NewzIntel.com

Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI Africa: I was a child soldier – here’s what it’ll take to protect young lives in conflict zones

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Charles Wratto, Associate Professor of Peace, Politics, and Conflict Studies, Babes Bolyai University

    The use of child soldiers is a profound human tragedy that continues to scar generations across the world.

    According to the United Nations, over the years, thousands of children, some as young as six years old, have been manipulated, indoctrinated and coerced into joining armed groups.

    Many of these children have fought against peacekeeping troops in Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo and US-led coalition soldiers in Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia.

    The devastating effect of this grave, yet persistent, tragedy extends beyond the individual child. It tears communities and families apart and leaves generations scarred with the trauma of war long after the guns fall silent.

    International agreements like the Optional protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict, the Paris principles and commitments, the Rome statute and the Cape Town principles have condemned the practice. They provided legal and practical pathways to stop the use of child soldiers.

    Intervention campaigns like Child Soldiers International, the Children, Not Soldiers campaign, and the Kony 2012 campaign were launched to combat unlawful recruitment. They also raise awareness to protect child combatants in conflict regions.

    Read more: Why some rebel groups force kids to fight: it depends on how they are funded

    The International Criminal Court has held trials and convicted warlords responsible for the abduction and arming of children.

    The United Nations has published a list to “shame” governments and non-state actors that enlist minors in their armies.

    Despite these efforts, the problem persists as governments and insurgent groups recruit minors in various regions of the world.

    One of the reasons may be that children’s presence on the battlefield throws the training and ethics of professional soldiers off balance. Children are widely considered innocent, harmless, and deserving of care and protection. Harming them can cause severe emotional and psychological distress that conventional soldiers are ill-equipped to handle. Armed groups who use children can get a strategic advantage if they make adult soldiers feel guilt, terror, shame and cowardism.

    As a researcher in peace, politics and conflict studies and a former child soldier in the Liberian civil war, I have centred my studies on children in armed conflict and how states respond to crises and conflict.

    I am passionate about protecting children in conflict zones because I know what it means to experience violence at a very young age.

    I also understand, from my own experience, what it means to return to a society that saw me as a dangerous and irredeemable person and to find purpose in a world that labelled people like me as a “lost generation”.

    Based on my personal experiences and interaction with child soldiers, I identify six ways society can help protect children in conflict zones. They are: cutting off arms sales to conflict regions; providing continuous education during conflict; providing life-saving essentials; working with local communities; listening to children’s voices; and involving child soldiers in the implementation of disarmament and reintegration programmes.

    Read more: The old ways of reintegrating young veterans need to be abandoned

    Six ways to protect children in conflict zones

    Cut arm sales to conflict regions

    Armed groups often rely on the constant flow of small arms and light weapons to maintain their operations.

    The availability of these weapons enables groups to enlarge their forces, often using vulnerable children. Stopping weapons sales would undermine the effectiveness of these groups.

    If there are fewer arms, warlords will find it harder to lure children with false promises of protection and power. Warlords might have to create pathways for peace talks, and children could be demobilised.

    Under Charles Taylor, Liberia was a regional hub for illicit weapons trade and child soldier recruitment. The UN arms embargo in 2001 limited Taylor’s ability to resupply his troops, leading to his eventual exile and an end to the war in 2003. While an effective arms embargo may not end a war or child recruitment immediately, it can erode armed groups’ combat ability, pressuring them to negotiate, collapse, or lose their grip over vulnerable children.

    Provide life-saving essentials

    In war-torn places, poverty and starvation sometimes push families to hand over their children to armed groups in exchange for food.

    Given life-saving essentials such as food, shelter and medical care, families can be shielded from poverty. This will reduce voluntary enlistment.

    Microfinance initiatives that support small businesses, and provision of vocational training programmes, can also lift families from poverty.

    Continuous education during conflict

    Governments and multilateral institutions must provide emergency education and train teachers and caregivers in camps for internally displaced people.

    Being able to carry on with schooling in a safe environment can curb child recruitment and empower young people for the post-war reconstruction of their nations. Such sanctuaries should also include mobile counselling and trauma therapy centres where children can process their grief and experiences to rebuild trust.

    Read more: Adolescent girls in five African conflict zones share stories about their lives

    Work with local communities and leaders

    Governments, NGOs and policymakers must address existing grievances and empower local communities to assist in reintegrating former child soldiers. Reintegration involves not only children returning home but also ensuring communities are better prepared and equipped to welcome them.

    Partnering with local communities can also strengthen awareness about the dangers of child (re) recruitment.

    Ex-child soldiers as part of disarmament and reintegration

    Governments and humanitarian agencies must include former child soldiers in the design and implementation of disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration programmes.

    Their firsthand knowledge of the conscription process, combat realities, fears, nightmares and reintegration struggle offers unique insights. They can help create programmes that meet real needs.

    Although the current disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration guidelines emphasise children’s rights to disarm, they do not mention children’s inclusion in the development of effective life changing programmes.

    Listen to children’s voices

    Educational institutions, governments and peacebuilding agencies must take children’s contributions to peacebuilding seriously.

    Children bear the wounds of war. They have seen the destruction firsthand and have experienced various forms of loss and pain. This makes them not only observers of violence but also powerful advocates for peace.

    Read more: War affects girls and boys differently: what we found in our study of children in the DRC

    Why the world must act

    My experiences have taught me that no child is beyond redemption, particularly when given the right support and care they need.

    Child soldiers, though shaped by unfortunate circumstances, are not inherently violent. They should not be feared or stigmatised. They are victims who deserve healing, love and education.

    I was not given a gun because I was strong. I was handed one because I was weak, because children, stripped of alternatives, can be manipulated and turned into weapons of war.

    I survived not because I was better than others, I survived because someone, a Nigerian, refused to reduce me to the war I was forced into. This is why I believe everyone can play a role to protect children in conflict zones. Those who can, but refuse to, are no different from the warlords who enlisted the children.

    – I was a child soldier – here’s what it’ll take to protect young lives in conflict zones
    – https://theconversation.com/i-was-a-child-soldier-heres-what-itll-take-to-protect-young-lives-in-conflict-zones-245517

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: On Tax Day, Ernst Cracks Down on the IRS

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    WASHINGTON – As Americans fork over their hard-earned money to Uncle Sam on Tax Day, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is introducing a trio of bills to reform the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in response to concerning reports that the agency is stockpiling weapons and filled with tax-dodging bureaucrats.
    The new legislation comes after Ernst laid out a series of recommended changes for Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to implement at “America’s least favorite government agency” to cut down on costs, increase efficiency, and better serve taxpayers.
    “The spirit of 1776 is alive and well at the most unlikely of places – the IRS,” said Ernst. “The agency is stockpiling weapons and staging a tax revolt. This Tax Day, I am holding these tax collectors accountable by forcing them to live by the rules they are supposed to enforce and auditing the auditors!”
    An Ernst audit revealed that more than 5,800 IRS and contractor employees owed nearly $50 million in overdue taxes. In November 2024, the IRS admitted that 2,044 employees still had tax balances totaling more than $12 million. Unfortunately, tax-dodging bureaucrats are not limited to just the IRS. In Fiscal Year 2021, the IRS found 149,000 federal employees owed approximately $1.5 billion in unpaid taxes.
    Ernst is cracking down on tax-dodging tax collectors and taxpayer-funded bureaucrats with her:
    Congressman Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa) is introducing the Tax DODGER Act in the House of Representatives.
    While many IRS agents have not been paying their taxes, that has not stopped them from spending millions of your tax dollars to stockpile enough weapons to make the agency one of the 50 largest police forces in America.
    In response to the IRS stockpiling weapons, Ernst is introducing the Why Does the IRS Need Guns Act to prohibit the IRS from using federal funds to purchase, store, or transfer guns or ammo. Any guns and ammo currently in IRS possession would be required to be sold at auction with the proceeds going to pay down the debt.
    Congressman Barry Moore (R-Ala.) is introducing the Why Does the IRS Need Guns Act in the House of Representatives.
    “The IRS has consistently been weaponized against American citizens, targeted religious organizations, journalists, gun owners, and everyday Americans,” said Moore. “Arming these agents does not make the American public safer. My legislation, the Why Does the IRS Need Guns Act, would disarm these agents, auction off their guns to Federal Firearms License Owners, and sell their ammunition to the public. The only thing IRS agents should be armed with are calculators.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Popular course on security and defence issues concludes

    Source: Government of Iceland

    The Ministry for Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, concluded its fourth biannual course on security and defence issues last week.

    The course is designed to strengthen knowledge and awareness of security and defence affairs among professionals in government ministries, public agencies, academia, the private sector, and civil society. It forms part of the Ministry’s continued efforts to broaden understanding of Iceland’s approach to security and defence in a shifting strategic environment.

    “At a time when the security environment in Europe and the North Atlantic is undergoing rapid change, it is more important than ever to deepen public understanding and dialogue about Iceland’s security and defence,” says Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs. “These courses have proven immensely valuable, and I am confident that participants leave with a stronger grasp of the issues and their relevance to Iceland’s role internationally.”

    Specialists from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs offered participants an overview of Iceland’s security and defence policy and the Government’s main priorities in the field. As part of the week-long course, participants visited Keflavík Air Base, the National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police, and the Icelandic Coast Guard.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Pillen Announces New Nebraska Rural Veterinarian Grant Program

    Source: US State of Nebraska

    . Pillen Announces New Nebraska Rural Veterinarian Grant Program

     

    LINCOLN, NE – LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen announced a new program through the Nebraska Department of Labor (DOL) aimed at attracting and retaining production animal veterinarians in rural Nebraska. The Rural Veterinarian Grant Program is the second initiative the Governor has launched focused on growing the next generation of production animal veterinarians in the state. The first one, announced last year, is the Elite 11 Veterinary Program through the University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL).  

    “As I say, we feed the world and save the planet. We need to provide maximum efficiency and resources to help our producers be successful,” said Gov. Pillen. “Additionally, if a foreign animal disease were to come, we need veterinarians who are ready to respond, and enough of them, to implement the programs that would help mitigate the spread of any disease.” 

    Through DOL, recent graduates of veterinary schools will be eligible for a $150,000 grant. The same offer is available to newly practicing veterinarians who wish to move to the state and launch their own practice or join an established one in rural Nebraska. Under the program, up to 13 recipients will be selected. To be eligible, applicants must:

    • Have a doctorate in veterinary medicine and be licensed to practice in Nebraska
    • Commit to residing and practicing in Nebraska for eight years
    • Work in a veterinary clinic where at least 80% of its hours are devoted to production animals in a county with a population of less than 40,000 people

    Upon conclusion of the agreement, the grant amount will be paid in full to the veterinarian.

    “Nebraska has a talented and educated workforce, and this program is well designed to continue growing that workforce to boost the state’s animal production industry,” said DOL Commissioner Katie Thurber.

    Speaking for the Nebraska State Dairy Association, Kris Bousquet noted that the grant program, as well as UNL’s Elite 11, represented a “take the bull by the horns” approach to addressing the existing gap in large animal veterinary medicine. 

    “Every animal welfare practice that a dairy producer utilizes has been reviewed and approved by their local veterinarian. Veterinarians are not only essential for animal welfare, but also for milk quality and earning and maintaining consumer trust. This program will begin to build our bench of experts to support dairy and all other aspects of livestock production as well.”

    DOL’S program is funded through the Department of Labor’s workforce development fund. The grant selection process will focus on the candidate’s passion for production animal health, relevant experience, academic success and commitment to rural Nebraska.

    As DOL launches its program, UNL is moving into the next phase of the Elite 11 Veterinary Program, which provides scholarships to students who are interested in becoming large animal veterinarians in rural Nebraska. Students in the first cohort selected last fall are about to conclude their first year of study and will be deployed across the state to engage in apprenticeships and other opportunities for expanding their skills. 

    “At the University of Nebraska, we are proud to work alongside Governor Pillen and state leaders to grow and sustain a robust production animal veterinarian workforce,” said Dr. Tiffany Heng-Moss, dean of UNL’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. “Through collaborative initiatives like the Elite 11 Veterinary Program and the Department of Labor’s new effort, we are expanding opportunities for students while strengthening the future of rural communities across Nebraska.” 

    Students enrolled in the Elite 11 Veterinary Program are not eligible for the DOL grant program. 

    More information about the Nebraska Production Animal Rural Veterinarian Grant Program, can be found at: https://dol.nebraska.gov/ruralvetgrant.

    Governor Jim Pillen

    Nebraska State Dairy Association Executive Director Kris Bousquet

    Dean of UNL’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Tiffany Heng-Moss

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Pillen Takes Second Opportunity to Spread Pro-Life Message

    Source: US State of Nebraska

    . Pillen Takes Second Opportunity to Spread Pro-Life Message

     

    LINCOLN, NE – Today marked the second opportunity in a week for Governor Jim Pillen to showcase Nebraska’s culture of love and life. He addressed state senators, members of Nebraska Right to Life and others at the Governor’s Residence. The organization’s Pro-Life Legislative Day gave attendees the chance to interact with elected officials, and later, watch the live floor debate at the State Capitol.

    “The pro-life community across our state is growing, thanks to the prayers and efforts of countless Nebraskans,” said Gov. Pillen. “Suzanne and I are proud to be part of this movement because we believe that we must do what we can to protect the most vulnerable among us. Protecting babies and helping moms in need is the right thing to do.”

    One of the bills heard by the group this afternoon was LB632, introduced by Senator Ben Hansen. The bill aims to ensure that the remains of aborted infants are treated with dignity by stipulating disposal through cremation, interment or other means as directed by the Board of Health. It was designated a priority bill by Senator Dan Lonowski. 

    Last week, Gov. Pillen took part in a panel discussion as part of Catholics Day at the Capitol. He thanked attendees for supporting the gift of life through Initiative 434 — and leading the historic defeat of the pro-abortion Initiative 439 in November’s election, making Nebraska the first state to vote an abortion ban into its Constitution.

    Gov. Pillen Addressing Nebraska Right to Life and others at the Governor’s Residence

    Gov. Pillen Participating in Last Week’s Catholics at the Capitol Panel Discussion

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Law’s Anna VanCleave Recognized for Criminal Law Research Project

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    UConn Law Professor Anna VanCleave has been selected as a Bellow Scholar, a program run by the Association of American Law Schools’ Section on Clinical Legal Education’s Committee on Lawyering in the Public Interest.

    Every two years, the program recognizes and supports the empirical research projects of clinical law professors who increase the quality of justice in marginalized communities, enhance the delivery of legal services, and promote economic and social justice. The selection process is highly competitive and VanCleave’s project was unanimously supported by the committee.

    “I’m so honored to be part of the Bellow Scholars program,” said VanCleave, director of UConn Law’s Criminal Defense Clinic. “I’m lucky to have so much support at UConn to develop research like this, and I’m especially grateful for my collaborators, Jackie and Ray Boyd at Next Level Empowerment, and my colleague Erin Romano, all of whom bring a lot of wisdom to the work on bail in Connecticut.”

    VanCleave’s project is titled “Bail, Detention, and Pretrial Procedures in Connecticut: An Analysis of Current Practices and Recommendations for the Elimination of Cash Bail.” She is working with Next Level Empowerment, a non-profit organization that supports formerly incarcerated people and their families in Connecticut.

    “Collaboration is the cornerstone of innovation and growth,” Next Level Empowerment Program Executive Director Jacqueline James-Boyd said. “By supporting Anna VanCleave as a recipient of the Bellow Scholars Program, NLEP is not only investing in individual excellence but also fostering a community of shared knowledge and transformative ideas. Together, we can amplify our impact and inspire future generations.”

    Broadly, the project aims to answer the question how well do current procedures function for assessing which individuals should be detained?

    Specifically, the project will study three driving factors. It will examine if courts are adhering to procedures for bail hearings, automatic bail review hearings and hearings on bail modification motions. It will seek to find how often defense lawyers are filing motions for bail modification. It will also assess how well the existing procedures anticipate who will be deemed a risk to public safety at the conclusion of the case.

    VanCleave will analyze current Connecticut pretrial procedures, using data to understand how well the criminal procedures are ensuring that people are not being detailed pretrial who do not need to be.

    The project aims to gather data on bail and detention practices and impacts that will inform discussions about the current practices and the necessary components of a bail reform package.

    “Professor VanCleave is an innovative and outstanding scholar who has significantly enriched our intellectual community at UConn Law,” Dean Eboni S. Nelson said. “Her commitment to excellence, justice, and service has had a wonderful impact on her students, clients, and community both inside and outside Connecticut. I’m thrilled that the committee honored her with this well-deserved recognition.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Maryland Man Convicted of Failing to Pay Payroll Taxes

    Source: US State Government of Utah

    A federal jury convicted a Maryland man yesterday of 16 counts of failing to collect and pay over payroll taxes.

    The following is according to court documents and evidence presented at trial: Brett Hill, of Parkton and Berlin, was the Chief Executive Officer of two telecommunications companies. As such, Hill was responsible for withholding federal income, Social Security, and Medicare taxes from his employees’ wages and paying those funds over to the government. He was also responsible for filing tax returns each quarter and for paying over the companies’ share of Social Security and Medicare taxes. From the second quarter of 2016 through fourth quarter of 2018, Hill withheld taxes from his employees’ wages at one or both of his companies but did not file tax returns or pay those taxes over to the government. Hill did not pay over his companies’ share either. Instead of paying the taxes he withheld from his employees’ paychecks, Hill paid himself a salary and paid other expenses.

    In total, Hill caused a tax loss to the United States of over $1 million.

    Hill will be sentenced at a later date. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count of failing to collect and pay over taxes. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys Shawn T. Noud and Catriona M. Coppler of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Panamanian Doctor Pleads Guilty in Criminal Fraud Case Expected to Save U.S. Government $25M

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    Based on assistance provided by the United States, Panamanian authorities have obtained a criminal plea from Dr. Rolando Chin, a surgeon residing in Panama, in connection with a widespread fraud scheme perpetrated against the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by Dr. Chin and others in Panama.

    The Department of Justice, the Department of State, and VA initially uncovered rampant fraud perpetrated by various medical doctors and pharmacies in Panama making claims to the VA’s Foreign Medical Program (FMP), which supports vital medical care for U.S. veterans living abroad. The agencies found evidence that Panamanian doctors and pharmacies were submitting false and inflated claims to the FMP, including claims for services never rendered or medicines never received, as well as deceptive billing for services performed.

    “The Department is committed to combating fraud against the United States wherever such conduct occurs,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov Roth of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Our efforts in this case have not only recovered funds on behalf of the American taxpayers, but have also prevented significant future losses. We are grateful to our Panamanian colleagues for their ongoing cooperation and collaboration in this matter.”     

    In December 2022, the United States filed a criminal complaint with Public Ministry of Panama against almost 40 Panamanian defendants, including doctors, pharmacies, corporations, and a hospital, for aggravated fraud and money laundering. Working closely with the Department of Justice, Panamanian prosecutors subsequently initiated an investigation, and in August 2023, brought the first set of formal charges based on the U.S. complaint. Earlier this year, the Panamanian prosecutors successfully obtained the first guilty plea from Dr. Chin to certain fraud charges, which led to a contemporaneous restitution agreement with the United States. Panamanian prosecutors are continuing to pursue proceedings against the other indicted individuals, as well as their investigation of the other defendants named in the U.S. complaint.

    Following the United States’ filing of its complaint in Panama, the VA instituted a government-wide suspension of the defendants, which took effect in August 2024. As a result of this suspension, the VA projected that its FMP expenditures in Panama for Fiscal Year 2025 will be cut in half from the previous year. This represents a projected savings of almost $25 million.

    This ongoing matter is a coordinated effort between the Department of Justice’s Office of Foreign Litigation (OFL) and the VA, with support from the VA Office of Inspector General, as well as the U.S. Department of State. OFL’s Attorney-in-Charge of Latin American Litigation Christine Brennan and Assistant Director Kiesha Minyard are handling the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Maryland Man Convicted of Failing to Pay Payroll Taxes

    Source: United States Attorneys General 13

    A federal jury convicted a Maryland man yesterday of 16 counts of failing to collect and pay over payroll taxes.

    The following is according to court documents and evidence presented at trial: Brett Hill, of Parkton and Berlin, was the Chief Executive Officer of two telecommunications companies. As such, Hill was responsible for withholding federal income, Social Security, and Medicare taxes from his employees’ wages and paying those funds over to the government. He was also responsible for filing tax returns each quarter and for paying over the companies’ share of Social Security and Medicare taxes. From the second quarter of 2016 through fourth quarter of 2018, Hill withheld taxes from his employees’ wages at one or both of his companies but did not file tax returns or pay those taxes over to the government. Hill did not pay over his companies’ share either. Instead of paying the taxes he withheld from his employees’ paychecks, Hill paid himself a salary and paid other expenses.

    In total, Hill caused a tax loss to the United States of over $1 million.

    Hill will be sentenced at a later date. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count of failing to collect and pay over taxes. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys Shawn T. Noud and Catriona M. Coppler of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Helena real estate agent convicted of felony and fined $150,000 for failing to provide lead-based paint disclosures for veterans residing in Fort Harrison rental housing

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HELENA – A Helena real estate agent and property manager who admitted to failing to provide lead-based paint disclosures as required to veterans residing in housing at Fort Harrison, in Helena, which resulted in the exposure of veterans and their families to significant levels of lead, was sentenced yesterday to three years of felony probation and fined $150,000, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

    Melanie Ann Carlin, 54, of Clancy, pleaded guilty in November 2024 to one felony count of knowing endangerment.

    Mold Wranglers, Inc., a Kalispell-based company that provides hazardous material mitigation services was also sentenced yesterday to two years of probation, a $50,000 fine, and $348,000 in restitution to be paid to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for filing false reports for payment to a federal agency, claiming an abatement of lead paint was done at Freedom’s Path Fort Harrison when it was not.  The company pleaded guilty to one count of False Claims Act Conspiracy in November 2024.

    Chief U.S. District Judge Brian Morris presided.

    “We take seriously the obligation to ensure the safety of our veterans and their families and will continue to work with our agency partners to hold accountable individuals like Melanie Carlin and businesses like Mold Wranglers who cut corners and jeopardize their safety in order to turn a profit. I want to thank AUSA Ryan Weldon for his work on this case, as well as the investigators from HUD, the VA, and the EPA,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.

    “Melanie Carlin engaged in dangerous behavior by failing to provide lead-based paint disclosures for housing units which resulted in low-income veteran families and their children unknowingly being exposed to significant levels of lead,” said Special Agent in Charge Machelle Jindra with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Inspector General (OIG).  “HUD OIG remains steadfast in its commitment to working with our prosecutorial, law enforcement, and oversight partners to aggressively pursue individuals who engage in activities that threaten the integrity of HUD programs and our most vulnerable community members.” 

    “The VA OIG is dedicated to ensuring that veterans and their families receive VA services in a safe environment,” said Special Agent in Charge Dimitriana Nikolov with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Northwest Field Office. “This sentencing reinforces that those who do not uphold safety and integrity standards will be held accountable.”

    “The defendant placed our military veterans and their children in danger by callously disregarding reporting and disclosure requirements for lead-based paint in rental properties. Lead poisoning can have catastrophic effects on young children and pregnant women,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Catherine Holston for EPA’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Today’s sentence sends a message that the agency will hold accountable anyone who places our military veterans and their children in harm’s way by violating our environmental laws.”

    The government alleged in court documents that from September 2019 until September 2021, Carlin failed to provide lead-based paint disclosures as required, placing an individual in imminent danger of death and serious bodily injury and exposing low-income veteran families and their children at Freedom’s Path Fort Harrison to significant levels of lead.

    Carlin is the owner of 406 Properties, Inc, a property management service in Helena, and has more than 26 years of professional real estate experience. In 2018, Carlin agreed to provide property management services for rental units known as Freedom’s Path Fort Harrison. The rentals included multiple homes for military veterans to use as affordable housing. In May 2019, Carlin received and forwarded an email from the Montana Department of Commerce requesting information detailing any lead-based paint remediation completed on the homes because the buildings were constructed before 1978. The buildings were constructed in approximately 1895 and 1905.

    Despite the email, in June 2019, Carlin signed two Request for Tenancy Approval Forms for the Fort Harrison rentals. Carlin selected “lead-based paint disclosures do not apply because this property was built on or after January 1, 1978” on the form. Carlin knew the selections were false and did not provide lead-based paint disclosures to veterans seeking residence at Freedom’s Path Fort Harrison.

    In September 2019, Carlin attended a meeting to discuss lead-based paint that was peeling at Freedom’s Path Fort Harrison. The meeting agenda identified “lead-based paint peeling in the units – doors won’t shut, paint peels when attempt to shut door” and veterans have identified “chipped paint” in the units. At this point, Carlin knew the buildings were built prior to 1978, and she knew deteriorating lead-based paint was located inside the buildings.

    Despite Carlin’s knowledge and extensive real estate experience, she continued to sign forms indicating that the units were free of lead-based paint, or they were built after 1978, none of which was true. In addition, Carlin continued to fail to provide lead-based paint disclosures to the veterans and their families residing in the units.

    The government further alleged that in December 2020, Carlin failed to provide a lead-based paint disclosure to a veteran of Freedom’s Path Fort Harrison. In September 2021, an 18-month-old child in the veteran’s home was found eating paint chips inside the unit. Subsequent medical testing confirmed the child had elevated blood lead levels exceeding levels considered to be “very high” and required treatment for lead poisoning. Lead poisoning can have catastrophic effects on children and their development, and Congress requires a warning about the effects of lead poisoning be given when individuals lease homes built prior to 1978.

    When interviewed by federal agents, Carlin agreed she was familiar with the requirement to provide lead disclosures and confirmed that no lead disclosures were provided to veterans living in units at Freedom’s Path Fort Harrison. A review of the rental units confirmed lead was present in almost every unit, including the building where the 18-month-old child was present. A subsequent property management company corrected the omission by making lead disclosures to the veterans.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation.

    XXX

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Lamola arrives in Russia for working visit

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Tuesday, April 15, 2025

    Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, arrived in Moscow, Russia, on Monday for a two-day working visit. 

    During his trip, Lamola will preside over the 18th Inter-Governmental Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation, a structured mechanism for coordinating economic and trade relations between South Africa and Russia.

    In addition, he is scheduled to hold political consultations with his counterpart, Minister Sergey Lavrov.

    According to the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, the Minister is also expected to visit the memorial centres dedicated to South Africa’s liberation heroes, John Beaver (JB) Marks and Moses Kotane. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Call for stricter bail measures for crimes against wildlife

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, has called for stricter bail measures for repeat offenders and foreign nationals with no fixed address who are accused of crimes against wildlife.

    The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment is actively engaging with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and South African Police Service (SAPS) through platforms like the National Biodiversity Investigators Forum (NBIF) to enhance opposition to bail, particularly for repeat offenders and foreign nationals with no fixed address. 

    “These discussions focus on improving the quality of affidavits drafted by investigating officers to present stronger cases in court. The department is also sharing best-practice affidavits with investigators to ensure more effective bail opposition and is exploring options to secure funding for dedicated support to SAPS in these applications. 

    “Additionally, at the upcoming Environmental Management Inspectors (EMI) executive training in April 2025, the NPA will address bail-related issues, allowing for direct engagement with the Minister and other stakeholders,” the department said on Tuesday.

    In February, Thomas Chauke, a 54-year-old Zimbabwean national, was convicted and sentenced in the Makhanda High Court to 110 years’ imprisonment for rhino poaching and wildlife-related crimes.

    The Minister commended the SAPS, particularly the Stock Theft and Endangered Species (STES) Unit, for their meticulous investigation and dedication in securing this victory against rhino poaching and wildlife-related crimes.

    “Chauke’s conviction on six counts of rhino poaching and wildlife-related offences, alongside three counts of escaping lawful custody, underscores the government’s unwavering commitment to combatting environmental crime. 

    “This landmark sentencing, coupled with these strategic interventions, sends a powerful message to those involved in illegal wildlife trafficking and environmental destruction,” the Minister said.

    He applauded the collaborative efforts between the SAPS and the NPA, which ensured effective coordination and prosecution across multiple provinces, including the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and North West.

    George reiterated his support for ongoing efforts to protect South Africa’s precious biodiversity and natural heritage, ensuring that perpetrators face the full might of the law. –SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Majodina commits to accelerate bulk water infrastructure implementation

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina has reaffirmed government’s commitment to fast-track the rollout of bulk water infrastructure projects across the country.

    Majodina made the commitment during the official handover of the Kirkwood Bulk Water Project to the Sundays River Valley Local Municipality, on Monday.

    Funded through the Department of Water and Sanitation’s Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG), the R35 million project represents a transformative investment in water security for the Kirkwood community and the wider Eastern Cape province.

    The project, implemented by Amatola Water, includes the construction of a new 14 million-litre raw water storage dam, which boosts the total storage capacity from 20.2 million litres to 34.2 million litres.

    The expansion ensures an uninterrupted water supply, even during the annual maintenance shutdown of the Orange-Fish Water Scheme, which previously left the communities exposed to water shortages.

    In addition to the dam, the project delivered two new 3.0-megalitre reservoirs in Kirkwood Town and Bontrug (Moses Mabida), as well as critical pipework upgrades to improve water distribution efficiency and reduce losses.

    The project will also bring tangible benefits to communities, including reliable water access for 3,963 households and an estimated population of 16 778.

    The improved infrastructure will also bring reliable water access to the communities, including 3,963 households, benefiting an estimated 16 778 population.

    The project is also expected to bolster the local citrus industry, a key economic driver in the region, by enhancing water reliability for agricultural operations – thereby safeguarding jobs and export revenues.

    Addressing the community during a handover ceremony, Majodina said the completion of Kirkwood Bulk Water Project, is more than just infrastructure, but “a clear demonstration of this government’s urgent and unwavering commitment to water security for all.”

    “We are now entering a phase where we must – and will – fast-track the rollout of bulk water projects across the country with speed, focus, and accountability. Water is not a luxury, it is a basic right and a driver of economic growth, health, and dignity.

    “Communities like Kirkwood deserve nothing less, and we will not rest until every household, farm, and business has reliable access to water,” Majodina said.

    The Minister also urged the public to actively safeguard water infrastructure, take pride in the assets, and to work with the government to protect them.

    “We call on all South Africans to avoid, prevent, and report any acts of vandalism, or theft that threaten our water systems. These projects belong to the people [and] when infrastructure is destroyed, it is our communities, our families, and our children who suffer,” Majodina said.

    The project, which started in July 2023 and completed in March 2025, has brought inclusive economic benefits during its construction phase, generating 41 jobs for local community members and engaging 10 local small businesses, furthering the department’s goals for empowerment and local economic development.

    The project components included:

    •    A 14-million-litre raw water lay dam at the Kirkwood Water Treatment Works;
    •    All associated infrastructure such as inlet chambers, interconnecting pipework, and security fencing;
    •    A 3.0-million-litre steel reservoir in Kirkwood serving Aqua Park, Bergsig, and surrounds;
    •    A second 3.0-million-litre reservoir in Bontrug, supplying Moses Mabida, Msengeni, and nearby settlements; and 
    •    Interlinking pipework to enable zoning and efficient water distribution across the municipal network.

    Majodina was joined by the Sarah Baartman District Municipality Mayor, Deon de Vos, and Sundays River Valley Local Municipality Mayor, Solethu Lucas. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Government marks Indigenous Tree Day 

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Tuesday, April 15, 2025

    Government and its partners planted indigenous trees at various sites across the country on Tuesday to commemorate Indigenous Tree Day.

    Tree planting activities took place at all 11 National Botanical Gardens, two National Zoological Gardens, three Municipality Botanical Gardens and one Zoological Garden. 

    The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) in partnership with the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Association of Parks and Recreation Africa (APRA) and private sector stakeholders took part in these activities.

    “The Indigenous Tree Day aim to educate society about the value of indigenous trees, build national capacity to grow indigenous trees by increasing efforts into finding seeds of a large number of species naturally and sharing propagation protocols and best practices. 

    “The day also aims to engage, inspire, and educate society – especially the youth – to conserve biodiversity by developing community-led efforts to restore ecosystems. This date encourages individuals to consider their efforts in tree planting and the impact it will make towards the environment,” Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Bernice Swarts said.

    The Indigenous Tree Day (ITD) also serves as a build-up to the One Million Tree Planting Campaign that will take place on 24 September 2025.

    This nationwide initiative seeks to mobilise the public to collectively plant one million trees in a single day. 

    “The One Million Trees Campaign is a key milestone within the Revamped National Greening Programme which aims to plant at least Ten Million Trees over a period of five years. This will be achieved through the planting of two million trees annually. Through the Revamped Programme there is a realisation that government efforts alone will not achieve this ideal and there is a call for all South Africans from all walks of life to participate in the initiative,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Ritual murder of children: study in Ghana and Kenya explores who’s doing it and why

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Emmanuel Sarpong Owusu, Doctoral Researcher and Lecturer, Aberystwyth University

    Superstition, an irrational belief in paranormal influences or a false attribution of events, is an age-old phenomenon found in probably all human societies or cultures. It encompasses a wide range of beliefs, practices and behaviours. Some of these have harmful or even deadly consequences.

    In many African communities, there are widespread beliefs relating to the use of human body parts for traditional healing rituals. Human body parts and blood are said to enhance the potency of traditional medicines and rituals that supposedly guarantee wealth, business success, fertility, protection and longevity, among others.

    Ritual killings, including those of children, are reported regularly around Africa. A case in point is the targeting of children with albinism for ritual purposes in Tanzania. One research report says one in five people in Mozambique and one in four people in South Africa believe that rituals and traditional medicines made with human body parts are more potent and effective than those using nonhuman objects.

    Children are particularly targeted for killing because they can’t repel attacks, and because of beliefs about the potency of their body parts. The victims in more than half of all the ritual murders reported in Ghana and Kenya in 2022 were children.

    I am a legal scholar with years of research on superstition-driven crimes against vulnerable groups in African settings and the criminal justice response to such crimes. In a recent study I explored the magnitude, characteristics and motivations, as well as the socio-cultural and economic contexts, of ritual child murder in Ghana and Kenya. My study was carried out through in-depth analysis of news reports of ritual murders for a period of 10 years, coupled with semi-structured interviews with academics and other experts.

    I found that the major factors contributing to the persistence of ritual child murders were superstition, economic hardship, illiteracy and inefficient criminal justice systems. A new consumerist ethos also plays a role: wanting a life of luxury and the admiration that comes with it.

    The study seeks to enhance awareness of the ritual child murder phenomenon and encourage support for the enforcement of child rights protection laws. When policymakers know more about the scale and circumstances of ritual child murders, they are better equipped to act on it.

    Ritual murders in Ghana and Kenya

    Belief in juju is widespread in Ghana and Kenya. This is the belief that people can mystically control events by using incantations (“magic words”) and, sometimes, objects.

    My study analysed data drawn from online news reports in eight media outlets in Ghana and Kenya. I used media content because the countries don’t have national data sets on ritual homicide, and empirical research is limited. Secondly, I interviewed 28 experts in criminology and criminal justice, sociology, African religions, and child and family welfare and social protection. These participants were selected using the purposeful sampling technique.

    In Ghana, the media reported at least 160 ritual murders between 2012 and 2021. Of this number, 94 (about 58.8%) were children. This suggests that an average of 9.4 children fall victim to ritual murder each year in the country. Of the 102 ritual murders in Kenya in the study period, 66 (64.7%) were children. This represents an annual average of 6.6 in the country.

    In both countries, most victims (over 80%) tend to be drawn from families of low socio-economic backgrounds in rural and semi-rural communities. In Kenya, children with albinism are also targeted.

    The overwhelming majority of offenders are males. There are three main categories of perpetrators of ritual child murders:

    • the juju practitioner or traditional healer who usually prescribes the required body parts and effects the medicine or ritual

    • the client who consults traditional healers and stands to benefit directly from the ritual or medicine

    • the (hired) ritual murderer, who abducts the victim and extracts the required body parts.

    Data from media reports show that most of the perpetrators apprehended are those directly involved in the killing. They are usually aged between 20 and 39 years and of low socio-economic status in rural communities. However, some interviewees insisted that some rich and prominent persons are also involved.

    In Ghana, uncles, fathers and stepfathers were the dominant perpetrators in cases where victims and perpetrators were known to be related. Unlike other types of homicide, ritual child murder generally involves strangers nearly as often as it involves family members and acquaintances.

    Motivations and responses

    The dominant motivation for ritual murder is financial gain. This conclusion is drawn from the media accounts and the interviews. Perpetrators are promised money in exchange for specific human body parts. Others kill to use the body parts for rituals that are supposed to ensure a long life, fertility, business growth, or protection against evil. In Kenya, some perpetrators kill in fulfilment of their obligations as members of occult sects.

    Other factors that sustain the practice – based on media reports and interviews – are superstition, unemployment and economic hardship. Adding to these are illiteracy, which fosters unfounded beliefs, and an inefficient criminal justice system, which enables these crimes to thrive.

    Poor parental supervision is an important risk factor for ritual child murder. In both countries, over 70% of the ritual murder victims were under 10 years old. They were abducted or murdered while going to or returning home from school. Others were abducted while running errands such as fetching water from a stream unaccompanied. Some may have been playing outside their homes unsupervised, or running errands by themselves for relatives.

    In both countries, the criminal justice system’s response is evidently ineffective. In Kenya, over 90% of perpetrators are not apprehended. Of 68 suspects arrested in Ghana, only four convictions were reported. Crime scenes are poorly managed and preserved by police officers and detectives in both countries.

    Crime scene videos show the victims’ remains being removed by authorities and conveyed to the morgue without diligent forensic examination of the body and the crime scene for evidence.

    What governments can do

    The belief in the power of juju and associated rituals and medicines cannot be wished away. It can only be combated in various ways:

    • bringing the activities of traditional healers and occult-related sects under closer scrutiny

    • promoting education and awareness, emphasising the need for supervision of children

    • stronger criminal justice systems.

    – Ritual murder of children: study in Ghana and Kenya explores who’s doing it and why
    – https://theconversation.com/ritual-murder-of-children-study-in-ghana-and-kenya-explores-whos-doing-it-and-why-249173

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Ethiopia’s 2026 elections: without reforms, the vote may not be free or fair

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Bizuneh Yimenu, Lecturer in Comparative Politics, Queen’s University Belfast

    Ethiopia is due to hold elections in 2026. But will they be free and fair?

    Since 1995, Ethiopia has held elections every five years, except for the 2021 election, delayed by COVID-19. The incumbent party has consistently secured over 95% of national parliament seats, except for 2005, when the opposition won about 32%. In 2021, the ruling Prosperity Party won 96.8% of the seats.

    I specialise in Ethiopian politics and federalism, and recently published a paper on the country’s electoral landscape. In my study, I examined elections under the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, which ruled from 1991 to 2019, and its successor, the Prosperity Party.

    My aim was to see whether Ethiopia was moving towards political pluralism, where diverse voices are represented in government decision-making, or if it remained authoritarian.

    I conclude that the government still tends to suppress, detain and eliminate the opposition. I identified three main reasons for this.

    • Despite changes in leadership and ruling parties, state repression, vote-rigging and political exclusion have been common features in the country’s elections since 1995.

    • Ethiopia suffers from an uneven electoral playing field. Some regions experience contests while the ruling party tightly controls others.

    • Ethiopia’s first-past-the-post electoral system has excluded significant opposition voices from parliament. This allows the ruling party to dominate both federal and regional legislative seats.

    The way the electoral system works means that Ethiopia’s parliament is a one-party house, where other voices are drowned out.

    My research highlights the fact that elections can be both “free” and “unfair”. Citizens technically have the right to vote. But an unbalanced electoral system and an uneven playing field ensure that ruling parties retain power.

    The 2026 elections provide an opportunity for reforms that ensure greater political inclusion.

    How elections are run

    Ethiopia has held six rounds of elections since 1995. Despite some variations, the same patterns of electoral control persist. The ruling Prosperity Party has sustained and adapted authoritarian strategies to maintain dominance.

    The party still uses many of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front’s tactics, including harassing, detaining and eliminating political adversaries.

    It also has some new ways of looking for support, like selectively addressing regional grievances.

    Regional differences

    Opposition parties in different regions have faced varying degrees of repression. Electoral control has been strategic, rather than uniform.

    Unlike previous studies that broadly assess Ethiopia’s authoritarian past, my research zooms in on regional variations in electoral competition. I show that repression is not uniform but strategically applied based on political calculations. This adds a new dimension to discussions on African elections. It shows that ruling parties can finetune control tactics to target specific threats.

    In an ethnically diverse federal state like Ethiopia, an electoral system that promotes broad representation is essential for stability and inclusive governance.

    First-past-the-post system

    The current winner-takes-all system fosters a political monopoly. It sidelines critical perspectives and erodes trust in democratic processes.

    In the 2021 election, opposition parties performed better in ethnically diverse regions, such as the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples. However, these parties were heavily suppressed in political strongholds like Oromia and Somali regions. The first-past-the-post system has consistently led to one-party dominance, even when opposition parties gained significant public support.

    For example, in 2005, opposition parties secured around 38% of the vote but ended up with far fewer parliamentary seats than their vote share justified.

    In 2021, the Prosperity Party won 96.8% of federal parliament seats, despite getting 90% of the total vote. In Addis Ababa, opposition groups such as Balderas and Ezema received 32% of the vote but won no seats in parliament. This is because the system gives all the seats to the party with the highest votes in each constituency. It doesn’t even matter if opposition parties collectively get a substantial vote.

    In Oromia and Somali regions, major opposition parties like the Oromo Liberation Front and the Ogaden National Liberation Front withdrew from fielding candidates due to repression. As a result, the ruling party was the sole option for two-thirds of federal seats and three-fourths of regional seats.

    A way forward

    So, what can be done? My research suggests three steps.

    First, moving towards a proportional representation system would help balance the political competition. Proportional representation means that if a party gets 20% of the vote, it receives 20% of the seats.

    About 130 countries, including South Africa, Namibia and Sierra Leone, use this system. Multi-party representation has led to more stable and inclusive governance. Fewer than 55 countries use first-past-the-post.

    Second, the government must guarantee that opposition parties can operate freely in all regions, not just in areas where they pose little threat. All parties should have an equal chance to compete.

    Third, independent electoral bodies and international observers need greater access to ensure fair play. Strengthening Ethiopia’s electoral board and making sure it’s impartial will foster public trust in elections.

    Read more: Ethiopia’s civil war: what’s behind the Amhara rebellion?

    Ethiopia’s democracy is at a tipping point. If the country continues with its current system, it risks further political alienation and instability. By embracing electoral reform, Ethiopia could move towards a more peaceful, inclusive, democratic and representative future.

    – Ethiopia’s 2026 elections: without reforms, the vote may not be free or fair
    – https://theconversation.com/ethiopias-2026-elections-without-reforms-the-vote-may-not-be-free-or-fair-253161

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi calls for deepening China-Malaysia friendship in signed article

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 — Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that he looks forward to meeting with Malaysian friends to celebrate the friendship between China and Malaysia and plan for future cooperation.

    He made the remarks in a signed article titled “May the Ship of China-Malaysia Friendship Sail Toward an Even Brighter Future” published in local media including the English-language newspaper The Star ahead of his arrival in Malaysia for a state visit.

    The two countries must work together to give fresh momentum to their ship of friendship that has sailed through the long river of history, and ensure that it forges ahead steadily toward brighter horizons, he said.

    He also expressed the hope that the two peoples will visit each other as often as family.

    Xi urged China and Malaysia to advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and strengthen cooperation on industrial and supply chains.

    The two sides must uphold the multilateral trading system, keep global industrial and supply chains stable, and maintain an international environment of openness and cooperation, he said.

    Xi said that China will work with Malaysia and other ASEAN countries to combat the undercurrents of geopolitical and camp-based confrontation, as well as the countercurrents of unilateralism and protectionism.

    Noting that China-ASEAN cooperation is the most results-oriented and most productive in the region, Xi said that China firmly supports ASEAN unity and community-building, and supports ASEAN centrality in the regional architecture.

    He also said that China fully supports Malaysia in its role as ASEAN chair for 2025.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner, Kaine, Scott, McClellan Push DHS to Reverse Cancellation of Crucial Infrastructure Funding

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) and U.S. Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA-03) and Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04) wrote to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem urging the Department to reverse its decision canceling the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure Communities (BRIC) program, which included funding for two major projects in Richmond and Portsmouth, as well as tens of millions in funding for other communities across the Commonwealth.
    BRIC was established by Congress through the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 to support state and local governments in reducing risks posed by natural hazards and future disasters. The bipartisan infrastructure law, which Warner and Kaine supported and saw through final passage, included $1 billion in funding for BRIC projects over five years, including $133 million that has already been provided to applicants. 
    Through the BRIC program, Virginia had been set to receive tens of millions in funding for critical projects, including $12 million to make improvements to the Richmond Water Treatment Facility and $24 million to enhance the Lake Meade Dam in Portsmouth. However, DHS recently notified applicants that it was terminating the BRIC program and canceling all applications for funding through the BRIC program – including projects that had already been awarded funding.
    “We strongly urge you to reverse this decision that will impact vulnerable residents, businesses, and critical infrastructure in Virginia,” the lawmakers wrote to Sec. Noem.
    They continued, “BRIC projects support Virginia localities as they work to reduce immediate hazard risks that threaten community safety. For example, the city of Richmond was awarded $11.99 million in FY2022 to address design flaws and degradation at the Richmond Water Treatment Facility. This facility serves 4,721 businesses, 360 public properties, and 780 essential community facilities. The project is intended to protect water treatment and distribution services for those within the facility’s service area, making the plant more resilient to 100-year flood events. Unfortunately, the necessity of this award was made clear earlier this year when the facility experienced a power failure that resulted in loss of water service for residents across the region. If this award is revoked, the region will be more susceptible to future water contaminations and disruptions in water delivery.
    The lawmakers highlighted how the cancelation of this funding will impact vulnerable residents, businesses, and critical infrastructure in Virginia, specifically underscoring that these projects are already underway.
    Added the members, “The potential revocation of existing BRIC awards is an unanticipated shock to Virginia localities that have budgeted, planned, and in some cases begun work on these crucial projects. The city of Portsmouth received a $24.21 million BRIC award in FY2022 to protect the community’s drinking water supply by enhancing the Lake Meade Dam. The dam, which serves as a critical reservoir for drinking water and supplies residential, commercial, and industrial users in the Hampton Roads area, is at risk of instability and potential overtopping during heavy precipitation events. The project involves strengthening the dam, upgrading spillways, and improving flood protection, all of which serves to protect the more than 80 occupied residential properties and almost 30 businesses within the dam break inundation zone.”
    “The mission of the BRIC program is to build more resilient communities to prevent the need for reactive and more costly disaster spending. Terminating this program – and many of the awards made in recent years – will make communities in Virginia less resilient and more vulnerable to disaster events. We urge you to maintain this critical funding for localities in Virginia,” they concluded.
    A copy of letter is available here and text is below.
    Dear Secretary Noem:
    We write regarding the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) recent decision to end the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program and cancel BRIC applications from Fiscal Years (FY) 2020 – 2023. We strongly urge you to reverse this decision that will impact vulnerable residents, businesses, and critical infrastructure in Virginia.
    BRIC projects support Virginia localities as they work to reduce immediate hazard risks that threaten community safety. For example, the city of Richmond was awarded $11.99 million in FY2022 to address design flaws and degradation at the Richmond Water Treatment Facility. This facility serves 4,721 businesses, 360 public properties, and 780 essential community facilities. The project is intended to protect water treatment and distribution services for those within the facility’s service area, making the plant more resilient to 100-year flood events. Unfortunately, the necessity of this award was made clear earlier this year when the facility experienced a power failure that resulted in loss of water service for residents across the region. If this award is revoked, the region will be more susceptible to future water contaminations and disruptions in water delivery.
    The potential revocation of existing BRIC awards is an unanticipated shock to Virginia localities that have budgeted, planned, and in some cases begun work on these crucial projects. The city of Portsmouth received a $24.21 million BRIC award in FY2022 to protect the community’s drinking water supply by enhancing the Lake Meade Dam. The dam, which serves as a critical reservoir for drinking water and supplies residential, commercial, and industrial users in the Hampton Roads area, is at risk of instability and potential overtopping during heavy precipitation events. The project involves strengthening the dam, upgrading spillways, and improving flood protection, all of which serves to protect the more than 80 occupied residential properties and almost 30 businesses within the dam break inundation zone.
    The mission of the BRIC program is to build more resilient communities to prevent the need for reactive and more costly disaster spending. Terminating this program – and many of the awards made in recent years – will make communities in Virginia less resilient and more vulnerable to disaster events. We urge you to maintain this critical funding for localities in Virginia.
    Thank you for your attention to this letter. We look forward to your response.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ahead of Tax Day, Warren, Wyden, Pocan Demand Intuit Explain Continued Efforts to Kill IRS’ Free Filing Alternative, Overcharge Taxpayers on TurboTax

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    Senator Warren’s office tested TurboTax, finding that a sample taxpayer would pay $128 to file her taxes using TurboTax’s “free” software, while being upsold multiple times in the process.

    Intuit spent nearly $4 million in 2023 and again in 2024 to sabotage “Direct File,” the IRS’ free tax filing program

    Washington, D.C. – Ahead of Tax Day, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, and Ron Wyden (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, along with Representative Mark Pocan (D-Wisc.), pressed Intuit on the company’s lobbying to end Direct File, a free tool for taxpayers to file directly with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and its misleading sales tactics to upsell customers using TurboTax.  

    In 2024, the IRS launched Direct File, an online program that allows people with simple filing situations to file their taxes online for free and directly with the IRS. Direct File has helped hundreds of thousands of taxpayers file their taxes accurately and securely. The program received excellent reviews and has expanded to 25 states and over 30 million eligible Americans. 

    Despite Treasury Secretary Bessent’s promise to keep Direct File going through the 2025 tax filing season, the long-term future of the program continues to be threatened, in no small part due to Intuit’s lobbying. Intuit has spent nearly $4 million in 2023 and again in 2024 attempting to kill the program. During the 2024 election cycle, Intuit joined other commercial tax preparation companies to make large donations to Republican congressmembers who later worked to eliminate Direct File. Recent reports also indicate that some members of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) hope to end Direct File entirely, and Republican lawmakers, bankrolled by Intuit, have continued to call on the Trump Administration to end the program.

    Intuit also has a history of misleading customers about costs, relentlessly upselling taxpayers, and misusing customer data. A simulated filing by Senator Warren’s office found that these efforts continue. Despite TurboTax’s promises that its services are free, Senator Warren’s office found that a sample taxpayer would pay $128 to file her taxes, while being upsold multiple times in the process. In comparison, the cost for that same taxpayer would be $0 on DirectFile with no upselling. 

    “It is unconscionable that Intuit is engaged in an ‘aggressive’ and ‘covert’ war on Direct File, which makes it easy and free for millions of taxpayers across the country to file their taxes, while misleading, upselling, and overcharging them for your own services. You should end these abusive tactics and relinquish your efforts to eliminate Direct File once and for all,” concluded the lawmakers.

    The lawmakers pressed Intuit for more information on its efforts to eliminate Direct File, its relentless upselling tactics through TurboTax, and its lobbying and donations over the last year. 

    Senator Warren is leading voice in advocating for low-income taxpayers and for improved IRS resources: 

  • In February 2025, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) reintroduced the Internal Revenue Service Math and Taxpayer Help (IRS MATH) Act, to improve math error notices — an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) authority used to quickly adjust taxpayers’ returns.

  • In January 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren led over 135 members of Congress in writing to Treasury Secretary-Designate Scott Bessent and Internal Revenue Services’ (IRS) Commissioner-Designate Billy Long, urging them to maintain and expand the IRS’ Direct File program. 

  • In October 2024, Senators Elizabeth Warren, Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Representative Katie Porter (D-Calif.) wrote to the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service urging the agencies to make the Direct File tax filing program more secure and accessible by ending reliance on ID.me, which uses a flawed facial recognition software.

  • In April 2024, following the 2024 tax filing deadline, at a hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Elizabeth Warren questioned IRS Commissioner Daniel I. Werfel, on the IRS’s use of Inflation Reduction Act funds to successfully pilot a Direct File program, a first-of-its-kind option for Americans in twelve states to be able to file their taxes online directly with the IRS, easily and for free.

  • In April 2024, Senator Warren and colleagues applauded the success of Direct File’s Pilot during the 2024 tax filing season, highlighting rave reviews, millions of dollars in refunds claimed and filing fees saved.

  • In April 2024, Senator Warren sent a letter to Chair Lina M. Khan of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), blasting Intuit, the maker of TurboTax, for continuing to relentlessly upsell TurboTax users despite numerous FTC and state lawsuits and settlements. Senator Warren applauded the FTC’s oversight of Intuit, and urged the Commission to continue to take action to protect taxpayers from tax preparation companies that pile junk fees onto users.

  • In March 2024, Senator Warren celebrated the successful launch of the IRS’s Direct File pilot.

  • In March 2024, Senator Warren highlighted the positive feedback that the IRS’s Direct File pilot in 12 states has received from taxpayers and asked Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen to commit to expanding and extending the program in 2025 if positive feedback continues, which Yellen agreed to. 

  • In February 2024, Senators Warren, Blumenthal, Sanders, and Representative Porter sent a response to Intuit, blasting the company for its failure to answer basic questions the lawmakers asked in their January 2, 2024 letter seeking an accounting of the expenses underlying the company’s massive federal research tax breaks.

  • In January 2024, Senators Warren, Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Representative Katie Porter (D-Calif.) sent a letter to Intuit requesting a full accounting of the expenses underlying the company’s massive federal research tax breaks by January 16, 2024. Intuit disclosed that it received $94 million in federal research tax credits in 2022, while simultaneously spending millions lobbying against the establishment of a free program for Americans to file their taxes online. 

  • In October 2023, Senators Warren, Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Blumenthal, Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Sanders, Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Representative Porter sent letters to five tax preparation companies—H&R Block, TaxAct, TaxSlayer, Ramsey Solutions, and Intuit—that recently received notices of penalty offenses from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regarding the misuse of taxpayer’s sensitive and confidential information. 

  • In October 2023, Senators Warren and Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Representatives Porter, Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), and Don Beyer (D-Va.) released a statement supporting the U.S. Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) joint announcement of their 2024 pilot of Direct File, a program that allows Americans to file tax returns digitally and free of charge. The lawmakers acknowledged the Inflation Reduction Act’s role in the program’s development, and stated their intention to support the IRS’s efforts to develop and expand the Direct File pilot. 

  • In August 2023, Senator Warren and Representative Porter sent a letter to the Free File Alliance, the American Coalition for Taxpayer Rights, Intuit, and H&R Block admonishing the companies’ relentless lobbying against the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) direct free filing tool. 

  • In July 2023, Senators Warren, Wyden, Blumenthal, Duckworth, Sanders, and Whitehouse and Representative Porter released a report revealing the outrageous, extensive, and potentially illegal sharing of taxpayers’ sensitive personal and financial information with Meta by online tax preparation companies. The lawmakers also sent a letter to the IRS, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Department of Justice highlighting their key findings and calling on these departments to fully investigate this matter and prosecute any company or individuals who violated the law.

  • In June 2023, Senators Warren and Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Representatives Sherman, Porter, and Beyer, led a coalition of 99 Democratic lawmakers in a letter to IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel and Deputy Treasury Secretary Adewale Adeyemo, applauding the IRS’s announcement of a pilot of a free tax filing tool next year.

  • In May 2023, Senator Warren’s call for a Free E-File Program was finally answered by the IRS through the Inflation Reduction Act .

  • In April 2023, Senators Warren and Carper led 29 other senators in a letter to the IRS Commissioner, urging the agency to simplify the tax process and broaden access to free e-filing options.

  • In April 2023, at a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Warren questioned the IRS Commissioner about the agency’s failed Free-File partnership with private tax preparation software companies and called on the agency to implement a direct E-File program. 

  • In December 2022, Senators Warren and Wyden and Representatives Porter and Sherman sent letters to tax preparation companies H&R Block, TaxAct, and TaxSlayer, plus big tech firms Meta and Google, amid reports that the tax preparation companies have been secretly transmitting individual taxpayers’ sensitive financial information to Meta and Google

  • In August 2022, Senator Warren highlighted key priorities she secured in the Senate’s Inflation Reduction Act, including establishing an IRS task force to look into developing and running an IRS-run free direct E-File tax return system, based on Senator Warren’s Tax Filing Simplification Act. 

  • In July 2022, Senator Warren led 22 lawmakers to introduce the Tax Filing Simplification Act of 2022, legislation that would direct the IRS to develop its own free online tax preparation and filing service that would simplify the tax filing process for millions of Americans. 

  • In June 2022, at a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee, Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen agreed with Senator Warren on the need to create a free tax filing system that actually works for Americans. 

  • In June 2022, Senator Warren and Representatives Porter and Sherman sent a letter to Richard K. Delmar, Acting Treasury Department Inspector, General, J. Russell George, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and Andrew Katsaros, Acting Inspector General at the Federal Trade Commission, regarding troubling reports of Intuit’s abuse of the revolving door and the company’s hiring of former federal regulators and influence-peddlers to defend its shady business practices. In the letter, which is a follow up to the prior April 2022 letter, the lawmakers call out Intuit for forcing American taxpayers into paying for services that should be free, and request an in-depth investigation into the company and its use of the revolving door to influence policy decisions at those agencies. 

  • In April 2022, Senator Warren and Representatives Sherman and Porter sent a letter to Intuit regarding the company’s unethical use of the revolving door to hire former regulators to defend their shady business practices that scam taxpayers out of billions of dollars. In June 2022, the lawmakers sent a follow-up.

  • In February 2022, Senator Warren and Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) sent a letter to the Acting Inspector General of the Department of Treasury and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, calling on them to open an investigation into the unethical revolving door between the world’s largest accounting firms and the Treasury Department and IRS. 

  • In February 2022, Senator Warren made the case for increased funding for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) through the Build Back Better Act and called on the administration to create the simplified filing tools proposed in her Tax Filing Simplification Act. 

MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: SPbGASU student took part in the Russian Venture Forum

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Bogdan Pismarkin at the forum

    On April 10–11, one of the key events in the field of technological entrepreneurship took place in Kazan – the 19th Russian Venture Forum.

    The event brought together more than 150 startups, over 10 venture funds, dozens of investors and representatives of government agencies. The opening ceremony of the forum was attended by the Minister of Science and Higher Education of Russia Valery Falkov, the Head of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and the President of the Academy of Sciences of Tatarstan Rifkat Minnikhanov.

    A second-year master’s student at SPbGASU, Bogdan Pismarkin, who is graduating from the Startup as a Diploma program at the Department of Construction Organization, took part in the forum organized by the university with the support of the Center for Student Entrepreneurship and Career of our university.

    The RVF-2025 discussed current issues of venture market development: support for technology startups, companies entering PreIPO, investments in late-stage projects and entering international markets. Particular attention was paid to the interaction between startups and investors – in the format of pitch sessions, startup battles and networking at the forum sites.

    According to Bogdan, he gained valuable practical experience, made many useful contacts with startup representatives, business angels and investors, and also deepened his knowledge in the field of growth strategy and attracting investment.

    “The participation of SPbGASU students in events of this scale not only contributes to the development of their projects, but also strengthens the university’s image. Our students talk about the support of entrepreneurship at the university, attracting new talented applicants – future creators of technology companies that develop the construction industry and the country’s economy as a whole,” noted Ekaterina Abolina, Director of the Center for Student Entrepreneurship and Career.

    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 Global: Ritual murder of children: study in Ghana and Kenya explores who’s doing it and why

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Emmanuel Sarpong Owusu, Doctoral Researcher and Lecturer, Aberystwyth University

    Superstition, an irrational belief in paranormal influences or a false attribution of events, is an age-old phenomenon found in probably all human societies or cultures. It encompasses a wide range of beliefs, practices and behaviours. Some of these have harmful or even deadly consequences.

    In many African communities, there are widespread beliefs relating to the use of human body parts for traditional healing rituals. Human body parts and blood are said to enhance the potency of traditional medicines and rituals that supposedly guarantee wealth, business success, fertility, protection and longevity, among others.

    Ritual killings, including those of children, are reported regularly around Africa. A case in point is the targeting of children with albinism for ritual purposes in Tanzania. One research report says one in five people in Mozambique and one in four people in South Africa believe that rituals and traditional medicines made with human body parts are more potent and effective than those using nonhuman objects.

    Children are particularly targeted for killing because they can’t repel attacks, and because of beliefs about the potency of their body parts. The victims in more than half of all the ritual murders reported in Ghana and Kenya in 2022 were children.

    I am a legal scholar with years of research on superstition-driven crimes against vulnerable groups in African settings and the criminal justice response to such crimes. In a recent study I explored the magnitude, characteristics and motivations, as well as the socio-cultural and economic contexts, of ritual child murder in Ghana and Kenya. My study was carried out through in-depth analysis of news reports of ritual murders for a period of 10 years, coupled with semi-structured interviews with academics and other experts.

    I found that the major factors contributing to the persistence of ritual child murders were superstition, economic hardship, illiteracy and inefficient criminal justice systems. A new consumerist ethos also plays a role: wanting a life of luxury and the admiration that comes with it.

    The study seeks to enhance awareness of the ritual child murder phenomenon and encourage support for the enforcement of child rights protection laws. When policymakers know more about the scale and circumstances of ritual child murders, they are better equipped to act on it.

    Ritual murders in Ghana and Kenya

    Belief in juju is widespread in Ghana and Kenya. This is the belief that people can mystically control events by using incantations (“magic words”) and, sometimes, objects.

    My study analysed data drawn from online news reports in eight media outlets in Ghana and Kenya. I used media content because the countries don’t have national data sets on ritual homicide, and empirical research is limited. Secondly, I interviewed 28 experts in criminology and criminal justice, sociology, African religions, and child and family welfare and social protection. These participants were selected using the purposeful sampling technique.

    In Ghana, the media reported at least 160 ritual murders between 2012 and 2021. Of this number, 94 (about 58.8%) were children. This suggests that an average of 9.4 children fall victim to ritual murder each year in the country. Of the 102 ritual murders in Kenya in the study period, 66 (64.7%) were children. This represents an annual average of 6.6 in the country.

    In both countries, most victims (over 80%) tend to be drawn from families of low socio-economic backgrounds in rural and semi-rural communities. In Kenya, children with albinism are also targeted.

    The overwhelming majority of offenders are males. There are three main categories of perpetrators of ritual child murders:

    • the juju practitioner or traditional healer who usually prescribes the required body parts and effects the medicine or ritual

    • the client who consults traditional healers and stands to benefit directly from the ritual or medicine

    • the (hired) ritual murderer, who abducts the victim and extracts the required body parts.

    Data from media reports show that most of the perpetrators apprehended are those directly involved in the killing. They are usually aged between 20 and 39 years and of low socio-economic status in rural communities. However, some interviewees insisted that some rich and prominent persons are also involved.

    In Ghana, uncles, fathers and stepfathers were the dominant perpetrators in cases where victims and perpetrators were known to be related. Unlike other types of homicide, ritual child murder generally involves strangers nearly as often as it involves family members and acquaintances.

    Motivations and responses

    The dominant motivation for ritual murder is financial gain. This conclusion is drawn from the media accounts and the interviews. Perpetrators are promised money in exchange for specific human body parts. Others kill to use the body parts for rituals that are supposed to ensure a long life, fertility, business growth, or protection against evil. In Kenya, some perpetrators kill in fulfilment of their obligations as members of occult sects.

    Other factors that sustain the practice – based on media reports and interviews – are superstition, unemployment and economic hardship. Adding to these are illiteracy, which fosters unfounded beliefs, and an inefficient criminal justice system, which enables these crimes to thrive.

    Poor parental supervision is an important risk factor for ritual child murder. In both countries, over 70% of the ritual murder victims were under 10 years old. They were abducted or murdered while going to or returning home from school. Others were abducted while running errands such as fetching water from a stream unaccompanied. Some may have been playing outside their homes unsupervised, or running errands by themselves for relatives.

    In both countries, the criminal justice system’s response is evidently ineffective. In Kenya, over 90% of perpetrators are not apprehended. Of 68 suspects arrested in Ghana, only four convictions were reported. Crime scenes are poorly managed and preserved by police officers and detectives in both countries.

    Crime scene videos show the victims’ remains being removed by authorities and conveyed to the morgue without diligent forensic examination of the body and the crime scene for evidence.

    What governments can do

    The belief in the power of juju and associated rituals and medicines cannot be wished away. It can only be combated in various ways:

    • bringing the activities of traditional healers and occult-related sects under closer scrutiny

    • promoting education and awareness, emphasising the need for supervision of children

    • stronger criminal justice systems.

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

    – ref. Ritual murder of children: study in Ghana and Kenya explores who’s doing it and why – https://theconversation.com/ritual-murder-of-children-study-in-ghana-and-kenya-explores-whos-doing-it-and-why-249173

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Canada’s federal election doesn’t seem like it’s about climate change, but it actually is

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Mark Winfield, Professor, Environmental and Urban Change, York University, Canada

    A defining feature of the ongoing federal election campaign has been the apparent marginalization of the environment and climate change as top-of-mind issues due to threats by the United States against Canadian sovereignty, security and trade.

    But how Canada responds to U.S. President Donald Trump’s actions will also have profound implications for its future greenhouse gas emissions and its economy.

    The current federal election is very different from those held in 2015, 2019 and 2021. In those elections, the environment and climate were central issues. Each time, more than 60 per cent of Canadian voters chose parties (Liberal, NDP, Bloc Québécois and Green) that advocated for strong climate action, including some form of carbon pricing.



    Read more:
    Canada’s federal election made big strides for climate and the environment

    The increasing evidence of the consequences of a changing climate had placed the environment and climate change among the leading issues in the minds of Canadians for nearly two decades. The political landscape has shifted dramatically since then.

    The role of inflation

    Although Trump’s second presidency is often cited as the trigger point for a decline of the environment as a top-of-mind concern for Canadians, the slide actually began a year earlier, in the fall of 2023.

    Despite the record wildfire season that summer, the impact of inflation, triggered in large part by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, moved economic concerns to the forefront of the public’s mind. Government stimulus programs needed to counter the impacts of the pandemic contributed to inflationary pressures, prompting the Bank of Canada to hike interest rates in response, adding to Canadians’ economic distress.

    Amid high inflation and high interest rates, the Liberal government’s climate strategies — especially consumer carbon pricing — became an easy political target, particularly for a Conservative opposition with little apparent concern for the climate challenge.

    But even though climate change is no longer top of mind for Canadians, it remains a significant embedded concern, with as many as 70 per cent of Canadians believing climate change is real and caused by human activity. And perhaps surprisingly, despite the criticism levelled at the consumer carbon tax, between 60 and 70 per cent of non-Conservative leaning voters (those intending to cast their ballots for Liberal, NDP, Bloc and Green candidates) continue to support the concept of carbon pricing.

    Focus on fossil fuels

    Despite this, many political and business leaders have responded to Trump’s actions by focusing on natural resource exports, especially fossil fuels and critical minerals, to bolster the Canadian economy.

    This has been accompanied by calls to further streamline environmental review and approval processes for resource extraction and export projects like pipelines, and to expand their subsidization by taxpayers.

    Discussions about the climate implications of these initiatives have been noticeably absent. So have conversations about the long-term economic viability and desirability of expanding Canada’s dependency on resource commodity exports to increasingly uncertain global markets.

    On fossil fuels, the International Energy Agency and others are predicting that global consumption will peak within the next decade. This will reflect the falling costs of renewable energy, improving energy productivity and the imperative of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century.

    The peak will likely happen before any new major export infrastructure can be built in Canada, regardless of what review and approval requirements they might be subjected to.

    In a world of declining fossil fuel consumption, Canada — increasingly reliant on high-cost and high-carbon production like oilsands crude and fracked and liquified natural gas — seems more likely to be among the earliest producers to fall than among the last standing. Public investments in new export infrastructure look like dubious propositions in this scenario.



    Read more:
    Coal in Alberta: Neither public outrage nor waning global demand seem to matter to Danielle Smith

    International markets for critical minerals are likely to remain in deep flux as the pace of technological development in renewable energy and energy storage accelerates to reduce or avoid dependency on costly and difficult-to-access materials.

    Mining operations also continue to have substantial environmental impacts with significant implications for reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

    Backwards approach

    All of this means there must be continued meaningful scrutiny of projects in terms of their implications for climate change, environmental sustainability and reconciliation, as well as their economic viability and potential legacy costs for taxpayers — not a further streamlining of review processes.

    Falling back on fossil fuels in response to Trump is a fundamentally backwards approach. It ignores the implications of the climate challenge. As recently noted by at least one Canadian business leader, it also overlooks the need to not just diversify Canada’s markets, but to diversify Canadian products as well.

    Canada must design and implement strategies that transform its industries from producers of low-value raw materials into producers of higher-value products and services for a world that must decarbonize and advance sustainability.

    As a coalition of Canadian mayors recently pointed out, climate change remains a real threat to Canadians and their communities. It’s not going away regardless of what Trump’s executive orders might say.

    As they campaign to lead the country, the situation requires more substantive responses from Canada’s would-be prime ministers than Canadians are getting right now.

    Mark Winfield receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    – ref. Canada’s federal election doesn’t seem like it’s about climate change, but it actually is – https://theconversation.com/canadas-federal-election-doesnt-seem-like-its-about-climate-change-but-it-actually-is-254458

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM, Union Coalition Sues Trump Administration Over Cuts to Key Labor Relations Agency

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    The IAM Union, along with the AFL-CIO and several affiliated unions that represent workers across private and public sector industries, sued the Trump administration over its dismantling of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), including firing mediators and staff, and closing field offices across the country.

    “The Trump administration’s reckless attempt to eliminate FMCS is yet another attack on working people and our rights to collectively bargain,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “FMCS is a small, but vitally important agency that serves as a much-needed independent arbiter during negotiations between workers and employers. For the IAM Union, FMCS has been vital in resolving contract disputes with national and international economic consequences, including a strike of 4,300 U.S. Navy shipbuilders at Bath Iron Works, and helping to avoid work stoppages on numerous occasions. We are proud to stand with our partners in the labor movement to fight back against this illegal attack on the rights of all working families.”

    FMCS is a small but important independent federal agency that is integral to the federal government’s labor relations infrastructure. Among the critical services FMCS provides is helping resolve contract negotiations between workers and employers to protect both the economy and workers’ rights, generating more than $500 million in national economic savings each year, even by conservative estimates. But Elon Musk’s DOGE cuts have decimated the agency: 93% of FMCS staff have been placed on leave, the mediation workforce has been taken down from the 80 to 100 needed for the agency’s work to just five, and all of the field offices have been closed. 

    “FMCS is a little-known but critical government agency that works to bring labor and management together to solve problems between workers and employers—and it’s illegally under attack by Elon Musk and his DOGE,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “Without FMCS, there will be longer and drawn-out contract negotiations, as well as delays in implementing increased wages and improved benefits won through collective bargaining. The unnecessary cuts to FMCS make absolutely no economic sense and will cost taxpayers, consumers, businesses and workers. Congress created FMCS nearly 80 years ago, and only an act of Congress can shutter it. I’m proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with our affiliated unions today in filing this lawsuit to challenge this illegal, cruel and wrong-headed action by DOGE.”

    The legal challenge was brought by the AFL-CIO, IAM, AFGE, AFSCME, AFT, SEIU, and United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) and other affiliated unions that have worked with FMCS mediators in labor disputes with their members’ employers. Many were actively engaged in collective bargaining negotiations with FMCS when the mediator was forced to abruptly leave or cancel the negotiations because they had been placed on leave. With only five mediators remaining at FMCS, these unions and their workers will be left in the lurch, working under expired contracts or no contracts, and strikes or lockouts are much more likely to occur.

    The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The complaint can be found online here.

    Share and Follow:

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Exploits Valley Renewable Energy Corporation Green Hydrogen Project in Central Newfoundland Receives Guidelines for Environmental Impact Statement

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, April 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Abraxas Power Corp. (“Abraxas Power”), a leading energy transition developer, and its subsidiary Exploits Valley Renewable Energy Corporation (“EVREC”), today announced that Newfoundland and Labrador’s Department of Environment and Climate Change has released the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) guidelines for the highly anticipated Green Energy Hub project in the Botwood, NL area (the “Project”). The Project, set to revolutionize energy production in the province, aims to harness renewable energy sources to produce hydrogen in a sustainable and environmentally responsible manner.

    The purpose of the EIS is to identify for all phases of the Project (construction, operation and maintenance, decommissioning and rehabilitation) the important beneficial and adverse environmental effects associated with the Project, measures to mitigate adverse effects, the significance of residual environmental effects, public concerns and the response to those concerns. The comprehensive guidelines are intended to ensure that the Project is developed with the highest environmental standards in mind, supporting Newfoundland and Labrador’s commitment to a clean energy future while minimizing environmental effects.

    The release of the EIS guidelines marks the beginning of the formal environmental assessment process. Public consultations will be held throughout the process, allowing community members, stakeholders, and interested parties to find out more about the Project as it develops.

    EVREC remains committed to the responsible development of the Project and is eager to continue collaboration with stakeholders, regulators, and the public throughout the next phase of environmental review. Through the EIS, EVREC will provide further detailed information about the Project in various areas, including Project scope, water resource management, air quality and emissions, flora and fauna, and Project component locations, to name a few. The Project is expected to not only contribute to the province’s green energy transition but also create significant economic benefits, including job creation, new investment opportunities, and the establishment of Newfoundland and Labrador as a key player in the growing global hydrogen market.

    “The EIS is an essential part of our approach, and we are eager to maintain open, ongoing engagement with stakeholders and regulators while continuing to work on refining and advancing all aspects of the Project”, said Dean Comand, COO of Abraxas Power. “Newfoundland and Labrador is on the cutting edge of clean energy innovation, and this Project represents an exciting opportunity for the province to contribute to global sustainability efforts. The EIS is an important step in the process and underscores our commitment to responsible development and to working alongside communities and stakeholders to ensure that the environmental impact is carefully considered at every stage of this transformative project.”

    EVREC is a Power-to-X (P2X) project that was awarded access to over 300 square kilometres of crown lands by the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2023 for EVREC’s use in the development of its project in Central Newfoundland. EVREC will include up to 3+ gigawatts (GW) of onshore wind capacity with associated energy and molecular storage to power behind-the-meter green hydrogen (H2) and green ammonia (NH3) production. The Project anticipates generating ~180,000 tons of green H2 and ~1,000,000 tons of green NH3 annually. EVREC aims to have its own dedicated port infrastructure to export its products to global markets.

    EVREC has significantly advanced the Project through pre-construction activities which include engineering, wind resource measurement, and environmental assessment processes, including environmental data collection, and public and stakeholder engagement. The final Project design is subject to these ongoing assessments and activities.

    EVREC’S Environmental Assessment Registration can be found at:

    Botwood and Area EVREC Green Energy Project – Environment and Climate Change (gov.nl.ca)

    About Abraxas Power:

    Abraxas Power is a pioneering energy transition developer focused on decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors and creating value by solving the current and future challenges of the energy transition. Abraxas Power’s broad mandate allows it to see opportunities across technologies and geographies to transform the global energy industry. Our team has extensive experience in leading, financing, and solving the challenges associated with energy transition, and a proven track record of delivering complex, large-scale development projects across various disciplines, including renewable power and storage, hydrogen and ammonia production, industrial and precious metals, large-scale project construction, and operations at scale. The team possesses strong project finance and capital markets experience and has a history of creating value for shareholders, stakeholders, and the communities they live in. Abraxas Power has signed strategic partnerships with various global strategics and technology providers.

    Abraxas Power has secured over US$9 billion in capital projects through competitive government awards over the past year in furtherance of the energy transition, including our marquis EVREC Project.

    To learn more, visit www.abraxaspower.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Sanctions Update – 15 April 2025

    Source: Isle of Man

    Belarus

    ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida

    Counter-Terrorism (Domestic)

    Global Anti-Corruption

    Global Human Rights

    Iran

    Russia

    Syria

     

    The Authority has been notified that the Isle of Man Treasury, Customs and Immigration Division has recently published new and updated information regarding the above Sanction regimes.

    News Releases advising details of the updates to the above Sanctions regimes can be read on the IOM Government website (www.gov.im/news) at:

    Belarus

    https://www.gov.im/news/2025/mar/19/financial-sanctions-republic-of-belarus/

     

    Financial Sanctions: ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida

    https://www.gov.im/news/2025/mar/13/financial-sanctions-isil-daesh-and-al-qaida/

    Financial Sanctions: Counter-Terrorism (Domestic)

    https://www.gov.im/news/2025/apr/09/financial-sanctions-counter-terrorism-domestic/

     

    Global Anti-Corruption

    https://www.gov.im/news/2025/apr/14/financial-sanctions-global-anti-corruption/

    Global Human Rights

    https://www.gov.im/news/2025/mar/19/financial-sanctions-global-human-rights/

    https://www.gov.im/news/2025/mar/24/financial-sanctions-global-human-rights/

    https://www.gov.im/news/2025/mar/27/financial-sanctions-global-human-rights/

    https://www.gov.im/news/2025/apr/02/financial-sanctions-global-human-rights/

    https://www.gov.im/news/2025/apr/10/financial-sanctions-global-human-rights/

     

    Iran

    https://www.gov.im/news/2025/apr/14/financial-sanctions-iran/

    Russia

    https://www.gov.im/news/2025/mar/07/financial-sanctions-russia/

    https://www.gov.im/news/2025/mar/19/financial-sanctions-russia/

    https://www.gov.im/news/2025/mar/20/financial-sanctions-russia/

    https://www.gov.im/news/2025/mar/24/financial-sanctions-russia/

    https://www.gov.im/news/2025/mar/27/financial-sanctions-russia/

    https://www.gov.im/news/2025/apr/14/financial-sanctions-russia/

     

    Syria

    https://www.gov.im/news/2025/mar/06/financial-sanctions-syria/

    Copies of extant Sanctions Notices, are available free of charge over the Internet from the Sanctions and Export Control page on the website of the Isle of Man Treasury, Customs and Immigration Division located at: https://www.gov.im/categories/tax-vat-and-your-money/sanctions-and-export-control

    Any queries regarding the above, or any Sanctions related matter should be addressed to the Isle of Man Treasury, Customs and Immigration Division, Sanctions Officer  on telephone number +44 (0) 1624 648109 or by email to sanctions@gov.im

     

    To receive regular updates about sanctions, including updates to the UK Sanctions List, you can subscribe to the RSS feed for sanctions & Excise news releases by copying and pasting this URL:

    https://gov.im/categories/tax-vat-and-your-money/sanctions-and-export-control/news/RssCategorisedNews 

     

    into your RSS feed reader or Microsoft Outlook RSS feeds folder. You can also view our guidance on how to use RSS Feeds.

     

    The UK Treasury operate an ‘alert’ system to provide email updates as and when changes to sanctions are introduced.  Licenceholders may consider it very prudent to avail themselves of this service if they do not already have relevant notification processes in place. 

     

    This service can be found at   Subscribe to Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation updates

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Caitlin Johnstone: Every day the Gaza holocaust continues, the empire tells the truth about itself

    Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. –

    COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone

    Every day the Gaza holocaust continues, the Western empire tells the truth about itself.

    The US government is telling you the truth about itself.

    Israel is telling you the truth about itself.

    Their Western allies are telling you the truth about themselves.

    The Western media are telling you the truth about themselves.

    One of the most important stages when preparing to leave an abusive relationship is the information-gathering stage. This is when you begin quietly observing and making note of your partner’s abusive behaviour, letting them tell you the truth about themselves with their actions rather than their words.

    The information-gathering stage is important because long-term abusive relationships are usually very confusing for the victim; if the abuse were simple and easy to understand, the relationship wouldn’t have continued into the long term.


    Every day the Gaza holocaust continues . . .    Video/audio: Caitlin Johnstone

    It’s therefore often helpful to cultivate a clear understanding of the lay of the land before trying to navigate your way out of it, especially if your abuser is particularly manipulative and adept at confusing you. This ensures that you will be able to view their manipulations with distrust, so you won’t get sucked in by them.


    As infuriating as it is to watch this genocide drag out month after bloody month, it would be a mistake to believe everyone is just passively witnessing it all.

    If you watched someone you love in the information-gathering stage prior to leaving an abusive relationship, you might get frustrated by what appears to be inertia and passivity on their part when what you want to see is them sprinting for the door with a suitcase. But they’re not inert or passive  —  they’re gathering information.

    Westerners are in a psychologically abusive relationship with the empire. Our minds are hammered with propaganda indoctrination from as soon as we are old enough to start learning about our world to ensure our compliance with the power structure that rules over us.

    It happens in school. It happens with the mass media. It happens with the Silicon Valley platforms we look to for information.

    And it gets confusing. All the information about our world and our place in it is distorted by mass-scale psychological manipulation for the benefit of the powerful. It’s hard for someone who’s been raised in such an environment to navigate their mind out of its indoctrination. It’s hard to know the truth.

    But in Gaza, the empire is telling us the truth. It’s exposing itself in all its naked loathsomeness.

    Our rulers murder children.

    Our rulers sponsor genocide and ethnic cleansing.

    Our rulers lie to us and manipulate us.

    Our rulers work to censor, silence, marginalise and deport anyone who criticises their criminality.

    We do not live in a free society that is guided by truth and morality. We live under the most murderous and tyrannical power structure on the face of this planet. And we should distrust everything about it.

    That’s what they’re showing us with the Gaza holocaust. More and more people are opening their eyes to it every day.

    And when enough eyes open, leaving the abusive relationship once and for all becomes a real possibility.

    Caitlin Johnstone is an Australian independent journalist and poet. Her articles include The UN Torture Report On Assange Is An Indictment Of Our Entire Society. She publishes a website and Caitlin’s Newsletter. This article is republished with permission.

    This article was first published on Café Pacific.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes, Alex Boya’s animated short Bread Will Walk (NFB) selected

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    April 15, 2025 – Montreal – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

    The National Film Board of Canada will be in Cannes this year with Alex Boya’s animated short film Bread Will Walk, which has been selected to screen in the Directors’ Fortnight. Actor Jay Baruchel voices all the characters in the original English version of this frenetic, surrealist satire of our dehumanizing society, designed as a continuous shot.

    Organized by the Société des Réalisatrices et Réalisateurs de Films, the Directors’ Fortnight is a sidebar section of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival and runs from May 14 to 24, 2025.

    Bread Will Walk will then be presented in official competition at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, taking place June 8 to 14, 2025.

    Quotes

    “The NFB is a unique creative space that also stands out for its ability to innovate and take risks. Over the years, it has nurtured the careers of many emerging filmmakers and helped discover new talent. One such talent is Alex Boya, who made his first film, Focus (2014), as a participant in the NFB’s Hothouse animation mentorship program. The selection of Bread Will Walk for the Directors’ Fortnight speaks to the creative and visionary strengths of the NFB’s animation units and its artists. Hearty congratulations to Alex Boya and to everyone at the NFB who contributed to this wonderful film!”
    – Suzanne Guèvremont, Government Film Commissioner and Chairperson of the NFB

    “With his edgy, unorthodox visual approach, Alex Boya treats us to a brilliant, continuous shot filled with surreal metamorphoses, blending hand-drawn animation, painting and digital collage, and in the process reinventing the language of animation. We’re extremely proud that it has been selected for the Directors’ Fortnight, a celebration and showcase of unique artistic visions, which are a hallmark of the creative lab philosophy of our animation units at the NFB.”
    – Christine Noël, Executive Producer, French Animation Unit and English Animation Unit, NFB

    Quick Facts

    About the film

    Bread Will Walk by Alex Boya (11 min 17 s)
    An NFB production (Jelena Popović)
    Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/bread-will-walk

    • Synopsis: A devoted sister flees with her brother, a benevolent, bread-turned zombie. A mob pursues, mouths agape. Streets twist into mazes, reason dissolves, hunger reigns. Can love defy appetite?
    • Bread Will Walk was born of director Alex Boya’s reflection on overconsumption and its dehumanizing effects. Subverting the symbolism of bread, Boya created a parable in which a staple food becomes propaganda and love tries to defy hunger.
    • The sound design is by Olivier Calvert and the score was composed by Martin Floyd Cesar.

    About the filmmaker

    • Alex Boya graduated from the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema at Concordia University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Film Production. The Bulgarian-born Montreal animator and filmmaker is known for his surreal, hand-drawn storytelling. At the NFB, he made Focus (2014) and Turbine(2018), both of which earned Special Mentions at the Ottawa International Animation Festival, with Turbine also winning Best Animation Short at NYC Shorts. Bread Will Walk sees him continue to craft worlds where poetry, technology and absurdity intertwine.
    • Boya is also very active on the animation scene, taking part in conferences and other events. He has grown a sizeable community of social media followers who eagerly keep up with his works as they are made.

    – 30 –

    Stay Connected

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    About the NFB

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Ethiopia’s 2026 elections: without reforms, the vote may not be free or fair

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Bizuneh Yimenu, Lecturer in Comparative Politics, Queen’s University Belfast

    Ethiopia is due to hold elections in 2026. But will they be free and fair?

    Since 1995, Ethiopia has held elections every five years, except for the 2021 election, delayed by COVID-19. The incumbent party has consistently secured over 95% of national parliament seats, except for 2005, when the opposition won about 32%. In 2021, the ruling Prosperity Party won 96.8% of the seats.

    I specialise in Ethiopian politics and federalism, and recently published a paper on the country’s electoral landscape. In my study, I examined elections under the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, which ruled from 1991 to 2019, and its successor, the Prosperity Party.

    My aim was to see whether Ethiopia was moving towards political pluralism, where diverse voices are represented in government decision-making, or if it remained authoritarian.

    I conclude that the government still tends to suppress, detain and eliminate the opposition. I identified three main reasons for this.

    • Despite changes in leadership and ruling parties, state repression, vote-rigging and political exclusion have been common features in the country’s elections since 1995.

    • Ethiopia suffers from an uneven electoral playing field. Some regions experience contests while the ruling party tightly controls others.

    • Ethiopia’s first-past-the-post electoral system has excluded significant opposition voices from parliament. This allows the ruling party to dominate both federal and regional legislative seats.

    The way the electoral system works means that Ethiopia’s parliament is a one-party house, where other voices are drowned out.

    My research highlights the fact that elections can be both “free” and “unfair”. Citizens technically have the right to vote. But an unbalanced electoral system and an uneven playing field ensure that ruling parties retain power.

    The 2026 elections provide an opportunity for reforms that ensure greater political inclusion.

    How elections are run

    Ethiopia has held six rounds of elections since 1995. Despite some variations, the same patterns of electoral control persist. The ruling Prosperity Party has sustained and adapted authoritarian strategies to maintain dominance.

    The party still uses many of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front’s tactics, including harassing, detaining and eliminating political adversaries.

    It also has some new ways of looking for support, like selectively addressing regional grievances.

    Regional differences

    Opposition parties in different regions have faced varying degrees of repression. Electoral control has been strategic, rather than uniform.

    Unlike previous studies that broadly assess Ethiopia’s authoritarian past, my research zooms in on regional variations in electoral competition. I show that repression is not uniform but strategically applied based on political calculations. This adds a new dimension to discussions on African elections. It shows that ruling parties can finetune control tactics to target specific threats.

    In an ethnically diverse federal state like Ethiopia, an electoral system that promotes broad representation is essential for stability and inclusive governance.

    First-past-the-post system

    The current winner-takes-all system fosters a political monopoly. It sidelines critical perspectives and erodes trust in democratic processes.

    In the 2021 election, opposition parties performed better in ethnically diverse regions, such as the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples. However, these parties were heavily suppressed in political strongholds like Oromia and Somali regions. The first-past-the-post system has consistently led to one-party dominance, even when opposition parties gained significant public support.

    For example, in 2005, opposition parties secured around 38% of the vote but ended up with far fewer parliamentary seats than their vote share justified.

    In 2021, the Prosperity Party won 96.8% of federal parliament seats, despite getting 90% of the total vote. In Addis Ababa, opposition groups such as Balderas and Ezema received 32% of the vote but won no seats in parliament. This is because the system gives all the seats to the party with the highest votes in each constituency. It doesn’t even matter if opposition parties collectively get a substantial vote.

    In Oromia and Somali regions, major opposition parties like the Oromo Liberation Front and the Ogaden National Liberation Front withdrew from fielding candidates due to repression. As a result, the ruling party was the sole option for two-thirds of federal seats and three-fourths of regional seats.

    A way forward

    So, what can be done? My research suggests three steps.

    First, moving towards a proportional representation system would help balance the political competition. Proportional representation means that if a party gets 20% of the vote, it receives 20% of the seats.

    About 130 countries, including South Africa, Namibia and Sierra Leone, use this system. Multi-party representation has led to more stable and inclusive governance. Fewer than 55 countries use first-past-the-post.

    Second, the government must guarantee that opposition parties can operate freely in all regions, not just in areas where they pose little threat. All parties should have an equal chance to compete.

    Third, independent electoral bodies and international observers need greater access to ensure fair play. Strengthening Ethiopia’s electoral board and making sure it’s impartial will foster public trust in elections.



    Read more:
    Ethiopia’s civil war: what’s behind the Amhara rebellion?

    Ethiopia’s democracy is at a tipping point. If the country continues with its current system, it risks further political alienation and instability. By embracing electoral reform, Ethiopia could move towards a more peaceful, inclusive, democratic and representative future.

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

    – ref. Ethiopia’s 2026 elections: without reforms, the vote may not be free or fair – https://theconversation.com/ethiopias-2026-elections-without-reforms-the-vote-may-not-be-free-or-fair-253161

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Results of Consultation around Drumgeith Community Campus

    Source: Scotland – City of Dundee

    The results of a major consultation exercise over delivery of community services in the North East and East End of Dundee will be discussed by councillors next week.

    Hundreds of people responded to the call for views on proposals to relocate council and Leisure and Culture Dundee services from current facilities to the new Drumgeith Community Campus, which is set to open alongside Greenfield Academy in August.

    Consultation ran for six weeks late last year and the results of the survey and recommendations for future service delivery will be set out to the City Governance Committee at its next meeting.

    Councillors will be asked to  

    • Approve the continued operation of Douglas Community Centre and Library
    • Approve the closure of The Hub Library and Community facility and redistribution of services within six months for the services and building to be closed after the opening of the Drumgeith Community Campus
    • Approve the closure of Whitfield Library (The Crescent) and redistribution of services within six months after the opening of the Drumgeith Community Campus  
    • Defer a decision on the closure of Douglas Sports Centre and remit the Chief Executive to further review the operations and report back to a future committee.

    Council leader Cllr Mark Flynn said: “I would like to thank everyone who took the time to take part in this consultation. Their views have played an important part in formulating the recommendations for future delivery of services.

    “Drumgeith Community Campus is the largest investment in education, sport and community provision in the city and will deliver state-of-the-art facilities and services to the area.

    “However, we were keen to ensure that existing provision in the wider community was looked at with the perspectives of local people closely considered.

    “It became clear that Douglas Community Centre and Library plays a crucial role in delivering vital services for the people of Douglas and that these should be retained in the local area.

    “Similarly, there was a high level of concern expressed about the closure of Douglas Sports Centre, and I think that a further review is a sensible way forward.

    “A balance is being struck for the community with these proposals, and I hope people can see how seriously their views have been taken in the process.”

    Councillors will hear that a review into Douglas Community Centre concluded that it “has an important role in the delivery of many key services for the people of Douglas and these services are best retained in Douglas”.”

    A report proposes that Douglas Community Centre and Library and the new campus operate as a hub and spoke model where each site is complementary to the other, and that there is an integrated offer across the communities served by the two facilities.

    The report also explains that a review is currently underway to develop an effective single governance and operating model for the Drumgeith Community Campus.

    This will ensure that the Drumgeith Community Campus operates efficiently, transparently, and sustainably, meeting the needs of all stakeholders while maintaining high standards of safety, compliance, and community engagement.  

    Dundee City Council will manage the facility, and a service level agreement will be established for all partners.

    Leisure and Culture Dundee would provide services such as sport, leisure, and library activities.

    The City Governance Committee meets on Monday April 21. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/PHILIPPINES – The nation consecrates itself to Divine Mercy: a “collective response of faith and hope”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Archdiocese of Manila

    Manila (Agenzia Fides) – In a context of growing social and political polarization, the Philippines is preparing to consecrate itself to Divine Mercy as a sign of national unity. The country’s Bishops’ Conference has called for a solemn act of consecration for Sunday, April 27, the Feast of Divine Mercy, which will be celebrated during Masses in all the country’s churches. Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, President of the Bishops’ Conference, described this consecration as “a collective response of faith and hope” to the “serious challenges” facing the nation and the world: widespread corruption, the erosion of truth, the growing rejection of the Church’s teachings on life and the family, as well as the threat of internal divisions and armed conflicts at the local and global levels. “The national consecration will be a profound expression of our trust in Divine Mercy, which remains our last refuge in these times of uncertainty and trial,” the Cardinal explained.“We entrust ourselves, our Church, and our nation to God’s infinite mercy, certain that in it we will find the healing, renewal, and hope we so deeply need,” he wrote. During the ceremony, a prayer of consecration will be recited, asking Jesus for mercy for wars, for sins against truth, justice, and fraternity, as well as for abuses against human dignity and the family. “Jesus, with complete faith and trust in your boundless ocean of love, we place ourselves under the protection of your merciful care,” the prayer continues: “We unite ourselves to your perfect offering, with the Holy Spirit, to the Father, so that we may be completely transformed in your mercy. Have mercy on us for the wars between nations and the terrors with which we torment one another. Have mercy on us for the widespread sin against the truth and the horrible sins against justice and human brotherhood. Have mercy on us for the blasphemy to which your Divine Mercy is subjected and the abominable deception of the weak and the poor. Have mercy on us for the abuses against human dignity, the sin against life, love, and family.” The initiative is inspired by the spirit of the Fifth World Apostolic Congress on Mercy, held in Cebu in 2024, where the Filipino faithful reaffirmed their commitment to be “vehicles of the Lord’s compassion” and concrete witnesses of his mercy in all communities. They were also “true messengers of mercy.” The nation, it was stated at the end of the Congress, needs “works that translate the spirit of mercy into concrete acts: the baptized are called to be a living mercy for others.” Divine Mercy Sunday was instituted in 2000 by Saint John Paul II, coinciding with the canonization of Saint Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun and mystic whose revelations inspired this devotion. It is celebrated annually on the second Sunday of Easter. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 15/4/2025)
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