NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Zuni Woman Sentenced to 18 Year Prison Sentence for Fatal Kidnapping

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni woman was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for her involvement in a 2019 kidnapping that resulted in the victim’s death. 

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    According to court documents, between July 1 and July 16, 2019, Kendra Panteah, 37, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, participated in confining John Doe in the trunk of his own vehicle. She then brought the vehicle and victim to her co-defendant, Gilbert John Jr., and proceeded to drive around the Navajo Nation for over 24 hours with the victim locked in the trunk. They then stopped near Bass Lake, NM. When John Doe attempted to escape, John Jr. repeatedly stabbed him with a machete, resulting in the victim’s death.

    After the killing, Panteah and John Jr. abandoned the vehicle with the body inside for several days. John Jr. later towed the vehicle to a remote location, doused it with gasoline, and set it on fire to destroy evidence. The victim was only identified through hip replacement devices found in the burned vehicle.

    Gilbert John Jr. pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 21 years in prison in June of 2024.

    Upon her release from prison, Panteah will be subject to five years of supervised release.

    U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark A. Probasco and Alexander F. Flores prosecuted the case.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Memphis Man Sentenced for Stealing 166 Firearms and for Possession of a “Switch”

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Memphis, TN – Kaderion Stokes, 19, was recently sentenced to federal prison for theft of firearms and possession of a machinegun.  Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

    According to the information presented in court, on September 9, 2023, approximately 166 firearms were stolen from a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) business in Atoka, Tennessee.  An Atoka Police officer was patrolling the area when he observed a GMC Sierra pick-up truck in the parking lot of the business.  As the officer approached the truck, the truck fled at a high rate of speed.  Officers discovered that the truck was stolen and had rammed the front of the business crashing into the interior of the store.  Several items were taken from the store, including firearms.  Stokes was later developed as a suspect.  In October 2023, Stokes was arrested by local law enforcement in Memphis on unrelated charges while in possession of two of the stolen firearms from the FFL business.

    After a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Stokes, a federal arrest warrant was issued and the United States Marshals Service arrested Stokes at an apartment in Memphis.  Stokes was found in possession of a firearm with a machinegun conversion device or a “switch.”  Subsequently, the grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Stokes for possessing the “switch” as well as charges associated with the theft of firearms.

    On October 31, 2024, Stokes pled guilty in federal court and on January 29, 2025, Senior United States District Court Judge Jon P. McCalla sentenced Stokes to 87 months of federal imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system.

    The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Atoka Police Department.  The United States Marshals Service and the Memphis Police Department assisted.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Marques Young and Eileen Kuo, along with Special Assistant United States Attorney Raven Icaza, who prosecuted this case on behalf of the government, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated it.

    ###

    For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Bees count from left to right just like some humans, apes and birds – new research

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Scarlett Howard, Lecturer, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University

    Stock Holm/Shutterstock

    Picture writing the numbers 1 to 5 in a horizontal line, from smallest to largest. Where did you put 1? If you placed 1 on the left and 5 on the right, you share this preference with most humans.

    Humans are not alone in this preference. Some other primates, and even some birds, also order small-to-large quantities from left to right. Although, some animals do prefer to order quantities from right to left.

    This is known as the mental number line, and it shows how brains typically organise information. But why do our brains do this?

    To investigate how and why brains order numbers, it’s sometimes useful to step back in time. How did a common ancestor of humans and insects order information? To find out, we can compare the results of humans and bees: we last shared a common ancestor more than 600 million years ago.

    Two recent studies on bees have revealed a lot about how tiny brains order numbers.

    One study, conducted by a team in Europe, showed that bees prefer to order lower numbers on the left and higher numbers on the right, just like many humans. Our new study, led by Jung-Chun (Zaza) Kuo and her supervisory team, has explored how numbers and space interact in the bee brain.

    ‘Number’ and ‘space’

    As humans, we link the concepts of “space” and “number”. This means there is a logic to how we order numbers (typically from left to right in ascending order: 1, 2, 3, 4 … and so on).

    Studies have shown humans may also have a vertical – bottom to top – preference when processing numerical information efficiently.

    There may also be educational influences, especially due to language and writing direction. Some languages, like English, write from left to right. Others, such as Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Hebrew or Arabic, can be written in other directions. Writing direction can influence how we prefer to order numbers.

    Meanwhile, honeybees are efficient learners and show evidence of being tiny mathematicians. In past research, they have been shown to add and subtract, understand the concept of zero, use symbols to represent numbers, order quantities, categorise numbers by odd or even, and show evidence of linking numbers to spatial information like size.

    The competency bees show around numbers makes them an ideal animal to look at how number and space interact in a miniature brain.

    Do bees have a mental number line?
    Scarlett Howard

    How did we test bees in our study?

    We gave freely flying bees sugar water for visiting an image of three circles printed on a card: this was our “reference number”. The card was hung in the centre of a large circular screen, with a drop of sugar water on a platform underneath it.

    As the bees repeatedly visited the reference number, they learned an association between the number three, the centre of the circular screen, and a reward. In between visits, bees took the sugar water back to their hive to be made into honey.

    After bees had learned to associate number (three) and space (middle) with a reward, we tested them on numbers higher and lower than three, to see if they had linked space and number.

    We showed bees images of a higher number (four circles) and a lower number (two circles). Two identical images of four shapes were shown simultaneously on the left and right sides of the screen. If bees preferred the larger number on the right, they would fly to the quantity of four presented on the right more than when four was presented on the left.

    We did the same for the smaller number of two shapes. If bees preferred four circles on the right and two circles on the left, that would reveal they have a left-to-right mental number line, like humans.

    We also tested if bees had a preference to order numbers upwards or downwards, and found no preference for linking space and number vertically. However, bees did prefer options that were towards the bottom of the circular screen.

    The image on the left (a) shows a diagram of the screen apparatus. In the right panel (b) we see a bee flying towards an image of three yellow dots on a grey background.
    Jung-Chun (Zaza) Kuo

    So, how does the bee mental number line work?

    The study by the European team found bees have a consistent left-to-right mental number line. This means they prefer to order lower numbers on the left and higher numbers on the right.

    Our study has confirmed bees prefer to order higher numbers on the right. But we also found bees preferred to visit the right side of the screen. The preference of bees to order numbers from left-to-right and to visit the right side of the circular screen interacted in an intriguing way.

    The bees in our study showed a preference for higher numbers on the right, but not for lower numbers on the left. This could be because the right-side bias we observed cancelled out the preference for smaller numbers on the left.

    Taken together, the findings of both studies confirm that bees do possess a left-to-right mental number line and also that they have a bias towards the right side of their visual space.

    Our team suggests such biases – for example, how most humans are right-handed – may be an important part of how brains make sense of ordering information in the world.

    The birds and the bees (and the apes)

    By looking at the behaviours of animals, we can sometimes learn more about ourselves.

    These two recent studies on bees show there is a complex interaction between ordering numbers and how spatial relationships are processed by an insect brain.

    We now know that the preference to order numbers from left to right exists in several very different animal groups: insects, birds and apes. Perhaps evolution has landed on this preference as an advantageous way to process complex information.

    Scarlett Howard has received funding from the Australian Research Council and Air Force Office of Scientific Research.

    Adrian Dyer receives funding from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. Bees count from left to right just like some humans, apes and birds – new research – https://theconversation.com/bees-count-from-left-to-right-just-like-some-humans-apes-and-birds-new-research-242116

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: TRUMP’S CHINA IMPORT TARIFFS AND MASSIVE OCEAN FREIGHT RATE INCREASES DUE TO RED SEA CONFLICT IS PERFECT STORM FOR US SHIPPERS

    Source: Xeneta

    Oslo, Norway – 3 February 2025 – A delay in tariffs on Mexico imports does little to ease the pain for US shippers still facing a 10% hike on tariffs from China in addition to massive increases in ocean container freight rates due to conflict in the Red Sea.

    Latest data from Xeneta – the ocean and air freight intelligence platform – shows average spot rates from China stand at USD 4 816 per FEU (40ft container) to the US West Coast and USD 6 264 per FEU in to the US East Coast.

    This is an increase of 196% and 157% respectively since the escalation of conflict in the Red Sea in December 2023 and is in addition to tariffs on all China imports coming into effect on 4 February.

    Peter Sand, Xeneta Chief Analyst, said: “US Shippers are being hit by wave after wave of disruption and spiralling costs to import goods.

    “They have already faced massive increases in ocean container freight costs due to conflict in the Red Sea and now they are hit with a 10% hike in tariffs on imports from China.

    “You struggle to see how a business can absorb these costs without increasing prices for the end consumer. Given more than 40% of total containerized imports into the US come direct from China, that is a lot of businesses and a lot of consumers who will be affected.

    “A delay in tariffs on Mexico is welcome news but it does nothing to ease concerns over the re-igniting of the US-China trade war, which represents risk at a different order of magnitude.”

    Sand added that shippers have very few options available to deal with the tariff threat.

    He said: “When Trump announced tariffs on China back in 2018, there was a period of time in which shippers could rush as many imports as possible and build up stock inventories before they came into effect.

    “This time Trump has imposed tariffs almost immediately so if shippers haven’t taken action by now, it’s already too late. Shippers may well look at shifting supply chains out of China into nations such as India or South East Asia, but this takes time, financial investment and deep understanding of market data and intelligence.

    “The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas raised the prospect of a better year for shippers in 2025 if a large scale return of container ships to the Red Sea sees freight rates fall. Trump’s latest move has dented those hopes because any gains a shipper makes through lower freight rates will be more than offset by a 10% increase in tariffs.

    “If China retaliates and we enter another escalating trade war, an already very bad situation will get even worse for US importers.”

    About Xeneta

    Xeneta is the leading ocean and air freight rate benchmarking and market analytics platform transforming the shipping and logistics industry. Xeneta’s powerful reporting and analytics platform provides liner-shipping stakeholders the data they need to understand current and historical market behavior—reporting live on market average and low/high movements for both short and long-term contracts. Xeneta’s data is comprised of +500 million contracted container and air freight rates and covers over 160,000 global ocean trade routes and over 58,000 airport-airport connections. Xeneta is a privately held company with headquarters in Oslo, Norway and regional offices in New Jersey, US and Hamburg. To learn more, please visit www.xeneta.com

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: DHS Agencies Support Super Bowl LIX Security

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    Continuing a 20+ Year Partnership, More Than 690 DHS Employees Work to Protect Estimated 73,000 Fans Attending the Big Game 

    WASHINGTON – Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem traveled to New Orleans this week to observe DHS security operations for Super Bowl LIX. More than 690 employees representing 12 DHS agencies are in New Orleans, providing air security resources; venue, cyber, and infrastructure security assessments; chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives detection technologies; intelligence analysis and threat assessments; intellectual property enforcement; and real-time situational awareness reporting as part of a 20-year partnership with the National Football League and state and local law enforcement.

    “Around 100,000 people will be celebrating the Super Bowl in and around the Superdome in New Orleans this weekend,” said Secretary Noem. “We will give law enforcement every resource they need to ensure a safe event. Thank you to our partners, Governor Landry, Mayor Cantrell and the New Orleans Police Department. If you see something, say something!”

    “Since day one, we have stood steadfast in our mission: to protect what matters most,” said Eric DeLaune, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Orleans Special Agent in Charge and lead federal coordinator for Super Bowl LIX. “From securing critical infrastructure to providing real-time threat analysis, we are committed to safeguarding our communities. With over 690 DHS personnel deployed, we bring cutting-edge security resources and technologies to ensure every aspect of this event is protected.” 

    DHS has assessed this year’s Super Bowl as a Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) Level 1 event. For more information, visit the SEAR Fact Sheet webpage. Although no specific, credible threats related to this year’s game have been identified, the U.S. remains in a heightened threat environment, as evidenced by the recent terror attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day.

    DHS security efforts for Super Bowl LIX include the following:

    • U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP): Air and Marine Operations (AMO) will enforce temporary flight restrictions around Caesars Superdome, providing “eye in the sky” intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance flight operations in and around key venues, including the Superdome, airport, Bourbon Street and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Additionally, CBP will provide video surveillance capabilities and non-intrusive inspections by scanning the cargo entering the stadium for contraband such as narcotics, weapons, and explosives. CBP will also work to intercept counterfeit NFL merchandise such as NFL jerseys, championship rings, T-shirts, caps and all sorts of souvenirs and memorabilia, which are often used to fund criminal organizations.
    • Homeland Security Investigations (HSI): An HSI Special Response Team is standing by to provide interior stadium tactical support, and HSI’s special agents will support will also CBP, local law enforcement agencies, and other private partners in identifying an investigating any flea markets, retail outlets, street vendors and online marketplaces selling counterfeit goods during the week leading up to the Super Bowl to protect consumers, who are expected to spend over $16.5 billion nationwide. HSI will also oversee the coordination of DHS assets with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to ensure essential public safety measures and resources are in the right place, at the right time. 
    • Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA): On Super Bowl Sunday, CISA will also deploy advisors and emergency communications coordinators to support local law enforcement, emergency responders, and private partners in New Orleans. Ahead of the event, the agency conducted physical and cybersecurity vulnerability assessments, planning exercises, and bomb safety workshops with state and local partners. 
    • Office of Intelligence &Analysis (I&A): I&A worked with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to assess the threat landscape leading up to the Super Bowl, including sharing timely and actionable information and intelligence with their state and local partners.
    • Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD): CWMD provided surge support from its Mobile Detection Deployment Program and its BioWatch program in coordination with the City of New Orleans.
    • U.S. Coast Guard (USCG): USCG Pacific Strike Team is supporting the Mobile Detection Deployment Program to bolster DHS’s ability to detect and interdict chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats, and Canine Explosive Detection teams will support the safety and security of the event.
    • Transportation Security Administration (TSA): A TSA Supervisory Federal Air Marshal will staff the Fusion Watch Center during the event, and will use its National Deployment Force to increase the number of transportation security officers working at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport to screen the increased number of departing passengers after the Super Bowl. TSA’s explosive detection canines and Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) teams will also work during Super Bowl week events at key venues.
    • Science & Technology Directorate (S&T): S&T will deploy easy-to assemble, expandable security barriers that can be installed quickly to provide critical asset protection and intrusion prevention.
    • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): FEMA will help keep fans safe by providing communication tools for state and local responders.
    • DHS Blue Campaign: This public awareness campaign is disseminating digital and out-of-home advertising in the New Orleans area to raise human trafficking awareness among visitors, local residents, and those working in industries, such as hotels, hospitality, and transportation, where frontline employees are more likely to be in a position to identify and report human trafficking. The campaign’s Blue Lightning Initiative is also partnering with Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport to raise awareness and train staff to recognize and report human trafficking.

    DHS reminds the public that “If You See Something, Say Something®” is more than a slogan. It is a call to action to report suspicious terrorism-related activity. Follow DHS’s security efforts on X: @DHSgov.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy reintroduces bill to keep administrative state in check, ensure agency regulation oversight

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)
    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today reintroduced the Bureaucratic Limitation and Overreach Control (BLOCK) Act to establish guardrails for executive agencies’ major rulemaking.
    The bill would lower the economic impact requirements of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) for major rules from $100 million to $50 million per year. Rules that the Comptroller General predicts meet or exceed the threshold would require a joint resolution of approval by Congress before the they could go into effect. 
    “Bureaucratic rulemaking has run rampant and is burdening Americans with too many costly regulations. My BLOCK Act would make sure that Congress keeps the administrative state in check,” said Kennedy. 
    The BLOCK Act would permit a major rule to go into effect if the president determined that it is necessary for national security or disaster response but would still require congressional approval within 15 session days. The rule would become invalid if a joint resolution of approval had not passed within the timeframe.
    Six months after the bill becomes law, every federal agency would have to submit 20% of the major rules that it currently had in effect to Congress for approval. Following that six-month period, those agencies would have to submit another 20% of their major rules for congressional approval annually. Within five years of the bill’s enactment, Congress would have had the opportunity to approve or disapprove all major rules that were in effect when the BLOCK Act became law.
    The BLOCK Act would allow minor rules, which include those that the Comptroller General predicts would have an economic impact of less than $50 million, to go into effect upon publication in the Federal Register. Congress would still have the authority to pass a joint resolution of disapproval under the CRA to reverse minor rules that an agency had published.
    The full bill text is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Finance Committee Members Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Ensure Medicare Patients’ Access to Cancer Detection Technologies

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Finance Committee member Michael Bennet (D-Colorado), with Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and Finance Committee member Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), reintroduced the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Screening Coverage Act that would ensure Medicare beneficiaries’ access to cutting-edge tests capable of detecting multiple types of cancer before symptoms appear.  Bipartisan companion legislation (H.R. 842) was also introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

    “Breakthroughs in early cancer detection can drive more effective treatments and higher survival rates,” said Crapo.  “By providing a Medicare coverage pathway for multi-cancer early detection screening tests, this bipartisan bill would ensure seniors can receive lifesaving preventive care, a crucial step in combating the chronic disease epidemic.  With strong support from patients and families across the country, I look forward to advancing this legislation across the finish line and to President Trump’s desk.”

    “I know from personal experience that early cancer detection can make all the difference,” said Bennet.  “This bipartisan legislation will help save lives by ensuring Medicare beneficiaries across the country have access to the latest, breakthrough screening technologies.”

    “It should go without question that if we have the opportunity to implement more life-saving technology for diseases like cancer, we should do it,” said Scott.  “I am glad to join my colleagues on this important legislation to expand Medicare coverage for multi-cancer early detection tests to save more lives.”

    “The first step to beating cancer is by detecting it sooner than later,” said Wyden.  “This bipartisan bill will help more seniors in Medicare get preventive screening that enables a wider range of treatment options when cancer is detected early.  I look forward to working on a bipartisan basis on any effort to promote cancer treatment and prevention, including the use of the most up-to-date technologies in the Medicare program.”  

    The MCED would:

    • Establish a coverage pathway under Medicare for certain U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved MCED tests, which can screen for dozens of cancer types, many of which currently lack an effective screening option;
    • Authorize the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide Medicare coverage for FDA-approved MCED screening tests, enabling beneficiaries to access these technologies, which currently lack a viable coverage pathway under the program;
    • Maintain CMS authority to use an evidence-based process to determine coverage parameters for these new tests; and
    • State that new diagnostic technologies will supplement existing screenings and will not impact existing coverage and cost-sharing.

    The MCED also has the support of leading healthcare organizations across the United States.  Find quotes from the organizations here.

    Bill text can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Marking World Cancer Day

    Source: New Zealand Government

    World Cancer Day is an opportunity to recognise those who are impacted by cancer and highlight initiatives that are delivering better and faster access to cancer care, Health Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Health Minister David Seymour say.Speaking to patients and staff at the Bay of Plenty Cancer Centre in Tauranga today, Mr Brown acknowledged the thousands of New Zealanders and families whose lives are touched by cancer each year. “Ensuring New Zealanders have faster access to cancer care is a priority for the Government, which is why it is one of our five key health targets.“It is encouraging to see a gradual improvement in our efforts to provide faster cancer treatment, with more patients receiving their first treatment within 31 days in the first financial quarter than in the previous quarter and more cancer treatments available. “Continuing to deliver initiatives that address wait times for cancer treatment so that 90 per cent of patients receive cancer management within 31 days to treat is something I am committed to.”Mr Seymour, who has responsibility for Pharmac, says improving access to cancer medication in New Zealand has been a focus of this Government.“Since our $604 million uplift, Pharmac has made decisions to fund 19 cancer treatments. In the first year of funding for each medicine, Pharmac anticipates that over 1,400 Kiwis will access the treatments they need that were not available last year, making a real difference in Kiwis lives,” Mr Seymour says.“I am pleased to see Pharmac show what it is capable of when given the support it needs.”“This unprecedented and transformative investment in cancer medicines is fundamental to delivering better outcomes for those fighting cancer.”The Government has also:  

    increased breast screening eligibility for 70 – 74-year-olds
    provided an extra $18 million per year to help people who are required to travel for treatments
    funded PET scanning accessibility for prostate cancer
    invested in a new radiotherapy machine at Whangārei Hospital, which means 520 Northlanders each year will no longer have to travel to Auckland for treatment 
    invested in radiology services in Hawke’s Bay, which will result in a doubling in CT scan capacity that will be able to deliver a further 6,000 – 10,000 scans per year, a new MRI scanner, and a new LINAC machine that will mean 500 people per year will no longer have to travel for treatment 
    expanded cancer infusion services in Whanganui for up to 10 patients a day 

    “These initiatives demonstrate our commitment to delivering better outcomes for those with cancer, I know there’s still a lot more work to do,” Mr Brown says.“As Minister of Health, I am focused on ensuring better access to more cancer medicines, better cancer management driven by our faster cancer treatment target, and earlier detection of cancers through screening programmes.”Echoing these comments, Mr Seymour says that decisions to expand access to cancer medicines reflects the Government’s commitment to a more adaptable and patient-centred approach.“We want to build a world-class health system, and that requires world-class medicines,” Mr Seymour says.“This is all made possible due to the Government’s record $16.88 billion investment in health, ensuring we can deliver timely, quality access to care for all New Zealanders,” Mr Brown says. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: U.S. tariff threat: How it will impact different products and industries

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Sylvanus Kwaku Afesorgbor, Associate Professor of Agri-Food Trade and Policy, University of Guelph

    U.S. President Donald Trump has agreed to pause his planned tariffs on Canada and Mexico for at least 30 days following talks with the leaders of both countries. Previously, a senior Canadian governmental official had said Trump’s 25 per cent tariff on most Canadian goods was expected to come into effect on Feb. 4.

    If implemented, this tariff will have significant economic consequences on both sides of the border, as the U.S. and Canada share one of the largest bilateral trade relationships in the world.

    A key concern is the highly integrated supply chains between the two countries. Many goods cross the border multiple times as intermediate inputs before becoming final products. Imposing tariffs at any point in this supply chain will raise production costs and increase prices for a wide range of goods traded between the U.S. and Canada.

    For Canada, the tariffs on Canadian products will significantly affect Canada’s competitiveness in the U.S. market by driving up prices. Such tariffs could pose serious challenges for various sectors in Canada, given the country’s heavy reliance on the U.S. economy.

    Effects on different sectors

    The impact of U.S. tariffs on Canadian prices is likely to differ across sectors and products, depending on their reliance on the U.S. market.

    Sectors with a higher dependence on U.S. trade are likely to experience more severe disruptions. If the tariffs make certain products uncompetitive, Canadian producers may struggle to secure alternative markets in the short term.

    Industries such as agriculture, manufacturing and energy will experience varying degrees of impact. Energy products and motor vehicles, which represent Canada’s largest exports to the U.S., are expected to be among the most adversely affected.

    In the agricultural and forestry sector, wood and paper products, along with cereals, are among Canada’s largest exports to the U.S., with the U.S. accounting for 86 to 96 per cent of these exports, according to data from the World Integrated Trade Solution.

    In the energy and mineral sector, crude oil is Canada’s top export, reaching US$143 billion in 2023, with 90 per cent destined for the U.S. Given its critical role as Canada’s largest export across all sectors, it is not surprising that Trump has noted crude oil would be subject to a lower tariff of 10 per cent.

    Canada’s dependence on U.S. trade

    When examining the impact on different products, it’s not only the value of trade that matters, but also the share of trade. The share of trade indicates how reliant Canada is on the U.S. compared to other markets.

    A high trade share with the U.S. suggests a product is particularly vulnerable to trade disruptions, as Canada depends heavily on the U.S. market for that product. Conversely, a lower share indicates that Canada has diversified suppliers, which reduces its dependence on the U.S.



    Read more:
    Trump’s tariff threat could shake North American trade relations and upend agri-food trade

    For instance, in 2023, Canada’s top exports to the U.S. included vehicles and parts, nuclear machinery and plastics, according to data from the World Integrated Trade Solution. The U.S. accounted for 93 per cent of vehicle and parts exports, 82 per cent of nuclear machinery exports, and 91 per cent of plastics exports.

    This data highlights Canada’s extreme dependence on the U.S. market, making these industries within the manufacturing sector highly susceptible to the tariff. This could harm jobs in the manufacturing sector, which is vital to employment in Canada, providing jobs for over 1.8 million people.

    Canada’s reliance on the U.S. is also evident in imports. In 2023, vehicle imports totalled US$92 billion, with the U.S. accounting for 58 per cent of that amount.

    The dependence is also evident in the agri-food and forestry sector, where Canada heavily relies on U.S. imports. This suggests that retaliatory tariffs on agricultural goods from the U.S. could have a substantial impact on food prices in Canada.

    Retaliatory tariffs and inflationary pressures

    Canada has announced it’s imposing $155 billion of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports in response. This could contribute to inflationary pressures within Canada.

    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says this includes immediate tariffs on $30 billion worth of goods as of Tuesday, followed by further tariffs on $125 billion worth of American products in 21 days’ time to “allow Canadian companies and supply chains to seek to find alternatives.”

    This will include tariffs on “everyday items such as American beer, wine and bourbon, fruits and fruit juices, including orange juice, along with vegetables, perfume, clothing and shoes,” and also on major consumer products like household appliances, furniture and sports equipment, and materials like lumber and plastics.

    Given Canada’s significant dependence on U.S. imports, the retaliatory tariffs will raise the cost of American goods entering the country, further driving up consumer prices and exacerbating inflation.

    In its latest policy rate announcement, the Bank of Canada warned of the severe economic consequences of Trump’s tariffs, highlighting their potential to reverse the current downward trend in inflation.

    What should Canada do now?

    Canada must extend its economic diplomacy efforts beyond the Trump administration, engaging with the U.S. Congress and Senate to advocate for the reconsideration of tariffs on Canadian goods. The Canadian government should persist in leveraging this channel to push for a reversal of the tariffs. This kind of broader negotiation remains the most effective approach to mitigating trade tensions and ensuring stable economic relations with the U.S.

    At the same time, Canada must reduce dependence on the U.S. market by adopting a comprehensive export diversification strategy. While the U.S. remains a convenient and accessible trade partner, expanding into emerging and developing markets would help mitigate risks and create more stable long-term trade opportunities.



    Read more:
    Trump’s tariff threat is a sign that Canada should be diversifying beyond the U.S.

    One effective way to achieve export diversification is by expanding free trade agreements (FTAs) with emerging and developing economies. Currently, Canada has 15 FTAs covering about 51 countries, but there is room for expansion. However, signing FTAs alone is insufficient; Canada must ensure these agreements translate into tangible trade growth with partner countries.

    International politics is increasingly shaping global trade, making it imperative for Canada to proactively manage diplomatic and trade relations. In recent years, tensions have emerged with key partners such as China, India and Saudi Arabia. These countries could all become potential markets for Canadian products. Given that China is Canada’s second-largest export destination, there is significant potential to expand trade ties.

    Additionally, countries like the United Arab Emirates present promising markets, particularly for agricultural products, as the UAE imports about 90 per cent of its food.

    Boosting innovation and productivity

    Canada stands at a critical juncture in its trade relationship with the U.S. While diplomatic efforts remain essential to averting harmful tariffs, they cannot be the country’s only line of defence.

    Boosting productivity is one of the most effective ways for Canada to improve its competitiveness in global markets. Canadian producers should prioritize innovation and the adoption of advanced technologies to enhance efficiency and maintain a competitive edge, particularly as they seek to expand beyond the U.S.

    In response to potential U.S. tariffs, the Canadian government should implement a bailout strategy to provide short-term relief and mitigate revenue losses to firms that will be mostly affected. Additionally, Canada should leverage its embassies and consulates worldwide to promote exports and help affected firms identify and access new market opportunities.

    By doing this, Canada can position itself as a more self-reliant and competitive player in the global economy — one less vulnerable to shifting U.S. policies.

    Sylvanus Kwaku Afesorgbor receives funding from the OMAFRA and the USDA. He is affiliated with the Centre for Trade Analysis and Development (CeTAD Africa).

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

    – ref. U.S. tariff threat: How it will impact different products and industries – https://theconversation.com/u-s-tariff-threat-how-it-will-impact-different-products-and-industries-248824

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s tariff threats show the brute power of an imperial presidency

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Daniel Drache, Professor Emeritus, Department of Politics, York University, Canada

    United States President Donald Trump has agreed to delay punishing tariffs on all exports from Canada and Mexico, which resulted in a threat of retaliatory tariffs from Canada.

    Nonetheless, Canada’s closest ally is all but tearing up the Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade deal negotiated only seven years ago. The rationale behind what the Wall Street Journal editorial board has called “the dumbest trade war in history” isn’t even clear.

    The pessimistic view is that if Canada doesn’t give Trump everything he wants, he will bulldoze the country with more tariffs, sanctions on banks, enhanced border inspections and even a travel ban — everything he recently threatened to do to Colombia.

    Canada’s political class is scrambling because the U.S. has long been a cultural sibling and an economic partner. But now it is toxic, threatening and untrustworthy. Will Canada sign another trade deal with Trump in office? The chances recede the longer the tariffs remain in place.

    Iron-fisted

    It’s never been more clear that Trump is obsessive, seldom a bluffer and always iron-fisted. He seems to have planned and executed this tariff bomb to cause maximum pain and chaos. Now he says the European Union is next on his list.

    Trump is counting on his new majorities in U.S. Congress to ram through his radical right populist agenda, forcing other countries to play a role in his melodrama.

    In response to Trump’s charge that the U.S. subsidizes Canadian trade, former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper pointed out that half of America’s imported oil comes from Canada, and its price is significantly discounted due to a lack of pipeline capacity. “It’s actually Canada that subsidizes the United States in this regard,” Harper said.

    Nevertheless, Trump’s preferred foreign policy tactic is to hit first with economic sanctions and negotiate later. With his near total grip on U.S. government, he can now achieve all his aims through tariffs.



    Read more:
    U.S. tariff threat: How it will impact different products and industries

    The imperial presidency

    Trump’s vision for his imperial presidency is organized around an old idea: the revenue tariff. Before income taxes, border tariffs were the primary source of income for government. But back then, government did a lot less.

    For example, America’s 19th-century navy of wooden sailing ships was purchased with tariffs. But it would be impossible to fund modern-day health care, student loans and $13 billion aircraft carriers with tariff revenues.

    A recent study by the Peterson Institute for International Economics shows the math doesn’t add up. Tariffs are levied on imported goods and are worth about US$3 trillion. American income tax is levied on incomes and are worth more than US$20 trillion. Government would have to be much smaller, and tariffs would have to be so high they would choke American trade, for tariffs to make economic sense.

    And yet Trump has a broad mandate. In the summer of 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Trump v. United States that presidents require a broadly defined “presumptive immunity from prosecution for … official acts.”

    This decision has given Trump the legal clout to force the entire federal government to answer to the president himself.



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

    War against democracy

    Trump is using his vast new mandate to wage multiple wars simultaneously. These wars against the guardrails of liberal democracy require the punishment of his enemies inside his own party.



    Read more:
    Canada should be preparing for the end of American democracy

    Republicans who have voted against Trump legislation during his first term faced high-profile challenges in the primaries as he funded their opponents. Today, the war is waged against those who are insufficiently loyal, including the highest ranks of the Coast Guard and the FBI.

    The war against the administrative state involves the mass firing of independent inspectors, federal lawyers and thousands of civil servants to be replaced by foot soldiers personally loyal to the leader.

    The Trump administration has sent out “deferred resignation” notices that invite the entire civil service to resign. This is the tactic Trump’s key adviser, Elon Musk, implemented at X, and it suggests a wave of firings will soon begin.

    Nonsensical trade war

    The trade war against Canada and Mexico is peculiar because neither country has expressed any willingness to abolish the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which is among the achievements of Trump’s first administration.

    Nevertheless, the paranoid Trump seems to be convinced that he got a raw deal in 2018, and so he wants to scrap the whole treaty and negotiate something tougher that brings more jobs home.

    In 2024, the cars that were ranked most “American” in terms of their content and final assembly were made by Tesla, Honda and Volkswagen. By comparison, the best-selling the Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck ranked No. 43 on the list. What Trump considers American and non-American isn’t clear, even to voters.

    A new Bank of Canada forecast predicts that American tariffs may reduce Canadian GDP by six per cent. The federal government is planning an enormous bailout package to compensate for widespread job losses like the one offered to businesses and individuals during the pandemic.

    Unsurprisingly, Trump divides Canada’s leadership. Alberta and Saskatchewan have publicly criticized the Team Canada approach. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith refused to sign the joint federal/provincial statement and played to her secessionist base.



    Read more:
    Why Alberta’s Danielle Smith is rejecting the Team Canada approach to Trump’s tariff threats

    Even so, former Alberta premier Jason Kenney recognizes the peril, arguing that Alberta needs to “be prepared to retaliate … we can’t be wusses about this; we have to have a spine.”

    What’s next?

    Canada is an export-led economy based on natural resources. Its strength lies not in refusing to buy California wine or Florida orange juice. Its main sources of leverage are oil and gas, potash and uranium, rare earth minerals, timber products and hydroelectric power. But of all these, oil, uranium, and hydro-electric power are Canada’s biggest guns.

    It’s not yet clear how effective the Canadian government’s strategy will be. Previous rounds of retaliation after the steel and aluminum tariffs in Trump’s first term did not drive him to the negotiating table. It’s also unclear what the CEOs of Canada’s branch-plant multinational corporations will do when their loyalties are divided between Trump and Canada.

    Furthermore, it’s anyone’s guess how much the dissent of western Canadian premiers has hurt Canada’s case with Trump. Certainly, his preferred tactic is to divide and conquer.

    Finally, it’s unclear if Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s “Captain Canada” approach will earn the respect or disdain of Republicans — although, ultimately, it doesn’t matter what the rest of the American political class thinks because Trump and his inner circle are calling all the shots.

    In practical terms, there is little Canada can do to address the false accusations that it’s complicit in the illicit drug trade and in migrants crossing the border into the U.S. Facts don’t matter to Trump. He will eventually come up with a demand, and if Canada doesn’t give in, he will ramp up the economic pain.

    Welcome to the post-liberal world order.

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

    – ref. Trump’s tariff threats show the brute power of an imperial presidency – https://theconversation.com/trumps-tariff-threats-show-the-brute-power-of-an-imperial-presidency-247524

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: American Heart Month, 2025

    Source: The White House

    Every day, untold numbers of our friends, relatives, neighbors, and coworkers are affected by the devastating affliction of heart disease.  As the Nation’s leading cause of death, cardiovascular disease has stolen infinite lives, crushed countless families, and imposed unimaginable heartbreak upon Americans of every walk of life.  This American Heart Month, we mourn and pray for those we have lost and recommit ourselves to ending the deadly plight of heart disease once and for all.

    Thanks to advancements in medicine, science, and technology, our Nation has made tremendous strides in combatting heart disease — and the American people are now better equipped than ever before to receive lifesaving treatments, respond to medical complications, and modify behavior and habits to ensure they can lead long and healthy lives.  

    But even one soul lost to heart disease is a tragedy beyond comprehension.  To that end, my Administration will work diligently to save lives, lower healthcare costs, and foster a stronger, safer, and healthier future for every citizen.  For as long as I am President, I will always be an unwavering advocate for improving the health of every American.

    The first step in confronting the cardiac disease crisis is taking concrete action to lower the odds of diagnosis — and encouraging those in our lives to take all necessary measures to root out unhealthy habits.  Research has consistently shown that risk factors contributing to heart disease include obesity, high blood pressure and cholesterol, lack of exercise, excessive alcohol use, and smoking.  Making small adjustments to our health and routines can yield extraordinary and even life-saving results.  My Administration is also steadfastly committed to cracking down on Big Pharma and ending the chronic disease epidemic.  And we will fulfill our pledge to investigate what has caused the decades-long increase in health problems and childhood diseases — including obesity, autoimmune disorders, infertility, and autism.  As Americans, we owe it to ourselves and our families to take care of our bodies — and to cherish God’s gift of life for as long and as vigorously as we can.

    As we enter into this American Heart Month, let us seek to improve our health, lengthen our lives, and nurture a culture, a government, and a Nation that upholds the dignity of life and protects the human heart.

    In acknowledgement of the importance of the ongoing fight against cardiovascular disease, the Congress, by Joint Resolution approved on December 30, 1963, as amended (36 U.S.C. 101), has requested that the President issue an annual proclamation designating February as American Heart Month.

    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim February 2025 as American Heart Month, and I invite all Americans to participate in National Wear Red Day on February 7, 2025.  I also invite the Governors of the States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, officials of other areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and the American people to join my Administration in recognizing and restating our pledge to fighting heart disease in all its forms.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
    third day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.
     

    THE WHITE HOUSE,
        February 3, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Pocket art guide updated with 10 new artworks showcasing toi Māori in Tāmaki Makaurau

    Source: Auckland Council

    The vibrant cityscape of Tāmaki Makaurau has seen a rise in the presence of Māori design and art in its urban environment in recent years, a result of the ongoing efforts by the Auckland Council group to ensure the stories and identity of mana whenua are visibly reflected and felt in the city centre.  

    This exciting shift is being celebrated through the unveiling of ten new artworks on the pages of ‘Te Paparahi Toi Māori’ the Auckland Art Walk guide, which brings Māori culture and history to life in the city’s public spaces for Aucklanders and tourists to explore. 

    For the online walking guide of Te Paparahi Toi Māori, visit ArtNow.  

    “This growing collection of Māori art serves as a reminder of the rich cultural history that underpins our city,” says Councillor Kerrin Leoni. 

    “I encourage Aucklanders and visitors to explore these meaningful creative expressions in the city’s urban landscape and to reflect on the importance of te ao Māori in shaping modern Tāmaki Makaurau.” 

    Here are 10 of the new must-see toi Māori (Māori artworks) in Auckland’s city centre, recently added to ‘Te Paparahi Toi Māori’: 

    Waimaraha, Myers Park, Auckland – photo David St George.

    1. Waimahara, 2024 – A Captivating Display of Light and Sound

    Waimahara, an extraordinary interactive new Māori artwork in Myers Park, springs to life with mesmerising light and sound displays in response to special waiata. 

    If you sing a special waiata into a sensor, the artwork listens and responds, accompanying you with an awe-inspiring display of light and sound. 

    Commissioned by Auckland Council, this unique creation by artist Graham Tipene (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Hāua, Ngāti Manu), technology experts IION, and skilled composers features two original waiata for the project.  

    To visit Waimahara and other art works close by, click here .

    Te Kōmititanga, Queen Street, Auckland.

    2. Te Kōmititanga, 2020 – The Merging of Waters and People

    Located in the city’s largest public square, Te Kōmititanga, meaning ‘to mix’ or ‘to merge’ was gifted by local hapū Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei as a powerful symbol of the convergence of people and waters. Situated where the Waitematā Harbour and Te Waihorotiu (The Waihorotiu Stream) once met, this bustling public space boasts 137,000 basalt pavers woven in a harakeke (flax) mat pattern, entwining pedestrians by train, bus, and ferry into the cultural and environmental heritage of the area. 

    To visit Te Kōmititanga and other art works close by, click here. 

    Te Wharekura, Quay Street, Auckland.

    3. Te Wharekura, 2023 – A Treasure Box of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei

    The 108-year-old heritage kiosk next to the Tāmaki Makaurau downtown ferry terminal has been repurposed into a cultural and marine education space to create a new destination on the increasingly beautiful waterfront.  

    Te Wharekura (house of learning) is a waka huia (treasure box) for local hapū, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, offering a fusion of physical and digital taonga toi (artworks) and a rich collection of mana whenua histories and culture. Visitors can explore the environmental challenges of the Waitematā through interactive displays and engage with hapū members onsite who guide the learning experience. 

    To visit Te Wharekura and other art works close by, click here .

    Te Tōangaroa, Tangihua Street to Tapora Lane, Auckland.

    4. Te Tōangaroa Mural Collection, 2021-2024 – Telling Stories of Place

    This captivating mural collection celebrates the deep connection of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei to te taiao (the environment) of Tāmaki and depicts the importance of welcoming different cultures and diversity. Each of the six powerful murals are imbued with symbolism—from the dragging and mooring of ancestral waka, to the star constellations and tohu (signs) of te taiao in guiding the kaiurungi (steerer) on the waka journey into the future, to resilient wildlife like the kawau bird—reminding all who view it of the unwavering whakapapa (genealogy) and wairua (spirit) from the Māori ancestors to their descendants today.  

    To visit Te Tōangaroa Mural Collection and other art works close by, click here 

    5. Te Nukuao, 2020 – A Shelter of Both Passage and Pause

    Located in Wynyard Quarter, Te Nukuao (shelter), draws inspiration from the last remaining customary Māori sail, Te Rā, to reference the journeys, waka and people from past and present connected to this area. This award-winning shading structure, which recalls the double-hulled waka hourua, serves as both a cultural marker of the mana (authority) of tangata whenua over Tāmaki Makaurau, and as a shelter of welcome for all.  

    Designed by artist Tessa Harris (Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki), this artwork connects Aucklanders to the city’s rich ancestral maritime history.  

    To visit Te Nukuao and other art works close by, click here.  

    Papatūānuku, Halsey Street & Tīramarama Way, Auckland.

    6. Papatūānuku, 2021 – Celebrating the Earth Mother

    Papatūānuku (Mother Earth), a vibrant contemporary-art glass installation, reflects the ever-changing colours of the seasons as guided by the Maramataka (Māori lunar calendar). The glass poi of the artwork represents spiritual messengers, while the vibrant wall colour reflects the energy of Tama-nui-te-rā (the sun) and the ahikāroa (long-burning fires) of artist Mei Hill’s hapū, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, in extending manaakitanga (generosity) to all people in Tāmaki Makaurau. The work celebrates the natural world while honouring the whakapapa of mana whenua. 

    To visit Papatūanuku and other art works close by, click here.  

    Te Maharatanga o Ngā Wai, Wellesley Street West & Sale Street, Auckland.

    7. Te Maharatanga o Ngā Wai, 2021 – A Tribute to Māui and the Waters

    Te Maharatanga o Ngā Wai (remembering our waters) is a homage to the stream that once flowed through this site before the colonial settlement of Auckland. This 6.4-metre carved pou (post) commemorates the Māori demigod Māui, whose stories are central to Māori narratives.  

    The sculpture, featuring three key tales of Māui, not only serves as a pou recognising wai as taonga (treasure), the source of life, and vital for our collective wellbeing, but also as a focal point for pōhiri (ceremonial welcomes) and other official theatre events, reflecting Māori cosmology, language and history in the public realm. 

    To visit Te Maharatanga o Ngā Wai (remembering our waters) and other art works close by, click here 

    Whakaako Kia Whakaora, Corner Gundry Street & Karangahape Road, Auckland.

    8. Whakaako Kia Whakaora / Educate to Liberate, 2021 – Honouring the Polynesian Panthers

    This mural honours the historical significance of the Polynesian Panthers in Auckland. With powerful references to social justice, it connects the local struggle for equality with the broader movement for civil rights, reflecting on the ongoing fight for Māori and Pacific rights and freedoms alike.  

    The Polynesian Panthers were formed in Auckland in June 1971, moulded in the shape of the Black Panthers, in response to the marginalisation and discrimination experienced by the Pacific community.  

    To visit Whakaako Kia Whakaora / Educate to Liberate, and other art works close by, click here.

    Tūrama Kaitiaki, Aotea Square, Auckland.

    9. Tūrama, Kaitiaki, 2022 – Celebrating Light, Guardians and Matariki

    Tūrama (light), the hugely popular series of six large-scale illuminated art installations lights up Queen Street to celebrate Matariki (the Māori new year).  

    Tūrama explores the role of kaitiaki (guardians) in protecting the environment. Representing the guardian figure Horotiu, this 9-metre-high artwork reminds all of us to look after the Waihorotiu valley and river, now buried under Queen Street, whose domain Horotiu protects. 

    Tūrama was created by Graham Tipene (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Haua, Ngāti Manu), Ataahua Papa (Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, Ngāti Mahuta), Phil Wihongi (Ngāti Hine) and Angus Muir Design. 

    To visit Tūrama (light), and other art works close by, click here .

    Te Mata Topaki, Viaduct Harbour, Auckland.

    10. Te Mata Topaki, 2020 – A Sculptural Pier Connecting People to Waitematā

    Te Mata Topaki (to hover over the headland) is a striking, award-winning 30-meter sculptural pier designed by Graham Tipene (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei) that juts out into the Waitematā Harbour. Inspired by the taurapa (stern of a waka) lying on its side, mata – both obsidian and a tip or headland; and topaki – to hover like a bird, this lookout connects both key destinations and people to the water.  

    To visit Te Mata Topaki and other art works close by, click here.

    ‘Te Paparahi Toi Māori’ provides a walking-guide to over 80 sites of public art, architectural design, and historical sites across Tāmaki Makaurau helping to ensure that tangata whenua (local people) see themselves and their culture in the modern landscape. 

    For the online walking guide of Te Paparahi Toi Māori, visit ArtNow.

    To get a physical guide of Te Paparahi Toi Māori, email barbara.holloway@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz, or visit any of the sites listed below: 

    • Auckland Art Gallery, Wellesley Street East

    • Central City Library, 44-46 Lorne Street

    • Ellen Melville Centre, 2 Freyberg Place

    • Auckland Council office foyer, 135 Albert Street

    • Te Wharekura, 117 Quay Street

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Most Aucklanders continue to rate their quality of life highly

    Source: Auckland Council

    Auckland’s topline results for the 2024 Rangahau te Korou o te Ora / Quality of Life Survey have been released, showing 75 per cent of Aucklanders rate their overall quality of life positively.

    The survey, which is undertaken every two years, is a collaborative local government research project that collects data on a range of current and topical issues relevant to residents’ wellbeing in urban New Zealand.

    Auckland’s Policy and Planning Committee chair, Councillor Richard Hills says he is pleased to see from the latest survey results that most Aucklanders have a strong sense of connection and support in their daily lives.

    “The results show in part, that the work council does with Auckland communities makes a difference and can help people to thrive. These results are helpful in shaping how we plan for the future to improve economic, social and environmental outcomes,” Cr Hills says.  
     
    “Although the results show there is always more work to do, it is fantastic to see that 72 per cent of Aucklanders think their local area is a great place to live. Auckland is a wonderful place, and we can be proud of where we call home.”

    Although reports of quality of life remain relatively high, there has been a decrease since 2022, when 82 per cent of Auckland respondents rated their quality of life positively.

    When asked to rate their quality of life compared with one year prior, 25 per cent said it had increased and 30 per cent said it had decreased.

    Reasons for a decline in perceptions of quality of life were largely driven by economic pressures, says Alison Reid, Team Manager, Social and Economic Research and Evaluation.

    “Of those Aucklanders who said their quality of life had decreased, more than two-thirds (67 per cent) said this was due to reduced financial wellbeing,” she says.

    Other findings reflected economic pressures on Aucklanders. Almost half (49 per cent) of those surveyed disagreed that their housing costs were affordable, one in five (22 per cent) said they did not have enough money to meet their everyday needs, and more than a third (37 per cent) said they often worried about their own or their family’s financial circumstances.

    Crime is another key concern raised in the survey, with many Auckland respondents rating theft and burglary (67 per cent), dangerous driving (64 per cent) and vandalism (58 per cent) as problems in their local area in the previous 12 months.  

    It’s not all bad news though, says Alison. “One in four Aucklanders said their quality of life had increased in the last year. Of that group nearly a third (32 per cent) reported that this was related to their health care and wellbeing. Improved financial wellbeing (26 per cent), lifestyle (23 per cent) and work-related factors (23 per cent) also featured.”

    Sixty-eight per cent of Auckland respondents rated both their physical and mental health positively. Most feel they have people in their lives they can call on if they need practical or emotional support (86 per cent and 85 per cent, respectively).

    Most Aucklanders (72 per cent) also agreed that their local area is a great place to live, and more than half (57 per cent) agreed that they are happy with the way their local area looks and feels.

    The results will be used by the council to help plan for the future and to monitor economic, social and environmental outcomes, such as outlined in the Auckland Plan 2050 and Ngā Hapori Momoho, our Thriving Communities Strategy.

    Read the full Topline Report on the Quality of Life website. 

    About the survey 

    • The Quality of Life survey is a collaborative local government research project. Several councils participated in this year’s survey including Auckland Council, Hamilton, Tauranga,  Porirua, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin City Councils, as well as Waikato Regional Council.  

    Most Auckland respondents feel they have people in their lives they can call on if they need practical or emotional support.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Virginia Gang Members Sentenced to Decades in Prison for Kidnapping and Murder

    Source: US State Government of Utah

    Hezekiah Carney, 26, of Norfolk, Virginia, and Jayquan Jones, 22, of Richmond, Virginia, were each sentenced today to 38 years in prison for federal charges relating to the kidnapping and murder of a fellow Almighty Black P. Stone gang member. A total of four defendants have now been sentenced as part of the case.

    “The defendants assaulted and kidnapped a 25-year-old mother of two, drove her to a remote location, and murdered her by shooting her eight times,” said Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Cold-blooded, senseless gang violence like this affects entire communities. Today’s sentencings underscore that protecting our communities from violent criminals is a top Department priority. I applaud the tremendous work of all our prosecutors and law enforcement partners, who made securing these significant sentences possible.”

    “This act of wanton violence exemplifies the senseless brutality we associate with organized gangs and emphasizes the importance of eradicating them from our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The investigation and prosecution that brought these defendants to justice were successful because of the vital partnerships built with our law enforcement partners working together toward our common goal of public safety.”

    “When gang members resort to kidnapping and murder, they leave behind shattered lives and communities in fear,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “This sentencing should send a message that the FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to holding dangerous criminals accountable, protecting innocent lives and ensuring our neighborhoods are safe from violence.”

    “Today’s sentencing marks another significant step towards justice for the victim, her family and the community. While no sentence can ever undo the pain caused by this tragic crime, we hope this outcome brings forth an amount of closure” said Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division. “The ATF remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners as we protect our community and ensure those that commit violent crimes are held accountable for their actions.”

    According to court documents, in the early morning hours of May 6, 2023, Carney, along with co-defendants Jamica Langley, 25, of Richmond; Donnisha Goodman, 27, of Portsmouth, Virginia; and Acacia Jackson, 20, of New York, traveled to the victim’s residence in Richmond to beat her for a perceived gang infraction.

    The group left the apartment after beating the victim. About an hour later, Goodman, Jackson, Carney, and Langley returned to the victim’s apartment with fellow gang member Jones. Some of them were armed and wearing masks.

    The defendants forced the victim into a Hyundai Sonata and drove her approximately an hour east of Richmond to a remote area in York County, Virginia. After forcing the victim from the vehicle, Jones and Goodman executed her by shooting her at least eight times to the head, abdomen, back, buttocks, and legs.

    Upon returning to Portsmouth after the murder, Carney, the leader of the gang, directed Goodman, Jackson, and Langley to burn their clothing, stay together, and not to speak with law enforcement.

    The day after the murder, on May 7, 2023, the Norfolk Police Department located the Sonata with Jackson, Goodman, and Langley in the car. From the car, police recovered a 9mm cartridge that displayed the same markings as casings found at the murder scene.

    On Aug. 29, 2024, Carney, Goodman, and Jones pleaded guilty to using a firearm causing death, and Langley and Jackson pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit kidnapping. On Jan. 7, Goodman was sentenced to 35 years in prison and Langley was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Jackson is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 13.

    The FBI, ATF, and state and local law enforcement partners investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Alyssa Levey-Weinstein of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa McKeel and Mack Coleman for the Eastern District of Virginia prosecuted the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Folsom Man Pleads Guilty to Visa Fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Marcus Taslim, 70, of Folsom, pleaded guilty today to visa fraud, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

    According to court documents, Taslim brought Person 1 to the United States from Indonesia in December 2018 to provide caregiving services for his mother, but he obtained a nonimmigrant visa for Person 1 through lies and false statements. Taslim secured this visa by falsely representing to a consular officer that Person 1’s length of stay in the United States would only be one month, that she would be paid minimum and overtime wages under the laws of the State of California, that she would be paid bi-weekly and in full, and that he had paid Person 1’s one-month salary in advance.

    Taslim knew these statements to the consular officer were not true. For example, although Taslim paid Person 1 what looked like one month of salary in advance, as soon as the consular officer received proof of that payment, Taslim ordered Person 1 to withdraw that money and give it back to Taslim, which she did. Then, once in the United States, Person 1 worked for Taslim for about six months. She typically worked seven days a week, beginning work as early as 5 or 6 a.m. and ending at about 8 or 9 p.m. Taslim paid Person 1 far less than minimum wage, did not pay her bi-weekly and in full, and also confiscated her passport so she could not run away. Person 1 was only able to leave in June 2019, following intercession from the Folsom Police Department.

    This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service’s San Francisco Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot C. Wong is prosecuting the case.

    Taslim is scheduled to be sentenced on May 12, 2025, by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb. Taslim faces a maximum term of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Willimantic Man Who Stole 38 Guns from Newington Store Pleads Guilty

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KWITZPATRICK DUFFANY, 37, formerly of Willimantic, pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to firearm and drug offenses stemming from his theft of 38 firearms from a Newington gun store in 2023.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 27, 2023, during non-business hours, Duffany entered Hoffman’s Gun Store in Newington by climbing onto the balcony over the main entrance, cutting into the siding with a knife, and dropping down from the ceiling.  Surveillance footage showed Duffany walking through the store and filling duffel bags with 38 guns.  He then exited the store through the same hole.  After stealing the guns, Duffany and two other individuals traveled to Hartford where Duffany traded several of the stolen guns for cash and drugs.  In the following days, Duffany sold most of the remaining guns in exchange for cash and narcotics, or he provided guns to other individuals to sell.

    Duffany was arrested by the Connecticut State Police in Ashford in the early morning of June 1, 2023.  Surveillance footage from a nearby gas station showed Duffany hiding a satchel in a soda display case shortly before his arrest.  Investigators recovered the satchel and found a loaded Smith and Wesson 9mm handgun and drugs inside the bag.  The gun had been stolen from Hoffman’s Gun Store.

    Duffany pleaded guilty to one count of theft of firearms from a licensee, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  Sentencing is scheduled for April 28.

    Duffany has been detained since his arrest.

    This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Newington Police Department, with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police and the Willimantic Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Dearington.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman thanked the State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of New Britain for its cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI Indict Two Individuals in Human Trafficking Case Involving Minor Victims Following APD Investigation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – Two individuals are facing federal human trafficking charges for allegedly forcing two minor girls, ages 14 and 15, into prostitution.

    The indictment alleges that from December 29, 2024, to January 3, 2025, Roderick Bill Norseweather, 25, and Tajahnae Johnson, 21, knowingly recruited two minors for commercial sex acts, using force, threats, fraud, and coercion.

    Norseweather and Johnson are accused of transporting the minors, both under 18 years old, across state lines with the intent that they engage in prostitution. Specifically, they are charged with two counts each of sex trafficking of minors and transportation of minors for illegal sexual activity.

    Norseweather and Johnson will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been set. If convicted, Norseweather and Johnson each face no less than 15 years and up to life in prison.

    U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The FBI Albuquerque Field Office and Albuquerque Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Trembley is prosecuting the case.

    # # #

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  • MIL-OSI Security: California Group Indicted for Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property Conspiracy

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DEATHONY BLOCKER, age 38, JAMES BLOCKER, age 37, JOVAN COLLINS, age 34 (“COLLINS”), LORENZO TAYLOR, age 39 (“TAYLOR”), NEMIRAH DAVIDSON, age 38 (“DAVIDSON”), and PATRICK GARLAND, age 39 (“GARLAND”), residents of California, were charged on January 30, 2025 in a two-count indictment for conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen goods,  in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, and interstate transportation of stolen goods, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2314, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

    According to the indictment, DEANTHONY BLOCKER, JAMES BLOCKER, COLLINS, TAYLOR, DAVIDSON, and GARLAND conspired to transport thousands of cartons of cigarettes interstate, that were stolen from warehousing facilities in Georgia, North Carolina, and Louisiana. The group cut through fences surrounding the facilities, using bolt cutters and crowbars to access the cigarette cartons.

    If convicted of Count 1, the defendants  face up to 5 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.  As to Count 2, the defendants face up to 10 years of imprisonment, up to 3 years of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.

    U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

    U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,  Firearms, and Explosives, the  Jefferson Parish Sherriff’s Office, the Knightdale Police Department, the Atlanta Police Department, the Rockmart Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Fort Stockton Police Department in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Hubbell of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Virginia Gang Members Sentenced to Decades in Prison for Kidnapping and Murder

    Source: United States Attorneys General 2

    Hezekiah Carney, 26, of Norfolk, Virginia, and Jayquan Jones, 22, of Richmond, Virginia, were each sentenced today to 38 years in prison for federal charges relating to the kidnapping and murder of a fellow Almighty Black P. Stone gang member. A total of four defendants have now been sentenced as part of the case.

    “The defendants assaulted and kidnapped a 25-year-old mother of two, drove her to a remote location, and murdered her by shooting her eight times,” said Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Cold-blooded, senseless gang violence like this affects entire communities. Today’s sentencings underscore that protecting our communities from violent criminals is a top Department priority. I applaud the tremendous work of all our prosecutors and law enforcement partners, who made securing these significant sentences possible.”

    “This act of wanton violence exemplifies the senseless brutality we associate with organized gangs and emphasizes the importance of eradicating them from our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The investigation and prosecution that brought these defendants to justice were successful because of the vital partnerships built with our law enforcement partners working together toward our common goal of public safety.”

    “When gang members resort to kidnapping and murder, they leave behind shattered lives and communities in fear,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “This sentencing should send a message that the FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to holding dangerous criminals accountable, protecting innocent lives and ensuring our neighborhoods are safe from violence.”

    “Today’s sentencing marks another significant step towards justice for the victim, her family and the community. While no sentence can ever undo the pain caused by this tragic crime, we hope this outcome brings forth an amount of closure” said Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division. “The ATF remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners as we protect our community and ensure those that commit violent crimes are held accountable for their actions.”

    According to court documents, in the early morning hours of May 6, 2023, Carney, along with co-defendants Jamica Langley, 25, of Richmond; Donnisha Goodman, 27, of Portsmouth, Virginia; and Acacia Jackson, 20, of New York, traveled to the victim’s residence in Richmond to beat her for a perceived gang infraction.

    The group left the apartment after beating the victim. About an hour later, Goodman, Jackson, Carney, and Langley returned to the victim’s apartment with fellow gang member Jones. Some of them were armed and wearing masks.

    The defendants forced the victim into a Hyundai Sonata and drove her approximately an hour east of Richmond to a remote area in York County, Virginia. After forcing the victim from the vehicle, Jones and Goodman executed her by shooting her at least eight times to the head, abdomen, back, buttocks, and legs.

    Upon returning to Portsmouth after the murder, Carney, the leader of the gang, directed Goodman, Jackson, and Langley to burn their clothing, stay together, and not to speak with law enforcement.

    The day after the murder, on May 7, 2023, the Norfolk Police Department located the Sonata with Jackson, Goodman, and Langley in the car. From the car, police recovered a 9mm cartridge that displayed the same markings as casings found at the murder scene.

    On Aug. 29, 2024, Carney, Goodman, and Jones pleaded guilty to using a firearm causing death, and Langley and Jackson pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit kidnapping. On Jan. 7, Goodman was sentenced to 35 years in prison and Langley was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Jackson is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 13.

    The FBI, ATF, and state and local law enforcement partners investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Alyssa Levey-Weinstein of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa McKeel and Mack Coleman for the Eastern District of Virginia prosecuted the case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Security News: Man Pleads Guilty in Connection with $17M Medicare Hospice Fraud and Home Health Care Fraud Schemes

    Source: United States Department of Justice 2

    A California man pleaded guilty today to health care fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering in connection with a years-long scheme to defraud Medicare of more than $17 million through sham hospice companies and his home health care company.

    According to court documents, Petros Fichidzhyan, 43, of Granada Hills, engaged in a scheme with others to operate a series of sham hospice companies. Fichidzhyan, along with co-schemers, impersonated the identities of foreign nationals to use as the purported owners of the hospices — including using the identities to open bank accounts and sign property leases — and submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for hospice services that were not medically necessary and not provided. In submitting the false claims, Fichidzhyan and his co-schemers also misappropriated the identifying information of doctors, claiming to Medicare that the doctors had determined hospice services were necessary, when in fact the purported recipients of these hospice services were not terminally ill and had never requested nor received care from the sham hospices. As a result of the scheme, Medicare paid the sham hospices nearly $16 million. Fichidzhyan personally received nearly $7 million of the proceeds from the fraud scheme, including more than $5.3 million in transfers to his personal and business bank accounts, which were laundered through a dozen shell and third-party bank accounts. Fichidzhyan additionally admitted to wrongfully obtaining more than $1 million for his home health care agency through the fraudulent use of a doctor’s name and identifying information in certifying Medicare beneficiaries for home health care, which he attempted to cover up by paying the doctor $11,000.

    Fichidzhyan pleaded guilty to health care fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 14 and faces a mandatory penalty of two years in prison on the aggravated identity theft charge, a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the health care fraud charge, and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the money laundering charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Today’s guilty plea is the most recent conviction in the Justice Department’s ongoing effort to combat hospice fraud in the greater Los Angeles area. Last year, a doctor was convicted at trial for his role in a scheme to bill Medicare for hospice services patients did not need, and two other defendants were sentenced for their roles in a hospice fraud scheme.  

    Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Diane N. Vu of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Los Angeles Regional Office made the announcement.

    The FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys Eric C. Schmale and Sarah E. Edwards of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

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  • MIL-OSI United Nations: World News in Brief: WHO chief asks US to reconsider withdrawal, gender parity remains distant goal, call for rethink on Nordic alcohol law change

    Source: United Nations 4

    Health

    The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday he would “welcome constructive dialogue” with the United States Government over the decision made by President Donald Trump to withdraw. 

    President Trump’s executive order of 20 January is regrettable “and we hope the US will reconsider,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a speech to the organization’s executive board.

    The WHO chief said he would welcome the opportunity “to preserve and strengthen the historic relationship between WHO and the US.”

    Pushing back on the rationale laid out in the executive order, Tedros said WHO had implemented the deepest and most wide-ranging reforms in its history over the past seven years.

    The US is the biggest donor by far to the agency, accounting for around 14 per cent of its $6.9 billion budget, according to latest WHO figures. 

    Addressing the US complaint that it is paying too much compared to other countries, Tedros said reducing reliance on the US and others who pay the most was a “critical element of our long-term plan to broaden our donor base.”

    COVID record

    Third, he rejected the accusation that WHO had mishandled the COVID-19 pandemic:

    “From the moment we picked up the first signals of ‘viral pneumonia’ in Wuhan, we asked for more information, activated our emergency incident management system, alerted the world, convened global experts, and published comprehensive guidance for countries on how to protect their populations and health systems – all before the first death from this new disease was reported in China on the 11th of January 2020.”

    Tedros also addressed the allegation that WHO lacks independence from “inappropriate political influence” by some Member States: “WHO is impartial and exists to serve all countries and all people,” he said. 

    “Our Member States ask us for many things, and we always try to help as much as we can. But when what they ask is not supported by scientific evidence or is contrary to our mission to support global health, we say no, politely.”

    © UNICEF/Joshua Estey

    A government-run shelter in the Philippines is a safe haven for girls who have been physically and sexually abused and exploited, including through the sex tourism industry. (file)

    A third of women experience physical or sexual violence: Rights experts 

    Approximately one in three women is subjected to physical or sexual violence, and 800 women and girls continue to die every day from preventable causes during pregnancy and childbirth, a top independent rights panel meeting heard on Monday.

    Addressing the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) at the UN in Geneva, Andrea Ori from the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said that the world is “still far” from achieving the goal of gender parity.

    “The global landscape has changed,” she told the CEDAW session.

    Backlash against equal rights

    “We are witnessing a backlash against women’s human rights and gender equality, especially against women’s sexual and reproductive health rights – with an increase in attacks against abortion providers, shrinking civic space for women human rights defenders, and reduced funding.” 

    Mr. Ori noted that 2025 marks 30 years since the universal adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action for ensuring women’s human rights and achieving gender equality around the world.  

    It remains the case, however, that sexual violence against women and girls continues to be used as a tactic of war in numerous conflicts, the UN human rights official said, while only 26 per cent of parliamentarians in the world are women and only around three in 10 women have managerial roles at work. 

    One less for the road: Time Europe cut down on booze intake, WHO warns

    The UN World Health Organization (WHO) urged Nordic countries on Monday to keep a lid on alcohol sales, or risk reversing the positive impact of strict regulations put in place years ago.

    For decades, governments in Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the Faroe Islands have restricted supermarkets and private retailers from selling stronger alcoholic beverages.

    This policy has resulted in some of the lowest alcohol consumption levels in the European Union – which by contrast is the booziest region globally, with drinking habits “largely unchanged” for over 10 years, WHO said.

    Free market pressures

    The Nordic model is now at risk however, from legislative initiatives in the region that signal a potential shift toward privatization of alcohol sales, warned WHO’s Dr. Carina Ferreira-Borges.

    In Sweden, for instance, a court is hearing a challenge to the Government’s exclusive rights to online sales of alcohol, while proposed laws would permit sales of alcoholic beverages in farm shops.

    Dr Ferreira-Borges explained that Nordic countries’ alcohol controls – that involve increasing taxes and raising prices, limiting availability and restricting advertising – have reduced alcohol-related harms. 

    These span from “liver disease, cancers and cardiovascular conditions, to injuries and drownings”, she insisted. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Syria: Special Envoy applauds ‘shared conviction’ among Syrians on political transition

    Source: United Nations 4

    By Vibhu Mishra

    Peace and Security

    The UN Special Envoy for Syria said on Monday that Syrians across the political spectrum share a deep conviction that the country’s political transition must succeed.

    Geir Pedersen stressed that protection for all Syrian minorities and a fully inclusive process is essential to shaping its future.

    The top envoy has spent several weeks in Syria, engaging with the caretaker authorities and a broad spectrum of society, following the overthrow of the Assad regime in early December.

    “[He] was deeply struck by the shared conviction among all the Syrians he met that the success of Syria’s political transition is essential, and it cannot afford to fail,” said a statement issued by his office.

    “At the cornerstone of this, as he consistently heard from all Syrians he met, is the need for all Syrians to be genuinely protected, and for all Syrians to be fully included in shaping the future,” it added.

    Diverse range of meetings

    During his visit, Mr. Pedersen held multiple meetings with caretaker Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, following earlier talks with caretaker leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on 20 January. Mr. al-Sharaa, a former leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), was named the country’s transitional president last week.

    The Special Envoy welcomed assurances given by the caretaker leadership – both publicly and in direct discussions – that the all Syrians will have a stake in the future State and that it will be built on inclusive and credible foundations.

    “In this regard, he sensed a genuine convergence between the expectations of Syrians, commitments of the caretaker authorities, and key principles of Security Council resolution 2254,” the statement said.

    Adopted in December 2015, resolution 2254 outlines a roadmap for a Syrian-led political transition, including constitutional reforms, and free and fair elections under UN supervision.

    He met leaders from civil society, different religious faiths, and NGOs, expressing gratitude to all those who shared their different perspectives.

    Continuing engagement

    Mr. Pedersen said he appreciated the commitment he received of close cooperation and consultation with the United Nations on all steps of a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned transition.

    According to the statement, he is looking forward to working positively with caretaker authorities and following developments on the ground. He will continue to update the Secretary-General and the Security Council.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Sudan: UN chief condemns reported executions as starvation risks rise

    Source: United Nations 4

    Peace and Security

    The UN Secretary-General expressed deep alarm on Monday over reports of summary executions of civilians in the Sudanese city of Khartoum North, allegedly carried out by fighters and militias allied with the forces of the military Government. 

    Many of the victims are believed to be from the Darfur and Kordofan regions.

    “The Secretary-General reminds all warring parties in Sudan of their obligations under international law, especially in relation to the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure,” said his Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, briefing correspondents in New York.

    “Sudanese women, Sudanese children and Sudanese men are paying the price for the continued fighting by the belligerents,” he stated.

    Government troops have been battling their former allies-turned military rivals, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), for control of Sudan since April 2023.

    The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk described the “senseless” war where alleged war crimes have been committed on both sides as having taken an “even more dangerous turn for civilians” – as reports mount of brutal, ethnically targeted killings.

    Mr. Türk’s office, OHCHR, is working to corroborate these reports.

    Humanitarian crisis escalates

    Attacks on civilians continue across Sudan, Mr. Dujarric said.

    On Saturday, a strike on a crowded market in Omdurman reportedly killed at least 60 people and injured more than 150, according to UN humanitarians.

    Civilian casualties have also been reported in North Kordofan, as well as North and South Darfur.

    Aid coordination office, OCHA, has warned of rising fatalities, particularly following reported attacks on the Abu Shouk displacement camp, where famine conditions were identified in December.

    UN Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, condemned the indiscriminate attacks at the weekend, stating: “The deliberate targeting of civilian areas represents a blatant disregard for human life and the most basic principles of the laws of war. Such atrocities must cease immediately.”

    Rising malnutrition and starvation

    The food crisis in Sudan is worsening, with reports confirming more than 70 hunger-related deaths – mostly among children – in Khartoum State, according to OCHA.

    In January alone, over 1,100 cases of severe malnutrition were recorded in three Omdurman neighbourhoods, underscoring the dire need for food assistance.

    Malnutrition rates are particularly high in areas where access restrictions have forced the closure of community kitchens, a critical lifeline for many families.

    “We stress once again the urgent need for increased funding and logistical support to sustain nutrition programmes and community kitchens, ensuring that the most vulnerable – especially children and older people – receive adequate food, nutrition and healthcare assistance,” Mr. Dujarric said.

    As the humanitarian catastrophe worsens, the UN reiterates its call for all parties to protect civilians and facilitate access to life-saving aid.

    “The suffering of Sudanese civilians has gone on for too long,” Ms. Nkweta-Salami said. “It’s long past time to end this war and prevent further devastation.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Man Pleads Guilty in Connection with $17M Medicare Hospice Fraud and Home Health Care Fraud Schemes

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    A California man pleaded guilty today to health care fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering in connection with a years-long scheme to defraud Medicare of more than $17 million through sham hospice companies and his home health care company.

    According to court documents, Petros Fichidzhyan, 43, of Granada Hills, engaged in a scheme with others to operate a series of sham hospice companies. Fichidzhyan, along with co-schemers, impersonated the identities of foreign nationals to use as the purported owners of the hospices — including using the identities to open bank accounts and sign property leases — and submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for hospice services that were not medically necessary and not provided. In submitting the false claims, Fichidzhyan and his co-schemers also misappropriated the identifying information of doctors, claiming to Medicare that the doctors had determined hospice services were necessary, when in fact the purported recipients of these hospice services were not terminally ill and had never requested nor received care from the sham hospices. As a result of the scheme, Medicare paid the sham hospices nearly $16 million. Fichidzhyan personally received nearly $7 million of the proceeds from the fraud scheme, including more than $5.3 million in transfers to his personal and business bank accounts, which were laundered through a dozen shell and third-party bank accounts. Fichidzhyan additionally admitted to wrongfully obtaining more than $1 million for his home health care agency through the fraudulent use of a doctor’s name and identifying information in certifying Medicare beneficiaries for home health care, which he attempted to cover up by paying the doctor $11,000.

    Fichidzhyan pleaded guilty to health care fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 14 and faces a mandatory penalty of two years in prison on the aggravated identity theft charge, a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the health care fraud charge, and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the money laundering charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Today’s guilty plea is the most recent conviction in the Justice Department’s ongoing effort to combat hospice fraud in the greater Los Angeles area. Last year, a doctor was convicted at trial for his role in a scheme to bill Medicare for hospice services patients did not need, and two other defendants were sentenced for their roles in a hospice fraud scheme.  

    Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Diane N. Vu of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Los Angeles Regional Office made the announcement.

    The FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys Eric C. Schmale and Sarah E. Edwards of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: ACCC sweep uncovers concerning online shopping return policies and terms and conditions

    Source: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

    The ACCC has conducted a sweep of more than two thousand Australian retail websites and has found some businesses using terms and conditions that may contravene the Australian Consumer Law (ACL).

    As part of this sweep, business’ return policies and website terms and conditions were reviewed, some of which raised concerns as being potentially misleading for consumers.

    “Our sweep has found numerous examples of practices that could potentially mislead or deceive consumers regarding their rights to exchange, refund or return a product,” ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said.

    “Under the Australian Consumer Law consumers have basic rights when buying products and services, known as consumer guarantees. These rights are separate from any warranties offered by a business and cannot be taken away by anything a business says or does.”

    The sweep identified several potentially misleading statements in the terms and conditions of a number of the websites reviewed, including:

    • imposing time-limits for returning a faulty product;
    • imposing blanket ‘no refund’ conditions on sales or specialised items;
    • referring to manufacturer warranties as the only avenue for consumers to claim remedies for faulty goods, and;
    • placing restrictions on consumers’ right to a remedy, including stating that delivery fees paid for faulty items were non-refundable and charging restocking fees if customers returned faulty items.

    Problematic statements found during the sweep included:

    • “Items that have been opened and used cannot be exchanged or refunded”;
    • “Made to order products cannot be returned”;
    • “Sale items cannot be returned, exchanged or refunded” and;
    • “In the unlikely event that your item arrives damaged or faulty, please notify the store within 30 days of delivery to receive a replacement”.

    As a result of the sweep’s findings, the ACCC sent warning letters to several businesses whose returns policies or terms and conditions raised concerns under the ACL.

    “Our action led to the majority of businesses changing or removing concerning statements from their websites and improving consumer guarantee messages to consumers,” Ms Lowe said.

    “While we did identify some concerning practices during this sweep, we were pleased to find that many websites had information that advised consumers of their consumer guarantee rights under the Australian Consumer Law.”

    Under the ACL, businesses should not be making statements, written or verbally, to the following effect about faulty products:

    • No refunds are permitted under any circumstances;
    • No refunds are provided for sale or specialised items;
    • To be eligible for a refund, the consumer has a limited timeframe, from receipt of the good, to return the product;
    • Returns will be subject to a processing, restocking or repair fee;
    • No refunds are provided for opened or used items under any circumstances;
    • Delivery fees are non-refundable;
    • Customers must pay for delivery for returned items.

    “The ACCC is committed to improving business compliance with consumer guarantees and will continue to actively monitor this area, and where appropriate, take enforcement action,” Ms Lowe said.

    “We encourage all businesses to review their return policies and terms and conditions to ensure they comply with the law.”

    Consumers should report any potentially misleading or deceiving statements to the ACCC: Report a consumer issue

    Notes for editors:

    There are nine consumer guarantees that apply to products. They include guarantees that a product sold to a consumer must be of acceptable quality, fit for any stated purpose, and match its description.

    The three consumer guarantees that apply to services are that businesses must provide them using reasonable care and skill, they must be fit for any stated purpose, and they must be supplied within a reasonable time where the time is not otherwise agreed between the consumer and the business.

    Businesses may offer other warranties, but these are extra promises that a business can choose to make in addition to the consumer guarantees. A warranty cannot replace, change or take away a consumer’s basic legal rights.

    Depending on the nature of the problem, remedies can include a refund, a repair or replacement and/or compensation for reasonably foreseeable loss or damage caused by the failure to meet the consumer guarantee.

    Consumer guarantees do not apply if the consumer simply changed their mind, found the product cheaper somewhere else, or decided they no longer liked it or had no use for it. Consumer guarantees also do not apply if a consumer misused the product in a way that caused the problem.

    The ACCC has been advocating for law reform to the consumer guarantees provisions, and welcomes the Federal Government’s commitment to work with state and territory consumer affairs ministers to design proposed civil prohibitions and penalties for breaches of the consumer guarantee and supplier indemnification provisions of the ACL. This would introduce penalties for:

    • businesses which fail to provide a remedy for consumer guarantees failures, when they are legally required to do so under the consumer guarantees, and
    • manufacturers which fail to reimburse suppliers for consumer guarantees failures for which the manufacturers are responsible.

    These amendments would significantly change business incentives to comply with their consumer guarantee obligations under the ACL, as well as more effectively supporting consumers in securing their statutory consumer guarantee rights.

    Background

    The ACCC conducted a sweep of retail websites operating in Australia. The ACCC then reviewed statements to assess whether the statement sought to restrict consumers’ consumer guarantee rights, and if so whether any further action was warranted, having regard to the size of the business, additional context on the website surrounding the statement, and consumer reports about those businesses.

    As a result, numerous website statements that raised concerns under the ACL were identified. The ACCC subsequently sent warning letters to several businesses to notify them of our concerns, educate them on their obligations under the ACL, and improve compliance with the ACL.

    Improving industry compliance with consumer guarantees is one of the ACCC’s compliance and enforcement priorities and has been a priority for a number of years. In 2024/25, the ACCC is particularly focused on consumer guarantees relating to consumer electronics and targeting misconduct by retailers in connection with delivery timeframes.

    In November 2024, furniture and homewares retailer Koala & Tree Pty Ltd, trading as Koala Living, paid penalties of $56,340 after the ACCC issued it with three infringement notices for making false or misleading statements about consumers’ rights to remedies for faulty products, including for representing that a consumer’s right to seek remedies for faulty products was limited to 72 hours.

    In March 2024, the ACCC instituted Federal Court proceedings against Mosaic Brands Limited for allegedly misrepresenting consumer guarantee rights in the terms and conditions published on eight of its brands websites and making false or misleading representations to consumers about delivery times.

    In February 2024, the Federal Court ordered Mazda Australia Pty Ltd to pay $11.5 million in penalties for engaging in misleading and deceptive conduct and making false or misleading representations to nine consumers about their consumer guarantee rights.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Secures Guilty Plea from Dulce Man in Domestic Violence Case

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – A Dulce man pleaded guilty to two counts of assault of an intimate partner by strangling and suffocating.

    According to court documents, Chalmers Dedios, 32, an enrolled member of the Jicarilla Apache Nation Indian Tribe, admitted to assaulting Jane Doe twice in February 2024, including strangling her to unconsciousness.

    At sentencing, Dedios faces up to 10 years in prison, followed by three years supervised release.

    U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today.

    The Jicarilla Apache Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jesse Pecoraro is prosecuting the case.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: NEXUS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF TRICAM INDUSTRIES

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES & EDEN PRAIRIE, MN, Feb. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nexus Capital Management LP (together with certain affiliates, “Nexus”), a Los Angeles-based alternative asset management firm, announced today it has partnered with the management team and existing owners, the McMunn family, to acquire Tricam Industries, LLC (the “Company” or “Tricam”).

    Tricam, based in Eden Prairie, MN, specializes in the design, development and engineering of consumer and professional home improvement equipment, including ladders and step stools, garden carts, wheelbarrows, hose reels and hand trucks, among others. The Company’s products are primarily sold through home center and retail channels across North America, Australia and New Zealand under the flagship Gorilla® brand as well as other owned and licensed brands.

    Jeff Skubic, President & CEO of Tricam, stated, “This transaction represents an exciting milestone in Tricam’s corporate journey. Over the last three decades, Tricam has built a strong reputation as a trusted supplier with high quality products consumers respond to and have come to expect from us. We’re grateful for the confidence our partners and customers place in us, and we’re looking forward to partnering with Nexus as we continue to expand our product portfolio and accelerate our growth. Our founder, Tony McMunn, established a culture built on an unwavering entrepreneurial drive that fosters and rewards hard work, creativity, and collaboration. The team is excited, and we’re pleased the McMunn family will continue along with us.”

    “My family and I are excited to partner with Nexus and feel very confident this relationship will allow for continued success and provide opportunities for our employees” said Tricam founder Tony McMunn.

    “We are thrilled to partner with Jeff, Tony and the Tricam management team,” said Michael Cohen, Partner at Nexus. “Tricam has established itself as a market leader by focusing relentlessly on innovation, quality and safety. We look forward to working closely with Tricam to continue building on the Company’s long history of success.”

    Brad Kottman, Principal at Nexus, added, “We are thoroughly impressed with the strong foundation Tricam has established. The Company is led by a highly experienced team, the product suite is differentiated, and the supply chain is diverse and resilient. This investment represents a compelling new platform that is well positioned to react to changing environments and pursue continued growth.”

    Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal advisor to Nexus. Jefferies LLC served as financial advisor and Fox Rothschild LLP served as legal advisor to Tricam. J.P. Morgan and Citi provided financing for the acquisition.

    About Tricam

    Tricam, founded in 1990, is a leading supplier of home improvement and hardware products sold through home center and retail outlets primarily in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, the Company employs a growing team centered around bringing innovative products to market and maintaining strong relationships with our retailer and supplier partners. The Company continues to invest in its product and brand portfolio, led by its flagship Gorilla® brand across multiple product categories, including ladders, garden carts, wheelbarrows, hose reels and hand trucks. For more information on Tricam, please visit www.gorillamade.com and www.tricamindustries.com.

    About Nexus Capital Management LP

    Nexus is an alternative asset investment management company based in Los Angeles, California that was founded in 2013. Nexus employs a flexible investment mandate that focuses on long-term value creation by partnering with leading management teams and businesses. For more information on Nexus, please visit www.nexuslp.com.

    Contact Information:

    Mike Gabbert

    Tricam Director of Marketing

    Mgabbert@tricam.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: After Weeks Of Paying For Knicks Games And Episodes Of Judy Justice Without Being Able To Watch, Murphy, Ryan Introduce The “Stop Sports Blackouts Act” To Force Cable Companies To Refund Customers For TV Blackouts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    February 03, 2025

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and U.S. Representative Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) introduced the Stop Sports Blackouts Act, legislation that would make cable companies refund customers who aren’t able to watch the channels they already pay for during television blackouts. For over four weeks, due to a dispute between Optimum and MSG Network, over a million customers in the Tri-State area have been unable to watch the Knicks, Rangers, Islanders, and Devils, while a separate blackout left Optimum customers unable to watch Judy Justice and local news for over 10 days. Tens of millions of Americans per year are victim to blackouts – with no requirement that they receive compensation.

    “Blackouts are a slap in the face to every customer paying their hard-earned money for TV shows they can’t even watch,” said Murphy. “It’s ridiculous the rest of us get stuck in the crossfire of negotiations between cable and broadcast companies. Our bill is simple: if cable companies can’t provide the service you’re paying for, they owe you a refund.”

    “It’s outrageous that millions of folks couldn’t watch the Knicks, Judy Justice, or dozens of other programs for weeks because of blackouts. And it’s even more ridiculous that we’re all still paying for the right to stare at black screens! I don’t see why this is even a debate – cable companies simply should not be able to advertise and charge for services they are not providing,” said Ryan. “On behalf of fans across the country, we’re putting down a marker: everyone will get their money back when a blackout stops them from watching TV, no questions asked. That means dollars back in your pockets, and, equally importantly, it provides a hell of an incentive to these billion dollar corporations to make sure these blackouts don’t happen in the future. They have teams of lobbyists looking out for them – I’m introducing this legislation because I fight for YOU.”

    This type of TV blackout occurs when distributors, including cable and satellite TV companies, are unable to reach an agreement with broadcasters over the rights to distribute their content. Until an agreement is reached, subscribers are unable to view the content they had paid for as part of their cable or satellite package.

    On January 1, 2025, Optimum and MSG Network announced that they were unable to renew their distribution agreement, leaving subscribers unable to watch NBA and NHL games in the middle of the season. On January 10, Optimum subscribers were subjected to an additional blackout when the company announced it had failed to come to an agreement with Nexstar Media, which owns WTNH, the syndication rights to popular show “Judy Justice,” starring Judge Judy Sheindlin, and the NewsNation network.

    The Stop Sports Blackouts Act would direct the Federal Communications Commission to require television distributors to provide rebates to subscribers for television blackouts that occur as a result of carriage disputes.

    Full text of the legislation is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shaheen Speaks with New Hampshire Nonprofits to Hear Concerns about Impact of Trump’s Federal Funding Cuts to Services They Provide Granite Staters

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen

    (Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a top member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, spoke with representatives from New Hampshire nonprofits about the impacts the Trump administration’s order to stop federal grants and loans have on the key services they provide to children, students, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and small businesses across the Granite State. Representatives from Easterseals New Hampshire, Families in Transition, the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA), Waypoint, the NH Center for Nonprofits, Granite United Way and other organizations attended the meeting. 

    “Because of the White House’s confusing, far-reaching order to stop federal grants and loans, New Hampshire nonprofits and community organizations are concerned that they won’t be able to provide their vital, often life-saving services to Granite Staters,” said Shaheen. “As we work to get answers about who and what will be affected, I was thankful to hear from many of our great partners on the ground.” 

    On Wednesday night, Shaheen spoke on the Senate floor to condemn the Trump administration’s order to take away federal grants and loans that families, seniors and small businesses in all 50 states rely on for critical, often life-saving services. Shaheen illustrated the chaos caused by the extreme order by sharing the stories of many Granite Staters she has heard from in the past two days. 

    On Monday, the Trump administration’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced a sweeping executive order pausing almost all forms of federal assistance to states, nonprofits, non-governmental organizations and more. Senator Shaheen immediately condemned the move and emphasized the impact it will have on communities. The full list that agencies were directed to review encompasses over 2,600 assistance programs, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP), Women, Infants and Children (WIC), community health centers, the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), transportation and highway funding, energy assistance programs, water infrastructure funding, State Opioid Targeted Response grants, GI Bill, veteran compensation for service connected disabilities, Section 8 vouchers, school breakfast and lunch, Title I education grants, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Head Start. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin, Castro Introduce Bill To Curb Firearms Trafficking From The United States To Mexican Drug Cartels

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    February 03, 2025

    The Stop Arming Cartels Act would stem the “iron river” of firearms trafficking enabled by weak American gun laws

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, led the bicameral introduction of the Stop Arming Cartels Act.  The legislation is introduced as an estimated 200,000 to 500,000 American-made guns are trafficked into Mexico annually, largely attributable to unlicensed gun dealers, straw purchasers, and thefts from federal firearms licensees (FFLs).

    The bill would seek to stem this “iron river” of firearms trafficking from the United States to Mexico, enabled by weak American gun laws and dangerous gun industry practices. The deadly stream of firearms trafficking exacerbates violence, enables cartels who smuggle migrants to our southern border, and facilitates the illicit trade of narcotics, including fentanyl, across the border back into the United States.  According to a 2021 study from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), 70 percent of crime guns recovered in Mexico from 2014-2018 and submitted for tracing were U.S.-sourced.

    “Our country’s lax gun laws have created a deadly, vicious cycle of firearms trafficking that’s riddled with violence and chaos, resulting in a consistent transfer of fentanyl across our border.  Our gun laws and gun industry practices fuel an iron river of firearms trafficking that supplies Mexican drug cartels and other criminal elements in the region, and it’s time to cut off the iron river at its source.  With the Stop Arming Cartels Act, we can disarm cartels and help prevent the violence, drug trafficking, and irregular migration associated with cartel power and violence at home and abroad,” said Durbin.

    “For years, Republicans have taken an increasingly brutal approach to immigration while refusing to address the role that U.S. guns play in fueling the violence and instability that force families to flee from their homes.  When I meet with leaders in Latin America and the Caribbean, their number one request is for the United States to stop the gun trafficking that originates within our borders.  In Mexico, in particular, high-caliber weapons smuggled from the United States have allowed cartels to shoot down police helicopters, attack military convoys, and undercut public faith in law and order.  The Stop Arming Cartels Act will make important progress to stem the deadly flow of guns from the United States and build stability across the globe.  I appreciate Senator Durbin’s leadership on this issue in the Senate, and I hope that our Republican colleagues will join us as we work to pass this lifesaving bill into law,” said Castro.

    Specifically, the Stop Arming Cartels Act would:

    • Prohibit future nongovernmental manufacture, importation, sale, transfer, or possession of .50 caliber rifles;
    • Regulate existing .50 caliber rifles under the National Firearms Act, with a fee waiver and 12-month grace period for registration on the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record for those who lawfully possess them under current law;
    • Create an exception to the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), allowing victims of gun violence to sue manufacturers and dealers who engage in firearm transactions prohibited under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (the “Kingpin Act”);
    • Prohibit the sale or transfer of firearms to individuals sanctioned under the Kingpin Act and add Kingpin Act designations to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS); and
    • Require firearms dealers to report multiple sales of rifles to state and local law enforcement agencies, as they must currently do for handguns.

    The bill is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

    The bill is endorsed by Brady United Against Gun Violence, Everytown for Gun Safety, GIFFORDS, March for Our Lives, Global Exchange, Global Action on Gun Violence, Amnesty International, and People’s Movement for Peace and Justice.

    The introduction of the Stop Arming Cartels Act continues Durbin’s efforts to strengthen American gun laws and combat firearms trafficking from the United States abroad.  In June 2022, the Senate passed and President Biden signed into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the most significant gun violence prevention reform in nearly three decades.  Among its many provisions, the law creates federal firearm straw purchasing and trafficking criminal offenses.

    In March 2022, the Senate passed the government funding bill that reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act, including provisions from the NICS Denial Notification Act.  These provisions require federal law enforcement to promptly notify state law enforcement within hours when a person fails a gun background check.

    In 2019, Durbin urged the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to update its reports on efforts to combat firearms trafficking from the United States to Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala and expand the report to include El Salvador and Honduras.  The report revealed that 40 percent of firearms recovered in those countries and submitted for tracing from 2015-2019 came from the United States.  Based on the immense value of that report, Durbinjoined colleagues in 2023 to successfully press GAO to expand the study further to include the Caribbean.

    Bill text is available here. A one-page summary of the bill is available here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –