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Category: Natural Disasters

  • MIL-OSI Global: The ancient Irish get far too much credit for Halloween

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Lisa Bitel, Dean’s Professor of Religion & Professor of History, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

    The Celtic festival of Samhain celebrates a time of year when the division between Earth and the otherworld collapses, allowing spirits to pass through. Matt Cardy/Getty Images

    This time of year, I often run across articles proclaiming Halloween a modern form of the pagan Irish holiday of Samhain – pronounced SAW-en. But as a historian of Ireland and its medieval literature, I can tell you: Samhain is Irish. Halloween isn’t.

    The Irish often get credit – or blame – for the bonfires, pranksters, witches, jack-o’-lanterns and beggars who wander from house to house, threatening tricks and soliciting treats.

    The first professional 19th-century folklorists were the ones who created a through line from Samhain to Halloween. Oxford University’s John Rhys and James Frazer of the University of Cambridge were keen to find the origins of their national cultures.

    They observed lingering customs in rural areas of Britain and Ireland and searched medieval texts for evidence that these practices and beliefs had ancient pagan roots. They mixed stories of magic and paganism with harvest festivals and whispers of human sacrifice, and you can still find echoes of their outdated theories on websites.

    But the Halloween we celebrate today has more to do with the English, a ninth-century pope and America’s obsession with consumerism.

    A changing of the seasons

    For two millennia, Samhain, the night of Oct. 31, has marked the turn from summer to winter on the Irish calendar. It was one of four seasonal signposts in agricultural and pastoral societies.

    After Samhain, people brought the animals inside as refuge from the long, cold nights of winter. Imbolc, which is on Feb. 1, marked the beginning of the lambing season, followed by spring planting. Beltaine signaled the start of mating season for humans and beasts alike on May 1, and Lughnasadh kicked off the harvest on Aug. 1.

    But whatever the ancient Irish did on Oct. 31 is lost to scholars because there’s almost no evidence of their pagan traditions except legends written by churchmen around 800 A.D., about 400 years after the Irish started turning Christian. Although they wrote about the adventures of their ancestors, churchmen could only imagine the pagan ways that had disappeared.

    A neopagan celebration of Samhain in October 2021.
    Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

    An otherworld more utopian than terrifying

    These stories about the pagan past told of Irish kings holding annual weeklong feasts, markets and games at Samhain. The day ended early in northwestern Europe, before 5 p.m., and winter nights were long. After sundown, people went inside to eat, drink and listen to storytellers.

    The stories did not link Samhain with death and horror. But they did treat Samhain as a night of magic, when the otherworld – what, in Irish, was known as the “sí” – opened its portals to mortals. One tale, “The Adventure of Nera,” warned that if you went out on Samhain Eve, you might meet dead men or warriors from the sí, or you might unknowingly wander into the otherworld.

    When Nera went out on a dare, he met a thirsty corpse in search of drink and unwittingly followed warriors through a portal into the otherworld. But instead of ghosts and terror, Nera found love. He ended up marrying a “ban sídh” – pronounced “BAN-shee” – an otherworldly woman. But here’s the medieval twist to the tale: He lived happily ever after in this otherworld with his family and farm.

    The Irish otherworld was no hell, either. In medieval tales, it is a sunny place in perpetual spring. Everyone who lives there is beautiful, powerful, immortal and blond. They have good teeth. The rivers flow with mead and wine, and food appears on command. No sexual act is a sin. The houses sparkle with gems and precious metals. Even the horses are perfect.

    Clampdown on pagan customs

    The link between Oct. 31, ghosts and devils was really the pope’s fault.

    In 834, Pope Gregory IV decreed Nov. 1 the day for celebrating all Christian saints. In English, the feast day became All Hallows Day. The night before – Oct. 31 – became known as All Hallows Eve.

    Some modern interpretations insist that Pope Gregory created All Hallows Day to quell pagan celebrations of Samhain. But Gregory knew nothing of ancient Irish seasonal holidays. In reality, he probably did it because everyone celebrated All Saints on different days and, like other Popes, Gregory sought to consolidate and control the liturgical calendar.

    In the later Middle Ages, All Hallows Eve emerged as a popular celebration of the saints. People went to church and prayed to the saints for favors and blessings. Afterward, they went home to feast. Then, on Nov. 2, they celebrated All Souls’ Day by praying for the souls of their lost loved ones, hoping that prayers would help their dead relatives out of purgatory and into heaven.

    But in the 16th century, the Protestant rulers of Britain and Ireland quashed saints’ feast days, because praying to saints seemed idolatrous. Protestant ministers did their best to eliminate popular customs of the early November holidays, such as candle-lit processions and harvest bonfires.

    In the minds of ministers, these customs smacked of heathenism.

    A mishmash of traditions

    Our Halloween of costumed beggars and leering jack-o’-lanterns descends from this mess of traditions, storytelling and antiquarianism.

    Like our ancestors, we constantly remake our most important holidays to suit current culture.

    Jack-o’-lanterns are neither ancient nor Irish. One of the earliest references is an 18th-century account of an eponymous Jack, who tricked the devil one too many times and was condemned to wander the world forever.

    Supposedly, Jack, or whatever the hero was called, carved a turnip and stuck a candle in it as his lantern. But the custom of carving turnips in early November probably originated in England with celebrations of All Saints’ Day and another holiday, Guy Fawkes Day on Nov. 5, with its bonfires and fireworks, and it spread from there.

    Guy Fawkes Day, an annual celebration in Great Britain, features fireworks and bonfires and is observed on Nov. 5.
    Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis via Getty Images

    As for ancient bonfires, the Irish and Britons built them to celebrate Beltaine, but not Samhain – at least, not according to the medieval tales.

    In 19th-century Ireland, All Hallows Eve was a time for communal suppers, games like bobbing for apples and celebrating the magic of courtship. For instance, girls tried to peel apples in one long peel; then they examined the peels to see what letters they resembled – the initials of their future husbands’ names. Boys crept out of the gathering, despite warnings, to make mischief, taking off farm gates or stealing cabbages and hurling them at the neighbors’ doors.

    Halloween with an American sheen

    Across the Atlantic, these customs first appeared in the mid-19th century, when the Irish, English and many other immigrant groups brought their holidays to the U.S.

    In medieval Scotland, “guisers” were people who dressed in disguise and begged for “soul cakes” on All Souls Day. These guisers probably became the costumed children who threatened – and sometimes perpetrated – mischief unless given treats. Meanwhile, carved turnips became jack-o’-lanterns, since pumpkins were plentiful in North America – and easier to carve.

    Like Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Easter, Halloween eventually became a feast of consumerism. Companies mass-produced costumes, paper decorations and packaged candy. People in Britain and Ireland blamed the Americans for the spread of modern Halloween and its customs. British schools even tried to quash the holiday in the 1990s because of its disorderly and demonic connotations.

    The only real remnant of Samhain in Halloween is the date. Nowadays, no one expects to stumble into a romance in the sí. Only those drawn to the ancient Celtic past sense the numinous opening of the otherworld at Samhain.

    But who’s to say which reality prevails when the portals swing open in the dark of Oct. 31?

    Lisa Bitel 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. The ancient Irish get far too much credit for Halloween – https://theconversation.com/the-ancient-irish-get-far-too-much-credit-for-halloween-239801

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: SPbGASU took part in a conference on fire-safe construction

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –

    The International Scientific and Practical Conference “Fire-Safe Construction” was held at the St. Petersburg University of the State Fire Service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia at the Technopark of Science and High Technologies. The event was held as part of the forum “Security Service in Russia: Experience, Problems, Prospects” and brought together leading industry experts, representatives of government agencies, scientific institutions and specialized organizations to discuss current issues in the field of fire-safe construction.

    The conference brought together representatives of specialized organizations, the scientific community, and the public sector. Employees of government bodies, including representatives of the Construction Committee of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region, delivered welcoming remarks, emphasizing the importance of complying with fire safety standards to protect citizens and infrastructure.

    The delegation of SPbGASU included Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering Andrey Nikulin, who delivered a welcoming speech at the opening of the session, Head of the Department of Construction Organization Roman Motylev, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering for Research, Associate Professor of the Department of Architectural and Civil Engineering Structures Olga Pastukh, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering for Career Guidance, Associate Professor of the Department of Technosphere Safety Alexander Glukhanov and representatives of the Department of Metal and Wooden Structures: Professor, Doctor of Technical Sciences Alexander Chernykh and Associate Professor Stefania Mironova, who took an active part in the scientific discussion. Colleagues shared their experience and research in the field of fire safety both in labor protection in construction and during construction, testing of various construction materials for the construction of buildings and structures, focusing on personnel training and the implementation of advanced safety standards.

    As part of the section “Changes in legislation and new fire safety requirements”, Andrey Nikulin and Alexander Glukhanov presented a report “Training of personnel in the field of fire safety in construction. Problems and prospects”. In his speech, the dean emphasized that improving the quality of training specialists and strengthening the culture of fire safety is possible only with the active participation of mature, socially responsible businesses in the educational process. He noted that such interaction contributes to the development of high standards of fire safety at construction and operational sites, and also lays down important professional skills for future specialists.

    The conference became a platform for presenting the latest approaches to technical regulation, innovative materials and technologies aimed at preventing fires in the construction industry. Thus, the participants discussed expert analysis of existing standards, presented developments of materials with reduced flammability and new methods of automated fire extinguishing systems. One of the reports was devoted to the use of nanotechnology to create environmentally friendly, fire-resistant materials, as well as computer modeling methods for assessing the effectiveness of fire prevention measures.

    The conference concluded with a resolution containing recommendations for improving safety in the construction industry and calling for an update of fire safety standards. Participants noted the importance of government support, as well as the interest of business and educational institutions in the further development of a fire safety culture.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Lujan Grisham requests Major Disaster Declaration for Chaves County

    Source: US State of New Mexico

    SANTA FE – Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham formally requested a major disaster declaration from President Biden today in response to the flooding that devastated Roswell and Chaves County earlier this month.

    The unprecedented storm that began on October 18 severely affected local residents, infrastructure, and essential services. By securing federal assistance, the state aims to provide Chaves County with the resources needed for a full recovery.

    “The people of Chaves County need our support as they work to rebuild and recover,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham. “A federal disaster declaration will bring critical resources to the area, helping families and businesses get back on their feet as soon as possible.”

    The Governor’s office continues to coordinate with local officials and emergency management teams to assess and respond to the damage.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Climate change is making it harder for people to get the care they need

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Maria S. Floro, Professor Emerita of Economics, American University

    The world is witnessing the consequences of climate change: long-lasting changes in temperature and rainfall, and more intense and frequent extreme weather events such as heat waves, hurricanes, typhoons, flooding and drought. All make it harder for families and communities to meet their care needs.

    Climate change affects care systems in various ways. First, sudden illnesses and unexpected disabilities heighten the need for care. Second, it reduces access to important inputs for care such as water, food and safe shelter. Third, it can damage physical and social care infrastructures.

    It can also lead to breakdowns of traditional units of caregiving such as households and communities. And it creates new situations of need with the increase in displaced person settlements and refugee camps.

    Climate change creates sudden spikes in the demand for care, and serious challenges to meeting the growing need for care. All this has immediate and long lasting effects on human well-being.

    The size of the current unmet care needs throughout the world is substantial. In childcare alone, about 23% of children worldwide – nearly 350 million – need childcare but do not have it. Families in low- and lower-middle-income countries are the most in need.

    Similarly, as the world’s population ages rapidly, only a small proportion of the elderly who need assistance are able to use formal care (in an institution or paid homecare). Most are cared for by family members or other unpaid caregivers. Much of this unpaid care and formal care work is provided by women and girls.

    Hundreds of millions of people around the world struggle to get healthcare. Expansion of access to essential health services has slowed compared to pre-2015 . And healthcare costs still create financial hardship.

    Without comprehensive public and global support for care provision and the integration of care in the climate agenda, unmet care needs will only grow and inequalities will widen.

    Impact

    Climate change interacts with human health in complex ways. Its impact is highly uneven across populations. It depends on geographical region, income, education, gender roles, social norms, level of development, and the institutional capacity and accessibility of health systems.

    In 2018-22, Africa experienced the biggest increase in the heat-related mortality rate since 2000-05. This is not surprising as the continent has more frequent health-threatening temperatures than ever before and a growing population of people older than 65.

    Africa is also the region most affected by droughts in 2013-22, with 64% of its land area affected by at least one month of extreme drought per year on average. It was followed by Oceania (55% of its land area) and South and Central America (53%).

    Scientific evidence also points to increases in health inequalities caused by climate change. The health effects of climate change are not uniformly felt by different population groups.

    Exposure, severity of impact, and ability of individuals to recover depend on a variety of factors. Physiological characteristics, income, education, type of occupation, location, social norms and health systems are some of them.

    For example, older people and young children face the greatest health risks from high temperatures.

    There is also evidence of the disproportionate effect of climate change on the health of people living in poverty and those who belong to disadvantaged groups.

    Women of lower social and economic status and with less education are more vulnerable to heat stress compared to women in wealthier households and with higher education or social status. They are exposed to pollution in the absence of clean cooking fuel, and to extreme heat as they walk to gather water and fuel, or do other work outdoors.

    Bad sanitation in poor urban areas increases the incidence of water-borne diseases after heavy rains and floods.

    Lack of access to healthcare services and the means to pay for medicines make it difficult for women and men in low-income households to recover from illness, heat strokes, and air pollution-related ailments.

    Mental health problems are being attributed to climate change as well. Studies show that the loss of family or kin member, home, livelihood and a safe environment can bring about direct emotional impacts.

    These adverse impacts increase the demand for caregiving and the care workload. Climate-induced health problems force family and community caregivers, particularly women, to spend more time looking after the sick and disabled, particularly frail elderly people and children.

    Effect on food and water

    Climate change threatens the availability of food, clean water and safe shelter. It erodes households’ and communities’ care capacity and hence societies’ ability to thrive.

    Fluctuations in food supply and rising food prices as a result of environmental disasters, along with the inadequacy of government policies, underscore the mounting challenge of meeting food needs.

    The threat of chronic shortage of safe drinking water has also risen. Water scarcity is an area where structural inequalities and gender disparities are laid bare.

    Care for the sick and disabled, the young and the elderly is compromised when water is scarce.

    Effects on providing care

    Extreme weather events disrupt physical care infrastructures. It may be hard to reach hospitals, clinics, daycare centres, nursery schools and nursing homes. Some facilities may be damaged and have to close.

    Another type of care system that can break down is family networks and support provided by friends and neighbours. These informal care sharing arrangements are illustrated in a study of the three large informal settlements in Nairobi.

    About half (50.5%) of the sampled households reported having had a sick member in the two weeks before the survey. The majority relied on close friends and family members living nearby for care and support.

    Studies have shown that climate change eventually leads to livelihood loss and resource scarcity, which can weaken social cohesion and local safety nets in affected communities.

    Heightened risks and uncertainty and imminent changes in socio-economic and political conditions can also compel individuals or entire households to migrate. Migration is caused by a host of factors, but it has increasingly been a climate-related response.

    The World Bank’s Groundswell Report released in 2018, for example, projected that climate change could force 216 million people to move within their countries by 2050 to avoid the slow-onset impacts of climate change.

    A possible consequence of migration is the withdrawal of care support provided by the migrating extended kin, neighbours or friends, increasing the caregiving load of people left behind.

    In the case of forced displacements, the traditional social networks existing in communities are disrupted entirely.

    What’s needed

    There are compelling reasons to believe that meeting care needs can also help mitigate the effects of climate change. And actions to meet carbon-zero goals, prevent biodiversity loss and regenerate ecosystems can reduce the care work burden that falls heavily on families, communities and women.

    Any effort to tackle these grave problems should be comprehensive in scope and must be based on principles of equality, universality, and responsibility shared by all.

    This article is part of a series of articles initiated through a project led by the Southern Centre for Inequality studies, in collaboration with the International Development Research Centre and a group of feminist economists and climate scientists across the world.

    – Climate change is making it harder for people to get the care they need
    – https://theconversation.com/climate-change-is-making-it-harder-for-people-to-get-the-care-they-need-240557

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government announces proposition to amend Single-Use Plastics Law to address single-use vapes29 October 2024 The Government of Jersey has today lodged a proposition to propose an amendment to the Single-Use Plastics etc. (Restrictions) (Jersey) Law, originally enacted in 2022, to tackle the environmental impact… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    29 October 2024

    The Government of Jersey has today lodged a proposition to propose an amendment to the Single-Use Plastics etc. (Restrictions) (Jersey) Law, originally enacted in 2022, to tackle the environmental impact of single-use vapes. 

    This amendment seeks to add single-use vapes to the list of restricted items, a step that aligns with Jersey’s commitment to reducing waste, encouraging reuse, and supporting its Carbon Neutral Strategy. 

    The proposed ban is prompted by the rapid increase in single-use vape popularity, especially among young people. A recent study by Public Health Jersey reveals that 95.65% of local children and young people who use vapes opt for single-use devices.

    These products present a significant environmental concern due to their short lifespan and resource-intensive production, which involves metals, plastics, and lithium batteries. Disposeable single-use vapes are challenging to recycle, and improper disposal poses fire risks and harms the local environment. 

    The proposed amendment to the Single-Use Plastics etc. (Restrictions) Law will: 

    • Extend restrictions to include single-use vapes, previously limited to plastic and paper bags 
    • Apply restrictions on single-use vapes to both individuals and traders, addressing potential online purchases of these products by individuals 
    • Update regulation and enforcement measures to support Authorised Officers. 

    If approved, a six-month transition period will be offered to allow businesses to manage remaining stock, with full enforcement expected by mid-2025. 

    Constable Andy Jehan, Minister for Infrastructure, said: “Single-use vapes are both environmentally unsustainable and pose significant disposal challenges. This legislation will protect our community by reducing waste, encouraging more sustainable habits, and safeguarding our Island’s environmental future.”​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: National Press Club

    Source: US Department of Veterans Affairs

    Good morning. Emily Wilkins, thanks for that kind introduction, and for leading this important organization. Let me recognize the Press Club’s American Legion Post and its commander, Tom Young, and all the Veterans Service Organizations represented here. Veterans Service Organizations are critical to helping us serve Vets, their family members, caregivers, and survivors.

    I want to thank all the journalists who served our country in uniform. Journalists like Thomas Gibbons-Neff, a Marine combat Vet and the son of a combat Vet, who writes powerfully now about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. I’ve been particularly struck by his writing on the end of America’s deployments to and withdrawal from Afghanistan.

    While I want to be careful here as a non-Veteran myself, it struck me that his writing brought to life the painful experiences that thousands of his fellow Afghanistan Vets wrestle with to this day. Navy Veteran Zack Baddorf, founder of the group Military Veterans in Journalism, is helping ensure more Vets go into journalism, a vocation that is so important to our democracy that Vets have sacrificed everything to protect it.

    Zach’s getting more Vets into newsrooms around the country—improving coverage of Veterans issues and increasing trust in the media. To Thomas and Zack, to all Veteran journalists, and to all journalists—thank you.

    Veterans Day is around the corner, so now’s a good time to begin preparing our hearts and minds for that celebration—remembering, recognizing, and thanking all those men and women who have fought our nation’s wars and defended us during periods of restless peace. But our profound gratitude to Veterans goes beyond Veterans Day, because Vets continue serving this country long after they take off their uniforms.

    They’ve dedicated themselves to building an America that is stronger, freer, fairer for each new generation, that more perfect Union we all seek. Anchored by their commitment to service over self, they continue serving this country, always looking out for one another, with their enduring sense of duty, valor, and love of country. Veterans set the highest example of what it means to be an American citizen. So, at VA, we strive to serve Vets every bit as well as they served—and continue to serve—all of us. Veterans Day is a time to renew that commitment, renew what President Biden calls our country’s one truly sacred obligation—to prepare those we send into harm’s way, and to care for them and their families when they come home.

    Now, when I first spoke to the Press Club four years ago, the country was in a historic public health emergency, and VA’s employees were risking their lives to save the lives of Veterans. Despite those challenges, I told you that VA public servants were breaking all-time records, providing more care and more benefits to more Vets than ever before. And each year, I’ve come back here with a similar report. This year is no different. By nearly every metric, VA’s smashing records we set last year. That’s even more care, more benefits, to more Vets. And it’s not just more care. It’s better, world-class care, and it’s better health outcomes for Veterans than in the private sector. It’s not just more benefits, it’s faster, more accessible benefits we’re delivering by meeting Vets where they are rather than expecting them to come to us. And it’s not just more Vets, its more Vets trusting VA at rates higher than ever before. President Biden, a military family member and the surviving father of combat Veteran Major Beau Biden, has been unrelenting—and forcefully demanding—in his advocacy for Veterans and their families. He has spent his entire career fighting like hell for Vets, just as he charged me and my VA teammates to do four years ago. Under President Biden’s leadership, VA has been made into something different—something new.

    Nowhere has that been more evident than with President Biden’s toxic exposure law—the PACT Act. Because of that law, more than 5.8 million Vets have been screened for toxic exposures. More than 740,000 have enrolled in VA care. And more than 1.1 million Veterans and 11,000 survivors are receiving benefits. The toxic exposure legislation called for a phased-in approach, getting Vets access to care and benefits as late, in some cases, as 2032. But President Biden made it clear that timeline wasn’t fast enough for one simple reason—for too long, too many Vets were exposed to harmful substances and waited decades for help. So, he directed us to accelerate implementation so all eligible Vets and their survivors got the care and benefits they deserve—as quickly as possible.  

    And that has been life-changing for so many families.

    We can measure President Biden’s record-breaking work on behalf of Veterans—on ending Veteran homelessness, on removing barriers to mental health care, on getting Vets in crisis the support they need when they need it, and more. In fact, you probably saw the press release we put out this morning detailing all of VA’s record-breaking accomplishments over the course of the past year. But we can never put a value on the countless miracles that have improved and made Veterans lives better. Numbers and statistics can’t adequately describe the impact. Dollars and data can’t ever really begin to capture and communicate the values, the personalities, the humanity of the Veterans we have the honor of serving. So, as I prepared for today’s speech, I thought, maybe those are the very things we need to talk about. Let me tell you three stories that demonstrate the impact and importance of the work we do, together.

    I’ll start with Angela Bell. I met Angela in Hampton, Virginia last month. Angela is one of the most generous and courageous people I’ve ever met. She lost her son, Sean, and has turned her grief into action. Let me tell you a little bit about Sean. Sean knew he wanted to join the military since he was a kid. He was so determined to enlist after graduating high school that at 17 years old he got his dad to sign the parental consent paperwork. And Sean served all over America—Georgia, North Carolina, California—served all over the world, Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq. He married and had a son, Giovanni.

    He earned his Bachelor’s degree. He earned a Master’s. He earned a second Master’s and was working on his Ph.D.—he liked to tease his mom, telling her she’d have to start calling him Dr. Bell. Sean was the kind of guy who’d invite other Soldiers over to Angela’s house for Thanksgiving because they had nowhere else to go. He’d ask his mom to send him extra care packages while he was on deployment, not for himself, but to share with his brothers- and sisters-in-arms who didn’t get anything from back home. He’s an example of the selfless Vet I was talking about a few minutes ago.

    Well, after Sean came back from his second deployment to Central Command, Angela started noticing some changes. Every time firecrackers went off, he’d jump. Being in traffic was overwhelming, anxious about other vehicles around him. He was enduring some personal problems, family health issues and more. When Angela tried to get Sean help, he refused, worried about losing his clearance. Sean had served in the Army for 20 years. And just a few weeks before his retirement in 2021, he died by suicide.

    Now, I’ve spoken at many events focused on VA’s and our partners’ work to end Veteran suicide. I’ve explained that ending Veteran suicide is our number one clinical priority at VA. I’ve talked about resourcing and about people and organizations singularly devoted to end Veteran suicide. I’ve talked about data and processes and what we’re doing to try to make a real, substantial difference—promising initiatives. And I’ve shared story after story about Veterans not just surviving, but getting the mental health care they need and thriving. Yet, none of that will bring Sean back or heal his family’s heartbreak. None of that gets to the enormous tragedy of Veteran suicide or gets to the powerful, painful emotions.

    So, here’s why I’m telling Sean’s story, Angela’s story. Angela’s doing everything she can do so other families don’t suffer the same devastation when she lost Sean, when this country lost Sean. “I try to be the face of [those] who [were] left behind,” Angela says. “I’m so passionate about telling his story because if it helps one person, whether I know it or not, then I’m doing what I’m supposed to do.” She said, “People tell me I’m so strong. I’m not. I’m a mom, advocating and fighting for my kid.” Angela’s the President of the Hampton Roads Chapter of American Gold Star Mothers, and she often speaks on our work to end Veteran suicide. Thanksgiving was Sean and Angela’s favorite holiday.  And in his memory, Angela hosts an annual Thanksgiving meal and invites servicemembers, Veterans, and their families to join her. The gathering quickly outgrew her dinner table, and then got too big for her home. This year, Angela’s renting a dining hall to host dozens of families from the military community to share a warm Thanksgiving meal together. The community she’s built has helped Angela heal. And she heals by helping others, so they’re not alone, and so they know there is always, always hope. Those are the kind of people we have the incredible privilege and honor to serve at VA.

    But we have so much work to do to keep our promise to Vets. That leads me to my next story. It was almost exactly 23 years ago—October 5th, 2001—when the first US forces arrived at the Karshi-Khanabad air base in Uzbekistan, a former Soviet base known as “K2.” K2 Veterans were among the first to deploy after the September 11th terrorist attacks, bravely conducting and supporting combat missions against al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. They went to a place at K2 that Veterans often describe as a “toxic soup” of exposures, a place unlike other operating bases occupied by American forces. A place that jeopardized their immediate and long-term health. Colonel Gordon Peters vividly describes what he says was a “chemical odor so intense that it seemed as if someone could light a match and the entire area would ignite.” Some K2 Vets returned home and developed disabling illnesses and conditions. Their service is heroic.

    Mindful of the passage of time since their heroic service, we’ve moved aggressively to care for K2 Vets since the PACT Act was passed in 2022.

    • First, we eliminated the PACT Act phase-in period for presumptive benefits—making all K2 Vets immediately eligible for more than 300 presumptive conditions.
    • Second, earlier this year, we made all K2 Veterans eligible for VA health care, whether or not they’ve filed a benefits claim with VA.
    • Third, after consulting with K2 Vets this summer, we’ve begun rulemaking to make chronic multi-symptom illness—also known as Gulf War Illness—a presumptive condition for K2 Veterans, fixing a gap in the PACT Act.
    • Fourth, for every K2 claim, we’ve made sure the unique toxic exposures at K2—that toxic soup—is taken into account, and each new K2 claim gets reviewed a second time before VA reaches a final decision.
    • And fifth, we’ve reached out to every known living K2 Veteran to encourage them to come to us for the care and benefits they deserve.

    All of that work has been driven by Veteran and survivor advocates, reporters like you, and a tireless VA team working on toxic exposures, some of the best toxic exposure researchers, scientists, and epidemiologists in the world. Because of that hard work,

    13,000 of the 16,000 K2 Vets are enrolled in VA healthcare, nearly 12,000 are service-connected for at least one condition, receiving an average of $30,000 a year in earned benefits. All told, K2 Vets now have higher claim and approval rates than any other cohort of Veterans.

    But we have more work to do to get this right. Some K2 Vets still understandably feel overlooked, because they’ve waited for 23 long years to see their uniquely dangerous service recognized. We still have to do better and be better, for those K2 Vets. That’s why, today, I’m proud to announce that VA will begin rulemaking to add bladder, ureter, and other genitourinary—or GU cancers—as new presumptive conditions for K2 Vets and all eligible toxic-exposed Vets. And we aren’t stopping there.

    Next week, we will complete the scientific review of multiple myeloma and leukemias. The preliminary findings are promising and suggest that VA will be able to make those conditions presumptive for K2 Veterans and all eligible Veterans. And once the final results are in, VA will look to extend that presumption to all biologically linked blood cancers. This may include polycethemia vera—or P. Vera—a condition identified by K2 Vets. We will do so based on biological science and on the results of a PACT Act presumptive process, without requiring Vets to wait for VA to complete additional studies. And moving forward, I am committed to establishing service connection for any rare condition found in K2 Vets which has a plausible biological link to the toxic soup we know and acknowledge was present at K2.

    Because we are a new VA. One that works with Veterans for Veterans. And one that delivers outcomes for Veterans. We will no longer take decades to consider new presumptive conditions, but will instead use the tools provided by the PACT Act as quickly as possible to proactively establish service connections whenever the evidence supports it. We put that promise into action in 2021 when the President directed us to work on a Central Command burn pit presumption, nearly two years before passage of the PACT Act. We put it into action in 2022 when we established service connection for asthma, sinusitis, rhinitis, and rare respiratory cancers—again today with GU cancers and soon for multiple myeloma and blood cancers. We’ll continue proving that we’re a new VA by using the expedited PACT Act process to look further into that toxic soup at K2. The President considers this unfinished business—and expects VA to establish a presumption of service connection for every condition associated with deployment to K2 – and we’re committed to doing so.

    We have to keep listening to K2 Vets and all Vets. We have to keep fighting like hell for them. So, thank you to the Vets, advocates, and journalists who have been instrumental in highlighting the heroes who served at K2. You make us better by holding us accountable. We are proud of our accomplishments, these outcomes for Veterans. But we are candid when we come up short—candid with ourselves, with you, with Vets, with Congress, and with the American people. America’s Vets deserve our very best, and we’ll never settle for anything less. Hold us to it.

    Third and finally—let me talk about VA’s people—your public servants—who are keeping our country’s sacred obligation to Vets. They are the best, most compassionate, highest-performing, and most dedicated workforce in the federal government—in the entire country—folks who want to make real differences in the lives of Veterans. I’m proud and I’m privileged to be on their team.

    I’m reminded of that every single day, but it was driven home most profoundly when I was surveying Hurricane Helene’s destruction in Asheville, North Carolina. For over a month now, the Asheville VA, the VISN 6 leadership team, and their incident command team have been working around the clock, tirelessly, to support Vets and staff impacted by the storm. Asheville VA’s food service employees and the Veterans Canteen Service disaster response team loaded up two tons of food and served 17,000 meals in the first week of recovery efforts, a source of great comfort in the aftermath of the crisis.

    Their Volunteer Services have collected thousands of donations from fellow VA employees. And our chaplains have been holding candlelight vigils, a space for Veterans and VA staff to be together … supporting and comforting one another during this tragedy.

    In the hardest hit areas across Western North Carolina, we identified over 2,600 at-risk Vets, Vets undergoing chemotherapy, with spinal cord injuries, requiring oxygen, and other support. We couldn’t call many of them because phones were out—cell phones and landlines—so right after the hurricane, VA teams went out to check on unaccounted Vets in-person. They achieved 100% accountability for all at-risk Vets in their care. Given the devastation in those communities, that is an amazing accomplishment. And they continue reaching out to Veterans in the area to make sure they have everything they need.

    For VA nurses Melissa Mehaffey and Lisa Sellers, taking care of Vets in this crisis is their duty and it’s also about holding tight to hope. Lisa and Melissa have been a pair since starting at VA on the same day ten years ago. They’re Haywood County natives and came to work at VA because they have family members who are Vets. “Here,” Melissa says, “it’s all about the Veteran. The heart of our system is with our patients.”

    “When we got a name, we knew—those are our people,” Melissa said. “We’re going to find them, figure out what they need, and help them. We’re going to make sure they are ok.” She says, “Going out there and taking care of our people … this was our tiny piece of hope.” One of the Vets they checked on had been without power, and no one could reach him by phone. He wrote us a letter. “No one but VA,” he said, “No one but VA would do something like that … in that moment there was a human connection that no other healthcare system would have even thought of.”

    Army Veteran and VA employee Corey Anderson feels the same way. Corey was deployed to Kuwait and Iraq from 2005 to 2007, and the devastation he saw in Asheville reminded him of war zones. Corey went to check on one rural Veteran, drove until the road was gone, washed away. So what did Corey do? He parked his car in the middle of the road and hiked the rest of the way. He climbed up the mountainside with a pack full of supplies for the Veterans’ upcoming medical procedure. Corey says, “Doing this work means the world to me. I’m a Veteran. My dad, mom, sister, and so much of my family is made up of Veterans. It just means the world to me to do my part.” Veterans helping Veterans, there is nothing better. VA’s employees across the Southeast and Appalachia—people like Melissa, like Lisa and Corey—worked long hours through two devastating hurricanes, some working multiple shifts or staying overnight at the hospital. They risked their own lives to serve Veterans. Because whether we’re in times of calm or chaos, VA’s public servants always mobilize around one core mission—saving and improving Veterans’ lives. And right now there are Veterans at home, with their families—happy, safe, and healthy—because of them. I am incredibly grateful to each and every one of them.

    Now, our mission at VA is far from over. There are huge challenges ahead. And as we look to the future, we’re going to continue to do better for Vets. We’re going to continue to be better for Vets. This future at VA isn’t because of me. In fact, I had asked that this new VA be represented here today at the Press Club by the best face of this new VA: our Deputy Secretary, a combat Veteran, the daughter and granddaughter of combat Veterans, someone who gets her care at VA, and someone who is part of the fastest growing cadre of Veterans at VA: women. The VA is new and more effective because of the Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors we are so blessed to serve—and because of Veterans like Tanya Bradsher who serve their fellow Veterans.

    This future is because of the 450,000 VA employees in your communities and neighborhoods across the country who keep Vets at the heart of their care. And it’s because of partners like you, too.

    I’ll close with a final word to the Vets watching today. Your honorable service in uniform sets the example for the rest of the country. You’re the keepers of our national ethos—that deep and abiding sense of purpose you learned in serving, your camaraderie and your care for each other, your sense of teamwork that made you stronger, together—in combat and, now, in your communities. That’s exactly what we need, what this country needs. Your examples are something that all of us can learn from. So, again, to all Veterans—those of you here today and those watching, thank you for everything. And to the Press Club, my thanks for all that you do holding us accountable to Vets, and telling their stories in the powerful ways that you do. God bless you all. And God bless our nation’s servicemembers, our Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors. With that, Emily, let’s go to questions.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Helps Find Thawing Permafrost Adds to Near-Term Global Warming

    Source: NASA

    Earth’s far northern reaches have locked carbon underground for millennia. New research paints a picture of a landscape in change.
    A new study, co-authored by NASA scientists, details where and how greenhouse gases are escaping from the Earth’s vast northern permafrost region as the Arctic warms. The frozen soils encircling the Arctic from Alaska to Canada to Siberia store twice as much carbon as currently resides in the atmosphere — hundreds of billions of tons — and most of it has been buried for centuries.
    An international team, led by researchers at Stockholm University, found that from 2000 to 2020, carbon dioxide uptake by the land was largely offset by emissions from it. Overall, they concluded that the region has been a net contributor to global warming in recent decades in large part because of another greenhouse gas, methane, that is shorter-lived but traps significantly more heat per molecule than carbon dioxide.

    The findings reveal a landscape in flux, said Abhishek Chatterjee, a co-author and scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. “We know that the permafrost region has captured and stored carbon for tens of thousands of years,” he said. “But what we are finding now is that climate-driven changes are tipping the balance toward permafrost being a net source of greenhouse gas emissions.”
    Carbon Stockpile
    Permafrost is ground that has been permanently frozen for anywhere from two years to hundreds of thousands of years. A core of it reveals thick layers of icy soils enriched with dead plant and animal matter that can be dated using radiocarbon and other techniques. When permafrost thaws and decomposes, microbes feed on this organic carbon, releasing some of it as greenhouse gases.
    Unlocking a fraction of the carbon stored in permafrost could further fuel climate change. Temperatures in the Arctic are already warming two to four times faster than the global average, and scientists are learning how thawing permafrost is shifting the region from being a net sink for greenhouse gases to becoming a net source of warming.
    They’ve tracked emissions using ground-based instruments, aircraft, and satellites. One such campaign, NASA’s Arctic-Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE), is focused on Alaska and western Canada. Yet locating and measuring emissions across the far northern fringes of Earth remains challenging. One obstacle is the vast scale and diversity of the environment, composed of evergreen forests, sprawling tundra, and waterways.

    Cracks in the Sink
    The new study was undertaken as part of the Global Carbon Project’s RECCAP-2 effort, which brings together different science teams, tools, and datasets to assess regional carbon balances every few years. The authors followed the trail of three greenhouse gases — carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide — across 7 million square miles (18 million square kilometers) of permafrost terrain from 2000 to 2020.
    Researchers found the region, especially the forests, took up a fraction more carbon dioxide than it released. This uptake was largely offset by carbon dioxide emitted from lakes and rivers, as well as from fires that burned both forest and tundra.
    They also found that the region’s lakes and wetlands were strong sources of methane during those two decades. Their waterlogged soils are low in oxygen while containing large volumes of dead vegetation and animal matter — ripe conditions for hungry microbes. Compared to carbon dioxide, methane can drive significant climate warming in short timescales before breaking down relatively quickly. Methane’s lifespan in the atmosphere is about 10 years, whereas carbon dioxide can last hundreds of years.
    The findings suggest the net change in greenhouse gases helped warm the planet over the 20-year period. But over a 100-year period, emissions and absorptions would mostly cancel each other out. In other words, the region teeters from carbon source to weak sink. The authors noted that events such as extreme wildfires and heat waves are major sources of uncertainty when projecting into the future.
    Bottom Up, Top Down
    The scientists used two main strategies to tally greenhouse gas emissions from the region. “Bottom-up” methods estimate emissions from ground- and air-based measurements and ecosystem models. Top-down methods use atmospheric measurements taken directly from satellite sensors, including those on NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) and JAXA’s (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite.
    Regarding near-term, 20-year, global warming potential, both scientific approaches aligned on the big picture but differed in magnitude: The bottom-up calculations indicated significantly more warming.
    “This study is one of the first where we are able to integrate different methods and datasets to put together this very comprehensive greenhouse gas budget into one report,” Chatterjee said. “It reveals a very complex picture.”
    News Media Contacts
    Jane J. Lee / Andrew WangJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.818-354-0307 / 626-379-6874jane.j.lee@jpl.nasa.gov / andrew.wang@jpl.nasa.gov
    Written by Sally Younger
    2024-147

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Celona Aerloc Brings Private 5G Zero Trust to OT Networks for Industrial IoT

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CAMPBELL, Calif., Oct. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Celona, a pioneer in private 5G networks, today announced Aerloc, a new suite of security capabilities that provide the next generation of private 5G wireless network security for Industry 4.0. Designed to address the unique challenges of securing increasingly digitized industrial IT and OT systems, Aerloc provides enhanced security and reliable connectivity without sacrificing agility. New capabilities include extended SIM-based authentication for unified zero trust enforcement, dynamic and distributed policy enforcement, and air-gapping between IT and OT traffic running on a common private 5G network, enabled by Celona MicroSlicing ™.

    Aerloc addresses several key concerns in Industrial IoT (IIoT). Traditional IT zero trust architectures often fail in industrial settings due to the need to keep data on-premises for low latency response, the thousands of IoT devices requiring agentless authentication and the division between IT and OT networks. Celona tackles these challenges by unifying IT, OT and private 5G into a seamless solution. This convergence enables organizations to securely capture real-time data from IIoT devices so that operational and security data can be immediately analyzed and acted on, including the mitigation of cybersecurity threats.

    Celona today also announced the expansion of its global channel program, now the Celona Frequency Partner Program, along with a global partnership agreement with TD SYNNEX to enable resellers and managed service providers to securely deliver private 5G services. For more information, see the announcement here. Celona Aerloc delivers the following:

    • SIM-based Authentication with Unified Zero Trust Enforcement for IT and OT devices eliminates the need for device-side software or agents. Celona’s open API approach provides native integration with best-in-class security services, such as firewalls, network access control (NAC) systems, and SD-WAN solutions, and is agnostic to their deployment – whether in the cloud, on-premises or in a hybrid setup. Celona Aerloc integrates with other leading enterprise security solutions, including Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR and Next Generation Firewall (NGFW), Cisco ISE, and Aruba ClearPass. Celona continues to integrate with other top-tier security vendors through its open API framework to meet evolving enterprise needs.
    • Dynamic and Distributed Policy Enforcement to integrate with posture assessment tools, IoT security solutions, and security orchestration automation platforms. Aerloc provides a collaborative security architecture enabling localized and responsive security policy enforcement at a granular level—down to the individual device or user – and at the very edge of the network to significantly reduce the attack surface.
    • Air Gap Between IT and OT Traffic using Celona MicroSlicing technology. IT and OT traffic can be securely segmented both physically and logically over the air, on the LAN and within the shared 5G LAN network. This unique intent-based segmentation of IT and OT traffic ensures the separation of critical operational data from general enterprise traffic to maintain security and performance integrity across both environments.

    “Operational technology environments are challenging to secure from a connectivity perspective given the use of industrial sensors and IoT devices that are more easily compromised. 5G cellular technology provides additional encryption over 4G LTE and Wi-Fi standards, but more is needed given the growing sophistication of bad actors,” said Will Townsend, Principal Analyst, Networking & Security, Moor Insights & Strategy. “Celona Aerloc aims to address these challenges and accelerate the adoption of private 5G within the enterprise with a purpose-built, easy-to-manage, zero-trust security architecture that blends support for both IT and OT network deployments.”

    “A secure, reliable, and cost-effective network is essential to our operations in industrial environments like our refineries,” said Stefan Garrard, Principal Enterprise Technology Engineer at bp. “The new Celona security features further strengthen the robust connectivity we need to address these challenges. With the ability to securely leverage the same private 5G infrastructure for both IT and OT, we are confident that this Celona enhancement will strengthen our operational integrity and drive innovation, ensuring we remain at the forefront of safe and efficient energy production.”

    “Cybersecurity is one of our strongest practices, and we work with enterprise teams every day to develop and deploy bulletproof cybersecurity strategies,” said Jeremy Nelson, North American CISO, Insight. “With Aerloc, Celona is filling a critical gap between the IT and OT networks that has become more glaring as industrial organizations roll out their digital transformation programs, expanding the potential threat landscape. Celona brings us one step ahead of the game, allowing us to offer our customers an advanced private 5G solution that extends zero trust to where it’s needed most.”

    “Celona Aerloc represents a significant milestone in how industrial networks are secured,” said Rajeev Shah, CEO and Co-Founder of Celona. “By seamlessly integrating zero trust principles with our enterprise 5G LAN architecture, we empower organizations to confidently migrate mission-critical OT operations to private 5G while maintaining ironclad security and granular control. Aerloc eliminates the traditional trade-off between operational agility and cybersecurity, paving the way for true IT/OT convergence and all the benefits it offers.”

    Celona Aerloc is now available as part of the Celona 5G LAN solution. For more information, visit www.celona.io/aerloc.

    About Celona
    Based in Silicon Valley, Celona is a pioneer and leading innovator of enterprise private wireless solutions. The company developed the industry’s first 5G LAN system, a turnkey private 5G solution that enables enterprises to address their growing needs for secure and reliable wireless connectivity for critical business applications. Celona 5G LAN has been deployed by a wide range of global customers across industries. To date, the company has raised over $135 million in venture funding from Lightspeed Venture Partners, Norwest Venture Partners, NTT Ventures, Cervin Ventures, DigitalBridge and Qualcomm Ventures. For more information, please visit celona.io.

    Media contact:
    Janet Brumfield
    Mindshare PR for Celona
    janet@mindsharepr.com
    614-582-9636

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0cc48219-38ea-4247-9622-c7e542d9fee0

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Nicola Wealth Real Estate and Townline Celebrate Completion of Meridian Residential Project in Coquitlam, B.C.

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Vancouver, BC, Oct. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nicola Wealth Real Estate (NWRE) and Townline are pleased to announce the completion of Meridian, a landmark 37-storey residential rental apartment project located at 515 Cottonwood Avenue in Coquitlam, B.C. The project, a joint venture between NWRE and Townline, brings 267 thoughtfully designed rental homes to the thriving Burquitlam neighbourhood, including nine units leased to BC Housing to support affordable housing. The 267 homes include a mix of market rental units and units which are dedicated to supporting middle-income households.

    Situated just a four-minute walk from the Burquitlam SkyTrain Station on the Evergreen Line, Meridian offers convenient access to public transit, nearby amenities like SFU, Burnaby Lake, Burnaby Mountain, and Douglas College, as well as popular recreational spots such as Rocky Point Park.

    “We are thrilled to have partnered with Townline on this significant project. Their expertise in development and construction has been invaluable, and together we’ve delivered a high-quality residential community that will meet the needs of renters in the lower mainland,” said Mark Hannah, Executive Managing Director and Head of Real Estate at Nicola Wealth.

    Rick Ilich, Founder and CEO of Townline, added, “We are proud to partner with Nicola Wealth to bring these amenity-rich homes to a growing, transit-oriented community. We look forward to building on Meridian’s success and partnering on future projects with the industry leaders at Nicola Wealth Real Estate.”

    Meridian is set to welcome its first residents in November 2024. Designed with renters in mind, Meridian offers 1-3 bedroom homes, including townhomes, all equipped with premium finishes and a wide range of modern conveniences.

    Retail Component 

    In addition to its residential offering, Meridian boasts approximately 10,000 square feet of commercial retail space, which is fully leased to popular tenants including Dos Bros, Pur&Simple, and Anytime Fitness.

    With modern interiors, generous outdoor spaces, and a host of amenities designed to enhance residents’ quality of life, Meridian is poised to be a vibrant community hub in Burquitlam.

    Building Features and Amenities

    Residents of Meridian will enjoy exclusive access to a variety of high-end amenities located on the 3rd and 37th floors, including:

    • A state-of-the-art fitness room, yoga studio, and strength area
    • Rooftop Sky Lounge with panoramic views of Metro Vancouver and Burnaby Mountain
    • Outdoor patios with grilling stations, a firepit lounge, and terrace dining area
    • Co-working spaces, study rooms, games rooms, and lounges
    • A dog run, parcel lockers, secure underground parking with EV-ready stalls, and keyless entry systems for enhanced security and convenience

    About Nicola Wealth Real Estate

    Nicola Wealth Real Estate (NWRE) is the in-house real estate team of Nicola Wealth, a premier Canadian financial planning and investment firm with over $16.4 billion (CAD) of assets under management as at October 29, 2024. NWRE has an experienced and innovative team that sources and asset manages a growing portfolio of properties in major markets across North America spanning a diversified range of asset classes which include industrial, self-storage, multi-family rental apartment, retail, seniors housing, and office. The Nicola Wealth Real Estate portfolio now exceeds $10 billion gross asset value. For more information, please visit realestate.nicolawealth.com.

    About Townline

    Townline is known for its innovative living solutions and unparalleled attention to detail. For over 40 years, every Townline project – from single-family homes and townhomes to concrete high-rise towers and mixed-use communities – has been defined by a strong focus on homeowner and tenant experience, purposeful design, and an unwavering commitment to enriching the cities and communities we build in. This is the Townline Way.

    The Townline Way is defined by our honesty, attention to detail, and thoughtfulness in all that we do. Our strong relationships are an important part of this – with our customers, our tenants, our partners, and our communities. Townline is deeply involved at each stage of every project, with in-house development, finance, construction, marketing, sales and leasing, asset management, property management and customer care teams.

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Climate change is making it harder for people to get the care they need

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Maria S. Floro, Professor Emerita of Economics, American University

    The world is witnessing the consequences of climate change: long-lasting changes in temperature and rainfall, and more intense and frequent extreme weather events such as heat waves, hurricanes, typhoons, flooding and drought. All make it harder for families and communities to meet their care needs.

    Climate change affects care systems in various ways. First, sudden illnesses and unexpected disabilities heighten the need for care. Second, it reduces access to important inputs for care such as water, food and safe shelter. Third, it can damage physical and social care infrastructures.

    It can also lead to breakdowns of traditional units of caregiving such as households and communities. And it creates new situations of need with the increase in displaced person settlements and refugee camps.

    Climate change creates sudden spikes in the demand for care, and serious challenges to meeting the growing need for care. All this has immediate and long lasting effects on human well-being.

    The size of the current unmet care needs throughout the world is substantial. In childcare alone, about 23% of children worldwide – nearly 350 million – need childcare but do not have it. Families in low- and lower-middle-income countries are the most in need.

    Similarly, as the world’s population ages rapidly, only a small proportion of the elderly who need assistance are able to use formal care (in an institution or paid homecare). Most are cared for by family members or other unpaid caregivers. Much of this unpaid care and formal care work is provided by women and girls.

    Hundreds of millions of people around the world struggle to get healthcare. Expansion of access to essential health services has slowed compared to pre-2015 . And healthcare costs still create financial hardship.

    Without comprehensive public and global support for care provision and the integration of care in the climate agenda, unmet care needs will only grow and inequalities will widen.

    Impact

    Climate change interacts with human health in complex ways. Its impact is highly uneven across populations. It depends on geographical region, income, education, gender roles, social norms, level of development, and the institutional capacity and accessibility of health systems.

    In 2018-22, Africa experienced the biggest increase in the
    heat-related mortality rate since 2000-05    . This is not surprising as the continent has more frequent health-threatening temperatures than ever before and a growing population of people older than 65.

    Africa is also the region most affected by droughts in 2013-22, with 64% of its land area affected by at least one month of extreme drought per year on average. It was followed by Oceania (55% of its land area) and South and Central America (53%).

    Scientific evidence also points to increases in health inequalities caused by climate change. The health effects of climate change are not uniformly felt by different population groups.

    Exposure, severity of impact, and ability of individuals to recover depend on a variety of factors. Physiological characteristics, income, education, type of occupation, location, social norms and health systems are some of them.

    For example, older people and young children face the greatest health risks from high temperatures.

    There is also evidence of the disproportionate effect of climate change on the health of people living in poverty and those who belong to disadvantaged groups.

    Women of lower social and economic status and with less education are more vulnerable to heat stress compared to women in wealthier households and with higher education or social status. They are exposed to pollution in the absence of clean cooking fuel, and to extreme heat as they walk to gather water and fuel, or do other work outdoors.

    Bad sanitation in poor urban areas increases the incidence of water-borne diseases after heavy rains and floods.

    Lack of access to healthcare services and the means to pay for medicines make it difficult for women and men in low-income households to recover from illness, heat strokes, and air pollution-related ailments.

    Mental health problems are being attributed to climate change as well. Studies show that the loss of family or kin member, home, livelihood and a safe environment can bring about direct emotional impacts.

    These adverse impacts increase the demand for caregiving and the care workload. Climate-induced health problems force family and community caregivers, particularly women, to spend more time looking after the sick and disabled, particularly frail elderly people and children.

    Effect on food and water

    Climate change threatens the availability of food, clean water and safe shelter. It erodes households’ and communities’ care capacity and hence societies’ ability to thrive.

    Fluctuations in food supply and rising food prices as a result of environmental disasters, along with the inadequacy of government policies, underscore the mounting challenge of meeting food needs.

    The threat of chronic shortage of safe drinking water has also risen. Water scarcity is an area where structural inequalities and gender disparities are laid bare.

    Care for the sick and disabled, the young and the elderly is compromised when water is scarce.

    Effects on providing care

    Extreme weather events disrupt physical care infrastructures. It may be hard to reach hospitals, clinics, daycare centres, nursery schools and nursing homes. Some facilities may be damaged and have to close.

    Another type of care system that can break down is family networks and support provided by friends and neighbours. These informal care sharing arrangements are illustrated in a study of the three large informal settlements in Nairobi.

    About half (50.5%) of the sampled households reported having had a sick member in the two weeks before the survey. The majority relied on close friends and family members living nearby for care and support.

    Studies have shown that climate change eventually leads to livelihood loss and resource scarcity, which can weaken social cohesion and local safety nets in affected communities.

    Heightened risks and uncertainty and imminent changes in socio-economic and political conditions can also compel individuals or entire households to migrate. Migration is caused by a host of factors, but it has increasingly been a climate-related response.

    The World Bank’s Groundswell Report released in 2018, for example, projected that climate change could force 216 million people to move within their countries by 2050 to avoid the slow-onset impacts of climate change.

    A possible consequence of migration is the withdrawal of care support provided by the migrating extended kin, neighbours or friends, increasing the caregiving load of people left behind.

    In the case of forced displacements, the traditional social networks existing in communities are disrupted entirely.

    What’s needed

    There are compelling reasons to believe that meeting care needs can also help mitigate the effects of climate change. And actions to meet carbon-zero goals, prevent biodiversity loss and regenerate ecosystems can reduce the care work burden that falls heavily on families, communities and women.

    Any effort to tackle these grave problems should be comprehensive in scope and must be based on principles of equality, universality, and responsibility shared by all.

    This article is part of a series of articles initiated through a project led by the Southern Centre for Inequality studies, in collaboration with the International Development Research Centre and a group of feminist economists and climate scientists across the world.

    Maria S. Floro 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. Climate change is making it harder for people to get the care they need – https://theconversation.com/climate-change-is-making-it-harder-for-people-to-get-the-care-they-need-240557

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Correctional Service of Canada Responds to Correctional Investigator’s 2023-2024 Annual Report

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Today, Anne Kelly, the Commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada, issued the following statement:

    OTTAWA, October 29, 2024 – Today, Anne Kelly, the Commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada, issued the following statement:

    “I welcome the Office of the Correctional Investigator’s (OCI) 2023-2024 Annual Report and thank them for their work and recommendations. Our work in delivering effective corrections is something we take to heart and our response to the report outlines the ways we are addressing the recommendations put forward.

    First and foremost, I want to thank the Correctional Investigator for acknowledging and recognizing the professionalism and dedication of CSC employees across our institutions. An organization is nothing without its people and our employees work hard every day to keep Canadians safe.

    We continue to take action on ways to innovate within the correctional system. One of our major initiatives is the development of a new Offender Management System (OMS) that is more user-friendly, efficient, effective, and will improve how we work. This is a significant step forward in CSC’s goal of fulfilling its mandate by adopting more modern technology and practices.

    In order to increase the safety and security of our facilities, all of our institutions are now equipped with various drone detection systems, which are producing positive results.  From January 1 to June 30, 2024, out of 290 drone incidents, 98% of drones were detected.  CSC has also deployed detector dogs in all regions – dogs specifically trained to also detect electronic storage devices, including cell phones. In addition, we continue to work with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) on innovative solutions to further reduce the entry of contraband within our correctional institutions.

    CSC’s mandate is to contribute to public safety by assisting and supporting offenders in their rehabilitation and eventual return to our communities as law-abiding citizens.  A key part of this is providing them with education, programming, interventions, and services that contribute to this end goal. Since 2021-2022, the percentage of offenders who:

    • upgraded their education prior to first release has increased by more than 15%;
    • completed a required correctional program prior to first release has increased by almost 10%;  and,
    • received a vocational certificate has increased by 38%.

    In addition, CSC has made significant efforts to increase access to culturally relevant interventions and programs for Indigenous offenders. In 2022-2023, there was a 144% increase from the previous year and, in 2023-2024, CSC saw a further 45% increase in the total number of Indigenous offenders transferred to Section 81 and CSC Healing Lodge facilities over the previous fiscal year.  

    Overall, during the past decade, there has been a steady and substantial improvement in the percentage of federal offenders not returning to federal custody within 5 years of sentence expiration:

    • from 83.3% in 2014-2015 to 89.9% in 2023-2024 for all offenders
      • 89.4% for men in 2023-2024
      • 96.2% for women in 2023-2024
    • from 74.8% in 2014-15 to 83.8% in 2023-24 for Indigenous offenders
    • from 88.7% in 2014-15 to 90.4% in 2023-24 for Black offenders

    In June, we evacuated more than 220 maximum security inmates from Port-Cartier Institution, in Quebec, over a 24-hour period to avoid the raging wildfires that were threatening the area.  In a letter to me dated August 8, 2024, the Correctional Investigator described the unprecedented transfers as “a feat” and agreed that “this large-scale operation in an emergency and high-security context was carried out masterfully.”

    CSC’s ability to manage through these extraordinary challenges is due to the hard work, dedication, and resiliency of our staff, partners, volunteers, and stakeholders. I am incredibly proud of our team and the work they do to deliver on our mandate and keep Canadians safe.

    Related Links:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Reed – “Britain back on global stage to support nature’s recovery”

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

    • UK to kickstart new international efforts to protect and restore nature at COP16 biodiversity conference with a renewed drive to implement the Global Biodiversity Framework

    A wildflower meadow on the Pembrokeshire coast

    • Government sets out the path to protecting 30% of land by 2030
    • Special Representative for Nature Ruth Davis will drive coordinated international action on nature

    The UK has today (29 October) taken a leading role at the UN Biodiversity COP16 conference announcing an ambitious international package to protect and restore nature across the world.  

    At the conference, Environment Secretary Steve Reed set out new criteria to meet England’s 30by30 targets.

     Achieving 30 percent of land and sea protected for nature is a key pillar of global efforts to halt the decline of nature and create new areas for wildlife with countries around the world signed up to the target. The Government has worked with farming groups and nature organisations to finalise the criteria for land that can count toward 30by30 in England and accelerate progress toward the target.  

     To ensure the final criteria are applied consistently across land in England, the update also confirms that Sites of Special Scientific Interest will only count towards 30by30 if they are in favourable or recovering condition. This revises existing estimates to show that approximately 7.1% of England’s land currently counts towards the target.  

    Environment Secretary Steve Reed, speaking at a meeting of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People at COP16, said:        

    “Nature around the world is declining at an alarming rate.        

    “At COP16, we have put Britain back on the global stage to support nature’s recovery.  

    “The UK is calling for high ambition and momentum to reach our international targets to protect and restore the natural world.” 

    Analysis is now being undertaken to identify further land which may already be meeting the criteria and to understand where action and support is needed to accelerate progress. A 30by30 pilot is planned for later this year, and the government will work with partners to develop a 30by30 delivery strategy in 2025.  

    The announcement today follows the appointment of Ruth Davis as the very first Special Representative for Nature, alongside Rachel Kyte’s appointment as Special Representative for Climate, a role abolished by the previous government.   

    Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England, said:   

     “It is vital that we halt and reverse the decline of Nature. Our planet’s web of life is fundamental for sustaining our health, wealth and security and further declines in the health of the natural world will undermine growth and well-being, threaten water and food supplies and diminish our resilience in the face of a fast-changing climate.    

     “We must take urgent action to restore nature in England at every level, and the criteria for delivering 30by30 is a welcome step which translates the ambitions of our international commitments into meaningful action on the ground.”  

    “As COP16 nature talks progress in Colombia, the UK is showing real rigour in its approach to 30by30.  

    “Now high-standard accounting must be matched by high-speed delivery. There’s a credible risk that Governments spend years adding up what should “count” toward 30by30 without actually improving the world.  

    “We welcome the new commitment to a 30by30 delivery strategy, which must begin without delay. Faster farming reform, spatial planning for nature’s recovery, and large-scale public and private investment will be the hallmarks of an effective delivery plan to meet the target. “

    Supercharging nature protection at home and abroad is a key part of the government’s mission to tackle the twin threats of climate change and biodiversity loss which threatens growth, our future prosperity and wellbeing.  

    This builds on swift action the government has taken to recover nature at home. This includes committing to a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan and new delivery plans to meet targets on air quality, the circular economy and water.

    In the first few months of government, we have introduced legislation to put failing water companies under special measures to curb pollution in our waterways and introduced a Flood Resilience Taskforce to speed up the building of flood defences and implement nature-based solutions like planting trees to protect communities against the impact of extreme weather.

    Updates to this page

    Published 29 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Krishnamoorthi Responds To Arrest Of Fugitive John Panaligan In Mexico For The Murder Of Chicago-Area Attorney Victor Jigar Patel

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

    SCHAUMBURG, IL – Earlier this week, the U.S. Marshals Service announced the arrest of John Panaligan, who was wanted for allegedly murdering attorney Victor Jigar Patel, in Patel’s Northbrook, Illinois, office on December 7, 2016. At the time of his death, Patel, 36, was representing plaintiffs suing Panaligan in civil court. Panaligan’s arrest in Tepic, Mexico, and extradition ends a more than seven-year manhunt that led to Panaligan’s placement on the U.S. Marshals Most Wanted Fugitives list in 2020.

    “Nearly seven years ago, Mrs. Patel contacted my office for help in pursuing justice for her husband. Since then, I have continually advocated for her family in that effort,” said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. “I want to express my appreciation for the Northbrook Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the other agencies involved for securing the arrest of the fugitive John Panaligan for the first-degree murder of Jigar Patel. It is my sincere hope that this arrest and the upcoming trial will help bring them the closure they deserve.”

    Panaligan allegedly lured Patel to his law office by scheduling an appointment using an alias. Authorities believe Panaligan showed up wearing a disguise, which was captured on nearby security cameras, and then killed the victim in his office. Two days later, Panaligan was detained at the Canadian border for allegedly smuggling a firearm into Canada but was eventually allowed to return to the U.S., where he was interviewed by Northbrook Police in relation to Patel’s death. During the investigation, authorities executed multiple search warrants of Panaligan’s belongings and property. Evidence collected gave authorities reason to believe Panaligan was the prime suspect in Patel’s murder.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three Defendants Convicted in Murder-for-Hire Conspiracy Trial

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)

    MOBILE, AL – Following a three-week trial, a federal jury convicted three defendants of a murder-for-hire conspiracy, murder for hire, a carjacking conspiracy, interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle, evidence tampering, and witness tampering.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, John Fitzgerald McCarroll, Jr., 30, Darrius Dwayne Rowser, 20, and Lyteria Isheeia Hollis, 30, each of Mobile, were part of a plot to murder an individual as retribution for a prior killing. Jurors reviewed evidence that McCarroll, aided by Hollis and others, directed payments to hired shooters, including Rowser and others, to carry out the intended murder. The evidence included text messages, social media evidence, financial records, surveillance videos, firearm and toolmark evidence, DNA evidence, and cell tower data, among other things.

    As part of the murder plot, evidence showed that McCarroll’s hired shooters attempted but failed to kill the intended target during multiple nightclub shootings. In September 2022, Reginald Dennis Alan Fluker, who pleaded guilty to the conspiracy, opened fire in the Bank Nightlife club using a gun provided to him by McCarroll. Fluker shot the wrong person, who later died of his injuries. In November 2022, Rowser used a machinegun provided to him by McCarroll to shoot at the intended target inside the Paparazzi Lounge. Rowser likewise missed the target and instead hit four victims, one of whom was rendered paralyzed.

    The evidence also showed that as part of the conspiracy, Rowser and others, at McCarroll’s direction, traveled to Mississippi to steal cars for use in surveilling the target of the plot. In September 2022, during an attempted carjacking in D’Iberville, Mississippi, Rowser shot and killed a victim. As part of that murder, Rowser and a coconspirator traveled back to Mobile and burned the stolen car they were using during the attempted carjacking.

    The evidence further showed that in December 2022, at McCarroll’s direction, Rowser and other coconspirators traveled to the Walmart on I-65 Service Road South in Mobile to purchase a GPS tracker for the target’s vehicle. During that trip, Rowser and a coconspirator opened fire into the self-checkout area of the store, striking two victims.

    Finally, evidence showed that following the arrests of McCarroll, Fluker, and other members of the conspiracy, the defendants attempted to tamper with evidence and a witness. Specifically, McCarroll directed Hollis to hide a weapon that he had previously purchased for Fluker because of Fluker’s participation in the murder plot. Federal agents seized that gun from Hollis’s house. Additionally, the jury convicted McCarroll of attempting to tamper with Fluker’s testimony by having him sign a sham affidavit, which was filed in state court to earn McCarroll a bond from jail.

    U.S. District Judge Terry F. Moorer scheduled sentencing for March 6, 2025. Under federal law, each defendant faces a mandatory life sentence.

    U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Mobile Police Department, and the D’Iberville, Mississippi Police Department are investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Roller, Gaillard Ladd, and Kasee Heisterhagen are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Second Conviction in 2019 Kidnapping

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni woman pleaded guilty in federal court to a count of kidnapping. This crime eventually resulted in the victim’s death at the hands of a co-defendant and the burning of the victim’s body in an attempt by the co-defendant to conceal evidence. Her co-defendant was previously convicted and sentenced to prison for the subsequent killing.

    According to court documents, between July 1 and July 16, 2019, Kendra Panteah, 37, participated in and continued the confinement of John Doe in the trunk of his own vehicle and contacted the co-defendant for assistance in order to avoid getting in trouble.

    Along with the co-defendant, Panteah then drove around for over a day through the Navajo Nation with John Doe locked in the trunk before stopping near Bass Lake, NM. There, John Doe attempted to escape by forcing the trunk open. Before he could get out, however, the co-defendant repeatedly stabbed Doe with a machete. The co-defendant then closed the trunk on the victim, and Panteah and the co-defendant then sat on the trunk until John Doe stopped moving. Doe died as a result of the stab wounds. Panteah and co-defendant then drove the vehicle, with Doe’s body in the trunk to a residence where it was abandoned for several days.

    The co-defendant eventually towed the vehicle to a remote location, doused it with gasoline, and set it on fire with John Doe’s body inside to destroy evidence of the crime. Doe was only identified through hip replacement devices found in the burned vehicle.

    Her co-defendant, Gilbert John Jr., pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 21 years in prison.

    At sentencing, Panteah faces between a binding range of no less than 10 years up to no more than 18 years imprisonment. Upon her release from prison, Panteah will be subject to up to five years of supervised release.

    U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark A. Probasco and Alexander F. Flores are prosecuting the case.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Eight Defendants Charged in Federal Drug Trafficking Probe Targeting Fentanyl and Cocaine Sales in Chicago

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHICAGO — A federal investigation has resulted in federal drug and firearm charges against eight individuals for allegedly trafficking fentanyl and cocaine on the South Side of Chicago.

    An indictment unsealed Friday in federal court in Chicago accuses the eight defendants of conspiring to traffic fentanyl and cocaine from March 2023 to July 2024.  During the conspiracy, the defendants used a residence in the 2000 block of West 69th Place in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago to carry out their illicit activities, the indictment states.  The defendants possessed loaded handguns while engaged in their drug trafficking crimes, the indictment states.

    During the investigation, law enforcement seized distribution quantities of suspected fentanyl-laced heroin and crack cocaine, as well as more than a dozen firearms and associated ammunition.

    Charged with federal drug and firearm offenses are PATRICK TUCKER, 33, THOMAS CUNNINGHAM, 29, DARIUS JOHNSON, 23, KYWANTE SHUMAKE, 26, KEONTIS SHUMAKE, 23, KAMARI ROSS, 26, DREQUAN BASS, 26, and LACOLA WILLIAMS, 26, all of Chicago. The charges in the indictment carry a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.  Tucker and Cunningham also face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, while the others face a mandatory minimum of ten years.  The defendants were arraigned in U.S. District Court in Chicago and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Sean Fitzgerald, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of Homeland Security Investigations.  Valuable assistance was provided by the Chicago Police Department.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maureen B. McCurry and Michael Maione.

    The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces investigation.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers and other criminal offenders that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement against criminal networks.

    The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt.  The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney and ATF Charge Albuquerque Brothers with Federal Firearms Offenses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – Two Albuquerque brothers face federal charges for firearms-related offenses.

    Riley Kellner, 22, is charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges that on August 10, 2024, Riley possessed a firearm and ammunition, knowing that he had been previously convicted of shooting at or from a motor vehicle.

    Riley appeared before a federal judge and was detained pending trial, which has not been set.

    Adin Kellner, 26, is charged with 11 counts of making false statements during the purchase of a firearm. The indictment alleges that between October 8, 2019, and February 24, 2023, Adin made false statements to licensed firearms dealers when he executed the ATF’s Form 4473 stating that he was the actual buyer of the firearm when he was in fact acquiring it on behalf on another individual.

    Adin appeared before a federal judge and was placed on conditions of release pending trial, which is currently scheduled for December 16, 2024.

    If convicted, Riley faces up to 15 years in prison and Adin faces up to 10 years in prison.

    U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement today.

    The ATF and Albuquerque Police Department jointly investigated these cases. Assistant United States Attorney Jaymie L. Roybal is prosecuting both cases.

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

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jury Finds District Man Guilty of Murdering Best Friend and Conspiring to Influence a Witness

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON – Eugene Burns, 32, of Washington, D.C., has been found guilty by a Superior Court jury of first-degree murder while armed and related firearm offenses. The jury also found Burns and co-defendant Tyre Allen, 24, of Washington, D.C., guilty of conspiracy and obstruction of justice in relation to the murder case. The verdicts were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves.

                Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo scheduled sentencing for both defendants on January 31, 2025. Burns faces a statutory maximum sentence of life in prison, and Allen faces a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.

                On October 24, 2024, following a five-week trial in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, the jury convicted Burns of first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license. On October 28, 2024, the jury convicted Burns and Tyre Allen of conspiracy to obstruct justice, obstruction of justice (corrupt persuasion of a witness), and obstruction of justice (due administration of justice).

                In 2017, Burns was convicted by a jury of murdering the victim, but the conviction was overturned on appeal in 2020. Following the reversal, Burns and co‑defendant Tyre Allen, Burns’s cousin, conspired to and did obstruct justice by corruptly influencing a witness in the murder case to sign a false affidavit in October 2020 recanting the witness’s prior grand jury and trial testimony incriminating Burns in the murder. 

                On November 14, 2015, defendant Burns lured his best friend, Onyekachi Emmanuel Osuchukwu III, to Burns’s mother’s apartment in the 2900 block of 2nd Street Southeast, Washington, D.C. Once inside the apartment, Burns shot the victim four times, killing him.  Burns then fled the apartment but returned the next day with family members, falsely reporting to police that they had just found the victim’s body.  Evidence introduced at trial established that Burns had been planning to murder the victim for several days.

                This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch, with valuable assistance provided by the ATF Washington Division and investigators from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Charles R. Jones and Sharon Donovan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Indictment Charges Three Men With Chicago Carjacking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHICAGO — A federal grand jury has indicted three men on carjacking and firearm charges for allegedly violently stealing a vehicle in Chicago.

    MARQUELL DAVIS, 22, RAMONE BRADLEY, 26, and EDMUND SINGLETON, 34, all of Chicago, conspired to take an Infiniti Q50 and a BMW X6 on Nov. 3, 2022, according to an indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Chicago.  Davis carried a firearm while the trio carjacked the Infiniti’s driver at a gas station in the Roseland neighborhood of Chicago, the indictment states.  Later that day, Bradley and Davis carried firearms while they attempted to carjack the BMW at a gas station in Chicago’s Douglas neighborhood, the indictment states.  Davis took the BMW driver’s car key, but he and Bradley were not successful in stealing the vehicle, the indictment states.

    All three defendants are currently in law enforcement custody.  Bradley faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison.  Davis and Singleton face mandatory minimum sentences of seven years and a maximum of life. Arraignments are scheduled for Nov. 5, 2024, at 1:15 p.m., before U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly.

    The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret A. Steindorf.

    The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: HAProxy Fusion 1.3 Showcases the Power of a High-Performance Control Plane for App Delivery and Security

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEWTON, Mass., Oct. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HAProxy Technologies, the company behind HAProxy One, the world’s fastest application delivery and security platform, and HAProxy, the most widely used software load balancer, today announced the launch of HAProxy Fusion 1.3. HAProxy Fusion is the scalable control plane that provides full-lifecycle management, monitoring, and automation of HAProxy Enterprise deployments, and is central to the HAProxy One platform. The latest release of HAProxy Fusion significantly advances platform performance, observability, and ease of use.

    HAProxy Fusion combines a high-performance control plane with a modern GUI and API (with 100% coverage), enterprise administration, a comprehensive observability suite, and infrastructure integrations including AWS, Kubernetes, Consul, and Prometheus. Threat intelligence from HAProxy Edge, enhanced by machine learning, powers the next-gen security layers in HAProxy Fusion and HAProxy Enterprise. Today, with the release of version 1.3, HAProxy Fusion adds:

    • High-performance service discovery with near-instant configuration generation, which simplifies the automation of Kubernetes networking and application routing at scale.
    • Customizable monitoring dashboards, which enable high-level observability and the ability to drill down into granular metrics and events.
    • A pre-built security dashboard, which provides a unified view of bot management and web application firewall (WAF) data and any actions taken, empowering teams with the intelligence needed for threat response.
    • Collaborative configuration editing with efficient and low-latency updates, which makes it easier and faster for multi-team organizations to update rules safely.

    Kubernetes service discovery, first introduced in version 1.2, is made more powerful in HAProxy Fusion 1.3. New filters allow teams to pull targeted Kubernetes services into HAProxy Fusion, while performance has increased to enable dynamic generation of over 100,000 lines of HAProxy configuration in seconds. This automatic process provides everything that application teams need to route external traffic into Kubernetes clusters, including external IP addresses, routing rules, load balancing, and security layers (DDoS protection, bot management, API security, global rate limiting, and WAF). 

    “With massive Kubernetes deployments, updating traffic routing rules can be a slow process when backends are added, changed, or removed,” said Andjelko Iharos, Director of Engineering, HAProxy Technologies. “But with the power of HAProxy Fusion 1.3, the configuration is updated almost immediately. This allows businesses to be more agile and drastically simplify Kubernetes networking at scale.” 

    HAProxy was recently named a Leader in 20 G2 Fall 2024 Grid® Reports across multiple G2 categories including API Management, Container Networking, DDoS Protection, DevOps, Load Balancing, Web Application Firewall (WAF), and Web Security. HAProxy’s success in the reports was due to an exceptional Satisfaction Score of 99 and the reliability, flexibility, and performance of the platform.

    “When we say that our platform – HAProxy One – is the world’s fastest application delivery and security platform, we look at the impact of every layer,” said Dujko Radovnikovic, CEO, HAProxy Technologies. “We are known for the low latency and high throughput of HAProxy’s data plane, but high performance in the control plane is just as important – as HAProxy Fusion proves, with real benefits for large-scale customers. Very few vendors can offer the top-to-bottom performance that’s fundamental to our culture and available in the HAProxy One platform.”

    See HAProxy Technologies at KubeCon NA 2024
    HAProxy Technologies will attend KubeCon + CloudNativeCon, North America 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah to showcase its platform and latest Kubernetes capabilities. Visit the company’s booth on November 12-15 or schedule a meeting with us.

    Join the Global HAProxy Community at HAProxyConf 2025
    HAProxyConf 2025 will take the stage in San Francisco, California, from June 3 to 5, 2025. The 2+ days flagship conference for the highly active HAProxy community will be held in the Mission Bay Conference Center, hosting expert speakers from across the open source and enterprise landscape.

    HAProxy users, customers, and developers are invited to submit a talk and become a part of HAProxyConf 2025’s exciting lineup.

    Registration for HAProxyConf 2025 is coming soon.

    About HAProxy One
    HAProxy One is the world’s fastest application delivery and security platform, from the company behind HAProxy. It combines the performance, reliability, and flexibility of our open source core (HAProxy) with the capabilities of a unified enterprise platform. Its next-generation security layers are powered by threat intelligence from HAProxy Edge, enhanced by machine learning and optimized with real-world operational feedback. The platform consists of a flexible data plane (HAProxy Enterprise and HAProxy ALOHA), a scalable control plane (HAProxy Fusion), and a secure edge network (HAProxy Edge), which together enable multi-cloud load balancing as a service (LBaaS), web app and API protection, API/AI gateways, Kubernetes networking, application delivery network (ADN), and end-to-end observability.

    About HAProxy Technologies
    HAProxy Technologies is the company behind HAProxy One, the world’s fastest application delivery and security platform, and HAProxy, the most widely used software load balancer. Leading companies and cloud providers trust HAProxy to simplify, scale, and secure modern applications, APIs, and AI services in any environment. HAProxy Technologies is headquartered in Newton, MA, with multiple offices across the US and Europe. Learn more at HAProxy.com.

    For questions or comments, please contact press@haproxy.com.

    Media Contact:
    Deb Randel, VP Marketing
    HAProxy Technologies, LLC
    press@haproxy.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6eb842b3-7b37-4866-821c-faa14b2fac79

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Israeli UNRWA ban will deepen Palestinian humanitarian catastrophe

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    The Israeli Knesset’s (parliament’s) ban on UNRWA’s operations voted on 28 October represents a devastating blow to Palestinian life. It will further undermine people’s survival prospects in Gaza and heavily impact communities in the West Bank.

    Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) denounces this legislation, which represents an inhumane ban on vital humanitarian aid. The Knesset’s vote is propelling Palestinians towards an even deeper humanitarian crisis. It is imperative that the world acts to safeguard Palestinians’ fundamental rights. Immediate international intervention is needed to pressure Israel to allow unhindered access to humanitarian aid, implement a ceasefire, and bring to an end the current campaign of destruction in Gaza.

    “UNRWA is a lifeline for Palestinians,” says Christopher Lockyear, MSF Secretary General. “If implemented, the ban on UNRWA’s activities would have catastrophic implications on the dire humanitarian situation of Palestinians living in Gaza, as well as in the West Bank, now and for generations to come. We strongly condemn this decision, which is the culmination of a long-running campaign against the organisation.”

    The newly voted legislation will make it almost impossible for UNRWA to work in Gaza or the West Bank; coordination with Israeli authorities will be impeded and entrance permits to either of the occupied territories will be denied, and essentially blocking delivery of UNRWA aid into and within Gaza. UNRWA handles almost all the distribution of UN aid coming into the strip.

    UNRWA is the largest health provider in Gaza, with over half of Gazans relying on UNWRA for essential healthcare services, including for the treatment of chronic diseases, maternal and child heath, and vaccinations. Each day UNWRA’s health teams provide over 15,000 consultations in the Gaza Strip. The ban of its activities threatens to create a vast gap in services within an already largely destroyed health system in Gaza – directly and indirectly endangering the lives of Palestinians. Without urgent action, more Gazans could die from preventable diseases and displacement-related conditions.

    The impact of UNRWA’s ban will extend beyond Gaza. Critical services, including refugee camp management, health services, education, and social programmes across the West Bank are also at risk of destabilisation under this legislation. This legislation sets a grave precedent for other conflict situations where governments may wish to eliminate an inconvenient United Nations presence.

    For months, international leaders and organisations, including MSF, have raised warnings about the disastrous potential of these newly adopted bills. Yet Israel has chosen to press forward with measures that will undermine vital assistance, endangering Palestinian lives and intensifying the collective punishment they face.

    This vote adds to the endless physical and bureaucratic impediments imposed by Israel to limit the amount of aid reaching Gaza, and blatantly contradicts Israel’s claims that it is facilitating humanitarian assistance into the Strip.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hiring FEMA Community Liaisons in North Carolina

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Hiring FEMA Community Liaisons in North Carolina

    Hiring FEMA Community Liaisons in North Carolina

    RALEIGH, N.C. – FEMA is hiring Community Liaisons to support local communities affected by Tropical Storm Helene in North Carolina. FEMA Community Liaisons will work with storm-affected communities and serve as a community link between FEMA, state, and federal partners. In this position, FEMA Community Liaisons will work with other FEMA staff to support communities in navigating federal programs, identifying and reporting potential barriers and gaps in recovery needs and determining the best approaches to meet those needs. These positions are for Cadre of On-Call Response/Recovery Employees (CORE). CORE employees are full-time employees hired to directly support response and recovery efforts related to disasters. These positions will be hired into temporary two-year, excepted service appointments, which may be renewed based on workload, funding and supervisory approval. Benefits include health insurance, vacation time, sick leave and up to 11 paid annual holidays. Applications are being accepted online. To see all open positions and to apply, visit usajobs.gov. More information about FEMA’s hiring process can be found on FEMA.gov/careers.All applicants must be U.S. citizens and 18 years of age or older. Additional requirements vary by position type.
    erika.suzuki
    Tue, 10/29/2024 – 15:37

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: There is no justification for denying civilians in Gaza access to life-saving aid: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council open debate on the situation in the Middle East.

    Location:
    United Nations, New York
    Delivered on:
    (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

    President, the death of Hamas’ leader, who had the blood of innocent Israelis and Palestinians on his hand, must be a turning point in this dreadful conflict, which has now claimed over 43,000 lives in Gaza. 

    This is the time to urgently seize a ceasefire in Gaza and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages who have suffered in inhumane conditions for over a year.

    The humanitarian situation in Gaza is horrific. Acute malnutrition is now a reality for many. This month, the least aid has entered Gaza since the beginning of the conflict. 

    And the situation in northern Gaza is especially alarming. Gazans have been asked to evacuate the north in their hundreds of thousands. But there is nowhere safe to go. In recent weeks, just as we have seen throughout the conflict, Israeli strikes have hit designated humanitarian zones.

    On Thursday, we saw again profoundly distressing scenes after an Israeli strike on Al-Shuhada – a school-turned shelter in Nuseirat refugee camp, which killed at least 17 people, including nine children.  

    We remain very concerned too about the severe impacts of these strikes on civilian infrastructure, including healthcare facilities, which face critical shortages in medical supplies, food and water. Israel must comply fully with international humanitarian law. As my Prime Minister has said, the world will not tolerate any more excuses from Israel on humanitarian assistance. 

    There is no justification for denying civilians access to essential supplies. The Government of Israel must do more to protect civilians, civilian infrastructure, and allow aid to be delivered safely and at scale. Related to this, reports that UN agencies have had to postpone the rollout of the polio vaccine campaign in northern Gaza are deeply disturbing. Israeli authorities must allow aid workers to carry out this work safely and securely.

    We also unequivocally reject attempts to undermine or degrade UNRWA, which is the backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza and a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of civilians there, and in the wider region. The allegations against UNRWA staff earlier this year were fully investigated. There is no justification for cutting off ties with UNRWA. Israel must abide by its obligations and ensure UNRWA can continue its lifesaving work. 

    President, we reiterate that northern Gaza must not be cut off from the south. Palestinian civilians, including those evacuated from northern Gaza must be permitted to return. There must be no forcible transfer of Gazans from or within Gaza, nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza Strip. Civilians must be protected.

    In the West Bank, the level of llegal settlement expansion and settler violence is unprecedented. Israel must take action now to address this.  

    President, a sustainable solution to this crisis cannot and will not be achieved through unilateral action. The international community and this Council have been clear and unified in our commitment to the two state solution, which is the only viable path to a long term peaceful solution. 

     The Palestinian and Israeli people alike have a right to self-determination, safety and security, and we must all work together to provide a credible and irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution.

    Updates to this page

    Published 29 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: How Copilots are helping drive innovation to achieve business results that matter

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: How Copilots are helping drive innovation to achieve business results that matter

    The pace of AI innovation today continues to be extraordinary, and at Microsoft we are focused on helping organizations embrace it. By providing our customers with the most advanced AI technology across every product we build — combined with our unparalleled partner ecosystem and co-innovation approach — we are helping them make real progress in ways that matter. I am proud to share over 100 customer stories from this quarter alone showing how we are helping customers accelerate AI Transformation — no matter where they are on their journey.

    Recently during the Microsoft AI Tour, I spoke with customers who shared ways they are adopting Copilots to empower human achievement, democratize intelligence and realize significant business value. I also discussed the concept of an AI-first business process and the differentiation you can drive when bringing together the power of Copilots and human ambition with the autonomous capabilities of an agent. I was inspired by the outcomes our customers have achieved through pragmatic innovation and the progress they are making to evolve the future of industry. I am pleased to share ten stories from the past quarter that illustrate how Copilots have yielded results for our customers, while highlighting AI Transformation experiences in their own words.

    Accenture and Avanade have a long history of helping customers implement cutting-edge solutions, with internal testing a key factor in their ability to deliver customizable Microsoft solutions with deep expertise. Putting Microsoft 365 Copilot into the hands of employees helped them realize ways to increase productivity, with 52% of employees seeing a positive impact on the quality of their work, 31% reporting less cognitive fatigue and 84% finding Copilot’s suggestions fair, respectful and non-biased. Accenture also piloted GitHub Copilot to help build better solutions faster with developers spending less time debugging, resulting in 95% of developers reporting they enjoyed coding more.

    “Using our extensive Microsoft technology expertise and practical learnings from our own experience implementing Microsoft 365 Copilot, our solutions empower clients to fully tap into Microsoft AI capabilities.”

    Veit Siegenheim, Global Future of Work Lead at Avanade

    Nigerian multinational financial services group Access Holdings Plc. serves more than 56 million customers across 18 countries. As the business grew and transitioned from a small bank to a major holding company, it adopted Microsoft 365 Copilot to address challenges in data management, meeting productivity and software development. With the integration of Copilot into daily tools, the company significantly enhanced efficiency and engagement across the business. Writing code now takes two hours instead of eight, chatbots can be launched in 10 days instead of three months and presentations can be prepared in 45 minutes instead of six hours. Copilot has also driven a 25% increase in staff engagement during meetings.

    “To inspire everyone in the organization to take advantage of AI, we knew we had to integrate AI into the tools people use every day. Microsoft 365 Copilot made the most sense and was a natural fit for us.”

    Lanre Bamisebi, Executive Director IT and Digitalization at Access Holdings, Plc.

    To improve resident services and reinvent customer engagement, the City of Burlington, Ontario, embraced AI and low-code tools to develop new online services that transform and automate internal processes. In just eight weeks, the city utilized Copilot Studio to develop and launch a custom copilot designed to help residents quickly find answers to frequently asked questions. The city also developed a portal that streamlines building permit reviews and enables customers to track the status of their own applications. As a result, the average time it takes to process a permit approval decreased from 15 weeks to 5-7 weeks, allowing more time for city employees to evaluate complex submissions.

    “Our staff and citizens do not have to worry about mundane tasks as much anymore. Now they’re able to have rich, collaborative conversations about how to creatively solve problems, making for a much more fulfilling and rewarding work and customer experience.”

    Chad MacDonald, Executive Director and Chief Information Officer at the City of Burlington

    Finastra empowers financial institutions with leading software for lending, payments, treasury, capital markets and universal banking. To transform its marketing processes, the company used Microsoft 365 Copilot to automate tasks, enhance content creation, improve analytics and personalize customer interactions. Since integrating Copilot, the team reduced time-to-market for campaigns from three months to less than one. Copilot also significantly reduced the time marketers spend generating and gathering insights from each campaign, with employees citing a 20%-50% time savings across tasks like full-funnel analysis, supply management analysis and budget management.

    “Copilot makes you more effective because you get better insights, and it makes you more efficient because you can produce results faster. It also makes work more meaningful and fun because your team can focus on what matters — strategy, creativity and everything that sets you apart from the competition.”

    Joerg Klueckmann, Head of Corporate Marketing and Communications at Finastra

    GoTo Group provides technology infrastructure and solutions across Indonesia. It is bending the curve on innovation by significantly enhancing productivity and code quality across its engineering teams by adopting GitHub Copilot. With real-time code suggestions, chat assistance and the ability to break down complex coding concepts, the company has saved over seven hours per week and achieved a 30% code acceptance rate within the first month. With 1,000 engineers already using GitHub Copilot, the tool allows them to innovate faster, reduce errors and focus more time on complex tasks to deliver greater value to their users.

    “GitHub Copilot has significantly reduced syntax errors and provided helpful autocomplete features, eliminating repetitive tasks and making coding more efficient. This has allowed me to focus on the more complex elements in building great software.”

    Nayana Hodi, Engineering Manager at GoTo Group

    South Africa’s Milpark Education faced operational challenges when shifting to online learning due to legacy systems slowing down student interactions and support. Through close collaboration with Enterprisecloud, Milpark migrated its back-office infrastructure to Azure within three months, replacing its legacy student admissions system with an extensible, integrated digital platform powered by technologies such as Microsoft Copilot and Copilot Studio. In just four months, the educational institution improved efficiency and accuracy of student support, decreasing the average resolution time by 50% and escalations by more than 30%.

    “Using Copilot, agents are now able to use generative AI to rapidly get up to speed on case details and respond to students using standardized templates that help them provide more personalized and professional responses. The results speak for themselves.”

    Shaun Dale, Managing Director at Enterprisecloud

    For over two decades, Teladoc Health has been offering a broad spectrum of services to patients using virtual care services — from primary care to chronic condition management. After the rapid growth of telehealth adoption post-pandemic, operational efficiency was instrumental in managing internal processes and external client interactions. By deploying Microsoft 365 Copilot and using Copilot in Power Automate, the company has reshaped business processes to help employees realize greater time savings while enhancing the client experience. The Copilots and agents helped employees save five hours per week and thousands of enterprise hours annually by eliminating mundane daily processes and fostering better cross-department communications, while also helping new employees get set up to run their workflows 20% faster.

    “Copilot is changing the way we work. It’s not just about saving time; it’s about enhancing the quality of our work, allowing us to focus on what truly matters: delivering exceptional care to our members.” 

    Heather Underhill, SVP Client Experience & Operations at Teladoc Health

    International energy company Uniper adopted a single-cloud strategy with Azure as its foundation to drive rapid AI innovation. To help its employees focus on using core competencies, the company implemented Microsoft 365 Copilot to reduce time spent on manual and repetitive tasks, and help workers focus on more pressing work, such as developing enhanced solutions to speed up the energy transition. Its in-house auditors have already increased productivity by 80% by using Copilot to create plans and checklists. Uniper is also using Copilot for Security to help identify risks twice as fast and take appropriate action sooner.

    “As an operator of critical infrastructure, we have to contend with a growing number of reports of phishing and attacks by hackers. AI can help us implement a sensible way of managing the sheer number of threats.”

    Damian Bunyan, CIO at Uniper

    British telecommunications company Vodafone has transformed its workplace productivity with Microsoft 365 Copilot, already seeing strong ROI from its adoption. In early trials, Copilot saved employees an average of three hours per week by using the tool to draft emails, summarize meetings and search for information. Copilot is also enriching the employee experience, with 90% of users reporting they are eager to continue using Copilot and 60% citing improved work quality. For Vodafone’s legal and compliance team, Copilot has significantly accelerated the processes of drafting new contracts, reducing the time required to complete this work by one hour. As a result of these efficiency gains, Vodafone is rolling out Copilot to 68,000 employees.

    “Our AI journey is focusing on three areas: operational efficiency inside the organization; rewiring the business to provide an enhanced customer experience; and unlocking growth opportunities through new products and services that we can create around generative AI. Copilot will help drive all three.”

    Scott Petty, Chief Technology Officer at Vodafone

    Wallenius Wilhelmsen, a global leader in roll-on/roll-off shipping and vehicle logistics, is empowering better decision-making while fostering a culture of innovation and inclusion with AI tools. After participating in an early access program, the company broadly adopted Microsoft Copilot 365 to help streamline processes, enhance data management and improve communication across its 28 countries. To help strengthen Copilot immersion and realize value faster, they introduced a seven-week Microsoft Viva campaign to teach, communicate and measure Copilot adoption. The campaign resulted in 80% of employees using Copilot, with some teams realizing time savings of at least 30 minutes per day. The company also uses Copilot Dashboard to manage usage and gather user feedback, helping demonstrate ROI and measure results outside of time savings alone.

    “Copilot changes the way we think and work while keeping us curious and open to embracing opportunities. I think that is the sort of benefit that is not so measurable, but important. So, my time management and structured approach to my everyday work life has been enhanced with Copilot and Viva.”

    Martin Hvatum, Senior Global Cash Manager at Wallenius Wilhelmsen

    I believe that no other company has a better foundation to facilitate your AI Transformation than Microsoft. As we look ahead to Microsoft Ignite, I am excited by the latest innovation we will announce as a company, and the customer and partner experiences we will share. We remain committed to driving innovation that creates value in ways that matter most to our customers, and believe we are at our best when we serve others. There has never been a better opportunity for us to accomplish our mission of empowering every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more than now, and I look forward to the ways we will partner together to help you achieve more with AI.

    AI Customer Stories from FY25 Q1

    Accelleron: Accelleron turbocharges IT support solutions and resolution times with Power Platform

    Agnostic Intelligence: Agnostic Intelligence transforms risk management with Azure OpenAI Service, achieving up to 80% time savings

    Alaska Airlines: How Alaska Airlines uses technology to ensure its passengers have a seamless journey from ticket purchase to baggage pickup

    Allgeier: Allgeier empowers organizations to own and expand data operations

    ANZ Group: ANZ launches first-of-its-kind AI Immersion Centre in partnership with Microsoft

    Asahi Europe & International: Asahi Europe & International charts new paths in employee productivity with Microsoft Copilot

    Auburn University: Auburn University empowers thousands of students, faculty and staff to explore new ways of using AI with Microsoft Copilot

    Avanade: Avanade equips 10,000 employees with Microsoft Fabric skills to help customers become AI-driven and future-ready

    Azerbaijan Airlines: Azerbaijan Airlines expands data access to increase efficiency by 70% with Microsoft Dynamics 365

    Aztec Group: Aztec Group uses Copilot for Microsoft 365 to enhance the client experience whilst powering efficiencies

    Bader Sultan: Bader Sultan uses Microsoft Copilot to boost productivity and serve clients faster

    BaptistCare: BaptistCare supports aging Australians and tackles workforce shortages through Microsoft 365 Copilot

    Barbeque Mania!: Barbecue Mania! centralizes your data with Microsoft Azure and saves $3.5 million over 5 years

    Bank of Montreal: Bank of Montreal reduces costs by 30% with Azure

    BlackRock: How BlackRock’s ‘flight crew’ helped Copilot for Microsoft 365 take off

    Capita: Capita uses GitHub Copilot to free developers and deliver faster for customers

    Cassidy: Cassidy and Azure OpenAI Service: Making AI simple for all

    Cdiscount: Cdiscount, Azure OpenAI Service and GitHub Copilot join forces for e-commerce

    Celebal: Celebal drives custom business transformations with Microsoft Fabric

    Chalhoub Group: Chalhoub Group’s People Analytics team speeds reporting with Microsoft Fabric

    ClearBank: ClearBank processes 20 million payments a month — up from 8,000 — with platform built on Azure

    Cloud Services: Faster with Fabric: Cloud Services breaks new ground with Microsoft

    Coles Supermarkets: Coles Supermarkets embraces AI, cloud applications in 500-plus stores with Azure Stack HCI​

    Commercial Bank of Dubai: Commercial Bank of Dubai: innovating a future proof banking platform with Microsoft Azure

    CPFL: CPFL expands its data repository by 1500% with Mega Lake project on Microsoft Azure

    Cummins: Cummins uses Microsoft Purview to automate information governance more efficiently in the age of AI

    Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA): DEWA pioneers the use of Azure AI Services in delivering utility services

    Digi Rogaland: Digi Rogaland prioritizes student safety with Bouvet and Microsoft Fabric

    Eastman: Eastman catalyzes cybersecurity defenses with Copilot for Security

    E.ON: A modern workspace in transition: E.ON relies on generative AI to manage data floods with Copilot for Microsoft 365

    EPAM Systems: Efficiency inside and out: EPAM streamlines communications for teams and clients with Copilot for Microsoft 365

    EY: EY redefines sustainability performance management with Microsoft

    Fast Shop: Fast Shop consolidated its data platform on Microsoft Azure and is now ready for the era of AI

    FIDO Tech: AI tool uses sound to pinpoint leaky pipes, saving precious drinking water

    Florida Crystals Corporation: Telecom expenses for Florida Crystals dropped 78% with Teams Phone and Teams Rooms

    Four Agency: Four Agency innovates with Microsoft 365 Copilot to deliver better work faster

    Fractal: Fractal builds innovative retail and consumer goods solutions with Microsoft’s AI offerings including Azure OpenAI Service

    GE Aerospace: GE Aerospace launches company-wide generative AI platform for employees

    Georgia Tech Institute for Data Engineering and Science: Georgia Tech is accelerating the future of electric vehicles using Azure OpenAI Service

    Hitachi Solutions: Hitachi Solutions transforms internal operations with Microsoft Fabric

    IBM Consulting: How IBM Consulting drives AI-powered innovation with Fabric expertise

    iLink Digital: Transforming user-driven analytics with Microsoft Fabric

    Insight Enterprises: Insight Enterprises achieves 93% Microsoft Copilot use rate, streamlining business operations to pave the way for customer success

    Intesa Sanpaolo: Intesa Sanpaolo accrues big cybersecurity dividends with Microsoft Sentinel, Copilot for Security

    ITOCHU Corporation: ITOCHU uses Microsoft Fabric and Azure AI Studio to evolve its data analytics dashboard into a service delivering instant recommendations

    IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU): IU revolutionizes learning for its students with the AI study buddy Syntea and Azure OpenAI Service

    John Cockerill: John Cockerill engages pro developers to build enterprise-wide apps with Power Platform

    Kaya Limited: Kaya Limited elevates customer experience and operational efficiency with Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power BI

    LexisNexis: LexisNexis elevates legal work with AI using Copilot for Microsoft 365

    Lionbridge: Lionbridge disrupts localization industry using Azure OpenAI Service and reduces turnaround times by up to 30%

    Lotte Hotels & Resorts: Hotelier becomes a citizen developer, building a smart work culture based on Power Platform and hyper-automated work environment

    Lumen Technologies: Microsoft and Lumen Technologies partner to power the future of AI and enable digital transformation to benefit hundreds of millions of customers

    LS ELECTRIC: LS ELECTRIC uses data to optimize power consumption with Sight Machine and Microsoft Cloud for Manufacturing

    MAIRE: MAIRE, transforming the energy sector and an entire company culture with Microsoft 365 Copilot

    Mandelbulb Technologies: Early-adopter Mandelbulb Technologies finds success with Fabric

    McKnight Foundation: McKnight Foundation accelerates its mission and supports community partners with Microsoft 365 Copilot

    MISO: MISO undergoes a digital transformation with Microsoft Industry Solutions Delivery

    Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI): Recognizing the essence of AI and building the future with clients: MHI’s DI to create proprietary architecture using Azure OpenAI Service

    Molslinjen: Molslinjen develops an AI-powered dynamic pricing strategy with Azure Databricks

    National Australia Bank: National Australia Bank invests in an efficient, cloud-managed future with Windows 11 Enterprise

    Nagel-Group: Works agreements and contracts: Nagel-Group uses Azure OpenAI Service to help employees find information

    NC Fusion: Elevating experiences with AI, from productivity to personalization

    National Football League Players Association: The National Football League Players Association and Xoriant use Azure AI Services to provide protection to players across 32 teams

    Northwestern Medicine: Northwestern Medicine deploys DAX Copilot embedded in Epic within its enterprise to improve patient and physician experiences

    Oncoclínicas: Oncoclínicas creates web portal and mobile app to store clinical and medical procedures with Azure Cognitive Services

    PA Consulting: PA Consulting saves hours a week with Copilot for Microsoft 365 and Copilot for Sales

    Parexel: Parexel speeds operational insights by 70% using Microsoft Azure, accelerating data product delivery and reducing manual work

    Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC): From weeks to days, hours to seconds: PIC automates work processes to save time with Microsoft 365 Copilot

    PKSHA Technology: PKSHA leans on Copilot for Microsoft 365 as part of their team

    Planted: Planted combines economic growth and environmental sustainability — with Microsoft Azure OpenAI

    Profisee: Profisee eliminates data siloes within Microsoft Fabric

    Programa De Atención Domiciliaria: The Home Care Program in Panama helped more than 17,000 people with the power of Microsoft Power Automate

    PwC: PwC scales GenAI for enterprise with Microsoft Azure AI

    QNET: QNET increases security response efficiency 60 percent with Microsoft Security Solutions

    RTI International: Research nonprofit RTI International improves the human condition with Microsoft 365 Copilot

    Rijksmuseum: Rijksmuseum transforms how art lovers engage with the museum, with Dynamics 365

    Sandvik Coromant: Sandvik Coromant hones sales experience with Microsoft Copilot for Sales

    Share.Market: Share.Market redefines the investment experience with Microsoft Azure

    Simpson Associates: Simpson Associates spurs justice for at-risk communities with Azure AI

    Softchoice: Softchoice harnesses Microsoft Copilot and reduces content creation time by up to 70%, accelerating customer AI journeys with its experience

    Sonata Software: Sonata Software goes from early adopter to market leader with Fabric

    Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS): SWISS targets 30% cost savings, increased passenger satisfaction with Azure

    SymphonyAI: SymphonyAI is solving real problems across industries with Azure AI

    Syndigo: Syndigo accelerates digital commerce for its customers by more than 40% with Azure

    TAL: TAL and Microsoft join forces on strategic technology deal

    Tecnológico de Monterrey: Tecnológico de Monterrey university pioneers ambitious AI-powered learning ecosystem

    Telstra: Telstra and Microsoft expand strategic partnership to power Australia’s AI future

    The University of Sydney: The University of Sydney utilizes the power of Azure OpenAI to allow professors to create their own AI assistants

    Torfaen County Borough: Torfaen County Borough Council streamlines organizational support for Social Care using Copilot for Microsoft 365

    Trace3: Trace3 expands the realm of clients’ possibilities with Windows 11 Pro and Microsoft Copilot

    Unilever: Unilever is reinventing the fundamentals of research and development with Azure Quantum Elements

    University of Wisconsin: Microsoft collaborates with Mass General Brigham and University of Wisconsin–Madison to further advance AI foundation models for medical imaging

    Via: Marketplace, online support, and remote work: Via embraces the digital world supported by Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365 and Azure

    Virgin Atlantic: How Virgin Atlantic is flying higher with Copilot

    Virgin Money: Redi, set, go: Virgin Money delivers exceptional customer experiences with Microsoft Copilot Studio

    Visier: Visier achieves performance improvements of up to five times using Azure OpenAI Service

    World2Meet (W2M): World2Meet, the travel company providing a better customer experience and operations with a new virtual assistant powered by Microsoft Azure

    Xavier College: Xavier College begins a process of modernizing its student information systems on Dynamics 365 and AI, unlocking powerful insights

    ZEISS: More time for research: ZEISS supports businesses and researchers with ZEISS arivis Cloud based on Microsoft Azure

    ZF Friedrichshafen AG (ZF Group): ZF Group builds manufacturing efficiency with over 25,000 apps on Power Platform

    Tags: Azure, Azure AI Services, Azure Cognitive Services, Azure Databricks, Azure OpenAI Service, Azure Quantum Elements, Azure Stack HCI, Copilot, Copilot for Sales, Copilot for Security, Copilot Studio, Dax Copilot, GitHub Copilot, Microsoft 365, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft AI Tour, Microsoft Cloud for Manufacturing, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Microsoft Fabric, Microsoft Ignite, Microsoft Power Platform, Microsoft Sentinel, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Viva, Power Automate,

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy announces $4.7 million in Hurricane Laura aid for Lake Charles church

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced a $4,680,568 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant for Louisiana disaster aid.

    “Hurricane Laura devastated Lake Charles, leaving churches like the Church of the King with heavy storm damage. This $4.7 million will benefit the people of Lake Charles as they work to recover from the pain Laura caused,” said Kennedy.

    The FEMA aid will fund the following:

    • $4,680,568 to the Church of the King in Lake Charles, La. to replace its sanctuary building due to Hurricane Laura damage.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Readout of President Joe  Biden’s Call with President Bola Tinubu of  Nigeria

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria.  President Biden offered his condolences on the recent flooding that has impacted northeastern Nigeria and underscored his appreciation for President Tinubu’s leadership in securing the release on humanitarian grounds of American citizen and former U.S. law enforcement official Tigran Gambaryan last week.  The two leaders also spoke about the value of the U.S.-Nigeria partnership in addressing global challenges and advancing security and prosperity across multiple sectors. In particular, President Biden expressed appreciation for cooperation on law enforcement, including through the recently announced Bilateral Liaison Group on Illicit Finance and Cryptocurrencies, for collaboration on new and innovative technologies, and on shared interests in reforming international organizations to reflect African voices.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Parson Signs Executive Order 24-13 Declaring Drought Alert in Missouri

    Source: US State of Missouri

    OCTOBER 29, 2024

    Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Parson signed Executive Order 24-13, declaring a drought alert in Missouri until March 31, 2025.

    Currently, the U.S. Drought Monitor indicates that all or portions of at least 88 Missouri counties are experiencing moderate, severe, or extreme drought conditions. The Executive Order declares a Drought Alert in these Missouri counties and any additional county that begins experiencing moderate drought conditions. 

    “While the weather did improve this spring, allowing us to let our previous drought alert expire, the last few months have been dry, forcing us to reissue a drought alert in Missouri,” Governor Parson said. “Despite all our challenges, from droughts to floods and everything in between, Missourians have remained strong. This Executive Order will again allow us to step in and direct resources to those struggling with the consequences of drought, while allowing for vigilant monitoring of conditions over the winter months.”

    In response to this Executive Order, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources will activate the Drought Assessment Committee, a workgroup set up to assess drought levels and work with impact teams on response and recovery recommendations.

    During drought, local condition reports are crucial to understanding impacts to provide timely and appropriate assistance. Citizens can submit information about local drought conditions at Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR).

    A variety of helpful resources are online at www.dnr.mo.gov/drought. The Department of Natural Resources is adding information on drought mitigation and assistance opportunities as it becomes available. The one-stop drought website features a link to CMOR, current drought-related news, the current United States and Missouri drought maps, the Missouri Drought Mitigation and Response Plan, and other resources, including information on previous droughts.

    To view Executive Order 24-13, click here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bringing Affordable, Supportive Housing to the Bronx

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the completion of St. James Terrace, a new $64 million development adjacent to the historic St. James Episcopal Church with 102 affordable apartments, including 51 with on-site supportive services for people struggling with homelessness and a Community Center that will offer a variety of programs and a weekly food pantry. In the past five years, New York State Homes and Community Renewal has financed 14,000 affordable homes in The Bronx. St. James Terrace continues this effort and complements Governor Hochul’s $25 billion five-year Housing Plan which is on track to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide.

    “St. James Terrace is the product of a caring community,” Governor Hochul said. “The church recognized the value of the underused property and has put it to the best use for our most urgent need – creating new, affordable, supportive homes for those most in need, along with a community facility and home for a food pantry. We thank St. James Episcopal Church and all our partners for helping to bring urgently-needed housing to The Bronx.”

    The nine-story building includes a new, ground-floor community facility that will provide a range of services and programs benefiting residents and the community at large, including a weekly food pantry and hot meal service, financial and wellness seminars and an after-school program that will provide tutoring and snacks to school-aged children in the neighborhood.

    A landscaped courtyard connects the church and the residential building, and residents will have access to a rooftop terrace, lounges, multi-purpose rooms, a laundry room, bicycle storage, fitness room and office and social service space for use by Concern for Independent Living’s social service staff.

    State financing includes $28 million in federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, $10.6 million in subsidy from HCR and $6 million from HCR’s Office of Resilient Homes and Communities Affordable Housing Fund Program, which was designed to increase the supply of affordable housing in areas less prone to flooding. The project received $433,000 in program development funding from the New York State Office of Mental Health. The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance is administering a $4.9 million Homeless Housing and Assistance Program contract to provide capital subsidy for the development of St. James Terrace’s permanent supportive housing. Concern Housing led the development team.

    The supportive apartments are affordable to individuals with income at or below 50 percent of the Area Median Income and benefit from Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative awards which are administered by OMH. Support services, provided by Concern for Independent Living, include case management, care coordination, self-sufficiency and mental health support. Referrals for supportive housing are provided by the New York City Department of Homeless Services and local hospitals and health homes. In addition, the development benefits from a Homeless Housing Assistance Program contract administered by the New York State Office for People with Temporary Disabilities.

    New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “Not only does St. James Terrace bring more than 100 homes to this neighborhood, but it allows the church and other organizations to expand services to children and adults and provides a solid base of support for the entire community. This $64 million investment underscores our ongoing commitment to The Bronx that includes both housing and a new community center that will provide a food pantry and hot meal service – creating a meaningful development that will benefit the borough for years to come.”

    New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “Supportive housing is a critical component of our efforts to ensure New Yorkers living with mental illness have a stable place to call home. St. James Terrace will provide a beautiful new residence and life-changing services that will help individuals live and thrive in the Fordham neighborhood of the Bronx. This project, like many other supportive housing developments taking root with State funding, are demonstrating Governor Hochul’s steadfast commitment to ensuring all New Yorkers have access to safe, affordable housing.”

    New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Barbara C. Guinn said, “The opening of St. James Terrace provides formerly homeless individuals with much-needed safe, affordable housing and easy access to essential support services they need to build and maintain stable lives. We are grateful to Governor Hochul for rightly recognizing the power of supportive housing to transform the lives of some of our most vulnerable fellow New Yorkers and to Concern Housing and all of the state and local partners who supported this project.”

    State Senator Gustavo Rivera said, “I commend the opening of St. James Terrace in the Bronx, which will provide families with an affordable place to live along with the supportive services they need to achieve long-term stability. It is essential that we continue to prioritize affordable housing in our City.”

    Assemblymember Yudelka Tapia said, “We don’t just need affordable housing; we need affordable and supportive housing that will enable its residents to get back on their feet and regain their independence. St. James Terrace will do just that. This project sends a message that we are committed to addressing the homeless crisis across New York City’s five boroughs and doing so in a way that will move the needle for those who are most acutely impacted.”

    Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson said, “Affordable housing is crucial in addressing the housing crisis in the Bronx. The completion of St. James Terrace is a significant step forward, providing 102 new homes and essential services for our most vulnerable residents. I want to thank Governor Hochul, St. James Episcopal Church and everyone else who was involved in bringing this project to fruition.”

    Concern Housing Executive Director Ralph Fasano said, “St. James Terrace represents not only the hard work and dedication of all those who made this possible, but also a brighter future for the members of the community who will call it home. New York City is in desperate need of more affordable and supportive housing and we are grateful for our partners who have helped make this moment possible. Providing a stable place to live against this beautiful and historic backdrop is an immense source of pride for our organization.”

    Governor Hochul’s Housing Agenda
    Governor Hochul is committed to addressing New York’s housing crisis and making the State more affordable and more livable for all New Yorkers. As part of the FY25 Enacted Budget, the Governor secured a landmark agreement to increase New York’s housing supply through new tax incentives for Upstate communities, new incentives and relief from certain State-imposed restrictions to create more housing in New York City, a $500 million capital fund to build up to 15,000 new homes on State-owned property, an additional $600 million in funding to support a variety of housing developments statewide and new protections for renters and homeowners. In addition, as part of the FY23 Enacted Budget, the Governor announced a five-year, $25 billion Housing Plan, to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes. More than 45,000 homes have been created or preserved to date.

    The FY25 Enacted Budget also strengthened the Pro-Housing Community Program which the Governor launched in 2023. Pro Housing Certification is now a requirement for localities to access up to $650 million in discretionary funding. To date, more than 200 communities have been certified, including New York City.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Lee Helps Secure $375M+ for Recreation and Restoration Projects in Nevada, Lake Tahoe Basin

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) announced that she helped secure a $375 million federal investment for 36 local and regional infrastructure and conservation projects in Nevada and the Lake Tahoe Basin. 

    Provided by targeted land sales under the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA), this investment will support recreation improvement, wildlife habitat conservation, hazardous fuels reduction, wildfire prevention, and job creation, through the Department of the Interior. As Southern Nevada’s only member of the House Appropriations Committee, Lee has consistently fought to protect SNPLMA funding to ensure that this important program can continue to benefit Nevadans.  

    “This new investment will help ensure that Southern Nevada remains a world-class outdoor recreation destination and conservation leader. It will protect our water and lands, improve our outdoor recreation infrastructure, and combat the climate crisis,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee. “As Southern Nevada’s only voice on the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to secure federal investments for environmental conservation, economic development, and job creation.” 

    “Since 1998, public land sales in the Las Vegas Valley have fueled projects that benefit communities and elevate quality of life for residents and visitors,” said Acting Deputy Interior Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis. “This program supports jobs and local economies, improves recreation in rural and underserved areas, and aligns with our commitment to conserve at least 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030 under the America the Beautiful initiative.”

    Lee has also worked with local and federal partners to leverage SNPLMA sales to address Nevada’s housing crisis. Earlier this month, Lee helped unveil a new housing project of more than 200 affordable, single-family homes in Nevada’s Third Congressional District, provided by a first-of-its-kind sale of public lands below fair market value.

    Read more about SNMPLA investments here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Braintree Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Charges

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

    BOSTON – A member of a nationwide drug trafficking ring was sentenced on Oct. 25, 2024 in federal court in Boston for drug trafficking and money laundering. During the investigation, over 160 pounds of pure methamphetamine, as well as an AK-47, a Glock with no serial number, two loaded Smith & Wesson handguns and over 4,200 rounds of ammunition were seized. An illegal marijuana grow operation with hundreds of marijuana plants was also dismantled.

    Patrick O’Hearn, 64, of Braintree was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 15 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. In March 2024, O’Hearn pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, as well as one count of money laundering conspiracy and one count of money laundering.

    O’Hearn was charged along with 10 others in September 2021 in a 15ifteen count superseding indictment.  

    O’Hearn was part of a large-scale methamphetamine distribution network that distributed significant quantities of pure methamphetamine throughout New England. The investigation began in late 2020, when O’Hearn’s methamphetamine supplier Reshat Alkayisi was identified as a large-scale methamphetamine trafficker, who distributed multi-pound quantities to customers throughout the New England area. O’Hearn was subsequently identified as one of Alkayisi’s regular large-scale distributors who routinely purchased methamphetamine and redistributed it throughout the Boston area. Bank records indicated that O’Hearn paid Alkayisi at least $100,000 between January and July 2021. O’Hearn also purchased over $465,000 worth of methamphetamine from Alkayisi between January and May 2021.

    O’Hearn conspired with Alkayisi to launder their drug proceeds. As part of that money laundering conspiracy, Alkayisi used O’Hearn’s residence as the address for his shell company that he used to launder drug proceeds.

    In July 2021, O’Hearn was arrested and over 680 grams of pure methamphetamine was seized, as well as small quantities of cocaine, ketamine, MDMA and other controlled substances from O’Hearn’s residence. Over $213,000 in cash was also found in O’Hearn’s residence and in bank safe deposit boxes.

    Alkayisi pleaded guilty in April 2024 and in September 2024 sentenced to 23 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. O’Hearn is the 10th defendant to be sentenced in the case. The remaining defendant has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

    Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Department of Correction; Norfolk County Sherriff’s Office; and Concord, Hudson, Peabody, Reading, Watertown and Waltham Police Departments. Assistance was also provided by the Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alathea Porter and Katherine Ferguson of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

    This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
     

    MIL Security OSI –