NewzIntel.com

Category: Latin America

  • MIL-OSI: ITS Logistics February Port Rail Ramp Index: Potential Effects of Tariffs and Impact on Trade Lanes Signify Most Pressing Unknown Supply Chain Threat

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RENO, Nev., Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ITS Logistics today released the February forecast for the ITS Logistics US Port/Rail Ramp Freight Index. This month the index reveals that operations have returned to normal in all regions following the Lunar New Year peak and light inventory front loading to avoid anticipated bottlenecks. In addition, the most significant current unknowns for the industry are the potential effects of tariffs and their impact on trade lanes. 

    “Though changing booking patterns and front loading inventory can help with savings in the short-term, these strategies usually lead to additional cost and material flow problems,” said Paul Brashier, Vice President of Global Supply Chain for ITS Logistics. “The consensus from most experienced shippers is to not be reactionary, as this issue will continue to be very fluid, and the timing and duration of disruptions is unknown.” 

    In an effort to promote fairer trade and enhance the appeal of U.S. goods, President Trump has called for agencies to explore reciprocal tariffs aimed at increasing America’s revenue. This move, however, risks sparking a global trade war, potentially worsening inflation.

    Last week, the President signed a memorandum proposing a 25% tariff on non-energy imports from Canada and a 10% tariff on imports of Canadian energy—primarily crude oil. He also signed proclamations to help bolster tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports into the U.S. to help minimize attempts by China and Russia to evade penalties. To encourage this change, an incremental 10% tariff on imports from China was established, along with an executive order to place a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico, which has been postponed until March. 

    While the tariffs have not yet been imposed, the signing of the memo allows the current presidential administration to begin a review process to initiate them. As the industry awaits further action from the administration, ocean carrier RFP season is approaching, and professionals should begin seeing volumes shift back to the East and Gulf Coast ports as Red Sea diversions and labor disruptions are not expected to be a concern in 2025.

    “We suggest companies consider moving bookings to the East and Gulf Coast ports now that the labor issues have been resolved,” continued Brashier. “Earlier in the month, the wage scale committee for the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) approved a tentative six-year agreement with the United States Maritime Alliance from early January. Members are now expected to vote on their new master contract regarding the East and Gulf Coast ports on February 25.”

    ITS Logistics offers a full suite of network transportation solutions across North America and distribution and fulfillment services to 95% of the U.S. population within two days. These services include drayage and intermodal in 22 coastal ports and 30 rail ramps, a full suite of asset and asset-lite transportation solutions, omnichannel distribution and fulfillment, LTL, and outbound small parcel.

    The ITS Logistics US Port/Rail Ramp Freight Index forecasts port container and dray operations for the Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf regions. Ocean and domestic container rail ramp operations are also highlighted in the index for both the West Inland and East Inland regions. Visit here for a full comprehensive copy of the index with expected forecasts for the US port and rail ramps.

    About ITS Logistics
    ITS Logistics is one of North America’s fastest-growing, asset-based modern 3PLs, providing solutions for the industry’s most complicated supply chain challenges. With a people-first culture committed to excellence, the company relentlessly strives to deliver unmatched value through best-in-class service, expertise, and innovation. The ITS Logistics portfolio features North America’s #19 asset-lite freight brokerage, the #12 drayage and intermodal solution, a top 50 dedicated fleet, an innovative cloud-based technology ecosystem, and a nationwide distribution and fulfillment network.

    Media Contact
    Amber Good
    LeadCoverage
    amber@leadcoverage.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/128e7687-6bfd-4f21-af3a-442b9cc93409

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Philly’s Chinatown has a rich tradition of activism – the Sixers arena fight was just one of many to preserve the neighborhood

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Vivian Truong, Assistant Professor of History, Swarthmore College

    Save Chinatown protesters take to the streets on Sept. 7, 2024. Zachary Kreines, CC BY-NC-ND

    Visitors commonly view Philadelphia’s Chinatown as a place to eat Chinese food and appreciate Chinese culture. But for longtime members of the Chinatown community, the neighborhood – home to over over 5,000 residents – is also defined by its tenacity and survival.

    Chinatown’s rich tradition of activism was on full display for the past two and half years, as residents and allies fiercely opposed the Philadelphia 76ers’ plans to build a basketball arena in the Market East neighborhood at the southern edge of Chinatown.

    A city-sponsored community impact study found that the arena could have resulted in the “loss of Chinatown’s core identity and regional significance.” It estimated that half of the neighborhood’s small businesses would have suffered due to increased congestion, potential rent increases and a new demographic less likely to patronize the area’s ethnic businesses.

    While the reason for the Sixers’ sudden decision to scrap the Market East arena plan remains unclear, the announcement in January 2025 came as a relief to Chinatown community members who felt they had averted yet another threat to their neighborhood’s existence.

    I’m a historian whose research focuses on Asian Americans, cities and social movements, and I’ve seen how urban residents take the existence of Chinatowns in major cities across the country – and even globally, from London to Havana, Cuba, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – for granted. Chinatowns continue to exist and thrive thanks to the residents and allies who fight for them.

    The fight over the Sixers arena was only the latest struggle in over 50 years of community organizing in Philadelphia’s Chinatown.

    Friendship Gate, erected in the 1980s, serves as a symbolic entrance to Philadelphia’s Chinatown.
    Jumping Rocks/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

    A refuge from xenophobia

    Like other American Chinatowns, Philadelphia’s formed during an era of virulent anti-Chinese racism. The neighborhood was established in the 1870s as a refuge for immigrants fleeing the American West, where white railroad workers and miners declared “The Chinese must go!”.

    Among the earliest businesses were a handful of laundries and a restaurant on the 900 block of Race Street, just north of Philadelphia’s main commercial district.

    In the era of anti-Chinese immigration laws from 1875 to 1943, Chinatowns were associated with opium-smoking, gambling and prostitution. Law enforcement targeted and stigmatized the Philadelphia neighborhood as a center of vice and danger. Meanwhile, city and private developers had their eyes on Chinatown as early as the 1920s.

    In 1923, the Bell Telephone Company purchased additional real estate along the corridor for its new high-rise building and parking lot, displacing Chinese residents. In the same decade, the city used eminent domain to demolish blocks of housing to make way for the Broad-Ridge Spur connecting the Eighth Street and Vine Street subway stations. A Philadelphia Evening Bulletin article in 1934 declared Chinatown to be “a thing of the past.”

    As the city began to accommodate more car owners, Race Street was remade as a major thoroughfare to the Delaware Valley Bridge, now called the Ben Franklin Bridge. In 1926, the year the bridge was completed, the Bulletin declared that “The Delaware River Bridge has come and Chinatown must go,” echoing the xenophobic slogans that drove Chinese workers out of western states half a century earlier.

    But Chinatown persisted.

    As restrictions on immigration from China loosened after World War II, more Chinese women immigrated to the U.S. The neighborhood transformed from a bachelor society of aging workers to a growing intergenerational community of families.

    ‘Save Chinatown’ movement forms

    During the social upheavals of the 1960s and 1970s, Philadelphia’s Chinatown youth took inspiration from the Black Power and anti-war movements to fight for their community.

    In 1966, the city proposed the expansion of Vine Street into an expressway that would have demolished large swaths of Chinatown, including the beloved Holy Redeemer church and school. Established for Chinese American Catholics in 1941, Holy Redeemer hosted neighborhood meetings and recreational events as well as religious services. The Vine Street Expressway project was one instance of the national phenomenon of urban renewal, which aimed to clear and redevelop areas designated as blighted.

    The Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation nonprofit worked with Yellow Seeds, a group of radical Asian American youth who opposed U.S. racism and imperialism, and other Chinatown community members to fight construction of the expressway.

    These groups comprised the 1970s Save Chinatown movement. They held numerous protests, made frequent media appearances and used the 1970 National Environmental Policy Act to craft their strategy. They demanded an environmental impact statement, which, when issued in 1983, recommended a much smaller expressway than originally designed. Holy Redeemer was saved. The final plans also scrapped two off-ramps that would have cut through the neighborhood. Construction on the expressway was completed in 1991.

    Resisting a prison, baseball stadium and casino

    The Save Chinatown movement continued through the decades as community members successfully fought the construction of a federal prison in 1993, a baseball stadium in 2000 and a casino in 2008 – all proposed for sites in or bordering Chinatown.

    “The future of Chinatown is going to be a huge battle,” activist Debbie Wei stated in a 2002 documentary released after the conclusion of the baseball stadium fight a few years earlier. “We’re going to fight it, and my children are probably going to have to fight it as well.”

    ‘Look Forward and Carry on the Past: Stories from Philadelphia’s Chinatown’ (2002). Debbie Wei’s reflections on the future of Chinatown begin at 25:28.

    Her words were prescient. Her daughter Kaia Chau emerged as a key leader of the campaign against the Sixers arena 20 years later.

    Chau co-founded Students for the Preservation of Chinatown with fellow student leader Taryn Flaherty. The group organized teach-ins, galvanized Philadelphia-area students to join protests, and highlighted arena developers’ ties to local universities, including the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University. By focusing on the developers, students made connections between the arena proposal and the gentrification of West Philadelphia, including the demolition of the University City Townhomes, an affordable housing complex whose residents were mostly Black.

    The movement against the Sixers arena became part of a multiracial, citywide fight against displacement. As Rev. Gregory Holston of Black Philly 4 Chinatown, part of the Save Chinatown coalition, put it: “In North Philadelphia, in West Philadelphia, in South Philadelphia, the same process is happening over and over and over again, where people are pushing and displacing people of color out of this city.”

    Philadelphia’s Chinatown neighborhood celebrates the Lunar New Year in 2024, the Year of the Dragon.
    Wolfgang Schwan/Anadolu via Getty Images

    Thriving intergenerational community

    Activists have also created new housing, educational and arts institutions to keep Chinatown a family-friendly neighborhood.

    The location where the prison was planned in 1993 is now Hing Wah Yuen, a 51-unit mixed-income affordable housing complex developed by the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation – the same organization that led the fight against the Vine Street Expressway in the 1970s.

    After the plans for the baseball stadium were scrapped in 2000, the grassroots Chinatown-based organization Asian Americans United partnered with the arts and culture organization Philadelphia Folklore Project to found the Folk Arts-Cultural Treasures School in 2005.

    The K-8 school, located in the footprint of the proposed stadium, teaches Mandarin and emphasizes art and music classes that reflect students’ cultural background.

    More recently, recognizing the need for more “third places” for youth beyond home and school, student leaders Chau and Flaherty launched the Ginger Arts Center in 2024. The organization provides a recreational space and arts programs for young people in Chinatown.

    The community institutions that have sprung up in the wake of defeated development projects illustrate how Chinatown is not a thing of the past, nor is it solely a food and culture destination to be consumed.

    Rather, Chinatown is a thriving community that has long fought to survive, reinvent itself and determine its own future – one that carries the legacy of previous generations of resistance.

    Read more of our stories about Philadelphia.

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

    – ref. Philly’s Chinatown has a rich tradition of activism – the Sixers arena fight was just one of many to preserve the neighborhood – https://theconversation.com/phillys-chinatown-has-a-rich-tradition-of-activism-the-sixers-arena-fight-was-just-one-of-many-to-preserve-the-neighborhood-247549

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Firing civil servants and dismantling government departments is how aspiring strongmen consolidate personal power – lessons from around the globe

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Erica Frantz, Associate Professor of Political Science, Michigan State University

    A leader bent on expanding his own power would see the government’s bureaucracy as a key target. Andry Djumantara – iStock/Getty Images Plus

    With the recent confirmations of Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – two of the most controversial of President Donald Trump’s high-level administration nominees – the president’s attempt to remake government as a home for political loyalists continues.

    Soon after coming to office for a second term, Trump aggressively sought to overhaul Washington and bring the federal government in line with his political agenda. He is spearheading an effort to purge the government’s ranks of people he perceived as his opponents and slash the size of long-standing bureaucratic agencies – in some instances dismantling them entirely.

    At the helm of much of this is businessman Elon Musk, who is not only the world’s richest man but also the largest donor of the 2024 election and the owner of multiple businesses that benefit from lucrative government contracts.

    Musk – and a small cohort of young engineers loyal to him but with little experience in government – descended on Washington, announced their control over multiple government agencies, fired career civil servants, and even strong-armed access to government payment systems at the Treasury Department, where the inspector general had just been sacked.

    This unprecedented sequence of events in the U.S. has left many observers in a daze, struggling to make sense of the dramatic reshaping of the bureaucracy under way.

    Yet, as researchers on authoritarian politics, it is no surprise to us that a leader bent on expanding his own power, such as Trump, would see the bureaucracy as a key target. Here’s why.

    Elon Musk, standing next to President Donald Trump, explains his theory concerning government bureaucracy.

    Dismantle democracy from within

    A well-functioning bureaucracy is an organization of highly qualified civil servants who follow established rules to prevent abuses of power. Bureaucracies, in this way, are an important part of democracy that constrain executive behavior.

    For this reason, aspiring strongmen are especially likely to go after them. Whether by shuffling the personnel of agencies, creating new ones, or limiting their capacity for oversight, a common tactic among power-hungry leaders is establishing control over the government’s bureaucracy. Following a failed coup attempt in 2016, for example, Turkish President Reccep Tayyip Erdoğan fired or detained as many as 100,000 government workers.

    In the short term, greater executive control over the bureaucracy gives these leaders a valuable tool for rewarding their elite supporters, especially as diminished government oversight increases opportunities for corruption and the dispersion of rewards to such insiders. Erdoğan, for example, by 2017 had worked to fill lower-level bureaucratic positions with loyalists of his party, the AKP, to ensure the party’s influence over corruption investigations.

    In the long term, this hollowing out and reshaping of the bureaucracy is part of a broader plan in which aspiring autocrats usurp control over all institutions that can constrain them, such as the legislature and the courts. As we document in our book, “The Origins of Elected Strongmen,” attacks on the bureaucracy constitute a significant step in a larger process in which elected leaders dismantle democracy from within.

    Take control of bureaucracy

    The seemingly bizarre series of events that have transpired in Washington since Trump came to power are highly consistent with other countries where democracy has been dismantled.

    Take Benin, for example. Its leader, Patrice Talon – one of the wealthiest people in Africa – came to power in democratic elections in 2016.

    Soon after taking control, Talon created new agencies housed in the executive office and defunded existing ones, as a means of skirting bureaucratic constraints to his rule. The central affairs of the state were in the hands of an informal cabinet, initially led by Olivier Boko, a wealthy businessman considered to be Talon’s right-hand man despite not having any official position in government.

    Talon and his inner circle used this control over the state to enrich themselves, turning the country into what one journalist referred to as “a company in the hands of Talon and his very close clique.”

    Consolidating control over the bureaucracy was just one step in a larger process of turning Benin into an autocratic state. Talon eventually amassed greater power and influence over key state institutions, such as the judiciary, and intervened in the electoral process to ensure his continued rule. By 2021, Benin could no longer be considered a democracy.

    Purge civil service

    A similar dynamic occurred in Hungary. After governing relatively conventionally for one term, Prime Minister Viktor Orban was defeated in elections in 2002. He blamed that outcome on unfriendly media and never accepted the results as legitimate.

    Orban returned to office in 2010, bent on retribution.

    Orban ordered mass firings of civil servants and put allies of his party, Fidesz, in crucial roles. He also used the dismantling of bureaucratic constraints to pad the pockets of the elites whose support he needed to maintain power.

    As a Hungarian former politician wrote in 2016, “While the mafia state derails the bureaucratic administration, it organizes, monopolizes the channels of corruption and keeps them in order.”

    Likewise in Venezuela, President Hugo Chavez had his cronies draw up a blacklist of civil servants to be purged for signing a petition in support of a referendum to determine whether Chávez should be recalled from office in 2004; government employees who signed were subsequently fired from their jobs.

    More than a decade later, Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela’s current leader, would conduct his own purge of civil servants after they signed a petition to hold another recall referendum. After multiple rounds of government and military purges, Maduro was able to overturn an election he lost and jail his opponents, knowing full well the judges and generals would follow his orders.

    Benin’s leader, Patrice Talon, consolidated control over the bureaucracy as part of a larger process of turning the country into an autocratic state.
    Yanick Folly/AFP via Getty Images

    Foster culture of secrecy and suspicion

    Orban and Chavez, like Talon, were democratically elected but went on to undermine democracy.

    In environments where loyalty to the leader is prioritized over all else, and purges can happen at a moment’s notice, few people are willing to speak up about abuses of power or stand in the way of a power grab.

    Fostering a culture of secrecy and mutual suspicion among government officials is intentional and serves the leader’s interests.

    As a World Bank report highlighted in 1983, in President Mobutu Sese Seko’s Zaire, now Democratic Republic of Congo, the bureaucracy had been “privatized by the ruling clique,” creating a climate in which “fear and repression … prevented any serious threat from dissenting groups.”

    When leaders gain full power over the bureaucracy, they use it to reward and punish ordinary citizens as well. This was a tried-and-true tactic under the PRI’s rule in Mexico for much of the 20th century, where citizens who supported the PRI were more likely to receive government benefits.

    In short, when aspiring autocrats come to power, career bureaucrats are a common target, often replaced by unqualified loyalists who would never be hired for the position based on merit. Recent events in the U.S., as unprecedented as they may seem, are precisely what we would expect with the return of Trump, a would-be autocrat, to power.

    Andrea Kendall-Taylor is affiliated with the Center for New American Security.

    Joe Wright has received funding from the Charles Koch Foundation.

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

    – ref. Firing civil servants and dismantling government departments is how aspiring strongmen consolidate personal power – lessons from around the globe – https://theconversation.com/firing-civil-servants-and-dismantling-government-departments-is-how-aspiring-strongmen-consolidate-personal-power-lessons-from-around-the-globe-249089

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE Philadelphia removes El Salvadorian wanted for aggravated homicide and terrorist organization

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    PHILADELPHIA – Immigration and Customs Enforcement Philadelphia removed Jonathan Stanley Garcia Vasquez, a citizen of El Salvador with a final order of removal, to El Salvador, Feb. 14. Garcia is a foreign fugitive wanted by law enforcement authorities in El Salvador for aggravated homicide and terrorist organization.

    “Today’s successful removal of Jonathan Stanley Garcia Vasquez highlights our unyielding commitment to the safety and security of the American people. By apprehending and deporting alien foreign fugitives, ICE excels in fulfilling its public safety and national security missions,” said ERO Philadelphia acting Field Office Director Brian McShane. “ERO staff stationed in El Salvador, and their Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement taskforce, played a crucial role in this operation, demonstrating the strength of our international cooperation and reach. We will continue to work tirelessly to protect our citizens from those who seek to harm them.”

    The U.S. Border Patrol arrested Garcia near Hidalgo, Texas, for entering the United States without inspection or parole by an immigration official, June 9, 2016. The same day, USBP served him with a notice and order of expedited removal, charging inadmissibility.

    On Jan. 27, 2017, an immigration judge with the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review in El Paso, Texas, granted Garcia an immigration bond, and he was released, Feb. 6, 2017.

    Authorities in El Salvador issued an arrest warrant for Garcia for aggravated homicide and terrorist organization, Aug. 7, 2018.

    An immigration judge with the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review in El Paso, Texas ordered Garcia removed from the United States to El Salvador in absentia, Oct. 30, 2018.

    ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Newark arrested Garcia in West New York, New Jersey during a routine enforcement action and transferred him to ERO Philadelphia at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, for removal to El Salvador, Dec. 20, 2024. He remained in ICE custody throughout removal proceedings.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Deporting millions of immigrants would shock the US economy, increasing housing, food and other prices

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Francisco I. Pedraza, Professor of political scinece, Arizona State University

    Immigrant farmworkers pick strawberries in California in April 2024. Visions of America/Joe Sohm/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

    One of President Donald Trump’s major promises during the 2024 presidential campaign was to launch mass deportations of immigrants living in the U.S. without legal authorization.

    The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has said that, since January 2025, it is detaining and planning to deport 600 to 1,100 immigrants a day. That marks an increase from the average 282 immigration arrests that happened each day in September 2024 under the Biden administration.

    The current trend would place the Trump administration on track to apprehend 25,000 immigrants in Trump’s first month in office. On an annual basis, this is about 300,000 – far from the “millions and millions” of immigrants Trump promised to deport.

    A lack of funding, immigration officers, immigration detention centers and other resources has reportedly impeded the administration’s deportation work.

    The Trump administration is seeking US$175 billion from Congress to use for the next four years on immigration enforcement, Axios reported on Feb. 11, 2025.

    If Trump does make good on his promise of mass deportations, our research shows that removing millions of immigrants would be costly for everyone in the U.S., including American citizens and businesses.

    Immigrant farmworkers protest in New York City in May 2022.
    Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images

    Food costs will increase

    One important factor is that mass deportations would weaken key industries in the U.S. that rely on immigrant workers, including those living in the U.S. illegally.

    Overall, immigrants without legal authorization make up about 5% of the total U.S. workforce.

    But that overall percentage doesn’t reflect these immigrants’ concentrated presence within various industries. Approximately half of U.S. farmworkers are living in the country without legal authorization, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

    Some of these immigrant farmworkers are skilled supervisors who make decisions about planting and harvesting. Others know how to use and maintain tractors, loaders, diggers, rakers, fertilizer sprayers, irrigation systems, and other machines crucial to farm operations.

    If those workers were to be suddenly removed from the country, Americans would see an increase in food costs, including what they spend on groceries and at restaurants.

    With fewer available workers to pick fruits and vegetables and prepare the food for shipment and distribution, the domestic production of food could decrease, leading to higher costs and more imports.

    National estimates of the restaurant and food preparation workforce, meanwhile, indicate that between 10% and 15% of those workers are immigrants living in the U.S. illegally.

    Past state-level immigration enforcement policies offer an idea of what could happen at the national level if Trump were to carry out widespread deportations.

    For example, a 2011 Alabama law called HB-56 directed local police officers to investigate the immigration status of drivers stopped for speeding. It also prohibited landlords from renting properties to immigrants who do not have legal authorization to work or live in the country. That law and its resulting effects prompted some Alabama-based immigrant workers to leave the state following workplace raids.

    Their departure wound up costing the state an estimated $2.3 billion to $10.8 billion loss in Alabama’s annual gross domestic product due to the loss of workers and economic output.

    Other industries that rely on immigrants

    Part of the challenge of mass deportations for industries like construction, nearly a quarter of whose workers are living without legal authorization, is that their workforce is highly skilled and not easily replaced. Immigrant workers are particularly involved in home construction and specialize in such tasks as ceiling and flooring installation as well as roofing and drywall work.

    Fewer available workers would mean slower home construction, which in turn would make housing more expensive, further compounding existing problems of housing supply and affordability.

    Shocks from deportations would also slow commercial and public infrastructure construction. Six construction workers, for example, died in April 2024 in the sudden collapse of the Baltimore Key Bridge in Maryland. All of them were Latino immigrants living in the U.S. without legal documentation.

    Examining the arguments

    Trump administration officials and other politicians have argued that deporting large numbers of immigrants would help the country save money, since fewer people will use federal and state funds by attending public schools or receiving temporary shelter.

    Trump said in November 2024 that there is “no price tag” for large-scale deportations.

    “It’s not a question of price tag,” Trump said. “We have no choice. When people have killed and murdered, when drug lords have destroyed countries, and now they’re going to go back to those countries because they’re not staying here,” Trump told NBC News.

    Trump and his supporters also argue that deporting immigrants would mean more jobs for American workers.

    But there is compelling evidence to the contrary.

    First, immigrants are filling labor shortages and doing jobs that many Americans don’t want to do, ones that might be unsafe or poorly paid.

    Even if Americans were willing to do those jobs, there simply aren’t enough Americans in the workforce to fill existing labor vacuums, let alone an enlarged one following deportations.

    Second, for employers, having fewer workers in the country translates into higher wages, which in turn means less capital to adapt and grow. For businesses based on consumer debt – think mortgages, car loans and credit cards – deportations would disrupt the financial sector by removing responsible borrowers who make consistent payments.

    Third, immigrants living without legal documentation in the U.S. pay more than $96 billion in federal, state and local taxes per year and consume fewer public benefits than citizens.

    Immigrants without legal authorization are not eligible for Social Security benefits and can’t enroll in Medicare or many other safety net programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

    A Guatemalan immigrant worker buys pipes for a plumbing job on a house remodel in New Philadelphia, Ohio, on Jan. 27, 2025.
    Rebecca Kiger for The Washington Post via Getty Images

    The bottom line

    In other words, people who are living and working in the U.S. without legal authorization are helping to pay, through taxes, the costs of caring for Americans as they age and begin to draw on the nation’s retirement and health care programs.

    The burden from recent inflation notwithstanding, an economy supported by immigrants living illegally in the U.S. protects Americans.

    The U.S. would be unable to dodge the economic shocks and high costs that mass deportations would bring about.

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

    – ref. Deporting millions of immigrants would shock the US economy, increasing housing, food and other prices – https://theconversation.com/deporting-millions-of-immigrants-would-shock-the-us-economy-increasing-housing-food-and-other-prices-245342

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: United States Attorney Gary M. Restaino Completes His Service to the Department of Justice

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PHOENIX, Ariz. – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona announced that United States Attorney Gary M. Restaino has completed his service to the Department, effective yesterday.

    Mr. Restaino was informed of his termination in a communication from the White House.  As a Presidential appointee, Mr. Restaino is subject to removal from office in the discretion of the sitting President.  The White House thanked him for his service to the United States.

    “Getting the opportunity to lead an Office in which I have worked for many years has been energizing,” said U.S. Attorney Restaino. “I am grateful to President Biden for the appointment, to Senators Kelly and Sinema for their support of my nomination, and to Attorney General Garland for his stewardship of the Department of Justice. And most of all I am thankful for our people here in Arizona – the dedicated prosecutors, victim advocates and administrative professionals at the United States Attorney’s Office, as well as the agents, analysts, and accountants at our federal law enforcement agencies – who work collaboratively and collegially with state and local partners and leaders of underserved communities to make Arizona a better and safer place.”

    Since 2021 the Office has continued its strong efforts at border security, enhanced violent crime prosecutions and increased civil rights prosecutions and interventions.

    Border Security

    Violent Crime Prosecutions

    Civil Rights

    Mr. Restaino became United States Attorney in November 2021 after 20 years of service as a federal employee, including two years in the Peace Corps in Paraguay and 18 years as an Assistant United States Attorney here in Arizona. During his tenure, Mr. Restaino served on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, advising Attorney General Garland on matters of policy, procedure, and management, and also elevating the voices of the U.S. Attorney community in Washington. In addition, for nearly 90 days in the spring and summer of 2022, and at the direction of President Biden, Mr. Restaino served the women and men of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as their Acting Director, pending the confirmation of the agency’s nominee.

    Pursuant to the Vacancy Reform Act, career prosecutor and First Assistant United States Attorney Rachel C. Hernandez currently serves as the Acting United States Attorney for the District.

    The United States Attorney’s Office represents the interests of the United States in criminal and civil cases in federal court in Arizona, coordinates the efforts of its federal law enforcement partners, advocates for the rights of victims, and enhances and strengthens communities through dialogue, outreach, and engagement. The Office currently has approximately 180 Assistant United States Attorneys and approximately 160 additional administrative professionals spread between two large offices in Phoenix and Tucson, and two smaller branch offices in Yuma and Flagstaff.
     

    RELEASE NUMBER:    2025-018_Departure of United States Attorney Gary M. Restaino

    # # #

    For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
    Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

     

    2025-018_Departure of United States Attorney Gary M. Restaino

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mexican national admits intent to distribute cocaine following ICE investigation

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    CAMDEN, N.J. – A Mexican national admitted to trafficking cocaine and illegally reentering the United States after previously sustaining an aggravated felony conviction, following an investigation by ICE Homeland Security Investigations Newark.

    Anastacio Santiago Chaparro, aka Arnoldo Urquidez, 41, pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and illegal reentry by a convicted felon, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey announced on Feb. 7.

    “Our collaboration with the DEA in this investigation thwarted this criminal alien’s plan to introduce a harmful amount of cocaine into New Jersey’s neighborhoods,” said ICE HSI Newark Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel. “We are committed to keeping our communities safe by bringing drug traffickers to justice and holding them accountable for the violent crimes that often come with their illicit business.”

    According to the investigation, on Nov. 6, 2023, Santiago Chaparro was caught by law enforcement transporting a backpack that contained over 10 kilograms of cocaine. Santiago Chaparro admitted that the cocaine was intended for distribution. Additionally, Santiago Chaparro had been deported from the United States to Mexico three times and previously sustained a conviction for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, an aggravated felony.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Franklin Electric Reports Fourth Quarter 2024 and Full Year 2024 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Fourth Quarter 2024 Highlights

    • Consolidated net sales of $485.7 million, an increase of 3% to the prior year
    • Energy Systems and Distribution net sales increased 5% and 6%, respectively, while Water Systems net sales were flat
    • Operating income was $43.0 million with operating margin of 8.9%
    • GAAP fully diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $0.72

    Full Year 2024 Highlights

    • Consolidated net sales of $2.0 billion, a decrease of 2% to the prior year
    • Distribution net sales increased 2%, while Water Systems and Energy Systems net sales decreased 2% and 8%, respectively
    • Operating income was $243.6 million with operating margin of 12.1%
    • GAAP fully diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $3.86
    • Cash flows from operating activities were $261.4 million

    FORT WAYNE, Ind., Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Franklin Electric Co., Inc. today announced its fourth quarter and full year financial results for fiscal year 2024.

    Fourth quarter 2024 net sales were $485.7 million, compared to fourth quarter 2023 net sales of $473.0 million. Fourth quarter 2024 operating income was $43.0 million, compared to fourth quarter 2023 operating income of $50.8 million. Fourth quarter 2024 EPS was $0.72, versus EPS in the fourth quarter 2023 of $0.82.

    Full year 2024 net sales were $2.0 billion, compared to full year 2023 net sales of $2.1 billion. Full year 2024 operating income was $243.6 million, compared to full year 2023 operating income of $262.4 million. Full year 2024 EPS was $3.86, versus EPS in the full year 2023 of $4.11.

    “The fourth quarter marked a solid finish to a challenging year. Our results were driven by strong performance in our newly renamed Energy Systems segment. While we have worked through the elevated post-COVID backlogs at this time, underlying demand remains healthy, and we continue to execute on productivity initiatives as we align our businesses with the more normalized environment,” commented Joe Ruzynski, Franklin Electric’s CEO.

    “Our resiliency is supported by the breadth of our global portfolio, which has proven to be a strategic asset as we closed out a year shaped by macroeconomic pressures. Order trends have improved, and with the support of a very healthy balance sheet, we are well-positioned to capitalize on opportunities in the year ahead. In 2025, our focus turns to driving revenue growth and margin expansion as we accelerate innovation and growth,” concluded Mr. Ruzynski.

    Segment Summaries

    Water Systems net sales were $279.6 million in the fourth quarter, flat compared to the fourth quarter 2023. Results were driven by higher sales of groundwater products, water treatment products and all other surface products. These sales increases were offset by lower sales of large dewatering pumps, which had a record fourth quarter last year. Water Systems operating income in the fourth quarter 2024 was $35.6 million. Fourth quarter 2023 Water Systems operating income was $44.1 million.

    Distribution net sales were $157.2 million, an increase of $9.2 million or 6 percent compared to the fourth quarter 2023. Sales increases were driven by higher volumes and the incremental impact from a recent acquisition. The Distribution segment operating income in the fourth quarter 2024 was $0.5 million. Fourth quarter 2023 Distribution operating income was $1.0 million.

    Energy Systems net sales were $68.8 million in the fourth quarter 2024, an increase of $3.1 million or 5 percent compared to the fourth quarter 2023. Sales increases were driven by higher volumes and price realization. Energy Systems operating income in the fourth quarter 2024 was a record for any fourth quarter at $24.7 million. Fourth quarter 2023 Energy Systems operating income was $19.4 million. The Company has changed the name of the Fueling Systems segment to Energy Systems to reflect its diverse portfolio and growth strategy, as well as to better reflect the markets and customers served by the segment.

    Cash Flow

    The Company ended 2024 with a cash balance of $220.5 million, an increase of $135.5 million compared to the end of 2023. Net cash flows from operating activities for 2024 were $261.4 million versus $315.7 million in the same period in 2023. Cash flow in 2023 benefitted from actions the Company took to improve working capital including inventory reductions as its supply chain resiliency and lead times improved during the year.

    2024 Guidance

    The Company expects its full year 2025 sales including the impact of its recently announced acquisitions to be in the range of $2.09 billion to $2.15 billion and full year 2025 EPS to be in the range of $4.05 to $4.25.

    Earnings Conference Call

    A conference call to review earnings and other developments in the business will commence at 9:00 am ET. The fourth quarter 2024 earnings call will be available via a live webcast. The webcast will be available in a listen only mode by going to:

    https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/9jnstij5

    For those interested in participating in the question-and-answer portion of the call, please register for the call at the link below.

    https://register.vevent.com/register/BI4b232e4ceea6435ba8f046e92e18e563

    All registrants will receive dial-in information and a PIN allowing them to access the live call. It is recommended that you join 10 minutes prior to the event start (although you may register and dial in at any time during the call).

    A replay of the conference call will be available from Tuesday, February 18, 2025, through 9:00 am ET on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, by visiting the listen-only webcast link above.

    Forward Looking Statements

    “Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements contained herein, including those relating to market conditions or the Company’s financial results, costs, expenses or expense reductions, profit margins, inventory levels, foreign currency translation rates, liquidity expectations, business goals and sales growth, involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, risks and uncertainties with respect to general economic and currency conditions, various conditions specific to the Company’s business and industry, weather conditions, new housing starts, market demand, competitive factors, changes in distribution channels, supply constraints, effect of price increases,  raw material costs, technology factors, integration of acquisitions, litigation, government and regulatory actions, the Company’s accounting policies, future trends, epidemics and pandemics, and other risks which are detailed in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, included in Item 1A of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, Exhibit 99.1 attached thereto and in Item 1A of Part II of the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. These risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements made herein are based on information currently available, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

    About Franklin Electric

    Franklin Electric is a global leader in the production and marketing of systems and components for the movement of water and energy. Recognized as a technical leader in its products and services, Franklin Electric serves customers around the world in residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial, municipal, and fueling applications. Franklin Electric is proud to be named in Newsweek’s lists of America’s Most Responsible Companies and Most Trustworthy Companies for 2024 and America’s Climate Leaders 2024 by USA Today.

    Franklin Electric Contact:

    Jeffery L. Taylor
    Franklin Electric Co., Inc.
    InvestorRelations@fele.com

     
    FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
    (Unaudited)
                   
    (In thousands, except per share amounts)              
                   
      Fourth Quarter Ended   Fiscal Year End
      December 31,   December 31,   December 31,   December 31,
      2024   2023   2024   2023
                   
    Net sales $ 485,745     $ 472,970     $ 2,021,341     $ 2,065,133  
                   
    Cost of sales   321,505       312,961       1,304,061       1,368,125  
                   
    Gross profit   164,240       160,009       717,280       697,008  
                   
    Selling, general, and administrative expenses   117,846       108,825       470,136       433,476  
                   
    Restructuring expense   3,360       356       3,499       1,091  
                   
    Operating income   43,034       50,828       243,645       262,441  
                   
    Interest expense   (1,339 )     (1,481 )     (6,319 )     (11,790 )
    Other income, net   630       1,831       1,339       3,696  
    Foreign exchange expense, net   (1,590 )     (4,026 )     (6,818 )     (12,124 )
                   
    Income before income taxes   40,735       47,152       231,847       242,223  
                   
    Income tax expense   6,443       8,322       50,238       47,489  
                   
    Net income $ 34,292     $ 38,830     $ 181,609     $ 194,734  
                   
    Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests   (637 )     (281 )     (1,300 )     (1,462 )
                   
    Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc. $ 33,655     $ 38,549     $ 180,309     $ 193,272  
                   
    Income per share:              
    Basic $ 0.73     $ 0.83     $ 3.92     $ 4.17  
    Diluted $ 0.72     $ 0.82     $ 3.86     $ 4.11  
                   
    FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (Unaudited)
           
    (In thousands)      
           
      December 31,   December 31,
      2024   2023
    ASSETS      
           
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 220,540     $ 84,963  
    Receivables (net)   226,826       222,418  
    Inventories   483,875       508,696  
    Other current assets   32,950       37,718  
    Total current assets   964,191       853,795  
           
    Property, plant, and equipment, net   223,566       229,739  
    Lease right-of-use Assets, net   62,637       57,014  
    Goodwill and other assets   570,212       587,574  
    Total assets $ 1,820,606     $ 1,728,122  
           
           
    LIABILITIES AND EQUITY      
           
    Accounts payable $ 157,046     $ 152,419  
    Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   139,989       104,949  
    Current lease liability   18,878       17,316  
    Current maturities of long-term debt and short-term borrowings   117,814       12,355  
    Total current liabilities   433,727       287,039  
           
    Long-term debt   11,622       88,056  
    Long-term lease liability   43,304       38,549  
    Income taxes payable non-current   –       4,837  
    Deferred income taxes   10,193       29,461  
    Employee benefit plans   29,808       35,973  
    Other long-term liabilities   22,118       33,914  
     
    Redeemable noncontrolling interest   1,224       1,145  
           
    Total equity   1,268,610       1,209,148  
    Total liabilities and equity $ 1,820,606     $ 1,728,122  
           
    FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
    (Unaudited)
    (In thousands)      
           
      2024   2023
    Cash flows from operating activities:      
    Net income $ 181,609     $ 194,734  
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:      
    Depreciation and amortization   56,073       52,260  
    Non-cash lease expense   21,438       18,852  
    Share-based compensation   12,061       10,133  
    Other   (13,327 )     10,259  
    Changes in assets and liabilities:      
    Receivables   (17,045 )     19,150  
    Inventory   10,889       48,176  
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses   15,285       (23,085 )
    Operating leases   (21,129 )     (18,874 )
    Income taxes-U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act   (3,870 )     (2,902 )
    Other   19,369       7,007  
           
    Net cash flows from operating activities   261,353       315,710  
           
    Cash flows from investing activities:      
    Additions to property, plant, and equipment   (41,682 )     (41,415 )
    Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment   1,182       1,494  
    Acquisitions and investments   (5,201 )     (34,831 )
    Other investing activities   73       463  
           
    Net cash flows from investing activities   (45,628 )     (74,289 )
           
    Cash flows from financing activities:      
    Net change in debt   29,235       (115,529 )
    Proceeds from issuance of common stock   7,204       9,193  
    Purchases of common stock   (61,041 )     (43,332 )
    Dividends paid   (46,876 )     (41,723 )
    Deferred payments for acquisitions   (2,591 )     (802 )
           
    Net cash flows from financing activities   (74,069 )     (192,193 )
           
    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash   (6,079 )     (10,055 )
    Net change in cash and cash equivalents   135,577       39,173  
    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   84,963       45,790  
    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 220,540     $ 84,963  
           

    Key Performance Indicators: Net Sales Summary

      Net Sales For the Fourth Quarter
      United
    States    		 Latin Europe,
    Middle    		 Asia Total        
    (in millions) & Canada America East & Africa Pacific Water Energy** Distribution Other/Elims Consolidated
                       
    Q4 2023 $161.2   $46.6   $45.5   $26.3   $279.6   $65.7   $148.0   ($20.3 ) $473.0  
    Q4 2024 $158.5   $44.3   $49.7   $27.1   $279.6   $68.8   $157.2   ($19.9 ) $485.7  
    Change ($2.7 ) ($2.3 ) $4.2   $0.8   $0.0   $3.1   $9.2   $0.4   $12.7  
    % Change   -2 %   -5 %   9 %   3 %   0 %   5 %   6 %     3 %
                       
    Foreign currency translation, net* ($0.4 ) ($5.5 ) ($0.8 ) ($0.8 ) ($7.5 ) $0.0   $0.0     ($7.5 )
    % Change   0 %   -12 %   -2 %   -3 %   -3 %   0 %   0 %     2 %
                       
    Acquisitions $3.1   $0.0   $0.0   $0.0   $3.1   $0.0   $4.0     $7.1  
    % Change   2 %   0 %   0 %   0 %   1 %   0 %   3 %     2 %
                       
    Volume/Price ($5.4 ) $3.2   $5.0   $1.6   $4.4   $3.1   $5.2   $0.4   $13.1  
    % Change   -3 %   7 %   11 %   6 %   2 %   5 %   4 %   -2 %   3 %
                       
      Net Sales For the Full Year
      United
    States    		 Latin Europe,
    Middle    		 Asia Total        
    (in millions) & Canada America East & Africa Pacific Water Energy** Distribution Other/Elims Consolidated
                       
    FY 2023 $744.4   $174.2   $198.3   $86.8   $1,203.7   $296.5   $673.3   ($108.4 ) $2,065.1  
    FY 2024 $708.5   $170.9   $211.4   $93.2   $1,184.0   $273.7   $685.5   ($121.9 ) $2,021.3  
    Change ($35.9 ) ($3.3 ) $13.1   $6.4   ($19.7 ) ($22.8 ) $12.2   ($13.5 ) ($43.8 )
    % Change   -5 %   -2 %   7 %   7 %   -2 %   -8 %   2 %     -2 %
                       
    Foreign currency translation, net* ($0.9 ) ($9.7 ) ($6.3 ) ($2.4 ) ($19.3 ) $0.0   $0.0     ($19.3 )
    % Change   0 %   -6 %   -3 %   -3 %   -2 %   0 %   0 %     -1 %
                       
    Acquisitions $17.6   $0.0   $0.0   $0.0   $17.6   $0.0   $17.1     $34.7  
    % Change   2 %   0 %   0 %   0 %   1 %   0 %   3 %     2 %
                       
    Volume/Price ($52.6 ) $6.4   $19.4   $8.8   ($18.0 ) ($22.8 ) ($4.9 ) ($13.5 ) ($59.2 )
    % Change   -7 %   4 %   10 %   10 %   -1 %   -8 %   -1 %   12 %   -3 %
                       

    *The Company has presented local currency price increases used to offset currency devaluation in the Argentina and Turkey hyperinflationary economies within the foreign currency translation, net row above.
    ** Recognizing the Company’s diverse portfolio and growth strategy, it renamed its Fueling Systems segment to Energy Systems to better reflect the markets and customers served by this business.

    Key Performance Indicators: Operating Income and Margin Summary

    Operating Income and Margins          
    (in millions) For the Fourth Quarter 2024
      Water Energy Distribution Other/Elims Consolidated
    Operating Income / (Loss) $ 35.6   $ 24.7   $ 0.5   $ (17.8 ) $ 43.0  
    % Operating Income To Net Sales   12.7 %   35.9 %   0.3 %     8.9 %
               
    Operating Income and Margins          
    (in millions) For the Fourth Quarter 2023
      Water Energy Distribution Other/Elims Consolidated
    Operating Income / (Loss) $ 44.1   $ 19.4   $ 1.0   $ (13.7 ) $ 50.8  
    % Operating Income To Net Sales   15.8 %   29.5 %   0.7 %     10.7 %
               
    Operating Income and Margins          
    (in millions) For the Full Year of 2024
      Water Energy Distribution Other/Elims Consolidated
    Operating Income / (Loss) $ 197.9   $ 93.6   $ 24.3   $ (72.2 ) $ 243.6  
    % Operating Income To Net Sales   16.7 %   34.2 %   3.5 %     12.1 %
               
    Operating Income and Margins          
    (in millions) For the Full Year of 2023
      Water Energy Distribution Other/Elims Consolidated
    Operating Income / (Loss) $ 196.6   $ 92.7   $ 34.3   $ (61.2 ) $ 262.4  
    % Operating Income To Net Sales   16.3 %   31.3 %   5.1 %     12.7 %
               

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Matador Technologies Provides Updates on Recent Conference Attendance and Upcoming Industry Engagements

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Matador Technologies Inc. (“Matador” or the “Company”) (TSXV: MATA) announces its recent participation in key industry events and provides updates on upcoming engagements.

    Max & Stacy’s Bitcoin Golf Invitational – El Salvador

    Matador recently attended Max & Stacy’s Bitcoin Golf Invitational in El Salvador, an industry event focused on Bitcoin and blockchain developments. The conference facilitated discussions with industry participants, investors, and other stakeholders relevant to Matador’s Bitcoin treasury strategy.

    The Inaugural Crypto Ball – Washington, D.C.

    On January 17, Matador attended the inaugural Crypto Ball at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C. Hosted by BTC Inc. and co-hosted by Stand With Crypto, Exodus, Anchorage Digital, and Kraken. The event convened industry participants, policy stakeholders, and corporate sponsors, providing insights into evolving regulatory and market dynamics.

    AlphaNorth Capital Event – Bahamas

    On January 18-19, Matador participated in the AlphaNorth Capital Event in the Bahamas, hosted by Capital Event Management. The event facilitated meetings with investment professionals and discussions on emerging industry trends.

    Upcoming Industry Engagements

    AlphaNorth Capital Event – Whistler, Canada

    Matador will attend the 15th Annual Whistler Capital Event from February 21–23, 2025, hosted by Capital Event Management. The event will bring together companies and investment professionals for meetings and discussions on market developments.

    The 8th Annual Growth Conference – Toronto, Canada

    Matador will participate in the 8th Annual Growth Conference from March 3–6, 2025, hosted by Centurion One Capital at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto. The conference will feature company presentations, panel discussions, and networking sessions with investors and industry professionals.

    PDAC Conference – Toronto

    Matador will also participate in the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Conference in March 2025. PDAC is a global industry event focused on mineral exploration and mining, providing an opportunity to discuss the intersection of blockchain technology with traditional asset classes.

    Matador looks forward to leveraging these events to foster relationships with institutional investors, gain insights into emerging market trends, and explore potential partnerships.

    For additional information, please contact:

    Media Contact:
    Sunny Ray
    President
    Email: sunny@matador.network

    Phone: 647-932-2668

    About Matador Technologies Inc.
    Matador Technologies Inc. is a digital gold platform leveraging blockchain technology to digitize real-world assets like gold. Focused on building innovative financial solutions, Matador is at the forefront of integrating blockchain technology to preserve and grow value. Matador’s digital gold platform aims to democratize the gold buying experience, combining the best of modern technology and time-proven assets, to create an app that will allow users to buy, sell, and store gold 24/7 in a fun and engaging way.

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

    NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

    This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

    Forward Looking Statements – Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with the implementation of the Company’s treasury management strategy and the launch of its mobile application as currently proposed or at all. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including with respect to the potential acquisition of Bitcoin and/or US dollars, the pricing of such acquisitions and the timing of future operations. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Lantronix Expands Latin American Market Reach Through Strategic Partnership With Ion LATAM

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lantronix Inc. (NASDAQ: LTRX), a global leader of compute and connectivity for IoT solutions enabling AI Edge Intelligence, today announced a strategic partnership with Ion LATAM, a premier sales and marketing manufacturer’s representative organization covering Mexico, Central America and South America. Designed to broaden Lantronix’s market presence in Latin America, this relationship will expand access of its cutting-edge IoT and AI Edge solutions to the companies’ mutual customers.

    “We are pleased to add Ion LATAM to our network of trusted partners and are excited about growing our business in Latin America in response to the increasing demand for secure, reliable IoT solutions,” said Kurt Hoff, VP of Global Sales & Marketing at Lantronix. “This relationship represents a significant milestone in Lantronix’s ongoing commitment to delivering innovative products and services throughout Latin America and the world at large.”

    Under this agreement, Ion LATAM will promote Lantronix’s comprehensive IoT and intelligence edge product portfolio and will also provide expert technical support to customers in Latin America. By leveraging Ion LATAM’s deep industry expertise and customer relationships, the alliance is poised to accelerate the adoption of Lantronix’s innovative solutions across Mexico, Central America and South America.

    “We are thrilled to partner with Lantronix,” said Toby Lasley, president of Ion LATAM. “As a manufacturer representative, we see immense value in offering Lantronix’s world-class IoT and AI Edge Intelligent products,, engineering services and AI-powered Out-of-Band solutions to our customers. This collaboration aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver leading-edge technology to our markets.”

    About Lantronix

    Lantronix Inc. is a global leader of compute and connectivity IoT solutions that target high-growth markets, including Smart Cities, Enterprise and Transportation. Lantronix’s products and services empower companies to succeed in the growing IoT markets by delivering customizable solutions that enable AI Edge Intelligence. Lantronix’s advanced solutions include Intelligent Substations infrastructure, Infotainment systems and Video Surveillance, supplemented with advanced Out-of-Band Management (OOB) for Cloud and Edge Computing.

    For more information, visit the Lantronix website.

    “Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws, including, without limitation, statements related to Lantronix leadership. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results, future business, financial condition, or performance to differ materially from our historical results or those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement contained in this news release. The potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, such factors as the effects of negative or worsening regional and worldwide economic conditions or market instability on our business, including effects on purchasing decisions by our customers; our ability to mitigate any disruption in our and our suppliers’ and vendors’ supply chains due to the COVID-19 pandemic or other outbreaks, wars and recent tensions in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, or other factors; future responses to and effects of public health crises; cybersecurity risks; changes in applicable U.S. and foreign government laws, regulations, and tariffs; our ability to successfully implement our acquisitions strategy or integrate acquired companies; difficulties and costs of protecting patents and other proprietary rights; the level of our indebtedness, our ability to service our indebtedness and the restrictions in our debt agreements; and any additional factors included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on Sept. 9, 2024, including in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part I of that report, as well as in our other public filings with the SEC. Additional risk factors may be identified from time to time in our future filings. In addition, actual results may differ as a result of additional risks and uncertainties of which we are currently unaware or which we do not currently view as material to our business. For these reasons, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements we make speak only as of the date on which they are made. We expressly disclaim any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date hereof to conform such statements to actual results or to changes in our opinions or expectations, except as required by applicable law or the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC. If we do update or correct any forward-looking statements, investors should not conclude that we will make additional updates or corrections.

    ©2025 Lantronix, Inc. All rights reserved. Lantronix is a registered trademark. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners.

    Lantronix Media Contact:
    Gail Kathryn Miller
    Corporate Marketing &
    Communications Manager
    media@lantronix.com

    Lantronix Analyst and Investor Contact:
    investors@lantronix.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Cuba: One month after releases were announced, hundreds remain in prison

    Source: Amnesty International –

    On 14 January, the Cuban authorities announced that “in the spirit of the Ordinary Jubilee of 2025” and following talks with Pope Francis, they would release 553 people from prison. At the same time, the United States government announced that, among other measures, it would remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. Although both countries denied any agreement, White House sources confirmed that a significant number of people would be released following the announcement, particularly those linked to the protests of 11 July 2021. To date, Cuban human rights organizations have registered the release of more than 171 persons who had been arbitrarily detained for political reasons. In this regard, Ana Piquer, Americas director at Amnesty International, stated:

    “The release process has been marred by irregularities and a lack of state transparency. The Cuban authorities have not acknowledged the existence of individuals detained for political reasons, nor have they provided a list of the names of those to be included in the process. They have also been unwilling to guarantee the immediate and unconditional release of prisoners of conscience such as Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, Maykel Castillo, Loreto Hernández, Roberto Pérez Fonseca and Saylí Navarro. These individuals and all those imprisoned simply for speaking out must be released,” added Ana Piquer.

    “The release process has been marred by irregularities and a lack of state transparency. The Cuban authorities (…) have also been unwilling to guarantee the immediate and unconditional release of prisoners of conscience such as Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, Maykel Castillo, Loreto Hernández, Roberto Pérez Fonseca and Saylí Navarro. These individuals and all those imprisoned simply for speaking out must be released”

    -Ana Piquer, Americas director at Amnesty International

    The releases have been characterized by the exclusion of the victims and their families, and the absence of guarantees that they will not be detained again if they are perceived to be dissenting voices or opponents of the government. Those released and their families were given only a few hours’ notice of their release, usually at night. In many cases, the authorities informed them that they had been granted a prison benefit – in most cases conditional release – with no explanation or guarantees as to the conditions or their legal status.

    “Hundreds of families have been torn between anguish and hope, waiting for a phone call or other form of communication, without any criteria or element that would allow them to know if their relatives would be released. The continuing context of repression and failure to acknowledge the arbitrariness and injustice of the legal proceedings against these people place them in a situation of extreme violation of their rights,” said Ana Piquer.

    Hundreds of families have been torn between anguish and hope, waiting for a phone call or other form of communication, without any criteria or element that would allow them to know if their relatives would be released. The continuing context of repression and failure to acknowledge the arbitrariness and injustice of the legal proceedings against these people place them in a situation of extreme violation of their rights

    -Ana Piquer, Americas director at Amnesty International

    The Cuban authorities have not provided a list of those who may be released. They have insisted that such releases do not constitute a pardon, and that those released would receive the prison benefits established in Cuban law.

    The organization Justicia 11J has verified the release of 172 persons and reported that a further nine people who had already been released from prison were informed that the legal benefits originally granted to them had been changed. Most of those released were serving sentences for their participation in the 11 July protests, having been charged with “public disorder”, “contempt” and “assault”, offences typically used by the Cuban authorities to punish peaceful protest and the exercise of the right to freedom of expression and association.

    While prisoners of conscience José Daniel Ferrer, Félix Navarro, Luis Robles and Donaida Pérez Paseiro are now with their families, they have all denounced restrictions on the exercise of their human rights as part of the conditions of their release.

    Prisoner of conscience Pedro Albert, for example, who was released on parole in November 2024, was informed that his benefit was to be changed to conditional release and told that failure to accept the change would risk his return to prison. On 21 January 2025, Pedro Albert was arbitrarily detained for a few hours, interrogated and then fined for visiting the offices of the Damas de Blanco.

    Similarly, prisoner of conscience Donaida Pérez Paseiro reported that her husband, prisoner of conscience Loreto Hernández, was informed that his possible release would only be granted if she renounced her activism and refrained from speaking to the media, as she has denounced prison conditions and expressed her intention to continue defending human rights following her release.

    Opposition leader and prisoner of conscience José Daniel Ferrer García was released on 16 January, having spent over three years in prison. Since then, persons close to him have been threatened for visiting him and the mobile phones they lent him for his initial communications have had their internet access blocked. José Daniel Ferrer told Amnesty International that he had refused to sign the conditions of his release and that he had been removed from the prison premises without being allowed to collect his personal belongings.

    On 20 January 2025, Donald Trump’s administration repealed the measures taken by the government of then-President Biden, including the removal of Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. Although the Cuban government has insisted that the release process was a sovereign and unilateral decision, organizations monitoring the process have reported that no new releases have taken place since 21 January.

    “The possible cancellation or pause in releases is alarming, as it would seem to indicate that political prisoners have once again been dehumanized and used as bargaining chips in a political game, with no regard for their lives, their physical integrity or their rights,” said Ana Piquer.

    The possible cancellation or pause in releases is alarming, as it would seem to indicate that political prisoners have once again been dehumanized and used as bargaining chips in a political game, with no regard for their lives, their physical integrity or their rights

    -Ana Piquer, Americas director at Amnesty International

    Given this situation, Amnesty International urges the Cuban authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all those unjustly imprisoned in Cuba for exercising their human rights. “While these releases were taking place, political activists and human rights defenders have been arbitrarily detained and have suffered harassment and intimidation because of their work. The Cuban government must repeal repressive laws and cease these systematic practices of repression against dissidents,” concluded Ana Piquer.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Lesetja Kganyago: Institutions, leadership and the populist challenge

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Good day and thank you for inviting me to give this keynote address.

    Let me join you all in congratulating Andile Nikani on his appointment as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa.

    Arbitrators work to achieve fair outcomes. Fairness is an objective that is valued universally, even by children from an early age. But arbitrators like you also achieve something else.

    As the field of law and economics has shown us, when you apply economic reasoning to law, you often find that traditional legal approaches overlook the importance of efficiency. In a dispute, especially a professional dispute, parties fear long delays and excessive costs. If you get stuck in a process like that, even winning offers little consolation.

    So let me commend you, not only for ensuring fairness, but also for doing it efficiently enough that parties freely choose you to resolve their conflicts and voluntarily accept your decisions.

    For this keynote, I have chosen a subject that I hope will interest both economists and lawyers. I want to talk about the populist challenge to institutions and what it means for leaders.

    The fact is that populism is widespread in the world.

    It was once seen as a developing-country phenomenon − something rooted in places like Argentina − and not much of an issue in mature democracies. But no one believes that now, especially not since 2016, with the surprise outcomes of the Brexit referendum and the United States election. Last year − the year of elections − made that point even clearer. Whether we are talking about rich countries or poorer ones, there is no denying that we are in an age of populism. We need to reflect on why populist ideas have this appeal, and how we can respond.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – El Salvador–United States agreement to send criminals to Salvadorian prisons – E-000494/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000494/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Jorge Buxadé Villalba (PfE)

    El Salvador and the US are finalising, among other things, the transfer of offenders and criminals from US prisons to prisons built by President Nayib Bukele in El Salvador[1].

    A range of prisoners would be transferred under this agreement, from Salvadorian citizens who are in the US illegally to illegal immigrants of other nationalities and dangerous criminals that are US citizens or are legally residing in the US, in exchange for payment covering the associated costs.

    This collaborative policy of solidarity makes the agreement mutually beneficial; the US will be able to reduce overcrowding in its prisons and the Salvadorian prison system will receive more funding.

    In Europe, in regions such as Catalonia, official data shows that foreign prisoners outnumber local prisoners[2].

    In light of this:

    • 1.When will the Commission present its draft agreement for deporting illegal immigrants in order to free up European prisons?
    • 2.Coupled with the establishment of detention centres in third countries, does the Commission think that these measures could stop the endless flow of illegal immigrants to Europe?
    • 3.Does the Commission consider a similar model of transferring illegal immigrants and criminals to prisons in third countries to be viable?

    Submitted: 4.2.2025

    • [1] https://www.state.gov/secretary-of-state-marco-rubio-and-salvadoran-foreign-minister-alexandra-hill-tinoco-at-the-signing-of-a-memorandum-of-understanding-concerning-strategic-civil-nuclear-cooperation/.
    • [2] https://www.larazon.es/cataluna/generalitat-cataluna-admite-que-hay-mas-presos-inmigrantes-que-espanoles_2024122367692c97bc785b0001689737.html.
    Last updated: 18 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Enhance Strengths and Thrive through Innovation and Connectivity (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat, chaired Customs’ 2024 year-end press conference held at the Customs Headquarters Building today (February 18) to review the department’s law enforcement results and sustainability in the provision of trade and clearance facilitation during the year. Mr Chan also outlined that, while carrying on its fine tradition of providing simple and efficient customs clearance that makes Hong Kong a trading and logistic hub for different sectors, the department will actively adopt new technology, adjust enforcement strategies and reinforce collaboration with other customs administrations to enhance enforcement efficiency. Hong Kong Customs will continue its efforts to strengthen and uphold its leading role in customs affairs and combat cross-boundary crimes in the Asia-Pacific region.  

    Overall enforcement situation
    ———————————
     
         In 2024, a total of 31 242 cases were detected, an increase of 63 per cent from the 2023 figure. About 68 per cent of the cases are related to illicit cigarettes, followed by cases related to dangerous drugs and intellectual property rights infringement.

    Illicit cigarettes
    ——————
     
         On the anti-illicit cigarette operation front, the number of detected cases in 2024 increased by 80 per cent to 21 284 cases from 2023, with 614 million cigarettes seized, representing a 6 per cent drop as compared to the figure for 2023.

         The significant increase in the number of illicit cigarette cases stemmed from a huge surge in cases involving inbound persons bringing in cigarettes exceeding the duty-free concessions by imposing a penalty on offences compoundable. Such cases rocketed by 94 per cent to 19 072 cases from 2023. Moreover, 40 large-scale illicit cigarette smuggling cases were detected last year, which was the same as 2023.

         In addition, 2 451 cases involving alternative smoking products, with seizures of over 12 million pieces of relevant products, including electronic cigarettes and heat-not burn products, and 2 255 arrestees in total, were detected last year.
     
    Dangerous drugs
    ——————-
     
         In 2024, 1 363 drug cases were detected, which was about the same as the 2023 figure. A total seizure of about 6.3 tonnes of drugs was made, representing a drop of 33 per cent from 2023.

         The five major drug seizures in order of quantity were cannabis (2 874.8 kilograms, a 22 per cent increase), ketamine (1 202.8kg, a 34 per cent decrease), methamphetamine (“Ice”) (1 111.7kg, a 50 per cent decrease), cocaine (711.4kg, a 64 per cent decrease) and MDMA (Ecstasy) (149.6kg, a 3 per cent decrease) compared to the figure for 2023.

         Customs noticed that drug syndicates resume to traffic drugs by exploiting inbound air passengers, and the number of such cases and seizure quantity showed a noticeable upward trend, with 113 relevant cases detected and 988kg drugs seized last year, representing an increase of 38 per cent and a 1.9-fold increase as compared to figures for 2023. Moreover, etomidate (the main ingredient of “space oil drug”) was put under control of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance on February 14, and Customs has stepped up enforcement efforts to combat the dangerous drug on various fronts.
          
    Smuggling
    ————
     
         A total of 233 smuggling cases with a seizure value of $4.340 billion in total were detected last year, representing an increase of 5 per cent and 37 per cent from 2023 respectively.
          
         Smuggling syndicates still mainly conduct smuggling activities by sea. Apart from making use of barges, speedboats and fishing vessels, Hong Kong Customs also found criminals using river trade vessels to smuggle large amounts of goods to nearby Mainland cities and Macao, or even adopting more circuitous routes by shipping goods overseas and then re-exporting them to the Mainland to evade the department’s detection.

    Money laundering
    ——————–
     
         Customs last year detected eight money laundering cases with $19 billion involved.
     
    Intellectual property rights
    ——————————
     
         Customs detected 783 intellectual property rights infringement cases last year, representing an annual increase of 11 per cent. The seizure value of infringing items increased 7 per cent to around $309 million (4 million items) as compared to the figure for 2023.

         As for Internet infringement, 130 cases were detected, representing an increase of 29 per cent from 2023.

         Customs last year applied the “communication right” under the Copyright Ordinance for the first time to detect a case of unauthorised communication of live football matches to the public by a restaurant in the course of business.

    Consumer protection
    ————————

         Customs last year received 12 436 complaints regarding suspected cases of violating the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO), a drop of 34 per cent from 2023. Among them, 11 601 complaints were handled:
     
    (i) Detailed investigations have been made on 7 492 complaints;
     
    (ii) The remaining 4 109 complaints have been closed since they were not in contravention of the TDO, or have been referred to other relevant departments or institutions for follow-up actions.
     
         There were 3 003 complaints involving fitness services last year, accounting for 47 per cent of the total number of complaints regarding services and an increase of 14-fold from 2023. This was mainly due to the announcement of business temporary closure of a chain fitness and beauty centre.

         Complaints on medicine shops involving quantities of unclear pricing units in selling ginseng and dried seafood, or Chinese medicine (also known as cases concerning catty, tael and mace) or sale of proprietary medicines slightly decreased to 497 cases in total, among which 86 percent were made by Mainland tourists. The department’s Quick Action Team has been deployed to handle and follow up with complaints by short-term visitors to Hong Kong, and 208 such complaints were handled last year, with 11 shop owners and staff arrested. Customs is also committed to conducting promotion and education through multiple channels, informing Mainland visitors about common unfair trade practices by medicine shops, deploying mobile promotion vehicles at popular tourist hotspots during festivals, conducting patrols with the Travel Industry Authority, and promoting compliance among traders.
     
    Clearance and trade facilitation
    ———————————–

         Customs has continued to facilitate clearance and trade and implement various related measures.
     
    (i) Since the full resumption of normal travel with the Mainland, the number of inbound and outbound passengers and vehicle trips at each control point was about 300 million and about 14.9 million. The number of inbound and outbound passengers has recovered to the number before the 2019 epidemic, while the number of vehicle trips has recovered to about 95 per cent. To further enhance clearance mode, Customs is actively participating in the redevelopment project of the boundary control point in Huanggang taken forward by the HKSAR Government and the Shenzhen Municipal Government, and will provide suggestions on the design and clearance mode of the boundary control point. Details are still under discussion.

    (ii) Based on the Smart Customs Blueprint, Customs has given full play to the advantages of innovative technologies, such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing and blockchain, and has introduced nine CT scanners that provide high-resolution three-dimensional scanning images and the function of automatically detecting contrabands, improving customs clearance efficiency and law enforcement capabilities. Also, the department is researching on the Customs Big Data Application System that could strengthen the capabilities to detect and crack down on smuggling and other crimes related to Customs through an integrated database.

    (iii) Customs actively expands the global network of the Hong Kong Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA). Last year, Customs signed the AEO MRAs with the Bahrain and the South African Customs. The MRAs with Saudi Arabia and the Philippines Customs are expected to be signed in early 2025. As of now, there are a total of 16 MRAs ratified between Hong Kong Customs and other economies. AEO MRA Action Plans with the United Arab Emirates, Lao, Chilean and Peruvian Customs were also concluded last year, while the discussion about MRA with other countries along the Belt and Road Initiative is ongoing.

    (iv) Hong Kong Customs and the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) actively enhanced the “Single Submission for Dual Declaration” Scheme. The Scheme was expanded to southbound cargo at all Shenzhen highway ports in November last year, and is planned to cover northbound cargo by the second quarter of 2025 or earlier. Under the Scheme, companies can synchronise cargo information declared with the system on the Mainland through the Hong Kong system, significantly reducing customs clearance time and possible declaration input errors. The Scheme is conducive to the design of system functions of the third phase of Hong Kong Trade Single Window.

    (v) Last year, Hong Kong and Mainland Customs actively extended the Single E-lock Scheme. As of December last year, the number of clearance points under the scheme has reached 93, including 66 in Guangdong, four in Hunan, six in Fujian, four in Macao and 13 in Hong Kong, providing the industries with more than 1 000 cross-boundary route options. Hong Kong Customs and the Nanning Customs are looking into extending the scheme to Guangxi.

    (vi) To cope with the rapid development of the global electronic commerce industry, Customs launched the Cross-boundary Express Cargo Clearance Facilitation Arrangement (CEFA), providing an innovative customs clearance model of “free flow through the first line and efficient control at the second line” to qualified logistics providers. A Memorandum of Understanding with an express courier company was signed at the end of last year, marking the official commencement of the CEFA. As of December last year, over 2 000 cargo vehicle trips and 470 000 declared goods were facilitated under the CEFA.
     
    Strengthen Mainland and international co-operation
    ———————————————————-
     
         Hong Kong Customs last year continued to reinforce connection with both the Mainland and the world, promoting two-way or multi-way communication and collaboration with different regions. These included meeting with the GACC on customs affairs and signing a co-operative arrangement about drug detector dogs; cohosting a conference on combating illicit cigarettes with the Australian authority; organising forums and workshops on combating money laundering and transnational organised crimes, and risk management and intelligence analysis with overseas law enforcement agencies.

         The co-operation between Hong Kong Customs and customs and enforcement agencies around the world has a long history, and the Customs Co-operative Arrangement (CCA) serves as the cornerstone for establishing and maintaining these co-operative relationships. As of last year, Hong Kong Customs signed the CCA with 31 customs authorities worldwide. Hong Kong Customs also signed a CCA with the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority of Saudi Arabia and is actively seeking co-operation with other Middle East countries.

         Since assuming the office of the Vice-Chairperson for the Asia/Pacific (A/P) region of the World Customs Organization (WCO) in July last year, Hong Kong Customs has hosted a series of global or regional meetings and workshops, covering areas such as combatting illicit cigarettes, canine enforcement and anti-money laundering, and gathered representatives from around the world to communicate and exchange views on relevant issues, hence strengthening co-operation among law enforcement agencies in the region.
     
    Human resources
    ——————–
     
         On manpower recruitment, the department continued to adopt an active recruitment strategy last year, including participating in large-scale career fairs and organising seminars, promoting recruitment through social media platforms, visiting different tertiary institutions to facilitate on-the-spot applications. Mainland Hong Kong students are one of the target groups for Customs recruitment. The department held recruitment seminars on the Mainland in March last year and received more than 290 applications on the spot. Last year, more than 8 400 applications were received for the recruitment of Customs Inspectors, an increase of 12 per cent compared with 2023. About 9 600 applications were received for the recruitment of Customs Officers, representing an about 13 per cent increase compared with 2023. Last year, 82 Customs Inspectors and 355 Customs Officers were recruited. The department will continue its recruitment exercise to fill vacancies this year.

         To strengthen officers’ training in various professional aspects, co-operative Memoranda of Understanding were also signed with the National Academy of Governance, the Vocational Training Council and the University of Hong Kong last year.
     
    Youth development
    ———————-

         Customs continues with its commitment to youth development work. By end-2024, Customs YES recruited 7 935 individual members and 58 organisation members, and held over 490 activities. In addition, a 40-person Foot Drill and Flag Party of the Customs Youth Leader Corps, the first youth group under the Security Bureau to perform Chinese-style rifle foot drill, was set up last year.

    Future development
    ———————–
     
         Hong Kong Customs, as the Vice-Chairperson for the A/P region of the WCO, will continue to foster connection, and promote trade facilitation measures and development in the A/P region by continuing to organise large-scale meetings and workshops on multiple topics this year, including data strategies, e-commerce and Smart Customs.

         Furthermore, Hong Kong Customs has suggested introducing a duty stamp system to differentiate and crack down on duty-not-paid illicit cigarettes during a public consultation on tobacco control by the Health Bureau (HHB). A consultancy study on the duty stamp system was launched by Hong Kong Customs, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau and the HHB, and the report has been completed by end-2024. Affixing duty-paid labels on the packages of cigarettes is proposed. Based on the report, Hong Kong Customs will invite cigarette manufacturers to participate in a pilot scheme on the duty stamp system to assess the feasibility and technical issues concerning the stamp duty system, which will help with Customs’ improvement work and the implementation of the system in future. The pilot scheme is expected to be rolled out in mid-2025, while the system is expected to be officially launched within 2026. Hong Kong Customs will announce the details to the industry and the public in due course.
     
    Conclusion
    ————
     
         Concluding his briefing, Mr Chan pledged that the department will continue to leverage Hong Kong’s distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world under “one country, two systems” to consolidate Hong Kong’s status as an international financial, shipping and trade centre.      

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: StaryDobry ruins New Year’s Eve, delivering miner instead of presents

    Source: Securelist – Kaspersky

    Headline: StaryDobry ruins New Year’s Eve, delivering miner instead of presents

    Introduction

    On December 31, cybercriminals launched a mass infection campaign, aiming to exploit reduced vigilance and increased torrent traffic during the holiday season. Our telemetry detected the attack, which lasted for a month and affected individuals and businesses by distributing the XMRig cryptominer. This previously unidentified actor is targeting users worldwide—including in Russia, Brazil, Germany, Belarus and Kazakhstan—by spreading trojanized versions of popular games via torrent sites.

    In this report, we analyze how the attacker evades detection and launches a sophisticated execution chain, employing a wide range of defense evasion techniques.

    Kaspersky’s products detect this threat as Trojan.Win64.StaryDobry.*, Trojan–Dropper.Win64.StaryDobry.*, HEUR:Trojan.Win64.StaryDobry.gen.

    Initial infection

    On December 31, while reviewing our telemetry, we first detected this massive infection. Further investigation revealed that the campaign was initially distributed via popular torrent trackers. Trojanized versions of popular games—such as BeamNG.drive, Garry’s Mod, Dyson Sphere Program, Universe Sandbox, and Plutocracy—were designed to launch a sophisticated infection chain, ultimately deploying a miner implant. These malicious releases were created in advance and uploaded around September 2024.

    Infection timeline

    Although the malicious releases were published by different authors, they were all cracked the same way.

    Malicious torrent available for download

    Among the compromised installers are popular simulator and sandbox games that require minimal disk space. Below is the distribution of affected users by game as of January 2025:

    Infected users per game (download)

    These releases, often referred to as “repacks”, were usually distributed in an archive. Let’s now take a closer look at one of the samples. Upon unpacking the archive, we found a trojanized installer.

    Technical details

    Trojanized installer

    After launching the installer (a Windows 32-bit GUI executable), we were welcomed with a GUI screen showing three options: install the game, choose the language, or quit.

    Installer screen

    This installer was created with Inno Setup. After decompiling the installer, we examined its code and found an interesting functionality.

    Decompiled installer code

    This code is responsible for extracting the malicious files used in this attack. First, it decrypts unrar.dll using the DECR function, which is a proxy for the RARExtract function within the rar.dll library. RARExtract decrypts unrar.dll using AES encryption with a hard-coded key, cls–precompx.dll. Next, additional files from the archive are dropped into the temporary directory, and execution proceeds to the RARGetDllVersion function within unrar.dll.

    Unrar.dll dropper

    First of all, the sample runs a series of methods to check if it’s being launched in a debugging environment. These methods search for debugger and sandbox modules injected into processes, and also check the registry and filesystem for certain popular software. If such software is detected, execution immediately terminates.

    Anti-debug checks example

    If the checks are passed, the malware executes cmd.exe to register unrar.dll as a command handler with regsvr32.exe. The sample attempts to query the following list of sites to determine the user’s IP address.

    This is done to identify the infected user’s location, specifically their country. If the malware fails to detect the IP address, it defaults the country code to CNOrBY (meaning “China or Belarus”). Next, the sample sends a request to hxxps://pinokino[.]fun/donate_button/game_id=%s&donate_text=%s with the following substitutions:

    • game_id = appended with DST_xxxx, where x represents digits. This value is passed as an argument from the installer; in this campaign, we discovered the variant DST_1448;
    • donate_text = appended with the country code.

    After this generic country check, the sample collects a fingerprint of the infected machine. This fingerprint consists of various parameters, forming a unique identifier as follows:

    This fingerprint is then encoded using URL-safe Base64 to be sent successfully over the network. Next, the malware retrieves MachineGUID from HKLMSoftwareMicrosoftCryptography and calculates its SHA256 checksum. It then collects 10 characters starting from the 20th position ( SHA256(MachineGUID)[20:30]). This hexadecimal sequence is used as the filename for two newly created files: %SystemRoot%%hash%.dat and %SystemRoot%%hash%.efi. The first file contains the encoded fingerprint, while the second is an empty decoy. The creation time of the .dat file is spoofed with a random date between 01/01/2015 and 12/25/2021. This file stores the Base64-encoded fingerprint.

    After this step, unrar.dll starts preparing to drop the decrypted MTX64.exe to the disk. First, it generates a new filename for the decrypted payload. The malware searches for files in %SystemRoot% or %SystemRoot%Sysnative. If these directories are empty, the decrypted MTX64.exe is written to the disk as Windows.Graphics.ThumbnailHandler.dll. Otherwise, unrar.dll creates a new file and names it by choosing a random file from the specified directories, taking its name, trimming its extension and appending a random suffix from a predefined list. Besides suffixes, this list contains junk data, most likely added to evade signature-based detection.

    Suffix list and junk data

    For example, if the malware finds a file named msvc140.dll in %SystemRoot%, it removes the extension and appends the resulting msvc140 with handler.dll (a random suffix from the list), resulting in msvc140handler.dll. The malware then writes the decrypted payload to the newly generated file in the %SystemRoot% folder.

    After that, the sample opens the encrypted MTX64.exe and decrypts it using AES-128 with a hard-coded key, cls–precompx.dll.

    The loader also carries out resource spoofing. First of all, it scans the _res.rc file for DLL property names and values—such as CompanyName, FileVersion and so on—and creates a dictionary of (key, value) pairs. Then it takes a random DLL from the %SystemRoot% folder (exiting if nothing is found), extracts its property values using the VerQueryValueW WinAPI, and replaces the corresponding dictionary values. The resulting resources are embedded into the decrypted MTX64.exe DLL. This file is then saved under the name generated in the previous step. Finally, unrar.dll changes the creation time of the resulting DLL using the same spoofing method as for the fingerprint file.

    Spoofed resources

    The dropped DLL is installed using the following command:

    MTX64

    This DLL is based on a public project called EpubShellExtThumbnailHandler, a Windows Shell Extension Thumbnail Handler. This stage completely mimics the legitimate behavior up until the actual thumbnail handling. It gets registered as a .lnk (shortcut) file handler, so whenever a .lnk file is opened, the DLL tries to process its thumbnail. However, here the sample implements its own version of the GetThumbnail interface function, and creates a separate thread to perform its malicious activities.

    First, this thread writes the current date and month in dd–mm format to the %TEMP%time_windows_com.ini file. This stage then retrieves MachineGUID from HKLMSOFTWAREMicrosoftCryptography, calculates SHA256(MachineGUID)[20 : 30], just like unrar.dll did. After that, it checks %SystemRoot% for the .dat file with this name. The presence of this file confirms that the infection is uninterrupted, prompting the DLL to extract the fingerprint and make a query to the hard-coded threat actors’ domain in the following format, where the UID is the fingerprint’s SHA256 hash.

    The server sends back a JSON that looks like {‘code’:‘reg’}. After this, the DLL makes another query to the server with an additional field, data, which is the Base64-encoded fingerprint ( uid remains the same):

    Upon receiving this request, the server also sends a JSON. The malware checks its code field, which must be equal to either 322 or 200. If it is, the sample proceeds to extract the MD5 checksum from the flmd field in the same JSON and download the next-stage payload from the following link:

    Next, the sample calculates the MD5 checksum of the received payload (a kickstarter PE file), and checks this hash against the MD5 checksum from the JSON. If they match, the malware parses the PE structure to locate the Export Address Table, retrieves the kickstarter function address, and executes it.

    Kickstarter running

    Kickstarter

    The kickstarter PE has an encrypted blob in its resources. This stage reads the blob and stores it in a C++ vector of bytes.

    Resource reading

    After that, it chooses a random name for the payload using the same method as for MTX64.exe during the execution of unrar.dll. However, there is a difference: if nothing is found in %SystemRoot% or %SystemRoot%Sysnative, it chooses Unix.Directory.IconHandler.dll as a default file name. The payload is saved to %appdataRoamingMicrosoftCredentials%InstallDate%. To locate the InstallDate directory, the DLL retrieves the system installation date from the registry subkey HKLMSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionInstallDate.

    Then the blob is decrypted using the CryptoPP AES-128 implementation. The key consists of the sequence of bytes from x00 to x10. The decrypted contents are written onto the disk. This executable also spoofs its resources using the same method as for MTX64.exe, after which it executes the following command:

    The first argument is the system installation date, while the second one is the path to the dropped DLL. A scheduled task to register a server with regsvr32.exe is created, using the first argument as its name, with a suppressed warning, set to trigger at 00:00. The loader sends a GET request to the hard-coded address 45.200.149[.]58/conf.txt, implicitly setting the request header to User–Agent: StupidSandwichAgentrn.
    The loader then waits for a response from the server. If the response begins with act, the sample stops execution after creating the scheduled task. If the response is noactive, meaning the targeted device has not been registered previously, the sample tries to delete itself with the following command, which clears everything in the %temp% directory:

    Cleanup

    Unix.Directory.IconHandler.dll

    Subsequently, Unix.Directory.IconHandler.dll creates a mutex named com_curruser_mttx. If this mutex has already been created, execution stops immediately. Then the DLL searches for the %TEMP%_cache.binary file. If the sample can’t find it, it downloads the binary directly from 45.200.149[.]58 using a GET 44912.f request, with the same StupidSandwichAgent User-Agent header. This file is written to the temporary directory and then decrypted using AES-128 with the same key consisting of the x00–x10 byte sequence.

    The sample proceeds to open the current process, look for SeDebugPrivilege in the process token, and adjust it if applicable. We believe this is done to inject code into a newly created cmd.exe process. The author chose the easiest way possible, copying the entire open source injector, including its debug strings:

    Injector

    After injecting the code into the command interpreter, the sample enters an endless loop, continuously checking for taskmgr.exe and procmon.exe in the list of running processes. If either process is detected, the sample is shut down.

    Miner implant

    This implant is a slightly modified XMRig miner executable. Instead of parsing command-line arguments, it constructs a predefined command line.

    The last parameter is calculated from the CPU topology: the implant calls the GetSystemInfo API to check the number of processor cores. If there are fewer than 8, the miner does not start. Moreover, the attacker chose to host a mining pool server in their own infrastructure instead of using a public one.

    XMRig parses the constructed command line using its built-in functionality. The miner also creates a separate thread to check for process monitors running in the system, using the same method as in the previous stage:

    Anti-tracing

    Victims

    This campaign primarily targets regular users by distributing malicious repacks. Some organizations were also affected, but these seem to be compromised computers inside corporate infrastructures, rather than direct targets.

    Most of the infections have been observed in Russia, with additional cases in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Germany, and Brazil.

    Attribution

    There are no clear links between this campaign and any previously known crimeware actors, making attribution difficult. However, the use of Russian language in the PDB suggests the campaign may have been developed by a Russian-speaking actor.

    Conclusions

    StaryDobry tends to be a one-shot campaign. To deliver the miner implant, the actors implemented a sophisticated execution chain that exploited users seeking free games. This approach helped the threat actors make the most out of the miner implant by targeting powerful gaming machines capable of sustaining mining activity. Additionally, the attacker’s use of DoH helped conceal communication with their infrastructure, making it harder to detect and trace the campaign.

    Indicators of compromise

    File hashes

    15c0396687d4ff36657e0aa680d8ba42
    461a0e74321706f5c99b0e92548a1986
    821d29d3140dfd67fc9d1858f685e2ac
    3c4d0a4dfd53e278b3683679e0656276
    04b881d0a17b3a0b34cbdbf00ac19aa2
    5cac1df1b9477e40992f4ee3cc2b06ed

    Domains and IPs

    45.200.149[.]58
    45.200.149[.]146
    45.200.149[.]148
    hxxps://promouno[.]shop
    hxxps://pinokino[.]fun

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Schiff, EPW Democrats Demand Answers After Trump Illegally Pulls Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Funding

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla, Schiff, EPW Democrats Demand Answers After Trump Illegally Pulls Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Funding

    California was set to receive $384 million from National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program over 5 years
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.), members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), joined all Democratic members of the Committee in demanding answers from Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy about the abrupt cutoff of funds for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation approved California’s five-year NEVI Deployment Plan on September 29, 2023, granting the state $384 million for critical zero-emission vehicle infrastructure along its highways, but the Trump Administration has illegally frozen the NEVI program.
    The NEVI program — included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — provides funding directly to states for installing public zero-emission vehicle charging stations, which would lower fuel costs for families, reduce U.S. dependence on fossil fuels, and create construction jobs nationwide. In a memo to state departments of transportation, the Federal Highway Administration announced states will no longer have access to $3 billion in previously approved federal funds for future construction projects.
    “All 50 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico invested time and resources to prepare their plans, and all plans were approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Your abrupt cutoff of NEVI funding disregards these efforts and subjects states and their partners to delay, uncertainty, and bureaucratic red tape. It also threatens the jobs, innovation, and environmental benefits that this program was ready and authorized to deliver through implementation,” wrote the Senators. 
    “Unfortunately, your refusal to release NEVI funds to states is part of a larger, ongoing pattern by the Trump Administration of subverting the Constitution’s dedication to Congress of authority over federal spending,” continued the Senators. “As sweeping and vague as recent Executive Orders may be in expressing the administration’s policy preferences, they do not provide license under the Constitution to cut off funding for programs authorized and funded by Congress and enacted into law, and upon which our sovereign states have justifiably relied.”
    The NEVI program invests in states to accelerate the nationwide buildout of public zero-emission vehicle charging infrastructure. States have already awarded more than $510 million in NEVI funding to construct charging ports, with more contracts ready to move forward. By pulling this funding, the Trump Administration is jeopardizing planned construction that could establish charging stations every 50 miles along 70 percent of major travel corridors by the end of 2055. Canceling this funding would leave many families, particularly in rural communities, without access to affordable zero-emission vehicle chargers.
    Expanding access to reliable chargers will give Americans more choices in vehicles by making clean energy options more practical and by reducing dependence on expensive fossil-fueled cars. If implemented, NEVI investments will help curb the carbon pollution driving climate change, which poses an increasing threat to the U.S. economy and to American families through higher prices for groceries, insurance, and more.
    In addition to Senators Padilla and Schiff, Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) also signed the letter.
    The Senators requested documents and information by February 18, 2025, and an immediate reinstatement of NEVI funding.
    Senator Padilla has consistently fought to reduce emissions across the transportation and freight sectors. Last year, Padilla successfully pushed the Biden Administration to launch a National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy to guide the national deployment of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty freight transportation vehicle (ZE-MHDV) charging and fueling infrastructure, which followed his efforts to call on the Joint Office to prioritize the deployment of ZE-MHDV as part of its core mission.
    Since 2024, Senator Padilla has announced over $440 million for zero-emission vehicle charging and fueling infrastructure from the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program. In 2023, Padilla, Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Representative Nanette Díaz Barragán (D-Calif.-44) introduced the bicameral EVs for All Act, legislation that would increase access to zero-emission vehicles for residents of public housing across the nation.
    Full text of the letter is available here and below:
    Dear Secretary Duffy,
    We write in strong opposition to your cutoff of funding for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program.  This action shows blatant disrespect for the law and for constitutional order.  
    Established in the bipartisan infrastructure law, the NEVI program provides funding for every state in the nation.  As a condition for using this funding, the Biden Administration required each state department of transportation to submit for approval an EV Infrastructure Deployment Plan—a responsible step to encourage states to think carefully about how they spend their funds under this program.  All 50 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico invested time and resources to prepare their plans, and all plans were approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation.  Your abrupt cutoff of NEVI funding disregards these efforts and subjects states and their partners to delay, uncertainty, and bureaucratic red tape.  It also threatens the jobs, innovation, and environmental benefits that this program was ready and authorized to deliver through implementation.
    Unfortunately, your refusal to release NEVI funds to states is part of a larger, ongoing pattern by the Trump Administration of subverting the Constitution’s delegation to Congress of authority over federal spending.  As sweeping and vague as recent Executive Orders may be in expressing the administration’s policy preferences, they do not provide license under the Constitution to cut off funding for programs authorized and funded by Congress and enacted into law, and upon which our sovereign states have justifiably relied.  
    For these reasons, we urge you to retract your February 6 letter and to implement the law according to your responsibilities.  In addition, in order to assist us in understanding how and why you reached this decision hastily and in blatant disregard of the law, please respond to the following questions and requests for production of documents by no later than February 18, 2025:
    1. On what legal grounds does the Department of Transportation (DOT) believe it has the authority to cancel all funding nationwide for the NEVI program?  Please cite to specific statutory or regulatory authority that permits DOT to cancel such a Congressionally-authorized appropriation.  We note that executive orders do not qualify as such statutory or regulatory authority, as they are neither statutes nor regulations.
    2. Did any individual or office within the White House, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), or the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” specifically instruct you to cancel funding for the NEVI program?  If so, who did?
    3. Please provide all emails dated November 5, 2024, through February 6, 2025, among and between you, DOT officials, the Trump-Vance Transition Team, the White House, Elon Musk, anyone working for or affiliated with the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency,” Russell Vought, and Office of Management and Budget officials—including but not limited to all “special government employees”—concerning the NEVI program.
    Thank you for your attention to this matter.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Ukraine isn’t invited to its own peace talks. History is full of such examples – and the results are devastating

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matt Fitzpatrick, Professor in International History, Flinders University

    (From left to right): Neville Chamberlain, Édouard Daladier, Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, and Italian Foreign Minister Galeazzo Ciano before signing the Munich Agreement, which gave the Sudetenland to Germany. German Federal Archives/Wikimedia Commons

    Ukraine has not been invited to a key meeting between American and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia this week to decide what peace in the country might look like.

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine will “never accept” any decisions in talks without its participation to end Russia’s three-year war in the country.

    A decision to negotiate the sovereignty of Ukrainians without them – as well as US President Donald Trump’s blatantly extortionate attempt to claim half of Ukraine’s rare mineral wealth as the price for ongoing US support – reveals a lot about how Trump sees Ukraine and Europe.

    But this is not the first time large powers have colluded to negotiate new borders or spheres of influence without the input of the people who live there.

    Such high-handed power politics rarely ends well for those affected, as these seven historical examples show.

    1. The Scramble for Africa

    In the winter of 1884–85, German leader Otto von Bismarck invited the powers of Europe to Berlin for a conference to formalise the division of the entire African continent among them. Not a single African was present at the conference that would come to be known as “The Scramble for Africa”.

    Among other things, the conference led to the creation of the Congo Free State under Belgian control, the site of colonial atrocities that killed millions.

    Germany also established the colony of German South West Africa (present-day Namibia), where the first genocide of the 20th century was later perpetrated against its colonised peoples.

    How the boundaries of Africa changed after the Berlin conference.
    Wikimedia Commons/Somebody500

    2. The Tripartite Convention

    It wasn’t just Africa that was divided up this way. In 1899, Germany and the United States held a conference and forced an agreement on the Samoans to split their islands between the two powers.

    This was despite the Samoans expressing a desire for either self-rule or a confederation of Pacific states with Hawai’i.

    As “compensation” for missing out in Samoa, Britain received uncontested primacy over Tonga.

    German Samoa came under the rule of New Zealand after the first world war and remained a territory until 1962. American Samoa (in addition to several other Pacific islands) remain US territories to this day.

    3. The Sykes-Picot Agreement

    As the first world war was well under way, British and French representatives sat down to agree how they’d divide up the Ottoman Empire after it was over. As an enemy power, the Ottomans were not invited to the talks.

    Together, England’s Mark Sykes and France’s François Georges-Picot redrew the Middle East’s borders in line with their nations’ interests.

    The Sykes-Picot Agreement ran counter to commitments made in a series of letters known as the Hussein-McMahon correspondence. In these letters, Britain promised to support Arab independence from Turkish rule.



    Read more:
    What was the Sykes-Picot agreement, and why does it still affect the Middle East today?

    The Sykes-Picot Agreement also ran counter to promises Britain made in the Balfour Declaration to back Zionists who wanted to build a new Jewish homeland in Ottoman Palestine.

    The agreement became the wellspring of decades of conflict and colonial misrule in the Middle East, the consequences of which continue to be felt today.

    Map showing the areas of control and influence in the Middle East agreed upon between the British and French.
    The National Archives (UK)/Wikimedia Commons

    4. The Munich Agreement

    In September 1938, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and French Prime Minister Édouard Daladier met with Italy’s fascist dictator, Benito Mussolini, and Germany’s Adolf Hitler to sign what became known as the Munich Agreement.

    The leaders sought to prevent the spread of war throughout Europe after Hitler’s Nazis had fomented an uprising and began attacking the German-speaking areas of Czechoslovakia known as the Sudetenland. They did this under the pretext of protecting German minorities. No Czechoslovakians were invited to the meeting.

    The meeting is still seen by many as the “Munich Betrayal” – a classic example of a failed appeasement of a belligerent power in the false hope of staving off war.

    5. The Évian Conference

    In 1938, 32 countries met in Évian-les-Bains, France, to decide how to deal with Jewish refugees fleeing persecution in Nazi Germany.

    Before the conference started, Britain and the US had agreed not to put pressure on one another to lift the quota of Jews they would accept in either the US or British Palestine.

    While Golda Meir (the future Israeli leader) attended the conference as an observer, neither she nor any other representatives of the Jewish people were permitted to take part in the negotiations.

    The attendees largely failed to come to an agreement on accepting Jewish refugees, with the exception of the Dominican Republic. And most Jews in Germany were unable to leave before Nazism reached its genocidal nadir in the Holocaust.

    6. The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact

    As Hitler planned his invasion of Eastern Europe, it became clear his major stumbling block was the Soviet Union. His answer was to sign a disingenuous non-aggression treaty with the USSR.

    Joseph Stalin and Joachim von Ribbentrop after the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.
    German Federal Archives/Wikimedia Commons

    The treaty, named after Vyacheslav Molotov and Joachim von Ribbentrop (the Soviet and German foreign ministers), ensured the Soviet Union would not respond when Hitler invaded Poland. It also carved up Europe into Nazi and Soviet spheres. This allowed the Soviets to expand into Romania and the Baltic states, attack Finland and take its own share of Polish territory.

    Unsurprisingly, some in Eastern Europe view the current US-Russia talks over Ukraine’s future as a revival of this kind of secret diplomacy that divided the smaller nations of Europe between large powers in the second world war.

    7. The Yalta Conference

    With the defeat of Nazi Germany imminent, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Soviet dictator Josef Stalin and US President Franklin D Roosevelt met in 1945 to decide the fate of postwar Europe. This meeting came to be known as the Yalta Conference.

    Alongside the Potsdam Conference several months later, Yalta created the political architecture that would lead to the Cold War division of Europe.

    At Yalta, the “big three” decided on the division of Germany, while Stalin was also offered a sphere of interest in Eastern Europe.

    This took the form of a series of politically controlled buffer states in Eastern Europe, a model some believe Putin is aiming to emulate today in eastern and southeastern Europe.

    Matt Fitzpatrick receives funding from the Australian Research Council. He is affiliated with the History Council of South Australia.

    – ref. Ukraine isn’t invited to its own peace talks. History is full of such examples – and the results are devastating – https://theconversation.com/ukraine-isnt-invited-to-its-own-peace-talks-history-is-full-of-such-examples-and-the-results-are-devastating-250049

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Ukraine isn’t invited to its own peace talks. History is full of such examples – and the results are devastating

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Matt Fitzpatrick, Professor in International History, Flinders University

    (From left to right): Neville Chamberlain, Édouard Daladier, Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, and Italian Foreign Minister Galeazzo Ciano before signing the Munich Agreement, which gave the Sudetenland to Germany. German Federal Archives/Wikimedia Commons

    Ukraine has not been invited to a key meeting between American and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia this week to decide what peace in the country might look like.

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine will “never accept” any decisions in talks without its participation to end Russia’s three-year war in the country.

    A decision to negotiate the sovereignty of Ukrainians without them – as well as US President Donald Trump’s blatantly extortionate attempt to claim half of Ukraine’s rare mineral wealth as the price for ongoing US support – reveals a lot about how Trump sees Ukraine and Europe.

    But this is not the first time large powers have colluded to negotiate new borders or spheres of influence without the input of the people who live there.

    Such high-handed power politics rarely ends well for those affected, as these seven historical examples show.

    1. The Scramble for Africa

    In the winter of 1884–85, German leader Otto von Bismarck invited the powers of Europe to Berlin for a conference to formalise the division of the entire African continent among them. Not a single African was present at the conference that would come to be known as “The Scramble for Africa”.

    Among other things, the conference led to the creation of the Congo Free State under Belgian control, the site of colonial atrocities that killed millions.

    Germany also established the colony of German South West Africa (present-day Namibia), where the first genocide of the 20th century was later perpetrated against its colonised peoples.

    How the boundaries of Africa changed after the Berlin conference.
    Wikimedia Commons/Somebody500

    2. The Tripartite Convention

    It wasn’t just Africa that was divided up this way. In 1899, Germany and the United States held a conference and forced an agreement on the Samoans to split their islands between the two powers.

    This was despite the Samoans expressing a desire for either self-rule or a confederation of Pacific states with Hawai’i.

    As “compensation” for missing out in Samoa, Britain received uncontested primacy over Tonga.

    German Samoa came under the rule of New Zealand after the first world war and remained a territory until 1962. American Samoa (in addition to several other Pacific islands) remain US territories to this day.

    3. The Sykes-Picot Agreement

    As the first world war was well under way, British and French representatives sat down to agree how they’d divide up the Ottoman Empire after it was over. As an enemy power, the Ottomans were not invited to the talks.

    Together, England’s Mark Sykes and France’s François Georges-Picot redrew the Middle East’s borders in line with their nations’ interests.

    The Sykes-Picot Agreement ran counter to commitments made in a series of letters known as the Hussein-McMahon correspondence. In these letters, Britain promised to support Arab independence from Turkish rule.



    Read more:
    What was the Sykes-Picot agreement, and why does it still affect the Middle East today?

    The Sykes-Picot Agreement also ran counter to promises Britain made in the Balfour Declaration to back Zionists who wanted to build a new Jewish homeland in Ottoman Palestine.

    The agreement became the wellspring of decades of conflict and colonial misrule in the Middle East, the consequences of which continue to be felt today.

    Map showing the areas of control and influence in the Middle East agreed upon between the British and French.
    The National Archives (UK)/Wikimedia Commons

    4. The Munich Agreement

    In September 1938, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and French Prime Minister Édouard Daladier met with Italy’s fascist dictator, Benito Mussolini, and Germany’s Adolf Hitler to sign what became known as the Munich Agreement.

    The leaders sought to prevent the spread of war throughout Europe after Hitler’s Nazis had fomented an uprising and began attacking the German-speaking areas of Czechoslovakia known as the Sudetenland. They did this under the pretext of protecting German minorities. No Czechoslovakians were invited to the meeting.

    The meeting is still seen by many as the “Munich Betrayal” – a classic example of a failed appeasement of a belligerent power in the false hope of staving off war.

    5. The Évian Conference

    In 1938, 32 countries met in Évian-les-Bains, France, to decide how to deal with Jewish refugees fleeing persecution in Nazi Germany.

    Before the conference started, Britain and the US had agreed not to put pressure on one another to lift the quota of Jews they would accept in either the US or British Palestine.

    While Golda Meir (the future Israeli leader) attended the conference as an observer, neither she nor any other representatives of the Jewish people were permitted to take part in the negotiations.

    The attendees largely failed to come to an agreement on accepting Jewish refugees, with the exception of the Dominican Republic. And most Jews in Germany were unable to leave before Nazism reached its genocidal nadir in the Holocaust.

    6. The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact

    As Hitler planned his invasion of Eastern Europe, it became clear his major stumbling block was the Soviet Union. His answer was to sign a disingenuous non-aggression treaty with the USSR.

    Joseph Stalin and Joachim von Ribbentrop after the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.
    German Federal Archives/Wikimedia Commons

    The treaty, named after Vyacheslav Molotov and Joachim von Ribbentrop (the Soviet and German foreign ministers), ensured the Soviet Union would not respond when Hitler invaded Poland. It also carved up Europe into Nazi and Soviet spheres. This allowed the Soviets to expand into Romania and the Baltic states, attack Finland and take its own share of Polish territory.

    Unsurprisingly, some in Eastern Europe view the current US-Russia talks over Ukraine’s future as a revival of this kind of secret diplomacy that divided the smaller nations of Europe between large powers in the second world war.

    7. The Yalta Conference

    With the defeat of Nazi Germany imminent, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Soviet dictator Josef Stalin and US President Franklin D Roosevelt met in 1945 to decide the fate of postwar Europe. This meeting came to be known as the Yalta Conference.

    Alongside the Potsdam Conference several months later, Yalta created the political architecture that would lead to the Cold War division of Europe.

    At Yalta, the “big three” decided on the division of Germany, while Stalin was also offered a sphere of interest in Eastern Europe.

    This took the form of a series of politically controlled buffer states in Eastern Europe, a model some believe Putin is aiming to emulate today in eastern and southeastern Europe.

    Matt Fitzpatrick receives funding from the Australian Research Council. He is affiliated with the History Council of South Australia.

    – ref. Ukraine isn’t invited to its own peace talks. History is full of such examples – and the results are devastating – https://theconversation.com/ukraine-isnt-invited-to-its-own-peace-talks-history-is-full-of-such-examples-and-the-results-are-devastating-250049

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI China: China welcomes all efforts dedicated to peace in Ukraine

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    This photo taken on Feb. 27, 2022 shows smoke rising in the sky in Kiev, Ukraine. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China welcomes all efforts dedicated to peace in Ukraine, including the recent agreement reached by the United States and Russia to start peace talks, Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, said on Monday.

    In remarks at the UN Security Council briefing on Ukraine, Fu said China has consistently advocated for settling global disputes and conflicts peacefully through dialogue and consultation in accordance with the UN Charter, and this applies equally to the Ukraine issue.

    He recalled that 10 years ago, the parties concerned with the Ukraine issue reached the Minsk Agreements through negotiations, and that the agreements were subsequently endorsed by the Security Council in its Resolution 2202, which “represents the right direction of resolving differences and disputes through dialogue and negotiation.”

    “Regrettably, after the conclusion of the agreements, most of the provisions were not fully and effectively implemented,” the ambassador said, adding that the situation that should have gradually deescalated has instead become even more tense, ultimately leading to the full escalation of the crisis and a large-scale conflict that continues to this day.

    “The failure of the Minsk Agreements is deplorable, and its historical lessons warrant deep reflection,” Fu said.

    He stressed that from the day after the crisis broke out, China has called for a political solution through dialogue and consultation, noting that the four-point proposal — the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter observed, the legitimate security concerns of all countries given due regard, and all efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of the crisis supported — is China’s fundamental guidance on the Ukraine issue.

    China has been actively engaged in diplomatic mediation and maintains contact with relevant parties, including Russia and Ukraine, has had in-depth participation in the consideration of the Ukraine issue under the framework of the United Nations and its Security Council, and plays a constructive role in promoting ceasefire and political settlement, Fu said.

    China has also partnered with Brazil and other countries in creating the Group of Friends for Peace to garner the collective wisdom of the countries of the Global South and form an important force for peace, said the ambassador. “The evolving situation has proven that China’s proposal is objective, fair, rational, and pragmatic, reflecting the broad consensus of the international community.”

    Fu pointed out that at present, the Ukraine issue is about to reach a critical moment for a negotiated settlement, and “the ultimate resolution of any conflict lies at the negotiation table, and history will undoubtedly deliver a just outcome.”

    He expressed the hope that all relevant parties and stakeholders involved in the Ukraine crisis will engage in the peace talks process, and reach a fair, lasting, and binding peace agreement acceptable to all parties.

    “As the conflict has been unfolding on European soil, it is imperative for Europe to work for peace,” Fu said.

    “We hope the parties will jointly address the root causes of the crisis through negotiation and find a balanced, effective, and sustainable security framework for lasting stability in the region,” he said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: ‘Everything’ on table to retaliate against U.S. tariffs: Canadian trade minister

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The Canadian government is ready to retaliate against U.S. tariffs, the nation’s trade minister told Australian media on Monday.

    Mary Ng, Canada’s minister of export promotion, international trade and economic development, said during an official visit to Australia that the U.S. government’s promised tariffs will “simply create costs for Americans.”

    U.S. President Donald Trump earlier in February agreed to pause a 25 percent tariff on all goods imported to the United States from Canada and Mexico except for energy products, which will face 10 percent tariffs, for 30 days.

    Ng told Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) television on Monday night that Canada is ready to retaliate if the tariffs are implemented.

    “Should Canada get tariffs that are punishing, tariffs that will hurt our economy, everything will be on the table,” she said. “We will respond, and we will respond with impact.”

    The Australian government has said it is working on an exemption from U.S. 25 percent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports.

    Ng, who is in Australia leading a delegation of 140 Canadian companies aiming to boost the trade relationship between the countries, told the ABC that the two countries have not yet discussed a joint response to U.S. tariffs.

    In a separate interview with Nine Entertainment newspapers, she said that Australia and Canada should continue to promote open and free trade under a system “that is underpinned by a rules-based order.”

    Ng met with Don Farrell, Australia’s minister for trade and tourism, over the weekend.

    Farrell on Thursday rejected a claim from Peter Navarro, Trump’s senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, that aluminum imported from Australia is “killing” the U.S. market. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Readout: Attorney General Bondi Briefed on National Security, Anti-Human Trafficking Efforts at Port of Tampa

    Source: United States Attorneys General 6

    Today, Attorney General Pam Bondi toured the Port of Tampa Bay – the largest port in Florida – and received a briefing from the Port’s CEO, Paul Anderson.

    Attorney General Bondi and Port Leadership discussed the Port’s important role in safeguarding Floridians and the American people as a key port of entry into this US. They also discussed the vital role that government plays in helping protect national security at ports.

    Other topics discussed included Port Tampa Bay’s advancements in protecting against foreign threats to physical and cyber security infrastructure, securing the Panama Canal, and ongoing coordination with the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) and the Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors (CAGTC).

    Attorney General Bondi closed the briefing by thanking all in attendance for their important work on protecting the American people, safeguarding our national security, and encouraging the flow of commerce.

    Attorney General Bondi concluded by stating “Our ports are often the first line of defense in protecting Americans from national security threats like human trafficking, drug smuggling, and cybercrime. It was an honor to spend time with Paul Anderson and his team, who are collaborating closely with government partners and doing incredible work to protect Floridians and our Nation in my hometown of Tampa.”

    Participants:

    Paul Anderson, President and CEO of Port Tampa Bay

    Charles Klug, Principal Counsel of Port Tampa Bay

    Ken Washington, Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Port Tampa Bay

    Mark Dubina, Vice President of Security of Port Tampa Bay

    Laura Lenhart, Vice President of Government Affairs of Port Tampa Bay

    Sue Bai, Assistant Deputy Attorney General for National Security

    Catharine Cypher, Deputy Chief of Staff, Department of Justice

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: February 17th, 2025 Heinrich to N.M. Legislature: “New Mexicans Are Counting on Us to Deliver”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    SANTA FE, N.M. – Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) addressed a Joint Session of the New Mexico Legislature at the Roundhouse, New Mexico’s State Capitol in Santa Fe.

    “Serving you and representing this great state in the halls of our nation’s Capitol is a privilege that I will never take for granted,” said Heinrich. “The same goes for the mandate New Mexicans entrusted me with this last election: To deliver for the people and places of our great state. To fight for the freedoms, safety, opportunities, and dreams of our families, our communities, and our country. I will never shrink from that work.”

    PHOTO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) delivers remarks to the New Mexico Legislature, February 17, 2025.

    Heinrich started his remarks by calling for elected leaders to unify around delivering for New Mexicans: “I have always been struck by New Mexicans’ acute understanding of what it means to put individual differences aside in service to the greater good. In our most challenging times, New Mexicans show up for each other. From the darkest days of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fire to last year’s flooding in Roswell, from North to South, and East to West, New Mexicans understand our shared commitment to one another.”

    Heinrich promised: “Let me be clear: My commitment, my only commitment, is to you, New Mexico. I will work — day and night — to defend the programs, funding, resources, and public lands our communities, local economies, and families rely on. Because, as elected leaders, we serve all of our constituents, from our neighbors and closest family friends to those in our community we’ve never met, or who disagree with us on nearly every issue. All of these New Mexicans are counting on us – all of us here in this room – to lead, to care, to keep our communities safe. Simply put, they are counting on us to deliver.”

    Heinrich commended the Legislature for its successful efforts to stand up permanent funds that generate revenues now and into the future — from the Early Childhood Trust Fund to the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund — and praised legislators’ efforts in the current session to pass bills to reduce crime, expand behavioral health services, scale investments in work-based learning opportunities, career and technical education, and the Outdoor Equity Fund, establish a statewide water quality permitting program, and reform New Mexico’s Game and Fish Department and Game Commission.

    Heinrich concluded: “Working together, we can deliver the future our kids deserve. We can fight for their freedoms: the freedom to grow up to make their own health care decisions, the freedom to marry who they love, the freedom to be who they are, the freedom to be safe in their classrooms, and the freedom to pursue a fair shot at success. Let’s also keep working to protect our kids’ clean air, clean water, and public lands that will sustain their communities, economies, and sense of identity as New Mexicans. We can uphold this Democracy, commit to the Republic set out in our Constitution, and comply with our oaths of service to put ‘We the People’ first.”

    Below are Heinrich’s full remarks as prepared for delivery:

    Speaker Martinez, Senate President Pro Tempore Stewart, Lieutenant Governor Morales, members of the New Mexico Senate and House of Representatives.

    It is an absolute honor to be here with you this afternoon. 

    I am very pleased to be joined by my wife, Julie, several honored guests, and two of my colleagues and friends in the New Mexico Congressional Delegation, Senator Ben Ray Luján and Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández.

    I stand before you, today, at the start of my third term in the United States Senate.

    Serving you and representing this amazing state in the halls of our nation’s Capitol is a privilege that I will never take for granted.

    The same goes for the mandate New Mexicans entrusted me with this last election:

    To deliver for the people and the places of our incredible state.

    To fight for the freedoms, safety, opportunities, and dreams of our families, our communities, and our country.

    I will never shrink from that work.

    And make no mistake:

    Republican leadership in the White House and in the United States House and Senate will have very real impacts on our state and on individual New Mexicans.

    Some of you will agree with those, and others won’t agree with any of them.

    The same will probably be true of many of our constituents.

    Still, I have always been struck by New Mexicans’ acute understanding of what it means to put individual differences aside in service to the greater good.

    In our most challenging times, New Mexicans look out for each other.

    From the darkest days of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire to last year’s flooding in Roswell.

    From North to South, and East to West, New Mexicans understand our shared commitment to one another.

    So let me be clear: My commitment, my only commitment, is to you, New Mexico.

    And I will lift up your voices in the most powerful halls of our Republic.

    Whether you are Mark from Albuquerque, a polio survivor who wrote to me about the life and death consequences of vaccines,

    Gary, a retired Air Force intelligence officer in Tularosa who wrote to me about the importance of defending our national security,

    Or Ashleigh from Truth or Consequences, a school social worker who called my office with deep concerns about how cuts at the Department of Education would impact her students.

    I will elevate New Mexicans’ voices and demand action, accountability, and the future our kids deserve.

    And I will work–day and night–to defend the programs, funding, resources, and public lands our communities, local economies, and families rely on.

    Because, as elected leaders, we serve all of our constituents.

    From our neighbors and closest family members to those in our community we’ve never met, or even who disagree with us on nearly every issue.

    All of these New Mexicans are counting on us here in this room – to lead, to give a damn, to keep our communities safe.

    Simply put, they are counting on us to deliver.

    And that requires grappling with difficult decisions.

    It requires solving real problems that impact real people.

    And it requires us to bridge the gap between what is, and what is possible.

    Always with New Mexicans front and center.

    You know, we live in an era of loyalty pledges.

    From the right and the left, frankly.

    From Presidents and from rank-and-file activists.

    From one elected leader to another, I want to implore you NOT to sign pledges, but to solve problems.

    Our only loyalty pledge should be to this incredible state and to this country, and the incredible people who call it home.

    Whether it’s to protect our nation from foreign terrorist threats or to just provide the support our kids need to learn to read —

    Whether it’s fixing roads that countless New Mexicans drive on every day or cutting crime in our communities –New Mexicans expect us to put them first, and we must.

    They should be able to count on us – at the federal, state, and local level – to ensure their roads, kids, food, water, and air are safe.

    And that includes ensuring that the agencies charged with doing this work are staffed, funded, and functional.

    Whether that’s at New Mexico’s Children, Youth and Families Department or the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

    Here, in the Land of Enchantment, we want our kids to be happy and healthy, with a fair shot at success, no matter what bathroom they use, how they dress, what color their hair is, or whether they have an IEP.

    We want New Mexico women to know that we trust them to make their own health care decisions, AND we will work to get them the quality health care they deserve in their own communities.

    We want New Mexico’s immigrant families to know we see them, we value them, and we will not turn our backs on them.

    And we want hardworking folks to know that “lowering costs,” “creating jobs,” and “growing the middle class” aren’t just campaign slogans.

    They require action.

    These are the pledges that we must work to deliver on.

    So let’s talk a little bit about what it means to put New Mexicans first:

    Your work to stand up permanent funds that generate revenues now and into the future—from the Early Childhood Trust Fund to the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund—these put New Mexicans first.

    Your work to make our communities safer, increase access to mental health care, and tackle substance abuse puts New Mexicans first.

    When it comes to public safety, my own strategy has been straightforward: Solve crimes, support survivors, hold criminals accountable.

    But too many of our law enforcement agencies don’t have the basic tools they need to solve crimes.

    And when crimes go unsolved, those who commit them keep committing them.

    Since joining the Senate Appropriations Committee, I have worked to deliver federal resources to our partners in law enforcement.

    I’ve been able to appropriate funds for new ballistics testing machines in Las Cruces, Farmington, Gallup, and Roswell, so we can solve the first gun crime before a second one is committed.

    I’ve helped our local law enforcement purchase technology that detects gunshots and runs rapid DNA checks.

    This technology can mean solving a crime before it’s too late.

    In some cases, this may even be the difference between life and death for the victims of gun crimes.

    And I’ve helped local law enforcement purchase equipment to detect fentanyl and other illegal drugs, so they can hold drug traffickers accountable and get this poison out of our communities.

    But more is needed.

    If your car is stolen, the person who stole it should be found and held accountable.

    If your home is broken into, the person who did it should be found and held accountable.

    If your daughter is assaulted, the person who did it should be found and held accountable.

    It’s simple, but right now that’s not happening in far too many cases.

    We can all do better on this front.

    And I urge all of you to use your leadership to deliver strong public safety legislation that will make this happen.

    As many of you recognize, it does not have to be a choice between improving public safety and supporting our communities’ mental health care.

    We can walk and chew gum at the same time.

    I am speaking with a little bit of experience here.

    After the horrific mass shooting in Uvalde, I sat down with colleagues from both sides of the aisle, and we crafted what became the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

    That legislation tackled firearm safety, increased criminal penalties on firearm offenses like gun trafficking, AND it provided federal investments in community and school-based mental health services.

    Silver Consolidated Schools was the first school district in New Mexico to receive a $6 million School-Based Mental Health Services Grant under that law.

    These federal resources have helped the district hire psychologists, counselors, and other mental health professionals at all of their schools.

    These types of school-based mental health services are an essential piece of our overall behavioral health puzzle.

    If we could find this bipartisan pathway to improve public safety and mental health care at the federal level, I have every faith that you can do it here, too. 

    And, after last week’s votes on behavioral health in the Senate and the crime package in the House, you have created some much-needed momentum.

    Thank you.

    I applaud the Senate for your work to resource and restructure our state’s behavioral health system.

    We all know it’s a lot easier to tear down a system over a couple of years than it is to rebuild that system.

    And I applaud the House for negotiating and passing a crime package that takes on pressing issues in our communities from fentanyl to auto-theft, to gun crimes.

    Let’s keep this momentum going.

    There’s so much more that can and must be done at the state and federal levels to support the victims of crimes, and to support law enforcement as they work to hold accountable the perpetrators of crimes.

    Because, when it comes to making our communities safer, supporting victims and solving crime is a common ground we should all be able to support.

    And, in fact, it’s one our communities are depending on us to get right.

    We all want New Mexico to be the best possible place for our kids to grow up, to raise their families, and to build careers and families in their home communities.

    That means not only taking our crime epidemic seriously, but it also means investing in our kids, from cradle to career.

    The investments that this Legislature and New Mexico voters unlocked two years ago are helping our state lead the nation in making high-quality early childhood education and childcare accessible to all of our families.

    In the last few years, you have given our public school educators the pay raises they have long deserved.

    And we are scaling up a statewide network of full-service community schools.

    All of these investments are already beginning to deliver results.

    When you account for state and federal investments in our kids, from Medicaid to the state child tax credit, we don’t rank 50th in child poverty.

    We rank 17th.

    Better than the national average, not good enough, but we are far from finished.

    And I applaud you for looking to increase the child tax credit.

    This money will put resources right back into the pockets of New Mexico families who will invest it in their children.

    We should also be expanding apprenticeships and paid internships as early as high school.

    That’s how we will prepare the next generation of New Mexicans for career success.

    Here with me are Arnaldo Miramontes and Sandy Juarez, two young people who have found their career paths thanks to highly successful programs in our state.

    While in high school, Sandy had a paid internship at Christus Saint Vincent Hospital through Future Focused Education.

    She got hands-on experience in phlebotomy and now she’s preparing at Santa Fe Community College for a career in health care.

    Arnaldo is in his fifth and final year as an apprentice with the UA Local 412, and on his way to an incredible career with licenses in both plumbing and pipefitting.

    Both will be meeting demands in high needs industries right here in New Mexico.

    I encourage all of us to continue investing in career and technical education, paid internships and apprenticeships, and work-based learning opportunities for our young people.

    As I work to pass my Apprenticeship Pathways Act in the Senate, I hope that you will continue to identify targeted, sustained funding at the state level.

    We should look at everything from offering credit, to restructuring our school days to help students get more hands-on experiences in the workplace.

    This is critical to successfully building the workforce of the future.

    Finally, I hope you will continue to grow our state’s Outdoor Equity Fund and the opportunities it has unlocked for so many young New Mexicans.

    I am so proud that New Mexico is grounding more of our kids in the incredible lands that are their American birthright.

    Before I was ever an elected official, I was a guide and an educator. 

    And I saw time and again the remarkable difference it makes when children and teens spent time in the outdoors.

    I’ve invited as my guest today Ruben Apodaca a twelfth grader with the Honey Badger Conservation Crew at the Albuquerque Sign Language Academy.

    I visited their beekeeping and honey harvesting operation last year, which is receiving critical support from the Outdoor Equity Fund.

    Students who are deaf, hard of hearing, and with disabilities are managing their own beehives and bringing the honey products from those hives to market.

    This kind of hands-on experience is deeply valuable.

    I strongly encourage you to continue making transformational opportunities like this possible by scaling up the Outdoor Equity Fund.

    Finally, as we invest in the people of this great state, we must also invest in the lands, waters, and wildlife that are the fabric that we build our identities upon.

    Most of you have heard of the Supreme Court case that stripped federal protections from 90% of New Mexico’s surface waters.

    New Mexicans want our water and our watersheds protected.

    My guest Mark Allison from New Mexico Wild is one of the folks here advocating for two bills that would establish essential state-level protection of these waters that are now void of federal stewardship.

    I am also encouraged by the proposals that are moving forward to reform our state’s outdated and underfunded Department of Game and Fish and Game Commission.

    Brittany Fallon from Western Resource Advocates and Jesse Deubel from the New Mexico Wildlife Federation are here with me today.

    They are advocating for reforms that will ensure wildlife management decisions are based on biology rather than politics.

    These reforms account for the voices of farmers, ranchers, hunters, anglers, biologists, and wildlife conservationists.

    And they also include the sustainable funding needed to help our Game and Fish Department effectively do their work.

    There is nothing I enjoy more than packing into a spike camp during elk season.

    Our wild game has literally been the primary protein on my family’s dinner table for the last 20 years.

    So, I know full well the importance of the work needed to manage New Mexico’s wildlife.

    We need a 21st century wildlife conservation approach that leverages resources to manage all of our wild creatures—not just our game animals.

    We also need to make our Game Commission more representative and more accountable.

    And we need to make sure that we are leveraging the biology and resources to protect fish and wildlife so that they never become listed as threatened or endangered.

    While we address all of these needs for our communities, we must stay focused on our true North Star.

    That’s our kids.

    Working together, we can deliver the future our kids deserve.

    We can fight for their freedoms:

    The freedom to grow up to make their own health care decisions,

    The freedom to marry who they love,

    The freedom to be who they are,

    The freedom to feel safe in their classrooms,

    And the freedom to pursue a fair shot at success.

    Let’s also keep working to protect our kids’ clean air, clean water, and public lands that will sustain their communities, economies, and sense of identity as New Mexicans.

    We can uphold this Democracy, recommit to the Republic set out in our Constitution, and comply with our oaths of service to put “We the People” first.

    That doesn’t mean we will always agree on how to get that done.

    In fact, I’m pretty confident we will always find something to disagree on.

    Even if it’s just “red or green.”

    But if we always put “We the People” first,

    If we always pledge our loyalty to the people we serve, above all else:

    We will deliver the future our kids deserve.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Use Upcoming Tenth Anniversary of Minsk Accord’s Signing to Renew Diplomatic Efforts towards De-escalation in Ukraine, Assistant Secretary-General Urges Security Council

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    The Minsk Agreements show that the signing of a peace pact alone does not ensure a durable end to conflict, the Security Council heard today as it met a decade after the adoption of Council resolution 2202 (2015), which called for the full implementation of those accords.

    The international community must use the 10-year anniversary as an opportunity to “recall past diplomatic efforts towards de-escalation” as well as reflect “on what happens when peacemaking fails”, Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and Americas in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, said.  He noted that in one week, it will be “three tragic years” since the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

    Highlighting the crucial role of regional and subregional organizations, he praised the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission for monitoring ceasefire violations and helping to maintain dialogue for “eight difficult years”.  Any peaceful settlement must respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, he said, welcoming all initiatives with the full participation of Ukraine and the Russian Federation.  Ensuring the conflict does not reoccur or escalate requires genuine political will and understanding of its “multidimensional complexity”, he said.

    Peace Activist Haunted by Dead Ukrainian, Russian Soldiers, Says War Could Have Been Avoided through Diplomacy

    “The people of Ukraine are divided – they are either pro- or anti-Russian,” stated Roger Waters, civil peace activist, who also addressed the Council today.  To those questioning his credentials, he said:  “I’m here to talk about war and peace and love, and my credentials are firmly in place.” “Hundreds of thousands of dead Ukrainian and Russian soldiers […] are in this room with us today [and] they haunt me,” he said. 

    Recalling the Maidan protests in Kyiv, he stressed that this is one of the problems with regime change — “dead bodies, they are somebody’s loved one”. Immediately after the Government change in 2014, Crimea seceded from Ukraine and joined the Russian Federation. “Did it secede or was it annexed?” he asked, pointing to a referendum held at the time, in which 95 per cent of Ukrainians in Crimea voted to secede. 

    The agreements — Minsk I, signed in September 2014, and Minsk II, in February 2015 — outlined steps for ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine through a political settlement.  The latter accord stipulated a ceasefire in certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and the withdrawal of military equipment by both sides.  It also included a commitment by Kyiv to organize local elections and grant special status to the separatist-held areas in eastern Ukraine and the reinstatement of Ukraine’s full control over its border.

    Mr. Waters said that despite campaigning on the promise to resume Minsk II, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who came to power in 2019, did not do so, and in 2022, Russian troops crossed the border to Ukraine. This war could have been avoided through diplomacy, he insisted, adding that President Zelenskyy had started talking to Russian President Vladimir Putin and by the end of April 2014, a ceasefire agreement had been agreed upon in Istanbul.  The war could have been a stillborn, but then United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrived in Kyiv with the message that the war should be continued as it “suits the Americans” — “the longer it takes, the better”. 

    Citing the telephone talks between United States President Donald Trump and President Putin as a potential move in the right direction, he concluded:  “Maybe there is a glimmer of light at the end of this dark tunnel of war — it comes three years and hundreds of thousands of priceless lives too late, but maybe it’s a start.”

    United States Committed to Ending Carnage, Restoring Europe’s Stability, its Speaker Says 

    Washington, D.C., is committed to ending the carnage and restoring Europe’s stability, the representative of the United States said, adding:  “We want a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine but we must start by recognizing that returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective.”  Further, he added:  “Chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering.” At the same time, he underscored that the Russian Federation has consistently undermined the Minsk Agreement; therefore, a durable peace for Ukraine must include robust security guarantees to ensure the war will not begin again.  Describing Moscow’s illegal war of conquest as “a strategic error”, he said that “the easy way out is through negotiations”.  If Moscow, instead, “chooses the hard way”, it will incur greater and escalating costs to its economy and losses on the battlefield, he warned. 

    New United States Administration Has Created Space for Diplomacy, Russian Federation’s Representative Says 

    For his part, the Russian Federation’s delegate said that “the entry into office of the Republican United States Administration” has created space for the emergence of diplomacy.  Those who seized power in Ukraine, following the 2014 anti-constitutional coup, had no intention of implementing the Minsk Agreements, he said.  Citing statements by various Ukrainian officials who described the Agreements as “a noose on the neck” and “not binding in nature”, he said the Agreements were “a smokescreen” for Western countries while they provided Ukraine armaments. 

    Outlining lessons to draw from the failure of the Minsk process, he said European Union countries and the United Kingdom are “unfaithful to their word and they cannot be a party to any future agreement”.  Also stressing the need to provide autonomy to the east of Ukraine and guarantees for its Russian language population, he said that President Zelenskyy “is deathly afraid of elections and is doing everything possible to drag them out”.  A future Ukraine needs to be “a demilitarized neutral State, not a part of any blocs or alliances,” he said, adding that it was the prospect of the entry of Ukraine into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) that triggered the crisis.

    Entire History of Minsk Agreement “Long List of Violations’ by Moscow”, Ukraine’s Delegate Says

    However, Ukraine’s delegate countered that the entire history of the Minsk Agreements “was a long list of violations” by Moscow.  In 2022, “on this very day”, “in this very chamber”, when her country expressed concern about the buildup of troops along its border and other developments, the Russian Federation had underscored that there is no alternative to the Minsk Agreements, she recalled.  Four days later, that country recognized the so-called independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine.  Among others, it never implemented paragraph 4 of the Minsk Protocol, concerning the establishment of a security area in the border regions of the two countries, she said.

     “It is because people of Ukraine are pro-Ukrainian [that] the Russian Federation has failed,” she added.  Any future arrangement involving the Kremlin must include enforcement mechanisms and preventive measures, she stressed, adding:  “What responsible States see as commitments to be upheld, the Russian Federation treats as a tactical ploy.”  Ukraine is working with its partners to find strong solutions, she said, stressing:  “Weak agreements will not bring real peace; they will only lead to the greater war.” 

    Other Council Members Weigh In

    Denmark’s delegate described the current meeting as “part of an ongoing disinformation campaign” to try and distract the international community from the subjugation of Ukraine.  Welcoming Ukraine’s ratification of the Rome Statute, she expressed support for a special tribunal to investigate crimes conducted in that country.  While “no one wants this war to end more than Ukraine”, the United Kingdom’s delegate said, President Putin’s preconditions for talks have been that Ukraine withdraws from large swathes of its own sovereign territory and abandons its right to choose its alliances.  “No country could accept this,” she said, reaffirming that London will provide concrete support for Ukraine for as long as needed. 

    “The Minsk Agreements were a diplomatic initiative designed to prevent further bloodshed and establish a political pathway to peace in Ukraine,” said Germany’s representative, adding that Moscow obstructed its implementation and chose to pursue expansionist conquest.  “This war should not have been started in the first place,” she stressed, calling on all States to unite behind the draft General Assembly resolution on advancing peace in Ukraine.  Along similar lines, France’s delegate highlighted the tireless mediation by Paris and Berlin, to enable Ukraine and Russian Federation to find common ground. However, Moscow chose war, he said, while Greece’s delegate stressed that “no interpretation of the Minsk Agreements can ever justify the invasion of Ukraine”.

    “We need something more than Minsk III,” Slovenia’s delegate said, adding that the abstract nature of the Agreements allowed for multiple interpretations.  Any future accord must be much be more specific with clear timelines, defined sequencing and a monitoring mechanism, he stressed.  Similarly, Somalia’s delegate underscored the importance of clarity, particularly in diplomatic tools, and said the implementation of ceasefire provisions requires robust and impartial verifying mechanisms.  The Republic of Korea’s delegate stressed that “the entire world is well aware of who is aggressor and who is the victim,” also adding that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s support of the Russian Federation, with troops and munitions, is a grave violation of the Organization’s resolutions. 

    Several speakers expressed concern about the failure of diplomacy, while others called on the international community to rally behind new diplomatic efforts.  Since the onset of the Ukraine crisis, Beijing has been calling for a political solution through dialogue and has been actively engaged in diplomatic mediations, China’s representative, Council President for the month, said in his national capacity.  The legitimate security concerns of all countries should be taken seriously, he said, welcoming the Washington, D.C.-Moscow agreement to start peace talks. 

    “We have been consistent in our calls for restraint,” said Pakistan’s delegate, as he expressed regret that the Minsk Agreement could not reach just and lasting peace in the region.  “We must learn from the past so we do not commit the same errors,” Panama’s delegate added, stressing that dialogue and diplomacy is the only path to peace. 

    “The failed implementation of the Minsk Agreement cannot be the reason to prolong this war,” said Guyana’s delegate, reiterating calls for an end to the hostilities and for the withdrawal of Russian Federation’s forces from Ukraine’s territory.  “Until this day more and more civilians are losing their lives, including women and children,” pointed out Algeria’s representative, while Sierra Leone’s delegate underscored that “the conflict in Ukraine will not be resolved by military means”.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women Holds Half-Day General Discussion on Gender Stereotypes

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today held a half-day general discussion on its proposed general recommendation on gender stereotypes.

    In opening remarks, Nahla Haidar, Committee Chairperson, said gender stereotypes created false beliefs, inhibitive gender roles and discrimination. The Committee hoped to prepare guidelines that would help States to address these stereotypes, and counter myths and common excuses as to why gender stereotypes continued to be perpetuated, such as cultural and religious reasons.

    Peggy Hicks, Director, Thematic Engagement, Special Procedures and Right to Development Division, United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in introductory remarks that the general recommendation would provide guidance on State obligations to address gender stereotypes as root causes of gender-based discrimination.  She expressed hope that it would strengthen standards, principles and guidance to eliminate all forms of gender stereotypes.

    In her introductory remarks, Natalia Kanem, Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund, said that currently, around the world, there were immense pushbacks against women and girls in all their diversity.  In this uncertain moment, all parties needed to stand with women and engage actively in developing this general recommendation.  The work of the Committee saved and transformed lives; it needed to continue.

    Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, Deputy Executive Director, United Nations Women, said gender stereotypes were barriers to the human rights of women and girls.  They restricted education, jobs, leadership, health and justice, fuelling inequality and violence, silencing women and denying freedoms.  General recommendation 41 presented a decisive opportunity to dismantle gender stereotypes at their core.

    Bandana Rana and Rhoda Reddock, Committee Experts and Co-Chairs of the Committee Working Group on gender stereotypes, also made introductory statements, calling on all stakeholders to support and provide input for the general recommendation.

    After the introductory remarks, the Committee held a panel discussion on gender stereotypes, hearing presentations from Adriana Quinones, Head, Human Rights and Development, United Nations Women; Joni van de Sand, Global MenEngage Alliance; Paola Daher, Women Deliver; Alexandra Xanthaki, United Nations Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights; and Marwa Sharafeldin, Musawah.

    Following the panel discussion, States parties, United Nations agencies, and civil society representatives delivered oral statements. Speaking were Malta, Andorra, Poland, Canada, Vanuatu, Cyprus, Japan, Chile, Maldives, Ukraine, Austria, Azerbaijan, United Arab Emirates, Mexico, Bulgaria, Israel, Venezuela, Bolivia, Spain, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and Nepal.

    Also speaking were Consortium for Intersectional Justice, Observatorio Iberoamericano Contra la Violencia de Género, Duch Cedaw Network, WILPF, Center for Reproductive Rights, European Network of Migrant Women, Tania Sordo Ruz, Nordic Model Now, and Ilga World.

    The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women’s ninetieth session is being held from 3 to 21 February.  All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage.  Meeting summary releases can be found here.  The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

    The Committee will next meet at 5 p.m. on Friday, 21 February to close its ninetieth session.

    Introductory Remarks

    NAHLA HAIDAR, Committee Chair, welcomed all participants to the meeting.  She said that the Committee was mandated to issue recommendations to States parties and provide guidance on themes related to women’s rights.  The discussions to be held today would focus on the Committee’s proposed general recommendation on general stereotypes, which the Committee urged all stakeholders to support.  Gender stereotypes created false beliefs, inhibitive gender roles and discrimination.  Measures needed to be implemented to combat them.  The Committee hoped to prepare guidelines that would help States to address these stereotypes, and counter myths and common excuses as to why gender stereotypes continued to be perpetuated, such as cultural and religious reasons.

    PEGGY HICKS, Director, Thematic Engagement, Special Procedures and Right to Development Division, United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said she could not think of a timelier topic.  The general recommendation on gender stereotypes would provide guidance on State obligations to address these stereotypes as root causes of gender-based discrimination.  She expressed hope that it would strengthen standards, principles and guidance to eliminate all forms of gender stereotypes.

    Gender stereotypes were justified under the banners of “tradition,” “culture,” “religion” or even “nature.”  They often stemmed from patriarchal systems that tolerated or affirmed unequal power relations, based on the idea that women were inferior to men.  Discriminatory practices against women and girls needed to be eliminated, regardless of their origins, including those perpetuated in the name of culture or religion.

    The impacts of gender stereotyping began in the family and were apparent in every aspect of the lives of women and girls.  Gender stereotyping normalised violence against women and girls, politicised their reproductive functions, and denied them equal participation in political life and economic opportunities.  Women who did not conform to gender stereotypes or who openly contested them were particularly exposed to discrimination, violence and criminalisation.  

    It was crucial to address stereotypes that manifested first in the family and were then perpetuated in education systems and all aspects of society, including virtual spaces.  Transforming education systems to eliminate gender stereotypes was essential; human rights-based education was a powerful tool to dispel stereotypes.

    The discussion would address the unique vulnerabilities faced by women and girls who experienced combined stereotypes based on gender and other grounds, such as ethnicity, socioeconomic status, disability and age.  The general recommendation needed to address how to rectify the impact of intersecting forms of stereotypes, resulting discriminations and corresponding State obligations.

    Gender stereotypes trapped men and boys, conditioning them to embrace harmful ideas of masculinity.  Men and boys needed to challenge unequal power relations and structures, recognising how patriarchy privileged them and how gender equality liberated all.  Combatting gender stereotypes demanded a comprehensive approach involving the transformation of laws, policies and societal structures.  

    The general recommendation would enable States parties to change and transform gender stereotypes, paving the way for the full realisation of all human rights for all women and girls.  The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights was ready to support this work.  It had concrete analytical tools and the mandate and expertise to monitor these issues, provide technical assistance, and build the capacity of key stakeholders.

    NATALIA KANEM, Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund, said it was currently a moment of grave import for the rights of women and girls. Around the world, there were immense pushbacks against women and girls in all their diversity.  Fierce opposition was threatening progress on several fronts.  It was welcome that maternal mortality had dropped by a third, and more than 160 countries had passed laws to address domestic violence. 

    However, the United Nations Population Fund regularly heard stories like those of Amena’s, who had been informed at age 13 by her parents that she was to be married.  The Fund had helped Amena to stand up for her rights and she was able to return to school.

    Gender stereotypes perpetuated stigma and shame around girls’ sexuality, and they posed significant risks to economic and social stability, contributing to the gender wage gap. Poverty often wore the face of a woman. Stereotypes also often led to gender-based violence, particularly online.  Discrimination severely limited the participation of women and girls in the digital space.  The ripple effects of these stereotypes drove political polarisation, fractured communities and exacerbated inequality.  They contributed to a world where progress and peace were illusive. 

    Gender discrimination was compounded by factors such as age, race and disability status.  The Fund was training healthcare workers to provide non-judgemental care for women, so women could make informed choices about their bodies and lives.

    Gender stereotypes were perpetuated in all segments of society.  The Fund was empowering girls to become leaders and was working to create a digital world that was safe and accessible for everyone.  It was also working with boys and men to ensure that they were not trapped by gender stereotypes.  It would continue to support policies and programmes that aimed to address harmful social norms.  The Committee needed to formulate processes that would give women their own money, self-agency and bodily autonomy.

    In this uncertain moment, all parties needed to stand with women.  All stakeholders needed to engage actively in developing this general recommendation.  This was not the time to roll back the clock on women’s rights.  The work of the Committee saved and transformed lives. It needed to continue.

    NYARADZAYI GUMBONZVANDA, Deputy Executive Director, United Nations Women, said United Nations Women was proud to support general recommendation 41.  Gender stereotypes were barriers to the human rights of women and girls.  They restricted education, jobs, leadership, health and justice, fuelling inequality and violence, silencing women and denying freedoms.  

    Gender stereotypes’ impact was clear in politics, where women faced double standards, exclusion and relentless scrutiny.  They also fuelled violence and impunity, with women and girls too often being valued first as wives and daughters, and not as full human beings with rights.  Stereotypes further dictated economic power, with women being denied inheritance rights.

    United Nations Women commended its Member States for adopting strong regional frameworks to combat gender-based violence and discrimination, including the Belem do Para Convention, the Istanbul Convention, and the African Union Convention on Ending Violence against Women.  Commitments needed to translate into action.  Lifting reservations to the Convention, which weakened protections and kept barriers in place, was urgent.

    General recommendation 41 presented a decisive opportunity to dismantle gender stereotypes at their core.  The year 2025 marked 30 years since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.  It was also the final stretch toward the expiration date of the Sustainable Development Goals, which pledged to end harmful practices against women and girls. General recommendation 41 was a critical tool for transformation that needed to be acted on immediately.

    BANDANA RANA, Committee Expert and Co-Chair of the Committee Working Group on Gender Stereotypes, said the Committee, at its eighty-fourth session, had agreed to start the elaboration of a general recommendation on gender stereotypes.  Harmful gender stereotypes were one of the biggest stumbling blocks to gender equality.  They contributed to unequal representation in workplaces and policies, and contributed to gender-based violence. 

    The Convention called on States to challenge traditional norms that limited women’s’ representation in all areas of society.  The general recommendation would dismantle discriminatory stereotypes and provide guidance on addressing these stereotypes and creating a more just society.  Together, they could create more equitable societies, as envisioned by the Sustainable Development Goals.  Ms. Rana called on all stakeholders to actively contribute to the general recommendation, dismantle gender stereotypes, and build a future where everyone could thrive without barriers.

    RHODA REDDOCK, Committee Expert and Co-Chair of the Committee Working Group on Gender Stereotypes, said gender stereotypes were based on ideas, attitudes, belief systems and patriarchal structures that existed in all societies.  They reflected the notion of women being inferior to men. The Convention called on all States parties to modify social patterns and cultural practices that were based on stereotyped roles of men and women.  Stereotypes often changed, and new ones were regularly created.  Women’s structured inferiority moved with them to all activities where they predominated.  This issue was central to the equal valuing of women and men.  Ms. Reddock called on all stakeholders for support as the Committee developed the general recommendation.

    Summary of Statements by Panellists

    After the introductory remarks, the Committee held a panel discussion on gender stereotypes, hearing presentations from Adriana Quinones, Head, Human Rights and Development, United Nations Women; Joni van de Sand, Global MenEngage Alliance; Paola Daher, Women Deliver; Alexandra Xanthaki, United Nations Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights; and Marwa Sharafeldin, Musawah.

    Many speakers expressed concern that currently, women’s rights were under threat from those with immense power.  There was a mounting backlash against diversity, inclusion and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex rights, and new policies and platforms for discrimination were emerging.  Stereotypes between men and women were becoming more apparent and legitimised.

    Speakers said gender stereotypes were key pillars of patriarchal domination and power. They did not emerge in a vacuum; they were used to determine roles and behaviours that conformed to power relations, and they became stubbornly resistant over time.  They had a negative impact on the full realisation of the rights of women and girls, including their rights to work, education, and sexual and reproductive health.  Persons who challenged traditional notions of the family faced discrimination.  Gender stereotypes often intersected with stereotypes related to race, class and other aspects. 

    Speakers expressed national measures implemented to address gender stereotypes and promote gender mainstreaming, and offered the Committee support in addressing gender stereotypes.

    One speaker said an increasing number of young men in the world thought that gender equality had gone too far.  Transforming stereotypes against men was crucial in advancing gender equality.  A key strategy in this regard was to promote masculinity rooted in concepts of care and environmental protection, they said. The general recommendation needed to elaborate on how transforming gender stereotypes was relevant to men and masculinities.

    Another speaker said the Committee needed to recognise that stereotypes were not perpetuated by the abstract concept of “culture”.  The general recommendation needed to recognise that women’s rights and agency came from culture.  The general recommendation needed to recognise that it was how culture was being used by elites that made it harmful. 

    The rights enshrined in the Convention belonged to all women, including lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex women, one speaker said.  Womanhood needed to be recognised through self-identification.  The Committee needed to continue to eradicate stereotypes in international law regarding the definition of a woman.

    One speaker said that religion, law and the family were fields where transformative change was possible to dismantle gender stereotypes.  Religion was a source of law and it affected social norms and stereotypes.  There was patriarchal religious discourse and religious discourse that promoted gender equality.  States needed to make a choice about the religious discourse used in law and practice. The speaker noted efforts to combat gender stereotypes by changing interpretations of religious texts. 

    Several speakers gave recommendations regarding the content of the general recommendation.  One speaker said it needed to have a multi-layered institutional approach that was cognisant of power relations, while another called for the general recommendation’s scope to be expanded to promote counter narratives to gender stereotypes.  Another recommendation was for full effective and meaningful participation of women and girls to be captured in the general recommendation.

    Panel Discussion

    Representatives of States, United Nations agencies and civil society then took the floor, with speakers, among other things, expressing support for the elaboration of a general recommendation on gender stereotypes that would contribute to eliminating gender stereotypes and their adverse effects on women and girls, and to promoting the rights of all women and girls.

    Many speakers said gender stereotypes impeded the participation of women in all areas of public and private life and subconsciously affected how all behaved.  Stereotypes led to the subordination of women and girls, wage gaps, discrimination and gender-based violence.  They limited the potential of women globally and progress toward Sustainable Development Goal Five.  Women and girls continued to bear the brunt of conflict and climate change.  States had a responsibility to combat these stereotypes.

    Speakers said that in many countries, there was a pushback against feminism, which was misinforming the public and slowing progress. It was imperative to prevent backsliding.  In this context, the United Nations and other international bodies needed to expand, not restrict, definitions of gender, one speaker said.

    Some speakers said that in the digital world, harmful messaging and sexist discourse were affecting women and girls.  Online pornography and prostitution promoted violence against women and perpetuated stereotypes, while online hate speech reinforced gender stereotypes, silenced women’s voices, and limited their political participation.  The Committee needed to examine how gender stereotypes permeated online discourse. Some speakers said that artificial intelligence was perpetuating and amplifying harmful gender stereotypes against women.  Measures needed to be implemented to eliminate gender biases in artificial intelligence.  One speaker called for the promotion of women’s participation in the technological sector.

    Speakers expressed support for the elimination of all harmful stereotypes against women and girls.  All parties needed to cooperate to build a fair and equitable society for women and girls.  Governments needed to recognise the crucial role of civil society organizations in protecting women’s rights and countering stereotypes.  Stereotypes needed to be recognised and countered.  Stakeholders needed to reshape restrictive masculinities and reinforce positive gender norms.  International regional frameworks, including the Convention, needed to be implemented to build a more prosperous future for all.  Encouraging social awareness of stereotypes was crucial in combatting discrimination and promoting equality.

    Some speakers said gender stereotypes were cross-cutting, affecting various marginalised groups.  Intersectionality was a necessary lens for addressing gender stereotypes.  Speakers also called on the Committee to adopt a decolonial approach and embrace indigenous approaches to women’s rights, and consider the rights of lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex women and girls.  One speaker said the Committee needed to oppose the patriarchy and contribute to dismantling it.

    The Committee needed to elaborate on biases in gender-based roles and their impact on society, one speaker said.  Another speaker called for the general recommendation to consider the link between stereotypes and women’s unpaid care work. The Committee needed to note the importance of awareness raising campaigns in breaking down stereotypes. One speaker said the general recommendation needed to challenge how gender stereotypes influenced security systems.

    Some speakers said the general recommendation needed to consider the cultural sensitivities of all States parties. Actions and decisions needed to align with States’ unique customs, they said.  One speaker called on the Committee to reflect on the positive influences of culture and religion on promoting women’s rights.

    Speakers presented legislative and policy initiatives to counter gender stereotypes and address intersectional discrimination; promote women’s participation in the workforce, political bodies and education, including in science, technology, engineering and maths education; revise textbooks to remove gender stereotypes; promote the access of women and girls to health and reproductive rights; combat human trafficking; repeal discriminatory laws; collect data on the prevalence of gender discrimination; promote the use of parental leave and the participation of men in care work; and empower vulnerable women.

    One speaker asked the Committee whether the general recommendation would consider the connection between unilateral coercive measures and gender stereotypes.

    Closing Remarks

    ANTTI KORKEAKIVI, Chief, Human Rights Treaties Branch, United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed gratitude to all speakers for their invaluable contributions.  The dialogue had demonstrated how deeply gender stereotypes affected women and girls in all aspects of life.  The general recommendation had the potential to dismantle gender stereotypes and help women and girls to realise their potential.  The inputs of all stakeholders would inform the Committee’s efforts to elaborate the general recommendation.  The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights looked forward to the positive impact that the general recommendation would have on the lives of women and girls globally.

    NAHLA HAIDAR, Committee Chair, said all stakeholders’ inputs had been very valuable.  This general recommendation needed to ensure that no one was excluded from protection. The Committee would consider the Convention’s perspective on intersectionality, which was captured in the Committee’s general recommendation 28.  The current general recommendation needed to meet the requirements of women and girls all over the world.  Speakers had expressed a diversity of views on the subject, and the Committee would consider all these views.  In closing, Ms. Haidar thanked all speakers that had participated in the meeting, including more than 40 States parties.

    ___________

    CEDAW.25.052E

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the information media; not an official record.

    English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India Energy Week 2025

    Source: Government of India

    India Energy Week 2025

    Driving Global Energy Innovation and Collaboration for a Sustainable Future

    Posted On: 17 FEB 2025 6:47PM by PIB Delhi

    India is driving not only its growth but also the growth of the world, with the energy sector playing a significant role.

    -Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi

    A Global Energy Confluence

    India Energy Week (IEW) 2025, held from February 11 to 14, 2025, at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, New Delhi, is a premier global event in the energy sector. The event held under the patronage of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and organized by the Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI) has grown into the world’s second-largest energy conference.

    A Hub of Innovation and Transformation

    The India Energy Week exhibition has grown exponentially to become the world’s new meeting place for energy professionals, with millions of dollars of business conducted onsite, positioning it at the very heart of international business.

    A key facilitator of dialogue between international and regional producers, the event provides international exhibitors with the opportunity to network with key buyers from over 120 countries across the full energy value chain. Exhibitors will have the opportunity to showcase cutting-edge technologies that drive sustainable energy solutions, forge strategic partnerships, and explore opportunities to shape the future of energy.

    Defining Achievements of IEW 2025

     Key Focus Areas of IEW 2025

    • Energy Transition & Green Future: Major focus on biofuels, flex-fuel vehicles, ethanol blending, and green hydrogen. India is steadily progressing toward its goal of producing 5 million metric tons (MMT) of green hydrogen annually by 2030.
    • Exploration & Production (E&P) Reforms: Launch of Open Acreage Licensing Program (OALP) Round X, covering 200,000 sq. km, along with regulatory changes to boost investment in oil and gas exploration.
    • India-US Energy Cooperation: Strengthening LNG supply partnerships and increasing natural gas consumption in India’s energy mix from 6% to 15%.
    • Global Energy Investments: Expanding investments in oil and gas assets across Brazil, Venezuela, Russia, and Mozambique while benefiting from emerging oil sources.
    • Startup & Innovation Recognition: The Avinya’25 – Energy Startup Challenge, led by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, awarded innovative startups for breakthroughs in CO₂ capture, ESG solutions, and renewable energy. The Vasudha – Oil and Gas Startup Challenge recognized overseas startups revolutionizing the upstream oil and gas sector with AI-driven solutions.

    Navigating the Nine Thematic Zones

    IEW 2025 introduced nine thematic zones, each focusing on different aspects of the energy sector:

    1. Hydrogen Zone – Hosted by Oil India Limited, showcasing cutting-edge innovations in hydrogen fuel generation.
    2. Biofuels Zone – Highlighting India’s advancements in Biodiesel, Bioethanol, Compressed Biogas, and Sustainable Aviation Fuel.
    3. Renewable Energy Zone – Featuring innovations in solar, wind, and other renewable energy technologies.
    4. LNG EcoSystem – Hosted by Petronet LNG, focusing on India’s downstream LNG supply chain and eco-friendly fuel solutions.
    5. Make in India Zone – Hosted by Engineers India Limited, highlighting indigenous energy manufacturing capabilities.
    6. City Gas Distribution Zone – Hosted by GAIL, emphasizing India’s rapid progress towards a gas-based economy.
    7. Petrochem Zone – Hosted by ONGC, showcasing advancements in petrochemical technologies and sustainable solutions.
    8. Innovation Zone – Featuring emerging startups and breakthrough technologies in energy.
    9. Digitalisation Zone – Showcasing AI, IoT, and automation in optimizing energy production and distribution.

    India: The Rising Energy Powerhouse

    India, the world’s third-largest energy consumer, is poised for the highest energy demand growth. Under PM Narendra Modi’s leadership, the nation is advancing towards a greener future with significant investments in secure, sustainable, and affordable energy. India Energy Week 2025 will serve as a key platform for global collaboration, driving discussions on energy security, innovation, and sustainability.

     

    A dynamic energy landscape

    India’s Path to Sustainability

    As a rapidly advancing economic powerhouse, India faces the twin challenge of surging energy demand while mitigating its carbon footprint. In response, Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the concept of “Panchamrit” at COP 26, representing a blend of five essential elements. “Panchamrit” underscores India’s commitment to addressing climate change and fostering sustainable growth on a global scale.

    Panchamrit: India’s Five Point Pledge Towards Climate Change

    1. India will take its non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030
    2. By 2030, India will reduce the carbon intensity of its economy by less than 45%
    3. India will meet 50% of its energy requirements from renewable energy by 2030
    4. By the year 2070, India will achieve target of net-zero
    5. India will reduce the total projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes till 2030

    Conclusion

    India Energy Week 2025 serves as a pivotal platform for global energy stakeholders to exchange ideas, foster partnerships, and witness India’s leadership in energy transition. As Shri Pankaj Jain, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, highlighted, IEW 2025 will act as a catalyst for groundbreaking projects in green hydrogen, solar advancements, and exploration technologies, reinforcing India’s commitment to sustainability and innovation. With a focus on transformative collaboration and investment, the event will shape the global energy agenda, positioning India at the forefront of energy security, technological progress, and a sustainable future.

    References

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Lack of protection for Italian investments in Colombia and obligations under the EU-Colombia trade agreement – E-002753/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The EU-Colombia trade agreement[1] does not include investment protection commitments that could provide a basis for EU investors to request arbitration or other related dispute settlement procedure.

    At present such procedures are only available to French and Spanish investors under bilateral investment treaties concluded by their respective Member States with Colombia.

    The Commission has not been made aware of similar difficulties faced by Italian investors, although affected investors may choose not to disclose such information.

    The Commission expects that Colombia will treat EU investors fairly, so that both sides can reap the maximum benefits of the EU-Colombia trade agreement.

    The EU Delegation in Bogota in cooperation with national authorities is closely monitoring the situation of protection of Member States’ investments in Colombia.

    • [1] Trade agreement between the EU and Colombia of 26 June 2012, published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 24 December 2016 (L 356), https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ%3AL%3A2016%3A356%3ATOC
    Last updated: 17 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Inner city spruce up planned for State Highway 1, Wellington CBD

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    State Highway 1, Karo Drive in the Wellington CBD will be getting some much-needed TLC next week.

    Mark Owen, Regional Manager Lower North Island / Top of the South, say it will be the latest piece of urban State Highway 1 in the capital to feel the benefits of the state highway summer maintenance programme.

    “People heading in and out of the city will have seen the work we have done on the urban motorway. The highway route through the city is another well used road, and that is why the northbound lanes of Karo Drive between Taranaki and Victoria Streets are our next priority.”

    “Over 25,000 use this stretch of highway daily. The more a road is used, the more important maintaining it is,” Mr Owen says.

    Road crews will be on the job on the nights of Sunday, 23 February, and Monday 24 February, between 9 pm and 4:30 am, weather permitting. There will be noise disruption throughout the night, but the noisiest part of the work will be done between 9 pm and 11 pm.

    Mr Owen says the timing of the work is carefully chosen.

    “Traffic volumes in Wellington’s CBD are at their busiest during the day, which is why we do this sort of work at night when fewer vehicles are on the road. It inconveniences fewer people and makes the job easier, and safer, to complete.”

    “We will have to close all the northbound lanes on Sunday night, then run lane closures on Monday night. It means there will be just one night where there will be a full directional closure,” Mr Owen says.

    Local road detours will be available for the Sunday night closure, via Taranaki St, Jervois/Waterloo/Aotea Quay to the Aotea Quay Northbound onramp. This will add to travel times and drivers should allow extra time for their journeys.

    Mr Owen appreciates state highway roadworks in the city will cause disruption and delays.

    We ask drivers to please be patient, follow all traffic management in place, while our contractors work hard to get this job finished.”

    Work schedule and Location:

    • Sunday, 23 February. 9 pm to 4:30 am
      • SH1 Karo Drive CLOSED to all northbound traffic between Taranaki  and Victoria Streets
      • Detour available via Taranaki St, Jervois/Waterloo/Aotea Quay to the Aotea Quay Northbound onramp
    • Monday, 24 February. 9 pm to 4:30 am
      • Northbound lane closures, SH1 Karo Drive, between Cuba Street and Willis Street.
      • Victoria Street will be shut at the SH1 intersection
      • Travel delays can be expected
    • These works are weather-dependent and may be rescheduled at short notice.
    • Access will be available for emergency services and affected residents at all times.

    More Information:

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: YouTube at 20: how it transformed viewing in eight steps

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Alex Connock, Senior Fellow, Said Business School, University of Oxford

    Chay Tee

    The world’s biggest video sharing platform, YouTube, has just turned 20.

    It was started inauspiciously in February 2005 by former PayPal employees Chad Hurley, Steve Chen and Jawed Karim – with a 19-second video of Karim exploring San Diego Zoo.

    That year, YouTube’s disruption of the media timeline was minimal enough for there to be no mention of it in The Guardian’s coverage of TV’s Digital Revolution at the Edinburgh TV Festival.

    Twenty years on, it’s a different story.

    YouTube is a massive competitor to TV, an engagement beast, uploading as much new video every five minutes as the 2,400 hours BBC Studios produces in a whole year. The 26-year-old YouTube star Mr Beast earned US$85 million (£67 million) in 2024 from videos – ranging from live Call of Duty play-alongs to handing out 1,000 free cataract operations.

    As a business, YouTube is now worth some US$455 billion (2024 Bloomberg estimate). That is a spectacular 275 times return on the US$1.65 billion Google paid for it in 2006. For the current YouTube value, Google could today buy British broadcaster ITV about 127 times.

    YouTube has similar gross revenue (US$36.1 billion in 2024) to the streaming giant Netflix – but without the financial inconvenience of making shows, since most of the content is uploaded for free.

    YouTube’s first video: a 19-second look at the elephants of San Diego Zoo.

    YouTube has 2.7 billion monthly active users, or 40% of the entire global population outside China, where it is blocked. It is also now one of the biggest music streaming sites, and the second biggest social network (to Facebook), plus a paid broadcast channel for 100 million subscribers.

    YouTube has built a video Library of Babel, its expansive shelves lined eclectically with Baby Shark Dance, how to fix septic tanks, who would win a shooting war between Britain and France … and quantum physics.

    The site has taken over global children’s programming to the point where Wired magazine pointed out that the future of this genre actually “isn’t television”. But there are flaws, too: it has been described as a conduit for disinformation by fact checkers.

    So how did all that happen? Eight key innovations have helped YouTube achieve its success.

    1. How new creativity is paid for

    Traditional broadcast and print uses either the risk-on, fixed cost of hiring an office full of staff producers and writers, or the variable but risky approach of one-off commissioning from freelancers. Either way, the channel goes out of pocket, and if the content fails to score with viewers, it loses money.

    YouTube did away with all that, flipping the risk profile entirely to the creator, and not paying upfront at all. It doesn’t have to deal with the key talent going out clubbing all night and being late to the set, not to mention other boring aspects of production like insurance, cash flow or contracts.

    2. The revenue model of media

    YouTube innovated by dividing any earnings with the creator, via an advertising income split of roughly 50% (the exact amount varies in practice). This incentivises creators to study the science of engagement, since it makes them more money. Mr Beast has a team employed just to optimise the thumbnails for his videos.

    3. Advertising

    Alongside parent company Google/Alphabet, and especially with the introduction (March 2007) of YouTube Analytics and other technologies, the site adrenalised programmatic video advertising, where ad space around a particular viewer is digitally auctioned off to the highest buyer, in real time.

    That means when you land on a high-rating Beyoncé video and see a pre-roll ad for Grammarly, the advertiser algorithmically liked the look of your profile, so bid money to show you the ad. When that system works, it is ultra efficient, the key reason why the broad, demographics-based broadcast TV advertising market is so challenged.

    4. Who makes content

    About 50 million people now think they are professional creators, many of them on YouTube. Influencers have used the site to build businesses without mediation from (usually white and male) executives in legacy media.

    This has driven, at its best, a major move towards the democratisation and globalisation of content production. Brazil and Kenya both have huge, eponymous YouTube creator economies, giving global distribution to diverse voices that realistically would been disintermediated in the 20th century media ecology.

    5. The way we tell stories

    Traditional TV ads and films start slow and build to a climax. Not so YouTube videos – and even more, YouTube Shorts – which prioritise a big emotive hit in the first few seconds for engagement, and regular further hits to keep people there. Mr Beast’s leaked internal notes describe how to do sequential escalation, meaning moving to more elaborate or extreme details as a video goes on: “An example of a one thru three minute tactic we would use is crazy progression,” he says, reflecting his deep homework. “I spent basically five years of my life studying virality on YouTube.”

    6. Copyright

    Back in 2015, if someone stole your intellectual property – say, old episodes of Mr Bean – and re-broadcast it on their own channel, you would call a media lawyer and sue. Now there is a better option – Content ID – to take the money instead. Through digital rights monetisation (DRM), owners can algorithmically discover their own content and claim the ad revenue, a material new income stream for producers.

    7. Video technicalities

    Most technical innovations in video production have found their way to the mainstream via YouTube, such as 360-degree, 4k, VR (virtual reality) and other tech acronyms. And now YouTube has started to integrate generative AI into its programme-producing suite for creators, with tight integration of Google’s Veo tools.

    These will offer, according to CEO Neal Mohan, “billions of people around the world access to AI”. This is another competitive threat to traditional producers, because bedroom creators can now make their own visual effects-heavy fan-fiction episodes of Star Wars.

    8. News

    YouTube became a rabbit hole of disinformation, misinformation and conspiracy, via a reinforcement-learning algorithm that prioritises view time but not editorial accuracy. Covid conspiracy fans got to see “5G health risk” or “chemtrail” videos, because the algorithm knew they might like them too.

    How can the big, legacy media brands respond? Simple. By meeting the audience where the viewers are, and putting their content on YouTube. The BBC has 14.7 million YouTube subscribers. ITV is exploiting its catalogue to put old episodes of Thunderbirds on there. Meanwhile in February 2025, Channel 4 also announced success in reaching young viewers via YouTube. Full episode views were “up 169% year-on-year, surpassing 110 million organic views in the UK”.

    Alex Connock has worked or consulted for BBC, Channel 4, ITV and Meta.

    – ref. YouTube at 20: how it transformed viewing in eight steps – https://theconversation.com/youtube-at-20-how-it-transformed-viewing-in-eight-steps-250083

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: A new theory explains how water first arrived on Earth

    Source: The Conversation – France – By Quentin Kral, Astrophysicien à l’observatoire de Paris-PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité

    How did Earth become a blue planet? NASA, CC BY

    When Earth first formed, it was too hot to retain ice. This means all the water on our planet must have originated from extraterrestrial sources. Studies of ancient terrestrial rocks suggest liquid water existed on Earth as early as 100 million years after the Sun’s formation–practically “immediately” on an astrophysical timescale. This water, now over 4.5 billion years old, has been perpetually renewed through Earth’s water cycle. My research team has recently proposed a new theory to explain how water first arrived on Earth.

    A mystery billions of years in the making

    Astrophysicists have been grappling with the question of how water arrived on our young planet for decades. One of the earliest hypotheses suggested that Earth’s water was a direct byproduct of the planet’s formation, released via magma during volcanic eruptions, in which most of the emitted gas is water vapor.

    However, this hypothesis evolved in the 1990s following analysis of Earth’s water composition and the discovery of the potential role of icy comets, pointing to an extraterrestrial origin. Comets, which are mixtures of ice and rock formed in the distant reaches of the solar system, are sometimes ejected toward the Sun. When warmed by the Sun, they develop striking tails of dust and gas that are visible from Earth. Asteroids, located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, were also proposed as potential progenitors of Earth’s water.

    The study of cometary and asteroid rocks via meteorites–small fragments of these bodies that have fallen to Earth–has provided key insights. By analyzing the D/H ratio–the proportion of heavy hydrogen (deuterium) to standard hydrogen–scientists found that Earth’s water more closely matches that of “carbonaceous” asteroids, which bear traces of past water. This shifted the focus of research toward these asteroids.

    The asteroid belt lies between Mars and Jupiter, while the Kuiper Belt extends beyond Neptune.
    Pline/Wikipedia, CC BY

    Recent studies have centered on identifying the celestial mechanisms that could have delivered these water-rich asteroids to the dry surface of early Earth. Numerous theories have emerged to explain the “perturbation” of planetesimals–large, icy bodies in the asteroid and Kuiper belts. These scenarios propose gravitational interactions that dislodged these objects, sending them hurtling toward Earth. Such events would have required a complex “gravitational billiards” process, suggesting a tumultuous history of the solar system.

    While it is evident that planetary formation involved significant upheavals and impacts, it is possible that Earth’s water delivery occurred in a more natural and less dramatic manner.

    A simpler hypothesis

    I started with the assumption that asteroids emerge icy from their formation cocoon, also known as the protoplanetary disk. This cocoon is a massive, hydrogen-rich disk filled with dust, where planets and initial belts form. It envelops the entire nascent planetary system. Once this protective cocoon dissipates–after a few million years–the asteroids warm up, causing their ice to melt or, more precisely, to sublimate. In space, where pressure is nearly zero, the water remains in vapor form after this process.

    A disk of water vapour is then superimposed on the asteroid belt orbiting the Sun. As the ice sublimates, the disk fills with vapor, which spreads inward toward the Sun due to complex dynamic processes. Along the way, this vapor disk encounters the inner planets, immersing them in a kind of “bath”. In a way, the disk “waters” the terrestrial planets: Mars, Earth, Venus and Mercury. Most of this water capture occurred 20 to 30 million years after the Sun’s formation, during a period when the Sun’s luminosity increased dramatically over a brief period of time, increasing the degassing rate of asteroids.

    Step-by-step illustration of a new model for water distribution on the inner planets of the solar system, including Earth. Five million years after the Sun’s birth, asteroids in the main belt release water vapor due to solar energy. This vapor gradually spreads into the inner solar system, eventually enveloping the planets, which capture part of it to form oceans between 10 and 100 million years later.
    Sylvain Cnudde/Observatoire de Paris — PSL/LESIA, Fourni par l’auteur

    Once water is captured by a planet’s gravitational pull, many processes can occur. On Earth, however, a protective mechanism ensures the total mass of water has remained relatively constant from the end of the capture period until today. If water rises too high into the atmosphere, it condenses into clouds, which eventually return to the surface as rain–a process known as the water cycle.

    The quantities of water on Earth, both past and present, are well documented. Our model, which begins with the degassing of ice from the original asteroid belt, successfully accounts for the amount of water needed to form oceans, rivers and lakes, and even the water buried deep within Earth’s mantle. Precise measurements of the D/H ratio of water in the oceans also align with our model. Moreover, the model explains the quantities of water present in the past on other planets–and even on the Moon.

    You might wonder how I arrived at this new theory. It stems from recent observations, particularly those made with ALMA, a radio telescope array of over 60 antennae located in Chile, on a plateau five kilometres above sea level. Observations of extrasolar systems with belts similar to the Kuiper Belt reveal that planetesimals in these belts sublimate carbon monoxide (CO). For belts closer to their star, such as the asteroid belt, CO is too volatile to be present, and water is more likely to be released.

    Building the model

    It was from these findings that the initial idea for the theory began to take shape. Moreover, recent data from the Hayabusa 2 and OSIRIS-REx missions, which explored asteroids similar to those that might have contributed to the formation of the initial water vapor disk, provided key confirmation. These missions, along with long-standing observations from ground-based telescopes, revealed substantial amounts of hydrated minerals on these asteroids–minerals that can only form through contact with water. This supports the premise that these asteroids were initially icy, even though most have since lost their ice (except for larger bodies like Ceres).

    With the foundation of the model in place, the next step was to develop a numerical simulation to track the degassing of ice, the dispersion of water vapor, and its eventual capture by planets. During these simulations, it quickly became clear that the model could account for Earth’s water supply. Additional research on past water quantities for Mars and other terrestrial planets confirmed the model’s applicability to them as well. It all fit, and the results were ready for publication!

    As researchers, it’s not enough to design a model that works and seems to explain everything. The theory must be tested on a larger scale. While it’s now impossible to detect the initial water vapor disk that “watered” the terrestrial planets, we can look to extrasolar systems with young asteroid belts to see if such water vapor disks exist. According to our calculations, these disks, though faint, should be detectable with ALMA. Our team has just secured time on ALMA to investigate specific systems for evidence of them.

    We may be at the dawn of a new era in understanding the origins of Earth’s water.

    Quentin Kral ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche.

    – ref. A new theory explains how water first arrived on Earth – https://theconversation.com/a-new-theory-explains-how-water-first-arrived-on-earth-246516

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Fabio Panetta: The global economy – navigating uncertainty and change

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    1. The international economy

    In the advanced economies, inflation is declining and nearing central banks’ targets, leading them to gradually ease monetary tightening. The exception is Japan, where rising inflation has led the central bank to raise official interest rates to 0.5 per cent, the highest level in 17 years.

    Compared with the past, disinflation has been faster and less harmful to economic activity. This is thanks to the rapid unwinding of the shocks that had pushed up consumer prices – such as high energy costs – and to monetary policy, which has kept inflation expectations anchored.

    In the United States, where inflation is falling unevenly amid robust growth, the Federal Reserve is easing monetary conditions more gradually than expected. Its decisions are also being influenced by the recent change in administration, whose new fiscal and trade policies could significantly impact the economy and inflation, with implications for monetary policy. In the midst of this, longer-term yields have risen since the beginning of December, despite the drop in short-term interest rates, spurring an appreciation of the dollar (Figure A.1).

    In the emerging economies, the inflation scenario varies from country to country.

    In China, consumer price inflation is practically nil, while producer price inflation has been negative for two years, exposing the economy to the risk of deflation. Repeated monetary and fiscal interventions have supported financial markets, but their effectiveness in restoring price stability is uncertain.

    By contrast, inflation remains high in Brazil, Türkiye and Argentina, forcing central banks to maintain tight monetary conditions.

    MIL OSI Economics –