NewzIntel.com

Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Owner of Collapsed Nursing Home Empire Sentenced to 36 Months’ Imprisonment for $38 Million Tax Fraud Scheme

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

    NEWARK, N.J. – A New York man was sentenced to 36 months in prison for his role in a $38 million employment tax fraud scheme involving nursing homes he owned across the country, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

    Joseph Schwartz, 65, of Suffern, New York, previously pled guilty to two counts of an indictment charging him with willfully failing to pay over employment taxes withheld from employees of his company, and willfully failing to file an annual financial report (Form 5500) with the Department of Labor for the employee 401K Benefit Plan Schwartz sponsored, before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton in Newark federal court.

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

    Schwartz, an insurance broker and operator of Skyline Management Group LLC (“Skyline”), with headquarters in New Jersey, willfully failed to pay employment taxes relating to numerous health care and rehabilitation facilities that Skyline operated in 11 states.

    According to the indictment, Schwartz was required to collect, truthfully account for, and pay over to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) trust fund taxes withheld from the pay of employees of Skyline and related companies.  From October 2017 through May 2018, Schwartz caused taxes to be withheld from employees’ pay but failed to then pay over more than $38 million in employment taxes to the IRS.  As an administrator of the Skyline 401K plan, Schwartz further had an obligation to file an annual Form 5500 financial report with the Secretary of Labor for calendar year 2018, but knowingly and willfully failed to file the report.

    U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer Piovesan in Newark; Investigators with the Department of Labor-Employee Benefits Security Administration, under the direction of Regional Director Mark Seidel in the New York Regional Office; special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly; and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz in the New York Regional Office, with the investigation that led to the sentencing in this case.

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel H. Rosenblum and Kendall R. Randolph of the Criminal Division in Newark and Trial Attorney Shawn Noud of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.

                                                                           ###

    Defense counsel: Kevin H. Marino, Esq. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Operators of New Jersey Company Sentenced to Prison and Enter Into Related Civil Settlement Agreement for Roles in $127 Million Health Care Fraud and Kickback Scheme

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

    NEWARK, N.J. – Two operators of a New Jersey marketing company were sentenced to prison for their roles in conspiracies to commit health care fraud and to pay and receive illegal kickbacks, United States Attorney Alina Habba announced.

    Eric Karlewicz a/k/a “Anthony Mazza,” 46, of Rockland County, New York, and Nicco Romanowski, 33, of Roswell, Georgia, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court following their guilty pleas to Informations charging conspiracy to violate the Federal Anti-Kickback statute and conspiracy to commit health care fraud.  Karlewicz was sentenced to 51 months in prison and Romanowski was sentenced to 80 months in prison.

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

    From in or around June 2017 through in or around May 2019, Karlewicz and Romanowski participated in a scheme with durable medical equipment (“DME”) companies, telemedicine companies, and doctors to submit false claims to health care benefit programs, including Medicare and TRICARE, based on a circular scheme of kickbacks and bribes.  Karlewicz and Romanowski controlled a New Jersey-based marketing company, Empire Pain Center Holdings LLC (“Empire”), though which they and their co-conspirators identified Medicare and TRICARE beneficiaries to target.  Employees of Empire called the beneficiaries to pressure them to agree to accept DME, frequently consisting of back, shoulder, and knee braces. Karlewicz and Romanowski paid Empire’s employees commissions, bonuses, and incentives to encourage them to convince as many beneficiaries as possible to accept DME, regardless of medical necessity.

    Karlewicz and Romanowski, through Empire, then paid kickbacks to telemedicine companies, which in turn paid kickbacks to doctors in exchange for prescriptions for the DME. As agreed upon, the doctors signed the prescription orders regardless of medical necessity, often without ever speaking to the patient.  Karlewicz and Romanowski distributed the prescriptions to DME suppliers around the country, with which Empire had additional kickback arrangements. These DME suppliers submitted claims for reimbursement to health care benefit programs including Medicare and TRICARE, and thereafter sent a portion of the proceeds to Empire as payment for the doctor’s orders generated through the conspiracy.  Empire received more than $63 million from DME suppliers in exchange for the referrals. 

    In total, Karlewicz and Romanowski caused the submission of false and fraudulent claims to health care benefit programs totaling in excess of $127 million for DME.  Using proceeds from the scheme, Karlewicz and Romanowski purchased luxury vehicles, including a Ferrari, and Lamborghini, a Bentley, and a BMW.

    In addition to the prison terms, Judge Salas sentenced each defendant to three years of supervised release and ordered them to pay $127,600,000 in restitution.  Karlewicz was ordered to forfeit over $63 million, and Romanowski was ordered to forfeit over $5.5 million.

    United States Attorney Habba also announced that Karlewicz and Empire entered into a civil settlement agreement. As part of that civil settlement agreement, Karlewicz and Empire admitted to violating the False Claims Act and agreed to the entry of a consent judgment against them in the amount of $63.8 million.

    The civil settlement agreement resolves a lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties, called relators, to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The relator, Robert Jackson Tyler, Jr., will receive a share of the funds recovered by the United States pursuant to the False Claims Act.

    United States Attorney Habba credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly in Newark, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz, and U.S. Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Northeast Field Office, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Christopher Silvestro, with the investigation.

    The government is represented in the criminal case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine M. Romano of the Health Care Fraud Unit and Senior Trial Counsel Barbara Ward of the Bank Integrity, Recovery, and Money Laundering Unit in Newark.

    The government is represented in the civil case by Assistant U.S. Attorney David V. Simunovich of the Health Care Fraud Unit and Trial Attorney Martha Glover of U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Fraud Section. 

                                                                           ###

    Defense counsel: Darren Gelber, Esq. (for Eric Karlewicz)

                                Alyssa Cimino, Esq. (for Nicco Romanowski)

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Hassan Helps Reintroduce Bill to Support Children with Disabilities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) helped reintroduce the IDEA Full Funding Act, legislation to ensure that Congress finally fulfills its commitment to fully fund 40 percent of costs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Fifty years ago, Congress passed IDEA to ensure that every child with a disability has access to public education. This law was a historic step forward, but since its passage, Congress has failed to provide the funding that it promised. The legislation is cosponsored by more than 30 members in the Senate and more than 60 members in the House of Representatives and is endorsed by 60 organizations. The legislation is especially critical as the Trump Administration attacks the Department of Education and its work to support students with disabilities.
    “IDEA funding makes a difference for families across New Hampshire by helping fund the support and resources that allow students with disabilities to succeed academically and thrive,” said Senator Hassan. “I urge my colleagues to support this legislation to fulfill our decades-old promise to fully fund IDEA, ensuring that children with disabilities receive a quality public education. This legislation is one of the many things that the Trump Administration could focus on instead of its efforts to dismantle the Department of Education and threaten access to public education for all students.” 
    Under IDEA, the federal government committed to pay 40 percent of the average per-pupil expenditure for special education; however, that pledge has never been met. According to the Congressional Research Service, current funding is at less than 12 percent, and the IDEA shortfall in the 2024-2025 school year nationwide was $38.66 billion. IDEA currently provides more than $57 million to New Hampshire schools through the IDEA Grants to States program to help fund the education of children ages three through 21. New Hampshire has 31,000 students with disabilities – reflecting 17% of New Hampshire’s student population. Under full funding, New Hampshire alone would have received an additional $153 million in funding this year to support students with disabilities. The IDEA Full Funding Act would require regular, mandatory increases in IDEA spending to finally meet our obligation to America’s children and schools.
    The full text of the bill can be viewed here. 
    This legislation is supported by a broad and diverse group of more than 50 national organizations, including The School Superintendent Association (AASA), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Occupational Therapy Association, Assistive Technology Industry Association, Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO), Autism Society of America, Center for Learner Equity, Council for Exceptional Children, Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), National Center for Learning Disabilities, National Down Syndrome Congress, National Education Association, and The Arc of the United States. 
    Senator Hassan is leading efforts to ensure that individuals who experience disabilities receive the support that they need to be fully included in their communities. Senator Hassan helped pass into law bipartisan legislation to support autism education, research, and resources. Senator Hassan also helped secure funding to help families of children experiencing disabilities navigate the special education process and better access the resources available for children experiencing disabilities as part of a bipartisan government funding package.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Latest Microsoft Flight Simulator update adds 5 US cities

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Latest Microsoft Flight Simulator update adds 5 US cities

    Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas

    Dallas, and its sister city to the west, Fort Worth, were established in the 1800s as railroad hubs to serve the cotton, livestock, and oil industries of Texas. Today, the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, a key urban anchor in north Texas, is the most populous metropolitan area in the state. The region is a major international hub of several industries, including manufacturing, defense, finance, and tourism. The metroplex offers spectacular sights, including the iconic Fountain Place and a 720-foot-tall modernist skyscraper in Dallas; 777 Main Street in Fort Worth, a striking building that stands 525 feet tall; and the 561-foot-tall Reunion Tower, one of the most recognizable buildings in Dallas.

    Denver, Colorado

    Known as the “Mile High City” (its official elevation is 5,280 feet, exactly one mile above sea level), Denver is both the most populous city in Colorado and the state’s capital. Established in 1858 by prospectors who led what would come to be known as the Pike’s Peak gold rush, Denver became an important railroad city in 1870. It blossomed into a major metropolitan center in the 20th century, characterized by a stunning skyline set against the high Rocky Mountains. Some of the sights for pilots to behold include Republic Plaza, the city’s highest building at 714 feet; 1144 Fifteenth, one of the world’s most spectacular modern skyscrapers; the Rocky Mountains to its west; and the vast, oceanic plains east of Denver.

    San Francisco, California

    Called by many the most beautiful city in the world, San Francisco is squarely located where the San Francisco Bay opens to the Pacific Ocean. The city was formally established in 1850 due to the boom in population from the California Gold Rush, which began in 1848. Set along a spectacular section of Pacific Ocean coastline, San Francisco offers a wonderful selection of sights, including the world-renowned Golden Gate Bridge; the iconic Transamerica Building; Alcatraz Island; and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.

    Honolulu, Hawaii

    The capital and most populous city of the state of Hawaii, Honolulu is known for its beautiful architecture set against the tropical blue and green waters of the Pacific Ocean. Located on the southeastern coast of the island of Oahu, Honolulu boasts human history that dates back many centuries and was incorporated as a city in 1907. Meaning “sheltered port” in Hawaiian, Honolulu features numerous sights for the aerial visitor, including its spectacular skyline; Diamond Head, an extinct volcanic cone just to the southeast of the city; the waters of the Pacific Ocean; and the spectacular Koʻolau Range inland of the metropolitan area.

    City Update 10: United States I is available FREE to all owners of Microsoft Flight Simulator and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Ensure that you have the latest simulator version installed, download City Update 10, and explore. The sky is calling!

    Microsoft Flight Simulator and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 are available for Xbox Series X|S and PC with Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, Windows, and Steam, and on Xbox One and supported mobile phones, tablets, and lower-spec PCs via Xbox Cloud Gaming. For the latest information on Microsoft Flight Simulator products, stay tuned to @MSFSOfficial on X (formerly Twitter) or visit www.flightsimulator.com.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Additional support provided for Middle East appeal

    Source: Scottish Government

    First Minister announces boost for humanitarian aid.

    First Minister John Swinney has announced an additional £300,000 funding will be provided to support humanitarian aid efforts in the Middle East through the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Appeal and Scottish charities, SCIAF and Mercy Corps.

    This funding, delivered through the Scottish Government’s Humanitarian Emergency Fund programme, will help provide urgent assistance to those affected by the ongoing conflict, including food, clean water, medical care, and shelter for displaced individuals in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Syria.

    The announcement was made by the First Minister during a parliamentary debate on the international situation in which he also called for Scotland to champion the benefits of international trade, cooperation, and solidarity during this period of international turbulence.

    The First Minister said:

    “I’m pleased to announce a contribution of £240,000 through our Humanitarian Emergency Fund to the Disasters Emergency Committee’s appeal for the Middle East, along with £30,000 each for Scottish charities, SCIAF and Mercy Corps for their responses in Lebanon and Syria.

    “This is in addition to the £250,000 that we provided to this appeal last November and comes at a time when humanitarian needs continue to increase across Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Syria.

    “I believe that wherever we can, we do what is within our power to de-escalate and support recovery from disaster and conflict in our deeply interconnected world.

    “Investing in the wellbeing of the international community is also an investment in our national wellbeing and security and I make no apology for doing so in these turbulent times.”

    The First Minister added:

    “At a time when the US, the UK and other donors have slashed their aid budgets, we in Scotland are committed to continuing to support our Global South partner countries, and more widely to responding to humanitarian emergencies globally.

    “Though we recognise the amounts Scotland contributes may be small in the face of growing need, we will do all we can to ensure it has maximum impact. Scotland will continue to act as a good global citizen.”

    DEC spokesperson Huw Owen said: “This additional donation to the DEC Middle East Humanitarian Appeal from the Scottish Government through its Humanitarian Emergency fund is hugely welcome. 

    “The Appeal has now raised close to £4 million here in Scotland, over £45 million UK wide, which also includes many generous individual donations from the public.  We are hugely grateful for this support.

    “It will bolster DEC charities and their expert local partners’ continuing efforts in Gaza and the wider region, working in incredibly challenging circumstances, to reach the most affected communities with medical care, food and clean water as well as psychological support for traumatised children and their families.”

    Background:

    Humanitarian needs across the Middle East continue to escalate, with nearly half of the population of Gaza facing emergency levels of food insecurity and water, shelter and medicine in desperately short supply. By providing this funding, the DEC and its member charities can ensure that when the current blockade of Gaza is finally lifted, those needs can be addressed without delay.

    The DEC appeal for the Middle East launched on 17 October 2024 and the Scottish Government’s previous contribution of £250,000 supported DEC and partner organisations in delivering humanitarian aid across the region.

    Since the appeal’s launch, generous donations from the public have helped deliver lifesaving assistance, and further contributions remain essential to sustain these efforts. The appeal has raised £3.8m in Scotland and the Scottish public can make a donation at Donate to Middle East Appeal | Disasters Emergency Committee

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Mr. Ian Martin of the United Kingdom – Head of the Strategic Assessment of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)

    Source: United Nations MIL-OSI 2

    he Secretary-General announced today the appointment of Ian Martin of the United Kingdom as Head of the Strategic Assessment, as part of his UN80 initiative, of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
     
    The Secretary-General is tasking Mr. Martin with conducting the Strategic Assessment in order to review UNRWA’s impact; implementation of its mandate under present political, financial, security and other constraints; and, consequences and risks, for Palestine
    Refugees.  He has further been tasked with identifying options for action, by Member States and/or the United Nations, and considering overall United Nations mandates provided by the General Assembly and the Security Council.
     
    Mr. Martin has had a distinguished service within the United Nations.  He was involved in a number of strategic reviews, most recently as the Lead of the Independent Strategic Review of the United Nations Mission in Somalia and before then as a member of the
    High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations.  Mr. Martin served as Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya and in various positions in other UN field operations, including in Timor-Leste,
    Nepal, Eritrea, Rwanda and Haiti.
     
    Mr. Martin holds a Master of Arts in history and economics from Cambridge University, United Kingdom, and studied development economics at Harvard University, United States of America.
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: USGS Awards a Dozen Landslide Risk Reduction Grants to Enhance Public Safety and Hazard Preparedness Nationwide

    Source: US Geological Survey

    The U.S. Geological Survey provides grants to local, state, territorial, and Tribal governments for risk communication, planning and coordination, mapping and assessments, and data collection of landslide hazards to develop information, knowledge, and methods that leads to the reduction of losses from landslides and increases public safety.

    Learn More

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: DHS, USCIS, DOGE Overhaul Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Database

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    WASHINGTON – Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, alongside USCIS and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), announced a comprehensive optimization of the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database to ensure a single, reliable source for verifying non-citizen status nationwide. 

    This overhaul eliminates fees for database searches, breaks down silos for accurate results, streamlines mass status checks, and integrates criminal records, immigration timelines, and addresses. Automatic status updates and a user-friendly interface will empower federal, state, local, territorial, and tribal agencies to prevent non-citizens from exploiting taxpayer benefits or voting illegally. 

    “Illegal aliens have exploited outdated systems to defraud Americans and taint our elections,” said a spokesperson for DHS. “Under Secretary Noem’s leadership, this revamped SAVE system will ensure government officials can swiftly verify legal status, halting entitlements and voter fraud.” 

    DHS will provide ongoing updates to stakeholders as the SAVE Optimization Plan progresses. 

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: AppTech Unveils Revolutionary CoreBanking Solution, Projecting Explosive Growth with Innovative Client Offerings

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CARLSBAD, Calif., April 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AppTech Payments Corp. (NASDAQ: APCX) has launched its groundbreaking CoreBanking solution, seamlessly integrated with the FINZEO Platform, alongside its first banking client. This milestone signals AppTech’s entry into digital banking and retail financial services, with the company bringing both cutting-edge products and customers directly to financial institutions.

    Transforming Banking Efficiency and Revenue Potential
    The CoreBanking solution will help banks achieve operational efficiency, enter new markets, eliminate reliance on antiquated technologies, and remove the entry barriers of entry. CoreBanking delivers Digital Onboarding, FedWire, FedACH, Compliance, Virtual Bank Accounts, Risk Management, Ledger, FedNow, and Physical and Virtual Cards.

    Coupled with the tightly integrated FINZEO client offering, banks can realize the benefits of these innovative solutions faster by leveraging AppTech’s existing client base for transaction fees and deposits ready for bank launch. AppTech expects sustained revenue growth through 2025 and beyond through sources not previously available.

    “Our CoreBanking solution is more than a product—it changes how banks can operate and grow,” said Thomas DeRosa, CEO of AppTech. “By integrating our technology with unmatched client acquisition capabilities, we eliminate inefficiencies and drive revenue at scale.”

    Projected Growth and Scalability
    AppTech’s CoreBanking launch is expected to generate $40,000 in revenue in its first week, with monthly revenue projected to scale beyond $500,000 by the end of 2025. With our current pipeline of banks integrating the FINZEO platform, the CoreBanking solution is primed for rapid adoption, including expansion to community banking clients in the FINZEO pipeline. As additional partnerships and product launches roll out in April, AppTech is poised for transformational growth, increasing to millions of transactions. AppTech has restructured its management team and upgraded its technology to drive revenue through the final three quarters of 2025. With a visionary strategy, enhanced staffing, and a growing base of larger clients, the company intends to redefine digital banking and payment solutions.

    About AppTech Payments Corp.

    AppTech Payments Corp. (NASDAQ: APCX) provides digital financial services for financial institutions, corporations, small and midsized enterprises (“SMEs”), and consumers through the Company’s scalable cloud-based platform architecture and infrastructure. For more information, please visit apptechcorp.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties. Any statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, forecast, intend, may, plan, project, predict, should, will” and similar expressions as they relate to AppTech are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general economic and business conditions, effects of continued geopolitical unrest and regional conflicts, competition, changes in methods of marketing, delays in manufacturing or distribution, changes in customer order patterns, changes in customer offering mix, and various other factors beyond the Company’s control. Actual events or results may differ materially from those described in this press release due to any of these factors. AppTech is under no obligation to update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    AppTech Payments Corp.

    760-707-5959

    info@apptechcorp.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Policy approved to deliver a ‘consistent and equitable’ approach for the allocation of housing

    Source: City of Salford

    • Housing Allocation Policy for 2025 to 2028 approved by Salford City Council.
    • The policy underpins the council’s wider strategic priorities of its Corporate Plan 2024 to 2028 and commitment to ‘a good home for all’.
    • Housing options available will be dependent upon the level and type of housing need, in addition to the size, type and location of available properties. Each application is assessed on its own merits.

    Salford City Council’s cabinet has approved its Housing Allocation Policy for 2025 – 2028, which sets out how social rented housing is allocated within the area and how residents on the housing register are prioritised taking into account local considerations and needs.

    The need and strong demand for social housing currently outweighs the availability of social housing, with around 4,500 people on the council’s housing register, at any one time. This includes many of the 787 households currently housed in temporary accommodation. However, fewer than 900 properties are advertised or let every year, through the register.

    Furthermore, the city faces a number of challenges in the form of increasing homelessness, temporary accommodation use and costs. This policy, therefore underpins the council’s wider strategic priorities which are: homelessness prevention, making the best use of housing assets, supporting the council’s corporate parenting role/ responsibilities, reducing the impact of domestic abuse including the cycle of abuse and an anti-poverty approach.

    The policy is based on:

    • A fair system for the allocation of housing accommodation, which is transparent and easy to understand.
    • Making best use of increasingly scarce social housing stock (homes available for rent below market rate to households whose needs cannot be met by the commercial housing market – Housing and Regeneration Act 2008).
    • Preventing homelessness and reduce the usage and length of stay in temporary accommodation.
    • Giving priority to applicants with the greatest housing need.
    • Managing customer expectations by supporting people to make realistic and informed choices about where they live.
    • Creating sustainable tenancies in the light of welfare reform.
    • Creating balanced and stable communities.

    A first stage public consultation took place in March 2024, to review the existing policy criteria, which included members of the public, local organisations, key stakeholders and partners. A second stage public consultation was held in December 2024, to further explore the suggested and proposed policy changes – including engagement with vulnerable people who shared their real-life experiences.

    The outcome of this review and public consultation recommended 16 changes to be implemented within the new Allocation Policy (Adobe PDF format). A further review will take place in 2027/28 or earlier if required by new legislation or government guidance.

    The housing options available to a household will be dependent upon the level and type of housing need. Each application will be assessed on its own merits and exceptional circumstances will also be taken into consideration. Housing options and advice aim to achieve:

    • Help and support to remain in current accommodation.
    • Advice on securing alternative private rented accommodation.
    • Advice on mobility schemes that may help a household move out of the area.
    • Advice to current social housing tenants on mutual exchange.
    • Advice on low-cost home ownership options.
    • Access to the housing register to obtain social housing.

    Councillor Tracy Kelly, Lead Member for Housing and Anti-Poverty at Salford City Council said: “The policy enables the council to deliver a consistent and equitable approach to the allocation of social housing in Salford, to help us meet the housing needs of residents in our communities.

    “We recognise that social housing is in high demand, both in Salford and across the country, which is why we are continuing to deliver on our pledge to build good quality homes as well as truly affordable homes for social rent alongside support for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. 

    “The need for affordable housing options in Salford means that it’s vital we continue to work to create long-term solutions to turn the situation around and provide truly affordable housing in our city which local people need and deserve.”

    People wanting to apply to the housing register can do so on the housing register. Anyone who needs housing advice, is homeless or feel they are at risk of losing their home can request an appointment on the Salford City Council website. A number of Registered Housing Providers (landlords of social rented homes) also advertise properties on the Salford Home Search website.

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    Date published
    Tuesday 22 April 2025

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ciscomani Stands Up For Ranchers, Provides an Update on his work in Congress in Graham County

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Juan Ciscomani (Arizona)

    Safford, AZ – U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani told Graham County ranchers that they should receive full compensation for cattle killed by Mexican gray wolves. 

    “Ranchers in Arizona and other western states face an intolerable situation,” said Ciscomani. “Their livelihood is directly threatened by an animal that the federal government has reintroduced into our communities. Yet when a wolf kills their cattle, they can’t get full compensation. This just isn’t right.”  

    Ciscomani told ranchers he’s a co-sponsor of the Wolf and Livestock Fairness (WOLF) Act (H.R. 2227) to fully reimburse ranchers for any livestock killed or harmed by endangered Mexican gray wolves. Currently, ranchers are compensated for 75 percent of the value of livestock killed by gray wolves. This bill increases compensation for ranchers to 100 percent of the value of cattle loss and compensates them for decreased herd sizes. 

    “Government bureaucracy cannot stand between ranchers and their way of life,” said Ciscomani. 

    The Congressman’s meeting with ranchers in Safford was part of a day spent in Graham County. He also provided a congressional update to elected officials, students, business leaders, educators, and community members at Eastern Arizona College. Here is some of the legislation he has introduced and cosponsored to support students, veterans, and workers across Arizona’s 6th District: 

    • The Secure our Rural Schools Act (H.R. 1383) which provides funding to rural counties and schools that are impacted by federal land management, particularly those with large areas of federally owned, tax-exempt forests. 
    • The Veterans Education and Technical Skills (VETS) Opportunity Act (H.R. 1458), would expand veterans’ access to educational opportunities in high-demand skill and vocation programs, whether in-person or partially online.  
    • The Creating Opportunities for New Skills Training at Rural and Underserved Colleges and Trade Schools (CONSTRUCTS) Act (H.R. 1055) would create a grant program to fund and develop residential construction education and certification programs at community colleges, junior colleges, and trade schools 
       

    “I am committed to making sure that rural communities, which are often overlooked by the federal government, have a seat at the table,” said Ciscomani. “I spent the day in Graham County, where I met with ranchers to talk about my efforts to strengthen water security, the problem posed by Mexican gray wolves, and my support of a bipartisan bill to provide full reimbursement to ranchers when livestock are killed or harmed by these wolves. Afterwards, I had an engaging meeting with local leaders and community members where I provided an update on my work in Congress and reiterated my ironclad support of Pell Grants, protecting Medicaid, and next steps in reconciliation process. As I always say, you never have to wonder what people in rural Arizona think, and today’s dialogue equips me to better deliver for all of my constituents.” 

    Read coverage from the Gila Valley Central here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: From Paris to Washington: The Jessup Journey of a Remarkable Team

    Source: Universities – Science Po in English

    Maria (Marysia) Szuster, Gabrijela Papec, Linn Junge, Fanny Burdin-Egloffe, Tatiana Van den Haute

    Each year, the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition brings together thousands of law students from across the globe, challenging them to tackle the most complex and contested issues in public international law.

    For five first-year students at Sciences Po Law School, the 2025 edition was more than just a competition — it was an intense, transformative experience that pushed them to their intellectual and personal limits.

    From winning the French national rounds to representing France on the world stage in Washington D.C., this remarkable team not only proved their legal acumen but also exemplified resilience, teamwork, and passion. In this article, they reflect on what it took to get there, the lessons they learned along the way, and the advice they would give to those ready to take on the Jessup challenge.

    « The Sciences Po Law School warmly thanks Clifford Chance for its valuable support in the 2025 Jessup Moot Court Competition. This contribution helped our team reach the top 16 worldwide, a remarkable achievement. It reflects both the talent of our students and the value of strong academic-professional partnerships. »

    Sébastien Pimont, Dean, and Julie Babin d’Amonville, Executive Director

    Can you introduce yourself?

    Linn Junge, a first-year student in Economic Law, did Jessup for the second time this year, having won the French championship and advanced to the round of 16 in 2023 with Sciences Po Reims. Hailing from Germany but having also lived in the US, Linn was the team’s captain, and oralist for both Respondent and Applicant.

    Gabrijela Papec from Croatia was a world-renowned debater in high school and during the undergraduate degree, skills she leveraged to the best effect in her role as oralist for the Applicant. She is in the English track, alongside Linn and Maria.

    Tatiana Van den Haute is a Lebanese first year law student in Droit Économique.  After completing her undergraduate degree at Sciences Po, Campus du Havre with an exchange in Taipei, she spent another year working there as a policy analyst. She was able to apply her analytical and public speaking experiences in her role as an oralist for Respondent.

    Fanny Burdin-Egloffe is a French student in the first year of the French track in Droit Économique. After a year as a research assistant at the University of Sydney, she brought her analytical and legal research skills to her role as of counsel for this year’s Jessup team.

    Maria (Marysia) Szuster is a Polish fist year student in Economic Law with a particular passion for human rights and refugees’ access to education. The skills she gained as a research assistant at Yale University and a writer for the American Bar Association on grave human rights violations she applied in research and finding arguments in Jessup this year. 

    What motivated you to participate in the 2025 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition?

    For many of us, law and politics are equal passions and two sides of the same coin. International law as a field combines these two disciplines like perhaps no other arena—international law is most closely based on, after all, the political decisions of states. The Jessup Competition perfectly embodies this intersection, standing as the world’s oldest, largest, and most prestigious moot court competition. 

    What makes Jessup particularly valuable is the opportunity it provides students to spend eight months conducting deep research on widely debated and unresolved topics in international law. Beyond being a rare luxury within our fast-paced curriculum, this extended engagement allows participants to dive autonomously into aspects of public international law that fall outside the ordinary courses, exploring issues we would otherwise never encounter. The challenge of doing that in itself while going through our first year of law school called to all of us. Along with this intellectual challenge, participating in the Jessup opens doors to connecting with a community of like-minded people in all stages of their careers who share a passion for the competition and public international law as a whole.

    Can you tell us about your preparation process for the competition?

    Our first major task was learning how to balance our considerable coursework with researching public international law and this year’s problem, from scratch.  The first phase of research culminated in the memorial writing phase, which was all the more complicated given that our team was spread across the world when the deadline came nearing in January 2025 during our Winter break. Nevertheless, we managed to submit two excellent memorials before returning to Paris, where we earnestly began preparing for the oral rounds.

    Knowing how much effort it takes to learn, within a month, to become distinguished oralists and researchers, we met and practiced our pleading between three and five times a week until the national rounds at the end of February. 

    To our immense joy, we were crowned French national champions of the Jessup on March 1, having gone undefeated throughout all of the rounds. Despite the stress and fatigue that had worn on us over the course of the rounds, we managed to convince a unanimous jury to send us to Washington as the French representative team—a privilege that Sciences Po Law School has not been able to enjoy in seven years.

    With that in mind, the preparation period for Washington was, if anything, even more intense than that for the nationals. On the one hand, we knew competition would be even more stiff, seeing that only the best of the best would be in Washington, and on the other, we had to arrange travel, accommodation, and funding in close collaboration with the Sciences Po Law School. All along, however, we continued to reach out to countless professors, friends, and connections whose advice and critiques were absolutely invaluable in continuously augmenting the quality of our performance as a team. The reward was significant. We advanced to the Octofinals in Washington, putting us within the 16 best teams in the world out of the more than 800 that competed this year. Only once in Jessup history has France advanced further than this.

    Gabrijela Papec, Linn Junge received awards during the national rounds. Could you tell us more about that experience and what it meant to your team?

    Jessup is 100% a team effort, but watching two of our team members get the recognition they deserve for all their hard work and talent was incredibly satisfying. The fact that both of the top speaker awards at the national rounds went to our team demonstrated what a resounding victory our team collectively enjoyed. So while Gabrijela and Linn are undoubtedly deserving of this award individually, we all felt it was more of a collective accolade.

    Gabrijela also got 17th best oralist in the world at the international rounds, which is an incredible achievement in itself and felt like a validation both of her exceptional performance and all of our efforts.

    Do you have any advice for future students who might want to participate in the next edition of the Jessup Moot?

    When starting out, read and re-read the problem at length – then make sure you understand how international law works. Read commentaries on treaties and cases, know the histories of the institutions, conventions and treaties that you’re dealing with and why they are relevant. The issues that the Jessup will throw at you are qualified as ‘hard problems’ in international law, meaning that they are by nature unresolved and can be argued both ways. Stand on the shoulders of those who studied those problems in depth before you, in order to gain as holistic an understanding as possible of what they represent and the implications your arguments have. 

    Be passionate about it. This competition will take a big part of your life for 8 months, so might as well be obsessed with it. On this note, the team dynamic is everything. It starts on a personal level: because of the intensity, it is imperative that you get along with your team members. Knowing each other well will be invaluable in understanding how to best support one another over the course of the journey—from initial research to competing. From there, you need to stay accountable to one another, because everyone has to do their job, especially in the written drafting phase. And lastly: open communication is key. Again, the timeframe of the competition is too large to let slight frustrations and issues between team members fester until they become proper problems. If you accept the intensity and commitment, it will be a ride that you will be forever grateful for!

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Feenstra Helps Introduce Legislation to Build Affordable Homes

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

    HULL, IOWA – Earlier this month, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) helped introduce – alongside Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) – the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act, which would mobilize private investment to construct new, affordable homes and revitalize existing homes to attract and keep families and businesses in Iowa. 

    This legislation would support the construction or rehabilitation of roughly 500,000 homes for middle- and low-income families.

    “Affordable housing is crucial to growing communities, attracting business investment, and keeping young families rooted in Iowa. However, certain barriers, often out of the control of local governments and contractors, cause housing shortages that hinder economic growth and community development,” said Rep. Feenstra. “Serving on the House Ways and Means Committee, I’m glad to help lead legislation to expand the housing supply, including in rural communities, to bring down costs and make the dream of homeownership attainable for more families. By ensuring that our tax code supports homebuilding, we can help families flourish, encourage our businesses to expand, and keep our communities strong.”

    More specifically, the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act establishes a federal tax credit that developers can claim to construct new housing or substantially rehabilitate existing homes. This tax credit seeks to close the “value gap” – which occurs when the cost to build a home exceeds the price at which it is expected to sell – by covering up to 35% of development expenses for new construction.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Nigeria’s growing security crisis: 6 essential reads

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Adejuwon Soyinka, Regional Editor West Africa

    Unidentified people attacked a community in Plateau State, Nigeria’s north central region, in mid-April, killing at least 52 residents. A similar attack in the same state claimed 48 lives earlier in the month.

    In neighbouring Benue State, north central Nigeria, unnamed assailants attacked two communities in March, killing at least five people. Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu described the Plateau violence as rooted in misunderstandings between different ethnic and religious groups.

    Nigeria’s spiralling insecurity is sometimes blamed on armed herders, at other times on bandits or kidnappers. Then there are extremist groups like Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province and Lakurawa, operating mostly in northern Nigeria. In the southern part of the country, there are also armed groups like the Indigenous People of Biafra.

    At The Conversation Africa, we have been working with academic experts to gain insights into the various actors involved in Nigeria’s security challenge, their motivations and why efforts to rein them in haven’t succeeded. Here are six essential reads on Nigeria’s struggle with insecurity.

    The drivers

    At the centre of the most recent killings in Nigeria is the country’s north central region. Consisting of the capital city, Abuja, and six other states, the region is home to several minority ethnic groups. More than 200 languages are spoken there.

    As Oluwole Ojewale explains, the region is vulnerable to various forms of conflict. It arises between ethnic and religious groups; people who trace their ancestry to a state and more recent residents; people who keep cattle and those who farm crops.

    Read more: What’s driving violence in Nigeria’s north central region

    Bandits range freely

    Across the north central and north west regions of Nigeria, bandits stoke violence and insecurity.

    They act in groups with varying operational and technical capabilities and do not have any central authority. Their main activities are cattle rustling, kidnapping civilians for ransom, armed attacks and community invasion. Over the years, the government has tried numerous military and non-military strategies to stamp out bandits. Sallek Yaks Musa unpacks why at least five different strategies have failed.

    Read more: Nigeria’s banditry: why 5 government strategies have failed

    Lakuwara enters the mix

    In 2024, the Nigerian army spoke of attacks on the Niger-Nigeria border as being carried out by a new terrorist group. According to the military, the new group, identified as Lakurawa, is affiliated to terrorists in the Sahel, particularly from Mali and Niger Republic.

    The picture painted by the military suggests that the group emerged as a result of the turmoil following recent coups in the Sahel region. But John Sunday Ojo and Ezenwa E. Olumba argue that the group isn’t new. It’s been operating along the Nigeria-Niger border since 1999, an indication of the region’s growing ungoverned spaces.

    Read more: Nigeria’s terror group Lakurawa is nothing new — it exists because of government’s failure: analysts

    Kidnappings spread

    Until recent years, large bandit and terror attacks were relatively rare in Lagos and other parts of the south-west region of Nigeria. Lately, crimes that were previously associated with the northern region appear to be spreading to the south-west. Adewumi Badiora outlines why Lagos may be a target and what to do about it.

    Read more: Terror attacks and kidnappings spread in Nigeria: why Lagos could be a target

    And Donald Trump happened…

    In the midst of its struggle with insecurity, Nigeria was hit by the United States decision to cut international aid funding. Over the years, the US has granted hundreds of millions of dollars as security assistance to Nigeria, as part of a broader partnership to promote regional security and stability.

    Security scholar Al Chukwuma Okoli describes how the cuts will affect Nigeria in many ways, including the fight against terror groups.

    Read more: US funding cuts may affect Nigeria’s fight against terrorism. Here’s how

    Meanwhile, bandits mine gold

    While the Nigerian government struggles with cuts to aid funding, bandits are colluding with elites to mine gold illegally and undermine peace.

    Oluwole Ojewale analyses how Nigerian elites weaponised access to mineral resources and the impact this has on violence in the north west region.

    Read more: Nigeria’s illegal gold trade – elites and bandits are working together

    – Nigeria’s growing security crisis: 6 essential reads
    – https://theconversation.com/nigerias-growing-security-crisis-6-essential-reads-254639

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Strength and Solidarity on Display at IAM’s Tennessee/Kentucky State Council

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    The IAM Union is proving that workers in the South are building a resurgence of working people power.

    The IAM’s Tennessee/Kentucky State Council recently brought member-activists across the two states to Gatlinburg, Tenn., for the council’s annual meeting. The councils, led in Tennessee by District 1888 Directing Business Representative Bill Benson and in Kentucky by District 1888 Business Representative and Organizer Ryan McCarthy, are focusing on fighting and winning for working families in states that are often thought to be unfriendly to workers’ rights.

    View state council photos here.

    International President Brian Bryant and Southern Territory General Vice President Craig Martin helped inspire delegates to continue to push for pro-worker policies in both states.

    “Our members across Tennessee and Kentucky are rising up and fighting back,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “We see it in strong contracts, engaged members and the activism right here in the Tennessee and Kentucky State Council.”

    IAM Local 1296 members at Trane in Clarksville, Tenn., recently ratified a strong contract with 9% first-year raises. IAM members in Kentucky recently advocated for pro-worker legislation at a lobby day at the state capitol.

    “This is how we show our strength and solidarity,” said IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Craig Martin. “We need to bring more pride and dignity to workers across Tennessee and Kentucky. We’re willing to strike, and we’re willing to take to the halls of state capitols. We’re here to remind politicians where their power comes from.”

    Other speakers included:

    • Paul Kendall, Assistant Secretary to the General Secretary-Treasurer
    • Carla Siegel, General Counsel
    • Shaun Junkins, Southern Territory International Representative
    • Ty Richardson, Assistant Political and Legislative Director
    • Juan Eldridge, Assistant Organizing Director
    • Tim Hight, Winpisinger Center Education Representative
    • Jonathan Battaglia, Communications Director
    • Former Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service employees

    Share and Follow:

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: JMU expert available to discuss the legacy of Pope Francis, upcoming conclave

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HARRISONBURG, Va., April 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pope Francis died April 21 at the age of 88. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in 1936 in Argentina, he was the first pope from Latin America. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis was elected as his successor on March 13, 2013. 

    James Madison University’s Jennifer Aycock, an assistant professor of religion, is available to discuss the life and legacy of Pope Francis and next steps for the Vatican as they begin the mourning process and prepare the conclave to elect the next pope. 

    “Pope Francis likened the church to a field hospital, a place of care and presence for the disenfranchised, poor and marginalized,” said Aycock. “Migrants, as well as young adults living in zones of conflict such as in South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo where the pope intentionally visited, held a primary place in his vision of the church and of the ministry of Christ.” 

    “As the first pope from the Jesuit order, Francis pastorally opened the door of the church, shifting perceptions as well as ministry foci from rules to presence, from hierarchy to being with the people as he and so many Catholics understand Christ was and is. He repeatedly spoke moral truth to power rooted in a vision of the church and Christ, who stands with the poor and those living on the margins of political power,” added Aycock.  

    To arrange interviews with Aycock, please contact Chad Saylor, saylorcx@jmu.edu. 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Nigeria’s growing security crisis: 6 essential reads

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Adejuwon Soyinka, Regional Editor West Africa

    Unidentified people attacked a community in Plateau State, Nigeria’s north central region, in mid-April, killing at least 52 residents. A similar attack in the same state claimed 48 lives earlier in the month.

    In neighbouring Benue State, north central Nigeria, unnamed assailants attacked two communities in March, killing at least five people. Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu described the Plateau violence as rooted in misunderstandings between different ethnic and religious groups.

    Nigeria’s spiralling insecurity is sometimes blamed on armed herders, at other times on bandits or kidnappers. Then there are extremist groups like Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province and Lakurawa, operating mostly in northern Nigeria. In the southern part of the country, there are also armed groups like the Indigenous People of Biafra.

    At The Conversation Africa, we have been working with academic experts to gain insights into the various actors involved in Nigeria’s security challenge, their motivations and why efforts to rein them in haven’t succeeded. Here are six essential reads on Nigeria’s struggle with insecurity.

    The drivers

    At the centre of the most recent killings in Nigeria is the country’s north central region. Consisting of the capital city, Abuja, and six other states, the region is home to several minority ethnic groups. More than 200 languages are spoken there.

    As Oluwole Ojewale explains, the region is vulnerable to various forms of conflict. It arises between ethnic and religious groups; people who trace their ancestry to a state and more recent residents; people who keep cattle and those who farm crops.



    Read more:
    What’s driving violence in Nigeria’s north central region

    Bandits range freely

    Across the north central and north west regions of Nigeria, bandits stoke violence and insecurity.

    They act in groups with varying operational and technical capabilities and do not have any central authority. Their main activities are cattle rustling, kidnapping civilians for ransom, armed attacks and community invasion. Over the years, the government has tried numerous military and non-military strategies to stamp out bandits. Sallek Yaks Musa unpacks why at least five different strategies have failed.



    Read more:
    Nigeria’s banditry: why 5 government strategies have failed

    Lakuwara enters the mix

    In 2024, the Nigerian army spoke of attacks on the Niger-Nigeria border as being carried out by a new terrorist group. According to the military, the new group, identified as Lakurawa, is affiliated to terrorists in the Sahel, particularly from Mali and Niger Republic.

    The picture painted by the military suggests that the group emerged as a result of the turmoil following recent coups in the Sahel region. But John Sunday Ojo and Ezenwa E. Olumba argue that the group isn’t new. It’s been operating along the Nigeria-Niger border since 1999, an indication of the region’s growing ungoverned spaces.



    Read more:
    Nigeria’s terror group Lakurawa is nothing new — it exists because of government’s failure: analysts

    Kidnappings spread

    Until recent years, large bandit and terror attacks were relatively rare in Lagos and other parts of the south-west region of Nigeria. Lately, crimes that were previously associated with the northern region appear to be spreading to the south-west. Adewumi Badiora outlines why Lagos may be a target and what to do about it.



    Read more:
    Terror attacks and kidnappings spread in Nigeria: why Lagos could be a target

    And Donald Trump happened…

    In the midst of its struggle with insecurity, Nigeria was hit by the United States decision to cut international aid funding. Over the years, the US has granted hundreds of millions of dollars as security assistance to Nigeria, as part of a broader partnership to promote regional security and stability.

    Security scholar Al Chukwuma Okoli describes how the cuts will affect Nigeria in many ways, including the fight against terror groups.



    Read more:
    US funding cuts may affect Nigeria’s fight against terrorism. Here’s how

    Meanwhile, bandits mine gold

    While the Nigerian government struggles with cuts to aid funding, bandits are colluding with elites to mine gold illegally and undermine peace.

    Oluwole Ojewale analyses how Nigerian elites weaponised access to mineral resources and the impact this has on violence in the north west region.



    Read more:
    Nigeria’s illegal gold trade – elites and bandits are working together

    – ref. Nigeria’s growing security crisis: 6 essential reads – https://theconversation.com/nigerias-growing-security-crisis-6-essential-reads-254639

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin, Merkley, Blumenthal, Markey: President Trump’s Cuts To Tobacco Prevention Will Make Americans Sicker & Cause More Tobacco-Related Deaths, Diseases

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    April 21, 2025

    CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) along with U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) today slammed the Trump Administration for staffing cuts at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that will devastate tobacco use prevention efforts across America.

    “Dozens of staffers at the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) have been placed on administrative leave, including the Center’s director, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) has been gutted. These actions risk undermining progress that has been made in reducing the death, disease, and addiction caused by tobacco use,” the Senators wrote. “Without these critical staff, we are concerned that more youth will start using tobacco products, fewer people will quit, and more people will become ill and die from tobacco-caused disease.”

    The Senators stressed the impacts of these staffing cuts on the federal government’s ability to protect kids from nicotine addiction and reduce chronic diseases caused by tobacco use, which remains the leading preventable cause of death in the United States and creates billions of dollars of health care related costs every year.

    “We cannot make a serious effort to reduce chronic disease and protect children’s health without addressing the harm caused by tobacco,” the Senators continued. “Yet the drastic reductions in force at HHS has led to the removal of key officials at the CTP, a center at the FDA created by Congress under the bipartisan Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Without adequate personnel, CTP will not be able to meet its statutory requirement to enforce the law and effectively conduct premarket reviews of new tobacco products and prevent the entry of products that will increase youth tobacco use.”

    The Senators warned, “The firing of thousands of staff at HHS also effectively eliminates CDC’s OSH, which plays a critical role in preventing youth tobacco use and helping adult tobacco users to quit. Eliminating this office will deprive states of the only dedicated source of federal funding for state tobacco prevention and cessation programs. It also means the end of its national public education campaign, Tips from Former Smokers, which helped about one million people to quit, prevented an estimated 129,100 smoking-related deaths, and saved about $7.3 billion in health care costs from 2012 through 2018. Eliminating OSH will not improve efficiency. Instead, it will only cost lives and increase health care expenses.”

    In addition to Durbin, Merkley, Blumenthal, and Markey, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Jack Reed (D-RI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

    The letter was also endorsed by the American Cancer Society Action Network, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Lung Association, National LGBTQI+ Cancer Network, Preventing Tobacco Addiction Foundation, and The Fenway Institute.

    Full text of the letter can be found by clicking here and follows below:

    Dear Secretary Kennedy, Acting Director Monarez, and Commissioner Makary,

    We write to express deep concerns regarding the impact your drastic staffing cuts at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will have on efforts to reduce smoking and other tobacco use. Dozens of staffers at the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) have been placed on administrative leave, including the Center’s director, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) has been gutted. These actions risk undermining progress that has been made in reducing the death, disease, and addiction caused by tobacco use. Without these critical staff, we are concerned that more youth will start using tobacco products, fewer people will quit, and more people will become ill and die from tobacco-caused disease.

    Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death in the United States and is responsible for about $240 billion in health care costs every year. More than 16 million Americans are currently living with a tobacco-caused disease, including chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, respiratory disease, and diabetes. Nearly 500,000 Americans die each year from tobacco use, making up one in every five deaths in the United States.

    Tobacco use has been described as a pediatric disease because almost all tobacco use begins during adolescence. Tobacco companies have a long history of making and marketing products that appeal to kids. E-cigarettes, for example, come in a wide variety of kid-attracting flavors and expose users to high doses of nicotine and other harmful substances. In fact, e-cigarettes have been the most popular tobacco product among youth since 2014. Last year, 1.6 million middle school and high school students were e-cigarette users with many of them using e-cigarettes frequently or daily, an alarming sign of addiction.

    We cannot make a serious effort to reduce chronic disease and protect children’s health without addressing the harm caused by tobacco. Yet the drastic reductions in force at HHS has led to the removal of key officials at the CTP, a center at the FDA created by Congress under the bipartisan Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Without adequate personnel, CTP will not be able to meet its statutory requirement to enforce the law and effectively conduct premarket reviews of new tobacco products and prevent the entry of products that will increase youth tobacco use. CTP already has an extensive backlog of premarket applications and has had difficulty stopping unauthorized e-cigarettes from entering the market. Fewer employees will only make matters worse. Severe reductions in regulatory personnel also will cripple FDA’s ability to establish product standards to reduce the appeal, addictiveness, and harm of tobacco products.

    The firing of thousands of staff at HHS also effectively eliminates CDC’s OSH, which plays a critical role in preventing youth tobacco use and helping adult tobacco users to quit. Eliminating this office will deprive states of the only dedicated source of federal funding for state tobacco prevention and cessation programs. It also means the end of its national public education campaign, Tips from Former Smokers, which helped about one million people to quit, prevented an estimated 129,100 smoking-related deaths, and saved about $7.3 billion in health care costs from 2012 through 2018. Eliminating OSH will not improve efficiency. Instead, it will only cost lives and increase health care expenses.

    Given the significant ramifications of the HHS proposed reorganization on the federal government’s ability to protect kids from nicotine-addiction and to reduce chronic diseases caused by tobacco use, we request responses to the following questions by Friday, April 25, 2025.

    1. How many total FDA CTP employees have lost their jobs? How many have lost their jobs as a result of:
      1. The recent reductions in force announced by the Department on March 27, 2025 (including transfers to other federal agencies)?
      2. The termination of probationary employees?
      3. Other Administration efforts to reduce the federal workforce (e.g., early retirement and Fork in the Road)?
    2. For each office within FDA CTP (e.g., Office of the Director, Office of Management, Office of Regulations, Office of Science, Office of Health Communications and Education, and Office of Compliance and Enforcement), how many people have been removed from their positions and how many remain?
    3. Which directors of offices within FDA CTP have been removed from their positions, placed on administrative leave, or transferred to other federal agencies?
    4. Does FDA CTP intend to spend the $712 million in tobacco user fees authorized under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act and included in the FY 2025 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act (P.L. 119-4)? Please indicate how CTP intends to spend its tobacco user fees for FY 2025, including, but not limited to, dollars spent on premarket review, enforcement of marketing and sales of illegal products, and Tobacco Centers of Regulatory Science.
    5. What functions of CTP have been transferred to other offices at FDA or to other agencies? To which offices or agencies were they transferred?
    6. What functions of CTP have been eliminated?
    7. How many employees does CDC OSH currently have? What are their roles and functions?
    8. Have any of the programs and activities, including data collection, previously run by CDC OSH been transferred to other agencies? To what other offices or agencies were they transferred to?
    9. The FY 2025 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act (P.L. 119-4) allocated $125.85 million from the Prevention and Public Health Fund to CDC OSH. How does the Department plan to spend this money if CDC OSH has been eliminated?
    10. Will states no longer receive federal grants from the National and State Tobacco Control Program (NTCP) to support state and local tobacco control programs? If so, when will states be notified of this loss in federal funding?
    11. Does the proposed elimination of CDC OSH mean that the highly effective media campaign, Tips from Former Smokers, will end? What about Tips ads for which air time has already been purchased? When do you anticipate the current Tips ad buy (both on Over-the-Top [OTT] and Over-the-Air [OTA] platforms) will conclude?
    12. Will the proposed elimination of CDC OSH eliminate federal funding for quitlines and cause state quitlines to reduce the services they can provide and the number of people they can serve?

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Initial Applications Being Accepted for new Infrastructure Funding Program

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on April 22, 2025

    Starting today, eligible Saskatchewan communities are invited to submit applications for funding through the Provincial-Territorial stream of the Canadian Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF), with applications due by May 20.

    “Under the Canadian Housing Infrastructure Fund, communities will be able to invest in the vital municipal infrastructure that grows our economy, allows for new home construction and improves our overall quality of life,” Government Relations Minister Eric Schmalz said. “With our government’s contribution of more than $155 million, a total of over $340 million will be made available to enhance municipal infrastructure in Saskatchewan and I encourage all communities to start preparing for the significant intake planned for September.”

    CHIF will provide funding for communities to build or improve critical infrastructure related to drinking water, wastewater, stormwater and solid waste, supporting more homes throughout the province. 

    The agreement between Canada and Saskatchewan requires that a set amount of funding be committed by June 30, 2025. The Government of Saskatchewan’s initial intake is prioritizing those projects that have committed to housing outcomes, with additional intakes opening this fall. 

    During this initial intake, more than $23 million will be allocated through the competitive intake to Saskatchewan communities that have been approved for the federal Housing Accelerator Funding (HAF) and communities with at least 30,000 residents. At this time, Government Relations will be accepting applications from Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, Moosomin, La Ronge, Radisson, Outlook and Humboldt. This ensures that the submitted projects meet the housing requirements under this CHIF cost-share requirement.

    The next intake for CHIF funding applications will begin in mid-September for all eligible Saskatchewan municipalities. Approval of the federal HAF program will not be required for the September intake.

    Under CHIF, the federal government will provide $187.9 million and the provincial government will provide more than $155 million to address housing-enabling infrastructure priorities.

    For complete eligibility requirements, the online application process and additional information, please visit: Government of Saskatchewan CHIF page.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Hudson County Man Charged with Production, Distribution, and Possession of Child Pornography, and Coercion and Enticement

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEWARK, N.J. – A Hudson County, New Jersey man was arrested for allegedly inducing multiple minors to send him sexually explicit videos and pictures over online platforms, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

    Julian Nova, 19, of Bayonne, New Jersey is charged by complaint with two counts of production of child pornography, two counts of coercion and enticement, one count of distribution of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. Nova appeared on April 17, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark, III in Newark federal court and was detained.

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

    In or around October and November 2023, Nova coerced multiple minor victims to produce child pornography, which he then distributed online. After gaining the victims’ trust, including by posing as a teenage girl, Nova enticed the victims to send child pornography of themselves. Nova then blackmailed the minor victims into producing additional child pornography, some of which included acts of self-degradation, by threatening to distribute the existing images and videos to the minor victims’ family and friends if they did not comply.

    The charges of production of child pornography carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. The charges of coercion and enticement carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, and a $250,000 fine. The charge of distribution of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. The charge of possession of child pornography carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

    U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit with the investigation leading to the charges.  She also thanked the FBI Newark’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence Reilly for their assistance.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/psc.

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Kober of the Criminal Division in Newark and Trial Attorney Adam Braskich of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.

    The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

                                                                           ###

    Defense counsel: Carol Dominguez, Esq.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Chair appointed for public inquiry into Nottingham stabbing attack

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Chair appointed for public inquiry into Nottingham stabbing attack

    Former senior circuit judge, Her Honour (HH) Deborah Taylor, has been appointed by the Lord Chancellor to chair the statutory inquiry into the Nottingham attacks.

    HH Deborah Taylor

    • Her Honour Deborah Taylor to chair Nottingham inquiry
    • Holistic review to provide recommendations to prevent similar incidents
    • Full Terms of Reference to be published in due course

    Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, and Ian Coates, 65, were tragically killed and three others seriously injured by Valdo Calocane in Nottingham in June 2023.

    Speaking in the House of Commons today (April 22), the Lord Chancellor confirmed HH Deborah Taylor would undertake a thorough, independent assessment of the events that culminated in these brutal attacks, and provide recommendations to prevent similar incidents.

    The statutory inquiry will have the power to examine all the agencies involved, including the Nottinghamshire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service; compel witnesses, and establish the facts. The Prime Minister has committed that the inquiry should report within two years.

    The bereaved families and survivors of the attack were present in the public gallery during the Lord Chancellor’s announcement.

    Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood said:

    The bereaved families and survivors of the Nottingham Attack, who have suffered so much, deserve to know how these horrific attacks were able to happen.

    I am pleased to appoint Her Honour Deborah Taylor as the Chair of this inquiry. She brings deep experience to the role, and I know she will undertake a fearless and thorough examination of the facts.

    The Chair, a retired senior circuit judge, has already engaged with survivors and victims’ families, and taken views on the draft Terms of Reference, which will be laid in due course.

    Minister for Victims and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), Alex Davies-Jones, said:

    My thoughts remain with the bereaved families and survivors of this terrible incident, who in the face of such tragedy, have consistently called for an Inquiry.

    It is important for the bereaved families and survivors that this Inquiry reports without undue delay which is why the Prime Minister has committed the inquiry should report in two years.

    Notes to editors:

    • With the Chair in place and the inquiry being formally established today, it can begin preliminary work immediately. The final terms of reference will be published as soon as possible.
    • There have been nine separate reviews into various elements of the Nottingham attacks including: Valdo Calocane’s healthcare and the healthcare institution; actions by Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire Police; and decisions of the CPS.  IOPC investigations into the actions of Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire police are ongoing.
    • The Law Commission is undertaking a review into homicide law and will consider the partial defence of diminished responsibility.
    • HH Deborah Taylor was a Senior Circuit Judge, Resident Judge at Southwark Crown Court and Recorder of Westminster until her retirement from the Judiciary in December 2022. In 2022 she was Treasurer of Inner Temple, where she advocated for greater diversity at the Bar.
    • Deborah has chaired the Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board (CLAAB) since July 2023.

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Testing continues at Blairgowrie Recreation Centre

    Source: Scotland – City of Perth

    The £36 million leisure centre will replace the existing Blairgowrie Recreation Centre which is now over 40-years-old. The new centre was due to open earlier this year but this was postponed after a leak was discovered in the pool.

    The new centre will be Scotland’s first leisure centre built to environmentally-friendly Passivhaus standards, providing state-of-the-art, low-energy facilities for community and school use.

    It has a six-lane 25m swimming pool; a four-court sports hall; two-court sports hall/gymnasium; fitness suite; dance studio; several different changing facilities; office; a PE classroom as well as a floodlit synthetic outdoor pitch.

    Construction on the long-awaited new centre began in June 2023.

    After the initial leak was repaired, further testing was carried out which revealed a second, minor, leak in the pool. Contractors are working to resolve this issue before an opening date for the new centre is announced.

    Council leader Councillor Grant Laing has now written to independent councillor Colin Stewart, convener of Perth and Kinross Council’s Scrutiny and Performance Committee, to undertake a review of the issues that have led to the delays.

    Councillor Laing said: “We are all looking forward to Blairgowrie Recreation Centre opening.

    “However, it is extremely frustrating that we have had to keep pushing back the opening date while contractors resolve these issues with the pool.

    “Although this is not incurring any cost to the Council and we will not accept handover of the building until we are satisfied everything is working properly, we owe it to our residents to learn exactly what caused these issues and if they can be prevented on any future construction projects, here in Perth and Kinross or elsewhere.”

    The leak had been traced to an area around the movable floor equipment in the pool.

    The pool has been drained to allow all fixing and seals to be tested and to carry out repairs before the Council accepts handover of the building.

    Stephen Crawford, Perth and Kinross Council’s Strategic Lead for Property Services, said: “Blairgowrie Recreation Centre is a hugely important facility for our residents in Eastern Perthshire and we want the building to be in perfect condition before it opens.

    “We are all disappointed at this additional delay. Our contractors are working hard to ensure there are no faults in the building before it is handed over to Perth and Kinross Council and we can make preparations for opening day.”

    Paul Carle, Construction Director with BAM UK and Ireland, said: “The new Blairgowrie Recreation Centre will be fantastic facility for the whole community and we’re disappointed that we have not yet been able to hand over the keys to Perth and Kinross Council.

    “The pool is a complex design, and we have been working with specialist contractors to deliver it. Unfortunately, there have been technical issues and it’s right that we take time to correct these before it opens to the public. We are sorry for the delay and remain fully focussed of getting the repairs undertaken as early as possible.”

    The existing Recreation Centre remains open and will be used as the venue for this year’s SQA exams.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New DHSC Permanent Secretary Appointed

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    New DHSC Permanent Secretary Appointed

    Samantha Jones has been appointed as the new Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health and Social Care

    Samantha Jones

    The Cabinet Secretary, with the approval of the Prime Minister, has announced the appointment of Samantha Jones as the new Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). 

    Samantha is currently a non-executive director at DHSC, and the Chief Operating Officer for Xlinks, a renewable energy company.

    Samantha began her career as a nurse in the NHS, and was a hospital Chief Executive before moving to NHS England to lead the New Models of Care programme.  She has also led one of the largest primary care providers in England. Since her time in the NHS, Samantha served as an expert advisor to the PM on NHS Transformation and Social Care in 2021, before taking up post as the interim Permanent Secretary and Chief Operating Officer for 10 Downing Street. 

    Samantha will join DHSC at a critical time, as the government rebuilds the NHS as part of the Plan for Change. Samantha will be building a team to deliver this vital transformation which will include appointing a Chief Operating Officer. 

    Samantha will replace Chris Wormald, who left DHSC in December last year, to take up the role of Cabinet Secretary.

    The Health and Social Care Secretary, the Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, said:

    I am delighted to welcome Samantha in her new role as Permanent Secretary.

    Samantha brings a wealth of experience from the frontline of healthcare as a general and paediatric nurse – she knows what it is like to be working on wards and will translate that expertise to her work across the department.

    Equally, her work in senior management roles across both Whitehall and the health and social care sector will prove invaluable as we reintegrate NHS England back into the department to cut red tape, reduce duplication and make it fit for the future as part of our Plan for Change.

    Cabinet Secretary, Sir Chris Wormald, said:

    I am delighted to see Sam take up the role of Permanent Secretary at DHSC, having worked with her closely during my time there. Samantha is an outstanding public servant, who has spent much of her career working to improve and enrich the lives of people across the country.

    This is a critical time for DHSC, as they look to welcome their NHS England colleagues back into the department, and work to deliver the government missions and Plan for Change. Samantha is uniquely positioned to drive forward this work, and I look forward to working with her. 

    I also want to put on record my thanks to Professor Chris Whitty for his leadership of the Department since my departure.

    Samantha Jones said:

    It is an absolute privilege to be appointed Permanent Secretary at DHSC, working with colleagues across health and social care  to support the government’s Plan for Change and deliver a rebuilt NHS, fit for the future.

    Having worked alongside the brilliant team at DHSC over the past few years, serving on their board, I look forward to leading a department of committed public servants to improve the health of our nation.

    ENDS

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Farewell to British High Commissioner Charles Moore: Tour of duty in Namibia ends

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    World news story

    Farewell to British High Commissioner Charles Moore: Tour of duty in Namibia ends

    The British High Commissioner, Mr Charles Moore, bid a final farewell to Namibia in April after four years and three months in the country.

    On 9 April 2025, outgoing British High Commissioner to Namibia, Mr. Charles Moore, paid a farewell courtesy call on President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at State House in Windhoek.

    His diplomatic term has ended after an eventful four years and three months. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah expressed appreciation for Mr. Moore’s service, acknowledging that the recorded increase in trade between the two countries will go a long way in reducing the unemployment rate in Namibia.

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah also noted that she is looking forward to welcoming Mr. Moore’s successor, Mr. Neil Bradley, when his tenure begins. She remains hopeful for a continued positive trajectory in the bilateral relationship between Namibia and the United Kingdom.

    On his end, H.E. Charles Moore stated that working in Namibia has been a privilege and a career highlight. He affirmed that even though his tour of duty has come to an end, he will continue to take a close interest in Namibia’s development and is excitedly looking forward to returning as a tourist in the future.

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Full implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement is essential for lasting peace in Colombia: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Speech

    Full implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement is essential for lasting peace in Colombia: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Colombia. 

    The UK is clear that full implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement is essential for lasting peace in Colombia. Last year, following President Petro’s intervention in the Council in July, we welcomed the government’s announcement of a Rapid Response Plan, which committed to accelerate implementation and deliver real change in the territories most affected by the conflict.  

    Communities in these areas expect the government to deliver on their urgent needs. We welcome Foreign Minister Sarabia’s commitment to accelerate the delivery of the agreement. This will require a whole of government effort with close coordination with regional and local authorities and of course, Colombia’s security forces, so that the impact is felt by those communities.  

     We remain concerned by the security situation in those territories, particularly for women, children and indigenous groups. The violence in Catatumbo is a clear example. We call on the government to strengthen protection measures and safeguard communities. We welcome the launch of the Pact for Catatumbo, and we urge the government to prioritise the security of all vulnerable Colombians through mechanisms already established.

    This includes convening the Commission for the Follow-up, Promotion, and Verification of the Implementation of the Final Agreement (CSIVI) and delivery of the Women, Peace and Security National Action Plan published last year. With 23 peace signatories killed this year alone, and hundreds displaced, the safety, security and reintegration of all signatories to the agreement remains paramount.

    President, justice for victims remains at the heart of the 2016 Agreement, with its carefully designed system of complementary institutions focused on truth, justice and reconciliation. We call on the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (SJP) to accelerate its work to ensure the confidence of victims and signatories. 

    To assuage growing doubts about the SJP and its efficacy, now is the time to move forward to the issuing of sanctions and to hold to account those responsible for the most serious human rights violations. The government has an essential role to play in coordinating with the SJP on the implementation of reparative measures. 

    Beyond the 2016 Agreement, we recognise the Colombian Government’s efforts to extend the dialogue to other armed groups. Unfortunately, as the Secretary-General’s report notes, these dialogues have not delivered the desired results.

     The UK, and this Council, have consistently called upon those groups to demonstrate a genuine commitment to peace, above all by respecting the rights of the communities whose interests they claim to pursue.

    Those communities continue, however, to be affected by serious violence, gross human rights abuses, and coercive and predatory behaviour at the hands of armed groups. If there is to be any hope of sustainable progress through dialogue, the groups involved need to show that they are serious about a political process.

    President, to conclude, the United Kingdom remains steadfast in our support for sustainable peace in Colombia.

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The VIII International Scientific and Practical Conference BIMAC-2025 has started its work at SPbGASU

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Victoria Vinogradova, Evgeny Enokaev, Maxim Nechiporenko, Nikolay Samopal, Valery Uskov and Alexander Grimitlin

    The VIII International Scientific and Practical Conference “Information Modeling in Construction and Architecture Problems” (BIMAC-2025) has begun its work at SPbGASU. The large-scale event was organized as part of the implementation of the Innovative Educational Project “Innovative Methodology for Forming Digital Professional Competencies of Students and Specialists in the Construction Industry”.

    As noted by Denis Nizhegorodtsev, Deputy Director of the Educational Center for Digital Competencies at SPbGASU, the conference will include eight scientific and practical sections, round tables, master classes, and an exhibition area where partners will present their developments. Over the course of four days, representatives of industry companies and educational institutions will discuss current issues related to information modeling technologies in construction and architecture, estimates, the use of artificial intelligence in the construction industry, training of engineering personnel for the digitalization of construction, visual programming, and software development. In addition, they will hear reports from young scientists. Opening the conference, Konstantin Mikhailik, Deputy Minister of Construction and Housing and Communal Services of Russia, in particular, emphasized that the task of the industry is to improve its efficiency by increasing labor productivity and reducing costs using digital technologies.

    “The BIMAC conference allows us to gather the scientific community, government bodies and representatives of specialized companies on one platform, who can openly discuss in order to subsequently develop an effective set of solutions for the development of the industry. The sooner we jointly define the necessary plane for the latest developments, the more high-quality solutions we will receive. Integration of information modeling into construction processes, design and estimate documentation are important tasks that are also submitted for wide discussion at the conference. The quality and timing of construction, and the import substitution process in general, depend on their high-quality implementation and execution,” noted Konstantin Mikhailik.

    Deputy Chairman of the St. Petersburg Construction Committee Valery Uskov emphasized that the construction industry is actively implementing information modeling technologies: the city administration is implementing projects using such technologies. Thus, in 2024, 118 projects were implemented, 20 of which were completed using information modeling technologies. This year, 124 projects are planned, and at the moment, nine of them are already being implemented using these technologies.

    “The relevance of this conference is primarily due to the development of information technologies that are being actively implemented in the construction industry. I have identified three important areas in the work of the conference. The first concerns the implementation of information modeling technology, the integration of sensors in construction projects that allow analyzing the condition of an object, which, in turn, has a positive effect on the operation of the object and leads to a decrease in the costs of its maintenance. The second important area is related to security. Considering that cloud storage and servers are used today, we need to closely monitor this area and actively develop methods for increasing their safety in order to prevent failures. The third area, as a civil servant, I highlight is the improvement of the regulatory framework and its implementation. I am sure that all conference participants will gain good experience, make new contacts, and meet leading specialists in this industry. The industry needs personnel, and this kind of event is one of the steps in solving this issue,” Valery Uskov emphasized.

    The President of the Association “AVOK SEVERO-ZAPAD” Alexander Grimitlin specified that the conference is dedicated to such an important issue as digitalization of the construction industry. Because it is a necessity, without which the movement will simply slow down.

    “I consider the digitalization of the industry in two directions. Firstly, it is the solution of complex engineering problems of information modeling, which allow us to use a huge number of factors. We will not be able to take them into account in other ways. A lot of work is being done in this direction at the university. The second line is standard design. We need to do it in such a way as to exclude errors in construction processes,” noted Alexander Grimitlin.

    First Deputy Chairman of the Leningrad Region Construction Committee Evgeny Enokaev emphasized that information modeling technologies are developing very quickly, and now the construction management system as a whole is changing, so, of course, it is necessary to be aware of the latest developments and emerging experience.

    “The conference is an effective platform for exchanging experience, an opportunity for software manufacturers to demonstrate their latest developments, and for builders to adopt them and talk about their application based on their own practice. This is especially important: after the departure of foreign vendors, a serious niche has formed, and we need to give Russian software developers the opportunity to fill it. I think that this will be possible to do, and in the near future. In addition, partnership with universities allows us to train and attract personnel to the industry,” believes Evgeny Enokaev.

    Advisor to the Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of Russia, Deputy CEO of Renga Software Maxim Nechiporenko believes that now there is no need to discuss how promising information modeling is – this should have been done earlier. At the moment, it is important to discuss how to interact.

    “The only relevant standard of work in the design and construction industry is working with digital information models. They are the only reliable source of information. This is not a panacea and not a solution to all problems in construction, but you can reduce their number by providing reliable information. One thing remains unchanged – the need and focus of the construction industry on working with reliable information. This contributes to increased transparency in the construction industry,” emphasized Maksym Nechyporenko.

    Deputy General Director for Development of ZAO “WIZARDSOFT” Nikolay Samopal recalled that the company “Wizardsoft” has been cooperating with SPbGASU for many years: they started as software suppliers, and over time, the cooperation expanded. The company takes part in various events, and this year it became the general partner of the conference.

    “Close cooperation between a software developer and an educational institution allows not only to improve digital tools, but also to train specialists who are proficient in modern tools. We provide an opportunity to hone their skills and bring to the market employees who are ready to use modern tools,” concluded Nikolai Samopal.

    Vice-Rector for Continuing Education at SPbGASU Victoria Vinogradova emphasized that the university always keeps up with the times. Today, the construction industry is undergoing a profound transformation under the influence of digital technologies, in which the university is also participating. “Information modeling, process automation, interdisciplinarity have become part of modern design, and not just a prospect. For eight years now, our conference has served as an open platform where government agencies, scientific and educational organizations, and professional communities can exchange best practices. We are working to improve work processes, educational programs, and software functionality,” Victoria Vinogradova said.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Control over migrant transfers to be strengthened – Prosecutor General’s Office approves proposal

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Sours: Mainfin Bank –

    How does the Prosecutor General’s Office plan to strengthen control over migrants?

    The Russian Prosecutor’s Office supports the proposal to strengthen supervision of migrants’ financial transactions. The agency noted that foreigners often participate in fraudulent schemes and become mules (sometimes unknowingly). Registration bank cards in the name of migrants in the country is put on stream – non-residents are brought to the offices credit institutions “by buses”.

    The Prosecutor General’s Office believes it would be appropriate to organize information exchange between financial institutions and migration control agencies – supervision will help to understand where foreigners transfer money, as well as identify suspicious transactions. The measure is intended to reduce the number of violations in the economic security segment.

    What other measures of control over migrants may appear in Russia?

    Migration legislation in Russia is gradually becoming more stringent, but so far the laws being adopted have not produced the desired results. Dmitry Medvedev announced the need for new restrictions, calling for:

    prohibit foreigners with a criminal record from obtaining a residence permit or Russian citizenship; establish an exchange of data between agencies on the criminal records of migrants arriving in the country; eliminate abuses in conducting examinations for foreign citizens; strengthen control over institutions that conduct examinations, including by recording the procedures on video.

    “Migrants in Russia who have certificates of passing exams often do not even understand Russian – when receiving documents, mass violations are recorded,” the politician noted.

    Tightening of legislation may lead to an outflow of up to 1 million migrants from the Russian Federation. However, analysts are confident that “specialists” from the CIS countries may be replaced by citizens of the DPRK – it will be easier for Koreans to integrate into Russian society without causing discontent among the native inhabitants of Russia.

    15:00 04/22/2025

    Source:

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

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    HTTPS: //Mainfin.ru/novosti/ Monkol-Snip-Portead-Migrants-Usilat-Gen-Prosecutor General-Odobril-Execution

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Trahan Delivers Keynote Speech at Concord 250 Celebration

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

    Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) delivered a keynote speech at the Concord 250 celebrations marking the semiquincentennial of the start of the Revolutionary War in Concord, Massachusetts.
    “What began here in Concord became ‘the shot heard round the world.’ It was more than the start of a war – it was the beginning of an idea. That liberty is worth defending. That government derives its just powers from the consent of the governed. That even the smallest towns in the smallest colonies could stir the conscience of a world,” said Congresswoman Trahan.
    CLICK HERE to view the full speech. A transcript is embedded below.

    The Concord 250 ceremony was hosted at the Old North Bridge in Minute Man National Historical Park, home to the first serious battle of the Revolutionary War. The shots fired in the Battle of Concord were later described by American author Ralph Waldo Emerson as the “shot heard round the world.”
    “In every generation, there have been bridges like this one in Concord and like the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, where brave Americans marched for civil rights and faced down brutality in the name of justice. Moments that demand to know who we are and what we stand for,” Congresswoman Trahan continued. “So let us meet our moment today. Let us be citizens worthy of this history, and ancestors worthy of remembrance. And let us ensure that two hundred and fifty years from now, when future generations gather at this bridge, they won’t just hear the echo of that first shot – they’ll hear the echo of our voices, rising to say: we carried the promise of a stronger America forward.”
    ————————————
    Congresswoman Lori Trahan
    Remarks as Delivered
    Concord 250 Ceremony
    April 19, 2025

    Good morning.
    Two hundred and fifty years ago, right here at the Old North Bridge, ordinary people faced an extraordinary choice: monarchy or democracy. They could remain subjects of a distant crown, or risk everything for the idea of self-government.
    They chose freedom.
    Farmers and blacksmiths, shopkeepers and ministers, teachers and mothers, everyday citizens who had no guarantee of success stood their ground. And when the smoke cleared on that April morning, the first shots of a revolution had been fired.
    What began here in Concord became “the shot heard round the world.” It was more than the start of a war – it was the beginning of an idea. That liberty is worth defending. That government derives its just powers from the consent of the governed. That even the smallest towns in the smallest colonies could stir the conscience of a world.
    But it was never inevitable. The men and women who gathered here were not professional soldiers or political elites. They were neighbors and parents. Workers and worshippers. People with families to protect, farms to tend, and lives to live. And yet, when the moment came, they answered history’s call.
    Today, as we mark the 250th anniversary of that defining moment, we gather not just to honor their courage, but to reckon with the responsibility they left us. Because we are the stewards now. Every generation inherits the promise made here in Concord. And every generation must choose what echoes we will send forward.
    Will we echo courage or complacency? Unity or division? Will we, like those early patriots, rise together to meet the challenges of our time?
    Even our founders knew that the greatest threat to this fragile experiment wouldn’t come from abroad – it would come from within. In fact, when George Washington agreed to attend the Constitutional Convention in 1787, he explained why in a letter to a friend. He warned of “some aspiring demagogue who will not consult the interest of his country so much as his own ambitious views.”
    Washington wasn’t worried about the jeweled crowns of foreign kings – he was worried about the domestic ones, those who drape themselves in flags while declaring themselves above the Constitution. That remains our charge today. To ensure that in America, no one, no matter how loud, how wealthy, or how powerful, stands above the law. Because in a democracy, the law, not a single man, is sovereign.
    Our union is still imperfect. Our freedoms still tested. But the story of America has always been one of progress – not because the path was easy, but because courage found its way into common hands.
    In every generation, there have been bridges like this one in Concord, like the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma where brave Americans marched for civil rights and faced down brutality in the name of justice. Moments that demand to know who we are and what we stand for.
    So let us meet our moment today. Let us be citizens worthy of this history, and ancestors worthy of remembrance. And let us ensure that two hundred and fifty years from now, when future generations gather at this bridge, they won’t just hear the echo of that first shot – they’ll hear the echo of our voices rising to say: we carried the promise of a stronger America forward.
    Thank you.
    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Supporting Next-Generation Workforce Development

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced that work is now underway on the expanded Advanced Technology Center at Monroe Community College’s main campus in the Town of Brighton, Monroe County. The $69.6 million project will move critical technology programs from an outdated facility on West Henrietta Road to state-of-the-art facility at the Brighton campus, connecting them with the college’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs. The expansion will also provide a new home and accelerate the growth of the center’s Optical Systems Technology program. With a 2,400 percent increase in student enrollment since 2019, this first-of-its-kind in the nation, two-year training program provides a direct path to employment for hundreds of students and will support the state’s efforts to grow the semiconductor industry across Upstate New York.

    “My administration is committed to connecting New Yorkers with top-quality job opportunities”, Governor Hochul said. “MCC’s state-of-the-art Advanced Technology Center will deliver accelerated training programs, providing New Yorkers in the Finger Lakes with the skills they need to compete in today’s dynamic and ever-changing job market.”

    Governor Hochul originally announced the State’s investment of $13.75 million for campus upgrades in February of 2024, including $10 million for the center’s STEM addition. The ATC offers many career paths including automotive technician, precision tooling, heating, ventilating, air conditioning service technician and mechanic. With a new solar lab, the center will also be able to offer training in burgeoning fields — like solar photovoltaic panel installer, solar energy installation manager, and service technician. The expansion is expected to be open to students in the fall of 2026.

    Monroe County Executive Adam Bello said, “Monroe Community College is a cornerstone of workforce development in our region. We must ensure that we continue its history of innovation and job readiness by offering top quality education in high demand fields like automotive technician, HVAC technician and our first-in-the-nation optics program. Thank you to Dr. Deanna Burt-Nanna for her vision in taking MCC to the next level. Thank you to our federal representatives, Governor Hochul and our state delegation l for their continued support to keep Monroe Community College as a staple of workforce development in the nation.”

    Monroe Community College President Dr. DeAnna R. Burt-Nanna said, “We are excited to yet again be meeting the need for highly skilled, in-demand workers, this time through our new Advanced Technology Center. We are catalyzing bright futures for the community and its people through this center, which includes state-of-the-art equipment to enable students across a broad spectrum of fields to realize their dream of a secure career with a family-sustaining wage. We thank Governor Hochul, County Executive Bello, and Congressman Morelle for their partnership and continued investment in technological innovation, education, and training.”

    SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. said, “Congratulations to Monroe Community College under the leadership of President Deanna Burt-Nanna. Today’s groundbreaking is a testament to MCC’s work advancing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education and workforce development, and empowering students with opportunities to achieve their academic and professional goals. SUNY and our campuses are at the forefront of offering programs that support regional economic development and students’ upward mobility as a direct result of Governor Kathy Hochul’s leadership and the strength of our partners, particularly ESD.”

    The Advanced Technology Center (ATC) project further bolsters the states’ overall workforce development efforts in the advanced manufacturing and semiconductor industries. In the summer of 2024, Governor Hochul announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce had awarded a phase two Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (Tech Hub) grant of $40 million to the New York Semiconductor Manufacturing and Research Technology Innovation Corridor (NY SMART-I Corridor) consortium. The consortium comprises the Finger Lakes, Western NY and Central NY regions and is convened by OneROC, the Buffalo-Niagara Partnership, and CenterState CEO respectively. It includes more than 80 members that include economic development organizations, government, workforce development, labor, industry, academia, and nonprofits. Over the next five years, The Tech Hub will work to build a world-class semiconductor ecosystem across a range of focus areas including equitable workforce development and talent placement, research and commercialization pathways. Managed by a multi-sector implementation governance committee, the consortium will serve as a key coordinating body for semiconductor industry growth alongside the Governor’s Office of Semiconductor Expansion, Management, and Integration housed within ESD.

    Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Through our support for this important project, we are ensuring that the region’s workforce is equipped with the skills necessary to compete in today’s dynamic, ever-changing job market. The new Advanced Technology Center at MCC’s Brighton campus will grow a robust talent pipeline to align with employer needs, support local business development and move the innovation economy forward.”

    In February of 2025, Governor Hochul announced that the Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley and Capitol Regions had been selected to advance to the planning stage of the $200 million One Network for Regional Advanced Manufacturing Partnerships (ON-RAMP) program. The regions join Central New York, in which Syracuse was established as the program’s flagship location and will create a network of high-impact workforce development centers to connect New Yorkers with careers in dynamic, high-growth advanced manufacturing industries. These workforce centers will equip New Yorkers with the skills they need and create an “on-ramp” to training, internships, apprenticeships and permanent employment and capitalize on the State’s success in attracting and expanding advanced manufacturing companies such as Micron and GlobalFoundries. Monroe Community College will lead the Finger Lakes ON-RAMP center in partnership with RochesterWorks.

    Additional regional workforce development efforts also include a $5.5 million investment through the transformational Regional Revitalization Partnership (RRP) to assist with establishing the RochesterWorks Downtown Career Center at the MCC downtown campus in the City of Rochester. The comprehensive one-stop career center will invite the co-location of fellow agencies, improving workforce development and supportive wrap-around services to members of the community seeking employment or training for career pathways improve access by directly linking service providers with jobs seekers, enhancing the ability to navigate a career pathway more easily. The project aims to remove barriers to participation in the workforce that most acutely impact populations that are historically underrepresented in the labor force. MCC’s downtown campus is also home to the New York State supported Finger Lakes Workforce Development (FWD) Center, which is focused on short-term and accelerated, technology-oriented training programs that place individuals in high-demand jobs within advanced manufacturing, information technology, skilled trades, apprenticeship-related instruction and professional services.

    State Senator Jeremy Cooney said, “With the Advanced Technology Center, Monroe Community College is cementing their role as a driver of workforce development and technological innovation in our region. This state-of-the-art facility will house the first of its kind Optics Systems Technology program, opening the door to in-demand jobs for students in our region. I’m grateful for the leadership of Governor Hochul, County Executive Bello, Dr. DeAnna Burt-Nanna, and my federal and state partners in making this project a reality and continuing our shared commitment towards economic development across Monroe County.”

    Assemblymember Harry Bronson said, “The new Advanced Technology Center at MCC demonstrates our region’s commitment to cutting-edge workforce development and education programs. Under Dr. Burt-Nanna’s innovative leadership, MCC will develop the world-class facilities required to prepare students to meet the demands of our emerging economy. Thank you Dr. Burt-Nanna, County Executive Bello, Congressman Morelle, Governor Hochul and my partners in the State legislature. Through this investment, we are connecting students to programming and training opportunities with a direct pipeline to in-demand jobs in essential industries.”

    Brighton Town Supervisor William W. Moehle said, “Monroe Community College is a tremendous asset to the Town of Brighton and Monroe County, and the new Advanced Technology Center will bring new cutting-edge technology and training capabilities to the MCC campus in Brighton. This facility will help train the next generation of technology experts right here in Brighton to help this region compete for job growth in the new economy.”

    RochesterWorks Executive Director David Seeley said, “The MCC Advanced Technology Center expansion is a great addition to the workforce development initiatives in place in our region to support the growing advanced manufacturing, skilled trades, and semiconductor industries. RochesterWorks is proud to be partnering with MCC and the State on these initiatives, providing our full range of programs and services to job seekers and employers in the Rochester area looking to be a part of these exciting, high demand, and well-paying career pathways. Our thanks go out to Governor Hochul, County Executive Bello, Congressman Morelle, and MCC for being great partners and bringing these opportunities to our area.”

    OneROC President Joseph Stefko said, “This new investment strengthens our region’s world class research and training assets in the semiconductor and microelectronics sector – assets which were critical to our successfully securing funding last year for the NY SMART I-Corridor Regional Tech Hub. Bolstering training for in-demand, high-technology jobs better positions our region to fully capitalize on the growth we expect to see in the coming years. I’m grateful to Governor Hochul and our state delegation for their continued support, to President Burt-Nanna for her leadership, and to our federal partners for their commitment to investing in a high-skilled and agile workforce that can meet our current and future talent pipeline needs.”

    Accelerating Economic Development in the Finger Lakes
    Today’s announcement complements “Finger Lakes Forward,” the region’s comprehensive strategy to generate robust economic growth and community development. The regionally designed plan focuses on investing in key industries including photonics, agriculture‎ and food production, and advanced manufacturing.

    About Empire State Development
    Empire State Development is New York’s chief economic development agency, and promotes business growth, job creation, and greater economic opportunity throughout the State. With offices in each of the state’s 10 regions, ESD oversees the Regional Economic Development Councils, supports broadband equity through the ConnectALL office, and is growing the workforce of tomorrow through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development. The agency engages with emerging and next generation industries like clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing looking to grow in New York State, operates a network of assistance centers to help small businesses grow and succeed, and promotes the state’s world class tourism destinations through I LOVE NY. For more information, please visit esd.ny.gov, and connect with ESD on LinkedIn, Facebook and X.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Wisconsin Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Chemical Weapon Precursors

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on April 21, 2025, United States District Judge Brett Ludwig accepted the guilty plea of James Morgan (formerly Karactus Blome) to one count of possession of chemical weapon precursors—chemicals that combine to create chlorine and chlorine gas—not intended for peaceful purposes, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 229(a).

    According to court documents, on December 21, 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) executed a search warrant at Morgan’s storage unit and found the precursor chemicals. Morgan had studied chemistry at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater and had described himself as a weapon designer who did not need a conventional weapon. In a video, Morgan displayed the chemicals and said they were for making a lot of chlorine very quickly. In messages in 2022, he said that what he had was “scary,” and that the chemicals react to produce a lot of chlorine gas, which can be “effective if your enemy is not ready for it.” He sent links for purchasing the chemicals and discussed the amounts needed to make a lot of chlorine gas really fast. In messages in 2023, Morgan discussed a plan to defeat the government, if it came for his guns, by producing a large amount of chlorine that he claimed could be used against approximately twenty government agents. The FBI Laboratory determined that the chemicals Morgan possessed could produce a large amount of chlorine that could result in rapid, serious health effects, including death.

    Sentencing is scheduled for August 1, 2025, before Judge Ludwig. Morgan faces up to life in prison, a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release after any period of imprisonment.

    The FBI, the Janesville Police Department, and the Whitewater Police Department investigated the case, which also resulted in Morgan’s conviction for possession of destructive devices in the Western District of Wisconsin. 

    Assistant U.S. Attorney John Scully is prosecuting the case in the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Duchemin prosecuted the case in the Western District of Wisconsin, and Trial Attorney Justin Sher of the National Security Division, Counterterrorism Section, assisted on both prosecutions.

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    For further information contact:

    Public Information Officer

    Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov

    (414) 297-1700

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    MIL Security OSI –