NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Security: California Man Who Molested Teen on Flight Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    Seattle – A 42-year-old Los Angeles County, California man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to two years in prison for abusive sexual contact aboard an aircraft enroute to Seattle from Burbank, California, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Justin Baker was arrested March 14, 2024, when the Alaska Airlines plane arrived at SEA.  Baker has been in custody since the jury returned its guilty verdict on October 23, 2024.  At sentencing U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour imposed the maximum sentence allowed by law saying, “I was particularly struck by the candor of the victim and her bravery in testifying.”

    “This was a calculated and predatory sexual assault on an 18-year-old girl,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Miller. “Mr. Baker underestimated the victim’s strength in testifying, as well as the commitment we have in the Western District of Washington to hold these aircraft offenders accountable.”

    According to records filed in the case and testimony at trial, Baker was in the middle seat, with the victim seated to his right next to the wall of the plane. Baker learned the victim was preparing to go to college and was just 18 years old. According to testimony at trial, Baker showed the teen sexually explicit text messages he had on his phone and then draped his jacket over his lap as well as her lower body. The victim attempted to move away from Baker and closer to the wall. He reached under the jacket and groped her leg. Despite the victim saying “No” and moving away when he first tried to touch her, he continued to grope her genitals over her clothing. Then he reached into her top and groped her breast

    Ultimately, the victim got out of her seat to contact the flight crew. As she tried to pass by Baker, he groped her buttocks and pulled her back down into her seat. Ultimately the victim was able to leave and report the assault.

    Speaking in court today, Assistant United States Attorney Grace Zoller said Baker, “treated the victim like an object… He dehumanized her.”

    The victim shared how the assault has “shattered the trajectory of her life.” She told the court about anxiety around airports and flying, and how her family and loved ones “have watched me change in ways I have never imagined.” Her goal she said is to “hold Baker accountable.”

    Judge Coughenour said he was imposing the maximum two-year sentence because of the “seriousness of the crime, the harm to the victim and the danger (Baker) poses to the community.”

    When released from prison, Baker will be on five years of federal supervision and will be required to register as a sex offender.

    The case was investigated by the FBI and the Port of Seattle Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kristine Foerster and Grace Zoller.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jury Convicts Winnebago Woman for Second Degree Murder

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Acting United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen announced that on February 7, 2025, a jury found Michelle Lee Marr, 49, of Winnebago, Nebraska, guilty of second-degree murder and tampering with documents or evidence after an almost five-day federal trial in Omaha, Nebraska. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher presided over the trial. Marr faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for the second-degree murder charge and a maximum 20 years in prison for the tampering with documents or evidence charge.

    On March 12, 2022, Marr contacted Winnebago EMS to report the victim was not waking up and requested an ambulance respond to her residence. EMS transported the victim to Twelve Clans Unity hospital. Due to the severity of his injuries, the victim was taken by helicopter to Mercy One Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa.  The medical treatment team at Mercy determined the victim had brain trauma and swelling. Nurses also noted significant amounts of makeup applied to the victim’s face, which revealed bruising when removed, as well as numerous bruises on the victim’s body. On March 13, 2022, the victim succumbed to his injuries. A subsequent autopsy determined the victim’s cause of death to be blunt force trauma and the manner of death to be homicide. The pathologist testified the victim’s injuries were consistent with inflicted trauma as opposed to trauma which might result from some type of fall.

    Marr claimed to have been passed out from approximately 5:00 PM on March 11, 2022, until finding the victim on March 12, 2022. Social media evidence and evidence from Marr’s phone, found during the investigation, contradicted Marr’s claims. During the trial, witnesses testified to observing previous incidents of Marr physically assaulting the victim. 

    Marr will be sentenced on June 5, 2025, at 10:00 AM, before Judge Buescher in Omaha.

    This case was prosecuted in federal court because the offense was a felony and occurred on the Winnebago Indian Reservation in Nebraska.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Guatemalan National and Malden Man Arrested for Distributing Cocaine

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – Two men have been arrested for allegedly conspiring to distribute cocaine.

    Erick Sandoval-Perez, 43, a Guatemalan national living in Malden, was charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Christhian Castillo, 32, also of Malden, was charged with distribution and possession with intent to distribute 500 or more grams of cocaine and conspiracy to commit that offense. Sandoval-Perez and Castillo had initial appearances and a detention hearing in federal court in Worcester, and were ordered held pending further proceedings.

    Sandoval-Perez and Castillo allegedly worked together to sell cocaine on several occasions to an undercover law enforcement officer. On Feb. 12, 2025, Sandoval-Perez allegedly arranged to sell a kilogram of cocaine to an undercover. Castillo was arrested when he allegedly handed the kilogram of cocaine to the undercover, and Sandoval-Perez was arrested nearby.  

    According to court records, Sandoval-Perez, is a Guatemalan national who was previously deported from the United States and allegedly re-entered illegally. 

    The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1,000,000. The charges of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 500 or more grams of cocaine, and conspiracy to commit that offense, carry a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, supervised release of at least four years and a fine of up to $5,000,000. Sandoval-Perez is subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of an imposed sentence. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.       

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Chief Ryan Malatos of the Leominster Police Department; and Chief Brian W. Coyne of the Clinton Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Malden Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.  

    The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Lowell Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Methamphetamine Pills

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant sold thousands of the counterfeit “Adderall” pills supplied by the Asian Boyz gang

    BOSTON – A Lowell man pleaded guilty on Feb. 14, 2025 to trafficking methamphetamine pills supplied by three fellow Asian Boyz gang associates.

    Bill Phim, a/k/a “Bonez,” 36, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine, and two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine.  U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for May 14, 2025.

    A long-term investigation proved that Asian Boyz gang members and associates had access to a plentiful supply of homemade methamphetamine pills marketed as the pharmaceutical product, Adderall. These pills were similar in shape, size, and appearance to genuine Adderall. On 12 different dates in 2022, Phim sold these counterfeit “Adderall” pills to an undercover agent. In total, Phim sold the undercover agent over 10,000 pills for more than $36,000.

    Phim’s supplier for the first five pill deals with the undercover agent was Asian Boyz gang member, Erickson Dao. Between February and May 2022, Dao gave Phim the pills from his home in Lowell shortly before Phim was planning to meet the undercover agent for the sales.  After the deals, Phim either returned to Dao’s house to split the cash paid by the undercover agent, or he used an electronic payments service to send Dao his share of the drug proceeds.

    For the next five deals, Phim conspired with Asian Boyz gang associate, Brian Gingras, to source the pills. Between May 2022 and September 2022, Gingras met Phim prior to the planned deals with the undercover agent to deliver the pills personally. The investigation revealed that Gingras was stashing the pills in a nearby storage unit.  

    For the final two pill sales with the undercover agent, alleged Asian Boyz gang member Marcus Holder allegedly delivered pills to Phim in Lowell immediately before Phim met the undercover agent, on Sept. 30, 2022, and again on Oct. 18, 2022.  

    The charges of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine. The charges of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million.

    In January 2025, both Gingras and Dao pleaded guilty. Gingras is scheduled to be sentenced on April 15, 2025. Dao is scheduled to be sentenced on May 13, 2025. Holder has pleaded not guilty and his case is pending trial.  
     
    U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley, Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division and Superintendent Gregory C. Hudon of the Lowell Police Department made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Billerica, Haverhill, North Andover and Salem Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak, III of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results.

    This case is also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant in the case is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Deportation fears create ripple effects for immigrants and their communities

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Kristina Fullerton Rico, Research Fellow, Center for Racial Justice, Ford School of Public Policy, University of Michigan

    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials detain a person on Jan. 27, 2025, in Silver Spring, Md. AP Photo/Alex Brandon

    The Trump administration’s plan to deport millions of immigrants living in the country without permission is falling far short of its initial goals in its first few weeks.

    But there has been an increase in immigration raids in multiple cities, including Los Angeles and Miami, since Trump took office.

    After Trump’s inauguration, rumors of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents roaming the streets or showing up at churches and schools have spread on social media and messaging apps, sending waves of panic in immigrant communities from coast to coast.

    When I share my research on the effects of U.S. immigration policies, I find that most people intuitively understand how being deported can upend someone’s life.

    In fact, research shows that deportation, and the risk of deportation, impacts more than just the person who is deported.

    Deporting immigrants often separates individuals from their families, exiles them to countries that don’t feel like home, and leaves them poor, with few job prospects.

    Immigrants who are deported also face social stigmas that lead to further isolation and mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety and risk of suicide.

    An undocumented immigrant from Guatemala who plans to leave the country in February 2025 is seen at home with his son in Dover, Ohio, in January.
    Rebecca Kiger for The Washington Post via Getty Images

    A family matter

    Immigrants in the country without permission tend to belong to mixed-immigration-status families, meaning that at least one family member has legal permission to be in the country or has citizenship.

    In some cases, mixed-status families feel pressure to leave the U.S. together if one family member is deported.

    Researchers call this phenomenon “de facto deportation.” It frequently affects young, U.S.-born children whose parents are deported.

    Legal scholars argue that deporting the parents of these young U.S. citizens violates these children’s citizenship rights. Though these children are citizens, their parents’ deportations push them out of the country and away from the lives they would have had in the U.S.

    In other cases, families separate when a mother, father or other adult guardian is deported. This is especially true for immigrants who are deported to dangerous places. Families are also likely to separate if a family member requires specialized medical care for a disability or chronic illness.

    But it is not just actual deportations that cause harm.

    The fear of deportation

    Even when immigrants do not face an immediate risk of deportation, the way they live their lives is shaped by the threat of removal.

    In hostile political climates, including the current moment in the U.S., immigrants feel the risk of deportation acutely.

    Some researchers call the fear of deportation “deportability.” This feeling has a chilling effect, discouraging immigrants from the everyday activities they would otherwise do.

    So far, immigrants’ fear is likely disproportionate to the risk of deportation. But the threat looms so large that immigrants and their families have upended their lives.

    Business owners, teachers and religious leaders across the country have noticed immigrants’ glaring absence in neighborhoods that are usually bustling and now feel deserted.

    In some cases, immigrants are keeping their children home from school. Others avoid going to doctor’s appointments or delay going to the hospital.

    Hostility toward immigrants also has a chilling effect on cultural expression.

    Research shows that Latino immigrants who fear deportation or anti-immigrant prejudice feel coerced to assimilate. They avoid speaking Spanish or their Indigenous language, like Quechua or Náhuatl, in public, and may even hesitate to teach it to their own children.

    Similarly, it can feel dangerous to play music or partake in cultural traditions.

    Spillover effects

    Research has also found that the threat of deportation makes immigrants hesitant to report dangerous conditions at work. Since immigrants are overrepresented in dangerous industries, like construction and meatpacking, this can lead to a higher risk of being injured or even dying on the job.

    Because local law enforcement agencies increasingly cooperate with federal immigration authorities, immigrants may also avoid going to the police – even when they are victims of violent crimes.

    Even in cities where local law enforcement agencies refuse to work closely with ICE, the perception that they might be creates fear in immigrant communities and leads people to underutilize public programs and services.

    People who have permission to be in the country are also afraid

    The fear of immigration enforcement can also extend to a person who speaks a foreign language, is a person of color, or otherwise seems like they might be in the country without permission.

    Perhaps the most striking example of this consists of recent reports that Native American citizens living in Southwest states like Arizona have been increasingly questioned by ICE. In response, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren has advised people to carry proof of their U.S. citizenship.

    Nonwhite U.S. citizens’ fears of being deported are not unprecedented.

    In the 1950s, many U.S. citizens of Mexican ancestry were deported under President Dwight Eisenhower’s mass deportation operation. Trump credits Eisenhower’s program, officially called “Operation Wetback,” after the racist slur, for inspiring his current mass deportation plans.

    More than half a century later, the U.S. Government Accountability Office reported that between 2015 and 2020, ICE likely arrested 674 U.S. citizens, detaining 121 and deporting 70 of them.

    The entrance to a church in Chicago had a sign on its door on Feb. 10, 2025, informing ICE officials that they were not allowed to enter the building without a court order.
    Luzia Geier/picture alliance via Getty Images

    A sense of despair

    Not surprisingly, anti-immigrant policies and threats can elicit feelings of hopelessness among immigrants. The fear of deportation can lead to significant mental health problems for immigrants and their loved ones, ranging from conditions like anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder to a loss of trust in others and social isolation.

    Children experience fear and confusion about the future of their lives and that of their families.

    Hopelessness can lead to immigrants leaving the country on their own accord. This can happen because immigrants see no future for themselves in the U.S.

    Similarly, immigrants who are detained by government authorities may agree to voluntary departure orders rather than fighting to remain in the country.

    Some consequences of the fear of deportation and anti-immigrant hostility are easy to see, like when children miss school.

    Others – delaying doctor’s appointments, going hungry instead of going to the food bank, tolerating abuse instead of seeking help – are harder to observe, and their negative effects may not be evident for years.

    Kristina Fullerton Rico’s research has received funding from the Russell Sage Foundation and Sociologists for Women in Society.

    – ref. Deportation fears create ripple effects for immigrants and their communities – https://theconversation.com/deportation-fears-create-ripple-effects-for-immigrants-and-their-communities-248817

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The UK supports UNSMIL’s call for a full investigation into mass graves of migrants: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Libya.

    I thank USG DiCarlo for her briefing this morning.

    I also welcome the recent appointment of Hanna Tetteh as the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Libya.

    We look forward to working with her to harness the momentum of UNSMIL’s new political initiative. 

    I echo the USG’s thanks to DSRSG Koury for her leadership over the past nine months.

    I would like to make three points.

    First, we welcome the establishment of the Advisory Committee as an important first step in UNSMIL’s political track. 

    With the Committee’s expertise, and under SRSG Tetteh’s leadership, this initiative has the potential to chart a positive path towards a more stable and representative Libya.

    Second, the status quo in Libya remains fragile. 

    Increasing competition between Libyan actors over state resources has led to unprecedented levels of pressure being exerted on Libya’s economic institutions, threatening Libya’s peace, stability and security.

    To that end, we welcome the adoption last month of a new designation criteria for the UN sanctions regime on Libya to hold those who exploit Libyan crude oil and petroleum accountable and help to safeguard Libyan resources.

    Third, we are appalled by the recent discovery of multiple mass graves of migrants. 

    The Panel of Experts’ final report showed that trafficking networks in Libya are expanding. 

    The UK supports UNSMIL’s call for a full investigation into these discoveries. 

    We encourage Libyan leaders to engage with the UN and the humanitarian community to end impunity for those who trade in human suffering, and ensure all migrants and refugees are treated in accordance with international human rights law. 

    The UK has recently provided $5.6 million to the refugee response in Libya.

    President, until a unifying political agreement is achieved in Libya, it will be impossible to unlock its great potential. 

    The UK urges Libya’s leaders to engage seriously with SRSG Tetteh and UNSMIL’s political process, in the interests of all Libyans.

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Is Nigeria in danger of a coup? What the country should do to avoid one – political analyst

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Abdul-Wasi Babatunde Moshood, Senior Lecturer Department of Political Science, Lagos State University

    African countries have had nine successful military coups since 2020. In west and central Africa, there have been at least 10 coup attempts in the same period. Those of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Gabon and Guinea were successful. A number of social, economic and political factors have been identified as responsible for the truncation of democracy in those countries.

    In this interview, The Conversation Africa asks political scientist Abdul-Wasi Babatunde Moshood, who has recently published research on preventing military coups in Nigeria, about what drives coups, whether those factors are present in Nigeria and what steps Nigeria could take to protect its democracy.

    What are the drivers of recent coups in Africa?

    One major reason is leaders who have used the idea of democracy to advance their own economic gains. The result is corruption, which has deepened the gap between the rich and the poor.

    While liberal democracy widens opportunity in developed countries, the reverse is the case in Nigeria, due largely to corruption and lack of effective leadership.

    Also, democracy in parts of Africa, including Nigeria, has not been able to advance development and make a positive impact on the people. To ringfence democracy from military intervention, it must advance development for the people.

    Another factor is the strategic importance of Africa, which has historically attracted foreign powers. With the partitioning of Africa in Berlin in 1884, European powers created spheres of influence which have continued to haunt many African countries.

    These strategic interests have continued to infiltrate politics and cause instability on the continent.

    In my recent work, I argued that foreign influence and strategic importance make coups more likely to occur in African countries including Nigeria.

    Just like coups in the post-independence era, some recent coups in west Africa have the fingerprints of foreign powers. For instance, Russia is implicated in the 2020 and 2021 coups in Mali and the Burkina Faso coup.

    The UK, the US, China and France are all interested in Africa. Since the expulsion of France from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, the former colonial power has been seeking another regional haven in Nigeria. This has raised suspicion in some quarters.

    Also, colonialism left a legacy of division between a country’s people and their army. Recruitment dislocated the previous warriors and empowered new ones. The military under colonialism was perceived by civilians as protecting the interests of the colonial ruling elite.

    In the post-colonial period, the military is perceived as protecting the interests of the African ruling elite. This arrangement goes on until the military, having been exposed to politics, decides to seize power for itself. Oftentimes, citizens give legitimacy to this kind of coup because they have always seen the political elite as self serving. Military coups in Sudan and Mali are examples of this.

    Are these factors present in Nigeria today?

    The sociopolitical and economic conditions that led to coups in other countries in west Africa are present in Nigeria.

    Nigeria is still largely divided along lines of clans and religion. Insecurity is at high levels across the country. The removal of the petrol subsidy has caused economic problems.

    Commodity prices have skyrocketed. Food inflation reached 40.75% in 2024 – its highest level in 25 years.

    The colonial legacy in Nigeria is still evident in the north versus south divide that plagues the country’s politics. Bad leaders exploit the division for their own selfish gain by using marginalisation rhetoric.

    Nigeria is still strongly tied to the apron strings of the western powers. This explains why Nigeria’s presidential aspirants prefer to go to Chatham House, London to speak rather than talk to the people they intend to lead.

    Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu’s relationship with France is raising eyebrows in the country. The president recently signed new deals with France in the areas of renewable energy, transportation, agriculture and critical infrastructure. There are concerns because this is coming soon after nearly all former French allies in west Africa have broken ties with the European country.

    These factors often lead to increasing disaffection, which in turn can ignite a military takeover, as happened in Niger, Guinea and Gabon.

    How can a military comeback be prevented in Nigeria?

    Effective leadership would help reduce colonial legacies, improve democracy and mitigate foreign influence. This would foster confidence among dissimilar ethnic communities as policies towards inclusiveness and development of the country were implemented.

    Military professionalism would further specialise the military and give them focus. There should be less involvement of the military in politics.

    In peace time, the military can also be kept engaged as a service provider in agriculture, health and social work as done, for instance, in the US.

    Regional organisations like the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union should be proactive in condemning any derailment in democratic practices and values by political actors. They should not only react by imposing sanctions after a military takeover.

    Nigeria needs to think about developing a homegrown democracy as advocated by the late Claude Ake, the Nigerian political scientist.

    The process and method of democratisation should be affordable to all to participate. Democratic leaders must be scrutinised and their level of wealth ascertained before and after leaving office.

    Democratic institutions must be strengthened to prevent corrupt people from taking over offices. Democratic leaders in Nigeria and other African countries must seek indigenous solutions to their challenges.

    Abdul-Wasi Babatunde Moshood receives funding from TETFUND Institution Based Research IBR, He is a Member of Academic Staff Union of University, Network for Democracy and Development NDD, among others. He is currently the Acting Head of Department of Political Science, Lagos State University.

    – ref. Is Nigeria in danger of a coup? What the country should do to avoid one – political analyst – https://theconversation.com/is-nigeria-in-danger-of-a-coup-what-the-country-should-do-to-avoid-one-political-analyst-248281

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: QEII Halifax Infirmary Expansion Enters Main Construction Phase

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Nova Scotians are another step closer to a new, modern acute care tower with more beds and operating rooms and a larger emergency department at the QEII Halifax Infirmary, delivering more care, faster for generations.

    The next phase of construction will soon begin, with the government finalizing an agreement with Plenary PCL Health to build the tower. The new tower is expected to be fully complete and open to patients and providers in the fall of 2031.

    “This is an exciting milestone for the future of healthcare in our province. This is the largest healthcare infrastructure project ever undertaken in Atlantic Canada,” said Health and Wellness Minister Michelle Thompson. “It will ensure generations of Nova Scotians get the cutting-edge care they deserve, provide a modern workplace for the dedicated staff at the QEII, and help us attract and hire the healthcare staff we need.”

    The Province’s agreement with Plenary PCL Health includes construction of the 14-floor tower and its maintenance over 30 years, beginning at substantial completion in the fall of 2030. The project’s total cost between now and 2061 will be $7.4 billion.

    Enabling work to prepare the site for construction has been underway since last spring and the project is on schedule. In May, tower cranes will be erected and work on the foundation will begin.

    When complete, the new tower will add 216 beds, 16 operating rooms, a 48-bed intensive care unit and an emergency department that is nearly twice the size of the current one. It will also have state-of-the-art equipment, a satellite diagnostic imaging department in the emergency department, new and upgraded lab spaces and additional treatment spaces.

    Some health services now delivered at the QEII Victoria General site will move to new and renovated spaces at the Halifax Infirmary site when they open.

    The QEII Halifax Infirmary expansion is one element of More, Faster: The Action for Health Build, the government’s comprehensive plan for improving healthcare services for Nova Scotians.

    Developing modern healthcare infrastructure will help Nova Scotia become a magnet for health providers, provide the care Nova Scotians need and deserve, and cultivate excellence on the front lines, all of which are solutions under Action for Health.

    Quotes:

    “This is another transformative step forward for Nova Scotia Health. The QEII Halifax Infirmary’s new acute care tower will decrease wait times and improve access to care for all Nova Scotians.”
    — Karen Oldfield, interim President and CEO, Nova Scotia Health

    “The QEII Halifax Infirmary expansion will strengthen our healthcare system in many ways, including state-of-the-art, efficient new care spaces that better meet the needs of our staff and physicians. This new facility will enhance our physical capacity to provide care, while also equipping our teams with advanced tools and technology to deliver high-quality services to Nova Scotians.”
    — Dr. Christine Short, Senior Medical Director, QEII Healthcare Redevelopment, Central Zone, Nova Scotia Health

    “PCL Construction is excited to move forward with the next stage of the Halifax Infirmary expansion project. We remain dedicated to helping the Province build this new healthcare facility designed specifically to meet the needs of Nova Scotians. We’re looking forward to bringing the province’s vision for the project to life.”
    — Paul Knowles, Senior Vice-President and District Manager, PCL Construction

    “This project reflects our unwavering commitment at Build Nova Scotia to provide a top-quality healthcare facility that delivers value for money while prioritizing the well-being of the people it serves and the dedicated people who work there.”
    — David Benoit, President and CEO, Build Nova Scotia

    “We are proud to have reached this milestone on the QEII Halifax Infirmary Expansion Project, which will expand and modernize this healthcare facility and improve patient care. We’d like to thank our provincial partners for their dedication to this project, and we look forward to delivering a contemporary, welcoming space for patients, health professionals and visitors.”
    — Brian Budden, President and CEO, Plenary Americas

    Quick Facts:

    • work completed to date includes:
      • moving the main entrance to Summer Street
      • moving the emergency department driveway and parking to Bell Road
      • building a new, expanded magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suite
      • demolishing the parkade on Robie Street
      • building a new parkade on Summer Street
      • doing preliminary site excavation and preparation and rock removal
    • the new tower’s foundation and concrete structure for the main floor are expected to be complete by the end of the year
    • Nova Scotia Health staff and physicians have provided input on the new facility’s design
    • through the More, Faster: Action for Health Build plan, construction of various healthcare projects are happening at the same time by breaking them into more manageable pieces

    Additional Resources:

    More information on the Halifax Infirmary expansion project is available at: https://buildns.ca/healthcare/hiep/

    More information on other healthcare infrastructure projects: https://buildns.ca/healthcare/more-faster-the-action-for-health-build/

    News release – Major Healthcare Expansion Includes More Services, More Locations: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2022/12/15/major-healthcare-expansion-includes-more-services-more-locations

    Action for Health: https://novascotia.ca/actionforhealth/

    Other than cropping, Province of Nova Scotia photos are not to be altered in any way.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: 6 tips on how to run a company in turbulent times – lessons from emerging markets

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Felipe Monteiro, Senior Affiliate Professor of Strategy, INSEAD

    Global risks are rising, and many companies are struggling with how to adapt. The World Economic Forum’s 2025 Global Risks Report makes it clear that challenges like escalating global tensions and conflicts, climate change, economic instability and supply chain disruptions are interconnected and build on one another. And they’re here to stay.

    Meanwhile, US president Donald Trump’s tariff threats are creating more unpredictability in global trade.

    Companies – mostly medium sized and large companies – have no choice but to constantly adjust their strategies. For several companies in emerging markets, this way of thinking is second nature. Firms often operate in environments with fragile institutions, volatile currencies, unreliable infrastructure and political instability. They have become used to designing strategies with turbulence in mind.

    Instead of assuming every piece of global supply chains will fall into place as planned, and just-in-time strategies will always deliver, these companies have diversified and distributed their operations across multiple regions. They have been quick to build flexible, global supply chains, ensuring that if one part of the supply chain is disrupted, other regions can pick up the slack.

    While this may seem like common sense, many companies are still finding it difficult to reorganise and adapt to a less predictable and reliable world.

    So, how can companies look to build resilience and operate in uncertainty? By taking inspiration from those that have long navigated instability.

    Over the past 17 years of teaching global strategic management, I’ve developed and taught case studies on numerous companies in developing countries that have successfully adapted and reworked their strategies in times of uncertainty. Many of these examples – from Embraer in Brazil, to Haier in China – are featured in my book, Global Strategic Management (Fifth Edition), with more to come in the upcoming sixth edition.

    Based on these insights, I explore six key lessons companies can learn from firms in emerging markets.

    Six ways resilient firms adapt to disruption

    1. Learn, humbly, and adapt at lightning speed.

    Companies in emerging markets have always had to be more adaptable. They are fast learners and quick to pivot, starting from the understanding that things may not always go as planned. As a result, they design their operations to be resilient from the start. They anticipate disruptions rather than wait for them to happen.

    A classic example of this is M-Pesa. The mobile payments platform was first launched in Kenya in 2007. Initially it aimed to provide microloans to people without bank accounts. However, when users began using it for money transfers and bill payments, the company quickly adapted to meet this new demand. This ability to learn fast and change direction helped M-Pesa become a leader in mobile payments. It now serves as a global benchmark for success in the industry.

    Humility is essential for this kind of swift and effective adaptation. Companies that often face tough, unpredictable conditions tend to approach challenges with a humble mindset. Instead of assuming they have all the answers, they remain open to learning and adjusting.

    2. Lean on local partnerships.

    When entering unfamiliar or unpredictable markets, firms often approach operations with a transactional mindset – focusing on short-term, one-off exchanges – rather than forming deep partnerships with local stakeholders. This limits their ability to understand and deal with political or social disruptions.

    Natura & Co, the Brazilian cosmetics giant, offers helpful lessons. It has long focused on localising production and sourcing materials from nearby suppliers. Its focus is in the Amazon region, where it works with local communities to sustainably harvest raw materials like açaí (purple berries from South American palm trees) and Brazil nut oil. This approach:

    • reduces reliance on distant sources

    • increases flexibility, allowing the company to quickly adapt to regional challenges

    • builds trust which in turn stabilises supply chains and helps firms gain on-the-ground intelligence.

    3. Make room for redundant infrastructure.

    Firms often delay investments in redundant infrastructure until after a crisis exposes vulnerabilities. For instance, firms may rely on a single data centre or power grid, assuming infrastructure reliability.

    For companies like MTN Group, a telecommunications giant based in South Africa, redundancy is a necessity, not a luxury. Investing in backup power solutions and alternative communication links is essential to ensure MTN can maintain services during frequent power outages.

    In critical sectors like telecommunications and technology, parallel networks, alternative energy sources and backup systems ensure uninterrupted operations in the face of infrastructure failures, climate risks or other unforeseen disturbances.

    4. In unstable environments, build your own stability.

    In unpredictable markets, companies have to take matters into their own hands to ensure their operations run smoothly. They fill “institutional voids” common in such markets by forming diversified business groups. These provide critical support, such as internal financing, talent development and logistical infrastructure, to work around the challenges of their operating environments.

    The Tata Group, which operates across multiple industries from steel to software, is perhaps the most prominent example of this.

    Another great example is MercadoLibre, Latin America’s leading e-commerce platform, which faced the challenge of fragmented transport networks that made 24- or 48-hour deliveries near impossible. The only way to improve delivery speed was for the company to build its own logistics network. By doing so, it gained greater control over its supply chain, improved its ability to scale and greatly improved delivery reliability.

    5. Localise production, sustainably.

    Localised production reduces reliance on complex, long-distance global supply chains and helps minimise the environmental impact of transportation. When production and sourcing are local, companies are able to cut emissions and are less vulnerable to external shocks, as they are not reliant on the smooth functioning of distant suppliers or transport routes.

    Dilmah Tea took this hands-on approach by owning tea gardens, factories and packaging facilities in Sri Lanka. The company controls every step of the process, ensuring high-quality, single-origin Ceylon tea while cutting costs and emissions.

    This localised approach minimises dependence on external suppliers, protecting them from problems that can arise in global supply chains, like delays or shortages.

    6. Empower employees to be agile and responsive to change.

    Giving employees greater responsibility can make a big difference in how well a company handles unexpected changes. Chinese home appliances and electronics company Haier took this to the next level by famously transforming into an organisation of thousands of micro-enterprises, each responsible for decision-making, resource management and profit generation.

    This decentralised approach allows teams to swiftly adapt their strategies when disruptions arise. For instance, during the COVID pandemic, Haier maintained operational efficiency by enabling employees at local and product levels to make rapid, informed decisions.

    By staying close to users and gathering constant feedback, Haier’s micro-enterprises are able to anticipate potential disruptions before they become major threats and develop products and services that satisfy evolving needs.

    While it might not always be possible to completely shift power to individual teams, when people have the freedom to make decisions and take ownership of their work, they can respond quickly to new challenges and come up with creative solutions.

    Anticipation and adaptation

    The challenges that seem new and overwhelming are simply part of the daily reality for those in emerging economies. For decades, companies in these regions have been anticipating and adapting. As risks grow and intertwine, companies can learn from the resilience built by businesses in emerging markets.

    It all begins with a shift in mindset – recognising these challenges as the new reality and accelerating our own pace of learning and adaptation accordingly.

    Felipe Monteiro 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. 6 tips on how to run a company in turbulent times – lessons from emerging markets – https://theconversation.com/6-tips-on-how-to-run-a-company-in-turbulent-times-lessons-from-emerging-markets-248914

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: 6 in 10 young South Africans have no jobs. Why some still reject offers of work

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Hannah J. Dawson, Senior Lecturer, Anthropology and Development Studies, University of Johannesburg

    South Africa has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world. The official rate is 32%, rising to 42% when discouraged job seekers are included. Among young people aged 15 to 24, unemployment reaches a staggering 60%. While much attention has focused on youth exclusion from the labour market and their survival strategies, far less is said about their experiences in precarious jobs, or why some choose to leave low-wage employment.

    Across South Africa, young people are encouraged by the government, NGOs and society to accept unpaid internships, precarious apprenticeships and low-wage jobs on the assumption that these opportunities will lead to better employment. Those who quit or refuse low wage jobs are sometimes derided by employers as “lazy” or “choosy”.

    In 2015 and 2016 I conducted in-depth interviews and a survey with 100 young people (aged 18-35) in the settlement of Zandspruit, near Johannesburg, for my PhD (unpublished). What they told me was that the wage work available to them did not offer a pathway to a dignified life.



    Read more:
    South Africa’s youth are a generation lost under democracy – study

    Their stories challenge society to rethink the relationship between work, dignity and citizenship. Addressing youth unemployment requires more than increasing job numbers. It demands improving job quality and recognising the aspirations of those without work.

    My journal article, based on the PhD research, challenges the assumption that wage employment automatically leads to economic and social inclusion.

    Work around Zandspruit

    Established in the early 1990s as a small informal settlement, Zandspruit now houses over 50,000 residents within a two kilometre radius. Its unplanned expansion reflects its strategic location near new economic hubs, shaped by the shift from an industrial to a service-based economy.

    Most low-end service jobs in surrounding suburbs, malls and industrial hubs offer neither financial security nor routes to what the men in my study saw as respectable adulthood.

    I asked the men about their movement in and out of wage work, job experiences and work trajectories. Most had only held low-wage service jobs, which they ranked hierarchically: manual labour at the bottom, followed by hospitality and cleaning, with security and retail slightly better. Over half (57%) had never stayed in a job for more than a year. Many lasted only weeks or months.

    Short-term contracts were the leading cause of job loss (35%), followed by voluntary quitting (18%) — often due to low wages — and retrenchment (15%). While temporary contracts and retrenchments explain half of all job losses, voluntary quitting is a striking trend in a country with such high unemployment.

    To understand these departures, I interviewed 37 young people, mainly young men, who had left wage work in 2015-2016. They cited exploitative conditions, workplace racism, and financial and social pressures as key reasons. Their decisions reflect not just dissatisfaction with low wages but a deeper aspiration for dignity, social recognition and economic progress. Work, they insisted, should offer more than basic survival.

    Why young men refuse low-wage work

    All the young men I interviewed had cycled through low-paying jobs as security guards, cashiers, golf caddies, petrol attendants and call centre agents. Over half had quit because of dissatisfaction or exploitation.

    The most common reason for quitting was exploitative labour conditions. They spoke of employers bypassing minimum benefits, withholding pay and making unfair deductions. Contracts were rarely made permanent. More than just poor wages or bad working conditions, these jobs offered little prospect of social mobility. Some felt that no matter how hard they worked, they would never earn enough to improve their lives or achieve what they saw as key markers of respected manhood, like marriage, establishing a home and supporting a family.

    Eric, who had moved on from low-end jobs to run a small IT business from home, put it simply:

    When you look for a job, you don’t look for one that will drain you. You need a job that will build you so you have a future tomorrow.

    His words reflect a common view: young men do not judge jobs solely by their ability to provide a means of survival, but by whether they offer a path to stability, dignity and a better future.

    Workplace racism and mistreatment were also factors. Many young men recounted being undermined, insulted or unfairly treated by their superiors. The workplace became a direct encounter with South Africa’s racialised inequalities, where almost all low-wage workers are black and most employers and business owners are white.

    Thatho, who quit a retail job after six months, described his frustration:

    That guy [boss] is yelling at me for five days. On the sixth day I realised it’s too much. I can’t do this. I’m trying my best … It’s better if I left the company cause it’s painful when you work hard and someone says you’re not doing anything.

    Being disrespected in the workplace takes a psychological and emotional toll. For some, quitting was a way to reclaim respect and a degree of autonomy.

    Young men faced financial and social pressures, shaped by the male breadwinner ideal, to improve their own lives and support their families. This responsibility often motivated young men to take up or keep jobs, but it also led some to leave. Some quit in search of better-paying jobs. Others quit to escape the social demands tied to earning a wage.

    One young man, who struggled to send his son to a good crèche, keep his girlfriend happy and support his unemployed siblings, explained:

    Even though I’m working, I’m always left with nothing […] sometimes I feel like I’m drowning.

    The inability of low-wage jobs to meet both personal and social expectations drove some to make a living in the informal economy.

    Rethinking work and citizenship

    Wage labour, often idealised as a path to inclusion and citizenship, falls short for many South Africans. By rejecting such jobs, these young men challenge the notion that “any job is better than no job” and assert their right to economic participation on fair and dignified terms.

    Hannah J. Dawson received funding from the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and the National Research Foundation.

    – ref. 6 in 10 young South Africans have no jobs. Why some still reject offers of work – https://theconversation.com/6-in-10-young-south-africans-have-no-jobs-why-some-still-reject-offers-of-work-249052

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump threatens to disrupt the world’s critical minerals supply – but there are reasons to be positive

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jorge Valverde, PhD Fellow, Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (UNU-MERIT), United Nations University

    Nickel laterite in an open pit mine. Nickel is one of the critical minerals

    There’s a chance Donald Trump’s second term as US president could have a long-term negative impact on the demand for and supply of what are known as critical minerals. These include copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and the “rare earth elements”, such as lanthanum and yttrium.

    They are vital for the green energy transition, being used in electric car batteries, solar panels and wind turbines. Trump’s decision to pull out of the UN’s Paris agreement to control global warming has led to some pessimistic perspectives on this policy’s impacts.

    If Trump’s move towards oil and gas is interpreted by the markets as permanent, the price incentive for new mining projects for critical minerals will fall, along with long-term supply. This could potentially threaten the green energy transition.

    However, there are reasons to doubt this pessimistic scenario. Contrary to this, we believe that the new US administration policy is just a temporary shock without a significant change to the world’s energy transition trajectory. Therefore, critical mineral markets will remain buoyant in the medium and long term. This position is based on three main arguments.

    1. The US holds a competitive position in critical mineral markets

    There’s a generalised perception that the US depends on importing critical minerals from other countries, such as China. This is true for a handful, but, overall, America is one of the most competitive countries in producing the minerals needed for green technology.

    Indeed, the US has a revealed comparative advantage in exporting a wide variety of minerals and, among them, the most critical ones.

    Supplies of germanium are tightly controlled by China.
    RHJPhtotos

    Therefore, it will be in the US’s interests to keep the lucrative critical mineral markets dynamic. Even if the US reduces its sustainability ambitions, slowing its demand for new clean technologies, it is likely to do it carefully, so as not to harm its own industries.

    Indeed, we expect the US to increase its interest in developing processing industries to recover some minerals from electronic waste or intermediate stages in some manufacturing processes. These include germanium and gallium, which are tightly controlled by China (their biggest producer) but which are vital for computer chips and renewable energy technology, as well as night-vision goggles.

    2. The US produces and uses only a small share of clean technologies

    China and Europe drive these markets. The US does not drive either the demand or the supply for new clean technologies. On the demand side, the US only represents 10% of world electric car sales, while China and Europe account for 66% and 20% of the market respectively.

    China represents over 43% of installed solar energy capacity.
    Wang An Qi Shutterstock

    Similarly, for the world installed solar energy capacity, China represents over 43% of the market, Europe 20%, and the US only 10%. On the supply side, the US produces around 15% of the world’s electric cars, while China represents more than 50% of the market.

    For other clean technologies, statistics are similar with a remarkable leadership of China in the production of solar panels and wind turbines.

    So the policies followed by China and Europe are likely to have a much larger impact on the energy transition than the US’s. In the likely event that these countries continue pushing forward the green transition, the cost of slowing its technological catch up for the US will be too high.

    Moreover, oil producer countries of the Middle East are heavily betting for new clean technologies, which could offset the lower appetite for green assets from the US. So regardless of what Trump’s administration will decide on this matter, its influence on the market for clean technologies will be limited.

    3. New tariffs could further increase some minerals’ criticality

    Import tariffs imposed by Trump’s first administration to promote local production damaged US exports of those industries using imported intermediate, or partly finished, goods. In other words, international trade along global value chains has modified the textbook dynamics of protectionism, and exports are hindered – and not fostered – by import protection.

    President Trump has said he plans to impose 25% new tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico. This could increase the criticality of some minerals for the US. For example, nickel and aluminium could become even more critical to the US economy because Canada supplies almost 40% of the nickel employed by US industry, and 70% of the aluminium.

    As a consequence, new tariffs could indeed increase the criticality of some minerals. Indeed, this was probably in some way behind the decisions to postpone the tariff increases and to only impose them on selected products.

    The energy policies of the new American administration will have ripple effects. But these are likely to be temporary and the market in critical minerals is unlikely to be affected long term. The global transition to clean energy seems safe, for now.

    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. Trump threatens to disrupt the world’s critical minerals supply – but there are reasons to be positive – https://theconversation.com/trump-threatens-to-disrupt-the-worlds-critical-minerals-supply-but-there-are-reasons-to-be-positive-249058

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: National Wealth Fund makes first investment in Scotland

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Scottish Secretary welcomes £43.5m boost for sustainable packaging firm that will encourage growth, creating jobs and prosperity

    The National Wealth Fund has made its first investment in Scotland since its transformation to help boost growth as part of the UK Government’s Plan for Change.

    The NWF is committing £43.5m in direct equity for sustainable packaging company Pulpex, which is to build its first commercial-scale manufacturing facility near Glasgow. A further £10m co-investment is coming from the Scottish National Investment Bank with an additional boost coming from existing investors to take the total funds behind the firm to £62m.

    The company has developed a unique fibre-based bottle as an alternative to glass and plastic. The product is manufactured from sustainably-sourced wood pulp and designed to be recycled in the same way as paper or card in normal household recycling streams. Its patented technology results in a recyclable and biodegradable end-product with a lower carbon impact than current glass or plastic packaging.

    Pulpex’s Glasgow plant, which will produce 50 million bottles per year and create the UK’s first fibre bottle supply chain, will create 35 new jobs in Scotland.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said:

    Our Plan for Change is about going further and faster to kickstart economic growth so working people have more money in their pockets.  That’s why we established the National Wealth Fund which in the last six months has fuelled 8,600 jobs and unlocked £1.6 billion of private investment in the industries that turbocharge growth in our economy. This latest NWF investment is welcome news, creating jobs, sustainable growth and opportunity in Scotland.  

    Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said:

    I’m delighted to see this first investment in Scotland from the new National Wealth Fund. Boosting business is a cornerstone of our Plan for Change and will create jobs and opportunities to raise living standards.

    Just last month, we announced that Glasgow had been chosen as one of four areas where the UK Government will develop investment pipelines and this new Pulpex facility, to be built on the outskirts of the city, is a prime example of how supporting regional growth will benefit people right across the UK. The firm’s innovative bottling solution will aid the decarbonisation of our packaging industry and help accelerate our Net Zero goals as we drive delivery of clean power by 2030.

    Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said:

    “This investment by the Scottish National Investment Bank will build on Glasgow’s rich history of innovation and deliver more green jobs for the future. To drive investment into Scotland, we have allocated £200 million to the Bank for the next financial year. The Bank has a strong track record of success and has generated more than £1.4 billion of private sector investment since opening for business in 2020.”

    The investment announced today will enable the construction of Pulpex’s first manufacturing facility to reach commercial-scale capacity. The financing will help create the conditions for growth in both Scotland and the wider alternative packaging sector. 

    A move from plastic and glass to paper packaging will enable a step change in decarbonising the packaging industry and its efforts to increase the recycling rates of consumer goods, with the material benefiting from the highest recycling rates and most sophisticated infrastructure compared to other packaging alternatives.

    In the UK alone, over 38.5 million plastic bottles are used every day, with around 16 million ending up in landfill, being burnt, or littering the environment and waterways, according to Water UK. The UK’s 25 Year Environment Plan aims to double resource productivity and eliminate all avoidable waste, including plastic, by 2050. This means investments in economically viable and ready-to-go options like Pulpex are critical interventions for the future sustainability of the consumer goods industry.

    John Flint, National Wealth Fund CEO, said:

    “We need to recycle more and unlock the growth potential of the circular economy. That requires sophisticated, long-term investment, both in infrastructure and packaging innovation. Exciting technological advancements like Pulpex are a great example of that potential, but they need catalytic investment to scale and commercialise. Through financing Pulpex’s new facility in Glasgow, we will help remove barriers to future investment from private capital and lay the foundations for further growth.”

    Scott Winston, Pulpex, said:

    “Thanks to the National Wealth Fund, the Scottish National Investment Bank, our Pulpex team and to our stakeholders for their continued support. This investment will drive the decarbonisation of the packaging sector using leading edge Material Bioscience to ensure this much-needed alternative to glass and plastic will deliver its ambition. Accelerated by the incredible business ecosystem that flourishes within Glasgow, this will be a visible shining star demonstrating the scalability of Pulpex technology for partners to adopt globally.”

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City council set to appoint new contractor for waste-to-energy services  

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Hanford Site

    Published: Wednesday, 19th February 2025

    The cabinet has been asked to give officers the green light to enter a contract and project agreement for disposal of waste at the site. 

    Stoke-on-Trent City Council is set to appoint a contractor to run waste-to-energy services at the Hanford site for the next five years. The current contract ends at the end of March this year.  

    The cabinet has been asked to give officers the green light to enter a contract and project agreement for disposal of waste at the site. 
     
    The new operation and maintenance contract will ensure the current plan is capable of operating for a further five years, providing the best value and most environmentally sustainable means of disposing residual waste in the city.  

    The terms would include an option to extend for a further two years, if required.  

    The cabinet is also set to approve moving ahead with developing plans for the energy-from-waste facility post 2030.  

    The move will give the council certainty moving forward – providing the city with a cost-effective, efficient, centrally-located waste disposal service, while the new facility is developed. 
     
    Councillor Amjid Wazir OBE, cabinet member for city pride, enforcement and sustainability for Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “This announcement is great news Thanks to effective management and strategic investment in the facility, the plant has already reduced its emissions reduced by around 20 per cent over the last couple of years. At the same time, capacity and availability have increased. its also seen capacity and availability increase.  

     
    “While these improvements are significant, the plant is coming to the end of its useful life and we now need to start future planning for securing a replacement facility for the disposal of residual waste. 

    “The energy-from-waste site ensure almost no waste goes to landfill. In fact, the reduction is to just 0.1 per cent and provided the most cost-effective outcome ensuring financial resources can be protected for frontline services. Secure, low-cost carbon energy will be generated and made available for use within the city.” 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: S. 257, Promoting Resilient Supply Chains Act of 2025

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    S. 257 would require the Department of Commerce to assess and prepare for disruptions to supply chains for goods that are critical to national or economic security. The bill would establish an interagency working group to identify actions that the federal government can take to mitigate the economic effects of incidents that cause gaps in manufacturing, warehousing, transportation, and distribution networks for those critical goods. The bill also would require the department to report annually to the Congress on the effectiveness of its efforts.

    Implementing S. 257 would not impose significant new operating requirements on the Department of Commerce and other federal agencies because those agencies are already performing most of the responsibilities that would be required under the bill. CBO estimates that preparing the required assessments and reports would cost less than $500,000 over the 2025‑2030 period. Any spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Aldo Prosperi. The estimate was reviewed by Christina Hawley Anthony, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: London — Toys for the North 2024 brings joy to thousands of children in remote communities

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The holiday spirit was in full swing this season as the 14th annual Toys for the North campaign delivered over 28,000 toys to children in remote communities across Canada. Organized by the RCMP and supported by a network of dedicated partners, the campaign highlights the power of teamwork and generosity in spreading joy to underserved areas.

    This year’s effort was made possible through the collective work of numerous organizations and volunteers. After months of coordination, thousands of donated toys were collected at Thomson Terminals Ltd. in Toronto, where they were stored and packaged with care. From there, Gardwine, North Star Air, and the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) ensured the toys reached their final destinations in Northern Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.

    In December, RCMP members got the best gift of all—delivering the toys to children, and spreading holiday cheer across Canada’s North. This incredible initiative provided over $615,000 worth of toys to communities, thanks to the Canadian Toy Association, Thomson Terminals Limited, North Star Air, Gardewine, and the RCAF, without whom this initiative would not be possible.

    Sgt. Angelique Dignard, who has led the campaign for the past three years, expressed her gratitude for the dedication and support of all involved: “It’s truly inspiring to see how much we can accomplish when we work together. Each toy delivered represents a moment of joy and a touch of magic for each child during the holiday season. Last year we were able to deliver gifts from coast-to-coast for the first time, and this year, we had our largest donation of toys to date. I’m incredibly proud of everyone involved, and on behalf of the communities, thank you to everyone for your generosity and hard work.”

    The Toys for the North campaign demonstrates the RCMP’s commitment to building meaningful connections with communities, particularly in remote and underserved regions.

    As this year’s campaign wraps up, the RCMP and its partners thank everyone who contributed their time, effort, and resources to bring holiday magic to thousands of children. Together, we’ve made a difference—one toy at a time.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: NUWC Division, Keyport embraces wartime readiness culture

    Source: United States Navy

    Led by NUWC Division, Keyport wartime readiness director Troy Kelley and chief logistician Wendy Kierpiec, the WRAT is focused on ensuring the command’s ability to anticipate and respond to warfighter needs across the entire spectrum of operations, from peacetime to active conflict. Its goal is to achieve initial operational capability for wartime readiness by Sept. 30, 2025.

    The team includes senior command leaders, technical experts from each department, and advisory and ad-hoc members with specialized subject matter expertise. Its work is part of a broader effort to shift the Navy’s focus from peacetime efficiency to wartime effectiveness, driven by the need to counter the growing potential for military and economic challenges from China between now and 2027, a period known as the “Davidson window.”

    This period takes its name from Adm. Phil Davidson, former commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, who warned, in testimony to Congress four years ago, about the potential for China to take action against Taiwan by 2027.

    Kelley elaborated on the need to adopt a posture of wartime effectiveness.

    “Everything we [currently] do is about return on investment: How can we produce more with less and be the most efficient organization out there,” said Kelley. “When you get into a time of conflict, that measure flips the opposite way. Effectiveness becomes your measure.”

    To drive this shift, the WRAT has been developing wartime response plans, identifying and addressing readiness gaps, improving command communication, and establishing a crisis response center to coordinate and respond to wartime-related activities.

    Kierpiec, who developed the command’s wartime concept of operations and crisis response posture, emphasized the importance of being prepared for any scenario and the need for a flexible, adaptable response plan.

    “We haven’t had to tackle in so many decades, and since the end of the Cold War, we’ve downsized a lot of our military resources,” said Kierpiec. “As a result, we’re building the airplane as we’re flying it—we’re still figuring things out and developing our plans and processes in real time, which can be difficult, but it’s also an opportunity for us to be innovative and adaptable in our approach.”

    Kierpiec stressed the need to prepare for various wartime scenarios, including communication disruptions, damage or destruction to military assets, and contested environments where commercial transportation and shipping may be restricted, necessitating the use of other means to deploy personnel. She added that these challenges would likely be particularly pronounced in the context of a war in the Indo-Pacific Command area of operation, given its distance from Keyport.

    “We’ve got approximately 7,000 nautical miles between Keyport and the Straits of Taiwan,” said Kierpiec. “How do we overcome that from a logistics perspective? What’s the communication flow? Who would we be getting direction and orders from? How can we still provide our expertise to support the problem from stateside? Or should we be sending someone out there, and how do we get them out there? Do we have to get them on a military transport aircraft? Are they prepared to go in theater?”

    These are among the many questions the WRAT has been actively working to address through planning, exercises and drills.

    Held monthly in the CRC, the drills use realistic wartime scenarios to assess and refine the team’s communication strategies, response times and logistical capabilities. To simulate real-world conditions, they are unannounced and involve the use of secure communication channels and classified networks.

    Common scenarios include responding to an attack on a naval vessel, providing emergency repairs to a damaged ship, and supporting a large-scale military operation in a contested or degraded environment.

    Each of the command’s departments is represented during these drills, with key personnel assuming the roles of watch stander, battle watch captain and assistant battle watch captain. The watch stander monitors and reports on the command’s crisis response efforts, while the battle watch captain oversees the crisis response and provides strategic guidance, and the assistant battle watch captain supports the battle watch captain as needed.

    The team must work together to assess the situation, develop a response plan and allocate resources as needed. It is evaluated on its ability to collaborate, make decisions quickly and decisively, and communicate effectively both internally and with higher headquarters.

    Jeff Kistler, head of NUWC Division, Keyport’s Information Technology Support Services Branch, and Amy Abbott, the command’s emergency management officer, have been instrumental in establishing and maintaining the CRC. Kistler oversees its IT infrastructure, while Abbott manages its operational and procedural aspects.

    “We’ve spent hundreds of hours developing things that make us as lethal and prepared as possible,” said Abbott. “We’ve spent a lot of time really pulling apart the nuts and bolts of our processes. We’ve developed standard operating procedures, directives and desk guides, and we’ve developed them in such a way that anybody could walk in, sit at a departmental desk, open the book from page one and know what they’re doing without guidance.”

    Kistler stressed the CRC’s vital role in enabling the command to quickly respond to and support naval operations in real-world scenarios.

    “If we’re in a wartime scenario and there are casualties out in the fleet, we may be called upon to help get that ship back into the fight,” said Kistler. “[Providing that type of support] takes a lot of knowledge of what Keyport does, and that’s the kind of expertise that our personnel in the room collectively bring to the table.”

    Effective communication is crucial in such situations, and to this end, Kistler is tasked with ensuring the command’s communication systems are robust and reliable. This involves developing redundant communication paths, planning for continuity of operations in the event of disruptions or outages, and identifying and mitigating single points of failure in the CRC’s command and control systems.

    A key aspect of wartime readiness is the ability to anticipate ways in which one may need to pivot and redirect resources to address emerging priorities and gaps.

    “To support wartime efforts, we need to be able to pivot and change the way we conduct our business, prioritize our business and increase the tempo of our operations,” said Bryan Duffey, head of NUWC Division, Keyport’s Enterprise Systems Engineering Division and WRAT team lead for his division’s parent unit, the Fleet Readiness Department. “We need to be able to redirect resources to reinforce priority areas, increase op tempo areas, or leverage other technical capabilities and skills to fill emerging gaps.

    Duffey is responsible for ensuring his department is prepared to support the fleet during wartime. In the event of a conflict, this support would involve providing expeditionary repair capabilities and technical expertise for ship and submarine maintenance and repair.

    Among Kierpiec’s top priorities is identifying and addressing NUWC Division, Keyport’s readiness gaps and pivot points. The latter are capabilities the command has today that might need to be expanded or accelerated to support the warfighter.

    One pivot point of particular interest is NUWC Division, Keyport’s additive manufacturing capability.

    “We have a pretty a robust infrastructure in place for that,” said Kierpiec. “How would we respond to a request to do additive manufacturing for potentially a different customer? Maybe we get asked to make helicopter blades because [another customer] cannot for some reason. How could we rise to that occasion?”

    Wartime readiness gaps often stem from the challenges of operating in a contested or denied environment. These can include disruptions to communications and logistics, limited access to transportation and the need for rapid technical support to address emerging fleet requirements.

    According to program analyst Havalah Noble, WRAT team co-lead for the Unmanned and Theater Undersea Warfare Systems Department, the command is on track to meet its wartime readiness goals.

    “I feel like Keyport is ready and we will meet the NAVSEA and Navy goals of the Davidson window of 2027,” said Noble. “We’re perpetuating a culture of readiness now and there is urgency and dedication and vigilance in the practice, and it is important that we continue to do this work.”

    Command policy officer Melissa Berry, who oversees policy for the WRAT, agrees.

    “I think the clarity coming down from the Chief of Naval Operations and from NAVSEA on what we’re trying to accomplish, has really resonated with the team and provided a sense of urgency,” Berry said. “I am optimistic that come 2027, we will be in a strong place.”

    But the real goal of the 2027 target is not to get ready for war, but to make war unnecessary.

    “We want to demonstrate that our Navy is prepared to fight a war in 2027, but obviously our goal is to not have to do that,” said Jack Smith, lead exercise planner for the Naval Sea Systems Command’s Warfighting Readiness Directorate and a WRAT team lead for the Undersea Weapons Department. “We want to demonstrate the strength and the capability, so that potential enemies decide that 2027 is not when they want to fight a war.”

    Abbott emphasized the importance of wartime preparedness not just at work, but also at home.

    “We need to be thinking not only about how we support our warfighters who are out there on the water, but also how we support our brothers, our sisters, our husbands, our wives and other family members out there,” said Abbott. “This means being prepared at home, having discussions with our families, and having a plan in place, so that we can take care of our loved ones and be the best asset we can be for our warfighters in a time of crisis.”

    Abbott recommends having an emergency kit, establishing local emergency contacts, drafting powers of attorney for children’s care, and planning for how to manage everyday responsibilities such as school schedules and childcare in the event of a crisis.

    For additional resources and guidance on emergency preparedness, visit Ready.gov.

    Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Keyport is headquartered in the state of Washington on the Puget Sound, about 10 miles west of Seattle. To provide ready support to Fleet operational forces at all major Navy homeports in the Pacific, NUWC Division, Keyport maintains detachments in San Diego, California and Honolulu, Hawaii, and remote operating sites in Guam; Japan; Hawthorne, Nevada; and Portsmouth, Virginia. At NUWC Division, Keyport, our diverse and highly skilled team of engineers, scientists, technicians, administrative professionals and industrial craftsmen work tirelessly to develop, maintain and sustain undersea warfare superiority for the United States.

    Are you ready to join one of the largest and most dynamic employers in Kitsap County? We are continually hiring engineers, scientists and other STEM professionals—as well as talented experts in business, finance, logistics and support roles—so if you are eager to be at the forefront of undersea research and development, we want you on our team. Explore our exciting job opportunities at nuwckeyport.usajobs.gov and take the first step toward building your career at NUWC Division, Keyport.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: MEF Unveils NaaS Network APIs for an AI-Driven Economy and Application-Led Connectivity

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, Feb. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MEF a global industry association of enterprises and network, cloud, security, and technology providers accelerating enterprise digital transformation, today announced its NaaS Network APIs. As applications increasingly rely on APIs to optimize quality of experience, MEF – working with GSMA, CAMARA and its members – is enabling an AI-driven economy where applications can dynamically request and adjust network performance on demand.

    These capabilities will be demonstrated at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025, March 3-6 in Barcelona, Spain, as part of the GSMA Open Gateway Showcase. MEF, along with industry leaders Colt and Orange will present a Quality on Demand (QoD) demonstration leveraging open-source CAMARA APIs to enable real-time, automated network interactions.

    Traditionally, network performance was managed manually or through static configurations, limiting adaptability. As enterprises increasingly rely on AI, real-time analytics, and immersive technologies, networks must evolve to meet shifting demands. MEF’s NaaS Network APIs, in combination with GSMA Open Gateway and CAMARA APIs, enable applications to intelligently adjust network resources on demand—paving the way for a new era of adaptive, automated connectivity.

    “NaaS Network APIs are a significant step forward in MEF’s API strategy, enabling new opportunities for AI enabled applications, real-time automation, and secure service delivery across wired and wireless networks,” said Pascal Menezes, CTO, MEF. “By integrating open-source CAMARA APIs with MEF standards, enterprises and developers can dynamically program the network, ensuring that edge-native applications—from autonomous vehicles to AI-powered real time analytics—operate with reliable performance and security. This is a major milestone in advancing NaaS with AI, automation, and cybersecurity at its core.”

    At MWC 2025’s GSMA Open Gateway Showcase, the QoD demonstration with MEF, Colt, and Orange will highlight how edge-native applications can seamlessly interact with both mobile and fixed-line networks to dynamically provision resources. The demo features a converged approach to network quality, with Orange’s 5G Quality on Demand capability optimizing mobile network performance, and Colt’s On-Demand NaaS platform ensuring dynamic service quality across the core backbone network. By leveraging CAMARA APIs, MEF standards and software defined networking, the application intelligently provisions and adjusts network resources in real time, enabling adaptive, cross-domain connectivity for a wide range of use cases, including AI, cloud gaming, tele-robotics, and Industry 4.0 applications.

    Henry Calvert, Head of Networks, GSMA, said: “Through this showcase MEF, Colt and Orange are bringing to life the benefits that open QoD APIs can deliver. By integrating QoD APIs, enterprise developers can enhance a whole range of digital services from online gaming and entertainment streaming through to powering smart mobility, beyond line of sight aviation and industry 4.0. However, for these services to gain strong adoption around the world, it’s vital that the mobile ecosystem unifies behind a common approach, as we’re seeing here, through the GSMA Open Gateway and CAMARA initiative.”

    Mirko Voltolini, VP Technology and Innovation, Colt Technology Services, said, “Our technology demonstration with MEF and Orange is a powerful example of collaboration driving innovation and pushing boundaries. It paves the way for a more integrated and effortless service experience for our customers as we embrace the Digital AI Era.” 

    Emmanuel Rochas, CEO Orange Wholesale International, said, “Combining MEF APIs and CAMARA APIs unleashes the potential of Fixed and Mobile network convergence, enabling any application to seamlessly and transparently switch between the two networks.
    This ‘Quality on Demand’ use case applies to SD-WAN design for businesses, supports many other use cases where managing quality is required in order to deliver the right level of service. This project reinforces our commitment to providing our customers with a seamless user experience across our networks, in a federated approach with our peers.  Our NaaS offering, Click, is a key part of this approach and is already embraced by our customers.”

    Experience MEF’s NaaS Network APIs in action at MWC 2025 in the GSMA Open Gateway Showcase to see how innovative network APIs are shaping the future of AI, automation, and edge-native applications. For more information about MEF visit www.mef.net.

    About MEF
    MEF is a global consortium of enterprises and service, cloud, cybersecurity, and technology providers collaborating to accelerate enterprise digital transformation. It delivers standards-based frameworks, services, technologies, APIs, and certification programs to enable Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) across an automated ecosystem. MEF is the defining authority for certified Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO) business and operational APIs and Carrier Ethernet, SASE, SD-WAN, Zero Trust, and Security Service Edge (SSE) technologies and services. MEF’s Global NaaS Event (GNE) convenes industry leaders building and delivering the next generation of NaaS solutions. For more information about MEF, visit MEF.net and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. 

    Media Contact:
    Melissa Power
    MEF
    pr@mef.net

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Applied Closed 2024 with More Agencies Selecting Applied Epic as Platform of Choice, Including 7 of Top 10 Largest Insurance Brokers

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Chicago, IL., Feb. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Applied Systems® today announced more agencies are choosing to consolidate and standardize on Applied Epic® and its Digital Agency® technology than any other system. Notably, seven of the top 10 largest brokers ranked by Business Insurance in 2024 have chosen Applied Epic to automate their operations and create more intelligence and productivity.

    Applied’s Digital Agency solution offers a comprehensive management system, coupled with an integrated payments and accounting reconciliation hub, the leading personal and commercial lines rating and automation solutions, and the largest network of carrier connectivity, all backed by award-winning customer support and extensive cyber-security protection. As the leading insurance technology specialist, Applied grounds its solutions in an unparalleled depth of expertise in insurance-specific workflows and the largest insurance datasets in the industry. Applied’s vertical focus creates unique value for its customers, enabling Applied to deliver the practical power of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) in insurance-specific solutions that create productivity and support more profitable revenue growth. Unlike generalized solutions, Applied’s products require minimal customization and reduce reliance on multiple disparate systems by delivering an integrated suite of insurance solutions that cover the end-to-end policy lifecycle. This helps insurance agencies focus their precious resources on the most valuable work – building, retaining, and growing their client relationships and books of business.

    In 2024, Applied significantly expanded its AI investments by acquiring Planck, the leading insurance-specific AI company. Planck massively enhances Applied’s AI capabilities, providing the expertise to take advantage of the rapid development of powerful AI models by applying them to insurance-specific workflows and datasets, allowing Applied to deliver value across the Digital Roundtrip of Insurance. Applied recently launched AI capabilities within Applied Epic, including robust communication summarization that helps CSRs and producers gain back hours in their workday. Applied will soon launch the Applied Book Builder product, focused on delivering powerful insights and efficiencies for the renewal and new business prospecting processes, and will follow that with an exciting lineup of other AI-enabled products throughout 2025 and beyond. By delivering these AI capabilities natively within Applied’s product ecosystem, agencies can confidently use them, knowing their data remains within the security infrastructure of existing systems and processes.

    “AI is emerging as a powerful capability that presents the insurance industry with new opportunities to grow their businesses more profitably,” said Taylor Rhodes, chief executive officer of Applied Systems. “While any company will have access to generalized AI models and capabilities, the way to make AI most effective is to marry it with industry-specific expertise and datasets so that AI can learn your business and provide powerful insights and automation that are specifically relevant to your business strategy. As the leading insurance technology partner, we are focused on building unmatched value through connecting the Digital Roundtrip of Insurance, infusing it with insurance-specific AI capabilities throughout the policy lifecycle.”

    # # #


    About Applied Systems
    Applied Systems is the leading global provider of cloud-based software that powers the business of insurance. Recognized as a pioneer in insurance automation and the innovation leader, Applied is the world’s largest provider of agency and brokerage management systems, serving customers throughout the United States, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, and the United Kingdom. By automating the insurance lifecycle, Applied’s people and products enable millions of people around the world to safeguard and protect what matters most.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Haivision Releases Sixth Annual Broadcast Transformation Report, Showcasing Key Industry Shifts and Emerging Technologies

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MONTREAL, Feb. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Haivision (TSX: HAI), a leading global provider of mission-critical, real-time video networking and visual collaboration solutions, today announced the release of its sixth annual Broadcast Transformation Report.

    This industry-leading report provides valuable insights into the state of technology adoption in the broadcast sector, based on responses from nearly 900 broadcast and media professionals—the highest number Haivision has surveyed—between November and December 2024.

    The 2025 Broadcast Transformation Report explores how the industry is embracing innovative technologies while continuing to navigate key challenges such as budget constraints and workforce shortages. As broadcasters seek to enhance operational efficiency and scalability, the report identifies major trends shaping the future of live video contribution and production.

    Key findings from the 2025 Broadcast Transformation Report:

    • SRT adoption soars, widening the gap with RTMP: SRT usage grew by 9%, rising from 68% in 2024 to 77% in 2025. It is the most widely used transport protocol among this year’s respondents, while RTMP, in second place, is used by 58%.
    • Demand for efficiency fuels 5G usage: 76% of broadcasters using cellular networks now rely on 5G, with 21% planning adoption within a year. The top benefits include greater bandwidth (55%), lower latency (50%), and cost savings (31%).
    • Broadcasters accelerate AI adoption: 25% of broadcasters are using AI (up from 9% in 2024), with 64% believing it will have the biggest impact on the industry in the next five years.
    • Hybrid on-premise and cloud usage becomes mainstream: While 86% use cloud technology in some capacity, 49% of total respondents rely on it for less than a quarter of their workflows (up from 43% in 2024), emphasizing continued dependence on on-premise solutions.
    • HEVC catches up with H.264: HEVC usage has reached 70%, up from 50% in 2021, bringing it closer to H.264’s leading position at 79%.

    “The findings in this year’s Broadcast Transformation Report reveal both the exciting innovations and the persistent challenges facing broadcasters today,” said Marcus Schioler, Vice President of Marketing at Haivision. “From the continued expansion of SRT, 5G, and AI to the measured adoption of cloud technologies, broadcast ecosystems are evolving to leverage new tools that drive efficiency, enhance production quality, and future-proof their operations.”

    The Haivision Broadcast Transformation Report 2025 is available for download here: https://www3.haivision.com/broadcast-report-2025-press

    About Haivision

    Haivision is a leading global provider of mission-critical, real-time video networking and visual collaboration solutions. Our connected cloud and intelligent edge technologies enable organizations globally to engage audiences, enhance collaboration, and support decision-making. We provide high-quality, low-latency, secure, and reliable live video at a global scale. Haivision open-sourced its award-winning SRT low-latency video streaming protocol and founded the SRT Alliance to support its adoption. Awarded four Emmys® for Technology and Engineering from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Haivision continues to fuel the future of IP video transformation. Founded in 2004, Haivision is headquartered in Montreal and Chicago with offices, sales, and support located throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia. To learn more, visit Haivision at www.haivision.com.

    Jennifer Gazin
    514.334.5445 ext 8309
    jgazin@haivision.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Willis appoints Helen Campbell Head of Property Wordings in North America

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Feb. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Willis, a WTW business, (Nasdaq: WTW), today announced the appointment of Helen Campbell as Head of Property Wordings in North America. Her role covers property policy language, terms and conditions for both the insurance and reinsurance businesses at WTW.

    Based in Bermuda and reporting directly to Scott Pizzi, Head of Property Broking, North America, Campbell will focus on analysis and tailoring of property policies and the related coverage details to provide clients with a well-defined, clear understanding of relevant terms and conditions associated with their specific property exposures.

    Joining from Argo Group, Campbell most recently served as Senior Vice President and Head of Contract Wordings for the firm. Prior to Argo, she served as Contract Wordings Manager at Ironshore Insurance. With more than 25 years of industry experience, she rejoins Willis, having previously focused on contract wordings with the company at the beginning of her career.

    Commenting on Campbell’s appointment, Pizzi commented, “Helen brings a specialized, technical expertise, which is rare in our industry, yet critically important in delivering comprehensive property solutions for our clients. I am thrilled to have her join the team.”

    About WTW

    At WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), we provide data-driven, insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk, and capital. Leveraging the global view and local expertise of our colleagues serving 140 countries and markets, we help organizations sharpen their strategy, enhance organizational resilience, motivate their workforce, and maximize performance.

    Working shoulder to shoulder with our clients, we uncover opportunities for sustainable success—and provide perspective that moves you.
    Learn more at wtwco.com.

    Media Contact

    Douglas Menelly
    Douglas.Menelly@wtwco.com +1 (516) 972 0380

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: On the Polytechnic’s birthday, the exhibition “Laboratory and Museum of Mineralogy and Geology” opened

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    On February 19, the Polytechnic University turned 126 years old, and on the university’s birthday, the Polytechnicians received a wonderful gift: a new exhibition of the SPbPU History Museum, “The Laboratory and Museum of Mineralogy and Geology,” opened in the Chemical Building.

    In 1902, one of the first four departments of the Polytechnic Institute was metallurgy. And each department at that time had its own museum. The laboratory and museum of mineralogy were located on the first floor of the Chemical Pavilion. The total area of the premises was 639 m². The laboratory was equipped with modern devices and instruments, there was a special library, which contained reference books and publications on metallurgy and metallography.

    The museum showcases included a systematic collection of minerals arranged according to the Dana system; a collection of physical properties of minerals consisting of 200 samples; 400 samples of rocks; a collection of general features of rocks consisting of 150 samples; a collection of dynamic geology consisting of 200 samples; a collection of historical geology consisting of 750 samples; and 150 samples of ore-forming minerals.

    Today, on the initiative of the rector of SPbPU Andrey Rudskoy, the director of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport Anatoly Popovich and with the financial support of VTB Bank, the historical exhibition has been restored almost in full and supplemented with new exhibits.

    “In honor of the Polytechnic University’s birthday, we had to give a gift to all of us – and we did, we restored the Mineralogy Museum,” Andrey Rudskoy said at the grand opening ceremony. “Here we will see the beauty and harmony of the world created by God, the study of which helped us, students of the metallurgical faculty, to become professionals and achieve a lot in life.”

    “It is a great honor to be involved in such an event,” added Yuri Levchenko, Senior Vice President of VTB Bank and Polytechnic graduate. “I once took exams in this auditorium, so the restoration of the museum is my personal history, as is the history of the entire Chemical Building and the entire Polytechnic Institute.”

    After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the director of the SPbPU History Museum, Valery Klimov, conducted the first tour of the new exhibition.

    “We restored historical display cases and minerals collected from all over the world – from Brazil, North America, Australia, New Zealand. And I put this quartz found in the Urals separately,” said Valery Yuryevich. “The museum also has modern technologies, for example, on this screen you can read more about the minerals and leaf through a very interesting reprint of the 1914 book “Metallurgical Department”, which describes in detail everything that happened in our beloved chemical house.”

    In addition to the reprint, the exhibition also features the original paper inventory book of the chemical house metallurgical laboratory, in which records were kept from 1902 to 1937; they are well preserved. The museum premises are also decorated with the original portrait of Dmitry Mendeleyev, painted by the artist Drozdov in 1914, and portraits of famous polytechnic metallurgists, founders of scientific and pedagogical schools in the field of metal science and metallurgy.

    The museum contains many interesting exhibits, including a world map made from minerals, a historic sink for washing test tubes, and a variety of laboratory equipment and instruments. For example, a glass research chamber; a direct current voltmeter and a Hartmann pointer galvanometer pyrometer N. S. Kurnakov, created in 1904 at the St. Petersburg Polytechnic Institute according to the design of the head of the Department of General Chemistry from 1902 to 1930 Nikolai Kurnakov. This is the only copy in the world.

    Another gift for the 126th anniversary of the Polytechnic University was the opening of an auditorium named after Academician I. V. Gorynin, a graduate of the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute, in the Chemical Building. The auditorium was opened by the rector of SPbPU, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Rudskoy and the scientific director of the I. V. Gorynin Central Research Institute of Structural Materials “Prometheus” of the National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexey Oryshchenko.

    “For me, Igor Vasilyevich Gorynin was a summit that was scary to approach, but he treated me, his student, like a father, and this obliged me to do a lot,” Andrei Ivanovich shared. “We remember, love and respect Igor Vasilyevich, he always was, is and will be a great polytechnician, a great metallurgist.”

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Is Donald Trump on a constitutional collision course over NATO?

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Aaron Ettinger, Associate Professor, International Relations, Carleton University

    Over the past few weeks, United States President Donald Trump has let loose a flurry of executive orders aiming to impose the MAGA agenda unilaterally.

    The legal challenges and judicial stays that have followed speak to the degree to which the limits of presidential authority are at risk in America. These limits include the making and breaking of international treaties.

    In the crosshairs is NATO, the very existence of which is threatened by Trump more than anything else.



    Read more:
    Allies or enemies? Trump’s threats against Canada and Greenland put NATO in a tough spot

    But can he sign an executive order and unilaterally denounce the North Atlantic Treaty — which forms the legal basis of NATO — or any international treaty, for that matter? The answer is uncertain, but perhaps not for long.

    Vice President J.D. Vance has stated on social media that “judges aren’t allowed to control the executive’s legitimate power,” suggesting that Trump won’t be checked or balanced by the judiciary or other branches of government. This sets up a high stakes battle over the limits of “legitimate” presidential authority.

    Any unilateral termination of the North Atlantic Treaty would likely end up in the U.S. Supreme Court. This question therefore is about more than just NATO. It’s about the power of the presidency to override Congress, ignore courts, terminate treaties and reshape the international order.

    How to quit an alliance

    To leave NATO, all a member needs to do is say so. Article 13 of the North Atlantic Treaty lays out simple instructions: give notice of denunciation to the U.S. government, which will then tell the other members. Basically, Trump can inform himself and likely post something to social media and the one-year countdown clock begins.

    But can Trump unilaterally withdraw from NATO in a way that’s constitutional? This is where things get ambiguous.

    The more appropriate question is: “Can the U.S. president unilaterally terminate an act of Congress?”

    The U.S. Constitution requires that international treaties have the “advice and consent” of “two-thirds of senators present” to become law. America’s adoption of the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 followed this process. But on treaty termination, the constitution is silent.

    This is remarkable because the U.S. has been terminating treaties since 1798. Naturally, the authority over treaty termination has been debated for just as long.

    The arguments boil down to this: if treaties are regarded as analogous to domestic law, then Trump needs the consent of two-thirds of the Senate to terminate the North Atlantic Treaty.

    If the domestic analogy is rejected or treaties are regarded as falling under the vested powers of the presidency — or as giving the president wiggle room to suspend elements of the agreement — then Trump can do what he wants.

    The Supreme Court’s stance

    Does the Supreme Court have anything to say? No, and deliberately so.

    In 1979, the court dismissed a suit brought by Sen. Barry Goldwater against President Jimmy Carter after Carter terminated a 25-year-old mutual defence treaty with Taiwan. The court dismissed the case as a non-justiciable political question.

    A similar outcome occurred in 2002 when President George W. Bush unilaterally withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty with Russia. Members of Congress filed suit, but the case was dismissed by a federal court on the same grounds.

    What we have now is a practice of treaty termination that is governed by the norms of shared power over foreign policy between Congress and the presidency, exactly the kind of guardrails that Trump loves to ignore.

    So it seems that Trump could have a path to denouncing the North Atlantic Treaty. But there’s a twist.

    The Marco Rubio twist

    At the end of 2023, Congress passed the Defense Department budget that included a provision meant to forestall any unilateral withdrawal from NATO.

    Buried deep in the 974-page National Defense Authorization Act is a provision that prohibits the president from “suspending, terminating, denouncing, or withdrawing” from NATO “except with the advice and consent of 2/3 of the Senate.” That clause, spearheaded by then-senator and current Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is critical because of a court decision that’s nearly as old as NATO itself.

    In 1952, in the Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer case, the Supreme Court clarified the parameters on executive power. It argued presidential authority on any matter is “is at its lowest ebb” when working against congressional authority.

    The Rubio clause may be the exact constitutional authority that stops Trump in his tracks. But stay tuned: this is all subject to change.

    What’s next?

    In 2025, the conditions for unilateral withdrawal seem to align perfectly for Trump: constitutional ambiguity, antiquated norms of polite governance and deferential courts.

    It might seem that Trump could denounce the North Atlantic Treaty with a few thumbstrokes, but that obscure provision in the Pentagon budget changes things. Any unilateral denunciation of NATO by Trump would set him on a collision course with Congress, and the matter would rocket toward the Supreme Court.

    So far, though, Trump hasn’t raised the spectre of termination. Instead, he has been more interested in increasing the NATO defence spending target to five per cent of GDP, up from two per cent, a requirement that would be difficult for many members to meet.

    It’s possible that including that language in the next NATO summit declaration would be enough for Trump. He’d look tough without the constitutional fight at home. Supporters of NATO, the durability of U.S. treaties and the separation of powers in America can only hope that will be enough.

    Aaron Ettinger 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. Is Donald Trump on a constitutional collision course over NATO? – https://theconversation.com/is-donald-trump-on-a-constitutional-collision-course-over-nato-248363

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The dangers of ‘Jekyll and Hyde leadership’: Why making amends after workplace abuse can hurt more than it helps

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By John Sumanth, James Farr Fellow & Associate Professor of Management, Wake Forest University

    Not the picture of leadership. LMPC via Getty Images

    A glance at the day’s headlines reveals a universal truth: Leadership matters.

    Whether uplifting and ethical or toxic and abusive, leaders profoundly shape our lives. And this is especially true on the job. Research consistently shows that leadership influences employees’ attitudes, behaviors and emotions, driving key organizational outcomes such as creativity, employee engagement, well-being and financial performance.

    Unfortunately, research also shows that supervisors abuse their employees far too often and then try to manage impressions to compensate for their bad behavior. But what happens when a leader tries to “make up” for past abuse by suddenly acting ethically? And do employees have to experience the abuse firsthand for it to hurt them?

    As professors who study management – and who’ve heard horror stories of employees working under mercurial bosses – we wanted to find answers. So we conducted a study, which was recently published in the Journal of Applied Psychology.

    Our research includes multiple samples of full-time employees in the U.S. and the United Kingdom. To begin, we surveyed 222 employees and 66 supervisors to gather insights into workplace leadership and work experiences. We focused on two contrasting leadership behaviors: ethical leadership and abusive supervision. We also conducted experiments with 400 people, presenting them with stories about managers who alternately display both ethical leadership and abusive supervision and asking them how they would respond.

    Across these studies, we found that employees who experience such oscillating leadership often end up worse off – in terms of their emotional well-being and job performance – than if they were consistently being abused. By going back and forth between abusive and ethical behaviors, leaders create greater confusion, leaving their employees emotionally exhausted.

    Instead of providing relief, acts of ethical leadership ironically serve to amplify the damage done by prior abusive behavior.

    Jekyll and Hyde leadership in practice

    As an example, consider Steve Jobs, the co-founder and chief executive officer of Apple for more than a decade until his death in 2011. While Jobs was an icon to many people, he reportedly swung between toxic and positive leadership behavior while dealing with subordinates.

    For example, when Jobs’ exacting standards weren’t met, he would reportedly storm into meetings and profanely berate the team responsible for not living up to his lofty expectations. Yet, despite these outbursts, he was also described as a leader who believed in his employees’ potential, expressing unwavering confidence in their abilities and empowering them to exceed their own expectations.

    This kind of unpredictable leadership can leave workers emotionally exhausted, wondering: “Which version of my boss will show up today? Will this kindness last, or is it just a setup for another blow?” Unsurprisingly, this isn’t good for productivity.

    Employees value stability and predictability in their leaders. A supervisor who bounces between harsh criticism and warm praise creates an emotional roller coaster for the team. When employees see a supervisor as unpredictable, they experience more stress and emotional exhaustion, which hurts their job performance and willingness to share ideas.

    Interestingly, we found that workers don’t even need to be directly targeted by an abusive supervisor to be affected; employees whose immediate supervisors get the Jekyll-and-Hyde treatment from their higher-ups suffer similar consequences.

    These negative reactions occur, in part, because employees begin to doubt that their immediate supervisors are able to effectively influence higher-level leaders. In other words, the psychological toll of Jekyll-and-Hyde leaders isn’t limited to direct encounters but can also be experienced vicariously.

    How companies can banish Mr. Hyde

    The good news is that organizations can break this cycle – and workers are likely to be less stressed and more productive when they do. Here are three steps every organization can take:

    • Train leaders to manage stress without lashing out. High-pressure environments are prevalent these days, but abusive leader behavior doesn’t have to be. Providing leaders with tools like emotional intelligence training and conflict resolution skills can help leaders navigate both personal and professional challenges more constructively.

    • Address the abusive behavior directly. When abusive actions occur, ignoring them or asking the leader to “be nicer next time” isn’t enough. Structured interventions – like one-on-one coaching, counseling or formal sanctions – are essential for generating real change. Employees need to see that the organization is living up to its stated values and ideals.

    • Foster a culture of trust and accountability. Tools like 360-degree feedback reports – which involve feedback from supervisors, peers and subordinates – can help leaders gain deeper insight into their behaviors. These can be used not just for development, but also for heightened accountability. Creating a climate of psychological safety – in which employees can report concerns without fear of retaliation – is key to rebuilding trust. So is ensuring clear, consistent responses to reports of abusive supervision.

    Great leaders understand the power of trust and setting an example. Employees want leaders they can rely on, not ones who keep them guessing. So leaders should be wary about employing ethical leadership as a quick fix for past mistakes. Rather, it’s about showing up consistently, authentically, and with integrity every single day.

    For leaders at all levels, the takeaway is simple: Consistency fosters success. Organizations that prioritize stable, ethical leadership create workplaces where employees feel valued, supported and empowered to do their best work.

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

    – ref. The dangers of ‘Jekyll and Hyde leadership’:
    Why making amends after workplace abuse can hurt more than it helps – https://theconversation.com/the-dangers-of-jekyll-and-hyde-leadership-why-making-amends-after-workplace-abuse-can-hurt-more-than-it-helps-244622

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Investors value corporate tax responsibility – at least when the company is based somewhere with a lot of inequality, research shows

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Erica Neuman, Assistant Professor of Accounting, University of Dayton

    When corporations based in areas of above-average income inequality pay more taxes, it’s not just the public that appreciates it – investors do, too. That’s the key finding of our recent research published in the journal Accounting and the Public Interest.

    Our finding challenges traditional economic theory holding that investors see corporate taxes as a transfer of wealth from shareholders to the state. That would suggest investors value only strategies that minimize taxes. The reality isn’t so simple.

    As accounting professors at the University of Dayton, we study the intersection of corporate taxes and corporate social responsibility. We wanted to better understand how corporate taxes affect firm value and stock prices, and whether that relationship changes if a company is headquartered in an area with high income inequality.

    So we looked at financial data from over 1,500 firms over a 10-year period between 2011 and 2019, as well as the income inequality in the metro areas where they’re headquartered. For the latter point, we used the Gini coefficient, a measure of income distribution in a given place. This is a particularly useful context for looking at corporate taxes, since one of the key functions of taxation is to counter inequality.

    We found that there’s a negative relationship between corporate taxes and firm value for companies headquartered in areas of average inequality. In other words, paying more corporate taxes lowers firm value. That’s in line with previous research and traditional economic theory.

    However, we found that when local income inequality rises above the average, the relationship between corporate taxes and firm value flips. This flip suggests that some companies actually receive a financial benefit from paying corporate taxes.

    Why? We found that these companies enjoy a reputational benefit for being socially responsible taxpayers. Indeed, our results were driven by businesses that are are otherwise widely viewed as good corporate citizens. For those companies, paying taxes represents one of many socially responsible behaviors.

    Why it matters

    Our research offers evidence that investors view corporate taxes positively when they’re consistent with other socially responsible behaviors. Given that corporations have a fiduciary duty to their shareholders, this finding suggests that corporate taxes can play a role in a company’s corporate social responsibility, or CSR, efforts.

    Our findings also align with a 2023 KPMG survey of more than 300 chief tax officers that found more than half said they cared more about looking like good corporate citizens than reducing their tax burdens.

    An extensive body of research has shown that companies’ investments in CSR activities aren’t just selfless – they’re linked with improved operational and financial outcomes. There’s evidence that businesses that prioritize CSR are better able to attract quality employees; have improved corporate reputations; and are more profitable as judged by return on assets, return on equity and return on sales.

    While work on tax responsibility has lagged behind other CSR research, evidence is mounting that paying corporate taxes has positive effects. Much of this research indicates that companies that aggressively minimize tax payments and gain a reputation as “tax avoiders” face harm to their reputation – and therefore, the bottom line.

    Our study dovetails this research and identifies a specific context in which investors view corporate taxes favorably. At a time of tax reform both globally and in the U.S., and as lawmakers and pundits continue to call for greater tax transparency, companies should be aware of the role of corporate tax responsibility in their overall CSR portfolio.

    What’s next

    Corporate tax responsibility is complex and not yet well defined. Our current research examines other circumstances that lead investors to value corporate taxes, which will help companies to quantify the value of including taxes in their CSR portfolios.

    The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.

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

    – ref. Investors value corporate tax responsibility – at least when the company is based somewhere with a lot of inequality, research shows – https://theconversation.com/investors-value-corporate-tax-responsibility-at-least-when-the-company-is-based-somewhere-with-a-lot-of-inequality-research-shows-225961

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: DEI programs are designed to help white people too – here’s how

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Liza Bondurant, Associate Professor of Secondary Math Education, Mississippi State University

    Many DEI programs support students with a disability, about a fifth of whom are white. simonkr/E+ via Getty Images

    While diversity, equity and inclusion may on the surface seem focused on certain groups, in fact DEI programs benefit people from all walks of life – including white people.

    President Donald Trump and other conservatives have increasingly attacked such initiatives as discriminatory based on the presumption that they benefit only students of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

    Most recently, Trump issued an executive order on Jan. 20, 2025, directing federal agencies, including the Department of Education, to eliminate support for DEI positions and projects. The order labels them “illegal and immoral discrimination” and “radical and wasteful.”

    The impact of this sweeping order has been seismic across the U.S. government, private sector and in education in particular as universities have begun eliminating or rebranding their DEI programs and the Department of Education has removed any initiative and even any document or material that referenced diversity, equity or inclusion.

    As professors of education who have studied DEI programs in higher education, we believe these attacks represent a misconception about which groups DEI higher education programs actually support. The reality is, DEI policies help a wide range of people access and succeed in college regardless of their racial or ethnic background.

    Breaking down DEI funding by race

    It’s a challenge to determine the exact percentages of federal DEI funding allocated to groups of students broken down by race and ethnicity. There is limited publicly available data.

    Broadly speaking, a large majority of people within most racial and ethnic groups receive some kind of federal funding – some of which is connected to DEI programs. That includes 81% of Black students, 74% of American Indian/Alaska Native students, 72% of Hispanic or Latino students, 70% of white students, and 66% of Asian students, according to a 2023 report from the National Center for Education Statistics based on data during the 2019-20 academic year.

    The center’s data does not indicate whether those grants were explicitly designated for DEI initiatives. For example, Pell Grants are need-based, but not explicitly DEI.

    That said, DEI initiatives encompass a broad range of programs that support various underrepresented groups, including first-generation college students and students with disabilities. They also benefit women and veterans. Each of these groups invariably includes many white students.

    University DEI programs support underrepresented students from all kinds of backgrounds, such as those who are the first in their family to attend college, about half of whom are white.
    AP Photo/Darron Cummings

    First-generation students

    At most universities, a portion of DEI funding is dedicated to programs designed to support the success of first-generation students, or students whose parents did not graduate from college.

    DEI initiatives enhance first-generation students’ academic success by addressing their unique challenges, such as financial constraints, cultural adjustments and unfamiliarity with college environments. They do this through tailored support programs, inclusive learning communities and mentorship opportunities.

    Research shows that first-generation students are likely to adopt what psychologists call performance avoidance goals – such as the fear of looking incompetent – so they play it safe and don’t try too hard, which can hinder their academic success. But DEI efforts such as faculty engagement programs and dorm communities that mix academics and social support help foster supportive environments that mitigate those challenges.

    National data shows that 56% of college students are first-generation attendees. White students represent 46% of that group, more than any other single race.

    Students with disabilities

    People with disabilities make up the largest minority group in America – and represent a growing share of college students.

    Disability access is a vital yet often overlooked component of DEI efforts, with 20.5% of undergraduate students reporting a disability. Many institutions address this through disability services, which ensure students receive such appropriate testing accommodations as extended exam times, classroom support and access to assistive technology.

    Accommodations for individuals with both sensory and physical disabilities are universally accepted and ensure access to everyone regardless of their ability. DEI initiatives, particularly those focusing on accessibility and support services, play a pivotal role in ensuring students with disabilities have equal opportunities to succeed.

    Given that disabilities affect people from every ethnicity, gender and socioeconomic background, the erasure of DEI programs that support them hurts all groups – and that includes white people, who made up 21.1% of all undergraduate students with disabilities in the 2019-20 academic year.

    We believe it is particularly critical to fund programs that include students with disabilities because, in the past, public providers did not create equitable opportunities for all.

    Before the passage of key legislation such as the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, students with disabilities were often excluded from mainstream educational settings or received inadequate support. Even since those laws were enacted, enforcement has been inconsistent, and gaps in accessibility persist today.

    Women and veterans

    In addition to those two groups, DEI programs also target women and veterans.

    For women, who make up more than half of college students, they promote equity in male-dominated fields such as science, technology, engineering and math, and leadership roles in government, academia and the private sector.

    For veterans, DEI programs provide tailored resources like academic support, mental health services and career transition assistance that recognize the unique challenges some of them face in higher education.

    The GI Bill, which provides financial assistance to veterans pursuing higher education, has also gotten caught up in Trump’s DEI purge. While it wasn’t designed back in 1944 as a DEI initiative – and has often failed to ensure equitable access for Black veterans – the Department of Veterans Affairs has recently tried to provide targeted support to veterans of diverse backgrounds. Trump’s order ended those programs.

    While veterans make up only 6% of undergraduate students, the majority of them – about 60% – are white, with 16% Black, 14% Hispanic and 3% Asian.

    Close to home

    Collectively, those groups and others have benefited from the over US$1 billion in grants the Education Department has allocated to DEI programs since 2021.

    Diversity encompasses a lot more than just race, and that’s why DEI programs are intended to benefit a broad range of people who historically have been underrepresented at universities or have lacked support.

    For both of us, the end of these types of programs hits close to home. One of us is white, and one of us is Black, but we’ve both benefited from DEI initiatives aimed at first-generation college students and women.

    We also both have family members who are veterans or who have disabilities and who have received financial support and resources that made a significant difference in their ability to go to college.

    Most American families – even if they don’t realize it – can tell a similar story of how programs aimed at diversity, equity and inclusion helped them achieve the American dream.

    Trump’s order describes DEI programs as “illegal and immoral discrimination programs” and says Americans deserve “a government committed to serving every person with equal dignity and respect.”

    In our view, the orders are more likely to have the opposite effect.

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

    – ref. DEI programs are designed to help white people too – here’s how – https://theconversation.com/dei-programs-are-designed-to-help-white-people-too-heres-how-248989

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Traumatic brain injuries have toxic effects that last weeks after initial impact − an antioxidant material reduces this damage in mice

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Aaron Priester, Postdoctoral Fellow in Materials Science and Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology

    Brain damage can release harmful chemicals such as free radicals that cause further damage. fatido/E+ via Getty Images

    Traumatic brain injury is a leading cause of death and disability in the world. Blunt force trauma to the brain, often from a bad fall or traffic accident, accounts for the deaths of over 61,000 Americans each year. Over 80,000 will develop some long-term disability.

    While much of the physical brain damage occurs instantly – called the primary stage of injury – additional brain damage can result from the destructive chemical processes that arise in the body minutes to days to weeks following initial impact. Unlike the primary stage of injury, this secondary stage could potentially be prevented by targeting the molecules driving damage.

    I am a materials science engineer, and my colleagues and I are working to design treatments to neutralize the harm of secondary traumatic brain injury and reduce neurodegeneration. We designed a new material that could target and neutralize brain-damaging molecules in mice, improving their cognitive recovery and offering a potential new treatment for people.

    Biochemical fallout

    The primary stage of traumatic brain injury can severely damage and even destroy the blood-brain barrier – an interface protecting the brain by limiting what can enter it.

    Disruption of this barrier triggers damaged neurons or the immune system to release certain chemicals that result in destructive biochemical processes. One process called excitotoxicity occurs when too many calcium ions are allowed into neurons, activating enzymes that fragment DNA and damage cells, causing death. Another process, neuroinflammation, results from the activation of cells called microglia that can trigger inflammation in damaged areas of the brain.

    Traumatic brain injury can result in long-term damage.
    stockdevil/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    These secondary phase processes also produce harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species. These molecules, which include free radicals, chemically modify and deform essential proteins in cells, rendering them useless. They can also break DNA strands, leading to potentially damaging genetic mutations.

    If left unchecked, harm from this oxidative stress can have devastating consequences for long-term health and neurocognitive recovery. Researchers have linked the biochemical changes and byproducts resulting from this cascade of damaging molecules to the development of long-term neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS, among others.

    However, compounds called antioxidants can target this oxidative stress and improve long-term neurocognitive recovery by chemically interacting with reactive oxygen species in a way that can neutralize their damaging properties.

    Finding the ideal antioxidant

    My team and I studied whether an antioxidant called a thiol group could help treat traumatic brain injury.

    Thiol groups are chemical compounds that contain a sulfur atom bound to a hydrogen atom. Sulfur atoms are much larger than hydrogen atoms, which means the sulfur atom in a thiol has a strong pull on a hydrogen atom’s lone electron. This weakens the bond between the hydrogen and its electron, allowing the hydrogen to easily give up its electron to other atoms.

    As a result, thiols readily interact with many different reactive oxygen species, including the ones that damage DNA. We chose thiols not only for their antioxiant properties, but also for their ability to bind to and neutralize other brain-damaging molecules called lipid peroxidation products. These neurotoxic compounds are formed as byproducts when reactive oxygen species damage fats in the body.

    To get these thiols into the body, we incorporated them into materials called polymers. These are long chains of organic molecules made of individual units called monomers. To get the monomers to link together, a lone electron – or free radical – initiates a bond with a monomer, triggering a chain reaction. Think of this process like knocking down a series of dominoes: The push of your hand (the free radical in this instance) hits a domino (the monomer) and subsequently knocks down the rest of the dominoes to form a line (the polymer).

    Polymers are long chains of the same molecule, over and over again.

    Because thiols can inhibit this process of polymerization, we had to make a monomer with a so-called protecting group that can be chemically removed after polymerization to become our thiols. Since a-lipoic acid, a common supplement found in pharmacies, contains such a protecting thiol group, we used it to make our monomer.

    We then made a chain of these monomers with RAFT, a controlled process by which polymers can be designed to leave the body through the urine. To do this, a water-soluble co-monomer can be added into the chain, allowing the polymer to dissolve in the bloodstream.

    Finally, we treated the polymers to remove the protecting group, producing thiol polymers ready for further testing.

    Testing on TBI

    Next, we tested how well our thiol polymers neutralized reactive oxygen species.

    First, we used a technique called UV-visible spectrophotometry, which shines a laser into a cell sample containing both our polymer and brain-damaging molecules. If there are reactive oxygen species present in the sample, the light will be minimally absorbed. But if our polymer neutralizes these compounds, then the light will be heavily absorbed. Through these studies, we found that our thiol polymer neutralized reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide by as much as 50%, and other neurotoxic molecules such as acrolein by as much as 100%, thus protecting neurons from damage.

    We conducted additional tests by exposing fluorescent proteins to free radicals, finding that proteins that weren’t treated with our thiol polymers were destroyed. Proteins that were treated continued to be fluorescent, indicating that our thiol polymer neutralized the free radical and protected the protein.

    Lastly, we injected the thiol polymers into mice with traumatic brain injury. Brain scans showed that our polymer not only successfully concentrated in the damaged area of the brain but also provided immediate protection from further injury. Our thiol polymer was able to reduce reactive oxygen species in injured mice to just 3% over the normal levels found in uninjured mice. Untreated mice with traumatic brain injury had a 45% increase compared with uninjured mice.

    Future work on thiol polymers

    Our findings suggest that these thiol polymers may serve as a potential treatment for the secondary stage of traumatic brain injury. Further testing can help determine whether this material could potentially reduce the risk of long-term disability.

    We are currently developing a cheap process to incorporate thiols with tiny nanoparticles. This may help increase the number of thiols in the material while also improving its ability to circulate in the bloodstream for longer protection.

    Many additional studies in animals are needed to confirm the effectiveness of our material in treating traumatic brain injury. If our results continue to be positive, we aim to test the effectiveness of our material in people through clinical trials. We hope these treatments could improve the long-term outcomes for victims of car crashes, falls or even sport-related injuries to the brain.

    Aaron Priester received funding from the NIH.

    – ref. Traumatic brain injuries have toxic effects that last weeks after initial impact − an antioxidant material reduces this damage in mice – https://theconversation.com/traumatic-brain-injuries-have-toxic-effects-that-last-weeks-after-initial-impact-an-antioxidant-material-reduces-this-damage-in-mice-247655

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada is getting high-speed rail

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    The Toronto-Quebec City corridor is a megaregion. It’s home to 18 million people, 40 per cent of our GDP, over 700,000 students, and more than 30 colleges and universities. This dynamic hub needs a transportation system that gets people from city to city, in the fastest time possible.

    The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that Canada is developing a high-speed rail network in the Toronto-Quebec City corridor. This transformative rail network will span approximately 1,000 km and reach speeds of up to 300 km/hour, with stops in Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Montréal, Laval, Trois-Rivières, and Quebec City. Once operational, current travel times will be slashed in half – getting you from Montréal to Toronto in three hours. The official name of this high-speed rail service will be Alto.

    A country that believes in itself invests in its people and infrastructure. As Canada’s largest ever infrastructure project, high-speed rail will turbocharge the Canadian economy – boosting GDP by up to $35 billion annually, creating over 51,000 good-paying jobs during construction, and unlocking enhanced productivity for decades to come. By connecting economic hubs at rapid speed, businesses will have more markets to sell to and workers will have more job opportunities. Electrified, high-speed rail will also help Canada reduce its emissions and meet its climate targets. By giving travellers an efficient and reliable option to get around, we will save Canadians time when they travel, boost tourism, connect communities, and spur affordable housing development across the region.

    Cadence has been carefully selected to not only co-design and build, but also to finance, operate, and maintain this project. Cadence is a consortium of world-renowned companies with expertise and know-how in the design, development, and operation of large-scale transportation infrastructure. Cadence will collaborate and support Alto as work begins on detailed design, Indigenous consultations, land acquisition, and the environmental assessments necessary to enable construction.

    This decision is the result of years of careful deliberations and de-risking, as well as meaningful investment from the Government of Canada.

    Canada is the ninth-largest economy in the world and Canadians deserve the best transportation options. We have world-class talent, critical minerals, natural resources, a dynamic technology ecosystem, and an ambition to grow. High-speed rail in our most populated corridor is our ambition in action. Alongside investing in high-speed rail, we are also creating more jobs with bigger paycheques, fast-tracking new affordable homes, and protecting Canadian interests.

    Quotes

    “Canada is getting high-speed rail. Today’s announcement of Alto, a high-speed rail system between Toronto and Quebec City, will transform our economy – drastically shortening commute times for millions of Canadians, turbocharging economic growth, creating thousands of good-paying jobs, improving productivity, and reducing emissions. Montréal to Toronto in three hours – you can’t beat that.”

    “Today’s announcement will put passengers first, with dedicated tracks between Toronto and Quebec City passing through Peterborough, Ottawa, Montréal, Laval, and Trois-Rivières. This will cut train travel times in half. It will promote growth in regional economies and reduce emissions at the same time. It’s a nation-building project we can all be proud of.”

    “I’m firmly convinced that the way a project is developed is as crucial as the project itself. Which is why we are developing it now, in collaboration with Cadence, relying on the best practices of the industry. We have assembled a unique group of talents, combining the know-how of a federal Crown corporation with the experience of a consortium of world-class private partners. Together, we will build a project that will surpass the highest expectations of Canadians.”

    Quick Facts

    • Canadian passenger rail service currently runs on tracks owned by freight rails, which limits the frequency of the service they offer and leads to delays.
    • To address these challenges, the Government of Canada has been advancing better passenger rail since 2016.
    • Canada’s investment in the co-development phase of the project represents $3.9 billion over six years, starting in 2024-25. This is in addition to the $371.8 million that was provided in Budget 2024.
    • Budget 2022 launched an innovative, rigorous procurement process that brought in world-class rail companies. A Request for Expressions of Interest was completed in October 2022, the Request for Qualifications in July 2023, and as part of the Request for Proposals (RFP), three world-class consortiums (bidders) submitted their final bid submissions in 2024.
    • The procurement was completed on budget and was overseen by a fairness monitor.
    • In November 2022, the Government of Canada created a Crown corporation, VIA HFR (now Alto), to provide oversight of this project.
    • Alto and Cadence will be signing a contract setting out the terms of the next phase of the project – its co-development.

    Associated Link

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How medical treatments devised for war can quickly be implemented in US hospitals to save lives

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Vikhyat Bebarta, Professor of Emergency Medicine and Medical Toxicology, Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

    Military medicine moves faster than traditional research. Tech. Sgt. Darius Sostre-Miroir/920th Rescue Wing

    For decades, military doctors faced a critical challenge: What’s the best way to safely and effectively deliver oxygen to patients in remote combat zones, rural hospitals or disaster-stricken areas?

    Oxygen tanks are heavy, costly and dangerous in combat zones. A direct hit from a missile or a bullet can turn a lifesaving resource into a deadly hazard.

    Marine Corps Gen. Ernest T. Cook once said, “Logistics is the hard part of fighting a war.” It goes beyond oxygen. For deployed U.S. troops, the supplies available during combat for treating wounded soldiers can mean the difference between life and death.

    The Department of Defense turned to us, military physicians and academic researchers in military medicine at the University of Colorado Center for COMBAT Research, to study whether the military needs to bring oxygen to the battlefield for soldiers – and, if so, how much.

    This approach to research is known as a military-civilian partnership. These partnerships aim to save lives on the battlefield. But they also save lives across the U.S. by turning military medical gains into better health care for all.

    Innovation and agility

    In the civilian world, it takes 17 years on average for a research discovery to change medical practice. One of the most well-known examples of this is the use of tranexamic acid for trauma patients. Tranexamic acid is injected to stop bleeding during surgery or after trauma. It was discovered in 1962 but not approved by the FDA until 1986. It wasn’t used for traumatic bleeding until 2012.

    The changing nature of war and threats against U.S. forces require military medicine to move faster. Injuries and infections in combat push researchers to find better ways to save lives, often faster than in civilian health care.

    Military medicine must move quickly to keep up with the pace of war.
    Contributor/Anadolu via GettyImages

    At the center, scientists work side by side with military medical teams to study, develop and test solutions tailored for the battlefield.

    Whether it’s addressing oxygen use, traumatic brain injuries, burn treatments or trauma care, these partnerships allow military and civilian researchers to translate discoveries into practice rapidly.

    Rethinking oxygen

    The immediate administration of oxygen to an injured or ill patient has long been a cornerstone of trauma and burn care. The logic seemed simple: When patients are in shock or have severe injuries, their bodies struggle to get enough oxygen, so doctors provided extra.

    Our research, and that of others, found that too much oxygen can actually be harmful. Excess oxygen triggers oxidative stress – an overload of unstable molecules called free radicals that can damage healthy cells. That can lead to more inflammation, slower healing and even organ failure.

    In short, while oxygen is essential, more isn’t always better.

    We conducted a series of military-civilian collaborative trials called Strategy to Avoid Excessive Oxygen, or SAVE-O2. We discovered that severely injured patients often require less oxygen than previously believed. In fact, little or no supplemental oxygen is needed to safely care for 95% of these patients.

    This finding challenges decades of conventional medical wisdom. It will reshape how medical professionals approach critical care in not only military settings, but civilian hospitals as well.

    Within a year of presenting our findings to military medical leaders, these insights have already influenced changes and updates to patient care guidelines, medic training and even decisions on medical equipment purchases.

    To build on our findings, we’ve launched a trial to study the use of artificial intelligence to automate oxygen delivery. This military-funded study could provide better care for wounded soldiers in remote combat zones and for injured civilians in ambulances or rural hospitals before they reach large referral and trauma centers.

    An oxygen mask that uses artificial intelligence could help medics in rural combat zones and rural U.S. hospitals.
    John Moore/GettyImages

    In rural or remote areas of the U.S., access to supplemental oxygen can be limited due to supply chain challenges, high costs and shortages. This is particularly true in small hospitals and affects first responders after a natural disaster or accident. In the intensive care units of these hospitals, using oxygen more efficiently could preserve limited oxygen supplies for patients who need it.

    Prolonged casualty care: A new frontier

    While researching oxygen needs in combat zones, we realized another pressing issue: the challenges of prolonged casualty care. During a conflict, military medics often need to treat critically injured soldiers for hours or even days before the wounded person can be evacuated.

    In a future conflict with a “near-peer” adversary such as China or Russia, the U.S. may not have the ability to evacuate wounded troops quickly. Without reliable helicopter or airplane transport, many casualties may not reach trauma care within the “golden hour.” This is the critical first 60 minutes after a severe injury, when rapid treatment is essential.

    The ongoing war in Ukraine illustrates the challenge of prolonged casualty care. In hospitals across Ukraine, doctors are increasingly having trouble treating the wounds of civilian and military patients because of rising antibiotic resistance.

    Future military conflicts in the Indo-Pacific regions will present similar challenges, including long patient transport times and concerns about wound infections due to prolonged casualty care.

    However, this challenge isn’t unique to the battlefield. Prolonged casualty care also happens in civilian crises. For example, during a natural disaster, emergency responders must manage patients without quick access to hospitals.

    Once patients are treated in the field or in disaster scenarios, providers must often sustain care with limited resources. They have to prioritize essential interventions, minimize resource use and stabilize patients for eventual transfer to higher levels of care.

    Innovation in health care thrives on collaboration. Military-civilian partnerships are one way to advance medical solutions faster and more effectively. These innovations save lives in combat, improve care and allow us to apply our 98% survival rate in war to our trauma centers, rural hospitals and disaster zones in the U.S.

    The views expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense (DoD), the United States Government, or any of its agencies. The appearance of external links or mention of specific commercial products does not constitute endorsement by the DoD.

    Adit Ginde receives research funding from the U.S. Department of Defense. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense (DoD), the United States Government, or any of its agencies. The appearance of external links or mention of specific commercial products does not constitute endorsement by the DoD.

    Arthur Kellermann previously served as dean of the school of medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. His views are his own and do not neccessarily represent those of the U.S. Department of Defense.

    – ref. How medical treatments devised for war can quickly be implemented in US hospitals to save lives – https://theconversation.com/how-medical-treatments-devised-for-war-can-quickly-be-implemented-in-us-hospitals-to-save-lives-247752

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: TCU/IAM Lorton, Va. Amtrak Auto Train Workers Picket for a Living Wage

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    More than a year after voting to organize into the Transportation Communications Union (TCU/IAM), the largest union on Amtrak, a group of Drummac employees who work on the Amtrak Auto Train Property in Lorton, Va., are holding an informational picket against Drummac management’s stall tactics during negotiations.

    “These employees work tirelessly outside, in all weather conditions, to professionally load and unload cars and motorcycles from the trains,” said TCU/IAM Organizing Director Sal Rodriguez. “They fought and won a union in 2023 – it’s well-past time for the company to get serious.”

    Amtrak contracts with a third-party company called Drummac to safely load and unload vehicles from their Auto Trains, which travel between Lorton, Va. and Sanford, Fla. The Amtrak Auto Train runs seven days a week, and is one of the highest revenue-producing routes for Amtrak nationwide.

    The demands from Drummac workers are simple: fairer wages, proper work scheduling, and improved benefits and overall working conditions. TCU/IAM has been bargaining in good faith to provide these workers with a fair contract, but negotiations have been exceedingly slow.

    “Unfortunately, Drummac’s offers have been wholly unserious thus far,” said Matt Hollis, TCU/IAM’s Lead Negotiator. “These workers are seeking things most of America has or recently got: a raise! That’s not too much to ask.”

    The informational picket aims get the word out to the public and customers to let them know how Drummac treats employees that handle their vehicles.

    The Drummac workers who load and unload these vehicles:

    • Are paid HALF the industry standard.
    • Are only being offered pennies for raises.
    • Are often forced to work unpaid time due to required flexibility for varying train schedules.
    • Can’t even afford the Auto Train they work on.
    • Haven’t had a raise in over a year.

    Support the Drummac workers on the Auto Train, and make sure they get the contract that they deserve!

    Share and Follow:

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Silvercrest Appoints J. Allen Gray as Head of Institutional Business

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Feb. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. (NASDAQ:SAMG) is pleased to announce that J. Allen Gray has been promoted to Head of Institutional Business. In this role, he will oversee Silvercrest’s institutional business, as well as consultant and client relations. Since joining Silvercrest in 2008, Mr. Gray has played a pivotal role in the success of the firm’s institutional equity business. He is a Silvercrest Partner and Managing Director, and a member of the company’s Executive Committee.

    Richard Hough, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Silvercrest, remarked, “We are immensely proud of Allen Gray’s success and of our talented equity management teams, with whom he has worked so closely for over 15 years. We are thrilled to have Allen leading our institutional business efforts.”

    About J. Allen Gray

    J. Allen Gray is a Managing Director and Head of Institutional Business. Prior to Silvercrest, Mr. Gray served as a Managing Partner and a Member of the Management Committee of Osprey Partners Investment Management, LLC and as President of the Osprey Concentrated Large Cap Value Equity Fund. At Osprey he was responsible for Sales, Marketing and Client Relations. Prior to Osprey Partners, Mr. Gray served as a Managing Director with Radnor Capital Management, a start-up investment firm, where he was responsible for the firm’s sales, marketing and client relations activities. Mr. Gray began his career with Kidder, Peabody & Co. as a financial advisor before accepting a position with Wheat, First Securities, Inc. as Vice President for institutional equity sales as well as continuing to work as a financial advisor to families and individuals. Mr. Gray remained with Wheat, First Securities until the founding of Radnor Capital Management. Mr. Gray received his B.A. in Political Science from Randolph-Macon College.

    About Silvercrest Asset Management

    Silvercrest was founded in April 2002 as an independent, employee-owned registered investment adviser. With offices in New York, Boston, Virginia, Atlanta, New Jersey, California and Wisconsin, Silvercrest provides traditional and alternative investment advisory and family office services to wealthy families and select institutional investors. As of September 30, 2024, the firm reported assets under management of $35.1 billion.

    Contact:
    Richard R. Hough III
    Chairman & CEO
    212-649-0601
    rhough@silvercrestgroup.com

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