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  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy welcomes debarment of doctor who facilitated gain-of-function research in Wuhan: “We now have justice”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    Watch Kennedy’s comments here.

    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) commended the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for debarring and defunding EcoHealth Alliance and its president, Dr. Peter Daszak, for their role in facilitating gain-of-function research in Wuhan, China, which likely caused the coronavirus pandemic.  

    Key excerpts of the speech are below: 

    “Many commentators and many news accounts say that what Dr. Daszak—with the money from American taxpayers that he had gotten from Dr. Fauci and Dr. Collins—what they were doing was conducting gain-of-function research. . . . Gain-of-function research just means taking, in this context, an animal virus, a bat virus, altering it genetically so it would jump into a human—pretty dangerous stuff.

    “Now Dr. Fauci has said that didn’t happen, Dr. Collins says that didn’t happen, and Dr. Daszak says that didn’t happen, but everybody else says it did. The FBI says it did. The CIA says it did. The top spy agency in Germany says it did. The Department of Energy says it did.

    “So what happened? What happened? Well, we do know that the first two people that we know of in the world who got the coronavirus—the first two humans—were not people in the city of Wuhan; they were workers in the Wuhan lab. . . . We also know that when the virus became really contagious, other than these two people who were working in the Wuhan lab, it became contagious in Wuhan, China, a few miles away from the Wuhan lab—pretty curious. 

    “We also know that when word first broke of the coronavirus, Dr. Fauci learned about it. Do you know one of the first persons he called was Dr. Peter Daszak and said: What is going on?

    “We also know that Dr. Daszak was trying to convince the American people and the people of the world that the virus started naturally—that it didn’t start from his gain-of-function research. We know that he rounded up a bunch of epidemiologists to write a fake article and start publishing it and others in a lot of professional scientific magazines to try to convince the world that the bat virus jumped to human beings naturally. We know that. That has all come out.”

     . . .

    “It took a while, and some will call this only partial justice, but we now have justice—at least for 5 years. I hope forever Dr. Peter Daszak and any company with which he is affiliated will no longer receive taxpayer dollars from the National Institutes of Health because he was doing—according to many people smarter than me and many news reports—he was funding gain research in Wuhan. . . . Pretty scary stuff, and we know how it all turned out.

    Background:

    • On Jan. 17, 2025, HHS announced that it would be defunding and debarring EcoHealth Alliance Inc. and Dr. Daszak for at least five years due to their role in facilitating irresponsible gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China.
    • HHS determined that Dr. Daszak and EcoHealth Alliance violated the terms of their gain-of-function grant to conduct experiments that modified novel bat coronaviruses to make them 10,000 times more infectious in mice.
    • Dr. Daszak, former National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Francis Collins and former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci coordinated with other public health officials to propel the theory that COVID-19 originated in nature.

    Watch Kennedy’s full speech here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Protecting homes and businesses from drought and floods

    In recent years, drought and flooding have been felt across the province, and building the critical infrastructure needed to protect Albertans can be costly for many municipalities. That’s why Alberta’s government is investing more than $19 million in 10 different projects through the Drought and Flood Protection Program to protect homes, safeguard businesses and, ultimately, save lives.

    These 10 projects will help protect critical infrastructure from floods, while increasing water storage to reduce the impacts of drought and build other necessary projects across the province.

    “Albertans have seen first-hand the impacts that floods and drought can have on our communities and livelihoods. This funding is helping communities build the next generation of drought and flood mitigation projects. While we can’t change the weather, we can help protect families, businesses and communities for years to come.”

    Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas

    This funding will help eight municipalities and two First Nations build projects designed to keep homes and businesses dry, ensure critical infrastructure remains operational during emergencies and maintain reliable access to water. This includes community upgrades such as:

    • Building a retaining wall to protect the Slave Lake Airport and Helitack Base during floods.
    • Constructing a berm to safeguard Siksika Nation’s newly constructed Washington Sewage Lagoon and other local infrastructure.
    • Building 300 metres of shoreline protection along the South Saskatchewan River to protect the Medicine Hat Wastewater Treatment Plant.
    • Stopping erosion along Carrot Creek to help protect infrastructure in St. Albert.
    • Creating a naturalized stormwater management pond in St. Paul to reduce drought risks and improve water quality.
    • Improving flood protections in the Calgary area by replacing the Landon Ditch with a system to manage stormwater and guard infrastructure.

    “By investing in preventative erosion measures now, we will be minimizing the impacts of large storm events for St. Albertans and our municipal neighbors in the future. It is through partnerships with the Government of Alberta such as these that we can efficiently build resilient communities across the province.”

    Cathy Heron, mayor, St. Albert

    “Lake Elizabeth and its surrounding natural space are a treasured part of our city. Rising water levels over the past decade have eroded the shoreline, flooded natural areas, and threatened both private property and city infrastructure. The Drought and Flood Protection grant is critical to stabilizing the water levels and restoring these valuable natural spaces, ensuring that Lake Elizabeth remains a community asset for generations to come.”

    Grant Creasey, mayor, City of Lacombe

    “This is good news for the county, as we work to manage surface storm water issues for the benefit of all residents.”

    Bart Guyon, reeve, Brazeau County

    “The investment confirmed by the Government of Alberta will help the City of Medicine Hat’s plans to reduce the risk of flood damage to the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Combining this funding, along with the city’s contributions, will aid in providing shoreline protection, flood risk management, environmental protection, operational safety and sustainability.”

    Pat Bohan, managing director of development and infrastructure, City of Medicine Hat

    Alberta’s government is investing $125 million over five years into the Drought and Flood Protection Program, which is already showing results. Last year, the government delivered millions to counties, towns, cities and Indigenous partners for infrastructure projects, which are now underway. In total, more than $50 million has now been invested in 28 projects through the program.

    The next round of funding applications will open in October, with another $25 million available to protect businesses, families and communities.

    Budget 2025 is meeting the challenge faced by Alberta with continued investments in education and health, environmental protection, lower taxes for families and a focus on the economy.

    Quick facts

    • Funding for all projects approved in this round will be paid out in 2025-26.
    • Of the 10 projects receiving funding, seven are focused on primarily responding to floods, one focused on responding to the impacts of drought and two are focused on mitigating impacts from both drought and floods.
    • Of the 18 projects receiving funding in round one, 10 were focused on responding to the impacts of drought.
    • In round one of funding, $5,727,119 was deferred to 2025-26, with $5 million going to the Fort Mckay Water Supply Infrastructure Rehabilitation and $727,119 going to the Glenmore Trail Stormwater Diversion Project.

    Related information

    • Drought and Flood Protection Program
    • Approved projects

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Combined Drug Operation Seizes Six Tons of Cocaine in Gulf of Guinea

    Source: United States AFRICOM

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    In a significant joint operation, the French Navy seized over six tons of cocaine from a fishing vessel in the Gulf of Guinea on Saturday, March 15. The operation, which highlights the effective collaboration among the French Navy, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) underscores ongoing efforts to combat transnational organized crime in the region. Information was coordinated and deconflicted by the Maritime Analysis Operations Center Narcotics (MAOC-N) in Lisbon, Portugal.

    The French Navy, while conducting routine patrols as part of Operation Corymbe, intercepted a fishing vessel approximately twenty meters long, flagged in Guyana. The operation resulted in the confiscation of 6,386 kg of cocaine with an estimated market value of nearly €371 million. The seized narcotics were subsequently transferred to the French naval ship for destruction in accordance with directives from the Brest prosecutor’s office.

    “This remarkable seizure underscores the collaborative efforts among international partners to combat drug trafficking and enhance maritime security,” said U.S. Army Lt. Gen. John Brennan, U.S. Africa Command deputy commander. “The steadfast commitment of our allies, including the French Navy and other U.S. agencies, reflects our collective determination to safeguard our borders and disrupt the operations of organized crime syndicates.”

    The maritime prefecture noted that the operation demonstrates the effectiveness of French naval actions in safeguarding external borders and tackling organized crime. The six individuals found aboard the vessel comprised a Colombian, a Dominican, and four citizens of Guyana, all of whom were arrest-ed during the operation.

    In a statement released on Sunday, the Government of Guyana expressed its support for the French operation, affirming its commitment to international cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking and other forms of transnational crime. The statement also confirmed that authorization had been granted for the French forces to board the vessel.

    This successful mission not only signifies a significant blow to drug trafficking networks but also rein-forces the importance of international collaboration in enhancing regional security across the Gulf of Guinea. U.S. Africa Command remains dedicated to supporting such initiatives and fostering partner-ships aimed at stabilizing the region.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The anti-Andrew Tate: how youth workers can counteract the impact of masculinity influencers

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Amanda Dylina Morse, Research Fellow, Queen’s University Belfast

    defotoberg/Shutterstock

    Andrew Tate – online content creator, podcaster, former kickboxer, and subject of ongoing human trafficking investigations – has gained widespread influence with millions of men and boys. Tate promotes financial independence, being “mentally and physically strong,” and being successful with women, interspersed with (sometimes violent) misogyny.

    For my PhD research, I worked with 30 boys and young men aged between 16 and 19 from working-class backgrounds in Belfast, researching on the role of social connection to protect mental health. In the interviews I carried out, Tate’s name came up constantly.

    I found that almost all the participants had positive or mixed feelings about him. Even those less certain of him appreciated his financial advice or advocacy for men’s mental health. While other masculinity influencers were also mentioned, none achieved the same level of importance.

    But I also found that youth workers emerged as powerful counters, acting as “anti-Andrew Tate” figures and providing a positive example of manhood. This shows that, while the influence of online figures may seem unstoppable, we already have role models in our communities who can demonstrate an alternative version of what a man can be and how he should act with others.

    Looking for connection

    In their interviews, the young men spoke passionately about their enthusiasm for Andrew Tate and valued his advocacy for “traditional” manhood, including the classical ideal of a “strong mind in a strong body”. While none of the boys and young men endorsed Tate’s misogyny, they struggled to balance their discomfort with calling women property against his perceived valuable messages.

    I agree with some of the stuff he says, but not everything he says. So, with some of the stuff he says about men’s mental health, if you go to the gym, it can help, and eat well, that… all the stuff around men’s mental health, I believe in. But just some of the stuff he says about women being property and stuff like that, I don’t really properly agree with.

    The boys and young men drew a parallel between Tate’s childhood poverty and their own. They sometimes assigned Tate unexpectedly altruistic intentions in his targeting of young men desperate to attain financial security.

    All the controversial things that he says, I think he only said that to get himself a platform, so people would tune into him… More and more people listen to him. And he’s making more and more money. And he’s like, putting that money into his university, trying to help more people and then he promotes mental health and all. I think it’s brilliant like.

    Most of the people in my research had histories of substance use and violence at the boundaries between Catholic and Protestant neighbourhoods from a young age. For them, these challenging experiences were their entry into the youth work organisations which mentored them to build skills in emotional literacy, forecast the consequences of unsafe or unhealthy behaviour, and build community cohesion through acts of service.

    Relatable and non-judgmental

    For the boys and young men I worked with, their youth workers were like them – working-class men from their own communities with shared experiences of socioeconomic deprivation, exposure to paramilitary violence, and early substance use. Those parallels made them trustworthy and relatable.

    Youth workers can provide a non-judgmental listening ear.
    ingkaninant/Shutterstock

    The youth workers offered a confidential, nonjudgmental ear for their mentees, without the same risk of consequences for bad behaviour. For instance, telling a youth worker about having used drugs at the weekend wouldn’t lead to the lecture or loss of privileges that telling a parent or teacher might.

    I just think that, you know, at a young age, it’s important, em, young men get to know that there is that supportive people that can turn to even if they haven’t got, you know, a lot of friends or any friends. But I just think that, you know, like, I’ve got the opportunity of the youth club and the youth groups.

    In contrast to the version of masculine success Tate presents, youth workers usually had a home in the neighbourhood, played sports recreationally, and were establishing their families through marriage and having children. My study participants admired the stability their youth workers demonstrated in this more attainable – but still aspirational – version of adult manhood.

    When asked what kind of man they wanted to be as an adult, most of them described the sort of success their youth workers had achieved, rather than a version closer to Tate’s.

    The boys and young men I worked with said that youth service organisations were supportive spaces. They credited them with both improvements to their mental health and with giving them strategies to avoid engagement in sectarian violence. Some participants were so moved by their engagement with youth workers that they were themselves training in the profession.

    Despite strong evidence for their value, youth services are consistently underfunded. But they represent an opportunity to invest in the health of both young men and their communities.

    Amanda Dylina Morse 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 anti-Andrew Tate: how youth workers can counteract the impact of masculinity influencers – https://theconversation.com/the-anti-andrew-tate-how-youth-workers-can-counteract-the-impact-of-masculinity-influencers-252786

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: With 23andMe filing for bankruptcy, what happens to consumers’ genetic data?

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Julia Creet, Professor of English, York University, Canada

    23andMe has filed for bankruptcy, raising questions about future ownership of the genetic data of its 15 million customers. (Shutterstock)

    The announcement that 23andMe is filing for bankruptcy and has put its genetic genealogy database up for sale has sent its customers into a bit of a privacy tizzy. On March 21, California Attorney General Bob Bonta issued a consumer alert with detailed instructions about how to delete one’s data.

    23andMe and its databases are located in California; regardless of where customers live, privacy is then governed by California law and some weak U.S. federal laws. Canadian privacy laws have no sway in this case.

    CBC’s The National provides information to customers looking to delete their genetic data from the 23andMe databases.

    Rise of consumer genetic testing

    It’s worth backing up a bit to see how 23andMe built its brand, what makes the database valuable and who might be in the market to buy the database if Anne Wojcicki, its founder, is unsuccessful in her bid to buy back the company herself.

    I have been studying the development of the industry of family history for the last 20 years. Genetic genealogy rose to prominence in the early 2000s, with the development of the science and early databases by committed genealogists and the market demand for locating ancestors.



    Read more:
    The mythical quest for our ancestors is big business

    23andMe’s innovation was to use this burgeoning lust for ancestors as a way to build a new kind of direct-to-consumer database, one that looked at inherited markers for diseases afforded by the potent combination of genetic and genealogical information.

    They weren’t the first to hit on this idea. deCODE Genetics in Iceland had already built a national database of braided genealogical and genetic information for the same purpose. Within 10 years, it too went bankrupt and sold its database.

    Ahead of government

    23andMe was the first to market the idea in North America when Wojcicki founded the company in 2006.

    Wojcicki claimed a high mission: to liberate health information from the hands of the medical industry and put it directly into the hands of consumers. Her business model made it clear that the direct-to-consumer genetics industry was always in the business of doing an end run around government and university databases that were governed by much stricter privacy laws.

    23andMe ran into trouble with the FDA in 2013 for providing medical information without any medical supervision, a wrinkle that took two years for the company to iron out. But the more lucrative end of the business was always the sale of the accumulated data to the pharmaceutical industry.

    23andMe pitched its research arm as the greater good, and 80 per cent of its consumers opted in to share their information for research purposes. The database has always been monetized for secondary uses. In its profile of 23andMe in 2017, Nature quoted cardiologist Euan Ashley at Stanford University, California: “They have quietly become the largest genetic study the world has ever known.”

    A rapid unravelling

    Five years ago, the company and the genetic genealogy industry as a whole started to unravel almost as quickly and precipitously as it had risen. Sales of direct-to-consumer genetic genealogy kits plummeted, given a combination of privacy concerns and market saturation.

    The advent of law enforcement incursions into genetic genealogy databases gave consumers a fright, and woke them up to the possible unanticipated third-party uses of commercial databases.

    Almost a decade later, governments are still trying to figure out how to set up guardrails on the use of genealogy databases for law enforcement, a practice that has become widespread across the U.S. and Canada.

    Currently, the Information and Privacy Office of Ontario is actively working to develop regulations that are acceptable to all stakeholders since, once again, the greater good argument of catching cold-case killers holds considerable sway over the right to privacy of consumers.

    Nonetheless, the issue of third-party uses has had a marked effect on the popularity of what seemed like a benign pastime, the search for ever-more-distant relations.

    Industry expansion

    Over the years, 23andMe expanded by buying health services and pharmaceutical holding companies. But in 2023, a massive data breach exposed the vulnerabilities of the company, particularly its genealogical information.



    Read more:
    23andMe’s struggles are a sign that direct-to-consumer DNA testing needs stronger oversight

    In addition to the 1.5 million users whose profiles were breached, hackers accessed the personal information of about 5.5 million people who opted in to 23andMe’s DNA Relatives feature.

    Stolen data included customers’ names, birth years, relationship labels, percentage of DNA shared with relatives, ancestry reports and self-reported locations.

    Fully a third of 23andMe’s users’ genealogical information had been scraped by the hackers. And here we see the real vulnerability in the entire industry: Anyone who has submitted a DNA sample and built family connections has exposed everyone in their family line.

    This seems to be a classic case of closing the barn door after the horses have already bolted.

    Like 23andMe, deCODE was a high flier in the genetics space having built a genealogical database that included almost all Icelanders, who invested heavily in the company. The company went bankrupt during the financial crisis of 2008, and it sold its database to American pharmaceutical company Amgen. Amgen in turn sold part of it to a Chinese company.

    Corporate dealings

    So who are the likely buyers for 23andMe?

    Wojcicki herself, if she can somehow raise the capital, which seems unlikely. Any big pharmaceutical company, including international buyers (in 2018, 23andMe signed a US$300 million deal with GlaxoSmithKline). Chinese biotechnology company BGI might well bid on the company, as China is seemingly on a mission to collect DNA from around the globe.

    Other potential buyers include: Google, who were early investors and thus already part owners; Ancestry.com, which, with its own genetic genealogy testing arm, would make it one of the of the largest privately held genetic genealogy databases in the world; and an outlier, Dutch life sciences firm Qiagen.

    Qiagen acquired California-based forensic genomics company Verogen in 2023. Verogen had previously acquired the geneaology database GEDmatch (one of the earliest grassroots ancestor DNA matching sites) for the purposes of creating a one-stop forensics genealogy shop for law enforcement.

    Changing privacy

    Each time a database is sold, privacy provisions are subject to change. Even though Wojcicki is promising to protect the privacy of costumers currently in the database, she might not have much control in the long run.

    So what should 23andMe’s customers do? Should they delete what data they can? Absolutely. Will it make much difference in the end? Probably not.

    What is now manifestly apparent is that the industry of direct-to-consumer genetics has far outpaced the ability of governments to regulate the information, so consumers are suddenly nervous.

    We should have paid attention at the very beginning of this dubious exercise in the privatization of personal data. Now we have to live with all that relatedness as a valuable commodity over which we have little say.

    Julia Creet receives funding from Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada and previously from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

    – ref. With 23andMe filing for bankruptcy, what happens to consumers’ genetic data? – https://theconversation.com/with-23andme-filing-for-bankruptcy-what-happens-to-consumers-genetic-data-253071

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Russia has most to gain from Black Sea ceasefire – but it’s marginal, and Ukraine benefits too

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Basil Germond, Professor of International Security, Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion, Lancaster University

    A maritime ceasefire deal to allow the safe passage of ships and end the use of force in the Black Sea could soon come into effect. Brokered over the past two weeks by the United States and agreed to by both Russia and Ukraine, it has immediately raised concerns that it could mainly benefit Russia.

    Indeed, at first sight, since Ukraine has had the upper hand in the Black Sea for the past two years, the ceasefire seems to not only benefit Russia but also undermine Ukraine’s strategic advantage at sea.

    But a more careful assessment of the naval situation in the Black Sea, balanced against possible diplomatic gains, reveals a more nuanced picture.

    Benefits for Russia

    There are obvious benefits for Russia. First and foremost, the ceasefire deal will improve Moscow’s access to the global grain and fertiliser market and possibly soften western sanctions on payment systems and access to ports to enable that.

    In addition to the expected economic benefits, the deal would also enable the Kremlin’s propaganda machine to claim that Russia cares – as Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov insisted – “about the food security situation in Africa and other countries of the global south”.

    In military terms, Black Sea fleet commanders will be happy to know that the remainder of their naval assets might be safe at last. The deal is also likely to prevent Ukraine from any attempt to destroy the strategically and symbolically important Kerch bridge linking occupied Crimea with Russia.

    Concessions by Russia

    Russia has almost nothing to lose operationally, since its remaining surface warships could not operate safely in the northwestern Black Sea and were thus stuck most of the time in ports as far away from Ukraine as possible.

    One concession may be that Russia pauses any submarine-launched cruise missile attacks on Ukraine. But this activity has been limited of late. So, with the clear economic and diplomatic benefits this deal represents in return for very limited military concessions, Russia appears as the logical winner of this deal – at least at first sight.

    Benefits for Ukraine

    Ukraine will certainly also benefit from cheaper and safer access to the global markets (insurance premiums are expected to fall considerably, for a start). And Kyiv will be able to use the time bought by the ceasefire to procure more drones and missiles that might be used later if naval operations against the Russian Black Sea fleet eventually resume.

    At the same time, the Russian navy cannot be reinforced as long as the Turkish Straits remain closed to warships under the Montreux Convention. Ukraine’s upper hand in the Black Sea is a result of its efficient use of asymmetrical weapons, such as drones and missiles, that can be stockpiled. But Russia’s Black Sea fleet remains depleted and vulnerable because it has been unable to repair or replace any of its warships, due mainly to the closure of the Turkish Straits passage mentioned above.



    Read more:
    What the Montreux Convention is, and what it means for the Ukraine war

    On the diplomatic front, this ceasefire enables Kyiv to show that they have made major concessions. This is a show of goodwill, and a clever way to appease the US president, Donald Trump, for whom the importance of being able to announce he has made progress towards an overall ceasefire is central. And all these benefits can be obtained at a limited cost.

    Concessions by Ukraine

    Ukraine will not lose key operational or strategic options as a result of the deal, since at the moment there is only a limited war going on at sea – given that Russia has largely been forced out and has moved its fleet east from Sevastopol to ports on the Russian mainland. In fact, Ukraine had already achieved almost everything realistically possible in the Black Sea. The ceasefire does not now cancel these achievements, since Russia is also prevented from attacking Ukraine from the sea.

    Peace in the Black Sea. But how long will it last?
    Peter Hermes Furian/Shutterstock

    Overall, the fact that this initial step toward a lasting peace agreement has been achieved at sea is testament to Ukraine’s upper hand in the maritime domain as well as the efficiency of western sanctions in cutting Russia off from the global maritime supply chain.

    Moscow is the winner but Kyiv is not a loser

    Based on the above assessment of the benefits and concessions in light of the naval situation in the Black Sea, both Russia and Ukraine benefit from the ceasefire – although this is indeed less obvious in the case of Ukraine.

    Kyiv can consider it a success because Ukraine has nothing substantial to pay or lose. In contrast it gets the ball rolling towards a bigger deal and – most importantly – it keeps the Trump administration onside. Putin can also assess himself to have won because of the direct economic and diplomatic gains Russia gets from the deal.

    It’s probably correct to say that Russia has gained more than Ukraine from this agreement – but the reality is more nuanced. The ball is now in Russia’s camp. If it violates any condition of the deal (and the level of trust in Moscow’s goodwill remains low), it will discredit the Kremlin’s diplomacy and anger Trump. And neither side wants to do that right now.

    Basil Germond 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. Russia has most to gain from Black Sea ceasefire – but it’s marginal, and Ukraine benefits too – https://theconversation.com/russia-has-most-to-gain-from-black-sea-ceasefire-but-its-marginal-and-ukraine-benefits-too-253165

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Uncorking the past: new analysis of Troy findings rewrites the story of wine in the early bronze age

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stephan Blum, Research associate, Institute for Prehistory and Early History and Medieval Archaeology, University of Tübingen

    Depas amphikypellon from Schliemann’s excavations at Troy. Institute of Classical Archaeology at the University of Tübingen/Valentin Marquardt, CC BY-SA

    Wine drinking in ancient Troy was not restricted to the upper classes, as has long been supposed – something our new research has established for the first time. Colleagues at the University of Tübingen and I have discovered that wine was also enjoyed by the common folk, independent of upper-class celebrations and religious rituals.

    In the late 19th century, German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann (1822-1890) excavated the ancient city of Troy. He was hoping to discover the residence of Priam, the king of the city besieged by the Greek army under Agamemnon, as immortalised by Homer in the Iliad.

    Among Schliemann’s most outstanding achievements was – alongside the identification of the site of Troy itself – undoubtedly the discovery of the so-called “treasure of Priam”.

    The find included several hundred gold and silver objects. But during his excavations, Schliemann was captivated by a more humble item mentioned in the Iliad – the depas amphikypellon (two-handed drinking cup). He discovered numerous cylindrical, double-handled goblets thought to be the cup mentioned in the epic tale.

    Schliemann believed the vessels had been used either for ritual wine offerings to the Olympian gods or, more likely, by the royal elite for drinking. The characteristic double handles, he suggested, allowed the vessels to be passed easily between participants seated next to each other.

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    Despite fierce opposition to many of his interpretations in contemporary archaeological research, Schliemann’s hypotheses on the drinking customs of the early bronze age elite have become an enduring narrative.

    Further archaeological excavations at Troy (in modern Turkey) were led by the University of Tübingen between 1987 and 2012. Since then, my colleagues and I have been analysing the results, focusing on architectural findings and the vast array of artefacts uncovered.

    Over time, scientific methods have played an increasingly important role, with a particular focus on the analysis of organic residues in vessels (ORA). This method has proven particularly valuable, as it provides insights into what the early bronze-age inhabitants of Troy prepared in their cooking pots and enjoyed from their drinking vessels.

    Drilling into Troy’s wine culture

    Excavations over the past 150 years have shown that use of the two-handed drinking cup spanned from Greece in the west to Mesopotamia in the east.

    The silver example from the British Museum, found near Troy.
    The Trustees of the British Museum, CC BY-SA

    They were produced in various forms between BC2500 and 2000. Likely inspired by now-lost metal prototypes, except for one silver example in the British Museum, these ceramic vessels were often made on the potter’s wheel, a technological innovation introduced from the near east during this period.

    Many of the double-handled goblets have been found not only in settlements but also in graves. This is an indicator of their special significance in cult and ritual. Written sources also suggest that wine was regarded as particularly precious during this time, though these are generally from distant geographical regions. It has therefore been inferred that only the social elite, through their control of long-distance trade, had access to it.

    For many inland and eastern Anatolian settlements, this may have been true. However, Troy, like many other sites in the Aegean and western Asia Minor, was located in a region particularly favourable for the cultivation of wine, which means it would have been more widely available.

    So it’s hardly surprising that two-handed vessels have been found not only in Troy’s fortified citadel with its monumental buildings, but also in areas of the outer settlement. It led us to wonder – does this mean that farmers, craftsmen and others could also consume it on special occasions, or even in their daily lives?

    To address this question, it was first necessary to prove scientifically that the goblets were actually used for drinking wine. Just because they might seem suitable for it doesn’t provide proof. To this end, two fragments from the collections of the Institute of Classical Archaeology in Tübingen were analysed for organic residues by Dr Maxime Rageot.

    Two grams of ceramic material was drilled from the inner walls of the vessel, and the collected ceramic powder was then treated with solvents to extract lipid and resin compounds. After further chemical processing, these were heated to a maximum of 380°C and then analysed. Several aldaric acids were identified in both specimens. Namely, succinic, fumaric, pyruvic, malic and – in significant quantities – tartaric acids.

    The latter can be interpreted as a grape marker, since such concentrations are not documented in other fruits available in the Mediterranean. The identification of succinic and pyruvic acids, commonly associated with fermentation markers, suggests the presence of wine (or vinegar) derived from ripe grapes.

    So Schliemann was right: the depas amphikypellon was certainly used for wine consumption. Whether this was tied to religious practices, rituals and public banqueting, or simply drinking wine as part of everyday life, remains uncertain.

    However, when it comes to who consumed it, our analysis results necessitate a correction of the conventional archaeological perspective. It seems that not only the elite enjoyed drinking wine – but also the common folk. For a counter-test, two simple cups, commonly found by the hundreds in early bronze-age Troy, were also sampled. The results were striking: the exact same organic residues were identified in both specimens.

    Wine for all?

    In archaeology, it is often the seemingly insignificant small finds that, when viewed in a broader context, have a profound impact. Based on organic residues –imperceptible to the naked eye and detectable only at a molecular level – the role of wine consumption in the second half of the 3rd millennium BC must be fundamentally reconsidered, at least in the case of Troy.

    Here, wine was far from being reserved solely for the rich and powerful. The two-handed depas amphikypellon wasn’t a status symbol for the elite – it was a widely appreciated drinking vessel. Furthermore, for everyday drinking, it seems any type of vessel would do, with no particular one set aside for the task.

    Whether and to what extent a shift in perspective can be expected at other sites of the Aegean and Anatolian early bronze age can, of course, only be definitively answered through comparable biomolecular analyses. After all, as in so many cases, it wouldn’t be surprising if Troy turned out to be the exception that challenges the norm.

    Stephan Blum 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. Uncorking the past: new analysis of Troy findings rewrites the story of wine in the early bronze age – https://theconversation.com/uncorking-the-past-new-analysis-of-troy-findings-rewrites-the-story-of-wine-in-the-early-bronze-age-252953

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Coffee enemas probably won’t detox your system – they’re more likely to cause you serious damage

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dipa Kamdar, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice, Kingston University

    AJR_photo/Shutterstock

    What do King Charles and Gwyneth Paltrow have in common? Give up? They’ve both at one point or another caused coffee colonic-related controversies.

    In a 2004 speech to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists on complementary therapies and cancer care, the then Prince of Wales’s comments on Gerson therapy – a health programme, marketed as an alternative treatment for cancer, that includes regular coffee enemas as a way to clear toxins from the body – seemed to endorse the unproven regimen. The prince’s opinion drew criticism from medical experts.

    Wellness influencer Gwyneth Paltrow, on the other hand, promoted a DIY coffee enema kit on Goop, her lifestyle website – again drawing criticism from specialists who urged Goop fans to “keep the coffee out of your rectum and in your cup”.



    Read more:
    Gwyneth Paltrow’s new Goop Lab is an infomercial for her pseudoscience business

    Despite the expert critique, coffee enemas continue to be a social media wellness trend offered in many alternative health clinics as a method to cleanse the colon and detoxify the body. More worryingly, coffee enemas are still recommended by some influencers as an alternative treatment for cancer and other serious illnesses.

    So, why does the popularity of this controversial trend persist despite the bad press? Do the benefits of a coffee enema outweigh the risks?

    An enema clears the bowel of faecal matter. Usually, the procedure involves inserting a nozzle attached to a pouch containing fluid into the rectum so the liquid can be squeezed in. In conventional medicine, enemas are used to clear the bowel before surgery, for severe cases of constipation or sometimes as part of a bowel management scheme – in people with inflammatory bowel diseases, for example.

    It’s claimed by some coffee enema advocates that, before the advent of modern painkillers, Florence Nightingale used coffee enemas as a form of pain management in soldiers during the Crimean War, and doctors used them in the second world war.

    Gerson therapy

    But despite the advances in medicine and technology since Nightingale was nursing injured soldiers, coffee enemas continue to be promoted as a health practice.

    Gerson therapy continues to be highly publicised as an alternative option to chemotherapy. Patients follow a strict organic vegetarian diet, which can include up to 13 glasses of fruit juice and up to five coffee enemas daily.



    Read more:
    Apple Cider Vinegar: how social media gave rise to fraudulent wellness influencers like Belle Gibson

    The Gerson Institute claims the enemas can increase gut movement which helps to empty bowels. Coffee enemas are believed to help the body expel toxins from the liver and gut, which is thought to relieve pain.

    Coffee contains compounds kahweol and cafestol, thought to boost an enzyme which helps remove harmful substances from the body. These substances are turned into bile salts and expelled from the body. The caffeine in coffee is thought to stimulate the liver and widen the bile ducts to increase the flow of bile and help remove toxins.

    Several studies show there is no evidence to prove this regime works to cure cancer and it is not supported by any reputable cancer organisations. But it’s possible the placebo effect might help some patients feel better. A review showed there were more reports about the side effects of coffee enemas than their efficacy. Some people, for instance, experienced proctocolitis – inflamed rectum and colon – and rectal burns.

    Self-cleaning

    Because of the amount of waste that is expelled from the gut, coffee enemas can remove potassium from the body. This can lead to electrolyte imbalance, dehydration, muscle weakness and nausea. In severe cases, it can cause irregular heartbeats and lung problems. Using any enemas regularly for a long time can cause the bowel muscle to weaken, which is linked to constipation and inflammation of the bowel. In some cases, enemas may damage the balance of good bacteria in the gut, which can cause cramping, diarrhoea and bloating and increase the risk of infection.

    There no need for DIY enemas of any kind: the gut is self-cleaning. Regular digestion and bowel movements means the body gets rid of waste naturally. A high-fibre diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, wholegrains and seeds should be enough for good digestive health and could even reduce the risk of cancer. Current advice suggests we consume at least 30g of fibre daily. Most adults, however, have an average of only 19g of fibre daily. Drinking plenty of water is also crucial to gut health. Research suggests that eating fermented foods, such as kimchi, kefir and kombucha, can help the good bacteria in the gut and aid with digestion.

    Drinking coffee is more likely to be beneficial for health than coffee enemas. Studies show that moderate coffee intake is linked to lower risk of heart disease, for example.

    Social media can be a useful way to learn about health but it’s important to check who is giving this information – do they have credentials to back up their claims? It’s always best to check with your doctor or specialist before embarking on any alternative or complementary therapies.

    Dipa Kamdar 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. Coffee enemas probably won’t detox your system – they’re more likely to cause you serious damage – https://theconversation.com/coffee-enemas-probably-wont-detox-your-system-theyre-more-likely-to-cause-you-serious-damage-252412

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The anti-Andrew Tate: how youth workers can counteract the influence of masculinity influencers

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Amanda Dylina Morse, Research Fellow, Queen’s University Belfast

    defotoberg/Shutterstock

    Andrew Tate – online content creator, podcaster, former kickboxer, and subject of ongoing human trafficking investigations – has gained widespread influence with millions of men and boys. Tate promotes financial independence, being “mentally and physically strong,” and being successful with women, interspersed with (sometimes violent) misogyny.

    For my PhD research, I worked with 30 boys and young men aged between 16 and 19 from working-class backgrounds in Belfast, researching on the role of social connection to protect mental health. In the interviews I carried out, Tate’s name came up constantly.

    I found that almost all the participants had positive or mixed feelings about him. Even those less certain of him appreciated his financial advice or advocacy for men’s mental health. While other masculinity influencers were also mentioned, none achieved the same level of importance.

    But I also found that youth workers emerged as powerful counters, acting as “anti-Andrew Tate” figures and providing a positive example of manhood. This shows that, while the influence of online figures may seem unstoppable, we already have role models in our communities who can demonstrate an alternative version of what a man can be and how he should act with others.

    Looking for connection

    In their interviews, the young men spoke passionately about their enthusiasm for Andrew Tate and valued his advocacy for “traditional” manhood, including the classical ideal of a “strong mind in a strong body”. While none of the boys and young men endorsed Tate’s misogyny, they struggled to balance their discomfort with calling women property against his perceived valuable messages.

    I agree with some of the stuff he says, but not everything he says. So, with some of the stuff he says about men’s mental health, if you go to the gym, it can help, and eat well, that… all the stuff around men’s mental health, I believe in. But just some of the stuff he says about women being property and stuff like that, I don’t really properly agree with.

    The boys and young men drew a parallel between Tate’s childhood poverty and their own. They sometimes assigned Tate unexpectedly altruistic intentions in his targeting of young men desperate to attain financial security.

    All the controversial things that he says, I think he only said that to get himself a platform, so people would tune into him… More and more people listen to him. And he’s making more and more money. And he’s like, putting that money into his university, trying to help more people and then he promotes mental health and all. I think it’s brilliant like.

    Most of the people in my research had histories of substance use and violence at the boundaries between Catholic and Protestant neighbourhoods from a young age. For them, these challenging experiences were their entry into the youth work organisations which mentored them to build skills in emotional literacy, forecast the consequences of unsafe or unhealthy behaviour, and build community cohesion through acts of service.

    Relatable and non-judgmental

    For the boys and young men I worked with, their youth workers were like them – working-class men from their own communities with shared experiences of socioeconomic deprivation, exposure to paramilitary violence, and early substance use. Those parallels made them trustworthy and relatable.

    Youth workers can provide a non-judgmental listening ear.
    ingkaninant/Shutterstock

    The youth workers offered a confidential, nonjudgmental ear for their mentees, without the same risk of consequences for bad behaviour. For instance, telling a youth worker about having used drugs at the weekend wouldn’t lead to the lecture or loss of privileges that telling a parent or teacher might.

    I just think that, you know, at a young age, it’s important, em, young men get to know that there is that supportive people that can turn to even if they haven’t got, you know, a lot of friends or any friends. But I just think that, you know, like, I’ve got the opportunity of the youth club and the youth groups.

    In contrast to the version of masculine success Tate presents, youth workers usually had a home in the neighbourhood, played sports recreationally, and were establishing their families through marriage and having children. My study participants admired the stability their youth workers demonstrated in this more attainable – but still aspirational – version of adult manhood.

    When asked what kind of man they wanted to be as an adult, most of them described the sort of success their youth workers had achieved, rather than a version closer to Tate’s.

    The boys and young men I worked with said that youth service organisations were supportive spaces. They credited them with both improvements to their mental health and with giving them strategies to avoid engagement in sectarian violence. Some participants were so moved by their engagement with youth workers that they were themselves training in the profession.

    Despite strong evidence for their value, youth services are consistently underfunded. But they represent an opportunity to invest in the health of both young men and their communities.

    Amanda Dylina Morse 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 anti-Andrew Tate: how youth workers can counteract the influence of masculinity influencers – https://theconversation.com/the-anti-andrew-tate-how-youth-workers-can-counteract-the-influence-of-masculinity-influencers-252786

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How corroding sea structures can provide vital habitats for marine life

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Tamsin Dobson, Applied Marine Scientist and Biocorrosion Lead, Plymouth Marine Laboratory

    Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock

    Rust can be incredibly annoying if it appears on your new bicycle or car, but if you are a free-floating baby marine animal (larvae), it could be your dream home.

    When metal ends up in the sea, two things happen. The metal will rust (or corrode). Then it will become biofouled – that means it gets covered with marine slime, with seaweed and marine animals, such as barnacles and sea squirts, attaching onto the surfaces.

    Biofouling and corrosion are fundamentally linked. Corroded surfaces are more likely to be biofouled and biofouling worsens corrosion. That’s why rich and diverse ecosystems often develop around shipwrecks and offshore renewable energy structures, such as wind turbines.

    Corrosion happens when a metal structure’s chemical elements (usually in the form of charged “ions”) react with a chemical element in seawater. What we call rust is iron reacting with oxygen and the brown colour is iron oxide (a molecule containing iron and oxygen).

    Seawater corrosion of metal releases metal ions into the water. In high concentrations, some are potentially toxic to marine life. For example, copper can prevent juvenile barnacles from developing hard calcium-rich outer shells. Luckily, the potentially toxic components (such as heavy metals like mercury and lead) only appear in very low concentrations in most structural metals. In fact, the presence of the corroding structure will usually create an environmental benefit.

    Biofouling and corrosion on a welded sample of nickel aluminium bronze after it has been submerged for 18 months in seawater off the coast of Plymouth, UK.
    Tamsin Dobson, CC BY-NC-ND

    We are both marine scientists fascinated by how corroded structures affect larval dispersal and species distribution. While one of us (Tamsin Dobson) researches the effects of marine corrosion and biofouling on marine engineering applications, the other (Molly James) is a marine ecosystems modeller exploring both larval dispersal and pollutant pathways.

    Dobson’s research showed that biofouling organisms can worsen corrosion. Larger biofouling organisms (such as barnacles and sea squirts) will attach to the surface using special cement or glue that they secrete.

    Underneath the organism, the amount of oxygen starts to reduce as the organisms continue to respire (consuming food and oxygen to release energy and carbon dioxide). Because that oxygen cannot be replenished from the surrounding seawater, metal chlorides react with hydrogen in the water, producing hydrochloric acid. This acid is highly corrosive. There are also many biofouling bacteria that play a role in corroding metals.

    Marine life can more easily attach to the rough surfaces of corroded metal compared to new, smooth, polished metal. Think about climbing a cliff – it’s much easier when there are lots of craggy hand and foot holds to cling to. The crevices provided by corrosion also protect biofouling organisms from surrounding seawater currents. As corrosion develops further, the roughness provides bigger crevices for those organisms to grow in.

    When marine biofouling creatures attached to corroded marine structures reproduce or spawn, their tiny babies (larvae) are released into the seawater and carried by ocean currents. Eventually, they may settle on other marine structures, creating a web of connected habitats. The more corroded marine structures in an area, the more potential new homes for the marine larvae to attach to and grow on.

    Habitat hotspots

    James’s recent research used computer models to show how ocean currents and wind patterns act like highways, carrying larvae between the structures, helping to establish vibrant and interconnected marine communities. The existing structures in the North Sea have unintentionally created five distinct communities of marine life – larvae released from one of the North Sea structures will remain in the community that the structure is within.

    The same modelling demonstrates that marine larvae float on seawater currents and tides, spreading out in some areas and coming together in other areas known as “hotspots”. These hotspots are the perfect places for building artificial reefs or establishing protected zones where fishing practices or underwater developments are limited.

    By providing suitable habitats (like a patch of corroded metal) in hotspots, these areas could enhance the survival of marine biofouling organisms, giving them a safe place to settle and grow into adults. In turn, this provides more food for young marine animals that feed on the biofouling organisms and their larvae, therefore improving ocean health and building the resilience of the marine ecosystem.

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

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

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. How corroding sea structures can provide vital habitats for marine life – https://theconversation.com/how-corroding-sea-structures-can-provide-vital-habitats-for-marine-life-244446

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cocaine smuggler jailed27 March 2025 A 31-year-old man has been sentenced by the Royal Court to five years imprisonment for attempting to import cocaine into the Island with a street value of £14,000. Faustin Kapinga MUTOMBO, of London,… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    27 March 2025

    A 31-year-old man has been sentenced by the Royal Court to five years imprisonment for attempting to import cocaine into the Island with a street value of £14,000.

    Faustin Kapinga MUTOMBO, of London, arrived in the Island on the morning of Wednesday 17 January 2024 having travelled as a foot passenger on the overnight boat from Portsmouth. 

    He was stopped and questioned by Jersey Customs and Immigration Officers and stated that he was visiting the Island for one day and would be returning back to Portsmouth. 

    He advised officers that the purpose of his visit was to meet up with an acquaintance he named as “Joey” whom he had previously met on a night out in London in January 2023.

    Officers became suspicious as to the real purpose of his visit to the Island and he was subsequently arrested on suspicion of carrying drugs internally. 

    MUTOMBO was detained by Officers and declined to be x-rayed. He remained in detention for some 14 days when he finally produced two cling film wrapped packages, containing 56 grams of cocaine. 

    Paul Le Monnier, Senior Manager at Jersey Customs and Immigration Service, said: “This was a lengthy and testing investigation that ultimately led to the seizure of cocaine.”

    Anyone with information on drug smuggling can report it anonymously via 0800 735 5555.​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mar 27, 2025 ATU Applauds Formation of King County Safety Task Force, Urges Other Transit Agencies to Do the Same

    Source: US Amalgamated Transit Union

    ATU Local 587-Seattle, WA, Played Key Role in Bringing King County Metro, Politicians, Police, and Stakeholders Together to Push for Real Safety Changes for Workers and Riders 

    Silver Spring, MD – Praising the formation of King County’s new Transit Safety Task Force after the tragic murder of King County Metro Transit Operator Shawn Yim in December last year, the Amalgamated Transit Union commends ATU Local 587-Seattle, WA, for pushing for the task force.

    As a longtime advocate for improving safety on public transit for both riders and operators, the ATU calls on other transit agencies to establish safety task forces. The Union fought for and secured Joint Safety Committees at transit agencies under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) that gives workers an equal voice about safety on the job

    “Losing Shawn was a tragedy that shook this community and our entire Union,” said ATU International President John Costa. “Transit Operator safety is a public safety issue, and I hope this task force will be a turning point in the fight to make public transit safer for everyone. The ATU has always worked tirelessly to advocate for improved safety measures. Thank you to our Local 587, who called for this task force just hours after we lost Shawn and has consistently offered recommendations for reducing assault through established safety committees before this tragic event. Because of their leadership through this tragedy, we’re on the path to end this violence.”

    Since its inception, the ATU has pushed for comprehensive safety reform in the transit industry, including implementing more training programs, installing fully enclosed barriers on buses, improving communication systems, and enhancing emergency response protocols.

    “The tragic murder of Shawn has only amplified the urgent need for systematic changes for better safety on our transit systems. Not a day goes by that I don’t hear of a transit worker being shot, stabbed, spit on, verbally abused, and more,” continued Costa. “Our transit agencies must do better, but all stakeholders must work collaboratively and urgently to develop comprehensive solutions. The safety of our transit workers and their passengers should never be compromised.”

    The task force includes ATU Local 587 members, city leaders, public safety officials, transportation stakeholders, transit agency representatives, and King County representatives. A report is due in September 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Jury Convicts Rochester Felon for Illegal Possession of Firearm

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ST. PAUL, Minn. – A federal jury found a Rochester man guilty of illegally possessing a firearm as a felon, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. 

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on March 18-19, 2023, Divaunte Kartrell Young, 24, pressured an acquaintance “Victim A” for a ride to the Twin Cities. When Victim A refused, Young brandished a handgun he carried in a black and white Adidas cross-body bag. After Victim A and Young drove to a nearby gas station, Victim A went inside the gas station and locked herself in the bathroom in order to call a friend for help. Shortly afterwards, Victim A abandoned her vehicle and called 911. Responding officers located the car, found Young sleeping inside, and took him into custody. During the subsequent search of the vehicle, officers located the black and white Adidas bag with a silver Taurus nine-millimeter handgun inside. Young’s DNA was matched to DNA that was found on the gun.  After Young was taken into custody, he contacted Victim A and was captured on recorded jail calls attempting to obstruct Victim A from participating in the criminal case against him.

    Because Young has multiple prior felony convictions for domestic assault, aggravated robbery, burglary, and fourth degree assault, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.

    Following a three-day trial before Judge Eric C. Tostrud in U.S. District Court, a jury found Young guilty on one count of illegal possession of a firearm. 

    This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Rochester Police Department, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. 

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Evan B. Gilead and David B. Green prosecuted the case.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Ascend Learning Announces Acquisition of Clover Learning to Expand Allied Health Education Offerings

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LEAWOOD, Kan., March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ascend Learning, a leading healthcare and learning software company, today announced the acquisition of Clover Learning, a pioneer in online diagnostic imaging education. Clover Learning enhances Ascend’s portfolio of allied health brands, furthering its mission to provide comprehensive training and certification solutions to healthcare professionals.

    As the US population ages, demand for medical imaging services is increasing and contributing to staffing challenges and shortages in the radiology workforce. Learning and upskilling to aid in retention and attracting new talent are critical needs in this workforce.

    “We are thrilled to welcome Clover Learning to our growing portfolio of allied health brands as this acquisition aligns with our shared mission to bring skilled workers to the healthcare industry,” said Kathy Hunter, Allied Health category leader at Ascend Learning. “Clover’s innovative approach to education and their commitment to excellence will help us continue to serve the allied health professions and ultimately create better-qualified healthcare professionals to serve patients.”

    Clover Learning is an established leader in online diagnostic imaging market training, certification exam preparation, and continuing education through its innovative platform that leverages evidence-based learning methodologies and interactive experiences. With a 96% pass rate on certification exams, Clover Learning’s transformative courses are designed to ignite curiosity and encourage critical thinking among healthcare students and professionals.

    Ascend Learning’s Allied Health offerings include National Healthcareer Association (NHA), a market leader in preparing and certifying healthcare students for high demand allied health professions with nationally recognized accredited credentials. NHA’s offerings include learning resources, exam preparation, and professional development solutions. Together, Ascend’s NHA and Clover Learning will expand and enhance support for these critical professions.

    “Joining forces with Ascend Learning is an incredible opportunity for Clover Learning,” said Ari Blum, Founder and CEO of Clover Learning. “With Ascend Learning’s significant resources and long-standing expertise in healthcare learning, we will have opportunities to scale our imaging offerings and continue to provide best-in-class training, prep materials, continuing education, and cross-training solutions to the imaging market. Together, we can continue transforming healthcare education and supporting the next generation of healthcare professionals.”

    “The acquisition of Clover Learning underscores Ascend Learning’s ongoing commitment to improve patient care by equipping healthcare professionals with the skills and knowledge they need to enter the workforce and continue to succeed in these critical professions,” said Lissy Hu, MD, CEO of Ascend Learning. “Clover Learning enables us to further strengthen and enhance the training and development of allied health professionals, indispensable members of healthcare teams, across more disciplines and professions.”

    Tyton Partners served as the exclusive financial advisor to Clover.

    About Ascend Learning: 
    Ascend Learning is a leading healthcare and learning technology company. With products that span the learning continuum, Ascend Learning focuses on high-growth careers in a range of industries, with a special focus on healthcare and other licensure-driven occupations. Ascend Learning products, from testing to certification, are used by physicians, emergency medical professionals, nurses, allied health professionals, certified personal trainers, financial advisors, skilled trades professionals and insurance brokers. Learn more at www.ascendlearning.com.

    About Clover Learning: Clover Learning, Inc. is a pioneer in online healthcare education for the diagnostic imaging field. Founded in 2017, Clover Learning has become one of the fastest-growing companies in the industry, offering engaging video lessons, quizzes, assessments, and certification exam prep tools. Clover Learning’s mission is to transform students into professionals and professionals into experts through personalized, innovative, and accessible online education.

    Media Contact
    V2 Communications for Ascend Learning
    ascend@v2comms.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Karri Alameri starts as the CEO of Oma Savings Bank Plc on 31 March 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OMA SAVINGS BANK PLC STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE, 27 MARCH 2025 AT 17.00 P.M EET, CHANGES BOARD/MANAGEMENT/AUDITORS

    Karri Alameri starts as the CEO of Oma Savings Bank Plc on 31 March 2025
          
    On 30 September 2024, Oma Savings Bank Plc (OmaSp or Company) announced that the Company’s Board of Directors has appointed Karri Alameri, B.Sc. (Econ.), CEFA as the new CEO of the Company and that he will take up his position no later than 1 April 2025. The starting date has been specified, and Karri Alameri will start in his position on 31 March 2025. Sarianna Liiri, M.Sc. (Econ.), eMBA, has served as the Company’s interim CEO since 19 June 2024 and she will return to the position of Deputy CEO and CFO as of 31 March 2025.

    Chairman of the Board Jaakko Ossa
    “Together with the renewed Board of Directors and Karri Alameri, we will continue to implement the Company’s strategy towards the next phase. Karri’s merits in the financial sector and his strong leadership skills provide an excellent starting point for rebuilding trust. I warmly welcome Karri to OmaSp and wish him success in his new demanding position.”

    Oma Savings Bank Plc

    Additional information:
    Sarianna Liiri, CEO, tel. +358 40 835 6712, sarianna.liiri@omasp.fi

    Distribution:
    Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd
    Major media
    www.omasp.fi

    OmaSp is a solvent and profitable Finnish bank. About 500 professionals provide nationwide services through OmaSp’s 48 branch offices and digital service channels to over 200,000 private and corporate customers. OmaSp focuses primarily on retail banking operations and provides its clients with a broad range of banking services both through its own balance sheet as well as by acting as an intermediary for its partners’ products. The intermediated products include credit, investment and loan insurance products. OmaSp is also engaged in mortgage banking operations.

    OmaSp core idea is to provide personal service and to be local and close to its customers, both in digital and traditional channels. OmaSp strives to offer premium level customer experience through personal service and easy accessibility. In addition, the development of the operations and services is customer-oriented. The personnel is committed and OmaSp seeks to support their career development with versatile tasks and continuous development. A substantial part of the personnel also own shares in OmaSp.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Overland AI Showcases Fully Autonomous Tactical Vehicle at Army Applications Lab Demo

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SEATTLE, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a recent experimentation event, Overland AI showcased the capabilities of its fully autonomous tactical vehicle at a demonstration hosted by the Army Applications Lab.

    Attended by combat engineers from across multiple U.S. Army and Marine Corps units, the exercise demonstrated how Overland’s fully autonomous tactical vehicle, powered by Overland AI’s OverDrive autonomy stack and OverWatch tactical interface, can disrupt enemy maneuvers. The vehicle, which can traverse off-road terrain at speeds of at least 30 mph with a range of at least 100 miles and a payload capacity greater than 900 lbs, makes it more difficult for adversaries to traverse by deploying deep terrain shaping obstacles (DTSOs).


    U.S. Army combat engineers operating Overland AI’s fully autonomous tactical vehicle with their intuitive OverWatch interface.

    “This demonstration validated our vision: that fully autonomous off-road capabilities can provide combat engineers with an organic way of conducting deep terrain shaping,” said Jon Fink, chief technology officer of Overland AI. “This capability equips warfighters to execute critical missions faster, at greater distances, with less risk to human life.”

    The demonstration was attended by Army engineering units, including:

    • 264th CO (CEC-I), 27th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade
    • 595th CO (CEC-A), 5th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade
    • 570th CO (CEC-I/S), 864th Engineer Battalion, 555th Engineer Brigade.

    During the exercise, combat engineers engaged directly with Overland AI’s OverWatch tactical interface, planning and executing realistic scenarios. Soldiers were able to experience firsthand how the system operates in rugged terrain, adapting to mission parameters with minimal input. With at least 1 kW of available power for payloads and an idle time of two hours, Overland AI’s attritable autonomous tactical vehicle is engineered for extended mission durations and highly adaptable operations in contested terrain.


    Overland AI engineers testing and evaluating their fully autonomous tactical vehicle during a test run at the experiment.

    “It was an honor to see our capability being operated by end users,” said Byron Boots, co-founder and chief executive officer of Overland AI. “They could see firsthand how fully autonomous tactical vehicles can help accomplish their mission with increased speed and tactical options, derisking these operations to keep Soldiers out of harm’s way.”

    Overland AI remains committed to advancing autonomous military technologies, having previously secured an $18.6 million contract with the U.S. Army and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to develop autonomy software for the Army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) program. The company continues to support a range of U.S. military programs, including the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, and Special Operations Command.

    To learn more about Overland AI and see open roles, visit www.overland.ai.

    About Overland AI
    Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Overland AI is powering ground operations for modern defense. The company leverages over a decade of advanced research in robotics and machine learning, as well as a field-test forward ethos, to deliver combined capabilities for unit commanders. Hazardous missions in austere and electronically denied environments demand that these capabilities are reliable and resilient. Overland AI’s SPARK autonomy upfit and OverDrive stack enable uncrewed ground vehicles to navigate off-road with no GPS, all without direct operator control, to significantly reduce the risk to human life on the battlefield. Precisely coordinated capabilities are vital for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions to succeed. Overland AI is developing these capabilities and putting them into the hands of unit commanders today.

    Contact
    Cameron Langford

    overland@1stprinciples.io

    First Principles Communications

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: 
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8e24f2e6-e97d-45d0-a8fc-caf1b6ae56bc
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6f78a660-7196-49b6-9fb6-6ce93c07fb5a

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Shelter of Exiles Achieves Incredible Milestone, Securing Its Spot Among the Top Play-to-Earn Games on TON

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WOLSZTYN, Poland, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Just a few weeks after its Token Generation Event (TGE) on March 11, 2025, Shelter of Exiles (SOEX) has already cemented its position among the top Play-to-Earn (P2E) games on the TON blockchain. This remarkable feat highlights not only the strength of the game’s AI-driven gameplay and dynamic NFTs (dNFTs), but also its ability to rapidly capture the attention and support of a global gaming community.

    Despite being in its early stages, Shelter of Exiles has successfully carved out a space for itself in the rapidly growing Web3 gaming ecosystem. The TGE, which marked the official launch of $SOEX, the game’s native token, was a significant milestone that set the stage for a promising future, with early players and investors already reaping the rewards of the game’s innovative economy.

    Shelter of Exiles stands out for its fusion of blockchain and AI. Built on the TON blockchain, the game offers players an expansive, evolving world where creatures evolve into dynamic NFTs that grow stronger over time, learn new skills, and provide passive income. This innovative approach to gameplay is further enhanced by AI agents, which automate many aspects of the game, from resource management to battle strategies—allowing players to earn rewards even while they’re offline.

    What truly sets Shelter of Exiles apart from other P2E games is its ability to merge AI agents with blockchain technology. This combination provides a deeply personalized experience, as dNFTs evolve based on player activity. Creatures in Shelter of Exiles do not simply stay static; they grow stronger, gain new abilities, and can be traded, sold, or upgraded as they progress.

    By incorporating AI-powered automation, players don’t need to be constantly active to continue making progress or earning rewards. Whether it’s battling enemies, managing resources, or staking assets for additional benefits, the AI agents in Shelter of Exiles allow for passive gameplay, generating consistent rewards and encouraging long-term investment in the game’s evolving world.

    Shelter of Exiles is a game-changer in the Play-to-Earn (P2E) ecosystem thanks to its innovative AI-driven passive income and seamless blockchain integration. Players can earn rewards even while not actively playing, as AI-powered automation and dynamic NFTs allow creatures to grow, learn new skills, and generate income without requiring constant player input. This unique system provides an engaging and sustainable income model for players, setting SoE apart from traditional P2E games. Built on the TON blockchain, SoE’s decentralized economy ensures transparency, security, and true ownership of digital assets, allowing players to trade, stake, and upgrade with confidence.

    With its community showing incredible engagement through Telegram Mini-App integration, which allows for seamless cross-platform access, social events, and global connectivity. The dynamic NFTs in the game offer evolving gameplay, incentivizing players to invest in long-term strategies as their creatures grow stronger over time. This constantly evolving gameplay ensures that players remain immersed and motivated to continue exploring the world of SoE, fostering a fresh and rewarding experience that keeps players coming back.

    Though Shelter of Exiles is still young, the game’s rapid success and growing momentum show it’s on track to become a dominant force in the Web3 gaming landscape. With a strong community and AI-powered mechanics that set it apart from traditional games, SOEX is well-positioned to expand its ecosystem, attracting both players and investors alike.

    As more players discover the passive income opportunities and dynamic gameplay that SOEX provides, the game is set to continue growing and evolving. The future of Shelter of Exiles is bright, and its success on the TON blockchain is only the beginning of what promises to be an exciting journey in the world of Web3 gaming.

    About Shelter of Exiles:
    Shelter of Exiles is an innovative Web3-powered RPG that combines AI-driven gameplay, dynamic NFTs, and a decentralized economy. Players explore a mystical world, collect and upgrade creatures, and engage in battles while earning passive income through blockchain-based assets and AI automation. Built on the TON blockchain, SoEX is revolutionizing the Play-to-Earn space.

    For more information, please contact:

    Dariusz Kowalski
    hello@shelterofexiles.com 
    rl@pixeltrapps.games
    Website: https://shelterofexiles.com/

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by Shelter of Exiles. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector–including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining–complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9af5a3ac-335b-4914-89bd-29b6f9e3a17e

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The battle for Khartoum: tracking Sudan’s war over two years

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Kagure Gacheche, Commissioning Editor, East Africa

    Sudan has been engulfed in brutal conflict since 15 April 2023, when tensions between the country’s two most powerful military factions erupted into civil war.

    The conflict stems from a long-standing power struggle over military control and integration. Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces began in the capital, Khartoum, and quickly spread across the country. International efforts to broker peace since have largely failed.

    The conflict, which has been going on for two years now, has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian emergencies.

    An estimated 30 million Sudanese civilians are in need of aid. Brutal attacks, looting and destruction of infrastructure have become commonplace. Millions of people lack access to essential medical care. Food shortages and economic collapse have worsened the suffering.

    The war has also triggered a massive displacement crisis, with more than 14 million people forced to flee their homes. Many have sought refuge in neighbouring countries, while others remain trapped in dangerous conditions within Sudan.

    As the conflict drags on, the toll on Sudan’s people continues to grow. Estimates of those killed vary widely, from 20,000 to 62,000, but the actual figure could be much larger.

    With no clear resolution in sight, Sudan’s crisis is one of the most urgent and devastating conflicts in the world. At The Conversation Africa, we have worked with academics who have tracked the conflict since 2023.

    Weapons flow

    Early on, it was clear that both the Sudanese army and the paramilitary force had a sufficient supply of weapons to sustain a protracted conflict. The country was already awash with firearms. It is ranked second – after Egypt – among its regional neighbours in total firearms estimates. Khristopher Carlson, part of a research project tracking small arms and armed violence in Sudan, noted that the two Sudanese forces might have different fighting methods but were adequately equipped to trade fire. The army’s superiority was its air force and heavy arsenal on the ground. The paramilitary force relied on nimble mobile units equipped primarily with small and light weapons.



    Read more:
    Sudan is awash with weapons: how the two forces compare and what that means for the war

    External interference

    This proliferation of weapons has been compounded by financial and military support from external states. Various foreign players – Chad, Egypt, Iran, Libya, Qatar and Russia – have picked a side to support. However, the influence of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates has been particularly problematic. Political scientist Federico Donelli explained that the two nations viewed Sudan as a key nation because of its location. Following President Omar al-Bashir’s ouster in 2019, the two monarchies bet on different factions within Sudan’s security apparatus. This external support exacerbated internal competition. Riyadh maintained close ties with army leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Abu Dhabi aligned itself with the head of the Rapid Support Forces, Mohamed Dagalo, or Hemedti.



    Read more:
    Middle Eastern monarchies in Sudan’s war: what’s driving their interests

    Regional dynamics

    The support from international players in Sudan’s war has had a damaging effect on regional dynamics. The Sudanese army recently accused the United Arab Emirates of supplying the Rapid Support Forces with weapons through Chad. At a ceremony for an officer killed in a drone strike carried out by paramilitary forces, a senior army official said Chad’s airports would be “legitimate targets” should retaliatory action become necessary. This heightened the risk of a spillover of the Sudanese conflict. Sudan shares borders with seven countries in an unstable region, including Chad, South Sudan, Eritrea and Ethiopia. Economics professor and legal expert John Mukum Mbaku warned that a spillover of the fighting could devastate the region economically, socially and politically.



    Read more:
    Sudan’s conflict will have a ripple effect in an unstable region – and across the world

    Protecting civilians

    The conflict has put millions of civilians in Sudan in the crossfire. A UN report in September 2024 called for an independent force to protect civilians; Sudan’s officials rejected the proposal. However, peace talks have yet to achieve a lasting ceasefire. Sudan had a peacekeeping force between 2007 and 2020, followed by a UN-led political mission that exited in February 2024. Since then, there has been no security presence in Sudan responsible for protecting civilians. Peacekeeping researcher Jenna Russo noted the need for a regional or international peace force that could create “green zones”. This would help protect areas where displaced persons were sheltering and facilitate humanitarian aid.



    Read more:
    Sudan’s civilians urgently need protection: the options for international peacekeeping

    What’s been missing?

    High-level peace talks brokered by the African Union and the UN to negotiate a ceasefire have largely been unsuccessful, putting civilians at constant risk. Talks held in Switzerland and Jeddah have had little impact. Philipp Kastner, a peace scholar, highlighted that the countries hosting or supporting these talks were pursuing competing interests in Sudan, which affected their impartiality. Progress to negotiate an end to the war would be unlikely if external military support to the warring parties continued unabated. Civilians would continue to pay the price.



    Read more:
    Sudan at war: the art of peace talks and why they often fail

    – ref. The battle for Khartoum: tracking Sudan’s war over two years – https://theconversation.com/the-battle-for-khartoum-tracking-sudans-war-over-two-years-253242

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: US stands on the brink of a constitutional crisis as Donald Trump takes on America’s legal system

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Anne Richardson Oakes, Associate Professor and Director: Centre for American Legal Studies, Birmingham City University

    As the 19th-century French political philosopher, Alexis de Tocqueville, memorably observed, Americans have a tendency to fight their political battles in court. Barely two months into his presidency, Donald Trump is demonstrating increasing frustration as trade unions, civil rights organisations and states attorneys general challenge the implementation of his policies with lawsuits alleging presidential overreach that undermines the constitutional separation of powers.

    More than 130 lawsuits are now pending. As a result, federal courts have put on hold key policies of the Trump administration and Trump lawyers have lodged emergency petitions invoking Supreme Court intervention.

    First to face court check was the federal funding freeze order. This was swiftly followed by court rulings against the birthright citizenship order. This controversial measure would withdraw citizenship for children born in the United States to undocumented or non-citizen parents who are in the country legally but temporarily.

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

    Another court ruling has overturned the Pentagon’s ban on transgender people enlisting in the US armed forces. Yet another has blocked the Department of Government Efficiency’s (Doge’s) access to treasury department records containing the personal financial details of millions of Americans.

    This was blocked for the very fundamental grounds that this has not been authorised by Congress and is not within the scope of the presidential power. Whether Doge can even exist without Congressional authority is also in contention.

    The president’s increasing anger with the courts erupted on March 18. The US president launched an astonishing personal attack on a US federal judge who ruled against the summary deportation of alleged members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang and ordered the administration to turn around the plane carrying them that had already taken off.

    The US president calls for a judge to be impeached.
    TruthSocial.

    Trump’s call for Judge James Boasberg to be impeached prompted a rare intervention from Supreme Court chief justice John Roberts. Roberts condemned the impeachment call in a statement that did not name the president but was clearly intended as a rebuke and a reminder of the constitutional boundaries that guarantee the role of the judiciary as the equal third branch of government.

    Unrepentant, Trump doubled down the next day on TruthSocial calling Judge Boasberg a “Radical Left Lunatic Judge” who wanted “to assume the role of president”. His charge was then echoed by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt who accused the judiciary generally of attempting to paralyse the administration’s programme, usurp the power of the president and undermine the will of the American people.

    White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Judge James Boasberg.

    Despite Judge Boasberg’s order, the plane carrying the Venezuelans did not turn back. The administration has denied wrongdoing and Judge Boasberg has yet to impose any penalty.

    This was not the first occasion that the administration has appeared to openly defy court orders. The previous week Dr Raiza Alawieh, a Brown University professor with an American visa was deported despite an order from a federal judge in Boston requiring that the court be given advance notice before the government attempted to remove her.

    All eyes on the Supreme Court

    All these cases are likely to go to the US Supreme Court. As its name suggests, this is the highest level of the judiciary in the US. It has the final say on what the US constitution means and authorises. At issue will be the scope of the presidential power – and the outcome is uncertain.

    It’s important to bear in mind that the court now has a six-to-three majority of conservative justices – three of whom were Trump nominees. We also need to be aware that this court, in a previous ruling, considerably extended the scope of presidential immunity to cover all official “core acts” so that, whatever the outcome, the president himself is unlikely to attract personal liability.

    But we do know that the Supreme Court’s ruling on a constitutional issue is final – and that all government officials at federal and state level will be required to respect it. The fear now is that the administration may go ahead regardless in which case we will find ourselves in unknown constitutional territory.



    Read more:
    US Supreme Court immunity ruling ideal for a president who doesn’t care about democracy

    To find parallels we could go back to the desegregation era of the middle of the 20th century and specifically to Little Rock in Arkansas where the then governor, Orval Faubus, called out the national guard to prevent the court-ordered desegregation of the local high school.

    The ensuing crisis ended when the then president, Dwight D. Eisenhower, sent in federal troops to enforce the court order. The US Supreme Court unanimously declared that its interpretations of what the constitution required were the supreme law of the land, which bound the governor and the state legislature.

    The chief justice of that era, Earl Warren, later regarded this ruling (Cooper v Aaron) as the most important of his time on the Supreme Court – more important even than the actual desegregation decision itself (Brown v Board of Education).

    It is clear that the judicial branch depends upon the executive to put its orders into effect and demonstrate respect for the rule of law and the separation of powers. But we now see a president who demonstrates open hostility to judges whom he considers have opposed him. His administration has also begun to vindictively target with punitive blocking orders the big law firms who assisted in the prosecutions brought against him before he took office.

    Does a constitutional crisis loom? How all this plays out remains to be seen.

    Anne Richardson Oakes 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. US stands on the brink of a constitutional crisis as Donald Trump takes on America’s legal system – https://theconversation.com/us-stands-on-the-brink-of-a-constitutional-crisis-as-donald-trump-takes-on-americas-legal-system-249320

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Sudan army takes back Khartoum: tracking the war over two years

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Kagure Gacheche, Commissioning Editor, East Africa

    Sudan has been engulfed in brutal conflict since 15 April 2023, when tensions between the country’s two most powerful military factions erupted into civil war.

    The conflict stems from a long-standing power struggle over military control and integration. Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces began in the capital, Khartoum, and quickly spread across the country. International efforts to broker peace since have largely failed.

    The conflict, which has been going on for two years now, has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian emergencies.

    An estimated 30 million Sudanese civilians are in need of aid. Brutal attacks, looting and destruction of infrastructure have become commonplace. Millions of people lack access to essential medical care. Food shortages and economic collapse have worsened the suffering.

    The war has also triggered a massive displacement crisis, with more than 14 million people forced to flee their homes. Many have sought refuge in neighbouring countries, while others remain trapped in dangerous conditions within Sudan.

    As the conflict drags on, the toll on Sudan’s people continues to grow. Estimates of those killed vary widely, from 20,000 to 62,000, but the actual figure could be much larger.

    With no clear resolution in sight, Sudan’s crisis is one of the most urgent and devastating conflicts in the world. At The Conversation Africa, we have worked with academics who have tracked the conflict since 2023.

    Weapons flow

    Early on, it was clear that both the Sudanese army and the paramilitary force had a sufficient supply of weapons to sustain a protracted conflict. The country was already awash with firearms. It is ranked second – after Egypt – among its regional neighbours in total firearms estimates. Khristopher Carlson, part of a research project tracking small arms and armed violence in Sudan, noted that the two Sudanese forces might have different fighting methods but were adequately equipped to trade fire. The army’s superiority was its air force and heavy arsenal on the ground. The paramilitary force relied on nimble mobile units equipped primarily with small and light weapons.

    Read more: Sudan is awash with weapons: how the two forces compare and what that means for the war

    External interference

    This proliferation of weapons has been compounded by financial and military support from external states. Various foreign players – Chad, Egypt, Iran, Libya, Qatar and Russia – have picked a side to support. However, the influence of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates has been particularly problematic. Political scientist Federico Donelli explained that the two nations viewed Sudan as a key nation because of its location. Following President Omar al-Bashir’s ouster in 2019, the two monarchies bet on different factions within Sudan’s security apparatus. This external support exacerbated internal competition. Riyadh maintained close ties with army leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Abu Dhabi aligned itself with the head of the Rapid Support Forces, Mohamed Dagalo, or Hemedti.

    Read more: Middle Eastern monarchies in Sudan’s war: what’s driving their interests

    Regional dynamics

    The support from international players in Sudan’s war has had a damaging effect on regional dynamics. The Sudanese army recently accused the United Arab Emirates of supplying the Rapid Support Forces with weapons through Chad. At a ceremony for an officer killed in a drone strike carried out by paramilitary forces, a senior army official said Chad’s airports would be “legitimate targets” should retaliatory action become necessary. This heightened the risk of a spillover of the Sudanese conflict. Sudan shares borders with seven countries in an unstable region, including Chad, South Sudan, Eritrea and Ethiopia. Economics professor and legal expert John Mukum Mbaku warned that a spillover of the fighting could devastate the region economically, socially and politically.

    Read more: Sudan’s conflict will have a ripple effect in an unstable region – and across the world

    Protecting civilians

    The conflict has put millions of civilians in Sudan in the crossfire. A UN report in September 2024 called for an independent force to protect civilians; Sudan’s officials rejected the proposal. However, peace talks have yet to achieve a lasting ceasefire. Sudan had a peacekeeping force between 2007 and 2020, followed by a UN-led political mission that exited in February 2024. Since then, there has been no security presence in Sudan responsible for protecting civilians. Peacekeeping researcher Jenna Russo noted the need for a regional or international peace force that could create “green zones”. This would help protect areas where displaced persons were sheltering and facilitate humanitarian aid.

    Read more: Sudan’s civilians urgently need protection: the options for international peacekeeping

    What’s been missing?

    High-level peace talks brokered by the African Union and the UN to negotiate a ceasefire have largely been unsuccessful, putting civilians at constant risk. Talks held in Switzerland and Jeddah have had little impact. Philipp Kastner, a peace scholar, highlighted that the countries hosting or supporting these talks were pursuing competing interests in Sudan, which affected their impartiality. Progress to negotiate an end to the war would be unlikely if external military support to the warring parties continued unabated. Civilians would continue to pay the price.

    Read more: Sudan at war: the art of peace talks and why they often fail

    – Sudan army takes back Khartoum: tracking the war over two years
    – https://theconversation.com/sudan-army-takes-back-khartoum-tracking-the-war-over-two-years-253242

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: RBI imposes monetary penalty on The Tumkur Veerashaiva Co-operative Bank Ltd., Karnataka

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated March 25, 2025, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹50,000/- (Rupees Fifty thousand only) on The Tumkur Veerashaiva Co-operative Bank Ltd., Karnataka (the bank) for non-compliance with specific directions issued by RBI under ‘Supervisory Action Framework (SAF)’. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under the provisions of Section 47A(1)(c) read with Sections 46(4)(i) and 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

    The statutory inspection of the bank was conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2023. Based on supervisory findings of non-compliance with RBI directions and related correspondence in that regard, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for its failure to comply with the said directions. After considering the bank’s reply to the notice and oral submissions made during the personal hearing, RBI found, inter alia, that the following charge against the bank was sustained, warranting imposition of monetary penalty:

    In non-adherence with directions issued under SAF, the bank had:

    (i) sanctioned fresh loans and advances which were carrying risk-weight of more than 100%;

    (ii) not curtailed its exposure to the sector where level of NPAs were high; and

    (iii) not curtailed operating / administrative expenses.

    This action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers. Further, imposition of this monetary penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the bank.

    (Puneet Pancholy)  
    Chief General Manager

    Press Release: 2024-2025/2488

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: CMA’s Annual Plan to drive growth by promoting competition, protecting consumers and enhancing business and investor confidence

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    CMA’s Annual Plan to drive growth by promoting competition, protecting consumers and enhancing business and investor confidence

    Ambitious 2025 to 2026 CMA programme will prioritise action to drive growth and investment whilst fulfilling its core purpose to promote competition and protect consumers.

    • CMA commits to improving key aspects of how it works, driving greater pace, predictability, proportionality and improved process. 

    • CMA will support the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy, using its powers to drive growth and unlock investment. 

    • CMA to use new powers under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act to unlock opportunities for growth across the UK digital economy and the wider economy; and enhance consumer confidence by supporting business compliance and tackling poor corporate practices.

    Following extensive engagement with business, investment and consumer groups, and reflecting the Government’s draft strategic steer, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published its Annual Plan 2025 to 2026.  

    The plan sets out the CMA’s firm commitment to use its competition and consumer protection powers to drive positive outcomes for UK consumers and businesses across the economy. It also lays out how the CMA will reflect the new draft strategic steer from government in its activities over the coming year. The draft steer reinforces the importance of a strong, independent competition and consumer protection regime, situating this squarely in the context of the UK Government’s growth mission.    

    Focus areas   

    The CMA plans to target its markets work toward unlocking investment in critical infrastructure and identifying opportunities for key horizontal enablers (like access to data or technology adoption) which could have a multiplier effect on growth. It will also give particular focus – across its powers – to priority sectors in the Industrial Strategy where effective competition could spur growth, or remove barriers to the flow of capital, innovation, and the scaling of UK businesses.  

    Notably, the CMA plans to deploy its deep anti-bid rigging expertise and AI capabilities to help the Government identify and tackle bid rigging in public procurement – potentially opening up opportunities for new entrants as well as billions of pounds in savings for UK taxpayers.  

    The plan also frames the CMA’s carefully considered approach to its new powers under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCCA), with detail around early activity in both the new digital markets and new consumer protection regimes. The CMA particularly emphasises the value of effective consumer protection to both business and consumer confidence, signalling that it will use its enforcement powers proportionately to put money back into people’s pockets and protect the level-playing field for fair-dealing businesses.  

    Improving how the CMA works  

    The plan reasserts the CMA’s commitment to its ongoing programme of rapid, meaningful changes based around four key principles – pace, predictability, proportionality and process (business engagement). Following direct feedback from businesses and investors, the CMA committed to implementing these ‘4Ps’ across its functions late last year, starting with merger control.  

    The plan outlines the considerable progress made thus far and signals more to come in the near future, notably across the new digital and consumer functions. The CMA also emphasises the importance of continued, constructive engagement with a diverse range of stakeholders – particularly through the CMA Growth and Investment Council and through deeper relationships with startups and investors.  

    Sarah Cardell, CEO of the Competition and Markets Authority, said:  

    The Government has been clear that its number one priority is economic growth, and the CMA has a key role to play in supporting that. The fundamentals of our role – to promote dynamic markets, support productivity and innovation, and to protect consumer interests – remain as vital and relevant for the UK as they have ever been.  

    This Annual Plan lays out an ambitious programme of work to support economic growth and long-term prosperity for the UK, rooted in our commitment to promote competition and protect consumers, and clearly reflecting the clear draft strategic steer provided to us by government.  

    Based on valuable stakeholder feedback, we have made a firm commitment to continued, rapid evolution around key aspects of how we work, which we know are critical to business and investor confidence and UK global competitiveness.

    Doug Gurr, Interim Chair of the Competition and Markets Authority, said:  

    We have really challenged ourselves as an organisation on how we can contribute to the growth mission set out by government, which we know is vital for the UK. Because the foundations of what the CMA does – strong competition and consumer protection – can make a big difference to achieving it.  

    We have a real chance now, as we deliver this rich plan of work and continued improvements in how we operate, to build that all-important confidence amongst companies and investors that the UK is a great place to do business.

    Justin Madders, Minister for Employment Rights, Competition and Markets, said:  

    We have been clear that we expect regulators to focus on driving economic growth, as well as lending their expertise to support the Government in improving the public sector.   

    We welcome this plan set out by the CMA which will help it focus on delivering growth and supporting consumers across the country. I’d encourage other regulators to look to the CMA Plan as they prepare their own strategies.

    Notes to editors: 

    1. In a speech at the techUK Tech Policy Conference 2025, CEO Sarah Cardell set out how the CMA will apply the ‘4Ps’ framework to its digital markets and consumer work in support of economic growth. 

    2. All enquiries from journalists should be directed to the CMA press office by email on press@cma.gov.uk or by phone on 020 3738 6460.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: MEXC Announces KiloEx (KILO) Listing with a 100,000 KILO & 175,000 USDT Prize Pool

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MEXC, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, is pleased to announce the KiloEx (KILO) listing on March 27, 2025(UTC). To celebrate this significant addition to the exchange, MEXC is launching a special event with a prize pool of 100,000 KILO & 175,000 USDT for new and existing users.

    KiloEx (KILO) is a decentralized perpetual exchange that combines innovative peer-to-pool trading with advanced risk management features. The project aims to revolutionize derivatives trading by eliminating traditional order books and central intermediaries, creating a more efficient experience for both retail and institutional users. KILO, the platform’s native token, serves multiple purposes, including governance, staking rewards, and fee discounts within the ecosystem. It is also backed by Binance Labs, further strengthening its credibility and potential in the crypto space.

    To celebrate the listing, MEXC has launched an exclusive Airdrop+ event with substantial rewards for participants:
    Event Period: March 26, 2025, 12:00 (UTC) – April 06, 2025, 12:00 (UTC)
    Benefit 1: Deposit and share 100,000 USDT bonus (New user exclusive)
    Benefit 2: Spot Challenge — Trade to share 100,000 KILO (For all users)
    Benefit 3: Futures Challenge — Trade to share 50,000 USDT in Futures bonus (For all users)
    Benefit 4: Invite new users and share 25,000 USDT bonus (For all users)

    MEXC has established itself as an industry leader by consistently providing users with early access to promising Web3 projects. In 2024, MEXC introduced 2,376 new tokens, with 1,716 of those being initial listings. According to the latest TokenInsight report, MEXC leads the industry with the highest number of spot listings at 461 and the fastest listing speed. Additionally, the exchange consistently adds new tokens in bi-weekly cycles, showcasing its exceptional ability to quickly capture market trends.

    Looking ahead, MEXC will continue to enhance its platform by providing advantages such as low fees, deep liquidity, a wide selection of trending tokens, and daily airdrops, enabling traders to access high-potential projects early, receive generous rewards, and enjoy an optimal trading experience.

    For full event details and participation rules, please visit the event page.

    About MEXC
    Founded in 2018, MEXC is committed to being “Your Easiest Way to Crypto.” Serving over 34 million users across 170+ countries, MEXC is known for its broad selection of trending tokens, everyday airdrop opportunities, and low trading fees. Our user-friendly platform is designed to support both new traders and experienced investors, offering secure and efficient access to digital assets. MEXC prioritizes simplicity and innovation, making crypto trading more accessible and rewarding.
    MEXC Official Website｜ X ｜ Telegram ｜How to Sign Up on MEXC

    Risk Disclaimer:
    The information provided in this article regarding cryptocurrencies does not constitute investment advice. Given the highly volatile nature of the cryptocurrency market, investors are encouraged to carefully assess market fluctuations, the fundamentals of projects, and potential financial risks before making any trading decisions.

    Source

    Contact:
    Lucia Hu
    PR Manager
    lucia.hu@mexc.com

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by MEXC. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector–including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining–complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7a08cede-d80d-4e63-af63-8d82ed3bd49d

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Baltic Horizon Fund general meeting of investors and a notice to convene a new general meeting of investors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Extraordinary General Meeting (hereinafter the “General Meeting”) of Baltic Horizon Fund unit-holders and Swedish Depositary Receipt (hereinafter the “SDR”) holders (hereinafter together the “Investors”) took place on 27 March 2025 in Tallinn, Estonia.  

    Proposed agenda of the meeting, as proposed by a unitholder, was the following:

    1. Decision to elect Andrius Smaliukas as a new member of the supervisory board of Baltic Horizon Fund as of 1 May 2025 for a period of two years.
    2. Decision to elect Milda Dargužaitė as a new member of the supervisory board of Baltic Horizon Fund as of 1 May 2025 for a period of two years.
    3. Decision to elect Antanas Anskaitis as a new member of the supervisory board of Baltic Horizon Fund as of 1 May 2025 for a period of two years.
    4. Decision to pay remuneration to the chairman of the supervisory board for fulfilling obligations of the member of the supervisory board in the amount of EUR 36,000 per calendar year.
    5. Decision to pay remuneration to supervisory board members, other than  the chairman, for fulfilling obligations of the member of the supervisory board in the amount of EUR 11,000 per calendar year.
    6. Decision to recall Reimo Hammerberg, Monica Hammer and David Bergendahl from the position of the supervisory board member of Baltic Horizon Fund with the last date of the office being 30 April 2025.

    3 investors were registered as attending the meeting, holding less than 1% of the fund units which is below the required quorum. Investors were not able to adopt the proposed resolutions.

    Notice to convene a new general meeting

    According to section 10.11 of the rules of the fund, the management company Northern Horizon Capital AS convenes a new general meeting, with the same agenda.

    The new general meeting of Baltic Horizon Fund is to be held on 7 April 2025 at 13:00 (local Estonian time) at the office of Northern Horizon Capital AS at Roseni 7 (A tower), 6th floor, 10111 Tallinn, Estonia. Registration for the meeting will begin at 12:00. The General Meeting will be held in English.

    The meeting is convened in accordance with sections 10.3.3, 10.5, 10.11, 11.2 of the Rules of Baltic Horizon Fund and section 47-1 of the Investment Funds Act of Estonia.

    Investors are invited to join the webinar to view the General Meeting online on 7 April 2025 at 13:00. Investors are invited to issue a power of attorney with instructions for voting to exercise their rights as an Investor. We propose the Investors to consider designating fund manager Tarmo Karotam as their authorised representative (please see instructions below and templates at Annex 1).

    To join the webinar, please register via the following link:

    https://nasdaq.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vSmhsW1uQhqwRaTQ3EBXBA

    You will be provided with the webinar link and instructions how to join successfully. The webinar will be recorded and available online for everyone at the company’s website on www.baltichorizon.com.

    The total number of units and votes in Baltic Horizon Fund amounts to 143,562,514.

    Agenda, as proposed by the unitholder:

    1. Decision to elect Andrius Smaliukas as a new member of the supervisory board of Baltic Horizon Fund as of 1 May 2025 for a period of two years.
    2. Decision to elect Milda Dargužaitė as a new member of the supervisory board of Baltic Horizon Fund as of 1 May 2025 for a period of two years.
    3. Decision to elect Antanas Anskaitis as a new member of the supervisory board of Baltic Horizon Fund as of 1 May 2025 for a period of two years.
    4. Decision to pay remuneration to the chairman of the supervisory board for fulfilling obligations of the member of the supervisory board in the amount of EUR 36,000 per calendar year.
    5. Decision to pay remuneration to supervisory board members, other than  the chairman, for fulfilling obligations of the member of the supervisory board in the amount of EUR 11,000 per calendar year.
    6. Decision to recall Reimo Hammerberg, Monica Hammer and David Bergendahl from the position of the supervisory board member of Baltic Horizon Fund with the last date of the office being 30 April 2025.

    Investors are invited to send questions and comments on the agenda to the Baltic Horizon fund manager at Tarmo.Karotam@nh-cap.com by 31 March 2025. Northern Horizon Capital AS will respond to the questions and comments at the meeting itself.

    Participation – requirements and notice

    Investors who are entered in the Baltic Horizon Fund registry of unit-holders maintained by Nasdaq CSD SE and holders of SDRs registered in the Euroclear Sweden AB system ten days before the date of the General Meeting, i.e. at the end of business of Nasdaq CSD SE on 28 March 2025, are entitled to participate in the meeting.

    In order to facilitate the registration process, investors whose units are registered in their own name are invited to provide notice of their attendance by 4 April 2025 to bhfmeeting@nh-cap.com. Notice should include name, personal identification number (or the registration number of the legal person), address, number of units represented and, if applicable attendance of any representatives, along with the name and personal identification number of the representatives. The attendance of a representative does not deprive the unit-holder of the right to participate at the meeting.

    Instructions to holders of Baltic Horizon Fund SDRs registered with Euroclear Sweden AB in Sweden

    IMPORTANT REQUIREMENT: SDR holders whose SDR-s are registered with Euroclear Sweden AB via a bank or other nominee are required to notify their bank or nominee account provider by end of business of 28 March 2025 to temporarily add their name on the Euroclear Sweden AB owner register.

    Representation under a power of attorney

    Investors whose representatives are acting under a power of attorney are requested to prepare a written power of attorney for the representative in Estonian or English (templates can be found at Annex 1).

    A copy of the executed power of attorney should be sent to bhfmeeting@nh-cap.com together with the notice of participation. In case the power of attorney is issued by a legal person, a certified copy of the registration certificate (or equivalent certificate of authority) shall also be submitted together with, as applicable, the documents certifying the authority of the representative in case the power of attorney is signed by a person under a power of attorney.

    Baltic Horizon Fund is registered in Estonia, which means that any power of attorney (or any certified copy of the registration certificate of a legal person) issued in a foreign country should be notarised and accompanied by an apostille. The apostille requirement applies, for example, to powers of attorney issued and notarised in Sweden or Finland. 

    Instructions for the day of the General Meeting

    We kindly ask Investors to bring a personal identification document, and for their representatives also to present the original written power of attorney in English or Estonian. In case the Investor is a legal person, documentation in Estonian or English certifying the authority of the Investor’s representative or the signatory of the power of attorney will also be requested.

    Data collected by Northern Horizon Capital AS from powers of attorney, the unitholders registry maintained by Nasdaq CSD SE, and the list of holders of SDRs registered in the Euroclear Sweden AB system will be used for the purpose of registration and preparing the voting list for the meeting.

    Northern Horizon Capital AS proposals on the agenda items

    1. Decision to elect Andrius Smaliukas as a new member of the supervisory board of the Baltic Horizon Fund

    According to section 11.2 of the Rules of Baltic Horizon Fund the members of the supervisory board shall be appointed at the general meeting for a period of at least two years. The  proposal is to elect Andrius Smaliukas as a new member of the supervisory board.

    Dr. Smaliukas is the Managing Partner at MMSP, a Lithuanian law firm focused on strategic corporate advisory and dispute resolution. He previously partnered at one of the leading Pan-Baltic firm, Valiunas Ellex, and holds nearly 20 years of experience as an arbitrator and international arbitration lead counsel. Dr. Smaliukas earned his Ph.D. and Master of Laws from Vilnius University, conducted postgraduate research at Oxford, and completed executive programs at Cambridge Judge Business School and Harvard Law School. Dr.Smaliukas serves on the boards of Staticus Group, Kesko Senukai, has extensive advisory experience in commercial real estate M&A and investment management across the Baltic countries.

    Andrius Smaliukas does not hold any units of the Baltic Horizon Fund.

    1. Decision to elect Milda Dargužaitė as a new member of the supervisory board of the Baltic Horizon Fund

    According to section 11.2 of the Rules of Baltic Horizon Fund the members of the supervisory board shall be appointed at the general meeting for a period of at least two years. The proposal is to elect Milda Dargužaitė as a new member of the supervisory board.

    Milda Dargužaitė is the former CEO of Northern Horizon Capital A/S, the shareholder of Northern Horizon Capital AS. She was responsible for managing the company’s operations and strategic direction, including the development of new funds and investment vehicles. Milda has significant experience in both the public and private sectors, locally and internationally. She joined the company in 2018 after roles as the Chancellor at the Lithuanian Prime Minister’s Office, Managing Director of Invest Lithuania, and advisor to the Lithuanian Minister of Economy. Milda has a wealth of experience in finance and portfolio management from her time at Goldman Sachs in New York and Barclays in London. Milda Dargužaitė was the supervisory board member of Northern Horizon Capital AS from July 2018 until September 2023.

    Milda holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Economics from Middlebury College and a master’s degree in Operations Research and Financial Engineering from Princeton University. She has served on the boards of several Northern Horizon Group entities.

    Milda Dargužaitė does not hold any units of the Baltic Horizon Fund.

    1. Decision to elect Antanas Anskaitis as a new member of the supervisory board of the Baltic Horizon Fund

    According to section 11.2 of the Rules of Baltic Horizon Fund the members of the supervisory board shall be appointed at the general meeting for a period of at least two years. The proposal is to elect Antanas Anskaitis as a new member of the supervisory board.

    Antanas Anskaitis is a partner at Grinvest which is a private investment company with interests in real estate and transportation. Antanas has over 20 years of real estate investment management experience (out of which 16 within Northern Horizon Capital group). Since 2015 until 2020 Antanas managed a successful Baltic-Polish investment portfolio on behalf of Partners Group and lead over 30 commercial property transactions in the Baltics and Poland having experience both on sell and buy side. Antanas has MSc in Management and Economics.

    Grinvest through its subsidiary in Estonia Gene Investments OÜ is the largest unitholder in Baltic Horizon Fund (>25%) at the time of this notice.

    1. Decision to pay remuneration to the chairman of the supervisory board

    According to section 11.11 of the Rules of Baltic Horizon Fund, supervisory board members are entitled to remuneration for their service. The amount of remuneration payable to the chairman and members of the supervisory board shall be decided at the general meeting. According to section 11.4 of the Rules of Baltic Horizon Fund, supervisory board members elect a chairman from among themselves in the first meeting after election of any new member(s).

    The supervisory board in this composition intends working in close liaison with Northern Horizon Capital AS in the subcommittees and meet at least once a month while Baltic Horizon Fund is in the turnaround phase. The proposal is therefore to pay remuneration to the chairman of the supervisory board in the amount of EUR 36,000 per calendar year.

    1. Decision to pay remuneration to supervisory board members

    According to section 11.11 of the Rules of Baltic Horizon Fund, supervisory board members are entitled to remuneration for their service. The amount of remuneration payable to the chairman and members of the supervisory board shall be decided at the general meeting. 

    The proposed remuneration is the same as for the current members of the supervisory board. The unitholder proposes to remunerate each supervisory board member (except the chairman, who shall be remunerated in accordance with point 4 above) in the amount of EUR 11,000 per calendar year.

    1. Decision to recall Reimo Hammerberg, Monica Hammer and David Bergendahl from the position of the supervisory board member of Baltic Horizon Fund

    According to section 10.3.3 of the Rules of Baltic Horizon Fund the members of the supervisory board shall be recalled at the general meeting.

    Annex 1:

    1. Form of power of attorney to appoint a representative for the general meeting (in Estonian)
    2. Form of power of attorney to appoint a representative for the general meeting (in English)

    For additional information, please contact:

    Tarmo Karotam
    Baltic Horizon Fund manager
    E-mail tarmo.karotam@nh-cap.com
    www.baltichorizon.com

    The Fund is a registered contractual public closed-end real estate fund that is managed by Alternative Investment Fund Manager license holder Northern Horizon Capital AS. 

    Distribution: GlobeNewswire, Nasdaq Tallinn, Nasdaq Stockholm, www.baltichorizon.com

    To receive Nasdaq announcements and news from Baltic Horizon Fund about its projects, plans and more, register on www.baltichorizon.com. You can also follow Baltic Horizon Fund on www.baltichorizon.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and YouTube.

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Oportun Comments on Director Nominations

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN CARLOS, Calif., March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Oportun (Nasdaq: OPRT), a mission-driven financial services company, today confirmed receipt of a notice from Findell Capital Management LLC (“Findell”) nominating two directors to stand for election to the Oportun Board of Directors (the “Board”) at the Company’s 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The Board issued the following statement in response:

    Over the past three years, the Oportun Board of Directors has overseen decisive and deliberate actions to put the company on a strong path for long-term profitable growth. These actions, which we summarized in our press release on March 20, 2025, have led to improved credit performance, fortified our business economics and driven high-quality originations. Our business momentum and 2025 outlook speak for themselves and are a testament to the opportunity and value we believe we can deliver. The Board and management remain focused on driving strong performance and enhancing shareholder value.

    Oportun is committed to maintaining a strong Board comprised of an independent and high-quality set of directors who bring a range of perspectives, provide effective oversight and represent the interests of all shareholders. Consistent with that commitment, the Board has recently undergone a thoughtful and comprehensive refreshment process, including with input from Findell and resulting in the appointment of four new independent directors over the last 14 months. Our directors have skills and experience in functional areas critical to the successful execution of our strategy, including expertise in credit and risk management, finance, mobile technologies, software, marketing, government relations and regulatory matters, as well as deep leadership, public company, lending and consumer finance industry experience.

    Oportun’s Nominating and Governance Committee will evaluate Findell’s nominees and make a formal recommendation to Oportun shareholders in due course. Oportun shareholders are not required to take any action at this time.

    Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is serving as legal advisor and FGS Global is serving as strategic communications advisor to Oportun.

    About Oportun

    Oportun (Nasdaq: OPRT) is a mission-driven financial services company that puts its members’ financial goals within reach. With intelligent borrowing, savings, and budgeting capabilities, Oportun empowers members with the confidence to build a better financial future. Since inception, Oportun has provided more than $19.7 billion in responsible and affordable credit, saved its members more than $2.4 billion in interest and fees, and helped its members save an average of more than $1,800 annually. For more information, visit Oportun.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including statements as to our future performance and financial position; the strength of our business model, balance sheet, liquidity and execution of our strategy; expectations regarding our growth for 2025; the composition of our Board of Directors and its impact on our ability to deliver long-term value to our shareholders; and our governance practices, are forward-looking statements. These statements can be generally identified by terms such as “expect,” “plan,” “goal,” “target,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “predict,” “project,” “outlook,” “continue,” “due,” “may,” “believe,” “seek,” or “estimate” and similar expressions or the negative versions of these words or comparable words, as well as future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would,” “likely” and “could.” These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events, financial trends and risks and uncertainties that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. These risks and uncertainties include those risks described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and, except to the extent required by federal securities laws, we disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. In light of these risks and uncertainties, there is no assurance that the events or results suggested by the forward-looking statements will in fact occur, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

    Additional Information and Where to Find It

    Oportun Financial Corporation (“Oportun”), its directors and certain executive officers are participants in the solicitation of proxies from stockholders in connection with Oportun’s 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”). Oportun plans to file a proxy statement (the “2025 Proxy Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the Annual Meeting.

    Jo Ann Barefoot, Mohit Daswani, Ginny Lee, Carlos Minetti, Louis Miramontes, Scott Parker, Sandra A. Smith, Richard Tambor, Raul Vazquez and R. Neil Williams, all of whom are members of Oportun’s board of directors, are participants in Oportun’s solicitation. Additional information regarding such participants, including their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be included in the 2025 Proxy Statement and other relevant documents to be filed with the SEC in connection with the Annual Meeting. Information relating to the foregoing can also be found in Oportun’s definitive proxy statement for its 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “2024 Proxy Statement”), which was filed with the SEC on May 13, 2024, and is available here. Particular attention is directed to the sections of the 2024 Proxy Statement captioned “Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance,” “Non-Employee Director Compensation,” “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters,” “Executive Compensation” and “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.” To the extent that holdings of such participants in Oportun’s securities have changed since the amounts printed in the 2024 Proxy Statement, such changes have been reflected on the following filings: for Ms. Barefoot, on June 28, 2024; for Mr. Daswani, on June 28, 2024 and December 13, 2024; for Ms. Lee, on June 28, 2024; for Mr. Minetti, on June 28, 2024 and December 13, 2024; for Mr. Miramontes, on June 28, 2024; for Mr. Parker, on April 25, 2024, June 18, 2024, and June 28, 2024; for Ms. Smith, on June 28, 2024; for Mr. Tambor, on June 28, 2024 and June 28, 2024; for Mr. Vazquez, on June 18, 2024, September 12, 2024, December 2, 2024, and March 12, 2025; and for Mr. Williams, on June 28, 2024 and December 11, 2024.

    Promptly after filing its definitive 2025 Proxy Statement with the SEC, Oportun will mail the definitive 2025 Proxy Statement and a GREEN proxy card to each stockholder entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE 2025 PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT OPORTUN WILL FILE WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Stockholders may obtain, free of charge, Oportun’s proxy statement (in both preliminary and definitive form), any amendments or supplements thereto, and any other relevant documents filed by Oportun with the SEC in connection with the Annual Meeting at the SEC’s website, which is located here. Copies of Oportun’s definitive 2025 Proxy Statement, any amendments or supplements thereto, and any other relevant documents filed by Oportun with the SEC in connection with the Annual Meeting will also be available, free of charge, at Oportun’s website, which is located here, or by writing to Investor Relations, Oportun Financial Corporation, 2 Circle Star Way, San Carlos, CA 94070. In addition, copies of these materials may be requested, free of charge, from Oportun’s proxy solicitor, Innisfree M&A Incorporated, by calling toll-free to (877) 800-5195.

    Investor Contact
    Dorian Hare
    (650) 590-4323
    ir@oportun.com

    Media Contact
    John Christiansen / Bryan Locke
    FGS Global
    Oportun@fgsglobal.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Security News: Operator of Fraudulent Investment Vehicle Sentenced to Over 15 Years in Prison for Securities Fraud, Tax Fraud and Other Charges

    Source: United States Department of Justice 2

    A Pennsylvania man was sentenced to 15 and a half years in prison yesterday for defrauding investors, conspiring to defraud the IRS, filing false tax returns, employment tax fraud, wire fraud, obstruction, and other charges.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Joseph LaForte, of Philadelphia, engaged in a scheme to defraud investors using a fraudulent investment vehicle known as Par Funding. In total, LaForte and his co-conspirators caused an actual loss to investors exceeding $288 million.

    LaForte also engaged in a series of federal tax crimes. LaForte and co-conspirators diverted approximately $20 million in taxable income from Par Funding to another entity controlled by LaForte and nominally owned by another, then filed false tax returns that did not report this income. He also received more than $9 million in cash kickbacks from a customer of Par Funding and did not report this income to the IRS on his individual tax returns. As a result, LaForte’s individual tax returns for the years 2016 through 2018 were false. He also paid off-the-books, cash wages to some employees of Par Funding. He did not report these wages to the IRS and did not pay employment taxes on wages paid to employees in cash. The total federal tax loss stemming from LaForte’s crimes exceeds $8 million. He also caused $1.6 million in state tax loss to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue by falsely reporting that he and his wife were residents of Florida from 2013 through 2019, when in fact they resided in Pennsylvania.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney David Metcalf for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania made the announcement.

    The FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Newcomer, Sam Dalke, Eric Gill, and Patrick J. Murray for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania prosecuted the case. Trial Attorney Ezra Spiro of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Boscia for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania assisted with the prosecution.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Sir Chris Bryant speech at Connected Futures Festival

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Sir Chris Bryant speech at Connected Futures Festival

    Minister for Data Protection and Telecoms, Sir Chris Bryant, gave a speech at the Connected Futures Festival on 26 March 2025.

    Hello. My name is Chris Bryant and I’m the telecoms minister. I’m really sorry I can’t be with you. Well, I’m here with you virtually, which I suppose is particularly important for the kind of connectivity that we’re talking about. But I’m afraid that, as you’re meeting, I will be in Parliament for the spring statement, when the Chancellor of the Exchequer will be talking about economic growth and how we get the economy to really springboard into the future.

    I suppose that’s the key part of what I want to say today, which is that connectivity is a vital part of making sure that the UK economy grows, that everybody gets a chance to participate in our economic future, and that we embrace the technological changes that can make so many differences to people’s lives, whether in the delivery of public services or in the delivery of all the services that we rely on, whether it’s ordering a pizza, parking your car, or engaging with our local GP and seeing our latest test results.

    I know that the geopolitical picture looks uncertain at the moment, and many parts of our lives, of course, are uncertain. Sometimes, trying to predict the future is difficult. That’s one of the reasons that, whereas we’ve always talked about “future telecoms” in the past, we’re changing the terminology to something which I think suits much better the situation that we face today. And that’s why instead of referring to “future telecoms”, we’re now going to be referring to “advanced connectivity technologies”, because advanced optics and satellite communications aren’t the ghosts of telecoms futures anymore, but actually telecoms present – let’s face it! Last year, Aston University transmitted data 4.5 million times faster than the average home broadband connection. We have started to send data through visible light. And Vodafone made the first video call via space last year. I’m an MP for a constituency in South Wales in The Valleys, and so I was very happy to see that that call took place from a remote Welsh mountain. The death of “notspots” may just about be in sight for us all!

    The breakthroughs we are seeing mean that the UK could once again be a leader in connectivity over the next ten years, and I’m absolutely determined that we take forward those opportunities.

    But before I take you into the future, let’s just pause briefly in the present. As we shape the next generation of connectivity, we must remember that some people in this country haven’t yet got this generation of technological connectivity. There’s 1.6 million people in the UK who live largely offline. We have to factor them into our future, and our ambition is to have gigabit-capable broadband in every home and in every business, and higher quality 5G to all populated areas by 2030. Through the Digital Inclusion Action Plan, which we’ve recently launched, we’ll make sure people also have the devices and skills to be part of a digital future. We want to tackle digital exclusion so that we can take the whole of our country with us. So, deploying the best technology we have today and taking a leading role in shaping the technologies of tomorrow is vital to our economic success.

    We will shape them, obviously, with global allies – but we will be guided by three central ideas. First of all, do they bring connectivity to everyone, everywhere, whatever your circumstances? Secondly, do they have security and resilience built in from the start? And thirdly, are they built sustainably, so that better connectivity gets us closer to net zero and not further away? These are all equally important, fundamental principles and ideas behind what we’re trying to achieve in this area.

    The UK has the potential to be at the forefront as we develop these technologies. For a start, we build on research from some of the best universities in the world, and the JOINER research and innovation platform gives them a unique test network to prepare for 6G. British firms are getting connectivity to places it hasn’t gone before, like trains, offshore wind farms and space. BT, who nearly two centuries ago set up the world’s first nationwide communications network, are now leading the way with Toshiba in trials of quantum secure comms. And global companies like Ericsson, Nokia and Samsung have all chosen to do R&D work here in this country, in the United Kingdom.

    We will shape them, obviously, with global allies – but we will be guided by three central ideas. First of all, do they bring connectivity to everyone, everywhere, whatever your circumstances? Secondly, do they have security and resilience built in from the start? And thirdly, are they built sustainably, so better connectivity gets us closer to net zero and not further away? These are all equally important, fundamental principles and ideas behind what we’re trying to achieve in this area.

    The UK has the potential to be at the forefront as we develop these technologies. For a start, we build on research from some of the best universities in the world, and the JOINER research and innovation platform gives them a unique test network to prepare for 6G. British firms are getting connectivity to places it hasn’t gone before, like trains, offshore wind farms and space. BT, who nearly two centuries ago set up the world’s first nationwide communications network, are now leading the way with Toshiba in trials of quantum secure comms. And global companies like Ericsson, Nokia and Samsung have all chosen to do R&D work here in this country, in the United Kingdom.

    We can and should go further, though, making the UK a global leader in advanced connectivity. And that’s where the government and industry really must work hand-in-hand. We will strengthen our supply chains – that’s really important. Today we will publish the government’s response to the report from the Telecoms Supply Chain Diversification Advisory Council, outlining how we will support a thriving ecosystem of suppliers for our networks. I’m immensely grateful to all those who took part in the Council’s work.

    We will back your growth in this sector. Advanced connectivity will be one of the growth markets in our Industrial Strategy within the digital and technology sector. That means the backing across Whitehall to help you succeed. As a sign of that commitment, today I can announce that we will invest nearly £60 million over the next year, 2025 to 2026, to support UK leadership in R&D so that more of the technology providing the world’s critical connectivity is developed here in the UK.

    If we get this right, then ten years down the line we will be able to say that this technology has made people’s daily lives better, put more money in people’s pockets and helps to keep the UK and our allies safe in a turbulent world. That’s a connected future we can only build together.

    Thank you and I hope you have a good conference today.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNECE to accelerate decarbonization of road transport by developing harmonized provisions for electric vehicle and hydrogen fuel cell retrofit systems

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    As the world shifts towards cleaner and more sustainable mobility, the transport industry plays a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions. To achieve climate goals and reduce air pollution, public authorities (primarily in Europe but also in Asia) are accelerating projects to restrict the number of vehicles with internal combustion engine (ICE) in circulation and replace them with zero-emission ones.  

    According to OICA, there are 1.9 billion vehicles in use globally. Since it is not possible and economically viable for all of them to be replaced by new electric cars, retrofitting is emerging as a cost-effective solution (esp. retrofitting of heavy-duty vehicles) that could accelerate the energy transition and reduce our carbon footprint. Retrofitting is a mechanical operation where the petrol/diesel engine and fuel tank are removed and replaced with an electric motor and battery, or a hydrogen fuel cell. 

    In recent years, multiple startups and innovative companies have emerged, offering tailored solutions to retrofit existing buses, trucks, and vans. According to North American firm Precedence Research, the global automotive retrofit electric vehicle powertrain market size accounted for USD 65.94 billion in 2024, and is predicted to surpass around USD 144.61 billion by 2034. 

    Substituting a traditional powertrain running on fossil energy with a powertrain with no tailpipe emissions provides immediate benefits in terms of air quality, and long-term benefit for the environment and climate. It extends the service life of the existing fleet, reducing both waste and carbon emissions from the manufacturing of new vehicles. 

    In France, where the national energy and environment agency ADEME estimated that electric retrofitting would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by between 61 and 87% compared with diesel, the government launched a national action plan in aid of retrofitting, providing  approximately 100 million euros to decarbonize transport.  

    Furthermore, retrofitting is mentioned in the European Commission’s industry action plan for the automotive sector and it will be particularly relevant for low- and middle-income countries that are importing ever growing amounts of used ICE vehicles and that need to accelerate the decarbonization of their vehicle fleets. 

    While hydrogen-powered vehicles are still in the early stages of deployment compared to those powered by electric batteries, their future could be promising if green hydrogen (H2) prices decline as projected. A price of 5 to 7 euros per kg of H2 is considered a critical threshold. 

    Against this background, the UNECE World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) and its Working Party on Pollution and Energy (GRPE) has launched a new informal working group to develop globally harmonized provisions for electric vehicle and hydrogen fuel cell retrofit systems. Such harmonized regulatory framework would ensure minimum requirements for retrofit systems, provide robust performance requirements for converted vehicles and support the deployment of retrofit systems that could be installed on many vehicles in the countries that adopt the developed requirements.  

    Activities undertaken by the new informal working group will focus on all vehicle categories, from two- and three-wheelers to heavy duty vehicles, with initial emphasis on technological readiness and economic viability. This work is led by France and Spain, with support from Sweden, Germany, UK, Japan and the European Commission. 

    The new UNECE informal working group is expected to deliver on harmonized requirements for targeted vehicle categories and powertrain types by 2027. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CSX Corporation announced agreement with the Boilermakers

    Source: US International Brotherhood of Boilermakers

    CSX Corporation announced they’ve reached a tentative five-year collective bargaining agreement with the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers.

    The agreement, which covers 59 union members at CSX, is subject to ratification. CSX has already ratified agreements with 11 labor unions, covering 14 work groups and representing 47% of its unionized employees.

    These agreements provide improvements in wages, healthcare and paid time off. The company said it remains committed to reaching similar agreements with other unions.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Operator of Fraudulent Investment Vehicle Sentenced to Over 15 Years in Prison for Securities Fraud, Tax Fraud and Other Charges

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    A Pennsylvania man was sentenced to 15 and a half years in prison yesterday for defrauding investors, conspiring to defraud the IRS, filing false tax returns, employment tax fraud, wire fraud, obstruction, and other charges.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Joseph LaForte, of Philadelphia, engaged in a scheme to defraud investors using a fraudulent investment vehicle known as Par Funding. In total, LaForte and his co-conspirators caused an actual loss to investors exceeding $288 million.

    LaForte also engaged in a series of federal tax crimes. LaForte and co-conspirators diverted approximately $20 million in taxable income from Par Funding to another entity controlled by LaForte and nominally owned by another, then filed false tax returns that did not report this income. He also received more than $9 million in cash kickbacks from a customer of Par Funding and did not report this income to the IRS on his individual tax returns. As a result, LaForte’s individual tax returns for the years 2016 through 2018 were false. He also paid off-the-books, cash wages to some employees of Par Funding. He did not report these wages to the IRS and did not pay employment taxes on wages paid to employees in cash. The total federal tax loss stemming from LaForte’s crimes exceeds $8 million. He also caused $1.6 million in state tax loss to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue by falsely reporting that he and his wife were residents of Florida from 2013 through 2019, when in fact they resided in Pennsylvania.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney David Metcalf for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania made the announcement.

    The FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Newcomer, Sam Dalke, Eric Gill, and Patrick J. Murray for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania prosecuted the case. Trial Attorney Ezra Spiro of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Boscia for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania assisted with the prosecution.

    MIL OSI USA News –