NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray, Ecology Director Sixkiller, Councilmember Zahilay, WA Head Start Association Director Call Out How Trump’s Ongoing Illegal Funding Freeze is Hurting WA State, Putting Critical Projects and Jobs at Risk

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, led a virtual press conference highlighting how President Trump’s ongoing, illegal funding freeze is hurting people and organizations across Washington state—forcing them to make impossible choices, costing jobs, and putting critical projects and hundreds of millions of dollars for everything from infrastructure improvements to culvert removal at risk. Joining Senator Murray for the press call were King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay, Washington State Department of Ecology Director Casey Sixkiller, and Joel Ryan, Executive Director of the Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP.

    “People need to understand the Trump administration is still holding up billions of dollars, under Trump’s illegal Day One Executive Orders. We’re talking about funding Congress passed into law—funding that is owed to communities in Washington state and across the country,” Senator Murray said on this morning’s press call, outlining some of the ways President Trump’s ongoing illegal funding freeze from his Day One Executive Orders is putting critical projects and jobs in Washington state at risk:

    • “The Washington State Department of Transportation has told me Trump is blocking money to repair electric chargers, to install heavy duty chargers for trucks, to make critical repairs to bridges in order to protect the safety of millions of drivers, and to install new chargers along major roads like I-90, US-97, US-2, US-195, and US-395.
    • “Trump is holding up road projects to make streets safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers—a safe streets project in Richland, critical safety barriers in Spokane are just a few of the examples.
    • “Trump’s illegal freeze is, as we speak, blocking wildlife preservation work all over our state, and critical culvert replacement projects to help save our salmon.
    • “There are port projects right now on hold across Washington state, including for electrical infrastructure, and shore power for vessels. Absolutely essential electric transmission and distribution projects are on hold and in jeopardy.
    • “World class organizations in Washington state have told me they may have to lay people off this week—hundreds of people—because of Trump’s illegal funding freezes.

    “Make no mistake: the chaos is not over. There are still billions of dollars being illegally held up—and so many jobs in Washington state that are on the line I am going to continue fighting this and pressing the administration every way I can to get them to end these illegal funding freezes,” Murray concluded. “I’m going to continue doing everything I can as Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee to stand up and hold this administration to account, so we can get the money Congress passed into law flowing again to folks back home in Washington state.”

    “This is money that should be flowing into our communities, creating jobs, protecting public health, and improving the environment. Instead, it is being delayed at the expense of the people who need it most,” said Casey Sixkiller, director of the Washington State Department of Ecology.

    “King County is already grappling with a $150 million budget shortfall, putting essential services at risk. A freeze in federal funding would make this crisis even worse, threatening vital programs like healthcare, housing support, transportation, and services for veterans and seniors. For the people who depend on these services every day, these cuts aren’t just numbers—they’re lifelines that keep our community safe, healthy, and connected. Without immediate action and support, many of our most vulnerable neighbors will face even greater hardship,” said King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay.

    “This past week and half have been chaotic and disruptive roller coaster ride for Head Start programs here in Washington State. The half day shutdown caused by the Trump Administration caused confusion and nearly led to thousands of children and families losing access to childcare. Yesterday we continued to receive reports that Head Start programs were struggling to access their federal grant dollars with one program as of today still unable to gain access. Across the country there remains over 40+ Head Start programs impacting more than 20,000 children dealing with this ‘rolling blackout’ putting very low income children and families at risk of losing services,” said Joel Ryan, Executive Director of the Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP.

    TIMELINE OF EVENTS

    January 20th: Within his first hours in office, President Trump signed a number of executive orders that illegally block funding that was signed into law to rebuild America’s infrastructure, lower families’ energy costs, create new, good-paying jobs, strengthen our national security, and more.

    January 27th: Trump expanded his funding freeze dramatically when the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a sweeping, illegal memo directing a near-blanket freeze on virtually all federal funding, with carveouts for Social Security, Medicare, and “assistance provided directly to individuals.” Senator Murray immediately wrote a letter to OMB alongside House Appropriations Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) raising alarms about the sweeping directive and calling the acting director to restore funding, as the law requires.

    January 28th: Senator Murray joined millions of Americans in decrying the chaos and pain President Trump’s freeze caused—as reports poured in from across the country about how it risked shuttering Head Start programs, cutting off disaster relief, jeopardizing cancer research, and much more. The White House, in trying to clarify the scope of the memo, instead created more chaos, confusion, and headaches for the American people.

    January 29th: Senator Murray again slammed Trump’s devastating freeze cutting off funding families count on—noting that even programs the administration said were back online were, in fact, still shuttered, and she called on Trump to stop withholding funding. Then, facing nationwide backlash, President Trump had his OMB revoke its memo. But President Trump vowed to keep his freeze of hundreds of billions of dollars in funding tied up by his executive orders in place—and his aides continued their vows to block more funding signed into law.

    RIGHT NOW: President Trump continues to hold up vast swaths of funding implicated by his illegal executive orders—and chaos and confusion pervade over whether funding implicated by his now-rescinded OMB memo has been fully restored.

    His executive orders direct agencies to, among other things, halt disbursement of funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, foreign development assistance, and virtually any funding his administration deems “woke.”

    President Trump’s ongoing freeze is holding up funding Congress delivered—often on a bipartisan basis—to:

    • Rebuild America’s roads and bridges.
    • Connect families to high-speed internet access.
    • Upgrade transit and transportation infrastructure.
    • Lower Americans’ energy costs.
    • Create new, good-paying clean energy jobs.
    • Strengthen America’s national security.
    • Much more.

    President Trump must rescind his executive orders—and stop blocking funding the American people are counting on. His failure to do so will:

    • Kill good-paying American jobs.
    • Delay—or altogether scrap—infrastructure projects all across the county.
    • Raise American families’ energy costs.
    • Create more chaos, confusion, and uncertainty that hurt families, businesses, small businesses, and local organizations and governments.
    • Gut efforts to tackle the climate crisis and ensure every American has clean air and water.
    • Halt work cleaning up Superfund sites contaminated with hazardous waste and substances.
    • Undermine our national security and credibility on the world stage.
    • Much more.

    A fact sheet on the issue of impoundment—Trump’s unconstitutional scheme to withhold federal funding headed to communities across America—is HERE.

    Senator Murray’s full remarks, as delivered on today’s press call, are below and video is HERE:

    “Thank you everyone for joining us today. Last week, we saw a level of chaos and recklessness from the Trump administration that’s truly unlike anything I have seen in my lifetime, when the administration moved to brazenly and illegally freeze federal grants across government and across the country. 

    “The panic and the confusion were widespread. Because there was a long, long, list of programs President Trump tried to put on the chopping block.

    “Then, less than 48 hours later, in the face of intense public backlash and outrage from people all over the country—they admitted they were disastrously wrong and revoked the OMB memo.

    “But it’s really important that this fight is far from over. Not only is there still significant confusion—funding that was supposed to be turned back ‘on’ that is still not, it’s still locked up—but, just as importantly, people need to understand the Trump administration is still holding up billions of dollars, under Trump’s illegal Day One Executive Orders.

    “We’re talking about funding that Congress passed into law—funding that is owed to communities in Washington state and across the country.

    “Now, the harm they are causing with these funding freezes is hard to overstate, because this has never been done before. 

    “And we’ve been working around the clock to figure out exactly what all of this means, and who is affected—because they have been far from clear.

    “But today I want to give you all a sense of what folks across our state have told me about what Trump’s ongoing, illegal funding freezes have meant for them.

    “The Washington State Department of Transportation has told me that Trump is blocking money to repair electric chargers, to install heavy duty chargers for trucks, to make critical repairs to bridges in order to protect the safety of millions of drivers, and to install new chargers along major roads like I-90, US-97, US-2, US-195, and US-395.

    “Trump is still holding up road projects that make streets safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers—a safe streets project in Richland, critical safety barriers in Spokane are just a few of the examples.

    “Trump’s illegal freeze is, as we speak, blocking wildlife preservation work all over our state, and critical culvert replacement projects to help save our salmon. 

    “There are port projects right now on hold across Washington state, including for electrical infrastructure, and shore power for vessels. Absolutely essential electric transmission and distribution projects are on hold and in jeopardy.

    “And there are many other projects, organizations, and people—who are being harmed right now by the President’s reckless funding freeze.

    “Medical researchers in Washington state who are worried that their work will somehow be considered ‘woke,’ when in reality, it’s actually pretty darn important we understand the roots of health disparities—things like why the maternal death rate is so much higher for Black and Native American women.

    “Trump’s executive orders also froze lifesaving foreign assistance for people all around the globe.

    “And world class organizations in our state, in Washington state, have told me they may have to lay people off this week—hundreds of people—because of Trump’s illegal funding freezes.

    “It is just completely unclear when, or if these projects are going to get the funds they are counting on, and owed, from the bills Congress passed into law long before Trump came into office. 

    “So, make no mistake: the chaos is not over. There are still billions of dollars being illegally held up—and many jobs in Washington state are now on the line.

    “I am going to continue fighting this and pressing the administration every way I can to make them end these illegal funding freezes.

    “Democrats will speak out, we will challenge Trump’s illegal actions in the courts, we will demand accountability, and we will put the pressure on the administration and on our Republican colleagues. 

    “But we also need our Republican colleagues to say ‘enough.’ We need them to join us. 

    “Now, we learned something extremely important last week: that when the American people–all across our state, all across the country–speak out with one voice, and when regular people stand up, it makes a difference. 

    “So this fight is far from over—and I’m going to continue doing everything I can as Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee to stand up and hold this administration to account, so we can get the money Congress—by both parties, Republicans and Democrats–passed into law flowing again to folks back home in Washington state.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Truxton Continues to Add Talent and Depth to the Team

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NASHVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Truxton is pleased to announce the addition of several new colleagues over the last two months. Truxton continues to attract some of the nation’s top talent in the finance industry.

    “Truxton is always looking for talented professionals who can enhance the way we serve our clients,” said Tom Stumb, CEO and Chairman. “Over the past twenty years, we have been fortunate to build a team of dedicated individuals who are committed to doing the right thing for our clients. We truly believe we have the finest team in the industry.”

    Steve Pelmore Jr., CPA joins the Wealth team as Vice President, Tax Strategist and Wealth Advisor. Mr. Pelmore has nearly 20 years of experience in public accounting. Prior to Truxton, he served as a Senior Tax Manager for Blankenship CPA Group and has held various roles with the Internal Revenue Service. Steve is a graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana with a MS in Taxation, a graduate of Tennessee State University with a BBA in Economics and Finance and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and an Enrolled Agent (EA). Prior to his career as a CPA, Steve served as a Captain in the US Army & US Army Reserve, participated in various overseas tours of duty and earned numerous service awards.

    “Steve is an accomplished tax professional that brings considerable capabilities to Truxton which will meaningfully benefit our clients,” said Drew Mallory, Senior Managing Director and Chief Fiduciary Officer. “His strong command of income and transfer taxation immediately strengthens our team’s ability to provide strategic tax advice to Ultra High Net Worth families and business owners.”

    “We are thrilled that Steve has joined our team.  His decades of experience and knowledge and commitment to excellence will serve our clients, colleagues and shareholders well,” remarks Peter Deming, CPA, Senior Wealth and Tax Strategist.

    The Truxton Banking team adds Carson Walter as a Credit Analyst. Mr. Walter is a graduate of The Citadel with Master’s of Business Administration and a graduate of Birmingham-Southern College, earning his BS in Business Administration.

    Nathan Johnson joins the Finance team as an Accountant after five years working as a finance associate for the Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia. He earned his Master’s of Business Administration from Regis University and his BBA in Accounting from Southern Adventist University.

    Also, Truxton adds Keegan Fornoff as an Office Coordinator. Prior to Truxton, Ms. Fornoff worked in communications and served as an assistant volleyball coach. She is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, earning her BS in Psychology, and was a 4-year member of the Division I Women’s Volleyball Team, and later earning her Master’s of Science in Exercise and Sport Psychology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

    “We are excited to welcome this exceptional group of professionals,” said Derrick Jones, President of Truxton. “They bring a wealth of talent, experience, and energy, as well as an unwavering dedication to serving sophisticated clients at the highest level. We look forward to the impact they will have on improving client outcomes and driving our business forward.”

    About Truxton
    Truxton is a premier provider of wealth, banking, and family office services for wealthy individuals, their families, and their business interests. Serving clients across the world, Truxton’s vastly experienced team of professionals provides customized solutions to its clients’ complex financial needs. Founded in 2004 in Nashville, Tennessee, Truxton upholds its original guiding principle: do the right thing. Truxton Trust Company is a subsidiary of financial holding company, Truxton Corporation (OTCPK: TRUX). For more information, visit truxtontrust.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Collins, Bipartisan Group Introduce Legislation to Expand Rural Access to Maternal Health Care

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Katie Britt (R-AL), and Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced legislation to support rural health care facilities in providing urgent obstetric care. Their bipartisan Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act would help prepare rural hospitals and practitioners to handle the obstetric emergencies that come through their doors as more delivery units, particularly those in rural areas, are being forced into closing.

    Between 2011 and 2021, more than 260 rural hospitals in the U.S. shut down their obstetrics services, representing one in four of the nation’s rural obstetric units. Ten of Maine’s 25 rural hospitals do not have obstetric services. Nationally, this trend has left more than 2 million women in a maternity care desert, meaning that they live in a county without a provider offering obstetric care such as labor and delivery. This can lead to longer driving times for care and increased health risks.

    “The closure of labor and delivery units in rural Maine and throughout the nation is an urgent issue that threatens the health and safety of mothers and babies,” said Senator Collins. “By creating new opportunities to improve obstetric readiness in rural communities through skills training, workforce development, and telehealth partnerships, this bipartisan legislation would help reduce care gaps and better ensure that more rural Maine communities have access to the maternal care they need.”

    The Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act would help rural hospitals and doctors prepare to handle the obstetric emergencies that come through their doors by:

    • Creating training programs to help non-specialists respond to emergencies like labor and delivery;
    • Providing federal grants for rural facilities to buy better equipment to train for and handle these emergencies; and
    • Developing a pilot program for teleconsultation services, so that a doctor at a rural facility helping an expecting or postpartum mother facing an emergency can quickly consult with maternal health care experts.

    Improving access to health care in rural areas has been a focus of Senator Collins’ efforts throughout her Senate service. Last year, Senator Collins secured $2,397,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for projects that will help to improve access to health care throughout Maine in the Fiscal Year 2024 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill. 

    The complete text of the bill can be read here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Holyrood — RCMP East District GIS continues to investigate break, enter, and theft at RBC in Holyrood, three more individuals charged

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    In continuing its investigation into a recent break, enter, and theft at the RBC bank branch in Holyrood, RCMP East District General Investigation Section (GIS) arrested and charged three more suspects, 33 -year-old Ryan Tobin, 38-year-old Matthew Scott, and 49-year-old Jodi Lewis.

    At approximately 3:45 a.m. on December 16, 2024, suspects used a stolen back hoe to break into the bank, causing extensive damage. An ATM was stolen from inside and loaded into a dump truck which was stopped by police a short time later on the Trans-Canada Highway heading east and the ATM was recovered. A second vehicle, a pickup truck, was also pulled over. This vehicle was believed to be involved in the breaking and entering and all three occupants were arrested but later released.

    As a result of further investigation, on January 29, 2025, Matthew Scott, Jodi Lewis, and Ryan Tobin, the occupants of the pickup truck, were charged and are set to appear in court on March 4, 2025, for the following offences:

    • Break and enter
    • Theft over $5000
    • Mischief over $5000

    Two other individuals, Jason Weir and Jamie Kennedy, were previously arrested and charged as part of this investigation.

    The investigation is continuing. Anyone having information about this crime is asked to contact Holyrood RCMP at 709-229-3892 or, to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: #SayItHere 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit www.nlcrimestoppers.com or use the P3Tips app.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Counterfeiting cash group disrupted: 12 arrests

    Source: Eurojust

    During an action day on 2 February, actions took place simultaneously in North Macedonia and Serbia. Authorities searched multiple locations and found machines used to make moulds and stamps for counterfeit money, hot rollers, presses, a counterfeit banknote detector and holograms. Over 180 000 counterfeit euro banknotes were seized during searches in Serbia, and over 500 000 in North Macedonia.

    Authorities also seized cash in different currencies, phones and laptops. Evidence collected during the searches will be further analysed to serve the ongoing investigations. Twelve members of the forgers group were arrested in North Macedonia and Serbia.

    The JIT between North Macedonian and Serbian authorities is supported by Eurojust through the Western Balkans Criminal Justice Project. This project strengthens cooperation within the Western Balkans and between the region and the European Union, using modern tools and methods to combat organised crime and terrorism. The JIT allowed the authorities to work together efficiently and effective, exchanging information in real time. The Western Balkans Criminal Justice Project purchased equipment for the North Macedonian and Serbian authorities, which was instrumental in executing the operation.

    Europol played a key role in the operation, supporting law enforcement with expertise on counterfeit banknotes, analytical and financial assistance, and coordination of operational activities. Europol’s analysis identified the country where the counterfeit banknotes were distributed. On the action day, Europol deployed staff to North Macedonia and Serbia to provide technical support and cross-check operational data against Europol’s databases and the European Central Bank’s systems.

    The following authorities carried out the operations:

    North Macedonia: Basic Public Prosecution Office for Prosecuting Organized Crime and Corruption; Investigative Centre from the Prosecution Office and Ministry of Interior

    Serbia: Public Prosecutor’s Office for organized crime, Service for combating organized Crime, Department for combating counterfeiting of money

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: [Galaxy Unpacked 2025] Galaxy Tech Forum: Galaxy AI: Redefining the Mobile Experience Paradigm

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung Electronics unveiled the Galaxy S25 series at Galaxy Unpacked 2025, marking the beginning of the next era of mobile AI to explore the latest flagship smartphones and the transformative potential of AI agents, Samsung Newsroom joined the third Galaxy Tech Forum session, titled “True AI Companion: Impact on Life and What’s Next.” 
     
    (From left to right) Bob O’Donnell, Sameer Samat, Jay Kim, Christopher Patrick and Dr. Chris Brauer
     
    More Natural, Intuitive and User-Friendly Mobile AI 
    The session kicked off with welcome remarks from Jay Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of Customer Experience Office, Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics.  “Yesterday was a very exciting day for us as we launched the Galaxy S25. It’s another big step forward in the AI era,” Kim said. “We’re very excited to be here with our partners today, especially (excited) to talk about everything we did together to launch the Galaxy S25 series.” 
     
    Jay Kim from Samsung Electronics
     
    Moderator Bob O’Donnell, President and Founder of TECHnalysis Research, posed questions to the panelists about the benefits the Galaxy S25 series will bring to users, as well as the barriers blocking certain consumers from using mobile AI.  “AI should make users’ lives better. We study consumer habits, constantly trying to gain a better understanding of our customers,” Kim said. “Ultimately, what we’re trying to do is minimise how much effort it takes to input while maximising the output. To do that, we look at what consumers do on their phones, define the potential use cases alongside our partners, and put it all together in our devices for the best possible consumer experience.” 
     
    The Galaxy Tech Forum discussion on Galaxy AI
     
    “Multimodality can help people become more efficient while AI agents can help people become more productive,” Kim continued. He also highlighted Samsung’s commitment to openly collaborating with its partners to drive progress forward and expressed his excitement for the possibilities AI innovations will bring as part of a new chapter in mobile technology.  
     
    Expanding the Galaxy AI Ecosystem Through Open Collaboration 
    During the session, Samsung offered an inside look at the work done in partnership with Google and Qualcomm to perfect the Galaxy S25 series’ AI innovations.  “Even though the benefit value of mobile AI is really high, it’s of no use if you can’t access it. We had to look at what was already part of the consumer experience and contemplate how we could enhance those experiences in a way that would bring real benefits, but still be easy enough to access,” Kim explained. He noted that close collaboration was essential, particularly in integrating Google’s Gemini intelligence and Qualcomm’s on-device processing capabilities. 
     
    Sameer Samat from Google
     
    “Truly helpful AI must fit naturally into our daily lives. AI is a tool and not an end in itself, and what matters to consumers the most is how helpful AI can be for them,” said Sameer Samat, President of Android Ecosystem at Google. “LLMs represent a massive leap in how computers understand human language. Now, you can speak in completely natural language, removing any friction from the overall experience.” “With Galaxy S25, I’m optimistic that people will quickly adapt to using an AI agent to help them get things done in very natural ways.” 
     
    Christopher Patrick from Qualcomm
     
    Key drivers of multimodal AI capabilities, like Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, were also highlighted, showcasing technology that simultaneously processes multiple forms of information, including voice, images and text.  “The Galaxy S25 series is going to be a completely new experience. You’ll be able to engage with your personalised AI assistant like never before; it doesn’t just feel like interacting with a real person, it perceives your environment and can interact with content shown on your camera,” said Christopher Patrick, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Mobile Handsets at Qualcomm. “Our collaboration with Samsung to customise the chipset to make these new capabilities feel seamless is something I’m really proud of.” 
     
    Breaking Barriers: Mobile AI’s Role in Enhancing Quality of Life 
    During the session, Samsung also presented the findings of a global study conducted in partnership with London-based research firm, Symmetry, that examined the link between mobile AI use and quality of life. The speakers delved into the study’s key implications and offered valuable insights. 
     
    Dr. Chris Brauer from Goldsmiths, University of London, and Symmetry
     
    “The rate of AI innovation is astounding, but what struck me about the research we did with Samsung was that the rate of mobile AI adoption is also rising at a rapid rate,” said Dr. Chris Brauer, Director of Innovation in the Institute of Management Studies at Goldsmiths, University of London, and Chief Innovation Officer at Symmetry. “Frequent consumer use of mobile AI globally has nearly doubled in just six months, jumping from 16% in July to 27% in January.” Dr. Brauer also outlined key findings concerning certain barriers to entry the research found around mobile AI. “We found a really interesting theme among those less willing to adopt the technology: doubt,” Dr. Brauer said.
    “Doubt in AI’s ability to bring meaningful benefits to everyday life (56%), doubt and a lack of high confidence to use AI to its full potential (85%) and doubt around privacy and whether AI can be trusted (90%). There’s immense potential with this technology, but what’s also clear are the very real barriers that must be addressed responsibly for wider adoption to take place.” 
     
    The Galaxy AI discussion session at the Galaxy Tech Forums
     
    The Galaxy AI session concluded with the panelists agreeing that mobile AI innovation is set to revolutionise every aspect of modern life. As representatives of the fast-moving industry, they also vowed to develop related technologies in a responsible manner beneficial to all of humanity.  
     
    
     
     
     

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Global: First new non-opioid painkiller approved in the US for decades – here’s how it works

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Alistair Mathie, Professor of Pharmacology and Head of Life Sciences, University of Westminster

    S L/Shutterstock

    A new non-opioid painkiller, suzetrigine, has just been approved by the US drug regulator, the FDA. It is the first non-opioid painkiller the agency has approved in over two decades.

    Because of their addictive nature, medical professionals have done a lot in recent years to minimise the use of opioids, especially the length of time they are taken for following surgery. Patients receiving opioids for longer than a week post-surgery were found to double their risk of using these drugs for more than a year.

    In the US, a study showed that around 6% of all patients who underwent surgery became persistent opioid users, even if they had never taken opioids before. So the arrival of a relatively safe and effective non-opioid drug to treat acute pain without the risk of addiction is a huge deal.

    Suzetrigine works by blocking the activity of proteins called sodium channels in nerve cells that send pain signals. This stops the pain signal in its tracks, before it reaches your brain and therefore before you experience it.

    This is exactly how existing local anaesthetic drugs, such as lidocaine, work. Unfortunately, these drugs block all sodium channels throughout your body, including those that control the activity of your heart, your brain and your breathing. This is why, as their name implies, they can only be applied locally.

    In dentistry, this is usually done using a syringe and accompanied by another drug (called a “vasoconstrictor”) to stop the anaesthetic from escaping into the bloodstream.

    Targeting sodium channels to alleviate pain is a wonderful idea in principle. However, it is hampered by the widespread presence of these proteins – which initiate electrical signalling in almost all the cells of your body – and the consequent risks associated with blocking them. Not least the very real risk of sudden death.

    In Japan, fugu, a dish made from puffer fish, is an exotic delicacy. At least part of its attraction is the slight tingle in the tongue that can be experienced when eating it. This tingling is caused by a poison, tetrodotoxin, that is a potent blocker of sodium channels. Too much tetrodotoxin is fatal. In Japanese restaurants, only qualified fugu handlers are permitted to prepare the dish.

    So why is the discovery and development of suzetrigine so important? We have nine different genes that code for sodium channels (they run from Nav1.1 to Nav1.9). Each of these channels is present at different levels in the different cells and organs of your body. But only one of these channels, Nav1.8, is present in peripheral pain-sensing neurons and not in other parts of the body.

    There is no evidence of Nav1.8 expression in either your heart or your brain. This selective expression suggests that this particular sodium channel might be a good target to alleviate pain.

    This idea received further credence following the discovery that people with genetic mutations that increase the activity of this channel suffered nerve pain despite there being no obvious cause of the pain.

    Highly selective

    Over several years, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, the company that makes suzetrigine (brand name Journavx), screened many potential drugs to try to identify a safe, selective blocker of these channels that could be taken orally. Suzetrigine was found to be both a potent and very selective blocker of these channels. It is, staggeringly, at least 30,000 times more potent at blocking Nav1.8 channels than all the other types of sodium channels that we have.

    In two clinical trials with over 1,000 patients in each, suzetrigine was found to be equally as effective as opioids at blocking acute pain following moderately painful surgery – either removal of bunions or a tummy-tuck.

    Suzetrigine also produced far fewer side-effects than opioid treatment and had no risk of addiction. So far, however, there is no convincing evidence that suzetrigine is effective in chronic, long-term pain relief.

    The discovery and approval for the use of suzetrigine opens up the possibility of treating acute pain by selectively blocking specific sodium channels, without the risk of addiction. More generally, selective targeting of the many different ion channels that underlie pain signalling may pave the way for new, non-addictive treatments for all forms of acute and chronic pain.

    Alistair Mathie has previously received funding from the Royal Society, BBSRC and LifeArc to study the role of ion channels in pain

    Emma Veale has previous received funding from BBSRC and LifeArc to study the role of ion channels in pain. Also from NIHR to deliver a feasibility study in primary care aimed at managing post-surgical opioid use.

    – ref. First new non-opioid painkiller approved in the US for decades – here’s how it works – https://theconversation.com/first-new-non-opioid-painkiller-approved-in-the-us-for-decades-heres-how-it-works-248858

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Millions of animals die on roads – does this make driving morally wrong?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Diego Exposito, PhD researcher in Politics, University of Sheffield

    A dead European hare. MMCez/Shutterstock

    Imagine one morning, you are deciding whether to drive to work or catch the train. Eventually, you decide to drive. On your way to the office, a squirrel crosses the road leaving you no time to react, and you run it over. Did you do anything wrong by deciding to drive instead of taking the train?

    Ethical debates about the morality of driving tend to stop at the possible harm to humans. This is surprising, considering the decades of work in animal ethics and the fact that around 223 million birds and mammals are killed on Europe’s roads each year.

    Researchers in moral philosophy like myself analyse the extent to which our actions are right or wrong. One way to evaluate actions like driving is to ask whether it is morally justified to subject others to a certain risk. Driving fits this kind of reasoning because when we decide to drive, we are not certain that we will kill someone (human or non-human), but we know our action will put others at some risk of harm.

    So, how much risk is permissible? There are two factors moral philosophers often use to assess this. The first is the extent to which the action that puts others at risk is part of a fair social system of risk-taking – in other words, a social arrangement in which people exchange risks but also benefits that everyone can access. The second concerns whether such a system works to the advantage of all those who participate in it.

    Driving can be considered a social system of risk-taking, and it would be considered morally acceptable if everyone can drive or be driven by other people, and if the system of driving ultimately benefits those who are put at risk by it.

    Some philosophers believe that in the case of humans, this line of reasoning makes driving morally acceptable. But what if we extend it to include animals?

    A car through a deer’s eyes

    Cats, dogs and other domestic animals may ride in cars but most wild animals will not, so they do not meet the first factor. The sheer number of animals that end their lives as roadkill indicates that driving does not work to their advantage. For most animals, cars are a threat rather than a benefit.

    Driving, in this case, would not be morally acceptable according to the ethical test we set for our fellow humans.

    Car travel has contributed to the decline of some species.
    Natalya Ugryumova/Shutterstock

    This may lead us to consider our risk of killing animals before we drive – including the road we will use, the season, or the speed we will drive at. It may even tell us that driving is morally impermissible.

    One way to deny this would be to say that to forgo driving is too costly. For many people, driving is not an activity they can choose to do or not, but a basic need on which people depend for going to (or finding) a job, buying groceries, or visiting friends and family.

    But even if we think these costs are important, what about the serious costs to animals? When we consider both of these factors, some tentative conclusions emerge.

    Situations in which driving imposes a high risk of harm to animals, while not driving causes little cost to humans, probably make driving unacceptable. Take this scenario: your route to work during summer crosses congregations of house sparrows during the season in which they breed. Luckily, there is a convenient alternative.

    Then there are situations in which driving imposes almost no risk to animals, but not being able to drive deeply affects people – such as a drive to the other side of a city to buy food, during which few wild animals are likely to cross your path. In such cases, driving is probably permissible.

    But what about the various situations that sit between these two scenarios? In a lot of cases, driving is not necessary but may be more convenient than using public transport. Also, much of our driving is not done for essential activities but for things we generally enjoy.

    Finding clear criteria that determine when it is morally acceptable to drive is the matter that ethicists should try to elucidate. All I can say is that all sets of costs and risks need assessing, and driving must be viewed as an activity subject to ethical reflection.

    Drivers will need to decide, balancing the risk of harm they might impose on others by driving with the disadvantages of choosing not to drive. It should not come as a surprise, however, if we find that much of our driving is morally unjustified.

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

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

    Diego Exposito receives funding from the White Rose College of the Arts and Humanities. He is affiliated with Screwworm Free Future.

    – ref. Millions of animals die on roads – does this make driving morally wrong? – https://theconversation.com/millions-of-animals-die-on-roads-does-this-make-driving-morally-wrong-248178

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Companion review: this sleek but violent film asks interesting ethical questions about our relationship with AI

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sarah Artt, Lecturer in English and Film, Edinburgh Napier University

    Science fiction film and television has long been fascinated by robots. But stories that show us uncannily human cyborgs have often tended to veer towards either comedy or horror. Fritz Lang’s Metropolis (1927) and Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner (1982) both imagine a world where beautiful female cyborgs threaten to overstep their original programming. Rarer are stories that suggest it might be possible to love a cyborg, such as Susan Seidelman’s underseen romantic comedy, Making Mr. Right (1987).

    Companion picks up where Alex Garland’s Ex Machina (2014) leaves off. Ex Machina was about a young man tasked with testing the artificial intelligence (AI) of a female robot. Companion, however, posits a world where synthetic humans have become common.

    Companion’s plot also owes much to the themes of rivalry and revenge present in Karyn Kusama’s horror films Jennifer’s Body (2009) and The Invitation (2022), as well as the TV show Battlestar Galactica’s (2004 to 2009) imagining of full cyborg autonomy.

    Companion is a particularly post-Black Mirror (2011) example of science fiction. With its glossy aesthetics, and ubiquitously friction-less technology, it’s a vision of a future where AI and advanced robotics have made our lives easier. But, in typical Black Mirror fashion, this parable offers a warning.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    We meet Iris (Sophie Thatcher) and Josh (Jack Quaid) as they head to a chic, modern lake house for a weekend with friends. At this point, our only real indication that this is science fiction is the fact that the GPS in Josh’s car is a bit better than usual.

    At first, Iris seems like yet another incarnation of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl – quirky and kittenish, but too bland to really be a protagonist. It is only Thatcher’s subtle physical performance that lets us question whether Iris is entirely human. Besotted with Josh and anxious to please, Iris seems like just another girl who has wished for her prince to come and been rewarded with a supermarket meet cute.

    What makes Companion unsettling is not so much its depiction of cyborgs but rather its portrayal of misogyny.

    Survivors of intimate partner violence will recognise Josh. Particularly his ironclad belief that he is a “a nice guy” who is entitled to an attractive partner who places his needs above all else.

    For some audiences, Companion may not feel firmly rooted enough in either science fiction or horror. But then, it’s really only a horror film if you too are kept awake at night by the thought that some people really want a sex robot with customisable intelligence levels (Josh keeps Iris’s at 40%).

    Thatcher’s performance as Iris is fascinatingly glitchy. There is something about her walk – a precision that isn’t quite human. She stands with a stillness that reminds us she is more object than woman. There is a grimace she makes that conveys how she finds it troubling to process veiled commands from a man who isn’t her partner. It represents a feeling female viewers may have had before, when the social programming that tells women to be nice smacks up against their fight or flight response.

    Iris is a sex robot designed with charming slightly buck teeth – a flaw to offset her pore-less skin. The goal is to prevent her from falling into to the uncanny valley (that discomfited feeling when you encounter an object that is a little too life-like) and make her seem more real.

    Some people argue that you should only have sex with a robot if you think that robot would want to have sex with you. But most science fiction doesn’t really go that way – from Bride of Frankenstein (1935) to Black Mirror, most cyborg figures are programmed to consent without question.

    Companion shows us Iris’s point of view as Josh looms over her during sex. Afterwards, her romance-trope laden chatter is shut down by his command that she go to sleep.

    Companion contains aspects of both comedy and horror. But like the best science fiction, it’s central warning is against those who believe that technology can offer them absolute control.

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

    – ref. Companion review: this sleek but violent film asks interesting ethical questions about our relationship with AI – https://theconversation.com/companion-review-this-sleek-but-violent-film-asks-interesting-ethical-questions-about-our-relationship-with-ai-249062

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: 360-degree videos are making social issues and educational content more engaging for Canadians

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Victoria (Vicky) McArthur, Associate Professor, School of Journalism and Communication, Carleton University

    Immersive film using virtual reality (VR) or 360-degree video is being used increasingly as a tool for eliciting empathy and emotional identification in fact-based stories. Unlike traditional flat film, immersive films allow viewers to look in any direction while watching the video.

    This immersive quality is what makes these films such an intriguing medium. Nearly a decade ago, American filmmaker Chris Milk described VR as the “ultimate empathy machine” because it can fully immerse viewers in another person’s environment and perspective.

    This sentiment has been echoed by VR journalism pioneer Nonny de la Peña, whose early work explored the unique storytelling characteristics of the medium. Her first VR film, Hunger in Los Angeles, was the first VR documentary to be showcased at the Sundance Film Festival in 2012.

    The film depicts a diabetic man collapsing outside a food bank due to low blood sugar. Viewers reported feeling a great deal of empathy for the man, with some reaching out to try and help him.

    In March 2015, YouTube launched support for publishing and viewing 360-degree videos. Today, anyone can film and share 360-degree video content using commercially available cameras, expanding the possibilities for storytelling and audience engagement.

    Rise of 360-degree video content

    Countless content creators, filmmakers and journalists have produced immersive content using these cameras. In 2016, for instance, CBC produced Highway of Tears, a short 360-degree video about 16-year-old Ramona Wilson, a young Indigenous woman from the Gitxsan Nation who disappeared along Highway 16 near Prince George, B.C., in 1994.

    CBC has produced other 360-degree videos to highlight real-world challenges and experiences, including Ice Rescue from the Victim’s Perspective and Accessibility Advocate Shows What It’s Like to Use a Wheelchair in Winter.

    ‘Highway of Tears: 360 Video’ from CBC.

    Canadian researchers have also been using immersive technologies like virtual reality and 360-degree video as tools for education and empathy-building.

    A group of Canadian researchers conducted an experiment with VR to see if they could foster empathy for the impact of climate change on oceans. Using a VR simulation, they showed participants optimistic and pessimistic future impacts of climate change on oceans. After experiencing the simulation, participants expressed increased empathy and concern for the issue.

    Similarly, at Toronto Metropolitan University, researchers used 360-degree videos to deepen empathy and understanding for people taking care of individuals with dementia. Participants watched 360-degree videos filmed from the perspective of two fictional characters living with dementia. They reported strong emotional responses to the videos and a deeper understanding of living with dementia.

    As immersive technology becomes more accessible, its potential to foster empathy and understanding across a range of social issues continues to grow.

    Is VR truly the ‘ultimate empathy machine’?

    Is immersive technology truly the “ultimate empathy machine?” Presently, there’s no agreement among experts. Some question the scientific rigour used to support such claims. Past research has suffered from small sample sizes, a lack of diversity among research participants and a lack of longitudinal studies investigating the effects of empathy.

    Other researchers suggest that, while empathetic gains have been demonstrated, these effects tend to fade after a short time. One study found that while VR increased emotional empathy for refugees, those feelings were mostly gone after just 10 days. More importantly, these empathic responses didn’t translate into actions like charitable donations.

    Some researchers have taken a more nuanced approach by distinguishing between emotional and cognitive empathy. Cognitive empathy involves knowing how other people think and feel, while emotional empathy involves feeling another person’s emotions. The findings from one research study indicate that VR can improve emotional empathy, but not cognitive empathy.

    This distinction is crucial in assessing VR’s potential as an empathy-building tool. While immersive experiences may create strong emotional responses, their long-term influence and ability to drive meaningful action remain uncertain.

    Knowledge mobilization

    Other research suggests VR and 360-degree video have the potential to be knowledge-transfer tools. Canadian researchers are encouraged to engage the Canadian public through knowledge mobilization — the process of sharing research findings with organizations, people and government.

    Several Canadian research institutions have started using 360-degree video as a knowledge-mobilization tool. For example, researchers at the National Research Council Canada’s (NRC) Hydrogen Laboratory in British Columbia produced a 360-degree video allowing audiences to see the lab and learn more about the research conducted there.

    360-degree video of the Hydrogen Laboratory in Vancouver.

    The NRC has produced other 360-degree video explainers, including one about the Aerial Robotics Laboratory in Montréal and another about the Climatic Testing Facility located in Ottawa.

    At a time when Canadians are inundated with information, immersive video explainers offer a unique way to learn about science and society. While it remains unclear whether VR is truly the “ultimate empathy machine,” its ability to place audiences at the centre of stories and events has been shown to have positive effects on learning, information retention and the transfer of knowledge.

    Immersive film may not be a guaranteed empathy-builder, but it’s far from being an apathy machine. Ultimately, it offers unique perspectives to Canadians wishing to learn more about the world we live in.

    Victoria (Vicky) McArthur receives funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    – ref. 360-degree videos are making social issues and educational content more engaging for Canadians – https://theconversation.com/360-degree-videos-are-making-social-issues-and-educational-content-more-engaging-for-canadians-248398

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Three pop beefs that were more cutting than Matty Healy and Taylor Swift’s

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Glenn Fosbraey, Associate Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Winchester

    There has been a sharp intake of breath among Taylor Swift fans following reports that 1975 frontman and songwriter Matty Healy is soon to release a song addressing their public romance from 2023.

    The song in question, God Has Entered My Body, is reportedly the title track of an upcoming 1975 album. According to a report in the Sun, the song includes the lyric “Keep your head up princess, your tiara is falling”. It is reported to be Healy’s response to Swift’s 2024 song The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived, which many fans believe was about their relationship.

    The 1975 frontman has responded to the rumours in typical Healy style, commenting “huge if true” under a post about the story on social media site Reddit.

    This lyrical back and forth is just the latest entry in a rich history of public beefs between pop stars that have been committed to record. Here are some of the most notable examples.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    1. Lennon v McCartney (1971)

    The first mainstream pop “diss track” exchange took place long before the term was even coined. It occurred in 1971 through Paul and Linda McCartney’s Too Many People and John Lennon’s How Do You Sleep?

    Lennon was incensed by the McCartney lyrics “too many people going underground” and “too many people preaching practices”, which he took as attacks on his and Yoko Ono’s avant garde albums and bed-in escapades. In response, he launched a stinging tirade that accused (Paul) McCartney of creating “Muzak”, being only a “pretty face”, and hanging around with sycophants who fed his ego.

    How Do You Sleep? by John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band.

    The on-record beef ended there, perhaps because McCartney was too busy to focus on his new band Wings, or simply because he didn’t want to risk another lashing from Lennon’s famously sharp tongue.

    Either way, to the relief of Beatles fans everywhere, the two made amends before Lennon’s death in 1980, and Paul finally concluded their lyrical back and forth two years later with the touching Here Today.

    2. Buckingham v Nicks (1977)

    Recorded amid a backdrop of romantic tension and heavy drug use, it’s a wonder that Fleetwood Mac were even able to complete their 12th studio album Rumours, let alone create something that would go on to sell 40 million copies and spend more than a 1,000 weeks in the UK album charts.

    It’d be unfair to say the massive success of the album is due to the lyrical exchanges between the by then estranged couple Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, but it certainly didn’t hurt.

    Dreams by Fleetwood Mac.

    Buckingham lit the fuse with Go Your Own Way, which accused Nicks of “packing up and shacking up” with different men. It caused Nicks to write Dreams, where she encouraged him to “listen carefully to the sound of your loneliness, like a heartbeat, drives you mad, in the stillness of remembering what you had”.

    Decades later, one of the bitterest feuds in pop music continues to rumble on, with Buckingham currently sidelined from the group after being fired in 2018. It won’t come as a surprise that their version of events differs, with Buckingham claiming Nicks was behind his sacking, and Nicks accusing him of revisionism. No Lennon and McCartney thawing of the ice here, then. Yet.

    3. Perry v Swift (2014-18)

    Swift was involved in another public spat back in the 2010s. If reports are to be believed, the two pop icons Katy Perry and Swift became close friends in 2009, but by 2013, things seemed to have soured.

    A rift over some backup dancers, some thinly veiled interview comments and a mutual ex-boyfriend have all been the subject of fan theories about the shift in mood.

    Bad Blood by Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar.

    In terms of diss tracks, Swift struck first, and relatively mildly, with Bad Blood in 2014, stating in an interview shortly after its release that it was about “a female musical artist”. Although she refused to name names, internet sleuths soon believed they’d figured out it was Perry.

    A Twitter spat between Swift and rapper Nicki Minaj then broke out. Minaj complained that her song Anaconda wasn’t nominated for the video-of-the-year award when Swift’s Bad Blood was (stay with me – this will become relevant soon).

    If the near-journalistic speed of those Lennon and McCartney tracks were indicative of the music industry in the early 1970s, Perry’s delayed response to Swift’s (perceived) barb is indicative of modern times, where her releases were kept to a strict three- or four-year cycle.

    Three years on, then, comes Swish Swish, which included lyrics like “you’re a joke / And I’m a court-side killer queen” and “Your game is tired / You should retire”. It featured Nicki Minaj in the music video to further fan the flames (told you it’d become relevant).

    Swish Swish by Katy Perry ft. Nicki Minaj.

    The only problem was that, in the years between their falling out, Swift had transitioned from mere pop musician to word-dominating superstar, so Perry’s insults carried little weight.

    When it comes to diss tracks, then, the old adage of striking while the iron is hot is definitely applicable. The pair have since made up, with Perry sending Swift an actual olive branch in 2018.

    The pair are pictured embracing during the closing scene of Swift’s 2019 music video for You Need To Calm down. Even the Bad Blood controversy seems to be water under the proverbial bridge now, with Perry videoed singing along to the track by fans earlier this year during one of Swift’s Eras tour concerts.

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

    – ref. Three pop beefs that were more cutting than Matty Healy and Taylor Swift’s – https://theconversation.com/three-pop-beefs-that-were-more-cutting-than-matty-healy-and-taylor-swifts-248076

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The UK calls on the transitional South Sudan government to ensure credible elections in 2026: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on South Sudan.

    Let me start by expressing concern regarding the attacks on civilians, including South Sudanese, in Wad Madani in Sudan between 11 and 15 January and the subsequent unrest in South Sudan on 16-17 January.

    Second, as we’ve heard today, the humanitarian situation in South Sudan is desperate. 

    Over one million displaced people have now arrived from Sudan into South Sudan since the outbreak of the conflict.

    The United Kingdom recognises the significant impact of the Sudan crisis on the region and welcomes South Sudan’s commitment to welcoming and supporting those fleeing the conflict.

    We commend UNMISS’s facilitation of humanitarian efforts, noting that significant challenges lie ahead in 2025. 

    The UK will continue to support South Sudan and we have increased our humanitarian support to Sudan’s neighbours.

    Third, President, as we have heard today, the political situation in South Sudan remains precarious.

    The United Kingdom is concerned by continued restrictions to political and civic space in the country and by the lack of progress towards unification of the security forces.

    Progress on this is critical to create the conditions for sustainable peace and elections.

    The Transitional Government of South Sudan has not yet produced their promised work plan to deliver elections in 2026. 

    Without renewed efforts, progress towards peaceful, inclusive and credible elections risks falling further behind schedule.

    We welcome UNMISS’s work to build capacity and capability for South Sudan’s electoral institutions. 

    And we repeat our call on the Transitional Government to match these efforts to provide adequate funding for elections and to pay the salaries of public servants including the security forces.

    In conclusion, President, we call on the Transitional Government of South Sudan to publish a credible elections preparations work plan and then take the necessary steps towards holding peaceful, inclusive and credible elections in line with the new 2026 timeline.

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mayor announces £20m investment for Wolverhampton Canalside South regeneration scheme

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has provided the loan facility to Wavensmere Homes to bring about the £150m redevelopment and provide hundreds of new homes, including 109 affordable plots.

    Canalside South is one of the biggest regeneration projects of its kind in the region with more than 530 new energy-efficient homes to be delivered across the former British Steel and Crane Foundry site and land off Qualcast Road, which has lain derelict for 15 years.

    The 17.5-acre former industrial site established by City of Wolverhampton Council and Canal & River Trust is located within the city centre – moments from the transport interchange – and benefits from frontage onto the Wyrley & Essington Canal and the Wolverhampton Branch of the Birmingham Main Line Canal.

    The Mayor said: “It’s exciting to think that this huge derelict site – the size of ten football pitches – will soon become a place where people can live, raise families and thrive.

    “And schemes like Canalside South are not just about building homes, they rebuild communities – giving people places they can feel connected to and proud of. 

    “The investment announced today is significant because this scheme has a vital role to play in the on-going regeneration of Wolverhampton, providing hundreds of badly needed new homes, more than 100 of them affordable, within a stone’s throw of the city centre.”

    Wavensmere Homes received planning approval from City of Wolverhampton Council for the landmark Canalside South project at the end of September 2024. Ground preparation works will commence on site imminently, followed by the four-year construction programme. 

    The overall vision for the Wolverhampton Canalside masterplan is the delivery of around 1,000 homes to meet both the city and wider region’s housing needs, with sustainability and place-making at its heart.

    Designed by Glancy Nicholls Architects, the low-rise development will emulate the surrounding conservation area and maximise the canalside setting.

    The scheme will include seven acres of vibrant green space and a range of commercial amenities. It will also open up a new pedestrian route to the city core – reducing the previous walk time by 20 minutes – and ignite new investment into a commercial corridor. 

    Wavensmere Homes will be constructing 378 two-and three-bedroom townhouses, designed to target an EPC-A rated specification, together with 145 one-and two-bedroom apartments.

    A building of 10 co-living units – each containing six bedrooms – will deliver affordable living typologies to young professionals. 54 houses, together with 80 apartment and co-living bedrooms will benefit from waterside views.

    The multi-award-winning urban regeneration specialist will also be reanimating the disused railway arches on the site into 1,338sqm (14,400 sq ft) of lettable commercial space.

    Access to the WMCA funding was provided by the Property Team at Frontier Development Capital Ltd (FDC) which works closely with property developers to arrange investments from the WMCA’s regeneration funds.

    James Dickens, Managing Director of Wavensmere Homes, said: “The agreement of this loan facility FDC will enable us to start on site at Canalside South only nine months after we first unveiled the plans at UKREiiF. As a Birmingham-based developer, it’s great to be working with a leading local finance house that knows us so well.

    “Our in-house team has a strong history of regenerating vacant land in the Black Country and we can’t wait to begin transforming this site into a landmark development the whole region can be immensely proud of.”

    Wavensmere Homes will future-proof the new homes by installing electric only heating systems. A range of technologies will be utilised across the development, consisting of air source heat pumps, solar panels and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR). There will also be EV charging to each house or parking space, alongside an array of EV chargers for visitors.

    Cllr Stephen Simkins, City of Wolverhampton Council Leader, said: “This project is fundamental to our brownfield first strategy, driving investment into the Green Innovation Corridor, and it will also fulfil a key objective of our Canalside Delivery Partnership with the Canal & River Trust. We are looking forward to work starting on site. Bringing life back to the redundant sites along our canal network is critical to boosting footfall into our city centre.

    “As one of the largest new housing developments in the Midlands, Wavensmere’s £150m investment plans, supported by the council, Canal & River Trust and WMCA, will enable Wolverhampton residents to benefit from superb connectivity, amenities, and health and wellbeing opportunities at this wonderful heritage location.”

    The funding agreement marks the second time Frontier Development Capital – part of Mercia Asset Management PLC – and Wavensmere Homes have teamed up to deliver brownfield regeneration within the West Midlands.

    The Birmingham-based lender provided a £4m loan in 2019 to facilitate the redevelopment of The Forge on Bradford Street in Digbeth. 142 apartments were built by Wavensmere at the former factory site.

    Kieren Turner-Owen, Associate Director of Property Finance for Frontier Development Capital, said: “Our focus is proudly on investing in the West Midlands, so we are thrilled to be selected as the debt funding partner for one of the region’s most high-profile regeneration schemes. With well over 500 mixed-tenure homes and complementary amenities, Wolverhampton Canalside South is an integral development for the revitalisation of this West Midlands city.

    “Since agreeing our first deal with Wavensmere Homes five years ago, the company has accrued a reputation as one of the UK’s most prominent and impressive SME housebuilders. This new loan facility sits sweetly within our funding parameters and we could not be more excited to be involved with bringing about the transformation of such a key waterside development. Our focuses are aligned in regenerating complex brownfield sites, with Canalside South allowing our excellent relationship with the Wavensmere team to continue.”

    Birmingham-headquartered Wavensmere Homes has 3,500 homes on site, or currently in planning. The firm is in the final phase of the £175m Nightingale Quarter, which is the redevelopment of the former Derbyshire Royal Infirmary into 925 energy-efficient houses, apartments, and community amenities. The company is constructing five other major brownfield regeneration schemes, located in central Birmingham, Derby, Cheltenham, and Ipswich, and has further projects in the immediate pipeline.

    To view the plans, visit canalsideWV1.co.uk

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Assembly Member Bassam Mahfouz welcomes completion of West Drayton station forecourt works

    Source: Mayor of London

    Bassam Mahfouz, Assembly Member for Ealing and Hillingdon, is celebrating a win for local residents as the long-anticipated works to the forecourt at West Drayton station officially concluded on Friday.

    The works were addressing the collapsed sewer and bus access issues on Station Approach, and their completion marks a significant milestone in improving access and connectivity for local residents, businesses, and commuters.

    The project, which Assembly Member Mahfouz has closely monitored and championed since his election in May, included extensive road resurfacing, drainage repairs, and safety upgrades to enhance pedestrian access. Mahfouz has raised the importance of this project with the Mayor of London, TfL, and Network Rail, asking questions about its timeline and funding to ensure accountability.

    The completed works include:

    • Full resurfacing of Station Approach with improved drainage systems.
    • Enhanced access for pedestrians and vehicles, ensuring the station is more  welcoming and functional.

    The forecourt improvements address long-standing concerns raised by residents and local businesses.

    Assembly Member Mahfouz has consistently pushed for the project to remain on schedule and ensure minimal disruption.

    Bassam Mahfouz, London Assembly Member for Ealing and Hillingdon said:

    “After months of disruption and hard work, residents can now benefit from a safer, more accessible station forecourt. I have been pressing Network Rail to ensure these improvements were delivered, and I’m thrilled to see this project finally completed, having seen the TfL works completed months ago.”

    “These latest improvements from Network Rail will have a lasting impact on how people travel to and from West Drayton Station, and I will now continue to push TfL for the reinstatement of bus services to the station forecourt, which will significantly improve accessibility and connectivity for commuters,” Mahfouz added.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Seasonal Respiratory Illnesses Surge In North Carolina

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Seasonal Respiratory Illnesses Surge In North Carolina

    Seasonal Respiratory Illnesses Surge In North Carolina
    hejones1

    The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today updated its weekly Respiratory Virus Summary Dashboard, which shows an increase in flu activity and flu-related deaths, bringing the total number of deaths this season to 117.

    “While fewer flu-related deaths have been reported so far this season compared to last season, we are at the height of seasonal respiratory illnesses and this is a reminder that influenza can be very serious,” said State Epidemiologist Zack Moore, M.D., MPH. “Taking preventative measures against flu and other respiratory illnesses like getting vaccinated, regularly washing hands, covering your cough and staying home when sick are important to help protect you and your family.”

    Influenza is spreading widely throughout the state and is likely to peak in the coming weeks. Fifty-one new flu deaths were added to the statewide dashboard on Wednesday, but the newly added deaths occurred over the last few weeks as there are often delays in reporting. COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are also continuing to spread, although RSV levels have been decreasing in recent weeks.

    Early testing and treatment with an antiviral drug can help prevent respiratory infections from becoming more serious. Treatments work best if started soon after symptoms begin. If you begin to feel sick, contact your doctor right away to see if you need treatment with a prescription antiviral drug. Treatment for flu and COVID-19 is especially important for people with severe illness and those who are at high risk of serious complications based on their age or medical conditions.

    It is not too late to get your flu and COVID-19 vaccinations as vaccinations are the best way to prevent serious illness, hospitalization and death from these infections. Vaccinations are especially important for those at higher risk of severe viral respiratory disease, including people 65 years and older, children younger than 5, pregnant women, those with a weakened immune system and those with certain medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Vaccines and treatments to protect against RSV are also available for older adults, pregnant women, and infants.

    In addition to vaccination, the following precautions should be taken to protect against the spread of respiratory viruses:

    • Regularly wash your hands with soap and water. Alcohol-based cleaner or sanitizer can help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses to others but does not work for some other common viruses like norovirus.
    • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
    • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects that may be contaminated
    • Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then discard the tissue promptly
    • Stay home when sick, except to seek medical care or testing, and take steps to avoid spreading infection to others in your home, including:
      • Staying in a separate room from other household members, if possible
      • Using a separate bathroom, if possible
      • Avoiding contact with other members of the household and pets
      • Not sharing personal household items, like cups, towels and utensils
      • Wearing a mask when around other people

    For more information on respiratory viruses, including how to access vaccines, testing and treatment in your community, visit www.vaccines.gov/en, flu.ncdhhs.gov or covid19.ncdhhs.gov.

    A respiratory virus surveillance summary that includes information on flu, COVID-19 and RSV-related activity across North Carolina is updated weekly at covid19.ncdhhs.gov/dashboard.

    El Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte actualizó hoy su  tablero de resumen del virus respiratorio semanal, que muestra un aumento en la actividad de la influenza (gripe) y las muertes relacionadas con la misma, lo que eleva el número total de muertes esta temporada a 117.

    “Aunque se han reportado menos muertes relacionadas con la influeza (gripe) en lo que va esta temporada en comparación con la temporada pasada, nos encontramos en el punto más alto de las enfermedades respiratorias estacionales y esto es un recordatorio de que la gripe puede ser muy grave”, dijo el epidemiólogo estatal Zack Moore, MD, MPH. “Tomar medidas preventivas contra la gripe y otras enfermedades respiratorias, como vacunarse, lavarse las manos con regularidad, cubrirse la tos y quedarse en casa cuando está enfermo, es importante para ayudar a protegerlo a usted y a su familia”.

    La influenza se está extendiendo por todo el estado y es probable que alcance su punto máximo en las próximas semanas. El miércoles se añadieron al tablero de control de todo el estado cincuenta y uno nuevas muertes debido a la influenza, pero las muertes recién añadidas ocurrieron en las últimas semanas, ya que a menudo hay retrasos en la presentación de informes. El COVID-19 y el virus respiratorio sincitial (VSR) también continúan propagándose, aunque los niveles de VSR han ido disminuyendo en las últimas semanas.

    Las pruebas y el tratamiento temprano con un medicamento antiviral pueden ayudar a prevenir que las infecciones respiratorias se vuelvan más graves. Los tratamientos funcionan mejor si se inician poco después de que comiencen los síntomas. Si comienza a sentirse enfermo, comuníquese con su médico de inmediato para ver si necesita tratamiento con un medicamento antiviral recetado. El tratamiento para la influenza y el COVID-19 es especialmente importante para las personas con enfermedades graves y aquellas que tienen un alto riesgo de complicaciones graves en función de su edad o afecciones médicas.

    No es demasiado tarde para vacunarse contra la influenza y el COVID-19, ya que las vacunas son la mejor manera de prevenir enfermedades graves, hospitalizaciones y muertes por estas infecciones. Las vacunas son especialmente importantes para las personas con mayor riesgo de enfermedad respiratoria viral grave, incluidas las personas de 65 años o más, los niños menores de 5 años, las mujeres embarazadas, las personas con un sistema inmunitario debilitado y las personas con ciertas afecciones médicas como el asma, la diabetes, las enfermedades cardíacas y la obesidad. Las vacunas y los tratamientos para protegerse contra el VSR también están disponibles para adultos mayores, mujeres embarazadas y bebés.

    Además de la vacunación, se deben tomar las siguientes precauciones para protegerse contra la propagación de virus respiratorios:

    • Lávese las manos con agua y jabón; el limpiador o desinfectante a base de alcohol puede ayudar a prevenir la propagación de virus respiratorios a otros, pero no funciona para algunos otros virus comunes como el norovirus.
    • Evite tocarse los ojos, la nariz y la boca
    • Limpie y desinfecte las superficies y los objetos que podrían estar contaminados
    • Cubra la tos y los estornudos con un pañuelo de papel y luego deseche el pañuelo de papel rápidamente
    • Quédese en casa cuando esté enfermo, excepto para buscar atención médica o pruebas, y tome medidas para evitar transmitir la infección a otras personas en su hogar, como:
      • Alojarse en una habitación separada de otros miembros del hogar, si es posible
      • Usar un baño separado, si es posible
      • Evitar el contacto con otros miembros del hogar y mascotas
      • No compartir artículos personales de uso doméstico, como tazas, toallas y utensilios
      • Usar una mascarilla cuando esté cerca de otras personas

    Para obtener más información sobre los virus respiratorios, incluido cómo acceder a las vacunas, las pruebas y el tratamiento en su comunidad, visite  www.vaccines.gov/en, flu.ncdhhs.gov o covid19.ncdhhs.gov.

    Un resumen de la vigilancia del virus respiratorio que incluye información sobre la gripe, el COVID-19 y la actividad relacionada con el VSR en Carolina del Norte se actualiza semanalmente en  covid19.ncdhhs.gov/dashboard.

    Feb 5, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: JMU expert available to speak about aviation anxiety

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HARRISONBURG, Va., Feb. 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On the evening of Jan. 29, 2025, an American Eagle Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, collided midair with an Army helicopter near Reagan Washington National Airport.  

    James Madison University professor Lindsey Harvell-Bowman’s research centers around the psychological experiences of suicidality and death anxiety, as well as mortality salience effects in advocacy messages. Harvell-Bowman, a Wichita native, is also the author of “The Psychology and Communication Behind Flight Anxiety: Afraid to Fly,” a book that examines the intersection of journalism, communication and psychology in affecting the flying public.  

    Some of Harvell-Bowman’s suggestions for the flying public include: 

    • Limit aviation disaster-related media. 
    • Fill carry-on luggage with things that give comfort and joy. 
    • Rely on flight anxiety apps. 
    • Avoid alcohol and antianxiety prescription medications. 

    “When we see incidents like the AA5342 crash, it reminds us that even when things go perfectly, we can still have things go terribly wrong,” said Harvell-Bowman.  

    “A lack of control can negatively affect our psyche with potentially long-term effects. This anxiety has the potential to manifest in passenger violence in the air and in airports, creating more anxiety among the flying public. The media are key to helping keep anxieties low among the flying public and create a healthier flying experience for all,” added Harvell-Bowman.  

    To schedule an interview with Harvell-Bowman, please contact Chad Saylor, saylorcx@jmu.edu.   

    ### 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Telnyx responds to FCC Notice of Apparent Liability

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Telnyx is surprised by the FCC’s mistaken decision to issue a Notice of Apparent Liability stating an intent to impose monetary penalties. The Notice of Apparent Liability is factually mistaken, and Telnyx denies its allegations. Telnyx has done everything and more than the FCC has required for Know-Your-Customer (“KYC”) and customer due diligence procedures. More importantly, the FCC is mistaken about the KYC and due diligence standards that apply to the industry. The FCC’s own regulations have long stated that perfection in mitigating illegal traffic is not required. Since bad actors continuously find ways to avoid detection, the FCC has historically expected providers to take reasonable steps to detect and block them. Yet the FCC now seeks to impose substantial monetary penalties on Telnyx for limited unlawful calling activity that Telnyx not only did not originate but swiftly blocked within a matter of hours. It is in no one’s interest, certainly not ours, to allow unlawful calling on our platform. Notably, there has been no allegation of subsequent recurring activity.

    Telnyx holds itself to a high standard with best-in-class KYC and customer due diligence procedures. We look forward to engaging with the FCC on these important industry issues. We hope that the FCC will reconsider what can only be viewed as an improper effort to impose an unprecedented zero-tolerance requirement on providers through enforcement action, in the absence of any defined rules informing providers what is expected of them.

    Telnyx Regulatory
    regulatory@telnyx.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Votes Against Doug Collins’ Nomination to Serve as Secretary of Veterans Affairs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    February 04, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) who still receives her own health care services through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)—released the following statement after voting against Doug Collins’ nomination to serve as VA Secretary. The U.S. Senate confirmed Rep. Collins by a vote of 77-23.

    “Before Donald Trump initiated a series of illegal power grabs, I was prepared to vote to confirm Rep. Collins. I remain hopeful that we can find common ground to improve the lives of our Veterans and am glad he agreed with me that we must oppose any dangerous efforts to privatize the VA—which I still plan to hold him to. However, in light of Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s illegal attack on USAID and their efforts to freeze funding that would support Veterans, I cannot vote to confirm this Administration’s nominee to lead our VA. So long as this Administration continues this rampant lawlessness, I’ll keep using my power as a U.S. Senator to push back and prevent Trump and Musk from destroying our democracy as we know it.”

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Durbin Join Shaheen, Colleagues in Statement Condemning Department of Defense’s Decision to End Policy Allowing U.S. Servicemembers to Access Non-Covered Reproductive Health Care Services

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    February 04, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee—and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and their colleagues in releasing the following statement on the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) rescission of policy that allowed servicemembers to get reimbursed for travel and transportation for non-covered reproductive care. Last week, the Senators obtained a memo that updates the Joint Travel Regulations to rescind this policy. 

    “This decision strips away service members’ ability to access the reproductive care they need, which is nothing short of abhorrent. It runs contrary to a core goal of the Department of Defense—to ensure the health and wellbeing of all our service members so that our force remains ready at all times to protect Americans and keep this nation safe. 

    “U.S. service members have no control over where they are stationed and what state laws may govern their bodies. The policy that the Department of Defense took away from our servicewomen and military families provided them the ability to travel to another state to seek out the care they need. Rescinding that does nothing to enhance military readiness. 

    “At a time when we are already facing military recruitment and retention challenges, we should do all we can to assure those who answer the call to serve America that we will do everything in our power to support them and their families. Instead, this extreme action does the opposite and sends a message to servicewomen—who make up more than 17 percent of our military’s active duty—that they are not as valuable as their male counterparts. 

    “We will do everything in our power to mitigate the impact that this extreme decision will have on members of our military and ensure their health and safety comes first,” the Senators said.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: English/Español: Griffith, Latta, and McClain Publish Joint Op-Ed on Republican-Led HALT Fentanyl Act to Fight Crisis

    Source: US House of Representatives Republicans

    The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI –

    WASHINGTON – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-Va.), Congressman Bob Latta (R-Ohio), and House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) published a joint op-ed in the Washington Examiner ahead of the U.S. House vote on the Halt All Lethal Trafficking (HALT) of Fentanyl Act. 

    This bill would permanently classify fentanyl analogues as Schedule I substances, closing a dangerous loophole traffickers are exploiting. The lawmakers note that the temporary fentanyl analogue designation is set to expire in March. 

    In the op-ed, Griffith, Latta, and McClain also tell the story of Zach, a 23-year-old college student with dreams of starting a tech company, who tragically died from fentanyl poisoning. His parents testified before Congress, calling for action to stop fentanyl trafficking and prevent more families from heartbreak. 

    Read the full op-ed here.

    Griffith, Latta y McClain Publican Artículo de Opinión sobre Medida Liderada por los Republicanos para Combatir la Crisis de Fentanilo  

    WASHINGTON – Los congresistas Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) y Bob Latta (R-Ohio) y la presidenta de la Conferencia Republicana de la Cámara de Representantes, Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), publicaron un artículo de opinión en el Washington Examiner ante la votación hoy sobre el Halt All Lethal Trafficking (HALT) of Fentanyl Act en la Cámara.

    Esta medida incluiría de manera permanenet los análogos del fentanilo bajo la Clasificación I de la Ley de Sustancias Controladas, cerrando una peligrosa brecha que los traficantes están explotando. Los congresistas señalan que la designación temporal de los análogos de fentanilo expirará en marzo.  

    En el artículo de opinión, Griffith, Latta y McClain también cuentan la historia de Zach, un estudiante universitario de 23 años con aspiraciones de iniciar una empresa tecnológica, que tristemente murió por intoxicación de fentanilo. Sus padres testificaron ante el Congreso, pidiendo acción para frenar el tráfico de fentanilo y evitar más tragedias.

    Lea el artículo completo aquí (INGLÉS).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Omaha Man Sentenced for Possessing with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl Analogue

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Jaden Stuart, age 32, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced January 29, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for possession with intent to distribute 10 grams or more of fentanyl analogue. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Stuart to 36 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Stuart is released from prison, he will begin a 2-year term of supervised release.

    On November 24, 2023, Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 80. The vehicle stopped was being driven by co-defendant, Kyle Bahnsen and the passenger was Jaden Stuart. During the traffic stop, NSP conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle and located approximately 59 small blue pills marked with M-30 that were fentanyl pills, 13.3 grams of a white substance that tested positive for fentanyl, and 1.4 grams of a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. The narcotics were meant for distribution.

    Bahnsen was sentenced on September 19, 2024, to 12 months and 1 day, followed by 3 years of supervised release.

    This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Drug Overdose Task Force.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Drug Dealer Receives 168 Months After Selling Fentanyl to Law Enforcement Over a Dozen Times

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Dre’Shaun Burns, age 31, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on January 30, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr.  sentenced Burns to 168 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Burns’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.

    Between April 2020 through June 2022, Burns sold fentanyl analogue to confidential informants over a dozen times.  On June 16, 2022, the investigation came to a head when law enforcement executed a search warrant of Burns’s mom’s residence in Omaha.  During the search, law enforcement recovered 371 grams of fentanyl analogue near two firearms.  Burns’s DNA was on this bag of drugs as well as the two firearms.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why personal climate action matters – according to experts

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jack Marley, Environment + Energy Editor, UK edition

    EL_Images/Shutterstock

    Do you feel powerless?

    You probably aren’t responsible for the investment decisions of an energy company, nor do you have a hand in government policy. But still, you are reading about climate change – a problem that can easily seem intractable to most people.

    The Veganuary campaign reported record participation this year: 25.8 million people worldwide tried a lighter lifestyle without meat and dairy in January, knowing that enormous emission sources sit beyond their immediate control. If such resolve to fix our planet exists, how can people exercise it?

    This roundup of The Conversation’s climate coverage comes from our award-winning weekly climate action newsletter. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed.

    You might be used to thinking of climate change in terms of your carbon footprint. That’s no accident, says science communicator Sam Illingworth (Edinburgh Napier). A public relations firm, hired by oil giant BP, invented the concept in 2004 as part of a deliberate effort to shift attention from corporate culpability, he says.

    “In my research into climate communication, I see how stories of guilt resonate with communities already facing misplaced blame,” Illingworth adds.

    You’re not alone

    “Net zero heroes” are set up to fail, Illingworth says. But realising this only makes collective action more important, and shows the futility of trying to bear the weight of the problem on your own.



    Read more:
    You don’t have to be a net zero hero – how focus on personal climate action can distract from systemic problems

    Your choices do not exist in a vacuum. Earth is an interconnected community of living and non-living things says ethicist Patrick Effiong Ben of the University of Manchester. African philosophers like Jonathan Chimakonam and Aïda Terblanché-Greeff have a helpful concept for thinking through the weightiness of your decisions: complementarity.

    Life on Earth is connected in often subtle and unpredictable ways.
    Lois GoBe/Shutterstock

    “Complementarity holds that the relationships that unite individual things can extend to prove the value of every contribution, no matter its size,” Ben says.



    Read more:
    Think your efforts to help the climate don’t matter? African philosophers disagree

    You can test this notion by choosing to eat a plant-based diet or forgo flying and observing your influence on others. If you’re sceptical, just think how many of your habits or turns of phrase are borrowed from loved ones. Steve Westlake, a behavioural psychologist at Cardiff University, says that your pro-environment choices can ultimately alter what other people consider “normal”.

    “In a survey I conducted, half of the respondents who knew someone who has given up flying because of climate change said they fly less because of this example. That alone seemed pretty impressive to me,” he says.



    Read more:
    Climate change: yes, your individual action does make a difference

    “They explained that the bold and unusual position to give up flying had: conveyed the seriousness of climate change and flying’s contribution to it; crystallised the link between values and actions; and even reduced feelings of isolation that flying less was a valid and sensible response to climate change.”

    What’s stopping us?

    Often, is is not apathy that holds us back, but a seeming lack of options. In the UK, where I live, a train is by far the better travel choice emissions-wise but it is usually much more expensive than a flight that covers the same distance.

    Environmental psychologists Christina Demski (University of Bath) and Stuart Capstick (Cardiff University) criticise the laissez-faire approach of successive governments that have “[gone] with the grain of consumer choice” while failing to recognise that many people would gladly choose the green option if they could afford or access it.



    Read more:
    To address climate change, lifestyles must change – but the government’s reluctance to help is holding us back

    This desire to do something meaningful is continually frustrated, they say, but it will not vanish as the crisis worsens. Everyone alive and yet to live needs a liveable climate. Securing it is within our technical and material means.

    The human species has no home but this one.
    Canities/Shutterstock

    Just listen to this from sustainability researcher Joel Millward-Hopkins (Université de Lausanne, previously University of Leeds):

    “Fortunately, in new research we found that using 60% less energy than today, decent living standards could be provided to a global population of 10 billion by 2050. That’s 75% less energy than the world is currently forecast to consume by 2050 on our present trajectory – or as much energy as the world used in the 1960s.”



    Read more:
    How 10 billion people could live well by 2050 – using as much energy as we did 60 years ago

    Instead of seeing your new vegan diet as a personal choice, think of it as a political act taken in solidarity with people and other species bearing the brunt of climate change say political philosophers Alasdair Cochrane (University of Sheffield) and Mara-Daria Cojocaru (Munich School of Philosophy).



    Read more:
    Veganism: why we should see it as a political movement rather than a dietary choice

    And remember that it isn’t all sacrifice. The joy that is possible with more expensive and more energy-hungry lifestyles is fleeting says Capstick, but contentment, he argues, is low-carbon.



    Read more:
    Climate change: greener lifestyles linked to greater happiness – in both rich and poor countries

    – ref. Why personal climate action matters – according to experts – https://theconversation.com/why-personal-climate-action-matters-according-to-experts-248960

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hassan, Cornyn, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Help Adjust Military Life Insurance for Inflation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Angus King (I-ME) and Representatives Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) and Keith Self (TX-03) today introduced the Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act, which would help ensure life insurance packages for service members and veterans account for increases in cost of living and inflation:  

    “While we can never fully repay the debt that we owe to those who serve our country, we should work each and every day to get them the benefits that they deserve,” said Sen. Hassan. “This bipartisan legislation will help ensure that the life insurance offered for our veterans and servicemembers is keeping pace with real-world costs to help protect the financial security of the families of those who serve.”

    “As the nation continues to feel the effects of inflation, we need to make sure service members, veterans, and their families have the financial support they need and deserve,” said Sen. Cornyn. “Our bill would help ensure the Veterans Affairs Department can offer competitive life insurance packages that keep pace with the current cost of living.” 

    “Our nation’s service members and veterans put their lives on the line to protect America and defend our freedom,” said Sen. Cruz. “I am proud to partner with my colleagues to honor and provide for those who bravely sacrificed to serve the United States of America. Adjusting the value of the life insurance policies of servicemembers and veterans in line with inflation will ensure that America rightly honors their memory and cares for their loved ones after they are gone.”

    “Our servicemembers, veterans and their families make countless sacrifices every day to protect our nation, and we are indebted to their selfless service,” said Sen. King. “With the bipartisan Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act, we can ensure life insurance packages for military members adjust with the rising cost of living — giving more peace of mind to military families when they face difficult times. I’m grateful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for coming together to honor our commitment to the brave men and women who have given so much to our country.”

    “When we ask servicemembers to put their lives on the line for our country, we promise to have their backs. We must take care of their families and loved ones in the event of tragedy,” said Rep. Strickland. “This bill makes it clear that Congress stands by our military families.”

    “We must ensure our veterans receive the benefits they’ve rightfully earned,” said Rep. Self. “This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to review and adjust the maximum coverage for servicemembers’ and Veterans’ Group Life Insurance programs to keep pace with inflation, ensuring these benefits keep pace with rising costs.”

    Background:

    The Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act would help ensure the maximum group insurance available to service members and veterans account for increases in cost of living. From 2006 to 2023, the maximum insurance value available for service members and veterans remained static, lagging far behind inflation rates. This bill would strengthen the financial safety net for veterans, service members, and their families by requiring a report to the U.S. Veterans Affairs Department, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs regarding cost of living increases and inflation rates every five years to ensure they don’t go years without assessing inflation rates.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cramer Reintroduces Fair Access to Banking Act to Protect Legal Industries from Debanking

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

    ***Click here for audio.***

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – In recent years, prominent American banks have engaged in a discriminatory practice, referred to as debanking. Banks and financial institutions use their economic standing to categorically exclude law-abiding, legal industries by refusing to lend or provide services to them. This includes industries such as firearms, ammunition, crypto, federal prison contractors, as well as energy producers. 

    U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, reintroduced his Fair Access to Banking Act, which protects fair access to financial services and ensures banks operate in a safe and sound manner. The legislation requires that lending and services decisions must be based on impartial, risk-based analysis, not political or reputational favoritism. U.S. Representative Andy Barr (R-KY-6) introduced similar legislation in the House of Representatives. 

    “When progressives failed at banning these entire industries, what they did instead is they turned to weaponizing banks as sort of a backdoor to carry out their activist goals,” said Cramer. “Financial institutions are backed by taxpayers, for crying out loud! They should be obligated to provide services in an unbiased, risk-based manner. The Fair Access to Banking Act ensures that banks provide fair access to services and enacts strict penalties for categorically discriminating against legal industries and individuals.”

    Specifically, this legislation penalizes banks and credit unions with over $10 billion in total consolidated assets, or their subsidiaries, if they refuse to do business with any legally compliant, credit-worthy person. It also prevents payment card networks from discriminating against any qualified person because of political or reputational considerations. The bill requires qualified banks to provide written justification for why they are denying a person financial services. Further, the Fair Access to Banking Act would penalize providers who fail to comply with the law by disqualifying institutions from using discount window lending programs, terminating status as an insured depository institution or credit union, or imposing a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation. 

    The bill is based on President Trump’s Fair Access Rule, which was introduced during his first administration and required financial institutions to make individual risk assessments rather than broad decisions regarding entire industries or categories of customers. Cramer helped craft the rule, and his legislation codifies these protections. The Biden administration paused the rule’s implementation in early 2021.

    Cramer’s legislation is a response to United States banks and financial institutions increasingly using their economic standing to categorically discriminate against legal industries and conservatives. For example, Citigroup instituted a policy in 2018 to withhold project-related financing for coal plants, and in 2020, five of the country’s largest banks announced they would not provide loans or credit to support oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, despite explicit congressional authorization. Such exclusionary practices also extend to industries protected by the Second Amendment, with Capital One, among other banks, previously including “ammunitions, firearms, or firearm parts” in the prohibited payments section of its corporate policy manual, and payment services like Apple Pay and PayPal denying their services for transactions involving firearms or ammunition. First Lady Melania Trump and technology companies alike allege banks have debanked them or refused to do business. During his address to the World Economic Forum in January, President Trump highlighted big banks and their discriminatory practices of targeting conservatives.  

    In the years since Cramer first introduced the Fair Access to Banking Act, support has grown every Congress. At the state level, Florida and Tennessee passed Fair Access laws and similar legislation was introduced in Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, and South Dakota. Banks have dropped membership in discriminatory groups which were aimed at starving specific industries.

    The Fair Access to Banking Act is endorsed by several organizations, including the National Shooting Sports Foundation, National Rifle Association, North Dakota Petroleum Council, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, The Digital Chamber, Blockchain Association, Independent Petroleum Association of America, Online Lenders Alliance, Day 1 Alliance, GEO Group, Lignite Energy Council, National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, and National Mining Association.

    The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jim Banks (R-IN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Boozman (R-AR), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Curtis (R-UT), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Jim Justice (R-WV), John Kennedy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Dave McCormick (R-PA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).

    Click here for bill text. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell Takes to Senate Floor to Oppose Trump’s Trade Philosophy: No to Tariffs, Yes to Innovation, Collaboration & Growth

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

    02.05.25

    Cantwell Takes to Senate Floor to Oppose Trump’s Trade Philosophy: No to Tariffs, Yes to Innovation, Collaboration & Growth

    In speech on Senate floor, Cantwell advocates for new U.S. trade agreements with Southeast Asia, the Middle East, & the Americas to strengthen ties with allies & grow the economy at home; Cantwell slams proposed Trump tariffs: “The payers in this dispute are never the government leaders … it’s the workers who lose their job.”

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, delivered a speech on the Senate floor calling for the United States to establish new trade agreements with Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America – and to repudiate the trade philosophy of President Donald Trump, whose proposed tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico, and China would spark a trade war, drive up costs for American consumers, harm domestic businesses across hundreds of industries, and compromise the United States’ global leadership in the free trade ecosystem.

    “It’s better to have a job than be attracted to join a terrorist organization. It’s better to create economic stability than fueling poverty and migration […] Last week, I spoke about additional investments the United States needs to make in Panama, Latin America, and others, to link and modernize bilateral agreements that help us counter China,” Sen. Cantwell said. “Free trade agreements are a way for us — not tariffs — to gain the leverage we want. South Asia could play an important role in this coalition building, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. But I want us to go further. I want us to understand that U.S.-led negotiations in a Middle East free trade agreement to build on the momentum of a ceasefire in Gaza could further stabilize that region.”

    In her speech, Sen. Cantwell railed against President Donald Trump’s tariff’s proposal, likening his isolationist trade policies to an attempt to make time stand still – a futile goal at any point, but especially during the modern information age, when countries are more interconnected than ever and the United States is locked in an innovation race in artificial intelligence and quantum technology. She also called on the United States to invest in its workforce, research & development, science, and capital investment to modernize its manufacturing and stay competitive.

    “To outcompete our adversaries, we need coalitions, not go-it-alone strategies. Why do we fear this if we think our principles are correct? But somehow the current administration thinks that we’ve been hurt more than we’ve been helped in this global equation, and they want us to believe that somehow there is a win-win situation on tariffs that they can deliver on,” Sen. Cantwell said.

    “Tariffs are a distortion of markets. Tariffs mean we disagree. It very rarely means the disagreement will be resolved quickly. It usually means people will retaliate, and the escalation of that retaliation will hurt consumers so much so that eventually someone will blink,” she continued. “The payers in this dispute, though, are never the government leaders. No, it’s the workers who lose their job. It’s the family that pays higher cost. It’s the community that loses their economic activity and tax revenue.”

    In Washington state: Two out of every five jobs are tied to trade and related industries. In 2023, the state imported $19.9 billion of goods from Canada – primarily oil, gas, lumber, and electrical power — making our northern neighbors Washington state’s largest trade partner. Also in 2023, the state imported $1.7 billion in goods from Mexico, including motor vehicles, vehicle parts, and household appliances. More information about how President Trump’s proposed tariffs will impact businesses and consumers in the State of Washington is HERE.

    Sen. Cantwell has remained a steadfast supporter of free trade to grow the economy in the State of Washington and nationwide. Sen. Cantwell was the leading voice in negotiations to end India’s 20% retaliatory tariff on American apples, which devastated Washington state’s apple exports.  India had once been the second-largest export market for American apples, but after then-President Trump imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum in his first term, India imposed retaliatory tariffs in response and U.S. apple exports plummeted.  The impact on Washington apple growers was severe:  apple exports from the state dropped from $120 million in 2017 to less than $1 million by 2023.  In September 2023, India ended its retaliatory tariffs on apples and pulse crops following several years of Sen. Cantwell’s advocacy, which was welcome news to the state’s more than 1,400 apple growers and the 68,000-plus workers they support.

    In May 2023, Sen. Cantwell sent a letter urging the Biden Administration to help U.S. potato growers finally get approval to sell fresh potatoes in Japan. In June 2023, Sen. Cantwell hosted U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), then-chair of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, in Washington state for a forum with 30 local agricultural leaders in Wenatchee to discuss the Farm Bill.

    In 2022, Sen. Cantwell spearheaded passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, a law to crack down on skyrocketing international ocean shipping costs and ease supply chain backlogs that raise prices for consumers and make it harder for U.S. farmers and exporters to get their goods to the global market.

    In August 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sen. Cantwell sent a letter to then-Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue requesting aid funds be distributed to wheat growers. In December 2018, Sen. Cantwell celebrated the passage of the Farm Bill, which included $500 million of assistance for farmers, including those who grow wheat.

    In 2019, Sen. Cantwell helped secure a provision in the $16 billion USDA relief package, ensuring sweet cherry growers could access emergency funding to offset the impacts of tariffs and other market disruptions.

    Video of today’s speech is available HERE; and a transcript of Sen. Cantwell’s remarks is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: RELEASE: Mullin, Cramer, Colleagues Reintroduce Fair Access to Banking Act to Protect Legal Industries from Debanking

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator MarkWayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma)

    RELEASE: Mullin, Cramer, Colleagues Reintroduce Fair Access to Banking Act to Protect Legal Industries from Debanking

    Washington, D.C. – In recent years, prominent American banks have engaged in a discriminatory practice, referred to as debanking. Banks and financial institutions use their economic standing to categorically exclude law-abiding, legal industries by refusing to lend or provide services to them. This includes industries such as firearms, ammunition, crypto, federal prison contractors, as well as energy producers. 

    U.S. Senators Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, and 39 of their Senate GOP colleagues reintroduced the Fair Access to Banking Act, which protects fair access to financial services and ensures banks operate in a safe and sound manner. The legislation requires that lending and services decisions must be based on impartial, risk-based analysis, not political or reputational favoritism. U.S. Representative Andy Barr (R-KY-6) introduced similar legislation in the House of Representatives. 

    Specifically, this legislation penalizes banks and credit unions with over $10 billion in total consolidated assets, or their subsidiaries, if they refuse to do business with any legally compliant, credit-worthy person. It also prevents payment card networks from discriminating against any qualified person because of political or reputational considerations. The bill requires qualified banks to provide written justification for why they are denying a person financial services. Further, the Fair Access to Banking Act would penalize providers who fail to comply with the law by disqualifying institutions from using discount window lending programs, terminating status as an insured depository institution or credit union, or imposing a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation. 

    The bill is based on President Trump’s Fair Access Rule, which was introduced during his first administration and required financial institutions to make individual risk assessments rather than broad decisions regarding entire industries or categories of customers. The Biden administration paused the rule’s implementation in early 2021.

    The senators’ legislation is a response to United States banks and financial institutions increasingly using their economic standing to categorically discriminate against legal industries and conservatives. For example, Citigroup instituted a policy in 2018 to withhold project-related financing for coal plants, and in 2020, five of the country’s largest banks announced they would not provide loans or credit to support oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, despite explicit congressional authorization. Such exclusionary practices also extend to industries protected by the Second Amendment, with Capital One, among other banks, previously including “ammunitions, firearms, or firearm parts” in the prohibited payments section of its corporate policy manual, and payment services like Apple Pay and PayPal denying their services for transactions involving firearms or ammunition. First Lady Melania Trump and technology companies alike allege banks have debanked them or refused to do business. During his address to the World Economic Forum in January, President Trump highlighted big banks and their discriminatory practices of targeting conservatives.  

    In the years since the first introduction of the Fair Access to Banking Act, support has grown every Congress. At the state level, Florida and Tennessee passed Fair Access laws and similar legislation was introduced in Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, and South Dakota. Banks have dropped membership in discriminatory groups which were aimed at starving specific industries.

    The Fair Access to Banking Act is endorsed by several organizations, including the National Shooting Sports Foundation, National Rifle Association, North Dakota Petroleum Council, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, The Digital Chamber, Blockchain Association, Independent Petroleum Association of America, Online Lenders Alliance, Day 1 Alliance, GEO Group, the Lignite Energy Council, and National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors.

    Joining Sens. Mullin and Cramer on this legislation are Senators Jim Banks (R-IN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Boozman (R-AR), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Curtis (R-UT), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Jim Justice (R-WV), John Kennedy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Dave McCormick (R-PA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).

    Read exclusively about the Fair Access to Banking Act in the Daily Wire.

    Click here for bill text. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fischer, King Reintroduce Legislation to Help America’s Working Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer

    Today, U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Angus King (I-Maine) reintroduced the Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation will make the Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Employer Tax Credit permanent, helping companies of all sizes offer PFML plans to their employees. 

    Senators Fischer and King established the country’s first-ever nationwide PFML policy, which wasincluded in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and implemented in 2018. The Senators’ legislationbuilds on the 2017 law to better serve working families and hourly workers. It also provides additional ways for businesses to qualify for the paid leave tax credit, such as paying for PFML insurance products, and requires greater outreach efforts to raise awareness about the credit. 

    U.S. Representatives Randy Feenstra (IA-04), Stephanie Bice (OK-05), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) will introduce identical companion legislation in the House.

    “America’s working families drive our economy forward and strengthen our communities. They shouldn’t have to choose between earning a paycheck and caring for their loved ones. That’s why Senator King and I passed the first-ever nationwide paid family leave law. Now, we need to make our legislation permanent and expand access to ensure that even more businesses can provide paid family leave to the workers who keep them running. I’m determined to get this key legislation included in whatever tax package Congress considers this year,” said Senator Fischer.

    “I have often said that Maine is one big town with long roads and when a member of our community is hurting, we drop everything to take care of our own. However, no one should have to choose between caring for our families or receiving the next paycheck to put food on the table,” said Senator King. “That’s why I’ve been working with my Republican colleague, Deb Fischer of Nebraska, to introduce the Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act which makes the PFML tax credit permanent. When families have access to care, they are able to succeed both at home and in their professional careers. Child care is more than a household priority; child care means business!”

    “Paid family and medical leave (PFML) is a lifeline for workers when facing a medical condition or welcoming a newborn into the world. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act recognized the importance of PFML by helping American small businesses offer these benefits to their employees through the creation of a targeted tax credit specifically for small businesses. However, along with many other policies, this provision expires at the end of the year without action from Congress,” said Congressman Feenstra. “That’s why I introduced legislation to extend and improve this tax credit for our small businesses so that they can provide their workers with up to 12 weeks of PFML without missing a paycheck. As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, I believe that, by making this policy permanent, we can deliver certainty for our small businesses, keep our workers healthy and employed, and grow our economy and rural communities.”

    “The 45S tax credit, first implemented under the Trump administration, has been instrumental in helping many employers expand paid family leave benefits for their workers. However, awareness and uptake of this credit have been lower than we’d like. This legislation, which I’m pleased to introduce alongside my colleagues, will improve the credit, make it more flexible, increase employer awareness, and make the tax credit permanent,” said Congresswoman Bice.  

    “Taking care of your health, newborn, or family when they’re most in need shouldn’t come at the cost of paying the bills. Strong families mean strong communities and local economies,” said Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez. “With the paid family and medical leave tax credit due to expire, our bipartisan legislation will make this successful credit permanent and expand access for Washington-based businesses and newer employees, so more families can feel the benefits.”

    Nebraska Stakeholder Support: 

    “The Nebraska Chamber is committed to making Nebraska the best place to own, operate and grow a business, and this bill brings us one step closer to achieving that. The Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit represents Nebraska business owners’ desire to strengthen the state’s overall workforce. The NE Chamber and businesses across the state appreciate Senator Fischer’s continued leadership on this issue,” said President of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce Bryan Sloane. 

    “The Lincoln Chamber of Commerce appreciates Senator Fischer’s leadership in her efforts to empower small businesses to provide paid family and medical leave. Senator Fischer’s continued efforts by way of introducing her Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act is a continuation of her commitment to employers, employees, families, and communities. We view this crucial policy initiative as something that should be included in any larger pro-growth tax policy package that might be considered,” said Lincoln Chamber of Commerce President Jason Ball.

    “The Greater Omaha Chamber is grateful to Senators Fischer and King for introducing this important legislation. While a broad representation of our membership offers various types of paid leave, incentives will matter to companies and businesses who have greater barriers to offering paid leave, especially our smallest members. This proposed legislation allows us greater opportunities to care holistically for employees the way we strive to, and aligns with the Chamber’s mission,” said Greater Omaha Chamber President and CEO Heath Mello. 

    “The Nebraska Grocers and all our affiliates thank Senator Fischer for her commitment to businesses, families, and communities. By embracing incentives, rather than imposing burdensome and impractical mandates, this Act recognizes that business owners want to provide flexibility to their most valuable resource – their dedicated employees. The Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act is genuinely helpful, responsible policymaking which empowers both employers and employees,” said Nebraska Grocery Industry Association Executive Director Ansley Fellers. 

    Full List of Nebraska Endorsements:

    Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, Mutual of Omaha, Nebraska Grocery Industry Association, Nebraska Hospitality Association, and Nebraska Retail Federation.

    National Stakeholder Support:

    “AARP, which advocates for the more than 100 million Americans age 50 and older, is pleased to endorse the bipartisan Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act. This legislation will provide consistency and certainty to businesses by making tax credit 45S permanent. In addition, the proposed enhancements to the credit will encourage more employers to provide this important benefit to support working family caregivers with low to moderate incomes,” said AARP Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Bill Sweeney.

    “Too many people today face the difficult choice between earning a paycheck and caring for themselves or family member. Senators Fischer and King are offering a bipartisan solution that will go a long way toward helping working families facing this dilemma. The enhanced tax credit will enable more employers—especially small employers— to offer their workers a paid family and medical leave benefit. It also will help more people access this benefit by making it easier for employers to qualify for the credit. Most important, the legislation gives people peace of mind knowing they’ll be protected from economic loss when taking time off from work to care for themselves or a loved one. We applaud Senators Fischer and King for advancing this legislation that offers working Americans the help they want and need,” said American Council of Life Insurers President & CEO David Chavern.

    “Over the last year, the AICPA has worked closely with staff from both Senator Fischer and Senator King‘s offices on important legislation that would help families and middle income households by allowing more employers to offer the benefit of paid family and medical leave to their employees by making the tax credit permanent. We applaud Senators Fischer and King for their thoughtful and consistent leadership on this bill and offer our strong support,” said American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Vice President of Tax Policy & Advocacy Melanie Lauridsen.

    “Benefits like paid family leave help restaurant operators recruit skilled hospitality professionals. Making the Paid Family, Medical Leave tax credit program pilot permanent would support the growth of the small business operators who are considering or offering PFML. In the current economy, we appreciate Sens. Fisher and King’s efforts to support small business restaurant owners and their employees by continuing this program,” said National Restaurant Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs Sean Kennedy. 

    “NFIB thanks Senator Fischer and Senator King for introducing the Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act. Incentivizing small business owners to offer paid family and medical leave rather than penalizing them for failing to provide a benefit that they cannot afford is a wise policy for the small business owners,” said National Federation of Independent Businesses Vice President Federal Government Relations Jeff Brabant.

    “BPC Action is proud to endorse the Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act to make permanent and expand the employer tax credit for paid family and medical leave, known as 45S, and applauds Sens. Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Angus King (I-ME) for their bipartisan leadership on this bill. As BPC has found, ‘In an ever-changing economy and tight labor market, paid family and medical leave can importantly encourage workers to stay in the labor force, support household finances, and help businesses compete for workers.’ This bill is critical to helping businesses provide paid leave benefits to more hardworking American families. We urge Congress to take up this proposal, originally enacted as part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” said Bipartisan Policy Center President Michele Stockwell. 

    “We the People send Americans into the halls of government with the opportunity to do the Will of the People, to do good. As such, it is perpetually our hope that our elected officials will execute such Will and enact laws that will serve the People, especially in cases where it is feasible in order to ease the burdens that life sometimes thrusts upon us where loved ones, families and businesses are most affected. The PFML Tax Credit Bill provides a judicious antidote for a malaise that has existed for far too long for so many Americans and businesses. More specifically, the PFML Bill effectively eliminates the decision of having to choose between family and a paycheck. In short, it gives individuals, families and employers the relief and peace of mind that they desperately need. On behalf of the American Caregiver Association, I encourage all those who are willing, to support U.S. Senators Deb Fischer and Senator Angus King and their continuing efforts to make the PFML Tax Credit Bill permanent,” said American Caregiver Association President Vincent S. Pettis. 

    “At SHRM, we are committed to advancing smart, practical policies that strengthen workplaces, empower HR professionals, and maximize human potential. As employers innovate to provide leave options that support well-being and family care, public policy must keep pace—offering incentives that encourage organizations to expand access to leave while maintaining the flexibility needed to design and sustain these programs. A balanced approach ensures that more workers can benefit from this critical support. At SHRM, we prioritize policy over politics and view this effort as a strong example of bipartisan collaboration and constructive policymaking in Congress,” said Society for Human Resource Management Chief of Staff and Head of Government Affairs Emily M. Dickens, J.D.

    “On behalf of our nation’s 2.95 million Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) business owners and entrepreneurs, National ACE applauds Senators Fischer and King for their leadership in reintroducing the Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act. Access to paid family and medical leave is vital for small business owners and their employees, particularly within the AAPI community, where caregiving responsibilities often extend across generations. This bipartisan effort provides much-needed support for entrepreneurs striving to balance business success with the well-being of their workforce. We are proud to support this legislation and look forward to working together to ensure small businesses have the resources they need to thrive,” said National Asian Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship President and CEO Chiling Tong.

    “The Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act is essential to help ensure that more small business owners can offer paid family medical leave to their employees. Policies that include support for business owners and working families through programs like paid family leave help address the economic needs of our small businesses and workforce while at the same time making sure small business owners can compete against their larger counterparts. We thank Senators Fischer and King for their bipartisan leadership in introducing this important legislation and applaud the efforts to both expand access to this credit and ensure that the tax credit is permanent,” said National Association of Women Business Owners Board Chair Dr. Janis Shinkawa.

    “We are pleased to see the reintroduction of this legislation by Senators Fischer and King and thank them for their leadership on this critical issue. This legislation will encourage employers around the country to offer paid leave to their employees, increasing the number of Americans with paid leave coverage. Paid leave strengthens families and the economy by enabling workers to keep their jobs when they need to care for themselves or a loved one, while helping businesses retain valued employees,” said Sun Life U.S. President Dan Fishbein, M.D. 

    Full List of National Endorsements:

    AARP, Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM), American Council of Life Insurers, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), National Restaurant Association, National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB), Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), American Caregiver Association, Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), National Asian Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship, National Association of Women Business Owners, and Sun Life U.S.

    Background: 

    The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) created a two-year general business tax credit for employers that voluntarily offer up to 12 weeks of PFML to employees. Congress has extended the credit through 2025. The credit also includes an income cap for eligible employees to ensure that it remains targeted to those who need it the most. 

    Under current law, an employer must meet the following criteria to claim the credit: offer all qualifying employees at least two weeks of PFML, have a written PFML policy in effect, and pay at least 50 percent of an employee’s normal wages while the employee is on PFML. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), only 19 percent of those working for employers with less than 50 employees have access to PFML.

    Senators Fischer and King’s legislation builds on the existing credit by making the following changes:

    Making the Credit Permanent:

    • Provides certainty to businesses taking the leap to offer paid family and medical leave.

    Updating the Treatment of Paid Leave Required by State or Local Mandates:

    • Allows eligible employers to receive the credit for leave provided in states without PFML mandates or for leave offered in excess of any state or local mandate. 
      • Currently, employers providing PFML under state or local government mandates are ineligible for the credit, meaning that some employers with operations in both non-mandate and mandate states are ineligible for the credit.

    Supporting Coverage of PFL Insurance Premiums:

    • Allows employers to claim the credit for premiums paid for PFML insurance products that cover qualifying employees. The structure mirrors the current credit, enabling employers to receive up to a 25 percent credit towards yearly premiums, depending on the percentage of wages the insurance plan replaces.

    Reducing the Minimum Employment Period Requirement:

    • Provides employers the option to offer PFML to employees at six months and better target the credit towards younger workers.

    Requiring Greater Outreach and Awareness:

    • Requires the Small Business Administration and Internal Revenue Service to conduct targeted outreach, education, and technical assistance to assist in increasing awareness of the credit.

    Click here to read a summary of the bill.
     

    Click here to read the text of the bill.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Innovating to detect deepfakes and protect the public

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Innovating to detect deepfakes and protect the public

    Collaborating to find ways to mitigate the growing threat from AI-generated deepfakes is an urgent national priority. 

    The rise in deepfakes generated by artificial intelligence (AI) has been scarily rapid – a projected eight million will be shared in 2025, up from 500,000 in 2023. This sheer scale combined with greater sophistication and convincingness means finding ways to quickly detect and mitigate this ever-growing threat is an increasingly urgent priority. 

    Concerns over criminal manipulation of digital text, images and video are not new, but the proliferation in recent months of generative AI tools that enable anyone, anywhere to quickly, easily and cheaply create deepfake images has significantly changed the game.

    As deepfakes threaten to hit the mainstream across a range of harmful activity, from online child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA) to fraud and election interference, there is a corresponding drive to develop the tools and methods needed to tackle them at the required scale and pace. 

    In its role as an innovative enabler connecting frontline government and law enforcement with cutting-edge technology from industry, the Accelerated Capability Environment (ACE) is at the heart of this ramp-up in activity designed to find practical solutions to arguably the greatest challenge of the online age. And 2024 was a year where the marriage of cutting-edge technology, collaboration and fresh thinking enabled significant strides forward. 

    Circular collaboration 

    Clear results that accelerate crucial deepfake detection in a range of domains have been made across a series of focused commissions carried out by ACE. And just as importantly, learnings and practical experiences developed in one commission have been shared with others to pass on deeper knowledge and skills.  

    The biggest event in this space was the Deepfake Detection Challenge. Initiated by the Home Office, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, ACE and the renowned Alan Turing Institute, this visionary idea brought together academic, industry and government experts to develop innovative and practical solutions focused on detecting fake media.

    More than 150 people attended the initial briefing where five challenge statements pushing the boundaries of current capabilities were launched. The critical importance of collaboration and sharing of skills and knowledge was a recurring theme, and major tech companies including Microsoft and Amazon Web Services (AWS) provided practical support.  

    Eight weeks were spent developing innovative ideas and solutions on a specially created platform, which hosted approximately two million assets made up of both real and synthetic data for training and testing. Following this, 17 submissions were received, and six teams from our community – Frazer-Nash Consulting, IBM, Oxford Wave Research, Open Origins, Safe and Sound from the University of Southampton, and Naimuri – were selected to demonstrate their ideas in front of more than 200 stakeholders. 

    Solutions from Frazer-Nash, Oxford Wave, the University of Southampton and Naimuri, a combination of existing products that have been identified as potentially showing operational value as well as early-stage proof of concepts being developed against specific use cases including CSEA, disinformation and audio, are now going through benchmark testing and user trials. 

    Key insights from the initial challenge work, alongside the clear success in accelerating the state-of-the art in deepfake detection possibilities, included that curated data was critical to be able to make as much progress as possible in the time and conditions available, and that creating a dataset that was more representative of real-world operational scenarios would have been helpful.  

    Using better data to detect child abuse deepfakes 

    When another significant commission to further deepfake detection was brought to ACE by the government’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) and the Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser (OCSA), data development was a top priority.  

    To mature the EVITA (Evaluating video, text and audio) AI content detection tool the focus shifted away from volume.  

    As part of developing next-step recommendations, ACE leveraged its expertise from the Deepfake Detection Challenge to create a reusable ‘gold standard’ dataset. This dataset was designed to effectively test detection models, including those targeting child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

    By combining this ‘gold standard’ dataset with ACE’s extensive domain and community expertise – drawing on insights from Naimuri and Bays Consulting – ACE delivered rapid insights into the maturation of EVITA through comprehensive and diverse testing. 

    This work not only enabled ACE to deliver the requested next-step recommendations for the EVITA programme but also led to the development of a repeatable testing and evaluation approach for deepfake detection. This approach enhances the ability to interpret and understand the results generated by detection tools. 

    Alongside this, another piece of work was taking place exploring how AI can be used to detect deepfakes in policing. The biggest challenge is in digital forensics where, the ACE team heard, officers can be faced with up to a million child abuse images on a single seized phone.  

    This commission, working with community members Blueprint, Camera Forensics and TRMG, seeks to understand where deepfake detection tooling fits into the investigation stage to add most value. Next steps in this particular project are ‘making this real’ – working towards commissioning a proof of concept or trial of an existing capability.  

    And so the learning is becoming circular once more as the next stage of the Deepfake Detection Challenge progresses. This will push further than any work in this field so far, focusing on making the initial solutions presented more user-centric and deeply relevant to practitioners in the field. 

    Deepfakes are both a growing menace and an evolving threat, but bridging the gap between models and reality will be critical to tackling them at scale and at pace. ACE, its customers and suppliers remain laser focused on this evolution from the theoretical to the practical. The potential of innovation combined with collaboration has already proved to be a potent force in this area, the challenge – in all ways – is maximising the potential of what comes next.

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM Union, Rail Labor Leaders Demand Safety Reform on Two-Year Anniversary of East Palestine Disaster

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    IAM Rail Division representatives joined members of Congress and leaders from fellow U.S. rail unions in calling on Congress to act on rail safety two years after the toxic East Palestine train derailment. 

    “On behalf of all our members, our hearts still go out to the people of East Palestine. They want answers, they want results and so do we,” said Transportation Communications Union (TCU/IAM) National Legislative Director David Arouca. “The so-called Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR) era has been nothing short of just cutting head counts to the bone and then harassing those who remain to pick up the slack.”

    TCU/IAM represents various crafts, one of the largest being carmen, who maintain, repair and critically inspect rail cars all across the country. 

    “Whether it’s our carmen being harassed to perform safety inspections on insane timelines or signalmen maintaining our national network of safety detectors, we’ve all been saying the same thing: PSR is going to kill people,” said Arouca. “We need legislation passed now to reduce the risk of another East Palestine. The time to act was yesterday. Rail safety is not, nor should it ever, be a partisan issue.”

    IAM District 19 President and Directing General Chair Reece Murtagh was also present to answer questions for the press. Members of Congress joining rail included House Transportation Committee Vice Ranking Member Emilia Sykes (D-Ohio), House Rail Subcommittee Ranking Member Dina Titus (D-Nev.), House Transportation Committee Member Troy Nehls (R-Texas) and House Transportation Committee Member Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.).

    The rail leaders demanded that Class I railroad companies adopt the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS), which allows rail workers to report safety concerns without retaliation from employers. 

    While addressing the public with his own press conference in East Palestine, Ohio on the disaster’s anniversary, U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who co-sponsored the bipartisan Railway Safety Act as Senator, said that passing legislation “is a very viable and a very reasonable goal.” 

    Senator Maria Cantwell sent a letter to U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Chairman Ted Cruz urging him to “advance the re-introduced Railway Safety Act to ensure President Trump and Vice President Vance have the tools they need to hold the railroads accountable for improving safety. “

    “Rail safety is not a partisan issue or a regional issue, it is a human issue,” said Congresswoman Sykes. “I am proud to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle on and off the Transportation Committee to put forth a piece of legislation we can be proud of, but we can only truly make it right for the people of East Palestine if we actually pass meaningful rail safety legislation.”

    “I think we have a real opportunity here,” said Congresswoman Titus. “I think we can get it done, just reintroduce those bills, bring it together in a package, and move it forward. I’m committed to it, other members of Congress and the great representatives from unions are, so I’m leading this with optimism.”

    Share and Follow:

    MIL OSI USA News –