NewzIntel.com

Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Barragán Introduce Bicameral Bill to Codify DOJ’s Office of Environmental Justice

    US Senate News:

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

    Padilla, Barragán Introduce Bicameral Bill to Codify DOJ’s Office of Environmental Justice

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-Calif.-44) introduced bicameral legislation to permanently codify the Office of Environmental Justice within the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). The Empowering and Enforcing Environmental Justice Act follows Attorney General Pam Bondi’s recent order eliminating all environmental justice efforts at the DOJ on her first day as Attorney General.
    Bondi’s directive followed President Trump’s executive order dismantling all Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives across federal agencies. As a result, programs designed to combat pollution in communities of color, indigenous communities, and low-income areas were effectively shut down. The Trump Administration also terminated several ENRD attorneys responsible for prosecuting environmental violations, including cases like the Volkswagen emissions scandal and the East Palestine train derailment.
    “The Trump Administration’s systematic elimination of environmental justice efforts completely abandons millions of Americans whose communities have suffered from toxic pollution for decades,” said Senator Padilla. “Every federal agency has a responsibility to provide justice to these communities, and I remain committed to guaranteeing clean air and water for all. Our legislation would ensure that the Department of Justice holds polluters accountable for environmental crimes and works directly with communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis to rectify longstanding environmental harms.”
    “The Trump Administration’s elimination of environmental justice safeguards at DOJ is a gift to corporate polluters. It has left communities of color and low-income communities vulnerable to disproportionate pollution and harm, with no protection,” said Congresswoman Barragán. “Our bill reestablishes and permanently codifies the Office of Environmental Justice to protect impacted communities and ensure polluters face accountability. No community should bear the health consequences of environmental injustice.”
    The legislation will strengthen efforts at the Department of Justice to enforce environmental laws, hold polluters accountable, and support state and local environmental enforcement capacity. The Empowering and Enforcing Environmental Justice Act would also authorize $50 million in annual grant funding to assist state and local governments with their own environmental enforcement efforts.
    During the Biden Administration, Padilla and Barragán introduced a version of this bill, which led to the DOJ establishing the Office of Environmental Justice. This office undertook the responsibilities that the lawmakers outlined in their original bill. Padilla has since led an appropriations push to provide $1.4 million annually to this office.
    The Main Functions of the Environmental Justice Office include:
    Developing and updating the environmental justice strategy for the DOJ
    Promoting the right of the public to participate in DOJ’s environmental justice work and mission
    Providing support to state and local governments on how to address environmental justice issues
    Funding $50 million in annual grants to boost local and state agency capacity to hold polluters accountable
    Managing a Senior Advisory Council made up of different components at DOJ to advise the Natural Resource Division’s Assistant Attorney General on matters of environmental justice
    In the Senate, the Empowering and Enforcing Environmental Justice Act is cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). In the House, the legislation is cosponsored by Representatives Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.-03), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.-01), Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas-30), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.-01), Tim Kennedy (D-N.Y.-26), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.-08), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.-07), LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.-10), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.-AL), Dina Titus (D-Nev.-01), and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.-12).
    Senator Padilla is a champion for ensuring all communities can breathe clean air and drink clean water in California and across the country, including through improved enforcement on environmental violations. In addition to calling for the establishment of the Office of Environmental Justice, Padilla outlined recommendations to former Attorney General Merrick Garland to strengthen its environmental justice program to advance the nation’s environmental justice goals. Padilla has also called on the Department of Justice to improve enforcement of environmental laws in the Central District of California and explain their policy regarding the use of non-prosecution agreements that spare corporate polluters of criminal liability, specifically in communities in the Los Angeles area, which are severely impacted by multiple sources of pollution.
    Last year, Senator Padilla helped secure $216.5 million the Inflation Reduction Act for 15 California projects to advance local, on-the-ground projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and strengthen workforce development. Following multiple pushes from Padilla, the EPA proposed to add the Exide Technologies – Vernon site, located in Vernon, California, to the Superfund National Priorities List last year. Padilla also applauded the EPA’s release of the strongest national greenhouse gas standards in history for heavy-duty vehicle emissions to begin in model year 2027, protecting environmental justice communities following a series of efforts he led.
    Full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Make Federally Funded Broadband Projects Tax-Free

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is cosponsoring bipartisan legislation that would allow broadband developers to maximize the impact of federal funding in Maine’s underserved communities. The Broadband Grant Tax Treatment Act would exclude broadband deployment grants awarded through certain federal programs from an organization’s taxable income. If passed, this would ensure the entirety of federal dollars awarded to companies for the purpose of deploying broadband around the country can be used for that purpose, rather than making their way back to the government through taxes.
    According to the Maine Connectivity Authority, the majority of Maine locations (89%) now have access to broadband internet — a 3% increase from 2023, due in large part to federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act’s Capitol Projects Fund and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, championed by Senator King. The remainder of Maine people with unreliable internet access — or no internet access at all — is particularly high in rural communities.
    “In today’s digital age, access to high-speed, affordable broadband is critical for Maine people to live, work and stay connected with one another,” said Senator King. “Every single dollar that is invested in broadband deployment is vital, and shouldn’t be clawed back by the government at the cost of connecting an extra community street or neighborhood that needs it. I want to thank my colleagues for coming together to help close the digital divide in rural and urban communities in Maine and across the nation.”
    “The Broadband Grant Tax Treatment Act will help ensure that necessary federal investments in broadband infrastructure are deployed as efficiently and effectively as possible, providing relief to small businesses, communities and consumers,” said Andrew Butcher, President of Maine Connectivity Authority. “Connectivity to high speed internet is a modern necessity and the BGTTA will help stretch critical funding as far as possible, accelerating deployment and reducing costs.” 
    In addition to Senator King, this legislation is cosponsored by Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS), Mark Warner (D-VA), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Deb Fischer (R-NE).
    Senator King is a longstanding advocate for the expansion of broadband access; his first op-ed as a Senate candidate in 2012 was to tout the social and economic potential of statewide connectivity. He has continued to push Maine in the direction of full statewide connectivity throughout his time in the Senate. Most recently, Senator King helped secure a $24.8 million investment in broadband infrastructure and digital literacy. He also introduced the Digital Equity Act of 2021, creating new federal investments toward programs promoting digital equity, and went on to be a key negotiator in securing $65 billion toward broadband infrastructure as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: New York Foreign Press Center Briefing on Strategic Deterrence and the U.S. Air Force Bomber Force

    Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

    New York Foreign Press Center Briefing on Strategic Deterrence and the U.S. Air Force Bomber Force, on February 19, 2025.

    Transcript: https://www.state.gov/briefings-foreign-press-centers/strategic-deterrence-and-the-us-air-force

    The mission of the Foreign Press Centers is to assist foreign media in their coverage of the United States by providing firsthand access to both government and non-government experts to gain a deeper understanding of U.S. politics, history, values, and culture. The views expressed by briefers not affiliated with the Department of State or U.S. government are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of State or the U.S. government. Participation in Foreign Press Center programming by briefers not affiliated with the Department of State or U.S. government does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation of their views.
    ———-
    Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.

    The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.

    Get updates from the U.S. Department of State at www.state.gov and on social media!
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/statedept
    X: https://x.com/StateDept
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/statedept
    Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/statephotos/

    Subscribe to the State Department Blog: https://www.state.gov/blogs
    Watch on-demand State Department videos: https://video.state.gov/
    Subscribe to The Week at State e-newsletter: http://ow.ly/diiN30ro7Cw

    State Department website: https://www.state.gov/
    Careers website: https://careers.state.gov/
    White House website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/
    Terms of Use: https://state.gov/tou

    #StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XN927AKMEz4

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: TRA proposes keeping measures on organic coated steel from China

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    TRA proposes keeping measures on organic coated steel from China

    The TRA has recommended extending anti-dumping and countervailing measures on organic coated steel imported from China until 2029.

    The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has today (Tuesday 25 February) published initial findings, proposing that anti-dumping and countervailing measures on organic coated steel (OCS) imported from China be maintained for an additional five years, until May 4, 2029.  

    In its Statements of Essential Facts (SEF), the TRA found that dumping and subsidisation would likely recur if the measures were removed, potentially causing injury to UK industry. The measures have been largely effective, usually keeping Chinese imports below 1,000 tonnes annually since 2013. Tata Steel UK (TSUK) is the sole producer of OCS in the UK, manufacturing it at the Shotton facility in North Wales. TSUK contributes approximately £222 million to the UK economy annually, including sales of OCS, and employs around 8,100 people across all its operations. 

    OCS is used to maintain the durability of various structures, especially in the construction industry, as well as in metal furniture, heating and ventilation ducting and casings and in several domestic appliances.  

    Current anti-dumping duties on Chinese OCS imports range from 5.9% to 26.1% while countervailing duties range from 13.7% to 44.7%, depending on the exporter. 

    Businesses that may be affected by these findings can submit comments to the TRA by 18 March 2025 and can do so through the TRA’s public file.

    Notes to editors 

    • The Trade Remedies Authority is the UK body that investigates whether new trade remedy measures are needed to counter unfair import practices and unforeseen surges of imports.  

    • Trade remedy investigations were carried out by the EU Commission on the UK’s behalf until the UK left the EU. A number of EU trade remedy measures of interest to UK producers were carried across into UK law when the UK left the EU and the TRA has been reviewing these to assess whether they are suitable for UK needs. 

    • Anti-dumping duties allow a country or union to act against goods which are being sold at less than their normal value – this is defined as the price for ‘like goods’ sold in the exporter’s home market. 

    • Countervailing, or subsidy duties counteract imports being subsidised by their place of origin that cause material injury to a domestic industry.  

    • This transition review was initiated on 15 April 2024, examining data from the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, with injury assessment covering 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2024.  

    • The Statement of Essential Facts (SEF) represents the TRA’s interim findings. All interested parties can submit comments before the TRA makes its final recommendation to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Crisis in the DRC: what’s happening?

    Source: United Nations – Peacekeeping

    This backgrounder was written by Lesley Myers, Editor for UN peacekeeping’s Strategic Communications team. Lesley is a political analyst and strategic planner with over 15 years’ experience in data-driven politics, development, and peacekeeping.

     

     

     

    There’s a crisis happening in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that has led to immense human suffering, displacement, and a deepening humanitarian crisis. It has also sparked fears of a broader, regional war.  

    What’s happening?  

    In January, the M23 armed group rapidly advanced into North Kivu province in DRC’s east, reinforced with troops and equipment from Rwanda’s armed forces, the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF). The M23 has taken control of Goma, a trade hub with a population of over two million people, and the capital of DRC’s North Kivu province. In its latest push, the M23 has now moved into South Kivu province, capturing its capital city, Bukavu, and reports of heavy fighting continue. 

    The ongoing fighting has left thousands dead and hundreds of thousands displaced,  deepening the country’s already catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Civilians are facing shortages of food and water, overwhelmed hospitals, and a growing use of rape and sexual violence as a weapon of war. They are impeding the movement of UN personnel and obstructing humanitarian corridors as civilian casualties continue to rise.  

    The human rights situation has also deteriorated significantly, with documented cases of forced recruitment, looting of displacement sites, and searches of hospitals and homes by M23 in search of both soldiers and civilians who they perceived to be opposed to their group. 

     

    Who are the M23? 

    The M23 are an armed group that  emerged in 2012 amidst tensions between countries in the region, supported by the RDF. They have been accused of war crimes and human rights violations, and have been sanctioned by the UN for committing serious violations of international law involving the targeting of women and children in situations of armed conflict in the DRC including killing and maiming, sexual violence, abduction, and forced displacement.  

    At the time, the group violently seized territory in eastern DRC but were successfully repelled by the DRC’s national army, the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, as well as international pressure on Rwanda.  

    However, in 2021, regional tensions reached new heights, triggering a re-emergence of the M23. The group has been progressively taking control of territories in eastern DRC, establishing a parallel administration and levying “taxes” on local populations, while mass killings and rape continue to be reported.  

    The M23’s resurgence has also contributed to the militarization of mining sites in eastern DRC, which is exceptionally rich in natural resources critical to making electronics like cell phones and electric cars.  

     

    What is UN Peacekeeping doing?  

    MONUSCO has been protecting vulnerable populations and unarmed Congolese defense forces who have sought refuge in its premises. The United Nations Joint Human Rights Office receives daily requests for individual protection from social actors who face threats of reprisals from the M23. 

    MONUSCO is also supporting demining efforts, and working to protect human rights defenders, journalists, and members of civil society organizations.  However, the M23 is severely restricting MONUSCO’s freedom of movement, hampering MONUSCO’s ability to fulfill these critical tasks. 

    Other UN organizations like the World Food Programme (WFP) and World Health Organization (WHO), the UN aid coordination office (OCHA), and  UN’s Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF), are also working to provide life-saving assistance to communities in need. 

     

    What’s next?  

    Long-term peace requires a political solution at the regional level. MONUSCO’s leadership is engaging in diplomatic efforts to push for peace. The UN and the Security Council have called on Rwanda to end its support for the M23 and withdraw its forces from the DRC. The UN Secretary-General has called on both countries to remain engaged in peace talks to bring an end to the violence. 

     

    Why have UN peacekeepers been in DR Congo for 65 years? Learn more here. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The UK farmer protests you probably haven’t heard about

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Alex Heffron, PhD Candidate in Geography, Lancaster University

    Fruit pickers and farm workers protesting labour abuses on British farms. Peter Marshall

    Farm owners have besieged parliament with tractors in order to protest new subsidy schemes and inheritance tax arrangements. The farm workers who milk cows, drive machinery and pick crops have grievances too, yet their demands have been less publicised. So, what do they want?

    I am a farmer based in the south-west of Wales and a researcher of farming policy. I recently joined a protest by a group of Latin American farm workers known as “Justice is Not Seasonal”, outside the Home Office in London.

    The group accused soft fruit supplier Haygrove, which operates farms on three continents and supplies veg box delivery schemes including Riverford and Abel and Cole, of presiding over poor living and working conditions, failing to pay workers and charging inflated flight costs for overseas workers. Haygrove has an annual turnover in excess of £50 million.

    Haygrove denies these allegations. In response to a case brought forward by the trade union United Voices of the World and the charity Anti Trafficking and Labour Exploitation Unit, the Home Office has made an interim decision stating there are reasonable grounds that one of the affected workers, Julia Quecaño Casimiro, has been subjected to human trafficking and modern slavery.

    The case tribunal is due to be held soon although it has been a slow, arduous process reaching this point.

    In an article for the BBC, a spokesperson for Haygrove said that Casimiro’s claims were “materially incorrect and misleading”. Haygrove’s practices are audited by third-party organisations including the Home Office, and the company takes “great care” in ensuring fair recruitment and working processes, the spokesperson said.

    Various trade unions and organisations attended the protest, including the Landworkers’ Alliance, United Voices of the World, Independent Workers’ union of Great Britain, Unite and Solidarity Across Land Trades.

    Conspicuously absent was the National Farmers’ Union, which predominantly represents farm owners. This highlights the divergent class interests that exist within terms like “farmer”.

    More workers and more exploitation

    There are 160,000 UK farm workers (as opposed to owners and managers). Of these, some of the most gruelling agricultural work is done by around 45,000 seasonal migrant workers, either in fields in all weather or in the sweltering heat of polytunnels.

    The UK attracts migrant farm workers with six-month temporary visas. A United Nations special rapporteur, Tomoya Obokata, an expert in human rights law and modern slavery, has suggested that the UK is breaking international law with its seasonal work scheme by failing to investigate instances of forced labour. Claims of exploitation and bullying on UK farms are also becoming more common. Meanwhile, in an effort to appease farm managers, the UK government recently announced a five-year extension of this scheme.

    Food and farming organisations have urged the UK to produce more fruit and vegetables as part of a wider shift towards a less carbon-intensive food system.

    To scale up domestic production will require more workers harvesting crops in poor conditions, especially migrant workers who don’t have the same legal rights as British citizens.

    Seasonal migrant workers, for example, cannot bring family members to the UK and have no access to benefits, while their visas are often tied to one place of work which typically includes accommodation which leaves them particularly vulnerable to abuse. A call for increased labour, without a call for improved conditions, could mean more exploitation on British farms.

    Exploitation is not limited to the allegations of a few bad apples either. It is so widespread that it threatens the resilience of the UK’s food system.

    A recent report found that more than half of migrants at risk of labour abuse work in the food system. A more resilient food supply will require better working conditions, pay and housing for workers in this sector, the report concludes.

    Higher prices don’t mean better welfare

    It’s tempting to ask consumers to pay more for their food so that farm workers might earn more. However, higher prices are no guarantee of better conditions. Leaving aside rising inflation and stagnating wages which make it harder for consumers to buy ethically, organic farms already sell produce at a premium and some are also among those accused of mistreating workers.

    This is even a problem among small-scale organic food producers, as documented by Solidarity Across Land Trades. A report by this land worker’s union found that some small farms use bogus traineeships to justify paying workers as little as £1.41 per hour. This is despite the produce usually being sold for more than conventional supermarket prices.

    Greener diets depend on increased fruit and vegetable production.
    Framarzo/Shutterstock

    The structural problems of the food system are more complicated than the price consumers pay for food. There is also the question of who gets to be heard, who is valued and who is deemed worthy of rights and dignity when food production takes place under a system of class-based exploitation. These challenges cannot be solved at the checkout alone.

    The ecological crisis demands transitions away from diesel-powered machinery and chemical fertilisers and herbicides produced with fossil fuels. Farm workers are needed to carry out the transition towards more sustainable practices, but there will be no green transition unless these workers have a stake in it.

    This idea of “a just transition” has gained traction in recent years, and it is just as relevant to farmers and farm workers as it is to workers in other sectors, such as oil and gas. But what might it look like?

    The demands made by Justice Is Not Seasonal are a good place to start: an end to forced labour and exploitation on UK farms and full accountability for those responsible, fair wages and safe working conditions, residency rights and access to justice and remediation.

    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.

    Alex Heffron 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. The UK farmer protests you probably haven’t heard about – https://theconversation.com/the-uk-farmer-protests-you-probably-havent-heard-about-249414

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Mexico’s drug corruption has more to do with US demand than crooked politicians

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Nathaniel Morris, Honorary Lecturer in the Department of History, UCL

    The US president, Donald Trump, asserted in early February that Mexican drug-trafficking organisations have an “intolerable alliance” with the government of Mexico. His remarks have cast a pall over bilateral relations already strained by recent talk of tariffs and military interventions.

    Although the two nations have sometimes clashed in the past, Mexico is today a close US ally. It is America’s top trading partner, with two-way commerce totalling US$807 billion (£640 billion) in 2023. And joint US-Mexican anti-narcotics collaborations stretch back nearly a century.

    Trump’s accusation was, therefore, as unexpected as it was explosive. It has brought figures from across the Mexican political spectrum together in condemnation of what Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, called “baseless slander”.

    The Mexican government is, on paper, a resolute enemy of the drug trade. However, the undeniable existence of drug-related corruption in Mexico means the reality is a little more complex.

    Since the birth of the Mexico-US drug trade in the early 20th century, certain government officials have turned a blind eye to the activities of drug traffickers in exchange for bribes. This “indirect” government involvement in the drug trade has always been by far the most prevalent form of drug-related corruption in Mexico.

    From the 1930s onwards, political bosses, police chiefs and military commanders in Mexico’s so-called “golden triangle” states of Sinaloa, Durango and Chihuahua taxed illicit opium production in the areas under their authority.

    They also sabotaged anti-drugs campaigns waged by other branches of government, in order to avoid conflict with their constituents and take a cut of their profits. Similar intrigues took place in the key trafficking hubs on the US-Mexico border, like Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez and Nuevo Laredo.



    Read more:
    How the ‘Mexican miracle’ kickstarted the modern US–Mexico drugs trade

    Over the second half of the 20th century, Mexican and US drug enforcement efforts created an ever-more profitable black market. Low-level corruption accompanied the expansion of drug production and trafficking south into other areas of Mexico like Nayarit, Michoacán and Guerrero.

    Nowadays, the indirect involvement of local representatives of the Mexican government in the drug trade has become a fact of life in such places. But zones of drug production or trafficking still constitute only a fraction of Mexico’s total territory. This means corrupt local officials comprise a tiny minority of the overall government workforce.

    There are, however, also cases in which higher-level representatives of the Mexican state – or even entire government institutions – have participated directly in the production, transport or sale of illegal drugs.

    Such cases are relatively rare. But, they are inherently higher profile than the more routine, “looking the other way” kind of corruption. They are, therefore, more likely to make headlines in the US and from there inform popular and even national political discourse.

    The earliest such case is probably that of revolutionary military commander Esteban Cantú. Between 1915 and 1920, Cantú constructed a powerful political regime and funded important local development projects in the northern state of Baja California. He did so by taxing the import, sale and production of smoking opium first legally and then, when President Venustiano Carranza banned the practice, illegally.

    High-level official involvement in the drug trade became more frequent as the trade itself became ever more illicit and profitable. In 1940, Sinaloa governor Rodolfo Loaiza cut a series of deals with the up-and-coming drug trafficking organisations of his native state. An attempt to double-cross them cost Loaiza his life in 1944.

    Around the same time, political campaign manager Carlos Serrano looked to regional drug smugglers to help fund Miguel Alemán’s successful run for the presidency. Serrano was rewarded with command of the newly created, US-backed Federal Directorate of Security (DFS) secret police force. He soon used this position to move directly into opium trafficking himself.

    After US president Richard Nixon declared a “war on drugs” on both sides of the border in 1971, increasing crackdowns provided more opportunities for the same Mexican officials charged with enforcing prohibition to cut deals with traffickers. Resulting squeezes on supply also caused prices to soar and made such deals increasingly lucrative for government officials.

    By the mid-1980s, the DFS had become so deeply immersed in the drug trade that several of its agents were implicated in the Guadalajara Cartel’s murder of US Drug Enforcement Administration agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena. The agency was disbanded soon after.

    But US demand for drugs continued unabated through the 1990s and into the 21st century. The profits offered by involvement in the drug trade proved hard to resist for a select number of high-ranking government officials, including members of the federal cabinet and state governors.

    Even Genaro García Luna, the architect of Mexico’s modern “war on drugs” ended up on the take. He is now serving 38 years in a US prison for colluding with Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán’s Sinaloa Cartel.

    Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán being led away by Mexican law enforcement personnel after his arrest in 2014.
    Octavio Hoyos / Shutterstock

    An ‘intolerable alliance’?

    The indirect involvement of Mexican government officials remains far more common than direct or institutional involvement in the drug trade.

    Such corruption is largely opportunistic, rather than systematic, which is why it remains concentrated in areas where drug production and trafficking are particularly prevalent. It is also not limited to the Mexican side of the border. Plenty of crooked American cops and politicians have cut deals with traffickers over the years, too.

    Trump’s recent attacks on the Mexican government are not an accurate diagnosis of a uniquely Mexican problem. They are more of a headline-grabbing shot across the bows in the context of the renegotiation of many different aspects of the US-Mexico relationship.

    In the end, the issue of drug-related corruption in Mexico has less to do with its own government and more to do with American society’s own insatiable demand for drugs. Crackdowns on the cartels inevitably cause the price of drugs to rise, increasing the temptation of Mexican officials to try and grab a piece of the pie.

    As a businessman like Trump should be able to see, it’s not government corruption that drives the US-Mexican drug trade, but the iron laws of supply and demand.

    Nathaniel Morris has previously received funding from the Leverhulme Trust, the Arts and Humanities Research Council and University College London for research that has fed into this article. He is also a member of Noria Research.

    – ref. Mexico’s drug corruption has more to do with US demand than crooked politicians – https://theconversation.com/mexicos-drug-corruption-has-more-to-do-with-us-demand-than-crooked-politicians-249991

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why Trump really wants Ukraine’s minerals – China has put theirs off limits

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dafydd Townley, Teaching Fellow in International Security, University of Portsmouth

    Donald Trump is demanding reparations from Ukraine for the assistance that it has given to Kyiv during the Russian invasion. Trump has demanded Ukraine sign a US$500 billion (£394 billion) deal that would give the US access to, and revenue from, Ukraine’s rare and critical minerals, an essential resource in 21st century economy.

    Trump has said that this would form part of a repayment of the aid given by the US to Ukraine. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has so far refused to sign such an agreement stating that the aid was a grant and not a loan, as agreed by Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden and the Republican-controlled Congress.

    A key reason behind Trump’s push for this mineral deal is the US reliance on rare minerals such as gallium, which is critical for advanced defence technologies but is not readily available domestically.

    China, a leading supplier of gallium, has used its control over the resource as leverage against the US. It has imposed a ban on rare minerals being exported to the US, as part of its retaliation to increased US tariffs on Chinese goods.

    Other minerals are crucial for military technology such as missile system, electronics and electric vehicles. In Ukraine, there are deposits for 22 of the 34 minerals identified by the European Union as critical.

    The problem for the US is that China currently accounts for a high proportion of certain crticial mineral imports.

    So Trump sees a resolution to the Ukraine war as an opportunity to secure alternative sources of critical minerals, reducing US dependency on China and allowing Trump to take a more aggressive approach towards it. He also may not have predicted that China would hit back against the US tariffs with restrictions on these vital resources quite so quickly.

    Gallium is valued by the defence manufacturing industry because it is reliable and durable. In particular, the element is seen as a crucial tool enhancing radar, satellite communication systems, and electronic warfare systems. It is also used in multi-chip modules utilised by navigation and air traffic control systems.

    In addition to gallium, Ukraine has vast resources of graphite, an element that is used in the construction of electric vehicles and nuclear reactors, and a third of Europe’s supply of lithium, which is used in batteries.

    Trump’s focus on critical minerals has also influenced his interest in Greenland which possesses significant reserves of critical minerals, making it a potential alternative to Chinese-controlled resources.



    Read more:
    Trump’s Greenland bid is really about control of the Arctic and the coming battle with China

    Which minerals does Trump want?

    Why is China so important?

    Trump’s concern over China is also driving his negotiations with Russia more generally. One of Trump’s core concerns is China’s partnership with Russia. There is no doubt that China is now the dominant force in the Sino-Russian alliance.

    Given the increasing cooperation between the two nations in military, economic, and technological areas, Trump believes that China’s influence in global affairs needs to be countered aggressively. The Trump administration has sought to undermine the alliance by softening the US’s approach to Russia, a move that has shocked European leaders.

    Trump has long viewed China as the major threat to the US, considering it their biggest economic rival and a significant obstacle to making America “great again”.

    His economic policies have targeted Chinese trade practices, supply chain dependencies and geopolitical manoeuvres. One of his key trade advisers has argued American businesses are at a disadvantage from China’s state-controlled economy, intellectual property theft and trade imbalance.

    The recent tariffs imposed by the US on hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of Chinese imports, were intended to make US products more competitive by driving up the cost of Chinese imports, thereby encouraging businesses and consumers to buy domestic goods instead.

    At the same time, Trump sought to weaken China’s export economy by making it more difficult for Chinese companies to sell goods in the US. His tariff policies extended beyond China, with similar measures being considered for Europe.

    By targeting multiple regions, Trump aimed to shift global supply chains and solidify the US as a manufacturing powerhouse. By ending the war in Ukraine, Trump believes the US can redirect funds and resources used in Europe toward countering China’s growing influence.

    Trump has tried to justify the tariffs on China by claiming Chinese manufacturers are responsible for the mass production of fentanyl, which is then trafficked into the US through various channels. Trump has proposed stricter measures to curb the flow of fentanyl, including sanctions and tariffs on Chinese firms allegedly involved in its production.

    Following China’s retaliation, Trump needs peace in Ukraine and the consequential mineral agreement with Kyiv before China’s ban on exports to the US affects critical US manufacturing. Such an agreement would then allow him to take an even more aggressive posture with China with fewer consequences.

    However, Zelensky recently claimed that Russia has taken control of 20% of Ukraine’s minerals since the invasion. And it’s possible it will be years before any American investor gets any return on their money due to a chronic lack of investment in Ukraine’s minerals sector for almost a decade.

    Even if Trump does get the deal he wants, he will have to wait a while before Ukraine’s minerals will fulfil all of the US’s needs.

    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. Why Trump really wants Ukraine’s minerals – China has put theirs off limits – https://theconversation.com/why-trump-really-wants-ukraines-minerals-china-has-put-theirs-off-limits-250546

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Labour’s Mike Amesbury has been jailed for punching a man – here’s why he’s still an MP

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Thomas Caygill, Senior Lecturer in Politics, Nottingham Trent University

    Former Labour MP Mike Amesbury has been jailed for ten weeks after he pleaded guilty to punching a man in his constituency of Runcorn and Helsby. The incident happened in October of last year. Amesbury had the Labour whip withdrawn and has sat as an independent MP since.

    What happens to MPs who are accused and found guilty of wrongdoing? While it does depend on how we define “wrongdoing”, as it can vary in terms of the scale of offence, there are several options available to parliamentary parties, the House of Commons itself and the public. In the case of Amesbury, neither parliament nor the Labour party can stop him from remaining as an MP under the current rules, either while in prison or after he comes out. But his constituents do have a say.

    Want more politics coverage from academic experts? Every week, we bring you informed analysis of developments in government and fact check the claims being made.

    Sign up for our weekly politics newsletter, delivered every Friday.

    The ultimate power parliamentary parties have (particularly the leader) is to remove the whip. In effect, this means the MP is expelled from the parliamentary party and may not sit with their colleagues, nor be reelected under the party banner should the whip remain withdrawn at an election.

    There is a distinction between the whip being withdrawn and it being suspended. To have the whip withdrawn suggests it is final and will not be returned. To have it suspended suggests its removal is only temporary and can be returned. This was the case with the seven Labour MPs who voted against the party line over the two-child benefit cap.

    Amesbury had the whip withdrawn after the allegations and video evidence (which was circulated widely on social media) emerged. However, he remains an independent MP, at least for now.

    The House of Commons has the power to suspend MPs from the chamber for a specified period of time. Where an MP is found to have broken the code of conduct or committed a contempt of the House (for example, misleading the House), the committee on standards may recommend a period of suspension which leads to a motion being tabled in the House of Commons.

    This is what was going to happen to Boris Johnson after he was found to have misled parliament over “partygate” allegations. He resigned before the suspension could take effect.

    The parliamentary commissioner for standards, (an independent officer of the House of Commons), can also investigate complaints made against MPs (including over breaching lobbying rules). In serious cases it can report to the standards committee to recommend a sanction, including suspension from the House.

    The only way an MP can be expelled by the House of Commons completely (rather than having their membership suspended) is if they are sentenced to more than a year’s imprisonment. In this case, Amesbury was sentenced to ten weeks, so well below that threshold.

    Prior to 2015, this would have been the end of the process. Amesbury would have had the whip withdrawn. After completing his ten-week sentence he would have been free to continue to sit as an MP until the end of his current term.

    The role of the public

    As things stand in 2025, this is no longer the end of the line for these kinds of offences. We are approaching the tenth anniversary of the Recall of MPs Act, which has provided a route for the electorate to remove sitting MPs who have been found to have committed wrongdoing.

    Recall refers to a process whereby the electorate in a constituency can trigger a byelection to remove a sitting MP before the end of their term of office. MPs can be recalled under three circumstances:

    • if they are convicted in the UK of any offence and sentenced or ordered to be imprisoned or detained, after all appeals have been exhausted

    • if an MP is suspended from the House following report and recommended sanction from the committee on standards for a specified period: at least 10 sitting days, or at least 14 days if sitting days are not specified (we saw a number of these kind of recalls during the 2019 Parliament, particularly following lobbying scandals)

    • if an MP is convicted of making false or misleading parliamentary allowances claims (under the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009).

    In the case of Amesbury, his sentence is close to meeting the conditions of the first point. I use the word “close” as he is planning on appealing the sentence, and the criteria cannot be formally met until those appeals are exhausted.

    If any of the criteria are met, then the speaker must notify the local returning officer (who oversees elections). A recall petition is then automatically launched and remains open for six weeks. Under the act, electors must sign the petition in person, by post or by proxy. For a petition to be successful and a byelection triggered, 10% of the eligible registered voters must sign it.

    At the time of writing, there have been six recall petitions launched against various MPs. Four of those were successful and saw the sitting MP lose their seat, one petition failed and the MP remained in place and in one case the MP resigned while the petition was open, automatically triggering a byelection.

    Given Amesbury is appealing, this process has not yet begun. However, he is under pressure, particularly from opposition MPs, to resign immediately and trigger a byelection now.

    While there is potentially a way back for Amesbury in terms of remaining an MP (should his appeal be successful or if a recall petition goes ahead and fails to meet the 10% threshold) it is unlikely there is a way back for him in terms of having the Labour whip restored.

    Either way, he may be on borrowed time. Even if he remains an MP, without a party whip he most likely faces defeat at a subsequent general election.

    This is what happened to former Labour MP Claudia Webbe. She had the whip withdrawn by the Labour Party in 2021 following a conviction for harassment. However, she appealed her sentence and was given community service instead – failing to trigger the Recall of MPs Act. She remained as an independent MP until the 2024 general election, where she was defeated by the Conservative candidate.

    There is an onus on political parties to ensure they respond to credible allegations of wrongdoing appropriately, including suspending the whip and removing it where necessary. In Amesbury’s case, Labour acted quickly.

    But given the scandals we have seen in recent years, the public have limited patience. And wrongdoing, by what is a small minority of MPs, can tar the reputation of all MPs and parliament itself.

    Thomas Caygill is currently receiving funding from the British Academy (SRG2324241256)

    – ref. Labour’s Mike Amesbury has been jailed for punching a man – here’s why he’s still an MP – https://theconversation.com/labours-mike-amesbury-has-been-jailed-for-punching-a-man-heres-why-hes-still-an-mp-250707

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM statement on defence spending: 25 February 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    PM statement on defence spending: 25 February 2025

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s press statement on increasing defence spending.

    Good evening. 

    I was a young man when the Berlin Wall came down

    I remember it vividly. 

    It felt as if we were casting off the shackles of history

    A continent united by freedom and democracy. 

    If you had told me then, that in my lifetime

    We would see Russian tanks rolling into European cities again

    I would not have believed you. 

    Yet here we are

    In a world where everything has changed

    Because three years ago, in Ukraine

    That is exactly what happened. 

    Just reflect on that for a second – I think it’s worth it. 

    Just imagine you are walking to work

    Taking your kids to school. 

    Just another February morning, like any other. 

    Then suddenly – missiles. 

    Sirens. 

    Explosions. 

    Not in the distance

    Not on TV

    In your town. 

    Hitting your community. 

    Killing your friends. 

    An invading army, in your country. 

    The people of Ukraine have woken up to this nightmare

    For three years now

    Their courage is inspiring. 

    And Britain can be proud of its response. 

    British families have opened their doors to fleeing Ukrainians

    The ‘yellow and light blue’ flag flies on town halls and churches, the length and breadth of this country

    And I will also put on record again – 

    That I respect the robust response taken by the previous government

    I supported it in opposition

    And we have built on it in government

    Taking our support for Ukraine – to record levels. 

    But, as the nature of that conflict changes

    As it has done in recent weeks

    It also brings our response into sharper focus.

    And I believe we must now change our approach to national security

    So we are ready to meet the challenges of our volatile world. 

    The reason for this is straightforward

    Putin’s aggression does not stop in Ukraine. 

    Russian spy ships menace our waters. 

    Russian planes enter our airspace. 

    Russian cyber-attacks hit our NHS 

    And just seven years ago – there was a Russian chemical weapons attack, in broad daylight

    On the streets of Salisbury. 

    We can’t hide from this. 

    I know people have felt the impact of this conflict through rising bills and prices. 

    But unless Ukraine is properly protected from Putin

    Then Europe will only become more unstable – and that will hurt us even more. 

    Furthermore, the great lesson of our history

    Is that tyrants like Putin only respond to strength. 

    So today I have announced the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War. 

    We will keep our manifesto commitment to spend 2.5% of our GDP on defence.

    But in light of the grave threats we face

    We will bring that target forward so we meet it in 2027. 

    That is an increase of £13.4bn year on year compared to where we are today. 

    And we will go further. 

    I have long argued that in the face of ongoing and generational challenges

    European countries must do more for their own defence. 

    That is incontrovertible. 

    A completely reasonable point. 

    It’s a generational challenge – of course it is.  

    But one we must now take on. 

    So, subject to economic and fiscal conditions

    We will also set a clear ambition for Defence spending to rise to 3% of GDP in the next Parliament.  

    Clearly this is first and foremost a security imperative. 

    But I also believe that it’s a tremendous opportunity

    We can use this investment to rebuild Britain’s industrial base. 

    The first test of defence policy is always whether it keeps our country safe. 

    But the second should be whether it improves the condition of the British people

    Does it help provide the economic security that working people need? 

    Because ultimately that is fundamental to national security as well. 

    So mark my words

    We will make sure this investment maximises British jobs, British growth, British skills and British innovation. 

    And we should be optimistic about the change that it will deliver. 

    Nonetheless, in the short-term

    This investment can only be funded through hard choices. 

    And so today I have decided that we will fund the initial increase in defence spending

    By cutting our spending on overseas development

    Moving from 0.5% of GNI to 0.3%. 

    I want to be clear – that this is not an announcement I am happy to make. 

    I am proud of Britain’s pioneering record on overseas development

    And we will continue to play a key humanitarian role

    In war-torn countries like Sudan, Ukraine and Gaza

    In tackling climate change

    And supporting international efforts on global health challenges like vaccination.  

    And we will do everything to move towards a world where we can rebuild our development capacity. 

    However, the realities of our dangerous new era

    Mean that the defence and national security of our country must always come first. 

    That is what I campaigned on in the general election

    It is what we are delivering today. 

    A new approach to defence

    A revival of our industrial base

    A deepening of our alliances

    The instruments of our national power – brought together

    Creating opportunity.

    Assuring our allies.

    Delivering security for our country. 

    At moments like this in our past

    Britain has stood up to be counted. 

    It has come together. 

    And it has demonstrated strength.  

    That is what the security of this country needs now

    And it is what this Government will deliver. 

    I will now take questions.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Crisis in the DRC: What is it about?

    Source: United Nations – Peacekeeping

    This backgrounder was written by Lesley Myers, Editor for UN peacekeeping’s Strategic Communications team. Lesley is a political analyst and strategic planner with over 15 years’ experience in data-driven politics, development, and peacekeeping.

     

     

     

    There’s a crisis happening in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that has led to immense human suffering, displacement, and a deepening humanitarian crisis. It has also sparked fears of a broader, regional war.  

    What’s happening?  

    In January, the M23 armed group rapidly advanced into North Kivu province in DRC’s east, reinforced with troops and equipment from Rwanda’s armed forces, the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF). The M23 has taken control of Goma, a trade hub with a population of over two million people, and the capital of DRC’s North Kivu province. In its latest push, the M23 has now moved into South Kivu province, capturing its capital city, Bukavu, and reports of heavy fighting continue. 

    The ongoing fighting has left thousands dead and hundreds of thousands displaced,  deepening the country’s already catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Civilians are facing shortages of food and water, overwhelmed hospitals, and a growing use of rape and sexual violence as a weapon of war. They are impeding the movement of UN personnel and obstructing humanitarian corridors as civilian casualties continue to rise.  

    The human rights situation has also deteriorated significantly, with documented cases of forced recruitment, looting of displacement sites, and searches of hospitals and homes by M23 in search of both soldiers and civilians who they perceived to be opposed to their group. 

     

    Who are the M23? 

    The M23 are an armed group that  emerged in 2012 amidst tensions between countries in the region, supported by the RDF. They have been accused of war crimes and human rights violations, and have been sanctioned by the UN for committing serious violations of international law involving the targeting of women and children in situations of armed conflict in the DRC including killing and maiming, sexual violence, abduction, and forced displacement.  

    At the time, the group violently seized territory in eastern DRC but were successfully repelled by the DRC’s national army, the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, as well as international pressure on Rwanda.  

    However, in 2021, regional tensions reached new heights, triggering a re-emergence of the M23. The group has been progressively taking control of territories in eastern DRC, establishing a parallel administration and levying “taxes” on local populations, while mass killings and rape continue to be reported.  

    The M23’s resurgence has also contributed to the militarization of mining sites in eastern DRC, which is exceptionally rich in natural resources critical to making electronics like cell phones and electric cars.  

     

    What is UN Peacekeeping doing?  

    MONUSCO has been protecting vulnerable populations and unarmed Congolese defense forces who have sought refuge in its premises. The United Nations Joint Human Rights Office receives daily requests for individual protection from social actors who face threats of reprisals from the M23. 

    MONUSCO is also supporting demining efforts, and working to protect human rights defenders, journalists, and members of civil society organizations.  However, the M23 is severely restricting MONUSCO’s freedom of movement, hampering MONUSCO’s ability to fulfill these critical tasks. 

    Other UN organizations like the World Food Programme (WFP) and World Health Organization (WHO), the UN aid coordination office (OCHA), and  UN’s Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF), are also working to provide life-saving assistance to communities in need. 

     

    What’s next?  

    Long-term peace requires a political solution at the regional level. MONUSCO’s leadership is engaging in diplomatic efforts to push for peace. The UN and the Security Council have called on Rwanda to end its support for the M23 and withdraw its forces from the DRC. The UN Secretary-General has called on both countries to remain engaged in peace talks to bring an end to the violence. 

     

    Why have UN peacekeepers been in DR Congo for 65 years? Learn more here. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Green parliamentarians write to Defence Secretary over defence spending principles

    Source: Green Party of England and Wales

    • Green MPs and peers call for defence spending decisions to be based on “core principles”
    • Ellie Chowns MP calls foreign aid cut announcement “cruel and unncecessary” 
    • Green letter highlights growing security threats relating to climate breakdown, food security and cyber security

    The six Green Party parliamentarians have written to the Defence Secretary John Healey setting out a series of “core principles” they say any decisions about defence spending should be based on [1]. 

    The letter comes as Keir Starmer announced that a rise in the defence budget will be funded by cuts to foreign aid. 

    In the letter, the MPs and peers call on Healey to ensure that all decisions on defence spending “tackle the biggest threats to long term human security, including climate chaos, food insecurity, and cyber-attacks on democracy”. 

    They also urge an increase in spending on diplomacy, peace-building and overseas aid in order to improve our security. 

    Responding to Starmer’s announcement today, Ellie Chowns MP said: 

    “It’s horrifying to see Keir Starmer follow Trump’s lead, gutting our international aid budget to increase defence spending. This is naive populism playing with life-and-death decisions. 

    “How many people will fall ill or die because they cannot access health services; how many more will go hungry? And how many children will be denied an education as a result of this decision? Cutting aid risks making the world more volatile and more dangerous, not safer. Real security means tackling hunger, poverty, and climate chaos. 

    “Taking money from the poorest in the name of defence is both cruel and unnecessary – we could and should instead be taxing the wealthiest who can afford to contribute more. 

    “The idea that the only way to strengthen our defences is by taking from those with the least is immoral. It’s a choice and it’s the wrong one.”

    Notes: 

    1. The full text of the letter reads: 

    Dear John,

    We are writing to set out the importance of any decisions about future defence spending being underpinned by core principles. In an ever more insecure world, made more unstable by the comments and actions of the US President, and with the ongoing need to stand up to Putin, it is vital that genuine long-term stability, safety and security is a priority. Alongside addressing the threats posed by the international political situation, the government must also address the significant and growing security threats relating to climate breakdown, food security and cyber security. 

     As such, we call on you to uphold the following principles:

    • Tackle the biggest threats to long term human security, including climate chaos, food insecurity, and cyber-attacks on democracy
    • Increase spending on diplomacy, peace-building and overseas aid, as key to security and defence policy
    • Don’t cut spending from other departmental budgets to increase defence spending
    • Strengthen our ties with Europe
    • Uphold international law, the rule of law and the right to self-determination
    • Recognise that a global prohibition on nuclear weapons will make everyone safer
    • Address the underlying causes of conflict and insecurity such as poverty, human rights abuses and resource scarcity
    • Restore UK sovereignty by decoupling from reliance on the US
    • Use economic levers such as sanctions on companies still operating in the UK and complicit in Russian fossil fuel exports

     We look forward to your response and to working constructively with the government towards enduring safety and security.

     Yours sincerely, all Green parliamentarians

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: On Third Anniversary Of Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion Of Ukraine, Durbin Reiterates Bipartisan Congressional Support For Ukraine

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    February 24, 2025
    Durbin: We should make sure Ukraine’s sovereignty and future are secure and not given away in appeasement to Putin—a move that could cost us dearly in the future
    WASHINGTON – On the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, spoke on the Senate floor in support of Ukraine. During his speech, Durbin condemned President Trump’s appeasement to Russian President Vladimir Putin—where Trump announced key concessions to Putin regarding Ukraine, while apparently ignoring Ukraine’s key demands.  Durbin began his speech by reflecting on President Reagan’s powerful speech at the Berlin Wall where he told the Soviets to “tear down this wall.”
    “Ronald Reagan understood all too well what the Soviet regime was all about—it was a regime that had seized eastern Europe and condemned millions of individuals to live under a cruel and repressive communist dictatorship. My mother’s family originally came from Lithuania—once an independent country then a republic of the Soviet Union. Now an independent, democratic country again. That country meant a lot and still does to my family. I certainly recall the stories of my grandparents leaving the Russian domination and coming to America. Until recently, Americans across the political spectrum—including Republican presidents and members of Congress—also saw such Russian tyranny for what it was—until now,” said Durbin.
    “Today, we see President Trump doing the bidding of Russian autocrat Vladimir Putin,” Durbin continued. “That’s right—the President of the United States of America is using talking points that sound like they were whispered in his ear by the Kremlin—all while denigrating and bullying our true allies in the region.”
    Durbin detailed how President Trump has spewed outrageous comments when talking about Ukraine. He claimed, Ukraine started the war with Russia. He then attacked the legitimacy of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy—who was democratically elected in a free and fair election. Trump called Zelenskyy a “dictator without elections.” Both comments are similar to lies said by Putin. 
    Durbin said, “But it gets worse, with Donald Trump having negotiated away in public key concessions to Russia to end the war including appeasement of Ukraine’s sovereign borders or possible future NATO membership. Trump, with one phone call, gave those away without even negotiating and certainly didn’t involve the Ukrainians who have lost 46,000 brave Ukrainians who have died because of Putin’s invasion. Today, in a stunning, shameful move, the United States voted with Russia, North Korea, Belarus, and a handful of dictatorships at the United Nations against a resolution condemning Russian aggression in Ukraine.”
    Former Lithuanian foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said of this tragic and unbelievable state of affairs, that it sounded like there was a handout prepared by Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov from which the Trump Administration is now reading. He warned if President Trump continues to back Russia, then, “threats to European security will grow immensely. Putin will get braver, meaning more war in Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and beyond.”
    “President Trump’s affinity for autocrats like Putin and selling out or bullying our allies will not make America stronger or our world safer. Nor will his petulant and bumbling weekend gutting of our top military officers—a troubling act that raises serious questions about the politicization of our proud, professional fighting force in America. Let me be clear: We cannot let President Trump rewrite history or upend proven alliances with decades of bipartisan support… And ultimately, only the Ukrainian people can decide Ukraine’s future. Doing the bidding of foreign dictators and playing politics with our military only undermines America’s [safety],” Durbin said.
    Today, Durbin joined U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and others in leading a simple resolution that expresses continued solidarity with the people of Ukraine and condolences for the loss of thousands of lives to Russian aggression; rejects Russia’s attempts to militarily seize sovereign Ukrainian territory; reaffirms U.S. support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine; and states unequivocally that Ukraine must be at the table for negotiations over its future.
    Durbin also introduced the Protecting our Guests During Hostilities in Ukraine Act, legislation that would provide temporary guest status to Ukrainians and their immediate family members who are already in the United States through the “Uniting for Ukraine” parole process. The bill allows Ukrainians to stay and work in the U.S. until the Secretary of State determines that hostilities in Ukraine have ceased and it is safe for them to return.
    “When the war started, Republicans across the country opened their hearts and communities to desperately fleeing Ukrainians, even actively petitioning President Biden to protect them from deportation. So far, not a single Republican has cosponsored my bill [the Protecting our Guests During Hostilities in Ukraine Act]. But I urge them to join this simple act of American compassion. Standing up to dictators and speaking out for victims of war should never be a partisan issue,” Durbin said.
    Durbin concluded his speech by showing a photo of himself and the late Senator John McCain (R-AZ) on a bipartisan delegation CODEL to Ukraine in 2014. At the time, Russia had begun its attempts to seize Crimea and capture additional territory in the eastern part of the country.
    “We should show no less courage here, today on a bipartisan basis, in making sure Ukraine’s sovereignty and future are secure and not given away in appeasement to Putin—a move that could cost us all dearly in the future,” Durbin concluded.
    Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
    Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
    Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin, Crapo Celebrate Senate Passage of Bipartisan Resolution To Designate February As American Heart Month

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    February 24, 2025
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Heart and Stroke Caucus, today celebrated Senate passage of their bipartisan resolution to designate February 2025 as American Heart Month.  The resolution reaffirms the government’s commitment to fighting cardiovascular disease by supporting research and improving access to affordable, quality care to reduce long-term disability and mortality.
    “As the leading cause of death in the U.S., heart disease has touched nearly every American family.  It’s critical that we advance clinical research and treatments to support those suffering from cardiovascular diseases,” said Durbin.  “I’m encouraged that my Senate colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, saw the value in raising awareness around the damaging impacts of cardiovascular disease by passing my resolution with Senator Crapo.  I hope together we can use American Heart Month to build support for our efforts.”
    “Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in Idaho and in the United States.  We can all make changes to our lifestyle that will decrease our risk of heart disease, as well as the risk to our family members.  This month, the Senate reaffirmed the commitment of the United States to fighting cardiovascular disease,” said Crapo.
    In 2022, cardiovascular disease claimed the lives of more than 940,000 Americans, making it the leading cause of death in the United States.  Cardiovascular disease disproportionately affects women and communities of color.  Increased awareness of cardiovascular disease can lead to prevention or treatment, ultimately saving thousands of lives annually.  
    Durbin is a strong advocate for advancing research and treatments for cardiovascular diseases, particularly through his work on the Senate Committee on Appropriations to secure increased funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  In November 2024, Durbin’s bipartisan Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act of 2024 was signed into law, extending funding for public health efforts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to improve childhood survival rates, prevent premature death and disability, and increase quality of life for the 2.5 million Americans living with congenital heart disease (CHD).  Specifically, this funding supports data collection, research, and awareness efforts at the CDC for congenital heart defects, the most common and deadliest birth defect.  Since 2018, Durbin has increased appropriations for the cause from $4 million to $8.25 million. 
    A copy of the resolution can be found here.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Minuteman III test launch showcases readiness of U.S. nuclear force’s safe, effective deterrent

    Source: United States Strategic Command

    BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La.  –  

    A joint team of Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile equipped with a single telemetered joint test assembly re-entry vehicle Feb. 19 at 1 a.m. Pacific Time from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.

    The Western Range at Vandenberg Space Force Base serves as the primary testing ground for the Air Force Global Strike Command’s ICBM deterrent architecture. This test launch is part of routine and periodic activities designed to demonstrate that the United States’ nuclear deterrent remains safe, secure, reliable, and effective in deterring 21st-century threats and reassuring our allies. With over 300 similar tests conducted in the past, this particular test is part of the Nation’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a credible deterrent and is not a response to current world events.

    “Today’s Minuteman III test launch is just one of the ways the Department of the Air Force demonstrates the readiness, precision, and professionalism of U.S. nuclear forces,” said Acting Secretary of the Air Force Gary Ashworth. “It also provides confidence in the lethality and effectiveness of the nation’s nuclear deterrence mission.”

    AFGSC Commander Gen. Thomas Bussiere added, “The nuclear triad is the cornerstone of the national security of our country and allies around the globe.”

    “This test launch is demonstrative of our nation’s ICBM readiness and reliability,” he said. “Because of the skill sets and expertise of our maintenance personnel and our missile crews, our freedoms and the homeland remain secure.”

    Vandenberg’s 377th Test and Evaluation Group, located at Vandenberg SFB, oversaw the test launch. It is the nation’s only dedicated ICBM test organization professionally executing tests that accurately measure the current and future capability of the ICBM force.

    “During this test, we collected and analyzed performance and other key data points to evaluate current missile system competencies,” said Col. Dustin Harmon, 377th TEG commander. “This allows our team to analyze and report accuracy and reliability for the current system while validating projected missile system improvements. The data we collect and analyze is crucial for maintaining Minuteman III while we pave the way for Sentinel.”

    The ICBM’s reentry vehicle traveled approximately 4,200 miles to the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command’s Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site located within Republic of the Marshall Islands at the Kwajalein Atoll. Reagan Test Site sensors, including high-fidelity metric and signature radars, as well as optical sensors and telemetry, support the research, development, test and evaluation of America’s defense and space programs. For these tests, RTS team members collect radar, optical and telemetry data in the terminal phase of flight to evaluate system performance.

    “The Reagan Test Site serves as the supporting range for all Glory Trip missions,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Casey Rumfelt, RTS range director. “It’s a vital national asset used to support operational and developmental tests of our nation’s offensive and defensive systems. RTS provides a unique suite of instrumentation and an ideal geographic location to meet many of the U.S. testing needs that cannot be accomplished anywhere else in the world.”

    The test launch is a culmination of months of preparation that involve multiple government partners.

    Airmen from all three missile wings were selected for the task force to support the test launch, while maintainers from the 90th Missile Wing Missile Wing at F.E. Warren Force Base, Wyoming, supported maintenance requirements. The missile bases within Air Fore Global Strike Command have crew members standing alert 24 hours a day, year-round, overseeing the nation’s ICBM alert forces. 

    The ICBM community, including the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, and U.S. Strategic Command, uses data collected from test launches for continuing force development evaluation. The ICBM test launch program demonstrates the operational capability of the Minuteman III and ensures the United States’ ability to maintain a strong, credible nuclear deterrent as a key element of U.S. national security and the security of U.S. allies and partners.

    The Air Force is committed to ensuring Minuteman III remains a viable deterrent.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The Mayor’s budget should fund a Leasehold Advice Centre

    Source: Mayor of London

    London has the highest proportion of leaseholders in England, with 1.3 million leasehold properties in 2022/23, comprising 36% of all London homes and 64% of all London flats.

    London leaseholders also typically pay higher service charges, with the median annual service charge £1,450 across London in 2022/23, and 20% of London leaseholders paying over £4,000 per year in 2023.

    The London Assembly has today called on the Mayor to commit £150,000 in his Final Consolidated Budget for 2025-26 to fund a Leasehold Advice Centre, giving London’s leaseholders advice, assistance and referrals to other services.

    Andrew Boff AM, who proposed the motion, said:

    “The Assembly has spoken unanimously to support a leasehold advisory service, to support people trapped in leasehold hell. I am pleased with the support for my motion and hope that the Mayor will listen and implement this vital service.”

    The full text of the motion is:

    This Assembly recalls the landmark motion passed unanimously at its plenary meeting on 13th February, where it raised concerns about leasehold, called for its replacement with commonhold, and for the Mayor to lobby the government and use his funding and land to promote pilot projects.

    This Assembly again notes that London had the highest proportion of leaseholders in England, with 1.3 million leasehold properties in 2022/23, comprising 36% of all London homes and 64% of all London flats. London leaseholders also typically pay higher service charges, with the median annual service charge £1,450 across London in 2022/23, and 20% of London leaseholders paying over £4,000 per year in 2023.

    This Assembly also notes that, whilst we wait for Parliament to deliver a viable alternative to leasehold, there is an urgent need to step up the support provided to existing leaseholders.

    This Assembly therefore calls on the Mayor, in his Final Consolidated Budget for 2025-26, to commit £150,000 to fund a Leasehold Advice Centre. This would provide leaseholders with someone they can call for London-specific advice, assistance and referrals to other services. It could also gather valuable data and intelligence to help support GLA policymaking in this area, especially to help fulfil the Mayor’s manifesto commitments to support leaseholders and pilot alternative tenures.

    The proposed GLA-supported Leasehold Advice Centre would complement the Mayor’s existing portal that provides written guidance to leaseholders, and national services such as LEASE and Citizens Advice, providing a personalised advice and support service tailored specifically to London.

    The meeting can be viewed via webcast or YouTube.

    Follow us @LondonAssembly

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Powers for landlords to collect rent from benefit payments to be re-examined

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

    Press release

    Powers for landlords to collect rent from benefit payments to be re-examined

    A controversial system that automatically approves landlord requests to deduct tenants’ benefits to pay rent arrears and ongoing rent payments is being re-examined, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall announced today [Tuesday 25 February].

    • Work and Pensions Secretary pledges to “right the wrongs” of controversial benefit deduction system.
    • Follows decision by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) not to appeal court judgement which found one claimant’s landlord payments were unfair.
    • Action is part of wider plans to make the benefits system fairer and protect people from falling into debt.

    It comes amid concerns that the system – aimed at helping people avoid issues with their landlords such as eviction – may actually be pushing the poorest into debt.

    Currently, a computer program automatically approves landlord requests to deduct up to a fifth of someone’s monthly Universal Credit payments for outstanding rent repayments without them being consulted by either their landlord or DWP.

    The department will now look at this process and consider better ways of ensuring landlords get the rent they are owed in a fair and proportionate way while benefit claimants are protected from falling into debt.

    It comes as part of wider efforts by the Work and Pensions Secretary to fix the broken welfare system to make it fairer and ensure it improves living standards which will unlock economic growth – a key commitment in the government’s Plan for Change.

    Work and Pensions Secretary, Rt Hon Liz Kendall MP, said:

    I am determined to right the wrongs that have persisted in the benefits system for too long. The automatic approval of landlords’ requests for tenants’ benefits to be deducted is one of these.

    As well as urgently reviewing this system, I am bringing forward major changes to the health and disability benefits system so that it works for everyone, underpinned by the biggest employment reforms in a generation.

    We will continue to listen to people’s concerns, and transform our benefits system to one of fairness, not punishment.

    This decision comes in response to a high-profile legal challenge in January, which was won by Nathan Roberts whose benefits were deducted and automatically paid to his landlord to cover alleged rent arrears and ongoing rent payments – despite a dispute about repairs to the property.  The Work and Pensions Secretary has confirmed DWP will not appeal this decision.

    Minister for Social Security and Disability, Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, said:

    The benefits system needs urgent reform and we are taking action across the board to do this – whether that’s tackling the huge accumulation of debt by Carer’s Allowance recipients through no fault of their own, or this automatic deduction of benefits purely at the request of a landlord.

    Combined with our efforts to Get Britain Working and our upcoming health and disability benefits reform, all of this will lead to better support for those who need it, and open doors for those who can work.

    This comes ahead of a manifesto commitment to deliver a wider review of Universal Credit to ensure it is getting people into work, making work pay and tackling poverty.

    In April, the Universal Credit Fair Repayment Rate will also come into force, reducing the cap on how much can be deducted from someone’s benefits from 25% to 15%. This means approximately 1.2 million households will keep more of their Universal Credit payment each month, with households expected to be better off by £420 a year on average.   

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Legislation to Remove Barriers to Trade

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Legislation introduced today, February 25, will help remove barriers to trade and investment between Nova Scotia and other Canadian provinces and territories that reciprocate.

    The Free Trade and Mobility within Canada Act is the first of its kind in the country and will help foster an environment of mutual recognition of goods, services and labour mobility across all sectors.

    “We want other provinces and territories to know that Nova Scotia is open for business; we’re ready to partner with other Canadian jurisdictions who are ready to do business with us,” said Premier Tim Houston, also the Minister of Trade. “This legislation just makes sense. It will allow goods and services to be sold in Nova Scotia without further testing or red tape and puts trust in other provinces and territories that have appropriate requirements to keep people safe.”

    The act specifically addresses:

    • goods manufactured and produced in a reciprocating province or territory will be treated the same as those produced locally in Nova Scotia
      • this will eliminate any additional fees or testing requirements for goods from these provinces and territories
    • service providers and licensees that are properly certified or licensed in a reciprocating province will be recognized as if they are licensed in Nova Scotia
      • this ensures that businesses providing services can operate across provincial borders without the burden of additional licensing or certification.

    Quotes:

    “Premier Houston is leaving no stone unturned in supporting and protecting our economy and our people. He is leading the charge for Nova Scotia. And this internal trade bill is an example of his leadership on the national stage. While the tariff threat is a very serious situation with severe consequences, like many challenges, it has also opened up a new dialogue between government and business that will lead to meaningful change.”
    — Darren Czech, CEO, Cherubini Group of Companies

    Quick Facts:

    • interprovincial exports contribute about 17 per cent of Nova Scotia’s gross domestic product
    • interprovincial exports make up about half of Nova Scotia’s total exports (about 48 per cent of all goods and services)
    • in 2023, the value of Nova Scotia’s interprovincial exports was nearly $29 billion
    • one-third of Canadian businesses participated in internal trade by buying or selling goods across provincial or territorial borders
    • more than $530 billion worth of goods and services moves across provincial and territorial borders every year – equal to 20 per cent of Canada’s gross domestic product

    Additional Resources:

    Bills tabled in the legislature are available at: https://nslegislature.ca/legislative-business/bills-statutes/bills/assembly-65-session-1

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Alcohol ingestion by animals is surprisingly widespread – and we’re starting to understand its impact

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Anna Christina Bowland, PhD Candidate in Biosciences, University of Exeter

    Humans may not be the only animals that ingest alcohol, research is suggesting. Studies on animals are showing they may be eating natural ethanol for its medicinal or nutritional properties.

    Humans drink alcohol in almost every part of the world, apart from places where people abstain for religious reasons. In the past, many people believed alcohol consumption was unique to humans, but growing evidence is showing we aren’t alone in our taste for booze.

    It has long been known that vinegar flies are closely linked to alcohol given their tendency to breed on fermented fruits. However, it turns out they are not an outlier.

    When you think of alcohol, you may think of a pint of beer or a glass of wine. But there are many types of alcohol, most of which are extremely toxic. For example, isopropanol (rubbing alcohol), which is commonly used as a disinfectant.

    Ethanol, or ethyl alcohol, is the alcohol found in alcoholic beverages, but ethanol is also prevalent in nature. Yeasts, including Saccharomyces cerevisiae, also known as brewer’s yeast, are widespread in the natural environment and produce ethanol (possibly to defend the plant’s sugary resource from competing microorganisms), when they metabolise sugars via fermentation. Many fruits, nectars and saps contain an abundance of sugars. Some of this sugar becomes ethanol when colonised by yeast.

    Fruit from plants in Panama, Costa Rica, Singapore, Israel and Finland have been found to contain ethanol, as well as some nectars and saps. The concentration of ethanol in naturally fermenting fruit is typically much lower than those in human-made alcoholic beverages, but some overripe fruit, such as fruits of the black palm (Astrocaryum standleyanum) have ethanol levels similar to a standard beer (5%).

    If fruit, nectars and saps ferment in the wild, it is not surprising that some animals may ingest ethanol. Studies, experimental and in the wild, have confirmed insects (including honeybees and butterflies) ingest it, as well as birds (such as hummingbirds, cedar waxwings and bohemian waxwings) and mammals (for example, pen-tailed tree shrews and the slow loris). Non-human primates, including one of our closest living relatives the chimpanzee, ingest it too.

    Although examples in the wild are rare, this may be due to lack of research rather than prevalence. Researchers are developing methods that make it easier to measure ethanol in the field, and as more research is conducted, more examples will probably be discovered.

    Do animals get drunk?

    There are many anecdotes of “drunk” animals, from moose to elephants, but none of these cases have actually been validated. From an evolutionary standpoint, being drunk is disadvantageous. Intoxicated animals could be more susceptible to injury or predation, and less likely to survive.

    Instead, many scientists expect natural selection would favour adaptations for increased ethanol metabolism to avoid becoming “drunk”. This allows animals to eat fermented foods while minimising the negative effects of intoxication.

    In animals, including humans, the primary metabolic route for ethanol is similar. Ethanol is first oxidised to acetaldehyde (a toxic intermediate) by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase.

    Acetaldehyde is then converted to acetate (which is less toxic) by aldehyde dehydrogenase. Yet, the efficiency at which different animals metabolise ethanol varies. It can vary between humans too.

    Some animals appear to have enhanced ethanol metabolism. Much like humans, chimpanzees, gorillas and bonobos share a mutation that make them particularly efficient at metabolising ethanol.

    Interestingly, the only Asian great ape (orangutan), which is highly arboreal (tree-dwelling), doesn’t share this mutation. This may be because orangutans did not experience the same evolutionary pressures as the more terrestrial (ground-dwelling) African great apes.

    For example, orangutans primarily feed in trees where fruit is expected to be less fermented than when it falls to the ground.

    Adult female chimpanzee feeding on ripe Spondias mombin
    Kimberley Hockings, CC BY-NC-ND

    It is possible that if sugary foods ferment naturally, then animals that eat these foods may consume ethanol without meaning to. Ethanol may have some benefits. It has antimicrobial properties and vinegar flies are known to use it to self-medicate against parasites. However, not much is known on whether other animals also use ethanol for medicinal purposes.

    There are confirmed sightings of many animals, from chimpanzees to orangutans using plants for medication, so the use of ethanol in this way could be widespread. Animals may also ingest food with ethanol in it because ethanol itself is a source of calories and its presence indicates sugar and nutrient content.

    Ambrosia beetles use the smell of ethanol as a cue to find suitable host trees to colonise. The ethanol increases the growth of fungi which the beetles feed on.

    Many of us are keenly aware of ethanol’s cognitive impact, including feelings of relaxation. Ethanol might play a significant role in promoting sociality among humans. This may also apply to other species, but has yet to be studied in a natural context.

    We still have much to learn about wild animals’ natural use of ethanol. Many
    hypotheses remain untested, and we know little about whether animals seek out ethanol and fermented foods. But many animals ingest it. It is clear the party is growing, and we are just one of many species that partake in ethanol.

    Anna Christina Bowland has received funding from the Primatological Society of Great Britain (PSGB) and the University of Exeter.

    – ref. Alcohol ingestion by animals is surprisingly widespread – and we’re starting to understand its impact – https://theconversation.com/alcohol-ingestion-by-animals-is-surprisingly-widespread-and-were-starting-to-understand-its-impact-246638

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Framingham Town Hall, Warren Lays Out Plan to Fight Back Against Trump Policies That Hurt Massachusetts Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    February 22, 2025
    “[U]ltimately, the power is not actually in the White House. The power is not actually in the Congress. The power lies with the people, and that’s what I’m counting on.”
    “[Billionaires like Elon Musk] believe that the rich can get even more squeezed out of this country and they can do it on the backs of everyone else in this nation, and they hope you won’t see that, and they are wrong. We see it, and we will stop it.” 
    “This is not just Republican versus Democrat. Not anymore. This is a whole lot bigger than that.”
    Video of Remarks (YouTube)
    Boston, MA – At a town hall in Framingham, Massachusetts, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) shared her thoughts on President Trump and Elon Musk’s work to “bring down our government from the inside,” and laid out her plan to fight back against the Trump administration’s policies that hurt Massachusetts families. 
    February 22, 2025 As Delivered
    Senator Elizabeth Warren: Hello Framingham! Hello Massachusetts! Oh, sit down, sit down. Damn, it is good to be here with you all. Not that it’s not fun to be in Washington. But thank you all for being here. 
    This is such an extraordinary moment. I know there’s a lot you could be out doing, but you’re in here because you care. And I’m so glad we have this chance to be together, but I’m not going to sugarcoat it. It’s a hard time out there. 
    It is a hard time when our federal government is firing the people who are trying to do cancer research. It is a hard time when our federal government, under co-presidents Elon Musk and Donald Trump, is laying off the people who keep our nuclear materials safe. It is a hard time when our co-presidents are firing veterans. It is a hard time when they are trying to bring down our government from the inside. It is a hard time when President Elon Musk is out there mowing through every federal database that has all your personal financial information, and in some cases, medical information, all of the ways that you can be identified. It is a hard time when that little consumer agency—can we hear it for the CFPB? Yeah. When the cop on the beat that has discovered more than 20 billion dollars of scams over the last dozen years shut them down and made the scammers give the money back to the people they cheated, and now co-president Musk wants to shut that down—not on my watch. You bet. Yeah. Yeah. Not here. And it is a hard time when co-president Trump thinks that he’s going to rule by bullying people, whether those people are immigrants, whether those people identify differently he does, whether or not those people are the governor of Maine. It’s not going to work. 
    Here’s the deal. Yes, it is a hard time. I acknowledge that, and we came together to talk about it. We don’t have all the tools we want. I get it. Boy, can I count to exactly 47 Democrats in the United States Senate and 53 Republicans. I can do that math. I understand that. But the fact that we don’t have as many tools as we want does not mean that we have no tools at all. We are in this fight. You bet. So, I want to do something today. I want to tell you, just as our topper, we’re going to ask some questions in a minute, but I want to tell you what I’m working on and what we’re all trying to do right now. 
    So part one: what Donald Trump and Elon Musk are doing in large parts of government is flatly illegal. It’s just illegal. It’s not like, “Well on the one hand, on the other.’ A big part of what they’re doing is illegal, and we are in the courts. We are in the courts, and we’re going to fight this out in the courts. That’s part one. 
    Part two: right in the United States Senate, we are the ones who are supposed to do advice and consent. Now, like I said, we’re in a 47-53. These nominees are horrible. It’s a term of art here. Right. They are terrible. We now have someone who’s going to be in charge of our Health and Human Services. Yep. Yep. Yep. Someone who’s in charge of the Department of Defense. The Director of National Intelligence. So, I see you’ve been reading, right? You’re staying up, you get who these people are. 
    The Republicans are going forward in the Senate with these people, Donald Trump has nominated them, going forward. Here’s the deal. We’re not giving it away for free. They can name horrible people, and maybe we don’t have the votes to stop them, but we are not giving it away for free. When RFK gets nominated—you bet—I tried to make clear with my questions: not only does he traffic in antiscience, traffic in antivaxx, but he’s making millions of dollars to do it, and that’s not right. When our Secretary of Defense is credibly accused of sexual assault, I managed to pry out the information: he paid $50,000 to hush that woman up. When he’s falling down drunk at work events and when he drove not one, but two nonprofits straight into the ground financially. We couldn’t stop him, but we didn’t give it away for free. 
    Here’s how I look at it, with all of these nominees. We’re putting a stink on them, and making sure the American people see it, and that every damn Republican who voted for him is going to feel a part of that stink now, and into the future. So, that’s part two. And part three is to try to raise a movement. To do it all across this country. Yep. If you’ve seen me on TV, if you’ve seen me on podcasts, if you’ve seen me out in the streets or sidewalks, you understand that’s what I’m trying to do and it’s what others are trying to do. Because ultimately, the power is not actually in the White House. The power is not actually in the Congress. The power lies with the people, and that’s what I’m counting on. 
    So, with that in mind, I know what we need. We’ve got people in this room. I don’t have to tell you not to give up. You don’t give up. You’re in this room because you were ready for this fight. So, I wanted to be here today to ask for three things. You know I always come with an ask. I mean everybody, anybody wants to meet me, “Oh, Elizabeth, what do you want now?” because that’s my job. So ask number one; tell the stories of what this means. Ask number one, that’s it. 
    Tell the stories of what it means if cancer research is halted. 
    Tell the stories about what it means if we’re going to shut down our national parks. 
    Tell the stories of what it’s going to mean if someone who has dedicated 22 years working in public service just gets laid off. 
    Tell the stories of what it means if you’re going to terrorize an immigrant community so that little business owners have to close their doors because people are afraid to be out on the sidewalks. 
    Tell the story about what it means when children are afraid to go to school. 
    Tell those stories. 
    And the reason for that is: we are at the moment of developing the national narrative for what Donald Trump and Elon Musk are doing. It is bad, and we need to tell that story, and I need you to tell it. So that’s part one, and by the way, when I say tell it, tell it everywhere. Tell it online, do it on your Facebook, do it on Insta, do it texting, but also the group you went to school with, your group that you work on, anybody, anywhere around the country. Go on these chats and tell the stories, because this is how, as a nation, we make the voice of people heard. So that’s part one. Part two: do not underestimate the value of organizing. Indivisible. God bless them. Some of you, we have some Indivisible members. And other organizations. I’m all in. One voice is powerful. Two voices is more than twice as powerful. Organizing and getting energy behind it—we keep each other going. So please, organize, get in a group that’s organized. Work with others, build your own, bring in your neighbors, but come. 
    And then, part three, you’ve got to take care. These are hard times, and remember how they say on the airplane, ‘Adjust your own mask before helping the person sitting next to you.’ You actually do have to take a deep breath. This is a time when Donald Trump and Elon Musk are trying to undermine our confidence and our ability to be with each other, to make our voices heard, to make this government work. And we have to take care of ourselves. 
    And that’s going to be a lot of different things for different people. I have my own. We can talk about that. But with your friends, with yourself, you got to take care, because we’re not in this just until tonight. We’re not in this just until the end of this month. We are in this for the long haul to save our country. 
    I know it’s hard right now. It’s hard to maintain focus. There’s so much going on. I sometimes think of this as feeling like you’re in a sandstorm, right, and it’s just buffeting, and things are coming from every direction. Understand that is intentional. They are doing this because they don’t want people to be able to get focused and respond. Why is that? Why all this noise? Why are they doing all these pieces at once? Because they want you to not see the driving force behind it. There is a driving force here, and the driving force is that billionaires like Elon Musk and a handful of the other cronies, they want giant tax cuts so that they can be even richer and so they can run this country. And they want regular folks, people who depend on a little help from the federal government, to be able to stay in a nursing home. People who need, a little kid down the street from you who has a severe disability and he needs an aide to be able to be in a public school. They believe that the rich can get even more squeezed out of this country and they can do it on the backs of everyone else in this nation, and they hope you won’t see that, and they are wrong. We see it, and we will stop it. You bet. Yup. I think of this as what we fight for. 
    This is not just Republican versus Democrat. Not anymore. This is a whole lot bigger than that. This is truly what we think our government is for. Why we organize and get out there, why we vote, why we show up. The Republicans right now have completely caved in. It’s Elon Musk and whatever he wants to do, and Donald Trump wants to name himself King. That’s where they’re headed. 
    We are the people who actually believe that we can build an America that doesn’t just work for a handful at the top. We believe in an America where everybody gets a fighting chance, and what that ultimately means is that we make those investments so people can get them. We make the investment, damn it, in public education—can we hear it for our teachers? You bet. We make those investments in healthcare because healthcare is a basic human right. And we’re in the fight to make those investments in housing so everyone has an opportunity to buy a home and build some security. 
    I’m here because I’m an optimist. And yeah, this is, this is, this tests me. I get it. But I’m still an optimist. I’m an optimist because I truly see up close and personal what happens when we work together. I see the things we build, and I see the people right now here in Framingham, here in Massachusetts, who show up to say investing in our government is worth it. So we’re going to stay in this fight. Thank you.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Statement on Trump and Musk’s Continued Attacks on USAID

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) released the following statement on the Trump Administration and Elon Musk’s continued attacks on the U.S. Agency for International Development:  
    “USAID supports programs that serve U.S. national interests overseas, but it is farmers here in America who grow the corn, wheat, beans, and peanuts. It is dairy farmers in Vermont who produce the powdered milk that USAID uses to feed millions of hungry children in Africa, Central America, and Asia. American companies manufacture the generators, water pumps, trucks, and computers for USAID’s programs, and American workers—in blue states and red states—implement those programs. Thanks to Elon Musk—an unelected billionaire—those American farmers and companies have lost their business with USAID, and workers are losing their jobs.  
    “If Donald Trump and Elon Musk were serious about rooting out wasteful spending, they would not have stopped programs in countries like Somalia where USAID is a key partner in counterterrorism efforts with the U.S. military. They would not have shut down the Famine Early Warning System, risking medicines and American-grown food aid to spoil in the supply chain. They would not have put more than a half dozen USAID lawyers on leave, including its ethics lawyers. They would not delay payment of invoices for work already completed on behalf of the U.S. government, incurring needless fees for violating the Prompt Payment Act. And they would not be incurring interest on late payments owed, penalties for early contract terminations, and legal fees. 
    “If this were truly about preventing waste, if this were truly about rooting out corruption, they would not empty U.S. embassies, leaving virtually no one trained in financial management and oversight. 
    “If there was any truth to their hyperbolic claims of corruption, for which DOGE has offered no credible evidence, they should have asked the USAID Inspector General to investigate rather than fire him without cause. And if they actually did discover programs they don’t support, they could have reprogramed the funds consistent with Congressional requirements and past practice. They also could have asked Congress to change the law. 
    “What is taking place right now is not about conducting a review, policy realignment, or addressing waste, fraud, and abuse. The Trump Administration’s own actions have made every one of those goals impossible to achieve.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Tax credit fuels bioprocessing industry investment

    The province’s inviting and tax-friendly business environment, free and fast-flowing economy and abundant agricultural resources make it one of the best places to do business in North America. In addition, the Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit (APITC), launched in spring 2023, helps to attract investment that will further diversify Alberta’s agriculture industry.

    The most recent example of a company choosing to grow its business in Alberta is Canary Biofuels, which has qualified for the APITC by constructing a cold press oilseed crushing plant in Lethbridge. Canary Biofuels is investing $18 million in the project that is expected to create 40 permanent and 25 temporary jobs, process 200,000 tonnes of seed per year and produce value-added products such as canola oil and meal. Through the Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit, Alberta’s government has granted Canary Biofuels conditional approval for a tax credit estimated at $1.7 million.

    “Alberta is an agriculture powerhouse with a thriving food and bioprocessing sector. The Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit has made the province a preferred destination for large-scale agri-processing investments and encourages companies like Canary Biofuels to invest in our province, create jobs and diversify the economy.”

    RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation

    “The Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit is a prime example of how our government is strengthening our agriculture industry by supporting businesses, like Canary Biofuels, to grow, create jobs, and continue to help drive our economy forward.”

    Nathan Neudorf, MLA for Lethbridge-East

    The APITC provides a 12 per cent non-refundable, non-transferable tax credit when businesses invest $10 million or more in a project to build or expand a value-added agri-processing facility in Alberta. The program is open to any food manufacturers and bioprocessors that add value to commodities like grains or meat or turn agricultural by-products into new consumer or industrial goods.

    Canary Biofuels is an agricultural processor that produces feedstock for the renewable fuels industry as well as high-value products for the livestock feed industry. It is headquartered in Calgary with a process facility in Lethbridge.

    “Canary would like to thank the Government of Alberta for its support. Programs like the Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit are essential for smaller companies like Canary to access capital. This project will support jobs and indirectly support thousands of Albertan and Canadian oilseed farmers by providing more localized offtake for their crops, including off-spec materials.”  

    George Wadsworth, CEO Canary Biofuels Inc.

    Alberta’s agri-processing sector is the second-largest manufacturing industry in the province and the biofuel industry plays an important role in the sector, generating millions in annual economic impact and creating thousands of jobs. Alberta continues to be an attractive place for agricultural investment due to its agricultural resources, one of the lowest tax rates in North America, a business-friendly environment, and a robust transportation network to connect with international markets.

    Quick facts

    • On Feb. 7, 2023, government announced the introduction of the Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit through Budget 2023.
    • On Apr. 24, 2023, Alberta’s Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit began accepting applications from agri-processing corporations for conditional approval.
    • As of Feb. 11, 2025, 16 corporations had applied to the program for projects worth about $1.63 billion in new investment in Alberta’s agri-processing sector.
    • So far, 10 corporations have received conditional approval under the program. Each one must submit progress reports on their project, then apply for a tax credit certificate when the project is complete.
    • Canary Biofuel’s crush process incorporates a proprietary cold press design that allows the processing of all varieties and qualities of seed while producing a super degummed quality oil suitable for animal feed, renewable diesel and renewable aviation biofuels. In addition, the non-solvent process produces a high-value animal feed ingredient.
    • The current crush plant in Lethbridge has been operating at 50,000 MT/year and has just completed the first phase of expansion at 80,000 MT/Y with following expansion phases of 120,000 and finally 200,000 MT/Y to be completed sometime in 2026.
    • Canary Biofuel currently employs about 25 people in Canada and at full expansion it is expected they will employ more than 40.

    Related information

    • Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit

    Related news

    • Tax credit beefs up burger patty production (July 11, 2024)
    • Tax credit mooooves Alberta’s dairy industry forward (June 19, 2024)
    • Tax credit fuels investments in bioprocessing industry (April 22, 2024)
    • Tax credit sprouts more little potato products (Feb. 22, 2024)
    • New tax credit opens the door to big investments (April 24, 2023)
    • Capitalizing on value-added agriculture (Feb. 7, 2023)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: ASM announces fourth quarter 2024 results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Almere, The Netherlands
    February 25, 2025, 6 p.m. CET

    Eighth consecutive year of double-digit full-year growth, outperforming WFE in 2024

    ASM International N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam: ASM) today reports its Q4 2024 results (unaudited).

    Financial highlights

    € million Q4 2023 Q3 2024 Q4 2024
    New orders 677.5 815.3 731.4
    yoy change % at constant currencies (14%) 30% 8%
           
    Revenue 632.9 778.6 809.0
    yoy change % at constant currencies (7%) 26% 27%
           
    Gross profit margin % 47.2  % 49.4 % 50.3  %
    Adjusted gross profit margin 1 47.9  % 49.4 % 50.3  %
           
    Operating result 131.5 215.2 222.3
    Operating result margin % 20.8  % 27.6  % 27.5  %
           
    Adjusted operating result 1 141.0 219.9 227.0
    Adjusted operating result margin 1 22.3  % 28.2  % 28.1  %
           
    Net earnings 90.9 127.9 225.8
    Adjusted net earnings 1 100.3 133.6 231.5

    1 Adjusted figures are non-IFRS performance measures. Refer to Annex 3 for a reconciliation of non-IFRS performance measures. 

    • New orders of €731 million in Q4 2024 increased YoY by 8% at constant currencies (also 8% as reported), with the increase again mainly driven by solid demand for gate-all-around (GAA) and high-bandwidth memory (HBM) DRAM.
    • Revenue of €809 million increased by 27% at constant currencies (increased by 28% as reported) from Q4 of last year and at the upper end of the guidance (€770-810 million).
    • YoY improvement in adjusted gross profit margin is due to strong mix.
    • Adjusted operating result margin increased to 28.1%, compared to 22.3% in Q4 2023 mainly due to higher gross margin and a moderation in SG&A, partially offset by higher investments in R&D.
    • Revenue for Q1 2025 is expected to be in the range of €810-850 million.

    Comment

    “ASM continued to deliver a solid performance in 2024. Sales increased by 12% at constant currencies, outperforming the wafer fab equipment (WFE) market which increased by a mid-single digit percentage in 2024. This marks our company’s eighth consecutive year of double-digit growth.” said Hichem M’Saad, CEO of ASM. “Revenue in Q4 2024 increased to €809 million, up 27% year-on-year at constant currencies and at the top end of our guidance of €770-810 million. The revenue increase in Q4 was driven by higher sales in leading-edge logic/foundry. Q4 bookings of €731 million increased, at constant currencies, by 8% from Q4 2023. Bookings were down from the level in Q3 2024, which was in part explained by order pull-ins from Q4 2024 to Q3 2024, as communicated last quarter. GAA-related orders increased strongly from Q3 to Q4, but this was offset by a drop in China demand. The gross margin came in at 50.3% in Q4 2024. Operating margin of 28.1% increased by nearly 6% points compared to Q4 2023.

    Growth in the WFE market was uneven in 2024: AI-related segments continued to increase strongly, but other parts of the market showed a mixed performance. For ASM, this meant strong momentum in our GAA-related applications. With the mix shifting from pilot-line to high-volume manufacturing, both quarterly GAA-related sales and orders increased strongly in the course of 2024.  We also saw a surge in demand for HBM-related, high-performance DRAM applications in 2024. This fueled a rebound in our total memory sales from a relatively low level of 11% in 2023 to a very strong level of 25% in 2024. Sales from the Chinese market remained strong in 2024, but dropped from the first half to the second half and also from Q3 to Q4, as expected. Sales in the power/analog/wafer market dropped by a significant double-digit percentage in 2024, reflecting the cyclical slowdown in the automotive and industrial end markets. Our SiC Epi increased by a mid-single digit percentage in 2024. While this was below our prior expectation of double-digit growth, we believe it was still a robust performance in view of significant weakening of the SiC market in 2024. 

    Financial results were again strong in 2024. Adjusted gross margin increased to 50.5% in 2024, supported by mix, a continued substantial contribution from the Chinese market, and improvements in our operations to reduce costs. In 2024, adjusted operating profit increased by 17%. We further stepped up adjusted net R&D spending (+20%) in view of our growing pipeline of opportunities, while the increase in adjusted SG&A expenses moderated (+3%), reflecting ongoing cost control. Free cash flow increased by 23% in 2024 to a record-high level of €548 million. 

    We remain on track towards our strategic targets and continue to invest in our people, in innovation and expansion, including in our planned new facilities in Hwaseong, Korea, and Scottsdale, Arizona.  We also made further strides in accelerating sustainability. We published our Climate Transition Plan last year, and, as a first milestone, we achieved our target of 100% renewable electricity in 2024, which contributed to a 52% drop in our combined Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions.”

    Outlook

    Market conditions continue to be mixed looking into 2025, with WFE spending expected to increase slightly. Leading-edge logic/foundry is expected to show the highest growth in 2025. There have been some further shifts in capex forecasts among customers in this segment, but overall our forecast for a substantial increase in GAA-related sales in 2025 is unchanged. In memory, we expect healthy sales in 2025, supported by continued solid demand for HBM-related DRAM, although it is too early to tell if memory sales will be at the same very strong level as in 2024. The power/analog/wafer segments are still in a cyclical correction with no signs of a recovery in the near term. In SiC Epi, the outlook further weakened. Taking into account the recently announced new U.S. export controls and as communicated in our press release of December 4, 2024, our China revenue is expected to decrease in 2025, with equipment sales from this market falling in a range of low-to-high 20s percentage of total ASM revenue.

    We confirm our target for revenue in a range of €3.2-3.6 billion in 2025, but it is too early to provide a more specific forecast due to market uncertainty and as visibility for the second half of the year is still limited.
    At constant currencies, we expect revenue for Q1 2025 to be in a range of €810-850 million, with a projected further increase in Q2 compared to Q1.

    Share buyback program

    ASM announces today that its Management Board authorized a new repurchase program of up to €150 million of the company’s common shares within the 2025/2026 time frame. This repurchase program is part of ASM’s commitment to use excess cash for the benefit of its shareholders.

    Dividend proposal

    ASM will propose to the forthcoming 2025 Annual General Meeting on May 12, 2025, to declare a regular dividend of €3.00 per common share over 2024, up from €2.75 per common share over 2023.

    Modification in spares & service revenue reporting definition

    Effective 2025, ASM will include installation and qualification revenue as part of spares & services revenue aligning with our business organization structure at ASM. Further details of the quarterly and full-year impact on 2024 revenue can be found in annex 4.

    About ASM

    ASM International N.V., headquartered in Almere, the Netherlands, and its subsidiaries design and manufacture equipment and process solutions to produce semiconductor devices for wafer processing, and have facilities in the United States, Europe, and Asia. ASM International’s common stock trades on the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange (symbol: ASM). For more information, visit ASM’s website at www.asm.com.

    Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements: All matters discussed in this press release, except for any historical data, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to, economic conditions and trends in the semiconductor industry generally and the timing of the industry cycles specifically, currency fluctuations, corporate transactions, financing and liquidity matters, the success of restructurings, the timing of significant orders, market acceptance of new products, competitive factors, litigation involving intellectual property, shareholders or other issues, commercial and economic disruption due to natural disasters, terrorist activity, armed conflict or political instability, changes in import/export regulations, epidemics, pandemics and other risks indicated in the company’s reports and financial statements. The company assumes no obligation nor intends to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future developments or circumstances.

    This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

    Quarterly earnings conference call details

    ASM will host the quarterly earnings conference call and webcast on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. CET.

    Conference-call participants should pre-register using this link to receive the dial-in numbers, passcode and a personal PIN, which are required to access the conference call.

    A simultaneous audio webcast and replay will be accessible at this link.

    Contacts  
    Investor and media relations Investor relations
    Victor Bareño Valentina Fantigrossi
    T: +31 88 100 8500 T: +31 88 100 8502
    E: investor.relations@asm.com E: investor.relations@asm.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Child given detention for getting less than 90% on a test – psychology shows there are far better ways to motivate students

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Hannah Wilkinson, Lecturer in Educational Psychology, University of Manchester

    Connect Images – Legacy/Shutterstock

    An 11-year-old at a school in Essex was recently reported to have been given a detention for not achieving 90% on his maths homework (he got 81%). This measure by his school comes in an environment when schools in England seem to be increasingly reaching for severe methods of punishment: more and more children are being suspended or excluded. But the 11-year-old’s detention suggests a use of sanctions not only to deal with bad behaviour, but also to drive improved academic achievement.

    While this is a particularly overt example, many schools adopt strict behavioural policies in part to improve results. And the 2019 Timpson review of school exclusion in England reported allegations that a small number of schools were excluding pupils in order to boost the school’s academic attainment by removing them.

    But research in educational psychology shows there are better ways to motivate learners than the threat of sanctions.

    Since the 1988 Education Reform Act, which offered parents preference for their children’s schools and placed increased emphasis on measurable data, the education system has become a market in which schools compete against one another.

    Today, you can view a host of statistics for schools. These include how much progress students have made since joining secondary school and how many students received a pass in English and maths GCSE, as well as the percentage of students who have stayed in education or gained employment after leaving Year 11. These results can be compared with local schools and the national average.

    While the introduction of this visible data was introduced in a bid to improve schools and student outcomes, perhaps it is time to take stock of how this has changed the ways schools operate.

    The toll on schools and pupils

    The costs for schools failing to deliver on these statistics are high. They have included increased Ofsted inspections, the removal of the headteacher and the forced move of a school from local authority control into an academy trust.

    These accountability measures may lead schools to more punitive, pressuring approaches in order to push students to work hard to achieve good results, as well as to remove disruptive pupils from classrooms so as not to jeopardise the attainment of others.

    The headteacher of the boy given a detention over his maths score told the BBC that the school was under pressure after receiving a “requires improvement” rating from Ofsted.

    But increasing the focus on achievement and punishing students when they do not meet set standards comes with a cost. Pupils are at risk of becoming disengaged and unhappy at school, and may suffer damage to their self-esteem.

    When students feel their self-esteem is at risk they are more likely to engage in what are known as “defensive strategies” in a bid to protect their self-esteem. For example, students may decrease their effort or procrastinate. This allows them to attribute their potential poor performance to factors such as not trying hard enough, rather than it being a reflection of their own poor ability.

    Often feeling like a failure can lead to learned helplessness. This happens when, following a series of negative results or stressful situations, people can feel that the outcomes of their life are beyond their control and that negative events are unavoidable.

    These perceptions can result in beliefs that there is little point in trying to change the inevitable. It can lead to helpless behaviour and reduced motivation and belief in their own ability.

    A different strategy

    Self-determination theory is a psychological theory that offers a perspective beyond the traditional reward and punishment approach to motivation. It posits that as humans we are naturally keen to learn and grow, but environmental conditions can diminish this innate drive.

    To feel in control of our own actions and therefore motivated to act, we need to feel that we are competent, with opportunities to exercise our capabilities. We need to feel that we have autonomy – that we are responsible for our own behaviour. And we need to have a sense of belonging with others.

    When these three “needs” are satisfied, we are more likely to be highly motivated and to engage in tasks with enthusiasm. However, these needs can be thwarted if we receive high levels of criticism and negative performance feedback, are set work which is too challenging, or face threats and imposed goals.

    When success criteria is too high, students will not feel competent in their ability to achieve these high standards. Working just to avoid punishment means students’ behaviour is being driven by external influences and therefore they will not feel autonomous.

    Furthermore, harsh punishments will reduce students’ sense of belonging within their school environment as they will not feel valued. These punitive behaviours are more likely to result in decreased effort and disengagement.

    While it’s not an easy task for schools and teachers working in a high-stakes, results-based system, there are ways to amend practices to support rather than thwart students’ innate motivation.

    This can include ensuring that work is set at an appropriate level and expectations for success are achievable. Schools can try to foster an environment which promotes respect and care, by acknowledging students’ views and providing them with opportunities to offer their voice and provide feedback.

    In order to support students’ autonomy, where possible, schools could provide them with choice. This could include deciding what topic they want to carry out a project on. Students could choose the format for presenting their homework, such as bullet points or a letter, or handwritten or digital, that allows them to work to their strengths.

    Even providing students with a clear rationale for decisions – such as why a class is focusing on a certain topic – can help to make them feel more involved and engaged.

    By encouraging students to set their own targets which suit personal goals and aspirations for their future, rather than those set by governments and schools, we can help them to redefine their view of success and prioritise their efforts on being the best that they can be. This can help protect their self-esteem and support their motivation towards working towards these goals.

    If schools are able to focus more on the individual needs and goals of their students this could harness their natural motivation to learn and thrive.

    Hannah Wilkinson 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. Child given detention for getting less than 90% on a test – psychology shows there are far better ways to motivate students – https://theconversation.com/child-given-detention-for-getting-less-than-90-on-a-test-psychology-shows-there-are-far-better-ways-to-motivate-students-249804

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Demi Moore: the Oscar nominee with a career defined by defiance

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Caroline Ruddell, Reader in Film and Television, Brunel University of London

    Demi Moore won the Golden Globe for best actress in January for her performance in the horror sci-fi film, The Substance. In her acceptance speech, she shared that, 30 years ago, a producer told her she was a “popcorn actress”. The implication was that she was not the kind of “serious” actor who might win awards.

    Having now also received an Oscar nomination for the role, it seems her work is finally being taken seriously. During the 1980s and 1990s, Moore was a huge star and renowned for appearing in mainstream, big budget films – hence the “popcorn” label. If you go back to the films she is best known for, however, an interesting trend emerges.

    As a researcher of gender in film and television, I’ve long been interested in Moore’s work. That’s because, while it is perhaps most explicit in The Substance, the majority of her oeuvre interrogates womanhood and power.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    In The Substance, Moore plays the fading celebrity Elisabeth Sparkle with ferocity. But the plaudits for her performance don’t mean this is something new – that ferociousness has always been there in her onscreen roles.

    As femme fatale Meredith in Disclosure (1994), for example, she dominated every scene with an aggressive power that is rare to behold. Writing about Moore’s work in 2004, film researcher Linda Ruth Williams described that power as a “dangerous sexiness”.



    Read more:
    The Substance: Demi Moore is ferocious in gloriously gory satire on Hollywood’s female ageism

    Meredith is a woman from senior executive Tom’s (Michael Douglas) past. When she walks back into his life, she comes close to derailing it entirely through a concoction of manipulative and cunning behaviour, an impressive business sense, and outright pure and simple aggression.

    At one point, Tom even says he would in no way be a physical match for her due to the amount of time she spends exercising on a StairMaster machine. Though she doesn’t win out in the end, Meredith is by far the most powerful and compelling character in the film.

    Moore’s Golden Globe acceptance speech.

    Even in Moore’s more passive roles, such as Molly in Ghost (1990), she steals the show. A big part of that is her uncanny ability to make her eyes flit between intense dark fury and overwhelming grief.

    And I can’t ignore G.I. Jane (1997). In that film, Moore shaved herself a buzzcut on camera and yelled the unforgettable line “suck my dick” at Master Chief Urgayle (Viggo Mortensen) upending, or at least unsettling, social expectations of women in the military. Much of the power of Moore’s performance in this film is in the way she physically transformed for the role. Williams described the role as a work of “corporeal shapeshifting” due to the intense physical training Moore undertook for the part.

    In A Few Good Men (1992), her character, Lieutenant Commander Joanne Galloway, rivals all others with her fierce intellect and knowledge of the law. While Tom Cruise’s Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee wows in the courtroom, it is Galloway’s knowledge of the case and refusal to bow to patriarchal power (largely embodied by Jack Nicholson’s Colonel Jessep) that sees them through.

    Ageing in Hollywood

    In September 2024, I was interviewed for an article about older women in film and television by the journalist Christobel Hastings.

    In it, Hastings stated that “Hollywood has a long history of ignoring female actors”. Citing several research studies, she noted that women’s careers peak at age 30 in the industry, while men’s peak 15 years or more later.

    But she also made the case that there has been an increase in the diversity of roles available to older actresses both in film and television. Such movement for female actresses has long been championed by the Geena Davis Institute, a research organisation focusing on equitable representation in media, for over 20 years.

    If I were to sum up Moore’s career with one word, it would be defiance. And now, with The Substance, she has defied expectations once again by joining the (thankfully increasing) ranks of female actresses who are finding meaty roles as they head into middle or older age.

    Caroline Ruddell 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. Demi Moore: the Oscar nominee with a career defined by defiance – https://theconversation.com/demi-moore-the-oscar-nominee-with-a-career-defined-by-defiance-249765

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Understanding the cultural experience of keeping warm can help us embrace clean energy

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Becky Shaw, Professor in Fine Art, Birmingham City University

    The way we heat our homes is a major contributor to the greenhouse gases that are heating up the planet. So moving to more sustainable home heating is vital for decarbonisation and meeting emissions targets.

    Campaigns usually offer technological solutions as well as environmental and economic incentives. But they rarely recognise that the way we heat our homes is a way of life – connected to our identities, relationships, communities, culture, values and the “practice” of making a home.

    Changing something as fundamental as heating can bring up complex feelings. To understand how people are connected to the way they heat their homes, we – a group of academics at Sheffield Hallam University, Birmingham City University and universities in Finland, Sweden and Romania – embarked on a project that combined history, art, and social science research to find out how cultures and histories of heating can inform fair and effective change.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    The Justheat research project explores the experience of eight communities in four nations that have had different heating transition journeys. These are: Sweden, which is at an advanced stage of energy transition; Finland, where a culture of burning wood is in conflict with decarbonisation; Romania, with a hesitant energy plan where experiences of heating poverty make change unpopular; and the UK which has a “lagging” uptake of low carbon heating sources.

    We gathered oral histories from selected communities to encourage personal reflection on the past through the perspective of the present. Oral histories encourage people to decide what is important to tell – not the researcher. We collected more than 300 accounts of changes in the way people heated their homes since 1940.

    Artists were appointed in each country to create artworks that highlighted various aspects of the oral histories. This included Finnish painter and textiles artist Henna Aho, Romanian photographer Denise Lobont and video artist Ram Krishna Ranjan, who lives in Sweden. I am both the project UK artist and co-ordinator of the other artists. All were selected because they had an existing interest in home heating and had experience of collaboration.

    When listening to people’s stories, the artists noted how detailed descriptions or emotional intensity stood out. These included reflections on how children found fires to be a source of play (one participant described “crashing” toy planes into the flames), a son’s guilt for not helping his mother with making the fire, and a woman’s memory of a friend becoming ill from severe cold. The artists were inspired by the creative ways people mixed past, present and future in their stories.

    Each nation and story is unique, but the tension between government (or other forms of authority) and communities was a common theme. For example, in Finland people value wood as a secure fuel that they can grow and control themselves – but this means some people move away from the efficient and sustainable networked heating solutions that are already in use there.

    In Sweden, oral histories showed a strong trust in government energy policy, but renters struggled with the ways that landlords can limit heating. In Romania, a severe lack of energy during the fall of Communism in 1989 and austerity measures to pay off national debt led to desperate households burning furniture to keep warm.

    In Romania and some other countries, descriptions of past distrust in the government often accompanies a negative reaction to current policies, fearing that they will reduce individual control and benefit.

    In the UK the last mining pits closed as recently as 2013, so the pain of losing livelihoods and communities is still felt. Some of our UK oral histories documented how coal provided people with a sense of security because they could control how long the fuel would last.

    Coal was described as a total way of life, linking home, family, work, community, love, food, safety and care. Despite the dirt and drudgery of coal home heating, the joy of getting warm by the fire was seared into people’s memory. While there were stories of feeling cold, they often described feeling joy in the contrast of being cold and then getting warm. This was seen as part of the intense joy of radiant heat.

    When gas central heating was rolled out in the 1970s and 1980s, our oral histories described it as “marvellous” in its speed and cleanliness, but some participants also felt that it lacked the comfort, cheer and invitation to gather together that a solid fuel fire offers.

    Despite Sweden’s successful electric heating network, the Swedish oral histories recorded an enduring joy in the use of wood-burning stoves to heat their summer houses. This did not counter their appreciation of electric networked heating, but the delight of an additional fire and its capacity to draw people together, persists.

    Combined, the oral histories and the artworks inspired by them let us understand how past changes to the way we heat our homes have affected us. We are currently sharing the artists’ work with communities and local energy leaders, and we are interested to see how artworks might encourage discussion.

    Current research and policy focuses on technological change to generate rapid decarbonisation. However, no change can be made without getting households on board. As part of this, we need to understand how past experiences influence communities’ response to energy change.

    Changing the way we heat our homes is likely to be attractive only if it offers a significant improvement in the experience of keeping warm, rather than merely appealing to us in economic terms, or for environmental reasons.

    Becky Shaw receives funding from Arts and Humanities Research Council and Birmingham City University.

    – ref. Understanding the cultural experience of keeping warm can help us embrace clean energy – https://theconversation.com/understanding-the-cultural-experience-of-keeping-warm-can-help-us-embrace-clean-energy-244710

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Ukraine war: game theory reveals the complexities (and fragility) of a nuclear deterrent

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Renaud Foucart, Senior Lecturer in Economics, Lancaster University Management School, Lancaster University

    Since the cold war, deterrence has been a fundamental principle underpinning peace between global superpowers. The idea is that if two sides have nuclear weapons, the consequences of actually using them mean the button never gets pressed.

    But the strategy goes beyond the countries which own the weapons. In practice, for instance, most of Europe relies on the US for a nuclear “umbrella” of deterrence. And any country with nuclear weapons can offer guarantees of peace to others.

    This is what happened in 1994 when Russia, the UK and the US signed the Budapest memorandum in which Ukraine renounced its nuclear weapons from the Soviet era in exchange for a promise to “respect the independence and sovereignty and the existing borders of Ukraine”. This was widely seen as a good idea for Ukraine and the world, reducing the risk of a nuclear accident.

    But that memorandum has not served Ukraine well. As North Korea, India, Pakistan or Israel know, owning nuclear weapons – even against international agreements – ensures your protection. A piece of paper does not.

    And now, across the world, the ability to offer the equivalent of a Budapest memorandum to other countries has vanished. A key part of the theory behind a successful nuclear deterrent has fallen away.

    This is described in game theory – the mathematical study of strategic interactions – as the idea of a “credible commitment”. To deter a military invasion, the country offering protection must be ready to do something that hurts its own interests if it happens.

    In the case of Ukraine, this has so far involved allies sending costly military equipment, financial support and enduring the small risk of further escalation of the conflict. Being a trustworthy guarantor is a matter of international reputation: a country that delivers is considered credible. But no one will trust a guarantor that breaks its promises.



    Read more:
    Ukraine war: what is the Budapest Memorandum and why has Russia’s invasion torn it up?

    And while credible retaliation is important, so too is avoiding escalation. For it is also in everyone’s interest to reduce the probability of a catastrophic outcome.

    Over the years, the small number of countries with internationally accepted nuclear arsenals (the US, UK, France, Russia and China) have developed nuclear doctrines. These are sophisticated and often deliberately opaque rules for escalation and deescalation.

    The Nobel prize-winning economist, Thomas Schelling, argues that the uncertainty around these rules is what makes them so effective. It strengthens a system in which protection can be offered to other countries in exchange for them not developing their own nuclear capabilities.

    War games

    Game theory research has also shed light on the complexity of these rules of engagement (or non-engagement), such as the expectation (and necessity) of credible retaliation against an attack.

    Imagine, for example, that China launches a nuclear bomb that completely destroys Manchester. A rational British prime minister may prefer to end hostilities and accept the destruction of a major city rather than retaliate and risk the total destruction of human life.

    But for the deterrent to actually work, they must retaliate – or expect to see Birmingham and London disappear.

    Another difficulty comes in finding the appropriate response to varying levels of provocation. When Russian-affiliated soldiers were found guilty by Dutch courts of downing a Malaysian Airlines civilian flight with 298 people onboard, including 196 Dutch nationals, there was no talk of proportional retaliation. No one seriously contemplated shooting down a Russian plane or bombing a small Russian city.

    Nor was there any retaliation to Russian interventions in European elections, or to the sabotage of infrastructure in Baltic states, or to murders and attempted murders on European soil.

    And after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the reaction of the west was consistent with principles designed to avoid escalation. Sanctions were imposed on Russia, military aid was sent to Ukraine.

    But to abandon Ukraine now, forcing it to cede territory after three years of fighting, death, and destruction, would be a significant shift. It would represent a clear and deliberate abandonment of the international guarantees Ukraine thought it had.

    Arsenals and agreements

    Game theory also suggests that the most likely consequence of abandoning those commitments is that no country will repeat Ukraine’s mistake of giving up its nuclear capabilities. And no country will want to place their trust in potentially unreliable allies.

    Europe for instance, will aim to develop its own nuclear umbrella, potentially combining French and British capabilities. It will also hasten to integrate the next likely targets of Moscow’s military ambitions.

    This will include the parts of Ukraine not annexed by Russia, but also Georgia, already invaded by Russia in 2008, and Moldova, partly occupied by Russia.

    The second consequence is that the west will no longer have a good reason to convince countries to abandon their nuclear ambitions. That means no credible deal for North Korea, no convincing offer for Iran, and even fewer prospects to end the nuclear programmes of Pakistan, India or Israel.

    Looking at the ruins of Mariupol or Gaza City, and comparing them to Pyongyang, Tel Aviv or Tehran, many countries will conclude that a nuclear weapon is a better way to ensure security than any piece of paper.

    So if the west does abandon Ukraine, game theory suggests that the world should expect a proliferation of nuclear powers. Each will need to learn, as Russia and the US have, to live on the threshold of diastrous confrontation. But research shows that establishing a situation of reduced risk takes time.

    And that could be a time filled with increased potential for events reminiscent of the Cuban missile crisis – and a growing belief that nuclear war is inevitable.

    Renaud Foucart 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. Ukraine war: game theory reveals the complexities (and fragility) of a nuclear deterrent – https://theconversation.com/ukraine-war-game-theory-reveals-the-complexities-and-fragility-of-a-nuclear-deterrent-249995

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council house improvements

    Source: Scotland – City of Dundee

    MORE THAN £2.4m of improvements to council houses in Dundee could be agreed by councillors next week.

    Tenders to carry out work in Dryburgh, Menzieshill and Midmill/West Kirkton will be considered by the neighbourhood regeneration, housing and estate management committee.

    Kevin Cordell, committee convener said: “It is important that we continue to make sure that we help to generate a strong sense of pride and satisfaction in our communities, and one of the best ways of doing that is to invest in our housing stock.

    “Council tenants and other people who live in these areas are able to see for themselves where a proportion of their rent money goes when projects like these are delivered.”

    Flat roofs at 34 houses in Dryburgh will be replaced if the tender is accepted. Costing a total of £1.25m, if the work is approved it will start in spring this year with a completion date in the first quarter of 2026.

    Windows in 72 properties in Menzieshill could be replaced at a total cost of £867,248. If agreed, work is expected to get underway in summer, and take around four months to finish.

    Around 31 houses in Midmill/West Kirkton will see upgrades to their heating systems including new radiators from May if councillors approve the tender. The work which is expected to be completed within three months will cost £315,773.

    If the neighbourhood regeneration, housing and estate management committee approves the tenders at its meeting on Monday (March 3), the work will be carried out by the council’s construction services division. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Video: How do we decentralise supply chains? #Davos2025 #WorldEconomicForum #NgoziOkonoi-Iweala

    Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

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

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

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

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

    #Davos2025 #WorldEconomicForum #wef25

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1hKm3Dh4KM

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Ukraine: Post-war reconstruction set to cost $524 billion

    Source: United Nations 4

    Economic Development

    The total cost of reconstruction and recovery in Ukraine is estimated at $524 billion (€506 billion) over the next decade, according to a new study published on Tuesday. 

    The updated joint Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA4) commissioned by the Ukrainian Government, the World Bank Group, the European Commission and the UN, comes as Russia’s full-scale invasion enters its fourth year. 

    It covers damage incurred since intensified conflict erupted on 24 February 2022 through to 31 December 2024.

    This year, the Government of Ukraine, with support from donors, has allocated $7.37 billion (€7.12 billion) to address priority areas such as housing, education, health, social protection, energy, transport, water supply, demining, and civil protection.

    As a total financing gap of $9.96 billion (€9.62 billion) for recovery and reconstruction needs remains, mobilizing the private sector remains critical.

    Russian attacks continue

    “In the past year, Ukraine’s recovery needs have continued to grow due to Russia’s ongoing attacks,” said Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

    RDNA4 reveals that direct damage in Ukraine has now reached $176 billion (€170 billion), up from $152 billion (€138 billion) from the previous assessment issued in February 2024. The hardest hit sectors are housing, transport, energy, commerce and industry, and education.

    Thirteen per cent of all housing stock in the country has been damaged or destroyed, affecting more than 2.5 million households. The energy sector has also experienced a 70 per cent increase in damage or destroyed assets, including power generation, transmission, distribution infrastructure, and district heating

    Housing hard hit

    Across all sectors, the regions closest to the frontline – Donetsk, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Kyiv – sustained about 72 percent of the total damage. 

    Reconstruction and recovery needs are the highest in housing, accounting for almost $84 billion (€81 billion)) of the total long-term needs. The transport sector follows at almost $78 billion (€75 billion), with the energy and extractives sector coming in third at nearly $68 billion (€66 billion).

    Meanwhile, reviving commerce and industry will require over $64 billion (€62 billion), and agriculture over $55 billion (€53 billion).

    The assessment noted that the Russian invasion continues to have severe impacts on Ukraine’s agriculture sector, which had previously contributed 10 per cent to GDP, employed 14 per cent of the labour force and accounted for over 40 per cent of all exports.

    Additionally, across all sectors, the cost of debris clearance and management alone reaches almost $13 billion (€12.6 billion).

    Private sector support

    RDNA4 identifies and excludes over $13 billion (€12.6 billion) in needs across eight sectors that have already been met by Ukraine, with support from partners and the private sector. 

    For example, government data shows that at least $1.2 billion (€1.1 billion) was disbursed from state budget and donor funds last year for housing sector recovery, while over 2,000 km of emergency repairs were carried out on motorways, highways, and other national roads. 

    Furthermore, the private sector has met some of the critical needs, highlighting its key role in the recovery and reconstruction process, and many firms have started to invest in repairs and resilience. Estimates indicate that the private sector could potentially cover a third of total needs.

    © UNICEF/Oleksii Filippov

    Alina, 12, stands next to her damaged home in Kobzartsi, Mykolaiv region.

    Investment and inclusion

    The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, noted that “the true cost of war is measured in human lives and livelihoods,” and the international community must help to create more opportunities for Ukrainians to rebuild their lives with dignity.

    “This means investing in dignified jobs, education, healthcare, and prioritizing the inclusion of vulnerable groups among women and girls, children, displaced people, Roma communities, war veterans and persons with disabilities,” he said.

    “The path forward requires strengthening partnerships, de-risking investments and a steadfast commitment from all of us not just help structures but support restoring the social fabric of war-impacted communities.”

    RDNA4 also highlights that prioritizing investments in recovery and reconstruction will be critical for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union (EU) and long-term resilience. 

    Thus, recovery provides an opportunity not just to address the destruction caused by the ongoing invasion but also to build back better by adopting innovative solutions and reforms that meet the expectations of EU membership.  

    MIL OSI United Nations News –