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  • MIL-OSI USA: Margaret Dominguez Helps NASA Space Telescopes Open Their ‘Eyes’ to the Universe

    Source: NASA

    Name: Margaret Dominguez
    Formal Job Classification: Optical engineer
    Organization: Code 551, Optics Branch, Instrument Systems and Technology Division, Engineering Directorate

    What do you do and what is most interesting about your role here at Goddard? How do you help support Goddard’s mission?
    I build space telescopes. I am currently working on building one of the components for the Wide Field Instrument for the Roman Space Telescope. The component is called “Grism.” A grism is a combination of a grating and a prism.
    What is unique about your childhood?
    I went to high school in Tecamachalco in Puebla, Mexico, which is inland and south of Mexico City. My father raised pigs, chickens, rabbits, and cows. I am the oldest of four girls and two still live on the farm.
    Why did you become a physicist?
    I was always curious and had a lot of questions and thought that physics helped me answer some of these questions. I was good at math and loved it. When I told my dad I wanted to study physics, he said that I would be able to answer any question in the universe. He thought it was very cool.
    What is your educational background? How an internship help you come to Goddard?
    I went to the Universidad de las Americas Puebla college in Puebla and got an undergraduate degree in physics. I was very active in extracurricular activities and helped organize a physics conference. We invited Dr. Johnathan Gardner, a Goddard astronomer, who came to speak at the conference. Afterwards I spoke with him and he asked me if I was interested in doing an internship at NASA. I said I had not considered it and would be interested in applying. I applied that same spring of 2008 and got a summer internship in the Optics Branch, where I am still working today.
    My branch head at Goddard was a University of Arizona alumnus. He suggested that I apply to the University of Arizona for their excellent optics program. I did, and the university gave me a full fellowship for a master’s and a Ph.D. in optical sciences.
    In 2014, I began working full time at Goddard while completing my Ph.D. I graduated in May 2019.
    What makes Goddard special?
    Goddard has a university campus feel. It’s a place where you can work and also just hang out and socialize. Goddard has many clubs, a gym, cafeterias, and a health clinic.
    People are really nice here. They are often excited and happy about working at Goddard. Most people are willing to put in the extra effort if needed. It makes work stimulating and exciting. Management really cares and the employees feel that too.
    What are some of the major projects you have worked on?
    Early on, I did a little bit of work on Hubble and later on, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. Since 2014, I have exclusively been working on Roman. We are building the grism, a slitless spectrograph, which will measure galaxy redshifts to study dark energy.
    Presently we are building different grism prototypes. We work with outside vendors to build these prototypes. When we make a prototype, we test it for months. After, we use the results to build an improved prototype. We just finished making the third prototype. We are going to build a flight instrument of which the grism is a component.
    What is it like to work in the clean room?
    It’s exciting – it likely means I am working on flight hardware. However, because clean rooms must be kept at about 68 degrees Fahrenheit, it can feel chilly in there!
    Who are your mentors? What are the most important lessons they have taught you?
    Ray Ohl, the head of the Optics Branch, is a mentor to me. He is always encouraging me to get outside my comfort zone. He presents other opportunities to me so that I can grow and listens to my feedback.
    Cathy Marx, one of the Roman optical leads, is also a mentor to me. She created a support network for me and is a sounding board for troubleshooting any kind of work-related issues.
    What is your role a member of the Hispanic Advisory Committee (HACE)?
    I joined HACE in 2010 while I was an intern. It’s a great opportunity to network with other Hispanics and gives us a platform to celebrate specific events like Hispanic Heritage Month. I really enjoy participating in HACE’s events.
    What outreach do you do? Why is doing outreach so important to you?
    I do educational outreach to teach people about optics. I mainly collaborate with elementary and middle schools.
    I think we need more future engineers and scientists. I want to help recruit them. I specifically focus on recruiting minorities and Hispanics. I can make a special connection with women and Hispanics.
    Who is your science hero?
    It would probably be Marie Curie. She’s the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, and she is the only woman to win two Nobel Prizes and she had to overcome a lot of challenges to achieve that.
    What is your “six-word memoir”? A six-word memoir describes something in just six words.
    Disciplined. Organized. Diligent. Passionate. Curious. Family-oriented.
    Is there something surprising about your hobbies outside of work that people do not generally know?
    I am a certified Jazzercise instructor – I normally teach two to three times a week. I can even teach virtually if need be. It is an hour-long exercise class combining strength training and cardio through choreographed dancing. We also use weights and mats.  
    I also enjoy going for walks with my husband, James Corsetti, who is also an engineer in the Optics Branch.
    By Elizabeth M. JarrellNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

    Conversations With Goddard is a collection of Q&A profiles highlighting the breadth and depth of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center’s talented and diverse workforce. The Conversations have been published twice a month on average since May 2011. Read past editions on Goddard’s “Our People” webpage.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: One Month Left to Apply for Federal Disaster Assistance

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: One Month Left to Apply for Federal Disaster Assistance

    One Month Left to Apply for Federal Disaster Assistance

    LOS ANGELES – Homeowners and renters who have incurred damage or losses from the Los Angeles County wildfires that began Jan. 7 have until Monday,March 10,  2025, to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance. The program provides financial and other assistance to eligible individuals and households to help meet their basic needs and supplement their wildfire recovery efforts. FEMA may reimburse eligible applicants for temporary housing, home repairs to their primary home, personal property losses, medical and dental expenses related to the disaster, childcare and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.Residents who have insurance need to file insurance claims for damage to their homes, personal property and vehicles before applying. FEMA assistance is not taxed and will not affect Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits. FEMA grants do not have to be repaid. Apply for FEMA Individual Assistance:Online at DisasterAssistance.gov (fastest option).On the FEMA App (available at the Apple App Store or Google Play).By phone on the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. If you use a relay service, give FEMA your number for that service. Helpline operators speak many languages: press 2 for Spanish or press 3 for an interpreter who speaks your language. Lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. 7 days a week. Visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC). To locate a DRC near you, visit the DRC Locator.For an American Sign Language video on how to apply, visit FEMA Accessible: Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance. After You ApplyIf you had damage and applied for FEMA assistance, you can expect a call, text or email from FEMA to schedule a home inspection to assess disaster damage. Please note phone calls from FEMA may come from an unfamiliar number. Inspectors will try to reach you multiple times but eventually will stop calling if you do not respond. You will learn FEMA’s decision on what benefits you may receive in a Determination Letter sent by email or U.S. Mail.FEMA may refer you to the U.S. Small Business Administration for a SBA low-interest disaster loan to help offset damage and losses caused by the wildfires. Disaster loans are available to renters, homeowners and businesses and are the largest source of federal disaster funding for people impacted by disasters. The deadline to apply with the SBA is also March 10, 2025. Do not wait for your FEMA Determination Letter to apply for a SBA loan. To apply visit sba.gov/disaster; call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or email DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov for more information or to have a loan application mailed to you. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability, dial 711 to access telecommunications relay services. You may also apply with the help of a SBA representative or submit your loan application at a Business Recovery Center. To find one, go to Appointment.sba.gov. Completed paper loan applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155. 
    barbara.murien…
    Mon, 02/10/2025 – 17:44

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: John Moisan Studies the Ocean Through the ‘Eyes’ of AI

    Source: NASA

    Name: John Moisan
    Formal Job Classification: Research oceanographer
    Organization: Ocean Ecology Laboratory, Hydrosphere, Biosphere, Geophysics (HBG), Earth Science Directorate (Code 616) – duty station at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia’s Eastern Shore
    What do you do and what is most interesting about your role here at Goddard? How do you help support Goddard’s mission?
    I develop ecosystem models and satellite algorithms to understand how the ocean’s ecology works. My work has evolved over time from when I coded ocean ecosystem models to the present where I now use artificial intelligence to evolve the ocean ecosystem models.
    How did you become an oceanographer?
    As a child, I watched a TV series called “Sea Hunt,” which involved looking for treasure in the ocean. It inspired me to want to spend my life scuba diving.
    I got a Bachelor of Science in marine biology from the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine, and later got a Ph.D. from the Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.
    Initially, I just wanted to do marine biology which to me meant doing lots of scuba diving, maybe living on a sailboat. Later, when I was starting my graduate schoolwork, I found a book about mathematical biology and a great professor who helped open my eyes to the world of numerical modeling. I found out that instead of scuba diving, I needed instead to spend my days behind a computer, learning how to craft ideas into equations and then code these into a computer to run simulations on ocean ecosystems.
    I put myself through my initial education. I went to school fulltime, but I lived at home and hitchhiked to college on a daily basis. When I started my graduate school, I worked to support myself. I was in school during the normal work week, but from Friday evening through Sunday night, I worked 40 hours at a medical center cleaning and sterilizing the operating room instrument carts. This was during the height of the AIDS epidemic.
    What was most exciting about your two field trips to the Antarctic?
    In 1987, I joined a six-week research expedition to an Antarctic research station to explore how the ozone hole was impacting phytoplankton. These are single-celled algae that are responsible for making half the oxygen we breathe. Traveling to Antarctica is like visiting another planet. There are more types of blue than I’ve ever seen. It is an amazingly beautiful place to visit, with wild landscapes, glaciers, mountains, sea ice, and a wide range of wildlife. After my first trip I returned home and went back in a few months later as a biologist on a joint Polish–U.S. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) expedition to carry out a biological survey and measure how much fast the phytoplankton was growing in different areas of the Southern Ocean. We used nets to measure the amounts of fish and shrimp and took water samples to measure salinity, the amount of algae and their growth rates. We ate well, for example the Polish cook made up a large batch of smoked ice fish.
    What other field work have you done?
    While a graduate student, I helped do some benthic work in the Gulf of Maine. This study was focused on understanding the rates of respiration in the muds on the bottom of the ocean and on understanding how much biomass was in the muds. The project lowered a benthic grab device to the bottom where it would push a box core device into the sediments to return it to the surface. This process is sort of like doing a biopsy of the ocean bottom.
    What is your goal as a research oceanographer at Goddard?
    Ocean scientists measure the amount and variability of chlorophyll a, a pigment in algae, in the ocean because it is an analogue to the amount of algae or phytoplankton in the ocean. Chlorophyll a is used to capture solar energy to make sugars, which the algae use for growth. Generally, areas of the ocean that have more chlorophyll are also areas where growth or primary production is higher. So, by estimating how much chlorophyll is in the ocean we can study how these processes are changing with an aim in understanding why. NASA uses the color of the ocean using satellites to estimate chlorophyll a because chlorophyll absorbs sunlight and changes the color of the ocean. Algae have other kinds of pigments, each of which absorbs light at different wavelengths. Because different groups of algae have different levels of pigments, they are like fingerprints that can reveal the type of algae in the water. Some of my research aims at trying to use artificial intelligence and mathematical techniques to create new ways to measure these pigments from space to understand how ocean ecosystems change.
    In 2024, NASA plans to launch the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite, which will measure the color of the ocean at many different wavelengths. The data from this satellite can be used with results from my work on genetic programs and inverse modeling to estimate concentrations of different pigments and possibly concentrations of different types of algae in the ocean.
    You have been at Goddard over 22 years. What is most memorable to you?
    I develop ecosystem models. But ecosystems do not have laws in the same way that physics has laws. Equations need to be created so that the ecosystem models represent what is observed in the real world. Satellites have been a great source for those observations, but without a lot of other types of observations that are collected in the field, the ocean, it is difficult to develop these equations. In my time at NASA, I have only been able to develop models because of the great but often tedious work that ocean scientists around the world have been doing when they go on ocean expeditions to measure various ocean features, be it simple temperature or the more complicated measurements of algal growth rates. My experience with their willingness to collaborate and share data is especially memorable. This experience is also what I enjoyed with numerous scientists at NASA who have always been willing to support new ideas and point me in the right direction. It has made working at NASA a phenomenal experience.

    Related Article: NASA Researcher’s AI ‘Eye’ Could Help Robotic Data-Gathering

    What are the philosophical implications of your work?
    The human capacity to think rapidly, to test and change our opinions based on what we learn, is slow compared to that of a computer. Computers can help us adapt more quickly. I can put 1,000 students in a room developing ecosystem model models. But I know that this process of developing ecosystem models is slow when compared what a computer can do using an artificial intelligence approach called genetic programming, it is a much faster way to generate ecosystem model solutions.
    Philosophically, there is no real ecosystem model that is the best. Life and ecosystems on Earth change and adapt at rates too fast for any present-day model to resolve, especially considering climate change. The only real ecosystem model is the reality itself. No computer model can perfectly simulate ecosystems. By utilizing the fast adaptability that evolutionary computer modeling techniques provide, simulating and ultimately predicting ecosystems can be improved greatly.
    How does your work have implications for scientists in general?
    I do evolutionary programming. I see a lot of possibility in using evolutionary programming to solve many large problems we are trying to solve. How did life start and evolve? Can these processes be used to evolve intelligence or sentience?
    The artificial intelligence (AI) work answers questions, but you need to identify the questions. This is the greater problem when it comes to working with AI. You cannot answer the question of how to create a sentient life if you do not know how to define it. If I cannot measure life, how can I model it? I do not know how to write that equation. How does life evolve? How did the evolutionary process start? These are big questions I enjoy discussing with friends. It can be as frustrating as contemplating “nothing.”
    Who inspires you?
    Many of the scientists that I was fortunate to work with at various research institutes, such as Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego. These are groups of scientists are open to always willing to share their ideas. These are individuals who enjoy doing science. I will always be indebted to them for their kindness in sharing of ideas and data.
    Do you still scuba dive?
    Yes, I wish I could dive daily, it is a very calming experience. I’m trying to get my kids to join me.
    What else do you do for fun?
    My wife and I bike and travel. Our next big bike trip will hopefully be to Shangri-La City in China. I also enjoy sailing and trying to grow tropical plants. But, most of all, I enjoy helping raise my children to be resilient, empathic, and intelligent beings.
    What are your words to live by?
    Life. So much to see. So little time.

    Conversations With Goddard is a collection of Q&A profiles highlighting the breadth and depth of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center’s talented and diverse workforce. The Conversations have been published twice a month on average since May 2011. Read past editions on Goddard’s “Our People” webpage.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Scientists & Historian Named AAAS 2022 Fellows

    Source: NASA

    Four individuals with NASA affiliations have been named 2022 fellows by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in recognition of their scientifically and socially distinguished achievements in the scientific enterprise.
    Election as a Fellow by the AAAS Council honors members whose efforts on behalf of the advancement of science or its applications in service to society have distinguished them among their peers and colleagues. The 2022 Fellows class includes 508 scientists, engineers, and innovators spanning 24 scientific disciplines.
    Rita Sambruna from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, was recognized in the AAAS Section on Astronomy, and Jennifer Wiseman, also from Goddard, was recognized in the AAAS Section on Physics. Dorothy Peteet of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York was honored in the AAAS section on Earth Science. Erik Conway of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in southern California was honored for distinguished contributions and public outreach to the history of science and understanding of contemporary science and science policy.

    Rita Sambruna
    Dr. Rita Sambruna is the acting deputy director of the Science and Exploration Directorate and the deputy director of the Astrophysics Division at Goddard. She also promotes increased participation of underrepresented groups in science.
    She worked with a team to position Goddard to lead the decadal top priority missions. She led a team to set into place a vision for a Multi-Messenger Astrophysics Science Support Center at Goddard, to lead the astrophysics community in reaping the most from NASA- and ground-based observations of celestial sources.  
    She came to Goddard in 2005 to work on multiwavelength observations of jets using the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and other NASA capabilities. From 2010 to 2020 she worked at NASA Headquarters, Washington, as a program scientist for astrophysics. Her research interests include relativistic jets, physics of compact objects, supermassive black holes in galaxies, and multiwavelength and multi-messenger astrophysics.
    In December 2022, Sambruna was awarded the Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) as an internationally acclaimed astrophysicist who embodies the RAS mission in promoting the advancement of science, the increased participation of historically underrepresented groups in astronomy, and a broad interest in astronomy. In 2019 she was awarded the NASA Extraordinary Achievement Medal for her leadership on the 2020 Astrophysics Decadal Survey studies. She was named Fellow of the American Physical Society in 2020 and a Fellow of the American Astronomical Society in 2021.

    Jennifer Wiseman
    Dr. Jennifer Wiseman is a senior astrophysicist at Goddard and a Senior Fellow at Goddard, where she serves as the senior project scientist for the Hubble Space Telescope. Her primary responsibility is to ensure that the Hubble mission is as scientifically productive as possible. Previously, Wiseman headed Goddard’s Laboratory for Exoplanets and Stellar Astrophysics. She started her career at NASA in 2003 as the program scientist for Hubble and several other astrophysics missions at NASA Headquarters. 
    Wiseman’s scientific expertise is centered on the study of star-forming regions in our galaxy using a variety of tools, including radio, optical, and infrared telescopes. She has a particular interest in dense interstellar gas cloud cores, embedded protostars, and their related outflows as active ingredients of cosmic nurseries where stars and their planetary systems are born. In addition to research in astrophysics, Wiseman is also interested in science policy and public science outreach and engagement. She has served as a congressional science fellow of the American Physical Society, an elected councilor of the American Astronomical Society, and a public dialogue leader for AAAS. She enjoys giving talks on the excitement of astronomy and scientific discovery, and has appeared in many science and news venues, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, NOVA, and National Public Radio.

    Dorothy Peteet
    Dr. Dorothy M. Peteet is a senior research scientist at GISS and an adjunct professor at Columbia University. She directs the Paleoecology Division of the New Core Lab at Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) of Columbia.
    In collaboration with GISS climate modelers and LDEO geochemists, she is studying conditions of the Late Pleistocene and Holocene that are archived in sediments from lakes and wetlands. Peteet documents past changes in vegetation, derived from analyses of pollen and spores, plant and animal macrofossils, carbon, and charcoal embedded in sediments. Her research provides local and regional records of ancient vegetational and climate history. One recent focus has been the sequestration of carbon in northern peatlands and coastal marshes: ecosystems that are now vulnerable to climate change and potentially substantial releases of carbon back into the atmosphere.
    Peteet also has performed climate modeling experiments to test hypotheses concerning the last glacial maximum and abrupt climate change. She is interested in climate sensitivity and in how past climate changes and ecological shifts might provide insights on future climate change. 

    Erik Conway
    Erik Conway has served as the historian at JPL since 2004. Prior to that, he was a contract historian at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. He is a historian of science and technology, and has written histories of atmospheric science, supersonic transportation, aviation infrastructure, Mars exploration, and climate change denial.
    He is the author of nine books, most recently, “A History of Near-Earth Objects Research” (NASA, 2022), and “The Big Myth” (Bloomsbury, 2023). His book “Merchants of Doubt” with Naomi Oreskes was awarded the Helen Miles Davis and Watson Davis prize from the History of Science Society. He received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2018 and the Athelstan Spilhaus Award from the American Geophysical Union in 2016.
    AAAS noted that these honorees have gone above and beyond in their respective disciplines. They bring a broad diversity of perspectives, innovation, curiosity, and passion that will help sustain the scientific field today and into the future. Many of these individuals have broken barriers to achieve successes in their given disciplines.
    AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the Science family of journals.
    For information about NASA and agency programs, visit: https://www.nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Phathom Donald Brings Space Closer as a Hubble Mission Engineer

    Source: NASA

    Name: Phathom Donald
    Title: Mission Engineer
    Formal Job Classification: Satellite Systems Engineer
    Organization: Astrophysics Project Division, Hubble Space Telescope Operations Project, Code 441
    What do you do and what is most interesting about your role here at Goddard? How do you help support Goddard’s mission?
    As a member of the flight operations team for the Hubble Space Telescope, I monitor and evaluate the performance of Hubble’s subsystems through its telemetry. I send commands to Hubble as needed for routine maintenance, maintaining communication with the spacecraft, and recovery from onboard anomalies. I also support ground system maintenance to ensure that operations run smoothly and uninterrupted.
    On the flight software team, I build and run simulations to verify flight software changes before they’re installed onto Hubble. Just like how your laptop or your smartphone gets regular updates to add new features or to fix bugs, Hubble gets flight software updates for added capabilities and to address new issues.
    Being a flight controller was a dream of mine, so being able to command a spacecraft has been really exciting. I also really enjoy coding, and it’s been interesting seeing how all these critical and complicated activities happen at the same time. I think the work I do outside of my flight controller role has helped me become a better flight controller, because I have a better idea of what’s happening behind the scenes — things feel a bit more intuitive to me.
    How did you find your path to Goddard?
    During undergrad, I was on a path to become a power systems engineer. But one day in my senior design class, our professor invited the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) project manager at the time to speak to our class about systems engineering and its applications to the mission. Within five minutes of this presentation, I was on the verge of tears. This presentation alone changed the course of my career because it reminded me that I love the stars and I love space. More importantly, it made me feel like a career at NASA was actually possible.
    So, I emailed the speaker and asked him for advice, and he responded with excellent guidance and encouragement. I saved that email and essentially used it as a career guide. After graduating, I worked for a NASA contractor first as a quality engineer, then as a model-based systems engineer. While I was in that role, I pursued my master’s, and about a month after graduating, I saw the job posting for Hubble’s flight operations team at Goddard. After a year or so of settling in, I reached out to that same speaker and I let him know I took his advice, I made it to NASA, and that I couldn’t be more grateful for his help. He responded beautifully, saying that he was humbled to have played any role in me getting to where I wanted to be.
    What first sparked your interest in space?
    My dad used to take my brothers and me to the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles all the time. I loved going to those shows in the planetarium and just feeling engrossed in what they were teaching. I’d always wanted to take an astronomy class, but I didn’t get the chance until my last year of undergrad. I’m so glad I did; it just reaffirmed that space is for me.

    What is your educational background?
    I graduated from Howard University in Washington, D.C., in 2014 with a bachelor’s in electrical engineering. I also have a master’s in space systems engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. Right now, I’m pursuing a graduate certificate in control systems from the University of Michigan at Dearborn to prepare for a role supporting Hubble’s pointing and control subsystems. After I’m done, I plan to pursue a graduate certificate in aerospace for that same reason; I want to pick up and hone skills in order to maximize my contributions to Hubble.
    How do you keep a cool head when you have a mission-critical situation?
    I think I’m generally a pretty calm person, but in moments where Hubble’s mission is at risk, I tend to focus on what is in my power to get done. So I’ll look at the situation and think, “OK, what can we do to either fix or mitigate this problem?” And I do what I can with care, I communicate clearly with those I’m working with, and I trust the abilities of my colleagues. I work with really brilliant, dedicated people who love what they do, so I know that they’re going to do what’s best for the mission.
    What is your proudest accomplishment at Goddard?
    To be honest, I’m always proud every time I see a new picture taken by Hubble, especially after we’ve recovered it from an anomaly. It feels like an accomplishment and an honor even to be part of a mission that brings those images to people on Earth.
    Who are your science role models, and how have they shaped your career in science?
    Katherine Johnson: she was an African American mathematician who was pivotal in the success of the early human spaceflight missions carried out by NASA. Her complex trajectory calculations got the first man into space and back unharmed. I also admire Dr. Sian Proctor: she was the first Black woman to pilot a spacecraft.
    As a minority, it can be easy to feel like an outlier in the space industry. Seeing people like Katherine and Dr. Proctor succeed and excel in these fields adds a bit of comfort. They show me that these technically demanding roles are attainable.
    How do you like to spend your time outside of work? What are your hobbies?
    I spend a lot of time with my tiny dog, Chara. I named her after a yellow star in the Hunting Dogs constellation. Chara is Greek for “joy,” and to say she brings me joy would be an understatement.
    I actually have a new obsession with snorkeling and freediving. I went snorkeling for the first time in early 2021 and it completely changed my life. Before snorkeling, I was terrified of water. After snorkeling, I wanted to be a fish. I just love the freedom that comes with the lack of equipment. I love the peace that I feel underwater.
    What is your “six-word memoir”? A six-word memoir describes something in just six words.
    “The stars are not too far.”
    What is some advice you would give your 10-year-old self?
    You are capable of more than you know, more than what people might try to make you believe. Do what makes you feel fulfilled and define your own success. Your passion is your strength.
    By Hannah RichterNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

    Conversations With Goddard is a collection of Q&A profiles highlighting the breadth and depth of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center’s talented and diverse workforce. The Conversations have been published twice a month on average since May 2011. Read past editions on Goddard’s “Our People” webpage.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Trena Ferrell Inspires Through Science and Education

    Source: NASA

    Name: Trena Ferrell
    Title: Education and Public Outreach Lead for the Earth Science Division
    Formal Job Classification: Environmental Scientist
    Organization: Earth Science Division, Earth Science Directorate (Code 610)
    What do you do and what is most interesting about your role here at Goddard?
    I interface with the public and educational institutions to share all the great research that our scientists and engineers are doing at NASA. I also support large-scale public events around the country and interact with citizen scientists.
    I’ve always been passionate about science and education, so now I get to mesh my two passions together.
    What is your educational background?
    I have a Bachelor of Science in premedicine from Albright College in Redding, Pennsylvania; a master’s in developmental biology from American University in Washington, D.C.; and a Ph.D. in environmental science from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.
    How did you come to work for Goddard?
    Initially I wanted to be a doctor, but I started teaching science at the middle school and high school at the Maya Angelou Public Charter School in Washington, D.C., and found that I loved teaching. (I got to meet her once, and she was phenomenal!)
    Around 2000, I asked NASA to send a speaker, Dr. Octavia Tripp. Through her suggestion, I became an aerospace education specialist and then the NASA Explorer Schools Workshop Coordinator at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Around 2005, I became Goddard’s education representative for Maryland. In 2015, I became a public affairs specialist for Goddard’s Office of Communications. In 2016, I started in my current position.
    What is your message to students?
    I work with students from kindergarten through college. I want them to reach for the stars and realize that they can be scientists or engineers who work at NASA. I want them to know that NASA also offers a plethora of other careers, which I also want them to consider.
    What is your message for citizen scientists?
    I tell them that they are an important piece of the NASA puzzle who help us with our scientific efforts. For example, the Globe Observer App can be downloaded to a smart phone. Using this app, they can take photos of clouds, land cover, tree height, and mosquito larvae. They can also take tree height measurements.
    What was your favorite large-scale event?
    I was one of the co-leads for Goddard’s open house in 2015, my first large-scale project of this magnitude. Over 20,000 people attended. We had so many people that the Greenbelt Metro Station had to close. People even came from other states.
    I loved seeing all our hard work pay off and how excited all the people were to be at Goddard. I especially enjoyed watching the kids interreacting with our scientists and engineers, asking questions. They are our future.

    When did you feel like you were part of the NASA family?
    While working on our 2015 open house, I worked with an amazing team. Kudos to the Office of Communications; especially to Michelle Jones, Leslee Scott, Deanna Trask, and Amy Grigg.
    This event made me realize that NASA really is a family. Everyone works together for a positive outcome; a shared, common interest. If you need help, someone shows up to help you without asking. And you do the same for others who need help.
    World-class scientist and engineers willingly give their time to tell the world about their expertise. They are good with people of all ages and are always particularly kind with kids, our next generation of explorers.   
    How has working at Goddard changed your life?
    While at Goddard, I met my husband Mark Branch, a Goddard engineer. He was our subject matter expert for a student outreach event I organized. We married two years after meeting, in 2010. Someday I’d like to write a book about all the couples who met at Goddard.
    I sincerely thank everyone at Goddard who has touched my life and helped me!
    Who has guided you the most in life?
    My parents did everything they could to give my sister and me the best possible opportunities. They told us to dream big and to do big things. They are always there for us. They are amazing people!
    I adore my family. I love that I have added new family members from NASA.
    What do you do to relax?
    I attended a French high school for my junior year and became an admirer of French culture and cuisine. I like to cook, including French food. I also love traveling. I enjoy reading fiction to relax.

    Conversations With Goddard is a collection of Q&A profiles highlighting the breadth and depth of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center’s talented and diverse workforce. The Conversations have been published twice a month on average since May 2011. Read past editions on Goddard’s “Our People” webpage.
    By Elizabeth M. JarrellNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA-Led Study Pinpoints Areas Sinking, Rising Along California Coast

    Source: NASA

    The elevation changes may seem small — amounting to fractions of inches per year — but they can increase or decrease local flood risk, wave exposure, and saltwater intrusion.
    Tracking and predicting sea level rise involves more than measuring the height of our oceans: Land along coastlines also inches up and down in elevation. Using California as a case study, a NASA-led team has shown how seemingly modest vertical land motion could significantly impact local sea levels in coming decades.
    By 2050, sea levels in California are expected to increase between 6 and 14.5 feet (15 and 37 centimeters) higher than year 2000 levels. Melting glaciers and ice sheets, as well as warming ocean water, are primarily driving the rise. As coastal communities develop adaptation strategies, they can also benefit from a better understanding of the land’s role, the team said. The findings are being used in updated guidance for the state.
    “In many parts of the world, like the reclaimed ground beneath San Francisco, the land is moving down faster than the sea itself is going up,” said lead author Marin Govorcin, a remote sensing scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. 
    The new study illustrates how vertical land motion can be unpredictable in scale and speed; it results from both human-caused factors such as groundwater pumping and wastewater injection, as well as from natural ones like tectonic activity. The researchers showed how direct satellite observations can improve estimates of vertical land motion and relative sea level rise. Current models, which are based on tide gauge measurements, cannot cover every location and all the dynamic land motion at work within a given region.
    Local Changes
    Researchers from JPL and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) used satellite radar to track more than a thousand miles of California coast rising and sinking in new detail. They pinpointed hot spots — including cities, beaches, and aquifers — at greater exposure to rising seas now and in coming decades.
    To capture localized motion inch by inch from space, the team analyzed radar measurements made by ESA’s (the European Space Agency’s) Sentinel-1 satellites, as well as motion velocity data from ground-based receiving stations in the Global Navigation Satellite System. Researchers compared multiple observations of the same locations made between 2015 to 2023 using a processing technique called interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR).

    Homing in on the San Francisco Bay Area — specifically, San Rafael, Corte Madera, Foster City, and Bay Farm Island — the team found the land subsiding at a steady rate of more than 0.4 inches (10 millimeters) per year due largely to sediment compaction. Accounting for this subsidence in the lowest-lying parts of these areas, local sea levels could rise more than 17 inches (45 centimeters) by 2050. That’s more than double the regional estimate of 7.4 inches (19 centimeters) based solely on tide gauge projections.
    Not all coastal locations in California are sinking. The researchers mapped uplift hot spots of several millimeters per year in the Santa Barbara groundwater basin, which has been steadily replenishing since 2018. They also observed uplift in Long Beach, where fluid extraction and injection occur with oil and gas production.
    The scientists further calculated how human-induced drivers of local land motion increase uncertainties in the sea level projections by up to 15 inches (40 centimeters) in parts of Los Angeles and San Diego counties. Reliable projections in these areas are challenging because the unpredictable nature of human activities, such as hydrocarbon production and groundwater extraction, necessitating ongoing monitoring of land motion.  
    Fluctuating Aquifers, Slow-Moving Landslides
    In the middle of California, in the fast-sinking parts of the Central Valley (subsiding as much as 8 inches, or 20 centimeters, per year), land motion is influenced by groundwater withdrawal. Periods of drought and precipitation can alternately draw down or inflate underground aquifers. Such fluctuations were also observed over aquifers in Santa Clara in the San Francisco Bay Area, Santa Ana in Orange County, and Chula Vista in San Diego County.
    Along rugged coastal terrain like the Big Sur mountains below San Francisco and Palos Verdes Peninsula in Los Angeles, the team pinpointed local zones of downward motion associated with slow-moving landslides. In Northern California they also found sinking trends at marshlands and lagoons around San Francisco and Monterey bays, and in Sonoma County’s Russian River estuary. Erosion in these areas likely played a key factor.
    Scientists, decision-makers, and the public can monitor these and other changes occurring via the JPL-led OPERA (Observational Products for End-Users from Remote Sensing Analysis) project. The OPERA project details land surface elevational changes across North America, shedding light on dynamic processes including subsidence, tectonics, and landslides.
    The OPERA project will leverage additional state-of-the-art InSAR data from the upcoming NISAR (NASA-Indian Space Research Organization Synthetic Aperture Radar) mission, expected to launch within the coming months.
    News Media Contacts
    Jane J. Lee / Andrew WangJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.818-354-0307 / 626-379-6874jane.j.lee@jpl.nasa.gov / andrew.wang@jpl.nasa.gov
    Written by Sally Younger
    2025-015

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Exercises Borrowing Authority for National Flood Insurance Program

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA Exercises Borrowing Authority for National Flood Insurance Program

    FEMA Exercises Borrowing Authority for National Flood Insurance Program

    Follows more than $10 billion in projected payments related to Hurricanes Helene and MiltonWASHINGTON — FEMA has exercised its borrowing authority under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to borrow $2 billion from U.S. Treasury to pay eligible National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policyholder claims. This borrowing action follows payouts in 2024 from several large-scale and back-to-back flooding events. While the NFIP’s premiums are usually sufficient to pay claims in years without catastrophic floods, heavy rain events in 2024 –including hurricanes Helene and Milton– caused massive, widespread damage resulting in tens of thousands of flood insurance claims.Hurricane Helene has received more than 57,400 flood insurance claims totaling more than $4.5 billion as of Feb. 6, 2025. Based on data as of Jan. 31, 2025, the estimated range for total losses paid in to the NFIP is between $6.4 to $7.4 billion. Hurricane Milton received more than 21,100 flood insurance claims totaling more than $740 million as of Feb. 6, 2025. The estimated range for losses paid is between $1.2 to $2.9 billion based on data as of Jan. 31, 2025.The NFIP is not designed to pay for multiple catastrophic events in a single year without additional financial assistance. The combined losses from 2024 have depleted the NFIP’s funds generated from premiums to pay claims.FEMA’s borrowing authority is $30.425 billion, of which FEMA has already borrowed $20.525 billion in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina, Sandy and Harvey between 2005-2017. The debt is now $22.525 billion.“The widespread, devastating flooding following hurricanes Helene and Milton reemphasizes the financial effects flooding can have not just to survivors but also the National Flood Insurance Program. We are strategically utilizing short-term borrowings in 60-day increments, demonstrating our careful and responsible management of the borrowing authority,” said Elizabeth Asche, Ph.D., Senior Executive of the National Flood Insurance Program. “Despite these challenges, the NFIP remains unwavering in its commitment to fully pay every claim and ensure policyholders receive the compensation they are owed for eligible flood-related losses.”FEMA has always paid its NFIP claims on all eligible losses. Those who take the step to protect their homes and businesses by purchasing flood insurance get paid every dollar they are owed under their flood insurance policies.Flooding continues to be the costliest and most frequent natural disaster in the United States and flood insurance is still the best way for individual homeowners, renters and businesses to financially protect against future flood losses. The NFIP provides about $1.3 trillion in coverage to nearly 4.7 million policyholders nationwide.For more information about the NFIP, visit Floodsmart.gov. 
    amy.ashbridge
    Mon, 02/10/2025 – 16:44

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Breathing Circuit Kit Recall: Sentec/Percussionaire Removes VDR4 Phasitron Breathing Circuits due to Venturi Component Malfunctions that May Reduce Pressure and Volume Flow

    Source: US Food and Drug Administration

    This recall involves removing certain devices from where they are used or sold. The FDA has identified this recall as the most serious type. This device may cause serious injury or death if you continue to use it. 

    Affected Product 

    • Product Names/Models and Part Numbers:
      • Phasitron Kit, VDR, Single Patient A50094-D, A50094-D-5PK
        • Unique Device Identifier (UDI): 00849436000259
      • Control Unit Tester A51001-VDR4 
      • VDR W/SWIVEL T SINGLE PATIENT PHASITRON PRT-991 
      • VDR4 HUMIDIFICATION ADAPTER KIT PRT-992 
      • VDR4 Humidification Kit with Cross Tee PRT-993 
    • Lot/Serial Numbers: See full list of affected devices below.

    What to Do  

    • Closely monitor all patients who are ventilated with Phasitron breathing circuits that may be affected by this issue. 
    • Make sure the venturi component of the Phasitron breathing circuit in use is moving by looking for movement and listening for noise.
    • Do not use any Phasitron breathing circuit that is malfunctioning or does not pass the enhanced pre-check instructions outlined below.

    On December 23, 2024, Sentec/Percussionaire sent all affected customers an Urgent Medical Device Notification recommending the following actions:

    • Make sure all patients are closely monitored using pulse oximetry and/or carbon dioxide monitoring to identify any changes in patient condition caused by impaired Phasitron function.
    • Look and listen for venturi movement. The venturi component produces a loud noise and can be seen opening and closing through the translucent Phasitron body when functioning properly. A lack of visible or audible motion indicates device malfunction.
    • Immediately stop use if any product malfunction is identified during use.
      • Dispose according to institutional protocol.
      • Contact FSCA@sentec.com for product exchange. 
    • Review all inventory for impacted lots. 
      • Dispose of product from affected lots once replacement products are received. 
    • Evaluate the circuits of Phasitron breathing circuit kits in identified lots using the enhanced pre-use check outline below, also included in Appendix 2 of the letter. 
    • Post pre-check instructions in all areas of the facility.
    • Do not use any product that fails the pre-use check outlined below. 
      • Dispose of any failing product using institutional protocol.
      • Contact FSCA@sentec.com for product exchange.
    • Keep an alternative device nearby in case of a Phasitron breathing circuit failure. 
    • Complete and Return Acknowledgement form included with the letter by January 31, 2024, and after reviewing and implementing the requested actions. 
    • Report adverse events to regulatory.percussionaire@sentec.com and/or to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program.
    • Report any quality problems experienced with the use of this product to Percussionaire/Sentec Customer Service department via email to FSCA@sentec.com.

    Sentec/Percussionaire Pre-Use Check Instructions

    Pre-use check must be completed before any ventilation is started on a new patient, when a new circuit is used, and after each circuit cleaning. If any abnormal function is noted, do not start ventilation.

    • Connect hospital air supply hose to VDR-4. Listen for blender alarm, then disconnect air hose. 
    • Connect hospital oxygen supply hose to VDR-4 and disconnect air hose. Listen for blender alarm. 
    • Connect hospital air supply hose to VDR-4.
    • Turn Monitron II “ON.” 
    • Connect Phasitron patient port to a test lung (such as Vadi 210 or equivalent). 
    • Perform all tests using standard heater/humidification setup, set up according to hospital protocol. 
    • Turn operating pressure knob until it reaches a static 42 psig. 
    • Turn VDR-4 “ON.” 
    • Turn off OSCILLATORY PEEP/CPAP, DEMAND CPAP, and CONVECTIVE PRES. RISE (full clockwise). 
    • Set the PULSATILE FLOWRATE control to AIP of 30 cmH₂O as read on DM or manometer. 
    • Set pulse frequency to 500. 
    • Set PULSE i/e RATIO with arrow at the 12:00 position (straight up) for a 1:1 i/e ratio. 
    • Set inspiratory time and expiratory time to: 
      • 2.0 seconds to get a convective rate of ~15 (adult/large peds) 
      • 1.5 seconds to get a convective rate of ~20 (small peds) 
      • 1.0 second to get a convective rate of ~30 (neonatal) 
    • Set oscillatory CPAP/PEEP to AEP of 5 cmH₂O as read on Digital Multimeter (DM) or manometer. 
    • Check Monitron II for appropriate rise and fall on waveform. 
    • Verify pulse frequency will go greater than 700 and less than 200. 
    • Return pulse frequency to 500. 
    • Manually compress test lung and hold as tightly as possible.
    • Verify pulsatile flowrate will achieve AIP of 50 cmH₂O. 
    • Verify oscillatory CPAP will reach a minimum AEP of 18 cmH₂O. (Release hold on test lung). 
    • Return pulsatile flowrate to an AIP of 30 cmH₂O and OSCILLATORY CPAP control to an AEP of 5 cmH₂O. 
    • Verify a gradient of 8-10 cmH₂O when convective pressure rise is applied. 
      NOTE: Convective pressure rise will begin after approximately 0.7 seconds have passed from the start of the inspiration cycle. 
    • Increase convective pressure rise until failsafe alarm sounds. Observe that ventilation continues at lower settings. Turn convective pressure rise off and then press red button to reset. 
    • Remove the test lung. Cap both Phasitron ports. 
    • Set the PULSATILE FLOWRATE knob fully to the right to the “Off” position. 
    • Set the OSCILLATORY CPAP/PEEP knob fully to the left to the “On” position. 
    • Turn DEMAND CPAP/PEEP knob to the 12:00 position (arrow up) and allow at least 15 seconds for the Digital Multimeter (DM) to switch to Active mode. 
    • Reduce the DEMAND CPAP/PEEP to achieve a Mean Airway Pressure (MAP) of 3-4 cmH2O according to the DM. Observe that the DM remains on and in Active mode. 
    • While observing the Venturi in the Phasitron, slowly turn the PULSATILE FLOWRATE knob very slightly to the left to achieve a MAP of 4-5 cmH2O. The Pulse Frequency should be displayed on the DM. 
    • Ensure that the Pulse Frequency Rate is 500-600 Cycles Per Minute (CPM). Adjust if needed using the PULSE FREQUENCY knob only. 
    • Observe the Venturi for 5 seconds or more. Look for oscillations of the Venturi. If the Venturi is not moving or moving intermittently and erratically, discontinue use of the circuit and replace it with another circuit. 
    • Lower high-amplitude pressure alarm below set pulsatile flowrate to trigger the high-pressure alarm. Press reset on Monitron to clear audible alarm. 
    • Trigger low-amplitude pressure alarm by disconnecting test cap. Press reset on Monitron II to clear audible alarm. 
    • Turn off VDR-4 and Monitron II. Silence alarm on Monitron II by pressing any button. 
    • Switch nebulizer on and listen for gas flow, then switch off.

    Reason for Recall   

    Sentec/Percussionaire is recalling Phasitron breathing circuit kits after receiving a customer complaint that the venturi component of the kit stopping moving (oscillating) during use. The issue caused a patient’s oxygen levels to fall (desaturate). The risk of failure is especially high for pediatric patients due to the low pressures that are associated with this component failure. 

    The use of affected product may cause serious adverse health consequences, including acute respiratory failure, hypoxia (lack of oxygen), hypercapnia (excess carbon dioxide in the blood), potential brain damage, heart complications, increased risk of pneumonia, and death.  

    There have been no reported injuries. There have been no reports of death. 

    Device Use 

    The Phasitron breathing circuit kit is intended to be used for continuous, controlled ventilation of patients who are unable to breathe on their own. The venturi component of the Phasitron helps with the pulsing flow of air/oxygen to the patient. 

    Contact Information  

    Customers in the U.S. with questions about this recall should contact Sentec/Percussionaire customer service at FSCA@sentec.com.

    Full List of Affected Devices 

    Part Number/ Product Name:

    • A50094-D-5PK – Phasitron Kit, VDR, Single Patient, 5pk
    • A51001-VDR4 – Control Unit Tester
    • PRT-991 – VDR W/SWIVEL T SINGLE PATIENT PHASITRON
    • PRT-992 – VDR4 HUMIDIFICATION ADAPTER KIT, CASE OF 10
    • PRT-993 – VDR4 Humidification Kit with Cross Tee, Case of 10

    Potential Affected Lots:

    • A50094-D-5PK: WO04294, WO04424, WO04764, WO05070, WO05186, WO05460, WO05685, WO05910, WO06388, WO06576, WO06883, WO07095, WO07196, WO07317, WO07405, WO07450, WO07696
    • A51001-VDR4: WO04750, WO06701
    • PRT-991: WO04733
    • PRT 992: WO045667
    • PRT-993: WO04745, WO04832, WO04893, WO04893, WO05309, WO06523, WO07080, WO07283, WO04893

    Additional FDA Resources 

    Unique Device Identifier (UDI) 

    The unique device identifier (UDI) helps identify individual medical devices sold in the United States from manufacturing through distribution to patient use. The UDI allows for more accurate reporting, reviewing, and analyzing of adverse event reports so that devices can be identified, and problems potentially corrected more quickly. 

    How do I report a problem? 

    Health care professionals and consumers may report adverse reactions or quality problems they experienced using these devices to

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Newly Minted Ph.D. Studies Phytoplankton with NASA’s FjordPhyto Project

    Source: NASA

    FjordPhyto is a collective effort where travelers on tour expedition vessels in Antarctica help scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Universidad Nacional de La Plata study phytoplankton. Now project leader Dr. Allison Cusick has a Ph.D.! . Dr. Cusick studies how melting glaciers influence phytoplankton in the coastal regions. She wrote her doctoral dissertation based on the data collected by FjordPhyto volunteers.
    “Travelers adventure to the wild maritime climate of Antarctica and help collect samples from one of the most data-limited regions of the world,” said Cusick.  “While on vacation, they can volunteer to join a FjordPhyto science boat experience where they spend an hour collecting water measurements like salinity, temperature, chlorophyll-a, turbidity, as well as physical samples for molecular genetics work, microscopy identification, and carbon biomass estimates. It’s a full immersion into the ecosystem and the importance of polar research!”
    Cusick successfully defended her thesis on December 18, 2024, earning a Ph.D. in Oceanography from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Hers is the second Ph.D.  based on data from the FjordPhyto project. Martina Mascioni from FjordPhyto team earned her Ph.D. from the National University of La Plata (Argentina) in 2018.
    The project is a hit with travelers, too.
    “It’s incredibly inspiring to be part of a program like this that’s open to non-specialist involvement,” said one volunteer, a retired biology teacher aboard the Viking Octantis ship, who continued to say, “Thank you for letting us be a part of the science and explaining so clearly why it matters to the bigger picture.”
    If you would like to get involved, go to www.fjordphyto.org and reach out to the team!

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two convicted in Eastern District of Texas COVID fraud scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SHERMAN, Texas – A Collin County man and a Floridian have been convicted of federal violations related to a COVID fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.

    Cord Dean Newman, 47, of Homosassa, Florida, and Eric “Phoenix” Marascio, 53, of Allen, were found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering following a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on February 6, 2025.

    According to information presented in court, Newman, a Hollywood stuntman, and Marascio, an author and baker, were convicted for their involvement in a multimillion-dollar loan fraud and money laundering conspiracy. The evidence at trial showed they were involved in a scheme to defraud lenders and the Small Business Administration’s (SBA’s) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) by applying for and obtaining fraudulent PPP loans during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Once Newman and Marascio obtained the loans, they used the funds in a manner inconsistent with the program, including to invest in foreign exchange currency markets, to purchase vehicles, and for various other non-business-related expenditures.

    The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was a federal law enacted in March 2020 and designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who were suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through a program referred to as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).  The Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program was an SBA program that provided low-interest financing to small businesses, renters, and homeowners in regions affected by declared disasters. 

    The defendants each face up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing.  The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.  A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.

    This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the Eastern District of Texas.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: BioAstra Unveils “Twin Astra”: Pioneering Deep-Space Medical Research Program Set to Transform Space Exploration and Earth-Based Medicine

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BioAstra, a pioneering force in space medicine and biotechnology, is set to revolutionize human health with the launch of Twin Astra—a first-of-its-kind deep-space research initiative poised to transform space exploration and medical advancements on Earth.

    The program will be officially unveiled on Thursday, February 20, 2025, at The Explorers Club in New York City, bringing together top minds in space, science, and biotechnology.

    About Twin Astra

    Twin Astra is designed to unlock critical insights into human health through space-based research, driving breakthroughs that will impact both astronauts and Earth-based medicine. The program focuses on:

    • Twin Studies in Space: By studying genetically identical twins—one on Earth, the other in space—scientists will map the molecular, genetic, and physiological shifts caused by space travel.
    • Medical Breakthroughs: This research will accelerate advancements in precision medicine, aging, cancer treatment, and regenerative therapies.
    • Space Exploration & Human Resilience: The findings will pave the way for safer, long-duration space missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

    “By harnessing space as a biomedical testing ground, Twin Astra will redefine our understanding of human resilience in extreme environments,” said Professor Chris Mason, BioAstra Board Chair. “This research is crucial for protecting astronauts and unlocking medical discoveries that will benefit life on Earth and beyond.”

    Launch Event: February 20, 2025

    This exclusive gathering will unite astronauts, biotech leaders, philanthropists, investors, and innovators to explore the program’s groundbreaking potential.

    “Twin Astra represents the next frontier of biomedical discovery,” said Savi Glowe, BioAstra CEO. “By pushing the limits of human biology in space, we are opening doors to new treatments, technologies, and insights that will redefine healthcare for generations to come.”

    Event Highlights:

    • Speakers:
      • Dr. Sian Proctor, Inspiration4 Astronaut
      • John Shoffner, Axiom-2 Astronaut
      • Savi Glowe, BioAstra CEO
      • Professor Chris Mason, BioAstra Board Chair & Renowned Genomics Expert

    Event Details:

    Be part of this landmark event, where astronauts, investors, biotech leaders, and medical innovators will unveil Twin Astra’s bold vision.

    Limited seats available – RSVP today.

    Date: Thursday, February 20
    Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
    Location: The Explorers Club, 46 East 70th Street, New York

    RSVP Required: michal@bioastra.org
    Investor Inquiries: michal@bioastra.org
    Website: www.bioastra.org

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Update – woman found injured in Christchurch park

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Police are making good progress with the investigation into the circumstances that led to a woman being found in a Christchurch park with critical injuries.

    The woman was found at the Richmond Village Green on Wednesday 5 February.

    She was transported to hospital, where she remains. Her condition is improving and she is now stable, and she has been able to speak with us.

    Police have also been interviewing witnesses and family members as we work towards establishing the full picture of what has occurred, and who is responsible.

    While Police do not believe there is an ongoing risk to the wider public, additional patrols have been operating in the area to ensure the community feels safe.

    We are still appealing to anyone who may have information that would help us determine what happened.

    Information can be passed to Police via our 105 phone service, or by going online and using ‘Update Report’, referencing file number 250205/8067.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoskins Recognizes National Marriage Week; Announces New Parental Leave Policy

    Source: US State of Missouri

     

     

    For Immediate Release:   February 7, 2025

               

    Secretary of State Denny Hoskins Recognizes National Marriage Week; Announces New Parental Leave Policy

    JEFFERSON CITY, MO – Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins has issued a proclamation recognizing February 7-14, 2025, as National Marriage Week, emphasizing the importance of strong marriages and families in building a thriving society.

    “Marriage is the foundation for strong families,” said Secretary Hoskins. “My wife, Michelle, and I wholeheartedly support the biblical definition of marriage and recognize the lasting impact strong marriages and families have on our state. This week is a time to reflect on and celebrate the role marriage plays in strengthening our communities.”

    The theme for this year’s National Marriage Week is “Love Beyond Words,” underscoring the importance of communication, connection, and commitment in fostering lasting marriages. Events and resources to support healthy relationships can be found at NationalMarriageWeekUSA.org.

    In alignment with the values of strong family support, the Secretary of State’s Office is also proud to announce a new parental leave policy for Secretary of State employees designed to provide employees with time to bond with their children after birth or adoption. Under this policy:

    • Primary caregivers will receive up to six weeks (240 hours) of fully paid leave.
    • Secondary caregivers will receive up to three weeks (120 hours) of fully paid leave.
    • Parental leave will be separate from annual and sick leave and will not impact employees’ accrued time off.

    “This new policy reflects our commitment to supporting Missouri families and ensuring that employees have the time and flexibility needed to nurture their growing families,” said Hoskins.


    For more information on National Marriage Week or the new parental leave policy, please contact:

    Rachael Dunn, Director of Communications
    [email protected]

    About Secretary of State Denny Hoskins
    Denny Hoskins, CPA, was elected Missouri Secretary of State in November 2024. With a strong background in business and public service, he is committed to improving government efficiency, transparency, and supporting Missouri families.


    Visit www.sos.mo.gov to learn more.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 2025-20 AG NEWS RELEASE – ATTORNEY GENERAL LOPEZ SUES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR DEFUNDING MEDICAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH INNOVATION RESEARCH

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    2025-20 AG NEWS RELEASE – ATTORNEY GENERAL LOPEZ SUES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR DEFUNDING MEDICAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH INNOVATION RESEARCH

    Posted on Feb 10, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

     

    DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

    KA ʻOIHANA O KA LOIO KUHINA

     

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.
     GOVERNOR

    KE KIAʻĀINA

     

    ANNE LOPEZ

    ATTORNEY GENERAL

    LOIO KUHINA

     

    ATTORNEY GENERAL LOPEZ SUES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR DEFUNDING MEDICAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH INNOVATION RESEARCH

     

    News Release 2025-20

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                       

    February 10, 2025

     

    HONOLULU – – Attorney General Anne Lopez and 21 other attorneys general today sued the Trump Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in an effort to bar them from unlawfully cutting funds that support cutting-edge medical and public health research at universities and research institutions across the country. 

     

    On Friday, February 7, the NIH announced it would abruptly slash indirect cost rates to an across-the-board 15% rate, which is significantly less than the cost required to perform cutting edge medical research. The NIH purported to make this cut effective today (February 10), giving universities and institutions no time to plan for the enormous budget gaps they are now facing. Without immediate relief, this action could result in the suspension of lifesaving and life-extending clinical trials, disruption of research programs, layoffs, and laboratory closures. 

     

    The coalition is challenging the Trump Administration’s attempt to unilaterally cut “indirect cost” reimbursements at every research institution throughout the country. These reimbursements cover expenses to facilitate biomedical research, like lab, faculty, infrastructure and utility costs. Without them, the lifesaving and life-changing medical research in which the United States has long been a leader, could be compromised.

     

    Indirect cost reimbursements are based on each institution’s unique needs, negotiated with the federal government through a carefully regulated process, and then memorialized in an executed agreement.

     

    “President Trump’s total lack of compassion for all Americans knows no bounds. In just three weeks, he has cut programs providing healthcare and education, resources for climate change and clean air, and policies promoting diversity and equity. Now, he is making massive cuts to lifesaving medical research. Here in Hawai‘i, the University of Hawai‘i is supported by 175 awards and subawards from the NIH with a current value of $211M. I joined this lawsuit with my fellow democratic attorneys general because we are the last line of defense to enforce the rule of law,” said Attorney General Lopez.

     

    The coalition also argues that this action to slash indirect costs violates the Administrative Procedure Act, including a directive Congress passed during President Trump’s first term to fend off his earlier proposal to drastically cut research reimbursements. That statutory language, still in effect, prohibits the NIH from requiring categorial and indiscriminate changes to indirect cost reimbursements.

     

    The NIH is the primary source of federal funding for medical research in the United States. Medical research funding by NIH grants have led to innumerable scientific breakthroughs, including the discovery of treatment for cancers of all types, the first sequencing of DNA and the development of the MRI. Additionally, dozens of NIH-supported scientists have earned Nobel Prizes for their groundbreaking scientific work.

     

    Attorney General Lopez is joined by a coalition of attorneys general from Arizona, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.

     

    The lawsuit was filed today in U.S. District Court for Massachusetts and can be found here.

     

     

    # # #

     

    Media contacts:

    Dave Day

    Special Assistant to the Attorney General

    Office: 808-586-1284                                                  

    Email: [email protected]        

    Web: http://ag.hawaii.gov

     

    Toni Schwartz
    Public Information Officer
     Hawai‘i Department of the Attorney General
    Office:     808-586-1252
    Cell: 808-379-9249
    Email:     [email protected] 

    Web: http://ag.hawaii.gov

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: State and federal debris removal begins this week in Los Angeles in record-breaking speed

    Source: US State of California 2

    Feb 10, 2025

    What you need to know: The state and federal government are working at record-pace to remove debris from the Los Angeles area firestorms.

    LOS ANGELES – The State of California, in coordination with federal and local partners, is rapidly advancing wildfire cleanup efforts, with structural debris removal from the Eaton and Palisades fires set to begin this week. This marks the fastest large scale debris removal operation in modern state history.

    Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will begin private property debris removal on Tuesday morning in Altadena and Tuesday afternoon in Pacific Palisades, closely coordinating efforts with local officials.

    “The speed of this cleanup is unprecedented, and it’s a testament to local, state, and federal government’s commitment to getting families back on their feet as quickly as possible. We’re cutting through the red tape and working with our partners to ensure that recovery moves at a record pace, helping communities rebuild stronger and more resilient.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    The removal process begins just 35 days after the fires ignited — roughly half the time it took to start similar operations after the devastating 2018 Woolsey Fire.
     
    Under Governor Gavin Newsom’s leadership, California has expedited the cleanup process by cutting red tape and eliminating bureaucratic barriers, allowing highly trained crews to enter impacted communities sooner and help survivors rebuild their lives faster.
     
    The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, in partnership with six locally affected jurisdictions, has worked around the clock to collect Right-of-Entry (ROE) forms from residents, develop haul routes, and coordinate safe transport of fire ash and debris.
     
    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is rapidly completing the removal of households hazardous materials at record speed, clearing the way for this next phase of cleanup.
     
    Last month, Governor Newsom announced that FEMA, working with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), had tasked the EPA with safely removing and disposing of hazardous materials from homes and structures impacted by the fires. This crucial first step—one of the most complex phases of wildfire cleanup — paved the way for the structural debris removal now underway.
     
    As these operations continue, residents should anticipate an increased presence of debris removal teams in their communities and plan accordingly. The agencies involved appreciate the public’s support and patience as crews work to eliminate health and safety risks from impacted properties.
     
    Since the fires began, Governor Newsom has led an aggressive, coordinated, whole-of-government response to support impacted communities. Prior to the fires breaking out, the state had already deployed thousands of firefighters and personnel, with more than 16,000 boots on the ground at the peak of response efforts. In the days that followed, the state launched historic recovery and rebuilding efforts to ensure Los Angeles communities receive the support they need.

    Fire survivors can sign up for the federal debris removal program by visiting a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) or online at ca.gov/LAFires

    Press Releases, Recent News

    Recent news

    Feb 10, 2025

    News What you need to know: Governor Newsom is sponsoring new legislation to allow homeowners who receive insurance payments for lost or damaged property to receive the interest accrued rather than lenders.  LOS ANGELES — As part of the state’s ongoing efforts to…

    Feb 7, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Khalil “KC” Mohseni, of Sacramento, has been appointed Commissioner of the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, where he has been the Chief Deputy Director…

    Feb 7, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that he has signed the following bills: SBX1-1 by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) – Budget Act of 2024.SBX1-2 by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) – Budget Act of 2024. A signing message can be found…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom sponsors legislation to provide interest for disaster-affected homeowners

    Source: US State of California 2

    Feb 10, 2025

    What you need to know: Governor Newsom is sponsoring new legislation to allow homeowners who receive insurance payments for lost or damaged property to receive the interest accrued rather than lenders. 

    LOS ANGELES — As part of the state’s ongoing efforts to support survivors of the LA-area firestorm, Governor Newsom today announced sponsoring new legislation to ensure homeowners, not lenders, benefit from the interest earned on insurance payouts, particularly those impacted by California’s most destructive wildfires.

    The legislation, authored by Assemblymember John Haradebian (D – Pasadena), seeks to correct an inequity in current law that allows lenders to collect interest on insurance funds held in escrow after a disaster.

    “Homeowners rebuilding after a disaster need all the support they can get, including the interest earned on their insurance funds. This is a commonsense solution that ensures that they receive every resource available to help them recover and rebuild.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    The legislation, authored by Assemblymember John Haradebian (D-Pasadena), seeks to correct an inequity in current law that allows lenders to collect interest on insurance funds held in escrow after a disaster.

    “Homeowners, not insurance companies, should receive the interest earned on their insurance payouts. Many Angelenos devastated by these wildfires have lost nearly everything; they are struggling and need every bit of financial support. This bill puts people over profits, ensuring that rightful insurance payments go to those who need them most,” said Assemblymember John Harabedian (D-Pasadena).

    After a disaster, insurance payouts are held in escrow until rebuilding is complete, which can take months or even years. During this time, these funds can accrue significant interest.

    While California law requires lenders to pay homeowners interest on escrowed funds for property taxes and insurance, it does not extend this requirement to insurance payouts held in escrow. This legislation would amend state law to explicitly require lenders to pay homeowners the interest earned on post-loss insurance payouts, just as they do for other escrowed property expenses

    Why this matters

    ✅ Fairness: Homeowners should receive the interest their insurance funds generate—not lenders.

    ✅ Disaster recovery: Provides much-needed financial support for wildfire victims rebuilding their homes and communities.
    ✅ No new burdens on lenders: Simply aligns insurance payout escrow rules with existing California escrow interest law.
    ✅ Protecting homeowners’ rights: Ensures insurance funds are treated the same as other escrowed property expenses.

    This legislation ensures that homeowners benefit from the interest earned on insurance funds, particularly those impacted by California’s most destructive wildfires.

    Speeding recovery, helping survivors 

    Today’s announcement adds to the Governor’s work to cut red tape, remove onerous permitting requirements, and help speed rebuilding and recovery from the Los Angeles firestorms. On January 12, Governor Newsom issued an executive order to streamline the rebuilding of homes and businesses destroyed — suspending the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Coastal Act permitting requirements and review. 

    • Cutting red tape to help rebuild Los Angeles faster and stronger. Governor Newsom issued an executive order to streamline the rebuilding of homes and businesses destroyed — suspending permitting and review requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Coastal Act. The Governor also issued an executive order further cutting red tape by reiterating that permitting requirements under the California Coastal Act are suspended for rebuilding efforts and directing the Coastal Commission not to issue guidance or take any action that interferes with or conflicts with the Governor’s executive orders. The Governor also issued an executive order removing bureaucratic barriers, extending deadlines, and providing critical regulatory relief to help fire survivors rebuild, access essential services, and recover more quickly.
    • Providing tax and mortgage relief to those impacted by the fires. California postponed the individual tax filing deadline to October 15 for Los Angeles County taxpayers. Additionally, the state extended the January 31, 2025, sales and use tax filing deadline for Los Angeles County taxpayers until April 30 — providing critical tax relief for businesses. Governor Newsom suspended penalties and interest on late property tax payments for a year, effectively extending the state property tax deadline. The Governor also worked with state– and federally-chartered banks that have committed to providing mortgage relief for survivors in certain zip codes.
    • Fast-tracking temporary housing and protecting tenants. To help provide necessary shelter for those immediately impacted by the firestorms, the Governor issued an executive order to make it easier to streamline construction of accessory dwelling units, allow for more temporary trailers and other housing, and suspend fees for mobile home parks. Governor Newsom also issued an executive order that prohibits landlords in Los Angeles County from evicting tenants for sharing their rental with survivors displaced by the Los Angeles-area firestorms.
    • Mobilizing debris removal and cleanup. With an eye toward recovery, the Governor directed fast action on debris removal work and mitigating the potential for mudslides and flooding in areas burned. He also signed an executive order to allow expert federal hazmat crews to start cleaning up properties as a key step in getting people back to their properties safely. The Governor also issued an executive order to help mitigate risk of mudslides and flooding and protect communities by hastening efforts to remove debris, bolster flood defenses, and stabilize hillsides in affected areas. 
    • Safeguarding survivors from price gouging. Governor Newsom expanded restrictions to protect survivors from illegal price hikes on rent, hotel and motel costs, and building materials or construction. Report violations to the Office of the Attorney General here.
    • Directing immediate state relief. The Governor signed legislation providing over $2.5 billion to immediately support ongoing emergency response efforts and to jumpstart recovery efforts for Los Angeles. California quickly launched CA.gov/LAfires as a single hub of information and resources to support those impacted and bolsters in-person Disaster Recovery Centers. The Governor also launched LA Rises, a unified recovery initiative that brings together private sector leaders to support rebuilding efforts. Governor Newsom announced that individuals and families directly impacted by the recent fires living in certain zip codes may be eligible to receive Disaster CalFresh food benefits.
    • Getting kids back in the classroom. Governor Newsom signed an executive order to quickly assist displaced students in the Los Angeles area and bolster schools affected by the firestorms.
    • Protecting victims from real estate speculators. The Governor issued an executive order to protect firestorm victims from predatory land speculators making aggressive and unsolicited cash offers to purchase their property.
    • Helping businesses and workers get back on their feet. The Governor issued an executive order to support small businesses and workers, by providing relief to help businesses recover quickly by deferring annual licensing fees and waiving other requirements that may impose barriers to recovery.

    Get help today

    For those Californians impacted by the firestorms in Los Angeles, there are resources available.Californians can go to CA.gov/LAfires – a hub for information and resources from state, local and federal government.  

    Individuals and business owners who sustained losses from wildfires in Los Angeles County can apply for disaster assistance:

    • Online at DisasterAssistance.gov
    • By calling 800-621-3362
    • By using the FEMA smart phone application
    • Assistance is available in over 40 languages
    • If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service

    Press Releases, Recent News

    Recent news

    Feb 7, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Khalil “KC” Mohseni, of Sacramento, has been appointed Commissioner of the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, where he has been the Chief Deputy Director…

    Feb 7, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that he has signed the following bills: SBX1-1 by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) – Budget Act of 2024.SBX1-2 by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) – Budget Act of 2024. A signing message can be found…

    Feb 7, 2025

    News LOS ANGELES — Governor Gavin Newsom, LA28 Chairperson and President Casey Wasserman, Dodgers Chairman Mark Walter, and NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson have teamed up through LA Rises to release a new PSA warning fire victims about predatory real estate…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Growing Colorado’s Leading Aerospace Industry: Gov. Polis Announces Digantara Expansion in Colorado Springs

    Source: US State of Colorado

    COLORADO SPRINGS – Today, Governor Polis and the Global Business Development Division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) announced that Digantara, a leading space surveillance and intelligence company specializing in space domain awareness, has selected Colorado Springs, Colorado, for expansion. 

    “I’m thrilled to welcome Digantara to Colorado, the best place to live, work, and do business. Digantara will bring 61 new, good-paying jobs while supporting safer space operations,” said Governor Polis. 

    Based in India, Digantara develops space surveillance systems designed to manage increasing orbital traffic and enhance space operations by delivering accurate and real-time orbital insights. The company’s systems pair constellations of cost-efficient nanosatellites in low earth orbit with precise modeling to enable the space industry to secure long-term spaceflight safety and build maps for space. 

    “Colorado is a leader in aerospace innovation, and we’re thrilled to welcome Digantara to our growing Aerospace community,” said Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera and co-chair of the Colorado Space Coalition. “With top research institutions, a skilled workforce, and strong industry partnerships, our state is the ideal place for companies shaping the future of space. We look forward to seeing Digantara’s impact on space sustainability and security.” 

    Digantara specializes in patented space-to-space tracking Optical and LiDAR systems. The company plans to establish a Satellite Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT) facility in Colorado Springs to develop these payloads locally, catering to the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) needs of U.S. Government and Department of Defense agencies. 

    “Colorado stands at the heart of the US aerospace-defense ecosystem, making it the perfect base for Digantara. Here, we aim to collaborate with the US aerospace and defense community locally, advancing global space security through innovation and partnership. Our mission is clear: contribute to U.S. and its allies’ defense efforts and help ensure a safe, sustainable space for a secure future,” said Anirudh Sharma, CEO of Digantara. 

    Digantara champions space sustainability, with active advocacy in the Paris Peace Forum’s Net Zero Space Initiative and the UN Space Bridge Dialogue on Global Space Traffic Coordination. In Colorado Springs, the company plans to establish a U.S. base to pursue opportunities to collaborate with U.S. defense agencies on surveillance and defense initiatives. This includes a capital investment of $35 million. Proximity to talent and the opportunity to locate in a leading aerospace market were key considerations. 

    “Colorado is now home to 2,000 aerospace companies, an increase of 26% over the last five years. When companies like Digantara expand in our state, they continue to strengthen this key sector of our economy while advancing innovative new technologies that will be critical to space and space missions,” said OEDIT Executive Director Eve Lieberman. 

    Digantara expects to create 61 net new jobs at an average annual wage of $82,645, which is 130% of the average annual wage in El Paso County. The positions will include software engineers, systems engineers, business developers, human resources, and finance roles. 

    The Colorado Economic Development Commission approved up to $759,034 in a performance-based Job Growth Incentive Tax Credit for the company over an eight-year period. These incentives are contingent upon Digantara, referred to as Project Diamond throughout the OEDIT review process, meeting net new job creation and salary requirements. The Colorado Springs City Council approved $198,225 over a four-year period in performance-based incentives. The sales and use tax rebates apply to the purchases of construction materials, equipment, machinery, furniture, and fixtures. The City’s Economic Development Department also offered to support the company through its Rapid Response Program, as well as talent and workforce development support. Additionally, El Paso County approved $812,030 in incentives. 

    “We are thrilled to welcome Digantara as they open their first U.S. office right here in our Colorado Springs, Olympic City USA,” said Mayor Yemi Mobolade. “As a key player in space surveillance and intelligence, specializing in space domain awareness, they are a perfect fit for our growing ecosystem of tech, aerospace, space, and cybersecurity companies. This is yet another example of the exciting expansion we’re seeing in this critical sector, further solidifying Colorado Springs’ position at the forefront of space innovation.” 

    “El Paso County is proud to support Digantara, which enhances our region’s leadership in the aerospace and defense industries—sectors that drive our local economy and safeguard our national security. We are committed to supporting businesses that create jobs, invest in our workforce, and strengthen our local economy. This investment goes beyond a single project; it represents a commitment to the future of our region, reinforcing our position as a place where businesses can innovate, expand, and thrive,” said El Paso County Commissioner and Chair Carrie Geitner. 

    “Digantara’s expansion is a big win for Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region, boosting our space talent and reinforcing our reputation as a prominent force in national security and a top location for aerospace and defense investments,” said Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer, President & CEO of Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC. “With our strong and diverse economy, highly skilled workforce, and cutting-edge technologies, it’s clear that Colorado Springs is the ideal place for space companies to innovate and thrive.”

     In addition to Colorado, Digantara considered North Carolina, Texas and California for expansion. The company currently has 70 employees, none of whom are in Colorado. 

    About Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade 

    The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) works to empower all to thrive in Colorado’s economy. Under the leadership of the Governor and in collaboration with economic development partners across the state, we foster a thriving business environment through funding and financial programs, training, consulting and informational resources across industries and regions. We promote economic growth and long-term job creation by recruiting, retaining, and expanding Colorado businesses and providing programs that support entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes at every stage of growth. Our goal is to protect what makes our state a great place to live, work, start a business, raise a family, visit and retire—and make it accessible to everyone. Learn more about OEDIT. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor McKee Updates Rhode Islanders on State’s Readiness for Upcoming Winter Storm

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    Published on Saturday, February 08, 2025

    PROVIDENCE, RI – Today, Governor McKee shared an overview of the State’s preparations for the upcoming winter storm expected to begin tonight.

    “Rhode Island is fully prepared to respond to the upcoming storm and keep residents safe. We have all necessary resources in place and remain in contact with local communities,” said Governor Dan McKee. “I urge all Rhode Islanders to prepare now and use extreme caution during the snowfall.”

    McKee Administration Preparations:

    • The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) will have their crews report for duty well ahead of the storm. RIDOT has 200 state trucks and more than 250 vendor trucks ready for the storm. RIDOT also has 50,000 tons of salt available for the roads which have already been pre-treated.
    • The Office of Energy Resources is in close contact with Rhode Island Energy (RIE) and the state’s delivered fuel terminals to closely monitor the incoming storm system and its impact on power and fuel supplies across the state. RIE will have additional utility crews standing by.
    • The following emergency winter hubs, activated through the Department of Housing’s Municipal Homelessness Support Initiative, will provide additional, overnight capacity to help keep Rhode Islanders safe on a drop-in basis, meaning no referral is needed to enter the hubs:
      • West Warwick: West Warwick Convention Center, 100 Factory Street –Opening Saturday, February 8 at 4:30 p.m. until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, February 11
      • Westerly: WARM Center, 56 Spruce Street – Open 24 hours for the winter months
      • Woonsocket: 356 Clinton Street – Open 24 hours for the winter months
      • In addition to these emergency hubs, the following existing overnight shelter locations are expanding on a drop-in basis for those in need:
        • Crossroads Rhode Island: 162 Broad Street, Providence
        • Emmanuel House: 239 Public St, Providence – Open 24 hours
        • Welcome House of South County: 8 North Road, Peace Dale (South Kingstown) – Open 24 hours
        • OpenDoors: 1139 Main Street, Pawtucket – Open 24 hours 
    • Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency will monitor storm activities throughout the weekend with their state and local partners. They remain in close communication with local emergency management departments to ensure communities have the necessary supports in place. Find a list of local warming centers here: riema.ri.gov/planning-mitigation/resources-businesses/warming-centers.
    • Rhode Island State Police has called in extra troopers who will be monitoring the highways and assisting motorists if needed.
    • The Rhode Island Department of Health recommends to following tips for Rhode Islanders to stay safe:
      • Consider checking in with older family, friends, and neighbors. Older adults are more at risk for negative health impacts from significant weather events.
      • Shovel safely. Do not overexert yourself while shoveling snow. If you have a history of heart trouble, talk to your doctor to make sure it is safe for you to shovel snow. Drink plenty of water, dress warmly, and warm up the muscles in your arms and legs before you start shoveling. Don’t pick up too much snow at once. Instead of throwing the snow, try to push it in the direction you want. This helps protect your back. Listen to your body—if you feel tired or feel tightness in your chest, stop shoveling.
      • Prevent slips and falls. De-ice the sidewalk, driveway, and any well-traveled areas outside your home.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Keshena Resident Receives 115-Month Prison Sentence for Serious Domestic Violence Offense on Menominee Indian Reservation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on February 6, 2025, John V. Miller, Jr. (age: 43), an enrolled member of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and former resident of Keshena, received a 115-month prison sentence following convictions for strangulation and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

    The sentence, imposed by Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach, was the result of guilty pleas entered by the defendant on September 27, 2024. Miller will also face three years of supervised release once he completes his sentence.

    According to publicly filed court documents, Miller severely injured his ex-wife during an assault in a wooded area outside Keshena, which is a community on the Menominee Indian Reservation. Miller kicked, struck, and punched the victim, who suffered a facial fracture and severe bruising and swelling. Miller also strangled the victim to the point of unconsciousness before leaving her in the woods. The victim awoke and found her way to a nearby mobile home, where the resident there called for help.

    In sentencing the defendant, Judge Griesbach noted the seriousness of the crime the defendant committed and remarked upon the need to punish the defendant for his “brutal” and “horrendous” acts. The court discussed the seriousness of the offense from the perspective of the effect it had on the victim and the children she shares with the defendant. The defendant’s documented history of violence against this victim and a total of 20 prior convictions also factored in the court reaching its sentence. Judge Griesbach also observed the need to incarcerate the defendant for a lengthy period to protect the victim and public.

    The case was investigated by the Menominee Tribal Police Department and FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier prosecuted the case in U.S. District Court in Green Bay.

    # #  #

    For further information contact: 
    Public Information Officer 
    Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov
    (414) 297-1700
    Follow us on Twitter  
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Georgia Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking Organization

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Nehmiah Allen-Griggs, also known as “Newski,” 23, of Dallas, Georgia, was sentenced today to ten years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Allen-Griggs admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Southern District of West Virginia.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 1, 2023, Allen-Griggs distributed approximately 1 pound of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in a Huntington parking lot in exchange for $2,000.

    On November 15, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Highlawn Avenue residence in Huntington and seized quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl, a Landor Arms Canyon Arms 12-gauge shotgun, a Walther P22 .22-caliber pistol equipped with a silencer, a Kel-Teck .22-caliber pistol, and various rounds of ammunition. Allen-Griggs admitted that he and others used the residence to store and distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.

    Allen-Griggs is among 27 individuals indicted in a 53-count indictment that charges the defendants with distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl transported from Detroit, Michigan, in Huntington and other locations within the Southern District of West Virginia.

    Allen-Griggs is also among 22 defendants who have pleaded guilty in the main case. One other of the 27 indicted individuals pleaded guilty to a related offense in a separate case. The indictment against the remaining defendants is pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.

    United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case.

    The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-180.

    ###

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Camden Man Admits To Conspiring To Commit Tax Fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CAMDEN, N.J. – A Camden County, New Jersey, man today admitted to conspiring to defraud the IRS by concealing cash wages paid to his business’s employees, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced.

    Tri Anh Tieu, 53, of Camden, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Christine P. O’Hearn to an indictment charging him and co-defendant Andy Tran with one count of conspiring to defraud the United States.

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

    Tieu owned Tri States Staffing LLC, a business based in Pennsauken, New Jersey.  Tri States Staffing provided temporary workers to New Jersey businesses located in Gloucester and Burlington Counties. As part of its agreement with its customer businesses, Tri States Staffing was responsible for collecting and paying over to the IRS the payroll taxes due and owing on the wages paid to the temporary workers provided by Tri States Staffing.

    Between the third quarter of 2018 and the second quarter of 2022, Tri States received more than $2.5 million in payments from its customer businesses. Tieu paid Tri States’s employees in cash and failed to pay over the payroll taxes due and owing on those wages.  Tieu spent at least some of the unpaid taxes on personal expenditures, including gambling.  Tieu admitted that the conspiracy caused a tax loss of approximately $305,332.

    The count of conspiracy to defraud the United States carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.  Sentencing is scheduled for June 26, 2025.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Yury Kruty in Philadelphia and Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s plea.

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Chair issues call for meaningful progress in agriculture talks by MC14

    Source: WTO

    Headline: Chair issues call for meaningful progress in agriculture talks by MC14

    In his final report reflecting on the extensive work done over the past two years, Ambassador Acarsoy expressed regret over the absence of an outcome on agriculture at MC13 in 2024, despite having come very close to a result. He told WTO members that their position today is very similar to where they stood before MC13, and he urged them to consider “what steps can be taken to break free from a recurring ‘Groundhog Day’ scenario and drive meaningful progress forward.”
    “Rebuilding trust and setting credible targets are paramount to progressively restoring an effective negotiating process and achieving an agricultural outcome in March 2026 in Yaoundé,” the Chair told the meeting. He called on members to engage in “evidence-based discussions” and “text-based negotiations”.
    DG Okonjo-Iweala thanked Ambassador Acarsoy for his leadership and expressed hope that his efforts would inspire a “genuine desire” among members to break the deadlock.
    At MC14, agriculture should be “the centre of attention”, the Director-General said. She urged WTO members to try to mobilize the political will and flexibility that will be needed to achieve a breakthrough in the negotiations.
    She also assured members that the General Council Chair is actively working to identify a successor to Ambassador Acarsoy, to ensure a smooth transition.
    The Director-General welcomed ongoing initiatives, such as the joint work of the African Group and the Cairns Group of agricultural exporting countries, and she called for further research into the evolving agricultural landscape to provide fact-based insights that could help inform the negotiations.
    The African Group and the Cairns Group provided an update on their joint work, reaffirming their commitment to levelling the playing field in agriculture and making the global trading system fairer and more predictable. The groups reiterated their plan to submit a “modalities” package — setting out formulas and figures for commitments to reduce trade-distorting domestic support — for the consideration of members before MC14.
    Both groups acknowledged the “great efforts” invested in the process, which allows ideas to be tested without commitment until an overall agreement is reached. While recognizing that “the work has not always been easy,” the two groups emphasized that the process has been “consultative and constructive” and serves as “an example of what can be done”. They pledged to continue to engage with members and groups to advance discussions and build momentum for MC14.
    Members applauded the Chair’s leadership and contributions. Many members emphasized the urgency of appointing a successor as soon as possible. There was broad agreement that MC14 must deliver on agriculture, given its crucial importance for the African continent. Some members suggested that outcomes should focus on addressing the specific needs of least-developed countries (LDCs) and on delivering for Africa.
    Members exchanged views on negotiation priorities and the process for moving talks forward. Several members supported the Chair’s call for the swift resumption of substantive negotiations. Many said that future work should go beyond entrenched positions and take a more creative and innovative approach. While some insisted on the importance of sticking to formal negotiation forums, others saw value in advancing discussions through both formal and informal tracks, citing the constructive ongoing dialogue between the African Group and the Cairns Group as an example.
    Some members also suggested incorporating new knowledge into the negotiations, including by organizing technical workshops and by expanding discussions to address emerging challenges, such as the need to ensure the sustainability of the sector.

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    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Largest autopsy-based study on COVID-19 vaccines – E-002597/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    1. As the Commission noted in its reply to Question E-003117/2023[1], ‘the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and national authorities evaluate data on reported events in EudraVigilance[2] to determine if there is any signal indicating causality and take action as appropriate’. EMA and national authorities closely monitor emerging data and will take regulatory action if new evidence indicates any causal relationship.

    2. The Commission relies on EMA to continuously monitor the COVID-19 vaccine safety assessing all available data, including EudraVigilance reports, scientific literature, and studies[3]. EMA has reviewed the study mentioned in the Honourable Member’s letter and concluded that, given the methodological limitations of the study- which was withdrawn from a scientific journal because of serious concerns about its quality- considers no action necessary at this stage.

    3. The Commission considers safety a core requirement for all vaccines. COVID-19 vaccines used in the EU have undergone EMA’s rigorous scientific assessment. Information on risks, including rare side effects, are publicly available in resources such as product information[4], the European Public Assessment Reports[5], and periodic safety update reports (PSURs)[6], which are regularly updated to keep healthcare professionals and patients informed. When necessary to ensure vaccine safety regulatory actions are taken in accordance with the applicable legislation.

    • [1] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2023-003117-ASW_EN.html
    • [2] https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/research-development/pharmacovigilance-research-development/eudravigilance
    • [3] https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/marketing-authorisation/pharmacovigilance-marketing-authorisation/risk-management/risk-management-plans
    • [4] https://ec.europa.eu/health/documents/community-register/html/index_en.htm
    • [5] https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/what-we-publish-medicines-when/european-public-assessment-reports-background-context
    • [6] https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/post-authorisation/pharmacovigilance-post-authorisation/periodic-safety-update-reports-psurs
    Last updated: 10 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Controversial dental tourism to non-EU countries – E-002389/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission recognises that many EU citizens seek medical and dental treatments abroad, driven by cost differences or limited public coverage of costs in their home countries.

    To monitor this trend, the Commission collects annual data on patient mobility within EU/ European Economic Area (EEA) countries.

    It is important to note that data from non-EU countries are not included in these reports. The data are broadly categorised into planned and unplanned treatments; however, they do not provide specific disaggregation for dental treatments. For further details, the last available report is accessible online[1].

    Cross-border healthcare within the EU is governed by Directive 2011/24/EU[2] and the Social Security Coordination Regulations[3]. These legislative frameworks address key aspects such as treatment, reimbursement, patient safety, and liability issues.

    However, they do not apply to healthcare services outside the EU, EEA, and Switzerland, except for the United Kingdom, where social security provisions similar to the regulations apply thanks to the Withdrawal Agreement and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

    The Commission has no legal framework for healthcare services accessed outside the EU or EEA countries, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

    Citizens are strongly advised to consult their respective National Contact Points (NCPs) designated at the national level in accordance with Directive 2011/24/EU[4].

    The NCPs can provide information to the patients about their rights to cross-border healthcare, including conditions for reimbursement and procedural requirements, such as the authorisation process for planned treatments and applicable tariffs, among others.

    • [1] https://health.ec.europa.eu/latest-updates/data-cross-border-patient-healthcare-following-directive-201124eu-reference-year-2022-2024-04-19_en
    • [2] http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2011/24/oj
    • [3] https://employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies-and-activities/moving-working-europe/eu-social-security-coordination/frequently-asked-questions/faq-social-security-regulations_en
    • [4] http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2011/24/oj

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Speeding up procedures and increasing EU financial assistance to respond to natural disasters in the Member States – E-002796/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    1. The EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) is a post-disaster instrument which provides financial assistance to EU countries facing severe natural disasters according to the specific rules set out in Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002[1]. The EUSF financial assistance is intended to supplement the country’s public expenditure to finance essential emergency and recovery operations. It is not a rapid response instrument. The disbursement of financial assistance requires per application the prior mobilisation of the fund by the European Parliament and the Council, which can take several months.

    2. Recognising the challenge, the Commission proposed a substantial financial reinforcement of the EUSF in the mid-term revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF)[2]. The budgetary authority decided to increase the Solidarity and Emergency Aid Reserve by EUR 1.5 billion for the years 2024-2027.

    The EUSF now has an annual budget of EUR 1 016 million[3] (in 2018 prices).

    The EUSF aid calculation methodology was established in 2003 and accepted by the European Parliament and the Council. Changes to the methodology would need to be aligned to the available budgetary resources of the Fund.

    In the preparation of the next MFF, the Commission will carefully assess the operation of the EUSF and reflect how to best deliver on the EUSF’s objectives in the future.

    • [1] Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund (OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3) as amended by Regulation (EU) No 661/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council of 15 May 2014 (OJ L 189, 27.6.2014, p. 143) and by Regulation (EU) 2020/461 of the European Parliament and the Council of 30 March 2020 (OJ L 99, 31.3.2020, p. 9). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:32002R2012
    • [2] Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/765 of 29 February 2024 amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027.
    • [3] EUR 1 144.1 million in 2024 prices.
    Last updated: 10 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Protecting consumers when making digital transactions and improving their awareness – E-002635/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    Following the Digital Fairness Fitness Check report[1] published on 3 October 2024, the Commission will develop a Digital Fairness Act to address the identified consumer protection issues in the online environment, such as termination of subscription contracts, automatic renewal of subscriptions and conversion of free trials into paid subscriptions.

    The specific options will be developed and assessed in an impact assessment. The Commission services are currently preparing a public consultation and impact assessment, to be conducted in 2025, ahead of a possible legislative proposal.

    The Commission is also committed to improving awareness and understanding of the rights of European consumers through several initiatives.

    The ConsumerPro[2] initiative is a capacity-building project with training programmes covering a wide range of topics, aimed at making consumer organisations and other actors in consumer policy better-equipped to protect and assist consumers.

    The Consumer Education Hub[3] website is a repository of hundreds of educational materials and resources collected during two research studies carried out by the Commission in 2021-2022.

    They can be used by all actors working in consumer education/advice and awareness raising. In 2024, the Commission launched a call for proposals[4] to provide financial support to initiatives and projects aimed at improving consumer education and awareness raising. Proposals selected for EU funding will be announced in Q1 2025.

    • [1] https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/13413-Digital-fairness-fitness-check-on-EU-consumer-law_en
    • [2] https://www.beuc.eu/consumer-pro-boosting-professionals-consumer-protection
    • [3] https://consumer-education.eu/
    • [4] https://eismea.ec.europa.eu/funding-opportunities/calls-proposals/call-proposals-action-grants-support-consumer-education-awareness-raising-and-local-advice-consumers_en
    Last updated: 10 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Non-Governmental Organizations Brief the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on the Situation of Women in Sri Lanka

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women was this afternoon briefed by representatives of non-governmental organizations on the situation of women’s rights in Sri Lanka, the report of which the Committee will review this week.

    The Committee will also review the reports of Belize, Congo and Liechtenstein this week, but there were no non-governmental organizations speaking on those countries.

    Non-governmental organizations speaking on Sri Lanka raised concerns relating to discriminatory legislation, gender-based violence, and the treatment of sex workers, among other issues.

    The following non-governmental organizations spoke on Sri Lanka: Women and Media Collective and Social Scientists Association; Women and Media Collective; 

    Suriya Women’s Development Centre; Centre for Equality and Justice; Sex Workers and Allies South Asia; Women’s Action Network; and Global Campaign for Equality in Family Law, Equality Now.

    The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women’s ninetieth session is being held from 3 to 21 February.  All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage.  Meeting summary releases can be found here.  The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

    The Committee will next meet in public at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 11 February to consider the fifth to ninth periodic report of Belize (CEDAW/C/BLZ/5-9). 

    Statement by Committee Chair 

    NAHLA HAIDAR, Committee Chair, said this was the second opportunity during the present session for non-governmental organizations to provide information on States parties whose reports were being considered during the second week of the session, namely Belize, Congo, Sri Lanka and Liechtenstein.  It was regretful that non-governmental organizations from Belize, Congo and Liechtenstein were not present, but the presence of representatives from Sri Lanka was greatly appreciated.  The Committee greatly appreciated that they had travelled all the way to Geneva, as the information they provided was crucial.

    Statements by Non-Governmental Organizations from Sri Lanka

    Sri Lanka

    Speakers on Sri Lanka said the economic crisis which had engulfed the country since 2020 had exacerbated the economic rights of women there, compounding labour market inequalities, unpaid care work, the lack of comprehensive and inclusive social protection, and rural economic challenges.  Women’s labour force participation remained low at 32.1 per cent, with many employed in low-wage, insecure jobs in the informal sector as well as in the formal sector.  The gender pay gap remained high, with women earning 27 per cent less than men on average. Proposed labour law reforms promoting part-time and ‘flexible’ work risked further job insecurity for women. In the plantation sector, Malaiyaha Tamil women continued to experience intense labour exploitation and wage discrimination

    A speaker said that Sri Lanka must urgently abolish the centralised power in the office of the Executive President and enable a judicial review of legislation.  Despite international treaty obligations, several discriminatory laws persisted.  The Penal Code continued to criminalise consensual same sex relations and abortion. Statutory rape of married girls between the ages of 12 and 16 by their husbands was exempt.  Urgent legal reforms were therefore a priority.

    The Economic Transformation Act and the policy to create new economic zones without adequate protections for labour, land and local economic development was a serious concern.  The weak national action plan on women peace and security 2023-2027 needed to be revised.  The independent National Commission on Women needed to be established without delay.  Increasing women in decision making required urgent attention and the low representation of women in the new Cabinet was concerning.

    Gender based violence continued with impunity.  Protections, support services and judicial sensitivities under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act needed to be strengthened.  Technology-facilitated sexual and gender-based violence, a continuum of offline violence, was a fast-evolving form of violence against women. It was imperative that specific laws on technology-facilitated sexual and gender-based violence were included. Women sentenced to death faced intersectional discrimination.  As of 2024, 23 women were on death row.  It was vital that Sri Lanka regularly published disaggregated data regarding people charged with capital crimes.   

    While sex work was not criminalised, sex workers were arbitrarily arrested and subjected to violence under the vagrants and brothels ordinances.  Police violence and systemic discrimination against sex workers persisted, including through the vagrants ordinance.  In custody, sex workers were subjected to sexual bribery, forced sexually transmitted disease testing, physical violence, and prolonged detention. The practice of sexual bribery against sex workers continued with no consequence for the perpetrators.  A speaker urged the State to fulfil the Committee’s recommendation to repeal the vagrants ordinance and other provisions criminalising sex workers.

    In 2024, exam results of 70 advanced level Muslim students were withheld by the Department of Examinations because the girls’ hijabs covered their ears in violation of examination rules. Muslim women and girls were deprived of State protection under the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act which had no minimum age of marriage, prevented women from signing marriage contracts, excluded Muslim women from becoming judges, prohibited two Muslims marrying under the general marriage registration ordinance, and allowed unconditional polygamy and non-registration of marriage.  It also contained unequal divorce provisions.  The bill which addressed these concerns needed to be enacted without delay.  In 2024, a study conducted across nine districts indicated that almost 50 per cent of Muslim women reported being victims of female genital mutilation, or knowing someone who was.  Victims of female genital mutilation in Sri Lanka were newborn girls after seven days, nine days, 15 days, 40 days and some at six to eight years.

    A speaker said the Penal Code only criminalised marital rape in the context of a married woman raped by her husband if she was judicially separated from him.  The Code needed to be amended to include marital rape in all circumstances. Several provisions in the personal laws discriminated against women, for example, the Thesawalamai law restricted Tamil women from disposing of separate property.  Women faced severe obstacles in accessing justice in family law: litigation costs were high; legal aid was limited; and there was a lack of gender-sensitivity among personnel in the justice sector.

    Comprehensive reform towards an effective and efficient family court system was imperative.  In the plantation communities, there was a lack of Tamil-speaking personnel in law enforcement.  Lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons were unable to access police as same-sex conduct was criminalised.  The State must ensure prompt, effective and adequate measures for access to justice for women, including from minorities and vulnerable groups.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    A Committee Expert asked about the national action plan on women, peace and security which needed to be revised; what kind of revision was required?  What was the status of the Truth, Reconciliation and Non-Repetition Commission?  How was conflict-related sexual violence being addressed in this context?  What was the status of abortion, including data and access to safe abortion?

    Another Expert asked for the main factors which hindered women’s access to justice?   Could more information be provided on how to improve the impact of the National Women’s Council, the Human Rights Ministry, and other bodies? How could they improve their relationship with civil society organizations?   

    A Committee Expert asked about the economic reform, in view of women’s participation in the labour market?

    An Expert asked about women’s representation in political institutions.  Had quotas and their enforcement been successful?  Was technology-facilitated abuse prevalent for women in decision-making positions and did it act as a deterrence for their participation?

    Another Committee Expert asked about difficulties women experienced in transferring their citizenship to their children?  What measures were in place to ensure migrant women could regularise their position, and obtain identification documents? 

    An Expert asked if there was information available about the changes in the Penal Code concerning the explicit clarification of marital rape?  Were positive changes implemented concerning the law on domestic violence?

    Responses by Non-Governmental Organizations

    Sri Lanka

    Responding to questions on Sri Lanka, a speaker said access to justice was a difficult and lengthy process for victims of gender-based violence, particularly those in the Tamil area. This was due to stigma around reporting, and the lack of police officers near the plantation sector who could speak in the Tamil language.  Typically, the average court procedure took 17 years to complete one case, while the victims faced repeated victimisation.

    The reforms suggested aimed to increase women’s workforce participation through part-time and flexible work. However, there were concerns that the current leave provisions and other benefits would not be included.

    Abortion was considered illegal in Sri Lanka unless the life of the mother was at risk.  However, despite rules that any woman could seek post-abortion care, stigma prevented many women from accessing this option, and many women instead accessed abortion in unsafe and back-alley settings.

    There was no family court system in Sri Lanka and privacy of proceedings was not always guaranteed, nor was the best interest of the child.

    Obtaining identification documents remained challenging for sex workers.  Many sex workers did not possess identity documents or birth certificates, and were reluctant to seek assistance due to police harassment.  Not having these documents meant these women could not obtain legal documents which impacted their access to education. 

    Women in politics were among the primary victim survivors of technology-assisted gender-based violence, in the form of hate speech and degrading memes and images shared online. This was seen in the most recent election, with female candidates’ being targeted for their education, the way they dressed, and the way they spoke.  Women politicians who supported family law reforms faced social media attacks, and this included Sri Lanka’s female Prime Minister who was recently elected. Social media companies such as Meta had not taken down harmful content.

    A private members bill had been raised in the previous government regarding the amendment for allowing same sex marriage.  However, after a second reading the bill was not passed.  The Government was then dissolved, and a new Government was elected. There had been no updates to the amendment to the Penal Code regarding marital rape since March 2024.

    The last parliamentary elections in 2024 doubled the number of women in parliament without a quota.  However, a quota came into effect in 2018 for local authority elections.  Political parties were legally mandated now to ensure 25 per cent of women were represented in politics; however, no political party had nominated more than 10 per cent of women in seats.  It was hoped the State would move to parity and not stop at a limit of 35 per cent in relation to quotas.

     

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

    CEDAW25.006E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Fourth India-UK Energy Dialogue- Advancing India’s energy transition held in New Delhi today

    Source: Government of India

    Fourth India-UK Energy Dialogue-   Advancing India’s energy transition held in New Delhi today

    Phase-2 of the India-UK bilateral Accelerating Smart Power & Renewable Energy in India (ASPIRE) programme announced

    Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 8:44PM by PIB Delhi

    The Fourth India-UK Energy Dialogue, co-chaired by Shri Manohar Lal, Union Minister of Power and Housing and Urban Affairs of India, and Mr. Ed Miliband, Secretary for Energy Security and Net Zero for United Kingdom, was held today in New Delhi.

    The dialogue focused on reviewing progress made in the energy sectors of both nations, including power and renewable energy, and reaffirming the commitment to a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive energy future. The Ministers underscored the importance of ensuring that the energy transition and economic growth proceed together, while maintaining affordable and clean energy access for all.

    The Ministers underscored the importance of ensuring energy security and sustainable development and emphasized expanding the cooperation in the areas of power distribution, sector reforms, industrial energy efficiency and de-carbonization, and electric mobility while exploring new opportunities in the emerging fields such as energy storage, green data centers, and offshore wind, with an increased focus on MSMEs.

    The Ministers were pleased to announce the launch of Phase-2 of the India-UK bilateral Accelerating Smart Power & Renewable Energy in India (ASPIRE) programme. This phase will aim to provide technical support for ensuring round-the-clock power supply, expanding renewable energy initiatives, and accelerating industrial energy efficiency and de-carbonization, in collaboration with the Ministry of Power (MOP) and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

    The Ministers were pleased to observe the bilateral collaboration between the two sides to promote growth and jobs, through technical assistance cooperation and investment.  They also discussed the progress of trade missions focusing on offshore wind and green hydrogen, as well as the cooperation between the UK’s Energy Systems Catapult and India’s Power Trading Corporation.

    Recognizing the shared ambition for advancing offshore wind development, the Ministers announced the establishment of a UK-India Offshore Wind Taskforce, which will focus on advancing offshore wind ecosystem development, supply chains, and financing models in both countries.  Mr. Miliband commended India’s ambitious initiatives in the renewable energy sector and shown a strong interest in gaining insights from India’s experience in implementing the Solar Rooftop Programme (PM – Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojna).

    The Ministers agreed on the importance of power market regulations in driving the energy transition and ensuring greater energy security and access. To support this, they announced the continuation of the Power Sector Reforms programme under the UK Partnering for Accelerating Climate Change (UKPACT). Additionally, a new taskforce has been proposed between the UK’s Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM) and India’s Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) to support renewable energy integration and grid transformation in India.

    Both Ministers emphasized the ongoing value of the India-UK Energy Dialogue in advancing mutual energy transition goals, ensuring energy access, and building secure and sustainable clean energy supply chains while aligning these efforts with economic growth.

    The Ministers expressed their intention to further strengthen their collaboration through the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and looked forward to the fifth UK-India Energy Dialogue in 2026. The dialogue concluded with the launch of the ‘Best Practices Compendium of Industrial Energy Efficiency/Decarbonisation’ and a ‘Pathways for Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation in the Indian Aluminium Sector’.

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    JN/ SK

    (Release ID: 2101542) Visitor Counter : 44

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Government revises Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) guidelines

    Source: Government of India

    Government revises Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) guidelines

    Procurement limit of crops under MIS increased from 20 percent to 25 percent

    FPOs, FPCs, State-nominated agencies, Central Nodal Agencies to undertake procurement of top crops under MIS

    Approval given to NCCF for reimbursement of cost for transportation of Kharif tomato up to 1,000 MT from Madhya Pradesh to Delhi.

    Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 8:26PM by PIB Delhi

    Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) is a component of PM-AASHA scheme. Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) is implemented on the request of State/UT Government for procurement of various perishable agricultural/horticultural commodities such as tomato, onion and potato etc. for which Minimum Support Price (MSP) is not applicable and there is a reduction of at least 10% in the market prices in the States/UTs as compared to the rates of the previous normal season, so that farmers are not forced to sell their produce under distress.

    To encourage more States for implementation of MIS, Government has revised the MIS Guidelines in the following provisions:

     1. Made MIS a component of the integrated scheme of PM-AASHA.

     2. MIS will be implemented only when there is a minimum reduction of 10% in the prevailing market price as compared to the previous normal year.

    3. The procurement/coverage limit of production quantity of crops has been increased from the existing 20 percent ​​to 25 percent.

    4. The State has also been given the option to pay the difference between the Market Intervention Price (MIP) and the selling price directly into the bank account of the farmers in place of physical procurement.

    Further, where there is a difference in the price of TOP crops (tomato, onion and potato) between the producing and consuming States, the operational cost incurred in storage and transportation of crops from the producing State to other consuming States will be reimbursed by Central Nodal Agencies (CNA) like NAFED and NCCF, in the interest of farmers. Approval has been given to NCCF for reimbursement of cost for transportation of Kharif tomato upto 1,000 MT from Madhya Pradesh to Delhi. It is being proposed to include, apart from NAFED and NCCF, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs), State nominated agencies and other Central Nodal Agencies, to undertake procurement of top crops under MIS and to make arrangements for storage and transportation from the producing state to the consuming State in case of price difference between the producing State and the consuming State, in coordination with the implementing state.

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    MG/KSR

    (Release ID: 2101530) Visitor Counter : 53

    Read this release in: Hindi

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