NewzIntel.com

Category: Latin America

  • MIL-OSI Security: Customs and police operation targets cocaine trafficking routes into Europe

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    5 December 2013

    An operation targeting cocaine trafficking routes from South America and Africa into Europe has led to the seizure of more than 1.7 tonnes of drugs, some EUR 1.4 million in cash and 91 arrests.

    Secret panels had been created inside the suitcase to smuggle drugs.

    Customs officers in Nigeria found 2.5 kilogrammes of methamphetamine hidden in a suitcase.

    Counterfeit medicines seized from an air freight container in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In total more than 10 tonnes of fake medicines were recovered during Operation Cocair IV.

    More than five kilogrammes of cocaine were discovered hidden inside motor cylinders at Niamey airport in Niger.

    Operation COCAIR IV, led by the World Customs Organization (WCO), and supported by INTERPOL and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), also resulted in the recovery of more than 10 tonnes of counterfeit medical products and around 35 kilogrammes of illicit wildlife products, including rough and worked ivory.

    During the nine-day operation (26 October – 3 November) nearly 100 seizures were made at 30 international airports across Africa with 181 kg of cocaine 1,700 kg of cannabis and 40 kg of methamphetamine recovered.

    In addition to intelligence-led controls, including profiling passenger lists, law enforcement officers also carried out additional checks on postal items, freight, aircraft and crew members.

    The operation comes under the umbrella of Project AIRCOP, an European Commission and Canada funded initiative to improve controls at international airports by enhancing cooperation between drug enforcement services through communication via WCO’s CENcomm and INTERPOL’s I-24/7 secure systems.

    Prior to the operational phase, a training session was held in Libreville, Gabon where INTERPOL and WCO provided specialist training to nearly 50 officers from the participating countries on a range of issues including risk analysis and product identification.

    Countries which took part in Operation COCAIR IV: Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominican Republic, France, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Jamaica, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican National Pleads Guilty, Faces 10 Years to Life in Federal Prison for Attempting to Smuggle Fentanyl and Cocaine into U.S.

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    DEL RIO, Texas – A Mexican national pleaded guilty in a federal court in Del Rio to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.

    According to court documents, Federico De Los Rios Rios, of Durango, Mexico, attempted to enter the U.S. from Mexico through the Eagle Pass port of entry on Oct. 26, 2024. Accompanied by his wife and child, De Los Rios Rios presented a U.S. Visa to Customs and Border Protection officers and was referred to secondary inspection. A scan of the vehicle revealed anomalies, and a canine inspection resulted in a positive alert.

    CBP officers inspected the rear of the vehicle and located a trap door under a seat, which contained multiple bundles wrapped in electrical tape. One set of bundles weighed 2.14 kgs and was consistent with the properties of fentanyl. A second set of bundles weighed a total of 11.16 kgs and was consistent with the properties of cocaine. A Drug Enforcement Administration laboratory test confirmed the substances to be fentanyl and cocaine.

    De Los Rios Rios admitted that he had been instructed to drive the vehicle from his home in Durango to Orlando, Florida, had been given $700 up front, and anticipated he would be paid an additional $10,000 once he arrived at the destination.

    De Los Rios Rios pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. He faces 10 years to life in prison with a maximum $10 million fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.

    Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Kass is prosecuting the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Secures Sentencing in Alien Smuggling Case

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – A Florida man was sentenced to 41 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, following a dramatic high-speed pursuit and arrest in southern New Mexico.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    According to court documents, on the night of July 15, 2024, Border Patrol agents observed Omar Ozuna-Berneda, 49, a Cuban national and lawful permanent resident, driving a white tractor-trailer on New Mexico State Road 26 near Deming. The vehicle had been previously observed traveling in tandem with other tractor-trailers caught in failed smuggling attempts. When agents attempted to initiate a stop, Ozuna-Berneda led them on a dangerous high-speed pursuit, including swerving into oncoming traffic to avoid a controlled tire deflation device and driving on the shoulder of the highway.

    After 22 miles, Ozuna-Berneda left the vehicle on New Mexico State Road 26 near the city limits of Hatch, New Mexico, and fled on foot. The abandoned tractor-trailer was blocking both lanes traffic and Border Patrol agents discovered 31 illegal aliens locked inside the trailer, including an unaccompanied 8-year-old child. Ozuna-Berneda was later apprehended by Border Patrol agents hiding in brush several miles from the abandoned tractor-trailer.

    During questioning, Ozuna-Berneda admitted to knowingly transporting illegal aliens from Las Cruces to Albuquerque in exchange for payment.

    “Those who violate our immigration laws by engaging in human smuggling endanger both the public and law enforcement through their reckless actions.,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin. “We are resolute in our mission to enforce our immigration laws, dismantle smuggling networks, and prosecute those who put so many lives at risk for their own financial gain.”

    “If you aid in violating U.S. immigration laws by attempting to smuggle individuals into the United States, we will hold you accountable to the fullest extent possible,” said U.S. Border Patrol Interim Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar. “Strengthening border security means enforcing strict consequences for those who break the law. With the support of our partners, we will ensure you face prosecution and serve jail time.”

    Upon his release from prison, Ozuna-Berneda will be subject to three years of supervised release.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar of the U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector, made the announcement today.

    U.S. Border Patrol investigated this case with assistance from the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office and Bureau of Land Management. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joni Autrey Stahl is prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Senator Marshall Joins Fox Business to Discuss Tariffs, President Trump’s Joint Address Before Congress, and DOGE

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
    Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) joined Charles Payne with Fox Business today to discuss President Donald Trump’s tariffs strategy, the President’s address before Congress, and the actions taken by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
    [embedded content]
    You may click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full Fox Business interview.
    On President Trump’s Tariffs Strategy
    “First and foremost, my farmers and ranchers are patriots. There’s not a county in Kansas that has not been impacted by fentanyl poisoning, and that’s why they’re willing to stand beside President Trump and secure our borders, and that Canada and Mexico can do more than just that.
    “Beyond that, though, there are so many more levers that President Trump can pull. We’ve been through this with him before. In Trump 1.0, he did these tariffs on China, and like he just said, he went out and gave us $28 billion of those tariffs. But then he gave us China phase one – record sales in the commodities as well.
    “And then he went on in that Presidency, and he gave us trade agreements, really good trade agreements for agriculture, with Mexico, with Canada, with South Korea, and Japan. There are opportunities out there.
    “And lastly, the other two levers he can pull if he gives us year-round E15, that could replace two-thirds of our export market for corn. And lastly, he can give us the certainty of a 5-year Farm Bill. So, there’s other things he can do besides just the tariffs. Don’t look at the tariffs in them in and of themselves.”
    On the President’s Address Before a Joint Session of Congress
    “I think the President has given us hope. For the first time in five years, since I found out what COVID was and Joe Biden became President, for the first time, America has hope again. We’re bullish on America, that we can leave this world better than we found it, that we can go to places that we never thought we could go to, not just going to Mars. There are so many more things, instead of our country contracting…
    “I think we walked out of there excited, [I’m] disappointed that my colleagues across the aisle couldn’t stand. They couldn’t stand for the First Lady. They couldn’t stand for a young boy that had survived brain cancer and was deputized into the Secret Service, and the other families as well.”
    On DOGE’s Impact So Far
    “I told Elon today he’s not going fast enough. And I think I got a little laugh out of him. I’ve gotten to know Elon a little bit better over the last four or five years. I think the first thing I want to let Americans know is he’s a patriot now too. That’s kind of my theme of the day. He’s a patriot, that he’s all in, he’s doing a great job.
    “The big misconception I think people see out there is that Elon is not in there doing the work. He’s an advisor. There are DOGE employees who went through the federal government employment process like everybody else, and they’re just in there, shining a flashlight on the fraud, waste, abuse, and incompetence…
    “He’s had a great success in the past. I think there’s an opportunity to curb 10, 15, 20% of this federal government. And you know what would really help our farmers, is if the federal government to stop borrowing money and get our interest rates down. That’s what would really help my farmers.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Sugary drinks are a killer: a 20% tax would save lives and rands in South Africa

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Susan Goldstein, Associate Professor in the SAMRC Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science – PRICELESS SA (Priority Cost Effective Lessons in Systems Strengthening South Africa), University of the Witwatersrand

    Non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular conditions account for over 70% of global deaths annually.

    In South Africa, non-communicable diseases cause more than half of all deaths. Diabetes ranks as the second leading cause after tuberculosis.

    A major contributor to rising diabetes rates is the high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, including cooldrinks.

    The World Health Organization recommends a tax of at least 20% on sugary drinks as an effective tool to help reduce consumption and curb related health risks.

    South Africa introduced a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, officially known as the Health Promotion Levy, in 2018.

    The tax applies at R0.0221 ($0.0012) per gram of sugar beyond a 4g/100ml threshold, amounting to an 8% of final selling price. The tax has increased slightly since it was introduced, but not in line with inflation. The Health Promotion Levy therefore falls short of the original 20% target as industry pressure led to a watered-down version of it.

    I lead the South African Medical Research Council/Wits Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science – PRICELESS SA, which has been studying various aspects of the levy for over 10 years.

    PRICELESS SA is still in the process of measuring the health and financial impact of not implementing the Health Promotion Levy at the recommended 20%. A lack of recent data adds to this challenge. But it is worth noting that the World Obesity Report shows that obesity is still a severe problem in South Africa.

    Without interventions, obesity in South Africa is projected to affect 30 million adults and 10 million children by 2035. In 2019 there were 55,238 deaths in South Africa from non-communicable diseases attributable to obesity, and with an annual increase of 2.3% in obesity, deaths are going to increase.

    Taxing sugary beverages is effective

    Despite the sugar industry’s claims that the Health Promotion Levy is ineffective, global evidence strongly suggests otherwise. Countries that have implemented such taxes have seen significant declines in sugar consumption.

    Sugar-sweetened beverage taxes have been implemented in 103 countries and territories globally and have been shown to be effective in many countries.

    In Ireland there was a 30.2% reduction in sugar intake through these beverages.

    In California a study showed a decrease in overweight and obesity among young people living in cities where there was a sugary beverage tax.

    In Mexico, a sugar-sweetened beverages tax at 1 peso ($0.05) per litre was introduced in 2014, and by 2016, sugary drinks sales had dropped by 37%.

    Similarly, in the UK, a tax introduced in 2018 led to a 35.4% reduction in sugar consumption from taxed beverages.

    The levy has had a positive impact in South Africa. Studies show decreased purchasing of these beverages. There were greater reductions in sales among lower socioeconomic groups and in sub-populations with higher sugary drink consumption.

    Mean sugar from taxable beverage purchases fell from 16.25 g/capita per day from the pre-health promotion levy announcement to 10.63 g/capita per day in the year after implementation.

    Lower-income households, which initially purchased more taxable sugary beverages than wealthier households, showed the most significant reductions in consumption after the tax was enforced.

    This is particularly important as non-communicable diseases disproportionately affect poor and vulnerable populations.

    Stronger taxation on sugary beverages not only decreases consumption but also encourages reformulation by manufacturers, leading to healthier products.

    The levy does not cause job losses

    Sugar-related industries often argue that the tax has led to massive job losses.

    Our research contradicts these claims.

    A recent study carried out by PRICELESS SA, funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies through the University of North Carolina and the South African Medical Research Council, showed no significant association between the levy and employment levels. It showed that the levy had not been associated with job creation or job losses in sugar-related industries. These include agriculture, beverage manufacturing and commercial enterprises that sell food and beverages.

    The study suggests several factors that may explain this:

    Firstly, firms may reallocate labour within their operations rather than cut jobs.

    Secondly, many beverage producers have responded to the tax by reformulating their products, reducing the sugar content and using non-nutritive sweeteners rather than reducing production.

    Thirdly, demand for taxed sugary drinks has not declined enough to affect employment.

    Finally, consumers often switch to untaxed alternatives produced by the same companies, preventing financial losses to the industry.

    Increasing the levy is beneficial to the public purse

    The recent delay of South Africa’s budget speech, due to disagreements within the government over the proposed value added tax increase of two percentage points, highlights the urgent need for additional and alternative revenue sources.

    South Africa’s health system is experiencing a massive financial burden due to overweight and obesity, costing R33 billion (US$1.78 billion) annually. This expense accounts for 15.38% of the government’s health expenditure and 0.67% of the country’s GDP. On a per-person basis, the annual cost of overweight and obesity is R2,769 (US$150).

    On the other hand, the levy generated R5.8 billion (US$313m) in revenue over its first two fiscal years.

    Beyond raising funds, a higher tax rate would provide public health benefits and savings for health services.

    Based on our research, increasing the levy to 20% in South Africa could reduce obesity rates by 2.4 to 3.8 percentage points, prevent 85,000 strokes, and save 72,000 lives over two decades.

    These improvements potentially save over R5 billion (US$270m) in medical costs.

    Unlike other taxation measures, which affect all consumers equally, the levy primarily targets discretionary purchases, making it a fairer fiscal tool.

    Therefore, government must act – raise the Health Promotion Levy to 20% and cut the sugar-fuelled health crisis at its root.

    Raising the levy to 20% would be a smarter tax for a healthier nation.

    Darshen Naidoo, Legal Researcher and Associate Lecturer at PRICELESS SA, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg contributed to the article.

    – Sugary drinks are a killer: a 20% tax would save lives and rands in South Africa
    – https://theconversation.com/sugary-drinks-are-a-killer-a-20-tax-would-save-lives-and-rands-in-south-africa-251393

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto Leads Colleagues in Demanding Answers on National Security Impacts of Trump’s Tariffs on Canadian Goods

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) led five of her Senate colleagues in a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent demanding answers on the national security impacts on President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods. On Tuesday, the Trump Administration implemented a 25 percent tariff on all goods imported from Canada, taxing working families for their food, energy, and car purchases.
    “By targeting a partner that is critical to U.S. mineral, food, and energy security, these measures threaten to undermine American national security,” wrote the Senators. “Canada provides essential minerals that power our weapons systems, nourish our crops, and heat our homes. Blanket tariffs that restrict our ability to source these minerals and make us more reliant on adversarial partners like Venezuela, China, and Russia raise fundamental national security questions.”
    Specifically, the Senators demanded answers to the following questions:
    How will the administration ensure that the additional 10 percent tariff on Canadian critical minerals does not increase costs and lead to shortages or reduced supply?
    How will the administration ensure that the additional 25 percent tariff on Canadian minerals such as potash [common in agricultural fertilizer] does not increase the cost of food production and impair the ability of American farmers to fill our dinner tables with affordable and abundant food?
    How will the administration ensure that new tariffs on Canadian minerals and energy products do not lead the United States to increase our sourcing from China, Russia, Belarus, and Venezuela?
    Are there any precautionary or preemptive actions that the administration has taken or plans to take to ensure that potential Canadian restrictions or bans on the export of critical minerals do not impair U.S. national security?
    How will the administration ensure that the additional 10 percent tariff on nickel imports from Canada does not lead additional Western miners to shutter and increase U.S. reliance on Chinese companies?
    How will the administration ensure that new tariffs on Canada do not work counter to delivering affordable, reliable energy to U.S. consumers?
    In 2023, the United States imported $47 billion in minerals from Canada, like the nickel alloys necessary for the production of military equipment and weapons. Canadian minerals help reduce America’s reliance on trade with China.
    Canada is also the world’s largest producer and exporter of potash, a critical component for fertilizer. More than 90 percent of the potash imported for use by American farmers comes from Canada, and a decrease in trade with Canada likely results in increased trade with Russia, Belarus, and China – the world’s next three largest potash producers.
    Additionally, the United States relies on Canadian crude oil imports to supplement its own energy production. Reducing the importation of Canadian crude oil increases America’s reliance on less friendly foreign oil sources, such as Venezuela.
    Additional signatories to the letter include Senators John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).
    Read the full letter here.
    Senator Cortez Masto has led efforts in Congress to strengthen our national security and supply chains. She has consistently blocked burdensome taxes on mining and wrote important provisions of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to bolster Nevada’s critical mineral supply chain. She’s also introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen the domestic supply chain for rare-earth magnets, which are critical components of cell phones, computers, defense systems, and electric vehicles, but are almost exclusively made in China.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Manchester Man Pleads Guilty for His Role in a Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine to New Hampshire through the United States Postal Service

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CONCORD – A Manchester man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Concord for his role in a conspiracy to traffic cocaine to New Hampshire through the United States Postal Service (USPS), Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.

    David Orme, age 52, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, namely, cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante scheduled sentencing for June 23, 2025. The defendant was indicted on December 20, 2023, along with five other defendants. To date, Orme is the fourth defendant convicted in the conspiracy. 

    According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, the defendant was involved in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that shipped cocaine from Puerto Rico to Manchester, New Hampshire. A coconspirator in Puerto Rico sent a package that contained approximately 500 grams of cocaine to an address in Manchester and the defendant signed for it using a fictitious name in a controlled delivery. Ultimately, law enforcement seized the package. Between September 2020 and December 2021, the DTO shipped over 5.6 kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Manchester for redistribution. 

    The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, at least three (3) years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $1,000,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    The United States Postal Inspection Service led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Gingrande is prosecuting the case. 

    ###

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Sugary drinks are a killer: a 20% tax would save lives and rands in South Africa

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Susan Goldstein, Associate Professor in the SAMRC Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science – PRICELESS SA (Priority Cost Effective Lessons in Systems Strengthening South Africa), University of the Witwatersrand

    Non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular conditions account for over 70% of global deaths annually.

    In South Africa, non-communicable diseases cause more than half of all deaths. Diabetes ranks as the second leading cause after tuberculosis.

    A major contributor to rising diabetes rates is the high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, including cooldrinks.

    The World Health Organization recommends a tax of at least 20% on sugary drinks as an effective tool to help reduce consumption and curb related health risks.

    South Africa introduced a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, officially known as the Health Promotion Levy, in 2018.

    The tax applies at R0.0221 ($0.0012) per gram of sugar beyond a 4g/100ml threshold, amounting to an 8% of final selling price. The tax has increased slightly since it was introduced, but not in line with inflation. The Health Promotion Levy therefore falls short of the original 20% target as industry pressure led to a watered-down version of it.

    I lead the South African Medical Research Council/Wits Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science – PRICELESS SA, which has been studying various aspects of the levy for over 10 years.

    PRICELESS SA is still in the process of measuring the health and financial impact of not implementing the Health Promotion Levy at the recommended 20%. A lack of recent data adds to this challenge. But it is worth noting that the World Obesity Report shows that obesity is still a severe problem in South Africa.

    Without interventions, obesity in South Africa is projected to affect 30 million adults and 10 million children by 2035. In 2019 there were 55,238 deaths in South Africa from non-communicable diseases attributable to obesity, and with an annual increase of 2.3% in obesity, deaths are going to increase.

    Taxing sugary beverages is effective

    Despite the sugar industry’s claims that the Health Promotion Levy is ineffective, global evidence strongly suggests otherwise. Countries that have implemented such taxes have seen significant declines in sugar consumption.

    Sugar-sweetened beverage taxes have been implemented in 103 countries and territories globally and have been shown to be effective in many countries.

    In Ireland there was a 30.2% reduction in sugar intake through these beverages.

    In California a study showed a decrease in overweight and obesity among young people living in cities where there was a sugary beverage tax.

    In Mexico, a sugar-sweetened beverages tax at 1 peso ($0.05) per litre was introduced in 2014, and by 2016, sugary drinks sales had dropped by 37%.

    Similarly, in the UK, a tax introduced in 2018 led to a 35.4% reduction in sugar consumption from taxed beverages.

    The levy has had a positive impact in South Africa. Studies show decreased purchasing of these beverages. There were greater reductions in sales among lower socioeconomic groups and in sub-populations with higher sugary drink consumption.

    Mean sugar from taxable beverage purchases fell from 16.25 g/capita per day from the pre-health promotion levy announcement to 10.63 g/capita per day in the year after implementation.

    Lower-income households, which initially purchased more taxable sugary beverages than wealthier households, showed the most significant reductions in consumption after the tax was enforced.

    This is particularly important as non-communicable diseases disproportionately affect poor and vulnerable populations.

    Stronger taxation on sugary beverages not only decreases consumption but also encourages reformulation by manufacturers, leading to healthier products.

    The levy does not cause job losses

    Sugar-related industries often argue that the tax has led to massive job losses.

    Our research contradicts these claims.

    A recent study carried out by PRICELESS SA, funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies through the University of North Carolina and the South African Medical Research Council, showed no significant association between the levy and employment levels. It showed that the levy had not been associated with job creation or job losses in sugar-related industries. These include agriculture, beverage manufacturing and commercial enterprises that sell food and beverages.

    The study suggests several factors that may explain this:

    Firstly, firms may reallocate labour within their operations rather than
    cut jobs.

    Secondly, many beverage producers have responded to the tax by reformulating their products, reducing the sugar content and using non-nutritive sweeteners rather than reducing production.

    Thirdly, demand for taxed sugary drinks has not declined enough to affect employment.

    Finally, consumers often switch to untaxed alternatives produced by the same companies, preventing financial losses to the industry.

    Increasing the levy is beneficial to the public purse

    The recent delay of South Africa’s budget speech, due to disagreements within the government over the proposed value added tax increase of two percentage points, highlights the urgent need for additional and alternative revenue sources.

    South Africa’s health system is experiencing a massive financial burden due to overweight and obesity, costing R33 billion (US$1.78 billion) annually. This expense accounts for 15.38% of the government’s health expenditure and 0.67% of the country’s GDP. On a per-person basis, the annual cost of overweight and obesity is R2,769 (US$150).

    On the other hand, the levy generated R5.8 billion (US$313m) in revenue over its first two fiscal years.

    Beyond raising funds, a higher tax rate would provide public health benefits and savings for health services.

    Based on our research, increasing the levy to 20% in South Africa could reduce obesity rates by 2.4 to 3.8 percentage points, prevent 85,000 strokes, and save 72,000 lives over two decades.

    These improvements potentially save over R5 billion (US$270m) in medical costs.

    Unlike other taxation measures, which affect all consumers equally, the levy primarily targets discretionary purchases, making it a fairer fiscal tool.

    Therefore, government must act – raise the Health Promotion Levy to 20% and cut the sugar-fuelled health crisis at its root.

    Raising the levy to 20% would be a smarter tax for a healthier nation.

    Darshen Naidoo, Legal Researcher and Associate Lecturer at PRICELESS SA, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg contributed to the article.

    Susan Goldstein on behalf of PRICELESS receives funding from the Bloomberg Foundation, the SAMRC and the National Institutes for Health Research

    – ref. Sugary drinks are a killer: a 20% tax would save lives and rands in South Africa – https://theconversation.com/sugary-drinks-are-a-killer-a-20-tax-would-save-lives-and-rands-in-south-africa-251393

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Puerto Rico Man Pleads Guilty for His Role in a Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine to New Hampshire through the United States Postal Service

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CONCORD – A man living in Puerto Rico pleaded guilty today in federal court in Concord for his role in a conspiracy to traffic cocaine to New Hampshire through the United States Postal Service (USPS), Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.

    Joshua Baez Core, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, namely, cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante scheduled sentencing for June 9, 2025. The defendant was indicted on December 20, 2023, along with five other defendants. To date, two co-conspirators have been convicted.

    According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, the defendant was involved in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that shipped cocaine from Puerto Rico to Manchester, New Hampshire. The defendant, based in Puerto Rico, would use fictitious sender information to send packages of cocaine through the mail to Manchester at the direction of his father, the leader of the DTO. The cocaine was often packaged in 500-gram or 1,000-gram bundles and hidden inside children’s games. After the defendant shipped each package, he would relay tracking information to his father, who would employ co-conspirators to track and retrieve the packages of cocaine for him at various addresses in Manchester. His father also sent the defendant suspected drug proceeds, in one instance sending him a parcel containing $11,000. Between September 2020 and December 2021, the DTO shipped over 5.6 kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Manchester for redistribution. 

    The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, at least three (3) years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $1,000,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    The United States Postal Inspection Service led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Gingrande is prosecuting the case. 

    ###

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE Buffalo removes 2 illegal aliens, sexual predators to Honduras

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed two illegally present Honduran nationals convicted of felony sexual offenses, March 3.

    Rito Emanuel Reconco-Castro, 28, illegally entered the United States on an unknown date at an unknown location without being admitted or paroled by a U.S. Immigration official. The U.S Border Patrol encountered Reconco March 29, 2014, issued him a notice to appear, and placed him into removal proceedings. Suffolk County Court convicted Reconco of attempted rape in the first-degree June 11, 2021, and sentenced him to seven years in prison. An immigration judge issued Reconco a final order of removal Nov. 20, 2024. ICE arrested Reconco Feb. 7 upon his release from Wende Correctional Facility in Alden, New York.

    Hugo Abraham Aguilar, 45, illegally entered the U.S. on an unknown date and location without being admitted by an immigration official. The Morris County prosecutor in Morristown, New Jersey arrested Aguilar Feb. 7, 2014, for sexual assault of a victim under 13 and he was found guilty of the charges. The Dover Police Department arrested Aguilar Nov. 6, 2017, for violating a judicial restraining order and he was found guilty of the charges.

    An immigration judge ordered Aguilar removed to Honduras May 11, 2018. Aguilar filed an appeal with the Board of Immigration Appeals, but the appeal was dismissed, Oct. 1, 2018. Aguilar then filed an appeal with the U.S Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, but the court denied the appeal July 10, 2024. ICE arrested Augilar during a traffic stop Feb. 2 and detained him, pending removal, to fulfill the judge’s order.

    Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-347-2423 or completing ICE’s online tip form.

    Learn more about ERO Buffalo’s mission to preserve public safety on X, @EROBuffalo.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Joins Coalition Defending the Integrity of the National Labor Relations Board

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief opposing a legal challenge in YAPP USA Automotive Systems Inc. v. National Labor Relation Board that, if successful, would severely limit the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)’s ability to carry out its responsibility of protecting American workers’ right to unionize. YAPP’s lawsuit seeks to stop the NLRB from addressing allegations that YAPP engaged in unfair labor practices prohibited by federal law, arguing the NLRB’s structure and administrative proceedings are unconstitutional. In today’s amicus brief, the attorneys general are urging the court to deny YAPP’s request for an injunction, which would hamstring the NLRB’s ability to protect workers’ right to collectively bargain for better wages and improved working conditions.    

    “The right to organize and collectively bargain is a cornerstone of a thriving democracy, and the NLRB remains essential in defending these rights for all Americans,” said Attorney General Bonta. “That’s why I’m standing with my fellow attorneys general in urging the Court to deny YAPP’s request for an injunction. The Board must be allowed to fully carry out its duty to continue providing strong protections for millions of workers nationwide.” 

    The NLRB is the federal agency responsible for administering the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), which guarantees American workers the right to unionize, bargain for better wages and working conditions, and engage in activities like strikes and pickets. Under the law, the NLRB investigates violations of labor laws, adjudicates unfair labor practice disputes and certifies the results of union elections. The Board is also responsible for administering the NLRA uniformly across the country.

    To protect the NLRB from political pressure by the President, NLRB board members are appointed by the President and confirmed by Congress for staggered five-year terms. Board members do not serve at the pleasure of the President. Federal law provides that Board members can only be removed by the President “upon notice and hearing, for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office, but for no other cause.” The agency’s administrative law judges have similar protections from arbitrary removal. In its lawsuit, YAPP’s argues that these removal protections are unconstitutional and that the court should prevent the NLRB from conducting any proceedings while they remain in effect. The Trump administration has declined to defend the constitutionality of the removal protections. 

    In today’s brief, the attorneys general explain the removal protections are constitutional, that YAPP’s is not entitled to relief, and that pausing the NLRB’s operations would seriously harm the public that relies on the Board’s administration of the NLRA. Collective bargaining helps workers obtain better wages, benefits and working conditions. Unions also help nonmembers by creating competition for workers that boosts wages. The NLRA also benefits the broader economy by decreasing inequality and stabilizing labor-management relations. 

    Attorney General Bonta remains steadfast in his commitment to protecting workers’ rights and preserving the NLRB. Just last week, the Attorney General filed a brief in support of a challenge to President Trump’s unlawful attempt to remove NLRB member Gwynne Wilcox in the middle of her five-year term. In the brief, the Attorney General, alongside a coalition of attorneys general, urged the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to grant Wilcox’s motion for summary judgement and to order the defendants in that case to allow her to continue performing her responsibilities as an NLRB member.

    Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin in submitting this brief. 

    A copy of the brief can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Rosen, Markey Introduce Legislation to Prevent the Political Weaponization of the FCC, Protect First Amendment

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
    Luján Bill Comes Amid FCC Probes Into Broadcasters That Were Previously Dismissed
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Media, and U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) announced the introduction of the Broadcast Freedom and Independence Act, legislation that would prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from revoking broadcast licenses or taking action against broadcasters based on the viewpoints they broadcast. The legislation would reaffirm the importance of the independence of the FCC, including that the President should not mandate the FCC’s agenda. U.S. Representatives Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.), and Jennifer McClellan (D-Va) lead companion legislation in the House.
    “The Trump administration’s weaponization of the FCC and intimidation of broadcast stations for political purposes is a serious threat to the First Amendment,” said Senator Luján. “The FCC and the President should not hold the power to revoke broadcasting licenses and censor free speech simply because they disagree with the viewpoints that are broadcasted. That is why I’m proud to lead this legislation to make it clear that the FCC operates independent of any political agenda. Free speech and freedom of the press is a pillar of our democracy, and I am committed to defending it from politically motivated attacks.”
    “A free and independent press is a foundational part of defending the first amendment and ensuring Americans have access to information,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “It is clear President Trump intends to use every available avenue to intimidate and silence broadcast media that challenges his viewpoints. The weaponization of the FCC to launch baseless attacks on NPR and PBS show exactly the bullying tactics Donald Trump will use to censor dissent. That’s why Senator Luján and I are introducing this legislation that will ensure our media is protected from government attacks no matter their point of view.”
    Specifically, the Broadcast Freedom and Independence Act would:
    Explicitly state that the FCC is an independent agency and that they must not use their authority to execute politically motivated attacks against licensees.
    Prohibit the FCC from taking action (including revoking any license or authorization) against any person based on the viewpoints disseminated.
    Prohibit the FCC from placing conditions based on viewpoint disseminated on any transaction approval.
    This bill has no effect on the FCC’s authority to take action on violations explicitly outlined in other sections of the Communications Act, including with regard to obscenity, lottery, fraud, or incitement under the First Amendment. 
    “When Congress created the FCC, it had witnessed firsthand how fascist governments in Europe used control of radio broadcasting to spread propaganda and suppress the free press. Determined to prevent that from happening in America, Congress established the FCC as an independent agency to safeguard press freedom. For nearly a century, the FCC has upheld this mission. But now, the current Chair has abandoned this long-standing tradition, turning the agency into a tool for the President’s agenda of press intimidation and suppression of criticism. It is a national tragedy that such a bill is even necessary. However, Public Knowledge applauds Senator Luján for standing up to the Administration’s bullying and giving defenders of a free press a cause to rally behind,” said Harold Feld, Senior Vice President of Public Knowledge.
    “The First Amendment prohibits the government, including the FCC, from dictating what content the media covers and how they cover it. It is this freedom of the press that enables us to hold our government accountable when they overreach. Efforts to retaliate against the press for the viewpoints they express is not only unconstitutional, but will make all of us less informed about the world we live in. We thank Senator Lujan for introducing the Broadcast Freedom and Independence Act to protect freedom of the press,” said Jenna Leventoff, Senior Policy Counsel, American Civil Liberties Union.
    “This bill sends exactly the right message, at a time of remarkable danger for freedom of the press in this country. Just a few years ago, Brendan Carr was an FCC commissioner proclaiming that newsroom decisions about how to frame stories should be beyond the reach of government bureaucrats like him. Now, he is our chief censor, eager to threaten those very same newsrooms any time Donald Trump snaps his fingers. Free Press Action thanks Senator Luján, Representatives Matsui, Barragan, and McClellan, and all members supporting this legislation,” said Matt Wood, Vice President of Policy at Free Press Action.
    Senator Luján’s introduction of the Broadcast Freedom and Independence Act follows his call to FCC Chair Carr to stop the weaponization of FCC in light of recent attacks against both broadcasters and public media.
    The legislation is supported by the American Civil Liberties Union, Public Knowledge, and Free Press Action.
    Full bill text is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Secures Preliminary Injunction Against Trump Administration Blocking Harmful Federal Funding Freeze

    Source: US State of California

    If allowed to go into effect, the federal funding freeze would have threatened hundreds of billions of dollars in California annually, including vital public safety, healthcare, childcare, and infrastructure funding, and other essential services

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today secured a decision by the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island preventing the Trump Administration from implementing a sweeping federal funding freeze while litigation continues. The Court finds that the states are likely to succeed in their claims that the Trump Administration violated the Administrative Procedure Act by freezing funds in contravention of underlying appropriations statutes and that their actions were arbitrary and capricious. The Court specifically notes that the Trump Administration has failed to rebut the harms that the states have presented, including to the states’ most vulnerable residents. These include the potential impacts to services that increase workplace health and safety, water quality, critical transportation infrastructure, and law enforcement and public safety, as well as programs such as Head Start, education services for students with disabilities, and research projects at state universities. Attorney General Bonta led a coalition of 23 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to block the funding freeze last month. 

    “Last month, the Trump Administration chaotically implemented a sweeping federal funding freeze, halting access to billions of dollars in funds lawfully appropriated by Congress. In doing so, it willfully ignored the immediate devastation a freeze would have on the health, safety, and wellbeing of communities and businesses across the country,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Staff in my office worked overnight to ready a lawsuit challenging this illegal freeze and have continued to fight for these critical funds. Today’s decision is an important victory for the rule of law and for the many programs throughout our state that rely on federal funding to carry out their mission. But the fight is not over, and we will continue to work to secure a permanent decision blocking this radical freeze.”

    BACKGROUND 

    Last month, a coalition of 23 attorneys general, led by the attorneys general of California, New York, Rhode Island, Illinois, and Massachusetts, sued the Trump Administration over its attempt to freeze up to $3 trillion in vital federal funding. The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island quickly granted the attorneys general’s request for a temporary restraining order, blocking the freeze’s implementation until further order from the court. Soon after, the attorneys general filed motions for enforcement and a preliminary injunction to stop the illegal freeze and preserve federal funding that families, communities, and states rely on. The court granted the motion for enforcement, ordering the Administration to immediately comply with the temporary restraining order and stop unlawfully freezing federal funds. 

    In just this fiscal year, California is expected to receive $168 billion in federal funding – 34% of the state’s budget – not including funding for the state’s public college and university system. This includes $107.5 billion in funding for California’s Medicaid programs, which serve approximately 14.5 million Californians, including 5 million children and 2.3 million seniors and people with disabilities. Additionally, over 9,000 full-time equivalent state employee positions are federally funded.

    Attorney General Bonta is joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin in securing the preliminary injunction.   

    A copy of the preliminary injunction is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Unlock More Profits with BexBack: 100% Deposit Bonus, 100x Leverage, and $50 New User Reward

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, March 06, 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 offers a 100% deposit bonus, a $50 welcome bonus for new users, and up to 100x leverage on cryptocurrency trading—all with No KYC requirements—providing excellent opportunities for investors.

    What Is 100x Leverage and How Does It Work?

    Simply put, 100x leverage allows you to open larger trading positions with less capital. For example:

    Suppose the Bitcoin price is $100,000 that day, and you open a long contract with 1 BTC. After using 100x leverage, the transaction amount is equivalent to 100 BTC.

    One day later, if the price rises to $105,000, your profit will be (105,000 – 100,000) * 100 BTC / 100,000 = 5 BTC, a yield of up to 500%.

    With BexBack’s deposit bonus

    BexBack offers a 100% deposit bonus. If the initial investment is 2 BTC, the profit will increase to 10 BTC, and the return on investment will double to 1000%.

    Note: Although leveraged trading can magnify profits, you also need to be wary of liquidation risks.

    How Does the 100% Deposit Bonus Work?
    The deposit bonus from BexBack cannot be directly withdrawn but can be used to open larger positions and increase potential profits. Additionally, during significant market fluctuations, the bonus can serve as extra margin, effectively reducing the risk of liquidation.

    About BexBack?

    BexBack is a leading cryptocurrency derivatives platform that offers 100x leverage on BTC, ETH, ADA, SOL, XRP, and 50 other major cryptocurrencies for futures contracts.. It is headquartered in Singapore with offices in Hong Kong, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Argentina. It holds a US MSB (Money Services Business) license and is trusted by more than 500,000 traders worldwide. Accepts users from the United States, Canada, and Europe. There are no deposit fees, and traders can get the most thoughtful service, including 24/7 customer support.

    Why recommend BexBack?

    No KYC Required: Start trading immediately without complex identity verification.

    100% Deposit Bonus: Double your funds, double your profits.

    High-Leverage Trading: Offers up to 100x leverage, maximizing investors’ capital efficiency.

    Demo Account: Comes with 10 BTC in virtual funds, ideal for beginners to practice risk-free trading.

    Comprehensive Trading Options: Feature-rich trading available via Web and mobile applications.

    Convenient Operation: No slippage, no spread, and fast, precise trade execution.

    Global User Support: Enjoy 24/7 customer service, no matter where you are.

    Lucrative Affiliate Rewards: Earn up to 50% commission, perfect for promoters.

    Take Action Now—Don’t Miss Another Opportunity!

    If you missed the previous crypto bull run, this could be your chance. With BexBack’s 100x leverage and 100% deposit bonus and $50 bonus for new users (complete one trade within one week of registration), you can be a winner in the new bull run.

    Sign up on BexBack now, claim your exclusive bonus and start accumulating more BTC today!

    Website: www.bexback.com

    Contact: business@bexback.com

    Contact:
    Amanda
    business@bexback.com

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by BexBack. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector–including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining–complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/00ac4535-e3ca-4334-bdce-ac33f4a1e348

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a5ce6730-6fb5-4dde-a009-9efae0b63c57

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3ca93fb1-0583-4cdf-9cc3-8efc74fbcf01

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8280afdb-96a3-4c40-af77-85f38a38b58f

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Praises VP Vance’s Texas Border Visit

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after Vice President JD Vance and other members of the Trump administration visited Eagle Pass, Texas, a hotspot for illegal border crossings during the Biden-Harris administration:
    “While his predecessor, Kamala Harris, reluctantly visited the border a mere two times for sanitized photo-ops during her reign as border czar, I commend Vice President JD Vance for making it a priority to come to the Texas-Mexico border during his first six weeks in office.”
    “For far too long, the responsibility of enforcing federal immigration laws fell to the State of Texas and its taxpayers—but not anymore. In just weeks, the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration has led to a record low level of attempted illegal border crossings and thousands of arrests of illegal immigrants.”
    “President Trump, Vice President Vance, and the entire administration are proving to the American people that they are taking their mandate seriously, and I look forward to continuing to work with them to secure our nation’s borders.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Six Foreign Nationals Indicted For Illegal Reentry

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Jacksonville, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the return of six indictments charging Cesar Antonio Geronimo-Morales (34, Guatemala), Calixto Gomez-Lopez (42, Guatemala), Fermin Diaz (37, El Salvador), Lenar Donaldo Martinez-Garay (32, Honduras), Lesman Yohan Lopez-Gamez (33, Honduras), and Juan Jose Resendiz-Gonzalez (47, Mexico) with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. If convicted, each faces up to two years in federal prison. 

    According to court documents, all six individuals have been previously deported from the United States and were found present in Duval County. None have received the consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security for the United States to apply for readmission to the United States.

    An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

    This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brenna Falzetta.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Wallet Integrates Sonic Ecosystem, Expanding Multichain DeFi Access

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget Wallet, a leading Web3 non-custodial wallet, has integrated the Sonic mainnet, providing users with direct access to its expanding decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem. This integration allows users to trade Sonic ecosystem tokens, manage assets, and interact with Sonic-based DeFi applications, including decentralized exchanges (DEXs), meme projects, and NFT platforms.

    As Layer 1 blockchains compete to offer higher scalability and lower fees, Sonic stands out with its EVM-compatible architecture and efficient transaction processing, making it a promising ecosystem for DeFi innovation. By integrating Sonic, Bitget Wallet strengthens its position as a multi-chain gateway, ensuring users can easily add the Sonic mainnet, transfer assets, and explore the network’s rapidly growing ecosystem. To further enhance accessibility, Bitget Wallet is rolling out Sonic token price tracking, swaps, and direct trading, enabling users to engage more seamlessly with emerging opportunities.

    The increasing adoption of Ethereum-compatible Layer 1s and Layer 2s reflects a broader industry shift toward multi-chain interoperability. Sonic, developed by the core team behind Fantom, leverages high transaction throughput and low-cost execution to optimize DeFi and Web3 gaming applications. With its native token $S, Sonic continues to attract a growing number of developers and projects, fueling its ecosystem expansion.

    “As new Layer 1 networks like Sonic drive innovation in blockchain scalability and DeFi accessibility, Bitget Wallet remains focused on integrating promising ecosystems,” said Alvin Kan, COO of Bitget Wallet. “Supporting Sonic aligns with our commitment to providing users with seamless multi-chain experiences, reinforcing the importance of open and efficient blockchain infrastructure.”

    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, an NFT marketplace and crypto payment. Supporting over 100 blockchains, 20,000+ DApps, and 500,000+ 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/f5090250-f2a3-4f45-8790-5ed6562263dc

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: El Salvadorian National Charged With Illegal Reentry

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jorge A. Guzman-Montano, age 52, of El Salvador, was indicted on March 5, 2025, by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry into the United States by a previously deported alien.

    According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that Guzman-Montano was previously removed from the United States on April 21, 2017, through Lorado, Texas, and it is alleged that he was subsequently found in the United States without having first obtained legal permission to reenter the country. The indictment also alleges that on February 12, 2025, Guzman-Montano was encountered in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

    This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Dukes is prosecuting the case.

    The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is ten years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

    Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: GRUPO FINANCIERO BANORTE to Present at the Banking Virtual Investor Conference March 6th

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MEXICO CITY, March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GRUPO FINANCIERO BANORTE (GBOOY), based in Av. Revolución N° 3000, Col. Primavera, Monterrey, N.L. C.P. 64830 Mexico, focused on Financial Services, today announced that Tania Martinez Lira, Investor Relations Director and that Corina Beltrán Medina, Investor Relations Deputy Director, will present live at the Banking Virtual Investor Conference hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com, on March 6th, 2025

    DATE: March 6th
    TIME: 2:30 – 3:00 pm ET
    LINK: https://bit.ly/3DhRUj4

    This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.

    It is recommended that online investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates. 

    Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com.

    Recent Company Highlights

    • Recognized by The Banker as the Best Bank in Mexico, Most Innovative Bank in Latin America, and Top 200 Banks in Latin America in 2024
    • Recognized by World Finance as the Best Retail Bank and Best Corporate Governance in Mexico in 2024
    • Recognized by Institutional Investor as the Most Honored Company, coupled with Best CEO, Best CFO, Best IRO, Best IR Team, Best IR program, Best ESG, Best Company Board of Directors, and Best Investor Day in 2024
    • Recognized by Global Finance as Best Bank in Mexico 2024 and Best SME Bank 2025
    • Recognized by Euromoney as Best Service-Domestic, Trade Finance in Mexico and Best Banks for SMEs in Mexico in 2024
    • Recognized by TAB Global as one of the 1000 World´s Largest and Strongest Banks in 2024
    • Silver winner at a worldwide level on the “HyperPersonalization” project in the category “Reimagining the Customer Experience” by Qorus-Infosys Finacle
    • Recognized by Best Place to Work 2024, while incorporating our CEO and our CHRO in their “Best CEOs and Best CHROs” list

    About [GRUPO FINANCIERO BANORTE]

    Grupo Financiero Banorte (GFNorte), is a leading financial institution in Mexico, with the largest business diversification and continuously seeking ways to innovate in the financial sector, offering a wide variety of traditional and digital products and services, through its broker dealer, annuities & insurance companies, retirement saving funds (afore), mutual funds, leasing and factoring company, warehousing and recently announcing the inclusion of a digital bank.

    Banorte is the second largest financial group in Mexico in terms of loan portfolio, the number two provider of loans to governments and the second largest bank in mortgage loans. In addition, the retirement fund administrator Afore XXI Banorte, of which GFNorte owns 50%, is the largest in the country in terms of assets under management.

    Banorte is the only commercial bank, among the six largest institutions, whose decisions are made locally without the influence of external parent companies, which has proven to be an advantage in adapting with agility to the changes and alternatives presented by the country.

    About Virtual Investor Conferences®
    Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.

    Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Stops Trump Administration from Defunding Vital Medical and Scientific Research

    Source: US State of New York

    EW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James and a coalition of 21 other attorneys general today stopped the Trump administration from slashing vital medical and scientific research funding. Attorney General James and the coalition secured a nationwide preliminary injunction preventing the Trump administration – including the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) – from cutting billions of dollars in critical funding that supports cutting-edge medical and public health research at institutions across the country.

    “The president may want to play politics with public health, but we refuse to risk the resources Americans rely on,” said Attorney General James. “Without this lawsuit, New York could have lost $850 million in funding and researchers would have been forced to abandon vital research projects on cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. We will always fight back against these harmful, illegal cuts that slow down life-saving medical research, hurt our economy, and take away jobs.”

    On February 7, NIH announced it would abruptly slash indirect cost rates for research grants to 15 percent across the board, significantly less than the cost required to conduct advanced medical research. The NIH also announced that cuts would go into effect the next business day – Monday, February 10 – giving universities and institutions no time to plan for the enormous budget gaps they would face.

    On February 10, Attorney General James and the coalition filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, HHS, and NIH challenging the Trump administration’s attempt to unilaterally cut indirect cost reimbursements at every research institution throughout the country. Less than six hours after the attorneys general filed their lawsuit, the court issued a TRO against NIH, barring it from cutting billions in funding for biomedical and public health research. 

    Today’s order extends the protections of the TRO and bars the administration from cutting billions in funding for biomedical and public health research, ensuring this critical, life-saving research can continue nationwide.

    The NIH is the primary source of federal funding for medical research in the United States. Medical research funding by NIH grants has led to innumerable scientific breakthroughs, including the discovery of treatment for cancers of all types, the first sequencing of DNA, and the development of the MRI. Additionally, dozens of NIH-supported scientists have earned Nobel Prizes for their groundbreaking scientific work. Most NIH-funded research occurs outside of federal government institutions such as public and private universities and colleges.

    In New York, there is currently $5 billion in open NIH grants to institutions throughout the state. If the proposed funding cap was allowed to take effect, approximately 250 institutions in New York would be impacted, encompassing most universities and medical schools in the state. New York institutions stand to lose approximately $850 million from this policy. For example, the State University of New York (SUNY) system – including the University at Albany, Stony Brook, and the University at Buffalo – stands to lose $78 million through the full life of its current grants and would have to abandon groundbreaking research projects on cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s disease if the cap went forward.

    Joining Attorney General James on this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Philly’s street fentanyl contains an industrial chemical called BTMPS that’s an ingredient in plastic

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Karli Hochstatter, Research Scientist in Epidemiology and Health Services, Columbia University

    Adulterants such as xylazine, medetomidine and now BTMPS are common in Philly’s street fentanyl. Juan Pablo Pino/AFP via Getty Images

    As much as half of the fentanyl sold on Philly’s streets contains an industrial chemical used in plastics manufacturing. That’s according to our November 2024 testing of fentanyl samples collected in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood, regarded as the largest open-air drug market on the East Coast.

    What’s more, the amount, or concentration, of this industrial chemical in the drug samples often exceeded the amount of fentanyl.

    We are an epidemiologist and anthropologist whose research focuses on substance use disorders and the opioid overdose epidemic. Our team’s findings were published in the peer-reviewed Journal of the American Medical Association in February 2025.

    The industrial chemical we found is called BTMPS, which is the common abbreviation for bis(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl) sebacate. BTMPS belongs to a class of molecules called hindered amine light stabilizers that manufacturers frequently add to plastics and other polymers to protect against degradation from heat and sunlight.

    Since March 2024, our team has tested 228 street fentanyl samples collected in Kensington. Of these, 39 – or 17% – contained BTMPS.

    We first detected BTMPS in Philadelphia in June 2024. We found it in two of the eight samples – 25% – that we collected that month. By November 2024, 12 of 22 samples – or 55% – contained BTMPS.

    Why BTMPS is being added to the street opioid supply, and at what stage in production or distribution it is being added, remains unknown.

    Researchers suspect that it may be added to stabilize a fentanyl precursor chemical that is susceptible to degradation from heat and oxygen.

    Given its low cost, BTMPS may also be added to dilute other psychoactive substances or more expensive ingredients or both.

    Kensington Avenue in North Philadelphia is considered the epicenter of the city’s opioid crisis.
    Spencer Platt via Getty Images

    How toxic is BTMPS?

    Among the 39 samples that contained BTMPS in Philadelphia, the average amount of BTMPS was nearly double that of fentanyl. On average, BTMPS made up 4% of the sample, while fentanyl made up 2.3% of the sample. In one sample tested, BTMPS made up 18% of the sample.

    BTMPS has not been approved for human consumption or been studied in humans.

    However, it has been shown in rat studies to reduce nicotine use and attenuate withdrawal symptoms associated with morphine and cocaine.

    The rat studies revealed several adverse health effects from exposure to BTMPS. They include heart defects, serious eye damage and death.

    These findings raise concerns about the increasing exposure of BTMPS to humans through street drugs. The concentrations up to 18% found in the Philly samples are many orders of magnitude higher than the estimated concentration of 0.1% to 0.5% that people are exposed to through plastic products.

    Some of the street fentanyl samples from Philadelphia contained more BTMPS than fentanyl.
    Joe Lamberti for The Washington Post via Getty Images

    BTMPS appearing in fentanyl across the US

    Our colleagues who are testing street opioid samples in other regions also detected BTMPS in fentanyl samples or paraphernalia residue in Delaware, Maryland, Nevada, Washington and California. In Los Angeles, BTMPS was first detected in July 2024 – by September, 56% of samples there contained it.

    The sudden and almost simultaneous appearance of a new adulterant in U.S. street opioids from the East Coast to the West Coast is rare. For example, fentanyl, xylazine and medetomidine became prevalent in the U.S. opioid supply in different regions at different times.

    The recent emergence of BTMPS in street opioid markets nationwide suggests that it may be entering the supply at an early stage in production or wholesale distribution.

    Historically, Philadelphia’s street opioid supply has had strong ties to Puerto Rico. These ties influenced Philly’s early incorporation of the veterinary sedative xylazine into the street drug supply. Since 2021, xylazine has been present in virtually all of Philly’s street fentanyl.

    Given these associations, we are also testing the street opioid supply in Puerto Rico to examine potential similarities and relationships with Philadelphia’s supply. To date, we have detected BTMPS in two out of 49 – or 4% – of street opioid samples in Puerto Rico. We first detected it in a sample in September 2024 and again in December 2024.

    What’s next

    We continue to monitor BTMPS trends in Philadelphia’s street fentanyl. We are also examining whether concentrations of fentanyl and other key compounds such as xylazine in Philly’s street fentanyl have changed as new adulterants such as BTMPS and medetomidine become more widespread – and whether these changes play a role in the declining overdose death rate in Pennsylvania and other parts of the U.S.

    We are also developing plans to study the immediate and long-term effects that BTMPS exposure has on people using drugs.

    Karli Hochstatter receives funding from the NIH.

    Fernando Montero receives funding from the NIH, the Social Intervention Group at Columbia University, and the Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research (CDUHR) at New York University.

    – ref. Philly’s street fentanyl contains an industrial chemical called BTMPS that’s an ingredient in plastic – https://theconversation.com/phillys-street-fentanyl-contains-an-industrial-chemical-called-btmps-thats-an-ingredient-in-plastic-249990

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, January 2025

    Source: US Bureau of Economic Analysis

    The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced today that the goods and services deficit was $131.4 billion in January, up $33.3 billion from $98.1 billion in December, revised.

    U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services Deficit
    Deficit: $131.4 Billion  +34.0%°
    Exports: $269.8 Billion  +1.2%°
    Imports: $401.2 Billion  +10.0%°

    Next release: Thursday, April 3, 2025

    (°) Statistical significance is not applicable or not measurable. Data adjusted for seasonality but not price changes

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis; U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, March 6, 2025

    Exports, Imports, and Balance (exhibit 1)

    January exports were $269.8 billion, $3.3 billion more than December exports. January imports were $401.2 billion, $36.6 billion more than December imports.

    The January increase in the goods and services deficit reflected an increase in the goods deficit of $33.5 billion to $156.8 billion and an increase in the services surplus of $0.2 billion to $25.4 billion.

    Year-over-year, the goods and services deficit increased $64.5 billion, or 96.5 percent, from January 2024. Exports increased $10.6 billion or 4.1 percent. Imports increased $75.2 billion or 23.1 percent.

    Three-Month Moving Averages (exhibit 2)

    The average goods and services deficit increased $19.2 billion to $102.6 billion for the three months ending in January.

    • Average exports increased $1.2 billion to $270.0 billion in January.
    • Average imports increased $20.4 billion to $372.5 billion in January.

    Year-over-year, the average goods and services deficit increased $37.1 billion from the three months ending in January 2024.

    • Average exports increased $11.4 billion from January 2024.
    • Average imports increased $48.5 billion from January 2024.

    Exports (exhibits 3, 6, and 7)

    Exports of goods increased $2.7 billion to $172.8 billion in January.

      Exports of goods on a Census basis increased $2.8 billion.

    • Capital goods increased $4.2 billion.
      • Civilian aircraft increased $1.1 billion.
      • Semiconductors increased $0.7 billion.
      • Computers increased $0.5 billion.
      • Civilian aircraft engines increased $0.5 billion.
    • Consumer goods increased $1.7 billion.
      • Pharmaceutical preparations increased $0.8 billion.
      • Jewelry increased $0.6 billion.
    • Other goods decreased $1.3 billion. (See the “Notice” for more information.)
    • Foods, feeds, and beverages decreased $1.0 billion.
      • Soybeans decreased $0.8 billion.

      Net balance of payments adjustments decreased $0.1 billion.

    Exports of services increased $0.6 billion to $97.0 billion in January.

    • Financial services increased $0.2 billion.
    • Telecommunications, computer, and information services increased $0.1 billion.
    • Other business services increased $0.1 billion.
    • Transport increased $0.1 billion.
    • Maintenance and repair services increased $0.1 billion.
    • Government goods and services decreased $0.3 billion.

    Imports (exhibits 4, 6, and 8)

    Imports of goods increased $36.2 billion to $329.5 billion in January.

      Imports of goods on a Census basis increased $36.2 billion.

    • Industrial supplies and materials increased $23.1 billion.
      • Finished metal shapes increased $20.5 billion.
    • Consumer goods increased $6.0 billion.
      • Pharmaceutical preparations increased $5.2 billion.
      • Cell phones and other household goods increased $1.2 billion.
    • Capital goods increased $4.6 billion.
      • Computers increased $3.0 billion.
      • Computer accessories increased $1.2 billion.
      • Telecommunications equipment increased $1.1 billion.

      Net balance of payments adjustments decreased $0.1 billion.

    Imports of services increased $0.4 billion to $71.7 billion in January.

    • Charges for the use of intellectual property increased $0.2 billion.
    • Other business services increased $0.1 billion.
    • Travel decreased $0.1 billion.

    Real Goods in 2017 Dollars – Census Basis (exhibit 11)

    The real goods deficit increased $30.8 billion, or 27.5 percent, to $142.9 billion in January, compared to a 27.4 percent increase in the nominal deficit.

    • Real exports of goods increased $0.6 billion, or 0.4 percent, to $142.3 billion, compared to a 1.6 percent increase in nominal exports.
    • Real imports of goods increased $31.4 billion, or 12.4 percent, to $285.2 billion, compared to a 12.5 percent increase in nominal imports.

    Revisions

    Exports and imports of goods and services were revised for July through December 2024 to incorporate more comprehensive and updated quarterly and monthly data. In addition to these revisions, seasonally adjusted data for all months of 2024 were revised so that the totals of the seasonally adjusted months equal the annual totals.

    Revisions to December exports

    • Exports of goods were revised down $0.1 billion.
    • Exports of services were revised up $0.1 billion.

    Revisions to December imports

    • Imports of goods were revised up $0.2 billion.
    • Imports of services were revised down $0.6 billion.

    Goods by Selected Countries and Areas: Monthly – Census Basis (exhibit 19)

    The January figures show surpluses, in billions of dollars, with Netherlands ($4.3), South and Central America ($4.3), Belgium ($0.6), and Brazil ($0.6). Deficits were recorded, in billions of dollars, with China ($29.7), European Union ($25.5), Switzerland ($22.8), Mexico ($15.5), Ireland ($12.4), Vietnam ($11.9), Canada ($11.3), Germany ($7.6), Taiwan ($7.5), Japan ($7.4), South Korea ($5.4), India ($4.2), Italy ($3.5), Malaysia ($2.5), Australia ($2.0), Hong Kong ($1.4), France ($1.0), Singapore ($1.0), Israel ($0.6), United Kingdom ($0.5), and Saudi Arabia ($0.1).

    • The deficit with Switzerland increased $9.8 billion to $22.8 billion in January. Exports increased $0.6 billion to $1.8 billion and imports increased $10.3 billion to $24.6 billion.
    • The deficit with Ireland increased $6.2 billion to $12.4 billion in January. Exports increased less than $0.1 billion to $1.2 billion and imports increased $6.2 billion to $13.6 billion.
    • The surplus with South and Central America increased $0.7 billion to $4.3 billion in January. Exports increased $0.3 billion to $18.0 billion and imports decreased $0.5 billion to $13.7 billion.

    Goods and Services by Selected Countries and Areas: Quarterly – Balance of Payments Basis (exhibit 20)

    Statistics on trade in goods and services by country and area are only available quarterly, with a one-month lag. With this release, fourth-quarter figures are now available.

    The fourth-quarter figures show surpluses, in billions of dollars, with South and Central America ($19.1), Netherlands ($18.6), Australia ($7.1), Singapore ($7.0), Brazil ($7.0), United Kingdom ($4.9), Hong Kong ($4.3), Saudi Arabia ($3.4), and Belgium ($1.5). Deficits were recorded, in billions of dollars, with China ($68.8), Mexico ($48.0), European Union ($38.5), Vietnam ($32.7), Germany ($21.1), Taiwan ($18.9), Japan ($17.0), Switzerland ($15.7), India ($13.2), South Korea ($12.5), Italy ($11.1), Canada ($10.5), Ireland ($7.8), Malaysia ($7.4), France ($4.5), and Israel ($2.1).

    • The deficit with Switzerland increased $12.1 billion to $15.7 billion in the fourth quarter. Exports decreased $1.6 billion to $18.8 billion and imports increased $10.6 billion to $34.5 billion.
    • The deficit with India increased $3.4 billion to $13.2 billion in the fourth quarter. Exports decreased $0.2 billion to $20.6 billion and imports increased $3.2 billion to $33.8 billion.
    • The deficit with the European Union decreased $5.8 billion to $38.5 billion in the fourth quarter. Exports decreased $0.9 billion to $164.8 billion and imports decreased $6.7 billion to $203.3 billion.

    All statistics referenced are seasonally adjusted; statistics are on a balance of payments basis unless otherwise specified. Additional statistics, including not seasonally adjusted statistics and details for goods on a Census basis, are available in exhibits 1-20b of this release. For information on data sources, definitions, and revision procedures, see the explanatory notes in this release. The full release can be found at www.census.gov/foreign-trade/Press-Release/current_press_release/index.html or www.bea.gov/data/intl-trade-investment/international-trade-goods-and-services. The full schedule is available in the Census Bureau’s Economic Briefing Room at www.census.gov/economic-indicators/ or on BEA’s website at www.bea.gov/news/schedule.

    Next release: April 3, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. EDT
    U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, February 2025

    Notice

    Impact of Canada Border Services Agency’s (CBSA) Release of CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM)

    The CBSA introduced a new accounting system (CARM) on October 21, 2024. As a result, importers in Canada have experienced delays in filing shipment information. These delays affected the compilation of statistics on U.S. exports of goods to Canada for September 2024 through January 2025, which are derived from data compiled by Canada through the United States – Canada Data Exchange. A dollar estimate of the filing backlog is included in estimates for late receipts and, following the U.S. Census Bureau’s customary practice for late receipt estimates, is included in the export end-use category “Other goods” as well as in exports to Canada. This estimate will be replaced with the actual transactions reported by the Harmonized System classification in June 2025 with the release of “U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, Annual Revision.” Until then, please refer to the supplemental spreadsheet “CARM Exports to Canada Corrections,” which provides a breakdown of the late receipts by 1-digit end-use category for statistics through 2024. This spreadsheet will be updated as late export transactions are received to reflect reassignments from the initial “Other goods” category to the appropriate 1-digit end-use category. Any 2025 impacts will be revised in June 2026.

    If you have questions or need additional information, please contact the Census Bureau, Economic Indicators Division, International Trade Macro Analysis Branch, on 800-549-0595, option 4, or at eid.international.trade.data@census.gov.

    Upcoming Changes to the Real (Chained-Dollar) Series

    Effective with the release of the February 2025 statistics on April 3, 2025, the Census Bureau will continue to use the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes to calculate the chained-dollar series (exhibits 10 and 11). The BLS will be implementing changes to the indexes with the release of the February 2025 U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes on March 18, 2025. The changes to the indexes could impact the chained-dollar values. Please refer to the BLS notice for additional information on the Upcoming Change to Data Source for Import and Export Price Indexes: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

    If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact the Census Bureau, Economic Statistical Methods Division, International Trade Statistical Methods Branch, on 301-763-3080.

    Upcoming Updates to Goods and Services

    With the releases of the “U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services” report (FT-900) and the FT-900 Annual Revision on June 5, 2025, statistics on trade in goods, on both a Census basis and a balance of payments (BOP) basis, will be revised beginning with 2020 and statistics on trade in services will be revised beginning with 1999. The revised statistics for goods on a BOP basis and for services will also be included in the “U.S. International Transactions, 1st Quarter 2025 and Annual Update” report and in the international transactions interactive database, both to be released by BEA on June 24, 2025.

    Revised statistics on trade in goods will reflect:

    • Corrections and adjustments to previously published not seasonally adjusted statistics for goods on a Census basis.
    • End-use reclassifications of several commodities.
    • Recalculated seasonal and trading-day adjustments.
    • Newly available and revised source data on BOP adjustments, which are adjustments that BEA applies to goods on a Census basis to convert them to a BOP basis. See the “Goods (balance of payments basis)” section in the explanatory notes for more information.

    Revised statistics on trade in services will reflect:

    • Newly available and revised source data, primarily from BEA surveys of international services.
    • Corrections and adjustments to previously published not seasonally adjusted statistics.
    • Recalculated seasonal adjustments.
    • Revised temporal distributions of quarterly source data to monthly statistics. See the “Services” section in the explanatory notes for more information.

    A preview of BEA’s 2025 annual update of the International Transactions Accounts will be available in the Survey of Current Business in April 2025.

    If you have questions or need additional information, please contact the Census Bureau, Economic Indicators Division, International Trade Macro Analysis Branch, on (800) 549-0595, option 4, or at eid.international.trade.data@census.gov or BEA, Balance of Payments Division, at InternationalAccounts@bea.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: South Beach, Miami is not the most popular beach destination in the world but ranks 2nd according to the Travel App, Visited

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The travel map app, Visited, publishes the most popular beach destinations as per international beach goers.

    The popular travel app, Visited, which is published by Arriving In High Heels Corporation, has published a list of the top 10 most popular beach destinations in the world. Based on popular beaches, the most popular locations are in Mexico and the Mediterranean. The popular beach destinations around the world include:

    1. Cancun, Mexico
    2. South Beach, Miami, USA
    3. Majorca, Spain
    4. Cannes, France
    5. Tenerife, Spain

    Of the US beach destinations, only South Beach, Miami and Venice Beach made it to the top 20. In the top 50 there is also Waikiki Beach, Santa Monica, Clearwater Beach, Panama City Beach, Atlantic City, Na Pali Coast and Virginia Beach.

    The full beach destination list ranked by popularity is available in the travel map app, Visited, which can be downloaded for free on iOS or Android. The app which once started as a simple way to color in the places users have been on a map, has expanded to include the popular travel list feature. Users can select ‘where I’ve been’ or add it to their ‘bucketlist’ to see personalized travel stats and to help plan future travels. There are over 175 travel lists available including national parks, cruise ports, snorkeling destinations, ski destinations, golf locations and even festivals around the world. The apps other features include a personalized travel map, ability to print a personalized travel poster, see regional information on a map by states visited and see personalized travel stats.

    To learn more about the Visited Map App, visit https://visitedapp.com.

    About Visited Travel App
    Popular travel map app Visited was designed to keep track of all countries, regions and cities that you have been to or want to visit in the future. A new feature of the app allows users to receive professionally printed posts of their travels. To help keep track of all the unique places and experiences users had, they can select destinations by travel categories. There are over 175 travel lists to choose from including ski destinations, golf destinations, national parks and more. For those that have a hard time choosing where to go next, Visited displays countries based on the total places of interest and experiences they want to do in that country, taking away the guess work of where to next. It is the ultimate travel bucket list and travel tracking app.

    About Arriving In High Heels Corporation
    Arriving In High Heels Corporation is a mobile app company with apps including Pay Off Debt, X-Walk and Visited, their most popular app.

    Contact:
    Anna Kayfitz
    anna@arrivinginhighheels.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE arrests criminal alien and foreign fugitive wanted for felony drug trafficking in Brazil

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    BOSTON – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested criminal alien and fugitive from justice Leandro Romano de Souza, 27, for a felony drug trafficking conviction in Brazil, Jan. 27.

    “The arrest of this criminal alien, who illegally entered the U.S. in an attempt to evade justice, underscores our relentless commitment to identifying and apprehending individuals who exploit our borders to escape accountability,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia Hyde. “We remain dedicated to working closely with our international law enforcement partners to ensure that foreign fugitives seeking refuge in our communities are swiftly located and removed from our community.”

    Romano de Souza entered the United States at or near Calexico, California, without inspection or admission by an immigration officer in April 2024. The U.S. Border Patrol arrested Romano de Souza and released him on an order of recognizance.

    The Criminal Enforcement Court of the District of Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil issued an arrest warrant for Romano de Souza in September 2024 to serve the remainder of his 14 plus year sentence in Brazil.

    ICE arrested Romano de Souza during an enhanced operation in Peabody, Jan. 27. Romano de Souza remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

    Members of the public can report crimes or suspicious activity by dialing the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our communities on X: @EROBoston.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Regula Increases Its Global User Base by 52% Amid Rising Identity Verification Demands

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RESTON, Va., March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Regula, a global developer of forensic devices and identity verification (IDV) solutions, is now providing advanced IDV software technologies to 152 million online users worldwide. This new milestone marks an impressive growth of 52% compared to the previous year. Among the main drivers of wider IDV adoption, Regula points out the rising need for advanced anti-fraud solutions, regulatory shifts, and digital transformation initiatives.

    Countries with the most notable Regula’s client base increase, as up to the beginning of 2025

    The increasing adoption of Regula’s document and biometric verification solutions highlights a growing demand for secure and user-friendly IDV workflows in key sectors, including finance, e-commerce, government services, travel, and more. This strong year-to-year growth demonstrates that businesses are proactively adapting to the rapidly changing ID verification landscape with Regula’s complete IDV solution, which includes document authenticity checks, biometric verification, liveness detection, and deepfake prevention.

    Regional highlights

    From stricter KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) regulations in North America and Europe to erupting digital identity initiatives in Asia to booming fintech services in Latin America and the Middle East, identity verification is becoming an essential part of digital interactions. Here’s how different markets are driving Regula’s IDV adoption growth.

    North America

    • Key drivers: Rising fraud incidents and threats (according to Regula’s survey,* 96% of US businesses faced identity fraud in 2024) plus regulatory pressure.
    • Country highlight: The US (+55%) – Increased adoption of AI-driven fraud prevention and stronger authentication in financial services and e-commerce.

    Europe

    • Key drivers: Stricter regulations (GDPR, AMLD), the European Digital Identity Wallet initiative, and fintech expansion.
    • Country highlights:
      • The UK (+122%) – Post-Brexit compliance shifts and growth in digital banking.
      • Germany (+123%) – Strong data privacy laws and high demand for authenticity checks in digital scenarios.

    META (Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa)

    • Key drivers: Digital government initiatives, fintech growth, and a push for AI-driven security.
    • Country highlight: The UAE (+112%) – Rapid adoption of digital identity verification solutions due to its ambitions to become a leader in AI, fintech, and smart city innovations.

    APAC (Asia Pacific)

    • Key drivers: Booming digital payments, financial inclusion efforts, and strong government support for digital identity solutions.
    • Country highlights:
      • Singapore (+102%) – A financial hub with widespread digital banking and government-backed digital ID systems like Singpass.
      • Australia (+188%) – AML regulations and age verification initiatives.

    Latin America

    • Key drivers: Explosive fintech growth, mobile banking expansion, and high fraud rates requiring stronger ID verification techniques.
    • Country highlights:
      • Mexico (+156%) – Rapid adoption of digital payments and financial services.
      • Colombia (+241%) – The fastest-growing market, driven by fintech expansion and government-led digital ID initiatives.

    “The growth across these markets is a direct response to regulatory developments, digital transformation efforts, and the increasing sophistication of fraud – all the factors that make identity verification paramount. As businesses and governments worldwide accelerate their adoption of digital solutions, they face the complex challenge of ensuring security and compliance while maintaining a low-effort user experience. Additionally, the ever-rising cyber and identity fraud threats have made advanced IDV not just a regulatory requirement but a fundamental business necessity. By leveraging our decades-long expertise in forensic level document and biometric verification, we deliver comprehensive, future-proof solutions and help our customers build secure and user-friendly IDV workflows,” says Henry Patishman, Executive VP of Identity Verification Solutions at Regula.

    No compromise on security, efficiency, or compliance

    To help businesses and government institutions fight identity fraud effectively, Regula offers a complete IDV solution, comprising Regula Document Reader SDK and Regula Face SDK. This on-premise software performs extensive document and biometric authenticity checks, enables data cross-validation to spot discrepancies that might indicate fraud, and ensures sensitive personal data privacy.

    With more than 14,800 identity document templates from 251 countries and territories, Regula provides businesses with the industry’s most comprehensive ID template database. This asset allows for accurate identity verification regardless of the provided document, which is especially important for financial institutions, travel companies, and global businesses.

    Regula’s ID verification software is fully compatible with most third-party document readers, allowing organizations to adopt advanced offline ID verification without investing in new hardware.

    Also, Regula’s IDV technologies are inherently future-ready, supporting emerging standards such as ISO/IEC 39794-5 for biometric passport verification and Digital Travel Credentials (DTCs) aimed at streamlining travel and border crossing.

    Regula’s hardware and software solutions are trusted by more than 1,000 organizations all over the world. Among them:

    • UBS, the world’s largest private bank, has implemented a robust customer onboarding system powered by Regula’s comprehensive ID verification technologies.
    • Checkport, a Swiss aviation security provider, utilizes Regula’s identity verification solutions to enhance passenger screening and security protocols.
    • Pearson VUE, a global leader in online testing, relies on Regula to authenticate candidate identities for high-stakes remote exams.

    To learn more about Regula’s technologies and offerings, please visit Regula’s website.

    *The research was initiated by Regula and conducted by Sapio Research in August 2024 using an online survey of 575 business decision-makers across the Financial Services (including Traditional Banking and Fintech), Crypto, Technology, Telecommunications, Aviation, Healthcare, and Law Enforcement sectors. The respondent geography included Germany, Mexico, the UAE, the US, and Singapore. Find more insights on deepfake fraud in the survey report.

    About Regula

    Regula is a global developer of forensic devices and identity verification solutions. With our 30+ years of experience in forensic research and the most comprehensive library of document templates in the world, we create breakthrough technologies for document and biometric verification. Our hardware and software solutions allow over 1,000 organizations and 80 border control authorities globally to provide top-notch client service without compromising safety, security, or speed. Regula has been repeatedly named a Representative Vendor in the Gartner® Market Guide for Identity Verification.

    Learn more at www.regulaforensics.com.

    Contact:
    Kristina – ks@regulaforensics.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/47df2109-e416-4f49-a77f-7a950ba1d8c1

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: KVH Industries Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIDDLETOWN, R.I., March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq: KVHI), reported financial results for the quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024 today. The company will hold a conference call to discuss these results at 9:00 a.m. ET today, which can be accessed at investors.kvh.com. Following the call, a replay of the webcast will be available through the company’s website.

    Fourth Quarter 2024 Highlights

    • Total revenues decreased by 14% in the fourth quarter of 2024 to $26.9 million from $31.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2023.
       
    • Airtime revenue decreased by $5.1 million to $20.8 million, or 20% in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the fourth quarter of 2023.
       
    • Net loss in the fourth quarter of 2024 was $4.3 million, or $0.22 per share, compared to a net loss of $12.2 million, or $0.63 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2023.
       
    • Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA was $0.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to $2.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. The U.S. Coast Guard contract downgrade reduced non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA by $2.2 million year over year.

    Commenting on the company’s fourth quarter and full year results, Brent C. Bruun, KVH’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “Our recent results validate our strategic decision to integrate Starlink fully into our product and service portfolio. We shipped more than 1,000 Starlink terminals in the fourth quarter and, with more than 2,300 activations in 2024, Starlink is now the fastest growing product line in our history. At the same time, we have strengthened our multi-orbit, multi-channel portfolio with the addition of OneWeb, CommBox Edge, and the TracNet Coastal global 5G and Wi-Fi communication system.

    “Fourth quarter airtime and service revenue was $22.3 million, a $5.4 million reduction from the fourth quarter of 2023. Of this reduction, $2.2 million was related to the U.S. Coast Guard contract downgrade, while the remaining decline was driven by overall softness in the VSAT airtime market primarily due to the impact of customer demand for Starlink services. Our Starlink airtime margins continue to be strong, though overall airtime gross margins declined due in part to fixed costs for VSAT services. Our subscriber base increased by 4% in the fourth quarter, CommBox Edge activations doubled, and we achieved a fourth consecutive quarter of record terminal shipments. We are in a stronger position now than a year ago, and I believe we are on the path toward renewed growth and profitability. With this in mind, for full year 2025 we anticipate that revenue will be in the range of $115 million to $125 million, and adjusted EBITDA in the range of $9 million to $15 million.”

    Financial Highlights (in millions, except per share data)
             
        Three Months Ended   Year Ended
        December 31,   December 31,
          2024       2023       2024       2023  
    GAAP Results                
    Revenue   $                        26.9     $                        31.5     $                     113.8     $                     132.4  
    Loss from operations   $                        (3.2 )   $                      (12.2 )   $                      (11.9 )   $                      (17.3 )
    Net loss   $                        (4.3 )   $                      (12.2 )   $                      (11.0 )   $                      (15.4 )
    Net loss per share   $                      (0.22 )   $                      (0.63 )   $                      (0.57 )   $                      (0.81 )
                     
    Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA   $                          0.5     $                          2.3     $                          8.1     $                        14.3  


    Fourth     Quarter Financial Summary

    Revenue was $26.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2024, a decrease of 14% compared to $31.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2023.

    Service revenues for the fourth quarter of 2024 were $22.3 million, a decrease of 20%. The decrease in service sales was primarily due to a $5.1 million decrease in our airtime service sales, of which $2.2 million was related to the U.S. Coast Guard contract downgrade.

    Product revenues for the fourth quarter of 2024 were $4.6 million, an increase of 24% from the fourth quarter of 2023. The increase in product sales was primarily due to a $1.2 million increase in Starlink product sales, partially offset by a $0.3 million decrease in TracVision product sales.

    Our operating expenses decreased $2.7 million to $10.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to $13.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. This decrease was primarily due to the $2.1 million charge incurred in 2023 for the discontinuation of a project for implementing a manufacturing-centric accounting system and a $0.8 million decrease in recurring salaries, benefits and taxes, partially offset by $0.9 million of restructuring severance charges.

    Full Year Financial Summary

    Revenue was $113.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, a decrease of 14% compared to $132.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023.

    Service revenues for the year ended December 31, 2024, were $96.4 million, a decrease of 16% compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease in service sales was primarily due to a $17.1 million decrease in our airtime service sales, driven primarily by a decrease in VSAT-only subscribers, partially offset by an increase in Starlink service sales. $2.7 million of this decrease was related to the U.S. Coast Guard contract downgrade.

    Product revenues for the year ended December 31, 2024, were $17.4 million, a decrease of 2% compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease in product sales was primarily the result of a $2.2 million decrease in VSAT Broadband product sales, a $2.0 million decrease in TracVision product sales and a $1.3 million decrease in accessory and service product sales, partially offset by a $5.0 million increase in Starlink product sales and a $0.5 million increase in CommBox Edge product sales.

    Our operating expenses decreased $8.1 million to $47.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $55.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2023. This decrease in operating expenses was primarily due to a $4.9 million decrease in aggregate non-cash impairment charges against goodwill and long-lived assets, a $2.1 million charge incurred in 2023 for the discontinuation of a project for implementing a manufacturing-centric accounting system, a $2.0 million decrease in salaries, benefits and taxes, excluding costs related to the reduction in workforce, a $1.0 million decrease in professional fees, a $0.4 million decrease in external commissions, a $0.4 million decrease in computer expenses, a $0.4 million decrease in depreciation and amortization, and a $0.3 million decrease in expensed materials. These decreases in expenses were partially offset by $2.9 million of costs related to the reductions in our workforce and a $0.7 million reduction in reimbursements made by EMCORE for expenses incurred under the transition services agreement relating to the sale of the inertial navigation business in August 2022. The $8.1 million improvement in operating expenses reflects a reduction in non-cash impairment charges of $4.9 million from 2023 to 2024.

    Other Recent Announcements

    • December 10, 2024 – Seaspan Selects KVH to Equip Fleet with OneWeb Low Earth Orbit Solution
    • December 5, 2024 – Vroon and KVH Complete Deployment of Starlink/VSAT Hybrid Connectivity on 58 Vessels
    • December 3, 2024 – KVH Introduces TracNet™ Coastal and TracNet Coastal Pro 5G/Wi-Fi Terminals and Cellular Data Plans

    Conference Call Details

    KVH Industries will host a conference call today at 9:00 a.m. ET through the company’s website. The conference call can be accessed at investors.kvh.com and listeners are welcome to submit questions pertaining to the earnings release and conference call to ir@kvh.com. The audio archive will be available on the company website within three hours of the completion of the call.

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    This release provides non-GAAP financial information as a supplement to our condensed consolidated financial statements, which are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures internally in analyzing financial results to assess operational performance. The presentation of this financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. The non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release adjust for specified items that can be highly variable or difficult to predict. Management generally uses these non-GAAP financial measures to facilitate financial and operational decision-making, including evaluation of our historical operating results and comparison to competitors’ operating results. These non-GAAP financial measures reflect an additional way of viewing aspects of our operations that, when viewed with GAAP results and the reconciliations to corresponding GAAP financial measures, may provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our business.

    Some limitations of non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA include the following: non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA represents net income (loss) before, as applicable, interest income, net, income tax expense (benefit), depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation expense, goodwill impairment charges, long-lived assets impairment charges, charges for disposal of discontinued projects, loss on unfavorable future contracts, employee termination and other variable costs, executive separation costs, transaction-related and other variable legal and advisory fees, irregular inventory write-downs, excess purchase order obligations, gains and losses on sale of subsidiaries, and foreign exchange transaction gains and losses.

    Other companies, including companies in KVH’s industry, may calculate these non-GAAP financial measures differently or not at all, which will reduce their usefulness as a comparative measure.

    Because non-GAAP financial measures exclude the effect of items that increase or decrease our reported results of operations, management strongly encourages investors to review our consolidated financial statements and publicly filed reports in their entirety. Reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are included in the tables accompanying this release.

    About KVH Industries, Inc.

    KVH Industries, Inc. is a global leader in maritime and mobile connectivity delivered via the KVH ONE network. The company, founded in 1982, is based in Middletown, RI, with research, development, and manufacturing operations in Middletown, RI, and more than a dozen offices around the globe. KVH provides connectivity solutions for commercial maritime, leisure marine, military/government, and land mobile applications on vessels and vehicles, including the TracNet, TracPhone, and TracVision product lines, the KVH ONE OpenNet Program for non-KVH antennas, AgilePlans Connectivity as a Service (CaaS), and the KVH Link crew wellbeing content service.

    This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. For example, forward-looking statements include statements regarding projected financial results, the anticipated benefits of our restructuring and other initiatives, anticipated cost savings, our investment plans, our development goals, and the potential impact of our future initiatives on revenue, competitive positioning, profitability, and orders. Actual results could differ materially from the results projected in or implied by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Factors that might cause these differences include, but are not limited to: continued increasing competition, particularly from lower-cost providers, low earth orbit satellite systems and other telecommunications systems, especially in the global leisure market, which is reducing demand for geosynchronous satellite services, including ours; the impact of lower revenue from the U.S. Coast Guard; potentially lower product and service margins from reseller arrangements; the risk that sales of Starlink terminals will slow down or decrease; potential hardware and software competition for our new CommBox product offerings; unanticipated obstacles to implementation of our manufacturing wind-down; unanticipated costs and expenses arising from the wind-down; unanticipated effects of the wind-down on our ongoing business; the risks associated with increased customer reliance on third-party hardware; the lack of future product differentiation; new service offerings from hardware providers; potential customer delays in selecting our services; the uncertain impact of continuing industry consolidation; the risk that our OpenNet program will lead to further reductions in sales of our satellite products; the risk that our current and future non-exclusive arrangements with Starlink and OneWeb will not provide material benefits; contingencies and termination rights applicable to pending and future property and asset sales; uncertainty regarding customer responses to new product and service introductions; challenges and potential additional expenses in retaining our employees, particularly in the current competitive labor market characterized by rising wages; the challenges of meeting customer expectations with a smaller employee base; uncertainties created by our new business strategy, which may impact customer recruitment and retention; the uncertain impact of ongoing disruptions in our supply chain and associated increases in our costs; the uncertain impact of inflation, particularly with respect to fuel costs, and fears of recession; the uncertain impact of the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and international tensions in Asia, including the impact of dramatic shifts in U.S. geopolitical priorities; unanticipated changes or disruptions in our markets; technological breakthroughs by competitors; changes in customer priorities or preferences; increasing customer terminations; unanticipated liabilities, charges and write-offs; the potential that competitors will design around or invalidate our intellectual property rights; a history of losses; continued fluctuations in quarterly results; the uncertain impact of recent dramatic changes in both U.S. and foreign trade policy, including actual and potential new or higher tariffs and trade barriers, as well as trade wars with other countries; potentially inflationary impacts of tariffs and budget deficits; unanticipated obstacles in our product and service development, cost engineering and manufacturing efforts; adverse impacts of currency fluctuations; our ability to successfully commercialize our new initiatives without unanticipated additional expenses or delays; reduced sales to companies in or dependent upon the turbulent oil and gas industry; the impact of extended economic weakness on the sale and use of marine vessels and recreational vehicles; continued challenges of maintaining our market share in the market for airtime services; the risk that declining sales of the TracNet H-series and TracPhone V-HTS series products and related services will continue to reduce airtime gross margins; the risk that reduced product sales will continue to erode product gross margins and lead to increased losses; potential continuing declines or changes in customer demand, due to economic, weather-related, seasonal, and other factors, particularly with respect to the TracNet H-series and TracPhone V-HTS series; exposure for potential intellectual property infringement; changes in tax and accounting requirements or assessments; and export restrictions, delays in procuring export licenses, and other international risks. These and other factors are discussed in more detail in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 7, 2024. Copies are available through our Investor Relations department and website, investors.kvh.com. We do not assume any obligation to update our forward-looking statements to reflect new information and developments.

    KVH Industries, Inc., has used, registered, or applied to register its trademarks in the USA and other countries around the world, including but not limited to the following marks: KVH, KVH ONE, TracPhone, TracVision, AgilePlans, CommBox, and TracNet. Other trademarks are the property of their respective companies.

    KVH INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
    (in thousands, except per share amounts, unaudited)
     
        Three months ended
    December 31,    		   Year ended
    December 31,
          2024       2023       2024       2023  
    Sales:                
    Service   $      22,324     $      27,739     $      96,446     $    114,622  
    Product              4,593                3,716              17,382              17,757  
    Net sales            26,917              31,455            113,828            132,379  
    Costs and expenses:                
    Costs of service sales            15,506              17,514              60,002              65,362  
    Costs of product sales              4,286              13,107              18,607              29,149  
    Research and development              1,668                2,020                8,439                9,399  
    Sales, marketing and support              5,363                5,252              21,013              20,925  
    General and administrative              3,299                5,760              16,513              18,899  
    Goodwill impairment charge                    —                      —                      —                5,333  
    Intangible asset impairment charge                    —                      —                1,137                    657  
    Total costs and expenses            30,122              43,653            125,711            149,724  
    Loss from operations            (3,205 )          (12,198 )          (11,883 )          (17,345 )
    Interest income                  623                    986                3,039                3,646  
    Interest expense                    —                        1                        2                        1  
    Other expense, net            (1,433 )                (821 )            (1,781 )            (1,404 )
    Loss before income tax expense            (4,015 )          (12,034 )          (10,627 )          (15,104 )
    Income tax expense                  295                    159                    421                    318  
    Net loss   $      (4,310 )   $    (12,193 )   $    (11,048 )   $    (15,422 )
                     
    Net loss per common share                
    Basic   $        (0.22 )   $        (0.63 )   $        (0.57 )   $        (0.81 )
    Diluted   $        (0.22 )   $        (0.63 )   $        (0.57 )   $        (0.81 )
                     
    Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:                
    Basic            19,453              19,250              19,389              19,130  
    Diluted            19,453              19,250              19,389              19,130  
    KVH INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (in thousands, unaudited)
     
        December 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023
    ASSETS        
    Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities   $                   50,572                         69,771
    Accounts receivable, net                         21,624                         25,670
    Inventories, net                         22,953                         19,046
    Other current assets and contract assets                         16,016                            4,331
    Current assets held for sale                         11,410                                 —
    Total current assets                       122,575                       118,818
    Property and equipment, net                         27,014                         47,680
    Intangible assets, net                               828                            1,194
    Right of use assets                            1,361                            1,068
    Other non-current assets and contract assets                            3,146                            3,618
    Non-current deferred income tax asset                               157                               256
    Total assets   $                 155,081   $                 172,634
    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY        
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses   $                   14,173                         22,412
    Deferred revenue                            1,039                            1,774
    Current operating lease liability                               660                               786
    Total current liabilities                         15,872                         24,972
    Long-term operating lease liability                               569                               289
    Non-current deferred income tax liability                                 15                                   1
    Stockholders’ equity                       138,625                       147,372
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $                 155,081   $                 172,634
    KVH INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    RECONCILIATION OF GAAP NET LOSS TO NON-GAAP
    EBITDA AND NON-GAAP ADJUSTED EBITDA
    (in thousands, unaudited)
     
        Three months ended
    December 31,    		   Year ended
    December 31,
          2024       2023       2024       2023  
    Net loss – GAAP (1)   $      (4,310 )   $    (12,193 )   $    (11,048 )   $    (15,422 )
    Income tax expense                  295                    159                    421                    318  
    Interest income, net                (623 )                (985 )            (3,037 )            (3,645 )
    Depreciation and amortization              3,048                3,319              13,298              13,438  
    Non-GAAP EBITDA            (1,590 )            (9,700 )                (366 )            (5,311 )
    Stock-based compensation expense                  398                    645                2,027                2,078  
    Goodwill impairment charge                    —                      —                      —                5,333  
    Long-lived assets impairment charge                    —                      —                1,137                    657  
    Disposal of a discontinued project                    —                2,099                      —                2,099  
    Loss on an unfavorable future contract                    —                    337                      —                    337  
    Employee termination and other variable costs                  926                      —                3,863                      —  
    Prior period Brazil tax settlement                  446                      —                    446                      —  
    Transaction-related and other variable legal and advisory fees                  156                      41                    451                    275  
    Irregular inventory write-down                    —                5,225                      —                5,225  
    Excess purchase order obligations                    —                3,569                      —                3,569  
    Loss on sale of a subsidiary                    —                      53                      —                      53  
    Foreign exchange transaction loss                  176                      15                    493                      33  
    Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA   $           512     $        2,284     $        8,051     $      14,348  

    (1) Net loss – GAAP includes a non-cash loss related to the disposal of AgilePlans revenue-generating fixed assets, in which no proceeds were received, of $819 and $333 for the three months ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $900 and $667 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. 

         
    Contact:   KVH Industries, Inc.
    Chris Watson
    401-845-2441
    IR@kvh.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: In Haiti, escalating violence increases displacement

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    Since 24 February, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams in Haiti have witnessed a surge in violence, increasing the number of wounded people and medical needs. Clashes between armed groups and police are intensifying, leaving people trapped under constant threat of crossfire. Today, 85 per cent of the capital, Port-au-Prince, is under the control of armed groups, and movement through many neighbourhoods puts lives at risk.

    From 24 February to 2 March, MSF medical teams at the Turgeau emergency centre treated 314 patients, including 90 direct victims of violence – double the usual number. Some patients requiring surgery were transferred to the MSF hospital in Tabarre, where the trauma capacity was expanded from 50 to 75 beds. For the past 10 days, the hospital has been running at near full capacity, with teams working under extreme pressure to admit new patients.

    Since 14 February, attacks by armed groups in several neighbourhoods of the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area have forced over 24,000 people to flee, and this number continues to rise amid the ongoing violence. As of today, the International Organisation for Migration estimates that more than 180,000 internally displaced people are living in over 140 sites. These vulnerable people, some of whom have been displaced multiple times, are seeking refuge in makeshift camps where access to clean water is either extremely limited or completely non-existent.

    For over a month, the suspension of US funding has deprived many humanitarian organisations of their resources, forcing groups like Solidarités International to suspend the distribution of drinking water in displacement camps. According to the NGO, in these camps, displaced people are trying to survive on just one litre of water per day. This is far below the international emergency standard, which recommends 15 litres per person per day. In response, we are currently implementing a water distribution system via tanker trucks to provide water for more than 13,000 people living in four camps.

    A woman, injured during a wave of violence that swept Port-au-Prince in February and March 2024, rests her leg with external fixators attached on a hospital bed in MSF’s hospital in the Tabarre neighbourhood. Haiti, March 2024.
    Luce Cloutier/MSF

    “We have identified more than 100 displacement camps in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, but the scale of this crisis far exceeds what MSF can respond to alone, especially with the rainy season approaching,” warns Christophe Garnier, MSF’s head of mission in Haiti.

    With the imminent arrival of the first rains, sanitation systems are flooding, hygiene conditions are deteriorating, and the risk of deadly disease outbreaks, including cholera, is rising. UNICEF estimates that more than 180,000 displaced people are sheltering in over 100 sites, while 140 additional sites remain unassessed.

    “The humanitarian response plan in Haiti is severely underfunded, even as the conflict escalates and thousands of people are repeatedly forced to flee, seeking refuge in makeshift camps with limited access to basic services such as water and sanitation,” says Garnier. “Without urgent action, the situation will turn into a humanitarian catastrophe, as relentless violence continues to deepen the suffering of an already exhausted community.”

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City set for return of Midlands’ largest light festival

    Source: City of Leicester

    WITH just days to go before the return of Light up Leicester, organisers are making the final touches to deliver a spectacular festival that will include joyful parades, inspirational performances and amazing light installations.

    Running from Wednesday 12 to Saturday 15 March, the free event will light up the city centre every evening, from 6pm to 10pm.

    Leicester City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: “This promises to be a wonderful festival with something for everyone, including a unique event taking place on each night of the festival. We look forward to welcoming many thousands of people to our city to enjoy all that Light up Leicester has to offer.”

    Event highlights include:

    Wednesday 12 March

    11am-2pm – Schools’ opening parade. Led by local arts company Inspirate with music from Drum and Brass, 300 children will process from the Cathedral to the Clock Tower and back, with artwork that will form the leaves of the ‘Roots of our Tree’ light installation next to the King Richard lll Visitor Centre.

    6pm – Radiant Routes evening parade. Brazilian beats meet Bhangra in this parade led by Nupur Arts, with dancers performing as they move from the Cathedral to the Clock Tower and back again. They’ll be accompanied by samba band Sambando, with Japanese drumming and lanterns from Leicester Taiko.

    6.30pm – Unveiling of Cathedral, Crown and Culture, a major projection and digital animation installation on Leicester Cathedral, with reference to Leicester’s history, communities and the interment of King Richard lll. Produced by local company Metro Boulot Dodo, this will run for the duration of the festival.

    Thursday 13 March

    6.30-8.30pm – Illuminated Bike Parade. Everyone is invited to bling their bike with stickers and LED lights and join in a 1.5km ride  around the city centre. People can register at www.lightupleicester.com

    Friday 14 March

    6.30pm and 7.30pm – The Holi Experience at the Clock Tower. Nupur Arts bring high-energy dance performances celebrating Holi, to the Clock Tower.

    Saturday 15 March

    7pm-8pm – Fiers a Cheval by Compagnie des Quidams. Stunning four–metre high glowing inflatable horses will promenade their way down New Walk, culminating in an enchanting 30 minute performance outside Mattioli Woods on New Walk Place.

    Visitors to the city on Friday and Saturday evening will be able to see walkabout performances featuring Mexican skeleton puppets, LED ‘Glowbots’ and Enter Edem’s ‘Aquanauts’, as well as spoken word performances by Literati Arts. Light Up Leicester will also offer funfair rides, street food and an artisan night market. Find out more about everything that’s on offer at lightupleicester.com/events/

    Art installations

    In addition to events and performances, fixed art installations will be lighting up the city centre from 6pm to 10pm from Wednesday to Saturday. Highlights include:

    • Evanscent – Giant bubble-inspired structures, Jubilee Square
    • Double Flux – Pulsating waves of light from a mesmerising kinetic sculpture, Bath House Lane (pictured)
    • Hula Hoop – Geometric hoops of light and sound, High Street
    • Chorus – Light and motion sculpture fusing contemporary and classical Indian music sounds, Market Street
    • Noor Tower – LED light tower inspired by Moroccan architecture, Churchgate
    • Beacon – Dramatic 2km high light sculpture, Clock Tower
    • Henge – A light and sound installation inspired by ancient monuments, Town Hall Square
    • Nocturnal – Glowing inflatable wildlife installations, St Martin’s Square

    Light Up Leicester is presented by Leicester City Council, BID Leicester, Leicester Cathedral and Art Reach. It is made possible through the generous support of Arts Council England, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Global Streets, PPL PRS and headline sponsor Highcross.

    Michelle Menezes, centre director, Highcross Leicester said: “It is great that we are once again supporting Light Up Leicester, not only as headline sponsor but also as a location for ‘Double Flux’ a fantastic piece of illuminated artwork that will snake its way down Bath House Lane. This forms part of the new strategy for Highcross which includes developing new partnerships with local stakeholders to bring exciting events to the centre for the community to enjoy. I’m very much looking forward to seeing Light Up Leicester come to life, and delight visitors to the city and Highcross.”

    Simon Jenner, BID Leicester director said: “As a presenting partner and major sponsor, we’re proud to have led the festival’s marketing campaign once again and helped bring this spectacular event to life. Light Up Leicester is a testament to the power of partnership, with our partners working collaboratively together to create something truly special for the city. We can’t wait to see Leicester illuminated once again!”

    Greg Aiello, managing director of PPL PRS said: “It’s great that Light Up Leicester is returning to the city in 2025, with a programme filled not only with  fantastic light installations, but with dance, walking performers and music! PPL PRS is proud to support this event as it will bring additional visitors into the city to enjoy Light Up Leicester, as well as the brilliant hospitality venues we have. It will be a real treat for all that attend, and thanks to all those involved in organising it.”

    Festival organisers are committed to making the festival accessible to everyone. There will be a dedicated access support hub open every evening from 6pm to 10pm at the Visit Leicester information centre, where friendly staff will be ready to assist.

    Accessible tours are available to help people with additional access needs to get around the festival, using rickshaws, box bikes and gazelles which can carry children and wheelchairs.

    Leicester businesses are joining in the festival by offering tasty dining discounts throughout. Diners can enjoy 25% off the total bill at Kayal, Herb, and Merchant of Venice, 20% off at the Queen of Bradgate, Middleton’s and Restaurant 1573, or enjoy three courses for £20 at Turtle Bay. Details of all offers and deals available throughout the festival are on the Light Up Leicester website offers page. Offers – Light Up Leicester

    Full details of the festival, including information about all the installations, the opening day parades, free performances and a Gallowtree Gate night market, are available on the festival website at www.lightupleicester.com 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Global: Electric shock equipment widely abused by law enforcement agencies due to alarming lack of regulation

    Source: Amnesty International –

    States and companies are manufacturing, promoting and selling electric shock equipment that is being used for torture and other ill-treatment, said Amnesty International, in a new report calling for a global, legally-binding treaty to regulate the unchecked production of and trade in law enforcement equipment.

    “I Still Can’t Sleep at Night” – The Global Abuse of Electric Shock Equipment, documents how law enforcement agencies are using inherently abusive direct contact electric shock weapons – including stun guns and electric shock batons– on the street, at borders, in migrant and refugee detention centres, mental health institutions, police stations, prisons, and other places of detention.

    These inherently abusive devices, which deliver painful shocks at the press of a button, have been used against protesters, students, political opponents, women and girls (including pregnant women), children and human rights defenders, among others. Survivors have suffered burns, numbness, miscarriage, urinary dysfunction, insomnia, exhaustion and profound psychological trauma.

    The report also looks at the escalating misuse of Projectile Electric Shock Weapons (PESWs), which can have a legitimate role in law enforcement, but are often misused. Cases include the unnecessary and discriminatory use against vulnerable groups resulting in serious injuries and in some cases even death.

    Direct contact electric shock weapons can cause severe suffering, long-lasting physical disability and psychological distress.

    Patrick Wilcken, Amnesty International

    “Direct contact electric shock weapons can cause severe suffering, long-lasting physical disability and psychological distress. Prolonged use can even result in death,” said Patrick Wilcken, Amnesty International’s researcher on military, security and policing issues.

    “PESWs are being used against individuals who pose no risk of violence, simply for punishment or compliance with orders. They are also being used in direct contact ‘drive stun’ mode, which should be prohibited. Despite the clear human rights risks associated with their use, there are no global regulations controlling the production of and trade in electric shock equipment. Direct contact electric shock weapons need to be banned immediately and PESWs subject to strict human-rights-based trade controls.”

    The extensive report draws on research carried out by Amnesty International from 2014 to 2024 in over 40 countries across all regions across the world, where cases involving torture and other ill-treatment using electric shock equipment have been documented.

    Vulnerable groups targeted by electric shock weapons

    Testimonies gathered by Amnesty International are harrowing.

    During the 2022 “Woman Life Freedom” uprising in Iran, the military unit IRGC Basijbattalion forced several boys to stand with their legs apart in a line alongside adult detainees and administered electric shocks to their genitals with stun guns.

    In another case, several schoolboys were abducted for writing the protest slogan “Woman Life Freedom” on a wall. One of the boys told Amnesty International: “They hit my face with the back of a gun, gave electric shocks to my back, and beat me with batons on the bottom of my feet and hands…”

    PESWs have often been used as de facto direct contact electric shock weapons when deployed in “drive stun” mode.

    “I was lying on the ground and still they have used tasers on me three times, and at the same time they beat me with the batons.

    Detainee from Sub-Saharan Africa

    Recounting a raid by border guards on the Medininkai detention centre in Lithuania on 2 March 2022, one detainee from Sub-Saharan Africa said: “I was lying on the ground and still they have used tasers on me three times, and at the same time they beat me with the batons.” Another described being threatened by police officers who placed a “taser” on her forehead, telling her “‘Shut up or I will shoot you!’”

    “Even when used as a stand-off weapon, PESWs have been linked to serious injuries and deaths,” said Patrick Wilcken. “These include dart lacerations and penetration of the skull, eye, internal organs, throat, fingers and testis; electrical discharge induced burns, seizures and arrythmias; and a variety of injuries and deaths from falls.”

    Amnesty’s report reveals patterns of PESWs’ discriminatory deployment against racialized and marginalized groups, such as young Black men. In April 2024, police in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, were filmed using a TASER directly on the leg of a Black protester at a Palestine solidarity demonstration while he was pinned to the ground by three police officers and handcuffed.

    “Given the high risks of primary and secondary injuries, the use of PESWs must be set at a high threshold. These weapons should only be used only in situations involving a threat to life or risk of serious injury which cannot be contained by less extreme options,” said Patrick Wilcken.

    The urgent need for prohibitions and trade regulation

    At least 197 companies from all regions manufactured or promoted direct contact electric shock equipment for law enforcement between January 2018 and June 2023 – with most companies based in countries such as China, India and the USA.

    According to US-based Axon Enterprise, Inc., their TASER brand models are currently used by over 18,000 law enforcement agencies in more than 80 countries.

    “There is an urgent need for a legally-binding treaty which would prohibit inherently abusive electric shock equipment and strictly control the trade in PESWs,” said Patrick Wilcken.

    “Companies should implement robust human rights due diligence and mitigation measures to ensure their products and services are not being systematically misused for torture or other ill-treatment. This includes ceasing production of direct contact electric shock devices and removing the ‘drive stun’ function from PESWs.”

    Amnesty International, along with a global civil society network of over 80 organizations worldwide, is campaigning for the negotiation of a Torture-Free Trade Treaty that would introduce global prohibitions and controls on a wide range of law enforcement equipment, including electric shock weapons and equipment.

    Background

    • In September 2017, the EU, Argentina and Mongolia launched the Alliance for Torture-Free Trade at the margins of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. The Alliance currently comprises 62 states from all regions of the world pledging to “act together to further prevent, restrict and end trade” in goods used notably for torture or other ill-treatment. In October 2023, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture presented a thematic report on the torture trade at the UNGA which argued for a legally binding instrument to regulate the production of and trade in law enforcement equipment and included lists of goods considered prohibited and controlled.
    • This is one of a series of in-depth research reports showing the devastating human rights impact of law enforcement equipment; previous reports include work on tear gas, batons, rubber bullets, and the trade in less lethal weapons used to repress protesters.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Global: Electric shock equipment widely abused by law enforcement agencies due to alarming lack of regulation – new report

    Source: Amnesty International –

    40 countries including the UK where cases involving torture and other ill-treatment using electric shock equipment have been documented

    197 companies manufactured or promoted direct contact electric shock equipment for law enforcement – most companies based in China, India and the USA

    Survivors have suffered burns, numbness, miscarriage, urinary dysfunction, insomnia, exhaustion and profound psychological trauma

    Harrowing testimonies of people of electric shock equipment used against people

    ‘They hit my face with the back of a gun, gave electric shocks to my back, and beat me with batons on the bottom of my feet and hands…’ – schoolboy in Iran

    In the UK, Tasers were drawn, aimed or discharged 33,232 times between April 2023 to March 2024

    States and companies are manufacturing, promoting and selling electric shock equipment that is being used for torture and other ill-treatment, said Amnesty International in a new report calling for a global, legally-binding treaty to regulate the unchecked production of and trade in law enforcement equipment.

    The 72-page report – “I Still Can’t Sleep at Night” The Global Abuse of Electric Shock Equipment – draws on research carried out by Amnesty from 2014 to 2024 in over 40 countries including the UK, where cases involving torture and other ill-treatment using electric shock equipment have been documented.

    Law enforcement agencies are using inherently abusive direct contact electric shock weapons – including stun guns and electric shock batons– on the street, at borders, in migrant and refugee detention centres, mental health institutions, police stations, prisons, and other places of detention.

    The devices, which deliver painful shocks at the press of a button, have been used against protesters, students, political opponents, women and girls (including pregnant women), children and human rights defenders, among others. Survivors have suffered burns, numbness, miscarriage, urinary dysfunction, insomnia, exhaustion and profound psychological trauma.

    The report also looks at the escalating misuse of Projectile Electric Shock Weapons (PESWs) which can have a legitimate role in law enforcement but are often misused. Cases include the unnecessary and discriminatory use against vulnerable groups resulting in serious injuries and in some cases even death.

    Trade fairs in the UK

    In September 2024, Amnesty and the Omega Research Foundation found that a British company, The Squad Group Ltd led by retired police officers – including a former Assistant Chief Constable – were caught on camera demonstrating electric-shock torture equipment at a trade fair in Birmingham.

    The revelations raised serious questions about the enforcement of laws in relation to the prohibition of torture equipment as well as the staging of security equipment trade events. The trade in direct-contact and body-worn electric-shock weapons is illegal under laws regulating the arms and security trade, with UK companies and nationals banned from importing, exporting or in any way promoting these goods anywhere in the world. Electric-shock weapons are prohibited under The Trade in Torture etc. Goods (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020, and current Government export control guidance clearly states that all trading activity, including promotion and marketing of these goods anywhere in the world, is prohibited.

    More information about The Squad Group Ltd here.

    Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK’s Chief Executive, said:

    “It’s shocking that prohibited torture equipment is openly being promoted and demonstrated by a UK company.

    “Despite raising this case directly with the UK government in September last year, no satisfactory answers have been provided to shed light on how these electric shock weapons have been able to be advertised, promoted and demonstrated despite seemingly robust legislation banning these activities. Alarmingly, since first alerting the authorities to this case, it has become clear that they have been demonstrated to several UK policing bodies.

    “Bringing any direct-contact electric-shock weapon into the UK must surely be a serious breach of current UK arms trade regulations that have been in place since prohibitions on electric shock weapons were first introduced by then Labour Foreign secretary Robin Cooke in 1997. To this day, these electric shock weapons are still being promoted for sale, suggesting that our existing rules are either not being properly enforced or are riddled with loopholes.”

    Tasers used in the UK

    In the latest use of force figures for England and Wales published by Home Office for April 2023 to March 2024, Tasers were used – that is drawn, aimed or discharged – a total of 33,232 times and police threatened to use Tasers against children 2,895 times with 66 charges. Five of those incidents, officers threatened to use Tasers against children under the age of 11.

    Tasers were used on Black people at a rate of 4.2 times higher than someone from a white ethnic group in England and Wales (excluding the Metropolitan Police). In the MET police area, Tasers were used at a rate of 4.4 times higher when percentages of Taser use by ethnicity were compared with the breakdown of ethnic groups in the general population in the 2021 Census. According to the Independent Office for Police Conduct found that Black people were more likely to be tasered for prolonged periods (over 5 seconds) than white people.

    Sacha Deshmukh added:

    “The police have a disturbing record of misusing Tasers, using them disproportionately against people from minority ethnic communities and those suffering from mental health crises, and also when people have been running away from officers and presenting no risk to them or the public.  

    “Tasers are potentially lethal weapons and they should only be made available to properly-trained specialist officers, and not normalised as a piece of weaponry available to every police officer operating on our streets.”  

    More information about Tasers used in the UK from page 30 in the report.

    Electric shock weapons used around the world

    During the 2022 “Woman Life Freedom” uprising in Iran, the military unit IRGC Basij battalion forced several boys to stand with their legs apart in a line alongside adult detainees and administered electric shocks to their genitals with stun guns. In another case, several schoolboys were abducted for writing the protest slogan “Woman Life Freedom” on a wall. One of the boys told Amnesty:

    “They hit my face with the back of a gun, gave electric shocks to my back, and beat me with batons on the bottom of my feet and hands…”

    PESWs have often been used as de facto direct contact electric shock weapons when deployed in “drive stun” mode. Recounting a raid by border guards on the Medininkai detention centre in Lithuania on 2 March 2022, one detainee from Sub-Saharan Africa said:

    “I was lying on the ground and still they have used tasers on me three times, and at the same time they beat me with the batons.” Another described being threatened by police officers who placed a “taser” on her forehead, telling her “‘Shut up or I will shoot you!’”

    Amnesty’s report reveals patterns of PESWs’ discriminatory deployment against racialised and marginalised groups, such as young Black men. In April 2024, police in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, were filmed using a Taser directly on the leg of a Black protester at a Palestine solidarity demonstration while he was pinned to the ground by three police officers and handcuffed.

    The urgent need for prohibitions and trade regulation

    At least 197 companies from all regions manufactured or promoted direct contact electric shock equipment for law enforcement between January 2018 and June 2023 – with most companies based in countries such as China, India and the USA.

    According to US-based Axon Enterprise, Inc., their Taser brand models are currently used by over 18,000 law enforcement agencies in more than 80 countries.

    Amnesty along with a global civil society network of over 80 organisations worldwide, is campaigning for the negotiation of a Torture-Free Trade Treaty that would introduce global prohibitions and controls on a wide range of law enforcement equipment, including electric shock weapons and equipment.

    Patrick Wilcken, Amnesty International’s researcher on military, security and policing issues, said:

    “Projectile Electric Shock Weapons are being used against individuals who pose no risk of violence, simply for punishment or compliance with orders.

    “Direct contact electric shock weapons can cause psychological distress, severe suffering, long-lasting physical disability. These include dart lacerations and penetration of the skull, eye, internal organs, throat, fingers and testis; electrical discharge induced burns, seizures and arrythmias; and a variety of injuries and deaths from falls. They are also being used in direct contact ‘drive stun’ mode, which should be prohibited.

    “Despite the clear human rights risks associated with their use, there are no global regulations controlling the production of and trade in electric shock equipment. Direct contact electric shock weapons need to be banned immediately and Projectile Electric Shock Weapons subject to strict human-rights-based trade controls.

    “There is an urgent need for a legally-binding treaty which would prohibit inherently abusive electric shock equipment and strictly control the trade in Projectile Electric Shock Weapons.

    “Companies should implement robust human rights due diligence and mitigation measures to ensure their products and services are not being systematically misused for torture or other ill-treatment. This includes ceasing production of direct contact electric shock devices and removing the ‘drive stun’ function from Projectile Electric Shock Weapons.”

    Alliance for Torture-Free Trade

    In September 2017, the EU, Argentina and Mongolia launched the Alliance for Torture-Free Trade at the margins of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. The Alliance currently comprises 62 states from all regions of the world pledging to “act together to further prevent, restrict and end trade” in goods used notably for torture or other ill-treatment. In October 2023, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture presented a thematic report on the torture trade at the UNGA which argued for a legally binding instrument to regulate the production of and trade in law enforcement equipment and included lists of goods considered prohibited and controlled.

    This is one of a series of in-depth research reports showing the devastating human rights impact of law enforcement equipment; previous reports include work on tear gas, batons, rubber bullets, and the trade in less lethal weapons used to repress protesters.

    MIL OSI NGO –