NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican National Pleads Guilty To Illegal Reentry

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Orlando, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Oscar Manuel Inda-Duenas (36, Mexico) has pleaded guilty to illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. Inda-Duenas faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

    According to court documents, Inda-Duenas was previously removed from the United States in September 2016. Following that, he did not receive the consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States. On December 4, 2024, Inda-Duenas was arrested in the Middle District of Florida on state charges of aggravated battery and obstruction of justice by hindering witness communication with law enforcement. At the time of his arrest, Inda-Duenas was found to be voluntarily back in the United States.

    This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sin City Deciples Member Sentenced to 36 Months in Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HAMMOND- Yesterday, Brandon Romand Parks “Baywatch,” age 46, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after being found guilty of racketeering conspiracy following an 18-day jury trial, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.

    Parks was sentenced to 36 months in prison followed by 1 year of supervised release. 

    According to the Second Superseding Indictment, the Sin City Deciples, originally formed in 1967 in Gary, Indiana, is an outlaw motorcycle organization in which its members and associates engaged in acts of violence, extortion, and narcotics distribution in the Northern District of Indiana and elsewhere. 

    Parks served as a National President of the entire club and was involved in the conspiracy to commit acts of racketeering activity between 2016-2018.  As National President, Parks was 2nd in command behind the founder of the club.

    The agencies involved in this prosecution were: the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the East Chicago Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Gary Police Department, the Griffith Police Department, the Hammond Police Department, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area officers and agents, the Merrillville Police Department, the Munster Police Department, and the Schererville Police Department.   Also providing assistance were the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of Arkansas, the Northern District of Illinois, the Southern District of Indiana, the Western District of Kentucky, and the Western District of Pennsylvania.

    This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David J. Nozick and Michael J. Toth.  

    This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fort Wayne Man Convicted at Trial of Firearm and Drug Trafficking Offenses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    FORT WAYNE – Late Yesterday, Detric L. Cummings, 42 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was found guilty of firearm and drug trafficking offenses following a four-day jury trial, presided over by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay. 

    Cummings was charged in an indictment with a total of eight counts, and prior to the start of the trial, he entered a plea of guilty to five counts of distributing controlled substances, including methamphetamine and fentanyl.  Cummings went to trial on the remaining counts, and a jury found him guilty of those remaining counts, which included possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and maintaining a drug-involved premises.  The jury also found Cummings to have previously committed three violent felonies on occasions different from one another, making him an armed career criminal under federal law. 

    A sentencing hearing will be scheduled on a later date on all counts.  Any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the District Court Judge after consideration of federal statutes and the United States Sentencing Guidelines.

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with the assistance of the Fort Wayne Police Department, the Indiana State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Auburn Police Department The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lesley J. Miller Lowery and Justin C. Sheridan.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: St. John’s — RCMP NL warns of dangerous substance seized for first time in St. John’s

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    RCMP Federal Policing – Eastern Region is warning the public of a dangerous substance that was seized in St. John’s on December 17, 2024. On January 30, 2025, a drug analysis, completed by Health Canada, confirmed the substance as mixture of fentanyl and medetomidine, a highly-potent Central Nervous System Depressant tranquilizer, intended for veterinary use.

    On December 17, 2024, as part of an ongoing RCMP investigation, RCMP Federal Policing – Eastern Region and the RCMP Emergency Response Team, along with the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary’s Weapons and Drug Enforcement Unit, arrested 39-year-old Joseph Reardon for drug trafficking on the parking lot of a commercial property on Frecker Drive in St. John’s. Following his arrest, a vehicle on the parking lot was searched. Police located and seized cocaine, oxycodone, methylphenidate, a quantity of suspected fentanyl and a sawed-off shot gun.

    A laboratory report received on January 30, 2025, confirmed the substance as a mixture of fentanyl and medetomidine. According to Health Canada, this is a first-time seizure of medetomidine in this province. Medetomidine is a veterinary tranquilizer approved for surgical use in animals and is not safe for human consumption. Mixing this substance with fentanyl, which on its own is highly potent and dangerous, makes this an extremely lethal combination.

    An image of the fentanyl/medetomidine mixture that was seized is attached. It is possible that there is more of this substance present in the province. Drug users should make themselves familiar with this substance and avoid consumption.

    As a result of this investigation, Reardon is charged with the following criminal offences:

    • Possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine
    • Possession for the purpose of trafficking oxycodone
    • Possession for the purpose of trafficking methylphenidate
    • Possession for the purpose of trafficking fentanyl
    • Careless use of a firearm – two counts
    • Unsafe storage of a firearm – two counts
    • Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose – four counts
    • Unauthorized possession of a firearm
    • Unauthorized possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized
    • Possession of a prohibited firearm
    • Possession of a weapon obtained by crime
    • Removing a serial number from a firearm
    • Possession of a firearm/ammunition while prohibited – six counts
    • Breach of a court release order – five counts

    Those who choose to use opioids or other dangerous substances should never do so alone and should plan and prepare for opioid overdose by carrying a Naloxone kit. Please call 811 to find your nearest location for a free naloxone kit or visit https://www.gov.nl.ca/hcs/naloxonekits/.

    If you have information on fentanyl or other illicit or dangerous opioids, RCMP NL’s Federal Policing – Eastern Region wants to hear from you. To report information, please call 709-772-5422.

    RCMP Federal Policing – Eastern Region targets criminal activity involving national security, transnational and serious organized crime and cybercrime throughout the entire province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Joint Statement from 12 Attorneys General: President Trump is Misleading the American People on Purpose of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Initiatives

    Source: US State of New York

    NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James and 11 attorneys general today issued a joint statement addressing President Trump’s recent executive orders purporting to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) policies and programs – collectively referred to below as “DEIA”:

    “President Trump’s executive orders are unnecessary and disingenuous. These orders have nothing to do with combatting discrimination. The Trump administration has longstanding civil rights laws at its disposal to combat real discrimination, and we would be willing partners if it chose to pursue this path. Instead, the administration is targeting lawful policies and programs that are beneficial to all Americans. These policies and programs are not only consistent with state and federal anti-discrimination laws, they foster environments where everyone has an opportunity to succeed. That is the opposite of discrimination.    

    “President Trump’s attack on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives undermines a simple and unassailable goal: to create fairer workplaces and opportunities for all to succeed. His baseless and offensive claims that these initiatives somehow contributed to the tragic plane crash this week are an insult to those who are grieving and the individuals serving in the military and air traffic control.

    “As state attorneys general representing tens of millions of American workers, we strongly oppose the President’s attempts to weaponize decades-old policies, which have been supported by Democratic and Republican administrations alike, to combat historical inequities faced by underrepresented communities and the ongoing, insidious discrimination that still exists in our country. 

    “DEIA initiatives do more than prevent discrimination—they promote respect, understanding, and the celebration of diverse perspectives. This means ensuring that people of diverse races, backgrounds, and beliefs are present and valued in workplace and educational settings, that everyone receives fair treatment and equal access to opportunities, and that individuals or groups feel welcomed and supported in those settings. Inclusive employment practices such as expanded parental leave and flexible work arrangements acknowledge employees’ diverse needs, family constructs, and abilities.

    “Contrary to President Trump’s assertions, the policies he seeks to end do not diminish the importance of individual merit, nor do they mean that employers are lowering their standards, hiring unqualified candidates, or engaging in race-and-sex-based preferences. DEIA initiatives simply ensure that there are fair opportunities for everyone, helping to maximize contributions from all employees and enabling businesses and organizations to succeed in their missions.

    “As the chief law enforcement officers for our respective states, we are committed to enforcing federal and state civil rights laws to protect the rights of all our people against discriminatory practices. We condemn discrimination in any form, and we stand in strong opposition to the President’s recent orders and the misleading narrative he has pushed to justify them.” 

    Joining Attorney General James in issuing today’s statement are the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Vermont, and Washington.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fighting Vehicle Theft and Fraudulent Auto Sales

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul announced today that the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles helped consumers recover more than $11 million in stolen vehicles, stolen parts, services and lost titles, in 2024.

    “New Yorkers who buy a car or who have one repaired, need to know that New York will stand up for them and protect them,” Governor Hochul said. “We work diligently to assist customers and the DMV works with dealers and repair shops to bring consumers satisfaction. If issues cannot be resolved, swift enforcement action is taken.”

    DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder said, “We take great pride in assisting customers when they need help, whether that is getting a title from a dealer that went out of business, working with clients and automotive businesses to address issues with a repair job, or recovering stolen vehicles. Customers should know that if they need assistance, they have friends at the DMV who will help them.”

    Last year, the DMV recovered 303 stolen vehicles — valued at $8,353,334 at the time of their theft — and $91,979 in stolen parts. As car thefts remain an ongoing issue across the country, DMV warned consumers last October about the dangers of car sales scams through online sites like Facebook Marketplace, and reminded car buyers to be vigilant when purchasing a vehicle online.

    In addition to recovering stolen vehicles and parts, the DMV also helped consumers recoup vehicle titles, services and refunds valued at more than $3 million from dishonest auto dealers and repair shops.

    Following the investigation of consumer complaints, the DMV took actions against auto dealers and repair shops for selling vehicles without disclosing significant defects to the buyer, for charging consumers for repairs that were never completed, or charging consumers for repairs they did not need. In total, 474 customers benefited from these efforts and were provided refunds or vehicle repairs valued at $1.48 million. In addition, the DMV helped car buyers recover 67 titles for vehicles valued at more than $1.56 million when the auto dealerships they bought them from suddenly closed or withheld the title from the rightful owner.

    A certificate of title for a vehicle is what establishes a person or business as the legal owner. Without a title, a vehicle owner is unable to transfer ownership, remove a lien, or provide proof of ownership necessary to take out a loan on the vehicle or file an insurance claim.

    State Senator Leroy Comrie said, “Vehicle theft and fraudulent auto sales continue to impact hardworking New Yorkers, and it is essential that we take strong action to protect consumers. The DMV’s efforts to recover stolen vehicles, prevent scams and hold dishonest businesses accountable, are critical steps in ensuring fairness and security for all vehicle owners. I commend Governor Hochul and the DMV for their commitment to combating auto theft and fraud, and I remain committed to supporting initiatives that enhance consumer protections and keep our communities safe.”

    State Senator Rachel May said, “For many New Yorkers, a vehicle is a lifeline that helps with daily activities like commuting to work, getting kids to school or practice, and managing errands like grocery shopping. When someone’s vehicle is stolen, it disrupts their entire routine, making even the simplest tasks a challenge. That’s why it’s important to recognize the commendable efforts of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles in recovering hundreds of stolen vehicles last year. By supporting these efforts, we can ensure a safer environment for everyone and some peace, knowing the DMV is watching out for us.”

    State Senator Jeremy Cooney said, “Vehicle theft and fraudulent auto sales continue to impact hardworking New Yorkers, and it is essential that we take strong action to protect consumers. The DMV’s efforts to recover stolen vehicles, prevent scams and hold dishonest businesses accountable are critical steps in ensuring fairness and security for all vehicle owners. I commend Governor Hochul and the DMV for their commitment to combating auto theft and fraud, and I remain committed to supporting initiatives that enhance consumer protections and keep our communities safe.”

    Assemblymember William Magnarelli said, “Protecting consumers is a valuable component of the many services the DMV provides. I want to thank Governor Hochul for her support in providing resources to crackdown on auto thefts and to help New Yorkers recover their stolen property. These investments are paying off and are providing the protection New Yorkers deserve.”

    While most businesses are professionally and responsibly run, customers who believe they have faced unfair charges or poor work can file a complaint about a DMV-regulated business on the DMV website. DMV also helps businesses and offers information on their rights if faced with a complaint in the  Guide for Facilities. DMV also provides guidance when bringing a vehicle in for repairs.

    DMV urges customers to deal only with a registered repair shop. Customers should look for a green and white “Registered State of New York Motor Vehicle Repair Shop” sign outside the shop and a valid New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) registration certificate inside.

    An online guide to finding a DMV-regulated business is available on the agency’s website.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Truro — Nova Scotia Human Trafficking Unit charges man with multiple offences

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The Nova Scotia Human Trafficking Unit (HTU) has charged a Truro man with human trafficking offences.

    As part of an ongoing investigation, RCMP officers learned of an individual committing human trafficking offences in the Truro area. And on January 29, investigators safely arrested 52-year-old Aaron Keith MacKenzie. He’s been charged with:

    • Human Trafficking
    • Receiving a Financial Benefit from Human Trafficking
    • Procuring a Person to Provide Sexual Services
    • Advertising Sexual Services

    MacKenzie was remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in Truro Provincial Court on January 31.

    The investigation, led by the HTU with assistance from East Hants District RCMP, Colchester County District RCMP, the Nova Scotia RCMP Cybercrime Unit, and Truro Police Service, is ongoing.

    “We’re here to support victims and survivors of human trafficking,” says Sgt. Jeff MacFarlane of the HTU. “If you’re being trafficked, have been trafficked, or think someone you know is a victim of trafficking, we encourage you to call or text the 24-hour Nova Scotia Human Trafficking Hotline at 902-449-2425; the line is monitored by a police officer who’s ready to work with you and get you help.”

    Human trafficking is one of the fastest growing crimes in the world, and Nova Scotia has the highest rate of human trafficking incidents in Canada.

    “Know the signs,” says Sgt. MacFarlane. “If you or someone you know is in a controlling relationship, withdrawing from family and friends, or being forced to do unwanted things, reach out to police.“

    Tips can also be made, anonymously, by calling Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submitting a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or using the P3 Tips app.

    Note: The Nova Scotia Human Trafficking Unit is comprised of members of the Nova Scotia RCMP, Halifax Regional Police, and New Glasgow Regional Police, and is supported by police officers from across the province. For more information on human trafficking, visit: https://www.grc-rcmp.gc.ca/en/ns/programs-and-services/human-trafficking-nova-scotia

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three Mexican Nationals Sentenced for $4.7 Million Meth, Heroin Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Mexican Drug-Trafficking Organization Distributed Over 335 Kilos of Meth, 22 Kilos of Heroin

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Three Mexican nationals were sentenced in federal court this week for their roles in a $4.7 million conspiracy to distribute more than 335 kilograms of methamphetamine and 22 kilograms of heroin.

    Jesus Morales-Garcia, also known as “Don Jesus,” 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips on Wednesday, Jan. 29, to 18 years in federal prison without parole. Co-defendant Santiago Raul Mendieta-Sanchez, 43, also was sentenced to seven years in federal prison without parole.

    On Tuesday, Jan. 28, co-defendant Baltazar Flores-Norzagaray, 53, was sentenced to 16 years and three months in federal prison without parole.

    On Aug. 28, 2024, Morales-Garcia pleaded guilty to one count of participating in a continuing criminal enterprise, one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, and one count of illegally reentering the United States after having been deported. Mendieta-Sanchez and Flores-Norzagaray also have pleaded guilty to their roles in the drug-trafficking conspiracy that continued from Feb. 28, 2020, to Sept. 20, 2022. Flores-Norzagaray also pleaded guilty to possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

    Morales-Garcia admitted that he was a chief local operative of a drug-trafficking organization that distributed hundreds of kilograms of illegal drugs sourced from Mexico into the Kansas City region.

    Morales-Garcia also admitted that he was found in the United States after having been deported twice in 2016.

    Flores-Norzagaray also admitted that he was in possession of a Hammerli .22-LRcaliber rifle, a Taurus 9mm handgun, and a Taurus .38-caliber revolver when he was arrested on Oct. 7, 2021. Flores-Norzagaray sold hundreds of grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant on at least four separate occasions.

    The conspiracy involved the distribution of more than 335.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, with an average street price of $300 per ounce, and more than 22.1 kilograms of heroin, with an average street price of $1,500 per ounce.

    On June 8, 2022, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led an operation that involved 140 officers and agents from 14 state, local and federal law enforcement agencies. On the day of the takedown, officers executed 16 search warrants and seized 84.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, 4.5 kilograms of heroin, 10.4 kilograms of fentanyl, 7.6 kilograms of cocaine, 10.5 kilograms of marijuana, 687 Xanax pills, 3.1 kilograms of unknown pills, a quantity of bulk cash, five firearms, a 3D printer with manufactured ghost gun parts, and a liquid methamphetamine conversion lab.

    With these sentencings, 24 defendants have now been sentenced in this case in which 44 defendants were indicted.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan A. Baker. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Jackson County Drug Task Force, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Independence, Mo., Police Department, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Minnesota State Patrol, the Olmsted County, Minn., Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the FBI, the Clay County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Marshals Service.

    Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force

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

    KC Metro Strike Force

    This prosecution was brought as a part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Co-located Strike Forces Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations against a continuum of priority targets and their affiliate illicit financial networks. These prosecutor-led co-located Strike Forces capitalize on the synergy created through the long-term relationships that can be forged by agents, analysts, and prosecutors who remain together over time, and they epitomize the model that has proven most effective in combating organized crime. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Columbus man sentenced to 17 years in prison for 4 armed robberies of postal carriers

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 204 months in prison for four armed robberies of Postal carriers. 

    Thierno S. Bah, 22, of Columbus, used firearms and robbed postal carriers of their U.S. Postal Service keys on four occasions between December 2022 and May 2023. He was arrested in August 2023.

    “Seventeen years in federal prison is a serious consequence in line with the seriousness of this type of violent crime. We have held numerous individuals accountable in the Southern District of Ohio in recent years for their crimes against United States Postal Service carriers who are simply doing their jobs. As a result of our focused efforts and the vigorous investigations by our federal law enforcement partners, we’ve seen a decrease in new assaults,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker.

    Bah, who is also known as “Wopo” and “Wopoonese,” worked with others to steal service keys, which are then used to steal mail from USPS receptacles (a process known as “fishing”). Individuals then “cook” the mail by washing personal and business checks and other financial instruments to reflect new payees and new payment amounts. Bah and others would then recruit third parties to deposit the newly washed checks in their own accounts and split the profit.       

    The thefts occurred in Central Ohio on:

    • Dec. 29, 2022
    • Jan. 3, 2023 (two separate robberies on this date)
    • May 11, 2023

    Bah pleaded guilty in November 2023 and admitted to using a handgun to rob a postal carrier in German Village on Dec. 29, 2022. Bah pointed the handgun at the victim’s stomach and demanded his vehicle and service keys.

    On Jan. 3, 2023, Bah pushed a postal carrier into her mail truck while she was sorting mail in the back of the truck on East Columbus Street. He then pushed a gun into the victim’s side before stealing her keys.

    Later that day, Bah committed another armed postal robbery, this time in Whitehall. Bah approached the victim and pushed the handgun into her stomach before stealing her personal car keys and the USPS service keys.

    On May 11, 2023, Bah robbed a Postal worker at the Post Office Retail Store on West Broad Street. Bah approached the victim while she was outside on a break. Bah asked the victim for her keys, and when she asked, “What keys?” he pistol-whipped her in the head with his handgun. Bah forcibly accompanied the victim into the post office to retrieve her service keys.

    Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant; Westerville Police Chief Charles Chandler; and Whitehall Police Chief Mike Crispen announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorney Noah R. Litton is representing the United States in this case.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: LiveCare Inc. Agrees To Pay Up To $4.9 Million To Resolve False Claims Act Allegations

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces today that LiveCare Inc., located in Venice, Florida, has agreed to a settlement of up to $4.9 million to resolve allegations that the company violated the Anti-Kickback Statute and False Claims Act by unlawfully paying a marketing service for referrals of Medicare beneficiaries. 

    LiveCare provides remote patient monitoring (“RPM”) services to patients with Type 2 diabetes.

    “Violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute undermine the integrity of our healthcare system,” said U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg. “The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida will hold providers participating in the federal health care system accountable for these violations in order to preserve program funds and ensure the provision of appropriate services to patients.”

    “Kickback schemes waste valuable Medicare funds and undermine the integrity of medical decision-making,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Ricardo M. Carcas of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Our agency will continue to thoroughly investigate health care fraud, including the emerging area of allegations related to remote patient monitoring.”

    The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought by private individuals, on behalf of the United States, under the qui tam (commonly known as “whistleblower”) provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery if the government takes over the case and obtains judgment against or reaches a monetary agreement with the defendant.

    This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General. It was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Sean Keefe.

    The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Culver City Man Agrees to Plead Guilty to Recklessly Crashing Drone into Super Scooper Firefighting Aircraft During Palisades Fire

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LOS ANGELES – A Culver City man agreed to plead guilty to recklessly operating a drone that crashed into and damaged a Super Scooper firefighting aircraft fighting the Palisades Fire earlier this month, the Justice Department announced today.

    Peter Tripp Akemann, 56, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of unsafe operation of an unmanned aircraft. This morning federal prosecutors filed a criminal information charging Akemann with the misdemeanor offense that carries a prison sentence of up to one year in federal prison.

    In a plea agreement also filed this morning, Akemann agreed to plead guilty to the criminal offense and admitted to his reckless and illegal conduct in flying the drone that posed an imminent safety hazard to the Super Scooper crew. As a result of the drone collision, the firefighting aircraft was taken out of service for a period of time and was not able to continue its firefighting mission. As part of the plea agreement, Akemann agreed to pay full restitution to the Government of Quebec, which supplied the plane, and an aircraft repair company that repaired the plane. Akemann also agreed to complete 150 hours of community service in support of the 2025 Southern California wildfire relief effort.

    “This defendant recklessly flew an aircraft into airspace where first responders were risking their lives in an attempt to protect lives and property,” said Acting United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally. “This damage caused to the Super Scooper is a stark reminder that flying drones during times of emergency poses an extreme threat to personnel trying to help people and compromises the overall ability of police and fire to conduct operations. As this case demonstrates, we will track down drone operators who violate the law and interfere with the critical work of our first responders.”

    “Lack of common sense and ignorance of your duty as a drone pilot will not shield you from criminal charges,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “Please respect the law, respect the FAA’s rules and respect our firefighters and the residents they are protecting by keeping your drone at home during wildfires.”

    Akemann is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. 

    According to the plea agreement, while the wildfire was burning in and around Pacific Palisades on January 9, Akemann drove to the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica and parked his vehicle on the top floor of the parking structure. He then launched a drone and flew it towards Pacific Palisades to observe damage caused by the Palisades Fire.

    Akemann flew the drone at least 2,500 meters (more than 1.5 miles) toward the fire and lost sight of the drone. As Akemann was flying the drone, it collided with a Government of Quebec Super Scooper carrying two crewmembers attempting to fight the blaze. The impact caused an approximately 3-inch-by-6-inch hole in the left wing. After landing, maintenance personnel identified the damage and took the aircraft out of service for repairs.

    At the time of the collision, the Federal Aviation Administration had issued temporary flight restrictions that prohibited drone operations near the Los Angeles County wildfires that erupted earlier this month.

    As a result of the collision, the Government of Quebec and an aircraft repair company incurred costs of at least $65,169 to repair the plane.

    The FBI investigated this matter. The Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Los Angeles Fire Department, and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE) provided substantial assistance.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Kedar S. Bhatia and Ian V. Yanniello of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Armored Truck Robber Sentenced To More Than 11 Years

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Jorge Serrano Espinoza (20, Clearwater) to 11 years and 3 months in federal prison for Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the robbery. Espinoza was convicted at trial on September 11, 2024.   

    According to evidence presented at trial, on the morning of June 9, 2023, Espinoza, James Battle, and Carlos Keanu Smith met for the purposes of robbing an armored truck. They followed the armored truck along its route from Pinellas County to eastern Hillsborough County before reaching a gas station in Ellenton. Florida Department of Transportation toll records showed the vehicle following seconds behind the targeted armored truck that morning. Surveillance video showed the vehicle also following the armored truck to other locations before conducting the robbery at the gas station in Ellenton. As the driver returned to the armored truck, Battle and Smith approached pointing pistols at the victim, forcing him to the ground. Espinoza served as the lookout. The trio stole more than $150,000 from the armored truck. 

    Battle was previously sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. Smith was previously sentenced to 9 years in prison. 

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Kenneth. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney James A. Muench.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals Task Force Arrests Three in Rochester Drug House

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Concord, NH –  Early this morning, members of the United States Marshals Service (USMS), District of New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force, Strafford County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO), and Rochester Police Department arrested three fugitives out of 55 Lafayette Street in Rochester.  Surveillance assets witnessed Remy Lopez, 39, the primary target of the operation, making hand-to-hand transactions in front of the residence prior to the arrest operation.  

    Lopez was issued a federal arrest warrant on January 29 after a petition alleging eleven (11) violations of federal supervised release conditions was submitted to the U.S. District Court in Concord.  Lopez was on supervised release stemming from a 2019 case where he was found guilty of distributing fentanyl.  USMS investigators worked with Rochester PD detectives and SCSO drug task force officers to locate Lopez, and during their investigation they witnessed other people with open arrest warrants coming, going and staying at the Lafayette St. residence.

    Seven people were found in the residence, six of which were found hiding in either the basement or an attached barn.  Tyler Emery (31) and Damia Green (23), along with two other females, had to be ordered out of an alcove and storage closet in the basement. Emery and Green were taken to Rochester PD to answer for local warrants.  Emery had outstanding warrants for theft and failing to appear for a felon in possession charge.  Green was wanted for theft and an unauthorized taking charge.  Charges are pending for the other females.

    Lopez and Brittany Adjutant (34) escaped the main residence through a doggy door leading to an attached barn.  They surrendered after Task Force officers forced entry into the structure.  Lopez was taken to the U.S. District Court, where he will be arraigned this afternoon.  Adjutant was transported by emergency medical technicians to receive medical treatment for conditions unrelated to the law enforcement operation.  

    A representative from the USMS Task Force claimed this was the second time in as many weeks that this residence was targeted for law enforcement action.  On January 15, three others were arrested on warrants after arrest and search warrants were served.  “We value the partnerships this department has with our regional and federal agencies,” stated Rochester Police Chief Gary Boudreau, who added, “and we are pleased to see the results of these partnerships positively influencing the Rochester community.”  

    The USMS New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force was formed in fall of 2002 and is headquartered in the USMS office in Concord. The task force coordinates federal, state, county, and local resources to develop leads, gather intelligence, track and apprehend targeted fugitives. All 10 county sheriff departments, the New Hampshire State Police and many local and federal law enforcement agencies support task force operations.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy Charge Related to Videos Depicting Monkey Torture and Mutilation

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

    CINCINNATI – A New Jersey man pleaded guilty in federal court in Cincinnati today to conspiracy related to his involvement with online groups dedicated to creating and distributing “animal crush” videos depicting acts of extreme violence and sexual abuse against monkeys.

    According to court documents, Giancarlo Morelli, of Wharton, conspired with others to create and distribute videos depicting acts of sadistic violence against baby and adult monkeys. The conspirators used encrypted chat applications to direct money to individuals in Indonesia willing to commit the requested acts of torture on camera. 

    According to a statement of facts signed by Morelli, the videos in question included depictions of monkeys having their genitals burned and cut off.

    U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio made today’s announcement.

    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and FBI investigated the case.

    Senior Trial Attorney Adam C. Cullman of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Oakley for the Southern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case.

    # # #

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: PCP Trafficker Sentenced to 65 Months in Federal Prison

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

                WASHINGTON – Kelvin Sanker Jr., 42, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 65 months in federal prison for his participation in a major fentanyl and PCP trafficking ring that operated in Washington, D.C.

                The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division.

               Sanker pleaded guilty October 22, 2024, before U.S. District Court Judge Dabney L. Friedrich, to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute Phencyclidine (PCP). As part of the four-member conspiracy, between August 2023 and February 2024, Sanker assisted in the preparation, storage, and sale of approximately two kilograms of PCP to two undercover officers. In addition to the 65-month prison-term, Judge Friedrich ordered Sanker to serve five years of supervised release. 

              According to court documents, Sanker supplied the PCP for at least seven sales of the illegal drug to undercover officers. Sanker stored the PCP at the home he shared with his elderly mother in a residential area of Washington, D.C. He prepared it for sale by placing it in 8 or 16 oz. water bottles or juice bottles. He then distributed it to his co-conspirators for further sale.

                On March 6, 2024, FBI and DEA agents executed search warrants on five residences associated with the conspiracy including Sanker’s home where law enforcement found approximately 1 pound of marijuana, about $1,000 in cash, body armor, and a Glock gun box with two empty magazines and one 30-round extended magazine. In Sanker’s backyard, officers found trace amounts of PCP in a paint can, his patio littered with cans of starter fluid, a substance he used to cut pure PCP prior to distribution, plastic funnels used for pouring liquids, and empty water bottles — materials often used to prepare and store PCP for distribution. On Sanker’s phone, investigators found photographs of the paint can with the PCP residue, a Draco semi-automatic pistol similar to the one found in a co-defendant’s car, and other apparent firearms.

                Sanker was arrested on April 17, 2024, and has been held since.

              Co-conspirator Jamar Bennett, 45, was sentenced on January 15, 2025, to 121 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of PCP, and for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  Co-defendant Lamont M. Langston, 44, pleaded guilty December 19, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of PCP and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Langston’s sentencing is pending. A third co-conspirator, Norman Morris, 44, is being held pending trial. 

               This investigation is part of Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking (HIDTA) Washington Area Group Initiative, which seeks to identify, disrupt, and dismantle drug trafficking organizations and money laundering organizations; reduce drug-related crime and violence; and identify and respond to emerging drug trends.

               The case is being investigated by FBI. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Stempel and Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter V. Roman of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section (VRTO).

    24cr109

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: A busy weekend ahead in the city centre as Manchester welcomes Year of the Snake

    Source: City of Manchester

    Manchester is expected to be even busier than usual this weekend (Feb 1 & 2) as the city comes together to welcome in the Year of the Snake, with a weekend full of activities including the annual Chinese New Year Dragon Parade which takes place on Sunday.

    Already a sea of colour with trees decked out in traditional red lanterns in celebration of the Lunar New Year, visitors heading into the city centre this weekend are promised a dazzling display of traditional and contemporary Chinese culture.

    The weekend’s activities – organised by the Federation of Chinese Associations of Manchester (FCAM) – will see Manchester’s Chinatown transformed into a festive wonderland with lanterns, music, food, and family-friendly activities.

    Anyone planning to come into Manchester and enjoy the activities is advised to use public transport and to travel as light as possible with no big bags, and to consider using back packs or other carriers for babies and toddlers as an alternative to pushchairs.

    Visitors should note that the busiest part of the weekend is likely to be from 12 noon to 2 pm on Sunday when the Dragon Parade takes place.  

    People coming in to see the parade should be aware that access into Chinatown may be restricted during this time in order to manage the number of people in the area, and they may be advised to enjoy the parade from elsewhere along the route instead.

    Chinatown visitors throughout the weekend will be able to enjoy a host of activities across the two days from 12 noon – 8 pm, including sampling a variety of delicious Chinese delicacies and authentic street food from local vendors.

    Mesmerising traditional dance and music performances will also be taking place on both Saturday and Sunday on the main stage in the Chinatown carpark.

    Other highlights include performances from the Guizhou Acrobatic Troupe at 2:45 pm and 3:45 pm on Sunday, and a DJ playing Cantonese and Mandarin pop songs from 8 pm – 10 pm on Saturday.

    FCAM’s famous Night Dragon will also be making appearances in the Chinatown carpark on Saturday at 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm, whilst Sunday will see the spectacular annual Dragon Parade take place, featuring a stunning traditional dragon, acrobatic performances, dancers and drummers.  

    Starting from the junction of Oxford Street and George Street at 12 noon on Sunday, the Dragon Parade will make its way along Portland Street, into Chinatown, with a final performance on Princess Street.

    This year’s festivities will culminate on Sunday evening with the record-breaking Illuminated Dragon which will take to the streets of Chinatown from 6:30 pm, featuring members of the public recruited earlier in the day by organisers to help take part in dancing the dragon.

    Away from Chinatown, activities will also be taking place at Central Library throughout the weekend, with an afternoon of arts and crafts on Saturday from 1 – 4 pm and a Hanfu Show featuring traditional Chinese clothing. 

    On Sunday, the Library will be throwing open its doors for the day to help even more families celebrate the Year of the Snake, with a fun-filled programme of dance and music performances, arts and crafts, face-painting, and much more. 

    The day will begin with an unmissable Lion Dance outside the Library at 11 am before the Library opens its doors at 11:30 am for a day of activities which finish at 4 pm.

    Cllr Pat Karney, City Centre spokesperson, Manchester City Council, said: “We know how much Mancunians love visiting Chinatown and joining in with all the fantastic celebrations to mark the start of the new lunar year. 

    “We want everyone to enjoy themselves but it will be busy so people should plan their visit accordingly.  Use public transport, travel light, think about what time will be best for you to come in, and most of all be kind to each other as you navigate your way around the city centre which is sure to be much busier than usual.” 

    Important travel and traffic advice

    Members of the public travelling into Manchester are advised to use public transport where possible.  
    More information and advice on travelling into Manchester this weekend is available on TFGM’s website here 

    A number of road closures will be in place over the weekend to allow the activities to take place. 

    Road closures

    Chinatown

    From 5am Saturday 1 February to 11.59pm Sunday 2 February:

    • Nicholas Street (George Street to Faulkner Street)
    • St James Street (Nicolas Street to Princess Street)
       

    From 5am to 11.59pm Sunday 2 February:

    • Faulkner Street (Princess Street to New York Street)
    • Reyner Street  (Princess Street to Charlotte Street)
    • St James Street (Princess Street to Charlotte Street)
    • Charlotte Street (Portland Street to Mosley Street)
    • George Street (Princess Street to New York Street)
    • Chain Street (George Street to Faulkner Street)
    • Back George Street (Dickenson Street to Charlotte Street)
    • Nicholas Street (Portland Street to Mosley Street)
    • Pine Street (Chain Street to New York Street)

    Parade route

    From 10am to 3pm Sunday 2 February:

    • Peter Street (Mount Street to Lower Mosley Street) soft closure at the junction of Peter Street / Deansgate. Access for residents and businesses only.
    • Oxford Street (Peter Street to Whitworth Street West)
    • Portland Street (Chepstow Street to Chorlton Street)
    • Princess Street (Major Street to Cooper Street)
    • George Street (Oxford Street to Princess Street)
    • St James Street (Oxford Street to Princess Street)
    • Back George Street (Dickinson Street to Princess Street)
    • Faulkner Street (Princess Street to Novotel Hotel Entrance/ End of Faulkner Street)
    • Dickinson Street (Back George Street to Portland Street and Portland Street to Linley House/end of Dickinson Street)
    • Bale Street (Hall Street to Lower Mosley Street)
    • Hall Street (Bale Street to Oxford Street) 
    • Soft Closure inbound at Whitworth Street/Princess Street, Whitworth Street/ Sackville Street, and Whitworth Street/Chorlton Street junctions. No through traffic. Access to residents, businesses, and buses only.  

    Parking suspensions

    Chinatown

    From 6pm on Friday 31 January to 11.59pm Sunday 2 February:

    • George Street (New York Street to Dickinson Street)
    • Nicholas Street (Portland Street to Mosley Street)
    • Faulkner Street (New York Street to Princess Street)
    • Charlotte Street (Portland Street to Mosley Street)
    • Chinatown Car Park (all bays)

    Accessible parking on Saturday can be found on Fountain Street (Booth Street to York Street) 

    Parade route

    From 8pm Saturday 1 February to 4pm Sunday 2 February:

    • Peter Street (Mount Street to Lower Mosley Street)
    • Mount Street (Windmill Street to Peter Street)
    • Oxford Street (Lower Mosley Street to Whitworth Street West)
    • Hall Street (Oxford Street to Bale Street)
    • George Street (Oxford Street to Dickinson Street)
    • St James Street (Oxford Street to Charlotte Street)
    • Chepstow Street (Oxford Road to Great Bridgewater Street)
    • Portland Street (Chepstow Street to New York Street)
    • Dickinson Street (Back George Street to Portland Street, and Portland Street to Linley House/end of Dickinson Street)
    • Princess Street (Cooper Street to Major Street)

    Accessible parking on Sunday can be found on Fountain Street (Booth Street to York Street) or Mount Street (Windmill Street to Albert Square).All bays, loadings bays, accessible parking bays, and taxi ranks, will be suspended.

    Metrolink

    Sunday 2 February

    Between 12 noon and 1pm there will be congestion around St Peter’s Square due to an increased number of pedestrians. Passengers are advised to expect delays.

    Chester Road roadworks

    There are significant road works taking place in the Chester Road roundabout area. Road travel into the city centre will be very busy, please use public transport if you can.

    Road closure information is also available here  

    More information about Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year celebrations in Manchester here 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Joint statement from 13 state attorneys general: President Trump is misleading the American people on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility initiatives

    Source: Washington State News

    OLYMPIA — Attorney General Nick Brown, with the attorneys general of California, Illinois, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont today issued a joint statement addressing President Trump’s recent executive orders purporting to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) policies and programs – collectively referred to below as “DEIA”:
     
    “President Trump’s executive orders are unnecessary and disingenuous. These orders have nothing to do with combatting discrimination. The Trump administration has longstanding civil rights laws at its disposal to combat real discrimination, and we would be willing partners if it chose to pursue this path. Instead, the administration is targeting lawful policies and programs that are beneficial to all Americans. These policies and programs are not only consistent with state and federal anti-discrimination laws, they foster environments where everyone has an opportunity to succeed. That is the opposite of discrimination.    
     
    President Trump’s attack on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility initiatives undermines a simple and unassailable goal: to create fairer workplaces and opportunities for all to succeed. His baseless and offensive claims that these initiatives somehow contributed to the tragic plane crash this week are an insult to those who are grieving, and the individuals serving in the military and air traffic control.
     
    As state attorneys general representing tens of millions of American workers, we strongly oppose the President’s attempts to weaponize decades-old policies, which have been supported by Democratic and Republican administrations alike, to combat historical inequities faced by underrepresented communities and the ongoing, insidious discrimination that still exists in our country. 
     
    DEIA initiatives do more than prevent discrimination—they promote respect, understanding and the celebration of diverse perspectives. This means ensuring that people of diverse races, backgrounds and beliefs are present and valued in workplace and educational settings, that everyone receives fair treatment and equal access to opportunities, and that individuals or groups feel welcomed and supported in those settings. Inclusive employment practices such as expanded parental leave and flexible work arrangements acknowledge employees’ diverse needs, family constructs and abilities.
     
    Contrary to President Trump’s assertions, the policies he seeks to end do not diminish the importance of individual merit, nor do they mean that employers are lowering their standards, hiring unqualified candidates or engaging in race-and-sex-based preferences. DEIA initiatives simply ensure that there are fair opportunities for everyone, helping to maximize contributions from all employees and enabling businesses and organizations to succeed in their missions.
     
    As the chief law enforcement officers for our respective states, we are committed to enforcing federal and state civil rights laws to protect the rights of all our people against discriminatory practices. We condemn discrimination in any form, and we stand in strong opposition to the President’s recent orders and the misleading narrative he has pushed to justify them.”  

    -30-

    Washington’s Attorney General serves the people and the state of Washington. As the state’s largest law firm, the Attorney General’s Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington’s 39 counties. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.

    Media Contact:

    Email: press@atg.wa.gov

    Phone: (360) 753-2727

    General contacts: Click here

    Media Resource Guide & Attorney General’s Office FAQ

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Joint Statement from 13 State Attorneys General: President Trump is Misleading the American People on Purpose of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Initiatives

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, with the attorneys general of Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, today issued a joint statement addressing President Trump’s recent executive orders purporting to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) policies and programs – collectively referred to below as “DEIA”: 

    “President Trump’s executive orders are unnecessary and disingenuous. These orders have nothing to do with combatting discrimination. The Trump administration has longstanding civil rights laws at its disposal to combat real discrimination, and we would be willing partners if it chose to pursue this path. Instead, the administration is targeting lawful policies and programs that are beneficial to all Americans. These policies and programs are not only consistent with state and federal anti-discrimination laws, they foster environments where everyone has an opportunity to succeed. That is the opposite of discrimination.  

    President Trump’s attack on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives undermines a simple and unassailable goal: to create fairer workplaces and opportunities for all to succeed. His baseless and offensive claims that these initiatives somehow contributed to the tragic plane crash this week are an insult to those who are grieving and the individuals serving in the military and air traffic control.

    As state attorneys general representing tens of millions of American workers, we strongly oppose the President’s attempts to weaponize decades-old policies, which have been supported by Democratic and Republican administrations alike, to combat historical inequities faced by underrepresented communities and the ongoing, insidious discrimination that still exists in our country. 

    DEIA initiatives do more than prevent discrimination—they promote respect, understanding, and the celebration of diverse perspectives. This means ensuring that people of diverse races, backgrounds, and beliefs are present and valued in workplace and educational settings, that everyone receives fair treatment and equal access to opportunities, and that individuals or groups feel welcomed and supported in those settings. Inclusive employment practices such as expanded parental leave and flexible work arrangements acknowledge employees’ diverse needs, family constructs, and abilities.

    Contrary to President Trump’s assertions, the policies he seeks to end do not diminish the importance of individual merit, nor do they mean that employers are lowering their standards, hiring unqualified candidates, or engaging in race-and-sex-based preferences. DEIA initiatives simply ensure that there are fair opportunities for everyone, helping to maximize contributions from all employees and enabling businesses and organizations to succeed in their missions.

    As the chief law enforcement officers for our respective states, we are committed to enforcing federal and state civil rights laws to protect the rights of all our people against discriminatory practices. We condemn discrimination in any form, and we stand in strong opposition to the President’s recent orders and the misleading narrative he has pushed to justify them.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, and USMS Disrupt Contraband Operation at Cibola County Correctional Center with Arrest

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

    ALBUQUERQUE – Federal law enforcement arrested two Albuquerque men on Tuesday after executing search warrants that uncovered a significant cache of weapons, drugs, and evidence of an ongoing drug trafficking operation linked to the Cibola County Correctional Center.

    According to court records, Michael “Gomer” Ernest Garcia, 46, was arrested on outstanding federal and state warrants. A second man, Eric Edwards, 36, was taken into custody on a state warrant.

    Garcia was the final defendant sought in connection with an investigation into a conspiracy involving both incarcerated and non-incarcerated individuals who formed a drug trafficking network that was introducing contraband into the Cibola County Correctional Center in Milan, NM.

    During the operation, authorities seized weapons and illegal substances from Garcia’s residence, including:

    • Sixteen firearms, among them one pistol with a machine gun conversion device, five AR-15 rifles, two AR-15 pistols, and one AK-47 rifle
    • More than two dozen high-capacity magazines
    • Hundreds of rounds of ammunition in various calibers
    • Controlled substances including methamphetamine and heroin

    Garcia had been evading law enforcement for over two years and was featured on the “METRO 15” wanted poster.

    U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, and David Barnett, U.S. Marshal for the District of New Mexico, made the announcement today.

    The FBI Albuquerque Division Violent Gang Task Force (VGTF) and United States Marshals Service jointly investigated this case with assistance from the CoreCivic Intelligence Unit and the New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys Paul Mysliwiec and David Hirsch are prosecuting the case.

    The VGTF is an FBI led task force comprising of agents and officers from the New Mexico State Police, Rio Rancho Police Department, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, and the Albuquerque Police Department.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The Austin 7 is back – a short history of the iconic British car that changed the automotive industry

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Tom Stacey, Senior Lecturer in Operations and Supply Chain Management, Anglia Ruskin University

    In perhaps one of the greatest brand comeback stories in automotive since the Fiat 500 in 2007, British car company Austin announced the return of the Austin Arrow.

    Its name is an unashamed reference to one of the most memorable Austin 7 models – first introduced in the 1920s the Arrow was the original “everyman sportscar”, before the muscle cars (think of the Dodge Challenger) of the US became popular in the 1960s. Now reimagined as an electric Vehicle (EV), the Arrow is designed and made in the UK and aims to be to 2020s consumers what the original was 90 years ago.

    A number of cars are synonymous with the British car industry. In fact, as a small nation, Britain punches above its weight when it comes to classic automobile brands – The Mini, the Range Rover, London black cabs, James Bond’s Aston Martins, and even the London red bus. However, if one car can be credited for creating the dawn of the motor vehicle in the UK, it would be the diminutive Austin 7.

    The car was created in the 1920s at the time when Austin was struggling. New laws were pushing manufacturers to produce smaller, less powerful cars. But Austin’s board of directors didn’t support a cheap, small car with low profit margins. Austin was known for its larger, luxury products.

    However, Sir Herbert Austin and his 18-year-old apprentice Stanley Edge decided to secretly create a small car. Thank god they didn’t heed the board, because they ended up creating the greatest democratising automotive product Britain had ever seen (until they repeated it with the Austin Mini).

    The reason why products such as the Austin 7 come to define their period is rarely due to their technical prowess or exhilarating performance – it’s because they bring to the masses a technology that is both useful and traditionally seen as out of reach.

    The Austin 7 was a bit like the iPhone. There were smartphones that came before it, like the Sony Ericsson p800. However, these were considered expensive and out of reach for the average consumer. The Iphone did the same thing but at a cheaper price and so came to be the definitive smartphone.

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

    With the Austin 7, Herbert Austin’s team applied the key lessons from Ford’s Model T – creating a simple, modestly powered car with just enough features for mass appeal while incorporating clever design elements that earned the respect of car enthusiasts.

    When the Austin 7 was unveiled in July 1922, it was priced at just £165, when an Austin 20 was between £600 and £700. At a time when the average British worker earned around £5 per week, the only real affordable car had been Ford’s basic and utilitarian Model T at around £250.

    The 7’s ingenious design was the key to its success. With a shared base frame for the car, it could be a four-seater family car, a stylish coupe, or even a racing car.

    This cheap, tiny car not only was a legend in its own right and familiar around the world, but it influenced other legends too.

    Colin Chapman, the founder of Lotus Cars, based his first Lotus 1 on the Austin 7. What is less known is that German car manufacturer BMW built Austin 7s under licence in the 1920s and 30s but called them “Dixis”. Nissan did the same in Japan in the pre-war period. Such licensing deals helped set up both manufacturers’ future success as the powerhouses they are today.

    Austin 7s were produced all over Europe, Asia and even in Australia. The 7 was also produced in the US as the “American Bantam” and its design contributed to the “Willy’s Jeep”, one of the US’s most famous vehicles.

    Ultimately, the beginning of the second world war marked the end of Austin 7 production as the Austin factory at Longbridge, near Birmingham, needed to be repurposed to produce munitions. When the war ended, tastes for vehicles had changed and factories started to produce more modern designs, and not those from the 1920s, marking the end of a British automotive icon in 1939.

    Now it’s back, thanks to the engineer John Stubbs who bought the Austin brand after noticing the brand and trademarks were available. The rights to these had been owned by the Nanjing Automobile Group, which bought MG Rover when it collapsed in 2005. However, Nanjing had let these lapse and Stubbs bought them for £170 in 2015.

    The new Essex-based Austin Motor Company aims to recreate this classic brand, tugging at the heartstrings of those looking nostalgically at Britain’s automotive heyday. The announcement featured images of fun, cheap (£31,000) and light cars driving around the B-roads of Britain, or perhaps being taken to a racetrack for an amateur competition, harking back to earlier days. However, this car is thoroughly modern, featuring an electric motor.

    The new Austin Arrow is not meant to be the usable “everyman” car the original 7 was. For starters, to be compliant with quadricycle (a micro car with less than 6kW of power and an unladen mass no more than 425 kg) legislation it is limited to 60mph as a top speed and the range will be a maximum of 100 miles on one charge.

    However, as that fun, racy, open-top car that it’s predecessors were, it very much captures the spirit of the original Austin 7 Arrow.

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

    – ref. The Austin 7 is back – a short history of the iconic British car that changed the automotive industry – https://theconversation.com/the-austin-7-is-back-a-short-history-of-the-iconic-british-car-that-changed-the-automotive-industry-248712

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Leonardo da Vinci’s incredible studies of human anatomy still don’t get the recognition they deserve

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Michael Carroll, Reader / Associate Professor in Reproductive Science, Manchester Metropolitan University

    Wikimedia, CC BY-SA

    The mere mention of Leonardo da Vinci evokes genius. We know him as a polymath whose interests spanned astronomy, geology, hydrology, engineering and physics. As a painter, his Mona Lisa and Last Supper are considered works of mastery.

    Yet one great achievement that frequently goes unrecognised is his studies of human anatomy. More than 500 years after his death, it’s time this changed.

    Leonardo is thought to have been born on April 15 1452 in Anchiano, a small hamlet near the town of Vinci, close to Florence. His mother was a 16-year-old peasant girl called Caterina di Meo Lippi, and his father was Ser Piero da Vinci, a 26-year-old notary.

    Being illegitimate, the young Leonardo was only permitted an elementary education in reading, writing and arithmetic. He was also barred from becoming a notary, but this worked out to his advantage. Instead of being constrained by life as an officiate, he was free to be creative and explore the world of nature, satisfying his insatiable appetite for knowledge.

    The human anatomy became one of his great interests. This was seeded during his time as an apprentice in Andrea del Verrocchio’s bottega (studio) in Florence, where studying the human form was crucial for achieving realistic depictions.

    Creating detailed anatomical drawings required precise sketching skills and the ability to accurately depict the structures being studied. As Leonardo’s fascination grew, he would delve deeper into anatomy as a discipline.

    Pioneers

    This traces back to the 2nd-century Greek physician Galen of Pergamum, whose anatomical descriptions were mostly based on insights he had gained through dissecting animals and studying wounded gladiators. However, he did no human dissections – they were illegal during his time – and many of his extrapolations from animal to human anatomy were wrong.

    Galen dissecting a monkey, Veloso Salgado (1906).
    wikimedia

    It wasn’t until the 14th century that anatomy and medical science advanced thanks to the start of systematic human cadaver dissections. The physician Mondino de Liuzzi, who practised the first public dissections of human cadavers at the University of Bologna, published the first modern anatomical text, Anathomia Corporis Humani, in 1316.

    The text was mostly descriptive in nature, like that of Galen, lacking drawings to illustrate anatomy. Subsequent texts on the subject during the 14th and early 15th centuries did contain drawings, but these were basic and unrealistic.

    Leonardo advanced this discipline through his remarkable observational skills, knowledge of perspective and, most notably, his outstanding drawing abilities. His anatomical sketches were unlike anything seen before. For example, his sketches of the muscles of the arms and human skull are comparable to illustrations in today’s medical anatomy texts.

    Sketches of human muscles, 1515.
    Italian Renaissance Art, CC BY-SA

    According to Leonardo’s biographer, Giorgio Vasari, the artist “was one of the first who, with Galen’s teachings, began to bring honour to medical studies and to shed real light upon anatomy, which had until that time been shrouded in the deepest shadows of ignorance”.

    Leonardo was the first to depict a detailed study of the human spine, showing its natural curvature and correctly numbered vertebrae. He drew and described nearly all the bones and muscles of the body in beautiful detail, as well as investigating their biomechanics.

    His studies on the heart combined both experimentation and observation. Using an ox’s heart to understand blood flow though the aortic valves, Leonardo poured molten wax into the surrounding cavities to make a wax cast, from which a glass model of the heart was made. He then pumped water mixed with grass seeds through this model to visualise the flow pattern. From this experiment, he concluded that the vortex-like flow of blood through the aortic valves was responsible for closing them during each heartbeat.

    Sketches of the heart, c1507.
    MAG, CC BY-SA

    Over 450 years later, in 1968, scientists used dyes and radiography methods to observe this blood flow and prove that Leonardo was correct. A study in 2014 using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) also demonstrated that he had provided a strikingly precise depiction of these vortex-like flows.

    Shortcomings

    Leonardo may have dissected around 30 human corpses during his lifetime. Most took place at the Santa Maria Nuova hospital in Florence, and later at the Santo Spirito hospital in Rome. The fact he didn’t have more human cadavers to study probably helps to explain why he also got things wrong.

    In addition, Leonardo was very influenced by Galen, through his readings of both Mondino de Liuzzi and the Persian writer Avicenna (c980-1037), while also dissecting animals such as dogs, cattle and horses to fill in human anatomical gaps.

    This approach is evident in his study of the male and female reproductive system, as I found when carrying out a detailed review of his work in this area. Misconceptions included the presence of three channels in the penis for semen, urine and “animal spirit”. The prostate gland is also missing in all his sketches of the male reproductive system. Meanwhile, he made the uterus spherical (derived from cow dissections), and similarly misrepresented the fallopian tubes and ovaries.

    Even then, Leonardo still got a lot right. He correctly depicts the position of the foetus in the uterus, and the umbilical cord anatomy. He also correctly argued that penile erections were caused by blood engorgement and not by air or “vital spirits” flowing into the penis, as suggested by Galen.

    Sketch of baby in the womb, c1510-1513.
    Wikimedia, CC BY-SA

    Where he got things wrong, Leonardo’s shifting focus may also have played a part. His restlessness, disorganised notes and unfinished work suggest ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Equally, this may also explain his boundless curiosity and incredible creativity.

    Despite his shortcomings, Leonardo’s anatomical studies were centuries ahead of their time, rivalling modern standards. His work in this area might have been more appreciated had he published it in a book: he had planned one, and is said to have been collaborating with the Renaissance physician and professor, Marc’Antonio della Torre.

    Unfortunately, this was cut short with Marc’Antonio’s death in 1511. Leonardo died in 1519 at the age of 67, and while his gifts to the world have received endless attention, his important contributions to anatomy remain overshadowed, and deserve greater recognition.

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

    – ref. Leonardo da Vinci’s incredible studies of human anatomy still don’t get the recognition they deserve – https://theconversation.com/leonardo-da-vincis-incredible-studies-of-human-anatomy-still-dont-get-the-recognition-they-deserve-248708

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why bats need tunnels

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Eleanor Harrison, Lecturer in Ecology, Keele University

    A soprano pipistrelle, one of the commonest UK species, often roosts in buildings. Bearacreative/Shutterstock

    Developers need not “worry about bats and newts” before they start building, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said in a speech that outlined her plans to reform the UK’s planning process. Reeves’ comments suggest construction firms and housebuilders will be allowed to destroy habitat if they pay into “a nature fund” that might finance restoration elsewhere.

    As an ecologist (with a passion for bats), I have serious concerns about what this would mean for the UK’s dwindling biodiversity. The comments from the chancellor are, at best, disheartening at a critical time for nature conservation.

    Bats and newts are derided as the gum in the wheels of the planning system. But the idea that nature inherently obstructs development and stymies our collective prosperity is wrong. There are many ways infrastucture can be designed to work with nature in mind from the start – often with low cost.

    The chancellor’s own calculations are off if she attaches no economic value to nature. In one scientific study that tried to quantify the economic contribution of wildlife, researchers found that losing pest-eating bats in North American farmland would cost farmers several billions of dollars in crop losses.

    Blaming wildlife for economic challenges will only worsen the biodiversity crisis. A report from 2023 found that nearly one in six UK species are at risk of extinction, and that the country is one of the most nature depleted in the world.

    Rather than weakening protections for nature, the UK should be doing much more to help the plants and animals that call these islands home.

    Why we should worry about bats and newts

    Populations of the great crested newt halved between 1965 and 1975 and have continued to decline by 2% every five years since. The enormous loss of habitat is partly to blame: half of all ponds vanished in the 20th century and 80% of those remaining are in poor condition. These figures highlight the long-running failure of the planning system to protect nature.

    Newts need ponds to breed in, but they also traverse surrounding grasslands and marshes to find food and new homes. Destruction of these habitats will not be easily remedied by digging a new pond elsewhere, with money from the chancellor’s new fund. Connections between habitats are also essential – isolated, artificial ponds are of little use if wildlife cannot reach them.

    The UK has lost a vast area of nature habitat within a generation.
    Kyaw Thiha/Shutterstock

    This approach will be even less helpful to bats, whose habitat requirements are even more varied.

    Bats are highly sensitive to environmental changes. The UK is home to 18 species, including the brown long-eared bat and the pug-like barbastelle. Far from being the menace of developers, bats have suffered greatly as changes to buildings have excluded them from making roosts while changes to the wider landscape have made it harder for them to find feeding and breeding sites.

    The numbers of some species have shown a small increase since monitoring began in 1998, but a wider perspective is instructive: the barbastelle bat, for instance, has declined by 99% in the UK over the past few hundred years.

    The wider decline of nature now poses a terrible strain. Local bat conservation groups have reported an uptick in the number of starving or underweight bats. All UK bats eat insects, so their health is linked with moths and butterflies and other pollinators that knit ecosystems together. Bats are an early warning system for the overall health of our environment.

    Develop with nature, not against it

    Conservation measures have to be tailored to the relevant species and setting. Careful deliberation in the planning system is important to protect species – it cannot be replaced with a pot of money that each developer pays into.

    Take “bat tunnels”, the structures designed to help bats safely navigate developments which recently drew the chancellor’s ire. These tunnels have been installed along the HS2 trainline and, in theory, protect bats from the 220-mph train as it intersects their flight paths.

    Bat tunnels maintain connections between habitats, enabling bats to reach their roosting, feeding and breeding sites without risking their lives near roads or other man-made barriers. It’s not just a fatal collision bats risk – noise and pollution also perturb bats and the insects they eat.

    While some species might benefit from a simple bat box that allows bats to roost by providing a roosting structure either outside of a building or on trees, others might need more complex changes. Bats rely on sound to navigate, emitting squeaks that bounce around their environment to create an audible impression of the world.

    Conservationists might build them flight paths composed of hedgerows and other features that bats can use to orient themselves. This can be particularly important for developments over a large area.

    In these instances, it’s important that bats, who may travel several kilometres from their roosts to feeding sites, have well-connected habitats. Fragmenting the landscape leaves smaller and smaller pockets of available habitat which in turn support fewer and fewer species.

    Some measures to help wildlife are cheap and easy to implement.
    Heather Wharram/Shutterstock

    Instead of being an expensive burden, most measures for mitigating development are fairly easy to implement. It could be as simple as maintaining and improving hedgerows or preserving old trees. More ambitious schemes include designing rail lines that allow animals to pass over or beneath.

    Instead of weakening protections and treating biodiversity as a hindrance, a smarter approach would be to integrate nature into development from the outset, and so prevent harm to protected sites and reduce the need for compensation later. The Woodland Trust said that “HS2’s assessment of woodland was significantly deficient” and its impacts to ancient woodland could have been avoided with alternative routes or proposals. In lieu of better assessment, the developers ran into avoidable delays.

    There is no one-size-fits-all approach to conservation – no big pot of funding that can pay to repair all the damage later. It requires careful, species-specific strategies, because the needs of wildlife vary greatly. Ignoring the necessity of protecting wildlife jeopardises ecosystems which underpin the economy.

    Effective conservation is not a barrier to development, but rather, key to a sustainable future, for people, nature and industries.

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

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

    Eleanor Harrison is affiliated with Staffordshire Bat Group, who aid in bat conservation locally.

    – ref. Why bats need tunnels – https://theconversation.com/why-bats-need-tunnels-248782

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: DeepSeek claims to have cured AI’s environmental headache. The Jevons paradox suggests it might make things worse

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Peter Howson, Assistant Professor in International Development, Northumbria University, Newcastle

    William Stanley Jevons also invented an early computer. University of Manchester Libraries / wiki, CC BY-SA

    AI burns through a lot of resources. And thanks to a paradox first identified way back in the 1860s, even a more energy-efficient AI is likely to simply mean more energy is used in the long run.

    For most users, “large language models” such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT work like intuitive search engines. But unlike regular web-searches that find and retrieve data from anywhere along a global network of servers, AI models return data they’ve generated from scratch. Like powering up a nuclear reactor to use a calculator, this tailored process is very inefficient.

    One study suggests the AI industry will be consuming somewhere between 85 and 134 terrawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity by 2027. That’s a similar amount of energy as the Netherlands consumes each year. One prominent researcher predicts that by 2030, over 20% of all electricity produced in the US will be feeding AI data centres (huge warehouses filled with computers).

    Big tech firms have always claimed to be heavy investors in wind and solar energy. But AI’s appetite for 24/7 power means most are developing their own nuclear options. Microsoft even plans to revive the infamous Three Mile Island power plant, scene of America’s worst ever civil nuclear accident.

    Despite Google’s ambitious target of being carbon neutral by 2030, the company’s AI developments mean its emissions have climbed 48% in the past few years. And the computing power needed to train these models increases tenfold each year.

    However, Chinese start-up DeepSeek claims to have created a fix: a model that matches the performance of established US rivals like OpenAI, but at a fraction of the cost and carbon footprint.

    An environmental game changer?

    DeepSeek has created a powerful open-source, relatively energy-lite model. The company claims it spent just US$6 million renting the hardware needed to train its new R1 model, compared with over $60 million for Meta’s Llama, which used 11 times the computing resources.

    DeepSeek uses a “mixture-of-experts” architecture, a machine-learning method that allows the model to scale up and down depending on the complexity of prompts. The company claims its model can also store more data and be trained without the need for huge amounts of expensive processor chips.

    Compared with its US rivals, DeepSeek promises to do more with less.
    Chitaika / shutterstock

    In reaction, US chip manufacturing and energy stocks plummeted following investor concerns that AI companies would rethink their energy-intensive data centre developments. As the world’s largest supplier of specialist AI processors, Nvidia saw its share price fall by US$589 billion, the biggest one-day loss in Wall Street history.

    Paradoxically, as well as upsetting the performance of US tech stocks, improving the energy efficiency of AI platforms could actually worsen the industry’s environmental performance as a whole.

    With tech stocks crashing, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella tried to bring a longer-term perspective: “Jevons paradox strikes again!” he posted on X. “As AI gets more efficient and accessible, we will see its use skyrocket, turning it into a commodity we just can’t get enough of.”

    The Jevons paradox

    The idea that energy efficiency isn’t always a good thing for Earth’s resources has been around for well over a century. In 1865, a young Englishman named William Stanley Jevons wrote “The Coal Question”, a book in which he suggested that Britain’s place as an industrial superpower might soon come to an end, due to its rapidly depleting coal reserves.

    But to Jevons, frugality was not the solution. He argued: “It is wholly a confusion of ideas to suppose that the economical use of fuel is equivalent to a diminished consumption. The very contrary is the truth.”

    According to Jevons, any increase in resource efficiency generates an increase in long-term resource consumption, rather than a decrease. Because greater energy efficiency has the effect of reducing energy’s implicit price, it increases the rate of return – and demand.

    Jevons offered the example of the British iron industry. If technological advancements helped a blast furnace produce iron with less coal, profits would rise and new investment in iron production would be attracted. At the same time, falling prices would stimulate additional demand. He concluded: “The greater number of furnaces will more than make up for the diminished [coal] consumption of each.”

    More recently, the economist William Nordhaus applied this idea to the efficiency of lighting since the dawn of human civilisation. In a paper published in 1998, he concluded that in ancient Babylon, the average labourer might need to work more than 40 hours to purchase enough fuel to produce the equivalent amount of light emitted by a modern lightbulb for one hour. But by 1992, an average American would need to work for less than half a second to produce the same.

    Throughout time, efficiency gains haven’t reduced the energy we expend on lighting or shrunk our energy consumption. On the contrary, we now generate so much electric light that areas without it have become tourist attractions.

    Warming and lighting our homes efficiently, driving our cars, mining Bitcoin and, indeed, building AI models are all subject to the same so-called rebound effects identified in the Jevons paradox. And this is why it will be impossible to ensure a more efficient AI industry actually leads to an overall reduction in energy use.

    A Sputnik moment

    In the 1950s, the US was horrified when the Soviets launched Sputnik, the first space satellite. The emergence of a more efficient rival caused America to allocate more resources to the space race, not less.

    DeepSeek is Silicon Valley’s Sputnik moment. More efficient AI will probably mean more distributed and powerful models, in an arms race that is no longer made up only of US tech giants. AI offers superpower status, and the floodgates may now be fully open for the UK and other global competitors, as well as China.

    What’s for certain is that in the long term, the AI industry’s appetite for energy and other resources is only going to increase.

    Peter Howson has received research funding from the British Academy.

    – ref. DeepSeek claims to have cured AI’s environmental headache. The Jevons paradox suggests it might make things worse – https://theconversation.com/deepseek-claims-to-have-cured-ais-environmental-headache-the-jevons-paradox-suggests-it-might-make-things-worse-248720

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Can aching joints really predict the weather? Exploring the science behind the stormy debate

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Michelle Spear, Professor of Anatomy, University of Bristol

    For centuries, people have claimed that their aching joints can predict changes in the weather, often reporting increased discomfort before rain or cold fronts. Given the scale and duration, there is a sense of legitimacy to these anecdotes – but this phenomenon remains scientifically contentious.

    From shifts in barometric pressure to temperature fluctuations, many theories attempt to explain how environmental factors might influence joint pain. But is there an anatomical basis for this claim, or is it simply an enduring weather-related myth? Are our joints any more reliable than the Met Office?

    At the heart of this debate lies barometric pressure, also known as atmospheric pressure – the force exerted by air molecules in the Earth’s atmosphere. While invisible, air has mass, and the “weight” pressing down on us fluctuates with altitude and weather systems.

    Higher barometric pressure often signals fair-weather conditions with clear skies and calm winds, whereas lower pressure typically precedes unsettled weather, such as cloudy skies, precipitation and humidity.

    Moveable joints are intricate structures cushioned by synovial fluid, the viscous liquid that lubricates joints, and encased in capsules rich in nerve endings. In healthy joints, these components should allow smooth, pain-free movement. However, when joints are compromised by cartilage damage (as in osteoarthritis) or inflammation (as in rheumatoid arthritis), even subtle changes in the environment may be acutely felt.

    One leading hypothesis suggests that changes in barometric pressure may directly influence joint discomfort. When atmospheric pressure drops ahead of storms, it can allow inflamed tissues within joints to expand slightly, increasing stress on surrounding nerves and amplifying pain. Conversely, rapid increases in pressure, characteristic of fair-weather systems, may compress already sensitive tissues, leading to discomfort in some people.

    Scientific studies offer some support for these claims, though results remain mixed. For instance, a 2007 study published in the American Journal of Medicine found a slight but significant correlation between dropping barometric pressure and increased knee pain in osteoarthritis patients. However, this pattern is not universally observed across all joint conditions.

    A 2011 systematic review in Arthritis Research & Therapy examined the relationship between weather and pain in rheumatoid arthritis patients. It revealed highly variable responses: while some people reported increased pain under low-pressure conditions, others noted no change. A few even experienced discomfort during high-pressure fronts.

    More recently, a [2019 citizen-science project] called Cloudy with a chance of pain used app-based pain tracking to explore this connection. The study found a modest association between falling pressure and heightened joint pain, but it also highlighted substantial individual differences in how people perceive weather-related pain.

    These findings suggest that while changes in barometric pressure may influence joint pain for some, responses are far from uniform and depend on a complex interplay of factors, including the individual’s underlying joint condition and overall pain sensitivity.

    Why responses differ

    Barometric pressure rarely acts in isolation. Fluctuations in temperature and humidity often accompany pressure changes, complicating the picture.

    Cold weather can have a pronounced effect on joints, particularly in people with existing joint conditions. Low temperatures cause muscles to contract and become stiffer, which can lead to reduced flexibility and a greater risk of strain or discomfort.

    Ligaments, which connect bones to one another, and tendons, which anchor muscles to bones, may also lose some of their elasticity in colder conditions. This decreased pliability can make joint movement feel more restricted and exacerbate pain in conditions like arthritis.

    Cold weather can also cause blood vessels to narrow — particularly in the extremities, as the body prioritises maintaining core temperature. This reduced blood flow can deprive affected areas of essential oxygen and nutrients, slowing the removal of metabolic waste products like lactic acid, which may accumulate in tissues and exacerbate inflammation and discomfort.

    For people with inflammatory conditions, the reduced circulation can aggravate swelling and stiffness, especially in small joints like those in the fingers and toes.

    Cold also slows the activity of synovial fluid. In lower temperatures, the fluid becomes less effective at reducing friction, which can heighten joint stiffness and make motion more painful, particularly for people with degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis.

    Sudden temperature changes may also play a role. Rapid shifts can challenge the body’s ability to adapt, which might worsen pain in people with chronic conditions. Similarly, high humidity can intensify sensations of heat or dampness in already inflamed areas, further complicating the experience of pain.

    However, isolating a single variable – whether humidity, temperature or pressure –proves difficult because of the interplay of overlapping factors.

    Responses to weather also depend on individual factors, including the extent of joint damage, overall pain sensitivity and psychological expectations. This variability makes it difficult to link a single meteorological factor to a biological response.

    Still, the evidence suggests that people with joint conditions tend to be more attuned to environmental changes, particularly pressure fluctuations.

    While the relationship between weather and joint pain remains an imperfect science, the collective evidence indicates that there may be some truth to the age-old belief. For those with chronic joint conditions, shifts in barometric pressure and accompanying weather changes might indeed serve as nature’s warning system – albeit one that’s far from foolproof.

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

    – ref. Can aching joints really predict the weather? Exploring the science behind the stormy debate – https://theconversation.com/can-aching-joints-really-predict-the-weather-exploring-the-science-behind-the-stormy-debate-247728

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Marianne Faithfull: the singer with an inimitable voice was a Romantic poet at heart

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stephanie Hernandez, PhD Candidate, Literature and Music, University of Liverpool

    Marianne Faithfull, the London-born singer with an inimitable voice, has passed away at the age of 78. She was known for many things: she was a pop star, an actress and a muse. But she was probably best known for her voice.

    When she first entered the world of pop in 1964, her high-pitched tones rang with mellifluous vibrato. As she grew older and lived an increasingly excessive lifestyle, she developed a rasp – a quality borne of her unique experiences.

    Faithfull’s final musical releases were works that incorporated Romantic poetry in different ways. She Walks in Beauty (2021) is a spoken-word album of canonical Romantic poetry by the likes of Lord Byron, Percy Shelley and John Keats. Songs of Innocence and Experience 1965-1995 (2022) is a chronological retrospective of her career which uses the name of William Blake’s poetry collection (1789) as its title.

    As a PhD student focused on the legacy of Romanticism in 1960s and 1970s popular music, I’ve closely examined Faithfull’s engagement with Romantic literature throughout her career. These final two albums represent a beautiful culmination of her artistic journey, and are a testament to her unique voice and strong poetic influences.

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

    Songs of Innocence and Experience 1965-1995, like Blake’s poetry collection, is broken up into the sections Innocence and Experience.

    The Innocence portion of the album covers Faithfull’s youth, featuring early hits such as This Little Bird. Her early sound incorporated baroque pop instrumentation, including harps, harpsichord and horn arrangements (Come and Stay with Me), as well as folk styles with the acoustic guitar at the centre of the sound (Cockleshells).

    Faithfull’s voice in this section portrays her as an “innocent” girl in pop stardom, as its high pitch and pure tone embody a sense of naivete that is also reflected in her lyrics about young love, such as in Come and Stay With Me:

    We’ll live a life no one has ever known
    But I know you’re thinking that I’m hardly grown
    But oh thank God, at last and finally
    I can see you’re gonna stay with me

    There is a noticeable shift in the Innocence section of the album with the song Sister Morphine. As the song was made in collaboration with her then-boyfriend, Mick Jagger, it features a noticeably more rock sound in contrast to her previous pop productions. You can also hear subtle changes in Faithfull’s voice: it cracks and sounds strained in places.

    The song’s lyrics (“Please, Sister Morphine, turn my nightmares into dreams”) reflect the darker side of the mythologised “swinging sixties” lifestyle and its drug culture, which Faithfull has come to symbolise.

    Blake’s Songs of Innocence features a piper as the presiding narrator over the poems. In contrast, Songs of Experience is meant to be heard through the voice of an ancient bard, as established in Introduction to the Songs of Experience:

    Hear the voice of the Bard!
    Who Present, Past, & Future sees
    Whose ears have heard,
    The Holy Word
    That walk’d among the ancient trees.

    The Experience section of Faithfull’s album features music from Broken English (1979) and her re-recording of As Tears Go By, from Strange Weather (1987). The songs in this portion of the album exhibit her completely transformed voice: from piper to bard, it is deeper, raw and more weathered as a result of her struggles with addiction and bouts of illness. This brought a distinct edge to her music, marking a new phase in her career.

    Beyond the qualities of her voice, Faithfull’s song selection reflects Blake’s notions of Experience. Strange Weather (“Will you take me across the Channel / London Bridge is falling down”) aligns with Blake’s London geographically and thematically, as both explore entrapment and decay. Faithfull’s depiction of societal monotony, as in “Strangers talk only about the weather / All over the world / It’s the same …” echo Blake’s “charter’d street(s)” and “mind-forg’d manacles”.

    Faithfull’s connection to Romantic poetry is most overt in She Walks in Beauty, which she made with Warren Ellis (Australian composer and member of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds). In this album, she recites Romantic poetry set to Ellis’s music.

    The poems she selected to recite are all by male poets and many feature voiceless female subjects, such as Byron’s She Walks in Beauty or Thomas Hood’s The Bridge of Sighs. On the album’s liner notes, Faithfull described how she related with these women, particularly Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s Lady of Shalott.

    The Lady of Shalott is a woman cursed to live alone in a tower near Camelot – unable to look directly at the world, forced to weave what she sees in the mirror. Faithfull uses the Lady to reflect on the pressure she felt to conform to the expectations imposed on her by the press and music industry. There is a parallel between the Lady’s forced isolation and her struggles with being controlled and defined by external forces, as she explained:

    Do I identify with the Lady? Oh yeah, always. I’m nothing like the Lady of Shalott, but I guess I wanted to be … When Mick Jagger wrote the lyrics for As Tears Go By, he knew this poem. There’s a bit he always said he used from here, the thing about ‘it was the closing of the day’.

    In the liner notes, Faithfull also mentioned that her love of poetry was thanks to her English teacher at St Joseph’s Convent in Reading, Mrs Simpson, and to Palgrave’s Golden Treasury, an anthology of English poetry, which she had bought as a teenager.

    Faithfull’s lifelong interest in literature came to fruition in her two final projects. They exemplify how she was a pop star, muse and chanteuse – and also a Romantic.

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

    – ref. Marianne Faithfull: the singer with an inimitable voice was a Romantic poet at heart – https://theconversation.com/marianne-faithfull-the-singer-with-an-inimitable-voice-was-a-romantic-poet-at-heart-248805

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Steveston crossing removal postponed

    The removal of the old Steveston Highway crossing, initially scheduled to begin this weekend, Feb.1-2, 2025, has been postponed due to incoming snowy winter weather.

    There will be no traffic-pattern changes or overnight closures of Highway 99 at Steveston Highway this weekend.

    This postponement by the Steveston Interchange Project contractor will allow the Ministry of Transportation and Transit’s winter-maintenance operations to have full access to Highway 99 for brine applications and plowing, if necessary.

    The removal of the old Steveston Highway crossing will begin on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, and take place over three weekends: Feb. 7-10; Feb. 21-24; and Feb. 28 to March 3. 

    Learn More:

    Further information on traffic-pattern changes for the dismantling of the Steveston Highway crossing can be found here: www.highway99tunnel.ca/current-work/

    For updates, check: https://www.drivebc.ca/

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: What They Are Saying: Gov. Kemp Unveils Plan to Tackle Tort Reform and Stabilize Insurance Costs for Hardworking Georgians

    Source: US State of Georgia

    ATLANTA, GA – In front of what AJC Political Reporter Greg Bluestein described as “one of the most crowded press conferences I’ve seen in years at the Gold Dome,” Governor Brian Kemp laid out his plan to level the playing field in our courtrooms, ban hostile foreign powers from taking advantage of consumers and legal proceedings, stabilize insurance costs for businesses and consumers, increase transparency and fairness, and ensure Georgia continues to be the best place to live, work, and raise a family.

    The announcement has since received praise from, leaders and members of the Georgia General Assembly, doctors, industry partners, and other stakeholders.

    Read more of what they are saying:

    Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones

    “My position on this important issue has always been the same. If we want to continue to be the #I state in which to do business, we must foster a business-friendly climate. We have to work together to ensure that we put families and consumers first by tackling the hidden costs we all pay thanks to Georgia’s current tort laws. I look forward to working with those in the General Assembly to move these bills through the legislative process.”

    Senator John F. Kennedy

    “Georgia’s current legal environment raises prices and undermines the ability of job creators to start and grow their business.

    @GovKemp’s tort reform legislation will level the playing field in our courts and stabilize costs for families and consumers. I look forward to working alongside my colleagues to get this meaningful tort reform across the finish line.”

    House Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones

    “…@GovKemp announced plans for lawsuit reform that will reduce insurance costs, helping business owners keep the lights on, while preserving citizens’ rights to legal relief. I look forward to discussing these issues and enabling Georgia to stay competitive.”

    Georgia House Republican Caucus

    “The Georgia House stands ready to support @GovKemp’s efforts this session to bring meaningful judicial reform to our state and ease burdens on our state’s job creators!”

    Caylee Noggle – President, Georgia Hospital Association

    “Georgia Hospital Association members and their physicians applauded our elected leaders, including Office of Governor Brian P. Kemp , Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones , and Speaker Jon Burns, today in support of common sense, fair tort reforms that will rebalance the system and protect access to healthcare, improve patient safety and outcomes, and preserve our workforce.”

    Chris Clark – President/CEO, Georgia Chamber of Commerce

    “…Georgia took an important step forward to curb lawsuit abuse, to protect families, small business and our economic competitiveness. The Georgia Chamber of Commerce and our 50,000 members and their millions of hard working Georgians team members will work day and night for bipartisan legislation that ensures our legal system is focused on justice and not jackpots!”

    Katie Kirkpatrick – President & CEO, Metro Atlanta Chamber

    “MAC supports Governor Kemp for his strong commitment to enacting meaningful tort reform. As a top legislative priority for the Metro Atlanta Chamber, we know the critical importance of this effort to address key challenges faced by businesses and healthcare providers. Governor Kemp’s proposed legislative package aims to bring balance to legal proceedings and create parity with neighboring states.”

    Marsha Poorak – CEO, Southern Electric Company, LLC

    “Businesses in our state showed up strong this morning to support Governor Kemp’s tort reform efforts!  It was incredible standing on the steps behind him with medical professionals, construction workers, convenience store owners, and many more… The turnout demonstrated what we already know: tort reform is desperately needed by almost every industry in our state.”

    Georgia Child Care Association

    “Child care centers across Georgia are facing skyrocketing insurance premiums—some increasing over 20% annually. These rising costs make it harder for centers to stay open and affordable for families.

    The Georgia Child Care Association (GCCA) supports civil justice reforms to address the financial strain caused by excessive lawsuits and large settlements. Our goal is to strike a balance that ensures fair outcomes while reducing unnecessary financial burdens on child care providers.”

    Georgia Restaurant Association

    “We’re standing with Governor Kemp for Legal Reform! 💪

    GRA members proudly supported Governor Brian Kemp as he unveiled a new legislative package for comprehensive tort reform. This bill will protect both business owners and consumers from frivolous lawsuits, ensuring a more fair legal system. We look forward to to collaborating with the governor to advance this critical legislation!”

    Georgia Health Care Association/Georgia Center for Assisted Living

    “We commend Gov. Kemp for prioritizing these important reform efforts, which will promote accountability and help ensure resources are directed where they are most needed – toward providing high-quality care for residents and patients.”

    Georgia Association of Manufacturers 

    “As the only Association in the state focused solely on manufacturers, GAM strongly supports Governor Kemp’s tort reform initiative.”

    Georgia Motor Trucking Association

    “The time for change in Georgia is now. We are proud to stand in support of @GovKemp’s tort reform bill and fight for ALL Georgians.”

    Georgia Retailers

    “Thank you @GovKemp for your leadership! Your proposed reforms will protect responsible retailers and restore fairness and common sense. We are proud to stand with you!”

    Georgia REALTORS

    “GAR leadership and our advocacy staff joined Governor Kemp’s press conference supporting his tort reform legislative package, which aims to address Georgia’s challenging legal environment. GAR will continue working alongside state leadership to advance meaningful tort reform that promotes a fair legal system and economic growth across our state.”

    Georgia Senior Living Association

    “The Georgia Senior Living Association is grateful to Governor Brian Kemp, Lt. Governor Burt Jones, Speaker John Burns, and Insurance Commissioner John King for their support of the people and businesses in Georgia. Now is the time for GSLA action…”

    The Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association (GHLA)

    “The Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association (GHLA) and the hotel industry across our state fully support Governor Brian Kemp’s initiatives to bring much-needed litigation and insurance reforms to Georgia. Unchecked jury verdicts, soaring insurance premiums, and limited access to adequate coverage are placing an unsustainable burden on businesses, driving up operational costs, and jeopardizing the future of our industry. These proposed reforms are critical to restoring fairness and predictability, ensuring that Georgia continues to be a premier destination for both business and tourism”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Sheikh Rahman: Weeks 2 & 3 of the Legislative Session 

    Source: US State of Georgia

    As we enter the heart of the legislative session, work under the Gold Dome is moving full speed ahead. Even as ice and snow swept across South Georgia and Atlanta last week, our commitment to serving the people of Georgia never wavered.

    We hit the ground running when we returned to the Capitol this past Monday. Some highlights included the Senate Democratic Caucus Press Conference, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Day and Chamber of Commerce Day. I am always excited to see these events full of Georgians getting involved in our state government.

    As budget hearings for the next fiscal year continue over the remainder of session, we have a critical opportunity to shape investments that will directly impact our communities. Governor Brian Kemp’s proposed budget includes $50 million in security grants for individual schools—an essential step toward keeping students safe. However, proper school safety goes beyond physical security; it requires a commitment to addressing the broader issues affecting student well-being. I will continue advocating for a budget that supports working families, invests in underserved communities, and ensures every Georgian has the opportunity to succeed.

    On Tuesday, the Senate Democratic Caucus announced several key legislative priorities for this session. We introduced Senate Bill 50, a bipartisan effort to close health insurance gaps, expand mental health and maternal care access, and ensure working families can afford quality healthcare. Too many Georgians rely on emergency rooms for primary care because they lack affordable insurance. We believe every Georgian deserves reliable, accessible healthcare, and we will continue pushing for solutions that lower costs and expand coverage. In the coming weeks, we will introduce bills to raise the state minimum wage, improve public schools, and expand access to affordable childcare. Our focus remains on legislation that puts people first.

    I am pleased to have worked across the aisle and cosponsored several pieces of bipartisan legislation, including Senate Bill 9, or the “Ensuring Accountability for Illegal AI Activities Act.” Sponsored by Sen. John Albers (R—Roswell), SB 9 would create sentencing penalties for individuals who utilize artificial intelligence to develop obscene materials that could endanger vulnerable members of our population. 

    I encourage students between the ages of 12 and 18 to apply to spend a day as a Senate Page. This program allows students to participate actively in the legislative process at our State Capitol for a day during the legislative session. This program is an invaluable experience, and I encourage my younger constituents to participate. Interested students may apply for the program here.

    The weeks ahead will be eventful, with key debates and legislation shaping Georgia’s future. I’m committed to keeping you informed and ensuring your voice is heard. Thank you for your trust—I encourage you to stay engaged as we work toward a stronger, fairer Georgia.

    # # # #

    Senator Sheikh Rahman represents the 5th Senate District which includes portions of Lawrenceville, Norcross, Duluth, Tucker and Lilburn in Gwinnett County. He may be reached at (404) 463-5261 or by email at sheikh.rahman@senate.ga.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Dartmouth — Nova Scotia RCMP Collision and Reconstruction Service interview on seatbelt use

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Cpl. Ford and Cpl. Durette of the RCMP’s Collision and Reconstruction Service recently sat down with CBC to discuss their role in investigating collisions and the impact of vehicle occupants failing to wear seatbelts.

    https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6621874

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Combined General Meeting of January 31, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Paris, France – January 31, 2025 – The Combined Annual General Meeting of Atos SE shareholders convened to approve the 2023 financial statements was held today at the Company’s registered office, chaired by Philippe Salle, Chairman of the Board of Directors until today and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer as of February 1, 2025.

    Broadcast live on the Atos website, the Annual General Meeting was a key opportunity to inform and exchange views with shareholders, who approved all the resolutions submitted to the vote.

    In particular, the Annual General Meeting approved the statutory and consolidated financial statements for the 2023 financial year.

    Detailed voting results and a replay of the Annual General Meeting will be available on the Atos website (under Investors – Annual General Meeting).

    Changes to the Board of Directors composition

    The Annual General Meeting approved all the ratifications of appointments submitted to it. In particular, the ratification of Philippe Salle’s appointment was approved by 94.18% of the votes cast.

    The shareholders approved the renewal of Sujatha Chandrasekaran’s term of office as Director, and the appointments of Joanna Dziubak and Hildegard Müller as new Directors.

    At the close of the Annual General Meeting, the Board of Directors noted the end of Mandy Metten’s term of office as the second Director representing employees, with the Board reduced to eight members (excluding the Director representing employees), and the expiry of the terms of office of Alain Crozier, Katrina Hopkins, Monika Maurer and Astrid Stange.

    On the recommendation of the Nomination and Governance Committee, the Board of Directors has decided to appoint Mandy Metten as a censor to the Board of Directors, with effect from today, subject to ratification by the next Annual General Meeting.

    The Board again noted the resignation of Jean Pierre Mustier from his duties as Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Company with effect from today. The Board also reiterated its unanimous decision of October 14, 2024 to combine the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and to appoint Philippe Salle as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer with effect from February 1, 2025. The Board would like to thank Jean Pierre Mustier, who remarkably steered the Group’s restructuring, for his unfailing commitment and contribution to the Group’s success, as well as for the exemplary transition he implemented with Philippe Salle.

    At the close of the Annual General Meeting and the Board of Directors, the Atos Board of Directors comprised nine Directors, of whom 75% are independent Directors1 and 62.5% are women2, and one censor:

    • Philippe Salle, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
    • Laurent Collet-Billon*, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors
    • Elizabeth Tinkham*, Lead Independent Director
    • Sujatha Chandrasekaran*
    • Joanna Dziubak*
    • Farès Louis, Director representing employees
    • Françoise Mercadal-Delasalles*
    • Jean-Jacques Morin*
    • Hildegard Müller
    • Mandy Metten, censor

    * Independent Directors

    The Board of Directors has also amended its Internal Rules3, in particular to strengthen the duties and resources of the Lead Independent Director, whose appointment is now mandatory when the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer are combined. The matters reserved to the Board of Directors have also been extended.

    Changes to the Board Committees composition

    Taking into account its renewed composition, the Board has restructured its committees, as of today, on the recommendation of the Nomination and Governance Committee:

    • Audit Committee: Jean-Jacques Morin* (Chair); Laurent Collet-Billon*; Joanna Dziubak*; Sujatha Chandrasekaran*
    • Nomination and Governance Committee: Elizabeth Tinkham* (Chair); Sujatha Chandrasekaran*; Farès Louis; Joanna Dziubak*
    • Remuneration Committee: Laurent Collet-Billon* (Chair); Farès Louis; Françoise Mercadal-Delasalles*; Hildegard Müller
    • CSR Committee: Françoise Mercadal-Delasalles* (Chair); Hildegard Müller; Farès Louis

    * Independent Directors

    Philippe Salle, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Atos SE, said: “I am delighted by the confidence expressed by our shareholders. With a more compact and strengthened Board of Directors, we are fully mobilized and focused on deploying the Group’s new strategy. On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, I would like to thank the Directors whose terms of office have ended for their commitment and contribution to Atos during this critical period.”

    ***

    About Atos

    Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with c. 82,000 employees and annual revenue of c. €10 billion. European number one in cybersecurity, cloud and high-performance computing, the Group provides tailored end-to-end solutions for all industries in 69 countries. A pioneer in decarbonization services and products, Atos is committed to a secure and decarbonized digital for its clients. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea), and listed on Euronext Paris.

    The purpose of Atos is to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the Group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space.

    Contacts

    Investor relations: David Pierre-Kahn | investors@atos.net | +33 6 28 51 45 96
    Individual shareholders: 0805 65 00 75
    Press contact: globalprteam@atos.net

    1 In accordance with article 10.3 of the AFEP-MEDEF Code, the Director representing employees is not taken into account in determining the percentage of independent members.

    2 In accordance with the law, the Director representing employees is not taken into account in determining the parity ratio on the Board of Directors.

    3 Available on the Atos website, under Investors – Corporate Governance.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –