NewzIntel.com

Category: Military Intelligence

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Nova Scotia Welcomes Nordic Heads of Mission

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Nova Scotia is welcoming the five heads of mission representing Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden in Canada, who are in Halifax together on a joint diplomatic visit beginning today, April 7.

    During the three-day visit, provincial ministers and other officials will meet with the Nordic region diplomats to explore opportunities to strengthen existing trade partnerships and exchange insights on shared priorities.

    For the Nordic countries, areas of special interest include the blue economy (sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth); renewable energy and green solutions; healthcare and life sciences; technology and innovation; and trans-Atlantic security and defence. For Nova Scotia, this includes opportunities to increase its self-reliance and invest in critical minerals, wind resources and the seafood sector.

    “We’re thrilled to welcome the ambassadors from the Nordic region to talk about our shared goals and the mutual benefits of working together to protect citizens and strengthen trade opportunities,” said Barbara Adams, Nova Scotia’s Deputy Premier. “Nova Scotia is ready to do business, and we have a lot to offer. We’re excited to share the innovative work happening in Nova Scotia to harness our resources, promote Nova Scotia products and services and so much more.”

    Deputy Premier Adams, who is also Nova Scotia’s Minister responsible for Military Relations, will join the heads of mission for a visit at Canadian Forces Base Halifax. The diplomats’ itinerary also includes stops at the Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship in Dartmouth and the NATO DIANA Regional Office for North America in Halifax, as well as meetings with a half dozen provincial ministers.

    The officials began their visit today with a luncheon hosted by Lt.-Gov. Mike Savage. They will later participate in a panel discussion at Dalhousie University hosted by the Halifax chapter of the Canadian International Council. The event is open to the public.

    Quotes:

    “Nova Scotia and the Nordic region hold much in common. Our economies and the lives of our residents are intertwined with the ocean; we are investing significantly in technology and infrastructure to power our increasingly green and digital economies; and we are hotbeds of innovation, advanced research and culture. On behalf of all five Nordic heads of mission, we very much look forward to our first joint visit to Nova Scotia and to deepening our relations as trans-Atlantic partners.”
    — Hlynur Guðjónsson, Ambassador of Iceland to Canada

    Quick Facts:

    • the Nordic region includes five sovereign states – Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden – and the self-governing territories of the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland
    • visiting heads of mission include Hanna-Leena Korteniemi, Ambassador of Finland to Canada; Signe Burgstaller, Ambassador of Sweden to Canada; Hlynur Guðjónsson, Ambassador of Iceland to Canada; Nikolaj Harris, Ambassador of Denmark to Canada; Trygve Bendiksby, Head of Mission, Royal Norwegian Embassy in Ottawa
    • meetings are scheduled with Growth and Development Minister Colton LeBlanc, Addictions and Mental Health Minister Brian Comer, Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Kent Smith, Cyber Security and Digital Solutions Minister Jill Balser, Natural Resources Minister Tory Rushton and Environment and Climate Change Minister Timothy Halman
    • as declared in the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Agenda 2030, the Nordic region has a vision to become the most sustainable and integrated region in the world by 2030
    • the Nordic Council of Ministers is supporting the visit

    Additional Resources:

    News release – Premier Promotes Nova Scotia in Denmark: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/04/04/premier-promotes-nova-scotia-denmark

    More information on the public panel with the heads of mission is available at: https://events.dal.ca/event/4409-jmeucecic-public-panel-conversation-with-the-nordic-amb

    Nordic Co-operation – the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Nordic Council: https://www.norden.org/en

    Other than cropping, Province of Nova Scotia photos are not to be altered in any way

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK-Kenya defence partnership deepened during Defence Secretary visit to Nairobi

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    UK-Kenya defence partnership deepened during Defence Secretary visit to Nairobi

    Defence Secretary met with Agnes Wanjiru’s family to offer condolences, fulfilling his commitment and making him the first UK Minister to meet with them.

    • Focus of the visit was meeting Agnes Wanjiru’s family to offer condolences, fulfilling his commitment from July 2024, making him the first UK Minister to meet them, 13 years since her murder. 

    • Defence Secretary becomes first UK Cabinet Minister under the new Government to visit Kenya, reaffirming critical role of defence partnership in maintaining regional peace and security. 

    • Defence Secretary also met the Cabinet Secretary for Defence and British troops, reaffirming the bilateral defence relationship.  

    Defence Secretary John Healey has met the family of Agnes Wanjiru on a visit to Kenya, who was killed in 2012, becoming the first UK Government Minister to do so. 

    During the meeting, the Defence Secretary heard the concerns of the family in their pursuit of justice. He expressed his condolences and his determination that the UK support the Kenyan investigation into the case. The meeting, which took place at the British High Commissioner’s Residence in Nairobi, marked the first time a UK Government Minister has met Ms Wanjiru’s family, and comes shortly after the 13th anniversary of her death.

    The Defence Secretary’s visit underlines the UK Government’s commitment to transparency in the case of Agnes Wanjiru.  

    Defence Secretary, John Healey MP, said:

    The purpose of my visit to Kenya was to meet Agnes Wanjiru’s family, who have shown unimaginable strength since losing her in the most horrendous circumstances 13 years ago. I reiterated that the UK Government stands with them in their fight for justice.

    I welcome the confirmation this afternoon that the case file has been handed over to the Director of Public Prosecutions for a charging decision. This is a really significant step in resolving this case; we will continue to work closely with the Kenyan authorities to push for progress and secure the justice the family deserve.

    His visit to Kenya also reaffirmed the vital importance of the UK-Kenya defence partnership, which delivers a broad programme of cooperation in training, education and capability development to counter shared security threats together. The Defence Secretary was also able to see first-hand the UK’s contribution to regional peace and security in East Africa. He met the Nairobi-based British Peace Support Team (Africa) who train Kenyan and regional troops preparing to deploy on peace support operations in Africa. 

    During the visit, the Defence Secretary also met Cabinet Secretary for Defence Soipan Tuya to discuss their shared ambitions for the future of the UK-Kenya defence partnership. The discussions focused on mutual security interests, the role of British forces training in Kenya, and collaborative efforts to address regional security challenges. As set out in the Plan for Change, national security is the first duty of the government.

    On the relationship with Kenya the Defence Secretary said:

    Kenya is an anchor state in an unstable region, and the UK relies and looks to Kenya for regional security. We share the same concerns over growing threats in the region. UK forces already train over 1,100 Kenya Defence Forces personnel and reinforce Kenya’s regional role in supporting peace and countering insurgency. I look forward to developing this work in the future.

    ENDS

    Updates to this page

    Published 7 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Castor, Buchanan, Soto and Bilirakis Aim to Protect Florida’s Coasts from Offshore Drilling

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14), Vern Buchanan (FL-16), Darren Soto (FL-9) and Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) introduced critical bipartisan legislation, the Florida Coastal Protection Act, to permanently prohibit oil and natural gas exploration, development, and production off Florida’s coast.  

    “Florida is a special but fragile place, and our way of life depends on clean water. Dangerous offshore drilling can devastate both our environment and our economy, posing huge risks to everything that makes Florida special. Our Florida coasts are beloved by people across the globe. Tourism and fishing are the lifeblood of our coastal economy in the Sunshine State, so we must ensure our water, beaches, and wildlife in the Eastern Gulf are sustained, said Rep. Castor. “Together we can permanently protect these waters, our planet, our pocketbooks and our people from costly oil disasters and pollution.”

    “While I support responsible investments in American energy, we must also recognize the unique importance of protecting Florida’s coastline,” said Rep. Buchanan. “The Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010 showed just how devastating an offshore spill can be to our economy, environment and way of life. As co-chair of the bipartisan Florida congressional delegation, I remain committed to working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to safeguard our state’s beautiful beaches and coastal waters.”

    “Florida’s coastline is more than a beautiful backdrop—it’s a vital part of who we are. Our beaches and marine ecosystems support hundreds of thousands of jobs, drive tourism, sustain our fishing industries, and provide a home to some of the most unique and fragile wildlife in the world,” said Rep. Darren Soto. “Offshore drilling puts all of that at risk. One spill could devastate our economy and irreparably damage ecosystems that took generations to build. This bipartisan legislation reflects a shared commitment to safeguarding our waters—not just for today, but for every generation that comes after us. Floridians deserve clean beaches, thriving marine life, and a resilient coastal economy—and that starts with keeping oil rigs off our shores for good.”

    “We’ve seen the long-lasting harm that can come from oil spills including: damage to the environment, disruption to marine life, and the paralysis of local economies that depend heavily on fishing, tourism, and recreation,” said Rep. Bilirakis. “Protecting Florida’s pristine coastline from future oil spills is crucial for preserving its unique ecosystems.  Ensuring the health of the coastline will safeguard not only the environment but also the livelihoods of communities that rely on its natural beauty and resources.”

    Endorsing organizations of the Florida Coastal Protection Act include Oceana, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Defenders of Wildlife, Earthjustice, League of Conservation Voters, Environment America, Surfrider Foundation, Turtle Island Restoration Network, Nassau Hiking & Outdoor Club, Lee (MA) Greener Gateway Committee, South Shore Audubon Society (Freeport, NY), Sierra Club, and The CLEO Institute.

    Read the full text of the bill.

    “Oceana applauds Rep. Castor and Rep. Buchanan for advancing the bipartisan tradition of protecting Florida’s coasts,” said Oceana Campaign Director Joseph Gordon. “Oil spills can be economically devastating for communities that rely on clean oceans and healthy wildlife. This visionary bill will forever secure Florida’s treasured coastlines from the threat of offshore oil drilling, protecting an essential way of life for millions of people who call the Sunshine State home – and millions more who visit its shores every year.”

    “This important legislation will protect Florida’s environment, economy, climate, and way of life from the harmful effects of offshore oil and gas development,” said Katie Bauman, Florida Policy Manager of the Surfrider Foundation. “The Surfrider Foundation urges members of Congress to support the Florida Coastal Protection Act and other bills to permanently prohibit new offshore drilling in U.S. waters.”

    Yoca Arditi-Rocha, Executive Director of The CLEO Institute added, “As a state where our clean beaches are a central driver of our tourism economy, The Florida Coastal Protection Act is essential to protecting the people and places we love. We can avoid using dirty and dangerous fuels by transitioning to clean electric vehicles and investing in public transportation. This is how we guarantee clean water and air for all.

    “Florida’s beaches, bottlenose dolphins and manatees are too important to risk for more oil, but we’ve seen repeatedly that when we drill, we spill,” said Lisa Frank, Executive Director of Environment America. The Florida Coastal Protection Act would conserve our waters and wildlife for generations to come by keeping offshore drilling out of Florida’s waters. Congress should pass this bill immediately and send it to President Trump’s desk.”

    “The barrier islands, white sandy beaches and coastal marshes surrounding Florida’s shoreline provide necessary habitat for iconic reef fish, extensive shorebird populations, sea turtles and marine mammals like the Florida manatee,” said Ben Prater, Southeast Program Director for Defenders of Wildlife. “This legislation will protect Florida’s coasts from the known, concrete risks of offshore drilling while moving to ensure a safer future for the endangered and imperiled coastal wildlife that call the state home.”

    “Permanently protecting Florida’s pristine Gulf coast from the threats of offshore drilling has had resounding support for years, regardless of political party,” said Earthjustice senior legislative representative Laura M. Esquivel. “From their robust tourism sector to their vital sustainable fishing industry, Floridians cherish the Gulf and want it free of toxic oil and gas. This bipartisan bill is proof that safeguarding a brighter future for Florida’s Gulf coast is within reach, and that Representatives Castor, Soto, Buchanan, and Bilirakis can make it happen.”

    “For decades, Floridians—Democrats and Republicans alike—have stood united against offshore drilling, knowing it threatens the state’s tourism-driven economy, coastal communities, and way of life. The Florida Coastal Protection Act reflects this long-standing bipartisan opposition by ensuring that our beaches, fisheries, and marine ecosystems are not put at risk for the sake of short-term fossil fuel profits. Healthy Gulf supports efforts to secure permanent protections for Florida’s waters, and we urge Congress to uphold the will of the people by passing this vital legislation,” said Martha Collins, Executive Director for Healthy Gulf.

    “Protecting Florida’s waters puts coastal communities and wildlife above polluters and brings us closer to a world where our waters are free from oil spills, endangered whale populations are free from seismic blasting, and local economies can thrive,” said Taryn Kiekow Heimer, Director of Ocean Energy at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “Now more than ever, we need leadership from Congress to protect our oceans from an industry that only cares about its bottom line – and a Trump administration willing to do anything to give those oil billionaires what they want.”

    “Our coasts are a source of life, livelihood, and recreation for coastal communities and the millions of visitors they see every year,” said Athan Manuel, Director of Sierra Club’s Lands Protection Program. “They also support untold diverse wildlife and ecosystems that are put at risk by exploitation from the oil and gas industry. This bill provides much-needed critical protections for the health of our coastal communities and to ensure that future generations will get to enjoy the wonders of our oceans and beaches.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Trenton Man Sentenced To 168 Months In Prison For Assaulting, Robbing And Discharging A Firearm At A Federal Agent (DOJ)

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    RENTON, N.J. – A Trenton man was sentenced to 168 months in prison for assaulting a federal agent with a deadly weapon, armed robbery, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

    Jabree Johnson, 30, of Trenton, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp to a three-count indictment charging him with one count of assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon, one count of robbery with a dangerous weapon of an individual with custody of federal property, and one count of using and carrying a firearm during and relation to a crime of violence, in which the firearm was discharged. 

    According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

    On March 22, 2021, federal law enforcement officers were conducting an investigation of firearms trafficking and other illegal activities in and around Trenton and Hamilton, New Jersey. In connection with the investigation, a federal law enforcement agent, working in an undercover capacity, arranged to purchase multiple firearms from an individual later identified as Johnson.

    After arriving at an agreed-upon location for the firearms transaction, Johnson entered the undercover federal agent’s vehicle, and handed the agent a black, semi-automatic firearm. The undercover federal agent inspected the firearm and then returned it to Johnson and requested to see the other firearms that Johnson had agreed to sell. Instead, Johnson pointed the loaded firearm directly at the undercover federal agent and demanded money from the agent. In response, the undercover federal agent provided Johnson with an amount of U.S. currency that the agent had on him to purchase the guns. Johnson then ordered the undercover federal agent out of the vehicle at gunpoint. The agent exited the vehicle as ordered and immediately drew his/her service-issued firearm and fired at Johnson, striking Johnson in the shoulder. Johnson also fired his handgun multiple times at the undercover federal agent.  Johnson fled the area with the money. Johnson was later identified at a local hospital as the individual who had assaulted and robbed the undercover federal agent at gunpoint and placed under arrest.    

    In addition to the prison term, Judge Shipp sentenced Johnson to five years of supervised release and ordered him to forfeit the firearm using during the commission of the crimes.

    U.S. Attorney Alina Habba credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, Trenton Satellite Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr.; special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Newark Field Office, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge­­­­ Terence G. Reilly; officers of the Trenton Police Department, under the direction of Police Director Steve E. Wilson; officers of the Hamilton Township Police Division, under the direction of Police Chief Kenneth DeBoskey; troopers of the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan; and detectives and prosecutors of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Janetta D. Marbrey, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Agnew of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.

                                                                           ###

    Defense Counsel: Mark Catanzaro, Esq.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Scientists should try to repeat more studies, but not those looking for a link between vaccines with autism

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Simon Kolstoe, Associate Professor of Bioethics, University of Portsmouth

    SamaraHeisz5/Shutterstock

    Scientists, professors, engineers, teachers and doctors are routinely ranked among the most trustworthy people in society. This is because these professions rely heavily on research, and good research is viewed as the most reliable source of knowledge.

    But how trustworthy is research? Recent news from the US suggests that the Trump administration wants to fund more “reproducibility studies”.

    These are studies that check to see if previous results can be repeated and are reliable. The administration’s focus seems to be specifically on studies that revisit the debunked claim of a link between vaccines and autism.

    This is a worrying waste of effort, given the extensive evidence showing that there is no link between vaccines and autism, and the harm that suggesting this link can cause. However, the broader idea of funding studies that attempt to repeat earlier research is a good one.

    Take research on Alzheimer’s disease as an example. In June 2024, Nature retracted a highly cited paper reporting an important theory relating to the mechanism of the disease. Unfortunately, it took 18 years to spot the errors and retract the paper.

    If influential studies like this were regularly repeated by others, it wouldn’t have taken so long to spot the errors in the original research.

    Alzheimer’s is proving a particularly tricky problem to solve despite the large amounts of money spent researching the disease. Being unable to reproduce key results contributes to this problem because new research relies on the trustworthiness of earlier research.

    More broadly, it has been known for almost ten years that 70% of researchers have problems reproducing experiments conducted by other scientists. The problem is particularly acute in cancer research and psychology.

    The Trump administration wants to fund more ‘reproducibility studies’.
    Joshua Sukoff/Shutterstock

    Research is difficult to get right

    Research is complicated and there may be legitimate reasons research findings cannot be reproduced. Mistakes or dishonesty are not necessarily the cause.

    In psychology or the social sciences, failure to reproduce results – despite using identical methods – could be due to using different populations, for instance, across different countries or cultures. In physical or medical sciences problems reproducing results could be down to using different equipment, chemicals or measurement techniques.

    A lot of research may also not be reproducible simply because the researchers do not fully understand all the complexities of what they are studying. If all the relevant variables (such as genetics and environmental factors) are not understood or even identified, it is unsurprising that very similar experiments can yield different results.

    In these cases, sometimes as much can be learned from a negative result as from a positive one, as this helps inform the design of future work.

    Here, it is helpful to distinguish between reproducing another researcher’s exact results and being given enough information by the original researchers to replicate their experiments.

    Science advances by comparing notes and discussing differences, so researchers must always give enough information in their reports to allow someone else to repeat (replicate) the experiment. This ensures the results can be trusted even if they may not be reproduced exactly.

    Transparency is therefore central to research integrity, both in terms of trusting the research and trusting the people doing the research.

    Unfortunately, the incentive structure within research doesn’t always encourage such transparency. The “publish or perish” culture and aggressive practices by journals often lead to excessive competition rather than collaboration and open research practices.

    One solution, as new priorities from the US have suggested, is to directly fund researchers to replicate each other’s studies.

    This is a promising development because most other funding, alongside opportunities to publish in the top journals, is instead linked to novelty. Unfortunately, this encourages researchers to act quickly to produce something unique rather than take their time to conduct thorough and transparent experiments.

    We need to move to a system that rewards reliable research rather than just novel research. And part of this comes through rewarding people who focus on replication studies.

    Industry also plays a part. Companies conducting research and development can sometimes be guilty of throwing a lot of money at a project and then pulling the plug quickly if a product (such as a new medicine) seems not to work. The reason for such failures is often unclear, but the reliability of earlier research is a contributing factor.

    To avoid this problem, companies should be encouraged to replicate some of the original findings (perhaps significant experiments conducted by academics) before proceeding with development. In the long run, this strategy may turn out to be quicker and more efficient than the rapid chopping and changing that occurs now.

    The scale of the reproducibility, or replicability, problem in research comes as a surprise to the public who have been told to “trust the science”. But over recent years there has been increasing recognition that the culture of research is as important as the experiments themselves.

    If we want to be able to “trust the science”, science must be transparent and robustly conducted.

    This is exactly what has happened with research looking at the link between vaccines and autism. The topic was so important that in this case the replication studies were done and found that there is, in fact, no link between vaccines and autism.

    Simon Kolstoe works for the University of Portsmouth, and is a trustee of the UK Research Integrity Office (UKRIO). He receives research and consultancy funding from charities, universities and government. He chairs research ethics committees for the UK Health Research Authority, Ministry of Defence and Health Security Agency.

    – ref. Scientists should try to repeat more studies, but not those looking for a link between vaccines with autism – https://theconversation.com/scientists-should-try-to-repeat-more-studies-but-not-those-looking-for-a-link-between-vaccines-with-autism-253696

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Feenstra Announces 4th District Military Academy Day in Fort Dodge on April 23rd

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Randy Feenstra (IA-04)

    HULL, IOWA – Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) announced that his office will host a 4th District Military Academy Day for Iowa students – 8th grade through 12th grade – interested in applying to one of our nation’s five military academies on Wednesday April 23rd in Fort Dodge. Representatives from all five academies will be present to answer questions and provide advice.

    The five academies are the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and the U.S. Air Force Academy.

    “I encourage any student from 8th grade through 12th grade interested in attending one of our nation’s five military academies to stop by our 4th District Military Academy Day in Fort Dodge on Wednesday April 23rd. This is a unique opportunity to meet with representatives from all five academies, get questions answered, and learn more about the application process,” said Rep. Feenstra. “Our military is the strongest in the world because of the brave Americans who answer the call to serve. I know that this will be a helpful and informative forum for young Iowans who want to attend a military academy.”

    Feenstra’s 4th District Military Academy Day will be held at Iowa Central Community College in the Triton Café Boardroom on Wednesday April 23, 2025 from 5:00 PM CT to 7:00 PM CT. The address is One Triton Circle Fort Dodge, IA 50501.

    For more information, please contact Feenstra’s office at 202-225-4426.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: AUKUS partnership strengthened with Prime Minister appointing new Special Representative

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    News story

    AUKUS partnership strengthened with Prime Minister appointing new Special Representative

    Sir Stephen Lovegrove appointed as the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on AUKUS.

    Britain will maximise the benefits of AUKUS and unlock more opportunities across the historic partnership, following the Prime Minister appointing Sir Stephen Lovegrove as his Special Representative on AUKUS today. 

    AUKUS is a landmark security and defence partnership between the UK and two of its oldest and closest partners, Australia and the United States. It will enable Australia to field a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines in the Indo Pacific; strengthen the defence industrial bases of both the UK and the US; and accelerate the development and deployment of cutting-edge technologies by all three countries. The AUKUS submarine programme is set to generate 7,000 additional British jobs, supporting the government’s Plan for Change to kickstart economic growth. 

    Sir Stephen will support the Defence Secretary and the National Security Adviser to drive the AUKUS programme forward. He brings a wealth of experience, having served as National Security Adviser at the time of the AUKUS announcement in 2021, the Prime Minister’s Defence Industrial Adviser, and as the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence.      

    Last year, the Prime Minister and Defence Secretary commissioned Sir Stephen to conduct a Review of the UK’s progress against its core commitments under AUKUS, identifying barriers to success, and setting out recommendations on how to unlock further areas of opportunity, both nationally and with the US and Australia.  Sir Stephen presented his findings to the Prime Minister and Defence Secretary earlier this year. His report will be shared with US and Australian partners and a public version released in due course. 

    Defence Secretary, John Healey said:

    AUKUS is a historic partnership which reinforces peace and stability across the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific, and will also provide thousands of highly skilled jobs and investment in communities across the UK.  It shows how defence can be an engine for growth across our three nations while keeping us secure at home, and strong abroad.

    Sir Stephen is fully committed to ensuring the UK plays a leading role within AUKUS and holds widely respected national security experience.  

    I am very grateful to him for taking up this appointment and look forward to working closely with him and our partners in the US and Australia as we take the AUKUS partnership to new heights.

    Prime Minister’s Special Representative on AUKUS, Sir Stephen Lovegrove, said:

    When the AUKUS partnership was announced in 2021 it was regarded, rightly, as the most significant capability collaboration since the Mutual Defence Agreement of 1958.  

    Since then, the strategic relevance of AUKUS has only increased. It is a uniquely powerful partnership which will develop and deliver cutting-edge capabilities, help to revitalise Britain’s defence industrial base and provide sustained employment for thousands of people across the UK, US and Australia. 

    I am delighted to accept the role as the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on AUKUS and I look forward to starting work immediately to help maximise the potential of this vital partnership.

    Sir Stephen will begin his role as Special Representative tomorrow. He is travelling to Washington DC this week to present his Review findings to the US government and will then travel to Canberra to share findings with the Australian government after the conclusion of the Australian federal election.    

    The AUKUS partnership is supporting more unified defence and industrial collaboration, better information and technology sharing and greater resilience. The development of SSN-AUKUS and new cutting-edge military technologies under AUKUS Pillar’s One and Two will help grow the UK’s industrial base and improve the enabling environment. It represents a multi-billion-pound investment into UK industry, supporting thousands of new British jobs.

    Updates to this page

    Published 7 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: JTF-Bravo completes PANAMAX-Alpha Phase 0 2025

    Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

    Fifty-one Soldiers, Airmen and Marines from Joint Task Force-Bravo conducted PANAMAX-Alpha Phase 0 in Panama, from March 24 to April 4, 2025.

    PANAMAX-Alpha is a bilateral exercise between the United States and Panama conducted by JTF-Bravo and supported by the U.S. Southern Command. The exercise allows both countries to work alongside each other to strengthen relationships in security, humanitarian and logistical fields.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyoming National Guard aviation ranks among the top in national readiness

    Source: US State of Wyoming

    Wyoming National Guard

    By Staff Sgt. Cesar Rivas

    CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The Wyoming Army National Guard’s Army Aviation Support Facility achieved the second-highest operational readiness ranking for the 2024 fiscal year and secured the number one spot for the first quarter of the 2025 fiscal year.

    The achievement is the result of optimized work schedules, a dedicated maintenance team, and a focus on crew readiness, according to Maj. Lauren Gurney, commander of Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment, and facility commander.

    “Our Soldiers are the foundation of our success,” Gurney said. “We’ve been able to implement optimized work schedules that maximize maintenance windows and flight training periods, allowing us to maintain high aircraft availability and ensure our crews are always ready.”

    The Wyoming Army Guard Aviation unit plays a role in state and federal missions, including search and rescue operations. Through strategic scheduling, the unit has enhanced its response time by 22% over previous years.

    “Our 24/7 coverage capability ensures that our crews are well-rested and prepared to serve as a sword and shield for the state,” Gurney said. “This improvement in response time directly contributes to our effectiveness in time-sensitive situations.”

    Maintaining this high level of readiness presents challenges, including budget constraints and the risk of personnel burnout. The unit has adopted a team-based approach to rotating crews and utilizing flight training periods to mitigate these concerns.

    Sgt. 1st Class Keith Snipes, production noncommissioned officer in charge at AASF, emphasized the importance of tracking aircraft maintenance and availability.

    “We use the Army’s Aircraft Notebook system to monitor the operational status of each aircraft,” Snipes said. “This allows us to project flight schedules and maintenance needs efficiently, ensuring our aircraft remain mission ready. During the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, we achieved a 94 percent operational readiness rate—14 percent above the Department of the Army’s standard for National Guard units.”

    Col. Dane Rodgers, state Army aviation officer for the Wyoming Army Guard, highlighted the risk assessment process that supports both safety and readiness.

    “Our risk assessment process is continuous, from mission receipt to execution,” Rodgers said. “Pilots and their aircrews conduct a comprehensive review of crew conditions, weather and mission specifics before every flight. This information is then evaluated by mission briefers and higher command to ensure that risks are mitigated before approval.”

    A key factor in the unit’s success is its highly skilled team of maintainers and aircrew, including specialists like Spc. Paxton Hunt, an aircraft mechanic and crew chief at AASF.

    “Everyone here takes ownership of their assigned aircraft, which fosters a strong sense of responsibility and accountability,” Hunt said. “We work as a team to ensure all aircraft are mission ready at all times. Preventative maintenance, including routine inspections and major overhauls, plays a huge role in keeping our aircraft in peak condition.”

    Looking ahead, Gurney emphasized that the primary goal is not just to maintain top rankings but to ensure long-term operational safety and effectiveness.

    “Our priority is always the safety of our crews and aircraft,” Gurney said. “While achieving a high operational readiness ranking is a significant accomplishment, our true success lies in ensuring that every Soldier returns home safely after every mission.”

    Sgt. 1st Class Kort Riker, a UH-60 helicopter repairer/aircrew member assigned to Wyoming’s Army Aviation Support Facility, performs an inspection on a HH-60M Black Hawk at Cheyenne, Wyoming, on March 19, 2025. The Wyoming Army National Guard’s Army Aviation Support Facility achieved the second-highest operational readiness ranking for the 2024 fiscal year and secured the number one spot for the first quarter of the 2025 fiscal year. The Wyoming Army Guard Aviation unit plays a role in state and federal missions, including search and rescue operations. Through strategic scheduling, the unit has enhanced its response time by 22% over previous years. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Cesar Rivas)

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: HMCS Ville de Québec departs for Operation HORIZON

    Source: Government of Canada News

    April 07, 2025 – Halifax, N.S. – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

    Today, the crew of His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Ville de Québec have bid farewell to their families and loved ones at a departure ceremony held at His Majesty’s Canadian Dockyard Halifax in Nova Scotia.

    HMCS Ville de Québec will sail tens of thousands of kilometers while deployed on Operation HORIZON, Canada’s forward-presence mission to the Indo-Pacific region to promote peace, stability, and the rules-based international order.  

    The ship will also join the United Kingdom’s (UK) multinational Carrier Strike Group (CSG) off the coasts of Europe and proceed to the Indo-Pacific region. The UK CSG will bring together like-minded partners from around the globe in a demonstration of military interoperability in support of European security and a free and open Indo-Pacific. The complex security environment in the Indo-Pacific, with linkages to Arctic and Euro-Atlantic security, demands that the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) remain an active and reliable partner that contributes to peace and security in the region.

    Operation HORIZON demonstrates the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) ability to sustain naval operations in the Indo-Pacific. Canada’s commitment to global collaboration and broader diplomatic and military partnerships is strengthened by working alongside international allies and like-minded partners.  

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Government contractor resolves False Claims Act allegations related to the Small Business Innovation Research Program

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALEXANDRIA, Va. – General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc., located in Fairfax, agreed to settle False Claims Act allegations that a company that it acquired made false statements or caused false statements to be made in proposals for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts awarded by four federal agencies. As part of the settlement, the United States received a payment of $600,000.

    SBIR contracts are awarded to small businesses to develop and commercialize new technology.  SBIR contracts are reserved for businesses that have fewer than 500 employees, including employees of any affiliated companies.

    In July 2022, General Dynamics Mission Systems acquired Progeny Systems, LLC (“Progeny”), a defense contractor located in Manassas. Before its acquisition by General Dynamics Mission Systems, Progeny entered into teaming agreements with Quality Support, Inc. and Minimum Entropy, LLC.

    As part of its teaming agreements, Progeny directed and assisted Quality Support and Minimum Entropy with drafting and submitting proposals for SBIR contracts. Progeny also provided Quality Support with personnel, including a principal investigator who performed the research required by an SBIR contract. Similarly, a Progeny employee formed, owned, and operated Minimum Entropy.  In return, Quality Support and Minimum Entropy selected Progeny as their sole subcontractor on all of their SBIR proposals, including six SBIR contracts from four federal agencies.

    The settlement announced today resolves allegations arising from Progeny’s involvement in the submission of proposals for the SBIR contracts awarded to Quality Support and Minimum Entropy. The United States alleged that Progeny made, or caused to be made, false statements about Progeny’s affiliation with Quality Support and Minimum Entropy in the proposals for the SBIR contracts awarded to Quality Support and Minimum Entropy. The United States further alleged that Progeny made, or caused to be made, false statements about Quality Support’s and Minimum Entropy’s statuses as businesses eligible for SBIR awards.        

    The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Fraud Field Office, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s Mid-Atlantic Field Office, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service’s Economic Crimes Field Office.

    This matter was investigated by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanya Kapoor and Forensic Auditor Peter Melaragni.

    The civil claims settled by this False Claims Act agreement are allegations only; there has been no determination of civil liability.

    A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Honors Crime Victims and Survivors During 2025 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN ANTONIO – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas is commemorating National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) April 6–12, by recognizing recent criminal cases involving victims.

    This year’s NCVRW theme—Connecting Healing—recognizes that shared humanity drives vital connections to services, rights, and healing. KINSHIP is where victim advocacy begins. The annual observance challenges us to build a world where every connection built through KINSHIP — between survivors, advocates, and communities — holds the potential to heal. It asks us to ensure that resources are available to all survivors and that we show up for one another with empathy and intention.

    With a dedicated team of prosecutors and victim assistance professionals who work together to ensure victims of crime receive the services and support they need, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and is home to an estimated population of 7.6 million people.

    “Federal crimes against victims will not be tolerated in this district—regardless of whether they are violent crimes, drug crimes, or white collar,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “It is a priority of our prosecutors, our victim assistance specialists, and the entire Department of Justice, that we advocate in the best interests of victims and that crime victims have access to proper effective resources.”

    Recently prosecuted cases include the 40-year federal prison sentence of Saint Jovite Youngblood in Austin for four counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. Youngblood committed wire fraud against his victims by claiming Mexican drug cartel members were planning to commit violence against them. Youngblood falsely claimed to have been part of the U.S. Army’s Delta Force special operations unit and offered protection to his victims from the cartels in exchange for money. Youngblood also represented that funds obtained from his victim “investors” would be paid back with a significant return on the money. Instead, Youngblood used most of the money on junkets to Las Vegas to gamble in casinos. Over the course of his scheme, Youngblood defrauded 32 victims for more than $12 million, which he was ordered to pay in restitution.

    In Waco, a former U.S. sailor was sentenced to life in federal prison after a jury found him guilty of coercion and enticement of a minor. Bailey Warren Lowe used a Snapchat account to request sexually explicit images from a 13-year-old girl on multiple occasions. If she acted slowly or the photos did not meet his expectations, Lowe would become angry and threaten to expose her. On one occasion, in early 2022, Lowe drove to the minor’s residence, where they engaged in sexual activity in his vehicle. Lowe did not use a condom and, when the minor repeated that she was 13 years old, he demanded she not tell anyone about them because he was 22 and could get in trouble. An FBI investigation revealed multiple chat conversations and instances of sexual exploitation between Lowe and additional victims between the ages of 10 and 15 years old.

    In July 2024, an Odessa man was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for carjacking and discharging a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. Isaac Ramirez Carrasco carjacked a couple on Jan. 30 by pointing a shotgun at the driver and ordering both occupants out of their vehicle. The victim did not initially comply, and Carrasco fired the shotgun at least one time in the air before returning his aim to the victim. The couple ultimately exited the truck and Carrasco drove away in it. Odessa Police were able to track the truck to a nearby residence, where they also located Carrasco and the shotgun.

    In November, Alex Georges Tannous, of Ain-Akrine, Lebanon, was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio to 240 months in prison for wire fraud. Tannous told his victims he was a prince from Dubai who was charged with bringing U.S.-based businesses to market in Dubai. He claimed millions were available, but that an initial payment from the victim was required to initiate the flow of funds. Once the funds were secured, he used the money to support his lavish lifestyle and the lifestyles of multiple family members. In total, Tannous stole more than $2 million from his victims. In addition to his 20-year federal prison sentence, he was ordered to pay $2.2 million in restitution.

    And most recently, David Manuel Garcia was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison on March 20 for engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place. Garcia had traveled from the U.S. to Mexico between July 2003 and August 2008 and engaged in forced sexual acts with a minor victim under the age of 18, which resulted in the birth of two children. Records indicate that the victim was 13 years old at the time of the first birth, and 15 years old when she gave birth to the second child.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas will commemorate NCVRW 2025 throughout the week in various ways. Most publicly, employees will be encouraged to wear this year’s theme colors of “midnight,” “mauve,” and “melon,” or colors closely similar, on Thursday, April 10. Community members across the district and beyond are invited to join the U.S. Attorney’s Office in this endeavor, using the hashtag #NCVRW2025 and tagging @USAO_WDTX on X (formerly known as Twitter), as a symbol of solidarity.

    On April 9, the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) will host the 2025 NCVRW Candlelight Vigil at 3:30pm (EST) to pay tribute to victims of crime and the many dedicated professionals and volunteers who advocate on their behalf. We hope you’ll save-the-date and join via the livestream at www.ovc.ojp.gov/live or www.justice.gov/live.

    NCVRW began in 1981 to honor victims and survivors of crime, raise awareness of victims’ rights and services and recognize the dedication of those who work with crime victims.

    For more ideas on supporting crime victims, visit OVC’s website at www.ovc.gov.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: South Sudan on the brink of civil war: bold action from the international community is needed

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Madhav Joshi, Research Professor & Associate Director, Peace Accords Matrix (PAM), Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and Keough School of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame

    South Sudan is likely to return to full-blown civil war unless the international community takes a radical approach to stabilise the country and re-engage in the peace process.

    Since its formation in 2020, South Sudan’s unity government has not been steady. President Salva Kiir has reshuffled the cabinet, weakening the presence of the main opposition party, SPLM-IO. He’s previously fired two of the country’s five vice-presidents to promote his allies.

    The unity government was formed as part of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan. This agreement was negotiated and signed in September 2018 to end years of violence between forces loyal to Kiir on one hand and Riek Machar on the other.

    The agreement had a 36-month transition period. It established a unity government to reform institutions, draft a constitution, ensure transitional justice and conduct the country’s first election.

    Seven years into the implementation process, however, South Sudan has yet to fulfil many of the peace deal’s commitments. These include demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration of combatants, and training and establishing necessary unified forces.

    The timeline for holding elections, another benchmark of the transition, has been extended until December 2026. This moves the completion of the transition process to February 2027 from the initial January 2021. It is the fourth such mutually agreed extension.

    The challenges of the slow implementation of the peace agreement escalated in March 2025, with violent clashes in the Upper Nile State and a political crisis. First vice-president Machar was put under house arrest. Reports say a convoy of more than 20 heavily armed vehicles forcefully entered Machar’s residence, disarmed his bodyguards, and held him and his wife Angelina Teny. Teny is South Sudan’s interior minister.

    Read more: Kiir and Machar: insights into South Sudan’s strongmen

    It is my view that the current crisis has little to do with the recent clashes. This crisis in South Sudan has been long in the making. It has its roots in the country’s faltering peace implementation process.

    As part of my ongoing research, I have gathered data on the content and implementation of 42 comprehensive civil war peace agreements in 33 countries dating back to 1989. In none of these agreements and countries have I observed delays in implementation like in South Sudan – or the arrest of a main opposition leader who is a signatory to a peace agreement.

    South Sudan’s path to peace since its independence in 2011 has been challenging. Key to achieving stability is the peace process itself. The international community must lead a radical push to get signatories to the 2018 peace deal to implement it. This approach is necessary for regional peace and stability – the ongoing violence could easily escalate and merge with the Sudan war and drag in Uganda.

    What’s happening

    The current crisis in South Sudan began in early March 2025 when the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces clashed with the White Army militia group. The White Army took control of the town of Nasir in the oil-rich Upper Nile State.

    South Sudan’s kleptocratic leaders have been quick to associate Machar, the SPLM-IO leader, with the White Army. This is largely because the militia group primarily recruits from the Nuer ethnic group, which Machar belongs to.

    However, at the centre of these latest tensions – fanned by a slow peace implementation process – are leaders looking to strengthen their political dominance to gain unhindered access to revenue from natural resources. South Sudan’s economy is heavily reliant on oil.

    The training and deployment of unified forces, and establishment of a Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing are lagging behind. So are constitutional and electoral reforms, including a census to determine voter numbers, as well as a hybrid court for war crimes and a reparations authority.

    Read more: Violence in South Sudan is rising again: what’s different this time, and how to avoid civil war

    The implementation process began to slow down when military leaders loyal to Kiir started to co-opt generals loyal to Machar. Leadership positions within the army were divided between military officials loyal to Kiir, Machar and other groups in June 2023. This diluted SPLM-IO’s influence in the unity government.

    Rising tensions led to the Tumaini Peace Initiative, launched in May 2024 and hosted by the Kenyan government. This initiative aimed to bring other armed groups under the fold of the peace process. However, it undermined the 2018 peace deal by not tying the initiative to the revitalised agreement.

    Over several rounds of peace talks, it has became clear that a segment of the ruling elite wants to influence the implementation of the 2018 deal to control political power – and therefore, South Sudan’s resources. The unfolding events show an effort to hold the peace process hostage towards this end.

    A narrow path forward

    The path to peace and stability in South Sudan is challenging. In my research, I have examined situations where multiple armed groups either continue to fight or new ones emerge in conflict situations.

    My research consistently shows that the implementation of comprehensive peace agreements stabilises such situations by addressing security uncertainties, reforming institutions and addressing underlying grievances.

    Read more: What makes peace talks successful? The 4 factors that matter

    Stakeholders in South Sudan must prioritise the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement. Since the signatory parties are unwilling to implement the agreement, someone must step in to fill this void. With the entire peace process held hostage and key signatories of the peace agreement sidelined, this narrow path forward can only be charted with the support of and pressure from the international community.

    – South Sudan on the brink of civil war: bold action from the international community is needed
    – https://theconversation.com/south-sudan-on-the-brink-of-civil-war-bold-action-from-the-international-community-is-needed-253555

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Global: South Sudan on the brink of civil war: bold action from the international community is needed

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Madhav Joshi, Research Professor & Associate Director, Peace Accords Matrix (PAM), Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and Keough School of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame

    South Sudan is likely to return to full-blown civil war unless the international community takes a radical approach to stabilise the country and re-engage in the peace process.

    Since its formation in 2020, South Sudan’s unity government has not been steady. President Salva Kiir has reshuffled the cabinet, weakening the presence of the main opposition party, SPLM-IO. He’s previously fired two of the country’s five vice-presidents to promote his allies.

    The unity government was formed as part of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan. This agreement was negotiated and signed in September 2018 to end years of violence between forces loyal to Kiir on one hand and Riek Machar on the other.

    The agreement had a 36-month transition period. It established a unity government to reform institutions, draft a constitution, ensure transitional justice and conduct the country’s first election.

    Seven years into the implementation process, however, South Sudan has yet to fulfil many of the peace deal’s commitments. These include demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration of combatants, and training and establishing necessary unified forces.

    The timeline for holding elections, another benchmark of the transition, has been extended until December 2026. This moves the completion of the transition process to February 2027 from the initial January 2021. It is the fourth such mutually agreed extension.

    The challenges of the slow implementation of the peace agreement escalated in March 2025, with violent clashes in the Upper Nile State and a political crisis. First vice-president Machar was put under house arrest. Reports say a convoy of more than 20 heavily armed vehicles forcefully entered Machar’s residence, disarmed his bodyguards, and held him and his wife Angelina Teny. Teny is South Sudan’s interior minister.



    Read more:
    Kiir and Machar: insights into South Sudan’s strongmen

    It is my view that the current crisis has little to do with the recent clashes. This crisis in South Sudan has been long in the making. It has its roots in the country’s faltering peace implementation process.

    As part of my ongoing research, I have gathered data on the content and implementation of 42 comprehensive civil war peace agreements in 33 countries dating back to 1989. In none of these agreements and countries have I observed delays in implementation like in South Sudan – or the arrest of a main opposition leader who is a signatory to a peace agreement.

    South Sudan’s path to peace since its independence in 2011 has been challenging. Key to achieving stability is the peace process itself. The international community must lead a radical push to get signatories to the 2018 peace deal to implement it. This approach is necessary for regional peace and stability – the ongoing violence could easily escalate and merge with the Sudan war and drag in Uganda.

    What’s happening

    The current crisis in South Sudan began in early March 2025 when the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces clashed with the White Army militia group. The White Army took control of the town of Nasir in the oil-rich Upper Nile State.

    South Sudan’s kleptocratic leaders have been quick to associate Machar, the SPLM-IO leader, with the White Army. This is largely because the militia group primarily recruits from the Nuer ethnic group, which Machar belongs to.

    However, at the centre of these latest tensions – fanned by a slow peace implementation process – are leaders looking to strengthen their political dominance to gain unhindered access to revenue from natural resources. South Sudan’s economy is heavily reliant on oil.

    The training and deployment of unified forces, and establishment of a Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing are lagging behind. So are constitutional and electoral reforms, including a census to determine voter numbers, as well as a hybrid court for war crimes and a reparations authority.



    Read more:
    Violence in South Sudan is rising again: what’s different this time, and how to avoid civil war

    The implementation process began to slow down when military leaders loyal to Kiir started to co-opt generals loyal to Machar. Leadership positions within the army were divided between military officials loyal to Kiir, Machar and other groups in June 2023. This diluted SPLM-IO’s influence in the unity government.

    Rising tensions led to the Tumaini Peace Initiative, launched in May 2024 and hosted by the Kenyan government. This initiative aimed to bring other armed groups under the fold of the peace process. However, it undermined the 2018 peace deal by not tying the initiative to the revitalised agreement.

    Over several rounds of peace talks, it has became clear that a segment of the ruling elite wants to influence the implementation of the 2018 deal to control political power – and therefore, South Sudan’s resources. The unfolding events show an effort to hold the peace process hostage towards this end.

    A narrow path forward

    The path to peace and stability in South Sudan is challenging. In my research, I have examined situations where multiple armed groups either continue to fight or new ones emerge in conflict situations.

    My research consistently shows that the implementation of comprehensive peace agreements stabilises such situations by addressing security uncertainties, reforming institutions and addressing underlying grievances.



    Read more:
    What makes peace talks successful? The 4 factors that matter

    Stakeholders in South Sudan must prioritise the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement. Since the signatory parties are unwilling to implement the agreement, someone must step in to fill this void. With the entire peace process held hostage and key signatories of the peace agreement sidelined, this narrow path forward can only be charted with the support of and pressure from the international community.

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

    – ref. South Sudan on the brink of civil war: bold action from the international community is needed – https://theconversation.com/south-sudan-on-the-brink-of-civil-war-bold-action-from-the-international-community-is-needed-253555

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Review of Proposed United States Steel Corporation Acquisition

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Memorandum for THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY
    THE SECRETARY OF STATE
    THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
    THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY
    THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
    THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
    THE SECRETARY OF LABOR
    THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY
    THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
    THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
    THE Director of the Office of Science
    and Technology Policy
    SUBJECT:       Review of Proposed United States Steel
    Corporation Acquisition
    On January 3, 2025, President Biden issued an order prohibiting the acquisition of United States Steel Corporation (U.S. Steel) by Nippon Steel Corporation, Nippon Steel North America, Inc., and 2023 Merger Subsidiary, Inc. (collectively, the Purchasers, and collectively with U.S. Steel, the Parties).  In that order, President Biden reserved the right of the President “to issue further orders with respect to the Purchasers or U.S. Steel as shall in my judgment be necessary to protect the national security of the United States.”
    Section 1.  Review.  (a)  Consistent with my authority under Article II of the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 721 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (section 721), as amended, 50 U.S.C. 4565, I direct the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to conduct a review of the acquisition of U.S. Steel by the Purchasers to assist me in determining whether further action in this matter may be appropriate.
    (b)  CFIUS’s review shall be conducted de novo, confidentially, and consistent with the procedures set forth for national security reviews under section 721, including, but not limited to, identifying potential national security risks associated with the proposed transaction and providing adequate opportunity to the parties to respond to such concerns.
    Sec. 2.  Recommendation.  Consistent with the procedures set forth in section 721, within 45 days of the date of this memorandum, CFIUS shall submit a recommendation to me describing whether any measures proposed by the parties are sufficient to mitigate any national security risks identified by CFIUS.  This recommendation shall include a statement describing each member agency’s position, including the reasons for such position.
    Sec. 3.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
    (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or
    (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
    (b)  This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
    (c)  This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why Donald Trump’s decision to slash USAID is hurting American soft power and making the world less safe

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Chase Johnson, PhD Candidate, University of Warwick

    The Trump administration’s foreign policy has raised alarms. It seems to have shifted America away from it traditional Nato allies, favouring instead a closer relationship with Russia. There has also been talk of plans to control Greenland, the Panama Canal – possibly even Canada. This has caused sleepless nights for political leaders, especially in Europe.

    However, in the developing world, the biggest concern is the US government’s suspension of development aid. For people in these regions, access to clean water, seeds for crops and vaccines is a matter of life or death.

    The suspension is presently the subject of a battle in the US Supreme Court, but at the end of February, the administration said it planned to cut 90% of all overseas aid contracts. With a single stroke of President Trump’s Sharpie pen, this has struck out US$60 billion (£39 billion) of US aid assistance, globally. Internal projections by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), published by the New York Times at the beginning of March, forecast dire consequences, including a massive increase in diseases such as malaria and polio as well as a rise in cases of malnutrition of up to a million children.

    USAID was founded in 1961 under John F. Kennedy’s administration. It operated with an annual budget of about US$58 billion – orders of magnitude larger than any other country’s development portfolio. It maintains a staff of diplomats, subject experts, and also employs local nationals around the world. It is a critical component of US soft power and works in close proximity to the country’s national security interests.

    USAID’s absence will be felt around the world. Perhaps the most consequential effect lies with the freezing of American food aid. Experts have already predicted that without this lifeline, Sudan could face a famine to compound the effects of the civil war that has raged there. The consequences of this will be very public, producing heartbreaking headlines and images.

    But there is another side to this that the Trump administration seems to be overlooking. USAID is one of the largest single customers of American farm products that constitute the country’s food aid packages – 1 million metric tonnes in 2024 alone.

    One of the most misunderstood concepts of foreign aid is the fact that large portions of its budget are spent domestically. A report may say that billions of dollars of food aid were given by the US to Sudan – but much of that represents payments to American farmers who are growing the food that is then donated to starving people – not just in Sudan, either.

    America’s farmers already exist on very tight margins, so an unexpected loss in revenue such as this, is likely to be a serious blow to them as well. It’s just one example of the effect this decision will have both at home and abroad.

    Pulling away the safety net

    Without USAID the world is less safe. There is a large body of research on how development assistance is a critical component of an effective national security strategy. In 2018, the then secretary of defense, Jim Mattis, who was appointed by Trump, said in an interview that his message to the world is: “Work with our diplomats because you do not want to fight the Department of Defense.”

    To illustrate Mattis’s point, consider the academic work done on the emergence of climate-driven conflicts driven by water and food shortages. One crisis simulation I use in my classrooms puts students in the role of solving a kinetic (shooting) war over water rights in the Horn of Africa. This particular crisis, while used as a game to teach national security, could very easily become a reality. It’s the sort of thing USAID helps to prevent.

    I have had the fortune to serve my country in several capacities. Before I started my doctorate in intelligence and national security, I spent four years working for the US government, both as a development worker and in the diplomatic and defence sectors. While diplomacy, defence and development work might look very different on the surface, I can attest that they are quite similar – and very closely linked.

    They operate in very different spheres – but the goal is ultimately the same: to help partner nations enhance their own safety and prosperity. Without this help they may turn to adversaries such as Russia and China to provide assistance and security. These adversaries then have an opportunity to expand their influence around the world, which can include supporting dictatorships and predatory lending, such as seen in the Chinese belt and road initiative.

    Peacekeeping through soft power

    As a US peace corps volunteer, I called on USAID funding to help the community I was assigned to. In Akhaltsikhe, Georgia I taught English and coordinated youth development programmes.

    The Akhaltsikhe region is one of the poorest in the country – and the school was in a sorry state of affairs. With a USAID grant, we were able to renovate part of the school and create an English language learning centre, which still thrives today, 12 years later. I can say first-hand that this project had a big impact on the image of the US among the Georgian people in my community.

    It should go without saying that the US has a chequered past when it comes to some of its foreign policy interventions. But the country’s wealth and resources offer it the unique position to help grow and enhance western values in parts of the world that deserve the same freedom that developed countries in the west take for granted. In my opinion, that is money well spent.

    Whatever value one might place on the US global footprint does not erase the truth of its existence. America is called upon to uphold democracy, to lift people out of poverty, and to respond to crises no matter where they are. Donald Trump, Elon Musk and his Doge staffers should have paid greater heed to USAID’s motto: “For the American people.”

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

    – ref. Why Donald Trump’s decision to slash USAID is hurting American soft power and making the world less safe – https://theconversation.com/why-donald-trumps-decision-to-slash-usaid-is-hurting-american-soft-power-and-making-the-world-less-safe-251062

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: American liberators of Nazi camps got ‘a lifelong vaccine against extremism’ − their wartime experiences are a warning for today

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Sara J. Brenneis, Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Spanish, Amherst College

    A staged recreation of Mauthausen’s liberation, May 6, 1945. Spanish prisoners documented the camp’s actual liberation the day prior using Nazi cameras. National Archives and Records, Cpl. Donald R. Ornitz, US Signal Corps/Administration, III-SC-206395

    When American soldiers liberated the Mauthausen Nazi concentration camp in Austria 80 years ago this May, Spanish prisoners welcomed them with a message of antifascist solidarity.

    The Spaniards hung a banner made from stolen bed sheets over one of Mauthausen’s gates. In English, Spanish and Russian, it read: “The Spanish Antifascists Greet the Liberating Forces.”

    Both American servicemen and Spanish survivors remember the camp’s liberation as a win in their shared fight against extremism, my research on the Spanish prisoners in Mauthausen finds. They all understood the authoritarian governments of Nazi Germany, Italy and Spain as fascist regimes that used extremist views rooted in intolerance and nationalism to persecute millions of people and imperil democracy across Europe.

    World War II, the Holocaust and the horrors of Nazi violence have no modern equivalent. Nevertheless, extremism is now threatening democracy in the United States in recognizable ways.

    As the Trump administration executes summary deportations, works to suppress dissent, fundamentally restructures the federal government and defies judges, experts warn that the country is turning toward authoritarianism.

    As a scholar of the Mauthausen camp, I believe that understanding how American soldiers and Spanish prisoners experienced its liberation offers a valuable lesson on the real and present dangers of extremism.

    ‘We knew then why we had to stop Hitler’

    In 1938, the Nazis established Mauthausen, a forced labor camp in Austria, with an international prisoner population. My research shows that the Nazis murdered 16,000 Jews and 66,000 non-Jewish prisoners at Mauthausen between 1938 and 1945, including 60% of the roughly 7,200 Spaniards imprisoned there.

    The Spanish prisoners were committed antifascist resistors sent there in 1940 and 1941. Known as Republicans or Loyalists, they had fought against Francisco Franco in the Spanish Civil War and Adolf Hitler in World War II.

    The young men with the 11th Armored Division of the U.S. Army who liberated Mauthausen would never forget the moment they discovered the camp. It was May 5, 1945, just days before the war ended in Europe. A platoon led by Staff Sgt. Albert J. Kosiek was repairing bridges in this tucked-away corner of Austria when a Swiss Red Cross delegate alerted them to a large Nazi concentration camp nearby.

    Mauthausen’s international survivors were among the Nazis’ last prisoners to be freed.

    George Sherman was a 19-year-old tank gunner from Brooklyn when his patrol found Mauthausen. He was Jewish and had read about the Nazi camps in Europe in the Army’s newspaper.

    American liberators rolling into the Mauthausen concentration camp on May 5, 1945, as photographed by prisoner Francesc Boix. Sgt. Harry Saunders is standing on the left fender.
    Francesc Boix/Courtesy of Collections of the Mauthausen Memorial

    Still, seeing a concentration camp with his own eyes was alarming.

    “The piles of bodies” struck him, he remembered in an oral history recorded for the University of South Florida in 2008. So did “these people walking around like God knows – skeletons and whatnot.”

    Sgt. Harry Saunders, a 23-year-old radio operator from Chicago, also remembered the moment he saw the Mauthausen survivors. They were men and women of all nationalities.

    “The live skeletons, the people that were in the camp, it was indescribable, it was such a shock,” he said in a 2002 interview for the Mauthausen Memorial’s Oral History Collection in Vienna.

    One of the Spanish prisoners at Mauthausen, Francesc Boix, had stolen a camera from the SS in the chaotic moments before the camp’s liberation. Boix photographed Sgt. Saunders rumbling into the concentration camp on an armored car.

    Saunders kept that photograph for the rest of his life. It captured a moment of clarity for him.

    “When we liberated Mauthausen, we really knew then why we had to stop Hitler and why we really went to war,” he said in the interview.

    Frank Hartzell, a technical sergeant with the 11th Armored Division, was 20 when he helped to liberate Mauthausen. He turned 100 this year. We met in mid-March 2025 and discussed his wartime experience.

    “What I saw and experienced appalled me,” Hartzell told me.

    The outrage has stayed with him for 80 years.

    ‘Starved and crippled but alive’

    The American liberators toured the gas chambers and the crematory ovens in Mauthausen.

    Maj. Franklin Lee Clark saw the dead stacked up in “piles like cord wood to the point that they had to bring in bulldozers and make mass graves,” and took photos to document it.

    The Spanish banner hanging on the Mauthausen prison gate, May 1945.
    Franklin Lee Clark/Emory University Archives, Witnesses to the Holocaust Project

    Soldiers from the 11th Armored Division directed locals to bury the men and women murdered by the Nazis. The local Austrians claimed they had not known about their town’s concentration camp. But a farmer who lived nearby had been upset about all the dead bodies visible from her property. She filed a complaint asking the Nazis either to stop “these inhuman deeds” or do them “where one does not see it.”

    The American liberators made sure that the townspeople could no longer look away from the murderous rampage carried out in their backyards.

    While Boix was taking photos of American soldiers during liberation, the soldiers were taking photos of the welcome banner the Spaniards had painted.

    On the back of one snapshot, a Signal Corps soldier typed out his impressions of their message: “I really know what that word (antifascist) means. We liberated these prisoners in the Mauthausen concentration camp near Linz, Austria. They were Poles, Hungarians and Spanish Loyalists (remember the Loyalists?). They had men and women in this camp. Starved and crippled but alive.”

    After Mauthausen was liberated, the freed Loyalists set to work documenting the Nazis’ crimes. Along with his countrymen Joan de Diego, Casimir Climent and others, Spanish survivor Joaquín López Raimundo compiled lists of Mauthausen victims and their Nazi captors. Using the Nazis’ own typewriters, they spent two weeks listing the names and personal details of Spanish victims of Mauthausen and of the SS who had killed them.

    The result was page after page of evidence they handed over to American war crimes investigators and the International Red Cross.

    Boix, meanwhile, gave the Americans hundreds of photo negatives he had rescued from the camp’s photography lab.

    Boix later testified about these images in the war crime trials at Nuremberg and Dachau. He described seeing the Nazis beat, torture and murder their victims in Mauthausen and then photograph the bodies. For 2½ years, Boix stole the photographic evidence of their crimes.

    He “could not keep those negatives because it was so dangerous,” he testified at Dachau, so he “hid them in various places until the liberation.”

    Testimony in the Nuremberg war crime trials. Francesc Boix’s testimony begins at 7:44. (U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, courtesy National Archives and Records Administration. Producer: US Signal Corps)

    A lifelong vaccine against extremism

    For the American liberators, their up-close view of the horrors of Mauthausen and their interactions with the Spanish antifascist survivors was a lifelong vaccine against extremism.

    They witnessed how a fascist leader tore the world apart. They saw with their own eyes the death and destruction of political extremism.

    When I interviewed Hartzell, he expressed concern that the United States is going down a dangerous path.

    “The USA today is not the USA I fought and came close to dying for,” Hartzell told me.

    As American Mauthausen liberator Maj. George E. King warned an interviewer in 1980:

    “This is the lesson we have to learn: It could happen here.”

    Sara J. Brenneis 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. American liberators of Nazi camps got ‘a lifelong vaccine against extremism’ − their wartime experiences are a warning for today – https://theconversation.com/american-liberators-of-nazi-camps-got-a-lifelong-vaccine-against-extremism-their-wartime-experiences-are-a-warning-for-today-248813

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Video: President Trump Gaggles with Press On Air Force One, Apr. 6, 2025

    Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)

    Air Force One

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQbWdz4SBEU

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schatz To Republicans: Leave Social Security Alone

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) spoke out on the Senate floor against the Trump administration’s cuts to Social Security services which have left seniors and disabled people around the country worried about their ability to get their monthly checks. Schatz spoke during the Senate’s debate on the Republican tax bill which seeks to cut essential services for Americans in order to pay for the biggest tax cuts for billionaires in history.

    “Leave Social Security alone,” said Senator Schatz. “Donald Trump wants to gut the most successful anti-poverty program in American history. Over the past three months, his administration has made sweeping cuts to Social Security in ways that are already being felt across the country. Wait times have doubled to as many as 4 or 5 hours. Local field offices are closing. Websites are crashing. And people are understandably panicked about getting checks or missing payments altogether.”

    Senator Schatz added, “The idea that we are going to balance the budget on the backs of seniors who have paid into an earned benefit is immoral. It is wrong.”

    A transcript of Senator Schatz’s remarks is below. Video is available here.

    Leave Social Security alone. Leave Social Security alone. Donald Trump wants to gut the most successful anti-poverty program in American history. Over the past three months, his administration has made sweeping cuts to Social Security in ways that are already being felt across the country. Wait times have doubled to as many as 4 or 5 hours. Local field offices are closing. Websites are crashing. And people are understandably panicked about getting checks or missing payments altogether.

    But according to Commerce Secretary Lutnick, there is nothing to worry about. “Let’s say Social Security didn’t send out their checks this month. My mother-in-law, who’s 94, she wouldn’t call and complain. She just wouldn’t. She would think something got messed up and she’d get it next month. She wouldn’t complain.”

    Well, when your son in law is a billionaire, a missed check is not a very big deal. But when you’re a senior on the island of Oahu, where the average rent far exceeds the average benefit. I want you to understand that the average benefit is about $1,900. The average rent is more than $2,000. 300,000 people in the state of Hawaii depend on Social Security. And for the vast majority of them, Social Security is either all of their income or most of their income.

    The idea that we are going to balance the budget on the backs of seniors who have paid into an earned benefit is immoral. It is wrong. And I speak on behalf of all of my constituents who depend on it. It’s not just the 300,000. It’s all of the family members. I speak on behalf of my mother- and father-in-law, George and Ping Kwok. George Kwok worked all his life in a kitchen. Sometimes he was an employee. He eventually ended up owning a place called Kwok’s Chop Suey. He sold it and bought a home for his mom and helped to send his daughter to college. Then he started to get blind and he burned his hand in a fryer. And so he was unable to work and he took Social Security Disability. He deserves that money. Leave Social Security alone.

    Social Security cuts were always the third rail in American politics. Anyone on any side of the aisle with any sense of how to get elected knew not to touch that third rail. But they are grabbing this third rail with both hands.

    I want to quote a couple of my constituents. One constituent wrote to me. “We are elderly and we are concerned about the potential of cutting Social Security checks. We paid into the system our entire working lives and fear we can’t afford food, water, bills, and medical care. What will happen with these cuts and the cost of living going up? What will be our safety net? We are afraid of what’s to come.”

    Another wrote, “I worked for 36 years for the federal government, including four years as active duty Air Force in Vietnam. I contributed to Social Security with the explicit understanding that I would get Social Security as a portion of my retirement. Cutting Social Security means I lose about a third of my retirement with no recourse. I am 77 years old with health issues and hadn’t planned on getting another job. My wife was a flight attendant for Hawaiian Airlines for 50 years and also depends on Social Security for her retirement. It is completely unfair when she paid into Social Security for more than 50 years just to be abandoned when she is 70-years-old.”

    Another constituent: “I’m a 73-year-old woman who, unlike billionaire Commerce Secretary Lutnick’s mother-in-law, cannot afford to miss or reduce my Social Security payment. It is my sole income and I need it to pay rent and buy food. I worked hard all my life and contributed my fair share of taxes towards Social Security. I’m not asking for a free ride. I earned my Social Security.”

    I am not asking for a free ride. I earned my Social Security. Leave Social Security alone.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn, URI, and General Dynamics Electric Boat Launch Workforce Development Program

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    The University of Connecticut and University of Rhode Island (URI) were jointly awarded a 5-year contract from General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) to provide regional workforce development support to the Maritime Industrial Base.

    The ANCHOR (Advancing Naval Careers through Higher-ed Outreach and Research) grant was celebrated in a launch event at UConn Avery Point on April 3. Representatives from UConn, URI, GDEB, and local and state governments were present to support the extensive program.

    The contract will support ongoing activities and drastically expand the work of the UConn-URI Navy STEM Coalition, which, since 2017, has developed a K-16 pipeline across southern New England to encourage both the skilled trades and engineering careers needed to build submarines.

    The UConn-URI Navy STEM Coalition was established in 2017 through the leadership of Michael Accorsi at UConn and David Taggart at URI via funding from the Office of Naval Research. In 2021, the program was expanded under the current leadership of Alexandra Hain at UConn and Valerie Maier-Speredelozzi at URI, through a grant from the DoDSTEM National Defense Education Program. Hain and Maier-Speredelozzi will continue as the institutional leads of the contract.

    U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, whose Congressional district includes southeastern Connecticut, also attended Thursday.

    UConn Engineering Dean JC Zhao addresses the audience. (Matthew Hodgkins/UConn Photo).

    “There’s no question that shipyard workloads’ are going to continue well into the 2040s,” Courtney said. “That means the people that are going to be working the yards are in grade schools today… That’s really what is the genius about this whole initiative. It’s to get undergraduate engineering students into young classrooms, because that’s really where the magic is.”

    U.S. Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) was unable to attend the event, but sent his regards for the UConn-URI Navy STEM Coalition via a letter recited that evening.

    UConn and URI Engineering leadership were pleased by the partnership and the renewed contract.

    “By working alongside URI and General Dynamics Electric Boat, we are not only advancing naval engineering and skilled trades but also inspiring a pipeline of talent to meet the demands of this vital sector,” said UConn Engineering Dean JC Zhao. “The coalition’s efforts will have a substantial impact on southern New England and beyond, ensuring that our students and workforce are equipped to lead in submarine production and innovation for decades to come.”

    “The Eastern Connecticut and Rhode Island region – which includes two public flagship research universities, GDEB’s campuses in Groton and Quonset Point, and U.S. Navy operations in New London and Newport – is the undisputed global epicenter of submarine research, development and manufacturing,” said URI Engineering Dean Anthony Marchese. “For decades, UConn and URI have responded to the research and workforce development needs of our regional Maritime Industrial Base partners and we are proud to continue to fulfill that mission through the ANCHOR program.”

    In the last three years, the coalition has steadily increased its presence across southern New England, engaging over 13,000 students in the fundamentals of naval science and engineering. The Navy STEM Coalition’s staff and engineering university student members have taught Connecticut and Rhode Island students the fundamentals of buoyancy, additive manufacturing, and the core trades essential to submarine production through over 75 regional classroom visits and more than 20 large-scale outreach events nationwide. The coalition has also engaged and trained dozens of teachers through programs ranging from day-long workshops to year-long residencies.

    (Matthew Hodgkins/UConn Photo).

    Maier-Speredelozzi said, “Inspiring undergraduates and K-12 students to pursue STEM careers is always rewarding, and we are excited to expand our outreach with K-12 teachers. When we work with teachers, we magnify the impact to include not only the students in their classes today, but also for years to come.”

    Looking forward, the ANCHOR contract will enable the coalition to significantly increase activities in the region, including the development of multiple new summer programs at both campuses for K-12 students, undergraduate summer researchers, and pre-service teachers.

    Thursday’s event also included the recognition of several URI and UConn students. The UConn winners included: Adeline Smith for the Naval Engineering Achievement Award, Jada Veracosa for the Navy STEM Excellence in Engineering Education Award, and Oliver MacKinnon for the Naval STEM Rising Star Award.

    The URI winners included: Olivia Daniello for the Navy STEM Excellence in Education Award, Sam Miller for the Naval Engineering Achievement Award, Hope Kelley for the Naval STEM Rising Star Award, and Megan Gimple for the Naval STEM Graduate Student Award.

    Regarding the growth of K-12 summer programming, Hain said, “Through targeted summer programs in engineering and skilled trades, we are committed to preparing students for careers in the submarine industrial base. By offering partial and full scholarships, along with free options, we’re dedicated to inspiring and equipping the next generation of talent, breaking down barriers to ensure that a skilled workforce is ready to meet the unique demands of submarine production and innovation.”

    The coalition will also offer significant funding for those already working within the industrial base to come back to either UConn or URI for graduate school in a partnership with the National Institute for Undersea Vehicle Technology, the premier fundamental research facility for submarine development in the region.

    In expanding to support GDEB and the wider industrial base, the coalition will establish a comprehensive pipeline for submarine production from elementary education to graduate school, ensuring students in southern New England are supported in their path to building the future of the underwater fleet.

    Leadership from UConn, URI, and GDEB with student award winners. (Matthew Hodgkins/UConn Photo).

    “The UConn-URI Navy STEM Coalition recognizes the critical support from the ANCHOR contract, managed by General Dynamics Electric Boat and funded by the U.S. Navy through the Maritime Industrial Base Program, which enables continued investment in workforce development and STEM education,” said Erica Logan, the U.S. Navy’s Maritime Industrial Base Deputy Director of Workforce.

    With the United States Navy indicating that the Maritime Industrial Base will need over 150,000 new employees in the next decade to meet procurement demands, the submarine sector will be vibrant for decades to come. Once called “the Silicon Valley of undersea warfare” by former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, southern New England is set to see much of that growth, and thus is in vital need of the pipeline development GDEB and the coalition will be achieving through this partnership.

    “The ANCHOR program demonstrates the power of public institutions investing in their local communities and their student body by leveraging the private sector of the Maritime Industrial Base,” said Sean Morrone, Electric Boat’s Manager of Supplier and Workforce Development. “Partnerships like this create a sustainable impact on the economic growth and community well-being of our region.”

    Meeting the needs of the Maritime Industrial Base at this time requires innovative collaborations between industry, government, and academia, and the coalition is eager to continue inspiring the next generation to “build giants.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Switzerland participates on the NATO Science and Technology Board

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport

    Due to its contributions in the fields of research and technology over the years as part of the Partnership for Peace, Switzerland has been invited by NATO to regularly attend the meetings of the Science and Technology Board (STB) of the NATO Science and Technology Organization (STO) from March 2025 onwards. From 7 to 9 April 2025, Switzerland will be represented by the Federal Office for Defence Procurement armasuisse at the STB meeting in Brussels, where it will present its priorities in the area of research and technology development.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Red Cat Appoints Shawn Webb as President of FlightWave Aerospace

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SANTA MONICA, Calif., April 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: RCAT) (“Red Cat” or the “Company”), a drone technology company integrating robotic hardware and software for military, government, and commercial operations, today announced the appointment of Shawn Webb as President of FlightWave Aerospace Systems Corporation (“FlightWave”), a Red Cat company, effective immediately.

    Webb brings more than 25 years of experience leading operational strategy and engineering across commercial and military aerospace sectors. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Operations at AeroVironment Inc., where he led the largest capacity and revenue expansion in the history of the company’s Loitering Munition Systems Business Segment.

    Prior to AeroVironment, Webb served as Vice President of Operations at BEGA North America, where he implemented a multi-site continuous improvement strategy that increased on-time delivery rates, reduced lead times, and generated significant cost savings. He also held senior roles at Bombardier Aerospace, where he spearheaded lean manufacturing and site development initiatives for the Learjet 85 program.

    “Shawn brings years of operational excellence, leadership, and domain expertise that are invaluable as we scale FlightWave’s manufacturing capacity and ramp up production of the Edge 130 Blue,” said Jeff Thompson, CEO of Red Cat. “His proven track record of driving growth in the highly complex aerospace industry, as well as leading high-performing teams makes him a great addition to the Red Cat family.”

    As part of his new role, Shawn will support the ongoing evolution of the Edge 130 into TRICHON™, which will have enhanced capabilities and further strengthen the Arachnid Family of ISR and Precision Strike Systems.

    “There are significant opportunities for FlightWave at such a pivotal time in the defense industry where sUAS play an increasing role on the modern battlefield,” said Webb. “Red Cat’s vision for its fully integrated Arachnid Family of Systems for ISR and precision strike capabilities, including the Edge 130, aligns perfectly with my experience scaling aerospace operations and building systems that are critical to the success of our warfighters and global allies.”

    Webb holds a B.S. in Business Management from Friends University, with additional coursework in electrical and industrial engineering from Wichita State University. He also holds certifications in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Systems Operation. He has led international operations and worked with regulatory agencies including the FAA and DoD.

    For more information about Red Cat Holdings, please visit www.redcat.red.

    About Red Cat Holdings, Inc.

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

    About FlightWave

    FlightWave Aerospace Systems Corporation is an industry leading manufacturer of dual-use VTOL drones, sensors and software solutions located in Santa Monica, CA. FlightWave designs and manufactures the Edge 130 VTOL drone and payload cameras for the commercial, defense, security, and intelligence markets. The fully-autonomous Edge 130 sUAS has the best flight endurance in the industry and with AI edge compute capabilities, provides superior aerial data capture to both the commercial and defense markets.

    Forward Looking Statements

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

    Contact:

    INVESTORS:
    E-mail: Investors@redcat.red

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

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Diamond Equity Research Initiates Coverage on Almonty Industries, Inc. (TSX: AII) (ASX: AII) (FWB: ALI) (OTCQX: ALMTF)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, NY, April 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diamond Equity Research, a leading equity research firm with a focus on small capitalization public companies has initiated coverage of Almonty Industries, Inc. (TSX: AII) (ASX: AII) (FWB: ALI) (OTCQX: ALMTF). The in-depth 49-page initiation report includes detailed information on the Almonty Industries’ business model, services, industry overview, financials, valuation, management profile, and risks. 

    The full research report is available below.

    Almonty Industries Inc. Initiation of Coverage

    Highlights from the report include:

    • Sangdong Mine Potentially Set to Become the World’s Largest Non-Chinese Tungsten Source: Almonty’s flagship Sangdong Mine in South Korea is poised to transform the global tungsten landscape, with projected output exceeding 40% of non-China supply and 5% of global supply by 2027. In our view, Sangdong is not just Almonty’s crown jewel, but also a cornerstone asset for rebuilding Western tungsten supply chains, given its expected 90+ year mine life and strong by-product upside potential from molybdenum.
    • High-Grade Molybdenum Asset Adds Material Upside from Late 2026: Located just below Sangdong’s skarn horizons, the AKM Molybdenum Project adds meaningful diversification. The project has a maiden inferred resource of 21.5 Mt @ 0.26% MoS₂ and is fully permitted within the existing Sangdong mining lease. A $19/lb floor-price offtake agreement with SeAH M&S de-risks the development and ensures predictable cash flows. Production is targeted for late 2026/early 2027, with an anticipated 60-year mine life based on historical government data.
    • Strong and Visible Cash Flow Backed by Long-Term Contracts: Almonty has secured a 15-year offtake agreement with a floor price of US$235 per MTU, equating to approximately US$580 million in guaranteed revenue over the contract life. This agreement, with no price cap, provides exceptional cash flow visibility and allows Almonty to benefit fully from market upside. The contract emphasizes the credibility of Sangdong as a reliable source of high-grade tungsten and reflects deep buyer confidence in Almonty’s long-term delivery capabilities and quality of asset.
    • Resilient Tungsten and Molybdenum Outlook Driven by Structural Supply Shortages and Rising Strategic Demand: Tungsten and molybdenum markets are experiencing sustained upward pricing pressure due to structural supply constraints, geopolitical export restrictions, and robust industrial demand. Tungsten prices have rebounded strongly, with APT reaching near-decade highs. Similarly, molybdenum prices surged to historical peaks ($40/lb in early 2023) due to critically low global inventories and supply disruptions. Given limited substitution possibilities, rising applications in defense, aerospace, infrastructure, and clean energy technologies, we believe these market dynamics could support elevated tungsten and molybdenum prices, benefiting producers like Almonty.
    • Critical Material Status, Export Bans, and NATO Mandates Drive Demand Shift: Tungsten has been designated a critical raw material by the U.S., EU, Australia, Canada, and South Korea due to its high economic importance and supply risk. The U.S. Department of Defense will ban Chinese, Russian, North Korean, and Iranian tungsten for military procurement starting in 2027, while the EU has extended anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese tungsten carbide. Almonty’s Portuguese material is already commanding premiums of over 15% as Western buyers prioritize ESG-aligned sources. China’s own export controls on tungsten and molybdenum, effective February 2025, further restrict global access. In our view, these developments create a powerful structural tailwind for Western-aligned producers like Almonty.
    • Proven Operational Track Record and Industry Trust Anchor the Business Model: Almonty has a 128-year history in tungsten mining and previously sold operations for 21x earnings during the 2007 supply squeeze. Its Panasqueira Mine in Portugal has been producing for over a century, while the Los Santos Mine is scheduled to restart in 2026. Management has consistently met all development milestones, raised AUD 18.45 million in 2024, and continues to co-invest alongside shareholders. We view this track record as a major differentiator, supporting the company’s ability to win contracts, secure financing, and execute on scale.
    • Valuation: Almonty Inc. presents a unique investment opportunity, offering exposure to a portfolio of high-grade tungsten and molybdenum assets with clear near-term production visibility. Key upcoming milestones, including the commencement of production at the Sangdong tungsten and molybdenum projects, downstream processing initiatives, and the Panasqueira expansion opportunity, are expected to potentially drive meaningful growth in revenues and profitability. Furthermore, the company operates in a low-risk, transparent jurisdiction and has secured long-term offtake agreements with global partners, providing additional stability and cash flow visibility. We have applied a Net Present Value (NPV) valuation using a Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) approach, incorporating expected production volumes, life-of-mine estimates, throughput capacities, ore grades, recovery rates, and commodity price forecasts. Using an 8% discount rate, we arrive at a valuation of C$4.00 per share, contingent on successful execution by the company.

    About Almonty Industries, Inc.  

    Almonty Industries Inc. is a global leader in tungsten mining, with strategically positioned assets in geopolitically stable regions including South Korea, Portugal, and Spain. The company is set to become the largest tungsten producer outside China upon the commissioning of its flagship Sangdong Mine. 

    About Diamond Equity Research

    Diamond Equity Research is a leading equity research and corporate access firm focused on small capitalization companies. Diamond Equity Research is an approved sell-side provider on major institutional investor platforms.

    For more information, visit https://www.diamondequityresearch.com.

    Disclosures:

    Diamond Equity Research LLC is being compensated by Almonty Industries, Inc. for producing research materials regarding Almonty Industries, Inc. and its securities, which is meant to subsidize the high cost of creating the report and monitoring the security, however the views in the report reflect that of Diamond Equity Research. All payments are received upfront and are billed for research engagement. As of 04/07/25 the issuer had paid us $50,000 for our company sponsored research services, which commenced 03/07/2025 and is billed annually. Diamond Equity Research LLC may be compensated for non-research related services, including presenting at Diamond Equity Research investment conferences, press releases and other additional services. The non-research related service cost is dependent on the company, but usually do not exceed $5,000. The issuer has not paid us for non-research related services as of 04/07/2025. Issuers are not required to engage us for these additional services. Additional fees may have accrued since then. Although Diamond Equity Research company sponsored reports are based on publicly available information and although no investment recommendations are made within our company sponsored research reports, given the small capitalization nature of the companies we cover we have adopted an internal trading procedure around the public companies by whom we are engaged, with investors able to find such policy on our website public disclosures page. This report and press release do not consider individual circumstances and does not take into consideration individual investor preferences. Statements within this report may constitute forward-looking statements, these statements involve many risk factors and general uncertainties around the business, industry, and macroeconomic environment. Investors need to be aware of the high degree of risk in small capitalization equities, including the complete loss of their investment. This report does not explicitly or implicitly affirm that the information contained within this document is accurate and/or comprehensive, and as such should not be relied on in such a capacity. All information contained within this report is subject to change without any formal or other notice provided. Investors can find various risk factors in the initiation report and in the respective financial filings for Almonty Industries, Inc. Please review initiation report attached for full disclosure page.  

    Contact:
    Diamond Equity Research
    research@diamondequityresearch.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Where were you during Operation Provide Comfort?

    Source: US Army (video statements)

    :CMH

    The Army Mission – our purpose – remains constant: To deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars by providing ready, prompt & sustained land dominance by Army forces across the full spectrum of conflict as part of the joint force.

    Interested in joining the U.S. Army?
    Visit: spr.ly/6001igl5L

    Connect with the U.S. Army online:
    Web: https://www.army.mil
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USarmy/
    X: https://www.twitter.com/USArmy
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/usarmy/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/us-army
    #USArmy #Soldiers #Military #Shorts

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTHCRAG0H08

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Engineering Takes Flight at Connecticut Manufacturing Simulation Center

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    There are certain settings where manufacturing quality really, really matters. One of them is at a cruising altitude of 40,000 feet. 

    With such a low tolerance for error, airplane manufacturers must source parts from trusted, expert suppliers. Many of these companies are headquartered in Connecticut, and one of them boast a double UConn connection. 

    Aero Gear, based in Windsor, specializes in the design and manufacture of gears and gearboxes for the aerospace industry. Pat Brueckner has worked at Aero Gear ever since graduating from UConn’s engineering program in 2013, and he’s now the company’s director of engineering. 

    In 2017, Brueckner got in touch with Jeongho Kim, who was leading the newly established Connecticut Manufacturing Simulation Center (CMSC) in the Innovation Partnership Building at UConn Tech Park — “and the rest,” Brueckner says, “is history.” 

    The CMSC is a free resource providing technical assistance and manufacturing simulation services to small- to medium-sized companies across Connecticut. Aero Gear was one of the first industry partnerships that the Center forged. 

    “One day, we got an email reaching out to small- and medium-sized companies like ourselves that wanted to get involved in more cutting-edge technology,” Brueckner recalls. “Our company does like to be on the bleeding edge of things like simulation capabilities and additive manufacturing, so we thought, let’s give it a shot.” 

    CMSC was formed to help manufacturing companies across Connecticut connect to the mathematical expertise and modeling capabilities of UConn faculty. 

    “Small- to medium-sized companies do not tend to have in-house large OEM [original equipment manufacturing] capabilities,” explains Kim. CMSC can help fill this gap: “Any company in Connecticut, if they find an issue – some crack or damage in a manufactured workpiece or failure in a certain process that they want to understand better – they can reach out to us for free so we can provide our modeling services.” 

    CMSC can offer these services for free thanks to federal funding and some matching funds from the Connecticut Department of Economic Community Development, says Kim. 

    Engineering … With a Twist

    “CMSC helps us make sure the virtual world matches the real world,” Brueckner says. “Simulations are not as easy as just loading a model and hitting start. There’s a lot of setup; there’s a lot of validating that the virtual world reflects the real world.” 

    Carving geometric features like the grooves on this block presents an engineering challenge for the aerospace industry. (Courtesy of Pat Brueckner)

    In one of their collaborations, CMSC supported Aero Gear in tackling a technical problem involving 2.5-pound aluminum blocks. These blocks would be shaped with a specific geometry that would allow for easy simulation and dimensional inspection, enabling them to apply these techniques to more complicated parts later. 

    The engineering team knew what they needed to produce: a block with regular, equidistant grooves, like a capital E turned on its side. The block also needed to be perfectly straight at the end of the process. 

    But to carve out the equidistant grooves, the block needed to be held in place by powerful clamps on either end. The problem was that these clamps would end up warping the material. 

    The solution? Programming the milling machine to introduce a countertwist – something that would not have been conceivable without powerful simulation technology. 

    “If we know exactly how something is going to twist beforehand, then we can tell our CNC machine to untwist it as it goes along,” Brueckner says. “Then, when you unclamp it, it will actually be straight. That was a pretty big win for us, and for CMSC.” 

    The aviation industry presents a unique challenge for engineers, combining the hulking power of aircraft machinery with the mathematical elegance needed to ensure that planes reach their destinations safely. This collaborative breakthrough between Aero Gear and CMSC underscores the importance of data-driven modeling for this industry. 

    “You need to understand exactly how much stress a component can withstand before you put it into a system,” Kim says. “Otherwise, it could lead to a catastrophic failure. That’s why we want to understand and optimize the process.” 

    This was just one of many wins along the way for the two partners, who foresee even more jet-fueled innovation in the future. 

    “We’ve done quite a few projects [with CMSC], and all of them have given us really insightful data,” says Brueckner. 

    “Aero Gear is a really important partner of our Center, and we have been able to introduce Aero Gear to other initiatives in the past as well,” such as research opportunities with the Air Force Research Laboratory, says Kim. “We provide a service to Aero Gear, but at the same time, they provide us with great data and enriching technical discussions. We really enjoy working with them.” 

    Interested in working with CMSC? Fill out a contact form here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: iBio Announces IBIO-600 Non-Human Primate Data Showing Extended Half-Life and Muscle Growth, and Interim In Vivo Results for First-in-Class Activin E Antibody, Advancing Cardiometabolic and Obesity Pipeline

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Non-human primate pharmacokinetics data suggests IBIO-600, a potentially best-in-class long-acting anti-myostatin antibody, could have a human half-life as long as 130 days

    Additional interim in vivo data for a first-in-class Activin E antibody shows muscle sparing weight loss alone and in combination with a GLP-1 receptor agonist

    iBio remains on track to submit a regulatory submission for IBIO-600 in Q1 2026

    SAN DIEGO, April 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — iBio, Inc. (Nasdaq: IBIO), an AI-driven innovator of precision antibody therapies, today announced data from a non-GLP non-human primate (NHP) pharmacokinetics (PK) study suggesting IBIO-600, the company’s novel lead asset and a potentially best-in-class long-acting anti-myostatin antibody designed for subcutaneous administration, could provide a significantly extended half-life in humans and a weight loss treatment option while preserving and promoting muscle growth.

    The results were observed in a recently completed exploratory study in obese and elderly NHPs designed to analyze the potential of IBIO-600 in NHPs in order to closely mimic the human obese patient population by determining the antibody’s half-life in serum and evaluating changes in lean and fat mass. The study consisted of two dose levels, a low dose of 5 mg/kg and a high dose of 50 mg/kg, with a single administration in each case. In addition to monitoring PK in serum, the study analyzed body composition changes over time by employing DEXA scans, measuring lean and fat mass.

    Despite the study not being powered to demonstrate statistical significance, and only having a single administration of the antibody, the results indicate IBIO-600 promoted a dose-dependent increase in lean mass and a reduction in fat mass from baseline values. The effect peaked after 8 weeks, when the NHPs receiving the low-dose had a 3.1% (163g) increase in lean mass and a 5.1% (270g) increase in the NHPs receiving the high-dose.

    Standard PK calculations indicated the half-life of IBIO-600 in NHPs was 40 to 52 days. By using multiple allometric scaling approaches1,2, the half-life in humans of IBIO-600 has an estimated range of 57-130 days. This extended half-life could potentially enable a once every 3 to 6-month dosing schedule and positions IBIO-600 as a best-in-class therapeutic for muscle preservation and high-quality weight loss.

    “The promising data suggest IBIO-600 could possibly exhibit the longest half-life among any other anti-myostatin candidates — potentially leading to best-in-class muscle preservation and growth with a significantly reduced dosing burden for patients with a few doses a year,” said Martin Brenner, Ph.D., DVM, iBio’s CEO and Chief Scientific Officer. “IBIO-600’s extended half-life and muscle-building potential make it a transformative candidate for high-quality weight loss, further strengthening our expanding cardiometabolic and obesity pipeline. It is truly remarkable we’ve been able to advance this potentially best-in-class long-acting anti-myostatin antibody to clinical candidate selection in under a year and remain fully on track for a regulatory submission in Q1 2026. This incredibly rapid progress highlights our commitment to accelerating innovation and redefining obesity treatment with cutting-edge therapeutics.”

    iBio is also pleased to announce preclinical data for a first-in-class Activin E antibody disclosed in January, highlighting its potential as a novel treatment for obesity. The antibody effectively blocks Activin E signaling in human adipocytes and is currently being evaluated in an exploratory study with obese mice, both as a monotherapy with bi-weekly dosing and in combination with semaglutide dosed daily. After only two weeks of dosing, monotherapy resulted in fat-selective weight loss of approximately 4%, with a significant 18% reduction in total body fat compared to placebo. Notably, when combined with semaglutide, the Activin E antibody demonstrated a strong synergistic effect, enhancing total weight loss by an additional 9% beyond GLP-1 therapy alone, leading to an overall weight reduction of 34%. This combination also resulted in a remarkable 72% reduction in body fat over the treatment period, as measured by DEXA scans. These compelling findings underscore the potential of Activin E inhibition as a transformative approach to obesity treatment, supporting further development and clinical advancement.

    1 Genki Nakamura, Kazuhisa Ozeki, Miho Nagayasu, Takeru Nambu, Takayuki Nemoto, Ken-ichi Hosoya, Predicting Method for the Human Plasma Concentration–Time Profile of a Monoclonal Antibody from the Half-life of Non-human Primates, Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2020, Volume 43, Issue 5, Pages 823-830, Released on J-STAGE May 01, 2020, Online ISSN 1347-5215, Print ISSN 0918-6158, https://doi.org/10.1248/bpb.b19-01042, https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/bpb/43/5/43_b19-01042/_article/-char/en

    2Haraya K, Tachibana T. Translational Approach for Predicting Human Pharmacokinetics of Engineered Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies with Increased FcRn-Binding Mutations. BioDrugs. 2023 Jan;37(1):99-108. doi: 10.1007/s40259-022-00566-2. Epub 2022 Nov 30. PMID: 36449140; PMCID: PMC9709760.

    About iBio, Inc.

    iBio (Nasdaq: IBIO) is a cutting-edge biotech company leveraging AI and advanced computational biology to develop next-generation biopharmaceuticals for cardiometabolic diseases, obesity, cancer and other hard-to-treat diseases. By combining proprietary 3D modeling with innovative drug discovery platforms, iBio is creating a pipeline of breakthrough antibody treatments to address significant unmet medical needs. Our mission is to transform drug discovery, accelerate development timelines, and unlock new possibilities in precision medicine.  For more information, visit www.ibioinc.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    Certain statements in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “continue,” “predict,” “forecast,” “project,” “plan,” “intend” or similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or current expectations, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon current estimates and assumptions and include statements regarding non-human primate pharmacokinetics data suggesting IBIO-600, a potentially best-in-class long-acting anti-myostatin antibody, could have a human half-life as long as 130 days; remaining on track to submit a regulatory submission for IBIO-600 in Q1 2026; IBIO-600 providing a significantly extended half-life in humans and a weight loss treatment option while preserving and promoting muscle growth; the extended half-life potentially enabling a once every 3 to 6-month dosing schedule and positioning IBIO-600 as a best-in-class therapeutic for muscle preservation and high-quality weight loss; IBIO-600 possibly exhibiting the longest half-life among any other anti-myostatin candidates — potentially leading to best-in-class muscle preservation and growth with a significantly reduced dosing burden for patients with a few doses a year; IBIO-600’s extended half-life and muscle-building potential making it a transformative candidate for high-quality weight loss, further strengthening our expanding cardiometabolic and obesity pipeline; and the potential of Activin E inhibition as a transformative approach to obesity treatment, supporting further development and clinical advancement. While iBio believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking statements, which are based on information available to us on the date of this release. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations and assumptions from those set forth or implied by any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among others, the ability of IBIO-600 to have a half-life as long as 130 days; the ability of iBio’s innovative pipeline of therapeutics in cardiometabolic disease and obesity to promote healthy weight loss and muscle-building; and iBio’s ability to create a pipeline of breakthrough antibody treatments to address significant unmet medical needs; iBio’s ability to obtain regulatory approvals for commercialization of its product candidates, or to comply with ongoing regulatory requirements; regulatory limitations relating to iBio’s ability to promote or commercialize its product candidates for specific indications; acceptance of iBio’s product candidates in the marketplace and the successful development, marketing or sale of products; and whether iBio will incur unforeseen expenses or liabilities or other market factors; and the other factors discussed in iBio’s filings with the SEC including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2024 and its subsequent filings with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and iBio undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release on account of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

    Corporate Contact:

    iBio, Inc.
    Investor Relations
    ir@ibioinc.com

    Media Contacts:

    Ignacio Guerrero-Ros, Ph.D., or David Schull
    Russo Partners, LLC
    Ignacio.guerrero-ros@russopartnersllc.com
    David.schull@russopartnersllc.com
    (858) 717-2310 or (646) 942-5604

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Gilat Awarded Up to $23 Million Multi-Year Contract to Service Satellite Transportable Terminal Units for US DoD Customers

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PETAH TIKVA, Israel, April 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (NASDAQ: GILT, TASE: GILT), a worldwide leader in satellite networking technology, solutions and services, announced today that Gilat Defense was awarded a contract to provide ongoing sustainment and support services for Satellite Transportable Terminal (STT) units deployed worldwide in support of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) customers. The contract includes a base program with options to extend up to five years, totaling up to $23 million.

    Under the agreement, Gilat Defense will deliver critical program management, field services, and technical support, ensuring operational readiness and continued reliability of these vital communication assets.

    “We are proud to receive awards such as this program,” said Nicole Robinson, President of Gilat DataPath. “It underscores the level of quality and core capability we bring to our customers.” Robinson added, “This contract reinforces the ongoing critical nature of our SATCOM systems in supporting the U.S. DoD’s global operations. We remain committed to delivering superior performance and service to our trusted defense partners worldwide.”

    About Gilat

    Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (NASDAQ: GILT, TASE: GILT) is a leading global provider of satellite-based broadband communications. With over 35 years of experience, we develop and deliver deep technology solutions for satellite, ground, and new space connectivity, offering next-generation solutions and services for critical connectivity across commercial and defense applications. We believe in the right of all people to be connected and are united in our resolution to provide communication solutions to all reaches of the world.

    Together with our wholly owned subsidiaries—Gilat Wavestream, Gilat DataPath, and Gilat Stellar Blu—we offer integrated, high-value solutions supporting multi-orbit constellations, Very High Throughput Satellites (VHTS), and Software-Defined Satellites (SDS) via our Commercial and Defense Divisions. Our comprehensive portfolio is comprised of a cloud-based platform and modems; high-performance satellite terminals; advanced Satellite On-the-Move (SOTM) antennas and ESAs; highly efficient, high-power Solid State Power Amplifiers (SSPA) and Block Upconverters (BUC) and includes integrated ground systems for commercial and defense markets, field services, network management software, and cybersecurity services.

    Gilat’s products and tailored solutions support multiple applications including government and defense, IFC and mobility, broadband access, cellular backhaul, enterprise, aerospace, broadcast, and critical infrastructure clients all while meeting the most stringent service level requirements. For more information, please visit: http://www.gilat.com

    Certain statements made herein that are not historical are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “estimate”, “project”, “intend”, “expect”, “believe” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Gilat to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, among others, changes in general economic and business conditions, inability to maintain market acceptance to Gilat’s products, inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications, rapid changes in the market for Gilat’s products, loss of market share and pressure on prices resulting from competition, introduction of competing products by other companies, inability to manage growth and expansion, loss of key OEM partners, inability to attract and retain qualified personnel, inability to protect the Company’s proprietary technology and risks associated with Gilat’s international operations and its location in Israel, including those related to the terrorist attacks by Hamas, and the hostilities between Israel and Hamas and Israel and Hezbollah. For additional information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties associated with Gilat’s business, reference is made to Gilat’s reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason.

    Contact:
    Gilat Satellite Networks
    Hagay Katz, Chief Product and Marketing Officer
    hagayk@gilat.com

    Alliance Advisors:
    GilatIR@allianceadvisors.com
    Phone: +1 212 838 3777

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Thales signs a contract to deliver the Ground Master 200 MM/C Multi Mission Compact radar to Sweden

    Source: Thales Group

    Headline: Thales signs a contract to deliver the Ground Master 200 MM/C Multi Mission Compact radar to Sweden

    • The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (Försvarets materielverk – FMV) has chosen the Thales Ground Master 200 Multi-Mission Compact radar to strengthen Swedish sovereign airspace capabilities.
    • The first deliveries are scheduled for 2026, demonstrating Thales‘s ability to deliver quickly to meet its customers’ needs.
    • Sweden is the fifth NATO country to select this highly mobile multi-mission medium range radar.
    © FMV

    Stockholm/Paris 3 April 2025 – The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) signed an agreement with Thales for the delivery of the Thales Ground Master 200 Multi-Mission Compact radar (GM200 MM/C). Building on strong international NATO cooperation, the agreement will contribute to maintaining Swedish airspace sovereignty.

    Thanks to Thales’s strong industrial ramp-up programme and ability to produce in short lead times, the first deliveries are scheduled for 2026.

    The GM200 MM/C medium range radar will contribute to strengthening the recognised air picture for the Swedish Armed Forces. The radar delivers more time-on-target across a wide spectrum of threats thanks to the latest generation in 4D AESA technology*.

    The compact design of the system also provides increased mission flexibility due to its mobility and short deployment times.

    “We are very proud to be selected by FMV to further strengthen Swedish sovereign and defence capabilities in an increasingly challenging environment. The Thales GM200 MM/C, with its high-end technology, will play a vital role contributing to the overall national security”, says Håkan Ahlström, Country Director Sweden, Thales.

    *AESA: Active Electronically Scanned Array (a unique dual axis multi-beam providing unrestricted beam steering flexibility in elevation and bearing)

    About Thales

    Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defence, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services addresses several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion.

    The Group invests more than €4 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum and cloud technologies.

    Thales has more than 83,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2024, the Group generated sales of €20.6 billion.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Raksha Mantri reviews maritime security situation & Indian Navy’s operational readiness during the Phase-1 of the first Naval Commanders’ Conference of 2025 in Karwar

    Source: Government of India

    Raksha Mantri reviews maritime security situation & Indian Navy’s operational readiness during the Phase-1 of the first Naval Commanders’ Conference of 2025 in Karwar

    21st century is Asia’s century; It is our responsibility to ensure peace & prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, says Shri Rajnath Singh

    India stands for a free, open & rule-based order; Assess changing circumstances and ensure planning, resourcing & exercising accordingly: RM to Commanders

    Posted On: 05 APR 2025 5:54PM by PIB Delhi

    Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh reviewed the maritime security situation, operational readiness of the Indian Navy, and the future outlook during the inaugural phase of the first Naval Commanders’ Conference of 2025 in Karwar, Karnataka on April 05, 2025. Raksha Mantri interacted with the Naval Commanders, with deliberations focussing on addressing contemporary security paradigms, formulating the way ahead to further the combat capability of the Navy, and addressing strategic, operational & administrative aspects. He was accompanied by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh and other senior officials.

    Addressing the Commanders, Shri Rajnath Singh commended the Navy’s contribution in strengthening India’s maritime security, surpassing the expectations of the people in every situation, and displaying continued commitment towards serving the nation with new energy & innovation.

    Raksha Mantri asserted that it is a necessity to reorient the future roles of the Armed Forces amidst the present unpredictable geopolitical landscape. He referred to the acceptance of global experts that 21stcentury is Asia’s century and India will have a crucial role to play, stating “It is our responsibility to ensure peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific as the region has become a focal point for the world”.

    Shri Rajnath Singh reiterated that India stands for a free, open and rule-based order in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), urging the Commanders to assess the changing circumstances and ensure planning, resourcing & exercising accordingly, while remaining alert and prepared. “Security is an ongoing adaptation process, wherein there is a need to keep assessing, planning, and coming out with new ideas. We need to analyse how India can make its role more effective,” he said.

    Emphasising that national security is of paramount importance to the Government, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Raksha Mantri stated that it has always been ensured that the requirements of the Armed Forces are fulfilled. “The speed at which the work of naval modernisation is being carried out for the last 10-11 years is unprecedented. Induction of new platforms, state-of-the-art equipment has significantly enhanced our Naval prowess and the morale of our brave sailors. It is a testimony to the fact that we are always standing with you in your preparations,” he said.

    On 2025 being declared as the ‘Year of Reforms’ in the Ministry of Defence, Shri Rajnath Singh called for concerted efforts of all stakeholders to fulfil their commitment to reforms. “There are two types of reforms. One is policy reforms which are carried out at the level of the Ministries. Many officers look into policy-related issues, obtain feedback from everyone and formulate policies accordingly. The second type is ground-level reform. Whether it is related to training, R&D, financial or manpower reforms, your role is most important in all these. Till the time there is no convergence of top-down approach and bottom-top approach, we will not be able to achieve our reforms’ goal in the right manner,” he told the Commanders.

    The conference is the apex-level, biannual event facilitating deliberations on significant strategic, operational, and administrative issues among the top Naval Commanders. It plays a pivotal role in emphasising India’s role as a ‘Preferred Security Partner’ in the Indian Ocean Region, bolstering the Navy’s contribution to regional peace, security, and stability.

     The second phase of the conference will be held in New Delhi from April 07 to 10, 2025, witnessing a comprehensive review of major operational, materiel, logistics, HR development, training, and administrative aspects. Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of the Army Staff & Chief of the Air Staff will also engage with Naval Commanders during the Conference to foster synergy amongst the three Services and further drive the convergence efforts.

    The Commanders will also engage with Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri and Shri Amitabh Kant on issues related to foreign policy and international engagement. The Indian Navy’s quest to strengthen modernisation, indigenisation, and self-reliance in line with Government’s vision of Aatmanirbharta is the key focus area of the event.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Raksha Mantri flags-off INS Sunayna as Indian Ocean Ship SAGAR from Karwar with 44 personnel of nine friendly nations of Indian Ocean Region

    Source: Government of India

    Raksha Mantri flags-off INS Sunayna as Indian Ocean Ship SAGAR from Karwar with 44 personnel of nine friendly nations of Indian Ocean Region

    IOS SAGAR is a reflection of India’s commitment to peace, prosperity & collective security in maritime domain: Shri Rajnath Singh

    “Indian Navy ensures that no nation in IOR suppresses another on the basis of overwhelming economy & military power”

    “Our aim is to develop IOR as a symbol of brotherhood & shared interest”

    RM also inaugurates Rs 2,000 crore modern operational, repair & logistic facilities constructed under Project Seabird

    Posted On: 05 APR 2025 4:07PM by PIB Delhi

    Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh flagged-off Indian Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel, INS Sunayna, as Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR (Security & Growth for All in the Region) in Karwar, Karnataka on April 05, 2025. Raksha Mantri also inaugurated modern operational, repair and logistic facilities constructed under Project Seabird worth over Rs 2,000 crore. He was accompanied by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh and other senior officials.

    IOS Sagar

    The flagging-off of the ship, with 44 naval personnel from nine friendly nations (Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka & Tanzania), marks a significant step in reinforcing India’s commitment to regional maritime security and international cooperation.

    Addressing the representatives from partner nations of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), Shri Rajnath Singh termed the launch of IOS SAGAR as a reflection of India’s commitment to peace, prosperity, and collective security in maritime domain. He highlighted India’s growing presence in IOR, stating “It is not just related to our security and national interests, it also points towards the equality of rights and duties among our friendly countries in the region. Our Navy ensures that, in IOR, no nation suppresses another on the basis of overwhelming economy and military power. We ensure that the nations’ interests are protected without compromising their sovereignty,” he said.

    Raksha Mantri also commended the Indian Navy for emerging as the first responder during incidents such as hijacking of ships and acts of pirates, in the region. He stated that the Navy ensures the security of not just Indian ships but also foreign ones, terming free navigation, rule-based order, anti-piracy and securing peace and stability in IOR as one of its biggest objectives. “Along with other stakeholders, Indian Navy is ensuring peace and prosperity in the region. Equipped with state-of-the-art ships, weapons & equipment and well-trained & motivated sailors, we resolve to move ahead with other friendly nations towards developing IOR as a symbol of brotherhood and shared interest,” he added.

    The flag-off coincides with the 10thanniversary of the SAGAR initiative and the National Maritime Day. Shri Rajnath Singh referred to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s recent MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) initiative and stated that it will expand and strengthen the SAGAR vision in a more advanced and collaborative manner. “Now that India has transitioned from SAGAR to MAHASAGAR, there could be no better time to launch the voyage of IOS SAGAR,” he said.

    The Raksha Mantri highlighted the historical significance of April 05, when India’s first merchant ship, SS Loyalty, sailed from Mumbai to London in 1919, describing it as a fitting occasion to launch the IOS SAGAR mission. “It’s a proud moment to see India leading the charge for regional cooperation on the same date we mark our maritime legacy,” he said.

    Extending his best wishes to the crew, Shri Rajnath Singh exuded confidence that IOS SAGAR will achieve its broader goals of collective security & growth and maritime excellence.

    IOS SAGAR is a pioneering effort aimed at bringing together the navies and maritime agencies of the Southwest IOR on an Indian Naval platform. The mission will serve as an opportunity to provide comprehensive training to sea-riders from friendly countries and marks an unprecedented collaboration in maritime security.

    INS Sunayna, during its deployment, will visit Dar-es-Salaam, Nacala, Port Louis and Port Victoria. The international crew aboard will undertake training exercises and apply knowledge gained from various professional training schools at Kochi. The exercises/training planned include firefighting, damage control, Visit Board Search and Seizure, bridge operations, seamanship, engine room management, switchboard operations and boat handling –  all of which will improve interoperability between the Indian Navy and its international partners.

    IOS SAGAR will play a crucial role in shaping the future of the IOR. With this mission, India once again reaffirms its commitment to building stronger ties with its maritime neighbours and working towards a safer, more inclusive & secure maritime environment in the region.

    Project Seabird Facilities

    The facilities include marine infrastructure designed for berthing ships, submarines and harbour craft, an armament wharf, two piers specifically equipped for refits, marine utility complexes, residential infrastructure consisting 480 dwelling units for sailors and defence civilians, and support facilities comprising 25 km road network, 12 km storm water drainage, water reservoirs, waste management plants and security watch towers.

    These facilities will boost the sustenance of assets operating off the West Coast, and augment the Indian Navy’s efforts in maintaining a future-ready force.  The infrastructure has been developed in pursuit of the Government’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat with more than 90% of the material and equipment being sourced from within the country. The progressive operationalisation of the Karwar base will generate industrial growth and enable substantial support to the local economy in the Uttar Kannada Region.

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