding future growth, plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking information. Any statements that involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as “expects”, or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “forecasts”, “estimates”, “prospects”, “believes” or “intends” or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results “may” or “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information and are intended to identify forward-looking information.

    This forward-looking information is based on assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time they were made, and involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, risks relating to: the anticipated benefits of the rebalancing of operations to North America and the North American energy and compute infrastructure strategy may not be realized; an inability to apply the Company’s data centers to HPC/AI opportunities on a profitable basis; a failure to secure long-term contracts associated with HPC/AI customers on terms which are economic or at all; the construction and operation of the Company’s facilities may not occur as currently planned, or at all; expansion may not materialize as currently anticipated, or at all; the digital currency market; the ability to successfully mine digital currency; revenue may not increase as currently anticipated, or at all; it may not be possible to profitably liquidate the current digital currency inventory, or at all; a decline in digital currency prices may have a significant negative impact on operations; an increase in network difficulty may have a significant negative impact on operations; the volatility of digital currency prices; the anticipated growth and sustainability of hydroelectricity for the purposes of cryptocurrency mining in the applicable jurisdictions; the inability to maintain reliable and economical sources of power for the Company to operate cryptocurrency mining assets; the risks of an increase in the Company’s electricity costs, cost of natural gas, changes in currency exchange rates, energy curtailment or regulatory changes in the energy regimes in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates and the adverse impact on the Company’s profitability; future capital needs and the ability to complete current and future financings, including Bitfarms’ ability to utilize an at-the-market offering program ( “ATM Program”) and the prices at which securities may be sold in such ATM Program, as well as capital market conditions in general; share dilution resulting from an ATM Program and from other equity issuances; the risk that a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting could result in a misstatement of the Company’s financial position that may lead to a material misstatement of the annual or interim consolidated financial statements if not prevented or detected on a timely basis; any regulations or laws that will prevent Bitfarms from operating its business; historical prices of digital currencies and the ability to mine digital currencies that will be consistent with historical prices; and the adoption or expansion of any regulation or law that will prevent Bitfarms from operating its business, or make it more costly to do so. For further information concerning these and other risks and uncertainties, refer to the Company’s filings on www.sedarplus.ca (which are also available on the website of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov), including the restated MD&A for the year-ended December 31, 2023, filed on December 9, 2024. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, including factors that are currently unknown to or deemed immaterial by the Company. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking information other than as required by law. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange, Nasdaq, or any other securities exchange or regulatory authority accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    Investor Relations Contacts:

    Tracy Krumme
    SVP, Head of IR & Corp. Comms.
    +1 786-671-5638
    tkrumme@bitfarms.com

    Media Contacts:

    Caroline Brady Baker
    Director, Communications
    cbaker@bitfarms.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: United Nations – Adoption of the resolution on the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition (25.03.25)

    Source: Republic of France in English
    The Republic of France has issued the following statement:

    France and Brazil welcome the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption, following more than 100 co-sponsorships, of a resolution extending the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition until 2030. The resolution, on their initiative, supports political momentum at every level to eradicate all forms of malnutrition, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030 Agenda.

    On 27 and 28 March, France is hosting the Nutrition for Growth summit, which promotes a cross-cutting approach to development in the health, agriculture, water, hygiene and sanitation sectors. Malnutrition is a scourge that strikes every country in the world, with grave consequences, affecting nations’ human capital and development potential: 45 million children suffer from acute malnutrition and 150 million are plagued by chronic malnutrition. Overweight and obesity, as well as undernutrition in elderly people, are rapidly becoming more widespread.

    France and Brazil are committed to food and nutrition security through concrete initiatives such as the School Meals Coalition, the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty and the momentum generated by the Nutrition for Growth summit to identify new sources of funding and mobilize the international community.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Government unlocks export growth opportunities for New Zealand dairy businesses

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Government’s commitment to growing the value of New Zealand’s dairy exports has taken a major step forward with the passing of a key Bill in Parliament, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today.

    “The Dairy Industry Restructuring (Export Licences Allocation) Amendment Bill, which passed its third reading today, modernises New Zealand’s dairy export quota system, creating new opportunities for growth and boosting farmgate returns,” Mr McClay says.

    “New Zealand’s dairy farmers and processors produce world-class products, but outdated rules have restricted export growth. This law unlocks greater access to lucrative overseas markets and ensures the quota system reflects the diversity of our dairy industry.”

    New Zealand currently administers dairy export quotas for the Dominican Republic, the European Union, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

    “The Bill introduces vital changes to better support businesses of all sizes, and it shifts quota allocation from the proportion of milk solids a company collects from farmers to a system based on export performance,” Mr McClay says.

    “It also reserves portions of quotas for exporters who are currently ineligible — ensuring fairer access across the industry.

    “And importantly, it now includes quota for sheep, goat, and deer milk processors, unlocking new export opportunities and revenue streams.”

    Mr McClay says the Bill directly supports the Government’s ambitious goal of doubling the value of New Zealand’s exports in 10 years.

    The commencement date for the Bill is 1 May 2025.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Shifts Gears with Porsche Cup Brasil Sponsorship with Driver Flávio Sampaio

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading global cryptocurrency exchange, is set to accelerate its presence in the motorsport world as the official sponsor of Driver Flávio Sampaio for the Porsche Cup Brasil 2025. The partnership, which kicks off with the season’s opening race in April 2025, symbolizes the convergence of the on-going financial evolution, and the adrenaline-fueled world of motorsport.

    The collaboration sets Bitget with Porsche’s legacy of precision and speed, creating a partnership that resonates with both crypto enthusiasts and motorsport fans. The sponsorship of driver Flávio Sampaio in the 2025 Porsche Carrera Cup Brazil season is supported by Bitget’s mission of bringing together sports and crypto.

    The championship kicked off on March 22nd and 23rd at the Velocitta in Mogi Guaçu and will continue through November, with the final stage scheduled for the 8th and 9th in Interlagos, São Paulo. With its support for Flávio, Bitget becomes the first crypto exchange to participate in the competition and will have its own car in Latin America’s largest Grand Touring category.

    In the past, Bitget also had a successful partnership with Argentina’s star Lionel Messi from 2022 to 2024 and previously sponsored Juventus’ women’s football team in Italy. Currently, it also supports other major sports projects, such as Turkish athlete Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (world wrestling champion), Samet Gümüş (gold medalist in boxing), and İlkin Aydın (national volleyball team athlete).

    Flávio Sampaio, commented on the partnership, saying, “I am very excited about this partnership with Bitget and hope to help spark interest among motorsport fans in the world of cryptocurrencies. The profile of sports fans often has similarities with that of crypto investors. I believe we can create an interesting connection between these two worlds.”

    Flávio Sampaio began his career in karting at the age of 12 and competed in major state and national championships until 2001. In 2007, he was invited to participate in Stock Jr., the feeder category for Stock Car. In 2008, he joined ATW Racing in Stock Light. In 2010, he was invited to compete in the Mini Cooper Challenge category, and in 2014, he moved to the GT3 Challenge.

    This partnership is a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup wrapped in Bitget’s signature black-and-cyan livery, embodying the exchange’s commitment to speed, reliability, and performance. With a roaring 510CV engine, the car serves as a metaphor for Bitget’s high-performance trading engine, designed to deliver unmatched efficiency and results.

    “This partnership isn’t just about speed on the track—it’s about accelerating innovation in the crypto space,” said Gracy Chen, CEO at Bitget. “We find that Flavio’s sportsmanship also dwells on the same principles that drive Bitget: strategy, adaptability, and high-performance execution. Aligning with a motorsport professional for a series known for its precision and competitiveness allows us to engage with an audience that values both technological advancement and calculated risk-taking.”

    The Porsche Cup Brasil is the ideal setting for Bitget to engage with a discerning audience, since it draws Brazil’s top motorsport aficionados and sports-centric enthusiasts. Among the unique experiences attendees will have is access to the Paddock Terrace, where timing screens and real-time race radios provide an immersive perspective of the action. Bitget’s VIP visitors will also be able to meet drivers, tour the pit lane, and take part in Porsche Experience Rides where they will ride shotgun with professional drivers in Bitget-branded helmets.

    Brazil is experiencing a notable surge in cryptocurrency adoption, with over 40 million users, which positions the country as a key market for Bitget’s expansion. By partnering with Driver Flávio Sampaio in the Porsche, Bitget strengthens its local presence and reinforces its global reputation as the top emerging crypto brand. The sponsorship shows Bitget’s ability to connect with diverse audiences, from crypto traders to motorsport enthusiasts, through shared values of innovation and performance.

    As engines roar and markets surge, Bitget, and Porsche Cup Brasil are set to redefine what it means to blend speed with substance. This partnership merges excitement and anticipation, driving the future of finance and motorsport with Bitget set to lead.

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 100 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, token swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more.

    Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

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

    Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/aeb5ea1c-7b55-47c1-879e-64bebd0cae6d

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Events in honor of the 80th anniversary of Victory will be held throughout Moscow — Sergei Sobyanin

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The organization of large city festivals and cultural events that transform the capital into a single concert and theater venue is an important area of work for the Moscow Government. In its telegram channel Sergei Sobyanin spoke about the results of the 2024 cultural program and shared plans for 2025.

    “The main theme of this year is the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The central location will traditionally be Poklonnaya Gora,” the Moscow Mayor wrote.

    Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel @Mos_Sobyanin

    Thematic events will be held at 12 district venues, in 26 parks of culture and recreation, as well as in theaters, cultural centers, libraries, museums and exhibition halls. There will be concerts of popular performers, performances by theater groups, a broadcast of the military parade on Red Square and recordings of the 1945 Victory Parade. About 10 million people are expected to attend these events.

    Today, you can get acquainted with music, theatre, circus and contemporary art or media art not only in cultural institutions, but also in parks, on streets and boulevards.

    The Theatre Boulevard festival will return to the streets of the capital in the summer. The number of venues and events will increase. Its main goal is to attract a new audience to Moscow’s theatres and concert halls. Festival guests will be able to learn about certain theatres and better study their repertoire.

    Moscow Fashion Week is one of the largest events in the cultural life of the capital. It is held in autumn and spring. In March of this year, the fourth Moscow Fashion Week ended, which was visited by over 65 thousand people. Its participants were not only Russian and foreign fashion industry professionals, but also about 140 students from creative universities of the country. Collections were presented by 186 brands from 27 regions of Russia and nine other countries.

    The city festivals “Summer in Moscow”, “Territory of the Future. Moscow 2030”, “Winter in Moscow”, as well as the first-ever “Theater Boulevard” festival were the highlights of last year – over 1,600 actors from more than 75 theater companies took to the streets.

    “In August 2024, the first

    Moscow International Film Week. 47 countries participated: representatives of film companies, producers, scriptwriters and government officials. Events were held all over Moscow – from film screenings to excursions to the filming locations of famous films,” added Sergei Sobyanin

    In December 2024, the Moscow International Creative Industries Week was held, which was attended by representatives from Brazil, Egypt, India, China, Thailand, Turkey and other countries. Moscow entrepreneurs signed a number of agreements and export contracts with their foreign colleagues in the field of cinema, animation, video games, and interior design. The total amount under these agreements exceeded 700 million rubles.

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/mayor/tkhemes/12546050/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: 50th anniversary of the entry into force of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC): UK statement

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    World news story

    50th anniversary of the entry into force of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC): UK statement

    David Riley, UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, gave this UK statement on the 50th anniversary of the BTWC’s entry into force.

    David Riley, UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.

    Today marks the 50th anniversary of the entry into force of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) – the first multilateral disarmament treaty to ban an entire category of weapons of mass destruction. As a founder of the convention, and for 50 years since, the UK has been at the forefront of efforts to ensure its effectiveness and collective action to eliminate the threat from biological weapons. 

    The BTWC’s role in preventing biological agents and toxins from being developed, produced, or used as weapons has been a critical element in our collective security over the last 50 years.   

    The BTWC’s call to action is that “no effort should be spared to minimise this risk.” This is as important now as it was 50 years ago. Threats posed by biological weapons have evolved and diversified. Rapid advances in science and technology offer potential benefits for societies but may also increase the threats posed by those intending to misuse the life sciences for hostile purposes. 

    The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the devastating impacts that an infectious disease outbreak can have on our societies and economies. It revealed significant gaps in global preparedness and response. It is in every country’s interest that the BTWC is effective and that its prohibitions continue to be upheld. 

    This requires collective action through the Convention. We need to strengthen international cooperation and review science and technology, as well as agree on stronger verification mechanisms to address potential risks. The current Working Group on the strengthening of the Convention provides an important way to achieve this. The UK fully supports the Brazilian Chair of the Working Group, Ambassador Frederico Meyer.

    The UK remains steadfast in its commitment to strengthen the BTWC and its implementation for the next 50 years and beyond. We call on all governments that have not yet joined the convention to do so without delay. Through collective action, we can prevent the use of these abhorrent weapons that violate every principle of humanity.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Wallet Unveils $80K BERA Airdrop for Berachain Ecosystem Users

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget Wallet, a leading Web3 non-custodial wallet, has launched a Berachain ecosystem campaign featuring a $80,000 BERA airdrop. Running from March 20 at 16:00 to April 2 at 16:00 (UTC+8), the initiative is designed to reward users who actively engage with Berachain’s rapidly expanding ecosystem through a series of interactive on-chain tasks.

    The campaign spotlights six emerging projects within the Berachain network: Dolomite, Kodiak Finance, Infrared, Wasabee (Honeypot Finance), Ramen Finance, and ZooFinance. Participants who engage with these decentralized applications (DApps) through Bitget Wallet—completing tasks such as staking, swapping, and wallet interactions—will become eligible for a share of the $80,000 BERA airdrop pool. The goal is to encourage user exploration of the Berachain ecosystem and support the growth of its early-stage protocols.

    As the first wallet to fully integrate Berachain, Bitget Wallet offers users direct access to the Berachain mainnet, along with built-in features like token swaps, cross-chain transactions, and DApp connectivity—eliminating the need for manual configuration or third-party tools. This initiative is part of a broader effort by Bitget Wallet and Berachain to lower the barrier to ecosystem adoption while supporting builders and early participants, reinforcing both teams’ commitment to making onchain participation more accessible and rewarding.

    “Berachain represents a new wave of DeFi infrastructure, and we’re excited to work closely with its ecosystem to bring users deeper on-chain experiences,” said Alvin Kan, COO of Bitget Wallet. “Through this campaign, we aim to lower the barrier to participation and reward users who help grow the next generation of decentralized protocols.”

    For more details, please visit Bitget Wallet X.

    About Bitget Wallet
    Bitget Wallet is the home of Web3, uniting endless possibilities in one non-custodial wallet. With over 60 million users, it offers comprehensive onchain services, including asset management, instant swaps, rewards, staking, trading tools, live market data, a DApp browser and crypto payment solutions. Supporting over 130 blockchains, 20,000+ DApps, and millions of tokens, Bitget Wallet enables seamless multi-chain trading across hundreds of DEXs and cross-chain bridges, along with a $300+ million protection fund to ensure safety of users’ assets. Experience Bitget Wallet Lite to start a Web3 journey.
    For more information, visit: X | Telegram | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | TikTok | Discord | Facebook
    For media inquiries, please contact media.web3@bitget.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fa873586-8915-44f0-af6e-24c774b0bed7

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: World News in Brief: Human rights in Ukraine, multilateralism gets airborne, enforced disappearances in Colombia

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Human Rights

    The UN human rights chief on Thursday told a conference in the Ukrainian capital that in the face of Russia’s continuing full-scale invasion, they must unite and keep faith in democratic institutions.

    Addressing the conference in Kyiv on reclaiming human rights and preserving dignity, High Commissioner Volker Türk once again voiced his “full solidarity” with the Ukrainian people and concern over the latest wave of attacks on energy facilities as temperatures plummet.

    “Children, older people and those with disabilities will suffer most,” he added.

    Relentless assault

    “From relentless drone attacks to the occupation of territory, from the suppression of culture to the abuse of prisoners of war – the human rights of Ukrainians are under siege. And this must end.”

    He said it was more important than ever for unity, “moment to recommit to human rights and human dignity, and to build and maintain trust in each other and in democratic institutions.”

    He added that the UN human rights office he leads, OHCHR, is doing its part to ensure accountability and justice by creating a public record of rights violations occurring during Ukraine’s war of national survival, which has already informed cases before the European Court of Human Rights and the International Court of Justice.

    “I commend Ukrainians for coming together around human rights and around human dignity and assure you of our full commitment and support,” he concluded.

    ICAO, ‘a powerful example of multilateralism in action,’ says UN chief

    UN Secretary-General António Guterres marked the 80th anniversary of the signing of the convention that opened the way to mass civilian air travel, by praising the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as a testament to global cooperation.

    “Across the decades, your organization, which the Convention established, has expanded dramatically, from 54 nations gathered in Chicago in 1944 to a membership of 193 today,” he noted.

    Mr. Guterres highlighted the significant challenges facing the aviation industry today, particularly its role in addressing the climate crisis.

    Tourism revival

    According to the latest World Tourism Barometer from the UN Tourism agency, global travel is on track for a full recovery to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024, with 1.1 billion international tourists recorded in the first nine months of the year. However, this resurgence brings about sustainability challenges.

    “Accounting for around 2 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions, aviation is one of the most challenging sectors to decarbonise. But with innovation and investment, it can be done,” Mr. Guterres noted.

    ICAO’s new Long-Term Strategic Plan outlines its commitment to achieving net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.

    The Secretary-General commended ICAO’s leadership for aligning its efforts with the 2030 Agenda, ensuring that all countries benefit from sustainable aviation advancements.

    Enforced disappearances remain daily reality in Colombia

    Enforced disappearances remain a daily occurrence in Colombia, not just a historical legacy of the past, according to findings released on Thursday by the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) following their two-week mission to the country.

    The preliminary findings painted a grim picture of disappearances including children, journalists, social leaders and migrants.

    With estimates ranging from 98,000 to 200,000 missing persons, the exact scope of the crisis remains unclear due to fragmented record-keeping and institutional inefficiencies. 

    “Although enforced disappearances started in Colombia around the 1940s, they are not just a crime of the past. They continue to occur daily across the country in diverse circumstances,” the delegation reported after visiting six cities and meeting with 80 authorities, including the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

    The investigation exposed a bureaucratic system where victims’ families face challenges in seeking justice.

    ‘No end in sight’ to anguish

    One victim told investigators, “We don’t know where to turn. We’re tossed between institutions, no end in sight”.

    The situation is further complicated by overlapping mandates among various agencies, with officials reporting that coordination efforts often result in endless meetings rather than concrete action. A single search process may require coordination with up to 60 different national and territorial authorities.

    The Committee emphasised that immediate action is needed to streamline institutional responses and improve coordination. They noted that marginalised individuals, face additional obstacles in reporting disappearances, particularly in areas controlled by armed groups.

    “Families of the disappeared deserve clarity, justice and accountability. Every disappeared person represents a family waiting for answers, a community torn apart and a society grappling with unresolved pain,” the delegation said.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Can renewable energy survive climate change?

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    The race towards renewable energy is accelerating, and for all the looming challenges of the climate crisis, signs of progress are there: Solar panels are beginning to blanket deserts, wind turbines dot coastlines, and hydropower dams are harnessing powerful rivers to churn out clean electricity.

    Yet, even as the push for renewables gains momentum – driven by cheaper technology and an urgent need to slash carbon emissions – experts are waving cautionary flags: Because renewable energy sources depend on weather conditions, climate change is increasingly dictating, and jeopardizing, renewable energy production.

    This trend became more pronounced in 2023, marked by a volatility that disrupted renewable energy generation globally. Temperatures soared 1.45°C above pre-industrial levels, and the shift from La Niña to El Niño altered rainfall, wind patterns, and solar radiation.

    Hamid Bastani, a climate and energy expert with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), provided a stark example of this impact. “In Sudan and Namibia, hydropower output dropped by more than 50 per cent due to unusually low rainfall,” he said in an interview with UN News.

    In Sudan, rainfall totaled just 100 millimeters (less than four inches) in 2023—less than half the national long-term average.

    “This is a country where hydropower makes up around 60 per cent of the electricity mix. These reductions could have significant implications,” Mr. Bastani explained, noting that the power system supports a large and rapidly growing population of about 48 million.

    These shifts were not limited to hydropower. Wind energy, too, showed signs of stress under changing climate conditions.

    China, which accounts for 40 per cent of global onshore wind capacity, saw only a modest 4 to 8 per cent increase in output in 2023, as wind anomalies disrupted generation. In India, production declined amid weaker monsoon winds, while some regions in Africa experienced even sharper losses, with wind output falling by as much as 20 to 30 per cent.

    South America, meanwhile, saw the scale tip in the other direction. Clear skies and elevated solar radiation boosted solar panel performance, particularly in countries like Brazil, Colombia, and Bolivia.

    As such, the region saw a four to six per cent increase in solar generation – a climate-driven bump that translated to roughly three terawatt-hours of additional electricity, enough to power over two million homes for a year at average consumption rates.

    “This is a good example of how climate variability can sometimes create opportunity,” explains Roberta Boscolo, who leads WMO’s New York Office and formerly the agency’s climate and energy work. “In Europe, too, we are seeing more days with high solar radiation, meaning solar power is becoming more efficient over time.”

    Ms. Boscolo and Mr. Bastani are among the contributors to a recent WMO–IRENA study examining how climate conditions in 2023, shaped by El Niño, global warming, and regional extremes, affected both renewable energy generation and energy demand worldwide.

    ADB/Patarapol Tularak

    Solar power accounted for over 73 percent of all new renewable capacity added globally in 2023, making it the fastest-growing source of energy worldwide.​

    Systems built on stability, in a world that is anything but

    Ms. Boscolo, who has spent years working at the intersection of climate science and energy policy, is quick to point out the vulnerability of renewable energy infrastructure. Dams, solar farms, and wind turbines are all designed based on past climate patterns, making them susceptible to the changing climate.

    Take hydropower. Dams rely on predictable seasonal flows, often fed by snowmelt or glacial runoff. “There will be a short-term boost in hydropower as glaciers melt,” she said. “But once those glaciers are gone, so is the water. And that is irreversible – at least on human timescales.”

    This pattern is already unfolding in regions like the Andes and the Himalayas. If the meltwater disappears, countries will need to replace the way they generate power or face long-term energy deficits.

    A recent report from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), for example, pointed out that rising sea levels and stronger storms pose growing risks to energy production facilities, including solar farms located near coastlines.

    Similarly, increasingly intense and frequent wildfires can also take down power lines and black out entire regions, while extreme heat can reduce the efficiency of solar panels and strain grid infrastructure—just as demand for cooling peaks.

    Nuclear power plants are also at risk in the changing climate.

    “We have seen nuclear power plants that could not operate because of the lack of water… for cooling,” Ms. Boscolo said. As heatwaves become more frequent and river levels drop, some older nuclear facilities may no longer be viable in their current locations.

    “This is another thing that should be looked at with different eyes in the future . When we design, when we build, when we project power generation infrastructure, we really need to think about what the climate of the future will be, not what was the climate of the past”.

    IMF/Crispin Rodwell

    Global renewable electricity capacity grew by nearly 50 percent in 2023—the largest annual increase in two decades—with most additions coming from solar and wind.​

    Adapting to the future through data, AI and technology

    The expert underscores that one thing is certain: Our planet is heading towards a future in which electricity, especially from renewable sources, will be central.

    “Our transport is going to be electric; our cooking is going to be electric; our heating is going to be electric. So, if we do not have a reliable electricity system, everything is going to collapse. We will need to have this climate intelligence when we think about how to change our energy systems and the reliability and the resilience of our energy system in the future.”

    Indeed, to adapt, both experts emphasized a need to embrace what they call climate intelligence – the integration of climate forecasts, data, and science into every level of energy planning.

    “In the past, energy planners worked with historical averages,” Mr. Bastani explained. “But the past is no longer a reliable guide. We need to know what the wind will be doing next season, what rainfall will look like next year – not just what it looked like a decade ago.”

    In Chile, for instance, hydropower generation surged by as much as 80 per cent in November 2023, due to unusually high rainfall. While this increase was climate-driven, experts say advanced seasonal forecasting could help dam operators better anticipate such events in the future and manage reservoirs to store water more effectively.

    Similarly, wind farm workers can use forecasts to schedule maintenance during low-wind periods – minimizing downtime and avoiding losses. Grid operators, too, can plan for energy spikes during heatwaves or droughts.

    “We now have forecasts that span from a few seconds ahead to several months,” Mr. Bastani said. “Each one has a specific application – from immediate grid balancing to long-term investment decisions.”

    WMO/Sandro Puncet

    Improved climate forecasting can help energy systems plan days to seasons ahead.

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is lending a hand: Machine learning models trained on climate and energy data can now predict resource fluctuations with higher resolution and accuracy. These tools could help optimize when to deploy battery storage or shift energy between regions, making the system more flexible and responsive.

    “These models can help operators better anticipate fluctuations in wind, rainfall, or solar radiation”, Mr. Bastain explained.

    For example, two recent WMO energy mini projects illustrated how artificial intelligence can be applied in real-world renewable energy planning. In Costa Rica, the agency worked with national energy authorities to develop and implement an AI-based model for short-term wind speed forecasting. The tool is now integrated into the Costa Rican Electricity Institute’s internal energy forecasting platform, helping optimize operations at selected wind farms.

    In Chile, another project focused on floating solar technology, using AI to estimate evaporation rates on reservoirs. The results, now incorporated into Chile’s official Solar Energy Explorer platform, showed that floating solar panels can reduce water evaporation by up to 85 per cent in summer, with a national average of 77 per cent.

    Indeed, the promise and challenge of climate-smart renewable planning are most evident in the Global South. Africa, for instance, boasts some of the best solar potential on the planet, yet only two per cent of the world’s installed renewable capacity is found on the continent.

    Why the gap? Ms. Boscolo points to a lack of data and investment.

    “In many parts of the Global South, there just is not enough observational data to create accurate forecasts or make energy projects bankable,” she said. “Investors need to see reliable long-term projections. Without that, the risk is too high.”

    WMO is working to improve weather and energy monitoring in underserved regions, but progress is uneven. The agency is calling for more funding for local data networks, cross-border energy planning, and climate services tailored to regional needs.

    “This is not just about climate mitigation,” Ms. Boscolo added. “It is a development opportunity. Renewable energy can bring electricity to communities, drive industrial growth, and create jobs if the systems are designed right.”

    Mr. Bastani sees a need for global data sharing between energy companies and climate scientists.

    “There is a huge untapped potential in the data collected by the private sector… integrating historical and real-time observations from power plants – solar, wind, hydropower, even nuclear – can significantly improve weather and climate models. This is a win-win.”

    IMF/Lisa Marie David

    Climate forecasting helps energy companies anticipate weather-driven changes in supply and demand, improving reliability and reducing risk.

    Diversifying the energy portfolio to adapt

    Another key action to guarantee clean energy in the near future is diversification. Relying too heavily on only one renewable source can expose countries to seasonal or long-term shifts in climate, Mr. Bastani explains.

    In Europe, for example, energy planners are increasingly concerned about something called “dunkelflaute”— a period of cloudy, windless weather in winter that undermines both solar power and wind generation. This phenomenon, linked to high-pressure systems known as anticyclonic gloom, has prompted calls for more energy storage and backup power.

    “A diversified mix that includes solar, wind, hydro, battery storage, and even low-carbon sources (like geothermal) is essential,” Mr. Bastani said. “Especially as extreme weather becomes more frequent.”

    Into the future

    As the world races towards a future powered by renewable energy, addressing the challenges posed by climate change is imperative. The volatility experienced in 2023 underscores the need for climate-smart planning and infrastructure that can withstand unpredictable shifts in weather patterns.

    For renewable energy to truly fulfill its promise, the world must invest not only in expanding capacity but also in building a system that is resilient, adaptable, and informed by the best available climate science.

    WMO experts Hamid Bastani and Roberta Boscolo emphasize the importance of integrating climate intelligence into energy systems to ensure their reliability and resilience. By leveraging advanced forecasting and artificial intelligence, we can better anticipate and adapt to these changes, optimizing renewable energy production and safeguarding our future.

    The future of energy is not just about more wind turbines and solar panels, but also about ensuring they can withstand the very forces they are meant to mitigate.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Wallet Adds Native Support for MegaETH Testnet, Unlocking High-Speed Layer 2 Ecosystem

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget Wallet, a leading Web3 non-custodial wallet, has announced native integration of the MegaETH testnet, an advanced EVM-compatible Layer 2 network. This move enables users to explore MegaETH’s growing ecosystem directly within Bitget Wallet, ahead of upcoming incentive campaigns from both teams.

    With this integration, users can now add the MegaETH testnet from the wallet’s network list and access a dedicated DApp zone featuring MegaETH-based applications. Within this zone, users can claim test tokens, interact with smart contracts, and provide liquidity—offering a comprehensive onchain testing experience. The native support simplifies onboarding to MegaETH and aligns with Bitget Wallet’s broader strategy to support emerging Layer 2 infrastructures through a seamless, multichain user experience.

    MegaETH is a next-generation Layer 2 solution built on Ethereum, designed to enhance scalability and transaction speed. By reducing gas fees and increasing throughput, MegaETH aims to support high-frequency decentralized applications (DApps) across sectors like DeFi, GameFi, and SocialFi. The collaboration with Bitget Wallet is expected to drive early user adoption, stimulate developer engagement, and foster the growth of MegaETH’s ecosystem.

    Looking ahead, Bitget Wallet remains committed to supporting more promising Layer 2 solutions and providing users with secure, multi-chain access to innovative blockchain technologies. “Integrating MegaETH allows our users to experience the future of high-performance Layer 2 solutions effortlessly,” said Alvin Kan, COO of Bitget Wallet. “This collaboration aligns with our mission to empower users with seamless access to the evolving Web3 landscape.“

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

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

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

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/026264fe-1370-4e8d-849c-3b4fe3de9336

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: March 25th, 2025 VIDEO: Heinrich Demands Answers from Trump Administration Intelligence Officials on Dangerous and Illegal Handling of Highly Sensitive National Security Information on Signal Group Chat, Emphasizes Stark Contradiction of Trump Position on Canada as Major Driver of Fentanyl Crisis in U.S. Crisis in U.S.

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON – During a U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing on national security threats to the United States, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) demanded answers from senior Trump Administration intelligence officials, including Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, on the reckless, dangerous, and illegal handling of highly sensitive war plans in Yemen, risking the lives of American troops.

    Heinrich also questioned Gabbard on the Intelligence Community’s Annual Threat Assessment (ATA) omission of Canada as a source of illicit fentanyl, despite the Trump Administration characterizing its role in the United State’s fentanyl crisis as “massive,” and an “unusual and extraordinary threat.” 

    VIDEO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) demands answers from top Trump Administration intelligence officials on Signal chat leak, omission of Canada from Annual Threat Assessment regarding its role in driving America’s fentanyl crisis, March 25, 2025.

    On reckless, dangerous, and illegal handling of highly sensitive information about war plans in Signal group chat: 

    Heinrich began his questioning, “Director Ratcliffe, I want to start with you. Who determined that the content of this discussion on Signal was not classified?”

    Director Ratcliffe responded to the Senator, dodging his question, “I guess I’m not, well… for example, I can speak to my personal knowledge that there was no classified agent— …”

    Heinrich doubled down on Ratcliffe’s non-answer, asking whether it was only Ratcliffe who personally declassified the highly sensitive information “There was an agent mentioned as part of this story. Normally that would be classified information. So, I guess what I’m asking actually, did you just determine it was not classified, or was there any declassification after the fact?” 

    Director Ratcliffe responded, once again dodging Heinrich’s question regarding the declassification of highly sensitive information on war plans in Yemen, “So to be clear, so everyone understands the process, as we talked about, Signal is a permissible use.” 

    Heinrich said, “I understand that.” 

    Director Ratcliffe “I understand the CIA has been approved by the White House for senior officials and recommended by high level officials who would be targeted by foreign adversaries to use an end-to-end encrypted apps whenever possible, like Signal. In this case, what the National Security Adviser did was to request through a Signal message that there be coordination…”

    Heinrich pressed Director Ratcliffe on whether it occurred to him to move the conversation to the “high side,” which is the secure, classified network where sensitive information is handled, “Did it occur to you, that given the sensitive nature of this discussion,  it could just move to the high side?”

    Director Ratcliffe responded to Heinrich, once again deflecting his question, “… So, I think [this] clearly reflects [how] the National Security Advisor intended this to be, as it should have been, a mechanism for coordinating between senior level officials, but not a substitute for using high side or classified communications for anything that would be classified. And I think that that is exactly what did happen.”

    On whether the Signal chat on war plans in Yemen contained information on weapons packages, targets, or timing: 

    Heinrich shifted the conversation to whether the Signal chat between top intelligence officials contained information that could endanger the lives of American troops, as the Atlantic reported, “So I’m curious, did this conversation at some point include information on weapons packages, targets, or timing?”

    Director Ratcliffe answered Heinrich by denying the existence of this information in the Signal chat, in direct opposition to reporting by the Atlantic, “No that I’m aware of.”

    Heinrich then asked the National Intelligence Director, Tulsi Gabbard, the same question. 

    Director Gabbard responded, deferring the question to the Department of Defense, “Same answer, and defer to the Department of Defense on that question.”

    Heinrich followed up with Gabbard, doubling down on his question on whether the correspondence contained information on weapons packages, targets, or timing, “Well those are two different answers, but you’re saying that that was not part of the conversation?”

    Gabbard responded, “To my knowledge.”

    On Trump Administration omitting Canada in Annual Threat Assessment (ATA) on fentanyl crisis in the United States, despite President Donald Trump labeling Canada as an “unusual and extraordinary threat” in driving illicit fentanyl: 

    Heinrich questioned Director Gabbard, “I wanted to ask you something on a very different track here. I very much agree with the conclusion of the ATA that foreign illicit drug actors are a major threat in the United States, and many of you have spoken to this today. Is the Intelligence Community wrong in its omission of Canada as a source of illicit fentanyl in the ATA? I was surprised, given some of the [Trump Administration] rhetoric that there is no mention of Canada in the ATA.”

    Director Gabbard responded to Heinrich, “Senator, the focus in my opening and the ATA was really to focus on the most extreme threats in that area. And our assessment is that the most extreme threat related to fentanyl, continues to come from and through Mexico.”

    Heinrich emphasized the stark contradiction from the Administration on Canada’s role in the United States’ fentanyl crisis, which Trump used as justification for putting tariffs on Canada, “So the President has stated that the fentanyl coming through Canada is massive, and actually said it was “an unusual and extraordinary threat,” and that was the language that was used to justify putting tariffs on Canada. I’m just trying to reconcile those two issues. Is it an unusual and extraordinary threat? Or is it a minor threat that doesn’t even merit mention in the Annual Threat Assessment?”

    Director Gabbard deflected the Senator’s question, “Senator, I don’t have the numbers related to Canada in front of me at this time, I’d like to get back to you on the specifics of that answer.”

    Heinrich remarked, “It’s less than 1% of fentanyl that we are able to interdict, but if you have different information, I would very much welcome that.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Native of Guatemala arrested, charged with making a false statement

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Gendry Amilcar Niz-Niz, 25, a native of Guatemala, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with making a false statement, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew J. Henning and Sasha Mascarenhas, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, at approximately 4:30 p.m. on March 16, 2025, Niz-Niz was pulled over on Main Street in the City of Lockport for numerous vehicle and traffic violations. The Lockport Police Department requested assistance from U.S. Border Patrol personnel after  Niz-Niz provided a foreign identification document. He presented an identification card appearing to have originated from the Republic of Guatemala Department of Transportation, bearing the name Juan Martinez-Chavez. When asked his name and country of citizenship by a U.S. Border Patrol agent, Niz-Niz responded “Juan Martinez.” The photo on the identification card matched the defendant. An immigration check utilizing the name and date of birth listed on the identification card did not show any documentation of a legal entry into the United States. In addition, Niz-Niz admitted to entering the U.S. illegally and stated that this was the first time he had been encountered or arrested by immigration authorities. Niz-Niz was then taken into custody. Further investigation determined that Niz-Niz had previously been arrested under the name Gendry Amilcar Niz-Niz in Tucson, Arizona in November 2021.

    The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Lockport Police Department, under the direction of Chief Steven Abbott and U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent-in-Charge Martin B. Coombs.

    The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

    # # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Guterres urges Caribbean leaders to keep pushing for peace, climate action

    Source: United Nations 2-b

    Peace and Security

    In an address on Wednesday to Caribbean leaders meeting in Barbados, UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced a potential plan to support an “effective force” in Haiti as armed gangs continue to terrorize the population. 

    Mr. Guterres was speaking during the opening of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government Meeting in the capital Bridgetown, where he called for unity to achieve progress in peace and security, climate and sustainable development.

    “A unified Caribbean is an unstoppable force,” he said. “I urge you to keep using that power to push the world to deliver on its promises.”

    ‘Trouble in paradise’

    The Secretary-General noted that the region’s “exquisite beauty is famed the world over, but there is trouble in paradise.”

    He told leaders that “wave after wave of crisis is pounding your people and your islands – with no time to catch your breath before the next disaster strikes.”

    Caribbean countries are experiencing uncertainty fuelled by geopolitical tensions, along with the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, soaring debt and interest rates, and a surge in the cost of living. 

    Global solutions exist

    These are all happening “amidst a deadly swell of climate disasters – ripping development gains to shreds, and blowing holes through your national budgets,” and as countries “remain locked-out of many international institutions – one of the many legacies of colonialism today.”

    The UN chief insisted that “the cure for these ills is global,” and the world needs to deliver on hard-won global commitments to address the immense challenges the international community is facing.

    He listed three key areas “where, together, we must drive progress.” 

    Peace in Haiti

    Mr. Guterres called for unity for peace and security, “particularly to address the appalling situation in Haiti – where gangs are inflicting intolerable suffering on a desperate and frightened people.”

    He said CARICOM and its Eminent Persons Group have provided invaluable support in this regard. 

    “We must keep working for a political process – owned and led by the Haitians – that restores democratic institutions through elections,” he said.

    Security and stability

    A Security Council-backed Multinational Security Support Mission is currently on the ground to assist the Haitian National Police.

    The Secretary-General said he will soon report to the Council on the situation in the country, including proposals on the role the UN can play to both support stability and security, and address the root causes of the crisis.

    He intends to present a proposal similar to the one for Somalia, in which the UN assumes responsibility for the structural and logistical expenditures necessary to put the force in place. Salaries are paid through a trust fund that already exists.

    “If the Security Council will accept this proposal, we will have the conditions to finally have an effective force to defeat the gangs in Haiti and create the conditions for democracy to thrive,” he said, drawing applause.

    © WFP/Fedel Mansour

    Hurricane Beryl last July caused devastation on Union Island in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

    Climate crisis opportunity

    His second point – unity on the climate crisis – underlined “a deplorable injustice” as Caribbean countries “have done next to nothing” to create it. Moreover, they have “fought tooth and nail for the global commitment to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees.”

    Mr. Guterres said countries must deliver new national climate plans ahead of the COP30 UN climate conference later this year.  The plans must align with the 1.5 goal, with the G20 group of industrial nations leading the way.

    “This is a chance for the world to get a grip on emissions,” he said. “And it’s a chance for the Caribbean to seize the benefits of clean power, to tap your vast renewables potential, and to turn your back on costly fossil fuel imports.”

    As finance is required, he underscored the need for confidence that the $1.3 trillion agreed at the previous COP will be mobilized. Developed countries also must honour their promises on adaptation finance and make meaningful contributions to the new Loss and Damage Fund.

    “When the Fund was created, the pledges made were equivalent to the new contract for just one baseball player in New York City,” he remarked.

    Finance for sustainable development

    Meanwhile, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) “are starved of adequate finance, as debt servicing soaks-up funds, and international financial institutions remain underpowered.”

    The Secretary-General said Caribbean countries have been at the forefront of the fight for change, pioneering bold and creative solutions.  He said the Pact for the Future, together with the Bridgetown Initiative, marks significant progress.

    Mr. Guterres thanked Caribbean leaders for supporting the Pact, which UN Member States adopted last year. 

    Key deliverables include support for an SDG Stimulus of $500 billion annually and commitment to reform international financial institutions to allow greater participation by developing countries. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Questions Witnesses In Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Censorship

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    March 25, 2025

    Durbin questions a majority witness on whether the January 6 insurrection was protected free speech; highlights the Trump Administration’s assault on the First Amendment

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses during the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution hearing entitled “The Censorship Industrial Complex.” 

    Durbin began by asking Benjamin Weingarten, a Commentator and Senior Contributor to The Federalist, about the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol. Mr. Weingarten has written about the existence of a so-called Censorship Industrial Complex that he believes has been directed by the Biden Administration. As part of this, Weingarten has stated, “the Capitol riot fueled the war on wrongthink” and that “[c]lemency for Capitol rioters, perhaps above all other opening actions [by the Trump Administration], should represent the start of the end of that war.”

    “Do you think the January 6 riot at the Capitol was protected free speech?” Durbin asked.

    Mr. Weingarten responded, “I think to the extent there was peaceful protest, that is free speech, and when it bleeds into violence to action, that’s when it certainly crosses a line.”

    Durbin responded, “You believe that some of the individuals who received full and unconditional pardons by the President of the United States had in fact crossed the line and were guilty of criminal conduct?”

    Mr. Weingarten stated that “some people [on January 6] committed crimes.”

    “They certainly did [commit crimes]—140 policemen were assaulted by these rioters. I’m on the policemen’s side and I hope you are too,” said Durbin.

    Durbin then asked about Mr. Weingarten’s “whole-of-society war” rhetoric and what it means. Mr. Weingarten said it’s when “government is working hand-in-hand with civil society to achieve some sort of outcome.”

    “Do you think that’s inherently wrong or insidious?” Durbin asked.

    Mr. Weingarten responded, “On its face, it’s potentially chilling when you have government and civil society working hand-in-glove because that blurring of the line between civil society and the state can cross into potentially draconian methods and outcomes.”

    Durbin then asked about whether Mr. Weingarten’s definition of “whole-of-society-war” is in line with the former President George W. Bush’s actions following 9/11.

    Durbin then asked Dr. Mary Anne Franks, a Professor at George Washington University Law School, about the Trump Administration’s attacks on law firms. The Trump Administration has recently targeted several law firms for their association with the President’s perceived enemies, including Perkins Coie and Paul Weiss. Reportedly, the Administration has created a list of more than a dozen firms that it may target.

    “I think this attack on law firms for representing unpopular clients—unpopular with this Administration—is one of the most dangerous developments I’ve seen and the violation of basic free speech… What do you think about the future of legal representation at these law firms, at least one of them has reached a settlement with the Trump Administration?” Durbin asked.

    Dr. Franks responded, “I very much share your alarm about those actions because as you mentioned, access to the courts is a very key principle of our freedoms, and to threaten law firms that are trying to do what all of us should rely on which is to defend people’s rights in court, is extremely chilling.”

    Durbin concluded by asking Gabe Rottman, Vice President of Policy at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP), about the Trump Administration’s views on freedom of the press. The Trump White House recently refused to allow the Associated Press (AP) in the White House press pool for using “Gulf of Mexico” instead of “Gulf of America.”

    “You use the term ‘Gulf of Mexico’ [and] you’re not welcome in the White House,” Durbin said.

    Mr. Rottman responded, “it’s explicit viewpoint discrimination that underpins retaliatory actions by the White House and that makes it a First Amendment violation.”

    Video of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.

    Audio of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.

    Footage of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here for TV Stations.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Corpus Christi jury convicts Cuban national for transporting illegal aliens

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 52-year-old Cuban citizen lawfully residing in Jacksonville, Florida, has been convicted for transporting seven illegal aliens in a tractor-trailer, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    The federal jury deliberated for under two hours before finding Jorge Grimon Maturell guilty following a less than two-day trial.

    On Nov. 1, 2024, Maturell drove to the Falfurrias Border Patrol checkpoint in a tractor-trailer. After a K-9 alerted to the vehicle, authorities directed him to secondary inspection. At that time, they discovered three individuals hiding in the corner of the sleeper area and four underneath a mattress. All seven were illegal aliens with no authority to be in the United States.

    The jury heard that authorities also found $20,684 in his possession and discovered communications between Maturell and others discussing transporting people for approximately that same amount of money

    Maturell claimed an unknown person at a gas station in Edinburg had threatened him earlier that day to smuggle the illegal aliens. The investigation revealed no evidence he had stopped at the specified gas station at all that day.

    The jury also heard Maturell directed the illegal aliens where to hide when entering his vehicle and to not make any noise when they arrived at the checkpoint. Testimony further revealed Maturell made no stops after the aliens got into the vehicle before arriving at the checkpoint.

    The defense attempted to convince the jury he transported the illegal aliens under duress. Maturell took the stand and admitted his original statement of being threatened in Edinburg was not true, but that he was really threatened in Laredo. He claimed he was directed to travel to McAllen where he then picked up the illegal aliens and proceeded to travel north through the checkpoint.

    The jury did not believe defense claims and found him guilty as charged.

    U.S. District Judge David Morales presided over the trial and set sentencing for June 25, at which time Maturell faces up to five years in federal prison.

    Previously released on bond, Maturell was taken into custody following the verdict where he will remain pending sentencing.

    Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Bird and Patrick Overman are prosecuting the case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hagerty Secures Commitment from Trump’s Nominee on Ensuring Panama Cooperates to Stop Illicit Drug Trafficking to the U.S.

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty
    WASHINGTON—United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, today at a hearing received a commitment from Kevin Cabrera, nominee to be U.S. Ambassador to Panama, to use all tools at his disposal to ensure Panama cooperates with the United States on reducing the flow of illicit drug trafficking into America.
    “Transnational criminal organizations, from countries like Colombia and Mexico, have long used Panama to smuggle illicit drugs, and they’ve done it to the tune of billions of dollars,” Hagerty said. “Last year alone, the State Department estimates that up to 40 percent of cocaine that was produced in Colombia had transited through the exclusive economic zones of Panama.”
    “Mr. Cabrera, do you commit to use all of the tools at your disposal to ensure that the Panamanian government continues to collaborate with the United States [in taking] strong actions against these criminal organizations and stopping the flow of illicit drugs into America?” Hagerty asked.
    “[Panama is] a great ally in this and…[I look] forward to continuing that and using all the tools that are at our disposal to continue to [make] sure that we stop as many metric tons of drugs coming through that border through the Darién Gap,” said Cabrera. “It goes hand-in-hand with migration.”

    *Click the photo above or here to watch*

    MIL OSI USA News –