Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
View of Kanbula National Geopark in China’s Qinghai
Category: Science
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MIL-OSI China: View of Kanbula National Geopark in China’s Qinghai
An aerial drone photo taken on June 25, 2023 shows a view of the Kanbula National Geopark in Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China’s Qinghai Province. The National Forestry and Grassland Administration announced on Friday that two geoparks in China, one in northwest China’s Qinghai Province and another in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality, have been granted the title of UNESCO Global Geopark. With these new additions, China now boasts 49 UNESCO Global Geoparks, more than any other country in the world. Located in northwest China’s Qinghai, the Kanbula National Geopark spans roughly 3,149 square kilometers. Its striking Danxia landforms, towering peaks, hidden caves, and emerald lakes make it a prime location for geoscientific research and public science education. [Photo/Xinhua] An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows a view of the Kanbula National Geopark in Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China’s Qinghai Province. [Photo/Xinhua] An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 1, 2022 shows a view of the Kanbula National Geopark in Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China’s Qinghai Province. [Photo/Xinhua] An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 2, 2023 shows a view of the Kanbula National Geopark in Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China’s Qinghai Province. [Photo/Xinhua] An aerial drone photo taken on April 28, 2024 shows a view of the Kanbula National Geopark in Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China’s Qinghai Province. [Photo/Xinhua] An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 3, 2022 shows a view of the Kanbula National Geopark in Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China’s Qinghai Province. [Photo/Xinhua] An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 30, 2023 shows a view of the Kanbula National Geopark in Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China’s Qinghai Province. [Photo/Xinhua] -
MIL-OSI USA: As Trump’s Trade War Bludgeons US Economy, Duckworth, Durbin, Democratic Senators Slam Administration for Defunding Network of Centers That Boost American Manufacturing
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
April 11, 2025
As Trump’s Trade War Bludgeons US Economy, Duckworth, Durbin, Democratic Senators Slam Administration for Defunding Network of Centers That Boost American Manufacturing
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and 11 of their Senate Democratic colleagues in a letter to Trump’s Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, demanding answers regarding the Administration’s decision to cancel funding for 10 National Institute of Standards and Technology Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers across the country. The action came on April 1, one day before Trump announced sweeping tariffs on imports which tanked the stock market and raised warnings from experts of a recession.
“Small manufacturers rely on MEP Centers for essential support in adopting the latest advanced technologies, updating their cybersecurity, navigating supply chain challenges, and accessing workforce training—resources that are often out of reach for small businesses without this dedicated assistance,” the Senators wrote. “These centers drive innovation, boost productivity, and create high-quality jobs, strengthening both local economies and America’s global competitiveness. Without this critical federal support, MEP Centers—especially those with the fewest resources, and those serving rural and underserved communities—will be at the greatest risk of closure.
The economic impact of these centers has been substantial. A report by Summit Consulting and the Upjohn Institute found that the MEP program generated a substantial economic and financial return ratio of more than 17:1 for the $175 million funding invested by the federal government in FY2023. The study also determined that MEP Center projects contributed to an overall increase of nearly 309,000 jobs nationwide.
Since 1988, the MEP has worked to strengthen and empower U.S. manufacturing through a nationwide network of MEP Centers. The MEP National Network is comprised of 51 MEP Centers located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico and over 1,450 trusted advisors and experts at more than 430 MEP service locations that provide any U.S. manufacturer with access to resources they need to succeed. In Illinois, the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) leads a variety of initiatives to grow manufacturing, including supporting the development of quantum technologies in our state. IMEC has created and retained more than 7,000 jobs and assisted nearly 3,000 companies.
Joining Duckworth, Durbin, Cantwell and Baldwin in sending the letter was Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chris Coons (D-DE) and Gary Peters (D-MI).
Full text of the letter is available on Senator Duckworth’s website and below:
April 8, 2025
Dear Secretary Lutnick,
We write to express our deep concern regarding the Department of Commerce’s recent decision to cancel future funding for ten National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers in Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Wyoming. This decision has raised widespread concern across the entire national network of MEP Centers, prompting fears about whether these initial cancellations are the first step in a broader effort to dismantle the program and eliminate federal funding for all 51 centers, with centers in Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New York, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin expected to be notified about their status shortly. Given the MEP program’s long-standing, bipartisan support in strengthening small and medium-sized American manufacturers, we share these concerns and urge you to provide clarity and certainty on your plans for the future of the MEP program.
According to the National Association of Manufacturers, 93% of manufacturers have fewer than 100 employees, while 75% have fewer than 20 employees. Small manufacturers rely on MEP Centers for essential support in adopting the latest advanced technologies, updating their cybersecurity, navigating supply chain challenges, and accessing workforce training—resources that are often out of reach for small businesses without this dedicated assistance. These centers drive innovation, boost productivity, and create high-quality jobs, strengthening both local economies and America’s global competitiveness. Without this critical federal support, MEP Centers—especially those with the fewest resources, and those serving rural and underserved communities—will be at the greatest risk of closure.
Dismantling this program would not only disrupt benefits for small businesses but also undermine decades of federal investment in domestic manufacturing resilience, which Congress prioritized in the MEP program in the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988. Congress also reauthorized the MEP program in the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. NIST was provided $175 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 to fund the MEP Centers. In FY2024 alone, the MEP National Network resulted in $2.6 billion in cost savings, $15 billion in new and retained sales, $5 billion in new client investments, and over 108,000 jobs created or retained. Additionally, a report by Summit Consulting and the Upjohn Institute found that the MEP program generated a substantial economic and financial return ratio of more than 17:1 for the $175 million funding invested by the federal government in FY2023. The study also determined that MEP Center projects contributed to an overall increase of nearly 309,000 jobs across the United States.
Given these benefits and the funding in the FY 2025 Continuing Resolution, we request a full explanation of the rationale behind this funding decision and ask that you promptly reconsider. Additionally, we urge the Department of Commerce to provide Congress with an impact assessment detailing how this decision will affect manufacturers in the affected states and regions. This action has caused tremendous uncertainty for all MEP Centers and the thousands of American manufacturing companies and their workers. Therefore, to better understand your plans for renewals across other states in the future, we request a briefing on the way ahead for the overall MEP program prior to making any final non-renewal decisions by April 30, 2025.
Eliminating federal support for MEP Centers would hamper American small and medium-sized manufacturers. We urge you to take immediate action to protect the MEP program and the manufacturers that rely on it. We look forward to your response no later than April 30, 2025, and are ready to work with you to find solutions that maintain and enhance the MEP program’s ability to serve America’s manufacturing sector.
Sincerely,
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MIL-OSI Banking: The ultimate guide to Microsoft Security at upcoming RSAC 2025 event
Source: Microsoft
Headline: The ultimate guide to Microsoft Security at upcoming RSAC 2025 event
So you just finished watching Microsoft Secure. That means by now, you’ve heard about our new protections for AI and Microsoft Security Copilot agents. These innovations will be the focus of Microsoft Security’s sessions and activities at RSACTM 2025 Conference (RSAC 2025).
The can’t-miss conference is just around the corner. Microsoft Security is bringing an exciting lineup of sessions, expert panels, and exclusive networking opportunities to empower security professionals in the era of AI. Our entire presence at RSAC 2025 is designed to help you boost your AI skills so you can stay ahead of threats and manage security more effectively.
Whether you’re interested in protecting all your AI investments, AI-driven security, threat intelligence, or securing cloud environments, we’ve got something for you. To help you plan your time from Sunday, April 27 to Thursday, May 1, 2025, in San Francisco, here’s a quick and easy guide to all the key Microsoft Security moments at RSAC 2025.
Microsoft Pre-Day | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Palace Hotel
For the fourth year in a row, Microsoft Pre-Day kicks off the full lineup of Microsoft events and activities throughout RSAC 2025. We will host these at the Microsoft Security Hub at Palace Hotel, just a short walk from Moscone Center.
Hear directly from Microsoft Security leaders as they share reporting on emerging cyberthreat trends and the product innovations designed to protect against them. See the lineup below:
- Vasu Jakkal, Corporate Vice President (CVP), Microsoft Security Business
- Charlie Bell, Executive Vice President, Microsoft Security
- Sherrod DeGrippo, Director of Threat Intelligence Strategy
- Dorothy Li, Corporate Vice President (CVP), Microsoft Security Copilot
- Ann Johnson, Corporate Vice President (CVP) and Deputy CISO
- And more.
Register for Pre-Day today.
Networking Reception | 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM | Microsoft Security Hub, Palace Hotel, Second Floor
Stick around after Microsoft Pre-Day to attend the Networking Reception—a lively evening designed to connect with the security community, engage with Microsoft leaders, and exchange ideas in a relaxed atmosphere. It’s the perfect way to kick off an inspiring week at RSAC 2025.
On Monday we ease into things by focusing on what’s new all around. We’ll share lots of goodness about agents and our new innovations announced in March.
Security Demo Experience at the Microsoft Security Booth #5744 | All day, every day | Moscone Center North Expo Hall
Monday is the first day to explore the show floor. Stop by the Microsoft Security Booth #5744 in Moscone Center North Expo Hall to explore live demos, meet Microsoft Security experts, and get hands-on with the latest tools.
Become a defender against cyber threats in a fast-paced, interactive game. You’ll be a part of a mission, navigating realistic incident response scenarios using Microsoft Security solutions, including our new AI Agents. Engage in quick skill challenges and wrap up with expert insights. Are you ready to beat the bad actors?
Keynote: Security in the Age of Agentic AI | 4:40 PM | Moscone Center (West Stage)
Agentic workflows will dramatically reshape what is possible in security. By enabling more complex problem-solving, agent collaboration, and iterative learning, agentic AI will empower a new paradigm for security that was once the domain of science fiction. Vasu Jakkal will take an imaginative look at the future of security AI agents, and the very human-driven way they will change the game.
Microsoft Sessions at RSAC 2025 | All day | Moscone Center
Our top Microsoft Security experts were chosen by RSAC to share their insights and best practices to help you level up your own security strategy. These sessions are designed for learning, not selling. So, you’ll hear more about what’s happening in the security space and less about products.
- Practical Strategies for Security Architecture in a Changing World @ 8:30 AM – 9:20 AM
This session will delve into the core pillars of security architecture and share practical strategies that uphold foundational principles. Will discuss holistic system thinking and provide a practical playbook for navigating the complexities of security architecture while maintaining a focus on the fundamentals and essential considerations for a secure digital environment.
Speaker: Abhilasha Bhargav-Spantzel, Partner Security Architect, Microsoft
- RSAC Innovation Sandbox @ 9:30 AM – 12:40 PM
Ten of cybersecurity’s boldest new innovators compete in Innovation Sandbox for the title of “Most Innovative Startup.” ISB celebrates 20 years & spotlights startups with potentially game-changing ideas. The Finalists have 3 minutes to share groundbreaking products & solutions with a panel of judges. Interact first-hand with these companies as the judges deliberate before the winner is crowned.
Speakers: Christopher Young, Executive Vice President, Business Development, Strategy and Ventures, Microsoft; David Chan, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley; Dorit Dor, Chief Technology Officer, Check Point Software Technologies; Niloofar Razi Howe, Operating Partner, Capitol Meridian Partners; Hugh Thompson, Executive Chairman & RSAC Conference Program Committee Chair, RSAC; Paul Kocher, Researcher, Independent Researcher; and Nasrin Rezai, SVP & CISO, Verizon
- AI Era Authentication: Securing the Future with Inclusive Identity @ 1:10 PM – 2:00 PM
This session explores the security and usability risks of authentication techniques for users with diverse needs. Emergence of AI agents, a new user identity acting on our behalf, also necessitates a rethink of authentication methods. Discover AI-era authentication using sensors like location and behavior and learn about the shift from active to passive authentication with prototypes in action.
Speakers: Abhilasha Bhargav-Spantzel, Partner Security Architect, Microsoft and Aditi Shah, Senior Data & Applied Scientist, Microsoft
- DPRK Remote IT Workers – Have You Hired One and Are You at Risk? @ 2:20 PM – 3:10 PM
The DPRK actively deploys remote IT workers to generate revenue for the regime while circumventing sanctions. DPRK IT workers pose risks to companies, including insider access, potential intellectual property theft, and exposure to other malicious cyber activity. This panel will discuss best practices for identifying and preventing the hiring of DPRK IT workers.
Speakers: Greg Schloemer, Senior Threat Intelligence Analyst, Microsoft; Elizabeth Pelker, Special Agent, FBI; Chris Horne, Director, Trust & Safety Intelligence & Investigations, Upwork; Adam Meyers, SVP Intelligence, CrowdStrike; and Bryan Vorndran, Assistant Director, FBI
Microsoft Expert Sessions | All day Monday – Wednesday | Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor)
Don’t miss our deep-dive sessions happening at the Microsoft Security Hub. Build your AI cybersecurity skills as Microsoft Security experts will share what they’ve learned and provide insights you can apply in your own organization.
- Harnessing Diversity – Strengthening the Cybersecurity Workforce in the Age of AI @ 10:30AM – 11:30AM
Speakers: Amanda Minnich, Principal Research Manager, Microsoft; Nicole Ford VP, Customer Security Officer, Microsoft; Kyla Guru, Founder/CEO, Bits N’ Bytes Cybersecurity Education; Tanell Ford, Assistant General Counsel, Microsoft; and Sherrod Degrippo, Directory of Threat Intelligence Strategy, Microsoft
- Reshaping SecOps for the Cloud AI Era @ 10:30AM – 11:30AM
Speakers: Scott Woodbridge, General Manager, Product Marketing, Microsoft and Corina Feuerstein, Principal Product Manager for Copilot in Defender and Sentinel
- Practical use of CoPilot AutoFix to address Security Backlog @ 12:00PM – 1:30PM
Speakers: Alexis Wales, CISO, GitHub and Marcelo Oliveira, VP, Product Management, GitHub
- Executive Lunch: Scaling Compliance for Global Regulations @ 12:00PM – 1:30PM
Speakers: Bret Arsenault, CVP, Chief Cybersecurity Advisor, Microsoft
Theatre Sessions | Location: Microsoft Security Booth #5744
Here’s where we talk products. These 15-20 minute informal, come-and-go sessions run all day at the Microsoft Security booth. They’re demo-heavy product showcases to help you learn how to better use the tools you’ve got now.
- Identity Security in the Era of AI with Security Copilot @ 5:35PM – 5:55 PM
- Security Copilot Agents: Autonomous, adaptive, with you in control @ 6:05PM – 6:25 PM
- From Risk to Resilience: The Next Evolution in Multicloud Security @ 6:35 PM– 6:55PM
MISA Awards| Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor)
It’s time to suit up in heroic attire for an epic celebration at the 6th annual Microsoft Security Excellence Awards! Just like the Avengers, assembling to save the world, we’re coming together to honor the extraordinary achievements of our MISA members who work so diligently to protect customers from external threats! Congratulations to the incredible finalists for the sixth annual Microsoft Security Excellence Awards presented by MISA!
Customer Meetings | Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor)
Take advantage of the opportunity to connect with Microsoft Security experts and enhance your cybersecurity knowledge. From April 28 to April 30, 2025 customers and CISOs can schedule one-on-one meetings at the Palace Hotel to discuss your most pressing security product and threat intelligence questions. Secure your spot by visiting the Microsoft Security Experiences at RSAC 2025 Home Page.
Tuesday is the busiest day of the conference, with lots of choices in front of you, so plan ahead.
Keynote: AI Safety: Where Do We Go From Here? | 8:30 AM | Moscone Center (West Stage)
During this keynote session, Google, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and the UK AI Safety Institute leaders come together for this blockbuster panel to explain the evolving landscape of AI safety. Attendees will gain insights into key developments in AI safety that should matter to organizations, its intersection with existing security initiatives, and time-tested approaches to translate AI safety to practice.
Speakers: Ram Shankar Siva Kumar, Data Cowboy, Microsoft; Jade Leung, Data Cowboy, Microsoft; and Daniel Rohrer, VP Software Product Security, Architecture & Research, NVIDIA
Microsoft Sessions at RSAC 2025 | All day | Moscone Center
RSAC has chosen top Microsoft Security experts to share insights and best practices, letting you learn about the latest in security without the sales pitch.
- Incident Response Dilemmas: Sharing Intel Across Sectors in Critical Times @ 9:40 – 10:30 AM
An incident may be a singular event affecting one entity. What happens when it affects our critical infrastructure and has the possibility of sector-wide impact and cascading effects? How do companies share information and meet regulatory expectations? The session will dive into the work that financial services companies, the government, and cloud service providers are taking to mature IR.
Speakers: Ann Johnson, CVP & Deputy CISO, Customer Security Managment Office, Microsoft; Ted Conklin, Chief AI Officer & Deputy Assistant Secretary, US Treasury; Heather Hogsett, Senior Vice President, Deputy Head of BITS, Bank Policy Institute; and Erez Liebermann, Partner, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
- XPIA Attacks – Rethinking Defense in Depth for an AI-Powered World @1:15 – 2:05 PM
As adversaries rapidly develop sophisticated AI attacks, the solutions also need to evolve rapidly. This panel will explore Cross/Indirect Prompt Injection Attacks (XPIA) and the need to rethink traditional defense in depth strategies. Gain insights into XPIA trends, risk analysis, and innovative solutions to protect critical infrastructure. Join for practical strategies and expert insights.
Speakers: Abhilasha Bhargav-Spantzel, Partner Security Architect, Microsoft; Aanchal Gupta, CVP, Microsoft; John Leo, Jr, Managing Director – Threat and Vulnerability Management Leader, EY; and Stefano Zanero, Professor, Politecnico di Milano
- A Year(ish) of Countering Malicious Actors’ Use of AI: What Have We Learned? @ 2:25 –3:15 PM
Artificial Intelligence has changed the game when it comes to how cyber adversaries operate, and how defenders respond. This panel will explore lessons learned from the past year of countering malicious cyber actors’ use of AI, challenges and limitations of legal actions involving AI, and what roadblocks might appear going forward as AI, and the actors who use it, continues to evolve.
Speakers: Sherrod DeGrippo, Director, Threat Intelligence Strategy, Microsoft; Morgan Adamski, Executive Director, US Cyber Command; Cynthia Kaiser, Deputy Assistant Director, FBI; and Sean Newell, Chief, National Security Cyber Section, National Security Division, Department of Justice
Microsoft Expert Sessions | All day | Monday – Wednesday Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor)
Join Microsoft Security product leaders as they share their learnings and how you can apply them in your organization.
- Defending Against Modern Threats: Enhancing Endpoint Security and IT Resilience @ 8:00AM – 9:30AM
Speakers: Archana Devi Sunder Rajan, Partner Group Product Manager, Microsoft and Peter M. Thompson, Principal PM Manager, Microsoft
- Secure and Govern AI to safeguard your data, reduce risks, and support compliance @ 10:30AM – 11:30AM
Speakers: Herain Oberoi, GM, Data & AI Security, Microsoft; Rudra Mitra, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Purview; and Neta Haiby, Director of AI Security, Microsoft
- Microsoft Security Copilot @ 12:00PM – 1:30PM
Speaker: Dorothy Li, CVP, Microsoft Security Copilot
- Secure your data in the era of AI with Microsoft Purview @ 2:30PM – 3:30PM
Speakers: Talhah Mir, Principal Group Product Manager, Microsoft Purview and Maithili Dandige, Partner Group Product Manager, Microsoft Purview
- AI and Automation Panel: The Startup Innovation for Enterprise Resilience – moderated by FC @ 2:30PM – 3:30PM
**Attendees will have the opportunity to receive a copy of FC’s book, How I Rob Banks, and the chance to have it signed by the author at the end of the session.
Speakers: Kevin Magee, Director Cybersecurity Startups, Microsoft for Startups; FC, Co-founder & CEO, Cygenta; Shane Coleman, Chief Data Security Evangelist; Christ “Tito” Sestito, CEO, HiddenLayer; Ravid Circus, Co-founder & CPO, Seemplicity; and Jeremy Vaughan, CEO, Start Left Security
Theatre Sessions | Location: Microsoft Security Booth #5744
Stop by the Microsoft Security booth to catch a short demo of your favorite product.
- See Beyond Silos and Protect Better with Microsoft Security Exposure Management 11:00 AM –11:20 AM
- Accelerate your Zero Trust journey with the Microsoft Entra Suite 11:30 AM – 11:50 AM
- Automating Vulnerability Management: The Power of “Endpoint Vulnerability Remediation Agent” in Microsoft Intune 12:00 PM – 12:20 PM
- From Risk to Resilience: The Next Evolution in Multicloud Security 12:30 PM – 12:50 PM
- Accelerating post-breach deep content analysis and mitigation with Microsoft Purview @ 1:00 PM – 1:20 PM
- Microsoft Sentinel Uncovered: Advanced Capabilities to Transform the SOC @ 1:30 PM – 1:50 PM
- Protect AI Workloads from Code to Runtime with Microsoft Defender for Cloud @ 2:00 PM – 2:20 PM
- Security Copilot Agents: Autonomous, adaptive, with you in control @ 2:30 PM – 2:50 PM
- Unified SecOps: Defending Critical Infrastructure with Microsoft Defender @ 3:00 PM – 3:20 PM
- Be Fast as Lighting: Automate Microsoft Defender XDR and Microsoft Sentinel Service Delivery @ 3:30 PM – 3:50 PM
- Mastering Cloud Threats: Detect, Investigate, and Respond in real-time with Microsoft Defender for Cloud and Defender XDR integration @ 4:00 PM – 4:20 PM
- Practical Strategies for Securing AI-Driven Data: Enhancing Cyber Resilience and Insider Risk Management @ 4:30 PM – 4:50PM
- Secure and govern access to GenAI apps with the Microsoft Entra Suite @5:00 PM – 5:20 PM
- Bolster your SOC with Microsoft’s Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR) @ 5:30 PM – 5:50PM
Networking and Fun | Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor)
- Secure & Sip: DevOps Edition @ 4:30PM – 6:30PM
Speaker: Alexis Wales, CISO, GitHub
Gather with GitHub’s security leaders and experts for meaningful conversations, thoughtfully crafted cocktails, and a custom ramen bar to round out your day at RSAC.
Customer Meetings | Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor)
Day 2 of meetings with Microsoft Security experts continues. Secure your spot by visiting the Microsoft Security Experiences at RSAC 2025 Home Page. https://MicrosoftSecurityEvents.eventbuilder.com/MicrosoftRSAC2025events?source=blog_techcomm
As the conference starts to wrap up, don’t miss your chance to get hands-on with Microsoft Security solutions and ask questions at the Hub and booth and in 1:1 meetings.
Microsoft Sessions at RSAC 2025 | Location: Moscone Center
- Guardians of the Cyber Galaxy: Allies Against AI-Powered Cybercrime @ 8:30 – 9:20 AM
AI is revolutionizing cybercrime, putting traditional defenses to the test. Expert panelists unite to detail innovative public-private strategies and real-world case studies from their experience in INTERPOL, the FBI, Microsoft, and the Privacy & Cybersecurity Group of an international law firm. Gain actionable insights to protect the global community and fortify cybersecurity defenses.
Speakers: Sean Farrell, Lead Counsel, AI Strategy, Digital Crimes Unit, Microsoft Corporation; Garylene Javier, Privacy & Cybersecurity Counsel, Crowell & Moring LLP; Craig Jones, Immediate Past Director Cybercrime, INTERPOL; and Andrew Sczygielski, Supervisory Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Green and Sustainable AI for Cybersecurity @1:15 – 2:05 PM
The session will consider the carbon cost of AI and analytics. It will focus on the estimated energy and carbon costs of many cybersecurity use cases and approaches that can be taken to build more sustainable solutions. This will be illustrated through the use of a threat hunting and detection analytical solution and how that could be designed to be most power efficient.
Speakers: Lesley Kipling, Chief Security Advisor, Microsoft and Sian John, CTO, NCC Group
- Scaling AppSec With an SDLC for Citizen Development @ 1:15 – 2:05 PM
AppSec programs are difficult. Filled to the brim with vulnerabilities. Overloaded staff and inadequate budget. The common “solution” is to narrow scope and focus on crown jewels and their devs. Increasing the scope to 100x devs and 1000x apps surprisingly worked, resulting in program remediation of >50K vulnerabilities in 3 months. 18K of them in a single night. This session will show how.
Speakers: Ryan McDonald, Principal Program Manager, Microsoft and Michael Bargury, Co-Founder & CTO, Zenity
Microsoft Expert Sessions | All day Monday – Wednesday | Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor)
Don’t miss the final few Microsoft Security focused sessions at our Hub.
- Threat intelligence trends and insights panel: Exclusive briefing from Microsoft Threat Intelligence @10:30AM – 11:30AM
Speakers: Sherrod De Grippo, Director of Threat Intelligence Strategy, Microsoft; Jeremy Dallman, Senior Director of Security Research in Microsoft Threat Intelligence; and Steven Masada, Assistant General Counsel, DCU
- Secure access for your employees with Entra Suite @ 10:30AM – 11:30AM
Speaker: Irina Nechaeva, General Manager, Identity and Network Access
- Securing the AI Powered Enterprise Executive Panel Lunch @12:00PM – 1:30PM
Speakers: Bret Arsenault, Chief Cybersecurity Advisor, Microsoft; Brandon Dixon, Partner Product Manager, Security AI Strategy, Microsoft; Manny Sahota, Director, Global Cloud Privacy, Microsoft; Herain Oberoi, General Manager, Data Security, Governance, Compliance, Privacy Business and Marketing, Microsoft; and Sarah Bird, Chief Product Officer of Responsible AI, Microsoft
Theatre Sessions | Location: Microsoft Security Booth #5744
Don’t miss your chance to see demos and ask questions casually at the booth.
- Make Windows endpoints more secure and prevent downtime 11:00 AM – 11:20 AM
- Unlocking Opportunities: A Guide to Partnering with Microsoft 11:30 AM – 11:50 AM
- EY Security Copilot Empowered Solutions 12:00 PM – 12:20 PM
- Microsoft Security Copilot: Protect at the speed and scale of AI 12:30 PM – 12:50 PM
- Phishing-Resistant Authentication, Trusted Onboarding & Recovery @ 1:00 PM – 1:20 PM
- Building a multi-layered approach to data security SOC @ 1:30 PM – 1:50 PM
- Secure your email and collaboration tools against sophisticated cyber attacks @ 2:00 PM – 2:20 PM
- The latest intelligence on North Korean remote IT workers @ 2:30 PM – 2:50 PM
- Secure and govern M365 Copilot with Microsoft Purview @ 3:00 PM – 3:20 PM
- Proactively Mitigate Risks with Microsoft Security Exposure Management @ 3:30 PM – 3:50 PM
- Windows 365: The security of Windows, the scale of the cloud@ 4:00 PM – 4:20 PM
- Shift your SOC from manual incident response to automatic attack disruption @ 4:30 PM –4:50PM
- A Look Inside Microsoft’s Secure Future Initiative: Progress, Innovations, and Best Practices @ 5:00 PM – 5:20 PM
- Simplifying Data Security for the Modern Network with Microsoft Purview and Netskope One @ 5:30 PM – 5:50 PM
Customer Meetings | Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor)
It’s your final chance to ask your questions and give your suggestions directly to Microsoft Security experts. Book your meeting here: Microsoft Security Experiences at RSAC 2025 Home Page.
Microsoft Sessions at RSAC | Location: Moscone Center
Last but certainly not least.
- Shaping Cybersecurity: How Regulation Shapes Operational Cyber Defense @ 10:50 – 11:40AM
In 2024, elections and growing cyberthreats pushed cybersecurity to the forefront of government priorities. The panel will explore governments’ efforts to strengthen cybersecurity and resilience through regulation, the impact on operational cyber defense, and discuss where greater alignment is possible. Attendees will gain an understanding of the quickly evolving global regulatory landscape.
Speakers: Ted Maurer, Senior Director, Global Cybersecurity Policy, Microsoft; Christiane Kirketerp de Viron, Director for Digital Society, Trust & Cybersecurity, DG Connect, European Commission; Ari Schwartz, Managing Director, Cybersecurity Services, Venable LLP; Josephine Wolff, Associate Professor of Cybersecurity Policy, Tufts University, The Fletcher School; and Florian Schütz, Director, NCSC – National Cybersecurity Centre
- Taking the Fight Upstream: Pursuing Systemic Defense Against Phishing 12:20 – 11:10 PM
Three decades into the public internet, cybercrime is booming and phishing remains a key vector. With AI-enhanced attacks rising, common users are increasingly ill-equipped to defend themselves. What can be done upstream to protect society? This session explores systemic defense strategies across the ICT ecosystem that hold the potential for significant ecosystem-wide impact.
Speakers: Kelly Bissell, CVP Security & Fraud, Microsoft; Tal Goldstein, Head of Strategy, World Economic Forum Centre for Cybersecurity; Steven Kelly, Chief Trust Officer, Institute for Security and Technology; and Kemba Walden, President, Paladin Global Institute, Paladin Capital Group
- Fraud, Risk, Hollywood & Government—A Strategy for AI Across Industry 12:20 – 11:10 PM
Dive into the high-stakes world of AI as the experts in this session unravel AI’s game-changing roles in Hollywood, government, and finance. Experience firsthand revolutionary strategies, ethical showdowns, and futuristic trends set to redefine industry landscapes. Get ready for a session that’s as dynamic and ambitious as a Hollywood blockbuster!
Speakers: Vishal Amin, GM, National Security Group, Security; Gurpreet Bhatia, Acting Deputy CIO for Cybersecurity, Acting CISO, DOD; David Mahdi, CIO, Transmit Security; and Scott Mann, Film Director & Co-Founder/Co-CEO, Flawless
- Generative AI Meets Identity Governance: Automating the Overlooked @ 1:30 – 2:20 PM
Identity governance is often the last thing to be implemented and rarely gets the attention it deserves due to its complexity. This session will explore how Generative AI agents can help overcome this by automating critical but often deprioritized tasks like role mining and identity lifecycle management, particularly addressing the challenges of managing ‘movers’ within organizations.
Speakers: Angelica Faber, Sr Security Architect, Microsoft and Wesley Kuzma, Architect Manager, Microsoft
Theatre Sessions | Location: Microsoft Security Booth #5744
Catch the last day of theater sessions.
- How Enterprises will Continue to Learn from Open Source 11:00 AM – 11:20 AM
- Creating Bespoke Identity Governance Solutions with Microsoft Entra Suite 11:30 AM – 11:50 AM
- Identity-first security: Using an event-based approach for threat remediation @ 12:00 PM – 12:20 PM
- Securing and governing Agents built-in Microsoft Copilot Studio @ 12:30 PM – 12:50 PM
- Azure Platform Security in an Evolving Threat Landscape @ 1:00 PM – 1:20 PM
How to Make the Most of Microsoft Security at RSAC 2025
Plan Ahead: Bookmark this blog to easily find the things that interest you the most.
Visit the Booth: Engage with our security experts and experience live demos.
Follow Along Online: Stay updated by following Microsoft Security on LinkedIn and X.
Book a Meeting: Want to connect 1:1 with a Microsoft Security expert? Secure your spot by visiting the Microsoft Security Experiences at RSAC 2025 Home Page.
See you at RSAC 2025!
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MIL-OSI Economics: The ultimate guide to Microsoft Security at upcoming RSAC 2025 event
Source: Microsoft
Headline: The ultimate guide to Microsoft Security at upcoming RSAC 2025 event
So you just finished watching Microsoft Secure. That means by now, you’ve heard about our new protections for AI and Microsoft Security Copilot agents. These innovations will be the focus of Microsoft Security’s sessions and activities at RSACTM 2025 Conference (RSAC 2025).
The can’t-miss conference is just around the corner. Microsoft Security is bringing an exciting lineup of sessions, expert panels, and exclusive networking opportunities to empower security professionals in the era of AI. Our entire presence at RSAC 2025 is designed to help you boost your AI skills so you can stay ahead of threats and manage security more effectively.
Whether you’re interested in protecting all your AI investments, AI-driven security, threat intelligence, or securing cloud environments, we’ve got something for you. To help you plan your time from Sunday, April 27 to Thursday, May 1, 2025, in San Francisco, here’s a quick and easy guide to all the key Microsoft Security moments at RSAC 2025.
Microsoft Pre-Day | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Palace Hotel
For the fourth year in a row, Microsoft Pre-Day kicks off the full lineup of Microsoft events and activities throughout RSAC 2025. We will host these at the Microsoft Security Hub at Palace Hotel, just a short walk from Moscone Center.
Hear directly from Microsoft Security leaders as they share reporting on emerging cyberthreat trends and the product innovations designed to protect against them. See the lineup below:
- Vasu Jakkal, Corporate Vice President (CVP), Microsoft Security Business
- Charlie Bell, Executive Vice President, Microsoft Security
- Sherrod DeGrippo, Director of Threat Intelligence Strategy
- Dorothy Li, Corporate Vice President (CVP), Microsoft Security Copilot
- Ann Johnson, Corporate Vice President (CVP) and Deputy CISO
- And more.
Register for Pre-Day today.
Networking Reception | 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM | Microsoft Security Hub, Palace Hotel, Second Floor
Stick around after Microsoft Pre-Day to attend the Networking Reception—a lively evening designed to connect with the security community, engage with Microsoft leaders, and exchange ideas in a relaxed atmosphere. It’s the perfect way to kick off an inspiring week at RSAC 2025.
On Monday we ease into things by focusing on what’s new all around. We’ll share lots of goodness about agents and our new innovations announced in March.
Security Demo Experience at the Microsoft Security Booth #5744 | All day, every day | Moscone Center North Expo Hall
Monday is the first day to explore the show floor. Stop by the Microsoft Security Booth #5744 in Moscone Center North Expo Hall to explore live demos, meet Microsoft Security experts, and get hands-on with the latest tools.
Become a defender against cyber threats in a fast-paced, interactive game. You’ll be a part of a mission, navigating realistic incident response scenarios using Microsoft Security solutions, including our new AI Agents. Engage in quick skill challenges and wrap up with expert insights. Are you ready to beat the bad actors?
Keynote: Security in the Age of Agentic AI | 4:40 PM | Moscone Center (West Stage)
Agentic workflows will dramatically reshape what is possible in security. By enabling more complex problem-solving, agent collaboration, and iterative learning, agentic AI will empower a new paradigm for security that was once the domain of science fiction. Vasu Jakkal will take an imaginative look at the future of security AI agents, and the very human-driven way they will change the game.
Microsoft Sessions at RSAC 2025 | All day | Moscone Center
Our top Microsoft Security experts were chosen by RSAC to share their insights and best practices to help you level up your own security strategy. These sessions are designed for learning, not selling. So, you’ll hear more about what’s happening in the security space and less about products.
- Practical Strategies for Security Architecture in a Changing World @ 8:30 AM – 9:20 AM
This session will delve into the core pillars of security architecture and share practical strategies that uphold foundational principles. Will discuss holistic system thinking and provide a practical playbook for navigating the complexities of security architecture while maintaining a focus on the fundamentals and essential considerations for a secure digital environment.
Speaker: Abhilasha Bhargav-Spantzel, Partner Security Architect, Microsoft
- RSAC Innovation Sandbox @ 9:30 AM – 12:40 PM
Ten of cybersecurity’s boldest new innovators compete in Innovation Sandbox for the title of “Most Innovative Startup.” ISB celebrates 20 years & spotlights startups with potentially game-changing ideas. The Finalists have 3 minutes to share groundbreaking products & solutions with a panel of judges. Interact first-hand with these companies as the judges deliberate before the winner is crowned.
Speakers: Christopher Young, Executive Vice President, Business Development, Strategy and Ventures, Microsoft; David Chan, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley; Dorit Dor, Chief Technology Officer, Check Point Software Technologies; Niloofar Razi Howe, Operating Partner, Capitol Meridian Partners; Hugh Thompson, Executive Chairman & RSAC Conference Program Committee Chair, RSAC; Paul Kocher, Researcher, Independent Researcher; and Nasrin Rezai, SVP & CISO, Verizon
- AI Era Authentication: Securing the Future with Inclusive Identity @ 1:10 PM – 2:00 PM
This session explores the security and usability risks of authentication techniques for users with diverse needs. Emergence of AI agents, a new user identity acting on our behalf, also necessitates a rethink of authentication methods. Discover AI-era authentication using sensors like location and behavior and learn about the shift from active to passive authentication with prototypes in action.
Speakers: Abhilasha Bhargav-Spantzel, Partner Security Architect, Microsoft and Aditi Shah, Senior Data & Applied Scientist, Microsoft
- DPRK Remote IT Workers – Have You Hired One and Are You at Risk? @ 2:20 PM – 3:10 PM
The DPRK actively deploys remote IT workers to generate revenue for the regime while circumventing sanctions. DPRK IT workers pose risks to companies, including insider access, potential intellectual property theft, and exposure to other malicious cyber activity. This panel will discuss best practices for identifying and preventing the hiring of DPRK IT workers.
Speakers: Greg Schloemer, Senior Threat Intelligence Analyst, Microsoft; Elizabeth Pelker, Special Agent, FBI; Chris Horne, Director, Trust & Safety Intelligence & Investigations, Upwork; Adam Meyers, SVP Intelligence, CrowdStrike; and Bryan Vorndran, Assistant Director, FBI
Microsoft Expert Sessions | All day Monday – Wednesday | Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor)
Don’t miss our deep-dive sessions happening at the Microsoft Security Hub. Build your AI cybersecurity skills as Microsoft Security experts will share what they’ve learned and provide insights you can apply in your own organization.
- Harnessing Diversity – Strengthening the Cybersecurity Workforce in the Age of AI @ 10:30AM – 11:30AM
Speakers: Amanda Minnich, Principal Research Manager, Microsoft; Nicole Ford VP, Customer Security Officer, Microsoft; Kyla Guru, Founder/CEO, Bits N’ Bytes Cybersecurity Education; Tanell Ford, Assistant General Counsel, Microsoft; and Sherrod Degrippo, Directory of Threat Intelligence Strategy, Microsoft
- Reshaping SecOps for the Cloud AI Era @ 10:30AM – 11:30AM
Speakers: Scott Woodbridge, General Manager, Product Marketing, Microsoft and Corina Feuerstein, Principal Product Manager for Copilot in Defender and Sentinel
- Practical use of CoPilot AutoFix to address Security Backlog @ 12:00PM – 1:30PM
Speakers: Alexis Wales, CISO, GitHub and Marcelo Oliveira, VP, Product Management, GitHub
- Executive Lunch: Scaling Compliance for Global Regulations @ 12:00PM – 1:30PM
Speakers: Bret Arsenault, CVP, Chief Cybersecurity Advisor, Microsoft
Theatre Sessions | Location: Microsoft Security Booth #5744
Here’s where we talk products. These 15-20 minute informal, come-and-go sessions run all day at the Microsoft Security booth. They’re demo-heavy product showcases to help you learn how to better use the tools you’ve got now.
- Identity Security in the Era of AI with Security Copilot @ 5:35PM – 5:55 PM
- Security Copilot Agents: Autonomous, adaptive, with you in control @ 6:05PM – 6:25 PM
- From Risk to Resilience: The Next Evolution in Multicloud Security @ 6:35 PM– 6:55PM
MISA Awards| Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor)
It’s time to suit up in heroic attire for an epic celebration at the 6th annual Microsoft Security Excellence Awards! Just like the Avengers, assembling to save the world, we’re coming together to honor the extraordinary achievements of our MISA members who work so diligently to protect customers from external threats! Congratulations to the incredible finalists for the sixth annual Microsoft Security Excellence Awards presented by MISA!
Customer Meetings | Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor)
Take advantage of the opportunity to connect with Microsoft Security experts and enhance your cybersecurity knowledge. From April 28 to April 30, 2025 customers and CISOs can schedule one-on-one meetings at the Palace Hotel to discuss your most pressing security product and threat intelligence questions. Secure your spot by visiting the Microsoft Security Experiences at RSAC 2025 Home Page.
Tuesday is the busiest day of the conference, with lots of choices in front of you, so plan ahead.
Keynote: AI Safety: Where Do We Go From Here? | 8:30 AM | Moscone Center (West Stage)
During this keynote session, Google, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and the UK AI Safety Institute leaders come together for this blockbuster panel to explain the evolving landscape of AI safety. Attendees will gain insights into key developments in AI safety that should matter to organizations, its intersection with existing security initiatives, and time-tested approaches to translate AI safety to practice.
Speakers: Ram Shankar Siva Kumar, Data Cowboy, Microsoft; Jade Leung, Data Cowboy, Microsoft; and Daniel Rohrer, VP Software Product Security, Architecture & Research, NVIDIA
Microsoft Sessions at RSAC 2025 | All day | Moscone Center
RSAC has chosen top Microsoft Security experts to share insights and best practices, letting you learn about the latest in security without the sales pitch.
- Incident Response Dilemmas: Sharing Intel Across Sectors in Critical Times @ 9:40 – 10:30 AM
An incident may be a singular event affecting one entity. What happens when it affects our critical infrastructure and has the possibility of sector-wide impact and cascading effects? How do companies share information and meet regulatory expectations? The session will dive into the work that financial services companies, the government, and cloud service providers are taking to mature IR.
Speakers: Ann Johnson, CVP & Deputy CISO, Customer Security Managment Office, Microsoft; Ted Conklin, Chief AI Officer & Deputy Assistant Secretary, US Treasury; Heather Hogsett, Senior Vice President, Deputy Head of BITS, Bank Policy Institute; and Erez Liebermann, Partner, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
- XPIA Attacks – Rethinking Defense in Depth for an AI-Powered World @1:15 – 2:05 PM
As adversaries rapidly develop sophisticated AI attacks, the solutions also need to evolve rapidly. This panel will explore Cross/Indirect Prompt Injection Attacks (XPIA) and the need to rethink traditional defense in depth strategies. Gain insights into XPIA trends, risk analysis, and innovative solutions to protect critical infrastructure. Join for practical strategies and expert insights.
Speakers: Abhilasha Bhargav-Spantzel, Partner Security Architect, Microsoft; Aanchal Gupta, CVP, Microsoft; John Leo, Jr, Managing Director – Threat and Vulnerability Management Leader, EY; and Stefano Zanero, Professor, Politecnico di Milano
- A Year(ish) of Countering Malicious Actors’ Use of AI: What Have We Learned? @ 2:25 –3:15 PM
Artificial Intelligence has changed the game when it comes to how cyber adversaries operate, and how defenders respond. This panel will explore lessons learned from the past year of countering malicious cyber actors’ use of AI, challenges and limitations of legal actions involving AI, and what roadblocks might appear going forward as AI, and the actors who use it, continues to evolve.
Speakers: Sherrod DeGrippo, Director, Threat Intelligence Strategy, Microsoft; Morgan Adamski, Executive Director, US Cyber Command; Cynthia Kaiser, Deputy Assistant Director, FBI; and Sean Newell, Chief, National Security Cyber Section, National Security Division, Department of Justice
Microsoft Expert Sessions | All day | Monday – Wednesday Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor)
Join Microsoft Security product leaders as they share their learnings and how you can apply them in your organization.
- Defending Against Modern Threats: Enhancing Endpoint Security and IT Resilience @ 8:00AM – 9:30AM
Speakers: Archana Devi Sunder Rajan, Partner Group Product Manager, Microsoft and Peter M. Thompson, Principal PM Manager, Microsoft
- Secure and Govern AI to safeguard your data, reduce risks, and support compliance @ 10:30AM – 11:30AM
Speakers: Herain Oberoi, GM, Data & AI Security, Microsoft; Rudra Mitra, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Purview; and Neta Haiby, Director of AI Security, Microsoft
- Microsoft Security Copilot @ 12:00PM – 1:30PM
Speaker: Dorothy Li, CVP, Microsoft Security Copilot
- Secure your data in the era of AI with Microsoft Purview @ 2:30PM – 3:30PM
Speakers: Talhah Mir, Principal Group Product Manager, Microsoft Purview and Maithili Dandige, Partner Group Product Manager, Microsoft Purview
- AI and Automation Panel: The Startup Innovation for Enterprise Resilience – moderated by FC @ 2:30PM – 3:30PM
**Attendees will have the opportunity to receive a copy of FC’s book, How I Rob Banks, and the chance to have it signed by the author at the end of the session.
Speakers: Kevin Magee, Director Cybersecurity Startups, Microsoft for Startups; FC, Co-founder & CEO, Cygenta; Shane Coleman, Chief Data Security Evangelist; Christ “Tito” Sestito, CEO, HiddenLayer; Ravid Circus, Co-founder & CPO, Seemplicity; and Jeremy Vaughan, CEO, Start Left Security
Theatre Sessions | Location: Microsoft Security Booth #5744
Stop by the Microsoft Security booth to catch a short demo of your favorite product.
- See Beyond Silos and Protect Better with Microsoft Security Exposure Management 11:00 AM –11:20 AM
- Accelerate your Zero Trust journey with the Microsoft Entra Suite 11:30 AM – 11:50 AM
- Automating Vulnerability Management: The Power of “Endpoint Vulnerability Remediation Agent” in Microsoft Intune 12:00 PM – 12:20 PM
- From Risk to Resilience: The Next Evolution in Multicloud Security 12:30 PM – 12:50 PM
- Accelerating post-breach deep content analysis and mitigation with Microsoft Purview @ 1:00 PM – 1:20 PM
- Microsoft Sentinel Uncovered: Advanced Capabilities to Transform the SOC @ 1:30 PM – 1:50 PM
- Protect AI Workloads from Code to Runtime with Microsoft Defender for Cloud @ 2:00 PM – 2:20 PM
- Security Copilot Agents: Autonomous, adaptive, with you in control @ 2:30 PM – 2:50 PM
- Unified SecOps: Defending Critical Infrastructure with Microsoft Defender @ 3:00 PM – 3:20 PM
- Be Fast as Lighting: Automate Microsoft Defender XDR and Microsoft Sentinel Service Delivery @ 3:30 PM – 3:50 PM
- Mastering Cloud Threats: Detect, Investigate, and Respond in real-time with Microsoft Defender for Cloud and Defender XDR integration @ 4:00 PM – 4:20 PM
- Practical Strategies for Securing AI-Driven Data: Enhancing Cyber Resilience and Insider Risk Management @ 4:30 PM – 4:50PM
- Secure and govern access to GenAI apps with the Microsoft Entra Suite @5:00 PM – 5:20 PM
- Bolster your SOC with Microsoft’s Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR) @ 5:30 PM – 5:50PM
Networking and Fun | Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor)
- Secure & Sip: DevOps Edition @ 4:30PM – 6:30PM
Speaker: Alexis Wales, CISO, GitHub
Gather with GitHub’s security leaders and experts for meaningful conversations, thoughtfully crafted cocktails, and a custom ramen bar to round out your day at RSAC.
Customer Meetings | Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor)
Day 2 of meetings with Microsoft Security experts continues. Secure your spot by visiting the Microsoft Security Experiences at RSAC 2025 Home Page. https://MicrosoftSecurityEvents.eventbuilder.com/MicrosoftRSAC2025events?source=blog_techcomm
As the conference starts to wrap up, don’t miss your chance to get hands-on with Microsoft Security solutions and ask questions at the Hub and booth and in 1:1 meetings.
Microsoft Sessions at RSAC 2025 | Location: Moscone Center
- Guardians of the Cyber Galaxy: Allies Against AI-Powered Cybercrime @ 8:30 – 9:20 AM
AI is revolutionizing cybercrime, putting traditional defenses to the test. Expert panelists unite to detail innovative public-private strategies and real-world case studies from their experience in INTERPOL, the FBI, Microsoft, and the Privacy & Cybersecurity Group of an international law firm. Gain actionable insights to protect the global community and fortify cybersecurity defenses.
Speakers: Sean Farrell, Lead Counsel, AI Strategy, Digital Crimes Unit, Microsoft Corporation; Garylene Javier, Privacy & Cybersecurity Counsel, Crowell & Moring LLP; Craig Jones, Immediate Past Director Cybercrime, INTERPOL; and Andrew Sczygielski, Supervisory Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Green and Sustainable AI for Cybersecurity @1:15 – 2:05 PM
The session will consider the carbon cost of AI and analytics. It will focus on the estimated energy and carbon costs of many cybersecurity use cases and approaches that can be taken to build more sustainable solutions. This will be illustrated through the use of a threat hunting and detection analytical solution and how that could be designed to be most power efficient.
Speakers: Lesley Kipling, Chief Security Advisor, Microsoft and Sian John, CTO, NCC Group
- Scaling AppSec With an SDLC for Citizen Development @ 1:15 – 2:05 PM
AppSec programs are difficult. Filled to the brim with vulnerabilities. Overloaded staff and inadequate budget. The common “solution” is to narrow scope and focus on crown jewels and their devs. Increasing the scope to 100x devs and 1000x apps surprisingly worked, resulting in program remediation of >50K vulnerabilities in 3 months. 18K of them in a single night. This session will show how.
Speakers: Ryan McDonald, Principal Program Manager, Microsoft and Michael Bargury, Co-Founder & CTO, Zenity
Microsoft Expert Sessions | All day Monday – Wednesday | Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor)
Don’t miss the final few Microsoft Security focused sessions at our Hub.
- Threat intelligence trends and insights panel: Exclusive briefing from Microsoft Threat Intelligence @10:30AM – 11:30AM
Speakers: Sherrod De Grippo, Director of Threat Intelligence Strategy, Microsoft; Jeremy Dallman, Senior Director of Security Research in Microsoft Threat Intelligence; and Steven Masada, Assistant General Counsel, DCU
- Secure access for your employees with Entra Suite @ 10:30AM – 11:30AM
Speaker: Irina Nechaeva, General Manager, Identity and Network Access
- Securing the AI Powered Enterprise Executive Panel Lunch @12:00PM – 1:30PM
Speakers: Bret Arsenault, Chief Cybersecurity Advisor, Microsoft; Brandon Dixon, Partner Product Manager, Security AI Strategy, Microsoft; Manny Sahota, Director, Global Cloud Privacy, Microsoft; Herain Oberoi, General Manager, Data Security, Governance, Compliance, Privacy Business and Marketing, Microsoft; and Sarah Bird, Chief Product Officer of Responsible AI, Microsoft
Theatre Sessions | Location: Microsoft Security Booth #5744
Don’t miss your chance to see demos and ask questions casually at the booth.
- Make Windows endpoints more secure and prevent downtime 11:00 AM – 11:20 AM
- Unlocking Opportunities: A Guide to Partnering with Microsoft 11:30 AM – 11:50 AM
- EY Security Copilot Empowered Solutions 12:00 PM – 12:20 PM
- Microsoft Security Copilot: Protect at the speed and scale of AI 12:30 PM – 12:50 PM
- Phishing-Resistant Authentication, Trusted Onboarding & Recovery @ 1:00 PM – 1:20 PM
- Building a multi-layered approach to data security SOC @ 1:30 PM – 1:50 PM
- Secure your email and collaboration tools against sophisticated cyber attacks @ 2:00 PM – 2:20 PM
- The latest intelligence on North Korean remote IT workers @ 2:30 PM – 2:50 PM
- Secure and govern M365 Copilot with Microsoft Purview @ 3:00 PM – 3:20 PM
- Proactively Mitigate Risks with Microsoft Security Exposure Management @ 3:30 PM – 3:50 PM
- Windows 365: The security of Windows, the scale of the cloud@ 4:00 PM – 4:20 PM
- Shift your SOC from manual incident response to automatic attack disruption @ 4:30 PM –4:50PM
- A Look Inside Microsoft’s Secure Future Initiative: Progress, Innovations, and Best Practices @ 5:00 PM – 5:20 PM
- Simplifying Data Security for the Modern Network with Microsoft Purview and Netskope One @ 5:30 PM – 5:50 PM
Customer Meetings | Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor)
It’s your final chance to ask your questions and give your suggestions directly to Microsoft Security experts. Book your meeting here: Microsoft Security Experiences at RSAC 2025 Home Page.
Microsoft Sessions at RSAC | Location: Moscone Center
Last but certainly not least.
- Shaping Cybersecurity: How Regulation Shapes Operational Cyber Defense @ 10:50 – 11:40AM
In 2024, elections and growing cyberthreats pushed cybersecurity to the forefront of government priorities. The panel will explore governments’ efforts to strengthen cybersecurity and resilience through regulation, the impact on operational cyber defense, and discuss where greater alignment is possible. Attendees will gain an understanding of the quickly evolving global regulatory landscape.
Speakers: Ted Maurer, Senior Director, Global Cybersecurity Policy, Microsoft; Christiane Kirketerp de Viron, Director for Digital Society, Trust & Cybersecurity, DG Connect, European Commission; Ari Schwartz, Managing Director, Cybersecurity Services, Venable LLP; Josephine Wolff, Associate Professor of Cybersecurity Policy, Tufts University, The Fletcher School; and Florian Schütz, Director, NCSC – National Cybersecurity Centre
- Taking the Fight Upstream: Pursuing Systemic Defense Against Phishing 12:20 – 11:10 PM
Three decades into the public internet, cybercrime is booming and phishing remains a key vector. With AI-enhanced attacks rising, common users are increasingly ill-equipped to defend themselves. What can be done upstream to protect society? This session explores systemic defense strategies across the ICT ecosystem that hold the potential for significant ecosystem-wide impact.
Speakers: Kelly Bissell, CVP Security & Fraud, Microsoft; Tal Goldstein, Head of Strategy, World Economic Forum Centre for Cybersecurity; Steven Kelly, Chief Trust Officer, Institute for Security and Technology; and Kemba Walden, President, Paladin Global Institute, Paladin Capital Group
- Fraud, Risk, Hollywood & Government—A Strategy for AI Across Industry 12:20 – 11:10 PM
Dive into the high-stakes world of AI as the experts in this session unravel AI’s game-changing roles in Hollywood, government, and finance. Experience firsthand revolutionary strategies, ethical showdowns, and futuristic trends set to redefine industry landscapes. Get ready for a session that’s as dynamic and ambitious as a Hollywood blockbuster!
Speakers: Vishal Amin, GM, National Security Group, Security; Gurpreet Bhatia, Acting Deputy CIO for Cybersecurity, Acting CISO, DOD; David Mahdi, CIO, Transmit Security; and Scott Mann, Film Director & Co-Founder/Co-CEO, Flawless
- Generative AI Meets Identity Governance: Automating the Overlooked @ 1:30 – 2:20 PM
Identity governance is often the last thing to be implemented and rarely gets the attention it deserves due to its complexity. This session will explore how Generative AI agents can help overcome this by automating critical but often deprioritized tasks like role mining and identity lifecycle management, particularly addressing the challenges of managing ‘movers’ within organizations.
Speakers: Angelica Faber, Sr Security Architect, Microsoft and Wesley Kuzma, Architect Manager, Microsoft
Theatre Sessions | Location: Microsoft Security Booth #5744
Catch the last day of theater sessions.
- How Enterprises will Continue to Learn from Open Source 11:00 AM – 11:20 AM
- Creating Bespoke Identity Governance Solutions with Microsoft Entra Suite 11:30 AM – 11:50 AM
- Identity-first security: Using an event-based approach for threat remediation @ 12:00 PM – 12:20 PM
- Securing and governing Agents built-in Microsoft Copilot Studio @ 12:30 PM – 12:50 PM
- Azure Platform Security in an Evolving Threat Landscape @ 1:00 PM – 1:20 PM
How to Make the Most of Microsoft Security at RSAC 2025
Plan Ahead: Bookmark this blog to easily find the things that interest you the most.
Visit the Booth: Engage with our security experts and experience live demos.
Follow Along Online: Stay updated by following Microsoft Security on LinkedIn and X.
Book a Meeting: Want to connect 1:1 with a Microsoft Security expert? Secure your spot by visiting the Microsoft Security Experiences at RSAC 2025 Home Page.
See you at RSAC 2025!
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MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell, Colleagues Demand Reversal of Chaotic and Destructive Tariffs that Could Devastate U.S. Small Businesses
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
04.11.25
Cantwell, Colleagues Demand Reversal of Chaotic and Destructive Tariffs that Could Devastate U.S. Small Businesses
In letter to Commerce Secretary Lutnick, Senators say Trump’s 10% tariff on all nations will “upend the global trade system that small businesses rely on to bring their goods to market”; Last Thursday, Cantwell introduced a bipartisan bill that would reassert Congress’ role in setting & overseeing U.S. trade policy
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), senior member of the Senate Finance Committee and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, joined 12 of her Senate colleagues in a letter demanding that Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and President Donald Trump immediately reverse course on the sweeping tariffs that are devastating small businesses across the nation. Cantwell previously chaired the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
The senators emphasized how these new taxes on imported goods are raising prices for hardworking Americans and creating additional challenges for small businesses at a time when high costs are already making it difficult for them to operate.
Sen. Cantwell recently introduced the bipartisan Trade Review Act of 2025, which would reassert Congress’ role in setting and overseeing U.S. trade policy. It has gained the endorsement of national small business groups like the Main Street Alliance and Small Business Majority.
“Most small businesses operate on razor thin margins, so any increase in costs could be devastating for both day-to-day operations and business’ long-term success,” wrote the senators. “Now is the time to invest in our small businesses to ensure they have the resources necessary to navigate today’s high-cost environment. Across-the-board tariffs will have the opposite effect, squeezing small firms that lack the capital and resources to mitigate the worst effects of President Trump’s new trade barriers.”
“From hospitality to retail to manufacturing, President Trump’s sweeping tariffs have the potential to upend decades of economic interdependence that allowed our nation’s small businesses to thrive. They must be reconsidered. To that end, we respectfully ask that you work with the President to reverse course on the 10 percent tariffs on all countries,” they continued.
Washington state is home to 644,868 small businesses, which together employ more than 1.4 million people, accounting for 49% of all of the state’s workers.
In addition to Sen. Cantwell, the letter was signed by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Peter Welch (D-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mark Warner (D-VA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Gary Peters (D-MI).
A link to the letter is HERE.
On April 3, Sen. Cantwell introduced a bipartisan bill to reaffirm Congress’ key role in setting and approving U.S. trade policy, and reestablish limits on the president’s ability to impose unilateral tariffs.
READ MORE: The Wall Street Journal: Senators Move to Rein In Trump’s Power on Tariffs
HEAR MORE: NPR: Sen. Maria Cantwell says there is bipartisan support to rein in Trump’s tariffs
WATCH MORE: Forbes: ‘I Don’t Know What You Think’: Maria Cantwell Laces Into US Trade Rep Over Trump’s Tariffs
The bill has since picked up 12 additional cosponsors – an equal mix of Republicans and Democrats – and been endorsed by multiple major U.S. business organizations, including the National Retail Federation, which is the largest retail trade association in the world.
In addition, a bipartisan group in the House of Representatives has introduced a companion version of Sen. Cantwell’s legislation, which also is cosponsored by equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats.
The bill restores Congress’ authority and responsibility over tariffs as outlined in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution by placing the following limits on the president’s power to impose tariffs:
- To enact a new tariff, the president must notify Congress of the imposition of (or increase in) the tariff within 48 hours.
- The Congressional notification must include an explanation of the president’s reasoning for imposing or raising the tariff, and
- Provide analysis of potential impact on American businesses and consumers.
- Within 60 days, Congress must pass a joint resolution of approval on the new tariff, otherwise all new tariffs on imports expire after that deadline.
- Under the bill, Congress has the ability to end tariffs at any time by passing a resolution of disapproval.
- Anti-dumping and countervailing duties are excluded.
The full bill text is available HERE.
For the past three months, President Trump has been sowing economic chaos across the country with unpredictable and ever-changing tariff announcements. His back-and-forth announcements and actions, which have whipsawed American businesses and consumers, as well as close neighbors and allies, include:
- On January 31 — citing punishment for failing to crack down on fentanyl trafficking — the Trump administration announced plans to impose a 25% tax on many goods imported into the U.S. from Canada and Mexico and a 10% tax on goods imported from China, then abruptly postponed those tariffs.
- In February, he doubled down, announcing an additional 25% tax on all steel and aluminum imports.
- At 12:01 a.m. ET on March 4, President Trump’s long-promised 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada and 10% tariff increase on goods from China took effect, causing stock prices in the United States to plummet.
- Then, on March 5, he announced that automobiles from Canada and Mexico would be exempt from his tariffs for one month.
- The morning of March 6, he announced that he would suspend the tariffs for some products from Mexico. Then, later that same afternoon, he announced he was suspending most new tariffs on products from both Mexico and Canada until April 2.
- On March 11, Trump threatened to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum – increasing them to 50% – before reversing himself later the same day.
- On March 13, he threatened 200% tariffs on alcoholic products from the European Union, including all wine and Champagne.
- On March 27, he announced plans to impose a 25% tax on all imported sedans, SUVs, crossovers, minivans, cargo vans, and light trucks, as well as some auto parts, beginning on April 2.
- On March 29, President Trump said, “I couldn’t care less,” if automakers raise the price of cars in response to his tariffs.
- On April 2, he announced a “National Economic Emergency,” and signed an executive order declaring a 10% minimum baseline tariff on all countries as well as additional tariffs on nearly 60 countries.
- On April 7, he threatened to impose an additional 50% tariff on China.
- On April 9, he announced a rollback of his April 2 tariffs down to the 10% baseline across the board, with the exception of China, which he increased to 125%.
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MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Salinas, Pingree, Tokuda Lead Colleagues in Slamming Trump Administration for Censoring Agricultural Research Crucial to Rural Communities
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
April 11, 2025
Leaked Agricultural Research Service memo contains a sweeping list of banned words, including “climate,” “affordable housing,” and “safe drinking water.”
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and U.S. Representatives Andrea Salinas, D-Ore., Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, and Jill Tokuda, D-Hawai’i, warned the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that Donald Trump’s politically motivated list of banned words – including “climate,” “affordable housing,” and “safe drinking water” — in research agreements being considered for federal funding would harm rural communities facing wildfires, drought, food insecurity, among other environmental agricultural challenges.
In the letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, the lawmakers emphasized, “The exclusion of these terms from consideration for funding opportunities demonstrates an intentional effort to hinder, distort, and improperly steer federal scientific work in the name of political expediency, and the American people deserve far better than that.”
The USDA has operated more than 600 research projects with a $1.7 billion budget. Banning terms like “runoff” or “soil pollution” from playing a role in funding these agricultural and environmental projects would stall opportunities to advance the agency’s core mission to carry out scientific work that bolsters lives, careers, and the overall wellbeing of communities across rural America. As Oregon’s climate changes, farmers are being exposed to emerging pest and disease threats, which could wipe out entire crops or even threaten human health. Climate change is a scientifically established threat to agricultural productivity, food security, and rural economies.
The lawmakers continued, “The American people deserve transparency and integrity from federal research agencies, not political interference and outright censorship. The farmers and ranchers who rely on sound science to navigate environmental and economic challenges should not have their livelihoods undercut by unscientific, bureaucratic gatekeeping. Critical research proposals to reduce pollution, increase irrigation efficiency, or address emerging pest and disease threats should not be denied solely because they used a word that Donald Trump does not like.”
Joining Wyden, the letter is cosigned in the Senate by Senators Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawai’i, Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Peter Welch, D-Vt., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
Joining Salinas, Pingree, and Tokuda, the letter is cosigned in the House by Representatives Janelle Bynum, D-Ore., Ed Case, D-Hawai’i, Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., Angie Craig, D-Minn., Jim Costa, D-Calif., Shomari Figures, D-Ala., Valerie Foushee, D-N.C., Jared Huffman, D-Calif., Jonathan Jackson, D-Ill., Betty McCollum, D-Minn., Eleanor Norton, D-D.C., Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., Terri Sewell, D-Ala., Shri Thanedar, D-Mich., Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and Maxine Waters, D-Calif.
Wyden demands immediate answers clarifying the implications of this politically motivated censorship to the following questions no later than April 18, 2025:
- Has the USDA conducted any review to determine whether this policy violates federal transparency laws, scientific integrity policies, or anti-discrimination statutes? If so, please share the documentation. If not, please explain why a review has not been done.
- The USDA has confirmed the existence of the ARS memo that has been publicly reported. Please provide any other lists of key words that the USDA is using to evaluate federal agreements, contracts, grants, loans, and other programs.
- For each list provided under question 2, please explain the purpose of each list, including any relevant laws, regulations, Executive Orders, or memoranda that the USDA is seeking to comply with.
- What safeguards have you put in place to ensure that these restrictions do not lead to biased or politically motivated decision-making at the expense of merit, scientific integrity, and public welfare?
- Have these restrictions resulted in the rejection of agreements that would have directly benefited farmers, food supply security, or rural economies? If so, what processes does the USDA have in place to allow for the appeal of decisions and evaluations made based off key word lists for federal agreements, contracts, grants, loans, or other programs? Provide an itemized list of all agreements under all impacted programs that were rejected because they included one or more of these banned terms, as outlined in the directive, as well as a full justification for each rejection.
- In the case of the ARS banned word list, if an ongoing research agreement is focused on biofuels, for example, the ARS website lists 29 research projects containing the word biofuel.[3] Will funding for these projects be revoked? Will ongoing research be halted? Will USDA require projects to rephrase their contracts? If a project cannot be rephrased without using a banned word, will the contract be terminated?
- What are the consequences for researchers or other agency employees who identify serious risks related to any of these banned terms, such as, for example, the expanded range of certain pests and diseases due to changing climate conditions, or nitrate contamination in the drinking water supply from fertilizer runoff?
- Will research proposals and agreements to address these critical issues – and others that include banned terms – be considered under this policy?
- If so, through what process are they getting around the banned terms list, and how is that decided? If not, how do you justify such negligence?
- Are career scientists, policy experts, and agency staff being pressured to remove or avoid these terms in their work? If not, explain how USDA plans to enforce these restrictions. If so, how does that not constitute political coercion?
- Does the USDA deny that climate change, pollution, and the accessibility of federal funding impact the safety and security of the American food supply? If so, provide your justification. If not, then why are these issues being censored?
- Will you release all internal communications regarding the creation, justification, and enforcement of this policy to ensure full transparency? If so, when? If not, why?
This year, Wyden led colleagues in demanding a halt to the Environmental Protection Agency’s attempt to roll back decades of scientific findings on greenhouse gases. In February, Wyden called on the U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to reverse harmful firings at the USDA that have harmed Oregon farmers and families.
The text of the letter is here.
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MIL-OSI USA: Salinas, Pingree, Tokuda, Wyden Lead Colleagues in Slamming Trump Administration for Censoring Agricultural Research Crucial to Rural Communities
Source: US Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06)
Leaked Agricultural Research Service memo contains a sweeping list of banned words, including “climate,” “affordable housing,” and “safe drinking water.”
Washington, DC — Today, U.S. Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), and Jill Tokuda (HI-02), along with U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), warned the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that Donald Trump’s politically motivated list of banned words — including “climate,” “affordable housing,” and “safe drinking water” — in research agreements being considered for federal funding would harm rural communities facing wildfires, drought, food insecurity, among other environmental agricultural challenges.
In the letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, the lawmakers emphasized, “The exclusion of these terms from consideration for funding opportunities demonstrates an intentional effort to hinder, distort, and improperly steer federal scientific work in the name of political expediency, and the American people deserve far better than that.”
The USDA has operated more than 600 research projects with a $1.7 billion budget. Banning terms like “runoff” or “soil pollution” from playing a role in funding these agricultural and environmental projects would stall opportunities to advance the agency’s core mission to carry out scientific work that bolsters lives, careers, and the overall wellbeing of communities across rural America. As Oregon’s climate changes, farmers are being exposed to emerging pest and disease threats, which could wipe out entire crops or even threaten human health. Climate change is a scientifically established threat to agricultural productivity, food security, and rural economies.
The lawmakers continued: “The American people deserve transparency and integrity from federal research agencies, not political interference and outright censorship. The farmers and ranchers who rely on sound science to navigate environmental and economic challenges should not have their livelihoods undercut by unscientific, bureaucratic gatekeeping. Critical research proposals to reduce pollution, increase irrigation efficiency, or address emerging pest and disease threats should not be denied solely because they used a word that Donald Trump does not like.”
In addition to Salinas, Wyden, Pingree, and Tokuda, the letter is cosigned in the House by Reps. Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Ed Case (HI-01), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Angie Craig (MN-02), Jim Costa (CA-21), Shomari Figures (AL-02), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Jared Huffman (CA-02) Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Maxine Waters (CA-43) and in the Senate by Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Tina Smith (D-MN).
The members demand immediate answers clarifying the implications of this politically motivated censorship to the following questions no later than April 18, 2025:
- Has the USDA conducted any review to determine whether this policy violates federal transparency laws, scientific integrity policies, or anti-discrimination statutes? If so, please share the documentation. If not, please explain why a review has not been done.
- The USDA has confirmed the existence of the ARS memo that has been publicly reported. Please provide any other lists of key words that the USDA is using to evaluate federal agreements, contracts, grants, loans, and other programs.
- For each list provided under question 2, please explain the purpose of each list, including any relevant laws, regulations, Executive Orders, or memoranda that the USDA is seeking to comply with.
- What safeguards have you put in place to ensure that these restrictions do not lead to biased or politically motivated decision-making at the expense of merit, scientific integrity, and public welfare?
- Have these restrictions resulted in the rejection of agreements that would have directly benefited farmers, food supply security, or rural economies? If so, what processes does the USDA have in place to allow for the appeal of decisions and evaluations made based off key word lists for federal agreements, contracts, grants, loans, or other programs? Provide an itemized list of all agreements under all impacted programs that were rejected because they included one or more of these banned terms, as outlined in the directive, as well as a full justification for each rejection.
- In the case of the ARS banned word list, if an ongoing research agreement is focused on biofuels, for example, the ARS website lists 29 research projects containing the word biofuel. Will funding for these projects be revoked? Will ongoing research be halted? Will USDA require projects to rephrase their contracts? If a project cannot be rephrased without using a banned word, will the contract be terminated?
- What are the consequences for researchers or other agency employees who identify serious risks related to any of these banned terms, such as, for example, the expanded range of certain pests and diseases due to changing climate conditions, or nitrate contamination in the drinking water supply from fertilizer runoff?
- Will research proposals and agreements to address these critical issues – and others that include banned terms – be considered under this policy?
- If so, through what process are they getting around the banned terms list, and how is that decided? If not, how do you justify such negligence?
- Are career scientists, policy experts, and agency staff being pressured to remove or avoid these terms in their work? If not, explain how USDA plans to enforce these restrictions. If so, how does that not constitute political coercion?
- Does the USDA deny that climate change, pollution, and the accessibility of federal funding impact the safety and security of the American food supply? If so, provide your justification. If not, then why are these issues being censored?
- Will you release all internal communications regarding the creation, justification, and enforcement of this policy to ensure full transparency? If so, when? If not, why?
To read the full letter, click here.
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MIL-OSI United Nations: Adopting Fifth Committee Resolutions, General Assembly Also Decides to Hold Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in Turkmenistan in August
Source: United Nations MIL OSI b
The General Assembly today decided to hold the third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in Awaza, Turkmenistan, from 5 to 8 August, as the 193-member organ adopted several drafts, including those recommended by its Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary).
Adopting the draft resolution titled “Further modalities of the third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries” (document A/79/L.71) without a vote, the Assembly welcomed and accepted “with appreciation the generous offer of the Government of Turkmenistan to host” the Conference under the theme “Driving progress through partnerships”.
The Assembly also decided to rename the Conference outcome document the “Awaza Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries for the Decade 2024–2034”.
A representative of the Secretariat explained that to service the event, the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management and the Department of Global Communications would require a total estimated cost of $254,700 in 2025 for additional meetings and documentation workload.
“Every effort will be made to meet the requirements within their capacity, and there would be no programme budget implications for 2025,” he said, adding however: “Its ability to implement the mandate will depend on the availability of adequate liquidity resources.” He further noted that the Government of Turkmenistan will need to defray the additional costs directly or indirectly involved.
Intergovernmental Organizations Invited to Participate in UN Ocean Conference
Also acting without a vote, the Assembly adopted a draft decision (document A/79/L.73), by which it invited the intergovernmental organizations identified in the Secretariat note (document A/79/850) — namely the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation and the North Pacific Marine Science Organization — to participate as observers in the work of the 2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14.
Recommendations by Fifth Committee
The Assembly then adopted five drafts recommended by its Fifth Committee without a vote. (See document A/C.5/79/INF/3 and Press Release GA/AB/4495 for background.)
Funding Approved for Measures to Combat Islamophobia
By the draft resolution titled “Special subjects relating to the programme budget for 2025” (document A/79/652/Add.1), the Assembly approved additional appropriations of $774,200 to implement its resolution 78/264 on measures to combat Islamophobia, $479,900 to implement decisions by the Human Rights Council and $95.39 million for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). The Assembly also requested the Secretary-General to provide an analysis on the impact of the rapid development of emerging technologies, increase transparency and clarity of information and communications technology (ICT) expenditure, and submit a proposal on the presentation of the costs of such technology.
The draft resolution “Human resources management” (document A/79/839) has the Assembly note rule 3.3 of the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations regarding appointment and promotion and stress that paragraph 66 of its resolution 79/257 of 24 December 2024 does not relate to cases of “promotions”. It also stressed that any changes to the “Guidelines for determination of level and step on recruitment to the Professional category and above” by the Secretary-General shall be fully in line with Assembly resolutions and decisions.
Importance of Joint Inspection Unit
By the draft resolution “Joint Inspection Unit” (document A/79/840), the Assembly took note of the Unit’s report for 2024, its programme of work for 2025 and the Secretary-General’s note on Unit’s 2024 report. By other terms, it stressed the importance of the Unit’s oversight functions in identifying concrete managerial, administrative and programming questions within the participating organizations and providing the General Assembly and other legislative organs action-oriented recommendations. Underscoring the unique role of the Unit as an external and independent system-wide inspection, evaluation and investigation body, the Assembly reaffirmed the Unit’s independence and stressed that budget estimates are to be prepared in a transparent consistent manner for submission to the Assembly.
The draft resolution “Review of the implementation of General Assembly resolutions 48/218 B, 54/244, 59/272, 64/263, 69/253 and 74/257” (document A/79/649) has the Assembly reiterate the five-year non-renewable term of the Under-Secretary General for Internal Oversight Services, and requested the Secretary-General to continue to ensure the full implementation of resolution 48/218 in future appointments. It also decided to evaluate and review at its eighty-fourth session the functions and reporting procedures of the Office of Internal Oversight Services and to that end to include in the provisional agenda of that session an item entitled “Review of the implementation of General Assembly resolutions 48/218, 54/244, 59/272, 64/263, 69/253, 74/257 and 79/___”.
Assembly Defers Consideration of Fifth Committee Agenda Items
By the draft decision titled “Questions deferred for future consideration” (document A/79/653/Add.1), the Assembly decided to defer until the second part of its resumed seventy-ninth session consideration of the Secretary-General’s report on improving the United Nations financial situation, as well as the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ). Further, the Assembly decided to defer until its eightieth session consideration of Secretary-General’s report on standards of accommodation for air travel and the related ACABQ report, and to the first part of its resumed eightieth session consideration of the Secretary-General’s report on the review of the UN Secretariat internship programme, as well as the related ACABQ report.
Additionally, the Assembly took note of the Fifth Committee’s report concerning agenda items 141 “Improving the financial situation of the United Nations” (document A/79/838), 137 “Review of the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations” and 150 “Report on the activities of the Office of Internal Oversight Services (document A/79/648/Add.1).
Filling Vacancies on Contribution, Audit Committees
Acting on the Fifth Committee’s recommendations without a vote, the Assembly appointed Denis Piminov (Russian Federation), Benjamin Sieberns (Germany) and Fu Liheng (China) as members of the Committee on Contributions, and Eric Oduro Osae (Ghana) as a member of the Independent Audit Advisory Committee, for terms of office from today to 31 December 2026.
Application of Article 19 of UN Charter: Congo Reduces Its Arrears
In other business, the Assembly took note of Congo’s payment necessary to reduce the arrears below the amount specified in Article 19 of the United Nations Charter (document A/79/720/Add.4).
Tribute to Former Assembly President
It also observed a minute of silence in tribute to the memory of the President of the forty-nineth session of the Assembly, Amara Essy (Côte d’Ivoire), who passed away on 8 April.
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MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Western Senators Introduce Bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act to Combat Wildfires
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
Padilla, Western Senators Introduce Bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act to Combat Wildfires
Comprehensive legislation reduces wildfire risk, advances watershed restoration, improves forest health, and streamlines processes to protect communities
A list of Fix Our Forests Act provisions particularly impactful for California is available here
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Wildfire Caucus, and Senators John Curtis (R-Utah), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) introduced the Fix Our Forests Act, bipartisan legislation to combat catastrophic wildfires, restore forest ecosystems, and make federal forest management more efficient and responsive. The comprehensive bill reflects months of bipartisan negotiations to find consensus on how to best accelerate and improve forest management practices, streamline environmental reviews, and strengthen partnerships between federal agencies, states, tribes, and private stakeholders.
The American West has long been prone to wildfires, but climate change, prolonged drought, and the buildup of dry fuels have increasingly intensified these fires and extended fire seasons. Wildfires today are more catastrophic — growing larger, spreading faster, and burning more land than ever before. Nationwide, total acres burned rose from 2.7 million in 2023 to nearly 9 million in 2024, a 231 percent increase.
California averages more than 7,500 wildfires a year. Not including the recent Los Angeles fires, six of the top 10 most destructive fires, three of the top five deadliest fires, and all of the state’s nine largest fires have burned since 2017. The status quo is simply unsustainable, and responding to the scale and magnitude of the crisis on the ground is essential to keeping California communities safe.
Additionally, wildfires release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions that accelerate climate change. California’s 2020 fire season, the worst on record, emitted enough greenhouse gases to erase nearly two decades of progress on emissions reductions in California. Addressing this wildfire emergency is critical to ensuring that our climate progress is not undermined by the devastating impacts of these fires.
“As increasingly frequent and catastrophic wildfires in California make clear, we need durable solutions to confront the growing impacts of the wildfire crisis,” said Senator Padilla. “This bill represents a strong, bipartisan step forward, not just in reducing wildfire risk in and around our national forests, but in protecting urban areas and our efforts to reduce climate emissions. It prioritizes building fire-resilient communities, accelerating the removal of hazardous fuels, and strengthening coordination across federal, state, and tribal agencies, including through the creation of the first-ever National Wildfire Intelligence Center. I look forward to continuing to advance forward-thinking, practical solutions to protect our communities from devastating wildfires — and that includes pushing for sustained funding and staffing for our federal land management agencies to ensure they have the tools to get this critical work done.”
“Utah and the American West are on the front lines of a growing wildfire crisis—and the longer we wait, the more acres will burn, and more families will be impacted,” said Senator Curtis. “After months of bipartisan cooperation and consensus-building, my colleagues and I are introducing comprehensive legislation to support forest health, accelerate restoration, and equip local leaders—from fire chiefs to mayors—with the tools and data they need to protect lives, property, and landscapes. I’m proud of this bill and look forward to receiving additional input from my colleagues as it advances through Committee and the full Senate.”
“The growing wildfire crisis threatens our Colorado communities,” said Senator Hickenlooper. “We need to act NOW with the speed required to mitigate wildfires and make our homes and businesses more resilient to these disasters, and to put in place protections for our communities and the environment.”
“Better stewarding our forests is something we can all agree on, regardless of party, because it helps secure a stronger economy, more resilient, healthy forests, and safer communities. I’m proud to join my colleagues on this important legislation to support those on the frontlines protecting communities from catastrophic wildfire, better manage our forests, create more good-paying jobs, and unleash our resource economy,” said Senator Sheehy.
“Extreme risk of catastrophic wildfires across the West demands urgent action,” said California Governor Gavin Newsom. “In California, we’re fast-tracking projects by streamlining state requirements and using more fuel breaks and prescribed fire. The Fix Our Forests Act is a step forward that will build on this progress — enabling good projects to happen faster on federal lands. I’m appreciative of Senator Padilla and the bipartisan team of Senators who crafted a balanced solution that will both protect communities and improve the health of our forests.”
“About half of our lands in California are publicly owned and managed by the federal government,” explained California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot. “So, reducing catastrophic wildfire risk clearly relies on helping our federal lands become healthier and more resilient to fire. This bipartisan Fix our Forests Act does just this, removing barriers to get more good work done across our federal lands more quickly. This act represents an opportunity for an all-lands, all-hands approach that is urgently needed at this moment.”
“The bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act (FOFA) provides much-needed tools that will move the needle and improve our work to mitigate wildfires,” said CAL FIRE Director and Fire Chief Joe Tyler. “This bill will bring California’s use of cutting-edge technology to the rest of the country. The proposed Wildfire Intelligence Center will advance the kind of predictive services, monitoring, and early detection work already happening at California’s Wildfire Forecast and Threat Intelligence Integration Center.”
The frequency and severity of California wildfires have surged over the past several years, with recent wildfires taking a devastating toll on California communities. Fueled by wind gusts of up to 100 miles per hour, the Los Angeles County fires earlier this year burned more than 40,000 acres — an area almost three times the size of Manhattan. The fires destroyed over 16,000 structures, forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate, and took at least 30 lives.
Forest health challenges are also increasing in frequency and severity due to climate stressors like drought and fire, and biological threats like invasive species — all of which the West is particularly vulnerable to. From 2001 to 2019, total forest area declined by 2.3 percent, while interior forest area decreased by up to 9.5 percent. The Intermountain region had the largest area losses, and the Pacific Southwest had the highest annual loss rates.
To address these challenges, the Fix Our Forests Act would:
- Establish new and updated programs to reduce wildfire risks across large, high-priority “firesheds,” with an emphasis on cross-jurisdictional collaboration.
- Streamline and expand tools for forest health projects (e.g., stewardship contracting, Good Neighbor Agreements) and provide faster processes for certain hazardous fuels treatments.
- Create a single interagency program to help communities in the wildland-urban interface build and retrofit with wildfire-resistant measures, while simplifying and consolidating grant applications.
- Expand research and demonstration initiatives — including biochar projects and the Community Wildfire Defense Research Program — to test and deploy cutting-edge wildfire prevention, detection, and mitigation technologies.
- Strengthen coordination efforts across agencies through a new Wildfire Intelligence Center which would streamline the federal response and create a whole-of-government approach to combating wildfires.
- Improve reforestation, seedling supply, and nursery capacity; establish new programs for white oak restoration; and clarify policies to reduce wildfire-related litigation and expedite forest health treatments.
A list of Fix Our Forests Act provisions particularly impactful for California is available here.
The Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act is endorsed by environmental groups, first responders, and wildfire organizations including: The Nature Conservancy; National Wildlife Federation; Environmental Defense Fund; National Audubon Society; Citizens’ Climate Lobby; Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership; Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition; The Stewardship Project; the Federation of American Scientists; CAL FIRE; the International Association of Fire Chiefs; Alliance for Wildfire Resilience; Megafire Action; the Association for Firetech Innovation; Climate & Wildfire Institute; Tall Timbers; Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action); and Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO).
“TNC appreciates the serious undertaking of Senators Curtis, Hickenlooper, Sheehy, and Padilla to build on legislation targeted at preventing more catastrophic wildfires through improved forest and fuels management and expanded use of prescribed fire. TNC has been working to restore beneficial fire and improve the resilience of forest systems on the ground for more than 60 years. Every year, wildfires continue to grow deadlier and more devastating to communities and the environment, and we remain concerned that the significant cuts to the Forest Service workforce will impede work to protect people and nature from these wildfire risks. We support this legislative effort aimed at improving the forest management process to better address catastrophic wildfires,” said Kameran Onley, Managing Director of North America Policy and Government Relations at The Nature Conservancy.
“Our national forests provide essential wildlife habitat, store carbon, and supply communities across the nation with clean air and water. These vital landscapes are under threat and must be proactively stewarded if they are to survive the changing climate, rapidly intensifying wildfires, and past management missteps. The bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act will help increase the pace and scale of evidence-backed forest management, including the use of beneficial prescribed fire and the restoration of white oak forests. But we must have a robust and talented federal workforce in place for it to succeed,” said Abby Tinsley, vice president for conservation policy at the National Wildlife Federation. “We will work with Senators Hickenlooper, Padilla, Sheehy, Curtis, and Chairman Westerman in the House to strengthen and advance this important conversation.”
“For many Americans, catastrophic wildfires are a very real and growing threat to their homes and lives,” said Environmental Defense Fund Executive Director Amanda Leland. “The U.S. Forest Service needs new tools and more resources now to prevent and control these wildfires, and with the right funding, this bipartisan proposal will help. Protecting people and nature from catastrophic wildfire requires both a robust, science-based plan of forest management and the resources to implement it.”
“Wildfires grow more intense and destructive each year, leaving behind immense devastation for our forests, wildlife, and communities,” said Marshall Johnson, chief conservation officer at the National Audubon Society. “The bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act represents an important step in reducing wildfire risks across forested landscapes. Audubon thanks Senators Hickenlooper, Curtis, Padilla, and Sheehy for working together to craft a bill that sets the stage for improved forest management, and we urge Congress to dedicate the resources necessary to ensure federal agencies are well-equipped to reduce wildfire risks, steward our forestlands, and protect wildlife habitat.”
“The growing frequency and severity of wildfires pose a tremendous threat to the health of our forests and the safety of countless communities. The Fix Our Forests Act takes important steps to mitigate wildfires, improve forest health, and protect local communities. We appreciate this thoughtful, bipartisan effort led by Senators Curtis, Hickenlooper, Sheehy, and Padilla to advance this important legislation,” said Jennifer Tyler, VP of Government Affairs at Citizens’ Climate Lobby.
“The declining health of our National Forests and the fish and wildlife habitat that they provide is a concern for America’s hunters and anglers,” said Joel Pedersen, President and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “TRCP applauds the leadership of Senators Curtis, Sheehy, Hickenlooper, and Padilla for introducing the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act in the Senate and urges Congress to advance these important forest management provisions and to accompany them with adequate resources and capacity to carry out on-the-ground work.”
“As FAS continues to emphasize, failing to address the root causes of devastating wildfires is a policy choice. And it’s a choice we can no longer afford,” said Daniel Correa, Chief Executive Officer of the Federation of American Scientists. “Swift passage of the Fix Our Forests Act in the Senate would put us on track to better manage the entire wildfire lifecycle of prevention, suppression, and recovery, including through smart and systematic use of science and technology for decision support.”
“The science is clear: tackling the wildfire crisis requires better forest management, increasing the use of prescribed fire, and investing in and deploying the next generation of wildfire technologies. The Fix Our Forests Act will get this urgently needed work done. Now is the time for the Senate to build on the bipartisan leadership demonstrated by the sponsors and pass this bill,” said James Campbell, Wildfire Policy Specialist at the Federation of American Scientists.
“I thank Senators Hickenlooper, Padilla, Curtis, and Sheehy for introducing this bipartisan legislation,” said Fire Chief Josh Waldo, the President and Board Chair of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. “As we saw in January’s fires in Los Angeles, the nation faces a serious and growing risk from fires in the wildland urban interface (WUI). This legislation will enact many of the recommendations of the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission. It also will improve coordination of federal wildland fire preparedness efforts; promote the use of prescribed fires and other preventative measures to prevent WUI fires; and promote the development of new technologies to help local fire departments. We look forward to working with the bill’s sponsors to pass this legislation.”
“We are thrilled to see the Fix Our Forests Act introduced in the Senate through a bipartisan cooperation between Senators Curtis, Hickenlooper, Padilla, and Sheehy. The bill greatly expands upon the version that passed the House, adding critical details to support wildfire risk reduction in the built environment and provisions for mitigating the health impacts of smoke to communities while promoting expanded use of prescribed fire. Covering a third of the recommendations of the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission, this bill is a significant step forward in wildfire policy and, coupled with sufficient funding and staffing to realize the proposed tools and programs, will make a real difference in our nation’s experience with wildfire,” said Annie Schmidt and Tyson Bertone-Riggs, Managing Directors, Alliance for Wildfire Resilience.
“As the megafire crisis grows larger and more severe with each fire season, we need policy solutions that reflect the urgency and scale of the problem. Senators Curtis, Hickenlooper, Padilla and Sheehy have negotiated a Senate companion to the Fix Our Forests Act that will move the federal government towards a science-based, strategic approach to addressing megafires. We look forward to working with the sponsors to advance this bill and enact the most transformative wildfire and land management law since the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003, if not the National Forest Management Act of 1976,” said Matt Weiner, CEO, Megafire Action.
“AFI supports the Fix our Forests Act and calls on the United States Senate to pass it with the urgency the $100 billion a year wildfire crisis warrants from our elected officials,” said Bill Clerico, Founding Chair of the Association for Firetech Innovation (AFI) and Managing Partner of Convective Capital, a venture firm investing in wildfire technology. “AFI is particularly supportive of the legislation’s inclusion of a Wildfire Intelligence Center, a long-overdue step to better integrate and coordinate wildfire response efforts and invest in cutting-edge technology. Our country’s wildfire response efforts are antiquated and are leaving us ill-prepared for this growing crisis. FOFA is a critical step to refining our wildfire response efforts and protecting our communities.”
In the aftermath of the devastating Southern California fires, Senator Padilla has introduced more than 10 bills to help prevent and respond to future disasters. In February, Padilla introduced bipartisan legislation to create a national Wildfire Intelligence Center to streamline federal response and create a whole-of-government approach to combat wildfires. He also announced a package of three bipartisan bills to bolster fire resilience and proactive mitigation efforts, including the Fire-Safe Electrical Corridors Act, the Wildfire Emergency Act, and the Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act. In January, Padilla introduced another suite of bipartisan bills to strengthen wildfire recovery and resilience, including the Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act, the Fire Suppression and Response Funding Assurance Act, and the Disaster Housing Reform for American Families Act. Additionally, last week, he introduced the FEMA Independence Act, bipartisan legislation to restore the Federal Emergency Management Agency as an independent, cabinet-level agency and improve efficiency in federal emergency response efforts.
A one-pager on the bill is available here.
A section-by-section on the bill is available here.
Full text of the bill is available here.
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MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Mike Levin Reintroduces Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Lagoons, Estuaries, and Enhance Coastal Communities
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Levin (CA-49)
April 11, 2025
Washington, D.C.- Today, U.S. Representatives Mike Levin (CA-49), Brian Mast (FL-21), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), and Jen Kiggans (VA-2) reintroduced the bipartisan Resilient Coasts and Estuaries Act, which would revitalize federal efforts to strengthen and protect lagoons and estuaries. This bill would reauthorize and enhance the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP) and require the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to work toward designating five new National Estuarine Research Reserves and to enhance the Reserve System.
Congress established the CELCP to provide grants to state and local governments to protect coastal and estuarine areas deemed to have conservation, recreation, ecological, historical, or aesthetic value. This program supports locally driven efforts to protect coastal and estuarine lands for conservation, research, and recreation. CELCP’s authorization expired in fiscal year 2013 and other federal funding mechanisms ran out in 2017.
The Resilient Coasts and Estuaries Act would revive funding for CELCP at $60 million per year and expand the eligibility for program to include nongovernmental organizations. The bill would prioritize funding for projects in communities that lack resources for coastal hazards, areas threatened by climate change, and areas that might help mitigate the effects of environmental changes through blue carbon storage.
The Resilient Coasts and Estuaries Act would also support and expand the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS), which the Tijuana River Estuarine Research Reserve is a part of. The NERRS is a network of 30 coastal sites covering 1.4 million acres designated to protect and study estuarine systems. The Reserves specialize in research and data monitoring to support conservation and management efforts locally and around the country.
“As the proud representative of a coastal community, I know the critical role lagoons and estuaries play in safeguarding against environmental hazards and enhancing our local economy,” said Rep. Levin. “This bill restores a common-sense measure to protect coastal and estuary habitats. As we continue to find creative solutions to combat coastal erosion and rising sea levels, and protect our environment, I’m eager to work with my colleagues on this bipartisan bill to advance this priority for our communities.”
“Healthy estuaries are important to thriving coastal communities and a robust economy,” said Rep. Bonamici. “This bipartisan effort to conserve and rehabilitate these vital ecosystems will improve resilience along our country’s waterways and coasts, and I thank my co-sponsors for their support.”
“Coastal Virginia is blessed to be home to a large network of estuaries and other wetlands that act as critical barriers against hurricanes, tropical storms, and other natural disasters,” said Congresswoman Kiggans. “Through this important legislation, we can provide state and local governments the resources they need ensure these lands in southeast Virginia and around the country are protected. I’m proud to join my colleagues on this bipartisan effort to preserve our wetlands and support our coastal communities!”
“Estuaries are an essential part of our community. The problems facing the Indian River Lagoon, Caloosahatchee, St. Lucie, and Lake Worth Lagoon have shown repeatedly that our work to protect and restore our waterways is not over,” said Rep. Brian Mast. “I’m proud to support the bipartisan Resilient Coasts and Estuaries Act to reauthorize a successful program that allows us to better safeguard our coastal environments for future generations to come.”
“With over 80 percent of America’s population living in coastal states, millions of hunters and anglers rely on coastal habitats to support recreational passions and economies. The Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program and the National Estuarine Research Reserve System have provided vital state and local stewardship for these habitats, safeguarding at-risk ecosystems and promoting public access for all. The TRCP is proud to support the bipartisan Resilient Coasts and Estuaries Act, and we commend Reps. Levin, Mast, Bonamici, and Kiggans for working to reauthorize common-sense conservation funding,” said Joel Pedersen, President and CEO, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
“Surfrider applauds Representative Levin and the introduction of this bill to establish a Coastal and Estuarine Resilience and Restoration Program. For too long our shorelines and coastal wetlands have been overlooked as critical natural defenses against climate change. This bill will help bolster the resilience of vulnerable coastal ecosystems and communities from the impacts of sea level rise and climate change while protecting the rich habitats and wildlife that they support,” said Zach Plopper, Sr, Environmental Director, Surfrider Foundation
“We welcome the reintroduction of the Resilient Coasts and Estuaries Act which reauthorizes critical programs that will increase conservation of coastal land, improve estuarine data and research, and provide more public access and recreational opportunities in an era of massive coastal change. By balancing the protection, conservation, responsible use, and sustainable economic development of America’s coasts and ensuring every state can manage its own coastal zone, coastal communities and habitats can thrive into the future.” said Derek Brockbank, Executive Director of Coastal States Organization.
“Thank you to Representatives Levin, Mast, Bonamici and Kiggans for their leadership; they know that as the challenges facing our coasts intensify, we need strong, effective programs that protect people, places, and economies,” said Rebecca Roth, director of the National Estuarine Research Reserve Association (NERRA). “The National Estuarine Research Reserve System and the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program are time tested initiatives that consistently meet coastal community needs with training, science, data, education, land protection and more. Reauthorization of these programs will ensure they remain a cornerstone of our national policy, a value added for states, and a direct benefit to local communities and economies for generations to come.”
“Healthy estuaries support our coastal communities and serve as nurseries and feeding grounds for birds, fish, and other wildlife,” said Romaric Moncrieffe, marine conservation policy manager at the National Audubon Society. “The Resilient Coasts and Estuaries Act will fund the essential federal programs that protect coastal habitats from threats like sea-level rise, flooding, and erosion.”
The bill would provide support for several estuary habitats in the 49th District and Southern California, including the San Mateo Lagoon, San Luis Rey River, and San Elijo Lagoon. Additionally, the bill would provide support to the Tijuana River Estuarine Research Reserve, which supports ecosystem management and the cleanup of the Tijuana River Valley.
The Resilient Coasts and Estuaries Act is endorsed by the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Coastal States Organization, National Estuarine Research Reserve Association, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Surfrider Foundation, Oceana, National Audubon Society, American Sportsfishing Association, National Wildlife Federation, Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA), American Shore & Beach Preservation Association, Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.), American Fisheries Society, North American Falconers Association, International Game Fish Association, Land Trust Alliance, Wild Salmon Center, and Angler Action Foundation.
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MIL-OSI USA: GLOBE Mission Earth Supports Career Technical Education
Source: NASA
The NASA Science Activation program’s GLOBE Mission EARTH (GME) project is forging powerful connections between career technical education (CTE) programs and real-world science, inspiring students across the United States to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
GME is a collaborative effort between NASA scientists, educators, and schools that brings NASA Earth science and the GLOBE Program into classrooms to support hands-on, inquiry-based learning. GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) is an international science and education program that provides students and the public with the opportunity to participate in data collection and the scientific process, contributing meaningfully to our understanding of the Earth system.
By connecting students directly to environmental research and NASA data, GME helps make science more relevant, engaging, and applicable to students’ futures. In CTE programs—where project-based and work-based learning are key instructional strategies—GME’s integration of GLOBE protocols offers students the chance to develop not only technical skills, but also essential data literacy and professional competencies like collaboration, critical thinking, and communication. These cross-cutting skills are valuable across a wide range of industries, from agriculture and advanced manufacturing to natural resources and public safety.
The real-world, hands-on approach of CTE makes it an ideal setting for implementing GLOBE to support STEM learning across industries. At Skyline High School in Oakland, California, for example, GLOBE has been embedded in multiple courses within the school’s Green Energy Pathway, originally launched by GLOBE partner Tracy Ostrom. Over the past decade, nearly 1,000 students have participated in GLOBE activities at Skyline. Many of these students describe their experiences with environmental data collection and interactions with NASA scientists as inspiring and transformative. Similarly, at Toledo Technology Academy, GME is connecting students with NASA science and renewable energy projects—allowing them to study how solar panels impact their local environment and how weather conditions affect wind energy generation.
To expand awareness of how GLOBE can enhance CTE learning and career preparation, WestEd staff Svetlana Darche and Nico Janik presented at the Educating for Careers Conference on March 3, 2025, in Sacramento, California. This event, sponsored by the California chapter of the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), brought together over 2,600 educators dedicated to equipping students with the tools they need to succeed in an evolving job market. Darche and Janik’s session, titled “Developing STEM Skills While Contributing to Science,” showcased GLOBE’s role in work-based learning and introduced new federal definitions from the Carl D. Perkins Act (Perkins V) that emphasize:Interactions with industry professionals
A direct link to curriculum and instruction
First-hand engagement with real-world tasks in a given career fieldGLOBE’s approach to scientific data collection aligns perfectly with these criteria. Janik led 40 educators through a hands-on experience using the GLOBE Surface Temperature Protocol, demonstrating how students investigate the Urban Heat Island Effect while learning critical technical and analytical skills. By collecting and analyzing real-world data, students gain firsthand experience with the tools and methods used by scientists, bridging the gap between classroom learning and future career opportunities.
Through GME’s work with CTE programs, students are not only learning science—they are doing science. These authentic experiences inspire, empower, and prepare students for careers where data literacy, scientific inquiry, and problem-solving are essential. With ongoing collaborations between GLOBE, NASA, and educators nationwide, the next generation of STEM professionals is already taking shape—one real-world investigation at a time.
GME is supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award number NNX16AC54A and is part of NASA’s Science Activation Portfolio. Learn more about how Science Activation connects NASA science experts, real content, and experiences with community leaders to do science in ways that activate minds and promote deeper understanding of our world and beyond: https://science.nasa.gov/learn -
MIL-OSI USA: Kudos Test Article
Source: NASA
The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program is calling on volunteers of all ages to help students and citizen scientists document seasonal change through leaf color and land cover. The data collection event will support students across North America, Latin America, Central America, and Europe, who are working together to document the seasonal changes taking place from September through December – see Figure. The observations will also provide vital data for GLOBE students creating student research projects for the GLOBE 2025 International Virtual Science Symposium (IVSS). The project is part of GLOBE’s Intensive Observation Period (IOP), which collects data during a focused period to assess how climate change is unfolding in different regions of the world.
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MIL-OSI USA: NASA’s IMAP Arrives at NASA Marshall For Testing in XRCF
Source: NASA
On March 18, NASA’s IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe) arrived at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for thermal vacuum testing at the X-ray and Cryogenic Facility, which simulates the harsh conditions of space.
The IMAP mission is a modern-day celestial cartographer that will map the solar system by studying the heliosphere, a giant bubble created by the Sun’s solar wind that surrounds our solar system and protects it from harmful interstellar radiation.Testing performed in the X-ray and Cryogenic Facility will help to assess the spacecraft before its journey toward the Sun. The IMAP mission will orbit the Sun at a location called Lagrange Point 1 (L1), which is about one million miles from Earth towards the Sun. From this location, IMAP can measure the local solar wind and scan the distant heliosphere without background from planets and their magnetic fields. The mission will use its suite of ten instruments to map the boundary of the heliosphere, analyze the composition of interstellar particles that make it through, and investigate how particles change as they move through the solar system.
Furthermore, IMAP will maintain a continuous broadcast of near real-time space weather data from five instruments aboard IMAP that will be used to test new space weather prediction models and improve our understanding of effects impacting our human exploration of space.While inside the Marshall facility, the spacecraft will undergo dramatic temperature changes to simulate the environment during launch, on the journey toward the Sun, and at its final orbiting point. The testing facility has multiple capabilities including a large thermal vacuum chamber which simulates the harsh conditions of space such as extreme temperatures and the near-total absence of an atmosphere. Simulating these conditions before launch allow scientists and engineers to identify successes and potential failures in the design of the spacecraft.
“The X-ray and Cryogenic Facility was an ideal testing location for IMAP given the chamber’s size, availability, and ability to meet or exceed the required test parameters including strict contamination control, shroud temperature, and vacuum level,” said Jeff Kegley, chief of Marshall’s Science Test Branch.
The facility’s main chamber is 20 feet in diameter and 60 feet long, making it the 5th largest thermal vacuum chamber at NASA. It’s the only chamber that is adjoined to an ISO 6 cleanroom — a controlled environment that limits the number and size of airborne particles to minimize contamination.
The IMAP mission will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, no earlier than September.Media Contact:
Lane FigueroaMarshall Space Flight CenterHuntsville, Alabama256.544.0034lane.e.figueroa@nasa.gov -
MIL-OSI USA: NASA-Developed Tools at Marshall Support Operations to Station
Source: NASA
Two new automation tools developed at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, are geared toward improving operations for flight controllers working with the International Space Station from the Huntsville Operations Support Center.
The tools, called AutoDump and Permanently Missing Intervals Checker, will free the flight control team to focus on situational awareness, anomaly response, and real-time coordination.
The space station experiences routine loss-of-signal periods based on communication coverage as the space station orbits the Earth. When signal is lost, an onboard buffer records data that could not be downlinked during that period. Following acquisition of signal, flight controllers previously had to send a command to downlink, or “dump,” the stored data.
The AutoDump tool streamlines a repetitive data downlinking command from flight controllers by detecting a routine loss-of-signal, and then autonomously sending the command to downlink data stored in the onboard buffer when the signal is acquired again. Once the data has been downlinked, the tool will automatically make an entry in the console log to confirm the downlink took place.
“Reliably and quickly sending these dump commands is important to ensure that space station payload developers can operate from the most current data,” said Michael Zekoff, manager of Space Systems Operations at Marshall.Michael Zekoff
Space Systems Operations ManagerAutoDump was successfully deployed on Feb. 4 in support of the orbiting laboratory.
The other tool, known as the Permanently Missing Intervals Checker, is another automated process coming online that will improve team efficiency.
Permanently missing intervals are gaps in the data stream where data can be lost due to a variety of reasons, including network fluctuations. The missing intervals are generally short but are documented so the scientific community and other users have confirmation that the missing data is unable to be recovered.
“The process of checking for and documenting permanently missing intervals is challenging and incredibly time-consuming to make sure we capture all the payload impacts,” said Nathan Walkenhorst, a NASA contractor with Bailey Collaborative Solutions who serves as a flight controller specialist.
The checker will allow NASA to quickly gather and assess payload impacts, reduce disruptions to operations, and allow researchers to get better returns on their science investigations. It is expected to be deployed later this year.
In addition to Walkenhorst, Zekoff also credited Ramon Pedoto, a software architect, and Tyrell Jemison, a NASA contractor and data management coordinator with Teledyne Brown Engineering Inc, for their work in developing the automation tools. The development of the tools also requires coordination between flight control and software teams at Marshall, followed by extensive testing in both simulated and flight environments, including spacecraft operations, communications coverage, onboard anomalies, and other unexpected conditions.
“The team solicited broad review to ensure that the tool would integrate correctly with other station systems,” Zekoff said. “Automated tools are evaluated carefully to prevent unintended commanding or other consequences. Analysis of the tools included thorough characterization of the impacts, risk mitigation strategies, and approval by stakeholders across the International Space Station program.”
The Huntsville Operations Support Center provides payload, engineering, and mission operations support to the space station, the Commercial Crew Program, and Artemis missions, as well as science and technology demonstration missions. The Payload Operations Integration Center within the Huntsville Operations Support Center operates, plans, and coordinates the science experiments onboard the space station 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.
For more information on the International Space Station, visit:
www.nasa.gov/international-space-station/ -
MIL-OSI Global: In trade war with the US, China holds a lot more cards than Trump may think − in fact, it might have a winning hand
Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Linggong Kong, Ph.D. Candidate in Political Science, Auburn University
When Donald Trump pulled back on his plan to impose eye-watering tariffs on trading partners across the world, there was one key exception: China.
While the rest of the world would be given a 90-day reprieve on additional duties beyond the new 10% tariffs on all U.S. trade partners, China would feel the squeeze even more. On April 9, 2025, Trump raised the tariff on Chinese goods to 125%.
The move, in Trump’s telling, was prompted by Beijing’s “lack of respect for global markets.” But the U.S. president may well have been smarting from Beijing’s apparent willingness to confront U.S. tariffs head on.
While many countries opted not to retaliate against Trump’s now-delayed reciprocal tariff hikes, instead favoring negotiation and dialogue, Beijing took a different tack. It responded with swift and firm countermeasures. On April 11, China dismissed Trump’s moves as a “joke” and raised its own tariff against the U.S. to 125%.
The two economies are now locked in an all-out, high-intensity trade standoff. And China is showing no signs of backing down.
And as an expert on U.S.-China relations, I wouldn’t expect China to. Unlike the first U.S.-China trade war during Trump’s initial term, when Beijing eagerly sought to negotiate with the U.S., China now holds far more leverage.
Indeed, Beijing believes it can inflict at least as much damage on the U.S. as vice versa, while at the same time expanding its global position.
A changed calculus for China
There’s no doubt that the consequences of tariffs are severe for China’s export-oriented manufacturers – especially those in the coastal regions producing furniture, clothing, toys and home appliances for American consumers.
Amid tariffs, China’s President Xi Jinping senses a historic opportunity.
Carlos Barria/AFP via Getty ImagesBut since Trump first launched a tariff increase on China in 2018, a number of underlying economic factors have significantly shifted Beijing’s calculus.
Crucially, the importance of the U.S. market to China’s export-driven economy has declined significantly. In 2018, at the start of the first trade war, U.S.-bound exports accounted for 19.8% of China’s total exports. In 2023, that figure had fallen to 12.8%. The tariffs may further prompt China to accelerate its “domestic demand expansion” strategy, unleashing the spending power of its consumers and strengthening its domestic economy.
And while China entered the 2018 trade war in a phase of strong economic growth, the current situation is quite different. Sluggish real estate markets, capital flight and Western “decoupling” have pushed the Chinese economy into a period of persistent slowdown.
Perhaps counterintuitively, this prolonged downturn may have made the Chinese economy more resilient to shocks. It has pushed businesses and policymakers to come to factor in the existing harsh economic realities, even before the impact of Trump’s tariffs.
Trump’s tariff policy against China may also allow Beijing a useful external scapegoat, allowing it to rally public sentiment and shift blame for the economic slowdown onto U.S. aggression.
China also understands that the U.S. cannot easily replace its dependency on Chinese goods, particularly through its supply chains. While direct U.S. imports from China have decreased, many goods now imported from third countries still rely on Chinese-made components or raw materials.
By 2022, the U.S. relied on China for 532 key product categories – nearly four times the level in 2000 – while China’s reliance on U.S. products was cut by half in the same period.
There’s a related public opinion calculation: Rising tariffs are expected to drive up prices, something that could stir discontent among American consumers, particularly blue-collar voters. Indeed, Beijing believes Trump’s tariffs risk pushing the previously strong U.S. economy toward a recession.
U.S. President Donald Trump looks at Chinese President Xi Jinping during the plenary session at the G20 Summit on July 7, 2017, in Hamburg, Germany.
Photo by Mikhail Svetlov/Getty ImagesPotent tools for retaliation
Alongside the changed economic environments, China also holds a number of strategic tools for retaliation against the U.S.
It dominates the global rare earth supply chain – critical to military and high-tech industries – supplying roughly 72% of U.S. rare earth imports, by some estimates. On March 4, China placed 15 American entities on its export control list, followed by another 12 on April 9. Many were U.S. defense contractors or high-tech firms reliant on rare earth elements for their products.
China also retains the ability to target key U.S. agricultural export sectors such as poultry and soybeans – industries heavily dependent on Chinese demand and concentrated in Republican-leaning states. China accounts for about half of U.S. soybean exports and nearly 10% of American poultry exports. On March 4, Beijing revoked import approvals for three major U.S. soybean exporters.
And on the tech side, many U.S. companies – such as Apple and Tesla – remain deeply tied to Chinese manufacturing. Tariffs threaten to shrink their profit margins significantly, something Beijing believes can be used as a source of leverage against the Trump administration. Already, Beijing is reportedly planning to strike back through regulatory pressure on U.S. companies operating in China.
Meanwhile, the fact that Elon Musk, a senior Trump insider who has clashed with U.S. trade adviser Peter Navarro against tariffs, has major business interests in China is a particularly strong wedge that Beijing could yet exploit in an attempt to divide the Trump administration.
Chinese and U.S. flags fly at a booth during the first China International Import Expo on Nov. 6, 2018, in Shanghai.
Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty ImagesA strategic opening for China?
While Beijing thinks it can weather Trump’s sweeping tariffs on a bilateral basis, it also believes the U.S. broadside against its own trading partners has created a generational strategic opportunity to displace American hegemony.
Close to home, this shift could significantly reshape the geopolitical landscape of East Asia. Already on March 30 – after Trump had first raised tariffs on Beijing – China, Japan and South Korea hosted their first economic dialogue in five years and pledged to advance a trilateral free trade agreement. The move was particularly remarkable given how carefully the U.S. had worked to cultivate its Japanese and South Korean allies during the Biden administration as part of its strategy to counter Chinese regional influence. From Beijing’s perspective, Trump’s actions offer an opportunity to directly erode U.S. sway in the Indo-Pacific.
Could China’s dragon economy slay Trump’s tariffs?
Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty ImagesSimilarly, Trump’s steep tariffs on Southeast Asian countries, which were also a major strategic regional priority during the Biden administration, may push those nations closer to China. Chinese state media announced on April 11 that President Xi Jinping will pay state visits to Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia from April 14-18, aiming to deepen “all-round cooperation” with neighboring countries. Notably, all three Southeast Asian nations were targeted with now-paused reciprocal tariffs by the Trump administration – 49% on Cambodian goods, 46% on Vietnamese exports and 24% on products from Malaysia.
Farther away from China lies an even more promising strategic opportunity. Trump’s tariff strategy has already prompted China and officials from the European Union to contemplate strengthening their own previously strained trade ties, something that could weaken the transatlantic alliance that had sought to decouple from China.
On April 8, the president of the European Commission held a call with China’s premier, during which both sides jointly condemned U.S. trade protectionism and advocated for free and open trade. Coincidentally, on April 9, the day China raised tariffs on U.S. goods to 84%, the EU also announced its first wave of retaliatory measures – imposing a 25% tariff on selected U.S. imports worth over €20 billion – but delayed implementation following Trump’s 90-day pause.
Now, EU and Chinese officials are holding talks over existing trade barriers and considering a full-fledged summit in China in July.
Finally, China sees in Trump’s tariff policy a potential weakening of the international standing of the U.S. dollar. Widespread tariffs imposed on multiple countries have shaken investor confidence in the U.S. economy, contributing to a decline in the dollar’s value.
Traditionally, the dollar and U.S. Treasury bonds have been viewed as haven assets, but recent market turmoil has cast doubt on that status. At the same time, steep tariffs have raised concerns about the health of the U.S. economy and the sustainability of its debt, undermining trust in both the dollar and U.S. Treasurys.
While Trump’s tariffs will inevitably hurt parts of the Chinese economy, Beijing appears to have far more cards to play this time around. It has the tools to inflict meaningful damage on U.S. interests – and perhaps more importantly, Trump’s all-out tariff war is providing China with a rare and unprecedented strategic opportunity.
Linggong Kong does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. In trade war with the US, China holds a lot more cards than Trump may think − in fact, it might have a winning hand – https://theconversation.com/in-trade-war-with-the-us-china-holds-a-lot-more-cards-than-trump-may-think-in-fact-it-might-have-a-winning-hand-254173
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MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister Smt. Annpurna Devi Visits Kra Daadi District; Emphasizes Centre’s Commitment to Holistic Development of Northeast India
Source: Government of India
Posted On: 11 APR 2025 5:40PM by PIB Itanagar
Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Annpurna Devi undertook an official visit to the Kra Daadi district of Arunachal Pradesh on Friday, where she engaged in a series of developmental programs and community interactions.
The Hon’ble Union Minister was accorded a warm and vibrant welcome by the local community with traditional songs and a captivating Nukkad Natak themed on Poshan Abhiyan, performed by local artists, highlighting the importance of nutrition and health awareness.
During her address to the gathering at the 7th Poshan Pakhwada event, Smt. Annpurna Devi reaffirmed the Centre’s unwavering resolve to bring development to every corner of the northeastern region of the country, echoing the Government’s guiding principle of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, aur Sabka Prayas.” She stated, “Under the National Health Mission, the Government is actively conducting special initiatives to bolster health and family welfare across all aspiring districts, with particular emphasis on the Northeast.”
In a major boost to maternal welfare, the Union Minister handed over payment approvals under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), reiterating the Government’s focus on supporting mothers during and after pregnancy to ensure a healthier future generation.
She also shared noteworthy budgetary developments, highlighting a remarkable increase in the Gender Budget allocation. “The total Gender Budget allocation for schemes targeted towards women’s empowerment has been significantly enhanced from ₹3.27 lakh crore in Budget Estimates 2024–25 to ₹4.49 lakh crore in Budget 2025–26. The Gender Budget’s share in the overall Union Budget has also seen a substantial increase from 6.8% to 8.86%,” she noted.
The visit was also graced by several esteemed dignitaries, including Smt. Dasanglu Pul, Hon’ble Minister for Women and Child Development, Science & Technology and Cultural Affairs, Government of Arunachal Pradesh; Shri Balo Raja, Hon’ble Minister for Land Management, Civil Aviation and Urban Affairs, Government of Arunachal Pradesh; Smt. Mimum Tayeng, IAS, Commissioner, Women and Child Development, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh, and the Deputy Commissioner, Kra Daadi district.
The visit of the Union Minister to Kra Daadi underlines the Government of India’s resolve to empower women, promote child welfare, and ensure balanced development across all regions, especially the strategically vital and culturally rich Northeast.
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MIL-OSI Europe: Study – Academic Freedom Monitor 2024 : Analysis of de facto state of academic freedom in the EU – Country overview – 11-04-2025
Source: European Parliament
Academic freedom is widely recognised as a fundamental value of contemporary higher education and science, and as a prerequisite for well-functioning democratic societies. However, in recent years, major concerns have been expressed by various stakeholders about the state of academic freedom in the European Union. The European Parliament launched an annual EP Academic Freedom Monitor in 2022, to help improve the promotion and protection of academic freedom in the European Union. This report presents one of the two studies conducted in the 2024 edition. This study firstly provides an updated overview of recent country- specific measurements of academic freedom across the EU. Secondly, it provides a country-specific analysis of the de facto state of academic freedom in 10 EU Member States. The study was conducted as a qualitative analysis of various data, with input from stakeholder organisations and academic experts. On the basis of both studies, this report proposes EU-level policy options for possible legislative and non-legislative initiatives to support academic freedom in the EU.
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MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Innovation, AI, super computers, space technology, defence are key areas for joint partnerships between India-Italy: H.E. Antonio Tajani, Deputy PM, Italy
Source: Government of India
Innovation, AI, super computers, space technology, defence are key areas for joint partnerships between India-Italy: H.E. Antonio Tajani, Deputy PM, Italy
Italy-India Business, Science and Technology Forum is an opportunity to collectively resolve to implement the Joint Strategic Action plan 2025-29: Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush GoyalPosted On: 11 APR 2025 4:58PM by PIB Delhi
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation of Italy, H.E. Antonio Tajani today while addressing the ‘Italy-India Business, Science and Technology Forum’ said that this forum is part of the strategic partnership plan signed by both the governments. “India is an important country for stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Stability is crucial to strengthen the trade,” he emphasized.
Addressing the forum, the Deputy Prime Minister stated that India is an economy with enormous potential, and we want to strengthen this cooperation. “Italy and India are natural economic partners. Together we want to strengthen our cooperation for a partnership that looks at the future through higher education, innovation and research. Today, Italy and India are closer than ever. Our bilateral trade is over $ 14 billion, and we want to invest more in India, export more to India, and attract more Indian investments in Italy,” he added.
Innovation, AI, super computers, space technology, defence are a few sectors which have potential for joint partnerships and both countries should work to attract investments in these areas, he highlighted.
Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal said there is further scope for expansion in the bilateral trade between India and Italy if we work seamless with each other, encourage investments, promote businesses without roadblocks.
Shri Goyal further stated that Indian economy is slated to grow from $4 trillion to $30-35 trillion by 2047, our goal of Viksit Bharat makes India a compelled case to deepen the engagement between the European Union and India, particularly Italy and India. There are untapped newer areas like fashion, luxury goods, food processing, pharmaceuticals, tourism, green technology, advanced manufacturing, automobiles,” he emphasized.
Shri Goyal added that amidst all the global challenges that the world is experiencing, it is very reassuring to see the strength and depth of the Italy-India friendship. “This forum is a very timely platform and a good opportunity for all of us to collectively resolve to implement the Joint Strategic Action plan 2025-29 launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in November of 2024. It is a very forward-looking, ambitious and pragmatic roadmap with a strong focus on trade, investment, innovation,” he added.
Union Minister of External Affairs, Dr S Jaishankar said that the direction of India’s progress and capabilities of Italian industry make for a good combination. “Make In India, today offers a platform or pathway for that collaboration to unfold,” he added.
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Abhishek Dayal/ Nihi Sharma/ Ishita Biswas
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MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Shri Piyush Goyal meets with H.E Mr Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation of Italy to India
Source: Government of India
Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Shri Piyush Goyal meets with H.E Mr Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation of Italy to India
Strengthening bilateral trade and investment ties discussedPosted On: 11 APR 2025 5:11PM by PIB Delhi
The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal met with H.E. Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy here today to discuss strengthening bilateral trade and investment ties. The meeting reinforced the longstanding relationship between India and Italy, built on shared values of democracy and fair play. The two leaders discussed ways to expand economic cooperation, and explored new avenues to advance this partnership.
This high-level engagement marks a significant step to advance the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029, agreed at the level of the two Prime Ministers in November 2024, with purposeful momentum, promoting smoother trade flows, nurturing investment opportunities, and achieving tangible outcomes, to pave the way for a prosperous, mutually beneficial partnership that benefits both our nations. It may be noted that India-Italy trade is estimated at about US$ 15 billion in 2023-2024 while Foreign Direct Investments from Italy into India are estimated at about US$ 4 billion since the year 2000.
During discussions, both leaders acknowledged the relevance of India’s dynamic and fast-growing economy while emphasizing the significance of diversifying trade relations and deepening economic ties to achieve growth and prosperity.
The leaders also discussed the progress of the EU-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations and emphasized the importance of prioritizing trade issues to streamline negotiations and deliver a commercially meaningful package to build resilient value chains to provide stability to business against emerging risks.
Sectors like pharma, textiles, industry 4.0 & technological collaboration, gems & jewellery, ship building, energy transition and agri-tech and food processing were highlighted as key areas of collaboration. Italy recognized the necessity of engaging with India as a strategic partner to diversify its trade relationships. The trade barriers faced by exporters and investors were also discussed, with both sides agreeing to resolve such issues through continuous dialogue. Both Ministers earlier attended the plenary session of the India-Italy Business, Science and Technology Forum and also interacted with Indian and Italian business leaders.
It was agreed that the next meeting of the Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation would be held in Italy at a mutually convenient time, accompanied by a high-level business delegation to advance bilateral trade, enhance market access, and promote investments.
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Abhishek Dayal/Nihi Sharma/Ishita Biswas
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MIL-OSI USA: Oregon Delegation Denounces Trump Administration’s Attacks on Humanities Funding
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
April 11, 2025
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today led his Democratic colleagues in the Oregon delegation—Senator Ron Wyden and U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05)—in slamming federal funding cuts at the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) following a majority of the agency’s entire staff being placed on paid administrative leave and cuts to more than 1,200 NEH grants across the country.
“The NEH is a critical federal agency that supports the building blocks of American civil society, helping to examine the human condition, promote civics education, understand our cultural heritage, foster mutual respect and empathy, and develop media and information literacy across communities big and small,” the lawmakers wrote. “Without these critical resources, we fear that Americans will lose access to important cultural institutions and conversations across the country. For that reason, we implore you to reverse course and release grant funding and reinstate staff immediately.”
Their letter to the Acting Chairman of the National Endowment of the Humanities on the impact of NEH funding cuts by the Trump Administration follows reports that a team from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) had been visiting NEH offices.
The lawmakers continued, “Since its founding in 1965, NEH has awarded over $6 billion in grants to museums, historic sites, colleges, universities, K–12 teaching, libraries, public television and radio stations, research institutions, independent scholars, and to its humanities council affiliates in each of the nation’s 56 states and jurisdictions. In Oregon, the impacts of these awards have been far- reaching across universities, museums, and our state humanities council, and yet, some of this work is already being cancelled.”
Cancelled grants include approximately $1 million for Oregon Humanities; federal funding for the University of Oregon’s Institute for Resilient Organizations, Communities, and Environments; and more than $600,000 to the High Desert Museum in support of storytelling and educational resources, as well as museum expansion.
The Oregon delegation pressed the Trump Administration: “We expect the Administration to implement the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025 in a manner consistent with these allocations enacted in Fiscal Year 2024. We also expect the Administration to allow the NEH to promote progress and scholarship in the humanities in the United States as Congress intended and as authorized in the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act.”
Full text of the letter can be found by clicking here and follows below:
Dear Mr. McDonald:
We write to you to express deep concerns regarding cuts to previously appropriated funding to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and news that NEH staff have been placed on paid administrative leave. The NEH is a critical federal agency that supports the building blocks of American civil society, helping to examine the human condition, promote civics education, understand our cultural heritage, foster mutual respect and empathy, and develop media and information literacy across communities big and small. Without these critical resources, we fear that Americans will lose access to important cultural institutions and conversations across the country. For that reason, we implore you to reverse course and release grant funding and reinstate staff immediately.
The NEH was established in 1965 alongside the National Endowment for the Arts, when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act. The establishing legislation highlighted the importance of the arts and humanities, explaining that “democracy demands wisdom and vision in its citizens. It must therefore foster and support a form of education, and access to the arts and the humanities, designed to make people of all backgrounds and wherever located masters of their technology and not its unthinking servants.”
Since its founding in 1965, NEH has awarded over $6 billion in grants to museums, historic sites, colleges, universities, K–12 teaching, libraries, public television and radio stations, research institutions, independent scholars, and to its humanities council affiliates in each of the nation’s 56 states and jurisdictions. In Oregon, the impacts of these awards have been far- reaching across universities, museums, and our state humanities council, and yet, some of this work is already being cancelled.
For example, the Trump administration recently cancelled an NEH grant at the University of Oregon’s Institute for Resilient Organizations, Communities, and Environments for research to document the “cultural burning” of trees by Indigenous people in the Cascades and create a template for sustainable and resilient forest management. “Cultural burning” is a form of land management passed on by Indigenous tribes whereby Indigenous people set low-intensity fires to protect ecosystems and reduce wildfire risks. Leveraging a partnership with Oregon State University and the National Science Foundation, the project included funding for students to engage in field work on the Willamette National Forest documenting how living trees were historically modified and sustainably managed as a food source by Indigenous peoples.
Oregon Humanities, which is Oregon’s state humanities council, was also recently notified that its standard operating grant from NEH was terminated, even though it was set to run through 2027. The loss of the grant is approximately $1 million, which is almost half of the organization’s yearly expenditure. Without these funds, Oregon Humanities will not be able to distribute federal dollars to other organizations in Oregon and do the critical work of creating conditions for people to connect and think together even when they disagree.
In addition, museums in Oregon like the High Desert Museum have also benefitted from NEH funding and recently had all five of their NEH grants terminated, which totaled more than
$600,000 in funding. This includes funding to increase storytelling about and educational resources for the largely rural High Desert region, and funding to expand the museum and its programming.
For Fiscal Year 2024, Congress appropriated $207 million to NEH. We expect the Administration to implement the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025 in a manner consistent with these allocations enacted in Fiscal Year 2024. We also expect the Administration to allow the NEH to promote progress and scholarship in the humanities in the United States as Congress intended and as authorized in the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act.
We hope you are mindful of these actions and the negative impacts this will have on Oregon’s communities, and we look forward to working with you to support NEH in fulfilling its purpose and meeting all of its statutory requirements. -
MIL-OSI Russia: Towards new technologies: GUU at the Russian Venture Forum
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
Representatives of the State University of Management took part in the largest event of the venture industry of our country – the XIX Russian Venture Forum, which was held from April 9 to 11 in Kazan.
Our university was represented at the forum by the Director of the Business Incubator Dmitry Rogov and students of the State University of Management, residents of the Academy of Innovators: the founder of the HolterTech startup (a wireless Holter for monitoring heart function) Mikhail Zorin and the CEO of the MedTech startups m.GEN (a digital service for health monitoring based on genetic testing) and AXON (innovative gloves for electrocurrent therapy for the rehabilitation of people with brain injuries) Varvara Karamysheva. It is worth noting that in 2025 Mikhail Zorin will defend his final qualification work in the “Startup as a Diploma” format, which will be a very important step for the development of technological entrepreneurship at the State University of Management.
The “zero” day of the Russian Venture Forum was held at the A.S. Popov Technopark of the Innopolis SEZ. Representatives of the State University of Management were able not only to get acquainted with the infrastructure of the first IT city of Russia, but also to communicate with experts, exchange useful contacts, create a foundation for scientific collaborations and receive feedback on startup projects. In particular, the investment attractiveness of our students’ innovative solutions was highly appreciated by Veniamin Kizeev, a member of the board of directors of the WINbd Management Academy, and business angel Martin Kohlhauser, who gave the students valuable advice on developing and scaling their startups into a real working business. The panel discussions of the “zero” day of the forum were devoted to the role of regional clusters and economic zones in shaping the flow of venture deals, as well as the implementation of technological projects – from scientific research to industry.
The main part of the business program at the Kazan Expo IEC was opened by the plenary session “Technological Entrepreneurship – a Space of Higher Competencies” with the participation of the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Valery Falkov and the Head of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov. Invited experts and government officials discussed the transformation of the venture market, growth paths for university projects and new national priorities in technological development. During his speech, the Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov noted that the country has created a full-fledged infrastructure to support technology startups, which gives young entrepreneurs the opportunity to move forward and become small technology companies.
Today, the ecosystem of projects of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia includes 142 universities, 50 advanced engineering schools, 38 technology transfer centers and more than 900 youth laboratories. The Minister paid special attention to the federal project “Technologies”, in which our university is integrated. The State University of Management implements acceleration programs for NTI markets, conducts trainings in entrepreneurial competencies, our students participate in and become winners of the Foundation for Assistance to Innovations “Student Startup” competition.
On the first day of the forum, more than 10 thematic sessions were held – from industrial transformation to investments in sustainable development. Representatives of the State University of Management visited a startup exhibition, a conference dedicated to technological leadership, startup battles Venture Games, where experienced entrepreneurs competed for the attention of authoritative investors and representatives of the business community, as well as educational lectures from venture market experts in the Tech Shorts format.
The final day of the forum began with the session “Opportunity for growth: from “Student Startup” to IPO”, organized by the Platform of University Technological Entrepreneurship of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia. The discussion was attended by young entrepreneurs who have gone from an idea to their first revenue.
Other thematic sessions attended by the representatives of the State University of Management were devoted to DeepTech startups, development of the intellectual property market and technology transfer. Our students also gave an interview for the FranchCamp entrepreneurial platform, telling about their projects and shared their impressions of the Russian Venture Forum, which this year brought together over 5 thousand participants from 25 countries of the world – startups, corporations, universities and everyone who is building the technological future right now.
Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 11.04.2025
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.
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MIL-OSI Security: Violent Bridgeport Gang Member Sentenced to More Than 13 Years in Federal Prison
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
ERIC HAYES, also known as “Heavyweight Champ,” 28, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 165 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his involvement in a violent Bridgeport street gang, including the murder and attempted murder of rival gang members.
Today’s announcement was made by Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter; Anish Shukla, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Acting U.S. Marshal Lawrence Bobnick.
According to court documents, statements made in court, and the evidence presented during a month-long trial, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder and other acts of violence. Hayes has been a member of the “East End gang,” which began as a local street gang based in the East End of Bridgeport, but currently has members and associates who are either incarcerated or living throughout Bridgeport and surrounding towns. The East End gang has been aligned with other groups, including the PT Barnum Gang, the East Side gang and 150, which is a geographic gang based on the West Side of Bridgeport. These groups were aligned against rival organizations in Bridgeport, including the “Original North End” (“O.N.E.”) and the “Greene Homes Boyz,” (“GHB/Hotz”), based in the Charles F. Greene Homes Housing Complex in Bridgeport’s North End.
Due to the level of gun violence Bridgeport was experiencing, the investigation commenced shortly before East End members shot and killed Myreke Kenion and shot and attempted to kill D’Andre Brown, both members and associates of the GHB/Hotz gang, on January 26, 2020. The next day, in retaliation for these shootings, GHB/Hotz and O.N.E. members attempted to kill East End gang members and associates in a brazen afternoon shooting in front of a state courthouse on Golden Hill Street in Bridgeport that resulted in four victims being shot while sitting inside a car.
For a time, Hayes was the de facto leader of the East End gang. Hayes and other East End members distributed heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana and Percocet pills; used and shared firearms; and committed at least six murders and other acts of violence against rival gang members and other individuals. East End members celebrated their criminal conduct in rap videos on YouTube and on social media websites such as Facebook, and committed acts of intimidation and made threats to deter potential witnesses to their crimes and to protect gang members and associates from detection and prosecution by law enforcement authorities.
The investigation determined that on March 5, 2019, Hayes shot and killed Jerrell Gatewood, a member of the Terrace, a rival group to the East End gang. Also, Hayes helped coordinate the attempted murder of Marquis Isreal, also known as “Garf” or “Gbaby,” a member and associate of the O.N.E. gang. On September 15, 2019, East End member Trevon Wright shot Isreal 12 times inside a restaurant in Bridgeport’s East End. Isreal survived the shooting.
Hayes has been detained since his arrest on September 25, 2019. On that date, he possessed a loaded .45 caliber handgun. Subsequent forensic analysis of the firearm connected it to shell casings recovered from the restaurant after the Marquis Isreal shooting.
On December 5, 2023, a jury found Hayes, Wright, Keishawn Donald, and Travon Jones guilty of conspiring to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity.
Approximately 47 members and associates of the East End, O.N.E. and the GHB/Hotz gangs have been convicted of federal offenses stemming from this investigation, which has and solved eight murders and approximately 20 attempted murders.
Wright, Donald, and Jones were previously sentenced.
This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory, and the Waterbury Police Department. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis, Stephanie T. Levick, Rahul Kale, and Karen L. Peck.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it. If a group member elects to engage in gun violence, the focused attention of federal, state and local law enforcement will be directed at that entire group.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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MIL-OSI Security: IAEA Director General Visits China to Strengthen Cooperation
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing.
China is making remarkable progress in nuclear energy and is a strong supporter of the IAEA’s mission to ensure that nuclear technology serves peace and development, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said while meeting China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing. They also exchanged on China’s commitment to multilateralism and non-proliferation.
During a week-long visit to China, Mr Grossi has met with several high-level officials, signed agreements and visited nuclear and energy facilities and institutions as well as the prestigious Peking University.
Nuclear Energy and SMRs
China operates 58 civil nuclear reactors and has almost 30 new builds in progress. This represents nearly half of all power reactors currently under construction worldwide.
Mr Grossi began his visit at the Hainan Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant, which has some of the country’s most advanced nuclear technologies. This includes a high-pressurized water nuclear reactor and a commercial small modular reactor (SMR).
At Hainan Changjiang NPP—home to some of China’s most advanced nuclear tech, including Hualong One & ACP100 SMR Linglong One. Clear example of how 🇨🇳 is scaling up nuclear energy with safety & innovation.@IAEAorg is committed to supporting China’s remarkable progress on nuclear. pic.twitter.com/31YkmgBMuY
— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) April 8, 2025
What are Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)? | IAEA
Later, Mr Grossi addressed nuclear power plant personnel and students from the region at a special event where a SMR user requirements document was presented. The document outlines the specific needs and expectations for SMRs, covering design, safety, licensing, and other relevant aspects.
“China is making strong progress in SMR deployment,” said Mr Grossi. “This event marks an important step toward safe and effective implementation.”
Meeting the new Chairman of the China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA), Shan Zhongde, Mr Grossi added, “China plays a leading role across the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology — from power to medicine, food and more.”
Artificial Intelligence
Mr Grossi also discussed the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and innovative technologies with the President from China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), Shen Yanfeng, signing an arrangement with China Nuclear Power Engineering to apply AI and other innovative technology to boost performance at nuclear facilities.
Nuclear and the Energy Transition
Mr Grossi spoke with Liu Zhenmin, China’s Special Envoy for Climate Change about how China is investing in nuclear to help power its growing economy and decarbonize.
China is investing in nuclear to help power its growing economy and decarbonize—complementing renewables like solar & wind with a stable, low-carbon source.
Good exchange w/ 🇨🇳 Special Envoy for Climate Change Liu Zhenmin. @IAEAorg will continue supporting China in these efforts. pic.twitter.com/1h1HlR1yvS— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) April 9, 2025
During a visit to China’s State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) on Friday, Mr Grossi also exchanged with SPIC Chairman Liu Mingsheng on clean, smart and innovative energy generation. SPIC owns a number of nuclear power plants under construction and in operation.
On the last day of his visit, Mr Grossi visited China Huaneng Group (CHNG) in Beijing, one of the largest state-owned electricity companies in China. CHNG has participated in projects such as the Shidao Bay and Hainan Changjiang Nuclear Power Plants.
“Huaneng Group is central to China’s energy transition — showcasing the value of a diversified low-carbon energy mix including nuclear,” he said.
Nuclear Safety and Security
As China expands its nuclear energy programme, the country continues to strengthen its cooperation with the IAEA in nuclear safety. On Wednesday, Mr Grossi met with Dong Baotong, the Administrator of the National Nuclear Safety Administration of China and agreed on increased cooperation between the IAEA and China in this area.
Energy, Health and Atoms4Food
China is supporting the IAEA’s initiatives to use nuclear techniques and technologies to help boost energy security, enhance global health and grow better food.
Mr Grossi met with the Director of China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) Luo Zhaohui to discuss these priorities.
China is committed to international development and I’m grateful for support to @IAEAorg initiatives in areas like energy, health or agriculture.
Pleased to agree with 🇨🇳 @cidcaofficial’s Luo Zhaohui to boost cooperation & bring the benefits of nuclear science where most needed. pic.twitter.com/UAoPiyAeHE— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) April 10, 2025
While at CAEA, Mr Grossi signed a new Country Programme Framework with China and an arrangement with CAEA to strengthen education and training in the safe and peaceful use of nuclear technology via a Chinese university consortium at the authority.
He also discussed education during an exchange with China’s Education Vice Minister Xu Qingsen.
“The IAEA works closely works closely with Chinese universities — and we’ll do more — to train the next generation of professionals,” he said. Mr Grossi expressed his gratitude to China for its support to the IAEA Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme, which provides scholarships and internships to women master’s students studying STEM subjects.
IAEA Director General Rafael Marano Grossi spoke with students at Peking University. Photo: IAEA
During a visit to Peking University, one of the most prestigious universities in China, Mr Grossi gave a keynote presentation and had the chance to talk to students in the School of International Studies. He spoke about the IAEA’s work, from energy to security, and the role of effective multilateralism in addressing global issues.
China, a member of the IAEA since 1984, is involved in around 100 IAEA technical cooperation projects – spanning national, regional and interregional activities.
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MIL-OSI Global: The largest flood in Earth’s history burst through Gibraltar and Sicily and refilled the entire Mediterranean in just a few years
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Daniel García-Castellanos, Earth scientist, Instituto de Geociencias de Barcelona (Geo3Bcn – CSIC)
Refilled in just a few years – or months. Nasa / titoOnz / shutterstock A little over 5 million years ago, water from the Atlantic Ocean found a way through the present-day Strait of Gibraltar. According to this theory, oceanic water rushed faster than a speeding car down a kilometre-high slope towards the empty Mediterranean Sea, excavating a skyscraper-deep trough on its way.
The Med was, at the time, a largely dry and salty basin, but so much water poured in that it filled up in just a couple of years – maybe even just a few months. At its peak, the flood discharged about 1,000 times the water of the modern-day Amazon river.
At least, that’s the thesis one of us put forward in a 2009 study of an underwater canyon excavated along the Strait of Gibraltar, which he presumed to have been carved out by this massive flood. If correct, (and some scientists do dispute the theory), the so-called Zanclean megaflood would be the largest single flood recorded on Earth.
But extraordinary claims like this require extraordinarily solid evidence. Our latest research investigates sedimentary rock from the Zanclean era that seems to record how the water surged through a gap between modern-day Sicily and mainland Africa to refill the eastern half of the Mediterranean.
Sicily (the large island next to the ‘toe’ of Italy) still forms part of a divide between the Mediterranean’s darker basins, shaded in deeper blue.
GEBCO / National Oceanographic Centre, UK, CC BY-NC-SAHow scientists tracked down the megaflood
Our finding is the latest twist in a story that began in the late 19th century. That’s when geologists studying salt-rich rock outcrops around the Mediterranean became increasingly aware that something unusual had happened between roughly 5 and 6 million years ago, well before the glaciations of recent ice ages: the sea had dried up. They named that age “Messinian” and the drying up eventually became known as the Messinian salinity crisis.
In the 1970s, scientists for the first time drilled deep below the Mediterranean into sedimentary rocks from the Messinian age. They made three surprising discoveries. First, they found a massive layer of salt – kilometres thick – below much of the seafloor. This confirmed that a vast environmental change had happened about 6 million years ago, just when tectonic plates shifted and the sea became largely isolated from the Atlantic Ocean.
Second, right above this salt layer, they found sediment with fossils from shallow, low-salt lakes. This suggested that the Mediterranean Sea dropped to more than a kilometre below today’s level, and as most of the water evaporated, salt was left behind. A series of lakes would have remained in the lowest parts of the basin, refreshed and kept relatively salt-free by streams. This interpretation was also supported by seismic surveys of the seabed which revealed rivers once cut through a dry landscape.
And third, the rocky layers above the salt abruptly shifted back to more typical deep sea sediment. (We now know that less than 11% of Mediterranean marine species survived the crisis, showing just how big and lasting the impact was on life in the sea). The term Zanclean Flood was coined in the 1970s to refer to the end of the crisis, without scientists really knowing what it consisted of or the timescale taken to refill the dry Mediterranean basin.
Events proposed to have occurred in the Mediterranean between 6 and 5.3 million years ago. A cataclysmic refill
The next breakthrough came in 2009, when geophysical data for the planned Africa-Europe tunnel through Gibraltar suggested that a huge underwater trench between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea must have been created by a sudden and cataclysmic flood.
Our latest research backs up this hypothesis. As part of a team led by Maltese seabed scientist Aaron Micallef, we explored the region where the flood water filling the western basin of the Mediterranean should have run into a ridge of higher land connecting modern-day Africa and Italy, known as the Sicily Sill. Was there any evidence, we wondered, of a second megaflood as the eastern Mediterranean filled up?
Piecing together the puzzle
Giovanni Barreca, one of our co-authors on the recent paper, grew up in southern Sicily. He long ago realised that the low hills near the coast are an extension of the Sicily Sill over which the megaflood must have progressed from west to east. The area, he thought, might contain clues.
Our team visited this part of Sicily and noticed that the hills were indeed unusual. Their aligned and streamlined shapes separated by deeply eroded depressions are very similar to streamlined hills in Washington state in the US. Those Washington hills were carved out by a megaflood at the end of the last Ice Age when the vast Lake Missoula dammed up behind a glacier and emptied catastrophically.
If those hills and depressions in Sicily were also shaped by a huge flood, then rock debris eroded from the base of the depressions should be found dumped on top of the hills, more than 5 million years later.
Sure enough, we did find jumbled and contorted rock debris up to boulder size along the crest of the hills. They were the same types of rock found within the depressions as well as further inland.
Remnants of a boulder dumped 5 million years ago on a hilltop near the town of Rosolini, Sicily.
Paul CarlingTo double check our work, we developed a computer simulation (or “model”) of how flood waters might have crossed one part of the Sicily Sill. It showed that the flood flow would indeed mimic the direction of the streamlined hills.
In fact, the model showed that the hills would have been carved out by water 40 metres or more deep, travelling at 115 kilometres per hour (71mph). In the one area we modelled, 13 million cubic metres of water per second would have flooded into the eastern Mediterranean basin (for reference: the Amazon today is about 200,000 cubic metres per second). Remarkably, this is still only a fraction of the water that first flowed through Gibraltar and then into the eastern Mediterranean basin near Sicily.
Daniel García-Castellanos does research on public European and Spanish funding.
Paul Carling does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. The largest flood in Earth’s history burst through Gibraltar and Sicily and refilled the entire Mediterranean in just a few years – https://theconversation.com/the-largest-flood-in-earths-history-burst-through-gibraltar-and-sicily-and-refilled-the-entire-mediterranean-in-just-a-few-years-249242
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MIL-OSI Global: White Lotus: ‘the show’s depiction of sibling sexual behaviour is incredibly harmful’ – expert opinion
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sophie King-Hill, Associate Professor at the Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham
This article contains spoilers for season three of The White Lotus
The White Lotus is a show where a lot of sex happens and many taboos are explored. For instance, in episode seven the impact on one character of watching his parents having sex as a child and how that affected his sexuality is talked about. Given all of this, it might seem like no big deal to feature an incest storyline, which this series did. But, as researchers of sibling sexual behaviour-abuse, we were particularly perturbed by the show’s take on this issue.
In episode five, we see holidaying brothers Lochlan and Saxon Ratliff kiss after a night of partying with drugs and alcohol. This quickly escalates in the next episode where Saxon learns through flashbacks and conversations that Lochlan “jerked [him] off.”
Child sexual abuse, harmful sexual behaviour among children and young people and intra-familial sexual abuse are not new topics. It’s only recently, however, that sibling sexual behaviour-abuse has garnered similar levels of attention.
While this topic does come under the definition of intra-familial sexual abuse, conversations about this have tended to focus on intergenerational cases. For instance, parent or step-parent and child.
However, sibling sexual behaviour-abuse is thought to be one of the most prolific forms of intrafamilial sexual abuse. Research estimates that it may be five times more prevalent than parent-child sexual abuse, yet is rarely spoken about due to the taboos that exist around children and sex – but also the shame that many families feel when experiencing this issue.
Mainstream explorations on shows such as White Lotus could be incredibly helpful in spreading awareness about sibling sexual behaviour-abuse. As experts in sexual behaviours and sexual abuse, we believe the show’s handling of an incredibly complex and traumatic issue is insensitive and sensational. Far from spreading awareness, this storyline is simply shocking and inaccurate. We would argue that it actively harms the important research that is only just beginning in helping those who experience this sort of abuse and those who work with them.
Take the way Saxon finds out. It’s the next morning. He had blacked out the night before and fragments of what happened are slowly coming back to him. He suspects something bad happened but confirmation is delivered in a matter-of-fact way by the two young women who were with him that night.
Rather than expressing horror or concern, both young women are very calm about what happened, letting him know his brother “jerked him off”. They then laugh and are dismissive of Saxon’s horror. In this way, the abuse is normalised as one of them says: “Everyone has their thing – it’s fine.” This would seem to imply that sexual behaviour between siblings is a sexual preference rather than a traumatic situation that needs specific support and intervention.
While Saxon and Lochlan express disgust when they remember what has happened, this is not portrayed in any great depth. Instead, it is framed in a way that is not too dissimilar to how someone may respond to a consensual sexual encounter they may regret after a night out – rather than a serious sexual experience with a sibling.
In our research, we found a key reason why people don’t report instances is that the behaviour may sit within a context of family dysfunction, so it is difficult for those victims to recognise it. This is why early developmentally appropriate relationships and sex education is important.
Serious family dysfunction is evident within the programme with the mother showing disconnection and the father exhibiting signs of depression, suicide ideation and fantasies of killing members of his family. The children also have unusual relationships with each other where boundaries of sexuality are blurred.
In episode one, Saxon states: “Brother and sisters don’t sleep together when they have fully formed genitals.” Later, he calls his sister “pretty hot” and muses about her virginity. He also asks Lochlan, “What kind of porn do you like?” and says, “How am I going to jerk off with you in here all week?” before walking naked to the bathroom to masturbate.
The deep shame that is strongly linked to families that experience such abuse is also was not explored in any depth. After the initial act and flashbacks the sibling sexual behaviour is not mentioned in any great depth again.
The only real acknowledgement we get is in the final episode when Saxon rebuffs Lochlan’s wishes to spend time together. Noticing Saxon is not OK, Lochlan says: “All you care about is getting off and I saw you lying there and I thought you looked a little left out … and you know, I’m a pleaser. I just want to give everyone what they want and I’m in a family full of narcissists.”
This complicated family dynamic is not explored and the abusive behaviour isn’t even properly condemned. “Dude, let’s just drop this forever, please,” Saxon simply retorts – and the series does, as the incident is swept away as a small sub-plot, and lost in rising tide of drama in the rest of the finale.
TV shows can be incredibly powerful tools in spreading awareness and increasing public knowledge about how to spot, respond to and prevent issues such as sibling sexual behaviour-abuse. It could have explored the nature of the behaviour, the links to family factors and the interventions that are needed to support disclosures and recovery from this type of sexual abuse and behaviour-based family issue.
The White Lotus, however, did not take this opportunity. Instead we are left guessing, as the Ratliffs sail back to their lives, how this complex and traumatic incident in the brothers’ lives came to pass and how it will affect them in the future.
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Sophie King-Hill receives funding from ESRC.
Kieran McCartan receives funding from the European Union (Horizon 2020) and the Bristol City Council.
– ref. White Lotus: ‘the show’s depiction of sibling sexual behaviour is incredibly harmful’ – expert opinion – https://theconversation.com/white-lotus-the-shows-depiction-of-sibling-sexual-behaviour-is-incredibly-harmful-expert-opinion-253972
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MIL-OSI USA News: The State of Play: Why President Trump’s Tariffs Are Necessary
Source: The White House
It’s cliché, yet true — the definition of insanity is repeating the same thing over and expecting a different result.The trade policies of the past several decades have failed this nation, its workers, and our communities.
Twenty years ago, The New York Times Editorial Board responded to the January 2005 trade deficit of $58.3 billion by writing an editorial entitled “Dangerous deficits.” Deficits are certainly dangerous; former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker said trade deficits were to blame for the Great Recession.
The Times wrote in 2005: “At $58.3 billion, the U.S. trade deficit for January exceeded everyone’s worst expectations… The trade deficit is the single most important factor in measuring the extent to which the United States lives beyond its means.”
Since then, our trade deficit has more than DOUBLED. The U.S. trade deficit in January totaled a whopping $131.4 billion.
The impact has been seen everywhere.
Since 1990, manufacturing employment has decreased by 59% in New York and decreased by 35% in Ohio.
The loss of these jobs killed innocent Americans and destroyed towns. Multiple studies show the loss of jobs due to bad trade deals led to an increase in drug overdoses.
However, liberal commentators have lost interest in fixing this problem. In fact, they are offended at the suggestion that industry should return to America.
Chris Matthews was inexplicably stunned on MSNBC and asked, “What are we going to do? Have more lumber made in the United States now!?” Yes, we are. President Donald J. Trump even signed an executive order to expand American timber production.
Likewise, Nia Malika-Henderson on CNN ridiculously asked, “Is it worth it to upend the global economy for HVAC jobs?” Apparently, Nia Malika-Henderson thinks preserving low-wage jobs in China is more important than creating high-wage jobs in America.
The loss of American industry means we struggle to build ships, medicine, and other essential goods. This is a national security emergency.
Fortunately, we are already seeing progress in reshoring American industry. President Trump remains undeterred in his mission to Make America Wealthy Again.
- Guardian Bikes announced it is launching the “first large-scale bicycle frame manufacturing operation in the United States.”
- Novartis announced “it plans to spend $23 billion to build and expand 10 facilities in the U.S.”
- Chocolate maker Barry Callebaut announced it is increasing its U.S.-based production.
- JSW Steel announced it will be adding jobs at its Ohio steel plant.
- BMW is considering adding shifts to boost production at its South Carolina plant.
- Apple announced a $500 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing and training.
- Nvidia announced it will invest hundreds of billions of dollars over the next four years in U.S.-based manufacturing.
- Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) announced a $100 billion investment in U.S.-based chips manufacturing.
- Eli Lilly and Company announced a $27 billion investment in domestic manufacturing.
- United Arab Emirates-based DAMAC Properties announced a $20 billion investment in new U.S.-based data centers.
- France-based CMA CGM, a global shipping giant, announced a $20 billion investment in U.S. shipping and logistics, creating 10,000 new jobs.
- United Arab Emirates-based ADQ and U.S.-based Energy Capital Partners announced a $25 billion investment in U.S. data centers and energy infrastructure.
- South Korean automaker Hyundai announced a $20 billion investment — including $5.8 billion for a new steel plant in Louisiana, which will create nearly 1,500 jobs, amid their pledge to “further localize production in the U.S.”
- Merck announced it will invest $8 billion in the U.S. over the next several years after opening a new $1 billion North Carolina manufacturing facility.
- Clarios announced a $6 billion plan to expand its domestic manufacturing operations.
- GE Aerospace announced a $1 billion investment in manufacturing across 16 states — creating 5,000 new jobs.
- Stellantis announced a $5 billion investment in its U.S. manufacturing network — including re-opening an Illinois manufacturing plant — as it pledges to increase domestic vehicle production.
- Schneider Electric announced it will invest $700 million over the next four years in U.S. energy infrastructure.
- GE Vernova announced it will invest nearly $600 million in U.S. manufacturing over the next two years, which will create more than 1,500 new jobs.
- London-based Diageo announced a $415 million investment in a new Alabama manufacturing facility.
- Dublin-based Eaton Corporation announced a $340 million investment in a new South Carolina-based manufacturing facility for its three-phase transformers.
- Germany-based Siemens announced a $285 million investment in U.S. manufacturing and AI data centers, which will create more than 900 new skilled manufacturing jobs.
- Paris Baguette announced a $160 million investment to construct a manufacturing plant in Texas.
- Switzerland-based ABB announced a $120 million investment to expand production of its low-voltage electrification products in Tennessee and Mississippi.
- Saica Group, a Spain-based corrugated packaging maker, announced plans to build a $110 million new manufacturing facility in Anderson, Indiana.
- Paris-based Saint-Gobain announced a new $40 million NorPro manufacturing facility in Wheatfield, New York.
- India-based Sygene International announced a $36.5 million acquisition of a Baltimore biologics manufacturing facility.
- Asahi Group Holdings, one of the largest Japanese beverage makers, announced a $35 million investment to boost production at its Wisconsin plant.
- Honda is expected to produce its next-generation Civic hybrid model in Indiana.
- Nissan is considering moving production from Mexico to the U.S.
- Rolls-Royce is expected to shift production to the U.S. and expand its domestic workforce.
- Volkswagen is considering shifting production of the high-end Audi and Porsche brands to the U.S.
- Volvo is considering expanding its U.S.-based output.
- LG is considering moving its refrigerator manufacturing from Mexico to Tennessee.
- Italian spirits group Campari is “assessing the opportunities to expand its production in the U.S.”
- Swedish hygiene product manufacturer Essity is considering shifting production to the U.S.
- Taiwan-based Compal Electronics is considering a U.S.-based expansion.
- Taiwan-based Inventec is expected to expand its manufacturing operations into Texas.
- LVMH, a French luxury giant, is “seriously considering” an expansion to its U.S.-based production capabilities.
- Cra-Z-Art, the biggest toymaker in the U.S., said it will move a “large percentage” of its China-based manufacturing back home.
- Prepac, a Canadian furniture manufacturer, announced it will move production from Canada to the U.S.
- Lear is considering moving its production to the U.S.
- Half of Japanese companies say they’ll boost U.S. investment, largely due to tariffs.
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MIL-OSI United Kingdom: ARU research addresses postcode lottery for victims
Source: Anglia Ruskin University
Dr Mirna Guha, Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Deputy Head of the School for Humanities and Social Sciences
Research from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) has highlighted how one Cambridgeshire project could serve as a blueprint to end the postcode lottery faced by domestic abuse and sexual violence (DASV) victims across England and Wales.
Nationally, there is a significant shortage of support services provided by and for women from minority backgrounds. Dr Mirna Guha of ARU is leading initiatives to address this by fostering racially diverse leadership within services that tackle violence against women and girls.
Dr Guha recently presented her research findings, which highlighted regional disparities in service provision and showcased the success of an innovative scheme in Peterborough, to a national audience in London.
Following her pilot study focusing on Asian women in Cambridgeshire which showed the need for DASV services to be more culturally responsive, Dr Guha collaborated with Peterborough Women’s Aid to secure Home Office funding for the first ‘by and for’ provision for Asian women experiencing domestic abuse in the county.
The Dahlia Project is delivered entirely by a team of newly recruited Asian women from the British Pakistani community in Peterborough and is governed by a board of Asian men and women.
Dr Guha is currently evaluating The Dahlia Project, which has received around 200 referrals since launching in 2023, including from women of African Caribbean, Middle Eastern and South-east Asian backgrounds, highlighting its importance to different racial minority groups.
Additionally, further research carried out in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Suffolk last year by Dr Guha, in collaboration with Dr Katherine Allen from the University of Suffolk, identified the need for representative and culturally responsive leadership to ensure organisations delivering DASV services are welcoming for diverse members of staff, and the support provided is accessible for victims-survivors.
It also underlined the need for practitioners from diverse backgrounds to have access to role models and networking opportunities to help combat professional isolation.
In response to this regional need, Dr Guha and Dr Allen recently established a Community of Practice for Diverse Women Leaders and last week introduced the HUM Leadership Model for Emerging Leaders at the event in London, which brought together a diverse group of women leaders from voluntary and national statutory organisations, including the National Police Chiefs’ Council.
The event, which also featured a speech by Superintendent Jasvinder Kaur, Domestic Abuse Lead at Suffolk Constabulary and co-founder of the National Women of Colour in Policing, UK, highlighted the success of The Dahlia Project and demonstrated how the Peterborough scheme could be replicated in regions similarly affected by the postcode lottery.
“In certain regions, representation of women from racially and culturally diverse backgrounds in politics and policymaking is low, and systemic barriers also prevent victims from these communities seeking support.
“Celebrating and supporting Black and racialised women’s leadership in organisations that address violence against women and girls is crucial. The network we have set up aims to accelerate the leadership of minoritised women and make domestic abuse services inclusive and responsive to the complex needs of victims-survivors from different backgrounds.
“Evidence from my research will support efforts by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner to advocate for a dedicated national ‘by and for’ funding pot. This would ensure minoritised victims-survivors across England and Wales receive high-quality support, regardless of their location. The Dahlia Project is making a real difference in Cambridgeshire, but we need more projects like it across the country to end this postcode lottery of provision.”
Dr Mirna Guha, Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Deputy Head of the School for Humanities and Social Sciences at ARU
The Community of Practice will be hosted online through Anglia Ruskin University, with the goal of evolving into a Regional Advisory Body to influence future practice, research and policy design affecting victims-survivors.
Dr Guha’s work ‘Nothing about us without us’: Investigating the impact of the leadership of ethnic minority women on domestic abuse service provision in East England has received Medical Research Council UK Prevention Research Partnership VISION funding.
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MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Western Senators Introduce Landmark Bipartisan Wildfire Mitigation Bill
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado
Hickenlooper’s Fix Our Forests Act will help reduce wildfire risk for Colorado communities and speed up mitigation projects while maintaining environmental safeguards and encouraging local involvement
Hickenlooper, Curtis, Padilla, and Sheehy landed a bipartisan deal after months of negotiations
Legislation is supported by: Environmental Defense Fund, The Nature Conservancy, Alliance for Wildfire Resilience, Colorado Governor Jared Polis, and many more
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, John Curtis, Alex Padilla, and Tim Sheehy introduced the Fix Our Forests Act, bipartisan legislation to combat growing catastrophic wildfires across Colorado and the United States. The bill works to strengthen wildfire resilience by improving forest management, supporting fire-safe communities, and streamlining approvals for projects that protect communities and ecosystems from extreme wildfires.
The comprehensive bill reflects months of bipartisan negotiations to find consensus on how to accelerate forest management projects, promote safe and responsible prescribed fire treatments, expand public input in assessments of wildfire resilience needs, and enhance collaboration between federal agencies, states, tribes, and stakeholders.
“The growing wildfire crisis threatens our Colorado communities,” said Hickenlooper. “We need to act NOW with the speed required to mitigate wildfires and make our homes and businesses more resilient to these disasters, and to put in place protections for our communities and the environment.”
“Utah and the American West are on the front lines of a growing wildfire crisis—and the longer we wait, the more acres will burn, and more families will be impacted,” said Curtis. “After months of bipartisan cooperation and consensus-building, my colleagues and I are introducing comprehensive legislation to support forest health, accelerate restoration, and equip local leaders—from fire chiefs to mayors—with the tools and data they need to protect lives, property, and landscapes. I’m proud of this bill and look forward to receiving additional input from my colleagues as it advances through Committee and the full Senate.”
“As increasingly frequent and catastrophic wildfires in California make clear, we need durable solutions to confront the growing impacts of the wildfire crisis,” said Padilla. “This bill represents a strong, bipartisan step forward, not just in reducing wildfire risk in and around our national forests, but in protecting urban areas and our efforts to reduce climate emissions. It prioritizes building fire-resilient communities, accelerating the removal of hazardous fuels, and strengthening coordination across federal, state, and tribal agencies, including through the creation of the first-ever National Wildfire Intelligence Center. I look forward to continuing to advance forward-thinking, practical solutions to protect our communities from devastating wildfires—and that includes pushing for sustained funding and staffing for our federal land management agencies to ensure they have the tools to get this critical work done.”
“Better stewarding our forests is something we can all agree on, regardless of party, because it helps secure a stronger economy, more resilient, healthy forests, and safer communities,” said Sheehy. “I’m proud to join my colleagues on this important legislation to support those on the frontlines protecting communities from catastrophic wildfire, better manage our forests, create more good-paying jobs, and unleash our resource economy.”
The West has long been prone to wildfires, but climate change, prolonged drought, and the buildup of dry fuels have increasingly intensified these fires and extended fire seasons. Wildfires today are more catastrophic – growing larger, spreading faster, and burning more land than ever before.
Colorado has seen four of the five largest fires in our state’s history since 2018. The 2021 Marshall fire was Colorado’s most destructive on record, burning over 1,000 homes. The Cameron Peak and East Troublesome fires in 2020 together burned more than 400,000 acres, the two largest fires in the state’s history. Nationwide, total acres burned rose from 2.7 million in 2023 to nearly 9 million in 2024, a 231% increase.
Forest health challenges are also increasing in frequency and severity due to climate stressors like drought and fire, and biological threats like invasive species – all of which the West is particularly vulnerable to. From 2001 to 2019, total forest area declined by 2.3%, while interior forest area decreased by up to 9.5%. The Intermountain region had the largest area losses, and the Pacific Southwest had the highest annual loss rates.
To address these challenges, the Fix Our Forests Act would:
Establish new and updated programs to reduce wildfire risks across large, high-priority “firesheds,” with an emphasis on cross-boundary collaboration.
Streamline and expand tools for forest health projects (e.g., stewardship contracting, Good Neighbor Agreements) and provide faster processes for certain hazardous fuels treatments.
Create a single interagency program to help communities in the wildland-urban interface build and retrofit with wildfire-resistant measures, while simplifying and consolidating grant applications.
Expand research and demonstration initiatives – including biochar projects and the Community Wildfire Defense Research Program – to test and deploy cutting-edge wildfire prevention, detection, and mitigation technologies.
Enable watershed protection and restoration projects to include adjacent non-federal lands; establish new programs for white oak restoration; and clarify policies to reduce wildfire-related litigation and expedite forest health treatments.
A one-pager can be found here, and a section-by-section can be found here.
The Fix Our Forests Act was originally introduced in the House of Representatives by Representatives Bruce Westerman and Scott Peters.
Hickenlooper has been an active supporter of wildfire resilience, including sponsorship of legislation to restore land management agency staffing and pushback on the firings of the federal employees that support wildfire resilience on our public lands. The Fix Our Forests Act provides the tools necessary to accelerate wildfire resilience, which will work alongside Hickenlooper’s sustained efforts for the funding and staffing necessary for land management efforts.
The Fix Our Forests Act is supported by Colorado Governor Jared Polis, Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Colorado State Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy, Environmental Defense Fund, National Wildlife Federation, National Audubon Society, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, BPC Action, International Association of Fire Chiefs, Alliance for Wildfire Resilience, Utah Governor Spencer Cox, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Bipartisan Policy Center Action, Federation of American Scientists, Association of Firetech Innovation (AFI), Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO), Wildfire Alliance, Tall Timbers, Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition, The Stewardship Project, and Megafire Action.
“I applaud the bipartisan work and leadership of the Senate sponsors of this bill, including Colorado’s Senator Hickenlooper, in crafting a bill that will make Colorado communities safer amidst the urgent and growing wildfire crisis in the West. From supporting responsible and expedited on-the-ground fuel reductions, to bolstering the use and development of the latest wildfire satellite monitoring technology which compliments Colorado’s national leadership in the aerospace sector, and to investing in stewardship practices for local communities to be better prepared for wildfires and reforestation efforts with the state nursery to improve our ability to recover – this bill makes major strides in addressing the country’s wildfire risk and will support Colorado’s continued leadership in wildfire preparedness, response and recovery,” said Colorado Governor Jared Polis.
“Extreme risk of catastrophic wildfires across the West demands urgent action,” said California Governor Gavin Newsom. “In California, we’re fast-tracking projects by streamlining state requirements and using more fuel breaks and prescribed fire. The Fix Our Forests Act is a step forward that will build on this progress — enabling good projects to happen faster on federal lands. I’m appreciative of Senator Padilla and the bipartisan team of Senators who crafted a balanced solution that will both protect communities and improve the health of our forests.”
“A century of fire suppression and decades of reduced forest management have left us with overgrown, unhealthy forests that are more vulnerable to disease and catastrophic wildfire,” said Utah Governor Spencer Cox. “The Fix Our Forest Act, along with the tools provided by President Trump’s executive order, will help us actively manage our forests—protecting our watersheds, improving wildlife habitat, reducing wildfire risk, and providing the timber we need to build strong homes and neighborhoods.”
“TNC appreciates the serious undertaking of Senators Curtis, Hickenlooper, Sheehy, and Padilla to build on legislation targeted at preventing more catastrophic wildfires through improved forest and fuels management and expanded use of prescribed fire. TNC has been working to restore beneficial fire and improve the resilience of forest systems on the ground for more than 60 years. Every year, wildfires continue to grow deadlier and more devastating to communities and the environment, and we remain concerned that the significant cuts to the Forest Service workforce will impede work to protect people and nature from these wildfire risks. We support this legislative effort aimed at improving the forest management process to better address catastrophic wildfires,” said Kameran Onley, managing director of North America policy and government relations, The Nature Conservancy.
“For many Americans, catastrophic wildfires are a very real and growing threat to their homes and lives,” said Environmental Defense Fund Executive Director Amanda Leland. “The U.S. Forest Service needs new tools and more resources now to prevent and control these wildfires, and with the right funding, this bipartisan proposal will help. Protecting people and nature from catastrophic wildfire requires both a robust, science-based plan of forest management and the resources to implement it.”
“As the megafire crisis grows larger and more severe with each fire season, we need policy solutions that reflect the urgency and scale of the problem. Senators Curtis, Hickenlooper, Padilla and Sheehy have negotiated a Senate companion to the Fix Our Forests Act that will move the federal government towards a science-based, strategic approach to addressing megafires. We look forward to working with the sponsors to advance this bill and enact the most transformative wildfire and land management law in a generation—since the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003, if not the National Forest Management Act of 1976,” said Matt Weiner, CEO of Megafire Action.
“We are thrilled to see the Fix Our Forests Act introduced in the Senate through a bipartisan cooperation between Senators Curtis, Hickenlooper, Padilla, and Sheehy. The bill greatly expands upon the version that passed the House, adding critical details to support wildfire risk reduction in the built environment and provisions for mitigating the health impacts of smoke to communities while promoting expanded use of prescribed fire,”said Annie Schmidt and Tyson Bertone-Riggs, Managing Directors, Alliance for Wildfire Resilience. “Covering a third of the recommendations of the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission, this bill is a significant step forward in wildfire policy and, coupled with sufficient funding and staffing to realize the proposed tools and programs, will make a real difference in our nation’s experience with wildfire.”
“I thank Senators Hickenlooper, Padilla, Curtis, and Sheehy for introducing this bipartisan legislation,” said Fire Chief Josh Waldo, President and Board Chair of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. “As we saw in January’s fires in Los Angeles, the nation faces a serious and growing risk from fires in the wildland urban interface (WUI). This legislation will enact many of the recommendations of the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission. It also will improve coordination of federal wildland fire preparedness efforts; promote the use of prescribed fires and other preventative measures to prevent WUI fires; and promote the development of new technologies to help local fire departments. We look forward to working with the bill’s sponsors to pass this legislation.”
“Our national forests provide essential wildlife habitat, store carbon, and supply communities across the nation with clean air and water. These vital landscapes are under threat and must be proactively stewarded if they are to survive the changing climate, rapidly intensifying wildfires, and past management missteps. The bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act will help increase the pace and scale of evidence-backed forest management, including the use of beneficial prescribed fire and the restoration of white oak forests. But we must have a robust and talented federal workforce in place for it to succeed,” said Abby Tinsley, vice president for conservation policy at the National Wildlife Federation. “We will work with Senators Hickenlooper, Padilla, Sheehy, Curtis, and Chairman Westerman in the House to strengthen and advance this important conversation.”
“Wildfires grow more intense and destructive each year, leaving behind immense devastation for our forests, wildlife, and communities,” said Marshall Johnson, chief conservation officer at the National Audubon Society.“The bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act represents an important step in reducing wildfire risks across forested landscapes. Audubon thanks Senators Hickenlooper, Curtis, Padilla, and Sheehy for working together to craft a bill that sets the stage for improved forest management, and we urge Congress to dedicate the resources necessary to ensure federal agencies are well-equipped to reduce wildfire risks, steward our forestlands, and protect wildlife habitat.”
“We applaud the efforts made by Senator Hickenlooper in the Fix Our Forests Act to provide federal, state, and local partners with the tools needed to address wildfire mitigation in the most vulnerable areas in Colorado. Wildfires do not abide by our political boundaries. But here in Colorado we have built strong coordination among federal, state, local land managers and stakeholders to help reduce the impact of wildfires on our critical infrastructure and landscapes,” said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources. “We appreciate that this legislation builds upon this important collaboration and draws on existing agreements, such as Shared Stewardship, which will help strengthen our intergovernmental partnerships as we prepare for the next Colorado mega-fire.”
“Forests are central to our way of life in Colorado. They support world-class outdoor recreation and a vital water supply that more than 40 million Americans rely upon. I am grateful to Senator John Hickenlooper for his work on the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act,” said Matt McCombs, Colorado State Forester and Director of the Colorado State Forest Service. “This critical legislation will bolster our shared stewardship ethic in Colorado and enhance our ability as a state to improve forest health, protect lives, communities and water supplies from wildfire, and ensure that the forests that define Colorado endure for generations to come.”
“The growing frequency and severity of wildfires pose a tremendous threat to the health of our forests and the safety of countless communities. The Fix Our Forests Act takes important steps to mitigate wildfires, improve forest health, and protect local communities. We appreciate this thoughtful, bipartisan effort led by Senators Curtis, Hickenlooper, Sheehy, and Padilla to advance this important legislation,” said Jennifer Tyler, VP of Government Affairs at Citizens’ Climate Lobby.
“The declining health of our National Forests and the fish and wildlife habitat that they provide is a concern for America’s hunters and anglers,”said Joel Pedersen, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “TRCP applauds the leadership of Senators Curtis, Sheehy, Hickenlooper, and Padilla for introducing the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act in the Senate and urges Congress to advance these important forest management provisions and to accompany them with adequate resources and capacity to carry out on-the-ground work.”
“HECHO enthusiastically applauds the impressive bipartisan leadership behind the Senate’s Fix Our Forests Act. At a time when cooperation is more important than ever, these Senators are putting forward real, thoughtful solutions to reduce wildfire risk while engaging local and rural communities. This legislation is a critical step toward actively managing our forests to protect public lands, watersheds, and the communities that depend on them. By expediting emergency authorities in high-risk firesheds—and through the creation of the Wildfire Intelligence Center—this effort has the potential to significantly reduce catastrophic wildfires and strengthen prediction and response, particularly in fire-prone states like Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada, and Utah. It’s a shining example of the kind of balanced, forward-looking leadership we need to protect our natural landscapes and communities,” said Camilla Simon, Executive Director of Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO).
“BPC Action applauds the bipartisan leadership of Sens. Curtis (R-UT), Hickenlooper (D-CO), Sheehy (R-MT), and Padilla (D-CA) on the introduction of the Fix Our Forests Act. By streamlining and improving forest and hazardous fuels management activities on public and Tribal lands, this legislation will help reduce wildfire risks, improve forest health, and protect communities in fire-prone areas. The Fix Our Forests Act also delivers substantial economic and environmental benefits by addressing critical needs to enhance the domestic supply chain of seeds and advance biochar commercialization,” said Michele Stockwell, President of Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action). -
MIL-OSI Australia: Executive Committee
Source: New places to play in Gungahlin
ATO Executive Committee
The ATO Executive Committee focuses on the strategic matters that relate to the direction and positioning of the organisation.
Our Commissioner and Second Commissioners are statutory appointments. The ATO Executive Committee consists of the Commissioner, 3 Second Commissioners and the leads from the operations and technology sections of the ATO.
For more information about our organisation, see:
Commissioner and Registrar
Commissioner of Taxation and Registrar of the Australian Business Register and the Australian Business Registry Services
Rob Heferen
Rob Heferen was appointed as the 13th Commissioner of Taxation on 1 March 2024.
Rob has had a long career in the Australian Public Service, beginning in 1989 as a graduate at the Australian Customs Service. Over 35 years, he’s accumulated diverse experience across policy development and program delivery in a range of portfolios. Rob has represented Australia in international forums including the United Nations (UN), International Energy Agency (IEA) and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
For almost 20 years, Rob’s interest and expertise in economics and tax policy led him to various roles in the ATO and Commonwealth Treasury. This included leading the Secretariat for the Australia’s Future Tax System Review (the Henry Tax Review) and culminated in his role as Deputy Secretary, Revenue Group at the Commonwealth Treasury between 2011–2016. Here he had responsibility for tax policy, tax legislation and revenue forecasting.
Rob’s other Senior Executive roles include:
- Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
- Deputy Secretary of Higher Education, Research and International in the Department of Education, Skills and Employment
- Deputy Secretary of Energy at the Department of the Environment and Energy (where he served as Australia’s representative on the International Energy Agency’s Governing Board)
- Deputy Secretary of Indigenous Affairs at the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
Rob is a proven people leader, with an open, collaborative and authentic style. He has a strong record of achievement in leading organisations to help shape and deliver on Government priorities.
Rob has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Tasmania, and a Graduate Diploma of Economics from the Australian National University.
Second Commissioner – Client Engagement
Jeremy Hirschhorn
Jeremy Hirschhorn was appointed to the Second Commissioner role from 16 April 2020. He has overall responsibility for the ATO’s Client Engagement Group, which fosters willing participation in Australia’s tax and super systems through well-designed client experiences.
Jeremy has more than 20 years’ experience in roles managing complex tax matters.
As Deputy Commissioner of Public Groups & International from April 2015, Jeremy was responsible for ensuring that the largest Australian and multinational companies were meeting their corporate tax obligations and providing the Australian community with confidence that these large companies were being held to account.
Jeremy also worked as Chief Tax Counsel, with responsibility for the provision of the ATO’s legal advice in relation to interpretation of the tax and super laws, when he joined the ATO in August 2014.
Prior to joining the ATO, Jeremy was a senior partner in KPMG’s tax practice.
Jeremy holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws from the University of NSW. He is a Chartered Tax Adviser and Chartered Accountant.
Second Commissioner Frontline Operations
David Allen
David Allen was appointed to the Second Commissioner Frontline Operations role from 1 November 2024. In this role, David leads the Frontline Operations Group which is responsible for a broad range of the ATO’s taxpayer services for all segments of the community.
These include:
- processing all payments, activity statements, income tax returns, superannuation lodgments and other forms
- administering the Tax File Number register, Australian Business Register and Director ID Services.
David joined the ATO in 2010 as an Assistant Commissioner in Public Groups & Internationals – working in Capital Gains Tax risk, Internationals. In 2016, he was the ATO’s delegate to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation Development (OECD) based in Paris.
In 2018, David was promoted to Deputy Commissioner and established the Enterprise Strategy and Design (ESD) business line – which takes the leadership role in working with business areas to shape the ATO’s strategic direction, risk management, planning and reporting, as well as internal audit and design.
Prior to joining the ATO, David held senior roles in different tiers of the public service including Commonwealth, United Kingdom, NSW and local government.
David has a degree in Engineering and a Masters of Business Administration from Australian Graduate School of Management.
Second Commissioner for Law Design and Practice
Kirsten Fish
Kirsten has overall responsibility for the ATO’s law practice, including law interpretation, public advice and guidance, independent dispute prevention, litigation and resolution, and the ATO’s contribution to policy and law design.
The Law Design and Practice Group serves the community, government and clients by ensuring the tax and super laws are informed, understood, administered and applied with confidence and integrity and is respected and trusted as the authoritative voice of the Commissioner on matters of law and revenue analysis.
Kirsten joined the ATO in 2014 and the ATO’s Chief Tax Counsel from 2015, one of the highest legal authorities within the ATO, leading the Tax Counsel Network and providing technical leadership in relation to significant tax issues, cases and rulings. Kirsten was acting Second Commissioner for 12 months before being formally appointed to the role in October 2021.
Prior to joining the ATO, Kirsten was a tax Partner at Clayton Utz with a focus on the financial services industry and providing finance and investment transaction advice.
Kirsten holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting), Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) and Masters of Law (Tax).
Chief Operating Officer
Jacqui Curtis
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) leads the ATO’s Enterprise Strategy and Corporate Operations functions.
These functions include Strategic Planning, Governance, Finance, Corporate, Risk Management, People, Integrity, Change Management and Design for the organisation. In this role, Jacqui is a member of the ATO Executive, responsible for shaping and setting strategic direction and oversight implementation.
The COO position gives greater strength and integration to our corporate positioning, and ensures we are well positioned for Australian Public Service (APS)-wide reforms of corporate and shared services, and that our planning, governance and risk management is strategic and sensible. The COO brings together an integrated picture of our people and resource management and ensure we have the right capability and culture to meet our strategic intent.
This position has a role in managing the relationship with key stakeholders like our scrutineers.
All of these underpin our ability to deliver on a better client and staff experience.
Prior to the COO role, Jacqui joined the ATO in September 2013 as Deputy Commissioner ATO People and was responsible for delivering an enterprise-wide human resource management service which supports ATO employees in providing a sustainable, open and accountable workplace. Jacqui was also responsible for leading the Reinvention Program Management Office and the change management driving this key reform.
Before joining the ATO, Jacqui was General Manager of the People Capability Division with Services Australia, where she led the department’s leadership and change, people development, workforce planning and research functions. Jacqui has also worked for the Australian Public Service Commission, where she was responsible for delivering integrated people development, SES and APS-wide leadership and talent, change management, strategic recruitment, communications, and learning and development. She also has extensive international experience.
Jacqui holds an Executive Masters in Public Administration from the Australian National University and is a Fellow of Australian Human Resource Institute, and was appointed Adjunct Professor University of Canberra in 2018.
In October 2019, Jacqui was appointed the inaugural Head of the APS HR Professional Stream.
Chief Information Officer
Mark Sawade
Mark Sawade was appointed to the Chief Information Officer role from 11 March 2025.
In this role Mark has overall responsibility for the ATO’s Enterprise Solutions and Technology Group, who work to ensure we maintain a contemporary, secure and reliable technology environment that supports tax, super and registry systems into the future.
Mark has nearly 25 years’ experience in the Australian Public Service, primarily in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) leadership roles. Preceding his appointment at the ATO, Mark was the Chief Information Officer at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, where he led and delivered a range of digital transformation initiatives.
In 2019, Mark led the School Funding and Data Collection division in the Department of Education, where he delivered significant reform that focused on increased use of government data in the calculation of school funding entitlements.
Mark has also held ICT senior executive leadership roles in a number of public sector agencies, including at the Department of Education, Australian Bureau of Statistics, ComSuper and the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.
Mark holds a Bachelor of Computer and Information Science from the University of South Australia.
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MIL-OSI Global: From brain Bluetooth to ‘full RoboCop’: where chip implants will be heading soon
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Amin Al-Habaibeh, Professor of Intelligent Engineering Systems, Nottingham Trent University
In the 1987 classic film RoboCop, the deceased Detroit cop Alex Murphy is reborn as a cyborg. He has a robotic body and a full brain-computer interface that allows him to control his movements with his mind. He can access online information such as suspects’ faces, uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help detect threats, and his human memories have been integrated with those from a machine.
It is remarkable to think that the movie’s key mechanical robotic technologies have almost now been accomplished by the likes of Boston Dynamics’ running, jumping Atlas and Kawasaki’s new four-legged Corleo. Similarly we are seeing robotic exoskeletons that enable paralysed patients to do things like walking and climbing stairs by responding to their gestures.
Developers have lagged behind when it comes to building an interface in which the brain’s electrical pulses can communicate with an external device. This too is changing, however.
In the latest breakthrough, a research team based at the University of California has unveiled a brain implant that enabled a woman with paralysis to livestream her thoughts via AI into a synthetic voice with just a three-second delay.
The interface fr-OG.
ZmrzlnrThe concept of an interface between neurons and machines goes back much further than RoboCop. In the 18th century, an Italian physician named Luigi Galvani discovered that when electricity is passed through certain nerves in a frog’s leg, it would twitch. This paved the way for the whole study of electrophysiology, which looks at how electrical signals affect organisms.
The initial modern research on brain-computer interfaces started in the late 1960s, with the American neuroscientist Eberhard Fetz hooking up monkeys’ brains to electrodes and showing that they could move a meter needle. Yet if this demonstrated some exciting potential, the human brain proved too complex for this field to advance quickly.
The brain is continually thinking, learning, memorising, recognising patterns and decoding sensory signals – not to mention coordinating and moving our bodies. It runs on about 86 billion neurons with trillions of connections which process, adapt and evolve continuously in what is called neuroplasticity. In other words, there’s a great deal to figure out.
A tough nut to crack.
JolygonMuch of the recent progress has been based on advances in our ability to map the brain, identifying the various regions and their activities. A range of technologies can produce insightful images of the brain (including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET)), while others monitor certain kinds of activity (including electroencephalography (EEG) and the more invasive electrocortigraphy (ECoG)).
These techniques have helped researchers to build some incredible devices, including wheelchairs and prosthetics that can be controlled by the mind.
But whereas these are typically controlled with an external interface like an EEG headset, chip implants are very much the new frontier. They have been enabled by advances in AI chips and micro electrodes, as well as the deep learning neural networks that power today’s AI technology. This allows for faster data analysis and pattern recognition, which together with the more precise brain signals that can be acquired using implants, have made it possible to create applications that run virtually in real time.
For instance, the new University of California implant relies on ECoG, a technique developed in the early 2000s that captures patterns directly from a thin sheet of electrodes placed directly on the cortical surface of someone’s brain.
In their case, the complex patterns picked up by the implant of 253 high-density electrodes are processed using deep learning to produce a matrix of data from which it’s possible to decode whatever words the user is thinking. This improves on previous models that could only create synthetic speech after the user had finished a sentence.
Elon Musk’s Neuralink has been able to get patients to control a computer cursor using similar techniques. However, it’s also worth emphasising that deep learning neural networks are enabling more sophisticated devices that rely on other forms of brain monitoring.
Our research team at Nottingham Trent University has developed an affordable brainwave reader using off-the-shelf parts that enables patients who are suffering from conditions like completely locked-in syndrome (CLIS) or motor neurone disease (MND) to be able to answer “yes” or “no” to questions. There’s also the potential to control a computer mouse using the same technology.
The future
The progress in AI, chip fabrication and biomedical tech that enabled these developments is expected to continue in the coming years, which should mean that brain-computer interfaces keep improving.
In the next ten years, we can expect more technologies that provide disabled people with independence by helping them to move and communicate more easily. This entails improved versions of the technologies that are already emerging, including exoskeletons, mind-controlled prosthetics and implants that move from controlling cursors to fully controlling computers or other machines. In all cases, it will be a question of balancing our increasing ability to interpret high-quality brain data with invasiveness, safety and costs.
It is still more in the medium to long term that I would expect to see many of the capabilities of a RoboCop, including planted memories and built-in trained skills supported with internet connectivity. We can also expect to see high-speed communication between people via “brain Bluetooth”.
It should be similarly possible to create a Six Million Dollar Man, with enhanced vision, hearing and strength, by implanting the right sensors and linking the right components to convert neuron signals into action (actuators). No doubt applications will also emerge as our understanding of brain functionality increases that haven’t been thought of yet.
Clearly, it will soon become impossible to keep deferring ethical considerations. Could our brains be hacked, and memories be planted or deleted? Could our emotions be controlled? Will the day come where we need to update our brain software and press restart?
With every step forward, questions like these become ever more pressing. The major technological obstacles have essentially been cleared out of the way. It’s time to start thinking about to what extent we want to integrate these technologies into society, the sooner the better.
Amin Al-Habaibeh receives funding Innovate UK, The British Council, The Royal academy of Engineering, EPSRC, AHRC, and the European Commission.
– ref. From brain Bluetooth to ‘full RoboCop’: where chip implants will be heading soon – https://theconversation.com/from-brain-bluetooth-to-full-robocop-where-chip-implants-will-be-heading-soon-254376
