NewzIntel.com

Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI USA: Boozman Leads Bipartisan Bills to Address Doctor Shortage in Rural Areas

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman

    WASHINGTON––U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) is continuing his efforts to increase access to reliable, quality health care for Arkansans by championing legislation that supports and attracts the next generation of doctors and medical professionals to The Natural State.

    Boozman and Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) recently introduced the Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act to ease financial burdens on medical professionals completing their medical training, and the Physicians for Underserved Areas Act to increase available medical residency spots and prioritize placement in rural and underserved areas. 

    Nationwide, the U.S. faces a projected shortage between 37,800 and 124,000 physicians by 2034 according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. More than 500,000 Arkansans live in an area defined by the federal government as lacking the adequate number of health professionals to serve the population. 

    “Addressing the shortage of medical professionals is a necessary step in ensuring Arkansans are able to access affordable and reliable health care no matter where they live,” said Boozman. “These bipartisan bills are practical efforts to encourage students to pursue careers in medicine by helping mitigate some of the financial barriers and burdens associated with internship and residency requirements while also ensuring more medical school graduates train and go on to practice in the communities that desperately need them.”

    Boozman and Rosen’s Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act would help alleviate the health care provider shortage by allowing medical professionals to defer their student loan payments without accruing interest until the completion of their respective residency or internship programs. This deferment will decrease the financial burden for future doctors, dentists and other medical providers who face a median medical debt of over $200,000 upon graduation.

    The senators also introduced the Physicians for Underserved Areas Act to redistribute available residency slots in a manner that prioritizes areas experiencing physician shortages. Medical professionals are more likely to practice medicine where they completed their residencies, and opening more opportunities in rural communities is a strong step forward to ensure Arkansans have access to reliable health care.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: AG Brown urges legal professionals to stand strong in the face of bullying and political retribution

    Source: Washington State News

    OLYMPIA — Attorney General Nick Brown, as part of a coalition of 21 attorneys general, issued an open letter to the legal community warning of illegal attempts by the Trump administration to deter lawyers from challenging the administration’s actions or representing clients disfavored by the administration. The attorneys general call on the legal community to resist attempts at bullying or retribution and uphold the values of their profession.

    “The legal community is a key pillar in our system of checks and balances, and helps protect people from tyranny,” Brown said. “The president attacking some law firms and demanding loyalty from others is clearly meant to bend the justice system to his will. I urge attorneys across Washington state to resist this attack on the rule of law.”

    Brown and the other attorneys general argue that the administration’s unconstitutional actions are a gross abuse of authority and an attack on the practice of law. The attorneys general note in their letter that President Trump issued executive orders against five law firms, seeking retribution over ideological differences and punishing firms for the actions of individual attorneys representing clients adverse to the president or his supporters. The president also issued a memorandum last week threatening all law firms and lawyers that engage in litigation against the federal government.

    Trump’s actions cancel all government contracts with the targeted firms, strip all of the firms’ attorneys of their security clearances and threaten the same against any firm that dares to step out of line. The orders bar lawyers from the firms from public buildings and violate client privacy, including mandating that clients disclose their contracts with the targeted firms. President Trump also singled out individual attorneys for condemnation because the attorney represented clients who challenged his administration’s actions.

    In addition, one of the orders calls on the U.S. attorney general, in consultation with state attorneys general, to “investigate” law firms that have programs or policies focused on diversity, equity and inclusion.

    The chilling effect of these actions was quickly demonstrated as one targeted firm has already given into the administration’s demands by agreeing to, among other things, abandon diversity, equity and inclusion practices, and provide $40 million in pro bono work on causes supported by President Trump.

    In their letter, the attorneys general note that lawyers have an obligation to uphold the rule of law and should not give in to intimidation by dropping clients or refusing to take on certain cases due to fear of retribution. They encourage firms to stand strong and support their colleagues. The coalition also makes clear that they will not allow their offices to be used for political attacks against law firms that hold viewpoints unfavored by the administration.

    Finally, Brown and the attorneys general condemn the administration’s baseless attacks on federal judges who have ruled against President Trump and his allies. The coalition urges the entire legal community to speak out against such attacks, including calls for the impeachment of judges who rule against the administration’s actions.

    Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul led the coalition. Joining them in sending the letter are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont.

    The letter can be found here.

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    Washington’s Attorney General serves the people and the state of Washington. As the state’s largest law firm, the Attorney General’s Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington’s 39 counties. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.

    Media Contact:

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Protecting Workers Who Maintain New York Highways

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today highlighted New York State’s ongoing efforts to enhance safety on New York State’s highways and her proposal to further protect the workers who build and maintain roads and bridges. Included in her FY 2026 Budget, the Governor’s plan would make the Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement pilot program permanent, expand it to include MTA Bridges and Tunnels and NYS Bridge Authority properties, and enhance penalties for assaults against transportation workers. A group of construction industry officials, labor leaders and safety advocates came together today to advocate for these safety enhancements on the one-year anniversary of the expansion of New York’s “Move Over Law” — a lifesaving piece of legislation requiring all drivers to move over when hazard vehicles, highway worker vehicles and tow trucks are stopped on the roadway.

    “The men and women in labor who have dedicated themselves to improving our roads and bridges risk their lives every day to ensure the safety of all drivers,” Governor Hochul said. “By permanently driving down speeds in work zones and enhancing penalties for assaults against them, I am working to strengthen our laws to ensure these dedicated workers can make it home safe themselves.”

    The Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement (AWZSE) program is the result of legislation signed into law by Governor Hochul in September 2021. The legislation authorized a 5-year pilot program run as a joint effort by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and the New York State Thruway Authority (NYSTA) to enhance the State’s ongoing efforts to slow motorists down in work zones to make New York’s highways safer. More than 420,000 Notices of Liability have been issued statewide, with close to 78,400 repeat offenders since the AWZSE program launched in May 2023. And in locations where the cameras have been present more than once, fewer Notices of Liability are being issued, meaning that people are slowing down when cameras are present.

    In addition to her proposal to make the AWSZE permanent, the Governor’s Budget also includes language to enhance penalties for assaults against transportation workers, extending protections similar to those provided to many MTA and retail workers. These actions will improve safety for both workers and drivers. Just last year, while setting up a work zone on a Long Island Expressway ramp in Syosset, a car veered around Department of Transportation trucks, which were carrying attenuators. The driver got out of his car and accosted the highway maintenance crew for obstructing his trip up the ramp. Video of the beginning of the incident can be found here. The Governor’s proposal would hold bad actors accountable and deter actions like this in the future.

    State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “This commonsense legislative package put forward by Governor Hochul will provide much needed worker safety protection and peace of mind for thousands of State Department of Transportation highway forces by making the work zone camera program permanent, and increasing punishment against those who threaten to do them harm. Our highway workers deserve the respect of the traveling public every second they are out there doing their jobs in the name of safety. I strongly believe that both pieces of legislation will prompt more New Yorkers to slow down, pay attention and think twice before threatening or physically hitting one of our workers.”

    New York State DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder said. “As someone who spends a lot of time in a car driving across the State, I drive past road work zones all the time, and I unfortunately see too many people driving in ways that put road maintenance crews and other drivers at risk. Taking the time to slow down and move over can prevent a tragedy and make sure we all get to our destinations safely.”

    New York State Thruway Authority Executive Director Frank G. Hoare said, “The Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement program is a critical tool to enhance safety in work zones across the State. We are committed to enhancing safety for all highway workers and strongly support Governor Hochul’s proposal to make this effective program permanent.”

    New York State Bridge Authority Executive Director Dr. Minosca Alcantara said, “There is no excuse for speeding and reckless driving in work zones. All of our fellow New Yorkers who are out working on the roads need to get home safe to their families. Expanding AWZSE to the Bridge Authority and making it permanent across the State is imperative to ensure crews are safe while doing their jobs.”

    MTA Bridges and Tunnels President Catherine Sheridan said, “AWZSE is changing motorist behavior for the better: drivers are slowing down, resulting in fewer work zone accidents and injuries. This successful pilot program has made our roadways safer for both drivers and workers in construction zones. I look forward to this initiative becoming permanent and being expanded for widespread use.”

    State Senator Jeremy Cooney said, “Our highway employees work day in and day out to maintain our roads and keep New Yorkers safe, it’s only right that we prioritize their safety while on the job. In my role as Chair of The Senate Transportation Committee, I am always committed to protecting these vital workers, which is why I carry the Senate legislation expanding the automated work zone camera program while making it permanent. I thank Governor Hochul for her leadership on worker safety across New York.”

    Assemblymember William B. Magnarelli said, “Protecting our workers is of utmost importance. The investments are critical and will help reduce fatalities and injuries on New York’s highways.”

    New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento said, “Keeping highway workers safe is a priority for the Union Movement. These workers endure hazardous conditions while performing their jobs for our safety; we must protect them. We thank Governor Hochul for her commitment to addressing enforcement and more aggressive repercussions for repeat violators who endanger the workforce that keeps our roads safe and our infrastructure running smoothly.”

    New York State Building and Construction Trades Council President Gary LaBarbera said, “It is well-known that construction sites are inherently dangerous and the added hazards and less-controllable variants of roadways and highspeed traffic only increase the risks for highway workers. This is why we must continue to push forward key legislation that encourages drivers to proceed with more caution and mindfulness around highway work areas and holds them accountable when they act recklessly. We applaud Governor Hochul for her ongoing leadership and action on this important issue. Every hard-working New Yorker, including our brave tradesmen and tradeswomen working on our roadways, deserve to return home safely to their families at the end of each shift.”

    LiUNA Vice President and New England Regional Manager Donato A. Bianco, Jr. said, “The Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement pilot program has effectively caused drivers to slow down and pay attention, helping to protect the men and women working tirelessly to keep our highway system operational and properly maintained. LIUNA has proudly and staunchly advocated for this program since its inception, and its inclusion by Governor Hochul and the Senate in their respective proposed budgets demonstrates a strong commitment to prioritizing workers’ safety. We all owe it to the workers that skillfully do this dangerous job to take every possible action to ensure they go home safely at the end of the day, and we look forward to seeing the program included in the final enacted Budget.”

    CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan said, “CSEA applauds Governor Hochul’s leadership on this issue and calls on the New York State Legislature to make the Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement program permanent.”

    CSEA Thruway Local President Sean Kennedy said, “We must explore all avenues to protecting road and highway workers risking their lives every day. The AWZSE program serves as a deterrent to distracted and reckless driving while boosting safety for workers as well as the traveling public.”

    New York State Public Employees Federation President Wayne Spence said, “PEF believes that all public employees should be able to go to their jobs, perform their duties professionally and return home safely to their families after work. Too often, PEF members are harassed or assaulted on the job or injured unnecessarily at work. PEF supports Governor Hochul’s Budget proposal to expand the use of automated work zone cameras to ensure drivers are alert and maintaining an appropriate speed in work zones. PEF also supports the Governor’s proposal to increase the penalties for assaults and harassment of department of transportation workers and urges the Governor and both houses of the Legislature to expand these increased penalties for assaults against any public employee in the performance of their duties. The time has come to address these issues on behalf of New York’s dedicated public employees.”

    New York Construction Materials Association President and CEO Ron Epstein said, “We wholeheartedly support Governor Hochul’s steadfast commitment to enhancing work zone safety and strengthening protections for transportation workers. The critical safety measures outlined in the Governor’s Budget proposal are essential for safeguarding the lives of the dedicated professionals who work tirelessly on our roads, ensuring they return home safely to their families at the end of each shift. We commend the Governor for her leadership in prioritizing these vital efforts and we stand ready to collaborate to make our work zones safer for everyone.”

    Associated General Contractors of New York State President and CEO Mike Elmendorf said, “Working in a work zone on a road or highway is inherently dangerous, but it is made needlessly so by all too frequent excessive speed and distracted driving. That’s why the construction industry and our partners in government, and labor worked hard to enact New York’s automated work zone speed enforcement program — and it is working. While it has documented shockingly high speeds in work zones, it is succeeding in getting drivers to use caution and slow down in work zones. That keeps both drivers and the men and women working there safer. We commend Governor Hochul for her efforts to make sure construction workers and drivers alike can return safely to their homes and families by creating this important program — and this year proposing to make it permanent and increase penalties for those who are still speeding in work zones. Let’s stick with what works and make this critical program permanent this year.”

    American Automobile Association New York State Safety Committee Chairman John Corlett said, “With the construction season about to get fully underway, work zones and construction zones will be popping up on roads across the Empire State. AAA is supporting the Governor’s plan to make work zone speed cameras permanent. April 21 will mark the beginning of National Work Zone Awareness Week. As the weather gets better, speeds will start picking up, which makes the roads riskier for everyone and we need responsible drivers who will safely navigate work zones to ensure that everyone makes it home to their families at the end of the day.”

    New York State Association of Town Superintendents of Highways President and Town of Elmira Highway Superintendent Matt Mustico said, “The people working on our roads deserve to go home safe at the end of the day. It’s that simple. The Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement program is already making a difference — drivers are slowing down and paying more attention. That’s exactly what’s needed. Making this program permanent is common sense. On behalf of town highway superintendents and our association stakeholder members across New York State, we urge the Legislature to include this critical safety measure in the final State Budget. Protecting our highway workers while keeping our roads safe for New Yorkers should be something we can all agree on.”

    Greater Capital Region Building and Construction Trades Council President Michael Lyons said, “The expansion of work zone camera systems in New York reflects the commitment of the State to protecting transportation workers and ensuring their rights and safety on the job. The Greater Capital Region Building and Construction Trades Council represents over 22,000 Union construction workers in the area and the State’s focus on improving working conditions, reducing accidents and ensuring workers are equipped with the necessary safety training and resources is an initiative that we can back unequivocally.”

    New York State Association of Towns Executive Director Christopher A. Koetzle said, “The New York Association of Towns is committed to protecting the dedicated professionals who ensure the safety and maintenance of our roads. We strongly urge state legislative leaders to include transportation worker safety initiatives as part of the State Budget, ensuring a safer work environment for those who keep our infrastructure running smoothly.”

    New York State Conference of Mayors Executive Director Barbara Van Epps said, “NYCOM commends Governor Hochul and Department of Transportation Commissioner Dominguez, for their commitment to prioritizing the safety of our state and local transportation workers. Ensuring a secure work environment is a fundamental responsibility of the State, and no employee should face threats, harassment or physical harm while performing their duties. These proposals are critical to safeguarding the men and women who maintain our roadways and send a strong message that any form of violence against them is unacceptable.”

    Long Island Contractors’ Association Executive Director Marc Herbst said, “Protecting our workers is foundational to every issue we advocate for as an industry. There is no question that we need to do all we can to ensure that the workers who go out to build, repair and maintain our vital infrastructure have every protection we can provide. Both the expansion of the work zone safety camera program and transportation worker protection from harassment and assault are vital to ensure our workers know we have their backs and truly appreciate their contributions to our roadways.”

    Construction Industry Council Executive Director John Cooney, Jr. said, “The Construction Industry Council of Westchester and Hudson Valley Inc. thanks Governor Kathy Hochul for including in her Executive Budget the inclusion of both the expansion of automated work zone camera program and transportation worker protection from harassment and assault. We thank NYSDOT Commissioner Marie Theresa Dominguez and New York State Thruway Authority Executive Director Frank Hoare for standing up for transportation worker safety and highlighting the need for these two important budget worker safety items. The construction and transportation industries deserve to have all workers involved to have a safe and protected work environment. The proposals for the expanded work zone camera program and expanded transportation worker harassment and assault protections deserve to be a final product of this year’s New York State Budget.”

    New York State Association of Counties Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario said, “Our dedicated county highway crews work all hours of the day and night to maintain and improve our local roads and bridges, ensuring the safety of all who travel them. It is imperative that we take every measure possible to protect these essential workers from harassment, assault and reckless drivers. The New York State Association of Counties stands firmly in support of initiatives aimed at safeguarding our transportation workers and enhancing their well-being.”

    Verra Mobility Executive Vice President Jon Baldwin said, “New York State has demonstrated tremendous leadership with the Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement pilot program, and the results speak for themselves. Drivers are slowing down, paying attention and prioritizing safety in work zones. New York’s continued investment in this initiative reflects a dedication to fostering safer work environments and safer roads for all. As leaders in smart transportation solutions, we applaud the State’s commitment to safety and support a permanent solution for protecting lives.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Donald Trump’s ‘chilling effect’ on free speech and dissent is threatening US democracy

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dafydd Townley, Teaching Fellow in US politics and international security, University of Portsmouth

    The second Donald Trump administration has already sent shockwaves through the political establishment on both sides of the Atlantic. Overseas, the focus has been on the administration’s apparent dismantling of the post-war international order and Trump’s apparent pivot away from America’s traditional allies towards a warmer relationship with Russia and Vladimir Putin. But within the United States itself, the greatest concerns are associated with administration actions that, for many, suggest a deliberate destruction of American democracy.

    Such fears in the US are not isolated to the political elites, but are shared by citizens across the entire nation. But what is also emerging is a concerted assault on people’s ability to push back – or even complain – about some of the measures being introduced by Trump 2.0. This will inevitably result in what is often called a “chilling effect”, where it becomes too hard – or too dangerous – to voice dissent.

    Many of Trump’s policies – the mass deportations, the wholesale sacking of public servants by Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), the decision to revoke birthright citizenship for the children of undocumented immigrants – have been challenged in the courts. The Trump administration is now embroiled in a range of legal challenges. It is here that Trump’s disdain for a legal system that has temporarily blocked the wishes of the president has emerged.

    Chilling effect

    Judicial decisions calling for the administration to reverse or pause some of these policies have been greeted by Trump and some of his senior colleagues (including Musk and the vice-president J.D.Vance), with noisy complaints at judicial interference in government. Even, in some cases, calls for the impeachment of judges who rule against the government.

    Not only did the administration ignore the court’s ruling that suspended the forced expulsion of Venezuelans to El Salvador, some of whom were in the US legally, but Trump attacked the judge on social media calling him a corrupt “radical left lunatic” and called for his impeachment.

    This stirred the chief justice of the Supreme Court, John Glover Roberts Jr., to intervene. He reminded the president that America doesn’t settle its disputes, saying that the “normal appellate review process exists for that purpose”. Later, Tom Homan, Trump’s chief adviser on immigration issues, told ABC News that the administration would abide by court rulings on the matter.

    The pressure being brought to bear on America’s legal system has not stopped at the judiciary. Trump has recently targeted some of America’s biggest and most powerful law firms, seemingly for no other reason than their acting for clients who have opposed his administration.

    On March 25, Trump signed an executive order targeting Jenner & Block, one of whose partners, Andrew Weissmann, worked with special prosecutor Robert Mueller on the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. The executive order calls for the firms to be blacklisted from government work and for their employees to have any security clearances removed, for them to be barred from any federal government contracts and refused access to federal government buildings. A death warrant for the firm in other words.

    Sign up to receive our weekly World Affairs Briefing newsletter from The Conversation UK. Every Thursday we’ll bring you expert analysis of the big stories in international relations.

    This follows the news that the head of the prestigious law firm Paul Weiss, Brad Karp, had signed a deal with the White House committing to providing millions of dollars worth of pro-bono legal work for causes nominated by the president. He’s also agreed to stop using diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies, which had been faced with a similar fate.

    Silencing dissent

    This administration’s chilling effect has also extended to an attack on press freedom. Trump has expelled established news organisations from the Pentagon, curtailed access to press events for the esteemed Associated Press, and taken control of the White House press pool, sidelining major media outlets.

    These actions mark a significant downgrading of press freedom in America. They are undermining the role of independent journalism in their key function of holding power to account. By restricting access and silencing critical voices, his administration has raised concerns over transparency and the free flow of information in the domestic media landscapes.

    Universities have traditionally been bastions of independent thought. We saw that with the massive protests against US policy towards Israel and Palestine which have roiled campuses during the conflict in Gaza. But universities are also seen by many in the administration as a hotbed of “woke” activism. Accordingly Trump 2.0 has fixed its sights on one of the most prominent US universities: Columbia.

    Citing what it says is a repeated failure to protect students from antisemitic harassment, the administration cancelled US$400m (£310 million) of federal contracts with the university. Columbia caved in to the pressure moments before the administration’s deadline passed. It agreed to overhaul its disciplinary procedures and “review” its regional studies programmes, starting with those covering the Middle East.

    Columbia’s academic staff are horrified. They are launching legal action against the government, alleging that “the Trump administration is coercing Columbia University to do its bidding and regulate speech and expression on campus”.

    Democracy in peril

    Why is this all so worrying? The legal system, the media and universities are the pillars of US democratic freedoms. The Trump administration’s undermining of these institutions is a blatant attempt to impose an authoritarian rule by bypassing any counterbalance to executive power. And the US Supreme Court has ruled that he is almost entirely immune from prosecution while doing it.

    The checks and balances system of government in the US was designed to ensure that no single branch could dominate the political process. But partisan loyalty, and loyalty to Trump over the party, now outweighs constitutional responsibility for the majority of those within the Republican Party.

    American democracy is under threat. Not from the external existential threats it faced over the past century such as communism and Islamic fundamentalism, but from within its own system. Those Americans who are terrified about this threat are trying to fight back, but Trump’s assault on dissent is so chilling that this is becoming increasingly dangerous.

    Dafydd Townley 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. Donald Trump’s ‘chilling effect’ on free speech and dissent is threatening US democracy – https://theconversation.com/donald-trumps-chilling-effect-on-free-speech-and-dissent-is-threatening-us-democracy-253139

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How two recent productions of Oedipus offer different meanings through the role of the chorus

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Will Shüler, Vice-Dean of Education and Senior Lecturer, School of Performing and Digital Arts, Royal Holloway University of London

    The London theatre scene was all abuzz in January 2024 when two different star-studded West End productions of the ancient Greek tragedy Oedipus were announced within minutes of each other.

    The first production of the Sophocles tragedy, adapted and directed by Robert Icke and starring Mark Strong and Leslie Manville, ran from October 2024 to January 2025, with a Broadway transfer to New York’s Roundabout Theatre Company planned for this autumn.

    The second – which closes at the end of this month – opened weeks later at the Old Vic in a version by Ella Hickson, co-directed by Hofesh Shechter and Matthew Warchus, and starring Rami Malek and Indira Varma.

    Historically, ancient Greek tragedies were retellings of ancient myths, performed in ways that encouraged the audience to reflect upon an old story in a new way. Two London productions of Oedipus might seem like overkill, but they actually demonstrate the versatility of the tragic form.

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    Both productions rework the myth, allowing contemporary audiences to consider different perspectives on the play’s themes of power and knowledge.

    One of the defining aspects of the ancient Greek tragedy is the chorus. Originally they performed in the orchestra of an ancient theatre – the space between the actors and the audience. Their performance of odes was in song and dance form, and the content might reflect upon the play’s events from their perspective, provide background that was either directly or indirectly related to the plot, or spur on the action of the play.

    In Oedipus, the chorus is comprised of citizens of Thebes. The city is suffering from a terrible curse and Oedipus, the king, takes it upon himself to rectify this by following the advice of the gods to discover and punish the murderer of the previous king, Laius.

    The chorus first enters singing – and dancing – about the disasters the people have been facing and prays for their end. For the rest of the play, from the foot of the palace, the chorus observes Oedipus’s investigation, horrific discovery and the piteous aftermath for his family.

    The treatment of the role of the chorus in these two West End productions are essential to the different meanings they make and how they invite audiences to reflect upon the myth in relation to our own world.

    In the Icke adaptation, Oedipus is with his family (wife Jocasta, mother Merope, brother-in-law Creon and three adult children Antigone, Polynices and Eteocles) at his campaign headquarters on the evening of the election.

    In this version the challenge the city faces is governmental corruption. Icke has included more family members than are in Sophocles’s original text and cut the role of the chorus entirely. Its exclusion means the governmental corruption is seen almost entirely from the point of view of this political family.

    The only perspective we get from the citizens is an opening video sequence as Oedipus is interviewed by the press, and the frequent election result updates. The people elect Oedipus. They want what he promises – an end of governmental corruption.

    Icke’s Oedipus strives to do the right thing and break from the string of corrupt, deceitful, narcissistic politicians who have been plaguing the city. The play thereby draws contemporary connections to “draining the swamp” and the “fake news” accusations of Donald Trump.

    Without reflections from the people (the chorus), the play becomes a personal drama about the family’s interests and public image. Oedipus and Jocasta’s grisly ends are entirely about their personal horror at the discovery they have made – that she is actually his mother.

    There is no reflection on how the play’s ending relates to the ongoing trouble faced by the citizens. In this version of events the final impression feels pessimistic – even when leaders try to do the right thing, the system ensures that they will fail.

    In the Old Vic production, the play is set in a Thebes that is suffering from extreme drought (likely alluding to the climate crisis). In Hickson’s adaptation, the chorus remains, but their words have been removed. Only their dance is performed between the scenes of the actors.

    This is not to say that the Sophocles text has been “translated” into movement by Shechter, but rather that the historic function of the chorus (to contemplate, to reflect, to spur on) remains by means of what is communicated in dance – which, according to the Guardian’s theatre critic David Jays becomes “the irresistible core of the tragedy”.

    In the play’s script, each scene ends with the deceptively simple word: “dance”. In performance, Oedipus’ investigation into what is causing the drought, contemplation of prophecies and public speeches to the people of Thebes are all interspersed with Shechter’s evocative choreography. We see their suffering, we see their prayers, we see their perseverance. Their needs never fade into the background but remain the consistent pulse of the play.

    In this version, when Oedipus has his moment of revelation, the rain comes and the people dance in it. This moment imparts impressions of renewed faith, solidarity, fruitfulness, pride, rebirth and life continuing.

    Oedipus enters having blinded himself, not out of personal horror, but in order to cleanse the city and ensure its continued godly favour. In contrast to the Icke production, Schechter and Warchus’s version – though still tragic – is ultimately hopeful.

    The leader has taken responsibility for what they have done and put the needs of the people over his own ambitions and desires. The last moment is not Oedipus’s. It is the chorus’s – and we watch them dance.

    Will Shüler 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. How two recent productions of Oedipus offer different meanings through the role of the chorus – https://theconversation.com/how-two-recent-productions-of-oedipus-offer-different-meanings-through-the-role-of-the-chorus-252862

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Medical Device Manufacturer And Its Owner Agree To Pay $550,000 To Resolve False Claims Act Allegations

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

              GRAND RAPIDS – The United States has reached a settlement agreement with The Prometheus Group (Prometheus), a New Hampshire manufacturer of rectal therapeutic systems and probes, and Richard Poore, its president and sole owner, to resolve a civil lawsuit filed against them. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants violated the False Claims Act by causing health care providers to bill Medicare for services in which the providers improperly re-used single-user rectal sensors and single-use catheters on multiple patients.  As part of the settlement, Prometheus and Poore will pay $550,000 to resolve the claims against them.  

              “Medicare beneficiaries deserve treatment that is reasonable and safe,” said Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Andrew B. Birge. “Device manufacturers and medical practitioners cannot flaunt the rules and jeopardize the wellbeing of patients in our community.”

              “Manufacturers and providers must ensure that medical devices are utilized in a manner that ensures the safety of patients and complies with Federal laws and regulations,” said Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General – Chicago Region.  “Our agency, working in conjunction with our law enforcement partners, will always work to hold those accountable who jeopardize patient safety or submit false claims to Federal health care programs.”

              “The FBI is committed to investigating bad actors and protecting the public from healthcare professionals and top executives who exploit the trust of patients by prioritizing greed and convenience over safe health practices,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The FBI remains dedicated to safeguarding public health and maintaining the integrity of the medical system.”

              Prometheus manufactures and sells device systems for use in pelvic muscle rehabilitation (PMR), a non-surgical therapy to eliminate or reduce symptoms of pelvic floor disorders, including urinary and fecal incontinence. Specifically, Prometheus has manufactured and marketed the Pathway CTS 2000 Pelvic Floor Training System and the Morpheus System.  Both systems required the use of a rectal pressure probe that is inserted into a patient’s rectum during therapy. Prometheus manufactured its own sensor for use with the Pathway System and encouraged its customers to use a competitor’s anorectal manometry catheter with the Morpheus System.

              The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared the Prometheus rectal pressure sensor to be used as a single-user device and the anorectal manometry catheter to be used as a single-use device.  For example, the instructions for use identify the rectal pressure sensor as “a potential bio-hazard” and state: “This sensor is restricted for single person use only. Use by another person is strictly prohibited by Federal Regulations.” Similarly, the anorectal manometry catheter was cleared by the FDA as a disposable single-use device, with packaging that states: “Do not re-use.”

              According to the United States’ complaint, the defendants knew of these restrictions, but for years encouraged and instructed health care providers to reuse the rectal pressure sensors and anorectal manometry catheters on multiple patients, using a glove or condom to cover the probes, as a way to reduce the overhead costs associated with Prometheus’s systems.  The government alleged that using the devices in this manner, which exposed patients to unnecessary risk of infections, was not reasonable or necessary, and thus was ineligible for Medicare coverage. 

              The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan, with assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

              The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud.  One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act.  Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

              The lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, is captioned United States v. The Prometheus Group., et al., No. 22-cv-446 (W.D. Mich.).  The lawsuit was handled by Senior Trial Counsel Jay D. Majors and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew J. Hull. 

    The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. 

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Pittsburgh Felon Sentenced to Prison for Possessing and Attempting to Prevent the Seizure of Firearms

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 45 months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on his convictions of possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon and attempting to take action to prevent seizure, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on Javon Pope, 36.

    According to information presented to the Court, on the morning of November 19, 2019, agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation discovered Pope inside a Wilkinsburg residence at which another individual had just been arrested and officers had observed several firearms in plain view. The agents detained and searched Pope, finding a digital scale, a small amount of marijuana, and a cellular telephone. Upon the execution of a search warrant for the residence, agents found four firearms, but in different locations from where they had been initially observed by officers. A search warrant for Pope’s cellular telephone revealed an internet search for “how long does it take to get a search warrant” during the morning of November 19 while the FBI would have had the house secured pending the warrant, as well as a picture of the defendant with several of the firearms found in the residence. Pope has a prior felony conviction, and federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.

    The cell phone also revealed several telephone calls between Pope and a resident of the home beginning around the time the Pittsburgh S.W.A.T. Team arrived at the residence, during which Pope was informed that federal agents were at the home and intending to search it. It is a violation of federal law to attempt to take action to prevent seizure of items pursuant to a federal search warrant.

    Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

    Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Pittsburgh S.W.A.T. Team for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Pope.

    This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations 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 agencies against criminal networks.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: PIMCO Names Janet Yellen and Raghuram Rajan to its Global Advisory Board (GAB); Gordon Brown Becomes Chair

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Janet Yellen served as Treasury Secretary in the Biden Administration and Chair of the Federal Reserve from 2014 to 2018
    • Raghuram Rajan served as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India and as Chief Economist at the International Monetary Fund
    • Gordon Brown, former UK Prime Minister, becomes Chair of the GAB
    • Ben Bernanke, former Chair of the Federal Reserve, retiring from role as Chair of PIMCO’s GAB after 10 years service
    • Mark Carney, Canadian Prime Minister, also recently stepped down from GAB

    NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PIMCO, one of the world’s premier fixed income investment managers, announces the addition of Janet Yellen, former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and Chair of the Federal Reserve, and Raghuram Rajan, former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India and Chief Economist at the International Monetary Fund, to its Global Advisory Board. The Board provides PIMCO with insights on global economic, political, and strategic developments and their relevance for financial markets.

    In addition, Gordon Brown, former UK Prime Minister (2007-2010) and Chancellor of the Exchequer (1997-2007), becomes Chair of the Board. Mr. Brown, who has been a member of PIMCO’s GAB since its founding in 2015, replaces Ben Bernanke, who is retiring after serving 10 years as Chair of the GAB. Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, previously announced his resignation from PIMCO’s GAB in January, when he announced his candidacy for political office. He had served on the Board since 2020.

    Before serving as the 78th U.S. Secretary of the Treasury from 2021-2025, Secretary Yellen was Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve from 2014 to 2018 and Vice Chair 2010 to 2014. Secretary Yellen has also held positions at Harvard University, the London School of Economics, and the University of California, Berkeley, where she is now professor emeritus. Her extensive contributions to economic policy and research have established her as a leading figure in the field.

    Dr. Raghuram Rajan’s career is distinguished by his influential roles in global economic institutions. He was the 23rd Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from 2013 to 2016 – where he implemented key reforms to stabilize the Indian economy – and was Chief Economist and Director of Research at the International Monetary Fund from 2003 to 2006. He is also a Professor of Finance at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

    “Secretary Yellen and Dr. Rajan’s deep expertise in economic policy make them remarkable additions to our Global Advisory Board,” said Emmanuel Roman, PIMCO’s Chief Executive Officer. “Their insights will be crucial for us as we continue to navigate the complexities of the global economy and assess their potential impact on markets for our clients.”

    “Understanding the complexities and impact of central bank policymaking, international governance and economic conditions on fast-moving markets are critical components of our investment strategy. Secretary Yellen and Dr. Rajan’s invaluable insights and experience, and Prime Minister Brown’s leadership as chair, will provide PIMCO clients with deep expertise and knowledge in assessing investment risk and opportunity,” said Dan Ivascyn, PIMCO’s Group Chief Investment Officer.

    “We also want to thank Chair Ben Bernanke and Prime Minister Carney for their leadership and valued perspectives over many years on the Global Advisory Board during their constant presence at our investment forums and in guidance to our Investment Committee. We will miss their thoughtful insights and wish them well,” said Mr. Roman.

    The Global Advisory Board consists of a diverse group of experts who provide strategic insights into global economic, political, and strategic developments. Secretary Yellen and Dr. Rajan will join Gordon Brown, Joshua Bolten, former White House Chief of Staff, and Michele Flournoy, U.S. defense policy advisor in two U.S. presidential administrations.

    Janet Yellen
    Janet L. Yellen served as 78th Secretary of the Treasury from 2021 through 2025. Previously, she was a Distinguished Fellow in Residence at the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy at the Brookings Institution. She also served as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from 2014 through February 2018, Vice Chair of the Board of Governors from 2010 to 2014 and president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco from 2004 to 2010. Dr. Yellen previously served as a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from August 1994 through February 1997, whereupon she was appointed by President Bill Clinton to serve as chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, a post she held until August 1999. Dr. Yellen has written on a wide variety of macroeconomic issues, specializing in the causes, mechanisms, and implications of unemployment. She began her career as an assistant professor at Harvard University and then served as an economist with the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors before joining the faculty of the London School of Economics in 1978. In 1980 she joined the faculty of the University of California at Berkeley, where she was named the Eugene E. and Catherine M. Trefethen Professor of Business and Professor of Economics, and where she is currently a professor emeritus. Dr. Yellen graduated from Brown University in 1967 and received her PhD in economics from Yale University in 1971. She received the Wilbur Cross Medal from Yale in 1997, honorary degrees from Brown, Bard College, NYU, the London School of Economics and Political Science, the University of Warwick, Yale, the University of Michigan and the University of Pennsylvania. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and has served as President of the American Economic Association and the Western Economic Association and a fellow of the Yale Corporation. She is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Economic Association.

    Raghuram Rajan

    Raghuram Rajan is the Katherine Dusak Miller Distinguished Service Professor of Finance at Chicago Booth. He was the 23rd Governor of the Reserve Bank of India between September 2013 and September 2016. Between 2003 and 2006, Dr. Rajan was the Chief Economist and Director of Research at the International Monetary Fund. Dr. Rajan’s research interests are in banking, corporate finance, and economic development. The books he has written include Breaking the Mold: Reimagining India’s Economic Future with Rohit Lamba, The Third Pillar: How the State and Markets hold the Community Behind 2019 which was a finalist for the Financial Times Business Book of the Year prize and Fault Lines: How Hidden Fractures Still Threaten the World Economy, for which he was awarded the Financial Times prize for Business Book of the Year in 2010. Dr. Rajan is a member of the Group of Thirty. He was the President of the American Finance Association in 2011 and is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In January 2003, the American Finance Association awarded Dr. Rajan the inaugural Fischer Black Prize for the best finance researcher under the age of 40. The other awards he has received include the Infosys prize for the Economic Sciences in 2012, the Deutsche Bank Prize for Financial Economics in 2013, Euromoney Central Banker Governor of the Year 2014, and Banker Magazine (FT Group) Central Bank Governor of the Year 2016. Dr. Rajan is the Chairman of the Per Jacobsson Foundation, the senior economic advisor to BDT Capital, and a managing director at Andersen Tax.

    About PIMCO
    PIMCO is a global leader in active fixed income with deep expertise across public and private markets. We invest our clients’ capital across a range of fixed income and credit opportunities, drawing upon our decades of experience navigating complex debt markets. Our flexible capital base and deep relationships with issuers have helped us become one of the world’s largest providers of traditional and nontraditional solutions for companies that need financing and investors who seek strong risk-adjusted returns.

    Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, including the performance of financial markets, the investment performance of PIMCO’s sponsored investment products and separately managed accounts, general economic conditions, future acquisitions, competitive conditions and government regulations, including changes in tax laws. Readers should carefully consider such factors. Further, such forward-looking statements speak only on the date at which such statements are made. PIMCO undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

    Contact:
    Michael Reid
    PIMCO – Media Relations
    Ph. 212-597-1301
    Email: Michael.Reid@pimco.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King: Top Three Shipbuilding Challenges: “Workforce, Workforce, Workforce”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a Senate Armed Services subcommittee (SASC) hearing on sea power, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) discussed the importance of supporting our nation’s shipbuilding capacity with senior U.S. Navy and government personnel. In a conversation with witnesses Dr. Brett A. Seidle, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition, and Shelby S. Oakley, Director of Contracting and National Security Acquisitions at the Government Accountability Office (GAO), King confirmed the Navy’s willingness to support the shipbuilding workforce through investments in childcare, housing, and professional development.
    “If I were to list the three biggest problems right now in developing shipyard capacity, the first would be workforce, the second would be workforce, the third would be workforce. The Navy has to be thinking in unconventional ways. For example, one of the most important things to develop workforce is to have childcare facilities, parking, housing in the area. We’ve had people recruited to Bath who get there and cannot find a place to live. I believe that has to be part of the mentality of developing the workforce. And then of course training and all those details that go to attracting people in this economy. Finally, on the development of the infrastructure, it is the infrastructure itself. There has to be a joint investment in the private shipyards and the Navy in terms of infrastructure buildings, more efficient layout of the facility, and those kind of steps are very important. I’m giving you advice, but this is based on my experiences working with the shipyards…My final question is to GAO. You mentioned 60 or so recommendations that have not been followed. What are the top three recommendations that if you were pressed you think would make a difference?,” Senator King asked.
    “You’re really pressing my memory on 60 recommendations, but I think most pressing in the front of my mind are our recommendations related to design and the changes we would like to see the Navy make with regard to like you said, ensuring the design is finalized before we are awarding a contract for construction and before we are starting to bend metal. Because the problems arise when those design changes creep in as the pressures of a fixed price contract begin to mount. That leads to challenges overall. It is exactly what we are seeing with the frigate program. We made adjustments to the Navy that they ensure that they have matured their basic and functional design before awarding the contract for detailed design and construction. Another recommendation we made was related to ensuring that detailed design on each individual block is finished before you begin construction on that block. Most of those recommendations are aimed at ensuring that there is less of a likelihood these surprises will pop up at a time where the pressure will be high to continue to proceed because of schedule or money challenges,” responded Director Oakley.
    Senator King also asked Acting Assistant Secretary Seidle about his support for a smooth transition between ship designs to ensure workforce and production sustainability.
    “A couple of technical observations before I get to the broader questions. One is, as you know, DDX is in the design stage and the concern from the point of view of the shipyards, both in Bath and Mississippi, is there would be a smooth transition between DDG 51 and DDX. What concerns us is a timing trough because you cannot turn on and turn off welders. I hope as you plan out the transition process, that it is top of mind. It would be disastrous for the yards if there was a lag in demand between the two ships. Are you with me on that?” asked Senator King.
    “Yes. We saw the lessons from DDG 51, to DDG 1000 back in the day, and how some of that worked out. We will clearly be intentional about the transition of DDG 51 to DDGX to keep the production line to feather in DDG X and then only taper out DDG 51 when it is ready,” replied Acting Assistant Secretary Seidle.
    As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator King has championed funding for both Bath Iron Works (BIW) and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY). Recently, Senator King and Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, discussed the importance of utilizing lessons from the private sector to maintain best practices for ship designing, building, and maintenance. Last year, he strongly urged Mr. Frederick J. Stefany, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition to prioritize long-term investments in the defense industrial base – including Bath Iron Works—to avoid a ‘trough’ between contracted work, resulting in a likely loss of workers and threatening American national security. In the enacted FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act, Senator King secured authorization for the procurement of an addition DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyer that Bath Iron Works will build.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Praises U.S. Supreme Court Decision Upholding ‘Ghost Gun’ Regulations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 7-2 opinion upholding Biden-era federal regulations on “ghost guns,” mail-order kits that allow people to build untraceable weapons at home, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), who supported the rule to crack down on the irresponsible proliferation of ghost gun kits, called the court’s decision a victory for public safety and commonsense that must be followed up with further action.
    Senator Reed stated: “Ghost guns are custom made for criminals because they are untraceable.  The court’s ruling is a big win for public safety and commonsense.  These weapon kits must be regulated like other firearms.  That includes thorough background checks before being sold and accountability for the manufacturers. It’s past time to close federal loopholes and this 7-2 ruling provides bipartisan momentum to do just that.  We’ve seen too many innocent lives taken by ghost guns.  I will continue working to get ghost guns off the streets and to preserve these critical tools for law enforcement to keep officers and the public safe from crime.”
    Traditional firearms sold by licensed dealers require serial numbers, and buyers must complete a background check before obtaining a gun.  But ghost gun kits and components, which are often sold online, lack serial numbers or an identifying mark to indicate its manufacturer, and are difficult for law enforcement to trace but easy for criminals to acquire without a background check.
    Ghost guns can come in a variety of forms, from handguns to semi-automatic versions of assault rifles like AR-15s.  They are a growing street weapon of choice for those who would fail background checks, such as felons convicted of domestic violence or subject to court orders, violent extremists, and teenagers too young to legally own a gun.
    Unregistered, untraceable guns were used in about 19,000 crimes in 2021, according to the federal government.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed & Young Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Promote Service & Boost Civic Engagement

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – In an effort to bring Americans together through service to the nation and their fellow citizens, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Todd Young (R-IN) reintroduced legislation that would create a whole of government approach to addressing military, national, and public service needs.
    This legislation is based on recommendations published by the bipartisan National Commission on Military, National and Public Service that Senator Reed and the late Senator John McCain established to review the military selective service process and consider methods to increase participation in military, national, and other public service to address the needs of the nation. 
    The Commission published its final report and recommendations five years ago, just as the pandemic began to grip the nation, setting off a decline in the rates of volunteerism from 30 percent to 23.2 percent according to data from AmeriCorps.  The Commission called for a ten-year goal for five million Americans to begin participating in military, national, or public service each year.
    Additionally, the Commission set targets for ensuring there are more than enough qualified individuals seeking to serve in the Armed Forces and for modernizing government personnel systems to attract and enable Americans with critical skills to enter public service. The Unity through Service Act would provide the architecture and focus to mobilize a collaborative approach across government to achieving these goals.
    According to the latest research compiled by AmeriCorps, volunteerism has begun to rebound following the pandemic with 28.3 percent of Americans formally volunteering in 2023, giving nearly five billion hours of service with an economic value of $167.2 billion.
    “Recent growth in volunteerism and service show that Americans are ready and willing to answer the call to serve, to come together and meet the challenges we are facing. We must create the conditions to mobilize them and strengthen opportunities to serve,” said Senator Reed. “That is why I am proud to join Senator Young in introducing the Unity through Service Act, reaffirming our national culture of service and elevating all forms of service by leveraging the strengths of our existing programs.”
    “Civic engagement and giving back to the community are woven into the fabric of the American spirit. Our bill would increase Americans’ awareness of service opportunities that target community-specific needs, while also appropriately stewarding taxpayer dollars,” said Senator Young.
    In addition to Senators Reed and Young, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) and was introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-6), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19), Jack Bergman (R-MI-1), and Don Bacon (R-NE-2).
    The Unity through Service Act would elevate all forms of service, making it easier for Americans to identify service opportunities that align with their skills and goals.
    This bill would establish an Interagency Council on Service to coordinate and lead initiatives that extend across military, national, and public service. The Council will be tasked with preparing and submitting to the President a national strategy on service, including a review of current programs, initiatives and online content.
    Furthermore, the Unity through Service Act would authorize a joint advertising, market research, and recruiting program with the Department of Defense (DOD), the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), and the Peace Corps to identify successful strategies and efficiently share this information across agencies. The bill would require a quadrennial report to Congress on initiatives to integrate military, national, and public service programs.
    This legislation is endorsed by the Service Year Alliance, America’s Service Commissions, Voices for National Service, and With Honor Action.
    “Service Year Alliance was proud to support the Unity Through Service Act when it was introduced, and we remain champions for the passage of this legislation today,” said Kristen Bennett, Chief Executive Officer of Service Year Alliance. “Americans want to serve, and it’s paramount that we bridge our efforts on military, national, and public service, as the Unity Through Service Act calls for, to best harness this goodwill for our shared future. As advocates for national service, we know that service years develop leaders, build skills for success in a changing economy, and offer solutions for creating more resilient communities — and we should be doing everything in our power to make it an opportunity for all. The Unity Through Service Act is a vital next step that brings us closer to achieving this vision.”
    “On behalf of our nation’s State and Territorial Service Commissions, we thank Sen. Reed (D-RI) and Sen. Young (R-IN) for their support of the bipartisan Unity Through National Service Act. National service enables Americans to address critical issues in our communities and instills a sense of mission and purpose in those that serve. We look forward to engaging with the Interagency Council on Service to advise the President on ways that national, military, and public service partners – and importantly our states – can work together to promote and expand opportunities to serve our country and improve those experiences,” said Kaira Esgate, CEO of America’s Service Commissions. “Critically, the Council would also develop new interagency partnerships to address national challenges and support the transition between branches of service and into careers. We urge Congress to advance this bipartisan legislation as soon as possible.”
    “National service is a powerful force for uniting Americans in common purpose, and the Unity through Service Act represents an important step forward in ensuring more people can serve,” said AnnMaura Connolly, President of Voices for National Service. “By elevating service and fostering greater collaboration across agencies, this bill will help strengthen national service programs, open new pathways to service, and enable more Americans to contribute to their communities and country. The Voices for National Service community is grateful to Senators Reed and Young for their leadership and their continued commitment to expanding opportunities for service.”
    “As we celebrate the fifth anniversary National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service’s Inspired to Serve report, With Honor Action is proud to endorse the Unity Through Service Act. As a veteran-founded and veteran-led organization, we strongly believe in the critical role that service, both in and out of uniform, plays in our democracy. By creating an Interagency Council on Service and coordinating efforts across federal agencies, this bill strengthens civic engagement and promotes service opportunities for all Americans,” said Rye Barcott, CEO of With Honor Action. “We applaud the leadership of Senator Reed for his continued service to our nation.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Global population data is in crisis – here’s why that matters

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Andrew J Tatem, WorldPop Director, Professor of Spatial Demography and Epidemiology, University of Southampton

    Arthimedes/Shutterstock

    Every day, decisions that affect our lives depend on knowing how many people live where. For example, how many vaccines are needed in a community, where polling stations should be placed for elections or who might be in danger as a hurricane approaches. The answers rely on population data.

    But counting people is getting harder.

    For centuries, census and household surveys have been the backbone of population knowledge. But we’ve just returned from the UN’s statistical commission meetings in New York, where experts reported that something alarming is happening to population data systems globally.

    Census response rates are declining in many countries, resulting in large margins of error. The 2020 US census undercounted America’s Latino population by more than three times the rate of the 2010 census. In Paraguay, the latest census revealed a population one-fifth smaller than previously thought.

    South Africa’s 2022 census post-enumeration survey revealed a likely undercount of more than 30%. According to the UN Economic Commission for Africa, undercounts and census delays due to COVID-19, conflict or financial limitations have resulted in an estimated one in three Africans not being counted in the 2020 census round.

    When people vanish from data, they vanish from policy. When certain groups are systematically undercounted – often minorities, rural communities or poorer people – they become invisible to policymakers. This translates directly into political underrepresentation and inadequate resource allocation.

    As the Brookings Institution, a US research organisation, has highlighted, undercounts have “cost communities of colour political representation over the next decade”.

    This is happening because several factors have converged. Trust in government institutions is eroding worldwide, with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reporting that by late 2023, 44% of people across member countries had low or no trust in their national governments. Research shows a clear trend of declining trust specifically in representative institutions like parliaments and governments. This makes people less likely to respond to government-issued census requests.

    The COVID-19 pandemic created logistical nightmares for census takers. Many countries had to postpone their censuses. Budget cuts to statistical offices reduced capacity, while countries struggled with recruiting field staff.

    International funding for population data is also disappearing. The US-funded Demographic and Health Surveys program, which provided vital survey data across 90 countries for four decades, was terminated in February 2025. Unicef’s Multi-Indicator Cluster program, which carries out household surveys, faces an uncertain future amid shrinking global aid budgets. US government cuts to support for UN agencies and development banks undertaking census support will likely have further impacts.

    This is incredibly worrying to us as geography academics, because gathering accurate population data is fundamentally about making everyone visible. As population scientists Sabrina Juran and Arona Pistiner wrote, this information allows governments to plan for the future of a country and its people.

    The US census directly impacts the allocation of more than US$1.5 trillion (£1.2 trillion) in public resources each year. How can governments distribute healthcare funding without knowing who lives where? How can disaster response be effective if vulnerable populations are invisible in official population counts?

    Solutions that count

    Countries are adapting. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the transition to alternative census methodologies. Many countries turned to online questionnaires, telephone interviews and administrative data sources to reduce face-to-face interactions.

    The UN Economic Commission for Africa recommends that countries move from using paper forms for census data collection and embrace new digital technologies that can be cheaper and more reliable. Turkey’s switch in 2011 reduced census costs from US$48.3 million to US$13.9 million while improving data quality and timeliness, and nearly 80% of countries used tablets or smartphones for data collection in the 2020 round of censuses.

    Collecting census data digitally in Pakistan in 2023.
    Abdul Rauf Khan/Shutterstock

    At WorldPop, our research group at the University of Southampton, we’re also helping governments to develop solutions using new technologies. Buildings mapped from satellite imagery using AI, together with counts of populations from small areas, can help create detailed population estimates to support census implementation or provide estimates for undersurveyed areas.

    As we face growing challenges, from climate change to economic inequality, having accurate, reliable and robust population data isn’t a luxury. It’s essential for a functioning society. National statistical offices, UN agencies, academics, the private sector and donors must urgently focus on how to build cost-effective solutions to provide reliable and robust population data, especially in resource-poor settings where recent cuts will be felt hardest.

    When people disappear from the data, they risk disappearing from public policy too. Making everyone count starts with counting everyone.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Andrew J Tatem works for the University of Southampton, and is Director of WorldPop. His research on mapping populations has been funded by donors such as the Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust, GAVI.

    Jessica Espey works for the University of Southampton. Her research on data, statistics and evidence use has previously been funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Gates Foundation and others.

    – ref. Global population data is in crisis – here’s why that matters – https://theconversation.com/global-population-data-is-in-crisis-heres-why-that-matters-251751

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Britons increasingly trust each other – but trust in politicians has slumped since the pandemic

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Ben Seyd, Senior Lecturer in Politics, University of Kent

    ITS/Shutterstock

    One surprise in the early days of the pandemic was people’s increased willingness to trust political authorities. According to the British Social Attitudes survey (BSA), the proportion of people trusting government ministers rose from 15% in 2019 to 23% in 2020. Data from Ipsos MORI showed a similar bounce for trust in government ministers and politicians in 2021. Trust in government was also a significant factor in whether people complied with lockdown rules and other restrictions.

    Since then, however, people’s trust in government has plummeted. The latest BSA survey finds that, in 2023, just 14% of the population said they trust government “always” or “most of the time”. Fully 45% of the population trust government “almost never”. These are the most negative set of figures since the BSA began asking questions on trust almost four decades ago.

    This collapse in trust is perhaps unsurprising given the various government shenanigans over the past few years, notably Boris Johnson’s Downing Street lockdown parties and Liz Truss’s disastrous prime ministerial tenure. However, there is also evidence that Britons have become less trusting as a result of dashed expectations over the benefits of Brexit, negative views of government performance in areas like health, and cost of living pressures.

    Yet while Britons are less trusting of those with political authority, they appear to be more trusting in each other. Back in 1999, 29% of the population believed that “most people [in Britain] can be trusted”. Four decades on, that proportion has increased to 46%, topping the previous high of 43% in 1981. This might partly reflect the sense of collective endeavour and neighbourliness that was instilled during the pandemic, when we were encouraged to look out for, and help, other people. There is also evidence that, while people see the country as a whole as becoming more divided, at the local level perceptions of unity outweigh perceptions of division.

    This is a welcome shift, particularly since trust in other people is associated with a range of positive outcomes, including support for international cooperation and international organisations. In an uncertain and dangerous world, social trust may be an important factor shaping the willingness of states to work together.

    Wellbeing of politicians

    The decline of popular trust in government and politicians is concerning. Low trust is associated with support for populist politicians such as Donald Trump and upheavals like Brexit. Low trust could also significantly compromise public acceptance of, and compliance with, official messages and rules in a future pandemic.

    Distrust can also cause direct harm to public figures. As one of us (James) has shown, politicians are generally poor estimators of public trust in themselves. But where they do perceive widespread distrust, often because of repeated experiences of physical or online abuse and intimidation, this has a significant negative effect on their mental health and wellbeing.

    Messages of kindness and community around London during lockdown.
    Alex Yeung/Shutterstock

    Increased security around MPs – the cost of which jumped from £77,234.67 to £4,381,733.40 between 2014 and 2022 – is likely to protect them from the worst excesses of public distrust where it trickles over into extreme behaviour. Yet given the importance of contact for people’s trust, it could also inadvertently fuel more cynicism by increasing the physical distance between politicians and the public.

    The public’s declining regard for politicians and government should be a source of concern. We are hardly likely to recruit the calibre of politician we expect (and need), or indeed encourage a more diverse population of aspiring representatives, if the personal costs of holding elected office are so high.

    At the same time, a look at the bigger picture offers some reassurance. As one of us (Ben) has recently shown, there is little evidence that low trust induces popular scepticism towards democracy itself, or that it weakens public support for state spending or government programmes in key areas like healthcare.

    Trust on the frontline

    The nature and strength of Britain’s civic ties are revealed not only in our trust of politicians and institutions, but also in how we treat the people who provide public services, such as police officers and health workers.

    On the face of it, the picture is not pretty. Over the past few years, rates of public abuse towards frontline service providers have increased. In 2021, 18% of teachers reported having experienced verbal abuse from a parent or carer in the past year. In 2023, that figure had risen to 30%.

    A survey of police officers in 2022 found that 37% had experienced verbal insults at least once a week over the past year. This was an increase from the 29% of officers who reported a similar level of insults in 2020, although the figure dropped slightly in 2023 to 34%.

    Rates of physical abuse of London ambulance staff have more than doubled in four years, with 346 incidents recorded in 2019, increasing to 728 incidents in 2023. A similar picture of public abuse is found for frontline workers in the health service. Polling in 2023 found that 85% of GPs across the UK had received verbal abuse from members of the public during the past year. A 2021 survey by the British Medical Association found more than half of GPs, and one in five hospital doctors, had experienced verbal abuse in the past month.

    While majorities of the British public express trust in many frontline workers such as nurses and doctors (who currently attract 94% and 88% trust ratings), others appear to take a more negative view, extending even to abusive behaviour.

    Given the range of service providers facing such rising antipathy, it seems unlikely that the trigger for this was the pandemic. A better clue is provided by longer-term data on public treatment of doctors.

    Responses are to a survey question reading ‘In the last 12 months, have you personally experienced harassment, bullying or abuse at work from patients, their relatives or members of the public?’.
    Author provided, data from NHS Staff Survey

    NHS survey figures show that rates of abuse towards doctors declined between 2003 and 2011. (The wording of the relevant survey question changed in 2012, which restricts our ability to compare the more recent data). This was precisely the period when resources were pumped into the health service and public satisfaction with the NHS increased. This suggests that public interactions with frontline service workers like doctors are strongly shaped by the quality of the service they face.

    Indeed, GPs themselves ascribe the verbal abuse they and their staff experience to people’s dissatisfaction with the service, including discontent with access to health services. One underappreciated effect of austerity might thus be an increased public frustration with healthcare workers, which on occasion appears to extend to outright abuse.

    More accessible (read: better funded) public services might reduce some negativity towards frontline service workers. However, the important task of rebuilding people’s trust in politicians is – particularly given the negative coverage by much of Britain’s media – likely to be a trickier task.

    James Weinberg receives funding from the Economic and Social Research Council.

    Ben Seyd 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. Britons increasingly trust each other – but trust in politicians has slumped since the pandemic – https://theconversation.com/britons-increasingly-trust-each-other-but-trust-in-politicians-has-slumped-since-the-pandemic-252762

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s America is facing an Andrew Jackson moment – and it’s bad news for the constitution

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sean Lang, Visiting Fellow in History, Anglia Ruskin University

    Statue of Andrew Jackson in Layfayette Square, Washington DC. Flickr

    How do you deal with an American president who does not obey the US constitution? The question has arisen because the recent episode where deportation flights carrying Venezuelans were dispatched to El Salvador, despite a court ruling that those flights must not proceed, suggests Donald Trump’s administration has a limited understanding of the separation of powers in the US. A president has no power to defy a court order.

    Similarly, a Brown University medical professor, Rasha Alawieh, was deported to Lebanon because of a perceived sympathy for Hezbollah, despite the fact she had a valid US work visa and despite a judge’s order blocking her removal from the US.

    This administration’s seemingly blatant disregarding of constitutional procedure is not the first time such a problem has arisen. Early in the life of the new republic it was posed by the election to the presidency in 1828 of Andrew Jackson. Jackson, an unashamed populist, harboured deep suspicion of all federal institutions. His belief in states’ rights sometimes trumped his commitment to the union.

    Trump echoes Jackson in many ways. Just as Trump reviles Joe Biden, so Jackson scorned his predecessor, John Quincy Adams. Trump’s attacks on institutions such as USAid and the Department of Education, is echoed by Jackson’s extraordinary war on the Bank of the United States, which he thought too big and grand for a democratic people.

    But the parallels come closest in relation to forced expulsion, whether of individuals in Trump’s case, or of whole peoples in Jackson’s.

    When Europeans established their colonies in the Americas, they justified their presence by asserting the philosopher John Locke’s principle that legal title to land belonged to those who farmed it. Since the native peoples were mostly nomadic hunters, this legal fiction enabled the Europeans and their American successors to seize land while claiming it was theirs “by right”.

    But the peoples of the American southeast – the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, Seminole and Cherokee – took the Europeans at their word. They adopted a much more European lifestyle, establishing towns, wearing European clothing, even converting to Christianity. But above all, they started farming the land, even to the point of owning slaves to work on it. They were known, rather patronisingly, as the “five civilised tribes”.

    None of this adoption of western culture would save them, however, when Georgian cotton planters realised, first, that the tribes were sitting on prime cotton-growing land and, subsequently, that there was gold in Cherokee territory. In 1828 the state of Georgia claimed jurisdiction over all the land of the five tribes. Jackson, an old “Indian fighter” and a staunch states-rights southerner who was about to begin his stint as seventh US president, clearly sympathised.

    Jackson’s first State of the Union address made it clear that he intended to remove all the “Indian” tribes to the desert lands west of the Mississippi. In Congress, Jackson’s opponents accused him of betraying the very principles on which the republic had been founded. What had these people done that required their removal – and since they were indeed farmers, why was their right to their own land not to be respected in law?

    Despite these good reasons for these people to be allowed to stay, the 1830 Removal Act passed and the Chickasaw, Choctaw and Creek peoples packed up and left. The Seminole attempted armed resistance but were defeated.

    Supreme Court versus the US president

    The Cherokee took their case to the Supreme Court. The US Supreme Court had originally been intended merely as a final court of appeal, but under its long-sitting chief justice, John Marshall, it had established itself as the ultimate arbiter of what was and was not lawful according to the constitution. And this included acts of the president.

    The court’s new-found constitutional role was deeply resented in the White House as an unacceptable incursion on the rights of the president, even when it ruled in the president’s favour. Now Marshall was being asked to rule on the constitutional legality of Georgia’s claim to the land of the Cherokee people.

    The Cherokee had tried to declare they were a fully independent state, but the court ruled against that. It did, however, find that they constituted a dependent nation within the United States and that, therefore, the State of Georgia had no jurisdiction over them.

    ‘Trail of Tears’: a dark moment in US history.
    Wolfgang Sauber/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

    Georgia, however, simply ignored the Supreme Court and in 1838 sent in troops to round up and expel the Cherokee people. Some 13,000 people set off on what became known as the “Trail of Tears” – about one-third of them died of weakness, disease and hunger.

    One American officer commented later that: “I fought through the civil war and have seen men shot to pieces and slaughtered by thousands, but the Cherokee removal was the cruellest I ever knew.”

    Jackson was exultant, taunting Marshall that his judgement “has fell still born” and sneering that Marshall had no means of enforcing it. The Cherokee chief, the half-Scottish John Ross, summed up the situation: “We have a country which others covet. This is the only offence we have ever yet been charged with.”

    The Cherokee had found that, if the president chose to ignore it, the US constitution offered no protection to the innocent. It’s a history lesson Greenlanders, Mexicans and Canadians – and indeed many Americans who may fall foul of this administration and seek recourse to the law – would do well to study.

    Sean Lang 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. Trump’s America is facing an Andrew Jackson moment – and it’s bad news for the constitution – https://theconversation.com/trumps-america-is-facing-an-andrew-jackson-moment-and-its-bad-news-for-the-constitution-253047

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General Outlines Four Areas of Focus in Implementing Pact for Future

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the informal interactive dialogue on the implementation of the Pact for the Future, in New York today:

    I thank the President of the General Assembly for convening this important dialogue — the first of three in the coming months.  From day one of the Pact for the Future’s adoption, the President has been its active champion.  I deeply appreciate your efforts, Mr. President, and your leadership.

    Adopting the Pact was the beginning of the process, not the end.  Today, I want to focus on what we have done over the last six months — and what we need to do.

    We face a long list of challenges.  Conflicts and climate disasters are intensifying.  The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are far off-track — as is the funding required to achieve them.  Geopolitical divisions and mistrust are blocking effective action, with some actively questioning the value of international cooperation and the multilateral system itself.

    But, let me be very clear.  It is exactly because of these divides and these mistrusts that the Pact for the Future and the two parallel documents are more important than ever.  And the bigger the obstacle, the bigger will be my determination to make things move forward in line with the will expressed by Member States in the Summit of the Future.

    Meanwhile, critical funding is being drastically cut for people in desperate need — with more reductions to come.  Resources are shrinking across the board — and they have been for a long time.

    From day one of my mandate, we embarked on an ambitious agenda to become more effective and cost-effective across our Organization.  Earlier this month, I announced the “UN80” initiative to continue this work and intensify it.

    We’re reviewing efficiencies and improvements to current arrangements, the implementation of mandates handed down by Member States, and structural changes and programme realignment.  All these will contribute for a more effective implementation of the Pact for the Future.

    We’ve wasted no time moving into the implementation phase of the Pact.  From an operational perspective, we established a principal-level steering committee — which I chair — overseeing six working groups focused on action and reforms in key areas:  Sustainable Development Goals acceleration; peace and security; international financial architecture; digital technologies; UN governance; and youth.

    We’ve created two task teams focusing on future generations and the need to look beyond GDP [gross domestic product] as a measure of progress and guide to policymaking.

    And we’re establishing an internal tracking system to monitor our progress on Pact implementation.  Today, I’d like to report on our efforts since the Pact was adopted and outline the work ahead in four areas.

    First, peace and security.  United Nations peace operations help safeguard people and communities in some of the most desperate corners of the world.  The Pact represents a commitment to strengthen tools to prevent and address conflict, to ensure that our peace efforts respond to new and emerging threats.

    In November, I issued a report on peacebuilding which included concrete suggestions to strengthen the Peacebuilding Commission and Fund.  We’re actively working on the second independent progress study on the positive contribution of young people to peace processes.

    And we’re progressing on a review of all forms of peace operations, as requested in the Pact.  Our recent proposals to the Security Council regarding Haiti are a case in point where new approaches can be developed to complex security challenges.

    The review will be an opportunity to help adapt peace operations to today’s realities, and ensure they’re guided by clear and sequenced mandates that are realistic and achievable — with viable exit strategies and transition plans.

    It will also recognize the limitations of our operations where there is little or no peace to keep.  We will also continue pushing forward on other peace-related priorities of the Pact — including disarmament commitments around nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, lethal autonomous weapons and the growing weaponization of outer space.

    And we will continue advocating — including through the intergovernmental negotiations process — for the Pact’s call to make the Security Council more representative of today’s world and more effective in the capacity to promote peace in the world.

    Second, finance for development.  Since the Pact’s adoption, we’ve taken action on several fronts. For example, our resident coordinators and country teams are now mapping out how we can accelerate progress at the national levels in close cooperation with the Governments.

    We’ve begun analysing the impact of military expenditure on the achievement of the SDGs and on our own work at the UN — with a final report out by September.  The Expert Group called for in the Pact to develop measures of progress that go beyond gross domestic product will soon be announced and will work throughout the year before an intergovernmental process takes over in 2026.

    And we’ve been working closely with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to follow-up on the Pact’s action points addressing improvements to the international financial system.

    Developing countries must be represented fairly in the governance of the very institutions they depend on.  We know the environment is not favourable.  But we must not give up.

    Since the Pact’s adoption, I have also established an expert group to identify practical steps for action on debt.  In the coming weeks, they will propose a list of achievable outcomes — and release a full report in June in advance of the Financing for Development Conference in Spain.

    Debt relief is a central issue if we want the implementation and the Pact for the Future a reality.  At the same time, we will continue advocating to increase the lending capacity of multilateral development banks, to make them bigger and bolder.  This includes both stretching their balance sheets and recapitalization.

    And we must ensure that concessional finance is deployed where it is most needed.  Many of these actions depend on decisions of other multilateral institutions and of Member States, but we will not relent in our constant advocacy for what the Pact for the Future has clearly indicated as the way to pursue.

    Three, youth and future generations. Our efforts must deliver for young people and the generations to come.  The Pact’s central promise to young people is to listen to their concerns and ideas and including them at the decision-making table.

    Following the establishment of a UN Youth Office in 2022, young people played a key role in shaping the Pact’s priorities.  With the Pact’s adoption, we’re now progressing towards establishing a Youth Investment Platform to ensure that national funding mechanisms and investment platforms are focused on the needs of young people.

    And we’re developing core principles to strengthen youth engagement across our work at the United Nations — including by broadening the representation of younger colleagues within our organizational structures.

    Through the Declaration on Future Generations, we’re also looking to the generations yet to be born.  We’ve established a Strategic Foresight Network and Community of Practice to ensure our policies, programmes and field operations are based on long-term thinking.  And later this year, I will appoint a Special Envoy for Future Generations to scale up these efforts.

    Fourth, technology.  We’re implementing the Global Digital Compact’s calls to close all digital divides and ensure all people benefit from a safe and secure digital space.  Artificial intelligence (AI) is a particular focus.

    We’re developing a report on innovative voluntary financing options for AI capacity-building to help the global South harness AI for the greater good, taking into account the recommendations of my High-Level Advisory Body.

    The zero-draft resolution to establish the International Independent Scientific Panel on AI and convene a Global Dialogue on AI Governance was also circulated last week — thanks to the work of the co-facilitators, Spain and Costa Rica.

    I urge the General Assembly to act swiftly to establish this Panel and ensure that AI expertise and knowledge are available to all countries, while supporting the Global Dialogue.  The UN system stands ready to support this work.

    As we push for these priorities, we’re also improving the efficiency and effectiveness of our operations, as called for by the Pact.

    Last fall, we undertook a comprehensive assessment across UN entities to harness the potential of innovation, data analytics, digital transformation and foresight across our work — as called for in the UN 2.0 initiative.

    We’re already seeing results:  from speeding up disaster assessments in the Asia-Pacific [region], to strengthening social security programmes in Malawi, to consolidating information technology functions across the UN system.  This work must continue, especially in light of the funding challenges we face.  We’re counting on your support as we move forward.

    The Pact for the Future is an essential part of this process of constant renewal, as we reshape the multilateral system for the challenges of today’s world.  We cannot dilute our efforts.

    We need to sustain the same spirit and determination in which the Pact was forged and adopted.  We count on you to inform, inspire and guide the implementation work ahead.  Once again, thank you for your ideas and commitment.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Camping reservations will open for entire Berg Lake Trail in Mount Robson Park

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Camping reservations will soon open for the entire Berg Lake Trail in Mount Robson Park, marking the return of hikers this summer to one of B.C.’s most popular backcountry hiking destinations.

    Beginning at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, people can reserve tent pads at any of the seven backcountry campgrounds along the Berg Lake Trail for arrivals starting June 26, 2025, the same day the entire trail is scheduled to reopen. Reservations will open for the entire season and are required to stay at campgrounds along the trail until Sept. 29, 2025.

    “Mount Robson Park is a special place, drawing thousands of people from across Canada and the world to experience the natural beauty,” said Tamara Davidson, Minister of Environment and Parks. “Having undergone repairs to help withstand the impacts of climate change, we’re thrilled to welcome families and friends back to the entire Berg Lake Trail.”

    Located between Valemount and Jasper, the 23-kilometre Berg Lake Trail features views of waterfalls, turquoise-coloured lakes and massive glaciers. In June 2021, the trail was closed due to extensive flooding caused by heavy rain following the heat dome. The flooding washed away parts of the trail and caused significant damage to infrastructure, such as bridges, picnic tables and tent pads.

    “Hiking the Berg Lake Trail is an unforgettable experience, with nearly 20,000 backcountry hikers and campers coming to this special part of B.C. every year,” said Spencer Chandra Herbert, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. “Having the entire trail open again is important for local businesses, communities and visitors, and I encourage everyone to get out this summer and explore beautiful B.C.”

    The trail has been rebuilt in three phases. Phase 1 focused on various upgrades from the parking lot to Kinney Lake campground and reopened in 2023 for day use and overnight camping. Phase 2, from Kinney Lake to Whitehorn campground, reopened in 2024 and included a new trail route and new bridges at the far end of Kinney Lake and over the Robson River.

    Phase 3, from Whitehorn campground to Berg Lake, included various campground upgrades, along with a significant amount of trail rebuilding and realignment to reduce the amount of time the trail is in the flood plain or crosses the river. The total cost of restoring the trail is estimated at $5 million.

    “The Village of Valemount is thrilled to be part of the wonderful news that nature enthusiasts and hikers alike have been eagerly awaiting,” said Owen Torgerson, mayor of Valemount. “The Berg Lake Trail and Mount Robson Park is important for tourism, contributing about 25% to our local economy every year. I encourage everyone to plan a trip to experience the beauty of Berg Lake, and I appreciate the extensive work that has gone into restoring this beloved trail.”

    The Berg Lake Trail is open for winter recreation. From May 15 until June 25, the trail will be open for first-come, first-served camping at Kinney Lake and Whitehorn campgrounds. Permits for campsites can be purchased at the Mount Robson Welcome Centre before heading up the trail.

    “The Berg Lake Trail offers outdoor enthusiasts an unparalleled hiking and camping experience, while also boosting visitation and driving tourism revenue to the Robson Valley and our welcoming community,” said Eugene Runtz, mayor of McBride. “Reopening this iconic trail strengthens McBride’s position as a premier destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers, showcasing the breathtaking beauty of the Canadian Rockies and inviting travellers to explore all that the Robson Valley has to offer.”

    Ellen Walker-Matthews, chief executive officer for the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, said: “We are thrilled that the Berg Lake Trail, one of the iconic experiences in the Thompson Okanagan region, is reopening. The Berg Lake Trail not only draws visitors to its unique experience but helps to attract and welcome Canadian and international visitors to the spectacular North Thompson Valley and surrounding communities.”

    People are encouraged to check the park webpage for updates about the final phase of construction: https://bcparks.ca/mount-robson-park/

    Quick Facts:

    • The Berg Lake Trail gains 800 metres of elevation in 23 kilometres.
    • On average, the trail has nearly 20,000 backcountry hikers and campers each year.
    • Mount Robson is the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies at 3,954 metres.
    • Mount Robson Park is the second-oldest provincial park in B.C. and was established in 1913 to protect the Fraser River’s headwaters.

    Learn More:

    Reservations can be made here: https://camping.bcparks.ca/ 

    More information about backcountry camping and policies can be found here: https://bcparks.ca/reservations/backcountry-camping/reservations/

    For more information about Mount Robson Park and the Berg Lake Trail, visit: https://bcparks.ca/mount-robson-park/

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: ‘Renewables are renewing economies’, UN chief tells top climate forum

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Climate and Environment

    Ministers from 40 countries met on Wednesday at the first major climate forum of 2025 to discuss progress in renewable energy generation and the rising toll of inaction over rising temperatures. 

    2025 marks a milestone: the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement and the deadline for countries to submit their updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), designed to keep the global goal alive of limiting temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

    Addressing the 16th Petersberg Climate Dialogue (PCD) in Berlin – the first official gathering on climate since last year’s COP29 summit in Baku – the UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a strong call for decisive climate action.

    He said the year had begun against a backdrop of geopolitical instability and widespread cuts to overseas aid budgets.

    “There is much uncertainty and instability in our world,” which is why “every country must step up and play their part,” he emphasised.

    Renewables: A bright spot

    Despite global tensions, Mr. Guterres pointed to a promising development: 2024 was officially a record year for global renewable energy production, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

    Renewables made up over 92 per cent of all new electricity capacity installed last year – equivalent to the total electricity capacity of Brazil and Japan combined.

    Europe’s capacity rose by nine per cent, with Germany contributing over a quarter of that growth. Meanwhile, Africa’s grew by nearly seven per cent.

    “All of this is another reminder of a 21st century truth: Renewables are renewing economies,” Mr. Guterres said. They are “powering growth, creating jobs, lowering energy bills, and cleaning our air.”

    Wind power has dropped in cost by 60 per cent since 2010; solar is now 90 per cent cheaper.

    Clean energy contributed significantly to economic growth in 2023 – accounting for five per cent of India’s GDP growth, six per cent of the US’, and one-third of the EU’s.

    The rising toll of inaction

    Nevertheless, climate challenges are piling up, the UN chief continued.

    “It seems records are shattered at every turn – the hottest day of the hottest month of the hottest year of the hottest decade ever,” Mr. Guterres said.

    Those suffering most are the world’s most vulnerable – grappling with rising food and insurance costs, displacement and growing insecurity.

    The World Meteorological Organization confirmed in late December that 2024 was another year of alarming climate records. For the first time, global temperatures were 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels during a calendar year.

    “Scientists are clear – it is still possible to meet the long-term 1.5 degree limit,” the Secretary-General stressed. “But it requires urgent action. And it requires leadership.”

    Call for ambition

    New NDCs are due by September 2025. These plans must align with the 1.5°C target and collectively cut emissions by 60 per cent by 2035, compared with 2019 levels.

    “These new plans are a unique opportunity to deliver – and lay out a coherent vision for a just green transition,” Mr. Guterres said.

    He reiterated that efforts must be made according to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities but added: “Everybody must do more.”

    The G20 most industralised nations – responsible for most global emissions – must lead the way.

    The UN Climate Promise is already supporting 100 countries in preparing their next plans. A high-level event in September will take stock of progress and push for greater action.

    Financing action

    Implementation of the COP29 finance agreement is crucial to support developing countries.

    “I count on the leadership of the COP29 and COP30 Presidencies to deliver a credible roadmap to mobilise $1.3 trillion a year by 2035,” said the Secretary-General.

    He also called for doubling adaptation finance to at least $40 billion annually by the end of this year and for serious contributions to the Loss and Damage Fund.

    To get there, stronger collaboration – across governments, societies, and sectors – is vital.

    Looking ahead

    As the Petersberg Dialogue sets the tone for the year ahead, Mr. Guterres issued a final rallying cry:

    “Those who lag behind must not discourage us but rather strengthen our resolve. The rewards are there for the taking, for all those ready and willing to lead the world through these troubled times.”

    “We are at a turning point.  I urge you to seize this moment; and seize the prize,” he concluded. 

    Soundcloud

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Extra green waste support for storm impacted suburbs

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Storm recovery efforts will now shift to supporting the community to clean up their own properties.

    The ACT Government is delivering additional household green waste collections for severely impacted suburbs as part of clean-up efforts following the storm on Friday 8 December.

    Free green waste skip bins will also be available from 14 December at public places for people living in the most impacted suburbs.  

    Additional green waste bin collections will take place this Saturday 16 December 2023 for the suburbs that were hardest hit.

    Extra green waste bin collection
    The additional green waste bin collection on Saturday 16 December 2023 will take place in the following suburbs:

    • Amaroo
    • Charnwood
    • Downer
    • Dunlop
    • Evatt
    • Giralang
    • Kaleen
    • Ngunnawal
    • Nicholls
    • Palmerston.

    Residents should put their bin on the kerb ready for collection by 5am on Saturday morning.

    While residents are very familiar with what can go in greens bins, it is important to note that:

    • greens bins are only for garden organics, such as leaves, grass clippings and branches 45cm long and with a diameter of 10cm;
    • the lid needs to be able to close; and
    • the bin cannot weigh more than 50kg.

    Alternatively, the community can drop off green waste for free in:

    • Symonston – Mugga Lane Resource Management Centre, Mugga Lane
    • Belconnen – Canberra Sand and Gravel, Parkwood Road.

    Temporary green waste skip bins

    Temporary green waste skip bins are also available for people living in the most impacted suburbs.

    Further sites are currently being assessed, however if Canberrans feel a skip bin is particularly needed in their local area within an impacted suburb they can call Access Canberra on 13 22 81.

    The ACT Government will be monitoring these sites and significant fines apply for illegal dumping.

    Reporting a job to fix my street 

    More than 1,000 requests, with some involving multiple trees or sites, have been received by the ACT Government. More are expected over the coming days. Clean-up crews are working hard to triage and respond to those requests.

    Clean-up phasing

    While extra resources have been available since the storm, the ACT Government expects the clean-up to continue well into the New Year as the focus shifts to non-urgent jobs.

    While some work will continue during the Christmas break, this will be scaled back before crews return in early January.

    An update on progress will be provided on Wednesday 20 December. 

    Please remember

    • If you see a tree fallen on powerlines call @EvoenergyACT on 131 093. If there are powerlines down, don’t approach them and keep at least 8 metres away.
    • If there’s a tree down on private land, the landowner is responsible for its removal. Please don’t move the tree or branches to the nature strip.
    • If you see a tree down on public land you can log a ticket using www.act.gov.au/fixmystreet.
    • If you see a tree that is unsafe or damaging property, call ACTSES on 132 500.
    • Be storm ready! Stay up to date with @ACTESA and take the time to prepare or update your emergency survival plan at https://esa.act.gov.au/be-emergency-ready.

    Need immediate assistance?

    Call ACT SES 13 25 00 for storm assistance.

    For more information on services available in response to the storm event visit www.act.gov.au.

    Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter:


    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Top spots to hang with your friends in Canberra’s CBD

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    We asked Canberrans on the WeAreCBR Instagram page to let us know where their favourite places to hang out with friends in the city centre. If you are on the lookout for the next best place to hang here are the best of the best!

    You reel-y love movies

    Whether you love a rom-com, fancy a thrilling drama, or want to have a good chuckle, there is a movie around for everyone! City favourites include:

    Looking to have a yummy drink or two?

    Summer time is the perfect time to catch-up with friends and try out new bars, and the CBD has no shortage of amazing places to head to! Local favourites include:

    Coffee and friends make the perfect blend

    Cafes, patisseries and restaurants are Canberra’s speciality, we have an abundance of different places to test out and try and offer a wide variety of selections, so why not head over to some fan favourites like:

    Needing to have a shopping trip with your pals?

    The Canberra Centre is home to a wide variety of shops that will cater to all! From everything from fashion, beauty, homewares, food and more! It’s the perfect place to head to too ensure everyone can have a look at their favourite things!

    Check out some outdoor beauty too!

    This city centre also has some beautiful artwork, sculptures and public art surrounding the town! From murals, to fountains, to wacky and quirky sculptures. Find the whole list here: https://www.arts.act.gov.au/public-art

    Stay up to date with news and events in the ACT, sign up to our email newsletter: Subscribe to OurCBR

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Issues Open Letter Urging Legal Community to Stand Together in Defense of Rule of Law Amid President’s Attacks

    Source: US State of California

    “Lawyers are not spectators to the Constitution; we are its agents…Law firms must refuse to bow to illegal and unconstitutional threats of retribution for having the temerity to represent clients and cases opposing the administration.” 

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today, along with 20 other state attorneys general, issued an open letter urging the legal community to stand together in defense of the rule of law in response to President Trump’s recent attacks, including calling for the impeachment of federal judges and threatening retribution against law firms and attorneys who take or have taken positions in opposition to him or his Administration. Alarmingly, one major law firm – Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP (Paul Weiss) – has already acquiesced to President Trump’s demands for policy support in exchange for relief from the executive order targeting that law firm. The President’s recent orders and statements, and the failure of Paul Weiss to stand firm in response to these attacks, risks creating a chilling effect within the legal community. Today, Attorney General Bonta calls on all members of the legal profession and of state bars to stand with state attorneys general in refusing to bow to the President’s unlawful and undemocratic attacks on the practice of law and reaffirm their commitment to the zealous representation of their clients. 

    “The President seeks to bully and intimidate federal judges, attorneys, and law firms that disagree with him or take positions he does not like – undermining the American legal system built atop the U.S. Constitution he two months ago swore to uphold,” said Attorney General Bonta. “I stand with state attorneys general across the nation in condemning the President’s recent actions and in urging members of the legal profession to stand firm in their principles. We must not falter in our resolve to uphold the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law. Our democracy depends on it.”

    On Sunday, Attorney General Bonta issued a separate statement on the need to speak up and push back when our democratic norms are violated, our legal system undermined, and our laws broken. In today’s letter, Attorney General Bonta and a multistate coalition reiterate their commitment to the rule of law and stand firm in their support of the federal judiciary and judicial independence: 

    “As state attorneys general, we have sworn oaths to uphold the Constitution of the United States. Rule of law is the bedrock of everything that makes our country great. Our economy, our rights and freedoms as citizens and residents, our lives and livelihoods are all protected by the fair and unbiased application of the law. We will not allow anyone, including the President, to bully law firms out of representing clients who may be politically disfavored, or clients out of being represented by counsel of their choosing. We will not sit by silently in the face of attempts to attack and intimidate the federal judiciary. We will not allow the rule of law to be undermined. We stand with all our colleagues in the legal community who place the ideals and values of their profession over obedience and silence.”

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

    A copy of the letter is available here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Slams President Trump’s Unlawful Executive Order Seeking to Impose Unauthorized Voting Restrictions

    Source: US State of California

    Wednesday, March 26, 2025

    Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s executive order entitled “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections”:

    “Yet again, President Trump is grasping for straws. He cannot, by executive order, impose these voting restrictions. He lacks that authority — period,” said Attorney General Bonta. “My office stands ready to hold President Trump accountable. No matter how he tries to spin it, elections in California and across the country — in blue and red states alike — are secure. Voter fraud is largely a figment of his imagination.”

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Durbin, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Improve Coordination between Patent Office and FDA

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) joined Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), along with Committee members Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.), to introduce the Interagency Patent Coordination and Improvement Act. The bipartisan legislation would establish a task force between the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to improve communication and coordination in implementing each agency’s activities related to pharmaceutical patents.

    “When government agencies fail to coordinate effectively, taxpayers pay the price. These agencies would benefit from increased communication and better cooperation. Our legislation will encourage that collaboration, helping taxpayers in turn by increasing competition and cutting red tape,” Grassley said.

    “Establishing clear avenues for collaboration between USPTO and FDA is essential for both agencies to oversee patent laws that protect innovation and promote competition,” Durbin said. “By incentivizing coordination through the Interagency Patent Coordination and Improvement Act, we can address gamesmanship and abuses with pharmaceutical patents that keep prescription drug prices too high for American patients.” 

    “Enhancing coordination between the USPTO and FDA will ensure that patent examiners have the necessary information to make well-informed decisions regarding patentability,” Tillis said. “This bill is a straightforward, commonsense measure that strengthens the patent system, improves patent quality and reduces unnecessary bureaucracy.”

    Numerous concerns have been raised about gamesmanship, abuses or lack of clarity that can harm prescription drug affordability by limiting generic competition. However, USPTO and FDA’s collaboration is limited, despite both agencies playing a role related to patents and competition involving prescription drugs.

    Specifically, the task force created by the Interagency Patent Coordination and Improvement Act would:

    1. Enhance information sharing on each agency’s processes, standards and methods;
    2. Improve dialogue on new technologies and scientific trends;
    3. Enable confidential reciprocal access to information, if requested and only as needed, related to prior art;
    4. Ensure accurate representations by companies between the two agencies; and
    5. Ensure accuracy of patent listings

    The bill promotes efficiency and good governance by fostering communication between the two agencies, while respecting their distinct purviews. This enhanced coordination will help bolster innovation while preventing inappropriate tactics to delay access to affordable generic medications. The Senate Judiciary Committee passed this legislation in the 118th Congress by voice vote.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley Challenges Senate Democrats’ Promotion of Unchecked Judicial Power, Vows to Take Legislative Action

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today challenged Democrats’ continued refusal to acknowledge the judicial branch’s constitutional limits.

    In response to Ranking Member Dick Durbin’s (D-Ill.) request for unanimous consent on a resolution demanding the executive branch comply with all federal court rulings, Grassley offered amendments to reflect the limits of judicial power. Grassley’s amendments affirmed that the executive branch must comply with all lawful federal court rulings. Durbin objected to the commonsense amendments.

    Grassley further spoke on the recent uptick in sweeping and potentially lawless orders issued by individual district judges and reaffirmed the Senate Judiciary Committee’s intent to take action.

    “The President of the United States shouldn’t have to ask permission from more than 600 different district judges to manage the executive branch he was elected to lead… The practice of sweeping nationwide injunctions, broad restraining orders and judicial policymaking must end. It’s unconstitutional, it’s anti-democratic and it’s imprudent. If the Supreme Court won’t stop it, Congress must,” Grassley said.

    View Grassley’s amendments HERE and HERE.

    [embedded content]

    VIDEO 

    Before I give my reasons for objecting, I want to comment on a couple things in your remarks. 

    You spoke about the time that we often agree. 

    Just today, you and I cosponsored a bill together, as an example. 

    The other thing I’d like to say before I go to my remarks is that I want to associate myself with your quote from our colleague Senator Cornyn – that you don’t impeach judges just because of a decision, because we’d be impeaching judges all the time. 

    That’s my additional comment. 

    And the third thing is, to inform you, I hope I can get, as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, something moving in this area.  

    I happen to agree with some Democrats that in previous years have said some judges have gone way beyond what a judge should do on national injunctions.  

    I hope to find a solution for that, and I hope that you and I could work on that together. 

    I know Democrats have made that same accusation about district court judges in one district out of 93 in the United States applying their decision nationally. 

    So, now I would like to go to my reason for objecting. 

    A few weeks ago, I objected to a version of this resolution because it’s a political messaging exercise. Today, I come here for the same reason. 

    I won’t stand by and allow my colleagues to imply that the “Rule of Law,” those three words, only matters when there’s a Republican President.  

    As I explained a few weeks ago, the Biden administration engaged in four years of complete lawlessness.  

    Instead of condemning it, Democrats viciously attacked the legitimacy of the courts for ruling against the Biden administration.  

    The silence we heard from Democrats about the rule of law during the Biden years was quite deafening.  

    I won’t repeat my last speech, but I’ll expand on one of my previous objections.  

    This resolution demands that the President comply with all court orders, but it’s completely silent about the role of the federal courts to adhere to the law themselves. 

    For a number of years, but particularly in the last few months, we’ve seen increasingly sweeping, potentially lawless orders coming from any one of our 600 district judges out of the 93 districts we have.  

    Although our founders saw an important role for the judiciary, individual district judges have empowered themselves to become nationwide policymakers, as opposed to interpreting the law.  

    I consider this as very dangerous. 

    In the last few weeks, individual, unelected judges made policy decisions for the whole country. 

    Some examples include: 

    • Ordering the President to stop deporting foreign terrorists; 
    • Directing the military to enlist and retain transgender servicemembers; 
    • Directing who will and will not staff the President’s administration; 
    • Ordering the immediate expenditure of billions of dollars.  

    One judge even went so far as to order the government to pay out 2 billion taxpayer dollars and do it within 36 hours.  

    Much of this would go to organizations not even involved in the case, and the government wouldn’t ever be able to get this money back, even if they ultimately won on appeal.  

    In the two months since President Trump has entered office, his administration has suffered more of these sweeping orders at the hands of district court judges than the Biden administration experienced in four years. 

    I want to emphasize that. 

    Has President Trump chosen to ignore this avalanche of irresponsible court orders?   

    Flat out, no!   

    He’s appealed these outrageous decisions, just as he promised he would do when he said, “I always abide by the courts and then I’ll have to appeal it… the answer is I always abide by the courts.” 

    Appellate courts have responded by striking down many of the unlawful intrusions into Presidential authority.   

    But the core problem remains – the President of the United States shouldn’t have to ask permission from more than 600 different district judges to manage the executive branch he was elected to lead. 

    The practice of sweeping nationwide injunctions, broad restraining orders, and judicial policymaking must end.  

    It’s unconstitutional, it’s anti-democratic and it’s imprudent.  

    If the Supreme Court won’t stop it, then Congress must.   

    I wish the Supreme Court would get on this and do it right away. 

    This issue isn’t a partisan one, and I want to work with Democrats, as I just said to the Senator from Illinois.  

    In the past, Democrats and Republicans have both criticized nationwide injunctions and the power of individual district judges.  

    My Democratic colleagues have even proposed legislation to rein in some of these abuses. 

    You don’t have to take my word for it. 

    In 2022, Justice Elena Kagan correctly observed, “It just can’t be right that one district judge can stop a nationwide policy in its tracks and leave it stopped for the years it takes to go through the normal process.” 

    In 2024, President Biden’s Solicitor General, Elizabeth Prelogar, argued before the Supreme Court, now listen to this quote, that, “A court of equity may grant relief only to the parties before it. The district court violated that principle by issuing a universal injunction purporting to enjoin the Act itself and forbidding the enforcement of the Act even against non-parties.” 

    So, as I told Senator Durbin, I hope to soon hold a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee to address this matter and even introduce legislation to end these abuses.  

    I hope both my Democratic and Republican colleagues will join me in this effort.  

    For the resolution at hand, Mr. President, I propose an amendment, so it reads, “the Constitution of the United States and established precedent require the executive branch to comply with all lawful Federal court rulings.”  

    This simple change of one word, “lawful,” will show that Congress expects both the executive branch and the judicial branch to respect the rule of law and Constitutional constraints.  

    My amendment mirrors what the Chief Justice said in 2024.  

    The Chief Justice rightly raised concerns about the intimidation and threats leveled at the Court in the wake of the Dobbs decision. He said, “The final threat to judicial independence is defiance of judgments lawfully entered by courts of competent jurisdiction.” 

    He had no problem adding the word lawful in; we shouldn’t have it any other way. 

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley Kicks Off 45th Annual 99 County Meetings, Holds Q&As with Iowans in a Dozen Counties

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) last week kicked off his 45th consecutive year of meeting face-to-face with Iowans in every county.

    Grassley began his annual 99 county meetings last Wednesday in Grundy County with a tour of a local business, followed by a question-and-answer session with employees. Grassley then held 11 additional county meetings, hearing from Iowans in Marshall, Benton, Tama, Floyd, Chickasaw, Fayette, Black Hawk, Franklin, Wright, Humboldt and Webster counties.

    “You can’t have representative government without dialogue between elected officials and the people we represent,” Grassley said. “I appreciate the opportunity to hold county meetings, answer questions and take comments. My annual 99 county meetings are one way I regularly keep in touch with Iowans to better represent them at the policymaking tables in Washington.”

    Follow Senator Grassley on his 45th annual tour of Iowa HERE. To view Grassley’s photos and posts from each meeting, search #99CountyMeetings on X and Instagram.

    Click HERE for audio of Grassley discussing the launch of his 45th annual 99 county meetings.

    Background:

    For 45 years, Grassley’s annual 99 county meetings have been scheduled using the same formula, including open town hall meetings, as well as meetings with Iowans at factories, hospitals, schools, service clubs and small businesses. By holding these meetings in a variety of settings, Grassley ensures he hears from a cross-section of Iowans, including those who can’t take time off work or school to attend town halls.

    No matter the setting, the format stays the same. Grassley welcomes questions or comments on any subject. Iowans set the agenda. After each county meeting, Grassley makes himself available for 15 minutes to answer questions from local reporters.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Calls Out The Trump Administration’s Continued Efforts To Intimidate Judges & Undermine The Rule Of Law

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    March 25, 2025

    Once again, Senate Republican objects to Durbin’s UC request to pass a resolution that simply affirms the rule of law and the legitimacy of judicial review

    WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, once again spoke against efforts by the Trump Administration to intimidate judges and undermine the rule of law. Durbin then asked for unanimous consent (UC) to pass a resolution that simply affirms that the Constitution vests the judicial power in the federal courts and that both the Constitution and established precedent require the executive branch to comply with all federal court rulings. U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) objected to Durbin’s UC request. This is the second time that Senate Republicans have objected to Durbin’s UC request.

    “I have come to the floor several times in recent weeks to speak about unacceptable attacks on the federal judiciary—the federal courts—by President Trump and his allies. These attacks are not only wrong, but dangerous—and pose a serious threat to our constitutional order. I am sorry to say that the attacks on our judges and our judiciary have not stopped as I have made these requests on the floor. Instead, they have grown worse,” Durbin said. “Last week, President Trump himself called for the impeachment of a federal judge simply because the judge ruled against the Trump Administration. The President’s MAGA loyalists were quick to pile on when he did that. Elon Musk has demanded the impeachment of federal judges dozens of times, and House Republicans rushed to introduce articles of impeachment in the House.”

    In response to the Trump Administration’s unprecedented attack on the federal judiciary, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts issued a rare statement: “For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision. The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose.”

    “Yet, this relentless campaign against the judiciary has continued,” Durbin said. “On Friday, President Trump issued a wild rant that read in part: ‘Unlawful Nationwide Injunctions by Radical Left Judges could very well lead to the destruction of our Country! These people are Lunatics.’”

    Durbin went on to argue that the U.S. Senate must stand up and defend the judiciary.

    “There has been a lot of debate about when we will cross the threshold into a genuine constitutional crisis. I pray that it will never happen,” Durbin said. “But it will come down to a basic principle. The question is not when we are going to face this, it is that we cannot afford to hold our breath and wait and see if the President will formally announce that he will defy a court order. We must respond to the dangerous attacks on our courts and judges now. The Senate must speak with one voice, Republicans and Democrats, in defense of the judiciary, the separation of powers, the Constitution, and the country we love.”

    Durbin continued, “Some have argued that impeachment of judges is necessary because of the number of injunctions issued against President Trump compared to other Presidents. They claim this is evidence that federal judges are biased against President Trump. I would suggest there is a more obvious explanation: the number of injunctions issued against the first and second Trump Administrations is evidence of a President who has repeatedly violated the law.”

    Durbin also responded to baseless claims from Elon Musk and other MAGA allies that the most recent judge to be targeted by President Trump, Judge Boasberg, is a radical ideologue.

    “Let’s be clear. Judge Boasberg is no partisan. He was appointed to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia by a Republican President: George W. Bush. As a D.C. district court judge, Judge Boasberg has issued many rulings that clearly illustrate impartiality. For example, he was the judge who ordered the release of thousands of Hillary Clinton’s emails. And his decisions have favored President Trump’s interests on several occasions,” Durbin said. “Other judges who have ruled against the Trump Administration were appointed by Republican Presidents—including some who were appointed by President Trump himself. He is not always going to win in court. He seems to think he should.”

    Durbin concluded, “The danger posed by the Trump Administration’s attack on the judiciary is not abstract. The recent invective by the President and his allies has resulted in increased threats to the lives of judges and their families. That is absolutely unacceptable. Our judges should not fear for their lives and those of their loved ones because of their work. And if judges feel compelled to decide cases in favor of the President to avoid his wrath, we will no longer have an independent judiciary. We can debate the value of nationwide injunctions and the merits of any particular judicial decision. But violence or threats of violence, whether from the right or the left of the political spectrum are never – never – acceptable… it is up to both political parties to protect it [an independent judiciary]. We’ve sworn to uphold and defend this Constitution, and now we are going to be tested.”

    Durbin’s resolution on the rule of law is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jean Shaheen (D-NH), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Peter Welch (D-VT), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Jon Ossoff (D-GA).

    Video of Durbin’s remarks on the floor is available here.

    Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the floor is available here.

    Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the floor is available here for TV Stations.

    Full text of the resolution is available here.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Three Isle of Wight Council by-elections set for Thursday 1 May 26 March 2025 Three Isle of Wight Council by-elections set for Thursday 1 May

    Source: Aisle of Wight

    Three Isle of Wight Council by-elections will take place on Thursday 1 May 2025 in the wards of Central Rural, Freshwater South and Lake North. 

    Nominations to stand in the the three electoral divisions close at 4pm on Wednesday 2 April. 

    For anyone wishing to vote in these elections, the following dates are relevant:

    • Register to vote: Friday 11 April
    • To apply for a postal vote: Monday 14 April, 5pm
    • To apply for free voter ID (Voter Authority Certificate): Wednesday 23 April, 5pm

    Further information, together with links to the various forms for voters can be found on the Isle of Wight Council by-elections 2025 page.

    There are also town, parish and community council elections across the Island on Thursday 1 May and the same deadlines apply. Polling stations for all contested elections will be open from 7am to 10pm.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Improving food safety in Alberta

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NCDHHS and Positive Childhood Alliance Hold Public Event to Recognize April as Child Abuse Prevention Month

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: NCDHHS and Positive Childhood Alliance Hold Public Event to Recognize April as Child Abuse Prevention Month

    NCDHHS and Positive Childhood Alliance Hold Public Event to Recognize April as Child Abuse Prevention Month
    hejones1

    The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services along with Positive Childhood Alliance is holding an event as Governor Josh Stein proclaims April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in North Carolina. Recognizing the role everyone plays in helping North Carolina’s children reach their full potential, this Child Abuse Prevention Month, community organizations, government agencies, businesses, faith groups and other stakeholders will come together to amplify a message of hope for strong families and supportive communities. A free family-friendly public event will be held on Tuesday, April 1st at Pullen Park in Raleigh, North Carolina from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and includes free food and entertainment while supplies last.

    The 2025 national campaign theme, “Powered by Hope, Strengthened by Prevention,” highlights the importance of working together to create the conditions that build a stronger future for all.

    “Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, nurturing environment with hope for the future,” said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Dev Sangvai. “By ensuring families have the resources, support, and connections they need before challenges become crises, we can build a stronger North Carolina where all children and families can thrive.”

    In collaboration with statewide partners like NCDHHS, Positive Childhood Alliance NC (PCANC) is committed to driving systems change and building a strong family support ecosystem across North Carolina. We are working to create the conditions where children grow up with positive experiences and nurturing relationships—while also equipping local communities with the tools and support they need to strengthen all families.

    “For every $10 spent on child welfare in the U.S., only $1.50 goes toward prevention—we can and must do better,” said Sharon Hirsch, President and CEO of Positive Childhood Alliance North Carolina. “By investing in family resource centers and community-based solutions, we can ensure families have the support they need before challenges become crises. When we shift our focus to prevention, we create a future where all children grow up in safe, stable, and nurturing environments, surrounded by positive experiences and hope.”

    During Child Abuse Prevention Month, PCANC and NCDHHS are joining the national effort to reshape the narrative around child maltreatment prevention and increase investments in programs and policies that prioritize children and families. This month, and all year long, communities and individuals can help NCDHHS and PCANC advance family-centered prevention programs and policies by taking action in the following ways:

    • Attend a Pinwheel Planting hosted by NCDHHS and PCANC on Tuesday, April 1, 11:00 a.m., at Pullen Park (520 Ashe Ave. Raleigh, NC). Learn more.
      • The public and media are invited to attend. Speakers include NCDHHS Secretary Dr. Dev Sangvai, NCDHHS Director of Human Services Lisa Tucker Cauley, Positive Childhood Alliance North Carolina President and CEO Sharon Hirsch, and Parent Leader Sanaa Sharrieff. Food and drink will be provided while supplies last.
    • Wear blue on Friday, April 4 – Wear Blue Day – to show support for children and families. Post a photo or video on social media and include the #WearBlueDay2025 and #NC hashtags.
    • Participate in digital advocacy day on Tuesday, April 9, to advocate for increased federal investment in community-based child abuse prevention grants that provide states and communities with the resources to implement community-based solutions to prevent child abuse and neglect.
    • Follow PCANC on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram and share our posts throughout April. Encourage friends and family to do the same. Click here to follow NCDHHS on all social media platforms.

    For more ways to get involved in Child Abuse Prevention Month, please visit PositiveChildhoodAllianceNC.org.

    ###

    About Positive Childhood Alliance North Carolina 
    Positive Childhood Alliance North Carolina connects organizations and individuals with what they need to help children and families meet their full potential. Founded in 1979 (as Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina), Positive Childhood Alliance North Carolina has demonstrated 46 years of commitment to nurturing positive childhoods for all. Through data-driven coaching, professional development, advocacy efforts and building public understanding PCANC strives to build and share solutions that work for all families. In partnership with state and local level child advocates and network members, PCANC is creating a state where families live in connected, supportive communities and as a result, all North Carolina children will live purposeful lives, filled with positive experiences and hope for the future. PCANC is the North Carolina chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America, the National Family Support Network, and Circle of Parents®. It is a proud recipient of Charity Navigator’s prestigious 4-star rating and GuideStar’s Platinum Seal of Transparency. For more information, contact Kris Demers, Director of Communications and Marketing, at (919) 829-8009, ext. 619 or kdemers@positivechildhoodnc.org. 

    About North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
    The NC Department of Health and Human Services manages the delivery of health- and human-related services for all North Carolinians, especially our most vulnerable people – children, elderly, disabled and low-income families. In collaboration with partners, NCDHHS provides essential services to improve the health, safety and well-being of all North Carolinians. The department works closely with health care professionals, community leaders and advocacy groups; local, state and federal entities; and many other stakeholders to make this happen.

    El Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte, junto con Positive Childhood Alliance, está celebrando un evento mientras el gobernador Josh Stein proclama abril como el Mes de la Prevención del Abuso Infantil en Carolina del Norte. Reconociendo el papel que todos desempeñan para ayudar a los niños de Carolina del Norte a alcanzar su máximo potencial, este Mes de la Prevención del Abuso Infantil,organizaciones comunitarias, agencias gubernamentales, empresas, grupos religiosos y otras partes interesadas se unirán para amplificar un mensaje de esperanza para familias fuertes y comunidades de apoyo. El martes 1 de abril se celebrará un evento público gratuito para toda la familia en Pullen Park en Raleigh, Carolina del Norte, a partir de las 11:00 a. m. hasta la 1:00 p.m. e incluye comida y entretenimiento gratis hasta agotar abastecimiento.

    El tema de la campaña nacional de 2025, “Impulsado por la esperanza, fortalecido por la prevención”, destaca la importancia de trabajar juntos para crear las condiciones que construyan un futuro más sólido para todos.

    “Todos los niños merecen crecer en un entorno seguro y enriquecedor con esperanza para el futuro”, dijo  el secretario de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte, Dr. Dev Sangvai. “Al garantizar que las familias tengan los recursos, el apoyo y las conexiones que necesitan antes de que los desafíos se conviertan en crisis, podemos construir un Carolina del Norte más fuerte donde todos los niños y las familias puedan prosperar”.

    En colaboración con socios estatales como el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos (NCDHHS, por sus siglas en inglés), Positive Childhood Alliance NC (PCANC, por sus siglas en inglés) está comprometida a impulsar el cambio de sistemas y construir un sólido ecosistema de apoyo para las familias en Carolina del Norte. Estamos trabajando para crear las condiciones en las que los niños crezcan con experiencias positivas y relaciones enriquecedoras, al tiempo que equipamos a las comunidades locales con las herramientas y el apoyo que necesitan para fortalecer a todas las familias.

    “Por cada $10 gastados en bienestar infantil en los Estados Unidos, solo $1.50 se destinan a la prevención, podemos y debemos hacerlo mejor”, dijo Sharon Hirsch, presidenta y directora ejecutiva de Positive Childhood Alliance North Carolina. “Al invertir en centros de recursos familiares y soluciones basadas en la comunidad, podemos garantizar que las familias tengan el apoyo que necesitan antes de que los desafíos se conviertan en crisis. Cuando cambiamos nuestro enfoque a la prevención, creamos un futuro en el que todos los niños crecen en entornos seguros, estables y enriquecedores, rodeados de experiencias positivas y esperanza”.

    Durante el Mes de la Prevención del Abuso Infantil, PCANC y NCDHHS se unen al esfuerzo nacional para remodelar la narrativa en torno a la prevención del maltrato infantil y aumentar las inversiones en programas y políticas que priorizan a los niños y las familias. Este mes, y durante todo el año, las comunidades y las personas pueden ayudar a NCDHHS y PCANC a promover programas y políticas de prevención centrados en la familia tomando medidas de las siguientes maneras:

    • Asista a una plantación de molinillos organizada por NCDHHS y PCANC el martes, 1 de abril, 11:00 a.m., en Pullen Park (520 Ashe Ave. Raleigh, NC. Más información.
      • El público y los medios de comunicación están invitados a asistir. Los oradores incluyen al   secretario de la NCDHHS, Dr. Dev Sangvai , la directora de Servicios Humanos de NCDHHS Lisa Tucker Cauley, la presidenta y directora ejecutiva de Positive Childhood Alliance North Carolina, Sharon Hirsch, y la líder de padres Sanaa Sharrieff. Se proporcionará comida y bebida hasta agotar abastecimiento.
    • Vístase de azul el viernes 4 de abril – Día de Vestirse de azul – para mostrar su apoyo a los niños y las familias. Publique una foto o un vídeo en las redes sociales e incluya los hashtags # WearBlueDay2025 y #NC.
    • Participe en el día de la defensa digital el martes, 9 de abril, para abogar por una mayor inversión federal en subvenciones comunitarias para la prevención del abuso infantil que proporcionen a los estados y las comunidades los recursos para implementar soluciones comunitarias para prevenir el maltrato y la negligencia infantil.
    • Siga a PCANC en LinkedIn, Facebook y Instagram y comparta nuestras publicaciones a lo largo de abril. Anime a sus amigos y familiares a hacer lo mismo. Haga clic aquí para seguir a NCDHHS en todas las plataformas de redes sociales.

    Para conocer más formas de participar en el Mes de la Prevención del Abuso Infantil, visite PositiveChildhoodAllianceNC.org.

    Acerca de Positive Childhood Alliance (Alianza para la infancia positiva) de Carolina del Norte
    Positive Childhood Alliance North Carolina conecta a organizaciones e individuos con lo que necesitan para ayudar a los niños y las familias a alcanzar su máximo potencial. Fundada en 1979 (como Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina), Positive Childhood Alliance North Carolina ha demostrado 46 años de compromiso para fomentar infancias positivas para todos. A través del coaching basado en datos, el desarrollo profesional, los esfuerzos de promoción y la construcción de la comprensión pública, PCANC se esfuerza por construir y compartir soluciones que funcionen para todas las familias. En asociación con defensores de los niños a nivel estatal y local y miembros de la red, PCANC está creando un estado donde las familias viven en comunidades conectadas y de apoyo y, como resultado, todos los niños de Carolina del Norte vivirán vidas con propósito, llenas de experiencias positivas y esperanza para el futuro. PCANC es el capítulo de Carolina del Norte de Prevent Child Abuse America, la Red Nacional de Apoyo Familiar y Circle of Parents®. Se enorgullece de haber recibido la prestigiosa calificación de 4 estrellas de Charity Navigator y el Sello de Transparencia Platino de GuideStar. Para obtener más información, comuníquese con Kris Demers, Director de Comunicaciones y Marketing, al (919) 829-8009, ext. 619 o kdemers@positivechildhoodnc.org. 

    Sobre el Departamento de Salud Y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte
    El Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte gestiona la prestación de servicios relacionados con la salud y el ser humano para todos los habitantes de Carolina del Norte, especialmente nuestras personas más vulnerables: niños, ancianos, discapacitados y familias de bajos ingresos. En colaboración con los socios, NCDHHS proporciona servicios esenciales para mejorar la salud, la seguridad y el bienestar de todos los habitantes de Carolina del Norte. El departamento trabaja en estrecha colaboración con profesionales de la salud, líderes comunitarios y grupos de defensa; entidades locales, estatales y federales; y muchas otras partes interesadas para que esto suceda.

    Mar 26, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Guatemalan National Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Reentry

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    TOLEDO, Ohio – Eduardo Lopez-Jiguan, 35, a citizen of Guatemala who illegally returned to the United States after being deported was sentenced on March 18, 2025, to 13 months in federal prison for illegal reentry.  U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey J. Helmick also imposed a consecutive six-month sentence on a supervised release violation for a total prison sentence of 19 months.  Lopez-Jiguan was on supervised release after being convicted in February 2023 of illegal reentry and possession of a fraudulent identification document.

    At the guilty plea, Lopez-Jiguan admitted he had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Lopez-Jiguan was previously deported in 2020 and 2023.  In August 2024, immigration officials learned Lopez-Jiguan had illegally returned to the United States and found him at the Huron County Jail after previously serving a jail sentence for falsification and operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

    This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ava Rotell Dustin for the Northern District of Ohio.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Koreatown-Based Medicare Advantage Provider Seoul Medical Group and Related Parties to Pay More Than $62 Million to Settle False Claims Lawsuit

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LOS ANGELES – Seoul Medical Group Inc. and its subsidiary Advanced Medical Management Inc., headquartered in the Koreatown area of Los Angeles, have agreed to pay $58.74 million and their former president and majority owner, Dr. Min Young Cha, has agreed to pay $1.76 million for allegedly violating the False Claims Act by causing the submission of false diagnosis codes for two spinal conditions to increase payments from the Medicare Advantage program.

    Renaissance Imaging Medical Associates Inc., a Northridge-based radiology group that worked with Seoul Medical, has also agreed to pay $2.35 million for allegedly conspiring with Seoul Medical Group in connection with the false diagnoses for the two spinal conditions.

    “My office is committed to ensuring that healthcare providers are held accountable for unlawful misrepresentations to Medicare and other healthcare programs,” said Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally. “As this settlement makes clear, we will diligently pursue those who defraud government programs.”

    “Medicare Advantage is a vital program for our seniors and the government expects healthcare providers who participate in the program to provide truthful and accurate information,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov M. Roth of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s result sends a clear message to the Medicare Advantage community that the United States will zealously pursue appropriate action against those who knowingly submit false claims for taxpayer funds.”

    Under Medicare Advantage, also known as the Medicare Part C program, Medicare beneficiaries have the option of enrolling in managed care insurance plans called Medicare Advantage Plans (MA Plans) and the MA Plans contract with healthcare providers, such as Seoul Medical Group, to provide the Medicare-covered benefits. MA Plans are paid a per-person amount to provide the care to their enrollees and, in turn, the MA Plans pay the providers.

    The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which oversees the Medicare program, adjusts the payments to MA Plans based on demographic information and the health diagnoses of each plan beneficiary. The adjustments are commonly referred to as “risk scores.” In general, a beneficiary with diagnoses that are more expensive to treat will have a higher risk score, and CMS will make a larger risk-adjusted payment to the MA Plan for that beneficiary.

    Seoul Medical Group is a healthcare provider that started in 1993 in Los Angeles and has since expanded into at least six states and has employed at times 150 primary care providers and 1,000 specialists. Dr. Min Young Cha started Seoul Medical Group and until 2023 was president and majority owner. 

    The United States alleged that, from 2015 to 2021, Seoul Medical Group and Dr. Cha submitted diagnoses for two severe spinal conditions, spinal enthesopathy and sacroiliitis, for patients who did not suffer from either of these conditions. When Seoul Medical Group was questioned by an MA Plan about its use of spinal enthesopathy, Seoul Medical Group enlisted the assistance of Renaissance Imaging Medical Associates to create radiology reports that appeared to support the spinal enthesopathy diagnosis. Both diagnoses resulted in an increase in payment from CMS to the MA Plan, and the MA Plan then passed along a portion of the increased payment to Seoul Medical Group. 

    “Providers who game the Medicare program to increase profit undermine the foundation of care and diminish patient trust in the nation’s public health care system,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners and rigorously probe false claims to the fullest extent possible.”

    The civil settlement resolves claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Paul Pew, the former Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Advanced Medical Management. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States of America ex rel. Pew v. Seoul Medical Group, Inc., et al., No. 2:20-cv-05156 (C.D. Cal.). The relator’s share of the settlement has not yet been determined.

    The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, with assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General.

    The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

    Assistant United Sates Attorney Karen Y. Paik of the Civil Division’s Civil Fraud Section and Trial Attorneys J. Jennifer Koh and Robbin O. Lee of the Justice Department’s Fraud Section investigated this matter.

    The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

    MIL Security OSI –