NewzIntel.com

Category: Latin America

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Global Bodies – IPU to hold a global conference of women parliamentarians in Mexico

    Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)

    Thursday, 27 February, Mexico City, Mexico – The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is pleased to announce the Global Conference of Women Parliamentarians From Mexico to the World: Let’s mobilize for gender parity! which will be held in Mexico City from 13 to 16 March 2025. The Conference is being jointly organized by the IPU and the Senate of Mexico.

    The Conference aims to identify successful measures and strategies for advancing gender parity in parliaments, share good practices, and inspire action towards achieving equal participation and power for women in political decision-making.

    Mexico is one of only six countries in the world to have achieved gender equality in parliament. This is largely due to a 2014 constitutional amendment requiring political parties to ensure gender parity in the nomination of candidates.

    In June 2024, Mexico made history by electing its first female President, Ms. Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, who will open the Conference.

    IPU leadership will be represented by Dr. Tulia Ackson, President of the IPU, Ms. Cynthia López Castro, Senator of Mexico and President of the IPU Bureau of Women Parliamentarians, and Mr. Martin Chungong, Secretary General of the IPU.

    The Conference will host a series of panel discussions and open debates on critical topics such as strategies to engage men in advancing gender equality, breaking the ceilings for women’s leadership and achieving zero tolerance for violence against women in politics.

    Registration

    Parliaments are invited to send a delegation of up to four members of parliament, including one male MP and at least one young woman MP (under 40) to attend the Conference.

    Register before 1 March: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeG66ZLLHdeBJUezwTutOJbfLzZf8wYZUt-roQ7XxYn0FYIig/viewform?pli=1

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What are the chances an asteroid will impact Earth in 2032?

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Gordon Osinski, Professor in Earth and Planetary Science, Western University

    An artist’s rendition of one of the many thousands of near-Earth objects that could potentially impact Earth in the future. (European Space Agency/P.Carril)

    For a few days in mid-February, headlines around the world buzzed about the potential for an asteroid to hit the Earth in 2032 — specifically, asteroid 2024 YR4. The chance of this impact rose to a high of 3.1 per cent on Feb. 18.

    The number has since dropped to near zero, but this news was a real-life Don’t Look Up moment, and a stark reminder of the threat that asteroid impacts pose to life on Earth.

    As a planetary geologist, my research focuses on meteorite impact craters, the scars of large asteroid and cometary impacts in Earth’s past.

    Impact Earth

    There are countless numbers of asteroids and an unknown number of comets throughout our solar system. Most of these objects date back to the very beginnings of our solar system, around 4.5 billion years ago.

    Research has identified approximately 200 locations where these asteroids or comets have struck the Earth in the past to form meteorite impact craters. It’s very rare that planetary geologists can tell whether it was an asteroid or comet that hit.

    One of the most famous of these 200 or so impact craters is the 200 km diameter Chicxulub impact crater in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. This impact wiped out 65 per cent of all species on Earth, including the dinosaurs, 66 million years ago.

    One of the most recent and best-preserved craters on Earth is the 1.2 km in diameter Meteor Crater in Arizona, which formed 50,000 years ago.

    The Meteor Crater in Arizone is one of the most recent and best-preserved craters on Earth.
    (G.Osinski), CC BY

    Millions of craters

    Two hundred craters over 4.5 billion years hardly seems like a big number or cause for concern however, this number is a tiny fraction of the actual record. Most impact craters formed on Earth have been erased due to plate tectonics, volcanic eruptions, and erosion by water, wind and ice.

    To truly appreciate how common impact craters are, we need to look to Earth’s closest neighbour, the moon. Because of its proximity, objects that can hit the moon can also hit the Earth. In fact, because the Earth is bigger, which means our gravitational attraction is higher, more asteroids and comets would have hit the Earth over the past 4.5 billion years than the moon.

    The best estimate is 1.3 million craters over one kilometre in diameter on the moon, with another 700,000 or so smaller ones.

    The dots represent a snapshot of the population of near-earth asteroids that scientists think are likely to exist. The simulated near-Earth asteroids are blue, and Earth’s orbit is green.
    (NASA/JPL-Caltech)

    Updated calculations

    Asteroid 2024 YR4 was discovered on Dec. 27, 2024 by the Chilean station of the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). It was immediately recognized to be a near-Earth object (NEO). Additional telescope observations enabled astronomers to better calculate its orbit.

    In January, the probability of this asteroid hitting Earth surpassed one per cent, which triggered a series of international responses. The International Asteroid Warning Network coordinates telescopes around the world to make further observations and narrow down uncertainties in its orbit.

    An image of asteroid 2024 YR4 captured by one of the ATLAS telesopes.
    (SOURCE)

    On Feb. 18, NASA and the European Space Agency announced that the probability of asteroid 2024 YR4 hitting Earth in 2023 was 3.1 per cent, the highest ever recorded for an object of this size. This represents one in 32 odds. For comparison, the chance of dying in a motor vehicle crash in the United States is one per cent, or one in 95; the chances of the asteroid hitting Earth were pretty significant.

    Thankfully, the most recent estimates of the probability of impact have gone down to near zero, based on improved calculations of its orbit.

    We’re off the hook… for now.

    Potential impact

    Bruce Betts, chief planetary scientist at the Planetary Society, was quoted as saying: “If you put it over Paris or London or New York, you basically wipe out the whole city and some of the environs,” leading to asteroid 2024 YR4 being dubbed “a city-killer.”

    The average impact velocity for an asteroid on Earth is a whopping 17 km per second — this is 25 times faster than an F-35 Lightning strike fighter.

    To calculate the mass of an asteroid, we need to know its size. Estimates for 2024 YR4 range from 40 to 90 metres. If we take the upper estimate of 90 m, we can calculate the energy released at approximately nine megatons, the equivalent of the explosive energy of nine million tons of TNT. For comparison, the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in Japan in 1945 was only 0.015 megatons.

    The crater formed by this 90 m asteroid would be approximately 2.7 km in diameter. This is just over twice the diameter of the Meteor Crater.

    The destruction doesn’t stop there, however. Research on nuclear weapons suggests that each megaton can destroy roughly 50 square kilometres, so this impact could destroy up to 450 square km around the crater through a fireball, supersonic ejecta and seismic shaking.

    Would this be a city killer as some reports suggested? Absolutely. With an urban area of 232 square kilometres, my hometown of London, Ont., with a population of around 420,000 would be totally destroyed.



    Read more:
    Asteroid has a very small chance of hitting Earth in 2032, but a collision could devastate a city

    Actual risks

    The good news is that we estimate that the impact of a 90 m diameter asteroid will occur once in every 10,000 years. For a 40 m size asteroid, this drops to once every 1,000 years — but the destructive effects are drastically reduced. It’s worth pointing out that these numbers are very approximate, and they don’t really help us figure out when the next one might happen.

    As the story around asteroid 2024 YR4 shows, there is more good news in that we are getting better at detecting asteroids. Thanks to the coordination of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, many space agencies around the world are collaborating, with the knowledge that this is a problem for our entire planet.

    If the calculations had continued to show that the chance of asteroid 2024 YR4 hitting Earth in 2032 was high, with enough time, an attempt to deflect the asteroid could have been attempted. In September 2022, NASA’s DART spacecraft provided the first demonstration that deflecting an asteroid from its path is possible, something that had been imagined in Hollywood movies, but not proven to be possible until then.

    Gordon Osinski receives funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Canadian Space Agency.

    – ref. What are the chances an asteroid will impact Earth in 2032? – https://theconversation.com/what-are-the-chances-an-asteroid-will-impact-earth-in-2032-250463

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Ernst Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Bolster Local Meat Processing Capacity, Support Local Producers

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Senator for New Mexico Ben Ray Luján

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), members of the Senate Agriculture Committee, introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Expanding Local Meat Processing Act, legislation that would remove regulatory roadblocks to increase meat processing capacity and allow livestock auction market owners to invest in small and regional packing facilities. U.S. Representatives Mark Alford (R-Mo.), Jimmy Panetta (D-Ca.), and Dusty Johnson (R-SD) lead the companion legislation in the House.

    This legislation directs the Secretary of Agriculture to amend the Packers and Stockyards Act to allow livestock auction market owners to hold ownership in, finance, or participate in the management or operation of a meat packing entity with a cumulative slaughter capacity of less than 2,000 animals per day or 700,000 animals per year. This cap would exclude investment in the top 10 meat packers.

    Livestock auction markets, called marketing agencies selling on commission, are not currently able to own or invest, or participate in the management or operation of a packing plant or meat marketing business due to a Packers and Stockyards Act regulation. This legislation is essential in removing this unnecessary barrier in the cattle industry.

    “Lowering costs for New Mexicans and increasing competitiveness for local producers will support local economies and livelihoods – especially in our rural communities,” said Senator Luján. “I’m proud to partner with Senator Ernst to reintroduce this bipartisan legislation to remove outdated regulations that hinder producers’ ability to increase livestock processing capacity. This is a priority for New Mexico, and I will continue to advocate for it in the Farm Bill.”

    “Removing outdated regulations that hinder the livestock industry should be a no-brainer,” said Senator Ernst. “Allowing livestock auction markets to invest in small meat processing facilities will reduce market consolidation, decrease reliance on federal funding, and provide small producers with much-needed processing options. I’m proud to strengthen local food systems, increase competition, and ultimately lower meat costs for consumers through this effort.”

    “The A-PLUS Act will modernize livestock regulations to ensure government policy is consistent with our 21st Century marketplace,” said Rep. Alford. “For decades, restrictive rules have prevented smaller and local meat processors from competing for decades. By reforming these burdensome restrictions, we’re working to level the playing field, without sacrificing consumer safety. This commonsense legislation is a win for ranchers, auctions, consumers, and the entire livestock ecosystem. I’m proud to once again lead this bipartisan bill with my colleagues Congressmen Panetta and Johnson, as well as Senators Luján and Ernst.”

    “Congress and the cattle industry agree there is a need to increase the U.S. beef packing capacity and to add more competitors to the marketplace,” said Charlie Rogers Owner and General Manager of Clovis Livestock Auction. “We greatly appreciate Senator Luján introducing this bill to remove an outdated regulatory barrier and allow local livestock auction owners to be part of the solution investing in new local and regional packing capacity.”

    Full text of the legislation is available here. A one-pager of legislation is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Persecution of Christians in Nicaragua – E-000718/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000718/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Barbara Bonte (PfE)

    The Nicaraguan Government has been systematically persecuting Christians since 2018; there have been more than 870 attacks on the Catholic Church plus a ruthless crackdown on priests and other religious figures.

    The 2021-2024 Multiannual Indicative Programme (MIP) for Nicaragua amounts to EUR 82 million; combating climate change is its key priority.

    • 1.Does the Commission consider that, in a country that is systematically persecuting Christians, climate change is the key priority ?
    • 2.How often has the Commission urged the Government of Nicaragua to put an immediate end to this violation of human rights?
    • 3.What percentage of the funds pledged under the MIP for Nicaragua have been withheld in response to the repressive policy against Christians in that country?

    Submitted: 17.2.2025

    Last updated: 27 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: February Federal Grand Jury 2024-B Indictments Announced

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the February Federal Grand Jury 2024-B Indictments.

    The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.

    Dylan Ray Alexander. Second Degree Murder in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Alexander, 31, of Bartlesville and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with unlawfully killing Kevin Holden and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Bartlesville Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Dunn and Tara Heign are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-052

    Jeremiah Jacob Drake. Production of Child Pornography; Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography. Drake, 44, of Tulsa, is charged with coercing a minor child to produce sexually explicit content. He is additionally charged with receiving, possessing, and distributing sexually explicit material that depicts the sexual abuse of a minor child. Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-056

    Carl Anthony Epps, II. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence in Indian Country (superseding).  Epps, 42, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. Further, he is charged with using a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Dowdell is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-007

    Anthony Wayne Jeremiah. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Malicious Mischief in Indian Country; Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Jeremiah, 43, transient and a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, is charged with assaulting the victim with a dangerous weapon and maliciously destroying the victim’s property. He is further charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition after previously being convicted of felonies. The FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Dunn and Emily Dewhurst are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-055

    Blake Alan Miller. Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor Under 12 Years of Age in Indian Country. Miller, 41, of Forrest City, Arkansas, and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with engaging in sexually explicit conduct with a child under 12 years old. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Brandon is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-045

    Gabriel Urquiza-Urquiza; Daisy Villanueva; Javier Rodarte; Ricardo Plateado-Martinez; Rosa Maria Olmos; Rafael Gonzalez; Joel Rosales Pina. Drug Conspiracy (Count 1); Firearms Conspiracy (Count 2); Firearms Trafficking (Count 3); Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering (Count 4); Engaging in Monetary Transactions in Property Derived from Specified Unlawful Activity (Counts 5 & 6); Distribution of Methamphetamine (Count 7); Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises (Count 8); Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of Firearms (Count 9); Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime (Count 10); Illegal Export of Firearms (Count 11); Smuggling Firearms from the United States (Count 12); Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien (Count 13); Conspiracy to Import a Controlled Substance (second superseding). Urquiza-Urquiza, 26, a Mexican National; Villanueva, 24, of Oklahoma City; Rodarte, 26, of Moore; Plateado-Martinez, 34, of Broken Arrow; Olmos, 35, of Broken Arrow; Gonzales, 31, of Beaumont; and Pina, 40, a Mexican National are charged with conspiring to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine. Urquiza-Urquiza, Villanueva, Rodarte, Plateado-Martinez, Olmos, Gonzalez, and Pina are charged with conspiring to conceal or disguise proceeds from the transactions of methamphetamine distribution. Urquiza-Urquiza is charged with two counts of knowingly engaging in monetary transactions that involved criminally derived property valued at more than $10,000. Villanueva is also charged with intentionally distributing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. Pina is further charged with maintaining a residence to distribute drugs. Urquiza-Urquiza, Gonzalez, and Pina are charged with conspiring to import more than 500 grams of methamphetamine from Mexico. Urquiza-Urquiza is also charged with possessing firearms, knowing he is an illegal alien unlawfully in the United States, and with possessing firearms in the furtherance of drug trafficking. He is additionally charged with willfully exporting and smuggling firearms from the United States to Mexico. The Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Tulsa Police Department, Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, Broken Arrow Police Department, and Oklahoma City Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Nasar is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-131

    Adrian Marquez Rodriguez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Rodriguez, 46, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Nov. 2005. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy Mackenzie is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-054

    Ronald Dewayne Thompson. Possession of Child Pornography; Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor Under 12 Years of Age in Indian Country; Commission of Felony Sex Offense Involving a Minor by a Registered Sex Offender. Thompson, 33, of Claremore, is charged with possessing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. He knowingly engaged in sexual conduct with a minor under 12 years of age. Additionally, Thompson knowingly is required to register and committed a felony involving a minor child. Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Hockenbury is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-058

    Delawnsha Lemar Tiger. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Tiger, 30, transient, is charged with knowingly failing to register as a sex offender in Dec. 2024. The U.S. Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-053

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Oscars 2025: who will likely win, who should win, and who barely deserves to be there

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ari Mattes, Lecturer in Communications and Media, University of Notre Dame Australia

    We’ve probably all had a moment when we stopped taking the Oscars too seriously. For me, it was when Denzel Washington won best actor for Training Day (2001), a crime film in which he displays virtually none of his acting chops.

    And as popular cinema becomes uglier (it’s mostly shot on digital video now, which almost never looks as good as film) and streamers (or logistics companies such as Amazon) take over film production, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to appreciate the point of the ceremony.

    From this year’s ten nominees for best picture, The Brutalist, Conclave and I’m Still Here are good – while (most of) the other nominees are only okay.

    Some well-made films, but nothing outstanding

    Writer-director Sean Baker’s Anora is nominated for best picture this year, after already winning the Palme d’Or. It’s a moderately sweet film in the tradition of Pretty Woman – having more nudity and sex, and a disappointing ending, doesn’t automatically make it edgier. It’s too long by at least half an hour, with some okay performances.

    It’s certainly not bad, but the idea that this is one of the “best pictures” of 2024 is alarming – or would be, if I wasn’t already so cynical. Most importantly, there’s nothing formally or aesthetically compelling about it, in which case I might have forgiven the silly (anti) Cinderella story.

    Another nominee, A Complete Unknown, is similarly well-made. Timothée Chalamet gives a predictably moody performance as Bob Dylan, and it’s fun to learn something about the relationships between Dylan and musical legends Joan Baez and Pete Seeger.

    But there’s also something fundamentally weird about watching a memoir about a person as iconic as Dylan. It veers too often into the terrain of impersonation, and this is even more off-putting given Dylan is still alive. Throw in Chalamet’s (certainly accomplished) singing of Dylan’s songs, and it feels like we’re watching someone do karaoke really well.

    The Substance tries to shock and titillate the viewer with its caricature of celebrity in an era of body modification and mega-media corporations. Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley and Dennis Quaid try hard to be funny, but the whole thing plays like an undergraduate essay that makes the same point ad nauseam. Though the actors surely had fun, there’s nothing compelling about their guffawing.

    This is also the problem with messy hybrid musical-thriller Emilia Pérez, the other over-the-top genre film tipped by some to win the award.

    The film, following a cartel leader who disappears and transitions into a woman, is overly dependent on making a point about the world outside of itself. This point is so obvious that it rapidly becomes tedious, with insufficient attention given to the formal and narrative tensions and ambiguities that compel an audience to engage with a film on a serious, visceral level.

    Dune: Part Two sounds and looks good, but is more meandering than Part One in developing Herbert’s unwieldy epic. If you liked Part One, you’ll probably like Part Two, but it’s not exactly cutting-edge material.

    Nickel Boys is a low-key, sentimental rendition of Colson Whitehead’s novel about two African American boys sent to a reform school in Florida in the early 1960s, and their coming of age as they survive myriad abuses. It’s watchable, if not particularly memorable.

    Finally, Wicked is, well … Wicked. If you like the musical you may like the film (although the live aspect of musicals makes this one play better on the stage than on the screen, unlike The Wizard of Oz, which was made for the screen). In any case, it’s not ridiculously bad, even though it is too long.

    A few top contenders

    Walter Salles’ I’m Still Here – which traces the struggle of an activist in Brazil after the forced disappearance of her husband in 1970 – works well in its evocation of place and time, and should soften the heart of even the most cynical viewer.

    Based on Marcelo Rubens Paiva’s 2015 memoir, the entire film is washed over with a faint scent of nostalgia that complements the idea of failing to find, and then remembering, that which is missing.

    Conclave, adapted from Robert Harris’ novel, is another solidly made affair. It follows the political machinations of the Vatican as the Dean of Cardinals sets up a conclave to elect a new pope after the previous one dies of a heart attack.

    Ralph Fiennes is as effective and sombre as usual in the lead role as Cardinal Lawrence and various twists and turns keep us watching throughout. But one suspects the primary pleasure of the film is that it seems to offer an insider’s view of the Vatican, including all the fetishistic processes and rituals.

    Despite its serious tone, Conclave is a fun romp. And what a pleasure it is to watch Isabella Rossellini on the big screen once again.

    The strongest nominee

    The film that is most classically like a best picture nominee is The Brutalist – an epic, visually-magnificent study of the struggles of (fictional) architect László Toth, a Hungarian Jew who moves to America following the Holocaust.

    Testament to the technical accomplishments of the film, and its superb creation of a coherent world, The Brutalist runs close to four hours (thankfully with an intermission) without becoming tedious. It chugs along with the relentless momentum of a steam engine.

    Adrien Brody is charming as Toth, endowing the character with a roguish and playful quality, and the supporting cast are solid. Akin to one of Toth’s constructions (as we hear in the epilogue section), the film neither indicates nor tells us anything beyond itself.

    There may be conclusions to be drawn regarding the relationship between art, power and capitalism, but the film gives you the space to devise these yourself. The film is, in a sense, beautifully mute.

    Out of all the nominations, The Brutalist is the only one that feels like a genuine best picture contender (with something of the grandeur of classical Hollywood cinema about it). Although many critics are predicting Anora will win, The Brutalist is the strongest of the nominees.

    That said, my pick for the best film of 2024 goes to a production that didn’t get a best picture nomination (as usual). Magnus von Horn’s The Girl With the Needle is a stunning Danish expressionistic nightmare that seamlessly integrates formal experimentation with a thrilling and horrific true crime narrative.

    It is absolutely sensational – the kind of thing you never forget. Thankfully, it has been recognised through its nomination for best international feature film.

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

    – ref. Oscars 2025: who will likely win, who should win, and who barely deserves to be there – https://theconversation.com/oscars-2025-who-will-likely-win-who-should-win-and-who-barely-deserves-to-be-there-250783

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – EU action and leadership on global health in view of the US withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) – P-000773/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-000773/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Stine Bosse (Renew), Vlad Vasile-Voiculescu (Renew), Catarina Martins (The Left), Sirpa Pietikäinen (PPE), Lena Schilling (Verts/ALE), Lucia Yar (Renew), Karin Karlsbro (Renew), Emma Wiesner (Renew), Abir Al-Sahlani (Renew), Romana Jerković (S&D), Tilly Metz (Verts/ALE), Maria Walsh (PPE), Olivier Chastel (Renew), Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus (S&D), Christine Singer (Renew), Barry Andrews (Renew), Sebastian Everding (The Left), Vicent Marzà Ibáñez (Verts/ALE), Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová (Renew), Sophie Wilmès (Renew), Kim Van Sparrentak (Verts/ALE), Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle (Renew), Benoit Cassart (Renew), Elisabeth Grossmann (S&D), Elena Kountoura (The Left), Rasmus Nordqvist (Verts/ALE), Villy Søvndal (Verts/ALE), Marit Maij (S&D), Charles Goerens (Renew), Marc Angel (S&D), Anna-Maja Henriksson (Renew), Isabella Lövin (Verts/ALE), Alice Kuhnke (Verts/ALE), Pär Holmgren (Verts/ALE)

    The United States’ impending withdrawal from the WHO, its reinstatement of the Mexico City Policy and the abandonment of the pandemic prevention treaty present an urgent challenge both to Europe and the entire world at a time when global collaboration on anti-microbial resistance (AMR), HIV, and the promotion of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) is as important as ever.

    • 1.Given Europe’s role as one of the principal WHO donors, what concrete steps will the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy take to both step up EU action on global health financing and mitigate the likely harm to health in Europe and globally resulting from these decisions, and how will Europe seek to fill the global financing gap in the fight against HIV and in promoting SRHR?
    • 2.Given the failure to agree on binding measures on AMR at the UN level, what specific actions will the Commission and the European External Action Service now take to bolster international efforts to combat AMR?
    • 3.Will the Commission address AMR in the upcoming strategy for a Preparedness Union? If so, how will it complement ongoing initiatives such as the Health and Digital Executive Agency’s drug subscription pilot and the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority’s plans to explore pull incentives?

    Supporter[1]

    Submitted: 19.2.2025

    • [1] This question is supported by a Member other than the authors: Marie Toussaint (Verts/ALE)

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Tackling drug trafficking in America – E-000632/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000632/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Jorge Martín Frías (PfE)

    In late January 2025, President Trump designated Mexican cartels as ‘foreign terrorist organisations’ so that he could allocate the requisite resources to tackling drugs.

    To put a stop to drug trafficking, strong policies must be taken to combat traffickers, who are usually linked to other crimes such as human trafficking and financial crimes. Attacking cartel finances is a good strategy.

    In Mexico, however, as this Member has warned, President Sheinbaum is complicit with drug traffickers, for example, her government has adopted a chapucera judicial reform that enables cartels to finance campaigns for the election and an unambitious security strategy intended to limit police capacities, which promotes illegal activities and impunity for drug trafficking in Mexico.

    Between 2015 and 2023, the Commission spent EUR 140 million on aid and grants for Mexico.

    • 1.Can the Commission confirm that not a single euro ends up in the hands of cartels?
    • 2.I insist: will the Commission suspend all further financial transfers to Mexico until it ensures that the Mexican Government commits properly to fully tackling drug trafficking?
    • 3.Will it provide the US administration with the mechanisms and tools at its disposal to combat drugs?

    Submitted: 11.2.2025

    Last updated: 27 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: February 27th, 2025 N.M. Delegation Reintroduce Slate of Tribal Water Rights Settlements Legislation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), and Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) are reintroducing a slate of Tribal water rights settlement bills they are pushing to pass in this Congress.
    The full slate of Tribal water rights settlements legislation includes:
    The Rio San José and Rio Jemez Water Rights Settlements Act;
    The Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act;
    The Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act; and
    The Navajo Nation Rio San José Water Rights Settlement Act.
    Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project Amendments;
    The Technical Corrections to the Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act, Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act, and Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act;
    “I’m proud to introduce these bills to finally unlock critical water infrastructure funding from these water rights settlements and ensure Tribes have the resources to use the water they own,” said Heinrich. “These settlements are supported by all parties involved, including Tribal and non-Tribal communities. Congress should pass these urgently needed bills to help communities manage their precious and limited water resources.”
    “Water rights are part of the federal trust responsibility for our Tribal communities,” said Luján, a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. “I’m proud to reintroduce legislation to allow our Tribal communities to promote water security and complete much-needed water infrastructure projects. I’m especially proud to reintroduce my legislation to amend the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, ensuring it has the resources and time needed to deliver clean drinking water to communities in northwestern New Mexico. These pieces of legislation will help fulfill our trust responsibility and promote water security for Tribes and Pueblos, as well as non-Tribal users, in New Mexico.”
    “This legislation upholds our trust responsibility to Tribes and helps bring certainty to disputes about water across the Southwest. The settlements included in these bills secure clean, reliable water for Navajo Nation, Jicarilla Apache Nation, 11 pueblos, and the rural communities that are their neighbors across New Mexico,” said Leger Fernández. “It is with great expectation that I reintroduce this legislation which reflects decades of negotiation and collaboration. We must pass these bills so the scarce water resources our communities need to thrive for generations to come are available to all.”
    “In New Mexico, we know water is life,” said Stansbury. “That’s why these Tribal Water Settlement bills are so important. These pieces of legislation will give water rights back to our Tribes and Pueblos, ensuring the federal government upholds our Trust and Treaty Responsibilities. Indigenous people have been stewards of the land and water since time immemorial, and now is the time for them to lead these efforts.”
    “I will always stand with our Tribal communities in Congress,” said Vasquez. “These water rights settlements are a crucial step in fulfilling our delegation’s commitment to ensuring every New Mexican has access to safe, reliable water. By providing our Tribes and Pueblos with the resources they need, we are investing in vital water infrastructure that will serve generations to come.”
    The Rio San José and Rio Jemez Water Rights Settlements Act is led by Heinrich and Leger Fernández. Luján, Stansbury, and Vasquez are original cosponsors. The bill would implement two fund-based water settlements: one between the Pueblos of Jemez and Zia, the United States, the State of New Mexico, and non-Tribal parties; and another between the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna, the United States, the State of New Mexico, and non-Tribal parties. The settlements are strongly supported by all parties involved.
    Heinrich and Leger Fernández previously introduced this legislation in March 2023. The bill received a hearing and was reported out of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in December 2023. The House version of this bill received a legislative hearing in the House Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee in July 2024.
    Read the full bill text here.
    The Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act is also led by Heinrich and Leger Fernández. Luján and Stansbury are original cosponsors. The bill establishes a trust fund to implement the negotiated settlement between the United States, the State of New Mexico, the City of Española, the Asociación de Acéquias Norteñas de Rio Arriba, El Rito Ditch Asociación, La Asociación de las Acéquias del Rio Tusas, Vallecitos y Ojo Caliente, the Rio de Chama Acéquia Association, and Ohkay Owingeh to settle the Pueblo’s water claims in the Rio Chama Basin. The funding will be used for Ohkay Owingeh’s development of water resources to ensure the Pueblo has appropriate water infrastructure to use the water that they have claim to in the basin.
    Heinrich and Leger Fernández initially introduced the bill in June 2024. The bill then received a key hearing before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in July 2024.
    Read the full bill text here.
    The Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act is led by Heinrich and Vasquez. Luján, Stansbury, and Leger Fernández are original cosponsors. The bill authorizes $685 million to support a trust for sustainable water management and infrastructure development that upholds the federal government’s trust responsibility while protecting the sacred Zuni Salt Lake. The bill ratifies the settlement between the federal government, State of New Mexico and Zuni Tribe that affirms their water rights for irrigation, livestock, storage, and domestic and other uses.
    Heinrich and Vasquez initially introduced the bill in July 2024. The bill received a key hearing before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in September 2024.
    Read the full bill text here.
    The Navajo Nation Rio San José Water Rights Settlement Act is led by Heinrich and Leger Fernández. Luján, Stansbury, and Vasquez are original cosponsors. This bill would approve the water rights settlement for the Navajo Nation as well as participating non-Tribal parties in the Rio San José watershed.
    Heinrich and Leger Fernández initially introduced this bill in September 2024. The bill then received a key hearing before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee that same month.
    Read the full bill text here.
    The Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project Amendments is led by Luján and Leger Fernández. Heinrich and Stansbury are original cosponsors. The bill amends the Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project to ensure it has the resources and time needed to reach completion to deliver drinking water to northwestern New Mexico communities.
    The Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project was first authorized as part of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, which settled the Navajo Nation’s water rights in the San Juan Basin of New Mexico and funded the design and construction of the waterline to reach an estimated 250,000 people by the year 2040. Upon completion, the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project will provide a long-term, sustainable water supply from the San Juan River to roughly 43 Chapters on the eastern Navajo Nation, the southwestern portion of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, and the City of Gallup, which currently rely on a rapidly depleting groundwater supply of poor quality.
    Luján, Leger Fernández, and Heinrich initially introduced the bill in June 2023. The bill was passed out of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in November 2023.
    Read the full bill text here.
    The Technical Corrections to the Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act, Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act, and Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act is led by Luján and Leger Fernández. Heinrich and Stansbury are original cosponsors. This bill authorizes the appropriation of $6.3 million for the Navajo Nation Water Resources Development Fund; $7.8 million for the Taos Pueblo Water Development Fund; and $4.3 million for the Aamodt Settlement Pueblos’ Fund, which covers Nambé, Pojoaque, San Ildefonso, and Tesuque Pueblos. It will support water resources development projects for the Tribes.
    Luján and Leger Fernández initially introduced this bill in December 2023.
    Read the full bill text here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: February 27th, 2025 Heinrich, Luján, Leger Fernández, Curtis Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Fund and Complete the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) and John Curtis (R-Utah) introduced the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project Amendments Act of 2025. The legislation amends the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project to ensure it has the resources and time needed to reach completion to deliver drinking water to northwestern New Mexico communities. 
    The Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project was first authorized as part of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, which settled the Navajo Nation’s water rights in the San Juan Basin of New Mexico and funded the design and construction of the waterline to reach an estimated 250,000 people by the year 2040. Upon completion, the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project will provide a long-term, sustainable water supply from the San Juan River to roughly 43 Chapters on the eastern Navajo Nation, the southwestern portion of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, and the City of Gallup, which currently rely on a rapidly depleting groundwater supply of poor quality. Full project completion is planned for 2029. When complete, it will include approximately 300 miles of pipeline, two water treatment plants, 19 pumping plants and multiple water storage tanks.
    “Communities in northwest New Mexico, the Navajo Nation, and the Jicarilla Apache Nation deserve water security and clean drinking water. Our legislation achieves this by funding the completion of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project to deliver clean, reliable water to 43 Tribal communities and the City of Gallup. I call on the Senate to quickly take up this legislation and ensure the project can be completed,” said Heinrich.
    “Ensuring that the Navajo Nation, City of Gallup, and Jicarilla Apache Nation have access to safe, clean, and reliable drinking water is vital for the health and well-being of rural and Tribal communities,” said Luján, a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.“The Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project will help provide a reliable, sustainable surface water supply to improve the public health and economic opportunities for the region. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan legislation to move this critical project forward and reduce the financial burden on Tribal and local governments. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this much-needed legislation to help meet the water needs in the San Juan Basin for years to come.”
    “Since I was elected to Congress, I have prioritized funding for the Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project so we can provide clean, reliable, and affordable water to the Navajo people and surrounding communities in New Mexico. We secured $615 million in funding to move the project forward,” said Leger Fernández. “The Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project Amendments Act builds upon this work.  We won’t stop until this project is completed because in New Mexico, we know that water sustains us. Sabemos que Agua Es Vida.”
    “Water is the lifeblood of the West, and Utahns know that securing a reliable water supply is essential for our communities, our economy, and our way of life,” said Curtis. “I’m proud to join my colleagues on this bipartisan legislation to help ensure the Navajo Nation in Utah have the water they need to thrive.”
    The amending legislation makes several important changes:
    Increases the project funding authorization to match updated construction costs;
    Extends the project timeline beyond 2025 to 2029 to provide additional time for completion;
    Establishes trust funds for operations and maintenance costs for the Navajo Nation and the Jicarilla Apache Nation once construction is complete; and
    Allows the project to expand its service area to reach Navajo communities without running water.
    The Navajo Nation, Jicarilla Apache Nation, State of New Mexico, and the City of Gallup support the legislation.
    Heinrich, Luján and Leger Fernández have long supported efforts to fund and complete the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project.
    Heinrich, Luján and Leger Fernández secured $137 million in 2023 and $164 million in 2024 for the project through the  Infrastructure Law toward the total authorized project cost. In August 2024, the N.M. Delegation welcomed a $267 million Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project contract to design and build the San Juan Lateral Water Treatment Plant in northwest New Mexico. The plant is the largest and most important feature of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project.
    In January 2025, Heinrich, Luján and Leger Fernández announced $120 million for Fiscal Year 2025 for the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project using funding from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Reclamation Water Settlements Fund. The original version of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project Amendments Act was passed out of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in November 2023. However, new legislation is required to authorize additional time and resources to complete the project and for its long-term, sustainable operations and maintenance.
    Additionally, the N.M. Delegation recently reintroduced a slate of Tribal water rights settlement bills they are pushing to pass in this Congress.
    For more information about the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: February 27th, 2025 N.M. Delegation Demands HHS Secretary Kennedy Take Immediate Action to Contain Measles Outbreak

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
    Delegation Letter Comes Amid Measles Outbreak in New Mexico and Texas;
    Measles is One of the Most Highly Infectious Diseases and Can Lead to Serious Complications Like Pneumonia, Blindness, Brain Swelling, and Death
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) wrote to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. demanding immediate action to contain the recent outbreak of measles in New Mexico. Measles, once declared eliminated in the U.S. over two decades ago, has sickened nine individuals in Lea Country.
    “Given the Department of Health and Human Services’ important responsibility to stop the spread of infectious diseases, we request that you utilize HHS’ authorities for testing and monitoring and vaccine education and promotion, as well as rehire critical federal employees, to stop the spread of this dangerous infection,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter to Secretary Kennedy.
    The lawmakers urged Secretary Kennedy to maintain regular reporting on measles cases, “States report confirmed measles cases to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System. Previously, measles tracking on the CDC website was consistently updated weekly. These updates are critical for public health officials to effectively track the rapid spread of this life-threatening disease. We urge you to maintain posting updated measles tracking data weekly.”
    Following the firing of federal public health officials, the lawmakers demanded the reinstatement of these officials to contain the outbreak, “Just last Friday, two dozen employees at the CDC charged with training public health laboratory staffers and supporting outbreak response efforts were fired. These firings will worsen outbreaks and ultimately threaten the health of all Americans in the face of the next public health emergency. We urgently request that you reinstate the fired federal health workers to help stop the spread of measles and other infectious diseases.”
    Additionally, to prevent future outbreaks, the lawmakers pressed Secretary Kennedy to support life-saving measles vaccines, “Given that most of the infected individuals are unvaccinated, more must be done to increase vaccination rates against measles. Vaccination rates can and should be increased and therefore we request that HHS launch a national campaign to improve measles vaccination rates to prevent future outbreaks.”
    The text of the letter is here and below:
    Dear Secretary Kennedy,
    We are concerned about the recent outbreak of measles in New Mexico. As of Wednesday, there are nine people with confirmed cases of measles in isolation in Lea County, New Mexico. This news comes as the nearby counties of Gaines, Terry, Lubbock, and Yoakum in Texas have recently reported 90 cases with 16 people hospitalized. Given the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) important responsibility to stop the spread of infectious diseases, we request that you utilize HHS’ authorities for testing and monitoring and vaccine education and promotion, as well as rehire critical federal employees, to stop the spread of this dangerous infection.
    Measles is one of the most highly infectious diseases because the virus can survive in the air for up to 2 hours. Ninety percent of people who are susceptible will become infected if exposed. While many recover, some experience serious complications like pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling, and death.
    Preventing and mitigating outbreaks is only possible through effective disease tracking and communication, an adequate workforce, and vaccination. States report confirmed measles cases to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System. Previously, measles tracking on the CDC website was consistently updated weekly. These updates are critical for public health officials to effectively track the rapid spread of this life-threatening disease. We urge you to maintain posting updated measles tracking data weekly.
    The public health workforce protects community health by tracking disease and communicating with the public about health threats. But on January 29, 2025, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that there are still health care workforce shortages that inhibit the U.S.’s ability to protect and improve the health of American communities. Despite these health care workforce shortages, federal employees have been fired from the CDC, National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Indian Health Service (IHS). Just last Friday, two dozen employees at the CDC charged with training public health laboratory staffers and supporting outbreak response efforts were fired. These firings will worsen outbreaks and ultimately threaten the health of all Americans in the face of the next public health emergency. We urgently request that you reinstate the fired federal health workers to help stop the spread of measles and other infectious diseases.
    Finally, the most effective way to protect people from contracting measles is to increase vaccination rates as quickly as possible. The measles vaccine, which also inoculates against mumps and rubella, has been in use for about 60 years and has consistently been found to be safe and effective. We urge you to keep your commitment to maintain the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations for vaccination. The ACIP is critical for ensuring safe and effective vaccination practices among American adults and children. The resources provided by the ACIP not only help health care providers make vaccination recommendations to their patients but also empower everyday Americans to make informed decisions about their health. Given that most of the infected individuals are unvaccinated, more must be done to increase vaccination rates against measles. Vaccination rates can and should be increased and therefore we request that HHS launch a national campaign to improve measles vaccination rates to prevent future outbreaks.
    In closing, your action is urgently needed to stop the spread of measles in New Mexico and across America. In order to mitigate the further spread of this life-threatening disease, we urge you to utilize HHS’ authorities and proven outbreak mitigation strategies. Specifically, we are asking that you maintain weekly disease tracking data updates, rehire federal health workers, launch a vaccination promotion campaign against measles and other life-threatening infectious diseases, and trust the recommendations of public health experts, physicians, and scientists.
    Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shaheen Raises Concerns Over Trump Administration Energy Policies That Will Raise Prices, Threaten Jobs and Reduce Competitiveness

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen

    (Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) delivered remarks on the Senate floor to raise her concerns about President Trump’s harmful actions that will raise energy prices, threaten jobs and hurt our global economic competitiveness. The remarks came during consideration of a resolution Shaheen has cosponsored to terminate President Trump’s misguided national energy emergency, which has been used to bypass Congress to advance policies that benefit Big Oil at the expense of Granite Staters and working Americans. In her remarks, Shaheen shared the stories of Granite Staters and small businesses that will see their energy costs increase as a result of President Trump’s policies. You can view her remarks in full here.

    Key Quotes from Senator Shaheen:

    • “Lowering energy costs, creating good jobs, increasing America’s economic competitiveness in the world—those [should] be things that we can all agree on. But if we give up our leadership on clean energy now, the People’s Republic of China … is going to be more than happy to fill the void for its own economic advantage.”
    • “In the first 37 days, we’ve seen the Trump administration cut off funding for solar, wind and clean manufacturing projects that are cheaper and faster to build than fossil fuel infrastructure. We’ve seen him halt energy efficiency programs, and we know energy efficiency is the cheapest, fastest way to deal with our energy needs.”
    • “The tariffs that are set to go into effect … they could mean about $150 to $250 more for the average family in New Hampshire who are using heating oil just to keep warm through the winter.”
    • “President Trump’s efforts to cancel promised funding for electric charging infrastructure in New Hampshire harms our travel and tourism sector, particularly in northern New Hampshire, where ski areas and other outdoor recreation drives our local economies. A recent study found that the state risks losing an estimated 1.4 billion in overall economic impact.”

    Remarks as delivered can be found below:

    I come to the floor today in support of Senate Joint Resolution 10, which would terminate the misguided national energy emergency that President Trump signed on his first day in office.

    It has been 37 days since President Trump declared, for the first time in this nation’s history, a national energy emergency.

    This is an attempt to throw red meat to the base of the Republican party, and to seem like Donald Trump is the oil and gas president.

    But there’s no evidence to support that.

    In fact, the evidence we have points in exactly the opposite direction.

    This emergency was declared despite the fact that the United States is producing more oil than any other country ever in this nation’s history.

    And we’ve been doing that for the past seven years.

    The emergency was declared despite the fact that the United States is in the midst of a clean energy boom and a manufacturing renaissance.

    We generated 17% more electricity in 2023 than the high point of the first Trump Administration.

    Clean energy jobs are growing at twice the rate of the economy overall.

    And this emergency was declared despite the fact that as the Wall Street Journal headline noted after the election, quote, “Trump’s oil and gas donors don’t really want to drill, baby, drill,” End quote.

    They are very happy to lock in demand for the long term. But increase supply and potentially undercut profits? Not so much.

    So we find ourselves within an emergency declaration in search of an emergency.

    But it’s not without consequences.

    President Trump has assumed vast power for the executive branch through this emergency designation.

    He’s encouraging the use of eminent domain that could literally allow the government to take your land away.

    He’s waving away key protections for clean water.

    And he’s suggesting that a timeline of just seven days is sufficient for public commitment—for public comment, excuse me—on projects that could cause irreparable harm to historic and cultural resources.

    President Trump campaigned on, and I’m quoting here, “lowering the cost of everything,” and he promised “your energy bill within 12 months will be cut in half.”

    Now, voters responded to those promises, and Americans do want to see lower energy costs.

    I’m all for that.

    I focused as governor on how we can address the high energy prices in New Hampshire.

    We permitted two gas pipelines through the state, both gas coming from Canada, and we negotiated to deal with our largest utility company that lowered rates 16.5%.

    So I’m all for lowering energy costs.

    We absolutely should be talking about that.

    But let’s take a step back here and let’s talk about what President Trump’s energy policies actually are, and how they affect the American people.

    In the first 37 days, we’ve seen the Trump administration cut off funding for solar, wind and clean manufacturing projects that are cheaper and faster to build than fossil fuel infrastructure.

    We’ve seen him halt energy efficiency programs, and we know energy efficiency is the cheapest, fastest way to deal with our energy needs.

    He’s prepared a 10% energy tax in the form of tariffs on heating oil, propane, gasoline and other energy we import from Canada.

    And that hits New Hampshire really hard because of the energy sources we get from Canada—I talked about the two gas pipelines that come down from Canada, and because we have so many households that burn number two fuel oil to heat our homes and because it’s cold in New Hampshire at this time of year.

    So that hits us really hard.

    He’s fired more than a thousand workers at the Department of Energy, including those who are keeping state energy programs and weatherization up and running to respond to emergencies and to help folks like we have in New Hampshire stay warm this winter.

    And tomorrow, what we expect is that Senate Republicans will roll back a commonsense fee on venting or flaring of methane, rather than capturing it for productive use.

    And if that passes, and the president signs it, it will cost the taxpayers $2.3 billion over the next ten years, effectively lighting money on fire to save Big Oil a few bucks.

    Now in New Hampshire, as in other states, President Trump’s actions have sown chaos and uncertainty.

    They’re raising costs for families, for farmers, for small businesses, and for town budgets.

    For example, the tariffs that are set to go into effect, and I understand that the president has now decided he’s going to wait until April, but they could mean about $150 to $250 more for the average family in New Hampshire who are using heating oil just to keep warm through the winter.

    President Trump’s efforts to cancel promised funding for electric charging infrastructure in New Hampshire harms our travel and tourism sector, particularly in northern New Hampshire, where ski areas and other outdoor recreation drives our local economies.

    A recent study found that the state risks losing an estimated 1.4 billion in overall economic impact, if we don’t build up our charging infrastructure.

    One small business owner in Barrington in the seacoast of New Hampshire told me that he has nearly $3 million in projects.

    Those projects are on hold this year, including work with school districts, with the state and with other customers to staff install solar projects that provide long term taxpayer savings.

    And they’re on hold because of what President Trump has ordered.

    Farms and local shops across rural areas of New Hampshire are nervous about receiving promised reimbursements for energy saving work through the Rural Energy for America program, the REAP program.

    At least one business owner at Seacoast Power Equipment has been covering interest with the bank until his grant, which he has a signed commitment for, is actually paid out—And of course, this is affecting his bottom line.

    And then we have Super Secret Ice Cream in Bethlehem, New Hampshire, in the northern part of our state.

    This is an award-winning small business that provides the best ice cream you’ve ever eaten.

    They were gearing up to install solar panels using $15,000 in federal funds.

    Now that project is on hold.

    Many family-owned businesses, like Super Secret Ice Cream, have very tight margins, and this small investment of $15,000 would help Christina and Dan grow their business and lower the electric costs that they’re paying to store their ice cream.

    And then we have the town of Peterborough in the western part of New Hampshire.

    They plan to use funding from the bipartisan infrastructure law to enhance much needed workforce development, but of course, they’ve had to wait far too long for federal approvals.

    And in rural towns like Berlin, in the northern part of our state, residents eagerly signed up for federally funded projects that will insulate and add solar arrays to their manufactured homes.

    This is a real solution to their high utility bills, but these projects are now on hold because the contractors are uncertain that they’re going to be paid.

    Now, I could go on as I know my colleagues could, but since we have people waiting, I want to close with a point of agreement.

    In his executive order, President Trump stated, and I quote, “we need a reliable, diversified and affordable supply of energy to drive our nation’s manufacturing, transportation, agriculture and defense industries and to sustain the basics of modern life and military preparedness.”

    That makes sense to me.

    I agree with that.

    But unfortunately, that’s about the only thing he said related to energy in the past 37 days that does make sense.

    Lowering energy costs, creating good jobs, increasing America’s economic competitiveness in the world—those ought to be things that we can all agree on.

    But if we give up our leadership on clean energy now, the People’s Republic of China, who President Trump claims is our greatest competitor—and I agree with him on that—

    I just don’t understand how the Trump administration policies are allowing us to be competitive.

    But China is going to be more than happy to fill the void for its own economic advantage.

    I think we should also agree that Americans deserve clean air, clean water, and the chance to have a say in what happens in their communities.

    I want to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle on these goals, and that work starts by ending this disastrous, misguided emergency declaration and by stopping the chaos.

    So I hope my colleagues will join me in voting to restore Congress’s appropriate role in setting energy policies that benefit the American people by supporting this resolution.

    Thank you, Mr. President.

    I yield the floor.

    Shaheen has led efforts to oppose President Trump’s harmful and inflation-inducing tariff proposals. Last month, Shaheen led the New Hampshire Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to the White House urging him not to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China which are expected to cost the average American $1,200 per year.

    Earlier this year, Shaheen introduced new legislation with U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) to shield American businesses and consumers from rising prices imposed by tariffs on imported goods into the United States. The Senators’ legislation would keep costs down for imported goods, including energy, by limiting the authority of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)—which allows a President to immediately place unlimited tariffs after declaring a national emergency—while preserving IEEPA’s use for sanctions and other tools.

    Shaheen has championed work to secure federal investments in clean energy and energy efficiency initiatives and to lower energy costs across New Hampshire. In the Fiscal Year 2024 government funding bills, Shaheen secured $366 million for weatherization efforts and $66 million for the State Energy Program, which work to bring down energy bills for families and communities. Shaheen was a key supporter of the Inflation Reduction Act and a lead negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, legislation that invest in energy efficiency, including funding for residential, municipal, industrial and federal entities to implement efficiency improvements and upgrades.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Navy Sailor Pleads Guilty to Plotting To Attack Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago, Ill.

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHICAGO — A former Navy sailor has pleaded guilty in federal court in Chicago to plotting to attack Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago, Ill., purportedly on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

    XUANYU HARRY PANG, 38, of North Chicago, Ill., pleaded guilty to conspiring to and attempting to willfully injure and destroy national defense material, national defense premises, and national defense utilities, with the intent to injure, interfere with, and obstruct the national defense of the United States.  The guilty plea was entered on Nov. 5, 2024, in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and ordered unsealed today.

    Pang is currently detained without bond in law enforcement custody. U.S. District Judge Jeremy C. Daniel has not yet set a sentencing date.  The conviction is punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

    The guilty plea was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Sue Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, David J. Scott of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.  Substantial assistance was provided by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.  The case was investigated by the Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Force, which is comprised of multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Bond, Vikas Didwania, and Brandon Stone of the Northern District of Illinois, with assistance from Trial Attorneys John Cella and Charles Kovats of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

    According to court records filed in the case, Pang communicated in the summer of 2021 with an individual in Colombia about potentially assisting with a plan involving Iranian actors to conduct an attack against the United States to avenge the death of Qasem Soleimani, a general of the IRGC Quds Force who was killed by the U.S. military in 2020. The Quds Force is a branch of the IRGC that conducts unconventional warfare and intelligence activities outside of Iran.

    A covert FBI employee, posing as an affiliate of the Quds Force, subsequently communicated online with the individual in Colombia about conducting an attack.  The individual in Colombia put the covert FBI employee in touch with Pang, who at the time was stationed and residing at Naval Station Great Lakes, court records show.  The pair communicated online through an encrypted messaging application about possible targets for the attack, including the Naval Station Great Lakes and other locations in the Chicago area.  Pang and the individual in Colombia agreed to help the covert FBI employee and his purported associates with their operation to conduct the attack in the United States, court records state.

    On three occasions in the fall of 2022, Pang personally met with another individual working with the FBI who was posing as an associate of the covert FBI employee.  The first meeting took place outside of the Ogilvie Transportation Center in downtown Chicago, and the two other meetings were held at a train station in Lake Bluff, Ill., court records show.  During the meetings in Lake Bluff, as the plot coalesced into an attack on the Naval Station, Pang displayed photos and videos on his phone of multiple locations inside the Naval Station.  He also provided two U.S. military uniforms – for operatives to wear inside the base during the attack – and a cell phone that could be used as a test for a detonator, the records show. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Venezuelan National Accused of Federal Gun Crime

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned and indictment charging a Venezuelan national, restricted from possessing a firearm and ammunition, with a gun crime after an alleged shooting incident in Summit County, Utah.

    Manuel A. Pimentel-Gonzalez, 24, of Eagle Mountain, Utah, was initially charged by complaint on February 21, 2025.

    According to court documents, on May 19, 2024, a dispute erupted at a party at a rural property in Summit County. During the investigation, security footage depicted a heavily built male, later identified as Pimentel-Gonzalez, reach into a parked BMW X7 sport-utility vehicle and remove a large firearm with a wooden feature. Pimentel-Gonzalez then shouted profanities and insults in Spanish. Immediately after Pimentel-Gonzalez stepped away from the camera view, several gunshots were heard on the security footage. Investigators recovered at least 42 shell casings, four firearms, and bullet damage to vehicles at the scene.

    During the execution of a search warrant in Eagle Mountain, Utah, law enforcement located a white BMX sport-utility vehicle, with gunfire damage. Investigators also found Pimentel-Gonzalez with at least one gunshot wound that he attempted to treat himself. A Draco 92 9×19 mm firearm with a wooden feature was also seized and later linked to expended shell casings recovered from the shooting scene in Summit County. At the time of the shooting, Pimentel- Gonzalez was on probation for a prior state firearm conviction by a restricted person.

    Pimentel-Gonzalez is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. His initial appearance on the indictment has yet to be scheduled before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.

    Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah made the announcement.

    The case is being investigated by an ATF Task Force Officer assigned to the Utah Department of Corrections.

    The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.

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

    An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Advocates for Farmers During Senate AG Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) spoke with Bret Erickson, Board Member of the International Fresh Produce Association, and Anna Rhinewalt, Council Member of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation and Mississippi Sweet Potato Council, during a Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (Ag) hearing. During the hearing, they spoke about the dire state of the farm economy impacting specialty crop producers after four years of Joe Biden’s runaway spending and sky-high inflation.
    Read Sen. Tuberville’s remarks below or watch on YouTube or Rumble. 

    TUBERVILLE: “Thanks for you being here today, all of you.
    Our Ag economy is a disaster, complete disaster. You know, if we don’t do something—and I don’t know how it’s going to work—we’re not going to have Ag Committee here in a few years. We lost 150,000 farms in the last few years. 150,000 farms.
    If that’s not a disaster, I don’t know what is. But we don’t help you at all. Regulations are overboard. Labor is out of sight. You have no water. I don’t know what we’ve done right up here. Doesn’t sound like a whole lot.
    But Mrs. Rhinewalt, what’s the ideal [wage] rate if we were to revert back to [previous H-2A] labor costs? What would be the ideal rate that we would pay […] to make a profit?”
    RHINEWALT: “Senator, thank you. We actually had that discussion yesterday. We chuckled talking about wages that were based on maybe 115% of the federal wage rate or state minimum wage rates. But we know that’s at $7.25, and farmers are not suggesting that we pay that low. But we do want to have some consideration, a formulation for the wage rate that takes into account that $14.83 may be the wage rate, but we need to consider the transportation cost, the administrative cost, the housing cost, and maybe […] prorate that in consideration of those factors. Because it’s a fallacy to say that because we’re paying $14.83, that’s not really the wage rate paying. It’s really more like $20-21 an hour.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Exactly. Thank you.
    Mr. Erickson, $23 an hour, you got to be kidding me. How do you make it? I mean, what would be your cost to make a profit?”
    ERICKSON: “I wish it wasn’t. It is. And to Mrs. Rhinewalt’s comments, you know, the costs that are involved with applying for the program, transporting the laborers from their home country to the United States where they’re going to work—we transport them, we put them in housing, hotels, transport them from the hotel to the job site. We have catering services. We provide food. You know, you need to take them to doctor’s appointments and to get sundries and such. I don’t know, you know, how you roll back. And in Texas, the AEWR [Adverse Effect Wage Rate] is, I believe, it’s $15.87 an hour. Our actual cost is about $23 per hour when you add all that in.
    I don’t know what the number is. We definitely need to put a cap on the increases that have occurred. How do we deal with it? Unfortunately, in the case of Little Bear Produce, I wish Senator Lujan was still here. […] We had an onion packing facility in Deming, New Mexico. It was an important part of our operation that had about 15 full time people and we brought in 20-30 seasonal people. We rent onions, hatch chilies, pumpkins, watermelons up there. And we had to recently shutter that facility, in part, because of the water that’s being withheld in Mexico. And they’re using that water to grow our crops, and then we’re having to purchase those products.
    So, it is a crazy situation for us to be in. And as a business, we had to make the decision, and you have to sit down with each one of these, these people have been working for us for 12-15 years, and to sit down and tell them, you know, ‘We have to let you go, unfortunately. You know, we’re going to work with you to try to transition into another job.’ And you know what the craziest thing was? Those folks, in talking to them, they were so thankful for the opportunity that they had during the 12-15 years that they were working for us, and they were so thankful for that. But if we don’t get these costs under control for U.S. producers, we are going to continue to hand over the production of specialty crops and fruits and vegetables.”
    TUBERVILLE: “We’re not going to have it. It’s going to be over. Mrs. Rhinewalt, could we do without a H-2A program?”
    RHINEWALT: “No, sir. We would be completely out of business.”
    TUBERVILLE: “[…] How are domestic workers being affected by H-2A programs?”
    RHINEWALT: “Well, a domestic workforce is never again going to be the remedy for Ag production in the United States, per their response to the jobs. So, 97% of jobs remain open when we’re required to advertise them to domestic workers, first, before we can receive any assurance that we’re allowed to bring H-2A onto our farms. We would be happy to pay our own citizens a very reasonable wage and save all those auxiliary costs that I mentioned. But they simply do not want the jobs.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. Good luck. Hope we get out of your way.”
    RHINEWALT: “Thank you.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Because that’s what we’re going to have to do.”
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP, and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fort Worth woman sentenced for smuggling minors from Mexico

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LAREDO, Texas – A 36-year-old woman has been ordered to federal prison for attempting to smuggle two Mexican children from Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Sandra Perez pleaded guilty Nov. 19, 2024.

    U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña has now ordered Perez to serve three years in federal prison.

    “Smuggling children is absolutely reprehensible,” said Ganjei. “Who knows what awaited these children had the defendant managed to slip past authorities. Fortunately, law enforcement was able to unravel Perez’s false story and stop her smuggling scheme dead in its tracks.”

    On Aug. 8, 2024, Perez applied for admission into the United States driving an SUV. She had her three minor U.S. citizen children with her along with two minor Mexican children.

    Perez falsely claimed the two Mexican children were also hers and attempted to present Texas birth certificates and Social Security cards that belonged to her two other children as proof.

    After the Mexican children failed to answer authorities’ questions, Perez admitted to attempting to bring the Mexican children into the United States to the children’s mother in Fort Worth, knowing that they did not have legal authority to enter the country.

    She also admitted she expected to receive $5,000 per child after delivery.

    Perez was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

    Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose Homero Ramirez prosecuted the case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Activities of Secretary-General in Barbados, 19-20 February

    Source: United Nations 4

    The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, arrived in Bridgetown, Barbados, from New York, on Wednesday, 19 February, to attend the forty-eighth Regular Meeting of the Conference of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, also known as CARICOM.

    In the afternoon, he held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Mia Mottley, the host of the meeting.  They exchanged views on regional and global issues, particularly the situation in Haiti and climate change.  He also commended Barbados for spearheading efforts to advance reforms to the international financial architecture through the Bridgetown Initiative 3.0.

    In the evening, the Secretary-General spoke at the opening ceremony of the Conference.  He said that the exquisite beauty of the Caribbean is famed the world over, but that there is trouble in paradise.

    The Secretary-General noted that wave after wave of crisis is pounding the people of the Caribbean and their islands — with no time to catch their breath before the next disaster strikes.  Stressing that international solutions are essential to create a better today and a brighter tomorrow for the wonderful region and for the world, he said that he sees three key areas where, together, we must drive progress.

    First, the Secretary-General said, unity for peace and security, particularly to address the appalling situation in Haiti — where gangs are inflicting intolerable suffering on the people of Haiti.  Mr. Guterres added that he would soon report to the Security Council on the situation in Haiti, including proposals on the role the UN can play to support stability and security and address the root causes of the crisis.  He further highlighted unity on the climate crisis and sustainable development as areas where progress is needed.  (See Press Release SG/SM/22559.)

    Following the opening ceremony, the Secretary-General attended a cocktail reception and then a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Mottley.

    On Thursday morning, the Secretary-General participated in a closed session with CARICOM Heads of Government, where he exchanged views on pressing issues in the region, such as finance, climate and security, with a focus on Haiti.

    Soon after, he had a bilateral meeting Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness.  The Secretary-General expressed his appreciation for Jamaica’s active role as Co-Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Stimulus Leaders Group.  They also exchanged views on international developments and discussed the need to scale up support for the Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti, as well as climate issues and financing for development.

    Before leaving Barbados, the Secretary-General also had meetings with the Presidential Adviser of the Transitional Presidential Council of Haiti, Laurent Saint-Cyr, and with the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland.  He returned to New York on Thursday evening, 20 February.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Former Navy Sailor Pleads Guilty to Plotting to Attack Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    A former Navy sailor has pleaded guilty in federal court in Chicago to plotting to attack Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago, Illinois, purportedly on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

    Xuanyu Harry Pang, 38, of North Chicago, Illinois, pleaded guilty to conspiring to and attempting to willfully injure and destroy national defense material, national defense premises, and national defense utilities, with the intent to injure, interfere with, and obstruct the national defense of the United States. The guilty plea was entered on Nov. 5, 2024, in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and ordered unsealed today.

    According to court records filed in the case, in the summer of 2021, Pang communicated with an individual in Colombia about potentially assisting with a plan involving Iranian actors to conduct an attack against the United States to avenge the death of Qasem Soleimani, a general of the IRGC Quds Force who was killed by the U.S. military in 2020. The Quds Force is a branch of the IRGC that conducts unconventional warfare and intelligence activities outside of Iran.

    A covert FBI employee, posing as an affiliate of the Quds Force, subsequently communicated online with the individual in Colombia about conducting an attack. The individual in Colombia put the covert FBI employee in touch with Pang, who at the time was stationed and residing at Naval Station Great Lakes. The pair communicated online through an encrypted messaging application about possible targets for the attack, including Naval Station Great Lakes and other locations in the Chicago area. Pang and the individual in Colombia agreed to help the covert FBI employee and his purported associates with their operation to conduct the attack in the United States, court records state.

    On three occasions in the fall of 2022, Pang personally met with another individual working with the FBI who was posing as an associate of the covert FBI employee. The first meeting took place outside of the Ogilvie Transportation Center in downtown Chicago, and the two other meetings were held at a train station in Lake Bluff, Illinois. During the meetings in Lake Bluff, as the plot coalesced into an attack on the Naval Station, Pang displayed photos and videos on his phone of multiple locations inside the Naval Station. He also provided two U.S. military uniforms – for operatives to wear inside the base during the attack – and a cell phone that could be used as a test for a detonator.

    Pang is currently detained without bond and is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Sue Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual for the Northern District of Illinois, Assistant Director David J. Scott of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, and Special Agent in Charge Douglas S. DePodesta of the FBI Chicago Field Office made the announcement.

    The FBI Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Force – which is comprised of multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies – is investigating the case, with valuable assistance provided by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Bond, Vikas Didwania, and Brandon Stone for the Northern District of Illinois and Trial Attorneys John Cella and Charles Kovats of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office and Bureau of Land Management Secure Sentence for Damage to Historic Petroglyphs

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – A Santa Fe man was sentenced to six months of probation and ordered to pay $1,996.44 in restitution for vandalizing ancient petroglyphs at the La Cieneguilla Petroglyph Area near Santa Fe.  He was also required to perform 50 hours of community service for an organization working in public lands and cultural conservation, and to provide 48 hours of service with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management as in-kind restitution to the United States.

    According to court documents, on October 19, 2022, Jesse Foster drove to the La Cieneguilla Petroglyph Area near Santa Fe, New Mexico, and spray-painted several areas of the rocks near and around the petroglyphs. These drawings date back as early as 13th century through the 17th century and have significant cultural meaning to the Cochiti and Santo Domingo Pueblos.

    Foster pled guilty to damage or defacement of archeological resources on September 27, 2024, and was sentenced to a 6-month probation term and ordered to pay $1,996.44 in restitution. As part of his sentence, Foster must complete 98 hours of community service, with 48 hours specifically benefiting the Bureau of Land Management and the other 50 hours benefitting the community specifically in the realm of public lands and cultural conservation.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office and Bureau of Land Management notes that the plea agreement took into consideration that Foster did not participate in or have any connection to a previous vandalism incident at the same site. Rather, Foster’s graffiti was an attempt to balance out that graffiti with his own less-offensive spray-painted vandalism.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Josiah Andrews, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Land Management, made the announcement today.

    The Bureau of Land Management, Office of Law Enforcement and Security, Region 5, investigated this case with assistance from the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tavo Hall prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Navy Sailor Pleads Guilty to Plotting to Attack Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    A former Navy sailor has pleaded guilty in federal court in Chicago to plotting to attack Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago, Illinois, purportedly on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

    Xuanyu Harry Pang, 38, of North Chicago, Illinois, pleaded guilty to conspiring to and attempting to willfully injure and destroy national defense material, national defense premises, and national defense utilities, with the intent to injure, interfere with, and obstruct the national defense of the United States. The guilty plea was entered on Nov. 5, 2024, in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and ordered unsealed today.

    According to court records filed in the case, in the summer of 2021, Pang communicated with an individual in Colombia about potentially assisting with a plan involving Iranian actors to conduct an attack against the United States to avenge the death of Qasem Soleimani, a general of the IRGC Quds Force who was killed by the U.S. military in 2020. The Quds Force is a branch of the IRGC that conducts unconventional warfare and intelligence activities outside of Iran.

    A covert FBI employee, posing as an affiliate of the Quds Force, subsequently communicated online with the individual in Colombia about conducting an attack. The individual in Colombia put the covert FBI employee in touch with Pang, who at the time was stationed and residing at Naval Station Great Lakes. The pair communicated online through an encrypted messaging application about possible targets for the attack, including Naval Station Great Lakes and other locations in the Chicago area. Pang and the individual in Colombia agreed to help the covert FBI employee and his purported associates with their operation to conduct the attack in the United States, court records state.

    On three occasions in the fall of 2022, Pang personally met with another individual working with the FBI who was posing as an associate of the covert FBI employee. The first meeting took place outside of the Ogilvie Transportation Center in downtown Chicago, and the two other meetings were held at a train station in Lake Bluff, Illinois. During the meetings in Lake Bluff, as the plot coalesced into an attack on the Naval Station, Pang displayed photos and videos on his phone of multiple locations inside the Naval Station. He also provided two U.S. military uniforms – for operatives to wear inside the base during the attack – and a cell phone that could be used as a test for a detonator.

    Pang is currently detained without bond and is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Sue Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual for the Northern District of Illinois, Assistant Director David J. Scott of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, and Special Agent in Charge Douglas S. DePodesta of the FBI Chicago Field Office made the announcement.

    The FBI Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Force – which is comprised of multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies – is investigating the case, with valuable assistance provided by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Bond, Vikas Didwania, and Brandon Stone for the Northern District of Illinois and Trial Attorneys John Cella and Charles Kovats of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Colombia wants to ban Pablo Escobar and other narco-themed merchandise – here’s why

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Ross Bennett-Cook, PhD Researcher, Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University

    When you think of Colombia, what images come to mind? For some, it may be coffee or perhaps the country’s diverse landscapes and cultures. For many others, it will be cartels, crime and cocaine.

    Colombia’s history as a drug trafficking hub plays a major role in attracting visitors to the country – a form of travel known as “dark tourism”. But the Colombian government and much of the population are desperate to shake off this sordid association.

    A new bill going through Colombia’s congress is proposing to ban the sale of souvenirs that depict notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar and other convicted criminals. The proposed law would mean fines for those who violate the rules, and a temporary suspension of businesses.

    Colombia became a major producer of cocaine in the 1970s, fuelled by demand in North America. Led by Escobar, the Medellín cartel dominated this trade, controlling roughly 80% of the cocaine supply to the US.

    In 1988, Time magazine famously dubbed Medellín the “most dangerous city” in the world. Car bombings, assassinations, kidnap and torture became part of everyday life. In a failed attempt to assassinate presidential hopeful César Gaviria in 1989, Escobar was even behind the bombing of a commercial flight that killed all 107 passengers and crew onboard.

    By 1991, the homicide rate in Medellín was a shocking 381 for every 100,000 inhabitants, with 7,500 people murdered in the city that year alone. In comparison, there were a total of 107 homicides in London in 2024.

    Nowadays, Medellín is much more peaceful. Since Escobar’s death in 1993, its homicide rate has dropped by 97% due to increased security crackdowns and peace deals between the narco gangs.

    Colombia now has a booming tourism industry, breaking records for its highest number of visitors in 2024. Medellín has even become a trendy location for digital nomads due to its exciting nightlife, stunning landscape and excellent weather.

    A tourist poses for a picture in the Comuna 13 neighbourhood of Medellín.
    Anamaria Mejia / Shutterstock

    Yet, when I visited Colombia in 2024, it was hard not to become infatuated by Escobar. His face is everywhere: on key rings, magnets, mugs and t-shirts, while you often see lookalikes posing for photographs. Even airports – the last place I would expect to be associated with drugs – stock Escobar souvenirs.

    A quick look on TripAdvisor’s “best things to do in Medellín” shows Museum Pablo Escobar at number one. Almost every tour in the city is related to the notorious cartel leader, including visits to the neighbourhoods he controlled (and often terrorised), his hideout spots, and the location of his final shootout with the police.

    Narco tourism’s boom can be largely attributed to the huge popularity of Narcos, a critically acclaimed series on Netflix that dramatised the life of Escobar. But shows such as Narcos have been criticised by some experts for glorifying the cartel lifestyle – focusing on money, glamour and sex rather than the harsh realities of life within Colombia’s drug trade.

    According to dark tourism researcher Diego Felipe Caicedo, popular media related to narco culture often portrays cartel members as heroes managing to defeat the class structure established by the elite capitalist system.

    This has resulted in a dissonant heritage of people like Escobar. To some, he is a Robin Hood-type figure who built houses and gave to the poor. To others, he is an evil figure and vicious murderer. And while Escobar did use some of his fortune to improve deprived neighbourhoods, many saw this as a tactic to buy loyalty and mask his criminal activity.

    The romanticism of Escobar angers many in Colombia who hate the idea of a murderous drug tycoon being the most recognised image of the country. In a city where almost every family knows of someone affected by the violent consequences of the drug trade, victims in Medellín now live with reminders plastered across storefronts, vendor stalls and tourist’s t-shirts.

    Yet those who rely on this souvenir trade are furious at the possibility of restrictions. In many developing tourist destinations, selling souvenirs is an accessible way of benefiting from tourism and can act as a gateway out of poverty.

    The souvenir trade is one of supply and demand – vendors are only selling Escobar souvenirs because they are the most popular. So, perhaps the focus should be on changing the attitudes and interests of tourists, rather than penalising the vendors.

    Controlling the narrative

    Camille Beauvais, a researcher of Colombian history, suggests it is up to local authorities to take control of the narrative through commemoration and education. This could follow the example of the anti-mafia museum in Palermo, Italy, which is designed to recognise the courage of the city and its people in standing up to criminal activity.

    Attempts like this could steer tourists away from sensationalist tours to a more nuanced and historically accurate representation of this turbulent time. But the Colombian authorities have, up to now, tried to ignore this important period in the country’s history.

    It was only in 2022 that the Colombia Truth Commission released an official report on the root causes of violence in Colombia, including governmental and international failures in tackling narcotraffickers.



    Read more:
    Dark tourism: why atrocity tourism is neither new nor weird

    However, some groups in Colombia have already tried to develop an alternate narrative. In 2019, the NGO Colombia ConMemoria (Colombia Remembers) created an online “Narcostore”, a fake souvenir website full of Escobar-themed products.

    When visitors clicked to purchase the item, they were redirected to video testimonies of those affected by the drugs trade, many of whom had lost friends or relatives to Escobar’s terror. The site reached 180 million visitors worldwide.

    Narco tourism does not seem to be disappearing. Fascination with true crime, drugs and cartels is as popular as ever. But perhaps these tourists should take a moment to consider how they might feel, if someone who had murdered their loved ones became a souvenir fridge magnet for people to remember their country by.

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

    – ref. Colombia wants to ban Pablo Escobar and other narco-themed merchandise – here’s why – https://theconversation.com/colombia-wants-to-ban-pablo-escobar-and-other-narco-themed-merchandise-heres-why-249916

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Crises beneath the Headlines | World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025

    Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

    With international attention focused on two conflicts, in Gaza and Ukraine, other crises of diverse nature, from Sudan to Myanmar and DRC to Venezuela, are creating, instability, disruptions and challenges that the international system is struggling to cope with. In 2025, over 300 million people around the world will need humanitarian assistance and protection.

    This session draws attention to unreported crises and the scale of the response required.

    Speakers: Catherine Russell, Comfort Ero, Ishaan Tharoor, Ricardo Hausmann

    The 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum will provide a crucial space to focus on the fundamental principles driving trust, including transparency, consistency and accountability.

    This Annual Meeting will welcome over 100 governments, all major international organizations, 1000 Forum’s Partners, as well as civil society leaders, experts, youth representatives, social entrepreneurs, and news outlets.

    The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.

    World Economic Forum Website ► http://www.weforum.org/
    Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/worldeconomicforum/
    YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/wef
    Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/worldeconomicforum/
    X ► https://twitter.com/wef
    LinkedIn ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-economic-forum
    TikTok ► https://www.tiktok.com/@worldeconomicforum
    Flipboard ► https://flipboard.com/@WEF

    #Davos2025 #WorldEconomicForum #wef25

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9r2fnzEUxM

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI: Viridien Announces its Q4 & Full Year 2024 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Paris (France), February 27th, 2025, 17h45 CET

    2024: A YEAR OF OVERACHIEVEMENTS

    2025: ON TRACK TO DELIVER c.$100 MILLION NET CASH FLOW

      Q4 FY1
    Revenue2 $339M $ 1,117M (-1%)
    Adjusted EBITDA3 $157M $455M (+14%)
    Net Cash-Flow $27M $56M (+73%)

    Sophie Zurquiyah, Chief Executive Officer of Viridien, said:

    “In 2024, we met our revenue and exceeded our profitability and cash generation targets driven by strong commercial successes at Geoscience, a dynamic performance at Earth Data in both our key basins and prospective regions and the continued focus on operational efficiency at Sensing & Monitoring.

    In 2025, Viridien will continue strengthening its technology leadership in its core markets while further developing its New Businesses. We anticipate continued improvements thanks to Geoscience’s record high backlog, Earth Data’s solid pipeline of projects and the termination of contractual fees for vessel commitments, and Sensing & Monitoring’s progress towards their restructuring plan.

    In this context, we confirm with confidence our target of c.$100 million of net cash generation and balance sheet deleveraging.”

    2024 Highlights2

    • Group2
      • IFRS figures: Revenue, EBITDA and Net Income of respectively $1,211 million, $516 million, $51 million. $427 million, $216 million, $29 million in Q4.
      • Overall stable group revenue at $1,117 million.
      • Strong growth at Digital, Data & Environment (DDE) with $787 million revenue (+17%). Consistent momentum for Geoscience (GEO) driven by our preferred advanced technology and numerous commercial successes at Earth Data (EDA).
        • Sensing & Monitoring (SMO) revenue was $330 million, with no mega crews during the year.
        • 33% revenue growth for New Businesses, exceeding our 30% target.
      • Group adjusted EBITDA3 of $455 million. DDE Adjusted EBITDA of $458 million, up 25% driven by the strong performance of both GEO and EDA. SMO adjusted EBITDA of $35 million (vs $56 million) already reflecting the positive impact of the restructuring effort.
      • Net Cash flow of $56 million, including $(75) million contractual fees from vessel commitments, exceeding our initial Net Cash flow target of “reaching a similar level as 2023” (ie. $32 million).
      • Key milestones of our financial roadmap delivered during the year: improved credit rating in Q2, revolving credit facility extended in Q3 and implementation and increase of the bond buyback program in Q3 and Q4.
      • Net debt at $921 million ($974 million in December 2023) and liquidity at $392 million (including $90 million undrawn RCF).  
    • Digital, Data and Energy Transition (DDE)
      • Revenue at $787 million was up 17% with strong growth at GEO (+20%) and EDA (+14%). Q4 revenue, $238 million (+19%).
      • Adjusted EBITDA at $458 million was up 25%. Profitability impacted by $(54) million in penalty fees from vessel commitments vs $(44) million in 2023. Q4 EBITDA $150 million (+28%).         $(12) million penalty vs $(13) million in Q4 2023.
        • Geoscience:
          • Revenue at $404 million (+20%). $107 million in Q4 (+10%).
          • GEO performance continues to be driven by technology differentiation. Order intakes, +89% in 2024, +155% in Q4, benefited from best-in-class imaging technology which the industry requires to solve subsurface challenges, increased activity in the Middle East and the renewal of long-term contracts for Dedicated HPC Processing Centers (DPCs).
    • New Businesses in GEO confirm the positive market dynamics in Carbon Sequestration with several projects in Norway, US Gulf and in Asia Pacific, as well as in Minerals & Mining with the award of programs in Australia and Oman. Alliance signed with Baker Hughes to offer high-quality and fully integrated Carbon Capture and Sequestration solutions to clients.
    • Earth Data:
      • Revenue at $383 million (+14%). $131 million in Q4 (+27%).
      • Prefunding revenue grew to $205 million (+6%). 81% of Capex. After-Sales grew to $178 million (+25%) in a flat market.
      • $252 million Capex, including the large Laconia Ocean Bottom Nodes (OBN) project in the US Gulf, the North Viking Graben streamer survey in Norway, and numerous global reprocessing projects.
      • New Businesses in EDA completed the mining project in Southeast Arizona and delivered several Carbon Sequestration projects in the North Sea, US Gulf and Asia.
    • Sensing and Monitoring (SMO)
      • Revenue at $330 million was down 27%, following delivery of “mega crew” systems in 2023.        $100 million in Q4 (-16%).
      • Adjusted EBITDA at $35 million was down 37%. $18 million in Q4 (+104%).
      • Q4 EBITDA performance shows that the restructuring plan is on track to achieve expected cost reductions and operational flexibility.
      • New Businesses in SMO represented 17% of revenue and experienced strong momentum with deliveries for the geothermal market and infrastructure monitoring.
    • Market trends
      • E&P Capex environment expected to be stable year-on-year in 2025, as the longer-term energy industry upcycle extends.
      • Evolving Industry Trends:
        • Offshore exploration gaining momentum in key regions like the US Gulf, Brazil, Norway as well as frontiers areas such as the Equatorial Margin and the East Mediterranean Sea.
        • Middle East growth expected with investments in advanced imaging and digital solutions.
        • Demand expected to be strong for High-end geophysical technologies, such as OBN and Full Waveform Inversion (FWI), that mitigate risks and optimize field development.
      • New Businesses:
        • Continued market growth potential in CSS with new imaging contracts and project pipeline driven by most Oil & Gas operators investing to reduce carbon emissions and address societal pressures.
        • Increased interest from the Minerals & Mining sector for subsurface characterization.
        • Infrastructure Monitoring market consistently increasing by double digits annually across various sectors.
        • Digital solutions / HPC markets expanding rapidly fueled mainly by the explosion of AI applications.
    • New reporting KPI for EDA
      • Starting in Q1 2025, we will change the reporting KPIs for EDA:
        • To align with market practice, Revenue split between Prefunding and After-sales will no longer be reported.
    • Cash EBITDA (i.e. EBITDA – Capex) will be reported to provide more clarity on our financial performance. ($97 million and $75 million in 2023 and 2024 respectively, excluding penalty fees from vessel commitments).
    • Full year 2025 financial outlook
      • In 2025, based on a stable E&P Capex environment, performance is expected to be driven by:
        • Geoscience: growth backed by industry leading technology and strong backlog.
    • Earth Data: stronger Cash EBITDA KPI, with end of vessel commitment penalty fees.
      • Sensing & Monitoring: further savings expected from the restructuring plan.
      • New Businesses: growth and first year positive contribution to the group’s profitability.
    • Financial objective: net cash flow of c.$100m.
    • Viridien will continue to focus on cash flow generation and deleveraging. Thanks to 2024 financial performance and the favorable debt market, our bond refinancing could be realized in 2025, before our previous Q1 2026 indication.
    • Full Year 2024 Conference call
      • The press release and the presentation will be available on our website www.viridiengroup.com at 5:45 pm (CET).
      • An English language analysts conference call is scheduled today at 6.00 pm (CET).
      • Participants should register for the call here to receive a dial-in number and code, or participate via the live webcast from here.
      • A replay of the conference call will be made available the day after for a period of 12 months in audio format on the Company’s website.

    The Board of Directors met on February 27, 2025 and approved the consolidated financial statements ending December 31, 2024. The Statutory Auditors are in the process of issuing a report with an unqualified opinion.

    About Viridien:

    Viridien (www.viridiengroup.com) is an advanced technology, digital and Earth data company that pushes the boundaries of science for a more prosperous and sustainable future. With our ingenuity, drive and deep curiosity we discover new insights, innovations, and solutions that efficiently and responsibly resolve complex natural resource, digital, energy transition and infrastructure challenges. Viridien employs around 3,400 people worldwide and is listed as VIRI on the Euronext Paris SA (ISIN ISIN: FR001400PVN6).

    Contact:

     VP Corporate Finance

    Jean-Baptiste Roussille
    jean-baptiste.roussille@viridiengroup.com

    Q4 & FY 2024- Financial Results

    Key Segment P&L figures
    (In million $)    		 2023
    Q4    		 2024
    Q4    		 Var.
    %    		 2023
    FY    		 2024
    FY    		 Var.
    %    		  
     
    Exchange rate euro/dollar 1,07 1,09 2% 1,08 1,09 1%  
    Segment revenue 320 339 6% 1 125 1 117 (1%)  
    DDE 201 238 19% 672 787 17%  
    Geoscience 98 107 10% 335 404 20%  
    Earth Data 103 131 27% 337 383 14%  
    Prefunding 62 49 (20%) 194 205 6%  
    After-Sales & other 41 82 99% 143 178 25%  
    SMO 119 100 (16%) 453 330 (27%)  
    Land 42 55 32% 176 157 (10%)  
    Marine 66 29 (56%) 230 117 (49%)  
    Beyond the core 11 16 45% 48 56 17%  
    Segment EBITDA 122 128 5% 400 422 5%  
    Adjusted * Segment EBITDA 121 157 30% 400 455 14%  
    DDE 117 150 28% 367 458 25%  
    SMO 9 18 – 56 35 (37%)  
    Corporate and other (5) (11) – (24) (38) (59%)  
    Segment operating income 15 33 – 138 113 (18%)  
    Adjusted* Segment Opinc 14 89 – 138 173 25%  
    DDE 21 89 – 140 206 47%  
    SMO (1) 11   24 4 (83%)  
    Corporate and other (6) (11) – (26) (38) (44%)  
    *Adjusted for non-recurring charges and gains.              
    Other KPI
    (In million $)    		 2023
    Q4    		 2024
    Q4    		 Var.
    %    		 2023
    FY    		 2024
    FY    		 Var.
    %    		  
     
    Geoscience Backlog 184 351 90% 184 351 90%  
    Total Capex (42) (81) (92)% (232) (285) (23)%  
    Industrial capex (8) (4) 51% (44) (17) 61%  
    R&D capex (4) (5) (5)% (17) (16) 7%  
    Earth Data (Cash) (29) (72) – (171) (252) (47)%  
    Earth Data Cash predunding rate 210% 68%   113% 81%    
    EDA Library net book value* 458 456 (0)% 458 456 (0)%  
    Liquidity 422 392   422 392    
    o.w. undrawn RCF 95 90   95 90    
    Gross debt* (1 301) (1 223)   (1 301) (1 223)    
    o.w. accrued interests (20) (18)   (19) (18)    
    o.w. lease liabilities (103) (125)   (103) (125)    
    Net debt* 974 921   974 921    
    Net debt*/Segment adjusted EBITDA        x2.4 x2.0    
    *Post IFRS15/16              
    Consolidated IFRS Income Statements
    (In million $)    		 2023
    Q4    		 2024
    Q4    		 Var.
    %    		 2023
    FY    		 2024
    FY    		 Var.
    %    		  
     
    Exchange rate euro/dollar 1,07 1,09   1,08 1,09    
    Revenue 265 427 61% 1 076 1 211 13%  
    EBITDA 68 216 – 351 516 47%  
    Operating Income (11) 49 – 119 143 21%  
    Equity from Investment (3) (1) 47% (2) (0) 77%  
    Net cost of financial debt (20) (24) (20%) (95) (97) (2%)  
       Other financial income (loss) (2) 5 – (4) 4 –  
       Income taxes 11 1 (94%) (14) (13) 3%  
    Net Income / Loss from continuing operations (25) 29 – 4 36 –  
    from discontinued operations 10 0 (100%) 12 15 20%  
    Net income / (loss) (15) 29 – 16 51 –  
    Shareholder’s net income / (loss) (15) 29 – 13 50 –  
    Basic Earnings per share in $ 0,00 0,00   1,81 6,97    
    Diluted Earnings per share in € 0 0,00   1,80 6,93    
    Cash Flow items
    (In million $)    		 2023
    Q4    		 2024
    Q4    		 Var.
    %    		 2023
    FY    		 2024
    FY    		 Var.
    %    		  
     
    Segment EBITDA 122 128 5% 400 422 5%  
    Income Tax Paid 9 (2) – 6 (12) –  
    Change in Working Capital & Provisions 21 30 42% 3 48 –  
    Other Cash Items 1 (0) – 1 (1) –  
    Cash provided by Operating Activity 153 155 1% 410 457 11%  
    Earth Data Capex (29) (72) – (171) (252) (47%)  
    Industrial Capex & Dev. Costs (13) (9) 32% (61) (33) 46%  
    Acquisitions and Proceeds of Assets 5 6 24% 3 7 –  
    Cash from Investing Activity (37) (75) – (229) (278) -22%  
    Paid Cost of Debt (44) (43) 2% (91) (86) 6%  
    Lease Repayement (19) (12) 36% (57) (56) 2%  
    Asset Financing 1 (0) – 22 (1) –  
    Cash from Financing Activity (63) (56) 11% (126) (142) -13%  
    Discontinued Operations Acquisitions (6) 3 – (23) 19 –  
    Net Cash Flow 48 27 -43% 32 56 73%  
    Financing cash flow (2) (49)   (6) (69)    
    Forex and other 7 (12)   3 (11)    
    Net increase/(decrease) in cash 52 (34)   29 (25)    

     CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – December 31st, 2024

    6.1 2023-2024 Viridien consolidated financial statements

    6.1.1 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

    In millions of US$ Notes December 31
    (1)        2024 2023
    Operating revenues 18, 19 1,211.3 1,075.5
    Other income from ordinary activities   0.1 0.3
    Total income from ordinary activities   1,211.4 1,075.8
    Cost of operations   (871.2) (817.4)
    Gross profit   340.2 258.4
    Research and development expenses – net 20 (17.8) (26.1)
    Marketing and selling expenses   (37.1) (36.1)
    General and administrative expenses   (82.9) (75.8)
    Other revenues (expenses) – net 21 (58.9) (1.4)
    Operating income 19 143.5 119.0
    Cost of financial debt – gross   (109.4) (103.3)
    Income from cash and cash equivalents   12.3 8.0
    Cost of financial debt – net 22 (97.2) (95.3)
    Other financial income (loss) 23 3.7 (3.8)
    Income (loss) before income taxes and share of income (loss) from companies accounted for under the equity method   50.1 19.9
    Income taxes 24 (13.4) (14.0)
    Net income (loss) before share of net income (loss) from companies accounted for under the equity method   36.6 5.9
    Net income (loss) from companies accounted for under the equity method 8 (0.5) (2.0)
    Net income (loss) from continuing operations   36.1 3.9
    Net income (loss) from discontinued operations 5 14.7 12.3
    Consolidated net income (loss)   50.8 16.2
    Attributable to:      
    Owners of Viridien S.A   49.8 12.9
    Non-controlling interests   1.0 3.3
    Weighted average number of shares outstanding (a) 29 7,150,958 7,131,286
    Weighted average number of shares outstanding adjusted for dilutive potential ordinary shares (a) 29 7,184,713 7,171,894
    Net income (loss) per share (in US$)      
    (1)        – Base (a)   6.97 1.81
    (2)        – Diluted (a)   6.93 1.80
    Net income (loss) from continuing operations per share (in US$)      
    (3)        – Base (a) $ 4.91 0.08
    (4)        – Diluted (a) $ 4.89 0.08
    Net income (loss) from discontinued operations per share (in US$)      
    (5)        – Base (a) $ 2.06 1.72
    (6)        – Diluted (a) $ 2.05 1.72

    (a) As a result of the July 31, 2024 reverse share split, the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per shares for 2023 has been adjusted retrospectively. Number of ordinary shares outstanding has been adjusted to reflect the proportionate change in the number of shares.

    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

    Consolidated statement of comprehensive income (loss)

    In millions of US$ December 31
    (2)        2024 (a) 2023 (a)
    Net income (loss) from consolidated statement of operations 50.8 16.2
    Other comprehensive income to be reclassified in profit (loss) in subsequent period:    
    Net gain (loss) on cash flow hedges 0.4 2.0
    Variation in translation adjustments (23.0) 14.2
    Net other comprehensive income to be reclassified in profit (loss) in subsequent period (1) (22.7) 16.2
    Other comprehensive income not to be classified in profit (loss) in subsequent period:    
    Net gain (loss) on actuarial changes on pension plan 3.6 (4.6)
    Net other comprehensive income not to be reclassified in profit (loss) in subsequent period (2) 3.6 (4.6)
    Total other comprehensive income (loss) for the period, net of taxes (1)+(2) (19.1) 11.6
    Total comprehensive income (loss) for the period 31.8 27.8
    Attributable to:    
    Owners of Viridien S.A 31.3 25.1
    Non-controlling interests 0.5 2.7
    (a) Including other comprehensive income related to discontinued operations which is not material.

    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

    6.1.2 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

    In millions of US$ Notes (3)        Dec 31, 2024 Dec 31, 2023
    ASSETS      
    Cash and cash equivalents 28 301.7 327.0
    Trade accounts and notes receivable, net 3, 18 339.9 310.9
    Inventories and work-in-progress, net 4 163.3 212.9
    Income tax assets 24 22.9 30.8
    Other current assets, net 4 74.0 92.1
    Assets held for sale, net 5 24.5 –
    Total current assets   926.2 973.7
    Deferred tax assets 24 43.6 29.9
    Other non-current assets, net 16 8.9 6.8
    Investments and other financial assets, net 7 25.7 22.7
    Investments in companies accounted for under the equity method 8 1.1 2.2
    Property plant & equipment, net 9 220.6 206.1
    Intangible assets, net 10 535.4 579.7
    Goodwill, net 11 1,082.8 1,095.5
    Total non-current assets   1,918.1 1,942.9
    TOTAL ASSETS   2,844.3 2,916.6
    LIABILITIES AND EQUITY      
    Financial debt – current portion 13 56.9 58.0
    Trade accounts and notes payable 3 120.9 86.4
    Accrued payroll costs   84.5 89.1
    Income taxes payable 24 20.4 12.5
    Advance billings to customers   19.2 24.0
    Provisions – current portion 16 19.7 8.7
    Other current financial liabilities 14 0.5 21.3
    Other current liabilities 12 182.5 250.3
    Liabilities associated with non-current assets held for sale 5 2.4 –
    Total current liabilities   507.0 550.3
    Deferred tax liabilities 24 18.4 24.3
    Provisions – non-current portion 16 28.8 30.1
    Financial debt – non-current portion 13 1,165.6 1,242.8
    Other non-current financial liabilities 14 – 0.5
    Other non-current liabilities 12 1.7 4.3
    Total non-current liabilities   1,214.5 1,302.0
    Common stock (a) 15 8.7 8.7
    Additional paid-in capital   118.7 118.7
    Retained earnings   1,036.5 980.4
    Other Reserves   55.2 27.3
    Treasury shares   (20.1) (20.1)
    Cumulative income and expense recognized directly in equity   (1.1) (1.4)
    Cumulative translation adjustments   (113.3) (90.8)
    Equity attributable to owners of Viridien S.A.   1,084.7 1,022.8
    Non-controlling interests   38.1 41.5
    Total Equity   1,122.8 1,064.3
    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY   2,844.3 2,916.6
    (a) Common stock: 11,215,501 shares authorized and 7,165,465 shares with a nominal value of €1.00 outstanding at December 31, 2024.

    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

    6.1.3 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

    In millions of US$ Notes December 31
    (4)        2024 2023
    OPERATING ACTIVITIES      
    Consolidated net income (loss) 1, 19 50.8 16.2
    Less: Net income (loss) from discontinued operations 5 (14.7) (12.3)
    Net income (loss) from continuing operations   36.1 3.9
    Depreciation, amortization and impairment 1, 19, 28 124.7 91.5
    Impairment and amortization of Earth Data surveys 1, 10, 28 261.4 153.1
    Amortization and depreciation of Earth Data surveys, capitalized 10 (16.6) (15.4)
    Variance on provisions   14.3 (2.6)
    Share-based compensation expenses   3.4 2.8
    Net (gain) loss on disposal of fixed and financial assets   (3.7) (1.7)
    Share of (income) loss in companies recognized under equity method   0.5 2.0
    Other non-cash items   (0.3) 5.2
    Net cash flow including net cost of financial debt and income tax   419.8 238.8
    Less: Cost of financial debt   97.2 95.3
    Less: Income tax expense (gain)   13.4 14.0
    Net cash flow excluding net cost of financial debt and income tax   530.4 348.1
    Income tax paid – Net (a)   (12.4) 5.5
    Net cash flow before changes in working capital   518.0 353.6
    Changes in working capital   (61.2) 54.7
    – Change in trade accounts and notes receivable   (128.4) 51.8
    – Change in inventories and work-in-progress   28.1 49.2
    – Change in other current assets   10.5 (9.9)
    – Change in trade accounts and notes payable   26.8 (5.4)
    – Change in other current liabilities   1.8 (31.0)
    Net cash flow from operating activities   456.7 408.3
    INVESTING ACTIVITIES      
    Total capital expenditures (tangible and intangible assets) net of variation of fixed assets suppliers and excluding Earth Data surveys) 9 (32.9) (60.9)
    Investments in Earth Data surveys 10 (252.1) (171.1)
    Proceeds from disposals of tangible and intangible assets 28 6.8 0.4
    Proceeds from divestment of activities and sale of financial assets 28 – 6.2
    Dividends received from investments in companies under the equity method   0.5 –
    Acquisition of investments, net of cash & cash equivalents acquired 28 – (1.9)
    Variation in other non-current financial assets 28 (8.2) (5.2)
    Net cash-flow used in investing activities   (286.0) (232.5)
    FINANCING ACTIVITIES      
    Repayment of long-term debt 13, 28 (59.4) (1.8)
    Total issuance of long-term debt 13, 28 0.1 23.9
    Lease repayments 13, 28 (55.7) (57.0)
    Financial expenses paid 13, 28 (85.6) (90.7)
    Net proceeds from capital increase:      
    – from shareholders:   – 0.1
    – from non-controlling interests of integrated companies   – –
    Dividends paid and share capital reimbursements:   – –
    – Equity attributable to owners of Viridien S.A.   – –
    – to non-controlling interests of integrated companies   (3.8) (0.9)
    Net cash-flow from (used in) financing activities   (204.4) (126.4)
    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash   (11.0) 2.6
    Net cash flows incurred by discontinued operations 5 19.3 (23.0)
    Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   (25.3) 29.0
    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year   327.0 298.0
    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   301.7 327.0
    (a) Includes a cash inflow of US$6 million in 2024 and US$32 million in 2023 for the research tax credit in France.

    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

    6.1.4 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

    In millions of US$, except for share data Number of shares issued (a) Share capital Additional paid-in capital Retained earnings Other reserves Treasury shares Income and expense recognized directly in equity Cumu-lative translation adjust-ment Viridien S.A. – Equity attributable to owners of Viridien S.A. Non-controlling interests Total equity
    Balance at January 1, 2023 7,123,573 8.7 118.6 967.9 50.0 (20.1) (3.4) (102.4) 1,019.3 39.5 1,058.8
    Net gain (loss) on actuarial changes on pension plan (1)       (4.6)         (4.6)   (4.6)
    Net gain (loss) on cash flow hedges (2)             2.0   2.0   2.0
    Net gain (loss) on translation adjustments (3)               14.8 14.8 (0.6) 14.2
    Other comprehensive income (1)+(2)+(3)   – – (4.6) – – 2.0 14.8 12.2 (0.6) 11.6
    Net income (loss) (4)       12.9         12.9 3.3 16.2
    Comprehensive income (1)+(2)+(3)+(4)   – – 8.3 – – 2.0 14.8 25.1 2.7 27.8
    Exercise of warrants 238   0.1           0.1   0.1
    Dividends                 – (1.0) (1.0)
    Cost of share based payment 12,951     2.6         2.6   2.6
    Transfer to retained earnings of the parent company                 –   –
    Variation in translation adjustments generated by the parent company         (22.7)       (22.7)   (22.7)
    Changes in consolidation scope and other       1.6       (3.2) (1.6) 0.3 (1.3)
    Balance at December 31, 2023 7,136,763 8.7 118.7 980.4 27.3 (20.1) (1.4) (90.8) 1,022.8 41.5 1,064.3

    (a) Pro forma following Reverse Share Split (see note 2 – Significant events, acquisitions and divestitures).

    In millions of US$, except for share data Number of shares issued (b) Share capital Additional paid-in capital Retained earnings Other reserves Treasury shares Income and expense recognized directly in equity Cumu-lative translation adjust-ment Viridien S.A. – Equity attributable to owners of Viridien S.A. Non-controlling interests Total equity
    Balance at January 1, 2024 7,136,763 8.7 118.7 980.4 27.3 (20.1) (1.4) (90.8) 1,022.8 41.5 1,064.3
    Net gain (loss) on actuarial changes on pension plan (1)       3.6         3.6   3.6
    Net gain (loss) on cash flow hedges (2)             0.4   0.4   0.4
    Net gain (loss) on translation adjustments (3)               (22.5) (22.5) (0.6) (23.0)
    Other comprehensive income (1)+(2)+(3)   – – 3.6 – – 0.4 (22.5) (18.5) (0.6) (19.1)
    Net income (loss) (4)       49.8         49.8 1.0 50.8
    Comprehensive income (1)+(2)+(3)+(4)   – – 53.4 – – 0.4 (22.5) 31.3 0.5 31.8
    Exercise of warrants                      
    Dividends                 – (3.8) (3.8)
    Cost of share based payment 24,703     2.7         2.7   2.7
    Transfer to retained earnings of the parent company                 –   –
    Variation in translation adjustments generated by the parent company         28.0       28.0   28.0
    Changes in consolidation scope and other                      
    Balance at December 31, 2024 7,161,465 8.7 118.7 1,036.5 55.2 (20.1) (1.1) (113.3) 1,084.7 38.1 1,122.8

    (b) Reverse Share Split: Pursuant to a delegation from the Combined General Meeting of shareholders of May 15, 2024, and a sub-delegation from the Board of Directors held on the same day, a reversed share split has been implemented, on July 31, 2024, on the basis of 1 new share of €1.00 nominal value for 100 old shares of €0.01 nominal value.

    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

    1All variations refer to the same period last year
    2Unless otherwise stated, all figures and comments are referring to “Segment” (i.e. pre-IFRS 15), as defined in the 2023 and 2024 Universal Registration Documents’ glossaries, under section 8.7
    3Adjusted for non-recurring items

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: N.M. Delegation Reintroduce Slate of Tribal Water Rights Settlements Legislation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), and Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) are reintroducing a slate of Tribal water rights settlement bills they are pushing to pass in this Congress.
    The full slate of Tribal water rights settlements legislation includes:
    The Rio San José and Rio Jemez Water Rights Settlements Act;
    The Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act;
    The Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act; and
    The Navajo Nation Rio San José Water Rights Settlement Act.
    Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project Amendments;
    The Technical Corrections to the Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act, Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act, and Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act;
    “I’m proud to introduce these bills to finally unlock critical water infrastructure funding from these water rights settlements and ensure Tribes have the resources to use the water they own,” said Heinrich. “These settlements are supported by all parties involved, including Tribal and non-Tribal communities. Congress should pass these urgently needed bills to help communities manage their precious and limited water resources.”
    “Water rights are part of the federal trust responsibility for our Tribal communities,” said Luján, a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. “I’m proud to reintroduce legislation to allow our Tribal communities to promote water security and complete much-needed water infrastructure projects. I’m especially proud to reintroduce my legislation to amend the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, ensuring it has the resources and time needed to deliver clean drinking water to communities in northwestern New Mexico. These pieces of legislation will help fulfill our trust responsibility and promote water security for Tribes and Pueblos, as well as non-Tribal users, in New Mexico.”
    “This legislation upholds our trust responsibility to Tribes and helps bring certainty to disputes about water across the Southwest. The settlements included in these bills secure clean, reliable water for Navajo Nation, Jicarilla Apache Nation, 11 pueblos, and the rural communities that are their neighbors across New Mexico,” said Leger Fernández. “It is with great expectation that I reintroduce this legislation which reflects decades of negotiation and collaboration. We must pass these bills so the scarce water resources our communities need to thrive for generations to come are available to all.”
    “In New Mexico, we know water is life,” said Stansbury. “That’s why these Tribal Water Settlement bills are so important. These pieces of legislation will give water rights back to our Tribes and Pueblos, ensuring the federal government upholds our Trust and Treaty Responsibilities. Indigenous people have been stewards of the land and water since time immemorial, and now is the time for them to lead these efforts.”
    “I will always stand with our Tribal communities in Congress,” said Vasquez. “These water rights settlements are a crucial step in fulfilling our delegation’s commitment to ensuring every New Mexican has access to safe, reliable water. By providing our Tribes and Pueblos with the resources they need, we are investing in vital water infrastructure that will serve generations to come.”
    The Rio San José and Rio Jemez Water Rights Settlements Act is led by Heinrich and Leger Fernández. Luján, Stansbury, and Vasquez are original cosponsors. The bill would implement two fund-based water settlements: one between the Pueblos of Jemez and Zia, the United States, the State of New Mexico, and non-Tribal parties; and another between the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna, the United States, the State of New Mexico, and non-Tribal parties. The settlements are strongly supported by all parties involved.
    Heinrich and Leger Fernández previously introduced this legislation in March 2023. The bill received a hearing and was reported out of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in December 2023. The House version of this bill received a legislative hearing in the House Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee in July 2024.
    Read the full bill text here.
    The Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act is also led by Heinrich and Leger Fernández. Luján and Stansbury are original cosponsors. The bill establishes a trust fund to implement the negotiated settlement between the United States, the State of New Mexico, the City of Española, the Asociación de Acéquias Norteñas de Rio Arriba, El Rito Ditch Asociación, La Asociación de las Acéquias del Rio Tusas, Vallecitos y Ojo Caliente, the Rio de Chama Acéquia Association, and Ohkay Owingeh to settle the Pueblo’s water claims in the Rio Chama Basin. The funding will be used for Ohkay Owingeh’s development of water resources to ensure the Pueblo has appropriate water infrastructure to use the water that they have claim to in the basin.
    Heinrich and Leger Fernández initially introduced the bill in June 2024. The bill then received a key hearing before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in July 2024.
    Read the full bill text here.
    The Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act is led by Heinrich and Vasquez. Luján, Stansbury, and Leger Fernández are original cosponsors. The bill authorizes $685 million to support a trust for sustainable water management and infrastructure development that upholds the federal government’s trust responsibility while protecting the sacred Zuni Salt Lake. The bill ratifies the settlement between the federal government, State of New Mexico and Zuni Tribe that affirms their water rights for irrigation, livestock, storage, and domestic and other uses.
    Heinrich and Vasquez initially introduced the bill in July 2024. The bill received a key hearing before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in September 2024.
    Read the full bill text here.
    The Navajo Nation Rio San José Water Rights Settlement Act is led by Heinrich and Leger Fernández. Luján, Stansbury, and Vasquez are original cosponsors. This bill would approve the water rights settlement for the Navajo Nation as well as participating non-Tribal parties in the Rio San José watershed.
    Heinrich and Leger Fernández initially introduced this bill in September 2024. The bill then received a key hearing before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee that same month.
    Read the full bill text here.
    The Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project Amendments is led by Luján and Leger Fernández. Heinrich and Stansbury are original cosponsors. The bill amends the Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project to ensure it has the resources and time needed to reach completion to deliver drinking water to northwestern New Mexico communities.
    The Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project was first authorized as part of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, which settled the Navajo Nation’s water rights in the San Juan Basin of New Mexico and funded the design and construction of the waterline to reach an estimated 250,000 people by the year 2040. Upon completion, the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project will provide a long-term, sustainable water supply from the San Juan River to roughly 43 Chapters on the eastern Navajo Nation, the southwestern portion of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, and the City of Gallup, which currently rely on a rapidly depleting groundwater supply of poor quality.
    Luján, Leger Fernández, and Heinrich initially introduced the bill in June 2023. The bill was passed out of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in November 2023.
    Read the full bill text here.
    The Technical Corrections to the Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act, Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act, and Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act is led by Luján and Leger Fernández. Heinrich and Stansbury are original cosponsors. This bill authorizes the appropriation of $6.3 million for the Navajo Nation Water Resources Development Fund; $7.8 million for the Taos Pueblo Water Development Fund; and $4.3 million for the Aamodt Settlement Pueblos’ Fund, which covers Nambé, Pojoaque, San Ildefonso, and Tesuque Pueblos. It will support water resources development projects for the Tribes.
    Luján and Leger Fernández initially introduced this bill in December 2023.
    Read the full bill text here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Leger Fernández, Heinrich, Curtis Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Fund and Complete the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and John Curtis (R-Utah) introduced the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project Amendments Act of 2025. The bipartisan legislation amends the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project to ensure it has the resources and time needed to reach completion to deliver drinking water to northwestern New Mexico communities. The House companion legislation was introduced by U.S. Representative Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) and is co-sponsored by U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.).

    The Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project was first authorized as part of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, which settled the Navajo Nation’s water rights in the San Juan Basin of New Mexico and funded the design and construction of the waterline to reach an estimated 250,000 people by the year 2040. Upon completion, the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project will provide a long-term, sustainable water supply from the San Juan River to roughly 43 Chapters on the eastern Navajo Nation, the southwestern portion of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, and the City of Gallup, which currently rely on a rapidly depleting groundwater supply of poor quality. Full project completion is planned for 2029. When complete, it will include approximately 300 miles of pipeline, two water treatment plants, 19 pumping plants and multiple water storage tanks.

    “Ensuring that the Navajo Nation, City of Gallup, and Jicarilla Apache Nation have access to safe, clean, and reliable drinking water is vital for the health and well-being of rural and Tribal communities,” said Senator Luján, a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. “The Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project will help provide a reliable, sustainable surface water supply to improve the public health and economic opportunities for the region. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan legislation to move this critical project forward and reduce the financial burden on Tribal and local governments. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this much-needed legislation to help meet the water needs in the San Juan Basin for years to come.”

    “Since I was elected to Congress, I have prioritized funding for the Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project so we can provide clean, reliable, and affordable water to the Navajo people and surrounding communities in New Mexico. We secured $615 million in funding to move the project forward,” said Congresswoman Leger Fernández. “The Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project Amendments Act builds upon this work.  We won’t stop until this project is completed because in New Mexico, we know that water sustains us. Sabemos que Agua Es Vida.”

    “Communities in northwest New Mexico, the Navajo Nation, and the Jicarilla Apache Nation deserve water security and clean drinking water. Our legislation achieves this by funding the completion of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project to deliver clean, reliable water to 43 Tribal communities and the City of Gallup. I call on the Senate to quickly take up this legislation and ensure the project can be completed,” said Senator Heinrich.

    “Water is the lifeblood of the West, and Utahns know that securing a reliable water supply is essential for our communities, our economy, and our way of life,” said Senator Curtis. “I’m proud to join my colleagues on this bipartisan legislation to help ensure the Navajo Nation in Utah have the water they need to thrive.”

    The amending legislation makes several important changes:

    • Increases the project funding authorization to match updated construction costs;
    • Extends the project timeline beyond 2025 to 2029 to provide additional time for completion;
    • Establishes trust funds for operations and maintenance costs for the Navajo Nation and the Jicarilla Apache Nation once construction is complete; and
    • Allows the project to expand its service area to reach Navajo communities without running water.

    The Navajo Nation, Jicarilla Apache Nation, State of New Mexico, and the City of Gallup support the legislation.

    Senators Luján and Heinrich and Congresswoman Leger Fernández have long supported efforts to fund and complete the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project.

    Senator Luján and Congresswoman Leger Fernández secured $137 million for the project through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law toward the total authorized project cost. In August 2024, Senator Luján and the N.M. Delegation welcomed a $267 million Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project contract to design and build the San Juan Lateral Water Treatment Plant in northwest New Mexico. The plant is the largest and most important feature of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project.

    In January 2025, Senators Luján and Heinrich, and Congresswoman Leger Fernández announced $120 million for Fiscal Year 2025 for the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project using funding from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Reclamation Water Settlements Fund. The original version of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project Amendments Act was passed out of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in November 2023. However, new legislation is required to authorize additional time and resources to complete the project and for its long-term, sustainable operations and maintenance.

    Additionally, the N.M. Delegation recently reintroduced a slate of Tribal water rights settlement bills they are pushing to pass in this Congress.

    For more information about the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: North Carolina Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

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

    HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A North Carolina man was sentenced for attempted enticement of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples.

    U.S. District Court Judge Anna M. Manasco sentenced Jonathan Allen Norris, 45, of Carolina Beach, North Carolina, to 120 months in prison, followed by a life term of supervised release. In October 2024, Norris pleaded guilty to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. This conviction will require Norris to register as a sex offender in accordance with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

    According to the plea agreement, in December 2022, an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a 15-year-old girl responded to an ad posted by Norris on a social media application.  On January 6, 2023, Norris arrived in Birmingham from New Mexico to engage in a sexual act with a minor.

    If you suspect or become aware of possible sexual exploitation of a child, please contact law enforcement. To alert the FBI Birmingham Office, call 205-326-6166. Reports can also be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org.

    The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

    The FBI investigated the case along with the Homewood Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer prosecuted the case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Hegseth Visits Guantanamo Bay, Engages With Troops

    Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

    Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth traveled to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, yesterday, where he took time to speak to service members who are currently supporting the illegal alien holding operations being led by the Department of Homeland Security. 

    This wasn’t Hegseth’s first visit to Cuba, as then-Army 2nd Lt. Hegseth was deployed to Guantanamo Bay from 2004 to 2005 with the New Jersey National Guard. 

    “I was here 20 years ago … I’ve been where you are, for a year, [and] I relate to the dynamics — the push and pull — and the sway of an operation; I get it,” Hegseth told the service members. 

    “The message that I have from [President Donald J. Trump] … to you is, we have your back. We’re going to back you up on what you have to do on behalf of the country,” Hegseth said.  

    He added that — in addition to hot meals, the opportunity to exercise and the availability of hot showers — what he valued most when he was stationed there 20 years earlier was the support from his chain of command.  

    Stating that the president was elected with “a mandate to get 100% operational control of our southern border,” Hegseth said the holding operations at Guantanamo Bay play a significant role in that process. 

    “Part of that [process] is mass deportations of folks — wherever they came from — who came here illegally, and Guantanamo Bay is a big part of that,” he said.  

    In explaining the vast breadth of the U.S. border enforcement mission, Hegseth told the service members that the character of the overall mission starts with them. 

    “The way you operate and the way you execute sets the tone for how the entire U.S. government and the American people are represented, so thank you on behalf of a grateful nation,” he said. 

    Hegseth also addressed the negative sentiment surrounding the Guantanamo Bay holding mission. 

    “We know what’s real, we know you’re professionals, we know how you operate, and we’re going to have your back in the execution of this mission across the spectrum,” he added. 

    Hegseth told the troops that their efforts were recognized throughout the chain of command. 

    “When you send the data and the stats up, and you wonder where [they go], it lands on my desk every day. I see and understand and know what you are doing here,” Hegseth said. 

    “That’s how important it is to the president and to [DOD, DHS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection] as we ramp up and execute this mission,” he added. 

    Hegseth also said that the work being done at Guantanamo Bay is central to the current administration’s overall message concerning the border. 

    “From our view, [Guantanamo Bay holding operations are] central to what we’re doing and [to] the message we’re sending to the world — which is that our border is closed,” he said, adding that the current administration “means business,” and that the service members at Guantanamo Bay are at “the tip of the spear” to make that happen. 

    “[So], keep executing [and] keep driving on with the professionalism that I know you will display,” he said. 

    Hegseth announced that Guantanamo Bay would be used for illegal alien holding operations Jan. 29, 2025, following a presidential announcement earlier in the day.  

    According to the U.S. Southern Command, more than 150 Marines and soldiers were at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay supporting holding operations as of Feb. 3, 2025. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: BexBack: No KYC for New Users, Double Deposit Bonus & 100x Leverage Crypto Trading

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With Bitcoin’s price fluctuating below $100,000, many analysts predict a prolonged period of high volatility in the crypto market. Holding spot positions may struggle to generate short-term profits in such conditions. As a result, 100x leverage futures trading has become the preferred tool for seasoned investors looking to maximize potential gains in this volatile market. BexBack Exchange is ramping up its efforts to offer traders unmatched promotional packages. The platform now features a 100% deposit bonus, a $50 welcome bonus for new users, and 100x leverage on cryptocurrency trading, providing exceptional opportunities for investors.

    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?

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    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.

    Photo accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2ddb1a66-1ec1-4636-b4f5-f40d903ddf8b

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/517f2c2a-7f4c-46fc-8934-641773b8be44

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c8e31b58-96c3-4f4c-be5a-453578cabc6f

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5adafee9-e7c7-4651-a732-2e9becab267d

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: A new study reveals the structure of violent winds 1,300 light years away

    Source: The Conversation – France – By Vivien Parmentier, Professeur junior spécialiste des atmosphères d’exoplanètes au laboratoire LAGRANGE, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Université Côte d’Azur

    The largest telescopes in the world are used to look at the atmospheres of planets orbiting other stars and located at astronomical distances. Y. Beletsky(LCO)/ESO, CC BY

    The planet WASP-121b is extreme. It’s a gas giant almost twice as big as Jupiter orbiting extremely close to its star–50 times closer than the Earth does around the Sun. WASP-121b is so close to its star that tidal forces have locked its rotation in a “resonance”: the planet always shows the same face to its star, like the Moon to the Earth. Therefore, one side of WASP-121b constantly bakes in light whereas the other is in perpetual night. This difference causes huge variations in temperature across the planet. It can be more than 3,000°C on one side and drop 1,500°C on the other.

    This huge temperature contrast is the source of violent winds, blowing several kilometres per second, which try to redistribute the energy from day to night. Until now, we had to guess the strength and direction of the winds with indirect measurements, such as measurements of the planet’s temperature. In recent years, with the arrival of new instruments on giant telescopes, we’ve been able to directly measure the wind speed of certain exoplanets, including WASP-121b.

    In our study published in the journal Nature that was conducted by my colleague, Julia Seidel, we not only looked at wind speed on an exoplanet, but also at how these winds vary with altitude. We were able to measure for the first time that winds in the deepest layers of the atmosphere are very different from those at higher altitudes. Put it this way: on Earth, winds blowing a few dozen kilometres per hour already make it hard to ride a bike; on WASP-121b, pedalling would be impossible, because the winds are a hundred times faster.

    Our measurements reveal the behaviour of a pivotal zone of the atmosphere that forms the link between the deep atmosphere–usually surveyed by telescopes such as the James Webb Space Telescope–and the outer zones where the atmosphere escapes into space, blown by the wind coming from its star.

    How did we measure the atmosphere of a planet millions of billions of kilometres away?

    To make our measurements, we used one of the most precise spectrographs on Earth, mounted on the largest telescope available to us: ESPRESSO at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) Very Large Telescope (VLT), located in the Atacama desert in Chile. To collect as much light as possible, we combined the light from the VLT’s four 8-metre diameter telescopes. Thanks to this combination, which is still being tested, we collected as much light as would a 16-metre diameter telescope–which would be larger than any optical telescope on Earth.

    The ultra-precise ESPRESSO spectrograph then enabled us to separate the light from the planet into 1.3 million wavelengths. This allows us to observe as many colours in the visible spectrum. This precision is necessary to detect different types of atoms in the planet’s atmosphere. This time, we studied how three different types of atoms–absorb light from the star: hydrogen, sodium and iron (all in a gaseous state, given the very high temperatures).

    By measuring the position of these spectral lines very precisely, we were able to directly measure the speed of these atoms. The Doppler effect tells us that an atom coming toward us will absorb more blue light, while an atom moving away from us will absorb more red light. By measuring the absorption wavelength of each of these atoms, we have as many different measurements of the wind speed on this planet.

    We found that the lines of the different atoms tell different stories. Iron moves at 5 kilometres per second from the substellar point (the region of the planet closest to its host star) to the anti-stellar point (the most distant) in a very symmetrical way. Sodium, on the other hand, splits in two: some of the atoms move like iron, while the others move at the equator directly from east to west four times faster, at the staggering speed of 20 kilometres per second. Finally, hydrogen seems to move with the east-west current of sodium but, also, vertically, no doubt allowing it to escape from the planet.

    To reconcile all this, we calculated that these three different atoms are, in fact, in different parts of the atmosphere. While iron atoms lie at the deeper layers, where symmetrical circulation is expected, sodium and hydrogen let us probe much higher layers, where the planet’s atmosphere is blown by the wind coming from its host star. This stellar wind, combined with the rotation of the planet, probably carries the material asymmetrically, with a preferential direction given by the rotation of the planet.

    There are violent winds in the atmosphere of WASP-121b. The three types of atoms travel at different speeds, helping to reconstruct the structure of the atmosphere, even though the planet is millions of billions of kilometres away from Earth.
    ESO/M. Kornmesser, CC BY

    Why study the atmospheres of exoplanets?

    WASP-121b is one of those giant gaseous planets with temperatures of over 1,000°C that are known as “hot Jupiters”. The first observation of these planets by Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz (which later earned them a Nobel Prize in Physics) came as a surprise in 1995, particularly because planetary formation models predicted that these giant planets could not form so close to their star. Mayor and Queloz’s observation made us realise that planets do not necessarily form where they are currently located. Instead, they can migrate, i.e., move around in their youth.

    How far from their star do “hot Jupiters” form? Over what distances do these objects migrate in their infancy? Why did the Jupiter in our solar system not migrate toward the Sun? (We’re lucky it didn’t, because it would have sent Earth into our star at the same time.)

    Some answers to these questions may lie in the atmosphere of exoplanets, which exhibit traces of the conditions of their formation. However, variations in temperature or chemical composition within each atmosphere can radically skew the abundance measurements that we are trying to take with large telescopes such as the James Webb. In order to exploit our measurements, we first need to grasp how complex these atmospheres are.

    To do this, we need to understand the fundamental mechanisms that govern the atmosphere of these planets. In the solar system, winds can be measured directly by, for example, looking at how fast clouds move. On exoplanets, we cannot see any details directly.

    In particular, “hot Jupiters” orbit so close to their stars that we cannot separate them spatially and take photos of the exoplanets. Instead, from among the thousands of known exoplanets, we select those that have the good taste to periodically pass between their star and us. During this “transit”, light from the star is filtered by the planet’s atmosphere, which allows us to measure the signs of absorption by different atoms or molecules. In general, the data we obtain are not good enough to separate the light that passes on one side of the planet from the other, and we end up with an average of what the atmosphere has absorbed. As conditions along the atmospheric limb (i.e., the slice of atmosphere surrounding a planet as observed from space) can vary drastically, interpreting the final average is often a headache.

    This time, by using a telescope that, in effect, is larger than any other optical telescope on Earth, and combining it with an extremely precise spectrograph, we were able to separate the signal absorbed by the eastern side of the planet’s limb from the signal absorbed by the western side. This allowed us to measure the spatial variation of the winds in the planet.

    The future of atmospheric study of exoplanets

    Europe is currently building the next generation of telescopes, led by the ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope, which is scheduled for 2030. The ELT will have a mirror 30 metres in diameter, twice the size of the telescope we obtained by combining the light from the four 8-metre telescopes of the VLT.

    This giant telescope will gather even more precise details about the atmospheres of exoplanets. In particular, it will measure the winds in exoplanets both smaller and colder than “hot Jupiters”.

    But what we are all really waiting for is the ELT’s ability to measure the presence of molecules in the atmosphere of rocky planets orbiting in the habitable zone of their star, where water may be present in a liquid state.

    The EXOWINDS project is supported by the French National Research Agency (ANR), which funds project-based research in France. Its mission is to support and promote the development of fundamental and applied research in all disciplines, and to strengthen the dialogue between science and society. For more information, visit the ANR website.

    Vivien Parmentier received funding from the French National Research Agency (exowinds, ANR-23-CE31-0001-01).

    Julia Victoria Seidel is an ESO (European Southern Observatory) Research Fellow.

    – ref. A new study reveals the structure of violent winds 1,300 light years away – https://theconversation.com/a-new-study-reveals-the-structure-of-violent-winds-1-300-light-years-away-250187

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Mati Diop is a new star of African cinema – what her award-winning movies are about

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By David Murphy, Professor of French and Postcolonial Studies, University of Strathclyde

    Mati Diop has cinema in her blood. The 42-year-old Senegalese-French actress launched her feature film directing career in spectacular fashion with Atlantics, which took the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019 and won a string of awards.

    Her documentary Dahomey has made similar waves and was longlisted for the 2025 Oscars. We asked Senegalese film scholar David Murphy to tell us more.

    Who is Mati Diop?

    Mati Diop is a hugely talented and innovative film director. She is also an accomplished actor who has starred in a number of French films, in particular Claire Denis’s 35 Shots of Rum.

    She was born in Paris in 1982 and was raised in France, but frequently visited Senegal during her childhood, as she comes from a Senegalese cultural dynasty.

    Her father is Wasis Diop, an inventive and experimental musician who fuses Senegalese folk music with western pop and jazz. Her uncle was the maverick Senegalese filmmaker, Djibril Diop Mambéty. He directed classics like Touki Bouki and Hyenas. For good measure, her mother, Christine Brossard, is involved in the French art world and is a photographer.

    Although she had previously made short films, Diop gained global attention in 2019 when she won a prestigious award at the Cannes Film Festival for her first feature-length fiction film, Atlantics.

    Her documentary Dahomey won the top award at the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival. Over the past few years, Diop has become established as one of the most creative artistic voices making films about contemporary Africa.

    What’s Dahomey about?

    Dahomey is a documentary about a contentious issue, the repatriation of looted African art works from western museums.

    The objects – 26 royal treasures – were taken from the pre-colonial kingdom of Dahomey (in today’s Benin). President Emmanuel Macron of France has voiced his support for the return of such objects and a slow, piecemeal process of repatriation has now begun.

    On the surface, the story of Dahomey might not seem to be particularly dramatic. Taking objects from a museum in Paris and sending them to a museum in Benin might be politically important and symbolic. But how do you make a creative, insightful and entertaining film about it that also appeals to a wide audience? Well, essentially, Diop weaves a tale that seeks to explore what it means for Africans that this heritage is being returned. To do that, she gives voice to Africans, whether heritage professionals, students or the general public.

    In her most daring creative gesture, she also gives voice to one of the objects being returned, a magnificent, life-sized wooden statue of King Ghézo (who ruled Dahomey in the 1800s), depicted as half-man, half-bird. Many of the items that are displayed in European museums as beautiful but inanimate objects in fact played a highly significant spiritual role in precolonial societies. Essentially, they formed a bridge between the living and the spirit world, and Diop is interested in exploring what it might mean to these spirits to return to an Africa that has been transformed in their absence.

    So, Dahomey is not your average documentary. There’s no narrative voiceover that explains the context of the journey home for these objects. Apart from a few on-screen captions explaining the big picture, viewers must piece together the story and decipher its meaning by themselves.

    In the first half of the film, we see the curators from Benin and French workmen moving through the Quai Branly Museum in Paris. They assess the condition of the fragile objects as they make an inventory of them and box them safely for the trip. At first, theirs are the only voices we hear.



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    But then we begin to hear the deep, electronically distorted voice of the statue of King Ghézo who awakens from a long slumber. In this voiceover (written by the Haitian author Makenzy Orcel), Ghézo reflects on the sense of dislocation and confusion at being taken from Africa, his journey over the sea to be exhibited in a museum in Paris, his memories of the continent he left behind.

    Once the objects arrive in Benin, the film follows a reverse process. The camera dwells on the African workmen overseeing their installation, interspersed with the voice of the statue trying to make sense of the Africa to which he has returned.

    The longest section of the film gives voice to local university students debating what it means to return this heritage. While some view the process as vital, others see it as a distraction from the major issues facing the continent. The film does not seek to nudge the viewer to take sides. What is important is that different African voices are heard so that Africans can reach their own informed decisions.

    What’s Atlantics about?

    Atlantics is a film about the migration crisis that sees many young Senegalese men (and some women) set off from the coast on dangerous journeys in small fishing boats to try and reach the economic promised land of Europe (in this instance, the Canary Islands). But the film is also a love story about a young couple, Ada and Souleiman.

    With a group of young men, many cheated of their wages by a corrupt local businessman, Souleiman embarks on the dangerous journey. The bereft girlfriends and sisters wait for news of their boyfriends and brothers and ultimately take revenge on the businessman. I can’t tell you precisely how this is done without spoiling the plot but let’s just say that the film is a striking mix of social drama and supernatural thriller.

    Why is her contribution to film important?

    Above all else, Mati Diop is a great storyteller. Atlantics and Dahomey are films that take important current affairs as their starting point, and they weave passionate, complex and strange stories around them.

    They’re strange not because Diop is trying to be artistically eccentric, but because life is fundamentally strange and defies easy explanation. This is an artistic standpoint that her uncle would have understood.



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    Like his work, Diop’s fiction films contain long sections dwelling obsessively on the detail of “real” life while her documentaries contain many fictional elements. In fact, her short 2013 documentary A Thousand Suns is a wonderful homage to the beautiful strangeness of Mambety’s work. In a remarkable blend of fact and fiction, she traces the story of the actors who played the young couple in his avant-garde masterpiece, Touki Bouki.

    In the work of both uncle and niece, the real and the fictional, the strange and the mundane are mixed together to make a mysterious and strikingly original body of work that defies categorisation.

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

    – ref. Mati Diop is a new star of African cinema – what her award-winning movies are about – https://theconversation.com/mati-diop-is-a-new-star-of-african-cinema-what-her-award-winning-movies-are-about-250417

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